You walk toward the Landing field, full of dragons.

Several old aunties have begun to set things up. And set them up they have! There are four big kettles situated out on the landing field. Each has a group of supplies beside it, which includes dye, a series of braided ropes, paddles, and several aprons.

K'tor is checking Albanth's straps absently, and then looks up to wave a greeting to Kayjay and his 'second. "This should prove interesting today. At least the rain's let up."

Auralia, with straps jingling along beside her, emerges from the direction of the lakeside meadow, whistling quietly. Her head bobs towards K'tor, and then Kayjay, as she turns to wait for Iesath. "Hurry up, dearest." A further nod towards K'tor, "It should, indeed."

Kayjay looks up at the sky. "True, no one can use the excuse that the rain splattered dye on them." She chuckles as she too, checks her lifemate's straps and looks around the field.

Drudges come out and cheerfully dump water into all four kettles, with Auntie Nera supervising carefully. The youngest of the old Aunties, Nera has a sharper eye, and is in charge of making the dye. With great ceremony, she goes from kettle to kettle, looking over everything and then getting someone at each station to carefully add the dye.

In the northern sky, Tiarnath flies over from the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader's clearing.

Telinda walks over from the Northern Weyrs.

Tiarnath soars over from the sky above.

K'tor brightens as Telinda arrives, and then turns around to watch the dyeing. "I have a feeling my leathers are going to end up just ruined."

Auralia shucks her already rather worn riding jacket off, and drops it on the ground next to her, nodding towards Telinda. "It's a bit late for my leathers," she decides, chuckling, "Dye away!"

Kayjay hmms, looking down at her own scruffy leathers. "I always wear my old weyrling period leathers for this. I hate to get the good stuff ruined."

Telinda's eyes watch the sky as Tiarnath comes in for a landing, and then grins, "Behave!" she calls across the field as she wanders closer to everyone else. "How we doing?"

Blossoms of color bloom in the kettles as the dye is added: Bright unrepentant yellow, dark foreboding red, a springy - almost neon - green and a flat, dull ebony. The nannies have started to let the weyr's children out in anticipation of the drill, and they scatter around the kettles, gleefully dropping braided ropes in and making a mess.

K'tor frowns thoughtfully at the dyeing process, stepping out of the way of flying splashes. "I think they're getting there."

Kayjay idly salutes Telinda. "Doing fine, thank you, the dye looks spectacular as usual." She looks back at a few of her wing and shakes her head. "I just hope they come away dye free." Speaking in a bit louder voice, she continues. "The dye is -really- hard to scrub off your face, for instance."

A mess is certainly most like it. Watch Auralia. Watch Auralia get too close to a dying station. Watch Auralia's ivory shirt turn green. She steps back, dripping. "Oops," is her cheerful rejoiner. She peers at Kayjay, "Is it? Oh."

Remarra cackles from over behind a certain bronzerider she's stalking, "Well, maybe, Kayjay, I should mark my property then!" she comments, holding up a finger and waggling it at the bronzerider who blinks and quickly pays attention elsewhere.

Telinda smiles, "Excellent" she adds, heading over to the children and grinning, "Now, make sure you get them nicely soaked, want to be nice and messy!"

K'tor grins at Aura. "You've got Skyfury today, Aura. Though I'm stealing a few of our riders to drop ropes. Let's see how well they do..." He trails off, arching eyebrows at Remarra. Well, at least she's not behind *him* today.

Kayjay giggles as she watches Remarra. "Not exactly the effect I was going for, but whatever."

The children crow excitedly at the encouragement and proceed to splash large quantities of ropes into the dye.

Paddles stir in the kettles, the drudges going round and round diligently. Then one weyrbrat gets the bright idea to dip only half a rope in red, and the other half in yellow. The resultant hodgepodge is a huge mess, as the dyes start to run together.

Auralia's dye-spotted nose wrinkles, but her chin bobs, "Gotcha. Grab Krina, why don't you? She'd absolutely -love- to get her hands or gloves stained by touching ropes." Is that a twinkle in her eye?

Araneth ambles across from the lush Lakeside Meadow.

Aithne strides over from the lush Lakeside Meadow.

K'tor eyes the mess being made by mixing the dyes, and lifts his chin to find Auntie Nera and giving her a significant look. Then he looks back to Aura. "I'm going to take T'der, Mara and F'san." The brown and blueriders drift closer, as the Weyrleader apparently has lastminute instructions for them.

Telinda grins, shaking her head at Remarra, and then heads over to Belira, "Stay away from the vats, Belira, I don't think I want you red from head to toe!"

Tiarnath cranes her neck, trying to see over and into the nearest vat to her, and warbles -- ooh, messy stuff!

Kayjay shakes her head as she watches a child almost land head first into a vat. "I have a feeling a few fostermothers and nannies aren't going to be too happy with us."

Auralia, once again, bobs her head in quiet not-quite-submission. "Ah, okay. Good oh." One hand pushes some hair away from her face, and she grins, noting to Kayjay, "I'd say you're right, Auntie Kayjay."

Aithne pads onto the landing field on Araneth's heels. The dragon eyes the vats, jeweled eyes slowly whirling as she pads closer.

Albanth croons quietly to Tiarnath and nuzzles her side for a moment, before looking to see what has her attention. Kat states, "Oh, no you don't. Dye on the ropes and in the kettles. *NOT* on the grass, you two."

