Fort Weyr - Central Infirmary
This room looks fairly similar to most other infirmaries, with it's faint scent of antiseptic and an eerie quiet that goes along with convalescence. Rows of cots line both walls, each separated by a privacy screen. Breaking the line of cots along the outside wall is a entrance to the dragonhealing section of the infirmary. The far end of the oval room is filled with metal cabinets that hold the tools of the Weyrhealers trade, as well as a desk from which the healer can supervise his domain. Upon one wall rests a thick 'chart' containing the information on all patients within the infirmary.
Thankfull it's a quiet evening in the infirmary when Pralius helps Wyn limp the few feet from the door where Shisuth had deposited her, unable to come any further herself, to the nearest empty cot. The duty journeyman appears quickly enough after seeing the blood dripping down the Weyrling's leg. Pralius takes the damp towel from his hand and presses it against Wyn's leg wound, "Are you still with me, Wyn?" At the same time the Journeyman rushes back off, probably for needle and thread.
Just a few steps right? Right. Wyn grits her teeth and moves as Pralius guides, though a glance down to the dripping blood makes her a little light headed and her lips move with a mumble, "Mhmmm.." she says, head swimming. From outside a croon sounds off and Wyn's eyes flutter open wider, "Yes yes.. right here..I'm good.." she answers, roused by her lifemate apparently. She gazes up at Pralius somewhat helplessly, however, "Healers aren't supposed to get hurt.."
Pralius chuckles softly, reaching one-handedly for a jar of numbweed as he does so, "Tell that to my body, would you? It doesn't seem to believe me." He pulls out a dollop on the towel, then rubs it gently against the wound, "It'll be numb enough to stitch in a few moments." He glances up at Shisuth and repeats in his most reassuring voice, "She'll be fine." He turns a soft smile back to Wyn, "You'll be fine in no time, no serious damage."
N'drei grins a little, "True enough…you're hurt more than anyone I know…" and she laughs softly. She groans a little when the towel first touches her leg then exhales as the salve starts to work. "Oh thanks.." she says breathily, then nods. "I'm fine.. just a big baby apparently.." and she blushes some. "I don't even mind the scar, it'll make me look tough.." and she grins.
Pralius smiles softly, gently massaging the numbweed in with the towel to protect his own hand, "How do you think I felt when I broke my leg? We're all big babies at heart." He smirks, giving the be-numbed leg a gentle pat, "You'll look tough either way, after all, you're a rider." He pulls back the blood and numbweed stained towel long enough to get a good look, then nods, "Just a few more minutes, I think… What do you think happened?"
N'drei exhales and then grins, "I guess.." she says of looking tough then she grins again and shakes her head, "Your broken leg was much worse than my cut.." She lifts a shoulder at the question, "I'm not sure.. Shisuth said something didn't feel right.. then I felt myself sliding to the side as she headed down.. then just before she landed my straps popped and I fell off.."
Pralius nods, then shifts to the side to let the Journeyman do the actual stitching, peeling back the towel to give him access. Keeping one hand on the towel, the other reaches to hold Wyn's nearer hand, "I think the shock was equal, though. Squeeze my hand if you need to." He goes quiet, then, watching the stitching carefully and pondering the cause of the injury.
N'drei shifts to watch the stitching at first though it becomes clear very soon that she really doesn't want to watch after all. She gulps then lays back and her hand rests in Pralius', "Maybe.." she says softly, of the shock factor. Her hand does grip at first, perhaps in anticipation of discomfort moreso than actual pain, it pinches but she hangs in there, licking her lips.
Pralius squeezes her hand back gently, glad that a more experienced healer is around to do the stitching as it's bound to heal better. When the Journeyman has finished, he nods, "You'll be fine, miss. Though you should sleep and drink plenty of fluids." Pralius nods for Wyn, then gives her a gentle squeeze before following the journeyman to the break area to have a brief conversation.
N'drei looks up at the Journeyman and smiles, "Thank you so much for your care," she says to him then watches curiously as Pralius follows him out. Her eyes lid and she smiles, reassuring her lifemate with some silent conversation. The green warbles, more at ease, apparently.
Pralius emerges from the screened-off break-area with a smile, then pulls a chair up beside Wyn's cot, "I requested a re-schedule of my shift so I could stay with you. They agreed." He reaches out to squeezer her hand again, then turns to Shisuth, peering intently, "Do you think I could get the straps off her, get a closer look at the damage?"
