World of Pern
[G] [C] 734.08.01 | Change of Tides [Solo] - Printable Version

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734.08.01 | Change of Tides [Solo] - Casa - 02.Feb.14

The night had been exuberant, and all had seemed still. Celebrations had wrung out loud and clear into the night in general, but Thallyath and Casa had retired early, as soon as they had really been allowed to. Most of the celebration was done by adults anyhow, drinking and laughing and dancing and...doing a thousand other things. They had danced around briefly, celebrating Quenym's Impression as well, but the tiny Gold has insisted she was tired and they needed to rest, because rest was key to being successful and productive.

Agreeing, Casa had promised to her best friend they would talk more the next day.Thallyath was now snuggled down, and Casa curled herself around the diminutive creature, cuddling down under furs and dreaming sweet, dreamy thoughts. It had been a glorious day.

Her breath was soft and even, eyes closed but slightly shifting as curled her fingers around one of Thallyath's limbs, snuggling herself closer. The dragonet mumbled a soft trill, and Casa blinked softly, slowly, just once. Everything was quiet, the celebrations must have come to an end at least. She felt a slight rumble and shook it off, lying herself back beside Thallyath. As she settled herself to sleep again, the firelizards all burst forth at once, screaming, screaming, they were so terrified -

And then the walls came crashing down.

Thallyath came to first, a terrified screech escaping her maw as she scrabbled and fought to pull herself free from the thick, sucking mud. She cried out again, confused and lost and dirty and what was going on?! She trembled in place, eyes full of fear as she cowered and looked for Casa. What she found created an even vaster feeling of pure terror.

HELP! HELP PLEASE! SHE'S STUCK, SHE'S DYING, SHE'S....HELP! HELP NOW-

The tiny dragonet clawed ferociously at the mud, her personal cleanliness and rules set aside now for survival and fear. Her delicate limbs were not hugely effective as she ripped and tore. She couldn't hear Casa, she couldn't hear, she couldn't feel! She snapped desperately at the girl, connecting with her shoulder and dragging her out a small bit with a solid crunch.

Casa came to with a sudden gasp, her eyes flying open as she coughed and sputtered, a mouthful of mud spilled out of her. She shuddered, eyes fluttering lightly. Everywhere hurt, and her mind was filled with pure chaos. Groaning softly, she tried to move her arms, only to feel fire lance through her collarbone and chest. She struggled before falling still, trying to whisper out and soothe Thallyath, whose mind was a tapestry of fear and terror.

As the baby continued to claw awkwardly at her, another dragon descended into the scene, his much stronger body able to pull debris away. Casa blinked blearily up at T'ken and his brown, her heart fluttering a little as they pulled her loose. As she lie beside the debris, she couldn't seem to clear her mind. Thallyath crept protectively on top of her, unable to do anything but quiver, lost and unsure of herself.

"Casa, we need to go..." The voice pierced the fogginess of her exhausted and aching body, and she sighed. T'ken gently helped her to the feet, and she swayed for a moment. He frowned, and steadied her lightly. "You are pale - that gouge in your shoulder seems to have cost you a lot of blood." She uncertainly touched her shoulder, unaware there was even a wound there. Nodding softly, she began to unsteadily weave her way after them, gently guiding the mute, terrified dragonet by her side.

As they walked, T'ken numbly explained the damage happening around them. She listened in horror, feeling empty and dull. Occasionally, a scream would echo overhead, numbly repeated by those around before the eerie silence fell again. As they walked, she couldn't believe the number of people who had died. Freezing, she realized that she had seen Quenym or his bronze yet.

Ignoring T'ken's confused call, she stumbled toward the wreckage, falling to her knees and trying to peer through crushed doorways and and cracks in the wood and the like. The first few didn't show her anything, but around the fourth, she saw a sickening sight - a familiar bronze wing, a crooked pale face. Screaming, she leapt towards them, falling over as the pain from the broken collarbone and shoulder wound screamed through her.

Thallyath, T'ken, and Indrith all tried to stop her, but she couldn't abandon him, she couldn't give up. Quenym! He couldn't be hurt. He couldn't die. "No," she moaned softly, refusing to see the blood, refusing to see the fading light in their eyes. "NO! NO!"

A keen rose in the air behind her, echoing from Thallyath and Indrith. Sobbing, she fell on top of them, her fingers curling in his hair, clutching at him. He wouldn't leave her behind like this. He wouldn't have abandoned her on their adventures. He was supposed to be her weyrsecond! He was who she loved -

Enough.

The dragon's voice echoed, sounding tired but fierce. Casa turned her eyes towards Thallyath, unable to comprehend. He is dead. I almost lost YOU. I...I can't...you need to do what is best for us all. We need to survive...

Casa shook her head vehemently, trying to curl tighter around his limp body. "I hate you," she seethed, sobbing wracking her chest. "If...If I could have just...if we had made it in time..." T'ken came up, partially gathering the frail girl up as she sobbed unconsolably into his chest. "If I had only saved him..."

Thallyath sat back by the brown limply, her eyes full of sadness and hurt but determination. The larger brown resumed moving them, scooping them up and gently gliding towards where the Healers were setting up. Casa limply leaned into her friend, eyes dull and empty as she and Thallyath were sat somewhere, her mind full of the thoughts and memories of her very best friend, tears still pouring silently down her face.

Thallyath shuddered and lay in her lap, unsure what to do and still panicking because of her mere inability to do anything. Someone handed Casa a cup, and she fell off into an uneasy sleep as they drugged her and began to set her collarbone, leaving her in a black haze of nothingness.

T'ken used with permission for rescue.