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Sorkana's Rise, on Dragon Wings By: Malissa Madison She lay atop D'ven, her body shivering in the aftermath of ecstasy like she had never known before. There had only been two other experiences in her life that made her feel this good. The day she had Impressed Gayleth, and the day she had risen in her first mating flight. His hand came up, his fingers gently tracing the lines of her face. "As much as I would like to do this all day, we need to get around. B'nard is due back with supplies and more riders." His grin told her that he knew something, something both important and something that would make her happy. 'Gayleth, who is coming?' she asked her dragon. 'Zinda and Lilith,' answered the dragon. "Oh crap," she rolled off him and rushed into the crude bathing pool. The water was already cooled, but and she yelped, her nipples stiffening instantly. 'You could save time and wash me, I have an itch,' Gayleth informed her. Suddenly she was astride her Queen. "Gayle!" she gasped. Laughing, D'ven rushed naked to land astride Torrith. "This is the Weyr, love. And your Riders accept you as you are," he reminded her. Suddenly there were wolf whistles and cheers the rest of D'ven's wing. "So, are you happy for Sistine, rider of Golden Vitath?" asked Lisena, Green Jeltath's Rider as she helped to scrub Gayleth. Of course, there were literally dozens of fire lizards helping as well. together the work went much faster than if she'd done it herself. She found herself beginning to connect for the first time with the Green riders of D'ven's wing. "Who is on watch?" she asked, wanting to be sure they were alert. "Th'nor and G'vin," answered Lisena naming a Brown and a Blue rider. Seeing the blush, Sorkana remembered that G'vin's Blue Fellith had flown Jeltath. No easy feat for a Blue. She was finally dressed and still trying to figure out how the little Blue had out maneuvered the seven Browns and three Bronzes. She heard the challenging bugle and the answering bugles of the new arrivals as Gayleth announced, 'They are here.' The sky seemed filled with dragons, but the visiting Queens were the first to land in the bowl, all sixteen of them. Each Weyr had sent two Queens, which automatically sought out Gayleth. 'It is my Weyr,' her dragon announced proudly to the other Golds. 'Come, see the hatching caverns.' There was a smugness to her mental voice. Zinda met Sorkana's eyes, "Caverns, you have two here?" "Actually, there are three. Gayleth has claimed the largest for herself. But the two smaller ones are as large as Benden's." Sorkana knew that Fort's was the largest, and Benden's was the next largest. But the one Gayleth had laid claim to was large enough to accommodate four clutching Queens with rock formations that provided a natural barrier for privacy. From the ledges, spectators could easily see into all four sections without disturbing the Queens. She wondered what the riders who had been trapped here must have thought as they worked to turn this into a real Weyr. They had discovered by torch light, shell fragments from a green Dragons clutch. And then Sorkana spotted the woman who had ridden here with Zinda. "Momma!" the two hugged. "Have you seen Sistine? How is Keeve?" As soon as she was assured that everyone was alright, Lady Corra whispered into her ear, "Dorrita has brought her holdless followers to help you settle this new world. I told her that you asked for her, just in case she mentions it to you." "Thank you, mother. I can't think of anyone more deserving or better fit to begin a new hold." She turned in search of Dorrita. She found her in the newly established Weyr Kitchen. She was looking over the crude map that the riders had etched out on a stone table top using sand, sticks and stones. "Ah, I see you have been busy mapping," commented Master Harper Nolly. There were five Journeyman Harpers with her and they immediately set to copying the map onto paper. Even marking the locations for possible Holds. The light torches were now replaced by glow baskets as Rita began taking charge of the kitchens, directing the other Weyr folk in the tasks she was setting them to. Master Tollbar was transferring here with a few other Healers, and he was concerned with where to set up so that he would have access to a medicinal storage area as well as be able to treat injured dragons and riders. "And will you now lead us to the Eastern Weyr?" asked Zinda six hours later. "I'm sorry, I have yet to make the flight there. But L'mar is on his way so that Nareth can give you the references," Sorkana said. "Master Nolly," interrupted Kinda, a journeywoman Harper. "We found records of a sort." She was carrying piece of thin lime slate upon which someone had used the burnt end of twigs to make a record. "We were looking for a place to make the Harpers office when we found these." "These? There are more?" asked Nolly. "Yes, lots more. The others are still there separating them into some sort of order, so they can begin transcribing them to paper," explained Kinda. Looking at the tablet now laying on the table Nolly began to read. "We have been here some twelve turns by our best estimate. With no fire stone the three greens have laid clutches. I didn't have the wing take them away to between as is usually done with a Greens clutch as they never hatch. Seeing the dragons guarding their clutches, something Greens rarely do, has given us hope of continuing." "Gornath has assured me that the eggs are fertile and will hatch, but we have only Jella and Jipson to present as candidates." The writing style changed with the next entry. "D'nor is dead. He died shortly after the first clutch began to hatch and there were only two candidates to present. Jella impressed Mnoreth a Green and J'son impressed Fellith a Brown. F'ken is now our Weyr Leader as we have no Bronzes left." "The unimpressed dragonettes fought, several were killed, but the rest gorged on the meat provided them." "I made the decision that we would present Cayla, Darlina and Peteron though they are way below the minimum age as were Jella and J'son, that pair are eleven and ten turns." "I am not sure how long we can survive or if any of us can. We lost Ladina in childbirth. Our other two Green riders have lost their unborn, so I doubt any of us will survive if we cannot figure out where we are and how to return home." "We have twenty-three surviving dragonettes besides the five impressed. There were more, but nine left right after they learned to fly. The rest of the wing sees them from time to time, but they are wild, and hunt freely as do the fire lizards." "M'den is now Weyr Leader. We lost so many of our surviving number when the new Greens rose. It was a real fight to stop the older riders. The young Green riders are just too young to be subjected to the lust of mating dragons." Shozin and Nolly looked at each other. "Obviously there is a lot missing from the records," stated Nolly. "The older ones are much better maintained, I mean nearly everything is recorded," observed Shozin as she looked at those being carried to the dining caverns tables. Then she pointed to something off in the upper right corner of each tablet. The last one they had read from had the same notations near each entry. The numbers dropped each time. The final was, 1Br, 5G, 7Bl, 10WBr, 7WG, 13WBl. The notations were the number and colors of the dragons in the Weyr. "I believe we should take precautions to preserve these originals," stated Nolly as she lifted it to hand to a Journeyman. "Look, on the back," gasped Sorkana. There was more written there that looked like a child's hand writing. "J'son and I are leaving in the morning, taking the others with us. With M'den gone, there is no one left to protect us from the older riders when or Dragons rise to mate. Jella has been chosen by us to lead our new Weyr. We will go north and east to the place Cayla found." Tiva