Here We Go...

Br'son took a deep breath to steady his nerves as Yllaveth called out to the appropriate dragons. In just a few minutes, Sh'lor would appear, followed probably by Teagan next, then Sidran, Casriel, Jah'vi, Z'ash and Ferrix. This wasn't a meeting Br'son was particularly looking forward to having, but it had to happen. The numbers didn't lie, no matter how he twisted them. If they didn't take drastic action, they were all doomed.

So.

The Weyrsenior glanced once more around the council chambers. The chairs were all in place, refreshments set out appropriately. He was as ready as he'd ever be, so the Weyrsenior took his seat and awaited those he'd called. They would come, and then they would act, for good or ill.

At least he could say he tried to save them all. At least that.

Sidran thought she had delayed long enough to not be first, but so it goes. "Weyrsenior," she said, stepping inside. Based on who had been called, she had a fair idea of what the meeting was for, and her thoughts circled away from Br'son, and their fight, and their new Weyrleader, and around Firene. Around Teagan, tiny and brave. Z'ash, committed and ready. The unknown.

And back to Firene, endlessly.

Jah'vi wasn't far from behind Sidran, his stomach in knots. It didn't take a genius to figure out what this was about, considering the people who had been called.

"Weyrsenior, Wingleader," he said to each in turn, worrying at his bottom lip with his teeth unconsciously. They were really going to do this.

He felt a pang of guilt when one of the... test subjects entered. Short blonde hair, innocent face, and seemingly so tiny and frail. There was steel in those green eyes, though, and she held her head high. Queenriders, he thought absently, knowing that look.

Teagan swallowed, well aware that the three older riders were watching her. There was some fear, which she forced herself to ignore. Ensieth was positive that they could do this. And her faith in the shadow was unwavering.

Still, she hoped Z'ash would arrive soon. Then at least the strange attention would be split between the two of them. She murmured her hellos and tried not to fidget as they waited for the others.

There were so many more things to the job than he had been prepared for. This meeting in particular would prove to be difficult. There were people involved that had varied opinions about him and most of them were less than favorable. Sh'lor had meant to be first to arrive but had been held up.

Arriving then after Sidran, Jah'vi and Teagan made him uneasy. He would much rather have preferred to be there with Br'son before the others arrived. "Good day Weyrsenior." He bowed appropriately and then turned to greet Teagan, "Queenrider Teagan." And finally the two Wingleaders, "Wingleader Sidran, Wingleader Jah'vi. Hope you are all well."

Though he really didn't care one way or the other so long as they were ready to discuss things without allowing their feelings about him to get in the way.

"Weyrleader," Sidran said, just as neutrally as she'd spoken to Br'son, after nodding to Jah'vi and Teagan upon their arrivals.

Ferrix slouched his way in moments later, nodding to everyone without meeting their eyes, taking up a lean across the side of the room and folding his arms.

Teagan, mostly oblivious to the reason for the tension in the room, smiled at the new Weyrleader when he entered. "Weyrleader Sh'lor, I'm well, thank you. I hope you are, too." That he was the only one not looking at her with something a little too close to pity was a bonus.

There was a slightly awkward moment when Ferrix entered, and she shifted nervously. What he had been through terrified her. It was unthinkable, to live without Ensieth. How could he possible manage it?

"May I get you something to drink, Ferrix?" she asked, breaking the silence. There was so much nervous energy pent up inside her she had to do something.

Jah'vi glanced at Br'son, worrying about what had to be going through his head. The youngest queenrider was trying so hard to be an adult it was almost painful to watch. How had they come to this, in such in a short time, that they had to ask something so dangerous of a child. He shifted his eyes to floor, suddenly feeling very guilty.

Br'son waited until everyone had arrived, gotten refreshments if they wanted them, and settled into place at the table. Only then did he speak.

"Most of you know why we're here," he said without any further preamble. "The facts of the matter are these: The Northern Weyrs are dying. They will not survive the last five Turns of the Pass. They may not even survive this Turn. We barely have enough dragons to cover our sworn territory, but at least the South is grubbed. Most of Pern lives in the North, still. If the Weyrs die, Pern dies. There's no way around it.

"So. We cannot let the Northern Weyrs die out. But we haven't enough dragons for our own needs. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Queenrider Teagan," he said, gesturing to the girl to stand, "and Bronzerider Z'ash," he added, gesturing to the boy to join her, "Have volunteered to lead a last ditch mission to save us all. They will go forward between times and scout out a location where we might send our weyrlings to mature. They'll leave here barely able to fly between but they'll return as fully fledge fighting and breeding pairs. IF Teagan and Z'ash find a suitable situation."

He glanced over at the Weyrleader, to be sure he was tracking on all of this. What with everything else, there hadn't really been time to explain the full details of this crazy plan. Then Br'son shook his head and sighed.

"I wish there were another way," he said. "But honestly, I don't see it. But we're dragonmen and -women. We have to try. And so..." he fell silent, looking at the two young people standing before them all.

"So, there's really no need to delay any longer. Tomorrow morning, the three of us will fly up the canyon to a distinctive landmark, and you'll make the jump from there."

