Returning to the Skies

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 14th December 2017

Characters: Talwynn, Saibra
Description: Saibra and Talwynn talk about flying Fall.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 15 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Teseada

Saibra

Talwynn had been drilling with the queen's wing for over a month now.
It turned out that preparing via drilling with weyrlings had been a
good start - without it she was sure if she'd approached a Wingleader
she wouldn't have been able to drill with the wings at all. But there
was still a bit of a difference in their performance in a real
fighting wing. Or maybe that was all in her head. Regardless, she felt
like she wasn't good enough at it, and she had to work harder.

She thought that they had been doing much better in the past sevenday.
And then word came from her Wingleader to drop by the office after
drills. So it was that she gave Riveth a quick rubdown and then she
reported to Saibra's office as instructed.

"Talwynn, please, have a seat." Saibra said as the greenrider arrived.
Even though she was turning over active duty of the Wing during
Threadfall to Teseada during her pregnancy, the Weyrwoman still
attended every drill and practice to make adjustments as necessary.
She had especially been attending the practices to watch injured
riders and Talwynn, she knew that Teseada would cover everything else.
Young though her Wingsecond might be, Saibra was confident in her
ability to handle the Queen's Wing in the air.

Talwynn took a seat as ordered, perching on the end of the chair. "How
are you and Chioneth today?" she asked.

"I am well, Chioneth less so. She's moody because she wants to lead
the Wing but can't. She seems to forget how often I sit out while
she's on the Hatching Sands." Saibra lifted her eyebrows and a low
rumble echoed through the gold's weyrcouch, reflecting how the queen
felt about her rider's comment.

Talwynn pressed her lips together in an attempt not to laugh at the
gold dragon's obviously strong opinion. It wouldn't be proper to make
fun of the senior gold dragon, after all.

"If I may inquire, will you be able to do more with the wing in the
next trimester or do the healers want you sitting out?" she wondered.
Six months was a long time for the senior queen to not be flying.
Though she'd never been pregnant herself, she knew the middle stage of
pregnancy was the safest for /betweening/, per the lessons she'd had
drilled into her in weyrlinghood.

"I plan on remaining in charge halfway through the next trimester, and
then going out after that. Right now the healer says I'm measuring
ahead of what would be expected based on what we think was the time of
conception. Getting up onto Chioneth may become more difficult earlier
than expected, and then there's trying to operate the flamethrower
over a pregnant belly," Saibra shook her head. "I hate being awkward
and unable to fly but it's only temporary."

The Weyrwoman met Talwynn's eyes, "Which leads me into why I wanted to
see you today. How do you feel things have been going for you during
our drills and practices?"

"Well, I wish you the best in it," Talwynn said. She was relieved the
Weyrwoman hadn't thought it was too rude of a question. It sounded
like pregnancy as an active rider was going to be quite difficult, and
she was suddenly glad again she had no interest in it.

"I think that Riveth has certainly enjoyed flying with a wing again.
The first sevenday was a bit rough as we got used to the formations,
but I spent some extra time going over what you usually use for this
wing with a few of the riders who have been around awhile," the
greenrider said. "I think the extra focus has improved our performance
and that we've been doing well."

Saibra nodded along with the things that Talwynn said. "I agree, I
think you've improved drastically since your first practice with us.
I'd like for you to have one last meeting with a mindhealer, and if
you're cleared, then I want you with us at the next Threadfall this
month."

She'd _hoped_ this was the reason for the meeting but it was another
thing entirely to have it be confirmed. Inwardly Talwynn was exultant.
She wanted to leap to her feet and shout, 'yes!'. The greenrider had
to force herself to stay still in the chair, but she couldn't stop the
smile from hitting her face.

"I will speak with them to arrange a meeting as soon as this meeting
is over," Talwynn said.

"Good, I don't have a doubt that you will be cleared, but I will feel
better sending you into 'fall knowing you are mentally prepared."
Having endured such an injury and long period of time without fighting
Thread could be difficult on a returning rider.

"They checked me out before and after the Blooding too, just to
prepare me for any flashbacks," Talwynn said. "I'll have them bring
back the report. Is there anything else you need me to do beforehand?"

Saibra opened a drawer on the right-hand side of her desk and pulled
out the patch that the Sienna wingriders wore, "Yes, you'll need to
take the time and get this sewn onto your jacket."

Talwynn reached out her hand to accept the patch. Her fingers were
trembling slightly as she did so. A wingrider's patch - it was
something she never thought she'd wear again. "Yes, Weyrwoman. Thank
you so much."

"You earned it," Saibra said with a smile, it was on rare days that
she was able to make a retired rider active again.

Last updated on the December 21st 2017

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