Auntie Nera starts after the littles, shaking her cane. "Stop that you! I'll have your ears for this! No mixing the dyes! The Weyrleader wants to see how they drop and what they miss!" Nannies scramble to gather up children and take them quietly off to the side, giving them a few undyed ropes to play with.

Tiarnath snorts at the Weyrleader, nuzzling Albanth back with her muzzle. But it's so messy, and so colourful, surely she can have a little bit?

Araneth croons softly to Kat, looking rather disappointed at his words until she realizes he didn't say -she- couldn't play with it, now did he? Closer to the vats she moves. Aithne padding over to the others. "Afternoon!" She calls out.

Kayjay stays a good half a field away from Tiarnath and tries to soothe a fussy Suriath. "No, you silly thing, she isn't going to make you get messy. Pay attention and you should be fine."

Iesath steps a little back behind Auralia, rumbling amusedly. No, thank you, no need to bring the dye over here. "Afternoon, Aithne."

Kayjay waves from her distant corner and calls out. "Hey, Aithne!"

The ropes are fished out gently and with much help by the now *mostly* docile weyrbrats, into stained wherhide bags. No effort is made to dry them, assuring they will still be wet when they are launched into the air.

Cloudchase wing settles carefully in formation on the landing field. The wingleader drops off as the rest of the wing dismounts, and comes to have a private word with the weyrleader. The pair seem to be having a spirited discussion, and Kat points out several holes in the wing's formation. The word 'Weyrlings' is heard several times as the pair converse.

Brielth ambles across from the Southwestern Weyrs.

L'mir walks over from the Southwestern Weyrs.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Iesath, somewhat uncharacteristically, rumbles << Just don't let any of those -things- come near me, thank you. >> A huff of distain: Aura actually -likes- being messy like that?

K'tor waves to Aithne and to L'mir as he and Brielth arrive as well. "Going to resupply us today you guys?"

Imara strides over from the Northern Weyrs.

Yishenth ambles across from the Northern Weyrs.

Aithne glances over at L'mir, waiting for him to answer.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth rumbles. << We can play with it afterwards, Kat says. Then *I* can play too! >>

Kayjay coughs slightly as a dandy bluerider comes along and whispers in her ear. She rolls her eyes and frowns. "No, you can't get out of ropedrills because you don't want to clash with your dragons new straps. Get back into line." She thinks for a moment. "Oh, and before you do, drop and do 20 pushups for me, would you?"

L'mir hmms, strolling onto the Landing Field, taking a sharp turn toward Aithne. "Best resuppliers in all of Pern, right, Aithne?" he grins to the weyrling.

K'tor frowns at the Cloudchase wingleader and has a few more choice words, after L'mir gives the orders for the weyrlings. One thing does come through and the Weyrleader says, "You *Will* pay attention to them. End of story."

Tiri walks over from the Western Courtyard.

Aithne grins at L'mir, "You bet." She pauses before checking Araneth's straps carefully.

Auralia peers at Kayjay, and then ohs! Leader stuff. She glances up and down the line of Skyfurians, raising her brows, "Are we all ready to get messy?" Silence. "Er, no?" says one of them. Iesath rumbles her agreement. "Well, you're all just party poopers, aren't you?"

Imara walks towards the vats, waving a greeting to those gathered. Yishenth follows, sniffing at the dye before rumbling quietly and settling down a good ways away from it.

Tiri wanders out towards the field, peering at all the dragons, "Must be something arranged today," she mutters to herself.

"Atta girl." L'mir sends back to the weyrling, then proceeds to walk down the long line, offering a few choice comments to those who are slacking.

Cursing softly under his breath as he picks himself up and heads back to his lifemate, the bluerider mutters. "Told 'im it was a stupid idea. She may be young but shards, she is worse than N'all at times." With one tug of his jacket, he jaunts across the field when he spots a serving girl watching him.

K'tor calls out, "Now! Mara, F'san," He indicates the blueriders from Skyfury, "T'der," a nod to the brownrider, "And I will be dropping the ropes for you. We'll be popping in and out of between to do it, so you never know where it will land. This is not practice really for Fall, it's more practice for the unexpected."

Nightwind lands with the other wings assembled, the wingleader and wingsecond gesturing for everyone to dismount. Equipment is gone over, much as it would be before a true threadfall. Finally, they give the go ahead, and the riders come forward to pick up sacks of stone for their mates.

Aithne can't help but giggle at the bluerider's dilemma, her attention caught fro K'tor's words. She rests back against Araneth to listen carefully.

Auralia turns her head, listening to K'tor. "Tricky," is her quiet comment, followed by a nod, her lips pulling into a smile.

K'tor finally dismisses the Cloudchase wingleader, who was still trying to make his point, and then turns to the rest of the wings. He lifts his arm, and then bellows to be heard, "Build up flame!" That's apparently the signal to start chewing firestone, as riders start feeding the 'stone to their beasts.

Tiri finds a spot of grass at the side of everyone and places her bag down before sitting on it, watching. She sends a wave over to a few of her friends.

K'tor grins at Tiri and the other weyrfolk that will remain on the ground. "Want to gather up missed ropes for us, and count the number of each color? We've red, green, yellow and black."

L'mir has turned just in time to see Aithne leaning back against her dragon. "Think there's nothing to do, Aithne?" he calls over to her sharply. "Get those sacks of extra rope to those at the end of this row. Do it 'now'."