N'drei brightens as he returns then yet more at the news, "Good.." she says, smiling then nodding in thanks toward the Journeyman. She nods about Shisuth, "Sure.. they're barely hanging on anyway.." she says then frowns some, thinking about that. The green is cooperative and nuzzles Pralius when he nears, crooning softly to him.
Pralius gives Shisuth's eyeridges a deep scritching before he moves to undo the last few buckles and remove the straps. Carrying them carefully back to his seat beside Wyn and looking carefully at the torn straps, "I almost wish I was a tanner now… I wonder where we might find one… they'd know what would cause this." He holds the frayed straps out to Wyn to examine, after all, her leg was hurt, not her brain.
N'drei waits while he tends to the straps then when he returns she nods her head, "M'lo… he paid more attention to da's work then I did.." She fingers the straps thoughtfully and frowns, "It's not like it could be overuse.." she murmurs. Her eyes lift, "With the glass..now…this weird thing.." and she shakes her head.
Pralius nods slowly, "And the diseased herdbeasts and meat… it's… terrifying." He peers again at the straps, then nods, "Maybe we should Ask Milo what he thinks… I'm sure you checked them before you went up."
N'drei nods, "Oh right the meat.." and she frowns. "We should yes..ask him.." then she blushes. "I checked them but.. I'd /just/ checked them.. I didn't really look for them to have changed.. just.. made sure they were buckled.." and she sighs. "The fraying isn't near the buckles..I didn't see it..'
Pralius nods, "There's no way you could have known… wouldn't someone have to sneak into the barracks to slice your straps?" Now /that/'s a scary thought. He glances back at Shisuth, then at Wyn, "I… I thought I was worried for you… all of you," he quickly ammends, "before all of this… and Kessa's terrified something terrible is going to happen."
N'drei glances up at Pralius and sighs, "Me too.." she says of his being worried. Her brows furrow, "She is? What did she say? I mean I got your note..it was a name then?" she asks, shifting on her cot.
Pralius nods solemnly, "It was… but she asked me not to tell anyone… she said it might cause panic." The worry on his face is clear enough, "Said it was some renegade they'd dealt with before."
N'drei nods too and sighs, "A renegade..that.. makes it even worse.. they have no limits..no boundaries.." and she huddles closer to the healer. "I wonder if the glass was a "K" for a reason.. to do with her?"
Pralius nods slowly, scooting a bit closer to her as well, "It… it could be… Renegades have always been a problem for the Weyrs, but this is… beyond anything that happened at Telgar. Kessa…" He leans in so that only they can hear, "Kessa said I should be prepared to defend myself or others… to carry a weapon…"
N'drei sighs and then blinks at him, "A weapon.. Oh goodness.." she says with trepidation, a hand seeking out that of the healer. "Do you think I should too? I guess I could wield a scalpel.." she says almost teasingly, though somewhat seriously too. "It's the only thing I really /know/ how to use."
Pralius nods solemnly again, his hand meeting hers, "I… don't think a scalpel's all that good a weapon… but it's all I know, too… I…" He gives her hand a gentle squeeze, "Oh, Wyn, I'm worried for you… all the attacks seem to be targeting the Weyrlings."
N'drei frowns and nods her head, "We have to tell the others.. really.. I mean.. tell them something anyway, if they're all at risk.." and her frown deepens. She glances to her leg and then curls in against Pralius, "What if I'd been all the way up.. what if Shisuth hadn't noticed.."
Pralius nods, snaking his free arm to cradle her as best he can in their current position, "We should… I was panicked when I wrote the note and didn't know how much to say, but this…" He motions broadly to encompass the green, her rider, and the straps, "This is murderous." Her last words make him squeeze her tight, "We won't think on that, but we /have/ to warn the others… if any of their straps had given… or give while you're practicing, or /between/. I can't… won't let that happen."
N'drei frowns and sighs, "It is.." she agrees then sits up some, "We need to get to the barracks.." she says, trying to swing her leg around. "I wonder where Milo and Ely are.." she muses, "Did.. Kessa give any clue as to what is being done about the situation?"
Pralius pushes her gently in an attempt to keep her on the cot, "You shouldn't walk on that for at least another hour or you might tear the gash open further, besides, they're probably still all a-sky doing the exercise. I'm sure Shisuth warned them…" He sighs softly, "Guards at every corridor, but she said she was still deciding how best to warn people."
