Acting Responsible

Writers: Bree, Yvonne
Date Posted: 26th October 2005

Characters: Tsaera, Lenala
Description: Tsaera visits Lenala in the Infirmary and suspects there might be more to the Junior Weyrwoman than she first suspected
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 11 of Turn 3

Lenala

The aftermath of a Fall was always busy, and it wasn't until late in the evening that Tsaera was free to visit her 'Second. By then it was too late -
she'd undoubtedly be asleep, and Tsaera didn't have the heart to wake her.
No matter what she thought of the woman personally, Lenala was still a goldrider and she'd done a fair job leading her Wing. **But not fair enough to avoid getting hurt...** Tsaera stretched and rubbed her tired eyes.
Perhaps it would be best if she visited in the morning...

Although morning was a long time in coming. Her insomnia was made worse by Tabanirth brooding over her eggs, and now she had Lenala to worry about as well. It was all she could do to wait two candlemarks after sunrise before descending into the Infirmary.

She found her 'second dozing in one of the curtained off areas, though Lenala opened her eyes quickly enough at the sound of the curtain being moved aside. "Good morning, Tsaera."

"How are you feeling?" The Weyrwoman hooked a stool with her foot and dragged it over. She'd never been that good at bedside manner.

"Tired of being in the infirmary," Lenala admitted making a face. "The new surgeon, though... he told me I had to spend the night here, and no one else will disagree with him."

"Probably because he knows what he's talking about." Tsaera frowned. "What happened out there, Lenala?"

Lenala settled back against her pillows, sighing. "I think... I think I got too confident. I was terrified the first few Falls... but I got through them and I was starting to think I knew what I was doing. I just got distracted for a moment--but that was all it took."

"You were lucky. You could have lost your life, or worse, Vilarth." "I know." Lenala's voice was unusually subdued, and when she met Tsaera's eyes, there was little of her usual annoying vapidness. "Shards, Tsaera... I really thought I was learning. I might not be cut out for this..."

Tsaera tried not to smile. Perhaps there was a real woman in there somewhere, after all. "And this will be just another lesson learned. You did a good job with my Wing, and you'll continue to do so after you're given the okay to fly again. You knew what to do and you know Vilarth does as well -
she chose _you_ for a reason. Don't doubt her."

"I suppose." Lenala's features shifted to curious as she regarded the Weyrwoman. "Have you ever gotten 'scored?"

"No. But I've also been in the air for a lot longer than you have. And an old broad like me wouldn't recover from a Threadscore as well as you will."
The Weyrwoman hooked her hands around her knee. "The healers say that you'll be out of here this afternoon."

"I wish they'd let me leave now," Lenala replied grumpily, smoothing the blankets down. "It wasn't really that bad, and I hate being in here."

"Let them fuss. It makes them feel useful." Tsaera smiled. "I'll let my 'third know you won't be leading drills today, or tomorrow."

Lenala nodded. "If you have some time to spare, I'd like to go over some of the flight plans with you tomorrow. I don't know if they'll let me off the ground for another day or two, but I'd like to try to see if I can figure out how to not do this again." "Of course. Perhaps over lunch - I usually take it with Tabanirth but I don't think she'd object to a little extra company."

"Thank you." The smile Lenala gave her Weyrwoman was more than a little shy.
She could only imagine the impression she'd made on Tsaera so far... she imagined she had a long way to go if she wanted to prove herself more than the simpering idiot she'd been for so many turns. Tsaera smiled suddenly. "Perhaps, if you're really bored now, I'll even have someone send down some of your hidework to keep you occupied until the healers let you go." If she was trapped down here, maybe the younger goldrider could get through some of the buildup on her desk. It sounded like the last thing she wanted to do... but Lenala supposed that the hidework came with acting responsible. And since the Weyrwoman was actually smiling at her, she was loathe to do anything to do anything to lose that smile. "I'd be happy to. It would give me something to do other than stare at the ceiling!" It also meant that the book tucked under her pillow would go unread... but she supposed some sacrifices would have to be made.

"Good. I'll have something send down within the candlemark. In the mean time, I've got some work of my own to attend to." Tsaera stood to go. "I'm glad that you'll be all right," she said, and she meant it.

Last updated on the October 26th 2005

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Acting Responsible