had finally arrived with half her wing from their new Weyr which was in the North East. "No, we've not found any records like this, only the writing on the walls left by Moreta," stated Tiva. "And only two Caverns had been turned into any semblance of a Weyr." Everyone seemed to be puzzling over that if she was there by herself, why were there two Dragon Weyr's? Nolly began to recite the teaching ballad to herself. "Holth," she gasped. "Moreta was riding Holth when she was lost, Orlith stayed until her clutch was hatched. She came here after that," she reasoned. It had been the first time a rider had ridden another's dragon. Weyr Woman Leri, Holth's bonded rider had ridden Orlith Between. "Yes, it makes sense," stated L'mar. "That is how we found out two Queen's, they followed their thoughts getting the images they needed." They decided to stay four days, as they made more lists of provisions. Another group of migrating dragons was due a seven day from the first groups arrival. But each group was to be guided by a rider from one of the first two wings. Four days later they stood on the ledge beside the Eye Rock, coordinating for more arrivals. "Whose brown is that?" asked K'lar as he pointed to one across the top of the rim from them. "Oh, that is one of the wild ones, they are curious and like to watch what is happening," supplied Berniz, the Green Rider on watch. "He's been watching our Fire Stone drills, lately." "Do they cause any problems? Interfere with patrols or sweeps?" "No Sir, they've actually been helpful in finding places to hunt," added D'ven. "But no, they will not follow the directions of the Queens." "They talk, they are amazed that we fetch and carry for humans," Carneth stated. "That one's name is Garth, and he says N'rissa never asks him to carry things like that." Suddenly the Brown bugled a warning as it launched downward into the bowl. Then it winked between reappeared over a young teen running with a sack from the shelter erected over the Fire Stone. The teen turned leaping upward, the dragon caught the child and winked out. "He just stole a child," gasped Shozin. Immediately, they began enquiring to discover who had just been kidnapped by a wild dragon. An hour later it was determined that everyone was accounted for, so how did an unknown child get here? No one knew the child, she had wandered among them for the last few days, but no one had really paid attention to her. She was just one more weyr child going about her business. Everyone seemed of the combined opinion that it was a young girl and not a boy. "Carneth, you said that one's name was Garth, you also mentioned N'rissa?" "I did?" "Yes, you said, that one's name is Garth, and he says N'rissa never asks him to carry things like that." Reminded K'lar. "I think we have found at least one survivor of the lost wing," speculated Sorkana. "And I think if N'rissa decides to return, we should not make a fuss, but welcome her." "Sorkana, if her name is N'rissa, don't you think it likely that it's a boy we're talking about?" questioned Zinda. Girls, weyr women do not shorten their names." "How many are bonded to a male dragon?" Sorkana asked. Then just to prove her point she asked, "Gayleth, if say rider Berniz had bonded with a Brown or Bronze rather than a green, what would her name be?" "B'niz, but she rides a Green, not a male," answered Gayleth as a matter of fact. "If she is bonded with a dragon, surely the Queens can find her," suggested G'shall of Fort Weyr. "If she has survived here alone, I am sure that she is adept at evading us. She would also have very valuable information about the unknown dangers," stated Sorkana. Tiva added her own backing of the decision. "She may know where there are others hiding as well," stated D'ven. "For now, I say we leave her a few thing at her favorite observation point and let her come to us, again." "You know, we've had a few things misplaced at Eastern the last few days," stated Tiva. "Yes, and always after a wild Green has been visiting," chuckled L'mar. "Well we know what was stolen from here," stated Rita. "Knives, a weyrhide jacket and boots, and today a sack of fire stone." "Tell the sweep riders to keep a look out, if they can, see if they can track the larger groups," directed Sorkana. "I notice when our visitor left so did the other wilds." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Each day the stockpiles of fire stone grew, as more riders began to make the jump. The Weyr's of Pern would arrive to help fight Thread over and around the new Weyr's and Holds of Between. Gayleth had clutch thirty-seven eggs, a Gold among them. She had just finished laying the last few and they were still hardening when the alarm came but it wasn't from the sweep riders. "Thread, thread is falling." It was a wild, but how did they know about thread? "Where does it fall?" she asked through Gayleth. "Over the Weyr," came the answer. And she had for the first time a clear reference for the Weyr of the wild dragons. Nine in the sky, riders feeding them fire stone as they flamed and dodged. Other wilds catching chunks to chew in midflight. But the supply they had pilfered was fast running out. "Everyone now, get the wings in the air," directed Sorkana. "Kita, Go to Southern and alert the Weyr's, we'll have to time it or we're going to lose a lot of dragons." she instructed a young green rider. Her biggest concern was not only the fighting wings here, but the unbonded dragons with no fire stone, no riders and training. Gayleth left her clutch for the first time, but only as far as the fire heights to help direct the arriving Wings. They needed a reference point, and Gayleth was the one to provide it after getting it from her wing leaders. The wild weyr was far to the south and east. An easy full day's flight south of the new Easter weyr. All Sorkana could do at this point was wait and direct the injured dragons and riders, the greens and blues that came for resupplies of fire stone. She was aware of the heavy initial losses among the wild dragons who tried to fight thread for the first time. Many without Fire Stone were doing something else, darting in under the falling thread then going between and returning. The fire lizards at least had somehow found some, as they were all belching flames as they darted in and out around the wilds without flame. "Torrith, tell them to catch the fire stone," directed D'ven, as he began throwing chunks to the wilds between flaming attacks of the thread. They would need time for the acid in their second stomach to work with the stone to form the gas which would turn to flame when it mixed with the air. Still there were numerous injuries, but only a few were serious among the riders and their dragons. She was in contact through Gayleth, with Tiva who was doing the same. Suddenly Gayleth screamed as she launched herself into the air riderless. Three young Blues on resupply duty followed suit to help catch a Wild Brown, it right wing shredded by thread as it fell toward the Weyr. To her horror she saw the slim figure sliding off, falling. Gayleth winked out then back in, her foreclaws catching the rider. Then she glided down to land next to the torn and battered Brown as a small Gold, her skin tinged with a greenish hue came screaming from the sky. Lilith and two other Queens joined Gayleth in getting the riderless queen calmed down. She fanned her spread wings menacing any who tried to come near Garth or N'rissa until Sorkana and Nolly rushed in. "You will stay, but we must help her and Garth if they are to recover," she noticed the long thread scores on this little queen as well. "And you need your own injuries tended." By now Rita had the weyr folk working furiously on the pair, the golds whirling, panicked eyes began to slow after she and Nolly began to slather Numb weed on her thread scores. As she continued her silent, soothing conversation she began to pick out bits of