Auralia turns, hefting up a sack of firestone, and setting to her task. Iesath the suddenly intractable just about refuses to chew it, and Auralia fumes. "Sharding green. Don't make me look bad!" The green does, eventually, submit to the crunching and munching, but it's with annoyance.

Imara walks among the other riders of Starflame, checking their readiness. At K'tor's command, she picks up a sack of firestone and begins to feed some to Yishenth.

Albanth watches all this crunching going on, and croons disconsolately. The bronze obviously feels a trifle left out by all of this, and nudges Tiarnath again.

Tiri glances up at K'tor before standing up and swinging her bag onto her shoulder, "Sure," she answers, straightening her trous ever so slightly.

Kayjay calls out to her wing. "Start feeding your dragons, folks." She grins as Suriath is already heading towards the stone. "Anxious are you, love?" She scritches his side as she tosses him a brown sized stone.

Monsoon wing arrives, late as usual, and the riders stream to gather themselves sacks of firestone. Soon the air is vibrating with the sounds of teeth pulverizing stone.

Aithne moves at L'mir's words, grabbing a couple of the sacks of rope and padding towards the end of the row.

Tiarnath casts Albanth a 'look' he's going to get to play with the ropes before her, and that's not entirely fair. Telinda on the other hand, shrugs into a battered harness, pulled down the straps so the flamethrower fits snug against her back.

L'mir pokes at a bag hung loosely at the side of a blue. Darn if it doesn't fall right off the small hook on the dragon's leather strap. The bronzerider throws up his hands in exasperation, groaning loudly. "You THINK you're going to Graduate? Think again!" he repremands the weyrling.

The Cloudchase wingleader glowers and says something to his wingsecond. The poor 'second scurries off, as riders in that wing begin chomping stone. The riders look a trifle uneasy, and darted glances keep going to the Weyrleader and to their wingleader and back again.

Iesath continues to chew, testily swinging her tail about, as Aura attempts to strap her up. More problems. "Will you grow up, Iesath? Please?" No response.

Yishenth rumbles in distaste as she pulverizes another chunk of 'stone with her jaws. Imara pats the green and reaches into the sack again. "I know, it's not the best tasting thing to chew on, but we've gotta practice to stayed skilled."

K'tor grins at Tiri. "And if you could organize folks into running the sacks of ropes to Mara, F'san, T'der and I, I'd appreciate it. I've got..." he consults a hide. "Yellow, Mara Green, F'san red and T'der black."

Kesath lumbers over from the Southwestern Weyrs.

Iesath finally both fed and clothed, Auralia stands beside her, sulky frown on her face. "It's about time," she notes, watching the bags of ropes with wide eyes. "Just do be good during the drill, hmm?"

Araneth sniffs at a chuck of stone that happened to fall close to her, sneezing before shaking her head. Aithne can't help but snicker as she constinues to move the sacks of rope to the end of the line.

F'loran jumps down off of Kesath, sliding down an offered leg before landing smoothly on the ground as the Brown croons.

F'loran has arrived.

Another piece of firestone, another appraising look over her wing, Kayjay chuckles softly. "I hope they look as spiffy as they do now at the end of the drills." She winks to K'tor. "Make sure to get that bluerider over there.. see if he can match his dragon.. blue."

Tiri looks about each of the riders mentioned before glancing over to the piles of sacks. She reaches a hand out, catching hold of a young weyrbrats collar, "Can you take that sack of black over there, to T'der," The kid sniffles, stamps his foot but then seeing Tiri's look, grabs the sack and runs over to the rider.

F'loran hops down off Kesath, after the two wandered in a little late. F'loran murmurs an apology to Cecily as the two approach the Moonsweep wing. "What'd I miss?" he shouts out next, this time in L'mir's direction, as he shows Kesath to the Firestone, and makes sure his straps are secure...

K'tor grins at Kayjay over the noise. "Oh, I think yellow'd be better."

Auralia makes her way up and down the Skyfury ranks, talking and assisting the riders in various semblances of readiness. All the while, she casts curious glances back towards Iesath, shaking her head.

Imara checks her lifemate's straps as the green chews the last bit of firestone. "Ready?" Imara asks. Yishenth croons affirmatively.

K'tor gives the signal to mount up, as he and his helpers each take a set of rope-filled bags from Tiri and the other residents, tying them off to straps and the like.

L'mir passes his brother, stomping the ground so hard small clouds of dust rise about his legs. Not too happy at what he sees from some of the weyrlings. Near Brielth now, he again raises his hands in that dismissive pose. "You're supposed to 'help' me with them." he says to the bronze.

Kayjay giggles. "Oh, true. That does look like it might glow in the dark..and might light up his life in more ways than one." She calls out. "Quit flirting and get your lifemate loaded up."

The weather, for once, has cooperated, with only leaden skies above instead of rain. The heat and humidity make the air hard to breathe, however, and leathers will quickly gather heat and stick to the body, even in flight.

K'tor takes a few scrambling steps and vaults up to catch Albanth's straps to swing astride the bronze.

Kayjay hauls herself up onto Suriath with the help of a proffered foreleg, settling herself between the Sunrazed Savannah Brown's neckridges.

Auralia passes back to Iesath, frowning, and then grabbing her jacket to mount up. Said jacket is stowed, leaving Auralia in her already dye stained shirt.

