There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Ismene open again
From: "eliase73" <meghanlore@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-C] A Day Gone Wrong (JP)
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 13:29:10 -0000
From: "eliase73" <meghanlore@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: Ismene open again
We are trying out a new kind of warren in the DragonLands. Ismene
will be a real time warren, instead of a play by post one. There is a
group at ismenewarren@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
if you are interested and want
to join.
For now we are working on setting up the mechanics of how the warren
will run. Feel fre to join the group and submit character bios and
suggestions. The group will remain OOC as all the actual play will be
done real time.
I am looking forward to seeing Ismene thrive once again :)
Rachel
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 01:24:23 -0400
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-C] A Day Gone Wrong (JP)
Day 1
Late Morning
Eth'n watched as the warrenlady and Trevor took off on Trissana,
heading
toward the medical center. He was feeling distinctly disappointed.
He'd expected this to be his "big day" having successfully graduated a
training class. But suddenly all attention was diverted to Cynthia, as
it should be, he reasoned.
Eth'n watched as the wings dissolved into knots of gossiping people,
all
speculating on the baby; how long the labor would be and especially how
large a baby it might be considering how large Cynthia had gotten. It
wasn't reasonable, yet, he still felt disappointed, and though he
didn't
mean to show it, it did show on his face.
Calylin watched as Cynthia was herded off. She stood back and out of
the commotion. She knew that the warrenlady would need time and space
so she tried to stay out of the way. She was nodding to one of the
riders who was talking to her when her gaze fall onto Eth'n. Her
expression softened and she smiled. A moment later she was headed to
him.
She moved up behind him quietly and wrapped an arm around his waist,
resting her chin on his shoulder and her lips near his ear. She
whispered quietly to him. "You look disappointed that there is going to
be a new baby."
He stiffened at the familiarity of the contact, but relaxed when he
recognized Caly's teasing voice. He turned and smiled down at the
young
woman. She had blossomed here in the dessert, with her skin turning a
wonderful shade of bronze, which Eth'n knew to cover her full body, as
she certainly wasn't shy about sunbathing in the nude.
"I'm not disappointed about the baby! How could I be?" He tried to
cover his embarrassment at being found out and looked in the direction
that the pearly dragon had gone, "I'm as concerned as anyone about the
baby. She seems to have gotten so large in the last few weeks."
Caly reached up and with one finger turned his gaze back to her. "But I
am sure you wouldn't have minded if he, or she, had waited one more
day." She smiled and her eyes twinkled at him like the sparkling sands.
He grinned and relaxed, "Yes, I wouldn't have minded that at all. And
as long as I'm admitting to my faults, I guess I can admit that I wish
it were Syren clutching rather than Cynthia birthing?"
She smirked and leaned up to brush her lips to his gently before
falling
back on her heels. "Well if it makes you feel any better *I* am very
proud of what you have done with the trainees, including me. I might
not
be warrenlady, but....well second best."
His eyes sparkled, "Certainly not second. At least not in my book. And
thank you. It was certainly the most... challenging of any of the
training groups I've worked with."
She nodded with a grin. "So perhaps a reward is in order?" She tapped
one finger to her lips, looking thoughtful. "Humm I wonder what I could
give you..."
"Oh?" His eyebrow arched. "Well, it looks like I've got the rest of the
day free."
She nodded. "Me as well." She looked back up at him. "Well what would
you like? Anything you want, within reason of course. I will do my
best
to give it to you."
His eyes widened at the possibilities and he chuckled, "I would like
your company for the day."
She grinned. "I can give you that. What would you like to do first?"
"Well, I really don't know. Seems odd not to have to worry about
classes or lesson plans." They had been walking as they'd talked and
somehow had ended up on the upper green. Some of the dragons were
lazing about in the sun. Others were preparing to take off on patrols
or had just returned. He watched as a pair dropped over the edge of
the
cleft and caught the thermals, rising into the air, before blinking out
to wherever they were heading to begin their patrol. "Might be nice to
take a ride..."
Caly nodded, watching the pair disappear. "Perhaps Warton could take us
someplace unexpected?" She grinned. "We could leave the destination up
to him."
It was as if just saying his name made him appear, but Eth'n had barely
begun to say that he thought that was a great idea when the large
maroon
male had landed beside them.
Eth'n watched as Caly scrambled up onto the back of his dragon. He
followed her, enjoying the view from behind. She settled into the
saddle. He slid in behind her, and though they belted in, he wrapped
an
arm protectively around her before telling Warton to take off.
