Departure (adventuring party)

[Omnia Munda]

(P'nset, Th'ane, Aleda, S'gur, G'tet)

Behind and below them, Telgar hummed. The rich, low sound of hatching song faded away as the motley group of dragons rose into the sky, replaced by the hiss of the air passing by human ears and dragon wings.

The whole Weyr had stirred itself to attend the hatching, save a few cooks and drudges that hurried to prepare the living cavern for the inevitable feast that would follow the hatching of the last egg. The bowl was all but deserted. It was a good time for a strange band of riders and Caminar to come together, a good time for people and dragons bid with secret missions to depart in relative anonymity.

A little bit in the way of supplies had been set aside for them: hardy foods for traveling, ropes and canvas and camping materials should the group find themselves staying out-of-doors, first aid supplies, and hunting equipment. There also was put aside sacks of firestone, one per dragon, and enough sleek little beltknives that each member of the party could have one - nods to the determination with which they were apparently expected to carry out their task.

End the plague.

There was no J'fel, nor any messenger of the weyrleader's to see them off. They were to pack themselves up and leave in secret, and so they did.

The dragons did as dragons do: internalize, with their riders' help, the image Jordeth had provided days before, then send themselves there. It was a clear image, a simple and bright and easy one, and without hesitation the flying guardians of Pern threw themselves into between.

One heartbeat.
Two heartbeats.
Three heartbeats.

And then a long stretch of unexpected eternity, a silent void that swallowed every breath and conscious thought, less cold than it was - empty. And then, for a moment, nothing at all.

But there was an end to this, and when the group broke into the sunset colors of evening far from Telgar Weyr, air and light were equally welcome relief. Adrenalin surged into veins seconds too late, awakening human minds from the unconsciousness that had seized them; only in that awakening did it become apparent that there had been swooning, at all.

Below, the shape of a sea hold's square opened like an embrace of rocky arms onto the sea, the plain below the cliffs speckled with the hold's buildings like so many fallen rocks. Docks stretched like fingers into the ocean, ships and their moorings adorning them like jeweled rings. That stretch of saltwater had to be Big Bay, familiar even to Telgari riders' eyes; and so long as the sun still set in the west, its slow sinking into the sea and the telltale shape of the big island in the distance meant this place must be Igen Sea Hold.

There was a sound from the fireheights below, the echo of a voice carried on the wind. There by the drum tower was a human figure, too small for detail other than that its hand was outstretched like pointing. It was pointing, it seemed, at the dragons that had appeared in the sky.

Sparing words could be made out, though others were stolen by the fickle drift of the wind. "Riders!" went up the alert, and "Istan!" followed, and then there was quite clearly the phrase "With wounded!"

It was this last that seemed to cause noise to erupt from the land below. People suddenly flowed into motion among tables and carts glittering like tin roofs in the gather square, but it was clear enough this was no gather. A blue and brown were there, wings fanning with gray sails as though they'd swooned from exertion.

It was a lot to take in all at once in the few seconds since they'd escaped that long and terrible between, and the sensation that the sun was setting farther south in the sky than it should be in summertime did not help.

Nor did the distant darkness stretching out on the eastern horizon. It was worse than thunder, worse than nightfall, and the dragons knew its nature at once, instinctively. Threadfall.

[Invisible]

It had left him half surprised that the Caminar woman had not changed her mind. After all, one of the other riders was her own kind and everything. Still, G’tet was not upset to be ferrying someone about on this Mystery Mission. Especially a healer. Should there be trouble she would be close by to lend him a hand. A wise move all around. When they’d met the dragons were humming and even Kalpeth knew what that meant and had been confused at being held back from joining the others to watch the new dragons hatch.

G’tet had spared a moment of thought for his sister. Genet was going to kill him for missing the hatching even if she didn’t impress. Especially if she didn’t she would need him, but surely he could make her understand. Perhaps another new dress or that pair of earrings she wanted. Although it would mean having to deal with her whining over the whole getting the ears pierced in the first place. Well, that was for later after they succeeded. There was no doubt in his mind they would succeed. He would be a hero, well, at least in his own mind.