A hand placed on an edge of Iesath's straps, you swing yourself up, standing on her foreleg for only a moment before swinging yourself up the rest of the way. She watches you, warbling excitedly, happy to be flying with you once more. You lean over to pat her neck affectionately, and she warbles again, eyes whirling happily.

+*> Late or no, Kesath finishes loading himself up with firestone internally, while F'loran ties some extra sacks to the brown's riding straps. At K'tor's signal, he shouts out to Moosnweep, "You heard 'em.. Let's mount up!" And up he goes.

+*> F'loran hauls himself up onto Kesath with the help of a proffered foreleg and the straps, settling himself between the Brown's neckridges.

+*> Imara steps lightly onto Yishenth's outstretched foreleg, then swings easily into the comfortable place between her lifemate's neckridges.

+*> Telinda checks over the queens, waggling a warning finger at Remarra, then mounts up.

+*> Telinda scrambles nimbly up onto Tiarnath with the help of a proffered foreleg. The Champagne and Pearl Gold warbles in excitement as her lifemate settles herself between her neckridges.

+*> L'mir turns back to the weyrling wing, raising a fist into the air. "Mount." He calls out, loud enough for them all to hear.

+*> Tiri organises a small patrol of littles around each pile of colored sacks of rope. A few littles scatter out to give a couple more sacks to Mara, F'san and T'der before moving back to mill around the sacks.

+*> L'mir reaches up to take a firm grasp on Brielth's riding straps, and swings up into the seat between his neckridges with the help of his foreleg.

+*> High atop Albanth, K'tor looks around, and then pumps his fist in the signal to rise. Albanth launches eagerly, ready to get on with this business of training.

+*> Albanth flies toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

+*> Atop Suriath, Kayjay calls out. "Mount..." And stops as she sees her wing are already mounted. She blushes and clears her throat. "By the way, the riders in my wing who come away with the least amount of dye gets a skin of the best wine I can get hold of!"

+*> Suriath flies toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

+*> Aithne makes their way onto Araneth's back

You fly toward the sky over Southern Weyr.

+*> Kesath flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Tiarnath flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Yishenth soars over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Brielth flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Araneth flies over from the Landing Field at Southern Weyr.

+*> Albanth climbs above the wings, craning his neck down to look upon them. Kat doesn't wait, and instead drops his arm to signal to the other rope droppers. Apparently, he has the yellow ropes, as he takes a handful and rains them down on Firedance wing. The slight wind catches them, blowing them perversly away from the riders.

+*> Mara and Darath choose this moment to let fly bright green ropes at Skyfury wing. The bluerider can be heard to giggle maniacally as she lobs them at her compatriots, taking particular aim for Iesath.

+*> F'san and Gilrath climb well above the wings, circling and waiting for the signal to begin dropping. Then he tosses dark red strands with abandon towards Moonsweep wing, seeming to target F'loran and Kesath particularly! The wind does not catch this clump, and it sails in a direct arc towards the brownrider.

+*> Iesath rises from the landing field, Skyfury in a trail behind her. The wing assembles, and it all begins. Almost at once, Iesath squawks, not quite getting hit by Mara's strand. The green seethes, and flames, of course, but looking rather insubordinate all the same.

+*> Suriath twists to the side as Kayjay looks back one more time at her wing. Spotting a glob of dripping wet yellow rope heading right for his tail, he snorts, backs up and sends a steady stream of fire, burning the offending things to char before they could dare spot his glorious spotless hide.

+*> Araneth hovers with the rest of the Weyrlings, keeping away from the others. From her back, Aithne watches the riders carefully, waiting for a signal for resupply.

+*> From atop Kesath, F'loran directs Moonsweep up, drawing them off to one side to hover for a moment while he makes sure they're all there. There they stay for the moment, while they await the start of the games. Kesath sees the red-tinted ropes before Fol does, but the effect is the same. Moonsweep is in motion at once, led by the Brown. The wing as a whole curls into a tight circle, rising to meet the red strands. Kesath spews forth a cone of flame, charring the ropes into ash..

+*> Monsoon wing, for all that they are always late on the ground, is one of the first to get organized in the air. They range wing low in the formations, adopting a more defensive posture. And it's a good thing too, for T'der immediately rains 'death' down on them in the form of black ropes. That done, he pelts another black blob at Starflame and Imara in particular.

+*> Brielth follows the Weyrling wing, keeping well off to the side where he can see them all. "Hover!" L'mir calls out, "Watch and wait for any riders who need more stone." He then adds, "And don't get in the way of any flames!"

+*> High atop Albanth, K'tor looks down, and then trails bright yellow ropes in clumps and tangles down along Firedance's formation. He seems to target Kayjay specifically, hurling balls of rope directly at the riders, dye splashing everywhere. The balls are caught and spun out into bizarre web formations by the slight breeze before reaching the dragonpairs they were intended for.

+*> One of the riders in Monsoon wing is taken completely unawares, looking up for the ropes. She gets hit directly in the face and shoulders with the black tangle and her curse rings out clearly. She drops between almost the second it hits, leaving the tangle to continue on downwards.

Auralia turns in her seat to gaze back at the wing formation, an almost imperceptible nod issued to the wing. Iesath, on the other hand, earns a scowl, causing the greenrider to just about miss a rope heading for her. Iesath doesn't. Good: still dye free.

+*> Yishenth waits in formation until she sees the black ropes headed her way. She immediately rises to meet them, not waiting for them to come to her. A quick burst of flame, and the rope becomes ash. Just behind, the other Starflame dragons do the same.