N'drei sits back some then nods, "Yes.. Shisuth can.." and her eyes lid. "Hard to control a situation like that.. without panicking people…" and she sighs. She flops back on the cot and stares upward, "Just wish I knew what they want..but with renegades..who knows."
Pralius nods, shifting slightly so that he's now sitting on the side of her cot, all the closer to her, right? "thanks." It's murmured quietly, just for her ears. One hand moves, gently stroking her cheek, "She implied it might be some sort of revenge…" He keeps his voice low, to avoid spreading rumors and panic, "For something that happened turns ago."
N'drei looks over at Pralius, nuzzling his hand a little, "I see… that's unsettling.." she murmurs then frowns. "Well.. all we can do is be wary.. and alert..watchful..where would a renegade be I wonder.. and how is one moving around in the weyr unnoticed.." she muses, thoughful.
Pralius nods, smiling softly as she nuzzles his hand, "It's terrifying… that's why she wants it kept quiet." He nods again, hmming softly, "Could be anywhere… or anyone… so many people come and go from the Weyr, what's another scruffy person or two? They'd have to do something suspicious to be noticed."
N'drei sighs, "Yeah… so many people.." she says in echo, a bit absent as she thinks. "I guess.. but.. now that we know at least we can be aware..of people.." she says a touch sadly. "Now I wish M'el was stationed here.."
Pralius nods sadly, "Now that we know the guards are questioning most everyone who comes in or goes out." He tenses slightly at the mention of M'el, though not for the reason Wyn probably expects, then nods again, "You could always ask him to visit for a sevenday."
N'drei nods, "There is some comfort in that, yes.." she says to Pralius. THey are huddled at a cot where Wyn is laying, her leg bandaged, the pair speaking very quietly, expressions that of a mix of worry and perhaps even sadness. She pats his hand and smiles, nodding her head at whatever he just said.
Pralius squeezes her hand back with gentle pressure. He sits at the cot's edge while she lays along it. It's no more than an hour since Shisuth's faltering during the wing exercise and though the wound on her leg has been expertly stitched, but the scrapes on the rest of her are still fresh, clearly she had a hard, but not deathly fall at the end of her descent. His face is, understandably, drawn some with worry and concern, though he manages a smile, "We'll just have to be extra vigilant.
M'lo enters the Infirmary, just barely not running, from the direction of the Dragon Infirmary. Irelanth's great pale head follows as far as he can, nostrils sticking into the room through the door and sniffing mightily. M'lo is still in his riding gear, having only just landed from their lesson, and he removes his helmet even as he strides toward his sister. "Wyn!" he calls out, giving Pralius a glance and a nod. "I couldn't land. They said you were all right, though. How are you?" He looks at her leg, and then quickly away again. "What happened?"
N'drei nods to Pralius and lays her head down then it turns to see M'lo entering, hearing him as well, not to mention the warning from the green both in mindvoice and her croon to her clutchbrother. "I'm okay I'm ok.. a few stitches.." and she smiles softly at her brother. She looks at Pralius then to M'lo and sighs, waving him closer. "C'mere.. we need to talk.." she says to start then once he gets closer she holds out the straps for him to examine. "You paid more attention to da's tanning than I did.. this look like.. it's been cut to you?" she asks. The straps were indeed scored, away from the buckles, and frayed from that point.
Pralius' head whips up at Milo's entrance, then he, too, is waving the brownrider to join them in quiet confidence, "She'll be fine again in no time, the gouge was shallow, but long." He nods towards the straps, "I'm a healer, not a tanner… do you think it's foul play?"
M'lo sits on the edge of Wyn's cot, a crowded seat what with Pralius right there, and unbuttons his flight jacket before reaching out to take the straps. "I'm glad you're okay," he says, giving another worried glance at her scrapes. Pralius gets a nod. "That's good to hear." He accepts the straps from her and looks them over carefully. His face turns white as he examines the scoring and the fraying, and then it turns red as his expression darkens. He grits his teeth so hard that a grinding noise can be heard for a few second, and a vein in his temple starts to pulse, before he manages to crack his jaw open and speak. "There's no doubt. These were deliberately cut. Someone tried to kill you." He carefully puts the sabotaged straps in his lap and then grabs the front of his jacket, ripping it off and savagely wadding it into a ball. The knuckles of his fingers, where they grip the leather of his riding jacket, are white. "Somebody else better find the bastard who did this before I do, because I will /kill/ him." His words are grim, low, and earnest.
