"T'mir! T'mir!" G'ny careened into her mentor's weyr. "I think it's going to happen. Saleneth is way more ravenous than usual, and her color is off – in a good way, I think? She's practically starting to glow, and then there's me. I feel weird. And ugh, I don't know what's going on. Well, I do, you've warned me about this but what do I do? I don't want this to happen. I thought I could just ignore it and maybe it wouldn't happen."
"Shh, shh, shh. It will be alright. I've been thinking of a plan for some time." T'mir stepped out to the ledge of his weyr after giving the girl a hug. Indeed, Saleneth was easier than usual to pick out in the dusk. Perhaps it was just the last golden rays of sun hitting her, but she did almost seem to glow. As the Weyrlingmaster, it was T'mir's job to note the progress of each hatchling and its rider. Saleneth sure had made an impact on her weyrling class. She was the largest of the greens, and even larger than Crenth, the smaller of the browns. She was a fine, albeit unusual specimen. Her coloring never entirely evened out, her edges rich in color while inner swathes remained light and some splotches downright yellowish. Except in the moments when she was stricken by the weyrling clumsiness she had also never completely grown out of or perhaps it was a clumsiness induced by her unusual size, Saleneth was just as agile as any of the greens. Plus, her added size gave her a stamina unknown to her hatchling counterparts. The others deferred to her as well. No bronzes had come from Azirith's last clutch, and as such the much more conciliatory browns, blues, and other greens were much more amenable to the orders of others, especially hers.
Two browns, four blues, seven greens, and one queen comprised the clutch, not that T'mir dealt much with the queen or her rider. Dealing with Allika and Mirith was Weyrwoman territory, and boy did Allika keep the Weyrwoman's hands full. He had known Allika to bully the Lower Cavern staff even when she was among their ranks, so he could only imagine the disrespect she might attempt now with her added status that the Weyrwoman would have to correct. One saw so little of the Weyrwoman lately, he figured Allika drained most of her energy. He imagined Moura trapped with her in the Records Room trying to pique her interest in Weyr ledgers that didn't entail who was sleeping with whom, which was one of the topics about which she was hyper focused. Perhaps, with the dwindling Weyr numbers, that's the reason she was to be the only junior queenrider – perhaps she would usher in an era of fertility.
T'mir chuckled to himself. G'ny was a leader in all of the ways Allika was not, and he was extremely grateful for the honor of having taught her along with the rest of the Weyrlings. Queenrider or not, she was an extremely well-honed young lady, and T'mir felt privileged to take credit for some fraction of the progress she had made with her dragon; although, he paused thinking of it, he suspected that the pair of them would have figured out much without his tutelage. That she was here now, requesting his help, made his chest swell with pride. As most of the dragons were full grown and graduated from the official Weyrling training, T'mir tended to see less of the pupils he trained to become dragonriders. In his transition into retirement, it was moments such as these, when his students actively sought out his advice that he was most fulfilled.
"We probably have another four days before she rises. You know, it's about time. She is the last of your clutch's greens to rise, isn't she? Nalth rose, what, almost four months ago? You know, some of the more experienced brown and blue riders have been talking, it's the first time they've seen a green with a female rider rise, so you have to indulge their excitement a little bit. I've even heard mentions by certain bronze riders."
"I don't know," G'ny mumbled.
"Don't be so glum, I told you, I have a plan. We'll just take you home to Radharc. Your mother and the other women there will be much more understanding of the situation than any woman here. Plus, without the influence of all the draconic pheromones, they will be much more able to help you. And of course you will be physically removed from any and all riders, including whoever's dragon flies Saleneth. I will take you to Radharc personally and speak with the Holders about the details. Yes, I think this will work. You had better clear it with Allika while the Weyrwoman is out."
"If it's what I want, she'll never let me go!"
"You never know, but it would be much worse to get an unexpected call from a queen dragon in the midst of everything. Best to keep her in the loop. Sometimes people can do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Something tells me that will be a running theme when Allika becomes Weyrwoman."