+*> Nightwind suddenly gets busy, as F'san and his blue seem to be everywhere, raining down dark red 'thread' on their heads. The wing moves well together, mopping up and letting few dark red 'threads' get through. As abrupt as that was, the blue disappears into between, and then appears baove Moonsweep, lobbing down dark red at the riders. The wind takes these, twisting them into long, odd strands.

+*> Suriath snorts, twisting his massive body in an attempt to get away from the ropes in order to get a clear path to char. If a dragon could swear, the brown would, as drips from a rope that barely missed a green fall on the very tip of his wing. He chars the offending rope to blackened ash and sends a rebuke in the form of a roar to the green in question.

+*> Tiarnath tilts a wingtip, swinging her golden form around to the left. To her right, Feilynth does likewise, heading for those black ropes coming down from above. Telinda, letting the straps take her weight, thumbs the toggle on her flamethrower, letting the wand spray lethal acid at those 'deadly ropes' blasting them, distintigrating under the coruscating flame. Nearby, Belira, though misses with the first blast, but Feilynth's careful positioning brings them into line, and enables her rider to accomplish her task.

+*> Atop Jhiniseth's spotless spring green hide, a long strain of black makes it's appearance, causing a rumble of disapproval from the green. A second rope, this time red in hue, makes a criss-cross, the rope sliding down hide and back into the air.

+*> Mara is apparently already out, having done damage to Skyfury, and signals to L'mir and the weyrling wing for more rope.

+*> Cloudchase forms the bottom tier of defense though still above the queens, looking hopefully up towards the higher wings. They'd like to see some action, particularly given the aggressive wing high stance they have adopted. But they miss the black ropes that just fell to the queens.

Auralia and Iesath appear to be, well, unravelling. Iesath, for all her complaints, refuses to move forward, and thus, is rained upon by Mara's rope. Now, of course, the green emits a bellow of dislike, and moves right out of formation. "IESATH!" Auralia's bellow is not happy.

+*> From Brielth's bronze back, L'mir snaps to attention as one of the Dawnwind Wingriders gets too close to a spiraling rope, splatted from head to tail/toe with black dye. "Shardit, girl, you're supposed to 'move' when you see one coming, not look at how 'pretty' it is!"

+*> Araneth leaps forward at the signal. apparently racing another team. Aithne readies the sack, frowning as it catches. With a jerk the bag is freed and she tosses Mara a bag of the correct colour rope.

+*> From atop Kesath, F'loran barks out an order or two, pointing up at the incoming scarlet strands. Immediately, Kesath and the rest of the leading dragons in the delta formation backwing to a halt, reversing the formation to that of a V. The greens on the outskirts are the first to encounter these clumps of webbing, searing them beyond recognition. A single bluerider is hit at this point, cursing to himself as he vanishes Between. The hit isn't bad, but no hit is particularly good.. The rest of the would-be Thread is dispatched by the larger dragons in the middle of the formation.

+*> Albanth pops between suddently and then reappears, just a few meters above Starflame wing. A ball of yellow rope is hurled down upon the riders, and Albanth disappears again, only to reappear *behind* and just above the formation. Another ball of yellow-stained rope is thrown, and spins out into a web of color to be flamed.

+*> T'der and Feranth imitate Albanth, and suddenly disappear between. They reappear just above Sunblaze wing, and scatter black ropes with abandon, before reappearing higher up.

+*> Atop Suriath, Kayjay twists her head, raising a fist and pointing to the left. Her wing obliges and spreads out in the formation indicated. She tosses Suriath a couple more pieces of firestone, and the dragon chews, disgruntedly. He is not a happy camper.

Auralia's shirt apparently drips down to her breeches, which can't be very comfortable, but her concentration would appear to be on Iesath. Said green is convinced back into formation, but not before T'min's Shisheth has to step in for the pair, fending off a dangerous rope. Skyfury, on the whole, does well, managing all to fend off the ropes. Well, all except Iesath, that is.

+*> From Brielth's bronze back, L'mir watches with cool approval as Aithne takes the call from Mara. At least one of the weyrlings is doing a great job! He looks over the wing, eyes intent on watching each weyrling's performance.

+*> From seemingly nowhere, both black and red ropes rain down abruptly on Auralia, F'loran and Kayjay. Then, as if that weren't enough, as weyrlings pop in from between to resupply riders with firestone and rope, this black and red rain targets them as well! The choice is flame or flee.

+*> From atop Yishenth, Imara spots the first bunch of yellow ropes, but almost doesn't see the second bunch. She and Yishenth move forward with some of the other wingriders, while the rest stay behind. Yishenth narrowly misses being hit by yellow dye, but she swiftly arcs around and chars it into black dust.

+*> Araneth barely avoids a couple of the falling ropes, turning tightly on her wingtips before she and Aithne are clear of the fray. They move back to rejoin the other weyrlings, offering L'mir a bright grin before her attention moves back to the riders.

+*> Iesath should flee. It'd probably be the better option. Unfortunately, Iesath isn't up for the better option. Oh no, instead, she sits there like a green log. Black and red join green upon her hide, and the pair pop between. As they return, Auralia turns away more firestone. She's barely been able to use what she's got.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Albanth rumbles discontentedly, keeping an eye below. << Descend. You are too 'injured' to continue to fly. >> The bronze's tone is tight, and his rider is obviously not pleased with the situation.