And may all the ancestors protect you, for I fear that I cannot, he added silently, looking at first Teagan, and then Z'ash, and then back to Teagan again.

"What questions do any of you have?"

Ferrix had just grunted with a small shake of his head at Teagan's question, and he did much of a similar thing at Br'son's. For all leaving tomorrow made no difference, truly, than leaving tonight, he itched to do something.

Well, truth be told, he itched to do a lot of things, all of which he could not. And so he slipped his flask from a side pocket, and took a healthy bit. He had no intentions of staying long enough to become a drunk, but every now and then, edges needed...de-edging.

**

Sidran didn't stir, her calm eyes moving from Br'son to their Weyrleader, though they paused on Teagan and Z'ash (with a flash of warm approval that faded before moving to the brownrider).

Teagan clasped her hands behind her so she wouldn't be caught fumbling with them. She had thought she was ready for this, but all the attention was a little overwhelming. And Br'son was making it sound so... grand. They were just doing their duty to Pern. She shifted slightly, glancing at Z'ash to see if he was as uncomfortable as her.

Had he not been used to hiding his own ideas from his family and friends, he might have looked as blindsided as he felt. Br'son hadn't really had the time to fill him in...or had he? He inwardly seethed that the others gathered knew exactly what was going on and he, the Weyrleader did not. So that was why they were all looking at Teagan like they were sending her on a mission they wouldn't wish on one so young. His gray-blue eyes narrowed only slightly as Br'son used the word if.

Since they had no other choice, Z'ash and Teagan would have to find a way to make their situation work. He didn't ask his questions, but his arms were crossed before him, in thought. Dark, contemplative, thought. He wanted to ask some things that had likely been covered previously.

"Can we not send someone else ahead of them to be sure it is safe?" Volunteering himself even if need be. He thought of Teagan and Z'ash and how young they were. The recent loss of L'thyr who was too young to have fallen was on his mind. His sister being only a couple Turns older than Teagan.

He didn't think it was wisdom to send two children away, alone. This was insanity. Yup. They had all lost their minds.

"No," Teagan said firmly, locking eyes with the new Weyrleader. "We need all the mature fighting dragons in the Weyr, now, and can't risk them. Not when two Queens are already rising, and two more will be soon. Ensieth would have risen if I wasn't.." her cheeks flushed and she glanced away, "inexperienced." That was a good word for it, she decided.

"I'm the problem, I know that," she continued, before anyone could cut her off. "And Ensieth and I are going to fix it. No one else is going to risk themselves for me."

She left unsaid that if the worst happened, all the Weyr would be losing was a queen who refused to mate. Ensieth might be a shadow, and capable of clutches as surprising as her sister, but none of that mattered if she didn't rise. She'd spent enough time with Br'son and E'zen, pouring over clutch charts and numbers, to know that without Ensieth clutching they were doomed. And they couldn't risk losing a single fighting dragon.

Ensieth crooned gently in the back of her mind, comforting and steeling her further. Her shadow agreed; they were the ones that had to do this. Though she had wanted to protest that Z'ash accompanying them, at least on the test jump, was an unnecessary risk, Ensieth had simply told her that Manticath must go as well. She'd offered no further explanation, and Teagan hadn't argued. It was impossible when Ensieth took that tone.

"Ensieth and Manticath can do this, Weyrleader," she finished, trying for a reassuring smile for the man and hoping she looked at least somewhat as confident as Sidran and Casriel. "We," she emphasized the pronoun, looking at Z'ash confidently, "can do the this."

Jah'vi wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. She had the attitude of a queenrider, that was for certain. But that smile had made her look even younger. That they'd been pushed into this corner, where this was their only option, was tragic. But Br'son had faith in this little shadow rider, and he would stand beside him.

"With all respect, Weyrleader, we've had this discussion until we were all blue in the face," he said quietly, watching Teagan. "None of us want to risk Teagan or Z'ash, but they volunteered willingly for this. And both pairs are confident they can finish the mission."

Teagan was surprised but gratified to have the Wingleader speak up on her behalf. She beamed at him, then looked back to Sh'lor. "Ensieth knows she can do this, sir." Her voice was firm and confident.

Br'son gave his youngest junior a smile.

"You're not the problem, Teagan. But in this situation, you might just be the solution. And she's right, Weyrleader. We've got no one to spare. It's always been for bronzes and queens to take the greatest risks when needs must. Well. Needs must. I know this is all new to you, but this is something we've been carefully considering since well before Yllaveth's last flight.

...And so, if there are no other questions, I genuinely can't think of a reason to delay any longer. Teagan, Z'ash, are you ready to go now?"

Casriel parted her mouth, eager to answer Sh'lors question but Teagan beat her to the punch. Instead, she listened to the younger girl and found that she was impressed with how stalwart Teagan was. She sounded as if she had really thought this one out. Z'ash cleared her throat then and Casriel's pale eyes turned to regard the young bronzerider.

"The Ancestors risked much to establish dragons upon Pern. We should not allow all their sacrifice to be in vain. Manticath and I are ready." Z'ash said, bringing up his chin to nod to his Weyrleader and Weyrsenior.  Then he looked over at Teagan.

"I'm with you, come what may." he said and reached out to give her shoulder a reassurance squeeze.