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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 3, 2006 20:41:12 GMT -5
A limp form of a dragon lay semolent on the hot sands curled around thirty two damp leathery eggs. Lyrai stood observing the Queen, tight lipped and worried. Zhariath was nearly grey, which for the dark gold was a very worrying thing. The Weyrwoman thanked the stars the labor was finaly over, with what had happened to Zhariath's d**n Lyrai worried over every clutch. And this one had been much harder than the previous two than the Queen had laid. It had taken hours upon hours, but then Zhar had carried the eggs much longer than she had previously. Lyrai's frown deepend even further. The clutch was a large size, but no Queen egg...
At least now though Zhariath was resting deeply. Lyrai took a seat down in between the dragon's forepaws, disregarding the heat of the sands entirely. She couldn't leave her Queen now, with a sigh she leaned back against Zhar's chest. Worry constricted her throat and the Weyrwoman closed her dark eyes tightly shut. She wanted someone to tell her everything was just fine and that nothing was wrong with her Queen. N'mos of course was as distant as the red star. No one could figure how he had flown Zhariath three consecutive times, but his bronze had. Silently the Weyrwoman reached out to give Sharieth a mental nudge, the Queens being twins had a decided benefit and right now, Ly needed someone.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 3, 2006 21:02:01 GMT -5
Sharieth informed her rider instantly that something was worrying Lyrai and that it was probably to do with Zhariath clutching. Ruet was instantly on her dragons back though, Shar would never step onto the HAtching sands normally if her sister's clutch were there. She let Ruet dismount before lifting off to one of the Bronze ledges, she was lucky she was a small Queen and could fit, albeit uncomfortably on them.
Ruet immediately saw what was troubling the Weyrwoman. Zhar didn't look right. "Lyrai!" She walked over quickly, not using her common sense to approach more slowly. For some reason she knew Zhara wasn't up for defending her eggs. "The clutch looks a good number, but what has happened?" Rue was wrapping an arm around Lyrai in seconds. What could possibly have gone wrong? She thought of human birthings but knew that dragons were different. She had a rudimentary knowledge of dragon healing, she had saved Sharieth from death but thhis was another matter entirely.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 3, 2006 22:16:42 GMT -5
A weak smile spread across Lyrai's face at Ruet's sudden entrance, bless Sharieth. She sent the dragon warm thanks then opened her eyes to see her junior. She felt almost as tired as the sleeping queen was and Ly was no healer. "It took so long Rue... She just now finished and dropped to sleep." The Queen hadn't even bothered to arrange and coddle her eggs as most did after they clutched. Ly couldn't turn to look at the dragon, she knew how grey she was and it twisted her stomach into a thousand knots. The Weyrwoman didn't dare wake the Queen, Zhar was simply too exhausted.
Lyrai glanced at Ruet worriedly then leaned her head onto Ruet's shoulder. She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath. "Do you think shes just exhausted? I've... never seen her this color." Of the twins, Zhariath was far darker, being almost more copper than gold. And right now... now she was a sick shade of washed out yellow brown.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 3, 2006 22:31:28 GMT -5
Ruet didn't hide the worry on her face. She gave Lyrai a hug and told Sharieth to contact Tujal. Tujal needed to get the dragon healers immediately. Something was going very wrong, even Ruet was begining to feel more worried than she had been when Sharieth was newly hatched. "The dragon healers are going to have to come and take a look. I'll look her over real quick. The eggs all look so beautiful." She added in reasurrance that it might be the size but she had a nagging at the back of her mind.
Rue had to fight back her tearing eyes. Her hands moved over the darker Queens, light hide. Not a bone in her body was out of place, though she slept too deeply for Ruet to test her movements. "Did she seem at all out of sorts when she started clutching, like wobbly movements...like a human who has had too much wine?"
