The Weyrleaders Come

[Tenma]

L'mis took a deep breath. "I must admit that Southern Weyr has also come along a new color. We have named it Violet, though not all of them have a violet hide. The female ones can clutch, but the clutch is so small that we have decided to place it with a queen's clutch that was laid around the same time. Unfortunately, none of those eggs had hatched but I am sure they can. The violet dragon is now three turns old." He added the last one with a pause. Would the Weyrs be mad that he hid this one dragon for three turns? He was afraid some of them might not like the idea of a Violet dragon, but this seemed like a good time to introduce the mutant. He turned to Hethea and the other less approving leaders and sighed.

[Spirithawk]

"We have had records of mutants. I was ashamed to admit it. I feared that everyone would think that Ista's bronzes are faulty or even their Queens. I never imagined that other weyrs would have mutated colors as well."

S'kel glared at his weyrmate when she confessed Ista's secret. "I suppose they have to hear about the color and temperament of the dragons. We have records of two colors. Both are extremely rare and have only come up once or twice in the past four hundred Turns."

"They are Yellows. Yellows are tiny little female dragons that only impress to females. They are bigger than whites by a lot but the largest only reeaches the size of a small blue. They are sweet dragons, and very hard to anger, but if someone tampers with their rider they become fiends. They do not fly or clutch and their flame is small. They are mostly used along with the weyrling wing to toss firestone."

"The other color that has been reported has emerged from one of Tela's bonded's clutches. Thunderclouds
(only Ista)
Dark grey dragons, almost black with lighter grey underbellies and wings. These dragons are as unpredictable as the weather they were named for. They are rather quiet dragons, seeming to always brood over some reason or other. They impress only males and look for riders similiar to themselves. They will often become angry for small reasons but quickly cool down after their initial outburst. If something major angers them they remain angry for a long time. The largest grow to be the size of a small brown, the smallest, the size of a large green. They have about the speed and agility of a small brown and are fiercly loyal to their Queens and riders. They rise to mate but none have ever tried to catch a Queen."

He sighed. "There, we admitted our dirty secret. Happy?" He all but spat at the Dark Moon Leaders.

[Tenma]

Miya listened to all of the reports. There were so many mutants. Would she have gotten more attention or been more well known if she impressed a mutant?

So you don't want to be my bonded? Would you rather I go between and leave you to reimpress some pathetic little mutant? Reinath snapped angrily.

~No. How many times must I tell you I don't want you to leave.~ Miya sighed getting slightly annoyed with the gold's attitude.

***********************

L'mis looked at the Istan Weyrleaders. Why did they not beleive there were a white and crimson if they had two mutants themselves? Pern continues to amaze me.

[Spirithawk]

Christae stood again. "I must admit that I am suprised, but not as suprised as I could be. It is obvious that since Dark Moon has mutated colors, surely other weyrs will have them as well. I..." The young Weyrwoman broke off, wincing with pain. She took a deep breath and then continued.

"I am happy to hear that the dragons were healthy. I do..."Christae cried out in pain as a large contraction rippled visibly over her stomach. She could not hide the truth any longer. She was going into labor, right in front of the Weyrleaders of Pern. "I think my water just broke." Her face blanched when she felt the wetness trickle down.

Kaith bellowed for healers to help her rider and then flitts came swooping into the meeting cavern, beginning to hum. A birth would happen soon. "Sh'iron, I think the baby wants to be born." Her face was paler than normal. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she fought to keep herself from crying out again. "I have been having contractions since before the meeting started."

You should have told us. The gold's voice was accusing and Christae winced.

~You did not tell me when you were clutching until after several eggs were already on the sands.~ She retorted back.

This is different. You are in pain and you need a Healer. She snapped back, annoyed with her rider for hiding something like that.

~Nike is here.~

[Miki]

Hathea was somewhat relieved as the crowd watched Christae. She did not have to reveal the secret of her Weyr and if D'nyr did she would shut him up. I cannot wait for you to fly. Mine, we have other things to think about. Hathea gave a sigh but stayed where she was. I don't think deary Christae wants people watching her have a child.

D'nyr got the hint. He looked around to the other Weyrleaders and motioned them over. "Maybe we should give her some privacy and space," he said loudly. The Benden Weyrleader turned to his Weyrwoman. "Will you stay or go with me to wait?"

[Tenma]

L'mis almost shouted when the news was revealed. No wonder the weyrwoman had been looking so unhappy, he thought she was just nervous.

"Yes," The bronzerider agreed with the other weyrleader, "I think I shall wait outside." He blushed lightly and hurried outside.

***************************

Miya gave a big sigh. If it wasn't one thin it was another. There were all of the mutations, Reinath being so upset over nothing, the ruder WEyrwomen and Weyrleaders, and now their weyrwoman was going into labor? This was insane.

****************************

Nira was laying under the sun by the weyrlake. Next to her was her large green friend, Siarath. Lina, the golden firelizard was perched on Siarath's back. All three were resting and sunbathing while the Meeting was going on. Sure Nira was distressed but Siarath quickly grew annoyed and forced her rider to relax.

Lina's head shot up and the flitt began to cherp insanely. The golden firelizard flew around crazily before dissapearing between.

