Questions (tag: Weyrwoman)

[summerrain]

(Day after Temperanth's Flight)

The pair appeared from between above the Weyr they'd both called home for many Turns. Yuki sighed. The place was so close to her home... Thankfully, it was early, just daybreak.

I still think we should've told them, Ayleneth told Hers as they descended.

D'gan will know where we've gone, Yuki reasoned. And Mosiliath can wait a few days. They'll be fine.

Ayleneth fell into a resigned silence as they landed. Yuki had sent a messanger avian to the Weyrwoman just candlemarks after Ayleneth's eggs had hatched. Both of them should know of her arival. Speaking of...

"Can you go tell the Weyrwoman that Yuki wishes to speak with her?" she asked a MidnightRider that was passing by.

"Of course," said the boy. He looked young. Just out of Weyrlinghood, most likely. Yuki dismounted Ayleneth and stood next to the Aurora, wondering what would happen now.

[Shoki]

If there was anything that Hedara had unintentionally gotten good at in the past months it was diverting people. It helped that pretty much everyone in Ice Stone Weyr loved Sanshe. When asked not to press, they usually didn't. It made things easier on Hedara, but she was still good at getting people to at least not try to break past the healers to see Sanshe. Personal letters still went by, but only on certain days, and when the healers approved. It meant that as long as they would talk at all, they talked to her. Still, issues got delayed, for the most part, if people were really set against her. So when a MidnightRider appeared as she was going to morning practice, Hedara knew ahead of time what was going on. After all, she had been diverting the mail for a while now.

She dismissed the young rider after hearing the news of the AuroraRider's arrival and thought back to her notes on the subject. The Aurora, Ayleneth, had risen and clutched at RMW, producing some Aurora dragonets. The crux of the issue brought to her was there. Hedara started to the Bowl, her practice blade still in hand. She would not like to delay in an answer here, best handled soon. It wasn't long before she appeared at the Bowl, and spotted the rider and her dragoness. According to what she knew, Yuki would have left while Hedara had still been a Weyrling. Hedara had to look that up, since she had been personally acquainted with the rider previously. She walked forward to greet the other rider.

"You are Yuki correct? I am Hedara. Would you care to follow me to my office? We can talk privately there."

[summerrain]

Yuki nodded when Hedara introduced herself. "Is Sanshe doing well?" she asked. Then she turned to Ayleneth. "You can wait here if you want." Ayleneth nodded quietly, then seemed to curl up, as if tired. Well, they had left early from Rainbow Mists that morning.

Yuki followed Hedara, searching silently for a certain someone. Chiara, her little brother, had been Searched not long before relationships between the Hold and the Weyr had gotten tense. Icy Caverns stopped supplying Candidates after that, but Chiara had been lucky.

"I sent a messanger avian here the other day," Yuki said. "You should know already why I am here. The two Aurora Hatchlings." She didn't need to say more. It was the first time an Aurora had Clutched outside Ice Stone, and the first Auroras outside Ice Stone were Hatched. How would they do outside Ice Stone? Many believed that Auroras couldn't grow outside the cold of the Northernmost Weyr.

[Shoki]

"All the treatments seem to be working. They just need more time then anticipated." Hedara sighed slightly as they walked. Patience was one thing, this was another. She hated that she had hardly talked to Sanshe since she got ill, partially with all the stuff she had to do. The work wasn't the issue, it was that she couldn't talk with someone she considered to be her friend. She could count her friends with one hand.

They approached the office and Hedara opened the door, bidding the other rider to enter. "Yes, I got your message. My congratulations on Ayleneth's flight and clutch. I presume nothing of great trouble happened there." She gathered that because otherwise there would have been a much more worried letter. She motioned to one of the utilitarian chairs her office held, inviting her to sit. Hedara tended to have useful things in her office, not things that looked nice or pretty. Except for her graduation sword, that was displayed. After all, it had to be put somewhere.

[summerrain]

"Actually, the change has done me much good," Yuki told Hedara. It showed. She had more color in her face, and was more outspoken. "Ayleneth has found a companion is Mosiliath, the sire of her Clutch. And... I have in his Rider." Her cheeks redened slightly.

"Perhaps a change of scenery would do the ill Weyrwoman good as well?" she suggested. "The jungles that surround Rainbow Mists Weyr are rich in healing herbs. I could request that some are sent here for her."

After a moment, Yuki sighed. "I'll admit, I was worried that Ayleneth might Clutch a Silverlight, but we were lucky. Of course, it wasn't until after the Hatching that I realized that Silverlights can only be Clutched by a female Ice. As long as no female Ice dragons Clutch outside of this Weyr, the rest of Pern need not experiance the same issues as this place."

