Anger Rising

Writers: Avery, Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th February 2016

Characters: A'vel, Cyradis, N'vanik, L'pin, Faveron
Description: The Weyrleaders step in to handle an angry parent.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 17 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Vestian, Ranar

Cyradis

N'vanik

L'pin hadn't had enough time to interact with Favelance to gauge what
the boy was going to Impress, so green was a surprise to him. He knew
who the boy's father was; After all, Luurpin and Faveron had been
apprentices together. So he knew the Master Harper of renown also had
some _very_ traditional craftbred opinions about men, women, and what
dragon color meant. Their friendship had been ruined by his becoming a
bluerider. So he was able to predict that there was going to be a
disaster any moment now, as soon as the Master Harper was able to get
out of the crush of people in the Stands and to come down to see the
weyrlings. Including his newly Impressed son.

**Chaneth, can you ask Panitath or Loseth if one of their riders can
get here after the Hatching is done?** Of course, they'd want to
congratulate the new weyrlings soon. But sometimes that was done at
the Feast and not while they were still feeding and oiling the
newly-hatched, and L'pin just _knew_ he wasn't going to be able to
keep Faveron calm for that long. Not without big, shiny backup.

The blue relayed the words to the clutch parents. }:My rider is very
concerned about one of the new weyrlings. Is one of your riders
coming?:{

"We were already on our way," Cyradis said as she came around the
corner. She'd wanted to get to Ranar and Rondera but the shout from
the stands hand concerned her as much as it had her Weyrleader.

"I'm glad to hear. And I hate to draw you away from congratulating
Ranar, I know how proud you both must be. Please feel free to go speak
with him first," the Weyrlingmaster's Third said, apologies in his
tone.

He looked around before continuing, trying to make sure the new
greenrider didn't overhear and that the Master Harper hadn't arrived
yet. "It's just that I know Master Faveron and he _will_ cause a
scene. I don't know if you want to try to head it off at the pass or
to see if somehow the man's become more pleasant as he aged."

"Did his son Impress green?" N'vanik guessed. Maybe the one who'd been
disappointed when Tsogath made her choice.

L'pin nodded. "Yes, he's A'vel. The boy who was knocked over."

Faveron had in fact been pushing his way down the Stands, but the
crowds of people who didn't appreciate him getting in the way of their
view, and then the crowd as people got up to leave, had prevented him
from getting to the new weyrlings quickly. By the time the
broad-shouldered man arrived, he'd worked up quite the head of steam
from all of the inconveniences and insults being thrown his way, and
his face was flushed.

"Favelance!" he yelled, projecting in the best Harper manner.

The weyrling looked up from the meat and turned to face his father.
"Dad," he said. "This is - "

A few more steps and the Harper bore down on his son. "Bad enough that
you hared off to the Weyr, delayed your chance to move on in your
craft. You told your mother that you'd come here and Impress bronze
and do me proud. But to choose a green dragon! A _green_? Are you
trying to shame your family? Is this some childish rebellion?"

A'vel was trying to say something, but his father didn't hear him. He
was too busy continuing to carry on.

"You can't just shame us like this. Your mother's sitting flushed and
faint because she can't believe you got a green dragon, of all things.
You give that dragon right back. We're going home!" the Harper
declared.

"Excuse me," Cyradis said. Her eyes snapped black fire and her voice
was cold as ice. "I don't believe we've met Master Harper." If nothing
else the man had to realize he'd just brushed aside the two ranking
leaders of the Weyr while she had addressed him appropriately for his
rank.

"How dare you insult one of my riders." N'vanik drew himself up to his
full height and glared at the harper. He almost hoped the man gave him
an excuse to punch him in the face.

She put a hand on N'vanik's arm to back him down a notch for just a
moment. "You appear to have forgotten one of your main teaching
ballads Harper," she managed to make the word sound like an insult.
"The dragon chooses the rider and he can't just 'give her back.'"

"Weyrleader, Weyrwoman. My son is not one of _those_ boys. And he's
not a rider yet. He's a foolish young man who's distracted by a dream
of dragons, and he doesn't realize the choice he's making," the man
protested. His anger had had him focused on his son like a dragon on a
wherry, but his temper wasn't high enough that he'd directly insult
them to their faces by ignoring them to yell at their son.

