How Did We Get Here (2): Pern Before Weyr

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 16th December 2017

Characters: Hygalia, G'nir
Description: Hygalia's former Weyr is in crisis.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 9
Notes: Written with Council Permission
Post 2 of a storyline
Mentions: U'kaiah

G'nir

~~~Flashback to DFW m7d10t7~~~

Hygalia leaned her head against Genith's great neck, lovingly stroking
her gleaming golden hide. It went a long way to soothing the ache she
felt in her heart, but there was no way to un-see all that she had
just been witness to.

She had first locked eyes with Genith on the Sands of Far Island Weyr
before Thread had begun falling. Even then, instinctively the dragons
had known that their old enemy was returning, and so the clutches were
getting bigger, and more and more golds were hatching across the
Southern Continent. Genith had been just one of several that had been
born around that time. When it was decided to open the old Weyrs and
even some new ones, there had been plenty of breeding pairs that could
be sent across the planet to where they were needed most. Hygalia and
Genith had been one of those chosen to be sent North.

Of course, they had been too young to head a Weyr themselves. She and
another young goldrider, Lutsia, were Junior Queens to the far older
and more experienced Weyrwoman Daila and her Second. Daila had proved
to be the perfect mentor, teaching her as much of what it meant to be
a Weyrwoman as Hygalia's aunt had taught her how to be a Lady. After
her Second had moved on to be Weyrwoman in her own right at another
Weyr, it was a toss up as to who would follow Daila when at last her
Gold stopped producing.

Hygalia and Lutsia had been wonderful friends as equals, but knew they
also were reluctant rivals. They had a deep love and respect for each
other, but the two agreed that when one was promoted to the Senior
position, the other would not be happy suddenly being their
subordinate. They had decided when that day came, whichever Rose
first would be Senior Queen, and the other would take the first
opportunity to move elsewhere.

And so, when Daila's gold failed to Rise, Lutsia became Weyrwoman, and
Hygalia took the first promotion to come her way - to be Weyrwoman of
Dragonsfall.

Some sevendays before, she and G'nir had received some devastating
news. Her friend, Lutsia, was ill, and the Healers had no hope of her
recovering. The cancer could not be stopped, and it was just a matter
of time before another would take her place. Hygalia had felt a pang
of guilt for leaving her old home in such a state, but knew that if
things had been different, if Genith had risen first, it would just
mean this trouble would have fallen on Dragonsfall. And she could not
wish that on her new home, on G'nir. Still, it had broken her heart
to know that soon, she would have to say goodbye to a very dear
friend.

And then the morning's catastrophic news had come. It was bad enough
they would lose their Weyrwoman. This news had been far worse. A
Fall more devastating than even the very first had been had now
decimated her old home. She had to go and see for herself. And now
she wished she didn't know the whole truth.

**I know what I want to do,** she thought with gut wrenching resolve.
Pushing off from the Genith's side, she took strength from their pair
bond as she walked into the weyr, _her_ Weyr, to face G'nir.

G'nir was re-reading _that_letter, while sipping his klah. Having
lived in North, he was passingly familiar with the people and Weyr,
although it was not the Weyr he had been. It was tragic and reminded
of what had happened in Dolphin Cove awhile back (although that had
been incompetence of the Weyrleader). Horrible, yes, but didn't really
affect them. They could send some of their riders to help out but that
was it. Sending U'kaiah off to boost ranks in another Weyr did have
certain appeal.

Hygalia tapped lightly on the door before peeking her head inside.
"G'nir? I'm back."

"Hey, Hygalia. How's Genith doing," G'nir replied. He hadn't really
approved the way she had gone off to see the place. Genith had just
Risen, she need to stay home.

"Genith? She's fine." Shards, was he really asking about _her_
dragon at a time like this? He knew where she had just been for
Faranth's sake. "I need a drink."

"Wine or something stronger?" G'nir asked and got up to get her one,
always the gentlemanny host. "I've been thinking, perhaps we could
send some extra riders and supplies to help," he nodded towards the
letter.

"Stronger." They were both going to need a drink. "Of course
everything we can give would be appreciated, but, G'nir, that letter
doesn't tell us the half of it."

"Oh? You're more familiar with that Weyr than I am," G'nir replied. He
poured them both a brandies and brought them over.

Hygalia took the glass and stared deep down into it a moment before
taking a healthy sip. "Sorry it took so long. Lutsia had to be
drugged. She is just too weak to deal with all the chaos. Lady Daila
and the junior golds are still dealing with the wounded and trying to
keep the dragons from panicking. Weyrleader D'bern was out of surgery
but was being kept unconscious while they worked on his Shibelth.
Wingleader Ch'not didn't make it. So, there was no one in charge to
talk to, really."

"It's a string of bad luck they're having," G'nir said with sympathic
