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Sorkana's Rise, Nacona's Arrival By; Malissa Madison Sorkana was watching as the wings appeared ready to meet the leading edge of the fall. Both Western and Ice Mountain were working this one together, and Southern and Fort were providing two wings each to fill out the flights of both Weyrs. Right on time, Dellith and Lilith arrived leading the Queens wings of both supporting Weyrs. grinning now she heard the silent questions between gold dragons and their riders. 'Why does it look like Ice mountain has two wings of Blues and one of Greens?', they all wanted to know upon seeing the wing formations. Of course, the Greens were flying cover for the Queen's wing. The Blue wings were in the fighting stack ahead of the Weyr Leader Wings. There were other Blues mixed in as well with the two-turn Weyrlings on resupply duty as well the traditional Wings. 'Zinda, Cassia, welcome. I am happy that you are here to help us evaluate Ice Mountains Blue and Green Wings and their Wing Leaders,' called out Sorkana. 'The Greens I can understand,' stated Cassia. 'But two full wings of Blues?' At that moment D'ven, C'rill and T'ker gave the order to meet the leading edge. 'Whoa,' breathed the visiting Queen Riders as the Blue Wings sped in flaming, skipping and flaming again as they spun on wingtips to reattack three and four times before it even fell to the level of the highest Bronze and Brown led Wings. Now they skipped out, dropping to be resupplied before returning to the fight. Sure, there were scorings, but all were so minor, the dragons barely noticed. The larger dragons on the other hand were not as quick, their minor injuries required numb weed, but the Blues and Fire Lizards with those wings had acted to minimize the injuries. Then Sorkana saw it for the first time, there were resupply Blues flying behind the Wings that were not resupplying the dragons. They carried baskets of pebble sized fire stone and the fire lizards were skipping to them for more fire stone. That's what M'vin had wanted with the basket he borrowed from the Kitchen. Jorrith was only a one and a half-turn Blue but he could easily carry two baskets while staying out of range of Thread. 'If you had asked, I would have told you,' Gayleth responded as Sorkana spotted the other five Blues doing the same thing in their own Wings. 'I approve, and so will D'ven.' On the ground, Wolves were jumping ground crews to places ahead of thread that slipped through, saving the sweep riders from having to mark the burrows. Then she spotted them, a pride of Ligons, a big male and three females headed straight for a ground crew. "Gayleth, dive," she directed as she pumped pressure into her HNO3 Sprayer. "We need more Dragons." Suddenly, just as she was ready to activate her sprayer, hundreds of flaming Fire Lizards began diving at the Ligons. The wolves rushed in between the ground crew and the Ligons. They darted in between jets of flame to nip at exposed legs and throats. Finally, singed and in pain, the Ligons turned and fled. Still the Fire Lizards chased after them, only now they were flaming Thread patches that threatened their ancient enemies. It was hours later, after the Fall that the Leaders met at Ice Mountain. Only three Dragons had been seriously injured, but nothing life threatening. Western had brought the meat for the After-Fall celebration, and this was her first chance to see D'ven alone since the morning. Now she leaned in to kiss him, noticing that he winced at her hug. "D'ven?" he only turned his face a bit, but it was enough to see the fresh Thread Score on his cheek. "It's nothing, and Torrith is untouched," he said. "Of course, he is, otherwise Gayleth would have told me," she moved to his other side then tenderly kissed that cheek. "Do you need some more Numb Weed? How bad is it, really?" "Well, you get to ride your dragon tonight, instead of the other way around," he said. She looked down now and realized he was wearing a different pair of pants. "Relax, it didn't get scored," he grinned then kissed her deeper, with real passion. "The Blues did great today," she commented. "I'm having Olinda make Fire Stone Baskets for our next Fall." "M'vin has been strutting all evening," he motioned to where the fifteen- turn rider was the center of several young girl's attention. They'd just returned when Salluth began to croon, the other dragons rapidly joined in. Olinda was rushing from hearth to hearth, "Hurry, Klah, lots of Klah. The riders are tired, and they need to be going after candidates and guests." She clapped her hands, "Someone get Master Thorne, never mind." She turned to him, "We need nine herd beasts, I will send you the Weyrlings to help prepare for the hatchlings." "Momma, I, Garth searched a candidate, I need to go get him," stated N'rissa. "Then eat first, at least a hand full of meat rolls and a full mug of Klah, Wing Leader," beamed Sorkana as she passed her a prepared pouch of Weyr Marks. Olinda had gone to the Weyr Offices and returned with the prepared pouches of Marks D'ven stepped into the Weyr Woman's office. "Killith has volunteered to go after a candidate who was searched by a Fire Lizard Queen," he announced. "B'nard is taking the images from those who know the way to the Hold, so I guess we'll see how reliable Fire Lizards are at choosing candidates for dragons." She saw a look of amusement in his eyes, but let it go, there was too much still to be done as more riders arrived for Candidate Purses. But this would be a first, that Fire Lizards would choose a Dragon Candidate. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FSP Longbow; Twelve-year-old Carter Hurd was excited, his parents had finally gotten approval to migrate to the surface. He had been studying everything hard, wanting to try his hand at becoming part of the new Observatory being erected on Between. Of course, his true wish was to become a Dragon Rider like Ensign M'gon. But then again, his father reminded him to keep his head grounded in what was important as well as obtainable. He had the skills to become a navigator like his mother, or a Space Marine Medic like his father should he later choose that route. The highlight of the last three weeks was getting to help with the installation near the Eastern Weyr on the Planet Between. He'd gotten to meet both Riders and Dragons. His mother had even impressed a Green Fire Lizard, Momoka. She was funny, and so very curious about everything when she wasn't gorging herself. Now he was back aboard the ship packing up his few belongings. These had been his family's quarters for as long as he could remember. This ship had been his entire life, all his friends were here. Well for the time being anyway. He finished packing the last of his things as his mother looked in on him. "Hurry Carter, we're supposed to report to Bay Five," she reminded him. "We are going down by Dragon back," she added the newest information she had just received. "That's a lot of Dragons to carry everyone," he said. His eyes growing huge. "Momoka said there were only three dragons, a Brown and two Greens." As they stepped into the hallway a flurry of wings erupted around them. Fire Lizards of every color were flocking around them. "Wow, where did all of these come from," asked his dad. 'Hurry, N'rissa is here for Carter,' he heard Momoka telling his mother. Everyone thought it was odd that he could hear another person's fire lizard without the bond. Stepping into the shuttle bay they found the Captain waiting to wish them well. "Nadine, Robert, Ahh young Carter. Brown Rider, N'rissa of Western is here for you especially," he announced. He took in everything about her, then noticed the Brown knots on her shoulders. He had learned much about the Weyrs, the Dragons and the Riders. And he even recognized her rank, "Greetings Wing Leader." "Is this everything?" she gestured towards their bags. "Mialla and Nonika will see that it, along with your parents get to the Weyr. I need you to come with me now," she said as she handed a leather pouch to his mother. "What is this?" Nadine asked as she emptied the Weyr Marks into her hand. "Payment for your family's wellbeing in the absence of your son who has been searched." She turned to the Captain, "M'gon will be here for you soon, so that you can also attend the hatching." Then she handed Carter a weyrhide jacket before guiding him to Garth's neck over his shoulders. He was stunned, confused, how had he been searched? Sure, he had seen N'rissa at the new observatory, but she hadn't said anything other than to have her dragon command the Fire Lizards to stop flocking around him on the last day. Garth was leaning forward now, his wings barely open. "Do you know the teaching ballad about going between?" he nodded. "Take a deep breath and recite it to yourself C'rter," N'rissa directed. Suddenly, everything was black. 'Black, blacker, blackest. Cold, colder, coldest.' They burst out into the early morning light over Western Weyr, his heart pounding in his chest. It had been so dark, so cold, and he couldn't even feel himself other than his heart beating. But now, only a few heartbeats later they were gliding down toward the Weyr. Garth Bugled his response to the watch dragon as they continued to descend toward a large opening. He'd almost missed it as Garth landed. But then others were there helping him down. "Hurry, you're almost late," a young woman was guiding him toward a smaller cavern. "The other Candidates are ready." She turned toward the Weyr Leader, "D'ven, be sure his parents get in the front row." She guided him to the opening, "M'rcus, this is Carter, N'rissa's chosen Candidate." "He'll be ready Weyr Woman. Has B'nard returned from his long jump yet?" "No and this is the first time our Bronzes have allowed Fire Lizards to choose Candidates." But why was he referring to it as a long jump? Where was the hold that he was going to? And then Gayleth fed her the image of the 'Cargo' Hold, 'FSP Nacona 1' written on the wall. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FSP Nacona, edge of the Rukbat System; "Captain! We have sensors going off in the Number One Hold," Ensign Holly Maze informed her after conferring with Emerald, her Green Fire Lizard. "There is a Bronze Dragon aboard." Reaching up to caress Gorgeous she replied, "Have Shalarra Tsong meet me there ASAP. Bronze Killith is here on Search, and he has come for her," she named the twelve-year-old girl whose parents were aboard FSP Wolf surveying a new planet. Shelly Tsong was the ship's Captain and LtCmdr Ta Tsong was the Science and Exploration Officer. Over the last few weeks, there had been many unbonded Fire Lizards around the girl, but none made a bond, they were just fascinated with her for some reason. Now she understood why. Maybe they would discover that they were also here for Nelly Voris or would help find the young teen who was hiding somewhere aboard the ship. "Welcome Bronze Rider," she greeted B'nard. "Shalarra will be here soon." "And her parents?" "Sorry, they are on another ship," she apologized. "Then as their representative, I wish to offer you the chance to witness the hatching. I will of course bring you back here afterwards, when you are ready." Shalarra stepped timidly through the door. The ships first officer with her. "First, you are in charge until I return. Contact Longbow and find out where they need us to establish an orbit." B'nard was already fastening a weyrhide jacket around the young girl as he offered one to Star. "We should hurry, she needs to be in her Impression dress before they are led into the hatching grounds." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sorkana noted Killith's washed out hide as he landed. Then she recognized the Starship Captain as she slipped to the ground. "Captain Boyle, Welcome," she clasped her hands. "And welcome to you Shalarra, Sorki, please help her get ready." The teen was handed off to Sorki to guide into the weyr with the other queen candidates. "Call me Star, please. We are as equals after all," she was being led into the hatching grounds. "Jeffery is over here with the other distinguished guests," Sorkana said. "Ahh Jeffery, look who made it." "I wish I'd thought to bring a recorder so that I could send it to her parents," stated Star after the greetings. "M'gon has that taken care of," he motioned to where two troopers were videoing the events from two different angles. The dragons humming had increased in volume now and Salluth slowly unwound herself from her large clutch. As the Candidates began filing in, she nosed three gold eggs to one side. Star was watching, counting the girl candidates. Twelve in all, but only five were stepping carefully toward the three golden eggs. Finally, Stomper and Gorgeous settled onto her shoulders as the first of the eggs began to rock, cracks forming in the shells. There was a small incident at the entrance, a small Golden Queen glided inside then as her rider jumped off, she launched herself to alight beside Gayleth. Sistine rushed around the edge, behind the candidates to step into the distinguished visitors stands. Sorkana raised her eyes at her younger sister signaling that they would talk after the hatching. Her biggest question was, 'How was it possible that a Queen just less than a turn had been allowed to fly so far, let alone jump such a distance?' Then she caught the blush and the look of one who was about to be in trouble flash between Sistine and Zinda. Still she was overjoyed at seeing her baby sister. Of the five Queen candidates, one was the picture of calm confidence. Ona had been visiting every day, helping to watch over the clutch almost as if they were her own. Three were like most other candidates, a bit on the timid side, but they would come out of that if they Impressed. The last, Shalarra, was almost frightened at being there with the others. Her waist length jet black hair shined in the glow of the electric lights that were now turned brighter to facilitate watching the hatching. Two Blues were the first to hatch followed by a Brown and then a Green. A red headed girl from Fort Hold on Pern Impressed the Green. Then one of the golds finally burst from her shell, Sharenath turned from one candidate to the next. Her cries of hunger and confusion reaching everyone as three of the young girls surged forward. Four more eggs hatched nearly at the same time, both remaining Golds and two Bronze. Everyone was watching the three new Queens now. Two of the older girls just stood there as if rooted in place, but Ona and Tessla from Benden reached out their hands to take hold of Shalarra's leading her forward. Sharenath surged forward on the right, Tessla reaching up