A United Front

Writers: Emma, Heather
Date Posted: 9th March 2019

Characters: K'reyel, Saibra
Description: The Weyrwoman and Weyrleader take a moment to be alone after the Hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: R'enh

K'reyel

Saibra

The noise and crowd of people in the Dining Cavern were normally something
that Saibra enjoyed, especially at a Hatching Feast. Dancing was something
that she and R'enh enjoyed doing together immensely, but after the heated
conversation they'd had earlier, she didn't think there would be any dancing
that evening. If anything the noise was making her head pound.

"I could use a break," she murmured in K'reyel's ear from where they stood
greeting guests.

"Me too," K'reyel said with a smile still on his face as the daughter of the
Lord of Opal Cove walked past. "Give me two minutes and I'll see you outside
with a glass of wine."

The Dragonsfall Weyrwoman slipped away, glad of the break, even if it would
just be for a moment. Hatching nights were always busy, and typically she
didn't mind, but her heart wasn't interested in celebrating. R'enh had said
that it was a possibility that she, as a dragonrider, had known about but
that didn't make it any easier for her to move forward or forget about it.
She'd been with Chioneth for twenty-three Turns and never before had the
gold laid a clutch where a dragonet had not Impressed.

The evening air around Dragonsfall was chilly, but for the moment it felt
good in juxtaposition to the warmth of the Dining Cavern. "Thank you," she
said to K'reyel when he joined her outside with the glass of wine.

"You're welcome," he said as he passed her the glass. "It's not easy
tonight, is it it?" And it wasn't. That moment watching Erdenth take the
tiny hatchling so gently, before they took her /between/ would stay with him
for a very long time. "It wasn't supposed to be this way."

"No, it's not easy. I always knew losing a dragonet was a possibility it's
just... never happened to one of Chioneth's before." Saibra took the glass
and sipped from it.

"My father talked about it happening once when he was a child, before there
was a need for as many candidates as now," K'reyel said. "The goldrider, it
haunted her until the next hatching, and when they all survived, she was
noticeably happier."

Was she going to be that way? Haunted until Chioneth's next hatching? She
shivered, from the cold, and from dread. Saibra could already tell that she
would be apprehensive at Chioneth's next Hatching, even though it was many
months down the road. "I think maybe it's my fault," she admitted to
K'reyel. "I shouldn't have allowed that Candidate from Sunstone to remain at
Dolphin Cove. Maybe she was meant for that dragonet."

"You can't say that," K'reyel said. "You just don't know."

"I know," Saibra murmured. She knew logically that there was very little she
could have done, but it was a problem she never wanted to face again in the
future. Even if the Weyr had to be overflowing with Candidate possibilities
to avoid it.

"And if you need to talk about it later, you know where I am, right?"

Saibra looked at K'reyel for a moment before slipping her free hand into
his, "Yes, and thank you for that, K'reyel. It means more than you know."

He gently squeezed it, hoping she could feel the reassurance he offered.
"Any time."

"You are a far better Weyrleader than I deserve," she admitted.

"You make a great Weyrwoman, and you'll keep this Weyr in shape for many
turns to come," K'reyel told her.

It was those words that she needed to hear, especially after the night she'd
been having. "I guess we'd better get back to the guests," she said
reluctantly. At least she'd had time to finish her glass of wine.

K'reyel took a deep breath, "We should, and the new weyrlings as well, this
is their night after all."

"Yes, they deserve to celebrate," Saibra agreed. There had been death, but
there was also so much life to be thankful for as well.

"Let's go help that happen," suggested K'reyel. "After you?"

Saibra put her "Weyrwoman's face" back on. "Here we go," she led the way
back into the warm, bustling Dining Cavern.

Last updated on the March 22nd 2019

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A United Front