information from the guarded thoughts of this little queen. Two more little queens guarded the hatching grounds where three clutches lay hardening in staggered stages. Romnorth's clutch would be first to hatch in the next few weeks. These were the descendants of the Weyrlings who had fled to avoid the older riders left from the first riders to come here. And then she saw it, the images of what the riderless dragons were doing on the ground. They were rescuing those dragonless people who lived in the wilds around their Weyr. It seemed like an eternity had passed, the sun was near its zenith as dragons and riders finally began to return to the Weyr's. "Whose Queen was injured?" asked D'ven with deep concern. "Romnorth was injured trying to reach Garth and N'rissa. She and two other Queens have clutches hardening in their hatching grounds," stated Sorkana. "She's pretty small for a Queen old enough to Rise," pointed out K'lar. "She and the two like her were clutched by a Green," stated Zinda with a smile. "Now we know how large Vitath will become." Master Nolly had taken over the job of slathering her with Numb Weed, humming the teaching ballads and other Dragon Rider songs as she worked. The journeyman harpers under her were helping to tend the other riderless dragons that had come here. As the Weyr Leaders approached, Nolly turned to greet them. "There are more injured at their Weyr. Rita is gathering supplies for us to take with us," she said as the Head Woman approached carrying sacks of Numb Weed pots and Fellis Juice. "You are to ride Parth," Nolly gestured toward a Brown with only minor injuries that Rita had tended, as she herself gently climbed into place atop the little queen. "Gandur is the Weyr Harper until we return." Suddenly, Sorkana realized that the group of Harpers were all being mounted on Riderless Dragons of varying colors. "Are you bonded now?" asked Zinda. "As close as we can be without the Hatching Impression," stated Nolly. "Please Have someone bring Master Shozin when she arrives." Gayleth bugled a command, then three Bronzes moved to guard the entrance to the Hatching grounds. "I guess this means we are going along with you," Sorkana chuckled. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Of the nearly two hundred wild dragons at the Wild Weyr, eighty-nine were left. Of the seventeen bonded wilds, two were seriously injured, Garth and N'rissa were the most severe. Aside from Rita, only Harpers had been accepted as riders by the Wilds noted the Weyr Leaders and riders as they ferried in others to help tend the injured at this new Weyr. Master Weyr Harper and rider of Bronze Kindith, Z'kiel from Benden soon arrived ferrying Master Shozin. Sorkana didn't miss the way Nolly rushed to his side to be hugged in greeting. Sorkana and the other Weyr Leaders moved about helping here and there, then moved to the Hatching Grounds after ensuring that everything was being done that could be done. "With the number of clutches, we have here and on Pern, there is no way that we have enough candidates to accommodate these clutches," observed Anka of Benden Weyr. She had seen the few who had been rescued by the wild dragons, obviously these were those few who were suitable for Impression. "We need more candidates, but where to find them?" "Excuse me," interrupted Nolly as she stepped away from Romnorth where she lay curled about her clutch. "Romnorth has a suggestion for her Weyr." Sorkana began to chuckle as she turned toward Shozin, "How many Journeyman Harpers do you have awaiting an assignment to a Hold or Craft Hall?" "You can't be serious?" gasped Faynella of Ista as she realized what was being suggested. "They know the lore, the ballads as well the teaching methods of fighting thread that many Holders have either forgotten or just didn't feel were important anymore, and they are not afraid of flying between," pointed out Sorkana. "A Harper Weyr?" ask the other Weyr Leaders. "Why not? Aside from Dragon Riders, Harpers are the most important part of our Histories," stated D'ven in support of Sorkana's suggestion. "Besides, you see how readily the wilds here have accepted them." There was more talk but finally everyone agreed it was up to the two newly established Weyr's here to dictate how this planet would be settled. "On another note," interrupted Zinda. "That object headed this way began slowing down as it entered our system. It will be passing here in two days' time. It is indeed a ship like the Yokohama." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Harper Hall, Fort Hold: Master Harper Shozin stood before the sixty-seven gathered Harpers, Journeymen and Senior Apprentices. As they had filed into the main meeting hall, each had passed between the double file of dragons. Very few had been excused from meeting. Those now at the tables were beyond curious what was going on, they knew that the Masters had been to Between, that Thread had begun to fall there. As Shozin stood up, the hall fell silent. "As each of you entered, you passed through the gathered dragons. Dragons, who are here to take you to Between and to the Harper Weyr, where three clutches lay hardening ready to hatch within the next few weeks. I will let Weyr Leader Z'kiel explain what you need to take with you. Anyone who wishes to decline the opportunity to Impress their own Dragon, may do so at this time by leaving." She sat down as Z'kiel stood up. "Those of you who already have riding gear because you have been on messenger duty please bring it, those who do not will be given flying gear when you return here in half an hour. Remember that you are going by dragon and pack accordingly." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Longbow, Pern/Pern Alpha orbital path: "Talk to me Ensign Tillek, tell me what you see, what is happening?" the captain requested of the long range shuttle that had been launched ahead of the ship to observe the first thread fall onto the planet, Pern Alpha. "My god, they're breathing fire. Flaming the thread as it falls, but not all, of the dragons, sir. I had no idea there were that many here," she reported from her position in orbit. "Some have disappeared and not returned, all of those flaming just wink out and back in to flame some more." "Look Ma'am," there was a look of horror as they watched a dragon hovering above a young child running toward some rocks was covered in a clump of thread. What was left of the dragon disappeared taking the clump with it as the child scrambled into the sparse shelter of the rock formation. The dragon had clearly sacrificed itself to save the child. "Longbow, we have to do something," Morgan pleaded for permission to enter the atmosphere. They were streaming the live footage of the first fall of thread onto the planet below. "We cannot interfere," stated the Captain flatly, she could tell by his voice that he was forcing himself to stay detached. And then the other dragons arrived, flames belching out to sear the thread from the sky before it could reach the ground. Fewer dragons were severely injured now. But still they were getting scored by thread, it had been over three hundred years since Dragons had fought thread. Techniques and strategies had to be relearned as well taught. "Look, there they are, the Queens," there were three wings of Queens, seven to each wing. "Why aren't they flaming? Oh, why are they using flame throwers instead of breathing fire like the rest?" "Look, there are some of those Greens that are using flame throwers too," pointed out someone else. They watched a wing of dragons drop down well below the fall. Suddenly there were Blues above them, loosing sacks of fire stone to be caught by the other riders. Those dragons swept their wings regaining altitude, then the riders released the empty sacks to be caught by the blue riders. The blue riders darted in here and there the dragons flaming at thread closer to the level of the queens, before winking out. Moments later the same blues appeared above the Weyr, quickly landing to be reloaded with sacks of fire stone and offload the empty sacks. "Did you notice, every time one of those dragons gets caught by thread it disappears then reappears again without the thread?" "Yes, but you can see where it touched. Those dragons have to be in pain, just look at some of those wounds." "The riders are getting scored too, look at the views from the Weyr." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Western Weyr, After the Fall; "How is she?" asked Sorkana as she entered the weyr where they had taken N'rissa after she and Garth had been treated. The Dragon lay sleeping fitfully in the outer weyr. "Mostly her left arm and upper back. That riding jacket she was wearing really helped," commented Sarah, the junior head woman under Rita. "It was woven with Shell fragments." "You mean from Dragon eggs?" "Look," she was shown the remnants of the jacket as she sat on the edge of the padded stone bed. Sorkana caressed her hair where she lay on her side. "I gave her Fellis to help her sleep, it was the only way we could get that dragon to settle down," advised Sarah. "She can't be more than ten turns, if that." "Well, we will have a few weeks to get to know her, to let her know that we aren't going to hurt her," stated Sorkana. "Garth won't be able to fly for at least a month, maybe longer." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Can you believe it? all of us getting a chance to impress a dragon, to form a Weyr of Dragon Riding Harpers?" Minna gushed to her roommate Tanga. The two were hurriedly packing clothes, small mementos and songs they had written. Minna carefully wrapped her pipes in a skirt, then added her tambourine. Tanga, had her flute, pipes and her finger cymbals. Everything they were taking was packed in an overstuffed carry sak each. They emerged into the courtyard where the dragons were being loaded. "I never dreamed," began Minna as she stood beside the Bronze shrugging into the Weyrhide jacket that was a Winter Solstice gift from her mother. "That I might have a chance like this." "I think it is more than just a chance," stated T'var, the rider from High Reaches. "From what I saw on Between, the wilds prefer Harpers. Those at the Western Weyr all chose a Harper." "Wild Dragons, fully grown and everything?" questioned Tanga. "Master Nolly is now bonded to the Weyr's Leading Queen Romnorth. Hers will be the first clutch to hatch," he stated. Already dragons were taking flight, many with two or three passengers. Minna felt her heart begin to race as Jarreth swept his wings gaining altitude. 'Now we go,' she heard the dragon as she was enveloped in blackness. Black, Blacker, Blackest, she remembered the teaching ballads descriptions of being between. Cold, Colder, Coldest, and then she was bathed in light again, warm air rushing around her. there had been no feeling, nothing at all, not Jarreth, not T'var or even Tanga. But now she reveled in the feeling, the knowledge that she had gone between. Then she chuckled to herself, she had gone between to Between. The land below was rich with vegetation marred here and there where thread had gotten through before the Weyr's had arrived from Pern. The air crisp with new scents, and sounds. And then they were descending, the open mouth of the Weyr looming closer. Injured dragons lay slumbering around most where they had come to land. People were moving among them, caring for them. She knew that most had been brought here for that purpose. She also knew they would be returning to their own Weyr's as soon as soon as there were more people here to call this one home. And then she saw the first of the native inhabitants, not even teens yet. Where were the adults? The teens? The other Weyr Folk? 'The adults perished in the beginning of the First Fall. They had no fire stone for their dragons, no training,' stated Jarreth sadly. "Master Nolly will explain everything we know," assured T'var as Jarreth back swept his wings to land near a large cavern with cooking fires going. Dragons were bringing in wild livestock to feed the convalescing dragons, and to create a herd for the feeding of those still too young to fly as well those who would soon hatch. After dismounting she began to look around, this place was huge, and it was all theirs. Then Master Nolly was calling them all together. "I know that most of you are as new to this as I am. There are some here, much younger than you are, who have grown up here. They will still maintain their personal Weyr's, they were here first after all. Master Z'kiel is the Weyr Leader, and those of us with adult dragons will be taking the upper Weyr's with the exception of the three current Queens. Any other open Weyr is up for grabs. Z'kiel?" "Thank you," he stepped forward. "Everyone grab some Klah and food, then find yourself a Weyr. After you are settled, we'll draw up work details to begin the needed improvements. You will be divided into groups. Half of your day will be spent improving our weyr, the other half will be spent learning to be a Dragon Rider." He paused a moment. "I want everyone to remember, respect the riders who were here first. They may be younger than you, but they grew up here," his eyes wandered over everyone. "They also fought in the first Thread Fall. The deserve respect of the highest regard. For now, just relax and if you need anything R'ta will help you get it." Nolly chuckled, "If you are a girl, and you impress a male dragon, your name will change, like head woman Rita who is now Brown Parth's rider, R'ta and another rider who was injured and now at Western, N'rissa." Being Harpers, they knew that if the Masters were mentioning it, specifically the names, it was important. On Pern, female Dragon Riders always maintained their full name, so why was it different here? The dragons were descended of the Pern Dragons. The Klah was good, it hit the spot along with what ever it was in the stew. Now carrying her carry sak, she began the trek to find a suitable weyr for herself among those on the ground level. If they were going to be impressing new hatchlings, they would need one low down to start off with. How long would it be before they were allowed, to move to the upper Weyr? "This way," someone called in Harper fashion. Looking to her right she saw Master Z'kiel motioning to her. she hurried along to meet him. "You may as well take this one Minna, we'll put Tanga over here," he instructed. The cave was not large enough for a fully-grown dragon, but then she realized, the wild Queens they had seen briefly, were the size of a fully grown Pernese Green, maybe a bit larger. "Once we have everyone settled, we'll have the Miners begin the maintenance tunnels for the water piping for your bathing pools and the bad weather access. This will be the first hatchings Weyrling barracks," he commented. "Your dragon will be housed in the front portion, you can work on the back to fill your personal needs. Don't worry about your dragons, they'll make their own adjustments for their comfort." There were about twenty of the little caves in a group. Not far away was another group being told the same thing, they were being split up into hatching groups. She picked up a pair of glow baskets from the pile and started inside. Stepping into the first and pacing to the back she saw it was large enough inside to house three hatchlings, and there were three smaller caverns that branched out at the back. 'Well, it's just me for now,' she told herself and opened the second glow to look, into the other smaller caverns. 