Caly snuggled back against Eth'n, perfectly content and at home on
Warton's back and in Eth'n's arms. A place she was happily growing
fond
of. She felt Ale'bela tickling her mind and glanced off towards the
ledge at her apartment.
{Where ya going??} Called the young female.
{I dunno we were going to leave it up to Warton} Answered her rider.
{Do
you want to come?}
{Na I just ate. It's nap time!} Ale'bela answered sleepily.
Calylin laughed and shook her head a bit just before Warton
disappeared.
Eth'n had just caught a faint picture of a mountain lake before they
teleported and were there above it. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
The barren cliffs rose all around the small bowl of a lake that emptied
into a trickling stream down the only lush face of the mountainside.
The rocks even sparkled. The altitude must be rather high, Eth'n
thought, as he noticed the treeline was several feet below the top of
the ledge over which the stream poured. But on the far side of the
bowl
was a narrow beach to which Warton was heading.
Calylin's breath caught in her throat as she saw the beautiful setting.
As Warton landed on the beach the view just seemed to become more
beautiful. She slid from his back and walked a pace away turning
slowly
to take the whole place in.
"Gods it's gorgeous." She turned and smiled at Eth'n. "Your dragon has
amazing taste in places to spend the day, I must say."
He looked surprised and then grinned as Warton told him that he'd
gotten
the image from Bohoc. "He certainly does. Shall we do a bit of
hiking?" He looked up in longing toward the rocks. "Wonder what makes
them sparkle like that."
She nodded. "Sounds perfect. Then a nice long swim." She offered him
her hand and together they headed off.
They climbed up along what appeared surprisingly like a foot path.
Eth'n wondered why there would be one up there, until they came over a
small rise and their breaths caught in their throat. The small valley
below them sparkled like... diamonds.
<Bohoc said his rider called this a 'holy place'> Warton supplied.
Caly watched for a moment as the sun danced off the sparkling gems in
the valley below them and then glanced to Eth'n. He smiled to her and
relayed the information Warton had supplied. She nodded and looked
back
to the valley.
"I should ask Andahar about this place then. It is so beautiful I
would
like to understand more about what they use it for."
"As would I! Can you imagine what a handful of these would bring in
Ralengarde?" Eth'n grinned as he hurried down the path to take a
closer
look at the bonanza of shining gems scattered in the sand and gravel of
the small valley.
Caly shook her head slightly as Eth'n rushed off ahead of her. She had
not been thinking of their monetary value. She headed down after Eth'n
and stopped short a few feet from him as the ground started to shake
slightly. "Umm Eth'n?"
He stopped in his tracks and stared around him, "Uh... you think I
angered one of their gods or something?"
She made a face at him. "Well I wouldn't be surprised." The ground
began
to shake harder and Calylin sat down hard. "Does it do this here
often?"
Eth'n shrugged, "Never been here before, but I've never heard of
earthquakes at the warren." He tried to keep his balance, spreading
his
legs and bending his knees, but the tremors were getting stronger. The
feeling brought back vivid memories of the earthquake at Telnor which
had destroyed half of the warren. He looked around for Warton but
realized that in the valley there was no where large enough for the
dragon to land.
Caly started to stand when the ground under her began to crack and fall
away. She cried out as one of her legs fell through a quickly growing
hole in the ground. She reached for Eth'n, who thrust a hand out to
grab her before she could fall. Their fingertips brushed each other
and
then Caly was falling backwards.
A moment later she landed hard on her back and gasped as the wind was
knocked form her. Then suddenly the world went black.
"CALY!" Eth'n threw himself flat on the ground. He crawled forward to
the edge of the hole, peering down into the darkness. The air that
came
up from the hole was hot; hotter than the ambient air above, making
Eth'n wonder if there were hotsprings below, or worse. "Oh, shards!
Caly? Caly, can you hear me?"
Warton hovered above; his wings fanning the dust in the valley, making
Eth'n cough and his eyes tear. But Warton's presence was reassuring,
as
the tremors in the ground receded. Was it only his imagination that
they were actually moving away?
Eth'n couldn't see a thing! <*Warton? Can you find a branch? Can you
flame it and bring it to me?*>
The large maroon and gray dragon turned and glided down the slope of
the
mountain till he reached the tree line. Finding what looked to be a
suitable sized small tree, the dragon flamed the top branches, sending
up sparks for the brittle old pine. Then with a clawed foot, he
plucked
the tree from its precarious foothold and winged it back to Eth'n.
