"That would have been a lot easier yes, but not much to do about it now that the circean is long gone" Jarell agreed, "and I think that there was five of them that flew off. I do hope that we'll catch up with them though, they aren't leaving any tracks in the air unfortunatly".
Carefull so that the gear he was carrying didn't poke or pinch Serren, he then got up at the ayron's back.
"And thanks for the offer to ride, four legs moves faster that two after all" he said, unknowingly echoing Serren's thoughts.

"Yes, of course;" the Ayron replied to the humans statment and shook his head in annoyance. Those dragons couldn't have gotten far even if they do have wings. They will be going slow since they dont know the terran and I wouldn't think they would try to teleport again. Then he added in a huff, plus this is an Ayron your talking to. Our race was built for speed as no two legged animal could ever acheive, I have no worries about catching up to five lost stupid creatures that dont even now enough to realize that wondering off on a strange planet could wind them up in some serious trouble. With that, Serren started trotting then accelerated untill he was canter. Hold on and then he went in to a gallop. Actually I kind of hope we do have to use those tranquilizers of yours, then perhaps they would learn their lessons on how to use their brains and not run away from a situation.

Jarell grinned, "you have a point there. I have no doubts about your speed, but finding a bunch of airborne creatures that leave no tracks may be a bit tricky. Still, it's likely that they have been seen along the way".
Reaching forwards to take hold on Serren's mane as the ayron went into a gallop, he remained silent for a while-- scanning the sky ahead of them for any signs of the fleeing offworlders.
"Not to forget that hauling them back would be easier if they aren't awake to pro-*test*-('"). There should be some herders within an acceptable distance to assist us if neccessary too".
Then Jarell's eyes narrowed slightly as he spotted a pack of ritadras in the distance, and he tapped the side of Serren's neck lightly as he indicated them. The pack seemed occupied with the carcass of a klyrr, but that didn't always mean that they wouldn't go after other potential prey.

Three hours later.

The twin suns were well on their way down towards the horizon when the group of five weyrlings and their dragons had to admitt that they would soon be too exhausted to continue for much longer. So when Raneth spotted a herd of large 'near dragons' with strange domed heads resting a few hundred meters from a large river, the dragons decided that it was time to hunt.
Certainly the weyrlings were uncertain about letting their dragons hunt such strange creatures that they knew nothing about, but it didn't take long before the empty stomachs of the dragons won over caution. It didn't take long for the five dragons to take down two of the creatures, sending the rest of the herd running in panic-- their eerie calls making the weyrlings shudder.
And soon the dragons had settled down to feed, while their riders shared some meatrolls which they had brought with them, along with a few sips of water taken from the river.

"I don't like any of this.." Tebur mumbled as she tossed most of her meatroll at some winged creatures that lurked nearby, looking like uncanny mixes of beetles and lizards. Then she swallowed as she looked over at Teyth, "we don't know where we are or what's dangerous. I really don't think that we should have killed those beasts either..".
And a series of loud roars and bugles came from somewhere over by the river, she shuddered and pulled her knees closer to her body.

Tarima had heard the other four Weyrlings plan to head off alone and curious asked Niarth to join them. As they caught up with the others, she looked over and grinned at them,this could be fun! She clapped Niarth on the neck, "Good flying! We will get where we are going fast!" She felt the Brown rumble in pleasure How could I do otherwise? I am a strong flyer! He snorted, looking around them. We really should not be here......but I we are in a big enough group for safety
As he landed her and they discussed whether to let the dragons feed or nor, Tarima looked around. It was certainly strange here. Well, they were here now. She hunkered down on the grass and ate her meatroll, looking around. Niarth was resting beside her after eating, when she heard the most appaling noise come from the by the river. Jumping up, she ran to Niarth, standing close to him for comfort and assurance.