G'ny found a surprising ally in Allika when she stepped delicately into the junior weyrwoman's weyr.
"Allika? I've come to ask your blessing on something T'mir and I have discussed..." G'ny could feel her face growing hot just at the thought of the matter. "...With regards to the issue of mating flights..." She trailed off.
"Go on," a hint of interest pierced through the weyrwoman's usual disdain.
"Given my Holder upbringing, I..." Little good her many rehearsals did her now as she grasped anew to carefully choose her words. "...I don't think I am ready," She feared the weyrwoman would capitalize on as much discomfort as she let show "for the interpersonal activity involved," Her heart was pounding now and she spit the last words out as quickly as her attempt at a measured cadence would allow, "And when I brought this up to T'mir he suggested that he could take me back to my Hold while Saleneth rises."
"Well, I have always respected the wise counsel of T'mir," G'ny could see the gears turning in the weyrwoman's conniving mind. "I think it's an excellent idea!" She exclaimed after a pause. The corners of her mouth twitched almost into a smirk. "Yes, you and T'mir do what you think necessary, we will be able to handle the joys of your green rising in your absence."
"I don't get it, why would she let me go so easily? I know I was sweating bullets large enough for her to see."
T'mir snorted. "It's quite clear to me she was worried Calleth might fly Saleneth, and it is also painfully obvious that she wants no competition in vying for M'tou's affections. With his looks and position, he certainly is a catch. You would be even more in the way of the fantastical picture she has painted in her mind." Upon further reflection, G'ny supposed it was not that unsurprising. Sending G'ny out of her sight and minimizing her interaction with other dragonriders were two of Allika's great joys when it came to the interloping Holder.
"Yeah, I sure seem to get in her way," G'ny sighed.
T'mir snorted again. "Well, here we go, brace yourself for between."
As G'ny and T'mir emerged from between and the landscape of Radharc came into view, G'ny's heart leapt at seeing her family again. It had been just over two Turns already since she had been swept away for the Hatching. Her last view of it was much too brief, not that she was going to bring it up to T'mir although she suspected he knew of her illicit jaunt. She was especially excited to see the latest tinkerings of her father and feel his comforting embrace. She hoped her stay would overlap with her brother's and she could listen to some of his accomplishments out of Harper Hall. Even though her mother's voice ringing through the Weyr halls still echoed in her memory, it would be nice to hear it again, hopefully in a more soothing and content register; in fact, nothing could sound better to her at the moment than her mother affirming her decision on this whole mating flight thing.
It was an intimate gathering her first night back in the Hold, what with the minimal advance notice for her arrival. Although there were many occasions for Hold-wide feasts, it was common for the holders of Radharc to prepare meals within and for the benefit for their single family unit. Her father, Jongen, announced that in her honor, he would finish his work early for the day and roast one of his prime meat cuts - one, he informed her with pride, that he had aged for forty days in their family's allocated space in the Hold cellar. Given the unexpected start, he tended the spit late into the evening. It was a dish of good intention, but flawed logistics. Still, so savory was his creation that it reawakened the appetite that had long since grown tired waiting.
In the meantime, her mother, Diedra, talked her ear off. Of course she listened with brief patience at the reason for G'ny's return, concluding "yes, well, it is well and proper that you should be kept from such an activity" before resuming her prattling - Hold happenings, her brother's Harper apprenticeship accomplishments, unusual patterns in the star charts. Occasionally she would return to the topic of G'ny's greatest concern, adding another layer of opinion, generally a disparagement on dragonmen, before again resuming her other accounts. When prompted, G'ny was able share some of her Wingleader's most flattering moments, to which Diedra responded he could be suitable match in the future, once it wa smore appropriate if he were to be transferred to flying routes that brought G'ny back to Radharc with greater frequency. If only she knew the half of it - in reality, C'lin epitomized everything her mother despised in dragonriders.
