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Sorkana's Rise, Training and Meeting Allies By: Malissa Madison Sorkana was looking over the latest supplies delivered from the Weyrs of Pern. Olinda was ticking everything off adding it to the list of stores as she directed where it was to go, calculated how much the items were worth so they could make proper restitution to those who had donated them. "What's this?" she asked of several crates sitting to the side. "Those were marked for R'nold," responded Olinda. "Something about training supplies for the Weyrlings." Opening the lid, she found a note. 'Sorkana, Remember these? I know this is no time for Weyr Games, but this, game is one we found at Fort. It was designed to train dragons and riders to fight thread between Passes. We thought now that Between has more Fire Stone, you would want your Weyrlings to be well trained. Cassia.' She remembered it was the combined Queens of all the Weyrs who flew as high as possible, then dropped the balls of Mock Thread to be flamed by the various dragons of each Weyr as they unraveled while falling. The dragons were allowed only one pass, and scored by how much reached the ground, or rather didn't reach the ground. She hadn't thought about the All Weyr Games, or the training that led up to them since arriving here. They had real 'Thread' falling from the skies to deal with. Heck they hadn't even had a game of Dragon Ball since coming here. Next to her M'gon made a mental note to share this new training method with her father, Maybe the engineers or scientists could devise something easier to use. Dragon Ball was more of a Weyrling sport, it taught them Wing discipline and coordination. The Weyrlings who had been assigned here from Pern needed something now besides resupply duty to help teach them those things. Sure, they had the drills, but those became predictable. The object of Dragon Ball was for two teams of three to score by passing the ball from one rider to the next, then get it through the other team's goal. The goal was a mounted ring only twice the diameter of the Ball. But as the skills progressed, the rings became smaller. But no matter how many rules they imposed for safety, there were always some riders that pushed the boundaries. Dragons and riders sometimes got injured, and sometimes they were lost. Which is why the team size was limited to three on each side. The injuries had stopped, except during a really heated competition. But at least no dragons and riders had been lost in over a year. Maybe it could be turned into a timed run of goals, competing one dragon at a time, passing off to the next at the goal like a relay race? 'We have visitors at the lower entrance,' Gayleth informed her. 'Jaysun has come to test our word, to find out if it is safe for the others to know us. Sorkana, I feel an urgent need.' 'Do you guarantee my safety here, Dragon Queen?' Gayleth projected the question for Sorkana and every dragon in the Weyr. 'No harm will come to you,' Gayleth answered as she gave him the image of the open space in front of her weyr. Jaysun insisted on being invited personally so Sorkana hurried to the lower entrance. Then led the young man and the three Wolves with him into the Weyr. "I came because there is great concern. Many people have come into the valleys in the south and begun to dig the blue green rock from the mountains," he informed her. "They are mining Fire Stone for the dragons," she said. "They eat it, and it mixes with the contents of their second stomach to produce a flaming gas. It is how they fight the Thread that falls from the sky," she explained honestly. She was leading them around on a tour of the Weyr, introducing him to various people as they made their way toward the Weyr Kitchens, the large sheltered area outside had a few injured Dragons from the previous Thread Falls. He seemed to be entranced by the care and affection being given to the dragons as their injuries were slathered with numb weed. Journeywoman Healer Dakoda was there and began explaining about some of the injuries and how they were treated. Not only the dragons but people and any other injured creature, herd beasts as well. "And you could use this to heal a wolf that was injured?" Jaysun asked. "Yes, but there are some injuries that are beyond our ability to heal," Dakoda answered honestly, her sad emotions registered on her face and in her thoughts. She saw the look of pained hope in his eyes. She took hold of his hand then in the other she picked up her emergency kit. "If you take me to them, I will do all that I can," she promised. "But the sooner we can begin the treatments, the better the results will be." He looked at the others around them, then nodded to one of the Wolves. "We are going to the Den," he announced as he took hold of her hand again and stepped toward the wolf. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wolfs Den; It was just like when she'd come to Between, darker than any night, colder than any winter and she felt nothing, not even his hand. And then before she had a chance to panic, there was light filtering through tall trees, a warm breeze wafting gently over her exposed skin. She saw the young wolf laying in front of a den shiver from the cold breeze that had dissipated around them at their arrival. She could hear the whimpers of pain from just inside the cave. Inside she found the Alpha Female, her right hind-quarter ravaged by thread score and the beginnings of infection. She was surprised that the Wolf was still alive. Everything she had read about wolves from the AIVIS archives, and her knowledge of the few wild wolves on Pern told her they would kill one of their own rather than allow them to suffer. But how was she going to treat this wolf? And how far had the infection already spread? She couldn't move her, the jump between would kill her. Carefully she began her examination, luckily, she had premixed Fellis juice in her bag, and lots of Numb Weed. She knew that the Fellis in the bottle was too strong, she poured some into an empty bottle then diluted it with an equal amount of water. Now the problem was to get it into the old girl. She used her notebook, tearing out a blank page and twisting it into a funnel. "I hope you can understand, I am here to help you, if I can." She gently lifted her head onto her thigh, her hand cupped under the side of her jaws as she guided it into place. Next, she put the funnel between the wolfs jaws at the back and angled, hopefully to get the Fellis into her throat. She dribbled it, a little at a time, rewarded by the wolfs instinct to swallow. Her tongue was dry, she was dehydrated from laying there panting. Gently she alternated between