How Did We Get Here (3): When One Weyr Fails...

Writers: Eimi
Date Posted: 16th December 2017

Characters: Hygalia, U'kaiah
Description: Hygalia needs a leader...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 9
Notes: Notes: Written with Council Permission
Written with Council Permission
Post 3 of a storyline
Mentions: G'nir, Aileyan, Tavia, Kaiafel

~~Flashback to DFW m7d10t7~~~

Hygalia's meeting with G'nir left her with a mixure of hope and sadness. She knew what she wanted to do. She wondered as she turned a corner whether she was making this decision based more on her own love of her old home, or because it truly was the right thing to do. Dragonsfall had grown on her, she realized as she ran her fingers over the stone wall. But still it had not felt like home quite like the Weyr where she had matured as a goldrider. She would miss this place, and the people, but could she really live with herself if she abandoned her old friends now?

She was not sure if she was making the right decision, but there was one man she trusted to give her a fair and honest assessment. He had no emotional ties to cloud his judgement either for the Northern Weyr, or for herself. Hygalia stopped in front of U'kaiah's door and gave it a light tap with her knuckles before peaking her head inside.

"Good evening, U'kaiah. May I interrupt you for a minute?" she asked.

Recognizing her at once, the bronzerider rose to his feet. "Of course, please come in," he smiled, indicating the chair across from him. "May I offer you a drink?"

"No, I had better not," she said, already wondering just how much the alcohol with G'nir might be clouding her judgement. "But you might want one."

"Oh?" he asked curiously, deciding to forego the drink but waving again at the offered chair.

"Have you heard anything about what has happened in the North?" she asked, taking the seat and nodding that he should do the same.

"Little snippets are starting to filter in, I guess." It was still just rumors from friends of friends who knew a man. "Something about a Fall that went wrong somehow. Do you have more information?"

She passed him the letter and waited while he read it silently. Letting out a little whistle, cocked his head and handed it back to her. "How accurate is that report?"

"Not very, I'm afraid. I went to the Weyr to verify the information. There is much, much more to it." She related in detail her visit to the North, watching his brow as it furrowed in concentration as he listened intently to her story.

When she finished, he shock his head sadly. "I think I have not heard of any Weyr losing so much in so little time. Not even in the first Fall."

"The Weyr is in incredible danger of falling apart. They need immediate and drastic help." The goldrider looked at his face, trying to read there if he had any hint of what she was about to say.

"I agree. I think every Weyr on Pern has to give what they can to help. If one Weyr fails..."

"They all fail," she said softly, finishing his thought. "Exactly. There is something else, something that has not been widely reported. Something only Weyrleaders know. Lady Lutsia will soon be dead. Cancer."

U'kaiah took in a deep breath and let it out in a rush. But his eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the goldrider sitting across from him. "If only Weyrleaders are supposed to know, why are you telling me this? What is it you are thinking?"

She smiled slightly. **This is why I came to you...** "The Weyr has lost their three most senior bronzes, and soon they will lose their Senior Queen. Their Junior Queens are too young to step up to lead the Weyr on their own. But I came from that Weyr. The riders know and respect me, and I believe they would follow..."

"You plan to leave Dragonsfall," he said, interrupting her as it all started to make sense. "You want to take our Eggs to help them rebuild, and lead the Weyr yourself."

"Yes. That is my intention," Hygalia nodded slowly, still not able to read the bronzeriders expression.

U'kaiah leaned his elbows on his desk, one hand fingering the small notch that marked his ear in a thoughtful fidget as he stared deep into the wood. "Teseada's gold is still young and won't Rise again for a while yet. Would we get a new Senior Queen?"

"We would have to." **Can I still say 'we'...** she wondered silently.

U'kaiah slowly began to nod. "It make sense," he said finally. "I don't like it, but it does make sense to me. It's a sacrifice, but Dragonsfall has been called upon to make sacrifices before to help a Weyr in need." He knew that better than anyone, having lead his own riders into double duty shifts to fight Thread after Dolphin Cove was in trouble. They had lost riders due to the exhaustion. They had almost lost him, too. "It is our duty to do everything we can to ensure that Thread will be met and Pern will be protected."

Those were bold words, she thought. Hygalia wondered just how far that sentiment stretched. "I will need a Weyrleader."

"You said their Weyrleader will recover from his injuries in a few months. So you will just need someone to fill in temporarily. I'm sure there will be plenty of brozneriders across Pern who would just jump at the chance to prove themselves." He could even think of a couple he could recommend.

She shook her head. "I don't want to work with a stranger. I need someone I can trust to lead in a way that I can work with. Someone who I know the riders would follow with my backing. A stranger will not do."

"Feel free to take G'nir," U'kaiah said with a wave and a one-sided smile. He knew his lack of love for their Weyrleader was no secret from the Weyrwoman.

The goldrider looked him straight in the eye. "I want you, U'kaiah."

Now that the Wingleader hadn't anticipated. "Me? But... I am Cyan's Wingleader."

"You have a competent Wingsecond," she countered.

"I have my duties here," he protested.

Hygalia did not flinch. "You first duty is to Pern, not Dragonsfall."

"I have a family."

"You are a dragonrider," she said, though her shoulders relaxed a little and her look softened. "You could bring your family with you."

"Tavia just transferred! Besides, I can't take Kaiafel. His mother wouldn't go and he will be a Candidate soon!" What was she even thinking asking that of him?

"You could finally be Weyrleader," she said, leaning a little more forward in her chair.

U'kaiah shook his head. "I have been offered the position before. No. I want to be Weyrleader _here_. This is where my friends and my family are. This is my home. I can't just leave it."

With a sigh, Hygalia sat back in her chair and considered her next move carefully. Finally, sitting upright she said, "U'kaiah, Thread will fall soon and they are leaderless. I need your help, even if it's just temporary. Their Weyrleader will recover from his injuries by the time Genith Rises again. D'bern is a much loved and well respected leader. I'm sure he can reclaim his place when Genith Rises. Give me just until he recovers. Please. Please U'kaiah. When one Weyr fails..."

She was hitting him right in his sense of duty, and he could already feel his resolve slipping. "Can I think about it?" he finally asked quietly.

"Yes," she nodded, knowing that she was asking a lot of this man. "But Thread is scheduled to Fall soon. Day after tomorrow we would have to go to be ready."

He nodded his understanding. "I will talk to my family tonight."

"No, U'kaiah, I'm sorry," she said gently. "G'nir asked me to take this night to think about it. My decision is made, but it is not official until tomorrow's Wingleader meeting. I'm afraid you cannot discuss it with anyone until after that. There's too much of a risk of rumors and panic starting before we are ready for them. I'm sorry, but you will have to keep this information to yourself. Not even Aileyan and Tavia can know."

He leaned his elbows on his desk once more and covered his face with his hands. Shards, his girls would not be happy with him if he made this decision without them. But what could he do? **This isn't about them. This is bigger than all of us...** he thought with a long sigh. Lifting his head once more he looked at the goldrider. "If I agree to go with you, Hygalia, I need your promise that I can return as soon as I am no longer needed. And you will make sure your Weyrleader knows that I will come back."

She nodded standing up to reach out to cover one of his hands with hers. "I swear by the Eggs of Faranth and Genith, you can come back to Dragonsfall when either their Weyrleader reclaims his position, or another comes up to take his place." She merely mouthed her thanks before turning to show herself out and to leave him with his thoughts.

Last updated on the December 21st 2017

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How Did We Get Here (3): When One Weyr Fails...