The trip between was, he knew, not normal. But when they came out he felt better and turned around in his seat to check on his passenger. Any words were stolen right from his throat as Kalpeth let out a sound more a bugle than a trill like was normal. Instinct took over where a failure of a memory existed and it was a close call getting her under control. Thread. We must fight! she reminded her rider with a desperate fury in her tone. Kal, we can’t. We’ve got the lady with us. Just…we will. Because he had to say that or he might not have kept her from moving towards the menace otherwise.

Again he turned to Aleda. The sabesomethingorother. He never had got it down right so didn’t even try out loud. What weird words the Caminar had. Raising his voice he hoped she would hear. “I have to set you down,” he yelled and pointed to the Hold below. Then we fight? Yes, Kal. Hold on. We’ll fight. He tried to wait for an acknowledgment from Aleda, but Kalpeth was already doing a dive towards the ground.

[Alsivor]

It had never even occurred to Aleda to change her mind once things were decided. Besides, she liked the greenrider's attitude. Unaware of the abnormality of that jump Between, she was off-balance when they broke out of the darkness into Igen's sunset skies. She heard shouting and the rush of wind and the colors around her took a little while to settle back into recognizable patterns of sky, sea, ground, hold.

The green's bugle turned Aleda's head and she stared, uncomprehending at the silver-thread streaked sky, words stuck in her throat as Kalpeth started to dive. Her arms tightened around the greenrider's waist and sense flooded back into her. She leaned in close and spoke firmly. "Forget it. There's no time. Just go. I'll be fine." Even as she spoke, she was turning towards the bundle of things packed on Kalpeth's back and fumbling the knots for the sack of firestone.

[neopanther]

((ooc::*sigh* after all the waiting, it was unnecessary... oh well it's here now. ))


Submitting to his duties, P’nset felt that leaving now, was the wrong thing to do, the hatching had begun, he could feel the hums reverberating through his dragon, as the pair stood statuesque in the Weyrbowl. The pair had already attached all the necessary items, and had the firestone, and various other important items easily available.

But their time was now. J’fel wished their quest to be silent, unheard, and unseen to all but those involved. P’nset felt mildly awkward of this idea. He did not think it right for he and others to stand in the middle of a possible change in Pern, and not tell the others.

Don’t worry, we’ll be home before you know it.
it is the time we are away, I worry for. At P’nset’s cryptic comment his bonded delved deaper into the Caminar’s mind.

Something struck P’nset, that whilst there was an absence of several off the senior riders, J’fel may take the opportunity... to do something he was not supposed to. If this was a fabrication, a wild goose chase, aimed at getting this and that from the Weyr, so there were little to no objections to whatever the Weyrleader proposed. His suspicion was present. In abundance.

The brown’s eyes whirred with a slight colouration of yellow, anxiety shared with P’nset.

But they were to leave, there was nothing could be done now, nothing. P’nset had an obligation to fill now.

Both dragon and rider concentrated upon the vision Jordeth had given them, Igen sea hold, the evening sky setting in, colours merging effortlessly into the next, the image resonated with perfect acuity to what they had been given. Holding this in their minds, Sarjenth took to the sky. His eyes whirring now with more than anxiety, excitement also present.

No noise was given to the watch dragon, no sound, no alert. But he and the others disappeared between, lack of sensation, flooding the body, one... two... three P’nset refused to breath as they went between, as though the vacuum of the void would steal his breath too. Perhaps a quaint mannerism of his, but it was something he had done since weyrling-hood. He curse mildly in Noestacan his mother tongue only re-appeared every now and then, it had not been overly prominent since he was impressed. Even Sarjenth kept a mild confusion for the language. Only understanding it through P’nset’s intentions, not his words.

Then there it was, that vision, that picture and image that had been held in their mind, realised before their eyes.
It is good to be from the Weyr, I think.[/color] But before P’nset could think of a reply, his attentions were drawn downwards. His eyes scanned below, people scurrying like ants, vauge cries of from the people below.

Mine...I fear there are more pressing matters ahead than below.[/i] P’nset looked up, the horizon was shrouded in a thick dark cloud. The glow of the sun came from further south, barely visible against the dark mass ahead.

Thread.

P’nset swore rather loudly, though it was vaporised into non-existence by a healthy gust of wind, pulling past P’nset and Sarjenth.

Immediately Sarjenth folded his wings, taking towards the floor was an instant reaction; there was no way he could chew firestone in the air. The brown came to an earth cleaving landing below, P’nset was quick to hop from the back of his life-partner. Tugging fiercely at the all together too tight packing he had made. Profanities were liberal now. And J’fel’s name was virtually mud.