administering the Fellis and applying Numb Weed around the edges of the wound. Finally, the shewolf fell into a relaxed sleep. She hurried to use her knife to begin scraping away the dirt and puss. Using warmed clean water, she began bathing the wound to determine the extent of the infection. "I need you to boil some water," she directed Jaysun as she put her cleaning rags into a nearby pot. "I need those rags to be sterile." She continued to hurry as she carefully began cutting away the infected portions of flesh, her fingers slathering Numb Weed over the fresh wounds to help clot the bleeding. She had no way to know how far the infection had penetrated into the rest of the body. When it was finally cleaned out, she began the job of making the salve. Carefully she mixed the precious mold spores with a mixture of mud from under a layer of decaying leaves outside. She only hoped they were the right leaves. A crowd of wolves and young people had gathered now, watching her every move. Carefully, she applied the poultice over the wound, then began wrapping the still hot, boiled rags around her hip and leg. The shewolf whimpered and jerked then fell still. Hurriedly she placed her ear over her chest, there was no heartbeat, the ribs remained still, no breathing. Jumping over her she lay down and wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her chest tight, five times, then wrapped her hands around her muzzle and covered her nose with her mouth and blew, forcing air into her lungs. She repeated the process nine times, as everyone looked at her in shock, finally the shewolf kicked her legs and struggled. She let go, carefully massaging her chest. "You scared me there Chika, I thought I'd lost you," she panted herself, from the exhaustion of her efforts. Looking around, she realized those around her had been ready to attack, thinking she was hurting Chika. "You, you saved her. She was running the other side, but you brought her back," announced Jaysun. "She owes you a life debt now." "She isn't out of the woods yet. I need more medicine, I must get the infection under control. And I don't have enough to treat the others," she told Jaysun. "I need other healers here too." There were several more wolves and people here who had injuries, but Chika had been the most critical. She was busy writing on a page in her notebook. Then she tore it out and rolled it into a scroll and handed it to Jaysun. "Take this to the Weyr, to Master Tollbar. He will know what I need here," she said. "Hurry, the sooner everyone gets treated the better." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Western Weyr; Shadow had been questioned, she had no idea where Jaysun had gone with Dakoda. The Weyr was in a panic, one of their healers had been taken away without warning. The Riders wanted to mount an aerial search with low level sweeps. The upper heights were lined with Dragons and Riders just waiting for directions. "Now is not the time to panic," insisted Sorkana. "Tell me again, exactly what was said before they went between." "Dakoda told him, 'If you take me to them, I will do all that I can, but the sooner we can begin the treatments, the better the results will be," answered Karla, a Healers Apprentice. "And then Jaysun grabbed her hand and said, 'We are going to the Den." It had already been three hours since they had disappeared, and no one had heard anything. Shadow had no idea where the Den was Located, it had been moved since she had last been there. Sorkana had just started to go to the Weyr Kitchens when the puff of cold air from between wafted out through the Healers lean to. "Master Tollbar," began Jaysun as he extended the scrolled message. "I am to give you this." Before anyone else could say anything, Sorkana commanded, "Silence, let him speak." She crossed to where Tollbar was looking over the message. "Jerzy, I need Worm Wood powder, Numb Weed, Fellis Juice, and if they have it, Antibiotics from the Shuttle. Weyr Woman, I haven't time to dicker, there is a Shewolf that is very critical, and many more that need healing." He turned to Jaysun, "Can you give someone the location, so they can bring more help and food for everyone?" "Shadow," he placed her hand on the wolf next to him. "Thank you," she had tears in her eyes. In the brief contact she knew everything that had happened. She knew that it was the Eldest Shewolf, Chika, who still might die if she didn't get more treatment. "We will come with more help and supplies," promised V'gil. Grabbing up a bundle of supplies now Sorkana handed them to Tollbar. "Gayleth and I will be there as soon as we can gather the rest," she promised. "The Wolf People are our Allies." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wolfs Den; Tollbar had checked on Chika and Dakoda, then began treating the others after telling Dakoda to rest. He was on his third patient when the Dragons arrived carrying others as well as needed supplies. Fresh killed herd beasts had been brought to feed the hungry wolves and their companions. A pot was started with a thick broth to feed Chika when she next awakened. It didn't escape Sorkana's notice that Dakoda sat resting with the Shewolf's head in her lap. Gayleth gave her the images of the CPR that Dakoda had performed to save the wolf when her heart had stopped. 'Yes, they react the same way we dragons do when one is lost,' Gayleth answered the unspoken question. "Jaysun, it is nearing the time of our meeting with Snow," she reminded him. "The rest will stay here to help with the healing while we are gone." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pern, Northern Reaches, Way Station Cot Hold; The way station consisted of five stone buildings and a small hold carved out of the side of the pass along the Northern Reaches Road. The road stretched between remote holds and mines, and everyone knew that it was used by holdless and sometimes bandits running from authorities. Lotti was only nine turns when her parents had left her at the kitchen doors of the cot hold. She hadn't understood then what she could have done wrong to be abandoned. The head woman had taken her in and then after a good hot bath, had discovered her malady, she was born with both male and female parts. It hadn't mattered to either the head woman or to the old Cot Holder, a warm body to help work the kitchens and clean the rooms was welcome. Now ten turns later there was a new Cot Holder and Head Woman. It had happened when she had been sent with a group to forage for wild herbs, greens and tubers, bandits had attacked the Cot Hold. The new Cot Holder, while tolerant of her, passed her out to whoever wanted a bed warmer. While she wasn't any longer a stranger to sex, she knew