Midnight distress 01.28.3189

[ambigious]

It had been another eventful day. Since the Pass had begun, Madison and Aliseth were engaged every day in training with their wing, and although Aliseth executed each aerial stunt beautifully, they still had not practiced with firestone. The reasons for that were personal, and neither one of the pair had shared that with anyone yet. Still, the training was tiring, and after mending broken harnesses, scrubbing any flaking spots on Aliseth's beautiful hide, and turning in reports, Madison was usually exhausted. On this particular day, she'd barely had enough energy to get herself dinner.

Madi?[/i] Aliseth said uncertainly, worry tinging her tone. Are you alright? You seem more tired than usual.[/i] A weary smile spread across Madi's pale face as she reached out to her bond with the green, Aliseth's presence in her mind wrapping around her like a blanket. I'm alright, my love. Just tired. As she spoke these words, Madison mechanically ate her meal of shredded wherry meat, tubers, and bubbly pie. She didn't drink any klah for fear of waking herself up, and merely drank water. Despite the fact that she'd started out ravenous and couldn't stuff her mouth quickly enough, Madison couldn't finish her meal; her stomach started knotting in on itself half-way through, and the scent of the food itself was somehow nauseating to her. A sigh parted her lips as she took her empty dishes to the back of the lower caverns then strode stiffly to her Weyr, her feet dragging with each step.

This doesn't seem like you at all.[/i] I promise- The wingrider cut off as she reached the Weyrbowl for there, waiting for her at the entrance to the dining room, was her beloved Aliseth. The green crooned in worry as she lowered her neck to allow her rider to mount easier, her eyes whirling orange with alarm. As she mounted, Madison rubbed Aliseth's neckridge affectionately, attempting to soothe the green. I don't care what you say, Madimine, something is wrong. I can tell. I hope it goes away with a good night's rest.[/i] Splaying her large, nearly translucent wings, Aliseth leapt into the air and with a few powerful thrusts of her wings carried them easily up to their Weyrledge. Once she touched down she lowered once more to allow Madison to slide off, then waddled after her as the pair entered the cavern.

"Well then I'm clueless," Madi murmured, all traces of her stammer gone in the presence of her green. You're sure nothing is going on?[/i] the green persisted as she curled languidly onto her stone couch, her posture alert as she watched her rider. Madison shrugged her bony shoulders as she removed her riding jacket, her long brown hair still damp with sweat. "If something was wrong, you'd be the first to know." Aliseth snorted, all too aware of the accuracy of that statement. "Besides, it's normal to be a bit tired..." Abruptly Pern began to rock and sway and Madison reached out blindly as she tilted sideways, trying to regain her balance. Mine![/i] Aliseth bugled in alarm as she lunged forward, snaking her neck out just in time to break Madison's fall.

It's alright, Ali, Madison thought with a gasp before she fainted, splayed across Aliseth's long neck. Creeling in distress, Aliseth sent out a distressed call to any dragon within hearing distance. Help! I need someone to get the healer and bring them here immediately! My rider has fainted. I need someone NOW! If someone does not arrive within the next five minutes I will take it upon myself to find a healer.[/i] Aliseth's tone was caught somewhere between frantic and imperious, her tone brooking serious repercussions if someone did not arrive soon.

[weetia]

J'lin was exhausted and almost ready for bed, rubbing Portenth behind one wing as he tried to let his body and mind unwind for the day. About the time he had progressed to leaning his head against the bronze's shoulder and trying to convince himself to stand up and go to his own bed, Portenth's head suddenly shot up. We come, J'lin heard, and the bronze was standing up, forcing his rider to do the same.

"What..."J'lin got out aloud, stumbling a little as he woke completely up. "Where are we going?" he asked, confused, getting his riding straps anyway.

Aliseth says her rider needs a healer, the dragon said, and J'lin pulled a set of straps for a passenger out of his gear as well.

Why, what's wrong with her? the rider pulled himself into a seat, glad that he had not quite had the energy to prepare for bed.

She does not wake, Portenth said, and J'lin winced.

Let's bring her the healer, then, he agreed, though they were already heading for their ledge. Is anyone else in our wing still awake? Ask them to go straight to her, while we get the healer.

OOC: Do we have a healer character created yet? Or should I create an NPC on the fly?