N'drei watches Milo, looking at the straps while he does then she leans up to her elbow and frowns, reaching to put her hand on his arm. "It might not've been just me.." she says, clearly rattled now, she hadn't thought of /that/ possibility, even if Pralius had even hinted, it's like the idea just dawned. Her voice tremors a little then she shakes her head, as if to shake away the thought, "The "K" in the field.. the glass…that got you.. the bad meat could've gotten anyone..Milo, we have to warn the others.." and she glances at Pralius as if to let him be the one to continue.
Pralius nods, the concern on his face replaced by a hard-set frown. The hand not holding Wyn's reaches for Milo's sleeve, "If you don't, I will, but we need to be rational now. What Wyn says is right, it seems like all of the Weyrlings have been targeted. All of you must check your straps and gear… perhaps speak with A'tien about posting a guard at the barracks door. I can't think of how else they could have gotten to her straps. Kessa… she thinks it might be renegades."
M'lo gives his sister a look that clearly says 'Duh.' "You think?" he asks, voice absolutely dripping with sarcasm. "Of /course/ we should tell someone." He's not mad at her, just scared and worried out of his mind. "We should all keep our straps locked up from now on, too. And check them /carefully/ every time we go to put them on our dragons." There is a snort of agreement from Irelanth, who has removed his nostrils to put his eye to the door, looking through at them as best as he can, his eye whirling orange in reflection of his rider's worry. He nods with Pralius. "A guard. That's a good idea." He looks down at the slice in Wyn's straps. "Maybe it's time we all got our own weyrs, too. Weyrs which are not accessible from the ground." He rubs his face, clearly worried. "Sorry, Wyn," he mumbles. "I shouldn't have snapped at /you/. I'm just freaked."
N'drei gives Milo a sheepish look in response to his 'duh' then she nods, "Well Kessa asked PRalius NOT to give out any info.. so we're sorta.. in a rough spot.. but since it seems targetted at weyrlings, at least for now, we sure need to look after our own..she's posted guards to check those entering and leaving the Weyr.." then she nods to his suggestion. "That might be a good idea.." she says of them getting weyrs. "It's okay Milo.. we need to find Ely and the others, though I think Shisuth is telling her siblings regardless..how not to spread panic but warn people.."
Pralius gives Milo's arm another gentle squeeze, "Private Weyrs would only help so much… the perpetrator themselves must be caught… and that would be easier with you all still together in the barracks. Otherwise they'll just target the next class. And the next." He nods again, in agreement with N'drei, "There's a name, but I'm sworn to secrecy. But I can say that Kessa's so scared she told /me/ to carry a weapon for defense… these are dark times, but we have to keep people from panicking."
Shisuth's mindvoice is joined by Irelanth's, reaching out to his brothers and sisters and warning them of the sabotage, telling them to bespeak their riders, but remain calm. "No eggs on the sands right now," M'lo says. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not expose people I care about to danger. Expose my /dragon/ to danger." He shakes his head. "We should ask Kessa for Weyrs immediately. It's getting really crowded in the barracks, anyway. Furuihaneth and Tevenoth can barely sqeeze past one another." That's an exaggeration, but not by much. He shakes his head slowly. "Weapons. Faranth's /egg-hole/. I've never held a weapon in my /life/." Disregarding the fork he threatened to stab Pralius with, that one time. "Well. I guess I'd better learn. That's another thing. We should ask, as a class, to be taught some self-defense."
N'drei sighs quietly and thinks a moment then has to grin some, Faranth's egg-hole..that Milo. "I haven't either but I'll bet the Guard would train us some..or M'el.. he might.." she says, mentioning her older brother again. "Has A'tien mentioned graduation..like a date? Time frame?" she asks and taps her chin. "Is there anyone we can't reach right now? Everyone know at least to be wary?" she asks, her eyes lidding as she polls her green.
Pralius looks Milo straight in the eye, nothing but seriousness, "Do you think I want to? But you guys haven't even been taught to /between/ yet." The only thing keeping his voice from raising is his own desire to keep things under the table, "If I could, Milo, I'd be there everynight keeping watch, my studies be scorched. You guys. /All/ of you, not just Wyn, are like a family for me." He gives Wyn's hand a gentle squeeze, reminding her that she's still the most important, "And poor Kessa, she just had a son and now all of this." He looks at Wyn, then at Milo, then sighs, "I don't /want/ to have to learn how to fight, but I may not have a choice."
