How Did We Get Here (Final): Something Will Have to Give

Writers: Eimi
Date Posted: 22nd December 2017

Characters: Hygalia, U'kaiah
Description: Reality sets in
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 9

The plan had seemed so simple. U'kaiah would be acting Weyrleader
only. The former Weyrleader, D'bern, and his bronze would recover, of
that the healers were certain. As Genith had come North having just
risen, there should have been about six months before her next mating
flight. That was plenty of time for the pair to recover from their
injuries and get back their strength. Everyone was sure that a
Weyrleader with such a level of respect and experience would be able
to win Genith's next flight. After all, they were not strangers. His
bronze had mated with her before when she was younger. It would be
six months tops and then U'kaiah could go home.

Only the dragon's had other plans. Genith needed to cement her claim
on the territory by choosing her mate, and the Weyr was desperately in
need of new riders, even with the Clutch that had recently hatched.
The gold surprised them all when her biological clock adjusted to the
needs of the Weyr and she rose nearly two months before the predicted
time. D'bern and Shibelth did not even chase, and Genith chose
Kalamath to be her mate, making U'kaiah Weyrleader officially.

As hard as it was for him to accept that he would not be able to go
home to Dragonsfall and his family as planned, D'bern and Shibelth's
daily progress gave him hope and confidence that by the next time
Genith rose, they would be ready to reclaim the Weyrleadership. But
again, the dragons had other plans.

~~~FLAHSBACK TO GENITH'S LAST FLIGHT~~~

U'kaiah was feeling groggy and deliciously worn out as his mind
started to resurface to consciousness. It had been a movement beside
him, a suddenly chill and a shake of the mattress that made him open
his eyes. Blinking up at the ceiling, his mind try to make sense of
what should not be.

No. This wasn't right. No. This isn't where he was supposed to be
right now. "No." He shouldn't be in the flight room. Turning his
head, he saw Hygalia's back turned to him as she sad on the edge of
the bed. "No." It wasn't supposed to be him waking up next to her.
"No!"

The goldrider turned her head to look at the bronzerider, her face
serious and her tone soft. "Yes, I'm afraid."

U'kaiah shook his head, not understanding what was happening. "Where
is D'bern?."

She shrugged a shoulder helplessly. "In the arms of some flight moth
I would imagine."

"Hygalia," the bronzerider said, turning to pull himself up on his
knees to face her. "I saw them. D'bern and Shibelth were there.
They chased. They were in as good of shape as ever! He's been
leading drills, his bronze has been flirting relentlessly with Genith.
What happened?"

"She chose Kalamath," Hygalia said softly. "The dragons know best."

"No. I need to go home," U'kaiah said with a fierce shake of his
head. He could not accept that it was as simple as that.

Hygalia winced as she looked down at her hands. "You are home, Weyrleader."

"Don't do that." His heart was not ready to accept that as the final
outcome. "I made promises to my family. I have to go home to them,
and you know _exactly_ where I mean."

"Yes, I know," she nodded, still not looking at him. Hygalia didn't
have to look into his face to know the anger, the betrayal she would
see there. She had made him a promise, one that was never in her
power to keep. Likely on some level, she even knew that when she made
it. She was just so sure he was the one that could help her lead the
Weyr back from the brink that she would have promised him anything.

Perhaps part of her hoped that he would fall in love with the Weyr
like she had, that he would choose to stay. Secretly, she had hoped
he would be her Weyrleader, but it had been a selfish wish. She liked
U'kaiah as a good friend and worked well with him. He had been
everything she had needed him to be as her partner and more. But when
her eyes opened after the flight to see his face, she felt the shame
of what she had wished in her heart. She had had no right to tear him
and his family apart in this way. Deep down, Hygalia was afraid that
her secret hope had influenced Genith's choice. "Shards, U'kaiah, I
am so sorry. For all of this. I am so very sorry."

U'kaiah felt utterly defeated. He had been chosen Weyrleader, and
there was nothing he could do about it. How ironic that his childhood
dream would in the end become his nightmare. As he looked down at the
rumpled sheets, the images of Aileyan's pleading eyes, and Tavia's
full of pain and sadness filled his mind. How would he ever get back
to them now?

~~~ PRESENT DAY ~~~

Hygalia leaned her forehead against his cheek as her arms wrapped
around his. U'kaiah had been everything she had wanted him to be.
Everything but happy. While on some deep level, she knew she was
still selfishly glad that he was there with her, she could see how the
separation was weighing on him more day by day. The goldrider had
stopped him from splitting himself between two times, but the truth
was he was already living in two places. Every time he had to say
goodbye, she could see the light in his eyes grow dimmer and dimmer.
She could not guess what their future held, but one thing she knew for
certain, he couldn't keep living like this. Sooner or later,
something will have to give.

Last updated on the December 23rd 2017

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How Did We Get Here (Final): Something Will Have to Give