[PRP] One False Step... (Talela/Elysia/Dragons)

[Teiha]

Talela stood in the doorway of her new weyr and sighed. There was sadness, a little relief, and a healthy dose of frustration in that sigh. It was still a nice stone weyr, a cool and comfortable cavern carved into the caldera wall… but it was on the ground. Instead of a wide ledge for her and Vimiath to descend from with grace and dignity, she stepped outside onto a dirt path through the grass, worn over the turns by the weyr’s previous residents.

That Hestina! So much for equality! So much for fairness! So much for—

Even as she thought those words of protest, she knew that the Weyrwoman had only meant the best for her. At least, she hoped that was the greenrider’s intention. Certainly it had nothing to do with preserving one of Pern’s most prolific gold dragons, a dependable source of new soldiers for a growing Weyr… right?

You are overthinking this, dearest, Vimiath purred. Talela looked out toward where her dragon was, and spotted the slender queen resting among her court, eyes whirling in contented dark blue and purple whorls. At least a dozen male dragons of all shapes, colors and sizes were gathered around her, lazing about in the warm sunshine. A handful of greens and another gold were also there, either paired or grouped off and nestling with other dragons, or sitting in a rough semi circle with Vimiath to chat. The queen herself had a small brown snuggled up against her, and her wing lay over his back in an affectionate embrace.

Am I, love? Do you think it was the right thing to do?

Vimiath’s eyes stayed focused on hers for a few moments. Yes, dearest.

A twinge of outrage was quickly swallowed down. If her other half believed it was best, then it had to be, whether she liked it or not. But Vimiath had more to say.

What would have happened if Dalbath had not flown by and seen you there? Bursts of gray cut through the deep colors in the gold’s eyes, circling slowly at first, then faster. You Faded again, and I was not there.

The woman gathered her thick ginger ponytail into her hands, stroking it compulsively as her mind went back to that breathtaking moment of terror. She’d come back to herself lying nearly flat on her face in the palms of a hovering dragon, looking down between its arms at her death below on the caldera floor. Her toes were mere inches below her weyr ledge when she’d been caught. What had she been thinking when she took that fateful step? She couldn't even remember why she'd been on that ledge in the first place.

Fading. That was Vimiath’s word for those spells. Those times when Talela forgot herself. She would fade out, and then later return not knowing what had happened in between. She’d apparently had entire conversations that she had no memory of, sometimes even with Vimiath! It was only because those episodes were so rare and minor they were allowed to fly drills or Thread at all these days, and that being only at the lowest level, where Vimiath could easily remove herself and her rider from battle without putting anyone in danger, if necessary. Otherwise, they would have been grounded turns ago. But that last fading... it couldn't be overlooked, not with another dragon and its rider as witnesses. The thought of being grounded made Talela’s stomach burn.

Not to worry, her dragon said softly. We watch. No harm will come to you, dearest. And we will certainly not be grounded.

Vimiath’s love and reassurance embraced her, and that last was said with such decisiveness that it was impossible for Talela not to smile. Thank you, love. She felt much better, but her thoughts turned back to Hestina and the rest of the Council. Her dragon was confident, knowing her own abilities, but would that be enough, by human standards, to keep them in the fight against Thread?

And if so… for how much longer?  

[Masterharper]

Teiha

Elysia hesitated just outside the door of the back entrance to a weyr. The dark haired young woman bit her lip, unsure how welcome she would be. Hadn't she been one to vote in favor of transferring Talela to a lower weyr? Hadn't she been one of the first to ask about it?

Rumor spread like wildfire in any Weyr, and Western was no exception. Word got around fast about the gold riders mishap off her ledge, and the Weyrleadership had taken it seriously. Nobody had wanted to force the pair to move, and the Weyrleadership had kept fairly quiet about Talela's condition.. but what had happened with Dalbath had been the last straw. It wasn't the woman's fault, of course not, but neither Hestina nor R'mor were going to wish to risk a rider's life.

Elysia, for her part, absolutely agreed. Every rider at the Weyr was important, from the newest hatchling, to those dragons who were long since retired or grounded. Even if the dragons couldn't fight Thread, their riders and dragons were still able to help support others, and even if they couldn't, they were part of Western. They were all family, really, and it's something Elysia loved deary about the place. Talela, in particular, was someone the younger woman looked up to. It wasn't just because Sheyoth was one of the queen's daughters, but because the woman was exactly what a queen rider should be!

Honestly, Elysia worried about the pair, despite Talela appearing to be relatively okay. She had half a mind of going to Fort just to bring the Master Healer over to see if he himself couldn't somehow fix the queen rider. She wasn't that old! Ah, but that wasn't her business, not really. While they would be able to observe the gold pair's performance durng Falls and drills, she knew they weren't going to force the other's hand unless it became absolutely necessary.

Maybe, this would be all the two needed. Maybe, this was as bad as it would get.

Shey, baby, will you let Vimiath know I'm on my way to see her? The young woman decided to give a few moments, so she didn't spring herself on the other unexpectedly.

Sheyoth, for her part, gave a happy trill. She had been drinking near the lake, but with her thirst slacked, the gold instead decided to make her way over to Vimiath's group instead. She had no need to sun herself on a ledge at present -- and if her rider was to see Vimiath's, than it would make a good excuse to spend some time with her dam. Vimiath! Mine is on her way to call upon yours. Might your little circle have room for one more?

The gold did not wish to interrupt if her presence was unwanted, but the younger gold was eager. She never seemed to miss an opportunity to greet Vimiath fondly.

So it was, the girl let a few more moments pass, before she knocked, and waited.