She decided to finally get back to the issue at hand. "This is the first time Auroras have Hatched outside Ice Stone," she said. "I personally feel that it is time for Auroras to be introduced to the rest of Pern as more than a dream. The male Aurora was assisting the other Hatchlings, even going so far as almost breaking the shell for the White dragonet." She sighed. "There is one thing that concerns me, though... How will the climate effect the Aurora Hatchlings?"

[Shoki]

Hedara observed the change in Yuki when she spoke of the other dragon's rider. Indeed, it looked as though she was quite pleased with how things had gone. Always a pleasant thing, things going well. She suspected that her having an Aurora had brought her luck, she felt the color was good for helping a rider that needed it. Hedara merely nodded though, as a response that said that that was good.

"I would be grateful if you did. Something novel would no doubt be welcome for Sanshe." Even a brief conversation a while back showed how hungry the Weyrwoman was for something new. For someone who worked for others so well, being cooped up was highly undesirable. Even something a little different was exciting and diverting.

To the statement of Silverlights, Hedara simply gave a small, wry smile. She understood she supposed, those fears. Even if it wasn't possible for Yuki's dragoness, worry tended to get the better of people sometimes. Of course Yuki didn't know that Hedara was facing the same worries at the moment. She didn't say anything about it though.

"Indeed, I can think of no better place for such an introduction then under the care of our southern sister. However, as to the climate..." Hedara tilted her head slightly as she thought then turned her gaze to Yuki directly. "Before I say anything I would have you speak. What have you observed thus far, and what is your opinion?" Hedara looked serious, but didn't betray what she was thinking. In general she wouldn't ask but she personally hadn't viewed the new hatchlings in their environment. Besides, Ayleneth was the mother, she suspected that if there was someone to ask, besides the dragonets themselves, the Aurora would be the best informant.

[summerrain]

Yuki nodded, smiling slightly. "I'll be sure to request that some be sent with the next messenger rider," she promised. Sanshe had been one of the few who knew of the incident all those Turns ago, when the Icy Caverns children vanished. All of Pern would know of it eventually, that was inevitable. But the longer it took for word to spread, the better.

"I didn't see anything strange," Yuki said, thinking back to the Hatching. "The Sunset was rather mischevious, and the Pink was humming with the mature dragons for a while. But there seemed to be nothing different with the Aurora hatchlings." She had a sudden thought. "I'll continue to observe the hatchlings, and if I see or hear of anything weird from the dragonhealers, I'll send a messenger right away. I'd prefer to either move them now or wait until the dragons can fly. On their own at least."

[Shoki]

Hedara's gaze became distant as she slipped into deeper thought. Nothing much odd then. She supposed the fact that they had impressed without any of the north's glassy ice present was as good a sign as any that they would be fine. No sudden /between/ had occurred, and apparently no distress. It was encouraging at least. On the other hand they had specifically occurred as a color in Ice Stone Weyr. Things could not always been foreseen, only reacted to. In such a case preemptive action was the best action. What case was this? It was quiet for a moment until Hedara spoke again.

"And what does your dragon make of these things? What would she wish?" Hedara's eyes had a subtle intensity to them, as she felt she was on the verge of deciding something. It would likely be the last thing she asked.

[summerrain]

Yuki walked over to the window, not having taken the offered seat. Leaving without telling D'gan had been hard, but it was necessary. "They are Ayleneth's children," she said simply. "A mother doesn't like seeing her children taken from their siblings... The two Auroras need to be with their sibligs at least until they can fly." She looked down at the shimmer that was Ayleneth, asleep in the snow. "We've talked about it many times, each time coming to the same conclusion... We both agree... The hatchlings should only be moved if there is anything that implies they might in fact need the cold of this Weyr for proper development. And that it is time for Auroras to become a common sight all over Pern, not just this small portion of the North." She closed her eyes for a moment, then sighed.

"There... There is something else you should know about," she admitted softly. It was like telling D'gan all over again. But she knew him better than she knew Hedara. "Something that happened almost fifteen Turns ago now... But something that should not become public knowledge. Sanshe already knows, as she was involved. It is only right for you to know as well..." The Junior Weyrwoman was young, but this was something she had the right to know. She deserved to know about the kidnapping incident at Icy Caverns Hold. The man was never caught, so there was always the chance that he might return. And the Weyr needed to be prepared for that possibility, however small it might be.

[Shoki]

Hedara tilted her head slightly and thought about it. Regardless of the other's riders opinions on the color's prevalence, it was not something she felt she could control. The riders of the colors would transfer, and eventually the color would continue in southern lands. However as for the climate, she had her opinion.