Ruet looked at the size of the eggs too. Though none of them seemed to be too big for the Queen to handle. Sometimes she wished she knew the answers already but Ruet did get immersed in healing when the source was unknown, even now Sharieth knew her rider would not sleep till Zhariath was on the mend.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 4, 2006 10:43:27 GMT -5
Lyrai closed her eyes again so as to avoid looking at the dangerously weak color Zhariath was. Though she knew all too well even without looking. As Ruet began to look over the sleeping Queen, Lyrai nodded weakly. Faranth but she was tired... "Shes been weak for the last few days and off her feed. I'd begun to worry she might have become egg bound." Egg binding... one of the worst fears of any rider who rode gold. Egg binding could kill a dragon as quickly as thread could; however, Zhar had clutched and as a whole all the eggs looked healthy. There had been no more ichor than usual with the birth and it had been its normal green, perhaps; Lyrai hoped beyond hope that just perhaps the Queen had been tired.
"It is the largest clutch shes laid..." Even that argument sounded weak and hollow in Lyrai's ears and the Weyrwoman sighed again. It wasn't that much larger than her last, only by four eggs in fact. As Ruet continued to inspect the Queen, Lyrai stood to look at the eggs... they all seemed healthy enough, save for a couple smallish ones that were off color.
The Weyrwoman began to look them all over carefully, much to her added regret, there was no golden egg. Somehow Ly had known there wouldn't been when the flight had happened though. It had been too fast, Fierzath had dropped out of the could cover in a daring move to catch her Queen. The flight had simply been too fast, in the back of her mind Ly was surprised there were this many eggs at all. She shook her head again. "I don't know Rue..." Another worry nagged at the back of her mind. Zhariath had been egg heavy durring the poisioning. What if... what if it had effected the eggs. Ly didn't dare utter that out loud, she barely wanted to think about it herself. Pern could not afford the loss... they needed all the dragons the Queens could produce, there were so few...
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Post by Memorie on Oct 4, 2006 14:20:49 GMT -5
Sharieth woke Tujal up from a deep, bu restless, sleep. "Aye?" she asked mutinously, threatening to berate the queen if it hadn't been important. The previous night had been...well...
The gold told her that Ruet needed help getting healers to Lyria and Zharieth. Tujal was out of the bed in a quick hop "Aye!" she replied, and awoke Amenth. The dragonling's eyes opened whirling yellow and red, and they were out of the weyr in a dash, heading for the dragonhealers and other medical staff.
Minutes later, Tujal and Healer Bilinian were racing into the Hatching Sands. Amenth had wisely elected to stay outside, knowing instinctively as all dragons did that Sharieth was inside on the bronze ledge. The weyrling curled up in the sun and waited anxiously for her rider and called out to Weseaneth. Trouble with the Egg-laying, my love, she told him. Please tell I'slen.
"Ruet, I got your message from Sharieth. What can I do to help?" Tujal asked, having finally reached the other two. She controlled her tone and expression to the ultimate calm; she didn't want Lyrai to be alarmed more than she already was.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 5, 2006 9:25:34 GMT -5
"Thank you Tujal. I have to talk with Bilinian." She spoke softly so Lyrai could not hear her, "comfort Lyrai for me. We need her to be strong for her Queen." Ruet looked down a moment. "I need you close by for now, Amenth and Sharieth aren't going to let a soul on these sands unless they have permission. The Queen needs some rest and the eggs should not be disturbed." Sharieth did look imposing from the Bronze ledge, though it was apparent she worried for her twin. The Gold sending her love to Lyrai and concentrating on making sure she knew everything would be fine.
Luckily Ruet was going to be too busy to norice her own fear and worry for a while. She walked over to where Bilinian had begun to inspect the sleeping Queen. Rue whispered something to him that the other two would not be able to hear, the two healers became rather animated in movement as they discussed what could have happened. Ruet being that active was rare to see but she was passionate about the subject matter and even more so knowing the dragon so well.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 5, 2006 13:35:46 GMT -5
Even with the sudden buzz of people Zhariath lay motionless, her breathing shallow and slow. Lyrai could barely stand to look at her Queen this way. She wanted desperately to reach out and to touch that beloved mind but she didn't dare. At that moment Lyrai desperately regreted N'mos not being around, even if their relationship was strictly business, a pair of strong arms would have gone a long way to reasurance. As Sharieth's love washed over her, the Weyrwoman glanced greatfully up at the gold, so similar in form to her own. Their sizes and colors were vastly diffrent but the body stucture had the same delicate Lamenth stamp. Lyrai winced again, remembering how the previous Queen of the Weyr had passed. It was the only time the Weyrwoman had ever seen that a dragon had not died between. Lamenth had died clutching and had been burried on the eastern slope of the Weyr, just above where the grape vines grew.
