Lost

Writers: AL, Devin, Francesca
Date Posted: 21st August 2009

Characters: Z'ku, G'len, Adari
Description: Several of the weyrlings take their first jumps /between/ and one pair doesn't make it back.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 1 of Turn 5

Z'ku

Adari checked her straps and glanced over at her fellow weyrlings. They were going /between/! It was scary but exciting at the same time. It was one of the biggest steps in their weyrlinghood and they were finally going to do it! She grinned over at the bronze weyrling near her and patted her lifemate. **Ready girl?**

}:I am ready.:{ Lesereth responded with a yawn.

}:I want to go first,:{ Xemroth said. }:We can show them the right way to do it.:{

Z'ku chuckled at his bronze's confidence. **We'll see.** G'len might want them to go in a particular order.

G'len looked over his group, a smile on his face. Every time a class reached this point in training he wished he could disappear /between/ for a few days. However, it was his job to remain confident and upbeat. Every rider and dragon in the group was ready for this step, otherwise they would not have been allowed to participate.

"Remember, after this you'll be senior weyrlings," he told them as encouragement. "Now, let's get into formation." Once everyone was told their position they took flight, forming a 'V' with Z'ku and Xemroth at point. They would be the first pair to go. G'len hoped, not just for their sake, that their trip /between/ was flawless. Losing the first pair could mean the start of a disastrous day. He and Tobereth took their position at the destination point, on the other side of the Bowl.

**Tell Z'ku and Xemroth we're ready for them,** G'len told his green as calmly as possible. **And remind them, again, to check the visualization with us, more than once if necessary.** The weyrlings had been told multiple times that speed was not a factor. The goal of this day was to make it through.

Xemroth was thrilled, but he focused as he took the visualization from his rider. **We have to be perfect,** Z'ku said. If they made a mistake, it wouldn't be a muscle strain or a bruised wing they were risking, but winking out of existence forever. Z'ku had Xemroth pass the image back to him before sending it along to Tobereth.

}:Good:{ Tobereth said after she had her rider had checked the image. }:You can go when you're ready.:{

G'len tensed, eyes on the pair.

Z'ku held the image in his mind, making it as clear as he could. His heart sped up as he told Xemroth to go /between/. He'd been in the cold utter darkness before, but only a handful of times. }:I'm here,:{ Xemroth assured him. Then heat and light rushed back, and they were on the other side of the Bowl.

**We did it!** Z'ku remembered to breathe.

G'len pumped his fist in the air to acknowledge Z'ku's good job and sent his congratulations through Tobereth. **One down.**

The next few weyrlings made it without mishaps, although one bluerider had his visualization checked several times before getting up the courage to go. G'len had heard nothing from the other groups, which meant everything was going smoothly for them as well. Now there were only two more weyrlings in his group. He focused his attention on Adari and Lesereth as they prepared for their jump.

Adari wriggled atop of her lifemate. She was so excited! They were finally going to go /between/! She couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

**Okay...okay...here. You got it?**

There was a pause before Lesereth acknowled, }:I have it.:{

**Send it to G'len.**

Lesereth complied and then the two prepared to jump. It was a shame they didn't get to go any farther. It was such a short distance. Surely they could go farther. Down to the Dolphin Hall and back. Even further!

She had been to the Dolphin Hall. She could go there! **Here, let's go here instead.**

}:But...:{ Lesereth jumped into the air. Her rider reassured her that it would be all right. It wasn't _that_ much farther than the bowl and they would be so impressed with how well they did! But wait..

No, not the Dolphin Hall, River Bluff! She had stayed there two days and then heard about the call from Dolphin Cove and she had decided to stand there. Yes, she could go to River Bluff! The girl grinned and started to transfer the image to her dragon. The green had already prepared and started to go /between/ when the new image came. The two jumbled together, criss crossing, mixing, and melding until it was all a blur.

By then it was too late. The little dragon blinked /between/ - but they didn't reappear.

G'len and Tobereth counted slowly, eyes fixed on the spot where Adari and Lesereth were supposed to appear. As soon as time was up he had a sinking feeling, confirmed within moments by the keen of dragons announcing the loss. His mouth formed into a hard line. They had been his responsibility and now they were gone. And, even in the grief of the first death in this weyrling class he couldn't help but think, who would be next?

Last updated on the August 22nd 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Lost