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Iwieth popped from Between with a large herd beast in his talons. Dropping in and then moving forward, he actually had to circle and come back down to land. There were two! Two new dragons Impressed to a boy and girl! He rumbled angrily as suddenly there were mental cries for help. What had happened?

V'tur! Calanoth! I am here! The brown moved forward but there was only so much room for him. Eyes whirling red, he dug up the earth underneath him in anger. Is there another way out?

V'tur cursed as well. All of a sudden they had two new riders and now it had all gone to dragonshit. They would have to move carefully and quickly. The cowards who would threaten a young girl and her dragon's life. "What do you want me to do? Boy, we need you to get close to us as quickly as possible. Iwieth has food for your dragon. Just get to the outside."

Tyalar had been appalled at the fighting and the loss of the Gold. He had been terrified by the idea his family would have no business. But - whilst he disagreed with their methods (now being the perfect example), he did agree with them. And right now....right now they were desperate. People did strange things when they were desperate. Horrible things, things they would never normally do.



<...So we agree?>



If pressed, Tyalar would argue that he hadn't teared up. It was darkish anybody, nobody can tell!

"Take me instead. Let her go, look at her, she's terrified! Put the knife to my throat instead!"

Tyalar strode forward, up to A'nos - the other would have to do something, the boy was practically standing on him, even if he did stand shorter. When he got really close he whispered.

"I'll come with you afterwards - we agree, but please, let her go!"

A’nos held the young man’s green eyes for a moment, picking up the input from Xenth via Acriculeth at the same moment. Giving a slow nod he took the knife away from the girl’s neck and stepped back. “My thanks to you young man, now if you would be so good?” he held his free hand out towards the new rider, inviting him to come and have steel held against his skin in place of another; a better person than he was for sure. A fool, but a useful one, one for their side that their foes would miss. “Would you tell us your name, and your dragon’s? I am A’nos, and my bondmate is Acriculeth.”

Acriculeth passed to his allies.

When you have clawed your first male during a Flight for an attempt to catch without permission, you can speak to me of wrongness. Xenth spoke without reprimand in her voice though under her eyelids, her eyes were red-orange tinged with yellow. The males in question were disciplined if it came to light, and she'd not been force-caught to date, but she scratched more than one face, bit at more than enough pouches. He released her, and you. We do not want bloodshed. We do not like causing pain.

(Not entirely true but one did not bring up such subjects around Weyrlings.)

Kr'stof crouched by the girl, fishing in his pocket for wrapped jerky. It'd been made fresh, still slightly chewy, and while not the best for young dragons it was, indeed, food. S'lar had his stash and Kr'stof, not to be beaten out, had his.

"Lovely names," he murmured and offered out the wrapped food. "It is not the best in the world but its food for your girl. Where are you from, darling? Are you enjoying Trine? Never cared much for it myself, the weyrs are less than glorious."

Xenth said nothing back to little Girofleth. Like so many other little hatchlings, the green came into the world with her own opinion and way of doing things. If Kr'stof felt the same way as Iafri's green so Xenth understood her point of view. She did not agree but... The green just sighed and kept her eyes closed.

"Ahhh," He murmured, eyes flicking to the green draped on her, his voice still gentled. "Holdless is a rough life, especially for a young girl with a very new dragon. She'll require quite a bit of care. I would very much like to offer you passage to Malvren, dearest. You wouldn't be looked down on and you wouldn't have to see me ever again if you wished it. It's your choice, of course, if you would prefer trine or Malvren."

He sighed, arms draped over his knees in his still-crouched position. "You need a Weyr for her, precious. Trine will certainly have you, Girofleth was born to their queen, but only at Malvren will you be treated with respect as a person, a rider, and not categorized by the color of your dragons hide."

"I have no intention of forcing anyone into joining us, Comrade," A'nos replied with a small shake of his head to Tashio, still carefully holding his blade in place. "If Iafri doesn't wish to accompany us then we shall release her and Girofleth to the Resistance riders. I would prefer that you join us," he gave a slight smile to the Holdless girl, "but you are under no obligation. I agree with Kr'stof; I simply think it would be a better life for you than Trine will offer.

"Kr'stof and his three green riding companions are ranked far higher than I myself am, as it should be, for my bronze and I only graduated from Weyrlinghood a few turns ago whereas they are skilled and experienced." A rueful little grin was shot to the greenrider at this point as A'nos continued; "I'll admit it was a little strange, even galling to get used to - I suppose I hadn't realised how arrogant I was - but I can see that it's right now. Keller gives recognition to those who deserve it regardless of the kind and colour of their bondmate, or even if they have one. Benden Weyr, the old system, made a boy who had only been a wingrider for a few months into a wingleader based merely on a popularity contest and the colour of his dragon. He holds his position at Trine to this day I believe; sixteen or seventeen turns, and made a wingleader because he spoke well and because his bondmate is bronze. It's not simply about leadership either," he shook his head, "it's about basic respect, and being valued. I was fortunate to Impress Acriculeth at Benden; as I said I was rather blind to how things were for the riders of blues and greens, and for wherhandlers and unbonded folk. The Revolution opened my eyes... and I hope that we can open yours and save you from a fate you do not deserve. We never intended harm to anyone here, or the eggs; they simply hatched sooner than we expected. All we want is to get out of here with our lives, and to take you with us if you will come."

All of the above was more or less true, save for his description of his feelings. He supposed he hadn't really realised how little respect the small dragons and whers and so on got, but then he wouldn't really have cared if he had known. He had joined the Revolution for his own gain, it was as simple as that, and he was trying to recruit these two here and now for his own gain too; it was about time he had the chance to do something to raise his standing in the new world order.

As she finally got the jerky unwrapped and offered it to Girofleth - who hesitated very pointedly before eating it - Iafri's gaze flickered back and forth between the men, and briefly on their female companion who finally spoke, but never lingered and never met their eyes. She didn't understand; even if she hadn't been terrified, she would have had a difficult time understanding everything they were going on about. She knew just barely knew enough about dragons and about rumors of recent events to grasp some of it, but not nearly enough to fully understand the choice they were pushing her to make.

She gave the barest shake of her head and tightened her grip on Girofleth. This was slightly uncomfortable, but the little green did not protest, only turned to rest her head on her rider's shoulder. The two sat so quietly, conferring briefly, before the dragon answered, including all present, We will not go with you. I trust what your actions have told me more than I trust your words, and your actions have told me things I do not like. I do not believe Mine will be safe with you, when you have already held and threatened her. There is no excuse for what you have done. We will go with the others, who have not offered us harm as you have. I do not know what we will find at Trine, but we will find our own way if we must, when the time comes.

To her brother alone, she said sadly, I will not allow myself to follow that path, for justifying my means by my ends can lead nowhere I wish to go. Mine and I offered them no harm, and yet they threatened us - and now they hold Yours, and likely would have tried to whether he willed it or not. It is not right. I will not be involved with such people.