When she was able to excuse herself to give her father a hand, G'ny finally had the opportunity to regale someone fully with all of her impressions of the Weyr. Her father was every bit the listener as her mother was the talker. She saw in his eyes a spark of happiness, one that likely mirrored her own as she spoke of her beautiful, variegated green life partner, to whose thoughts and opinions she could still connect, even if they were a bit distant compared to usual. Her father lamented not being able to personally observe her hide, be it that she was back at the Weyr in anticipation of her suitors there.
In contrast to the first night, by the second the Lady Holder had made proper arrangements for the return of her former aide, and the family appeared as guests at a modest feast held in G'ny's honor. Of course, in return, G'ny happily set to work helping with preparations. It was a stark change of pace from the mellow night before. She could overhear Diedra, quick to recount the few stories G'ny had managed to sneak in edgewise the night before to family friends as they approached throughout the evening with stilted accuracy. However, talk quickly devolved into song and dance when the Hold Harper took command of the room. G'ny happily joined in, prancing around and clapping her hands to the rhythm of the music, all the while greeting her old acquaintances with a happy smile and raise of her brow as they passed in merriment. So many of her formative memories had been forged in this very hall. There was much she missed about Hold life, even if her recent responsibilities at the Weyr made it seem like a lifetime ago. The thought of returning someday tantalized her all night.
She knew it was starting late into the afternoon of her third day at home. I fly now! She heard Saleneth's eager confidence distantly from back at the Weyr and focused it into her own resolve. She ran to the archival room where she knew her mother could be found and grasped her by the hand. "Ma, it's time!" Genny shrieked, pulling her mother up to her quarters. Her mother managed to snag a tray with two cups, a pitcher of klah and another of water from a convenient table before her daughter dragged her up to her childhood room. T'mir and her father had worked together to reinforce the door of her room so that only she and her mother would be inside before T'mir had returned to the Weyr. Genny fell onto her bed just as her surroundings faded away and her vision and Saleneth's became one.
No number of rides on Saleneth could prepare her for the feeling of being one with her. She felt the power of her down strokes beating the air, pushing her higher. Genny dimly felt a mug being pressed into her hands and her mother's encouragement to drink up in her daze. She was vaguely aware of an entourage beginning to gather in the air behind her. Not that they matter, at least not yet. She had their attention. They would have to earn hers. Now was her first time to rise, to command the focus of the Weyr, to show them that she, Saleneth was here. She would fly longer and faster than any of those male-ridden greens. Then all went dark for Genny.
Genny stirred in her sleep. Her mother stroked her hair. "How are you feeling, sweetie?" Genny let out a fuzzy groan. She mentally reached out to her green counterpart. Saleneth was there, sleeping contentedly. Genny sat up and shook her head.
"Fellis?"
"Yes, I thought... and T'mir agreed," her mother began tentatively.
"Thanks." Genny was glad she had missed the climax of it all, but the rising action did strike her. Her mother breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know you are doing your best to do this dragonrider thing, but I will always look out for my little girl. I am so happy to have had you home. I know that weyrwoman of yours needs you back. I hope I get to see you back next time as well, there will always be glows to turn and wherries to dress for you here." Her mother winked at her. As such tasks were now less common for her to perform as a dragonrider, it was reassuringly reminiscent for Genny to conduct such domestic business.
Genny stood up groggily and headed out to the common area. Her father and T'mir were seated at a table sharing klah. The finale of the mating flight must have been his cue to return to fetch her. "Ah there she is, that's my girl. How are you feeling?" Genny gave her sire as hearty of a smile as the wearing-off fellis would allow. "That's great. Well, we've sure enjoyed having you home. T'mir says you might be back like this a few times a Turn? Definitely try to claim those days leading up – maybe even a day or two more! We've hardly made a dent in finishing up that feast from last night, and I always look forward to when you lend a hand in the cooking." Her father rose to accompany her out to the landing where Tolluth awaited.