"Caly?" Eth'n cried again as he grabbed the flaming tree that Warton
dropped, shining it down into the dark pit. He could see her form
below, stretched out on a ledge below. He worried at first that she
might be dead, but then he thought he saw her move.
Caly groaned and blinked. Then she coughed and tried to sit up. Pain
shot up her arm and she fell back again. She looks up and saw the
flaming tree. "Eth'n?" Her voice was softer than she though. She
coughed again as dust and smoke filtered down.
"I'm here! Don't worry! I'll get you out of there... somehow..."
Eth'n looked around him for something... anything... that might help.
Here he was surrounded by diamonds that could purchase the world, and
what he wouldn't give for a good solid rope!
<You can take off my harness...> Warton suggested, landing on the
ledge
that looked down into the valley.
"Don't move, Caly! I'll be right back!" Eth'n's voice echoed oddly
off
the walls of the cave below.
As he ran up the hill, the earth seemed to pitch again, as if the
earthquake was moving back toward them. But that wasn't possible was
it? He fell forward, cutting knees and palms, but was up and running
with little regard to his own well-being. He reached Warton's side and
quickly unfastened the cinch that held the saddle to the dragon. That
would be long enough to reach down the hole to Caly.
Racing down the hill was even more of a challenge as the earth pitched
and rolled beneath his feet. "What the...!?" When he fell forward,
the
ground felt... hot. He recalled Andahar talking about his gods and
wondered briefly is Khazeen might not be real.
Wedging the saddle in a cleft in the rocks, he wrapped the leather
strap
around his waste and under his thigh, and slowly began to lower himself
over the edge of the hole. For what seemed to be ages, he swung free
before finding footing on the wall. Finally he reached the ledge, and
Caly.
Caly's face was white and she clutched at a rock near her as the earth
shook. "Eth'n what is it?" Her voice held an edge of terror.
He shook his head. He could hear something now, moving in the cave.
It
sounded like... slithering. He could feel the temperature in the cave
rising. "I don't know... but I don't want to find out, either!" He
tried to be gentle as he attempted to lift Caly up onto his shoulder,
but she cried out with pain.
"It's my arm..." she groaned as she leaned against him. Eth'n nodded
and studied her, trying to figure out a safe way to lift the Jr.
Queenrider out. Finally Caly pushed herself up with her good arm. She
winced and felt the world spin as she shifted her broken arm.
"Just hug me to your chest. I'll hold on with my legs and good arm and
that will leave your hands free to use the rope." Eth'n nodded and
gently pulled her to him. Every movement felt like hell to her. She
bit her lip in an attempt to keep from crying out. It wasn't long
before she tasted blood.
Once Eth'n felt she was secure he wrapped the rope around them both and
began to climb out. Caly let out more than one cry on the way up, but
was mostly able to hold back. By the time they reached the surface she
looked deathly pale and she was trembling hard. Her body was covered
in
sweat and she felt the world slipping away.
"Eth'n..." then she was out cold again.
They lay side by side, both drenched in sweat. Eth'n tried to catch his
breath as he gasped, "Hold on Caly. Hold on...." His shoulders ached
but he pushed himself up. With as much care as he could, he pulled
Caly
onto his back, across his shoulders. Dragging the saddle, he began the
climb up to the ridge where Warton waited.
Eth'n was about half way up the slope when suddenly the dragon sprung
into the air, letting out a roar that echoed in the valley. He glanced
behind him in time to see the head of some giant snake-like creature
appearing from the hole from which they had just emerged.
Eth'n instinctively dropped to the ground, rolling Caly off his back
and
underneath him. The jarring brought her back to consciousness as she
cried out in pain.
Caly couldn't hold back the tears this time. Her body shook with her
sobs. The whole world was blurred through the tears that pooled in her
eyes. Suddenly she heard Warton and saw the dragon's form hovering
above
them. She looked down the hill and gasped at the sight.
"Eth'n! You need to get out of here right now!"
"Getting US out of here! I know this is going to hurt..." Eth'n slung
Caly up over his shoulder trying not to imagine her pain as she
screamed
out.
The dragon let loose with a blast of flame, which the creature seemed
to
absorb, and it appeared to gain strength.
"What in all the hells is that thing?" Eth'n gasped and began to run
up
the slope again, this time leaving the saddle behind. He just hoped he
could make it to a place where Warton could land before that snake-like
thing caught sight of them.