+*> From Brielth's bronze back, L'mir hmmphs at the grin offered to him by Aithne. He's stone sober, and speaking of 'stone, another yell goes out to a bronze/weyrling pair. "Watch the blue...." Too late. Just how far away is Graduation? Obviously some may not make it.

Iesath> Albanth senses that Iesath's reply is haughty, cast by a wave of glimmering molten steel, << I'm fine. It's only *dyed ropes*. >>

+*> The massive brown, realizing there is no way out, with the crowded conditions, *betweens* allowing a twist of black rope to sail down past him, towards the Queens' wing. He pops back in place, unscathed.

+*> From atop Kesath, F'loran, again, barks out a series of orders, making some rather interesting hand gestures. The riders of Moonsweep apparently understand what he's doing, though, as the entire wing changes formation in unison a second time. This time, the dragons at the back of the V rise up higher into the air to meet the scarlet mess sooner. Several more orders send a greenrider from each side of the V out away from the wing, together, to chase down some of the sticky web of rope falling toward the Weyrlings. Flame erupts from the entire wing at once, reducing the ropes to little more than ashes. Two of the moonsweep riders between - one of them not quite in time, though, as he's covered in red paint.

Dragon> Iesath senses that Albanth rumbles and repeats, << Descend! Now! Were that thread you would not be able to fly! >>

Dragon> Iesath senses that Iesath's reponse is not a meek submission, but she descends, all the same.

+*> Iesath glides downwards, leaving T'min and Shishenth to take up her position once more, paint dripping off her sides as she lands.

You fly toward the broad Landing Field below.

Dragon> Southern Weyr sense that Albanth counts out dragons to descend. Several from Skyfury, and Moonsweep, as well as Monsoon. << You shall not continue to fly. You are 'scored' and must land. >>

+*> Tiri glances over to Iesath, "Do you need the dragonhealers?" she asks, hiding a grin on her face. "What's that? Black and red? I think it's too late for the healers,"

+*> In the northern sky, The named Moonsweep dragons immediately head down to the ground again. The wing's formation tightens to compensate, with F'loran still shouting out orders.

+*> In the northern sky, Now resupplied by the weyrlings, and giving a raised fist in thanks, Mara turns her attention downwards. Rather than follow the other wingrider's tactics, Mara and Darath simply straife the entire Flight, dumping out bright green threads as they go. They spiral down towards individual riders, seeming to gravitate towards XXXX

<Southern Weyr> K'tor mumbles.

+*> In the northern sky, Now resupplied by the weyrlings, and giving a raised fist in thanks, Mara turns her attention downwards. Rather than follow the other wingrider's tactics, Mara and Darath simply straife the entire Flight, dumping out bright green threads as they go.

+*> Iesath descends, backswinging with stiffened displeasure, her tail snaking about her. Auralia looks no happier, although it's at Iesath she glares, dismounting. "What on Pern were you doing, Iesa? What if that had been thread? Tell me that? You wouldn't be able to fly, that's what!" She peers at Tiri, sighing, and nodding her head slowly, "I think you're right." Scowl.

With a parting pat, and whispered word of love, you slip down Iesath's side, barely using the straps, and her offered foreleg, with much practice at this. A moment later, your feet touch the ground again, and you lean up to touch 'Sath's head softly, as she leans down to nudge you gently.

<Southern Weyr> Kayjay says, "OOOh an x-rated rider.. wooohooo"

<Southern Weyr> F'loran grins.

<Southern Weyr> Auralia says, "Darn, just as I leave ;)"

<Southern Weyr> K'tor says, "Quadruple, too. ;)"

In the northern sky, Sunblaze might only have a few riders, but kept tightly in formation and ranged out how they are, they can quickly get the ropes that twist down from above. Remarra and Hannenth go after this one set of ropes, leaving Telinda and Tiarnath to get the others.

Leonette walks overto Tiri, "Okay!" she calls to Tiri, finding the littles that she's talking about and starting to help them. She looks over at Iesath, and stifling a chuckle.

Auralia adds, "Is there any water prepared? We might as well make a start." Her eyes glance up at the sky, unhappy. Oh, she's not laughing. She's furious.

In the northern sky, Three blue dragons from Firedance are hit by a tangle of rope, their riders cursing as they are all covered with black and red dye. The pairs swoop down to the ground, the riders muttering under their breath about unfair practices.

Auralia carefully removes Iesath's riding straps, quickly checking them over for signs of wear before folding them neatly for future use.

Tiri glances over to a young stablehand, "Go and fetch the water. I think it's still in the kitchen," she looks apologetic to Auralia, "I wasn't expecting any riders scored this early," she answers, handing a bucket over to the greenrider once the stablehand returns.

"Nor was I," comments Auralia with a scowl, "Apparently, Iesath was. Except, of course, we were supposed to be leading Skyfury." There's a glance up to the sky, as she folds Iesath's straps. "Good, he's doing okay."

In the northern sky, The two Moonsweep greenriders rejoin the formation, narrowly avoiding being hit by some stray ropes, much to F'loran's relief. With another wave of his hand, Moonsweep wing drops down into a flat V formation again. It's right about then that the Wingsecond Brownrider shouts out, "Stone!" waving over toward L'mir. A couple of the other riders in the wing follow suit..

Tiri looks over as the three blueriders from firedance arrive, she signals a trio of record keepers over with buckets towards the riders, "Well, at least you're not the only one,"

Auralia's head nods, "No, that's true. But they're not going to have such anger from K'tor and Albanth. Nor was it because their lifemate refused to move."