'by the first egg, the smallest of the three caverns was bigger than the room she had shared with Tanga at the Harper Hall.' The walls were ringed with small ledges and holes. Already a natural shelf of rock about two feet off the floor was large enough to turn into a bed. She would need bedding, blankets and rushes to pad the surface. "H, Hi," she turned at the sound of the soft, young voice. "I'm Br'tina, I wanted to meet you." "Hi Br'tina, I'm Minna. Are you one of the riders who was born here?" she asked in surprise. This young girl couldn't be more than maybe, nine turns old. "Yes, Barreth and I have been together for almost three full turns," she answered. They talked as Minna began unpacking her belongings. As Minna set out her scrolls of music she noticed Br'tina looking at them longingly. "Do you like music?" she opened one out. "w, what does it say?" the girl blushed. "Holders tithe and crafter toil." "Dragon flame to protect the soil." "Honor the Dragons, flying in Masses." "They keep us safe when the Red Star Passes." She had read the first few lines of the teaching ballad, then realized that this girl couldn't read the words. "Could, could you teach me to read? I would like to be able to read the tablets left by the older riders. The ones that we are descended from," said the girl. "You were never taught to read?" she was shocked. "Only C'rril and N'rissa were taught to read before Vondra passed. She was the old one who was teaching us to read. But they didn't get a chance to teach the rest of us. Now C'rril is injured and they told us that N'rissa is injured and being cared for at the place where the Star Stones are. She was sent there by Vondra to check the Red Stars position. When she reported seeing the other riders, the two with the big Golds and all of the others, Vondra got excited and then she went between on Sorveth and the other dragons cried in pain at their passing." "There are record tablets here? Records of this Weyr?" Minna asked barely able to contain her excitement. "Can you show me where they are? And yes, I promise I will teach you to read, if you will help teach me to ride and care for my dragon when I impress one." The younger girl responded by gripping her forearm, "Deal." Then grabbed her hand leading her outside and across the bowl. Already it the sky was darkening. As they passed the cooking fires, Minna encouraged her to grab a hunk of bread and a cup of Klah, then grabbed up two glow baskets before continuing. "Greetings, Romnorth," the girl greeted the eldest Queen as they entered the hatching grounds. "And where are you two off to?" asked Master Nolly from where she stood oiling a scaly patch along Romnorth's neck. "Br'tina is taking me to see the Weyr's records," answered Minna. "She has promised to teach me to read if I teach her to fly her dragon," answered the younger girl. Then she got a contemplative look in her eyes. "Are you sure Romnorth, I would not dream of doing something wrong." Then she took Minna's hand and led her to the clutch. The Queen used her nose to move one egg slightly out from the others. "You are to touch it, to talk to it each day, so that she will know your voice when she hatches," instructed the younger girl. Excited and almost afraid, Minna lay one hand upon the hardened shell. It was warm and smooth, a soft vibration like the beat of some huge heart pulsed through the palm of her hand. A feeling of great joy rippled through her. "I am here, I will always care for you, give my life and my love to you," she said not realizing there were silent tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. 'We will fly together, be together always.' "Can you teach me to sing like that too?" asked Br'tina when she had stepped away from the egg. Minna blushed, embarrassed. She hadn't realized that she had sung the lullaby out loud. She nodded yes, then remembered the reason they had come here. "You were going to show me the records," she reminded the younger girl. Followed by Master Nolly, Br'tina led the way deep into the passageways beyond the hatching cavern to a series of small rooms filled with tablets carefully stacked. The records were valuable, documenting the growth and changes. The loss of nearly all the first hatchings as the young fought, many going between unbonded, never to be seen again. The illnesses that took the lives of riders and the few who chose not to ride that lived outside the Weyr. The doubts that their ancestors had set the Star Stones correctly, but the dedication of the riders to always have someone there check after the old ones had all passed on. "Nolly, are you in here?" she heard Z'kiel calling softly so he wouldn't create an echo. "Minna, go bring him here, this is a very important find." She caressed Br'tina's cheek, "Thank you for showing it to us. And yes, we will help to teach you and the others to read and to write." She had noticed in the records she had skimmed over that the young riders had been cautioned to avoid contact with older riders they did not know. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Longbow shuttle Stephine: "Matching speed and vector, initiating Docking sequence with the Yokohama," reported the pilot. "Sir, there are people onboard, and some of those dragons." "Roger, boarding party, no weapons. We are here to make peaceful contact. And I don't want any mishaps or misunderstandings," ordered Lt Benden. "Chaing, you are with me, we will make the initial contact and show them how to use the interstellar communications." The hatch opened into the airlock just aft of the bridge. "Lt Phillip Bended of the FSP Research Vessel, Longbow, Permission to come aboard?" he recognized two of the people who now stood before him as Leaders as well as Dragon Riders. "Please," Zinda said as she stepped back. He looked at K'lar a moment then stepped forward into the passageway. "I must ask you Lieutenant, why are you here? And what is the intention of your ship and the FSP." "We were dispatched to investigate certain phenomenon as well as to see if Pern has recovered from the Oort Clouds attacks now that the Rogue planet has been diverted from its hazardous orbit." "And to see others can come here and colonize it?" asked Zinda. "Originally, we were to investigate if Pern Alpha could be colonized," he admitted. "Pern Alpha, you mean Between?" interrupted K'lar. "Yes, if you mean Pern's sister planet which is in the same orbital path around Rukbat." "I'm sorry, the Planet Between is being colonized by us and is under our protection. And yes, they are going by the Colony Charter of the original colonists." He looked no to the woman speaking. "I am Master Harper Shozin, Master Harper of the Planet. Are you by chance a relative of the late Commander Paul Benden who was a leader of the original settlers?" "Yes, Distantly. As is Captain Tillek of the Longbow," he answered. "Then he would know how to communicate with Dolphins?" asked another person. "Sorry, I'm Geordan, Master Dolphineer of the Dolphineer Hall." "Then we are compatriots," grinned Lt Benden. "I have some very anxious Dolphins, ready to make contact with those who are here." After a minute he asked another question, "Did they ever activate and introduce the fertilized Whale embryos they brought with them?" "All we know of Whales are what we have learned from the Tillek," answered Geordan. "The Tillek?" "The oldest and wisest of the Dolphins, their Leader if you will," stated Geordan. "She has told us of how your people, our ancestors, poisoned the Earth and other planets they settled. How nothing lives in the oceans of the home world." "That is not our intentions, I assure you," stated Lt Benden. "Dita is anxious to converse with her your Dolphins here. And as you know, Dolphins do not lie, your Tillek would know if we meant any harm." The new comers were a bit uneasy as they walked past the dragons aboard the ship that was now more of a space station. Having offered to show them how to open communications with the Longbow, the Comm tech was shown to the array. "Yokohama to Longbow, do you copy?" "Longbow copies you Yokohama, is there a planetary leader there with you Lt Benden?" "We are here," they answered as the communications view screen finally warmed up. "I am Master