But it was focused on Warton now, and didn't bother with the puny
creatures that were scurrying away. It was hungry and a dragon would
go
a long way to satisfy that hunger.
Warton flew just out of reach of its strike, blasting it with all he
had. But it was having no affect on it!
<*Warton! Come get us!*> Eth'n called out.
Caly fought against passing out again. All she knew was pain and fear.
Her broken arm hung limp against Eth'n like a rag doll's arm. Caly
closed her eyes against the flying dust as Warton landed next to them,
still watching the snake-like creature intently.
Eth'n looked up at the huge dragon in despair. How were they going to
get up on Warton without the saddle, and with Caly unable to use her
arm
to help her climb?
And the snake was coming. It was slowly sliding more and more of its
tremendous bulk out of the hole. The ground sizzled around it and the
air around it was hazy with heat.
Warton looked down at the two humans and then back at the snake. They
didn't have much time! Looking around quickly he saw some rocks. If
the
humans could only get up on them, then they could climb easily onto his
back!
<Eth'n! There!> Warton sent the image of them climbing the rocks.
"Caly... Can you make it up there?" Eth'n pointed. He knew he could
not carry her up that steep slope.
Caly swung her gaze to where Eth'n pointed. Her face was white and her
hair was plastered to her face, soaked in sweat. With her last amount
of will she nodded.
Eth'n carried her as far as he could before he put her down. On shaky
legs she pulled away from Eth'n and began to climb. Her broken arm
hung
by her side lifelessly. It was starting to turn an odd shade of
purple,
but Caly didn't notice. Slowly and carefully she picked her way up the
hill towards Warton.
Eth'n climbed right behind her, unable to help her on the steep, rocky
slope. The scree cut into his hand and knees as he clambered up behind
her, while constantly looking back to see how close the snake was.
They
would make it! They just had to make it!
They reached the top of the rise, and Caly collapsed onto the smoother
surface of the rock. Eth'n hoisted her up from the ground, and pulled
her good arm over his shoulder and wrapped his arm about her. As
quickly as he could he helped her across the gulf between the dragon's
back and the edge of the rock.
Caly was only vaguely aware of what was happening around her. She knew
Eth'n had lifted her up, but beyond that she didn't know. In the back
of her mind she began to wonder why she didn't feel the pain in her arm
anymore. Her thoughts drifted from one thing to another without her
having much control over where it went.
She felt as Eth'n climbed onto Warton and she collapsed onto Warton's
back as Eth'n sat her in front of him. She struggled to stay awake,
but
she felt the deep and contented lure of sleep. She shivered and fresh
beads of sweat broke out all over her skin. Then all she knew was
darkness. Her last thought was of her bondmate, and then she slipped
away.
With its cold eyes glittering in the sunlight, and the heat of its body
radiating outward, scorching all around it, the nadusi advanced toward
the waiting dragon and helpless humans, only thinking about feeding.
But the snake-like creature suddenly was aware that its prey was about
to escape and reared back to strike.
Warton took a few quick steps away from the rocks and dropped off the
edge of the cliff, opening his wings to catch the wind, rather than
launching himself off as he might have done had he been wearing a
saddle
and the riders on his back strapped in securely. He was very mindful
of
their precarious position.
Warton teleported as soon as he was clear, blinking in above the dusty
upper "green" of the warren. He called out for healers as soon as he
was over the warren. He landed as quickly as possible, not bothering
with the attempted dust-free landing that Bohoc had been attempting to
teach him.
S'lomon was there in no time. Eth'n slowly eased Caly over the side
into the waiting arms below. The feeling of guilt washed over him as
he
sat there on his dragon, in complete disbelief. How had things gone so
terribly wrong?
[NRPG: No real tags. Part 2 to come]
---
Summary
Day 1
After the birth of the twins, Eth'n is feeling a bit disappointed that
the "graduation" of the training class hasn't gone as planned. Caly
decides to cheer him up. They decide to take a ride out of the warren
to a place Bohoc suggested and do a bit of hiking. They encounter a
"hole" with a nasty surprise. Caly falls and breaks her arm. Then the
nadusi comes after them. They barely manage to escape and Warton
teleports them back to Cleft.
---
Respectfully submitted by:
Arlene E. Jacobs
AKA
Eth'n and Warton
And
Rachel Lange
AKA
Calylin and Ale'bela
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
To Join World Weavers, visit: http://www.worldweavers.net/
Only members of WorldWeavers Worlds should post to this list. To post
messages to this group, send email to WeaversFiction@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
|