In the northern sky, Skyfury's 'performance' allows many ropes down through to Cloudchase, just above the queen's wing. Caught unaware, they have several 'injuries', leaving holes for more 'thread' to fall down to the queens.

Tiri wrinkles her nose at all the injuries, setting up a motley bunch of residents as the 'water crew'. Meanwhile a few littles start to play catch in one corner with the different colored ropes.

Auralia's concentration remains on Skyfury, up in the sky. It isn't a good sign, that she shuffles her feet, scowling. Iesath settles down, tail snaking about, almost hissing. Auralia attempts to get close with water, a plan that fails miserably.

In the northern sky, Suriath banks sharply to the right, in an attempt to get out of the way of a young brown from the weyrling wing that suddenly appeared in his charring path. As he does, he is splattered with green dye from a rope that grazes his left flank. Kayjay realizing they have been hit, blanches slightly. She is going to have one grumpy dragon for a while. She raises her fist, calling Kenla up to take over the rest of the wing as Suriath heads towards the ground.

In the northern sky, Suriath flies toward the broad Landing Field below.

Suriath soars over from the sky above.

Kayjay jumps down off of Suriath, landing smoothly as her lifemate croons.

In the northern sky, Araneth soars into the sky, broad wings moving siftly through the air. She twists and turns as she deftly avoids the falling rope, treating this as more of a game than training. Aithne unhooks one of the bags and tosses the rope towards L'mir. Looking to another weyrling to resuply F'loran.

Auralia steps towards Kayjay, as the brown pair land, offering, She mutters to Kayjay, "... be able... fly...." She trails off, glancing towards Iesath, "that one, who probably would be grounded for life."

Kayjay senses "Auralia steps towards Kayjay, as the brown pair land, offering, "You lasted longer than we did. And I bet Suriath'd still be able to fly. Not Like" She trails off, glancing towards Iesath, "that one, who probably would be grounded for life.""

Tiri looks over at the Brownrider lands, "What is this, wingleader party?" she mutters, as the 'water duty' lot rushes over to the brownrider with a bucket of water. "Is something wrong with Iesath?" Tiri asks.

Kayjay swears softly to herself as jumps off Suriath. Fortunately she is dye free but the big brown is not a happy dragon, no indeed. He storms over to the ash pit and regurgitates neatly, standing there, the perfect picture of dejection. His tail is spattered here and there with light flecks of green paint.

"It's injuries that K'tor won't be happy about party?" Auralia shuffles her feet, wiping some dye from her nose. "S'good question," she adds, "I don't know."

A couple of weyrbrats takes a few long steps away from the green dragon before moving back into the milling sea of residents around the landing field.

In the northern sky, Albanth hovers for a few minutes, as a blueling resupplies him. Kat attempts to find the less active parts of the Flight. Then he dumps the rest of the contents of his bag on Sunblaze wing's level. As if it were a signal, the other 'thread generators' empty the contents of their bags as well. Kenla, Imara and F'loran are inundated with colored ropes to flame.

Kayjay sighs. "No, indeed, K'tor is not going to be happy." She looks towards Tiri. "If this had been a real threadfall, Suriath's injuries would be enough to ground him for a few days." Not a smile is to be found on her face. "He has to learn to watch out more for the weyrlings. They will be joining the riding wings soon enough."

Auralia stiffens, as she notes the completion of the drill. "Shards," she murmurs, stepping back towards Iesath. "It was nice knowing you all." Her eyes move to Kayjay, and she sighs, "Indeed."

In the northern sky, Perfect throw indeed. F'loran catches the sack easily, tossing its contents immediately to his lifemate, just as Moonsweep again bursts into action, the diamond formation spewing forth from top to bottom as the would-be Thread sails in front of the wing. Miraculously, the entirety of the wing escapes "injury" this time. Once that particular threat is gone, F'loran immediately glances over at Brielth and L'mir. He's grumbling, too - probably the same things his brother is.

Tiri glances to Auralia, "I'm sure it won't be that bad," she lies, "Just a problem with dragons not listening," she shrugs, sending a few more buckets of water to a newly landed bluerider as well as picking up a green rope that lands nearby, throwing it towards the green pile.

Kayjay looks back at her "injured" riders and shakes her head, hopefully. "Not too many covered, most are still up in the sky."

"Just a problem with -my- dragon not listening. His wingsecond. Oh, he'll kill me all right." Auralia glares once more at Iesath, and then sits down on the grass, sighing. "It's enough, Kayjay. If this was real..."

Kayjay sighs and looks just as glum. "I know, I know." She looks over Suriath again, realizing there are very few paint spots, mostly small flecks. She winces. "Between Suriath swearing at me about weyrlings and K'tor, I think I am going to have a headache." She glares down the line at a paint splattered bluerider who is snickering behind his lifemate. "I -heard- that."

In the northern sky, Tiarnath returns to Sunblaze formation, loose though that is, and from her back Telinda gives the signal that 'her' thread was blasted to smithereens! Remarra pumps back her arm, and the gold wing waits for the signal from above.

Leonette stifles a giggle as one of the littles finds a stray piece of dye-covered 'Thread' and throws it at one of his companions, hitting him square in the back of the head...who then picks it up and prepares to throw it back, "Okay you, that's enough!" she calls out, chuckling to herself and shaking her head as the two quickly get back what they were doing.