from only the few special experiences that it could be something wonderful. The problem was, few of the men who wanted to use her cared for her feelings. She knew the new Cot Holder was dealing with the bandits, but at least she had a place to sleep and food in her stomach. She had tried to talk her way into joining one of the Holdless communities hidden in the mountains, but they always told her to stay where she had food and shelter. They weren't refusing her, but they knew if they took her in the Cot Holder would come after her. She always found ways to sneak them supplies whenever she could. Returning from the beast hold she was startled to find a pair of dragons landing in front of the cot hold. She'd heard the talk of the new planet, 'Between', but had no hope of ever seeing it. Head down, she hurried toward the kitchen entrance. The Cot Holder was busy talking to one of the riders. "Hey girl, hold up," called the second rider. She stopped and turn toward him. "Yes, my lord?" "Is there by chance any stew on the hearth for hungry travelers?" he asked. Now she looked at him strangely, that was a question asked in the way the Holdless would ask. But this young rider, maybe a turn or two older than she, couldn't be holdless. Still, there was something about the way he asked as if he knew their customs, their polite requests for information. "Y, yes. Just let me get you a bowl, will your friend be joining you in the Inn?" Lotti asked. She noticed the harsh look the holder gave her. 'He is nervous, he wishes we would leave and is angry that the Drudge offered us food,' she heard the thoughts from one of the two Bronze Dragons. 'Dorgamoth, alert the Weyr, there are most likely bandits in the area,' she heard as the rider who had asked her about the stew responded to his dragon. 'I will ask this girl if she knows where the holdless are located.' 'We should bring her with us, she is not treated kindly here and there is a Queen Egg at Eastern that needs a rider.' She entered the dining room from the kitchen carrying two bowls of stew on her tray along with fresh bread and large mugs of Klah. The cot holder was busy off to the side talking to the beast man in hushed voices. As she started to leave the younger rider gently took hold of her hand. "A moment please," he said. "I am K'tril of the Eastern Weyr of Between. And you are?" he asked though Dorgamoth had already supplied her name. "L, Lotti," she lowered her eyes as she answered. "Stay close Lotti, Dorgamoth likes you and there is trouble headed this way. Besides, I think I like you already." She gasped at K'tril's admission. "There is something very special about you that you are guarding, even from my dragon." At this she instantly thought, 'Could he guess that I am both man and woman at the same time?' K'tril caught the vivid images as Dorgamoth read them from her mind, and he was instantly intrigued. He was also very angry with the cot holder for forcing her to submit to the will of bandits, to be a bed warmer for overnight guests. Only D'gan's firm hand on his arm kept him from challenging the man instantly. "We have more important things to do, let the Weyr deal with him after we leave. We'll take Lotti with us," urged D'gan as K'tril guided her to sit on his knee as he ate. "It is only your sitting here that is keeping me from hurting him," K'tril told her in a quiet voice. "Are you really looking for the Holdless?" she asked. Her eyes darting to the Holder to be sure he wasn't listening. "Yes, they are needed on Between, almost as badly as you are," answered D'gan. "There are now five Weyrs there and not enough people. But I agree with our dragons, you would make a fine Queens Rider." She gasped in shock. It couldn't be real, her a Queens Rider? Even if it was just a ploy to get her to go with them, being his drudge, his bed warmer would be better than staying here. But there were those rumors, some Transgirl, a Lord Holders son, if rumors could be believed, had impressed a Queen at Southern Weyr. "Sorkana is the Weyr Woman of Western on Between," K'tril's breath said softly into her ear. A flood of warmth rushed through her, she was very aware of his hand protectively across her lap. She'd sat down facing away from him, knowing he'd wanted her to sit the other way. Now, she wondered if that had been a mistake. They were soon getting ready to leave, and though he had stood up, K'tril still kept an arm around her waist. She looked as K'tril dropped a Half Mark piece on the table. It was new, stamped with 'Eastern Weyr, Between' on the face. The Cot Holder hurried to snatch up the Weyr Mark. "Get this table cleared," he ordered her. But K'tril pulled her tight against his side. "She is leaving with us, she has been Searched," he said even though they weren't really riding in search. "Then you owe me the standard compensation," began Barford. "You abused and allow others to mistreat her, we and she, owe you nothing," K'tril stated as they stepped out the door. 'Men on foot come from the hills. F'renk's wing watches from high above,' she heard Kilorrith inform D'gan. D'gan removed his Weyrhide jacket and held it out, "Put this on, it will help keep you warm." He helped her into the jacket that seemed to swallow her up, before he guided her into place on Kilorrith's neck. Now she was confused, while in the Inn the younger rider had been the one to hold onto her. Now she was astride D'gan's dragon, then she remembered, 'Dorgamoth likes you,' they had said. 'Lean forward,' she heard in her mind as the dragon leapt for the sky, his wings spreading to sweep the air and gain altitude. Though she'd done as the dragon directed, she still found herself pressed back against D'gan. His strong arms held her in place until they'd reached full flight. She almost panicked when he released one arm, but then he fastened a strap to the wide buckles sewn into the jacket. "So, we don't lose you in flight," he said into her ear. "Now which direction do we need to go to find the Holdless camp?" She began to form her directions in her mind as she thought about them, too stunned to think about her first ever ride on a dragon. Dorgamoth and Kilorrith instantly began to change directions with her thoughts. Far below she could make out figures in the trees. The stable boy warning the bandits that Dragons were at the Cot Hold Station. She found herself leaning back into D'gan's embrace, feeling safer than she could ever remember. The movement of the dragon in flight beneath her sent vibrations through her, exciting her in ways she had never felt before. Then Dorgamoth turned, his body changing as his wings adjusted into a shallow dive. She gripped D'gan's hands tightly, as Dorgamoth followed and they dropped to glide above the trees. Only D'gan's firm grip kept her from banging her head into his chin as the dragon back swept his wings, his body now angled to land in the little clearing beside the mountain stream. She giggled, she hadn't recognized Manisha's camp from the air. D'gan's steady arms kept her from stumbling at first as she slid to the ground. "Are you alright?" "Yes," she giggled shyly. "I almost forgot how to walk." "Good, we need you to go and have their head woman come to meet with us. You will bring her here, please?" requested D'gan. "Y, you won't leave without me, will you?" 