Responsibilities to the Wing

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 27th January 2018

Characters: F'lin, K'ran
Description: F'lin looks after Rapid Wing's sweepride schedules and his Wingleader
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 13 of Turn 9

K'ran

F'lin knocked on K'ran's office door. "K'ran? I have next sevenday's sweep schedule for you."

K'ran called for F'lin to enter and looked up from the report on his desk. His eyes were a bit red and his voice hoarse. "Ah, F'lin. Thank you for bringing that for me," he said.

"Sure thing." The wingsecond dropped it on K'ran's desk, intending to head back to his own weyr for the evening, but his wingleader didn't look so good. "How is your evening going?"

"Bit of a sore throat and the casualty report was a bit distressing," he said. "How are you and Seneth?"

"Well." F'lin sat without being invited. The casualty report was always distressing and he hoped that it was just a sore throat and not a precursor to a worse illness. For a moment F'lin wished that it was Jeyme there instead of him. She seemed like she would be better at navigating personal business. "He's gone to sleep. Dragons and the sun, you know? It sets and he gets sleepy so quickly. How is Rogueth?"

"He's keeping a mental pressure on Karhiath," K'ran responded.

He wished he was asleep. Instead he was sitting here, looking at the casualty report, wishing he had another two green dragons to replace Merika. She and Karhiath had been a fast pair who'd covered more than their share of the formation. The Healers' report said the fever was still high and infection was raging. It was why Rogueth was keeping an eye on the green, making sure she didn't panic and to be ready to call a gold if she did. Bronzes and gold were steadier, they'd wait to see if their lifemate would recover. But greens and blues were likely to /between/ if they got afraid their rider was gone forever – and without their dragon, most riders would then choose to go.

He looked at the sweep schedule F'lin brought. "You've paired the new wingriders with experienced ones?" he asked, noticing a pattern.

F'lin nodded. "Seemed to make the most sense."

"It's a good idea, especially since some of the newer weyrlings have a more nervous temperament. I'm sure they'll settle in when they're flying for real but pairing with stable people will help."

F'lin cleared his throat, suddenly unsure about what he wanted to say. K'ran wasn't in the best of moods, but maybe a little gossip might distract him from Merika for a while. "Uh.. speaking of stable... I might be overstepping, so if you don't want to say anything, that's fine. But I heard a rumor that R'ehn might be leaving the Weyr?"

"Can I ask where you heard it? I'm not averse to rumor-trading, but I think the higher-ups were trying to keep it quiet," K'ran said. "It's true, though, he'll be leaving shortly after the Hatching. Apparently he and Weyrwoman Saibra are in a relationship and she's pregnant. Since it's harder to transfer a Weyrwoman..."

"Huh." F'lin was silent a moment. N'vanik would be unhappy at losing his Wingsecond, but family was important. Doubly so when the request to transfer was had a goldrider involved. And who would fill the knots? "At least N'vanik has a little time to find a replacement," F'lin said, hoping K'ran would decide to reveal a little something else.

"I don't know who he's considering. I'm imagining once R'enh makes it public, then he'll become flooded with applications to take the position. It's a hard decision to make. Both at Dragonsfall and at River Bluff, I was lucky to inherit a good Wingsecond who'd already been there."

F'lin let himself be flattered for a brief moment. In reality, K'ran might have inherited a good Wingsecond at Dragonsfall, but the Wingleader had been stuck with him at River Bluff. F'lin had done his job competently enough, but he knew that he was slower and less decisive than he would be in a Turn or two. His youth and shortcomings had become more of a liability at Dolphin Cove-- or at least one that was pointed out more often. "Are you going to apply?" he asked after a moment.

"I wasn't planning on applying for it, it would mean changing wings and leaving Rapids behind. If N'vanik asked me to, I'd consider it. And if he asked my opinion on any candidates who put themselves forward."

