Who's to go?

[Akki]

“I didn’t say anything last night.” Akki blinked before continuing, “I was too busy yawning”. Oops, was the inappropriate conversation to have while there was a meeting going on? Then again, people probably weren’t surprised that this was going on. Akki and G’han never really did have any tact, you see. It really wasn’t a secret, especially for Christae since the girl had been a candidate with Akki and knew G’han quite well. She crinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue when she saw G’han look at her and shake his head.

She gave a salute to Ragule to ensure that she would memorize anything even vaguely interested before turning her head to R’anl. “I normally pair up with G’han but,” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “He’d probably pull jokes on me and give me wrong coordinates and stuff.” She nodded and grinned when the bronzerider ensured that he would keep her safe.

Poor R’anl. He probably didn’t know what he just got himself into.

V’ian let his hand rest on Awerah’s head as she turned and let her face be hidden. He used a thumb to slowly stroke the top of her head, there wasn’t much else he could do. It wasn’t like he could say that K’tar would be back for her because, well, the answer to that one was obvious. He had never lost a weyrmate in his life so he couldn’t really begin to imagine how much it would hurt. He had lost his mother but he had known that she was will while K’tar’s death was sudden and unexpected. Awerah couldn’t have been prepared for it.

The bronzerider turned to K’dan and stared at the lad for a moment before grinning, “I don’t want you to feel left out, bluerider.” His other arm reached out and wrapped itself around K’dans neck while V’ian snickered. Awerah was being held softly while K’dan was more or less in a headlock. “Now respect your elders.”

[Spirithawk]

Anassa was undecided at first about whether she was going or not. She wasn't a wingleader, and Priath wasn't really big enough to be used to ferry dragonets back and forth. She might be able to carry one of the younger, smaller hatchlings, but that was about it.

She knew that several of her acquaintances were going. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go with them or stay. She would be needed here. Her Harper knowledge would come in handy.

She finally got the the front of the line and hesitated briefly over the To Go column before firmly writing her name in the To Stay column. To Anassa, it wasn't a question of fear. It was a question of where she was the most useful.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Well, that sucked some of the wind out of his sails. To hear that she would "normally" pair up with someone else. That he was a replacement to the norm. But R'anl didn't let it take him down too far ... he was still quite happy to know he'd have Akki's company, if nothing else. Which he would always be glad to have. No matter the circumstances!

"No worries." R'anl answered. "Do we know yet what time we're taking off? And where the bundles are waiting?" He asked.

---

Ragule chortled a bit, then shook his own head as well. Ah, youth was wasted on the young. But then his attention was drawn to the sobbing young woman over to the side. Ragule did not know her story, or why she was so strung out. But it was good to see someone was giving her the shoulder she needed.

For now, the old Healer just sat still and let the young folk sort things out. There was little he could do, and he didn't feel up to moving yet anyway. It was a long walk just to get here, and he'd yet to recoup from that!

[Kandarra]

Uslanee shook her head at the Weyrwoman's reprimand. In an unusually quiet voice, she said, "Christae.. You said yourself that you're not coming. Who else is going to run things over there? Akki? Rhia will be too busy with the weyrlings to take care of the everyday. And these workers I've recommended, they're good followers to the core, but not leaders, not a single one of them. I left the leaders off that list so that I could go, and you would be covered." She paused, weighing her next words. "I am good at adapting to the unknown. I shaped this place up, didn't I?" She added a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

She had never wanted anything so much in her life; not even the possibility of Impression had held her so strongly. She delighted in making chaos into order, in taking nothing and making it into something. This was the ultimate challenge, her chance to really make a difference, not just be the bossy Headwoman. And she was getting old-- at fifty-odd Turns, this was likely the last big adventure she'd have a chance at going on. "Please, Christae."

------------

T'rin had been struggling with this whole issue since Christae had announced it, more than he'd struggled with anything. He'd learned that his biggest fear was of the unknown, and this situation certainly qualified. When he came back, he would be older, and everyone else, the same. He would have lived years, and they, days. And when they came back... Thread.

Realization dawned as suddenly as the sun after a midday storm. It was Thread, not this trip, that he was afraid of. He was afraid that he wasn't very well-prepared, that his absence in weyrlinghood had left him lacking, that he would face the ancient threat and be destroyed in his first flight.

He swayed a bit with this epiphany, then forced himself to still, though it wasn't as difficult as he had thought it would be, because his sudden understanding had made the decision for him. He would go. He would train for the extra time. And then, when he came back, he would be prepared.

Feeling a calm he hadn't felt in sevendays, he strode up to Christae, picked up the charcoal, and wrote his name in the "To Go" column.

[Dragon]

K'dan gave an awkward "oof" as V'ian wrapped his arm around the bluerider's neck. "Um...can you loosen up a little? You'll choke the bluerider", K'dan spoke up awkwardly to V'ian. This was no worse than being put in a headlock by G'han back when he was training with the bronzerider. He never did figure out how to slip out of the hold, especially when he was sitting down.

Mine, you should have paid more attention then. Perhaps you wouldn't be in such an awkward position. The blue chided his bonded.

Now is not the time to speak up, Hydrath. Unless you're going to help me get out of this. Ofcourse the bluerider knew that his dragon couldn't come help him in such a small space, which was his point exactly. He couldn't help, so Hydrath would just have to settle with the only other option. Shutting up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Awerah sighed slightly and softly as V'ian stroked her hair. It was a nice feeling and one she hadn't really gotten that accustomed to. K'tar would hold her, yes. But it wasn't often that he stroked her hair. It was nice, though. She was glad for the bronzerider's comfort.

She lifted her head slightly to see K'dan basically turning red in the face. She looked up to V'ian with a mock frown. "Please do not choke K'dan. What few riders are staying behind, we need", she pleaded in the same mock fashion with V'ian. Though she really did hope he'd let K'dan go, she wasn't very serious with her words. Infact, one could say she was intentionally using her feminine wiles on V'ian. It was nice to know she still had that touch.

Of course, if the bluerider actually passed out, she figured she'd just have to whoop V'ian's bronzerider tail for not letting go when she asked. She smiled sweetly at V'ian, after that thought.

[Spirithawk]

Christae sighed. Finally, everyone present had placed their names on the list. P'rin was remaining with the majority of his wing and his wingleader. T'ren was going back in time, and the others had all placed their lots.

"Very well, Uslanee. I'll send someone back for you if the person you put to replace you temporarily isn't up to the job though!" She'd miss her old friend. "Take care of yourself." The Weyrwoman's tone was gruff.

"Now that that is settled, this meeting is adjourned. If you have questions please see me after."

OOC: Just to shorten this. You guys can continue but bump me if I'm needed.