'We would not allow him to do that,' Kilorrith and Dorgamoth answered. "No, I will stay right here, and then you will go with K'tril and Dorgamoth to the Weyr," he reassured her. She hadn't realized the older dragon had been testing her mind. 'Divinath comes,' she heard Dorgamoth who was now aloft to help give the references to the golden dragon Queen. 'She brings a Weyrhide jacket for Lotti.' She was about to turn away, to go in search of the headwoman, K'tril caught her chin, lifting her face to his. "Be careful, please," and then he kissed her on the lips. Her heart fluttered, her breath caught in her throat. She had never been kissed before, by anyone. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Shelter Valley, Ice Mountain; The meeting was going well, Snow and her pack were being welcomed, assured of their safety and encouraged to visit the Weyrs freely. Tiva was in attendance now because Dr Marchand and Master Healer Tollbar had conferred and agreed that she was far enough past the time that her unborn child would be in danger from jumping between. "Excuse us, Tiva and I need to go take care of something," said Ladina. "One of her riders has located a Holdless camp, and one of my Wings is tracking a group of Bandits along the Northern Road." The other Pern Weyr Women were busy directing their dragons to send a Wing in support of High Reaches. The mental conversations were open so that the Wolves would know what was happening. The Bandit group was calling themselves the Black Wolves. Ladina paused to clarify, "They have no wolves in their group. But they use that name to strike fear into the innocent people who know nothing of the true nature of wolves." "These bands use people's natural fears to corrupt the innocent views toward the Wolves of Pern. Wolves who only raid a herd if they are starving, or if their young are starving," explained Cassia. "But your dragons cannot see through the trees," realized Jaysun. "No, they cannot," admitted Ladina. "That is why we are sending in more Dragons to try to follow them, the dragons can see their body heat if they are close enough." Jaysun looked toward Snow, the two seemed to be conversing. "It is cold there, snow on the ground?" asked Jaysun. "Yes, but they know how to hide their tracks," answered Cassia. Snow threw her head back and howled. Suddenly five huge Alpha's appeared. 'These Trackers will go with you, they can speak with the dragons. But you must promise, no one will harm them, and they are free to return on their own.' "Agreed, and thank you, Alpha Queen, Snow." Ladina bowed her head to the White Shewolf. Snow moved forward, their noses touched, 'Agreed Dragon Woman.' Outside the dragons waited, Mredorth crouched low, G'dan standing nearby. 'Osan, I will take you there so that you can give the image to your pack,' offered the Bronze Dragon. G'dan had added a padded layer and extra straps. "This is a safety strap," G'dan explained. "It will keep you from falling if we run into rough air." 'I understand," Osan answered. 'I will fly with you, G'dan.' +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FSP Nacona; "Captain, we have a missing child again," reported the Space Marine Commander. "We are initiating a deck by deck search, but no one has seen her since the teacher reported it." They were making the report official now and including the entire ship in the search. "Roger, Commander initiate an all hands call for assistance. Who are we looking for?" she asked so the name would be recorded in the ships log. "Nelson, I mean Nelly Voris, Ma'am. She didn't show up for any of her classes again and she has not been to the chow hall for any meals." "What advanced subject was she studying again?" Star was surprised, this was the second search for this same child in as many days. "Zoology, she was specializing in Feline Predators, but had recently been studying the Fire Lizards aboard the ship," reported the Educational Instructor. "What about the other students?" asked the Commander. "Sure, they all began studying the Fire Lizards and Dragons. They gobbled up every bit of information forwarded by Longbows Education Department." "Did she have any problems due to her recent declaration that she was Nelly and not Nelson?" "Oh, that. No, but then again, she was always a bit of a loner, especially after her mother died five years ago. Until recently, it was hard to predict where she might turn up aboard ship. You remember how she was always being found in places she shouldn't be." "Yes, but what do you mean until recently?" "She stopped being scatter brained, she became focused. I remember because that was when she started studying Feline Predators. She said everyone was wrong, that not all the Felines were like those Ligons. She started digging into the old Earth Predators. Lions, Tigers, and Panthers, but her favorites were the Cheetahs." Piper, the Commanders Fire Lizard began crooning happily. Images of wild Cheetahs and Tigers. Not from the zoological archives but from the little Green's home world and from Pern. The search was ongoing, but so far, she had not been found. The Commander believed that having grown up on Nacona, she knew the ship intimately and where to hide. She would turn up somewhere, she always had in the past. It was three days before they found her, but she once again disappeared. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pern; Holdless Valley; Lotti was big eyed seeing the four new Dragons, two Gold and two Bronze. Then she gasped as the huge White wolf lept to the ground from a Bronze. The Holdless who had emerged from the forest's hidden caverns now looked frightened. 'Thank you, Mredorth, I call my pack now and we will begin the hunt,' she heard the Wolf in her head. He threw his head back and howled, then looked toward Lotti. 'Do not be afraid, we are not here to hunt you Gold Rider.' Tiva and Ladina shared a look then moved closer to greet Lotti. L'mar and G'dan flanked their Weyrwomen. "Osan and his pack are from Between," stated Ladina. "They have come to help us hunt the Bandits who are hiding on the other side of the Cot Hold Station." There was a shimmering and then the air grew colder as more Wolves arrived. There were four large Alphas, and each was flanked by two lessor Alphas plus two that went to join Osan. There were now fifteen Wolves in the clearing. 