Cyradis' words about forgetting his ballands stung at his pride. He,
forget a teaching? Never! He did know all the stories about Impression
and how the dragons chose. He'd been to a Hatching before.

But in his anger he wanted to believe that this wasn't possible. That
it could be undone. Surely Impression couldn't be as instant and
irrevocable as they claimed. Surely there was still some time to break
the bond. He'd seen new-hatched firelizards fail to Impress and still
survive. And that gave him hope.

"The dragon's still a baby. Look, it's not even dry. It can pick
someone else, can't it?" Faveron said, his tone softer. He was trying
to project reasonability. Clearly, this was all a mistake. Favelance
could come home. The green could go to one of those weyrbred boys.

A'vel had had enough of listening to his dad ranting. It sure looked
like the Weyrleader was going to say something angry, but he jumped in
first. "Tsogath is a _she_. And I don't _want_ to give her back, even
if I could! I don't want to go home and be 'your boy'." he yelled.

Picking up on her rider's anxiety, Tsogath lifted her head and
screamed as well, a high and distraught baby's cry. Her wings flared
and her jaw worked. Her eyes were mingled with the colors of panic and
anger, and she swayed.

Chaneth reached for her mind. }:Little one, your parents are taking
care of the situation.:{

}:He's going to take my rider away! I won't let him!:{ she broadcast
to Chaneth, Loseth, and Panitath.

Wind whipped up a swirl of sand as Loseth passed overhead. His claws
scraped against rock as he took a ledge just above the group of
humans. }:He can't take yours away. We will protect you.:{ The bronze
fixed an angry gaze on Faveron.

"Loseth hasn't eaten anyone yet. Maybe I should I let him try."
N'vanik clenched his fists. "You're upsetting his hatchling."

Faveron looked up at the large dragon and blanched. The bronze was
angry. Even he can tell. "But she's a baby. She can find someone
else..." he said hopefully.

"It doesn't work that way," L'pin said. "Tsogath would die. Your son
would never be the same."

Tsogath moved towards Loseth, seeking the comfort of her parents.
}:You'll make him leave?:{

}:He will leave:{ Panitath confirmed and a scramble of well wishers
began a headlong rush out of the hatching cavern as a large gold made
her displeasure known with a snarl.

"You'd better go now Faveron," Cyradis said. "Or you'll have to walk
home." She turned to N'vanik with a rather evil smile but didn't speak
other than to her lifemate. **Have Loseth's put him on a green with a
male rider for his trip back.** She pointed at the entrance and looked
back at the Harper. "You can rest assured I'll be speaking to Vestian
about this!"

"I'll be leaving. And I'll speak to him as well. Dragonriders letting
holdless thieves Stand and leading good boys astray. What has Pern
come to?" the Harper said, shaking his head as he turned his back.
Sour anger and disappointment warred in his belly.

Once his dad was out of earshot, A'vel dropped his stiff posture and
slumped. Tears began to run down his face. His father was so angry at
him. He hated him. And he'd fought the _Weyrleaders_ because of what
A'vel had done. When he'd told his family he was Standing, he'd never
imagined this - never expected to become a male greenrider, someone
capable of inspiring this revulsion.

In a high, tremulous voice, A'vel said, "Can you prevent him from ever
coming back?"

"Yes." N'vanik pulled the boy into a hug. "You're one of us now and
you ain't no shame." He had a soft spot for male green- and
blueriders, especially when their families treated them like crap for
Impressing the "wrong" color.

A'vel hugged the Weyrleader back, grateful for the unexpected comfort.
"Thank you," he whispered.

Tsogeth's plaintive cries became quieter as she realized the bad man
was gone and the other dragons were defending her.

L'pin was heartened to see N'vanik taking care of the boy. The tears
were a natural reaction, but concerning enough that he sent a thought
to Chaneth, who passed it to the other dragons. }:My rider says he
will keep a special eye on this pair and let your riders know if
anything happens they should know about.:{

}:Yours will be alright now,:{ Panitath comforted the tiny green.
}:That one will not be back soon.:{

Seeing the young rider being comforted by N'vanik and knowing L'pin
could handle the rest of it she turned to another nearby pair who were
staring at them and did her best at a welcoming smile as she went to
greet another little green and congratulate the new rider and the
girl's parents.

Last updated on the February 21st 2016

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Anger Rising