M'lo takes a deep breath. "Yeah, maybe the Guards can teach us to fight. That's a good idea, actually." He shakes his head, though. "No, A'tien hasn't said when we'll graduate. At least, not that I've heard. But then again I haven't really /asked/, either." He gives Pralius a slightly annoyed look. "Shells, Pralius, chill. I wasn't implying that you don't love us or whatever. But staying in the barracks like bait, just to lure in these crazy homicidal bastards isn't /my/ idea of a good time." He and Pralius are both sitting on the edge of N'drei's cot, and M'lo has N'drei's straps in his lap - right on top is what is obviously a deliberaly cut section… sabotage!
Hurried footsteps echo through the lower caverns, followed by an obvious hesitation near the door. A shadow wavers, blocking some of the light in the entryway as someone deliberates on entering. It's only after some of the voices from within filter out that they seem to make a decision. Ely then crosses the threshold, still dressed in her riding gear mostly, one hand reaching to unbutton her jacket as she walks. Pausing mid-stride, she reaches up with her other hand to slip off the tie keeping her amber hair contained, letting the disheveled mess fall free to her shoulders. After the long stay under the helmet, it looks a bit worse for wear. Looks like she didn't get much chance to change after the lesson, bar removing her helmet and gloves. She does her best to ignore medical instruments or procedures going on and makes a beeline for M'lo, Pralius and N'drei. Better not to look at the things that might make her want to turn around. "What happened?" she asks, still somewhat breathless from her jog over, glancing between the trio before her eyes settle on Wyn, "You alright?"
N'drei looks between Pralius and M'lo and then shakes her head, patting each on the arm, "We're all on the same side.." she says gently to the boys. "Well.. I think we should get some self-defense training.. if A'tien can't arrange it then I'll go to the guard myself.. and if they can't then I say we bring in M'el.." he might not be a guard but he's dang tough. She smiles as Ely nears then nods her ehad, "I'm okay.. but we think.." and she points to the straps, "They were cut.. ok well we know they were..it was intentional.."
Pralius glances up, then waves Ely to pull up a chair as Wyn's cot is getting quite crowded. Once she's close enough, he murmurs one word, "Renegades." He nods to Wyn, then to Milo, "If only there were a way to move all of you out, but have them think you were still there…" He glances back at Wyn, "I think you should write your family either way, they might have an idea." His eyes stray back to Ely, then he motions to the straps, letting Wyn answer the question, "I assume no one else fell?"
M'lo looks up at his girlfriend's voice. "Ely," he says. He doesn't smile - he's feeling too grim, for that - but some of the tenseness melts from his face. He stands up from N'drei's cot and sits on the one next to it, patting the empty place for Ely to sit in. "What Wyn said. And we were just talking about what to do. Like, lock up our straps, and carry belt-knives and start self-defense classes." He shakes his head at Pralius. "No, no one else fell. The lesson went as planned, though most of us were pretty worried about Wyn." He looks at Ely. "I was thinking we should suggest getting our own Weyrs. The dragons are fully grown, anyway, or near enough. It's crowded in the barracks. If we're sleeping and storing our things in caves that can't be accessed from the ground, we'll be that much safer. But I'm convinced that all these things - the glass, the bad meat, and now Wyn's straps - are deliberate. I /know/ the straps are. And it can't be coincidence that the glass was in the shape of a K. Whatever that means." He frowns, puzzling over it.
Ely takes a moment to catch her breath and works at removing her jacket at the same time. That thick thing would only suit to overheat her while still inside, anyhow. Tossing it across the back of a nearby chair, she crosses over to M'lo and gratefully slides onto the cot next to him letting out her breath slowly in a relieved sigh. Now that she's actually settled, she has the time to lean forward and peer at the straps with a scowl, "Shards. If Shisuth hadn't noticed … those could have snapped higher up and you'd not have been able to land in time." It's enough to silence her for a few moments, grimacing at the almost disaster. "M'lo's right," she finally says quietly, "It can't all just be a coincidence. Something is deliberately being done to the Weyrlings. But why would Renegades go after Weyrlings?" She puzzles over that for a few moments, absently fingering her bracelet as she does, "If A'tien will go for it .. it'd be nice. It's all up to him. If he doesn't let us do anything about it .. there's nothing we can do, can we?" Inhaling slowly, she glances between them, "I'm pretty good with a knife. I got training at Bitra. But I'm not sure on the rest of you?"