'We would like the scents of all here so that we may know who a friend is, if we come across their scent in the mountains,' stated Osan. "She's gone!" cried a young mother. "My child is gone." 'We can find her,' offered Cherry as she stepped away from the group with her lessor pair. The young mother was frightened of the wolves, but she was desperate to find her teen daughter. The wolves nosed around the sleeping area then found a trail. 'There are three of them. Two are men, the girl did not leave willingly,' the lessor Alphas were in full tracking mode now. Cherry reported that they had grabbed the girl while everyone was distracted by the dragons. The wolves split up, four trios heading toward the Cot Hold, Cherry's following the abductors. The youngest Alpha with Cherry's group was named Blizzard, and she was still learning to be a tracker and a hunter. "Carine is my friend, she always comes to the Cot Hold for supplies," stated Lotti of the missing teen. "Manisha always sends her for the supplies." "Lotti, Please, do not let the wolves hurt my Grandchild," Manisha pleaded. She felt a cold nose, then a warm fur covered head press against her hand from behind. 'Your pup will be safe. I have told Blizzard that she is your grandchild as Blizzard is the grandchild of Alpha Queen Snow," she heard Osan answer. "He said," began Lotti. "I heard him," answered Manisha with a look of amazement in her eyes. 'I have a good scent, Carine is leaving me a clear trail, Grandmother,' Blizzard spoke directly to her now. 'Who are you? You aren't a Dragon,' Carine thought back. The pair who had her were now stopped in a rock outcropping scanning the sky for any sign of dragons before they tried to cross the open ground between ridges. 'I am Blizzard, we are coming to save you,' she heard the young female Alphas answer. 'You, you are a Snow Wolf.' She was covering her facial expressions as she mentally conversed, by biting at the ropes tying her hands. "Yes, and you will be my Bond Mate. Open your mind and look around you. Show me where you are right now,' Blizzard thought to her. She knew where she was, she had seen the place from the top of the next ridge. Now she called up that image, sharpening it, making it very clear. The five huge boulders, the single Iron Wood tree. Two scraggly Firs further down. 'Be ready to fall down, cough three times then fall.' She faked three coughs and dropped to the loose snow. Suddenly the air around her was colder than anything she had ever felt before. She heard the growls and the startled screams. Then a pair of strong jaws closed gently about her wrist and everything went black, cold, no feeling, no senses. Then she was in the little clearing in front of her grandmother. Most of the people were standing back, still frightened of the wolves. More frightened of them than they were the dragons. "Thank you, Blizzard, you saved me," said Carine as she hugged the wolf, though her hands were still bound. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ With the wolves on the ground, the dragons could ease back. Not seeing Dragons overhead, the bandits began to move quicker. Osan's pack picked up the trail of the smaller group as they left the Cot Hold. They were in contact with the other wolves as well as the dragons that were just out of sight waiting. 'We need help,' called Anika. Her trio were further along the trail where it cut through a draw with dense overhead coverage. 'It is a Trader Caravan. My Sub-Alphas are tracking the group.' Jerzi rolled over, something wet was on the side of her face, could it be one her Drovers checking to see if she was alive? Her eyes went wide seeing the huge wolf, instinctively she drew back. Her left arm and the heels of her boots were in motion, pushing her toward the wagon. 'Easy now, lay still, we have dragons on the way,' she heard in her head. 'My Alpha Mates are tracking those who attacked you. Please tell your people that I will not hurt you or them.' She was dreaming, wolves weren't telepathic, she thought. Then her head bumped into the wheel of the wagon and she saw stars and her right arm still wasn't working either. Then she saw it the broken stub of an arrow standing out through her shoulder. 'Rest, try not to move.' Jerzi shivered feeling cold all over. Anika moved over to her and lay her head in her lap. 'Hurry Dragon Riders, there are many hurt here.' In truth Anika was very worried about Jerzi, in cleaning the blood from her face and the lump on the side of her head, her tongue had felt the broken portions of her skull move. From above the trees she heard Divinath bugle her arrival, then her urgent message to Lomanith. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "V'gil, we have to hurry," M'gon relayed the message to him. "I have to get Dr Marchand." She pulled on her Weyrhide jacket and climbed aboard Lomanith as she gave him the image of the Number One hold. As he leapt forward, Shadow suddenly appeared behind her holding on tightly just as he winked between, "Me too Momma." The timing was just too perfect, Shadow had completed her jump only a second before Lomanith went between. Her initial fear was that she might lose her between. Feeling the little hands holding tight to her jacket as Lomanith appeared in the Hold, M'gon allowed herself a sigh of relief. "Is this what you wanted to see?" she asked Shadow. "No Momma, I heard Lomanith talking to Divinath. The Trader woman cannot survive a dragon ride between. I'm going so I can give this image to Anika and we can bring her here," she smiled sweetly as Dr Marchand hurried into the hold. "M'gon, what is happening? All they told me was that I was needed most urgently." "M'gon, do I get to visit with Shadow while," began the Captain. "Jerzi hurt really bad, Anika show me where," she grabbed the doctors hand and the two disappeared. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dr Marchand lifted her Wrist-Com, "I need the OR prepped, I have a severe head trauma and Arrow wound." She ran her scanner over the wounds, "Have them get nine units of whole blood out of storage. And prepare hold number one to receive multiple casualties." She turned to the little girl who had brought her here, "Sweetie, can you take us back the same way? She won't survive a Dragon ride let alone long enough for a shuttle to get here." "Anika goes too," Shadow said. "H, how did you do that any way? I mean bring me here without a Dragon?" "Hold my hand and hold onto Jerzi. Anika, see where we must go?" asked Shadow. The wolf nodded then gently gripped Jerzi's other arm and together she and Shadow stepped forward and disappeared as more dragons arrived to ferry the rest of the wounded. