Aspirations

Writers: Avery, Estelle
Date Posted: 17th November 2020

Characters: M'gan, V'rel
Description: V'rel meets new Wingleader M'gan
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 9 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, K'deren, A'kades

M'gan had met with most of his wingriders individually by the time he'd
been in his post a few days. Though he'd seen the more experienced ones
first, he thought that if anything it was speaking with the youngest
riders that was the most important, those who'd only known one
Wingleader. He wanted to make sure they were reassured about the transition.

V'rel and Rymeth were one of the youngest pairs in his Wing, and had
graduated less than a Turn ago, so they definitely fell into this
category. When the young man arrived at his office, he looked up with a
warm smile. "Come in, V'rel. Have a seat. How is Rymeth today?"

V'rel had known that M'gan was meeting wingriders. He felt somewhat
nervous about it. D'hol was scary - intimidating and tough - but he was
a known factor. M'gan was entirely new, and he had no idea what to
expect. So when he came in, he was following all of the best protocols
that had been drilled into him by weyrlingmasters and father.

"Wingleader M'gan, sir. Rymeth is well. And how fares Isarth?" he asked,
saluting crisply before sitting.

"Also well, thank you." M'gan reached out, sensing the familiar touch of
his dragon's mind. "Resting after this afternoon's hunting, so he's
feeling very full and contented."

The pleasantries out of the way, he got down to business. "I expect
you've heard by now that I've been speaking to all of my new wingriders,
one-to-one, so I can get to know you a little, and give you the chance
to ask any questions you have for me. Wing records are all very well,
but they can't tell me everything about a rider's character, and of
course none of you know me at all. So..." He thought. "You've been in
the Wing for coming up on a Turn now. How have you been finding it? Any
troubles?"

V'rel took the time to carefully think before answering, wanting to not
seem like someone who jumped immediately to conclusions and reassurances
that everything was fine with him. "I've certainly found flying actual
Threadfall versus just rope drills and firestone to be somewhat
frightening at first, as well as challenging. But Rymeth loves it and I
have never had a direct complaint."

He thought about how to best put what he was thinking about, realized it
wasn't a question really but more an observation, then figured out how
to add one at the end. Then he started talking, hoping that M'gan
wouldn't see him as a complaining young man who couldn't handle the
demands of a wing, but someone who genuinely wanted to understand.

"I don't know I'd call it a trouble, but it is something I could use
your advice on adjusting to. I think that there's some profound
differences between the weyrling wing and the flying wings. Especially
adjusting to the composition changes in a flying wing. In the weyrling
wing, everything our class did was together, and a couple people were
too young to graduate, and there were injuries but nobody was held back
because of that. But in a fighting wing, I find that there are people
transferring in and out, and it keeps shaking up who I'm assigned to fly
with. Do you have any suggestions on how to make that easier to deal
with, or is it just something you become more used to the longer you're
in the wings and further away from weyrlinghood you are?"

M'gan paused for a moment, considering the question. "It's certainly a
matter of experience. Once you've been flying in the wings for a few
Turns, you'll learn to pick up quickly on the habits and style of a new
wingmate, so it won't seem so jarring to be switched around. It's true,"
he went on, "there is nothing like the rapport you gain after flying
with another pair for months, if not Turns. It's as if you know how
they'll move even before they do it. Sometimes, as a Wingleader, it's
easier to move the newer riders around rather than break up a trio or a
nine who've been flying together for Turns and work together as one."

"I'm glad you've mentioned this to me," he went on. "There have been a
lot of transfers lately, riders moving to Barrier Lake and coming in to
replace them, and it can't have been easy for you. I hope it will settle
down soon." His old wing back at High Reaches had been more stable;
perhaps he'd need to think more carefully about placing the younger
riders. He'd speak to K'deren about it. "I can't say there's a quick
solution, but perhaps you could use the opportunity to learn the
different styles of your wingmates. Do you work better with a daring
bronzerider leading your nine, or a more cautious, steadier man? Are
there greenriders you fly well with? And for my part, I'll keep an eye
out and see if we can't find a more permanent group for you."

"Rymeth never gets ruffled by anything, he takes _everything_ in stride.
I've noticed he works well as a balance for flighty greens or for
aggressive bronzes. The latter might be an oxymoron," he said, risking
the tiniest little smile. "I prefer time to sit back and observe and be
with the very steady people, personally."

"Hmm. We'll try out some different groupings next time we drill," M'gan
said, thinking of a particular pair of greens. The riders had been
clutchmates and flew well together, but they could be overconfident at
times. He'd been thinking of moving a brown in to steady them, but he
was short of browns. "How about outside of drills and Fall? Are you
happy about how you've settled into the Wing?"

V'rel said, "I'm trying to get comfortable. It does help that some of my
clutchmates are in the wing with me, so I settle with those easily
enough. I don't know the older riders as well. My clutchmates and I
sometimes go for picnics or bonfires as reunions. It would be nice if I
could think of something that might appeal to both younger wingriders,
and older ones, too. Something to bond us. Maybe some of us go hunting
to help replenish Weyr stocks and then have an event after."

"Now, that's not a bad thought." The wingriders could do with an
opportunity to get to know him, too, and M'gan did like to hunt. Then,
there was nothing like the taste of your own catch, roasted over a fire
on the beach and washed down with good wine. "I'll have a word with the
Headwoman, see what they're in need of." He grinned. "Carry on coming up
with ideas like that, young V'rel, and you'll make Wingthird before you
know it."

V'rel's eyes widened at the praise and he felt fit to burst. "Can I ask
you to tell my father that, sir?" he joked.

M'gan chuckled. "If I don't, you have my permission to repeat what I
said to him." He thought for a moment. "Do you think you might aspire to
that rank, one day? Not everyone does - I know you've got craft
training, too."

V'rel pressed his lips together as he thought about it. "I hadn't
thought about it before now," he said. "I Impressed and focused on
learning how to do everything so I could graduate. Aspirations hadn't
been on my mind yet, I mean, that would be Turns off, no?"

"It would, but it's worth thinking about the future sometimes, so you'll
be prepared for the opportunities when they come." Ambition, M'gan
thought, didn't have to be limited to bronzeriders. "But you've still
got plenty of time to try out different paths, and if I can help, I will."

"I appreciate it, sir. It's not every bronzerider who pays attention to
the blue- and green-riders."

"The successful ones always do," M'gan said. "Couldn't stop Thread
without you." A Wingleader who neglected the smaller dragons, in his
opinion, would see tangles getting through that the bronzes and browns
hadn't the agility to chase down. And then, if his Weyrleader had any
sense, he wouldn't be a Wingleader for much longer. "Is there anything
else you'd like to talk about? No personal worries?"

V'rel shook his head. "Honestly, sir, I'm happy as could be. I have an
amazing lifemate, a happy relationship, close contact with my parents,
good friends."

"Glad to hear it. Well, if you ever do have anything you want to talk
through, personal or otherwise, my door is always open. Just ask Rymeth
to speak to Isarth." M'gan stood and offered a hand. "Keep up the good
work, and I'll see you at drill tomorrow."

V'rel took M'gan's hand and offered a solid shake in return. "Thank you,
sir!" he exclaimed before scurrying out.

And to think he'd been so nervous about being placed into Cyclone. D'hol
had been a stern taskmaster with a terrifying reputation. M'gan seemed
warm and supportive. V'rel was thrilled to be working with him. What a
great bronzerider he was...

Last updated on the November 23rd 2020

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Aspirations