Lyrai was almost as oblivious as her dragon to the arrival of Tujal and the healer. Lost in her own thoughts her shoulders slumped down, defeated. She didn't want to hear Sharieth, the Queen's 'voice' was too similar to Zhariath's own. All the overbounding love simply reinforced the fact that she could not speak to her own Queen. The Weyrwoman shook her head and sighed for what seemed the thousanth time tonight. Tonight... no, Lyrai glanced towards the cavern's entrace; when had it become morning?
Weseaneth woke sleepily to Tujal's summons and duly informed his rider. Several minutes later the brassy bronze landed at the entrance to the cavern, knowing full well not to go anywhere near the agitated Queen. I'slen leaped off the bronze, opting for speed over safety and ran into the Hatching Grounds. He spotted Tujal and made a bee line to the youngest goldrider. His grey eyes narrowed with worry as he looked from the nearly motionless queen to Ruet and the healer. As was his habit, Wes settled down next to Amenth, crooning with concern.
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Post by Memorie on Oct 5, 2006 14:41:46 GMT -5
Amenth wrapped her neck around the bronze's Thanks, Weseaneth, she said, her voice shining with admiration and love. They'll help Lyrai. We must help Zharieth. The weyrling gold sent her most loving and warm thoughts to her mother, and then to her mother's rider. Be well, Weyrwoman.
"I'slen, please help me assist Lyrai. She barely has her legs," Tujal said. She had felt, rather than heard, the woman's sigh, and subsequent shudder. Though her voice remained controlled, she felt a fear she did not express. Lyrai didn't even seem to have the will to speak, which did not bode well. And Zharieth looked so ashen...maybe she needed food or drink. She began to reach out to the dainty queen, but found a sleeping mind answering her back. Well, she thought, She must need sleep. I'll leave her be.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 5, 2006 16:10:35 GMT -5
Ruet barely noticed that the bronzerider had come. Actually she'd rather no more people came in at all. Less people near the eggs at this fragile point the better. Sharieth more than agreed on that point. Rue, is she ill from clutching.It's not a normal illness, my love. It should not be from simply clutching. It is complicated. Complicated how?Just what Rue needed, an angry dragon. We have not seen anything like it before and Bilinian would rather check the records than go off of what I think. So its off to the records room for me and Bilinian.
Ruet came over to where Tujal, I'slen and Lyrai stood. She was composed, calm and acting like she wasn't too concerned, even if she was. It was better to not let them know what exactly was happening. At least not yet. Hope was always better than fear of what could be. "Bilinian and I are going to examine some records before making a final judgement on what exactly has gone wrong with Zhar's clutching. Lyrai, contact Sharieth if you need me or if Zhariath's condition changes. We should be back shortly." Rue turned on her heel. Bilinian waiting for her at the Hatchign entrance. "Oh and ABSOLUTELY NO ONE is to enter the Hatching Sands till we know what has happened." If Ruet's voice had ever sounded stern it was then. Odd that she should ahve to take charge of a situation with Lyrai there. By far Lyrai was the more commanding of the two Weyrwomen.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 6, 2006 10:16:03 GMT -5
Lyrai nodded absently, her unwilling eyes still straying back towards the unmoving Queen. Oh how she wanted to feel the caress of the beloved mind. Still so far lost in her thoughts and her weariness, the Weyrwoman was as a whole largely oblivious. She was so tired... she felt if she didn't stop standing she would fall into as deep a sleep as Zhariath was. Ly's dark eyes wandered over the limp form of her golden dragon. Zhariath was her life... everything had changed when she had Impressed the Queen. Fear constricted her heart and her stomach, and the Weyrwoman was forced to look away again.
I'slen looped an arm around Lyrai to support her, disturbed to see the normaly vibrant woman in this state. The bronzerider nodded to Ruet and then glanced back to Tujal. "Maybe we should get her back to her weyr?" He watched the retreating back of the Junior Weyrwoman and his frown deepened. If already the healers had no idea what was wrong with the Queen, matters did not bode well.