The Wingsecond had unconsciously relaxed when K'ran had said that he wasn't thinking of leaving Rapids, but he tensed up again when K'ran had implied he might seek the knots. Then he mentally laughed. N'vanik was more likely to consider a greenrider than F'lin. "Did N'vanik ask you?"

"He hasn't approached me about it," K'ran confirmed.

"Who do you think might approach N'vanik, once he makes it known he's looking for a Wingsecond?"

"Good question. Someone ambitious would approach him for it, someone who thinks they've got the right experience and temperament. From our wing I think C'grai might. Maybe G'ran or J'nus will apply. I know J'nus has experience," K'ran said, thinking of bronzeriders in other wings. "It's a pity K'lvin was medically retired, he would be a good choice."

F'lin nodded. K'lvin would have been a good choice, too, as a River Bluff man. "I wish K'sedel would."

"He's certainly got the experience for the position. Though then we'd need a new Weyrlingmaster..." A certain temperament was needed for that position and K'ran thought it was harder to source for that than for a Wingsecond or Wingleader.

"I'm sure they could find someone. K'sedel knows how to run a Weyr's fighting wings like the back of his hand. I think it would be good for us if someone from River Bluff wore Hurricane's knots."

K'ran was curious what was motivating that statement. He suspected F'lin's concern for the residents of his former Weyr. "You think it would help River Bluff riders integrate into Dolphin Cove better, and to remind N'vanik of how we matter?"

"I just think that K'sedel would be a good choice," F'lin said. But K'ran was right-- it would do a lot for the people of River Bluff if they saw one of their own wearing the Weyrleader's Second's knots-- and it would be good for him to have K'sedel back in a position he could benefit from. He sighed. "If he decides to apply."

"With it being a Weyrleader's Wingsecond spot open, there might also be transfer applicants. I wonder if Dragonsfall would do a transfer-in-kind - they're getting a Dolphin Cove bronzerider so they send one back to us." It was something that Dragonsfall had done before, he knew. "Or someone ambitious from a crowded Weyr might apply. Rising Moons, maybe."

"Maybe." The Wingsecond sighed. "I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."

"Speaking of integrating, I'm curious to see what bronzes win the next few goldflights here. A River Bluff bronze siring a clutch with a Dolphin Cove queen could bring people together."

Or maybe it would stir resentment from Dolphin Cove riders. He knew how controversial his own win had been at River Bluff. But K'ran wanted to be an optimist and knew the River Bluff people were going to be part of Dolphin Cove for some time and so he was going to hope that it would be seen as a positive.

"With any luck, Rogueth will catch Panitath," F'lin said with a half-smile. That would certainly shake things up!

"That would be quite a surprise. I would say I don't think a gold would ever choose Rogueth, but I suppose if it could happen once it could happen again."

"A queen did choose him already, I wouldn't like to question a queen dragon's decision." The Wingsecond liked the way K'ran's expression had softened, making him look less drawn than he had when F'lin had delivered the Sweep schedules. Distraction in the form of gossip might have done K'ran a little good. Maybe now he'd be more willing to take a break and take care of himself. "Sir... if you want, Seneth and I can take a turn with Karhiath and Merika. Seneth's had his rest. Perhaps Rogueth would like his."

K'ran was torn between two impulses. On the one hand, Merika was his wingrider and he should stay with her even if he was tired. But F'lin was his Wingsecond and Merika was also his responsibility, and a nap would be nice.

"If you and Seneth wouldn't mind staying up for a bit longer, that would be nice," he finally said.

"I'd be happy to," F'lin said, relieved. One advantage of youth was an easier recovery from late nights. K'ran could use a good night's sleep. "I'll keep them safe. You should hit up the dining cavern too, if you haven't already. The kitchen staff made meat pies tonight. They're really good-- they're a bit sweeter than the River Bluff staff made them, but they're nicely spiced. You should try them. Still no greens though," he added a bit ruefully.

"I miss the greens," K'ran agreed. "Thanks for being willing to watch over them. I haven't eaten so I'll do that, and catch up with you in the morning."

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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Responsibilities to the Wing