Worry

Writers: Yvonne, Len
Date Posted: 3rd April 2016

Characters: Jaylene, F'lin
Description: It's the day before Threadfall
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 3 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel, K'lvin, Y'gel

Jaylene

F'lin paced.

It was ten steps to the south end of his Wingsecond's office, and another ten to the wall. He turned and retraced his steps. Tomorrow Thread fell in the morning over River Bluff Weyr and Sunstone Seahold, and the Weyr would rise to meet it.

He _should_ be at K'sedel's side as they led the entire Weyr into battle, but this time he would lead Rapids alone. And they'd be following Torrent Wing. The thought gnawed at him; that he'd let his Wing down through his inexperience. Pride aside, K'sedel had made the right choice to ask K'lvin to lead the Weyr instead of him.

It still rankled.

Sighing, he dropped onto into his chair and tapped his finger against his desk. The final weather report of the evening should be coming in soon - it had already circulated to K'lvin. Previous reports called for a bright, sunny day with light winds and if Faranth was willing nothing had changed.

"Hey, what's with the long face?" Jaylene strolled in, not bothering to knock. She flopped down into the nearest comfortable chair, her mannerisms at odds with her very feminine physique. Pushing her thick auburn curls away from her face, she gave F'lin a rueful smile. "Bloody hot out, isn't it?"

The bronzerider nodded. "Usually it's cooler inside the cliff. Do you have the weather report for tomorrow?"

"Yes." Jaylene gave him a wary look as she flipped through her notes. "Hot and sunny. But thankfully Threadfall is at half eight and we'll all be done before it gets too unbearable. No rain, sadly."

"Can't have it all," F'lin said with a sigh. "Oh well."

"Cheer up, it's not the end end of the world!" Jaylene teased. "What are you worried about?"

He shot her a grateful smile, glad for the reminder. Rapids knew what they were doing. He knew enough to get by. They'd help each other, and in the end everything would be just fine. "The usual. Fire, flood, Thread, and meteors falling from the sky to take out all of Rapids. You know."

"Okay." Jaylene held up her hand and ticked off fingers as she spoke. "One, we'll be sky-borne so there should be no worries about floods for us, right? Two, I've been doing this a while now and I've yet to be hit by a random meteor." She gave him a wink. "Three, we're an experienced bunch, so the only fires you'll see will be coming out of the dragons' mouths. So that only leaves four: Thread." She gave him a bright smile.

"Our ancient enemy." F'lin said dramatically as he shook his fist at the ceiling. Then he sighed. "And Thread is why we're there. It just feels odd to have K'sedel out of the 'Fall."

"It'll be fine." She reached out and smacked him on the leg. "We're good at this, you have nothing to worry about, we've got your back."

The bronzerider smiled. "The other thing... Rhosyn suggested nominating a temporary 'Second to fill in for my temporary 'Second until K'sedel is back. I'm thinking that if Thread takes me out, Y'gel can step in, but otherwise I won't worry about it until after Orlaith rises." He shrugged. "It seems pointless to plan when she might be changing everything on us."

"True." Jaylene grinned at him. "But first off, you're not going anywhere. We got your back, remember? And secondly, how about using F'raren? Y'gel will always be the Healer, where F'raren has ambitions of being Weyrleader himself one day. You could put him for for the moment and see how he likes a bit of leadership. We could find out if he has the balls to do the job, or failing that, it might knock his ego down a peg or two."

It wasn't a bad suggestion... although F'lin didn't like F'raren much. It was a stupid personal dislike, though, and for all that he grated on his nerves, the other bronzerider was good as a wingrider. F'lin just didn't think he was any good at leading others. Or maybe he just didn't want to be led by F'raren... "Maybe. I'll think about it. But I still don't think I'll do anything until Orlaith rises."

"True, though the sooner the better. And if nothing else then it might put F'raren in his place." She gave F'lin a jaunty wink.

He held back a laugh. "Well, there's that."

She arched an eyebrow. "Any other worries?"

"I think that's all of them. Unless, do you think I look fat in this?" F'lin spread his hand wide and leaned back in his chair. Despite the flippant reply, he did feel better-- and was grateful to Jaylene for cheering him out of his mood before he got stuck in it. "I had an extra bubbly pie after lunch, see..."

"You're fine." Jaylene stood up and gave him a good-natured slap on the backside. "Come on, let's go get a beer. All this talk of impending doom for our wing has gotten me thirsty."

A beer sounded good. A little break from planning for the next day, and maybe it would help him sleep. And maybe it would give his Wingriders confidence, if they saw him with Jaylene in the Dining Cavern. If she had faith in him, they were going to be fine... right?

F'lin stood. "Sounds like a great idea."

Last updated on the May 21st 2016

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