N'drei nods to Pralius, "I'll send word home.." then she glances at M'lo and frowns, "All of it together.. seems so evil.." and her head shakes. "I never really knew anyone /that/ evil.." and she looks to Ely, "Well I'm a respectful sort but.. something /will/ be done.." she says a bit firmly. "M'el will help us if no one else will.. or even Ely.." and she smiles. "I dunno.." she says of the question about weyrlings being targetted, "Except the glass was in the shape of a "K" and.. there has to be a reason it's thought they are renegades.. related to things in the past.. maybe just a way to get at Kessa somehow.." and she shrugs somewhat helplessly.
Pralius nods slowly, "THe fact that it's intentional and linked is a given. I found a name in the letters on the herdbeasts and Kessa said it was a renegade." He glances back at Wyn's sliced straps and sighs in a sad, long-suffering way, "I don't want to hurt anyone… I just want to keep people safe…" He glances at his belt knife, then shudders at the thought of using it to draw blood instead of to eat. He turns sad eyes at each member of the group, then makes a soft Hmph sound, "What you don't seem to understand, Milo, is that Wyn and I want a ground-level weyr so she doesn't have to fly me up and down all the time…"
M'lo shakes his head at Ely, though he's looking at her with quite a bit of interest. "No, I've never fought with a weapon, before. But if it means protecting you or Wyn or Irelanth… then I guess I'll learn." He frowns, thinking about it. "Renegades. Hm. K for Kessa? Or K for Kill? Or K for… Kooky? I dunno." He shakes his head again. But Pralius's information has him sitting straight up. "A /name/?" he hisses "What name?" he demands, though quietly, looking around to make sure that no one is withing hearing distance. He waves a dismissive hand at Pralius's last statement. "So what?" he says. "We're not allowed to have sex yet, anyway, so that doesn't matter. She can switch weyrs later, when they've apprehended these villians."
Ely absently drums the tips of her fingers together as she considers, chewing absently on her bottom lip as she looks between the trio, "It's a question of defense. Not intentionally killing people. You'd be sharding insane /not/ to learn defense in Bitra, especially when you're a woman." She shifts a little in her seat, hesitating a moment before adding, "I know basic self defense and knife maneuvers, really. If anyone wanted pointers, anyhow, I could offer." She pauses before adding with a glance at Pralius, "Non-lethal, of course. If they're renegades, though, they'll be trained to kill and probably won't care whether they injure or just knock someone out." Letting out her breath slowly, she goes back to idly fingering her bracelet with a thoughtful look on her face, "If A'tien can agree to getting us into our own Weyrs, for the meantime, that'll be helpful. But A'tien … I don't know." Glancing up, she arches a brow and looks between everyone, "There was a name? The question is if the K is for Kessa or … well .. what M'lo said. It could be for anything. Even a Renegade's name."
N'drei frowns at the thought of harming someone too then nods in agreement with Pralius but then hrms, nodding to Milo, "Yeah but.. as much as Pralius is around us, I'd feel better if he were with me.. and he can't get up to a weyr.." she interjects, then goes quiet as Milo hisses his question for a name. She nods to Ely, "I'll take any hints to be offered..but if the name has meaning to Kessa then..it seems personal and the K might be indicating her.."
Pralius shakes his head, "I can't tell you… Kessa asked me not to spread it around. But it doesn't have a K in it, so the K must be something else." He was about to say something to Milo, but Wyn cut him off with a much better response than he himself had mustered. So instead he nods to Ely when she clarifies non-lethal, "I'd appreciate that… I know that… that if someone were to attack Wyn or me or one of the other Weyrlings I might have to… to kill… but I'd rather be able to subdue."
"Remind me never to go to Bitra," M'lo mutters, his frown only deepening at Ely's little explanation of why she's so handy with a knife. "The more I hear about that place, the less I like it." He nods. "Yeah. I don't see A'tien letting that fly, anytime soon. But it wouldn't hurt to suggest the idea, at least. Maybe we could pair up. Girls with girls, boys with boys. Or stay with older dragonriders, like a mentor system." He shrugs and has no suggestions for Pralius's complaint. M'lo grimaces. "Well. If Kessa asked you not to say, you can't say, obviously." He shifts a little bit, looking highly uncomfortable with the thought of killing. "I don't know if I could," he says, despite his threats from earlier. "I… think I could. If I was protecting someone I loved. But… I hope I never have to find out. The idea of self-defense and learning to subdue someone, though… that I can stomach."