[ambigious]

[ooc: erm...not sure haha so I'd say NPC works XD I'll go ahead and play it though, 'cause there's something sneaky special going on here baha >3]

Despite the fact she was trying to stay completely motionless to keep her rider from falling, Aliseth's wedged shape head snaked back and forth with distress, her eyes a sharp, pungent shade of orange. The moment she heard Portenth's voice, however, she relaxed slightly, a hint of blue leaking into her eyes. Portenth! Thank you![/i] Aliseth recognized Portenth as one of the bronzes who helped lead their wing as a wingsecond, and felt a sincere amount of gratitude to him. In fact, if it was any other day she'd probably tease and converse playfully with him, but in this moment her rider was the only thing that mattered.

Hurry,[/i] Aliseth added insistently, a hint of the former panic still coloring her voice. A soft, anxious croon escaped her throat as she attempted to turn to see her rider. However, since Madison's limp form was draped across her neck, this was hard to do. The young woman's already pale face was exceptionally pale, and Aliseth noticed this.

Portenth, does your rider know if it's normal to be pale? Pale as...the sheets our riders sleep in.[/i] Aliseth hunkered down to the floor so that Madi appeared to be in a more normal position, the tip of her tail twitching nervously as she waited.

NPC Healer Tabar

Shard it all! Bloody well shard it all. Tabar muttered to himself as he rant through lists of reserves, checking the roots off on a sheet before him. They'd need plently more where that came from before the end of the sevenday. Thread had returned, after all, and they needed to be well prepared to deal with the consequences. After another moment the large Healer paused and wiped his forehead which, despite the intense cold, was dotted with sweat. He'd certainly worked himself up into a tithy. Well, that was because the two fools he'd taken on as apprentices had taken it upon themselves to fall for each other and were currently who knew where doing who knew what. He'd rather not ask. Instead, he decided to take a break, and continued marching across the Weyrbowl toward the dining cavern, wrapped tightly in furs. His boots made small, dark markings in the snow to reveal his path.

[Sher]

((Guys, don't forget there is a system here to support NPCs- and I'd really prefer it be used, so when folks see the name of an NPC like Tabar they can look up basic info. It's an extremely short character sheet compared to the PC sheets. And, NPCs are available for anyone to play. Meaning, if anyone needs to auto an NPC, they can. Including J'ain. The only NPC I'm reserving from use is Furin, the Shifty Trader, and that's because he's pretty much going to be just sitting in his stall at the Open Marketplace. I like your initiative- just be sure to follow through with it. Okay?))

[ambigious]

[ooc: yes ma'am! -salutes- As I was writing it I thought there was something like that, and I was going to check alter =D so I'll dot hat now]

[weetia]

J'lin and Portenth were already winging toward the infirmary when the bronze heard the green's next question. Aliseth says that her rider is a lighter color,[/i] he told his rider, confused. Is that bad?[/i]

J'lin winced, seeing the fur-bundled man heading to the dining caverns before they landed. I think that's pretty common, since she fainted, he said, worried. I've heard that they go together most of the time, and Portenth relayed that message to the green. He had already changed direction to intercept the hungry Healer, and before the had landed, J'lin was calling the man's name.

"Master Tabar," he said, "I need to take you to Aliseth's weyr. Her rider fainted, and isn't waking up." They landed before J'lin finished speaking, a little clumsily because of the limited space.

The Healer sighed, realizing that his break would have to wait, and took the bronzerider's offered hand, clambering up the dragon's back ungracefully. He as at least accustomed to these short dragon trips from living in the Weyr, but he would never be quite as quick and smooth at mounting as the men and women whose dragons gave him the lifts. "When did she last eat?" He began peppering the other man with questions. "Was she complaining of any other symptoms, or acting oddly? Did anyone else she has been around seem ill?"

The bronzerider could only shake his head. "I don't know, I haven't seen her since drills, and she didn't seem ill then. At least, she flew perfectly. I don't think anyone else seemed ill, either." The healer scowled, realizing that the bronze must have been summoned by his dragon, and when they landed at Madison's weyr, he went right in, expecting the rider to head back to his own now that he had made the delivery.

He didn't realize that the concerned wingsecond had followed him into the green's weyr at first, and then began muttering about contagion and incubation periods, before saying more clearly, "Oh well, I guess if its a concern, you were probably exposed during drills." The thought made him shudder. Hopefully the greenrider wasn't contagious, because if she was, the weyr's riders had probably spread it to each other and who knows how much of Pern before she showed a single sign. Sometims the instantaneous travel of dragonriders was as much a curse as a blessing.