Releasing the ‘stone, P’nset threw a conservative pile before his bonded, hurry, haste is necessary.
I know, I will try. In his older years, firestone had begun repeating on the dragon, in a way it wasn’t meant to, but that was beside the point now. He could chew, and he could flame. There was nothing else necessary at that moment in time.

The pile was reduced to naught, The brown now thoroughly fuelled for the fight ahead, to their misfortune, the thread was almost upon them. P’nset re-mounted, and Sarjenth leapt to the air, wins unfurling and catching a convenient updraft, P’nset clipped himself back in, making sure they were all secure, something the rider rarely bothered with, he and Sarjenth had been together for years, neither made a move the other was unexpectant of. The rider swallowed, nerves getting to him for the first time fighting thread since he was newly passed, I feel this will be a long fight Sarjenth... The brown rumbled his agreement.

[Tabula Rasa]

Leaving at the start of the hatching had been a clever move. The majority of the Weyr and the the dragons were distracted. It was an ideal time to slip away unnoticed. Well. Almost unnoticed. Th'ane would have liked to have watched the eggs crack. There'd be a new weyrwoman, tonight. New potential and a girl he'd have to see about meeting. But, that could be done when he returned.

They'd taken 'stone, so he packed 'stone. They'd taken supplies, so he'd bundled those as well. Then, he and the bronze took to the air and vanished.

It had never felt quite so cold or so long in that black and lifeless void. It was only when they were once again somewhere warm and bright that Th'ane jerked forward in the straps, blinking awake and dragging in a deep breath of air. There was Kalpeth. And, there was Sarjenth. This was the right place, but something was very wrong.

The sun wasn't in the right spot. And before them...

Thread!

Faranth! Th'ane leaned forward in his straps and looked down. The green was swerving to land. The brown was on the ground, chewing and swallowing firestone. Someone was shouting about wounded. There were two unknown dragons below, exhausted and worn. As if they'd, well, as if they'd been fighting thread. There are wings already out there. We can't just barge in! It'll cause more damage than help. Keep them down there!

The bicolored dragon drew in a deep breath and let out an earsplitting roar. He took up a wide circling pattern as he called out, his thoughts urgent, forceful and full of all the authority the wingleading bronze could muster. Hold! Hold your positions! Stay on the ground! Hold back![/b]

[Invisible]

It was no gentle landing for Aleda. For G’tet either, but he was used to the bumpy ways of Kalpeth so he took it all in stride. In her excitement Kalpeth forgot about her old wound and stumbled a bit when she touched the ground. Luckily she was used to this and recovered quite nicely. Hurry, hurry! We shouldn’t be on the ground. Hush, beauty. We’ll be in the air soon enough. And out loud, to the Caminar woman, he said, “I’ve got her. She’s a good girl. We won’t leave you on the ground until we know it’s safe. Don’t be silly, we weren’t going to go there with you. Risk our healer? J’fel would have my hide and it’s much too nice for him.” If anyone could joke while doing everything he could to hold back a determined green it would be G’tet.

You said we would fight! I know, Kalpeth, but we can’t endanger the lady, can we? What lady? She’s no lady. Is she? There was internal grumbling from the green and although she still twitched from the desire to be doing what she was bred for she held her place. This gave G’tet time enough to look around and make note of where they were. It also gave him time to finally voice the question that had been rising up in the back of his brain since they’d appeared from between and saw thread in the sky. “Where in Faranth’s name are we?”

[neopanther]

Sarjenth and P’nset pulled to a sharp-ish halt. Th’ane? But he hadn’t been called to the met, how was the bronzer here with them anyhow? Just because they had wings didn’t mean they couldn’t fight! P’nset and Sarjenth certainly would be able to fall into place with the rest of the wing. Helping here they could and most of the riders should be able to adapt pretty well to having another in their ranks. It struck P’nset that their numbers were depleted. Then he took another glance at the dragons below, grey sails, two of them, and they didn’t look as though it was a natural defect. P’nset’s eyes narrowed, he couldn’t help but think that they’d been sent to a warzone. A warzone which was fighting a losing battle, on various fronts. Thread, illness, what else could be awry in this place?