Iesath is still paint-covered, and Auralia is still moping, but otherwise, things don't look so bad. "I just want to figure out what's wrong with Iesath today. She's all...strange."

Tiri chuckles at Leonette, "Make sure, you add that piece of the piles," she points over to the small bits near the thread sacks where a few bits of rope have been stored. She glances towards Auralia, "She's not near proddy again, is she?"

In the northern sky, Kesath catches K'tor's signal, nodding to himself with a grin as he looks over his wing, counting how many were lost. Four. Not great, but not terrible either. Anyway, he gives the signal to his wing, and the diamond formation breaks into the wide delta they held as they ascended, the wing spiraling down as one..

In the northern sky, F'loran catches K'tor's signal, nodding to himself with a grin as he looks over his wing, counting how many were lost. Four. Not great, but not terrible either. Anyway, he gives the signal to his wing, and the diamond formation breaks into the wide delta they held as they ascended, the wing spiraling down as one..

Auralia's tanned features pale considerably. Within an instant, all her fingers are out in front of her, and the Southern Weyrsecond is counting. Her tongue sticks out the corner of her mouth, so hard is she concentrating. Pause. "Shards."

Albanth soars over from the sky above.

K'tor climbs down Albanth's straps and casually drops the rest of the way to the ground.

Kesath flies over from the sky above.

Yishenth soars over from the sky above.

Tiarnath flies over from the sky above.

Tiri winces slightly, "Uh-oh," comes the assistant headwomans expletive, "Here come the dragons, you best at least get her cleaned up before Kat sees," she points to the bucket.

Kayjay looks back at the three splattered blues and Suriath's slightly dotted tail. She shrugs, and takes a DEEEEEEP breath as K'tor lands.

Araneth flies over from the sky above.

Leonette nods at Tiri, and walks over to pick up the piece of rope...also taking on from a little girl who was about to stick it in her pocket, and putting them over with the rest of them.

"Tried," Auralia says, "She'll have none." Sharp intake of breath. Doom. Do I sense doom?

In the northern sky, Brielth flies toward the broad Landing Field below.

Brielth flies over from the sky above.

F'loran jumps down off of Kesath, sliding down an offered leg before landing smoothly on the ground as the Brown croons.

Kayjay reaches out to pat Auralia on the shoulder. There there, you are more paint splattered than my dragon. She hides behind her Weyrsecond.

Imara swings down from Yishenth, stepping on the green's offered foreleg and jumping down gracefully.

K'tor unhooks bags from Albanth's straps, frowning at the already landed and paint splattered riders. He raises his voice as the wings land, "I'll want to see all the wingleaders and seconds. In the council room. Soon as they've washed up and gotten changed." His tone is even, but there is a tic in his left eyebrow, and a vein pulsing in his forehead.

Telinda jumps down off of Tiarnath with lithe elegance. She smiles as the Champagne and Pearl Gold nudges her hip playfully and her eyes glaze for a brief moment.

From between Araneth's neckridges, Aithne watches Brielth soar over, slipping off as she starts towards the pair. She looks as cheerful as one going to their doom.

Aithne slips down from Araneth's back.

Auralia didn't need that from Kayjay. Her head sticks up, and she listens to K'tor. Wince. Nod.

F'loran nods to K'tor with a level expression on his face. "Yes, sir," he says as he pats Kesath's side. "Let's go, Kesath.. Time to get cleaned up.."

L'mir swings his leg over Brielth's neck then slides down the bronze's side, pausing to give him an affectionate pat.

The littles scatter around, picking up ropes from everywhere. Four littles line up and nervously announce the final tally of ropes, "Four black," This from a red-haired girl, followed by "15 red," from a black-haired little, "That's 3 silly," The older girl next to him points out, "Oh, 3 red," "2 green," a loud mouthed girl announces and last of all, "2 yellow," this from a older brown-haired girl.

"Red suits you very well, sir." Aithne offers in an attempt at cheerfullness.

First things first. Telinda checks over Tiarnath, looking carefully at wingtips, tail and neck, nodding as the gold spreads out her wings. That done, she heads to the other golds, waiting as the riders chck them over.

Kayjay gulps and pales, her freckles standing out in stark contrast to her complextion. She stands up straight, walking back towards her wing, slapping the shoulder of a brownrider who is totally unscathed. "A skin for you to share with the rest who are unsplattered. Benden! Good work, all of you. I will speak to those of you ...who need to improve, later. Go get washed up." She turns back to K'tor. "Yes sir."

K'tor smiles slightly at the littles, and moves to take the ropes from them. "Thanks, kids. Good work." He slings the ropes over his shoulder, smearing his own leathers, and heads off in the direction of the council chamber, after a quick word with Telinda.

Iesath refuses to budge. Auralia frowns. "Well, if you're going to be like that, then you can stay there. Dirty. And I'll get clean." Nothing happens. With a shrug, the Weyrsecond, who doesn't seem so proddy herself, heads towards her weyr. "See you all later, with luck."

"Three red?" F'loran repeats with a frown, glancing over his shoulder at his wing. "We let three get through, and four get wounded. Not terrible, but we can do better than that.. I know we can." His frown vanishes, though, and he affects a slight smile. "I /knew/ that diamond formation would come in handy at some point. Good work, folks. Now let's all go get cleaned up, hmm?"

You walk toward the Lakeside Meadow.