Well look here, Seren sent to Jarell as he slowed on the crest of a hill. those stupid beast have desided to make themselves at home. He peered down to where the gathered dragonriders rested and noticed the reminates of their kill. Ready those darts of yours Jarell, they haven't spotted us yet. It seems that they have murdered some Serrets. Stupid, stupid, stupid. How could they be so stupid as to go killing and eating things they dont even know what are? That sickens me. Jarell hurry up I dont want to deal with them any longer than I have to. He turned so his side would face the beings for a better shot for the human on his back.

Looking at the scene below, Jarell nearly snarled in anger as he let his hand hover above the small cases containing the bullets and the dart. Then his fingers closed over the case containing the bullets, and opening it quickly, he took four bullets and loaded them into the rifle.
"Better close your ears" he said, tightening the hold with his legs around the ayron as he took aim at the nearest of the dragonrider. A tiny light flickered on at the side of the weapon as he had the correct angle to hit the young human's heart, and then he fired twice.
Jarell clenched his teeth as he watched the rider fall over to the side, and his face was blank as one of the dragons-- a blue, reared back to utter a chilling scream. Then it launched itself into the air and vanished.

Tarima was watching for whatever had made the noise by the river when her attention was ripped from that direction by the scream that rang out from besides her. Turning, she saw C'tron on the floor, bleeding from his chest. In shock, she turned to look at Hysuith. As she watched, he lifted into the air and disappeared. She was going to rush to C'tron's aid when Niarth's keening brought her round to reality. He was dead......
Gasping in panic, she ran to Niarth's side, launching upwards and shrieking for the others to follow. They circled in the air, waiting for their remaining friends to follow......

K'yaer had been munching on a meat roll when he saw C'tron fall over, followed by the loud bang echo. When he saw the other Weyrling's blue disappear overhead /between/, he jumped up and leaped onto his green's back before Bemmith could leave him. **Oh, shards, we need to get away from here,** he told his dragon and the green darted over a ridge down onto a plain that stretched for miles. At the moment he could care less for the others - it was all for themselves, and he wasn't going to allow himself to get killed by whatever that bang was to wait for the girls.

After what felt like a good enough time, Bemmith landed near a creek, and K'yaer looked back at the ridge. It was only a blip on the horizon, at least ten miles away now. He slid off the green's back and collapsed next to his dragon's side. "That was close," he told her softly, panting heavily in fear. He didn't hear any more shots.

Suddenly his dragon screamed, and pain filled K'yaer's mind. The green launched herself into the air, and he could see the large beast clamped onto her neck, holding on for dear life as the dragon tried to shake him off. K'yaer screamed, "BEMMITH!" Finally the beast squeezed hard enough, ripping out Bemmith's throat and sending her sailing into the ground nearby, dead. The young greenrider screamed, collapsing to his knees just as the beast's comrade came up behind him. K'yaer didn't care as the beast ripped him in half, continuing to stare wordlessly, voiceless, at his dragon.

One moment C'tron was sitting nearby, discussing their situation with her and the others, then his face suddenly went slack and he fell to the side. A second passed as Tebur looked at him, unable to know whether he had passed out or had somehow died.
But as that second had passed, she clamped her hands over her ears as Hysuith's scream of grief reached her. Unable to look away, she then watched the young blue take off to vanish Between forever.
Then Teyth's grief over the death of a clutch mate reached her along with the knowledge that C'tron had been killed by.
Without thinking, Tebur ran for her dragon, somehow making it up on the green's neck and grabbing a strap before they were both airborne. And only faintly aware of that they went in a completely different direction than their comerades.
All that was in their minds however, was that they needed to get away from whatever that had killed C'tron and his dragon.

Something resembling a dart suddenly sitting in her arm, the pain tore Sarna's attention away from the sight of C'tron's lifeless body. And as Raneth bugled an angry warning, she somehow got up on her feet, almost making it all the way over to her dragon before she collapsed.
However, before she completely lost consciousness, she felt herself being lifted by Raneth-- cold air rushing around her as the blue dragon took off.