"I see no reason why they could not remain there for as long as they want. If the issue of climate does arise they can be moved back, however I do not believe it will be an issue. I would advise you to alert the weyrlings to watch for anything out of the ordinary, in case." Hedara's thoughts had been along those lines anyway, mostly because she felt that since most dragons had little issues transferring and breeding in the new environment, Auroras should be no different. They were somewhat unique in the scheme of things, to be sure, but she felt it would not be a great issue.

Hedara's eyes were locked on Yuki as she spoke, but the Jr. Weyrwoman didn't speak. Fifteen turns ago, she had been a child, still learning from her somewhat paranoid parents. So long ago, in another time, another life. Judging from the other rider, it was much the same, except it was a time she didn't want to remember. Hedara didn't press Yuki to continue, only watched and listened.

[summerrain]

"I'll do that," Yuki promised. The Weyrlings didn't have to leave, then, unless something obvious showed that Aurora dragons needed the cold to properly develope.

Yuki sighed softly and continued. "I was eight Turns old at the time," she said quietly. "There was an... Incident... At Icy Caverns Hold. Children began to disappear. Then the Lord Holder placed restrictions upon the Hold. No one under thirteen was allowed out after sunset alone. My father's a master carpenter, and I was delivering something for him when the kidnapper took me as well. The man somehow got away." The AuroraRider turned to the Jr. Weyrwoman.

"I'm telling you this because the man was never caught," she said. "With Sanshe ill, you are the one who must care for the Weyr. The Weyrfolk need not know about the incident. It was covered up for a reason." She looked away, back out the window. "But... You need to know. So that, if it happens again, you know what you'll need to do. You and Sanshe can work together, should she recover." Yuki said the last part slowly, as if she didn't want to say it at all.

[Shoki]

Hedara's expression didn't change as Yuki spoke on darker times. Kidnapping at the Hold was serious indeed, but the hazel eyes of the Icerider didn't move. She let the information sink in during the pauses, and remained intent on this news. However, it didn't mean she had to like it. Logically, there was nothing that she could have done at the time. Still, the fact that it had happened at all grated at her. It hit too close to more recent events for her liking. Hedara continued suppressing her emotions, letting Yuki finish what she was saying.

"I see." Hedara collected her thoughts, trying to determine how to process this. Information as it was, would be of use if something did start to happen. As far as she knew, nothing like that was happening at the Hold. Though her parents were not ones for emotional displays, they did prefer to keep letters coming to her on the affairs of the Hold. She felt a little better knowing there was one more bit of information she knew that could protect others, as long as she remained vigilant.

"I shall do anything it takes to defend this Weyr and her riders, and the lands she protects. Of that you may be confident. Regardless of what circumstances may or may not occur, I shall do everything in my power to remain true to that goal." A breathy sigh interrupted the flow of conversation made by a somewhat tired looking Hedara. "I would much prefer it be with Sanshe then otherwise." Yuki's conversation had brought the train of thought to her mind that Sanshe might not get back to full health, and instead have to have a much longer rehabilitation then could be allowed. However, that thought would not remain in Hedara's head for long. She couldn't think about such a thing. It was the one eventuality she didn't like planning for.

[summerrain]

Yuki nodded. "We all hope Sanshe recovers quickly," she said. "I'll say no more, as I have asked the questions I came here to ask." She turned and dipped her head slightly. "I'll take my leave now. Give my best to Sanshe. I'll have the healers send some herbs over with a firelizard within a few days." She left then, and headed toward Ayleneth.

Ayleneth didn't speak, as she was again half asleep. She sent Yuki a picture of where they were going, Rainbow Mists Weyr, and then the pair betweened.

((awful failpost... But I wanted to get something up...))

[Shoki]

Hedara nodded and watched Yuki go. She stood there for a moment until finally going to the chair at the desk and sitting down. It hadn't even been a day since the flight but now she was already reminded that there was a hatching to come and the things that could go wrong. Or more accurately, the things that people could perceive as wrong. To be sure, The Aurorarider hadn't given her an entirely morbid meeting, it just brought all manner of worry to her mind. Yuki's last words gave her a new worry for the people of the Weyr and her first a reminder of future worries for the candiates. It was possible nothing would happen. She prayed that dragons would be born, impress and live in the Weyr in peace. The rest, in her view, could be sorted.

We can protect them. It is our calling. You do not have to worry, only wait. Temperanth's soothing mind gave Hedara a little room to breathe, but not for long.

And in the meantime, paperwork.

Of course, love. Only remember to poke your head out now and then. Yes?

A faint sigh was heard and a wry smile made its way onto Hedara's face. Yes.