[ambigious]

[ooc: thank you for being so patient with me XD]

The moment the two gentleman entered their Weyr, Aliseth flared her wings protectively, her wedged head momentarily still as she eyed the Wingsecond and Master Healer. Her eyes were whirling rapidly, her pupils almost indiscernible through the orange veil of alarm. Thank you, Portenth,[/i] the green managed, even as Tabar hurried forward.

"Don't shield her from me, you silly green," Masterhealer Tabar said suddenly, then turned to arch a slim, querulous brow at J'lim. "If you insist on staying, bronzerider," he admonished irritably, "then would you mind making yourself useful and telling this green to let me see her rider?" Without such prompting, Aliseth snorted down at the man and allowed her wings to fold against her back, revealing the limp form of her rider.

Couldn't you have found a more pleasant healer?[/i] Aliseth asked, clearly exasperated. Still, if she was feeling calm enough to tease Portenth, that was a good sign. Still muttering to himself, Master Tabar approached Madison who, when Tabar placed his hand on her forehead to take her temperature, roused slightly. Her lashes fluttered open despite her pale face, and in that instant she noticed J'lim and groaned. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she muttered continuously. Tabar arched a brow but simply took her vital signs, then frowned. "I'm sorry I caused trouble," Madison finally managed to croak out, her voice faint, as her weary eyes watched J'lim.

The Masterhealer shook his head, muttering to himself as he reached into his satchel. "I'll have to do some blood work, but if you ask me, you have nothing to worry about. You're pregnant, and since you haven't been getting enough nourishment for you and the little one you're dehydrated."

[weetia]

{:OOC: No problem waiting, I have my slow days too. BTW, probably not what you want plotwise, but I have a friend who's having twins, and the doctor was able to hear two separate infant heartbeats, so they knew even before the ultrasound.}


Aliseth seemed nervous at their approach into her weyr, even though she'd asked for them. She let the Healer get to Madison though, and J'lin was relieved to see her wake up while Tabar checked on her.

He is the best healer,[/color] Portenth pointed out cautiously to the agitated green.Good is more important than pleasant,[/color] he added. Of course, Tabar was also the first Healer they saw, but that didn't change the fact that he was a master. Would she have preferred a polite, respectful apprentice?

Madison managed to apologize to J'lin, and he shook his head. "People only ever seem to be sorry for the things that they don't need to," he said. "It's not your fault you're sick. I get mad when people don't prepare for drills, not when they collapse and need help."

Then J'lin blinked at the healers words, and winced. They'd have to rearrange things with the wing, assuming she wanted to keep the kid. She'd have to tell the wingleader, so she could be transferred out for the duration of the pregnancy. He tried to put it out of his mind, then. None of his business just yet. If she kept it...well, being out of a fighting wing for one year out of all the decades of the pass they would have wasn't that much. After all, dragonriders needed to reproduce just as much as dragons did, since hatchlings frequently preferred weyr-bred boys.

"Do you need me to get anything for her," he asked the Healer. "Or do you want her in the infirmary? I think Aliseth will be calm enough now that her rider is awake."

[ambigious]

The news came as a shock to Madison just as much as it did to poor J'lin. The young woman's light brown eyes instantly studied her wingseconds face to see if he was angry, still feeling anxious. She didn't mean to disrupt wing training, and knew that they would have to find someone to fill her spot. It was difficult to do, especially since they'd been training as a unit for so long...it messed with the chemistry.

"O-okay," she murmured, her stutter returning as she felt more like herself with each passing second. Despite the gravity of the situation, Aliseth turned her coy gaze on Portenth at his comment. Do you feel the same way for mating flights, Portenth?[/i] the green teased, her whirling eyes playful. A sigh parted Madi's lips as she momentarily closed her eyes, still leaning against Aliseth's long neck for support. Stop it, Ali. You're the one who got me into this mess in the first place. Aliseth genuinely looked hurt at her rider's quick retort, and brought her wedged head around. What do you mean?[/i] After a second's pause, Madison shook her head lightly, raising one hand to scrub anxiously at her face.

"Nothing. I'm sorry, love," she added in a whisper so that neither J'lin nor the healer would hear. At J'lin's comment, Madi opened her eyes once more. She'd recovered enough to be thoroughly embarrassed by the whole situation. "I need to get some supplies, and I'd rather not move her too far, until I know for sure it's the pregnancy." The Masterhealer eyed Madison in scrutiny, clearly exasperated with the small rider for not knowing about the pregnancy. "Will you wait with her until I get back, in case something happens? Order some water, while you're at it," he added in a gruff tone, and began muttering as he strode from the Weyr. The moment he was gone, Madi drew in a deep breath and glanced up at J'lin.

