When The Need Arises

Writers: Estelle, Nici, Roxanne
Date Posted: 18th July 2005

Characters: T'moran, D'wrayt, Jaela
Description: T'moran visits D'wrayt and Jaela to ask if they can spare any riders
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 3 of Turn 3

R'dek, the brownrider on watch duty at Dragonsfall Weyr stamped his feet and muttered under his breath about the cold, wishing himself in the warmth indoors with his wingmates. His only consolation was that the kitchen staff would have piping hot klah and a pie ready for him once he came indoors - that was, until the bronze dragon appeared above the Weyr with his startling news.

}: That is Haldarth. His rider is now the Weyrleader of Dolphin Cove, :{ his dragon, Polinth reported. R'dek's eyes widened slightly. He'd known that Dolphin Cove's Weyrleader had been seriously injured last Fall - but not that a new one had been elected. Now they were the first to know this particular bit of news! }: He requests a meeting with Treadoryth's rider. :{

** All right - well, they can land, of course, ** R'dek said hurriedly, not wanting to keep the new Weyrleader waiting. ** And pass the message on to Treadoryth, would you? **

The bronze, Haldarth, acknowledged the message and glided slowly groundwards, while his rider leaned low over his neck to escape the icy winds.

** Better ask if Calyth's rider has time to see us, too, ** T'moran added. The Wings were the Weyrleader's business, but it was only courtesy to include the Weyrwoman and Jaela was a reasonable woman - not like his own Weyrwoman!

}: It's done, and Treadoryth's rider says he will see us in his weyr. :{ Haldarth neatly changed the angle of his glide to head for the ledge of the Weyrleader's weyr.

** I hope they have klah. ** After the tropical warmth of Dolphin Cove, this Weyr felt almost as cold as /between/!

Treadoryth and D'wrayt had already told Calyth about T'moran's visit so, by the time he had landed, Jaela had managed to run to her weyr and anxiously rummage through her wardrobe. She had to admit to a bit of female vanity here. One, T'moran was a visiting Weyrleader, and two, they'd got on rather well the first time he'd visited and she refused to see him dressed in the ratty old trousers and tunic she'd been wearing to wash Calyth. When the queen was broody, she demanded that Jaela wash her personally and not simply the weyrbrats and volunteering candidates. The tunic was damp and where not damp, it was covered in the oil she'd used to rub the queen down with.

So she quickly washed and found a decent dress to tug on, she also reflected that if Kalina couldn't appreciate a handsome bronzerider, well then she certainly could! She stepped out of her weyr long enough to wave down a passing drudge and order hot klah and a light snack before she took one last check in the mirror and headed out.

D'wrayt and T'moran were already seated and in deep discussion by the time she walked the short distance through the hallway that seperated their weyrs.

"Gentlemen....I hope I haven't kept you waiting _or_ disturbed you. I took the time to order klah before I came over." She'd leave all the other primping out of it. Seating herself next to D'wrayt, she smiled at T'moran. "I have to admit it's nice to see you leading Dolphin Cove again." They'd not made the acquaintance of O'dan in his short tenure.

"My lady." T'moran bowed low in greeting. "It's a pleasure to see you again, though I wish it could be a happier purpose that brought me here. Still, now you've arrived I can offer you and D'wrayt my congratulations on your fine clutch of eggs. You must both be very proud!"

"We are!" Jaela beamed at him and wrapped her arm around D'wrayt's waist before sobering. "But you mentioned some purpose for your visit so I won't waste your time with small talk."

"I've just been explaining to D'wrayt that Fall has left our Wings sorely depleted." T'moran sounded uncomfortable - more than anything he hated having to beg for help, but he had no other choice. "I came to ask if any Dragonsfall riders could be spared to stand in, until our injured riders are healed and we can get enough permanent transfers to fill the gaps."

"Ah, a wise move..." Jaela replied. She left the wing assignments up to D'wrayt, however and wasn't going to speculate on his decision--it was the only area she deferred completely to him in regard to.

"I thought that we could send some of the more senior riders who can more easily handle the dual responsibilities. Does that sound managable, Jaela?" D'wrayt asked as he was wary about not having enough riders for _his_ wings when they fought Threadfall.

"Yes, it does. Although, they'd be in two different timezones, so only the most experienced perhaps," she murmured, thinking. "And we'd have to make sure we've enough in the ranks when we truly needed them for Threadfall..."

"I certainly don't want to jeopardise your own ability to fight Fall," T'moran said hastily. "I intend to make the same request of other Weyrleaders, so you only need send what riders you can easily do without. I am particularly in need of experienced bronzeriders - many of our Wingleaders were injured badly enough to be grounded for a long while, and I'm scrambling to fill their places. But I know such riders are the hardest for a Weyr to spare."

Jaela nodded. "Since D'wrayt seems willing, why don't we focus on what we _can_ lend you in terms of support and that will make organizing whatever other assistance you can get from the other Weyrs so much easier?" She rose. "There is a wing schedule and listing available if you two wish to use it."

She knew D'wrayt was nervous--so was she. But when her home hold had fallen, it had been Dolphin Cove wingriders who'd helped them save as many as possible. It had been Dolphin Cove's Weyrwoman who'd helped her pick through dirt and debris to find her brother.

Surely, Dragonsfall must aid its fellows when the need arose.

Last updated on the September 7th 2005

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When The Need Arises