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Hurry, get her to the Med Bay, I have to operate, or we'll lose her," commanded Dr Marchand upon their arrival. "The, the Wolf too?" "The Wolf is her companion, they stay together," advised the Captain. Already the rumors were buzzing about the ship. 'The girl with Ensign Tillek was a Jumper.' It had been a long time since the Nathi War, but still among the Fleet, everyone knew they were Jumpers too. It was their Telekinetic abilities that drove the humans to create Mentasynth technology as well as Bio- Tech Engineering. Sure, throughout human history there had been the odd occurrences of people believed to be able to jump. Some even documented before they disappeared. But most people thought it was just a myth, stories to scare young children. But the Troops and Officers of the FSP were not superstitious, they'd just gotten used to Dragon's and Fire Lizards. And they were being invited to eventually call these planets home. Still they were curious but not to the point of being obnoxious about it. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jerzi came through the surgery better than hoped, and was now in recovery, Anika constantly by her side. Her people had been brought aboard and treated as well. Now it was time for the Captain to unveil his ships newest offering to help those on Between train to fight Thread. He'd tested it using his little Bronze, Goober, and the rest of the fire Lizards aboard. Now to take the Holo Generators to the surface of Between. The units were small enough they could be carried aloft by a Queen and programmed by the Rider. But how would the Dragons react to the holographic thread? The Fire Lizards had at first panicked. It had taken weeks of study and fine tuning to get the desired results. With the exception of not eating everything that it met, the hologram images reacted just like falling thread. It disappeared when flamed, wrapped around dragon wings and riders. But it disappeared when the dragon skipped between, leaving a sort of temporary glow wherever it touched that went away after a few hours. It allowed riders to see the results and realize what would happen, if it had been real. They were able to learn better discipline during thread fall and could train together as individual wings or as an entire Flight, with the addition of more Queens to carry more of the units aloft. They could even be programed for the most difficult Falls. The Weyr Leaders of Between promised to try it in two days after the next fall. But they had all been to Western to see it demonstrated over the Weyr. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 'You seem to be pleased with yourself,' observed Sorkana as she and her dragon flew above. The Holo-projector creating the images of an active fall for the Weyrling Practices. These were those just learning to flame. 'My Weyr is performing well, and our Weyrlings are learning to fight properly,' answered Gayleth. They were four days away from Western's next Fall. 'Darlith is edgy this morning,' she heard Dineth inform Zilla. 'We should send the riders to gather those who wish to observe.' 'Gayleth?' she asked. 'They will hatch late this evening,' answered Creadith flying beside them instead. "Shadow, is bathing to be ready for Caliseth. She has been chopping meat all afternoon," Sorki commented. Sorkana was happy to know that Sorki was just as on top of the goings on as she was. She was going to make a fine Weyrwoman when she was of age. The fact the girl had sensed the impending hatching before the rest of the Weyr proved that. She had started the day by informing Beast Master Thorne that she needed several culls from the herd to chop up for the newly hatched dragons. She watched as older riders began leaving, listening to the reports as they informed the Watch Dragon of their destinations. Olinda already had the Kitchen busy preparing the feast. The Weyrlings still too young to fly were busy washing and oiling their dragons. The older riders not going after guests were beginning to do the same. "That's enough practice for now," she called to the other Queen Riders. The Holo Generators were switched off, and they began their descent. 'Darlith is ready for this clutch to hatch,' commented Gayleth. "Come on Lovey, you need a bath too," chuckled Sorkana. There were plenty of hands to help unstrap the Holo Generators. No sooner were they off than Gayleth launched herself to the lake. 'Are we inviting Jaysun and the wolves?' "Yes, we surely are," smiled Sorkana. 'I have told Jaysun, they come,' Gayleth informed her. In her mind she saw Jaysun, his Wolf trio, Dakoda and Chika and Snow, the White Wolf Queen Alpha. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Because of the distance, they had sent for those on Pern who would be attending, first. Sorkana was on hand at the entrance to welcome the guests as they arrived. Just inside the entrance to the second hatching grounds, young riders were on hand to guide the guests to the observation ledges, seating and a low rail had been added between clutches, so no one risked falling. Now Jaysun and the wolves found themselves being led by D'ven past that access to another much smaller ledge closer to the clutch itself. This one was only accessed from the ground level to either side of the clutch. Anya was on the sands busy comforting her Queen as the guests were led in, but she calmly stepped toward the small group. "Jaysun, Snow, please everyone come meet Darlith. She wishes to welcome you personally as representatives of Shadows former family." It was an astonishing sight, seeing the Queen as she touched noses with each of the wolves. It was astonishing in the fact that she was so calm this close to the hatching. The welcoming song of the dragons was growing louder, vibrating through the Weyr itself, filling the access tunnels, radiating into even the individual weyrs. Finally, as the eggs began to rock, the candidates began to file in led by Shadow. The guests all fell silent seeing the procession. Halfway across the sands, the group split up, fanning out to each side of her. Shadow stood, calmly waiting before the golden egg, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. On the first tier, a candidate for the Eastern Weyrs next hatching asked Tiva, "I thought there would be more candidates presented for the Queen Egg?" "That is Shadow, she was chosen by Darlith herself, especially since she already knows Caliseth's name before she is hatched," explained Tiva. "But aside from witnessing a hatching, I wanted you to meet Sorkana, Sorki and Timia in person," she explained to Lotti. "Excuse me," a young girl said as she approached. "I'm Timia. "Anya and Weyr Woman Sorkana wish that you and Lotti should join them down on the sand level." She took hold of Lotti's hand and began guiding them to the back entrance to the tier. The steps there led downward to the main access corridor. Then to another entrance that led directly to the ground level viewing area. The first dragon ledge above the guest viewing tiers was lined with golden Queens. She was welcomed with warm hugs before they were joined by two people escorted by wolves. 