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+---- Thread: [G] [C] 734.08.01 | Nature's Fury [Solo] (/showthread.php?tid=2113)
734.08.01 | Nature's Fury [Solo] - T'vor - 09.Dec.13
T'vor was exhausted. He couldn't recall when he'd every felt so tired yet utterly happy and complete. He curled up around Estelth, falling asleep to the rhythmic sound of his dragon breathing. Before long the little Blue would be waking him back up to be fed or oiled or both.
He'd never felt true terror before. Sure he'd been scared a few times, but this was something else. It clawed at his mind like a caged animal seeking escape. It paralyzed him, leaving him unable to think or move. T'vor! Estelth screeched in panic, his body pummeling T'vor's. "Estelth I'm here, it's okay." He wrapped his arms around the struggling Blue, trying to overcome the dragon's fear with his own comforting thoughts. What had sent his dragon into such a panic? He had to calm his dragon down or risk loosing him to his panic.
Something rumbled distantly and he felt the building shudder in response. This was something more than just another thunder storm. They've died! They've died! Estelth wailed, head buried into T'vor's chest as he continued to creel in distress. T'vor didn't understand, he lifted his head, preparing to shout for help when he realized that above Estelth creels were other sounds. People shouting and the sound of keening dragons and terrified weyrlings filled the air. T'vor struggled to his feet. "Love we need to go right now!" As if in response to his word the building shuddered and groaned again. He heard the not so distant crack of wood giving way to some external force. The air was heavy with the scent of wet earth as he shoved the Blue to his feet, hurrying him to the door and out into the chaos.
He urged his trembling Blue toward the exit, joining the flow of riders also ushering their young dragons to safety. He felt sick, each time Estelth keened, but he made the Blue keep moving. The building wasn't safe and seemed likely to collapse at any moment. The areas behind them were a dark mass that grew as the building was consumed. T'vor was so focused on his dragon that he nearly collided with another young man. He opened his mouth to apologize, but his words died unspoken as he met the man's empty and haunted gaze. "Come on Estelth. That's it, just a bit further." He kept moving, leaving the former rider behind. Those eyes were going to haunt him long after this was over. There was nothing he could do for him. Stalling meant he risked ending up with the same hollow expression.
Eventually the pair made it to the far side of the Gather Square. T'vor didn't dare try to do a head count of how many from his class were left. Even now dragons were still keening. Estelth had curled up in an worn out heap with T'vor sitting next to him. He stroked his dragon's hide, taking guilty comfort in the fact that they had made it. The eastern sky was lit with the faint promise of dawn. The survivors would soon be rewarded with seeing another day, though many were now lost to the blackness of between.