Responsibility (1)

Writers: Devin, Cali, Francesca
Date Posted: 12th September 2009

Characters: T'kob, N'vanik, G'len
Description: T'kob and N'vanik talk with G'len about the lost weyrling.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 1 of Turn 5

N'vanik

T'kob knew the instant it had happened. }WAIT!{ Embereth had yelled so loud in his head that he'd turned defensively as if to ward off an attack. He acknowledged the pain behind the cry almost immediately though and frantically looked around him to his group of weyrlings, the little gold most sought after. He found them all, Sorsha's green just about to land after the group's second run through. Everyone was fine, no one had disappeared... from his group.

**Who is it?** the Weyrlingmaster asked as the dragons all round the bowl started to give off their anguished keen.

}:Lesereth.:{ The bronze was filled with remorse. }:I wasn't watching... it was too late when I saw.:{

T'kob was already running over to G'len. Adari had been part of Z'ku's group. **You can't blame yourself, you can't watch them all, it's too many.**

G'len, through Tobereth, ordered the weyrlings in his group to land. That is, those in his group minus Adari and Lesereth. He and Tobereth had counted each of those eight long seconds while the pair had been /between/, and when they reached the end he had hoped beyond hope that they had counted too quickly. But rider and dragon had not appeared, and would not. He said what he hoped were comforting words to the rest of the group, but even as he spoke he was barely conscious of what he was saying. He also automatically asked Tobereth to do her best to take the edge off of sorrow the dragonets were feeling.

"She's gone," G'len told the Weyrlingmaster softly when he arrived, although it was obvious to any dragonrider what had happened.

N'vanik, watching from the heights, felt the vibration of Loseth's keening through the bronze's neck. They comforted each other wordlessly for a few moments. The loss was personal, one of Loseth's children and the rider she had chosen, gone forever to the emptiness of /between/. N'vanik thanked Faranth it hadn't been Cosani. He didn't think he would have been able to handle that.

When some of the initial shock had worn off, Loseth flew down to join the group of weyrlings and staff. N'vanik wasn't sure what to do, but he wanted to do _something_.

"What happened?" T'kob fought to compose himself. Nothing could change now, and he couldn't blame G'len. Ultimately, each rider was responsible for their own actions, even if under the guidance of another.

"Her visualization was good," G'len replied, Tobereth's thoughts echoing his own. "We told them they could go, they went /between/, and then...." obviously, they hadn't come out. He shook his head, replaying the scene over and over to see if he had missed something. "They must not have held the visualization in their minds." It was the only explanation he could think of.

N'vanik joined them in time to catch the end of G'len's explanation. "What was her name?" he asked. Loseth had given him the green's name, but not the rider's.

"Adari." G'len barely spared a glance towards the Weyrleader as he responded, his attention on the Weyrlingmaster.

}:Tobereth checked.:{ Embereth verified for T'kob. Not that the Weyrlingmaster wanted to doubt his Third, but he needed to make sure that it hadn't been due to a lazy instructor.

"Tell everyone we're done with the drill for today." T'kob told Embereth aloud for the benefit of N'vanik and G'len. "Until the shock has been absorbed, it'll be dangerous for them to attempt any more /betweening/."

"When the weyrlings are settled, I want both of you to come talk to me," N'vanik said.

G'len nodded, although he wasn't sure what he would have to say. Adari was dead, and she wasn't coming back. Maybe the kitchens could serve up some comfort food for the evening meal. It might help lift everyone's spirits. "Are you sending them to the barracks, or letting them go wherever they want?" he asked T'kob.

T'kob looked around the bowl at the groups scattered in their small clusters. He didn't know if he was ready to talk to them, but he knew they needed to hear from him. He just didn't know what to say. "Barracks first. They can have some time to themselves after we're sure they're all okay. The first one is the hardest."

"Aye." G'len resisted the urge to apologize. It wasn't his fault. He had done everything right. But still, something had gone wrong. He took a deep breath and let it out. "I'll make sure they all go straight to the barracks. Is there anything else I can do?"

T'kob shook his head, "Just be strong for them. It wasn't your fault, you know the chance was it could happen." It felt odd trying to reassure the older man, but he needed his Wingthird's head clear and focused.

G'len nodded. It would be hard the next few days. It always was. But at least the Weyrlingmaster and the rest of the Weyrlingstaff knew and understood.

Last updated on the September 13th 2009

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Responsibility (1)