'It is good to meet you in person Lotti,' she heard as the Snow Wolf pressed her nose to her hand. 'We will converse more after the hatching.' "Thank you, Queen Snow," Lotti replied. On the sands, the eggs began to hatch. A Blue was first followed by a Bronze. Still Shadow stood calmly before the golden egg, hands clasped as she spoke soft, encouragement. "Don't worry lovey, I'm here for you. Take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere." One by one the eggs hatched open, the Dragonettes were quickly impressed and being led toward the feeding grounds. Shadow's eyes never left the queen egg, the shell now spiderwebbed with small cracks. Only three eggs remained now, the gold and two Bronze. Five other candidates remained now, the young redheaded girl, her face speckled with freckles lowered her head and turned to walk away. Gizzell felt defeated, she'd wanted to impress a Green or at the least a Blue. She knew the Queen was already bonded with Shadow, so what was the use of staying here. She had gone maybe ten steps when a bronze finally broke free of his shell. She could hear the boys as they spoke, as they moved trying to get the dragonettes attention. She paused, then turned her head to be sure she wasn't about to be run over, and her eyes met those of Farlenth as he rushed forward ignoring the boys. Shadow let a smile creep onto her face. "I'm still here Love, still waiting," her left hand slowly raised as pieces of shell began falling away. "Yes Caliseth, I am right here." The egg shattered finally, the pieces falling away as she spread her wings, a large piece flying across the short distance to strike the final egg. The impact causing it to split wide open as the final Dragonette stood unfurling his wings. Kristoff nearly dropped to his knees at the full weight of the new bond created when his eyes met those of Roerneth. "You had me worried," Shadow said. "I was afraid you would wait for the rest to be in the feeding grounds." She was stroking and guiding her new Bondmate to follow the others. Roerneth and Kr'stoff bringing up the rear, G'zell and Nomath just ahead. 'I am happy for Shadow,' stated Snow. "She is once more complete again and has a family now." They followed out to the feeding grounds, the new Bondmates white Impression tunics and dresses now stained in the blood of the raw meat they were feeding their dragonettes. Here and there small groups gathered around to wish the new dragon riders well, and to help hand them the huge chunks of fresh meat. Sorkana watched as Sorki and Timia led Lotti over to Shadow. 'Weyr Woman, I would speak with you and your sister Tiva, more fully,' she heard Snow. Quickly she motioned to Tiva to join her as she led the way to her personal weyr. 'It is not every one of our people who can jump between places as do dragons and Alpha wolves," she began. 'Of the people who are bonded with our kind, the ability has been few and far between. Of this generation, I fear that only Shadow, Jaysun, Delia and Zinnia were born with the ability. But others may still learn how to use their minds to do so.' "Zinnia?" asked Sorkana. "Delia?" asked Tiva. "Zinnia leads the people of the Northern Packs as Jaysun Leads the Western. Delia, leads the Eastern Packs, but prefers to stay away from her own kind. Zinnia is the eldest and least inclined to trust,' explained Snow. 'She stayed hidden during our meeting but listened through me.' "They are welcome at any Weyr," Sorkana and Tiva assured her. "Why are you telling us this, if it is such a secret?" Sorkana finally asked. 'When Healer Dakoda made her bond with Chika, it began awakening things she had hidden deep within her own mind. She needs guidance to develop her abilities so that she may lead the Packs of the South where Chika is from.' "She wasn't part of the Western Packs?" asked Sorkana. 'She came in search of her Bondmate, drawn to her as the dragonettes are drawn to their riders at hatching.' She paused in thought. 'It is the same with any who can jump between, the Leading Alpha is drawn to their Equal, the two halves of a whole.' "We should inform Master Tollbar that Dakoda will be traveling South with Chika so that he can research the records for ways to help her," Sorkana stated. 'Thank you, I wanted you to know so that you would not be worried.' 'Delia comes to meet the Weyr Woman of the Eastern Weyr, I have shown her where we are.' "Ouch," someone giggled in the outer chamber. "Snow, are you here?" Tiva was the first to move, "We are here Delia. I am Tiva and I am very happy to meet you." "Thank you, should I send Darr to be with the other wolves?" she was leaning on the door frame, rubbing her stubbed toes. "No, he is fine at your side. We will be joining the feast soon, and there will be plenty of food for him as well," assured Tiva. "Do your packs need anything? Food, Healers, shelter?" "It is alright Gayleth, they were invited," Sorkana assured her dragon who was waiting on the ledge. "You know, I would like for the Master Harpers to begin recording the history of the Wolves as they do that of the dragons, and other people. I am sure that Master's Shozin and Nolly have recorded the events of your help in tracking down the Bandits and rescuing Jerzi's train," she continued as they made their way down to the feast. "Tiva, there you are," L'mar hugged her. "And who might these new friends be?" "L'mar, this is Delia and Darr of the Eastern Packs. They came to the feast to meet us," Tiva introduced them. "Well met, again, and most welcome," he assured them. "Again?" asked Tiva. "Well not exactly," he chuckled. "Darr and Nareth were after the same Grazer beast, but Nareth chose to let him have it." 