to caress the ridge behind her whirling eye. Ona stepped to the one on the left, "Prismath," she raised her hands and hugged the young dragon. Shalarra realized that she was directly in front of the third Gold whose head was down level with her own. Tilted to give her a better view as she cried out her hunger. "F, Farrellith," she threw herself forward to hug the dragon around her neck. Then someone was urging her to lead her dragon outside and to feed her. One Bronze hatchling darted clumsily across to the other side as boys tried to get his attention. "What's happening?" asked Star. "He is searching for his Bondmate," answered D'ven. "I thought it would be which ever candidate was closest or caught his attention first," admitted Captain Tillek. "That is usually how these go, but every now and then a dragon is hatched with a stronger mental connection with," Sorkana stopped as Carter fell to his knees in front of the Bronze. The Bronze lowering his head to nose at the boy's face right in front of the viewing stand. "Brazzleth," he breathed finally and his life was forever changed. "Stand up C'rter, lead him out to be fed with the others," urged Zinda as she leaned over the low railing. It was nearly a half hour later that the last of the hatchlings was finally led outside to be fed. In all it was a good hatching, three Gold, nine Bronze, eight Browns, eight Greens and seven Blues. Thirty-five new dragons to add their strength to the Weyr once they became trained adults in the next two and a half to three years. "I wish my parents could have been here to see me," stated Shalarra as she caressed Farrellith's sleeping head. "Oh, they will see it," assured M'gon. "If you can tear yourself away for a bit to eat yourself, and then you can visit with them in the shuttle. We recorded it and can relay it to them," she was promised. "I've never been part of anything so emotionally charged in my life," admitted Captain Star Boyle as she finished the plate of Roast Herd Beast washing it down with the cup of wine. It had been five hours as the celebration finally began to wind down and she was thinking she should be getting back to her ship. "V'cent will take you whenever you are ready," D'ven informed her. "B'nard and Killith are still sleeping, the long double jump took a lot out of them and Killith fed heavily to replenish his strength after the hatching was finished." "And it is not good for dragons to go between with their stomachs so full," added Jeffery. "Of course, you could always stay the night here and get to know more of these people." She wandered around meeting and talking with many different people from Riders to Holders and Harpers and to the Weyr Folk. These were good honest people, people who only wanted to live a simple life. She found herself at a table filled with women ranging from seven to perhaps middle age. Each one wearing a weyrhide jacket with various designs depicting what she now recognized as a Weyr. While listening she realized that each one here was the rider of a queen dragon. "Sorki, it's getting late," Sorkana reminded the youngest. "And you have Wing Drills with the other Queens in the morning." The girl kissed her cheek, "Night Momma." Then turned to another teen, "Night Tanty Sistine." As everyone was wishing her a good night, Star wondered why a child so young would be included in the Thread fighting drills. "My daughter Sorki leads the Junior Queen's Wing spotting and marking any Thread burrows before they can spread," offered Sorkana. Gayleth clued her rider in on the Captains thoughts. "While a Riders maturity is important, the biggest factor is also the dragon's abilities. And Queens of any age can converse with any dragon." "Plus, there hasn't been a dragon born that didn't live to fight Thread in one way or another," added a teen Rider. "They have an inborn need to fly and be a part of destroying it before it hits the ground." "Well spoken Timia," praised Sorkana. "You should probably be off to bed as well. You have Recognition Point training tomorrow. You will be flying to the local Holds and the Dolphin Hall." Sorki had skipped off toward the Wing Leaders tables and found both D'ven and N'rissa. "She seems like a very sweet girl," observed Star. "I had no idea that you started them out so young, or is she a special case?" "Before we arrived from Pern, the average age of the riders here was between eight and fourteen," Sorkana informed her. "The riders here new nothing of Fire Stone at the time of the first Thread Fall, all of the older Riders and their Dragons sacrificed themselves to save as many people as possible." Finally, Sorkana stood up, "Excuse me, I need to make sure our newest Queen Riders are settled in. Would you like to see where Shalarra will be living as her dragon grows?" They walked along a wide ledge that started just outside the kitchens. The ledge was wide to accommodate Dragonettes too