shake of his head. He could feel compassion for fellow dragonriders
difficulties and be thankful that everything was well in Dragonsfall.

**Bad luck?!** her mind all but screamed. She took another sip before
the words could escape her mouth. Taking a few deep breaths she
finally said. "It's more than bad luck, G'nir. It's a catastrophe
from which it will take Turns to recover." If he could have seen what
she saw on the ground today...

She set her glass down before flopping unceremoniously onto a chair.
"I spoke to an old retired rider who is a meteorologist for the Weyr.
He was trying to piece together what happened. The reports that he
was getting was that the sky was full of dark rain clouds. The Wings
were flying low so they would have time to see the Thread as it
emerged from the cloud cover. It had been raining, there was some
thunder and lightning, a bit of wind... The usual bad weather.

"And then suddenly the Red Star landed right on top of them. It was
like a cloud just ripped itself open and poured everything inside down
on the ground. To those watching from the outside, it seemed the
riders just disappeared into a cloud of rain. The sky went crazy with
lightning. The winds rushed straight downwards, carrying Thread with
it right down on top of them all. As it neared the ground, it seemed
to curl back up around them. Trees were bent and two cots had their
roofs ripped right off.

"Thankfully, Lady Daila had come out of retirement to lead the Queen's
Wing in the lowest level and as soon as she realized the danger, she
instantly relayed to her whole wing to /between/ back to the Weyr.
The young golds were saved and immediately her riders went to work
catching injured riders as they fell from the skies. But there were
so many. The Weyrleader had been Scored almost immediately and was
back at the Weyr. His Second was scored fatally as he took over the
Wing. There was no leadership and as injured riders started appearing
over the Weyr, reinforcements automatically took their places and were
caught up in the chaos. Wingleader Ch'not tried to take command of
the Weyrleader's Wing. By that time the winds had hit the ground,
billowed out and suddenly rushed up, carrying the Thread back into the
skies. Ch'not didn't make it."

Hygalia took another sip from her glass, her look far away. She had
known Ch'not well. He had caught Gennith a couple times. She had
enjoyed his company. The bronzerider had been a good man. A good
friend.

"Last thing Ch'not did was sound a retreat. This all happened in less
than 10 minutes."

"Dear Faranth!" even G'nir was affected by her recount of the events,
he had not realized it had been that bad.

Hygalia nodded her agreement. "The meteorologist called it a
'micro-burst'. They're rare and dangerous. Usually they cause the
most damage on the ground with the high winds and lightning strikes,
but with dragons in the air and Thread falling... It was a freak
accident that no one saw coming."

"No wonder they are calling help from other Weyrs," G'nir said rather
rhetorically. "So, what else we can do for them but send few riders we
can spare and some supplies?"

The goldrider took a deep breath. "You could send me."

"You?" G'nir was surprised. "But you're Dragonsfall's Weyrwoman, we
need you here."

"I know," she said, raising her hands pacifyingly. "Just hear me out.
Some Junior Queen will have to transfer there to be the new Weyrwoman.
But the Weyrleader has been severely injured, the best Wingleader was
killed. Even the Weyrleader's Second is gone. She will be a stranger
in a position of authority she has never held before and she will have
no co-leader. The riders will naturally look to Lady Daila, not the
new Senior Weyrwoman. That will not be good for the goldrider or for
the Weyr. If I go, the riders already know and trust me. They will
follow me. The Junior Queen can come here instead. It makes sense,
G'nir."

It did, kind of, but G'nir didn't want any other golderiders becoming
the Dragonsfalls' Weyrwoman, he wanted Hygalia. He frowned. "And what
would happen here?"

"Dragonsfall would still have their Weyrleader," she said gently. "I
know it's a lot to ask, G'nir, but when one Weyr fails, Pern is at
risk. We must think of Pern before Weyr."

It was hard to find a counter-argument, when she put it like that.
G'nir has been raised by "duty first" principles. "That still creates
a gap to our ranks, that would be filled some stranger. We can't solve
this right now. Let's think about it and I will set up a meeting of
the Wingleaders for tomorrow. " He was hoping that if she slept on it
and thought about it with less emotionally, she would see that her
duty was to Dragonsfall first. Of course, if she truly wanted to
leave, he couldn't prevent it.

He was not saying yes, but he also was not saying an outright no. "So
you are open to allowing _all_ those who wish to volunteer to go?"

"Of course, I wouldn't deny their right to go and help a fellow
dragonriders," G'nir replied.

Hygalia released a long held breath. With a bittersweet smile, she
stood, and gently touching his cheek she gave him a soft kiss. "Thank
you, G'nir."

"For what?" G'nir asked. "For thinking of duty first?"

"For being a good man."

Last updated on the December 21st 2017

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How Did We Get Here (2): Pern Before Weyr