Ely knits her fingers together and manages a faint smirk in M'lo's direction, "I wasn't planning on popping over there anytime soon for a family reunion. I wouldn't want you to see it either." Letting out her breath in a deep sigh, her expression turns a bit more serious as she looks between the lot of them, "Well. I can't say I know a whole sharding lot. Most of what I know involves simple self defense without a knife and some basic knife handling. Causing enough pain or discomfort to them so they drop their knife, drop you or cry like a baby long enough for you to get away." Shifting a little in her seat, she looks a little abashed about the sudden bringing up of her knowledge of such things, "But even learning to disarm and stay safe can't hurt? I think someone like M'el would know more about actually subduing someone, so maybe the both of us could help together, if A'tien or official guard lessons can't be stirred up." Slouching her shoulders a little, she frowns, "Even if he doesn't want to do the single weyr thing just yet … he should atleast up the guards around the barracks or …" She trails off, looking to M'lo, "The mentor system sounds good. Just so long as we don't feel like we might have to jump into a fight alone. I don't think any of us would want to resort to killing anyone." It's enough to have her grimacing at the thought, despite her tough Bitran upbringing.
N'drei nods, "Subdue..yes..tie up.. smack a few times maybe.." she scowls. "Well we've warned everyone.. I can't leave yet.." and she glances at her leg. "It's just so unreal.. and creepy..I hope the lot of them is found and taken care of.." she says with a frown. "Hmmm… makes me want to nose around outside the weyr.." she says, then perses her lips together and shifts to sit up straighter.
Pralius moves to help Wyn sit up so she doesn't have to put too much weight on her leg, "The idea of a mentor system… pairing you lot up with full riders for safety…. I like that… Probably one of the safest options." He glances back at Ely, "I'd appreciate some of those lesson… I want to be able to protect my friends. The people and dragons I love."
M'lo stands, clutching his riding jacket and helmet in one hand, and N'drei's sabotaged straps in the other. "I'm going to show these to someone. A'tien or whoever I can find. And then I'll suggest the mentors and the self-defense classes, see how that flies." He bends over long enough to plant a quick kiss to the top of N'drei's head. "I'm glad you're okay," he murmurs, and then starts for the door.
Ely lifts a hand to offer M'lo a departing wave before settling the hand back in her lap, her attention returning to the pair, "If I get time .. I'll see about giving some pointers." A faint smirk touches her lips as she adds, "In the meantime there's a simple thing to remember. When in doubt, knee them in the crotch. That usually works to get them to let go of anything they might be holding." Absently twirling the bracelet around her wrist, she arches a brow at N'drei and then frowns, "You actually want to go looking for them?"
N'drei looks up at Milo and nods then waves to him before she looks back to Ely and said bracelet, finally exiting the fog of worry long enough to tilt her head, "That's pretty.." she says with a smile. "Have I seen it before?" she asks. She does nod though, "Right in the crotch.."
Pralius nods, "Pass the word, but keep it quiet, Milo. Stay safe." He turns back to Ely, then chuckles, "That doesn't work so well on girls. Not all renegades are guys, you know." Ely's question makes him glance at Wyn, then squeeze her gently, "Don't go, Wyn… you have Shi to think of…"
Ely manages a faint smile as the tips of her fingers brush the amber stones on the bracelet and she lifts her wrist for easier examination, "Milo gave it to me a few months back. He got me a pendent that matches a few weeks ago for my 19th turnday." Reaching down the front of her tunic briefly, she manages to snag hold of a silver chain and pull free the amber pendent that dangles from it. Still she manages a smirk at Pralius, "If you knee them hard enough there, it still smarts a little. If not … elbow them in the gut and in the nose. Ram your heel into their foot. Bite them. Plus there are some pressure points that can be hit for good results." Dropping the pendent and letting it dangle against her tunic, she settles her hands back into her lap and nods her agreement, "I wouldn't go looking for them alone, anyhow. Let one of the wings do their jobs. Safety in numbers, yeah?"
N'drei nods to Pralius' warning to Milo then she shakes her head, "I wouldn't run off looking on my own.." surely she wouldn't. She leans to study the bracelet and pendant, "Wow.. he must really save up his marks.." she says with a smile. "Those are beautiful," she says then nods her head, "Right.. nose.. throat even..biting..oh yeah that'd be good.." and she hrms. "A dragon bite would be nice.." and she smirks.