Harper Shozin, this is Weyr Leader K'lar and Weyr Woman Zinda of Landing Weyr. How may we be of assistance?" "We were dispatched to determine if Pern and or Pern Alpha are habitable, and if a new colony could survive. But obviously, the reports that the first colony was wiped out are false, I am happy to learn," stated Captain Jeffery Tillek. "And you would like to land people on the surface to study and record events to include in your reports to the FSP?" it wasn't really a question. "With your permission, of course. We also brought a pair of hopeful immigrants," he stated. "You understand anyone who chooses to live here permanently or temporarily must adhere to the Charter. That includes, Between, which I understand you are calling Pern Alpha." "These immigrants, are Humpback whales and unable to sign the Charter. I am sure though, that they will agree to anything that your, anything that the Tillek wishes," he stated. They only wish a safe unpolluted world to live in." "Then they will be welcomed I am sure, by the Tillek. She governs those who live in the sea," stated Geordan. They sat and held a conference with the Captain, more Weyr Leaders and Master Crafters joining in as it continued. About three hours later K'lar stood up. "I would love to continue these discussions, but we have Thread Fall in about four hours on Between and we have get our Wings prepared." "We would like to watch, to have first hand knowledge of how your dragons fight thread," offered the Captain. "Our shuttles are also capable of carrying much more weight than a dragon." "How much can they transport?" asked Zinda. "Approximately two tons each," Answered Lt Benden. "We could pick it up and have it there in about six hours pushing full thrust all the way." "The average dragon by itself can move approximately one ton from anywhere on Pern and deliver it to any reference point on Between in about fifteen heartbeats," she stated. "But our biggest concern is the safety of your people and that they would get in the way of the dragons. They can observe but they are not to be in the air," there was no room left to for him to argue or bargain. "I will have Ensign Tillek, make contact with the Western Weyr on Per, on Between," he corrected himself. "I gather she should talk with Weyr Woman Sorkana?" "You seem to know an awful lot about us already," Shozin observed. "On the contrary, we have been listening to the communications between the Yokohama and the Observatories and with the AIVIS facility. We have been sending messages to you for nearly three years, but got no reply. We had no idea that no one had the Interstellar Communications codes, so we came to investigate the deflection of large special bodies." "The dragons did that, but if you want to know how, you'll have to wait until after we deal with this Fall," Zinda turned and strode to Lilith. As the crouched, she jumped aboard, then Lilith started to open her wings as she straightened up and she was just gone. The other riders following suit. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Between, second Fall; Dragons had been arriving all morning, transporting huge loads of Fire Stone to the three Weyr's. Now they were gathering around the rim waiting the call from the sweep riders. They would need three Falls to be able to predict the locations and patterns of the falls. It was knowing the fall Patterns that let the dragons which way to jump to avoid being scored. They had spent the last five days studying and practicing for the known patterns documented by the riders during the passes on Pern. But then again, this was a new planet, nothing said that thread had to follow the same old patterns. Sorkana remembered mention of times when the Thread patterns had been interrupted, unpredictable. They'd lost dragons and riders until they could learn the new pattern's or they return to normal. The warm breath on the back of her left ear sent chills of excitement coursing through her. "Are you paying attention to the fall charts?" she asked. 'Or are you going to nibble her ears again,' asked Gayleth. Their playful, prefill game was interrupted by the watch dragon. "Something falls from the sky!" he bugled to the Weyr. "It changes directions." Obviously, the watch dragon was trying to deflect it. "It is a shuttle, let it land," directed D'ven. "I saw the one that docked with the Yoko." Sorkana felt a pang of jealousy, but it only lasted a split second. She hadn't been there because she wanted to be near Gayleth. "The person in charge is related to Jim Tillek, the first Dolphineer of Pern. This shuttle is commanded by his daughter," commented D'ven. "Is she pretty?" "Huh, how should I know? Besides, I already have the prettiest woman on the planet," he said wrapping his arms around her middle, pulling her into a hug as they watched the landing. It came in slowly, then a few feet off the ground it drifted sideways until it was at a little clear space that was always, unused by anyone. A door opened in the side and a young redheaded woman jumped out looking around, then hurried over to Sorkana. "Weyr Woman Sorkana, I am Ensign Morgan Tillek. Is the shuttle out of the way where it is?" she asked. "Ahh, Weyr Leader, good to see you again," she smiled a bit too friendly at D'ven. Sorkana's elbow jabbed backward into his ribs, "I thought you never met her." "Whoa," Morgan held up her hands. "I recognized him from the video footage, the same way I recognized you." "Oh," she blushed. "D'ven are your ribs ok? Will you be able to fly?" "I'm fine love," he answered. "Oh, I guess the relationship between Weyr Leaders is closer than we thought," Morgan stated. "We thought they were chosen by which ever Bronze dragon mated with the Senior Queen." "It is, but then again, a Queen usually follows the heart of her rider," stated D'ven. Then he kissed the back of Sorkana's neck. "I am so happy that you are letting me be here to see how the Weyr works during a Fall," stated Morgan. "It was fascinating, seeing how the dragons dealt with the Thread. And your sweep riders are in the right place to report it, we flew well around it just before we entered the atmosphere." "You flew past it?" they both gasped. "Yes, it looked like it was going to fall in a north westerly pattern, all spread out," stated the pilot of a second shuttle as he joined them. "Your sweep riders should be reporting the leading edge just about now. We got some really nice footage as we passed through it." Already the watch dragon was alerting the wings, thread was falling. The wings were rising, already loaded with fire stone. 'B'tim is trying to find the pattern,' reported Gayleth. 'It is falling in every direction at once, he can't,' she stopped her report. Then threw her head up and back, her mournful bugle matched by the rest of the Weyr. "W, what's happening?" asked Morgan. "B'tim and Stareth are no more. They couldn't get out from under it because it was all stirred up, falling out of pattern, they panicked." there were tears running down her cheeks. "I thought they could just jump out of the way like they did during the last fall," stated the pilot. "That dragon and Rider would have been fine if something hadn't stirred up the thread as it was entering the atmosphere. I warned you not to fly through that stream," Morgan was furious. "Those deaths, and any others today are on your head. Mr Finney, place Pilot Anders under arrest, my authority." She touched a pin on her lapel, "Captain, Mr Finney flew through the stream. He stirred it up after he was warned to fly around it, that action has already resulted in the death of a dragon and rider. Order the other shuttles back to the ship." "When are you coming home?" "Dad, I will not fly a shuttle as long as there is a chance that we might interfere with the dragons. We and our medics are going to be busy helping treat the injured as a result, of this incident." "I, I didn't know, I didn't think it would hurt anything," protested the pilot. "The wings fly in stacked formations according to the predicted fall pattern. The reason they always try to meet it at the leading edge, so they can gauge the pattern," she stated as if it should be obvious to everyone. Already there were injured dragons and riders arriving, weyr folk scrambled with numb weed to slather the wounds. But the dragons and riders refused to stay, insisting on returning. Morgan followed Sorkana as she went from one to the next, clearing them to return to the fight. S'tor leaned heavily against the shoulder of Warrenth both badly scored. He was fighting to stay upright. "You are done flying until those heal," stated Sorkana. "I can't, D'ven needs me up there," he protested. He was struggling to climb back up onto the dragon. "Gayleth, they stay," she directed her queen who commanded the Bronze. "V'trel will fly in your place, you won't lose your standing as Wing second." Most of the injuries were to wilds, without riders. And then she was alerted by Gayleth as she launched from in front of her hatching ground. 