“So what do you propose we do Th’ane, let them suffer more casualties?” P’nset felt really aggravated now. P’nset, that is not why we are here.
I know that! We are here to give help where we can, yes, fighting the thread will give no one any answers directly, but it might save the man who knows about this. P’nset felt rather angry. But his logic resumed quickly. It was as good thing the brown had refused to relay the comment his rider had made.

What do we do then? the comment aimed at the other wingleading bronze.

[Omnia Munda]

OOC: Let us dispense with anything resembling post order - just no hijacking this particular thread while stuff is moving so fast ICly. :)

Kalpeth's bugle and Sideraveth's roar caught the attention of more than just their riders and companions.

Land closer to the road; the healers for humans are there.

The beast bespeaking the green, the two-tone bronze and their companions was the brown far below, his head now tipped upward, grey-tipped snout pointed into the sky, wary eyes watching Kalpeth descend toward the square. His companion, the blue, watched Sarjenth alight farther away and take wing again, but offered no comment upon the maneuver.

However weary and wounded the Igenite brown might be, his voice was smooth and certain, wound through with a veteran's comfort at the battlefield. There was, however, the distinct sense that he took away from even this brief contact something of interest, something to share with his rider. Perhaps it was just the dragon informing others of what must be readied for the wounded that were apparently expected, for there was a great stirring of activity among tables and people at the end of the square that opened out onto the coastline road.

But no, it was more than that, for from much farther below than the fireheights wafted up a correction in a high human voice: "Telgari!"

And then there were people racing toward the landed green in a seeming swarm - not so many in numbers, precisely, but with their arms upraised and fear in their faces they presented perfectly the appearance of folk who expected those arms to be filled with the bodies of the nearly-dead.

There was a thrum of murmuring spreading through the hold's grounds. Why Telgari? So far away. It must be bad.

[Alsivor]

(Ooc bear with any typoes please using Blackberry)


Aleda did not argue with G'tet. He knew what he was doing and she did not. Thrown about by Kalpeth's landing, she lost a breath or two but not her wits. She finished getting the firestone loose and passed it to the greenrider, then grabbed her own bag of supplies, yanking it free of bindings. She didn't wait for help with straps, getting free on her own and swung her leg over to slide to the ground. Unaware of Th'ane's presence or any draconically conveyed orders, she stepped away from Kalpeth eyes scanning the area. "I'm down! She called to G'tet and in spite of her own disorientation, gave him a wave of reassurance as she moved away.

[Invisible]

G’tet was confused by Kalpeth’s sudden attention shift. If only because she seemed so intent on thread. Not that she hadn’t had shifts of attention before, but she’d never seemed so…serious. What’s wrong, beauty? He says we cannot fight. Why would he stop us? Which he, Kal? G’tet was answered with an image of Sideraveth and in response G’tet swore under his breath. “What in Faranth’s name is he doing here?” he ended with. You tell him he’s not in charge. You tell him no one’s our boss. To Sideraveth then Kalpeth sent I am supposed to tell you that you are not in charge. We were told no one was able to force any of us to do anything.

Switching his focus back to Aleda he shook his head. “And leave you here, Aleda? Without knowing what’s going on? What kind of gentleman do you think I am?” G’tet asked as she removed herself from Kalpeth’s green self. Beauty? Just be patient ok? We’ll fight soon. I need to make sure our passenger will be safe. He slid off Kalpeth and grinned at Aleda. “We’ll face them together. The others will surely be here soon.” Kalpeth? Find out what’s going on will you? But we don’t know what’s going on. Why would the others? Did they not tell us? The green’s anger rose, fed by the desire to flame thread that was denied. No, Kal. Beauty, ask the one that talked when they saw us.

Hello! Kalpeth sent to the old brown who welcomed them. We came to help! But what are we doing? We have a healer. That last because G’tet urged her to mention it in case those approaching had issues with Caminar.

[Tabula Rasa]

The bi-colored bronze circled several more times before he, too, tucked back his wings and swept downward to land a few meters away from Kalpeth. Sideraveth's words to the smaller green were blithe and certain. Whoever said that, lied. He crouched so that his rider might unbuckle himself and slide to the ground. Head canting so the dark side of his face regarded the space around him, he spoke to the weary and older brown. We have no injured. Does your wing need reinforcements?

Th'ane stepped away from his lifemate and towards the rush of people hurrying to meet the new-landed dragons. Perhaps some answers might be found among them.

