Do Or Die (And The Story Goes On)

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 13th July 2025

Characters: B'nell, M'trel, Y'dran
Description: B'nell, M'trel and Y'dran attempt to survive a very terrible Threadfall
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Volaith, Kannoth
title taken from the 30 Seconds To Mars song, which is B'nell's battle song

It was going to be bad. B'nell could feel it. Atop Vorath, waiting with the golds, he watched the clouds angrily rolling in. Through Vorath's slightly spread wings, he could feel the wind picking up. He closed his eyes and began humming a tune, something that comforted him and gave him scant courage. He was going to need it.

Noruith spotted their ancient enemy and snarled. The wind slammed into him, threatening to knock him out of position, but he held, defiant. }: Windbreaker pattern, :{ he told his rider as the Wing reformed to protect the smaller dragons from the storm winds. M'trel tugged on the buckles keeping him attached to Noruith one last time before the brown dove to begin the fight.

Seriaeth's determination was colored with a perverse _enjoyment_ of riding the storm. This was _living_, the moments that were sung in harper tales. Y'dran's grin was missed in the rain but it was there. }: Fight! :{ Seriaeth called to his wingmates encouragingly. Thread licked at the edges of his wings but he ignored it, escaping /between/ with a taunting warble.

B'nell was still humming, doggedly, trying to keep up his courage as Vorath ducked in and out, protecting the queens as they caught injured dragons, blocking the wind from the greens who were trying to catch missed tangles. He felt as though he was counting down the minutes until Threadfall was over, an unending rhythm in his mind, measured in beats and breaths and bleak /between/.

}: Volaith is hit! :{ Noruith reported as lightning flashed dangerously close, pink and purple limning the edges of M'trel's sight. }: Kannoth is taking his point. We shift. :{ M'trel's hips twinged painfully as Noruith veered. He was going to need a massage for sure after this. Massage, numbweed, and wine. He did not want to think about the amount of paperwork he was going to have to handle tomorrow.

"And what do we say to Threadfall?" Y'dran chuckled as Seriaeth careened to avoid a tangle.

}: Not today! :{ the dragon answered with glee. He flamed a large patch and then skipped forward a few lengths to avoid another tangle.

The rain soaked into leathers and hides, finally enough to drown their nemesis, finally enough to give the wearied Wings respite. They returned to the Weyr, battered and bruised, letting the rain wash their wounds.

But it wasn't over.

"But...but..." B'nell started to protest as Vorath lifted off.

"This is unreal," M'trel muttered to Noruith.

"Bring it," Y'dran said in a low, fierce, defiant tone to Seriaeth.

Deaths did not stop them. Injuries did not excuse them to pause. B'nell kept humming every song he knew that kept his mind from despair. M'trel recounted every formation he knew for these scenarios in order to find better ways to overcome it. Y'dran laughed each time Seriaeth escaped the silvery fingers of death. Each man, handling crisis in their own way, until finally the order came through rain-soaked, gray-wrapped draconic voices that it was over.

B'nell let out a shaking sigh of relief. M'trel groaned slightly as his hips complained. Y'dran let out a triumphant whoop.

All three would live to see another day.

Last updated on the July 29th 2025

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Do Or Die (And The Story Goes On)