"I'm s-s-so s-s-sorry," she said, despite his earlier words. "I h-h-had n-no idea. It m-must've b-b-been Aliseth's l-last m-m-mating flight," she added, and ran her hands nervously through her bangs. "C-can I g-g-get you anything, s-since you're h-h-here?" We're supposed to be taking care of you, Madi,[/i] Aliseth announced to all of them, gently prodding at her rider with her large muzzle. "B-b-but-"

[weetia]

Portenth puffed himself up a little in response to Aliseth's flirting. Well, some of us can be skilled and pleasant at the same time,][/color] he asserted. I admit, not all dragons can manage it,[/color]

"Right," J'lin told the healer. "I think I can handle water, and keeping an eye on her," he said drily, aware that the healer didn't hear most of what he said, already gone.

"When was her last mating flight," J'lin tried to remember aloud. He didn't think Portenth had been chasing her, and otherwise he really didn't keep track. Then he shook his head firmly at her offer. "You're already not feeling well," he pointed out. "Whether its just the pregnancy or not, you stay put. I'll tell the wingleader not to expect you for drills at least tomorrow. We'll see what Tabar says about when you can come back." Or if, at least during the pregnancy, J'lin thought grimly. Passing out before she even knew she was expecting did not suggest that she would have an easy time. J'lin was pretty sure that her last mating flight was fairly recent, especially if she'd had no idea she was pregnant until now.

He called down to the kitchens for water, and frowned a little. "When did you last eat, Madison?" he asked, gently. He didn't want her to think he was blaming her for her own fainting. He certainly forgot meals often enough when he had a busy day. He just didn't have the other...condition...making that a major problem. "If the healer okays it, I'll make sure you get at least a light meal sent up here," he had no idea what kind of food pregnant women preferred, though. He had heard they had some trouble keeping food down, especially early on. And should she be moved to a ground-level weyr, at least during the later months?

Something else occurred to him, but he was too polite and Weyr-bred to ask her about the father. If it had been him, he would want to know, as terrifying as he found the idea. At least he would be responsible enough to help a woman with her extra needs during pregnancy, even if they had only been together a single time. Hopefully, she would tell the man, though of course that was her decision.

[ambigious]

Despite Madison's disapproval, Aliseth looked positively coquettish when Portenth responded to her flirtations. Oh, how she enjoyed a sophisticated conversation with an understanding male. Momentarily taking her eyes off of Madi, Aliseth glanced towards their ledge, where Portenth undoubtedly waited. The green allowed herself to take a silent moment to look Portenth over, almost as if she were considering him. I agree, it's no easy feat. But I'd say a lot of that has to do with the male and how he handles himself...or if,[/i] she added playfully, [/i]he can handle himself. Do you agree?[/color][/i]

Although she did her best to completely ignore her green's conversation, Madison's cheeks heated despite herself. She adored Aliseth, but the green's lust was insatiable! My love, Madi sighed mentally, don't you think you can wait until your next mating flight? What's the fun in that?[/i] Aliseth asked indignantly with a snort. Those are over in a matter of minutes. It's the flirting leading up to it that's the best part,[/i] the green told her rider matter of factly, who merely shook her head lightly, still focused on J'lin. The small young woman had her hands clasped lightly at her waist as she watched her wingsecond, brown eyes still nervous. For a second Madison seemed flustered at his words, her lips moving silently as she tried to form words.

"B-b-b-" duty required that she offer him klah, or a snack, or something, but if he insisted there was nothing she could do. Thus she subsided with a nod, and chewed on her lower lip. "Okay...and p-p-please t-tell the w-w-wingleader I'm s-s-sorry," she added hastily, then abruptly ran a hand over her face with a sigh. She still felt so tired! Sweet Faranth, if she was pregnant...Madison still hadn't come to terms with that fact, and thus tossed the thought from her mind. Madison blinked abruptly, realizing that J'lin had asked her something. "Ex-excuse me?" When did you eat last,[/i] Aliseth supplied helpfully, which caused Madison to blanch.