[neopanther]

Sarjenth managed to stay stationary, save for the odd wing beat that kept him in place. P’nset watched down from above, he did not like how this was shaping up. He felt slightly odd there, A brown rider and a blue. Yet they were not quite what he was expecting, Igenite riders they were but the brown, and the blue were somehow different in his mind at least.

He watched on silently, refusing to pass judgement towards them, nor towards what Sideraveth had told them, who ever told them that had lied? That there was ‘no leader’ was a lie now? He found that hard to believe seen as J’fel had given them all leave to go their separate ways if they so wanted, there was nothing stopping any present from completely disobeying that bronzer, and he could do naught upon it. But again he kept his peace, it wouldn’t do to go angering anyone now would it? There was far to much to learn before any form of revolution could take plalcae in their fragile politics.

As a Caminar, P’nset had travelled to, and through Igen and its reliant holds several times in his turns, yet, it did not look how he remembered.
Simply because we have not been here in a few turns mine,
What is done here would take more than a few turns.

Watching with an unscrupulous eye, P’nset listened through Sarjenth to the ongoing, he did not wish to be ignorant of any information. Part of this entire situation was missing in his mind, and he could not place what it was. He could see it all, except for something that made it different, something that kept him in the darkness. It was beginning to irritate.

[Omnia Munda]

Of the men and women surrounding Kalpeth, a man stepped forward, healer's knot prominent on his shoulder. It proclaimed him a master, though he could not be a very old one, and he looked a little wary even as he strode with armful of cloth and binding in one hand and the other outstretched toward Aleda.

Kalpeth's message - We have a healer - flew from the Igenite brown's mind to his blue companion and onward, but it could not move through human speech across the square soon enough to stop the healer from asking of Aleda and the greenrider who delivered her, "Where are you scored? Are there more coming?"

But there were different questions coming back from dragon minds. Please land, came the brown's request to Sarjenth, threaded through with the silent support of the more severely wounded blue who, to those of the Telgari that were landed or close enough in the sky, could be seen to be having a wretched score in his neck sewn up by a young woman on a stepladder. We have reinforcements - Ista has sent a wing to assist. We did not call for Telgar.

He was addressing all of the Telgari dragons, now, and with increasing curiousity the brown was craning his head back over his shoulder to stare at those that had landed. This revealed the tending of a threadeaten front paw in his shadow. He was a scarred beast, far from young, and suffered this treatment with a silent and unassuming dignity. The strangers, clearly, were more interesting.

But you are welcome to have your wounded tended, he said, after this pause for review with his rider, and when the 'fall ends Hostenth's rider will meet with you.

Despite all the chaos - Threadfall on the horizon, people running around in the square, and the contact from the Igenite dragons - it was becoming increasingly impossible for the minds of the Caminar and Telgari visitors to reconcile this Igen Sea Hold with the one their hearts' beating expected.


Dragonriders: It's disconcerting only until you accept it, that this is not the now that you were just in. As soon as acceptance sinks in, this becomes 'now' and that place from whence you came becomes 'then' and the heart beats properly, the breath comes smoothly. It's all right, then. But this might seem strange: it's supposed to be harder, isn't it, traveling between times?

Aleda: For the lone non-rider in the group, the hardest part is reaching acceptance at all. A traveler's eye and experience make the variance in the season - betrayed by that southerly sun - impossible to miss, and Threadfall's certainly out of place smack in the middle of Interval. Still, it may take more than just these cues for you to make that final leap of faith and believe it's neither dream nor some kind of simpler mistake - for the ability of dragons to travel between times is a secret guarded even more closely since Moreta than before.

[Invisible]

Kalpeth? Tell him if he has a problem with our orders he can go back to J’fel and speak to him. Ok, G’tet, but he won’t like it. I don’t care. He’s not even supposed to be here. At G'tet's instructions Kalpeth sought out Sideraveth once more and informed him Go back to J'fel who gave the orders and complain. We have work to do! G’tet shook his head and kept a hand on his green’s neck to keep her from launching a sneak attack towards thread. She wouldn’t realize until too late she had no flame. Carefully concealed from Kalpeth he wondered if it were her fault the bronze were here. There was no sense getting upset at her if it was as she wouldn’t remember what she’d done. Just make the best of it. What are we making?