'Our pack was growing hungry, thank you. And thank you for changing where your dragons hunt,' thought the wolf. "We had no need to hunt your territory. It was the right thing to do, we do not hunt the same places as the Ligons either. Perhaps that is why we've not been attacked as they have here," offered L'mar. "Darr, Delia?" Shadow had discovered they were here. "I would introduce you to Caliseth, but she is sleeping now." Sorkana left them to catch up with each other as she led the way to find the Harpers. "There she is," began Master Shozin with a warm smile. Looking around, she realized that every Leading Weyr Woman was gathered around the tables. "Tiva, over here Sweetheart," urged K'lar. "Where are Dina and Nolly? We'll go to Box Canyon tomorrow." Now confused the four stood in front of everyone. "I want everyone present to know that this is a tradition of the Weyr's of Pern. One we wish to pass on to the Weyr's of Between," stated Master Shozin. Finally, the group cleared away from in front of the head table. Upon it lay six Weyrhide jackets. The backs were visible, and she knew that her name was stitched on the left front in gold thread. The back was a full color rendition of the Weyr's volcanic cone. The sun setting in the west, a gold dragon sunning herself atop the Watch Heights. Gold stitching declared, 'Western, Between'. on each shoulder was a cluster of five gold knots representing her rank as the Leading Weyr Woman of Between. "You may keep this one, as a memento," said Zinda as she eased her old jacket from her shoulders. Then Master Shozin helped her into the new jacket. The Weyrs had always presented the new Weyr Leaders with Weyrhide jackets denoting their position. A round of cheers went up as all the western riders changed their own jackets. The dragon on the watch heights was a color rendition of their own dragon. D'ven's jacket sported a cluster of five Bronze knots. The color and number of knots represented the riders rank. Four knots denoted a Weyr Leader, three a Wing Leader, two a Wing Second, one meant they belonged to a Wing if it was on both shoulders. Those not assigned to a wing yet, only wore a single knot on the left shoulder, but the knots were always in the color of their dragon. The jackets worn during thread fall and for every day were less intricate, but still showed which Weyr they belonged to and their Rank. Tiva's jacket depicted Eastern's Weyr, Dana's showed Ice Mountain, and Nolly's showed the Harper Weyr. She saw the two for Box Canyon and was impressed by how quickly they had been stitched together. She knew they'd had months to design the original three, and then Ice Mountain, but Box Canyon was only a few weeks old. As she looked around she realized that the riders from each Weyr were wearing their new formal Weyr Jackets. These would only be worn at official functions, like hatchings and at gathers and other important meetings. Sorki skipped around, her own jacket sporting a gold knot on each shoulder. She could feel it; the Wing Leaders were all gathered together with D'ven. Their heads together as they whispered. Finally, D'ven straightened up and turned toward the crowd. "Rider N'rissa, please come forward." The corners of his mouth twitching with the effort to control the grin trying to escape. "C'rill, B'nard, please do the honors," he stated as each took a position beside her. "In recognition of your skills, your knowledge, and your teaching abilities, I raise you to the rank of Wing Leader." They peeled off her old knots and added the three Brown clusters. "You may begin forming your own wing from those riders available." O'dan stood next, "C'rril, T'ker, step forward please." D'ven and L'mar stood ready and happily pinned the four clusters of Weyr Leadership to their jackets. On it went until the new Wing Leaders were all promoted. As a Queen's rider, anyone could step forward into a leadership position, by tradition, Queen Riders wore the rank of Wing Leader, Junior Riders wore Wing Second, those still learning to fly wore a pair of single knots. Sorki was proud of her double knots, but didn't let it go to her head, she had after all led a Junior Queen's Wing during the last fall. Sorkana was surprised by one promotion however, that of M'gon. She was wearing the knots of a Wing Second. 'N'rissa chose her,' Gayleth stated. 'It is unwise to have her in V'gil's Wing, they both understand.' 'Yes, but why N'rissa's wing?' she asked. "They fly cover for the Queens Wings," answered D'ven as he guided her towards her own weyr as the last of the guests were leaving. "You will see how everything works out in two days, our oldest has been busy making choices," he told her. "But she is so young to be a Wing Leader, all her riders will be older than she is," pointed out Sorkana. She knew that N'rissa was in her own weyr, Gayleth was giving her updates on her and Sorki's locations. Sorki was right next door in her weyr, Creadith lay sleeping in her hollowed- out spot just inside. "She is still more experienced than they are," he pointed out. "Trust in our dragons and in our daughters." Gayleth finally settled down as Torrith took up watch on the ledge. Arroth and Lomanith stood watch from their own weyr ledge, watching the Queen Weyrlings, weyrs for any sign that Shadow might need something. He was right, N'rissa still had more experience and commanded more respect from those who would be in her Wing. Sorkana was content to snuggle with D'ven as her Weyr settled in for the night. She knew they would be slow to rouse in the morning, there had been a lot of partying to congratulate everyone. Of course, she was more curious to know what D'ven, L'mar, and the other Weyr Leaders of Between had been whispering about. And she wasn't the only one. "Before you start trying to seduce it out of me I may as well tell you," D'ven chuckled. "Ice Mountain is experimenting with the formations of their Wings. G'brella and Florenz are two of the newest Wing Leaders." At her puzzled look he waited, knowing that Gayleth would tell her the importance. Ice Mountain was overly populated with both Green and Blue dragons. Ice Mountain was also recognizing the Leadership skills of their Blue and Green dragon riders. The Pern Weyr Women were already voicing their concerns about the lack of discipline within the Between Weyrs. But it wasn't so much a lack of discipline as it was the innovative ideas and practices they had begun. Here they had discovered just how much the Dragons had been held back since the beginning of the first riders. Closing the mating flights of Queens if their riders were already happily involved with another rider. Letting the Weyrlings begin to fly as soon as their dragons felt ready, even letting them learn to go between much sooner. Turnlings were even flying support as Thread Burrow Spotters. Of course, those Turnlings were those from Harper Weyr who had bonded with wilds before the Between Weyrs had been established. Too, the Weyr Woman of Ice Mountain was a Wild Rider with very nonconventional views and beliefs.