Circle Weyr Story

[Aurelia]

I was thinking we could do a circle story. This is where one person starts a story thread about a dragon/rider in weyr, writes a little bit, then another person continues it. Here goes nothing!


The rising sun peeked over the horizon of the Fort Weyr Bowl. All was silent, except for the occasional bleat of a herdbeast. The spicy, aromatic smell of oiled dragon hide wafted through the Weyr,their riders passed out in rush-hewn beds. In the Weyrwoman's weyr, a gleaming mass of gold began to stir.

Linnuth, the senior queen dragon of Fort Weyr, shifted her massive body on the stone couch of her rider's weyr. She would rise soon, and she could feel the mounting tension in the weyr. There were only two junior queens in Fort then-Toroya's Viracath and Drionne's Bridith. She should clutch another queen Egg this time around. Hearing Hayanna stir, she turned her golden, wedge-shaped head to her rider, and blinked. Through the misty morning air, she heard, "Linnuth?"

I am here. What is it?

"Just checking in on you, dearest. When will you rise?"

Linnuth gave a mental draconic snort. Not soon enough for Wadrinth. He says he'll catch me again. I think otherwise.

[Anareth]

I'm not actually sure we're allowed to do these. Is there still a rule against "interactive" stories? Hosts? Anyone?

[Lily]

It looks as if you have found out, bb, that stories of this sort are to be played out in the Critters Forum, as Role Play stories
People are encouraged not to post on another's story in this Forum

[Aurelia]

Hayanna rolled her hazel eyes to the ceiling. "He has managed to catch you twice in a row, though."

So? It doesn't prove much. Before that, I was caught by Biliath, Norith, Jivanth, Ordoth.... Anyway, that is not important. I will rise when I rise. Right now, I itch.

Hayanna chuckled. Linnuth was practical as always, even in the face of a change in Weyrleadership--she didn't want R'woss' bronze Wadrinth to catch her again, but she still went about her everyday duties.

As Hayanna grabbed the oil and brush, Linnuth bugled. It's about time. I'm as dry as an Igen green.

Hurrying over to her dragon, Hayanna smeared paddlesful of gleaming brown oil on her gold. Linnuth snorted. On my right hind leg. It itches.

Suddenly, the great golden dragon lifted her sleek head into the air and began to keen, a low, mournful note that echoed throughout the weyr, repeated by other dragons. Bridith is no more.

"What?" Hayanna couldn't believe her ears. Bridith, Drionne's queen, had just Hatched two Turns ago....how could she have died?

Wadrinth says that Bridith's rider was killed. He's in the Lower Caverns and he wants you to go to him.

"I'll be back later!" Hayanna told Linnuth, putting the oil aside. She rushed out of the queen's weyr, wherhide boots tapping on the stone floors as she ventured to the Lower Caverns. Upon reaching them, she saw a gaggle of weyrfolk in a circle, surrounding something.

"Excuse me! Coming through!" Hayanna shouldered her way past the weyrfolk, who grumbled a protest, but let her by.

Gesturing brusquely at the stone floor, R'woss, upon seeing Hayanna, said, "See for yourself."

Glancing at the floor, Hayanna gasped. A bloody form lay crumpled on the floor. Pools of red, sticky liquid surrounded it, and its tawny hair obscured its face. "Who...?"

"It's Drionne. She was murdered, apparently by a belt-knife stabbing. We don't know who did it."

"But who? Who would do such a thing? And why....Drionne never offended anyone. And Bridith was so young...".

R'woss shifted uncomfortably. "We don't know any more than you, Hayanna. But Linnuth must rise soon and clutch a golden Egg, or else we will only have two queens!"

Just then, a small, portly figure bustled up to them from the crowd. Bowing, she said, "My pardons, Weyrleader, lady, but we wanted to know who killed Lady Drionne. Why...?"

R'woss' eyes flashed, and he cut off the chubby woman with a slicing hand motion. "We know not! Now return to your duties! This shall be taken care of!"

[Aurelia]

As the woman scurried off, Hayanna turned to R'woss. "Why'd you send her off? She has a right to know...".

"We'd tell them if we knew who killed Drionne," R'woss told her indignantly, eyes flashing. "What's the point of just disappointing them by saying we know nothing? Go back to your weyr. I'll let you know if anything else comes up. I've got it under control - with Linnuth about to rise soon, you couldn't afford to be unsettled."

Hayanna shook her head. "No! I'm Weyrwoman, and so I stay here. There is no concrete reason for me to go...". Looking into the crowd, she spied the stolid Headwoman, Braisa, talking animatedly to the Weyr Harper, L'rog, rider of green Grilath. Hayanna motioned Braisa over, and asked her, "Do you know anything about what happened?"

Breathing deeply, Braisa told the Weyrwoman, "No, milady. Queenrider Drionne was in the Weyr archives, lookin' up somethin' 'bout Threadfall. I was in the Kitchens with the Head Cook Piaran, and we was makin' stew for tonight's supper. Then, we's heard a scream, and we's came runnin' to the archives. Lady Drionne was lyin' on the floor in the Caverns and no-one was around, slumped over 'n' bloody."

Hayanna's brows knit. "You didn't see or hear anyone?"

Braisa shook her round head. "No, lady. The Caverns was abandoned, and, when me 'n' Pia came in, Lady Drionne was dead."

Haynna, intrigued, asked, "Well, do we know where everyone was?"

Braisa said, "Some were on sweep duty, others at t'beaches, but t'only one there was Lady Drionne. You'd best get back to t'weyr, lady."

Frowning at her, Hayanna moved off to the side where a large klah pot hung. Pouring herself an cup of the aromatic brew, she took a deep sip. Linnuth? she asked her queen.

I know nothing about Bridith's rider's death. It was sudden - she just went between.

"Does anyone know anything?" Hayanna said aloud.

Not as far as I know. I'll ask Viracath and others, though. And, Hayanna - I'm starting to feel very tingly. I might rise soon.