It was not often enough to be considered a habit, but there were times that Kalpeth’s questions made him laugh out loud. He tried to stifle it as best he could, but there was still a small chuckle that escaped. Not the best impression to make perhaps, but so be it. As the locals got close the reality of where they were sunk in. The first thing the greenrider thought to do was pat Kalpeth’s hide again. Good job, beauty. You did excellent. Although she wasn’t sure why she was being praised Kalpeth still soaked in the words from her rider before turning her attention to the local dragon.

No one called us. We came to help. Here she paused and picked up on something from her rider. Oh! We came from a long way away. I do not think we are hurt? To G’tet she asked if they were hurt and after getting an answer informed the brown We are not hurt. But we will wait for Hostenth. I am Kalpeth! A brief pause and then Have we met before?

[ignisfatuus]

It was difficult to keep Glosolith away from the sands as the dragons hummed and thrummed the hatching call. She was having a hard time fully understanding why they could not go and watch just as they had always done. Especially for this hatching for there was a queen to be born, to be impressed and yet they were barred from witnessing this glorious event.

A S'gur got all the gear and supplies that they apparently needed together and securely strapped onto Glosolith, he had to keep his beloved green on a tight mental rein to prevent her from going to the hatching that she so dearly wanted to see. The bag of firestone that they had been provided with made S'gur frown, just slightly. He wasn't sure how this exactly would help but he gave a minute shrugged and continued without complaint. Whilst J'fel was a new and young Weyrleader, S'gur wasn't about to question everything he did until he saw good reason to. While there was a lot of mystery about this currently quests, so many questions still up in the air, they would have to just wait, see and then judge.

By the time that the Green pair were ready, the others were already in the air and disappearing between just as S'gur mounted and Glosolith beat her wings hard enough to raise them into the air.
Hurry! Or else we'll get left behind! There was no reply from the Green, S'gur suspected that she was sulking from being denied entry to the hatching sands, but she did beat her wings faster and rose up into the air with elegance and speed.

Both focused on the image that they had been provided with but just as they threw themselves between, something caught S'gur's eye and distracted him for just a fraction of a second. He would probably never know exactly what it was for the next moment they were consumed by the dark void that was between. It was suffocating and oppressive. S'gur had never, ever completely gotten used to the absolute nothingness that one experienced here. He doubted that he ever would. Though something this time... felt a little different. He couldn't put his finger on. But that was no longer important as once his count got to three, they had not yet appeared at their destination. A surge of panic engulfed S'gur for a fraction of a moment before both he and Glosolith focused harder on the image they had been provided with and managed to escape from the ghastly between.

S'gur was shaking somewhat as they emerged, adrenaline had flooded his veins. For a moment they just hovered there to gather themselves and regain their bearings. S'gur recovered from his shock of the lengthy between but his muscles were all still slightly tensed and he could feel the adrenaline still in his blood. Whilst he wasn't a daredevil, he had always enjoyed this feeling.

Though any good feeling that he had felt soon evaporated as he properly saw the scene he had come into. Far off in the sky line it seemed like the sun was setting in the wrong place and there was...

Shards!

Thread was falling in the distance. It took most of S'gurs will to stop Glosolith from charging forwards to destroy the mycorrhizoid spores that were making their deadly dive to the lush land below. She was making demands that they had to fight, she was just following her dragons instinct but S'gur knew that it was not wise to just charge forward into such a situation without thinking first, they would just disrupt any wings. Though he too was eager to help, to first the thread. It was riders duty after all.

S'gur tore his eyes away from the silver streaked sky to look at the hold below, Igen. His feelings of unease increased tenfold when he recognised it, for he had been here a mere week or two before on some errand but it looked so... so different. Just what had J'fel gotten them into he wondered as they made a speedy decent to where they could see the others in their group and another bronze from the Telgar.

They neared just in time to hear the Brown, something about reinforcements and meeting Hostenth's rider after. It seems their arrival was as unexpected for those here as it was for them. Both brown eyes and multifaceted eyes of rider and dragon looked over the loosely orgainised chaos around them. People were scurrying here and there, expecting the worse.

Kalpeth is right, none of us are hurt. Glosolith piped up Though there are only a couple of us, we are well and are willing to help if you so required it. She alighted on the ground close to her companions, muscles obviously tensed and ready for action.