An Unwanted Change

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 27th September 2009

Characters: J'ren, Teykara
Description: J'ren asks Teykara about a possible change within the Wing.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Tey, U'das

The banks of electrical lights that lit up the Weyrbowl in the early
darkness of the tropical evening made it possible to complete their
after-Threadfall work, though there it wasn't the same as working in
daylight. For one thing the lights threw shadows; huge, long, deadly
deep shadows and it had become a matter of good practice to turn the
dragon rather than walk around on an inspection. The dragons were
obliging enough, turning one way and then the other at their rider's
request. Most would have at least a muzzle scrub before everybody went
off to their meal and then, for some, their beds.

"Teykara." The call of her name was soft, but it still carried easily
with little effort. J'ren approached the greenrider, glancing at a
couple of the lights that popped on nearby. "Might I have a moment of
your time?"

"Of course, J'ren," Teykara said easily. "Yeulanth is hide-whole and
prepared to dunk and scrub her own muzzle if necessary." It wasn't
impossible with the fresh lake water and sandy soil but both dragon and
rider preferred the more relaxed ending to their Threadfall duties of
getting the ash smudged muzzle clean together.

"Good. Glad to hear it." He cast a smile toward the green, then looked
at her rider. "I have a question for you." His eyes scanned for
another greenrider, but J'ren could not see her from where they were.
"About Tey."

The greenrider looked a little wary. "What's she done? Not another fight?"

J'ren couldn't stop the chuckle - it was a fair question. "No, no,
nothing like that, I assure you. It's just with some of the injuries
that have occurred in recent Falls, we're going to have to reorganise a
bit."

"Tey's moving Wings?" Teykara guessed, feeling unaccountably worried at
the thought that her sister would be 'on her own' in another Wing, which
was ridiculous because there was family everywhere.

J'ren shook her head. "Nothing quite like that. More like we need to
move around people from one shift to another - I was wondering if you
would have a problem working with your sister. I'm thinking of
suggesting that we move you from early in the fall to the second shift
with Tey."

"Oh." Teykara frowned a little as she thought about the move. She
liked flying the first half of Fall better than flying the second,
though really that was nothing more than impatience. Once she was
kitted up and ready it seemed a waste of time to sit around and wait
until they were called up. She would rather be 'doing' than 'waiting'
but she would go where she was needed. The issue with flying the same
half of Fall as her sister was more easily decided. "No problem flying
with Tey. She's useful enough in the air and I don't think we're -
either of us - likely to be protective of each other, or anything."

"Are you sure?" It was an issue that had cropped up with others. J'ren
didn't want either of them making foolish choices in an effort to
protect the other - choices that might cost them their own lives of the
lives of others.

"We're siblings separated by ten Turns. I think some of the people
pairing off as almost-but-not-quite weyrmates would be much more of a
worry for you." If they were actually weyrmates they would probably be
separated so many just avoided making the declaration.

J'ren nodded - he hoped that was the case in truth. "All right then.
Of course, this is just a possibility. I haven't gone over this with
U'das yet. I will let you know if and when it becomes reality."

Teykara also nodded. "No rush, though," she teased. "I enjoy flying
first half."

"I'll keep that in mind." Not that it meant much. They needed people
where they needed them, and J'ren couldn't really weigh her preference
over the good of the wing.

"I don't expect keeping it in mind with do me any good," Teykara said
with a shrug. "But really, who really likes to fly second half? Would
you, if you had a green?"

"Flying half a Fall would seem like a vacation to me." J'ren commented
dryly. In that respect, greenriders got a break and he really thought
Teykara ought to keep that in mind.

"Well, why don't you lead the second-half greens into 'Fall one day and
see for yourself how vacation-like it is to wait while you watch rider
after rider and dragon after dragon returning injured. Gauging what
you're going into by the number of maimed hitting the ground in front of
you is a test of _any_ rider's nerve."

"Your tone is getting very disrespectful, Teykara." J'ren words
tightened a bit. He wasn't angry, but her insolence had annoyed him. He
was generally a patient man, but not when it came to the way people
treated others. "It just so happens that I _have_ led the second half in
the past. You assume I don't know - I do. We will move you to where we
need you and if that's not your first preference, you're going to have
to deal with it."

Teykara shrugged again. It was just like a bronzerider to fall back on
his rank in a discussion. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said drily.

J'ren was going to have to have a talk to U'das about her attitude.
"You'll be hearing from me about your new assignment soon. I want you
to report to my office before breakfast in the morning."

"I'll be there, Wingsecond. Is that all?"

"Yes, you are dismissed." J'ren turned and walked away and shook his
head as he did so. Her attitude needed improvement. Yes, he was
definitely going to speak to U'das.

Last updated on the September 27th 2009

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An Unwanted Change