Nira shot up into a sitting position in shock. ~Siarath, what is going on, where did Lina go?~ The greenrider panicked.

Siarath's eyes whirled before speaking. ~She went to the meeting. It is Christae. The goldrider is in pain. Her babies are coming.~ Siarath explained quickly.

"What?" Nira shouted as she quickly scrambled to her feet. She quickly ran off, forgetting that it would be quicker to get on her bonded's back. Instead, the green ran a beside her rider.

"Stay here." Nira commaned the green, too panicked to speak telepathically. She shot into the room the bowed respectfully. "My appollagies for bursting in but considering..." Nira didn't finish her sentance and rushed to her friend's side.

What a time. Nira heard Siarath's voice enter her head.

[nike]

Nike looked up when she heard Christae's water break.
"Your coming to the infirmary," The Healer said, eyes narrowing. She turned to the Weyrleaders.
You all may stay here, and chat. Sh'iron help Christae to the infirmary, please," The White rider said.
Zim and Crystal came in, cherping like mad.
Christae is having a baby now?
Yes. NIke said as she headed off to the infirmary. When Nira burst in, Nike glared at the green rider.
"Nira, I know that you care for Christae, but for now, please stay out of her way. We need to get her to the infirmary,"
She said then turned around and stalked out.

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

Sh'iron's eyes widen. He really didn't know what to do. At Nike's command, he took Christae's one hand, and planced his other at the back of her waist, leading her after Nike.
"Nira, please do not burst into a meeting full of Weyrleaders with out a notice before hand. It is quite rude," The Weyrleader said.

~~~~~~~~~

Falnor nodded. "We can stay here and wait," the Benden Weyrwoman said, taking up a glass of wine and drinking it.
"So, are there any more Weyrs that have mutated colors?" She said, eyes scanning the crowd.

[Dragon]

R'kim was about to agree with the others when Nike said they could stay and the Weyrwoman of Darkmoon would be rushed to the infirmery. He sat back down and crossed his arms examining the other weyrleaders.

Kadire was going to ask if there were anyway she could help but the Weyrwoman was already being rushed to the infirmery. She placed a hand on her weyrmate's crossed arms and looked as the Weyrwoman left, hoping all would go well.

[Tenma]

"I appolagize weyrleader Sh'iron. I was....shocked." SHe said simply. Nira blushed when she turned and saw all of the Weyrleaders. "Umm...sorry." Nira smiled and ran out to Siarath.

"I just made a fool of myself." Nira sighed, scratching the green's eyesridges and leaning against her hide.

Do not worry mine, you were only looking out for your friend. Siarath nuzzled Nira.

*************************

L'mis sat back down in his chair. His fingers rubbed his temples. "What a day." He muttered.

[Spirithawk]

Christae smiled through the pain of another contraction. "Thank you Nira for your concern. I will be fine." She spoke as if to comfort herself as well. "I must apologize for this. I had no intention of interrupting this meeting in such a manner."

Let Sh'iron lead you to the infirmary now! The gold's voice thundered in all their heads. She was at the entrance of the cavern. She would be able to see her rider pass into the infirmary.

She ducked her head with chagrin. You always worry about other people before yourself. You had better hope nothing goes wrong because of this. Those Weyrleaders could wait. Your health can't. You are the Weyrwoman. If you die or fall ill Dark Moon will fall apart. Miya and Reinath have not even learned to go between yet. They are not ready to step in your shoes. The Weyr will follow you and Sh'iron in Threadfall. They will not follow Miya and Reinath. My daughter and her rider are not mature enough in too many ways.

Christae knew that Sh'iron could hear the gold and she also knew that the Senior Queen was right. But she could not reschedule the meeting and she also couldn't have missed it. There was already too much tension about the meeting for her to be absent. If she had tried to reschedule the meeting would not have happened at all.

Meek for one of the few times in her life, Christae led Sh'iron lead her toward the infirmary. She squeezed his hand gently. "Everything will be fine." She told him softly. She had seen the helpless look on his face before he had rebuked Nira. She realized that he was more vulnerable than he would admit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

S'kel smirked. "She looked like she wasn't having a very good time. And I thought it was just because she was realizing how inferior her weyr is."

Tela glared at the man. For once, she took the young woman's side. "She is pregnant and going into labor. S'kel, quit being so shallow. You have to admire her pluck for sticking through the meeting. We kept wondering why she looked ill. She was in labor. I doubt you could have done the same thing if you had been in her condition."

Her tone was scathing. Tela had borne enough children to know how Christae felt. She could sympathize with the younger woman. Tela remembered her first child. She had not handled the situation with as much decor as the Dark Moon Weyrwoman had. "They may be a small weyr, but they have their dignity. They will prosper."

S'kel stared at his weyrmate with open mouthed surprise. "Since when did you have such a change of heart?" He was completely stunned.

"Since I had children of my own." She snapped back at S'kel.

[Spirithawk]

Christae's labor went easy and she gave birth to a son that was healthy. She and Sh'iron named the child Chiron after both his parents and then Sh'iron returned to close the meeting and to see his guests off as they left for their home weyrs.

((topic ended))