Pralius gives Wyn another squeeze, "They're very pretty, Ely. He must really love you." He nods, "I'll do what I have to… but last time I tried to defend someone I ended up bloodied in a closet…" Wyn's last words have his head whipping back around to face her, "Shisuth would never."
Ely runs the pad of her thumb over the amber stones in the bracelet, "He does and I love him, too. Though he really didn't have to get me anything for me to know that, but they're beautiful all the same. I have to think of something to get him for his turnday, but I don't think I can beat out the box of art supplies I got him before." She frowns a little in thought before her attention wavers, an eyebrow lifting in Pralius' direction, "You got punched again? Shards. I hope it wasn't by another girl. You really do need some self defense lessons." Shaking her head, she leans back a little in her seat and adds, "Biting dragons. I don't think they'd resort to that unless the rider was in danger. Mags wouldn't anyways. She hates fighting and really only does it if Toith happens to start it first."
N'drei smiles at Ely then nods to Pralius, "I know but she might pick one up and drop them between.." and she shrugs, "I figure if I was in danger she'd defend me.." and she smiles. "He'll love anything you get him, Ely.." she says to the girl. "I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight.."
Pralius nods slowly, "What Wyn said… he'd love flit poop if you gave it to him. Might even turn it into a statue or something." He chuckles softly, then nods, "Got a good shiner for it, too, but no, not a girl this time… Bulky greenrider from another Weyr… he was causing a scene in Shenanigan's." He reaches out when Wyn speaks, his hand gently touching her chest, checking for something, "I'll be here with you either way, love."
Ely lets out her breath in a huff and rolls her eyes at Pralius, "I'd like to get him something a bit more than flit poop, if I can help it. I have an idea, anyways, but I'll let it brew. There's a few months to go still." She still grimaces a little in sympathy after hearing the story about the fight, "Atleast your nose didn't broken. It could have gone rather well with your split lip scar." Despite the seriousness, she can't help but smirk a little before turning to Wyn, "I'm sure any dragon'd defend their rider that way. Though Shisuth seems more of a guardian, I think. Mags is a lover, not a fighter."
Yes, it's there. Wyn looks up as Pralius toys around with her upper chest, the lump of her ring easily found. She reaches up and tugs on the chain to pull it from beneath her tunic and smiles, letting it slide onto the end of her finger as she looks down at it. The sapphires and rubies glisten against the braided silver and gold and she grins, "I wonder if they used the same jeweler.." and she grins at Ely. "And yes.. she's more guardian than fighter but.. she would, if she had to."
Pralius smiles softly, then more broadly as Wyn pulls the ring out, then glances back at Ely, "I'm sure you'll find the perfect gift for him." He grimmaces, rubbing gently at his nose, "I'm just as happy without, thanks. I'm rakish enough as it is."
Ely leans in close to get a better look at the ring as it's revealed, breaking into a slight smirk, "A ring. For a moment there, Pral, I thought you were trying to touch something you weren't supposed to. That wouldn't be nice to take advantage of her while she's injured." She reaches out for a moment to touch the ring and soon breaks into a grin instead, "It's nice and it suits you. Perhaps they're conspiring together for jewelry buying?" She trails off for a moment, her gaze unfocusing momentarily as a frown pulls at her lips, "Speaking of Mags. She needs me and I ought to go get cleaned up, myself." Pushing herself to her feet, she crosses to where her riding jacket is to retrieve it, "Nice to see you both. And feel better, Wyn." She lifts a hand to wave to the pair before she heads out towards the door, disapperaing from sight.
N'drei shakes her head at Pralius, "You're handsome.." she says then nods up at Ely and beams about the ring. "Isn't it beautiful.." she says proudly then rubs it too. "I like their consipiring then.." and she glances over at Pralius. She nods then waves, "Bye Ely.." and lays back, exhaling, tired. "We should get some rest I think.. or try.. never know what might happen tomorrow."
Pralius chuckles softly, "We haven't been officially conspiring, but it's always possible." He raises one hand in farewell, "Sleep well, Ely." Then he turns rolling some to lay carefully beside Wyn on her cot with a quiet yawn, "The last couple of days have been more than exciting enough." He wraps one arm over her in staunch protection, "Tomorrow better be all sunshine and rainbows. That's what I think." He kisses her gently on the cheek, then settles in in soft, light sleep.
N'drei grins then snuggles in against Pralius and closes her eyes, though he's not the only guardian of the night, a green snout pokes in then retreats. "I agree.." she says then lays her head down after the kiss and exhales, drifting off to sleep in his arms.