"Um...th-this m-m-morning?" she managed quietly, fiddling with her bangs. "I h-h-had some b-breakfast b-before w-w-wing t-t-training," she told him, then paused for a moment. As if on cue, her stomach growled, and she quickly smacked a hand over her it, thoroughly embarrassed. "T-thank you," she managed to say. Somehow, without J'lin having to say anything, Madi knew what he must be thinking. Another sigh parted her lips as she gazed towards the window. "H-her last f-f-flight w-was j-just a l-little w-while ago," she explained. "C-c-couldn't be m-m-more than a m-m-month. And..." Madison looked awkwardly away from J'lin. "I d-don't know the f-father...it's so...I d-don't like..." She trailed off, unable to finish that statmenet. Flights were already uncomfortable enough for her as it was without adding emotions and relationships into the equation.

[weetia]

Portenth was completely oblivious to the greenrider's discomfort or his own rider's exasperation with his flirting. Of course, it's all about the male's abilities, he agreed. to handle himself, and to pay attention to his mate. I have never had any complaints, he asserted.

J'lin frowned back over his shoulder at the bronze. Your timing is terrible, he told his own dragon. Hold off on the flirting until her rider is a little less panicked,will you?

J'lin sighed at Madison's words. "All right, I'll tell the wingleader you're sorry," he said, a little frustrated. "shall I tell him the father's sorry, too?" he asked, sarcastically. Then he rubbed his hand over his face tiredly. "Sorry, I'm just tired. Look, I know some people are jerks about this to female greenriders, but I promise you don't have to worry about that. At least with me. Where else do future dragonriders come from, anyway?"

At her confession of how long it had been since her last meal, J'lin shook his head. "I know we all do that sometimes," he said, "so I'm not going to jump on you about skipping meals. What do you think you could eat?" he asked, prepared to call down to the kitchens. He shrugged idly at her comment about now knowing the father. That wasn't exactly unheard of, and if she decided later that she wanted to inform the father, he was sure someone in the rumor mill known as the lower caverns had some idea which dragon had most recently caught Aliseth.

[ambigious]

As Madison was safely in the care of J'lin, Aliseth was comfortable enough to relax completely. This meant that the green had already forgotten how stressed out she was a few moments before, and was languidly enjoying Portenth's attention. He was a fine bronze beast, after all. Oh really?[/i] Aliseth responded coyly, the tip of her tail flicking to the side. That's quite impressive. That,[/i] and a dragonic equivalence of a laugh vibrated through Aliseth's broad chest, or they don't complain to you directly.[/i] The green's tone was clearly teasing, but there was also a subtle challenge in her words, as if daring Portenth to show her otherwise.

Despite the blush that still colored her cheeks, Madison stoutly ignored the words her green were slinging in Portenth's direction. She'd long since given up trying to reel in Aliseth's wildly flirtatious personality. That was simply who the dragon was, and Madi wouldn't change that. Instead, she focused on J'lin, grateful that he hadn't made a comment about who the father was. For a second she was silent, trying to figure out how to respond, when J'lin saved her from that by apologizing. "It's alright," she responded in an almost whisper, her stammer momentarily gone. "I know it's been a long day." Another pause, and then a rare smile crossed Madi's face as she brushed a stray bang behind her hear. "Thank you, J'lin. I really appreciate that. I'm not g-good with all of this..." Madison blanched once more and picked at her dress. "I just ride in the wing and fight thread. That's what I'm good at. But the rest of it-" she lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug, her small smile self deprecating.

When he mentioned food, Madison's stomach churned and she crinkled her nose. You didn't realize how hungry you were,[/i] Aliseth accused her gently, showing that she was still very much aware of what was going on with her rider. Yes, yes, Madi replied absently, sighing outwardly to J'lin. She also appreciate the bronzerider for not berating her about eating, which she should have been more conscientious about to begin with. "To be honest, I could go for some wherry meat right now," she replied, still in that same quiet voice. "And maybe some juice? Would you like anything?"

[weetia]

Portenth snorted at Aliseth. They have nothing to complain of, he told her, or I am sure you would have heard. Of course, you can decide for yourself any time you like. J'lin only made enough note of the bronze's flirting to remember that he would need to chat up an amenable weyrworker when the green was ready to rise. He really didn't want to complicate things by falling into bed with one of his wingriders.

The Healer is returning, Portenth informed him suddenly, interrupting his own flirtation. J'lin shook his head at her question about his appetite. "I'll get some juice or something, and have the kitchens send you up some wherry and juice," he told Madison. "I'm ready to go get some sleep, though, since Portenth says the healer is back. Have Aliseth wake us if you need anything else, though. Good night, Madison," he said, around a yawn he barely managed to cover. He passed the healer heading in while he was on his way out.