'R'ta comes, she needs help.' Everyone looked skyward as dragons lept upward, winking out. Then just as suddenly they were there, their bodies breaking the fall of a huge Brown, finally Gayleth caught him as a Blue caught his rider to bring them to a landing. The dragon was a raw bloody mess, his rider writhing in just as much pain. The only place not scored by thread was where the rider had lay hunched over, clinging for life. The dragon had lost the sail from over three quarters of his right wing, and more than half of his left. The rider was in such pain and bad shape, his bones were showing through his back. Sorkana made the hardest decision of her life. The rider would not live, and without the rider, the dragon would go between. Already he was being given Fellis for the pain, his hand reaching toward his dragon. "Help me get him back up," she directed. No one moved for a moment and then Morgan stepped up to his other side. "What are you doing?" she asked as she helped, thinking that she understood. "I am giving them Mercy," Sorkana confirmed. No sooner was he in place and the two had stepped back, before the Bronze spread what was left of his wings and tried to leap into the sky. They went between before his rear claws could leave the ground. "Sorkana," she turned toward R'ta. "D'ven says the way this is falling is nearly the same as the records of the shifting falls from the last pass, if that means anything to you." "They have to fight it from above, not below," she said. "Gayleth tell everyone." The fall only lasted four hours before it was out over the sea. The surface alive with fish schooling to feed on the dead thread in the water. Sweep riders were assigned to search for any that had been missed. When D'ven landed she ran into his arms, burying her head against his chest. "You did the right thing, Tr'sel was beyond help. And no dragon wants to live flightless." Garth hobbled over to them beside Gayleth, 'He saved Norelith.' They saw in his mind the golden queen, only six months into her flying, as she tried to help direct the wilds. They moved among the injured, helping to treat the thread scores. Supporting dragon wings as the torn sails were stitched and slathered with numb weed. Finally, near exhaustion, someone pressed a cup of Klah into one hand and a meat roll into the other. "Thank you, N'rissa. How are you feeling today?" she asked the young rider. "Better than yesterday," was the answer. "I, I saw what you did for that pair. It was the only choice, the right choice." And then she hugged her hard. They stood like that for a long moment before D'ven joined them carrying more Klah and meat rolls. "Can, can we stay here? I mean even after we are recovered?" she asked. "Of course, you can, you are welcome here," assured Sorkana. "Can I bring my sister too, I mean once Creadith learns to fly?" "She can come here," promised Sorkana. "we will ask Master Nolly and Z'kiel to look out for her." "They aren't in the Weyr, they're in the mountains, in a canyon with a cave. Garth and I took them there to keep them safe." She was looking now into the girl's eyes. "I had to, she, she's like you are, but she is probably scared. They might be out of food by now." "Ask Garth if he will let you ride with Sorkana on Gayleth, and we will go and bring them here," suggested D'ven. "How old is she, what is her name?" Sorkana asked. "S, seven." Everyone looked at her in shock. "Mother used to tell her stories about the first Queen Faranth, and she used to run around pretending that she was flying. Old Gr'ther told her she would be better suited to pretend she was Sean instead of Sorka," she blushed. "Then she was told that it was wrong to use the name of the first Queen Rider, so she says her name is Sorki now," she blushed "And Creadith is a Queen," surmised Sorkana. "D'ven, get supplies and a carry sling. If she will let us, we will bring her here. How old is Creadith?" "H, half a turn," answered N'rissa. 'And you thought you would never have children,' Gayleth thought to her, feeling the maternal instincts of her Rider. "Riesha, Prith will guard the clutch while we are gone," Sorkana directed a green rider. "Would you like us to go along? We can carry a six-month-old dragon in the shuttle," offered Morgan. "No, you would probably frighten her into going between," snapped Sorkana. Half a wing followed them, and surprisingly it wasn't far from the Western Weyr. As she thought about it, she caught the images from Gayleth as Gayleth got them from Garth, of Garth carrying the barely three month- old Queen Between to this safe place. 'I itch, and I am hungry,' they heard the complaints of the little Queen before they arrived. "I am sure N'rissa will be here soon,' reassured the young girl. 'If you hadn't been so greedy those grazing beasts would have lasted. I just hope nothing has happened to them, she said last time that there were strange Dragon Riders at the First Weyr.' 'But I was starving. Besides I can already fly, I just can't carry you yet. I could hunt if those other dragons are not always overhead.' "Can you talk to Creadith, let her know that we are coming?" asked Sorkana as Gayleth finally located and began to descend toward the box canyon and the caves in the cliff. "Creadith, I come with friends," N'rissa spoke both in her mind and aloud. "We bring you a heard beast." 'Only one?' responded the little Queen. Sorkana almost chuckled at the little Queens complaint. 'If you can fly as you say, then you can fly to the Weyr to have your fill.' Answered Gayleth giving her assurance to fill her mind. 'And I will carry Sorki there so that she doesn't weigh you down.' It was near the middle of third watch when the watch dragon on duty reported the arrival. They 'd had to stop twice for the little Queen to rest, she had her pride and refused to be carried in a sling. On the other hand, she hadn't realized that the dragons around her had used their telekinetic ability to give her just the right amount of lift to get up and over the rim of the Weyr at its lowest point. She glided gracefully down into the bowl, directed by Gayleth to go ahead and feed. Everyone watched as she picked out a large herd beast, caught it in her foreclaws, then carried it to the side of the little lake to begin feeding. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Comm Tech, navigator and pilot sent to the Bahrain had been busy, they were reentering the new data that would automatically correct her stationary orbit. An orbit that had been slipping just a bit due to damaged solar panels used to power the global positioning computers. "Hey, look at this," called the Comm Tech. he'd been pulling the records of everything that had been transported to the surface, when he came across the listing of things left in Cryogenic Suspension. "I found the Whales, there are three calves, still in incubation suspension. Ready to be finish being grown upon their arrival. But why are they here?" "This was the livestock ship. Oh, look there are even Camel Embryos." There were all sorts of what had been considered Exotic livestock, including Elephants and Water Buffalo. "Well I know someone that will want these if the colonists don't. Manatees and Whales are extinct. The Humpbacks we have with us are the last two in existence." He sent a quick, personal message to Lt Benden notifying him of his find. Lt Benden was currently on the surface at a place called the Dolphin Hall. He showed the message to Geordan, who then consulted the Emi and Oma who were being groomed by the Tillek to take her place when her end time came. Dita and her pod had been brought down from the Longbow and introduced to the local Dolphins. She was now on her way to what the Dolphins called the Great Whirlpool. The home of the 'Tillek'. The young Dolphins, as a test of adulthood were required to navigate the Whirlpool. Dita and her pod were now being tested by the Tillek to determine if they indeed true Dolphins. Emi and Oma dived deep, sending the messages to the Tillek, now all they could do was wait for the answer. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Morgan wandered among the Weyr Folk, among the Dragons. Here was a unity stronger than any she had ever witnessed. They were more than just an organized group, they were a family. Just like any family, they had their problems. She had traveled to the other two Weyrs, she found the same things there. Witnessed the strength of the bond between rider and dragon. A dragon who lost his rider would go between, to null space to die. A rider who lost his dragon was lifeless, they cared nothing about living. She'd listened to the Harpers teaching the young, the teaching songs called ballads were not all about Dragons and riders. But the majority were, and she was beginning to understand why. Two hundred and fifty years was just long enough for people to forget how much they owed to the dragons and their riders who selflessly risked their own lives to protect the world. 'For when Thread begins to fall, Dragons and Riders must answer the Call.' That was the primary theme in every teaching ballad about Dragons and Riders. Now it made sense, the dragons were Bioengineered. They had had a genetic trigger introduced allowing them to sense thread, as well a genetic need to fight it. No able-bodied Dragon could ignore it, yes, a clutching Queen could, but that was a need to preserve the species. Often it took a command from a Queen, for an injured dragon to stay at the Weyr until it had healed. Or as in the past on Pern, when there were enough Dragons and Weyrs to cover a Fall, the dragons could sit waiting in case they were needed. But only if there were enough to handle a Fall. That was why, before a Pass, or when danger to the planet was perceived, Queens began increasing the numbers. And now, Dragons from the Sister Planet were now drawn to this one, to Fight the Thread. And the Riders, the riders willingly flew into danger knowing their dragons needed them to feed them the fire stone, help watch for danger, to keep track of the dragons around them. That was the reason why the Wild Dragons, without fire stone or riders had sacrificed themselves to protect the people on the ground. Why they had all risen, riderless to fight thread. It was locked into their DNA, inescapable. 'You understand, Woman from the stars,' she heard in her head. 'It was you M'gon, that I felt weeping as my wing sail was shredded.' "You hurt Lomanith," she picked up a nearby pot of numb weed and began slathering it on. 'You will never be alone again M'gon. I will always be with you,' promised Lomanith. Next, she found the oil, and began oiling the patches of dry skin. 'Will you teach me to Ride once you are healed?' 'Riding is easy, I will teach you how not to fall off,' answered Lomanith. Across the Weyr, Sorkana and D'ven sat on the ledge of the Queens weyr. N'rissa was busy oiling Garth's hide. Creadith lay sleeping just inside, and young Sorki was sleeping in D'ven's arms. "As much as I want to be angry with her for the chaos and injuries caused by that shuttle flying through the stream, I don't think I will be allowed," she said quietly to him. "She was just as angry with that second pilot as you were. Just look at how much she is giving of herself to care for the injured," pointed out D'ven. "She has not stopped trying to give aid and comfort since the Fall stopped." "Have you noticed, there is more there than just someone who feels guilty. I sense a bond forming," Stated Sorkana. "I know of two more that have already formed," he said. Sorkana slowly stood up, careful not to wake the girl. "I know two young riders who need some sleep. I'll put Sorki in bed if you get N'rissa settled." Just then N'rissa turned and looked up to them on the ledge, "Five more minutes Mom?" Sorkana gasped in startled surprise, "Alright, tell Garth he should come into the weyr, it looks like it might rain." "He likes the rain," answered the young girl. "Yes, but it will wash off the Numb Weed," pointed out D'ven. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dragons had been arriving all morning, preparing for the coming fall of Thread. The other two Weyr's were being built up as well, this would be the seventh fall and they were beginning to let more of the younger riders join in to take the strain off the older riders. But also there were dragons injured in the first fall who would be rejoining the wings. The Holds of Pern were sending people to help treat the injured as well to cook, fetch and carry supplies so the Blue Riders could continue flying the supplies. "Excuse me, Weyr Woman Sorkana. Can you tell me which wing to join?" she turned to find Ensign Morgan Tillek. "What makes you think you are going to be part of a wing?" she asked. "I have a Dragon, Lomanith says that he can fly," she practically pleaded. "Lomanith has never chewed Fire Stone, you have no fitted flying harness," pointed out D'ven. "Besides, Between, let alone Pern are neither one, your world." "It is now, I chose it when I was forced to sit in orbit and watch as Thread destroyed so many innocent lives." She took a breath, "And Lomanith has chosen me, we will fight today whether you want us to or not." "You will fly with the Blues," D'ven interrupted Sorkana's rejection. "Find C'rill, he will be your mentor. Once Lomanith learns to sustain a flame you will fly high cover for the resupply wing. M'gon, do not make me regret this decision." 'C'rill is a Brown Rider,' Lomanith informed her. "Thank you, you won't regret it," she grinned. 'Did he really think I would waste my time looking for a Blue Rider because he didn't tell me he was a Brown?' she thought to her Dragon. "M'gon, he needed to know how strong was the bond between you. Understand, you are being started in a position higher than the Weyrlings you are charged with protecting,' came the thoughts of Gayleth to both rider and dragon. "Learn from C'rill, Lomanith will learn from the other dragons." "Sorkana," she turned to find her mother and youngest brother there. "We brought supplies and I wanted to meet Gayleth," Keeve began. "Momma, I'm ready to join the supply wings." N'rissa interrupted. She saw the look in her mother and brother's eyes. "Mother, this is N'rissa." She reached behind her and guided another shy little girl in front of her, "And this is Sorki, D'ven and I have adopted them." "Are you sure that N'rissa has recovered enough to fly?" asked Lady Corra. She knelt before the two, remembering seeing her arrival at the Weyr during the first fall. "You are both so pretty." The girls blushed in response. "I must say, you are looking better than the last time I saw you," she kissed N'rissa's forehead. Looking up now Lady Corra said, "I'd be happy to keep an eye on Sorki and keep out of