Struggling with his anger, knowing all too well that it would not be very well received if he and Serren had to report all of the offworlders when they returned home, he quickly reloaded the rifle with darts. First he sent one into the arm of the young women riding the blue dragon, only to get another reason to curse loudly as she was carried away by the blue before he could fire again.
Asking Serren to move slightly, he then took aim at the brown dragon who was still circling above. And before it could wing out of reach, he rappidly fired three darts into its neck. It might not be enough to make it sleep, but the contents of the darts should be enough to bring it back to the ground.

Circling above, Tarima saw K'yaer and Bemmith take off and disappear, then watched as Tebur and Teyth lifted into the air and headed off in a different direction. Torn, she asked Niarth to lift higher, watching to see if Sarna and Raneth would follow them or head off on their own. She saw Sarna run to the Blue and collapse as she reached him, watched as the Blue grabbed his rider and took off.
With a wail of despair and shock rising in her throat, Tarima sent the picture of a distant lake to the Brown and asked him to relay it to Raneth. They may be doomed, but then they may not, and she couldn't just leave without trying to help. As Niarth set himself towards the lake Tarima looked around her, trying to find the cause of all the panic. Giving up, she slumped on her Brown's neck, praying it wouldn't be them next. As she thought that a scream from Niarth roused her, and she tensed, ready for the pain that would signal the end of their existance. Roaring and shaking his head, Niarth fought to gain height and speed, managing to travel some distance forward before crashing to the ground in a tumble of wings. Strapped in by the fighting straps, Tarima felt her neck whip back as the hit the ground, then, as they ploughed across the ground and she felt no mind touch from her dragon lost conciousness. If he was dead then so would she die........

Sharply ordering her three cubs to stay away from the unusual-looking dragon that had just crashed to the ground not so far away, Riss the owlpanther whistled unhappily as she watched it. It had been a nice day until now, when that creature had suddenly arrived.
Though not being someone who cared much for the so-called civilization, the female owlpanther had chosen to settle at the Sarrkham Plains and enjoy the more primitive way of life it offered. However, it was not like she didn't know that the dragon was not like anything she had seen listed in the extensive xenobiology sections of the libraries in the cities. And if it and its rider had arrived without a permit, there was a chance that they might bring diseases and micro organisms that might be dangerous.
"I told you to stay away!" she hissed at her largest daughter as the cub tried yet again to sneak closer for a better look. And with a slap of her wing she sent the cub tumbling back to her siblings.
Quietly noting the darts in the dragons neck and the fact that both it and its rider were still breathing, Riss looked in the direction the strangers had came from.
Then she sighed and sat back at her haunches, "Ne'riiss, you will go to the Jebri and ask if they know what the kctri is going on. The rest of you will return ot the nest, right away".

Later, Tebur wasn't quite sure about for how long that they had been flying, the beat of Teyth's wings slowed as the green started to descend. And then they landed heavily, Teyth moaning in sorrow as Tebur partly fell and partly slid down from the dragon's neck. C'tron was dead, had been killed by someone that they hadn't even really seen, and who knew what had happened with the others.
Unable to keep herself from crying, Tebur just about collapsed beside her dragon, reaching up to pat Teyth's muzzle in a pointless attempt to reassure her.

By the time the grieving rider and her dragon noticed the three erletahs running towards them, moving at a uncanny speed, it was quite too late. Certainly Teyth made a valiant attempt to defend herself and her rider-- rearing back as she tried to fend off the saurian that was the first to reach them.
But it proved quite useless, thrown shrieking to the ground by the strike of a massive claw, the green's struggles ended quickly as another strike broke her neck.

Running in panic, Tebur did last a bit longer, until she found her way blocked by the younger erletahs of the pack.

WHAT did you just do? The Ayron growled as he watch the offworlders scatter to the sound of the shot that ended with the death of a man and his dragon. His long legs started off as the pairs took off. Great now we have to go catch them. Look what you did, you killed two of them. Now what, they're all frantic and who knows what could happen. Why did you kill him, Jarell? He looked up to see a blue fly away with his rider limp in his arms and snorted, At least shoot the dragon first!! His mental voice was furious, but not all because of the actions of Jarell and he stopped off to fallow the blue dragon.