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Post by Memorie on Oct 11, 2006 20:44:20 GMT -5
"Oh, get out of my way, you ninny," Tujal muttered to Ruet's retreating back. She rolled her eyes, and reached for a better grasp on the Weyrwoman. She smiled at I'slen. "No, I think she needs to stay here with Zhariath. It's what I'd want." And she would know. When Amenth had been sick, she hadn't left the gold's side. Meals had had to be brought to her if she was to eat.
Amenth kept speaking words to the Senior Queen and to the Weyrwoman. It's okay, Weyrwoman. Zhariath will recover soon. It'll be okay.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 13, 2006 20:18:58 GMT -5
Sharieth remained where she was watching over the sands and the eggs as she would for her own clutch. It was odd of course, having a Queen on a bronze ledge. Lyrai was concerned enough. Sharieth herself remained a quiet comforter. As long as Lyrai knew she was there, that was all that mattered.
Ruet was still having a discussion with the dragon healers. They seemed to be clinging to certain ideas that Ruet felt were wrong. In the end they all finally agreed on what was likely to be wrong with the Queen. It was Ruet's job to deliver the diagnosis to Lyrai, Tujal and I'slen.
So after much deliberation Ruet appeared on the sands, a full candlemark after she had departed. A few dragon healers followed her though they made straight for the Queen; Ruet walked toward Lyrai. She felt like a wraith, not all there, watching herself from some distant place.
Why couldn't Bilinian be the bearer of bad news? Then again, Ruet felt personally responsible for the recovery of the Queen. If Zhariath was feeling any different she didn't show it. The dragon healers were doing their jobs. Rue looked up at the people she had been walking toward but she didn't say a word. The words had left her when she saw her Senior Weyrwoman.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Oct 14, 2006 11:58:36 GMT -5
With the bouying effects of both Sharieth and Amenth holding her up, Lyrai had begun to feel a little giddy. Yes... yes... everything would be just fine, she shouldn't worry. There was no reason to worry... Lyrai blinked sleepily as she stood, supported by I'slen. At least he was holding her up, she really wanted to sleep right now. Couldn't she sleep? She was so very tired. When Ruet reappeared some of the haze of confusion left the Weyrwoman and her brown eyes fixed on the woman who rode the Queen twin to her own.
"She's fine right? Just tired? Everything will be ok?" Lyrai didn't really believe the words herself, but she wanted to. She oh so desperately wanted to. A lump rose in her throat and she couldn't even look a the limp form of her Queen. A moment later Lyrai shook her head ands straightened up. Blathering on like this wouldn't help Zhariath, she knew that as well as any. When the rider gave up hope it was all over. She stood, like a rod of steel had replaced her spine and nodded to Ruet. "Alright, give it to me straight like. What do we need to do?"
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 14, 2006 12:13:49 GMT -5
The words hit her before she was quite ready to answer. She really wished it had been someone else to tell Lyrai. "Bilinian and I have agreed on a couple things. The first is that this has to do with the poisoning." She looked at Lyrai trying not to let the tears come into her eyes that were coming, "There is no real answer to what is wrong, Ly. No Queen has ever had this happen before. You and Zhariath are going to have to trust the healers to do the right things." Rue didn't want to say what was nagging at the back of her mind.
Nothing was certain. She didn't like having to say this was the first time, however the main priority was making sure everyone understood how grave this situation was. "They are not going to do anythign without checking with us first. We need you to help us...she needs to wake up now. We could lose her if she doesn't wake." She was all too likely exhausted and no wonder.. but there was nothing they could do till she woke.
The healers began to do some of the procedures that were common, such as supplying the Queen fluids and trying to check for any signs Ruet and Bilinian may have missed. Rue wished that N'mos would get down here... not that she needed him but Lyrai might want him there.
"There is one other thing." Ruet said eyes downcast, not for the first time. She didn't want to think the worst for this part but she couldn't go around touching the eggs either. "If the poisoning did have to do with Zhar's clutching, there may be something wrong with the eggs or even the dragonets inside them."
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