young to fly. The first Weyr though was Gayleth's, Creadith's beside her. Scattered around the bowl were several other such low ledges, the individual weyrs filled with Dragonettes of varying size or an adult who was responsible for watching over them. Star lost track of the number of Queens she met along the way before coming to Shalarra's weyr. She noted that at varying intervals there were ramps leading down from the ledge. "Shalarra, are you awake still?" Sorkana asked quietly, so as not to disturb Farrellith. "It's huge," she said of her new weyr quarters while leading them inside past the sleeping dragonette. "I never had so much room to myself before. And look at the clothes, and my new boots," she was excited. "Ona helped me get them." "Did she show you how to use the Glow baskets and the lights?" asked Sorkana as she opened a glow basket, then turned off the overhead light. "This way, if you need to get up in the night, you won't stub your toe." "I haven't seen what's back there yet," she indicated the area beyond the curtain. "You have a bathing pool and a place to use the restroom, and this door opens up into the main access tunnel that leads to the kitchens and other Weyrs on this level," explained Ona after she came through the door to help her finish settling in. "Tessla is the next one to the right, and mine is the one after that if you need any help." "Thank you, Ona. You were my first friend here." The two hugged. "Well you should think about getting some sleep, Farrellith will be awake at first light, and she will be starving. That's one reason why we aren't given any other duties for the first few weeks, until they get settled into their feeding habits." Finally, after the girl fell asleep from exhaustion Star asked, "If it isn't too inconvenient, would it be possible to spend the night here. I would hate to put a Rider and Dragon out just to take me back to the ship in the middle of the night." "That's quite kind of you and yes, it is alright. But I think you might wish to stay in the guest weyr just off the Kitchens. Olinda has one open right next to Captain Tillek," ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Star woke to the sounds of the waking Weyr, hungry Dragonettes demanding to be fed. The kitchen staff preparing the morning meals, and the bugle of the Watch Dragon issuing challenges to new arrivals. She was unused to not having a light that came on automatically as she rose. It took a moment to remember where the switch was, but finally after a few minutes with the help of Stomper and Gorgeous, she found her way to the Kitchen. Everyone greeted her with smiles and hello's, many 'Good Mornings' and 'Sorry the dragonettes woke you up so early'. Outside the Weyr was just a faint glow of morning light, the sun not yet high enough to reach down into the depth of Weyr. At one table, the young rider she recognized as N'rissa, Sorkana's adopted daughter was in deep discussion with a group of other young riders, all just a bit older than herself. The thing that stood out were the three Brown Knots on the shoulders of her Weyrhide jacket. The oldest person at the table was M'gon, Jeffery Tillek's daughter and she was wearing two Knots on her shoulder. "Alright everyone, today we're going to do a low-level sweep of the next predicted Fall. Remember, stay above the fifty-foot level, we are going to be over Ligon territory until we enter Box Canyon's Weyr area," warned N'rissa. "Also, we need to check on how well the wild Wherrie population is taking hold since they were brought here and released. Wing Second M'gon will lead the left half of our wing formation when we split at the big river." Everyone nodded their understanding. "Everyone has your Patrol Maps, go mount your dragons and I will be there as soon as I report our Sweep pattern to the Weyr Leader." "Come on you need to see this," urged B'nard. He led her to the huge map on the wall behind the head table. Selecting a red grease pencil, N'rissa wrote her name on the clear cover over the map. Then carefully began tracing her projected route. At a large river she drew two separate lines indicating that the wing would split. Then both lines rejoined before continuing to a spot marked as 'Box Canyon'. She noticed there were several other sweep patrols that led through that area as well. "B'nard, what is Box Canyon? Why is it so important that it has?" she counted the different colored Wing indicators. "Five Wings patrolling the area around it?" "That is the newest Weyr," D'ven answered instead. "The only dragons there on a permanent basis are those who were recently Impressed during the last hatchings of two Wild Queens. They have seven temporary wings assigned on loan by the Weyrs of Pern." "Why would they do that?" "Because there are not enough Wings on Between to guard the entire planet. Still, sixty percent of the dragons seen on your satellites are wilds, riderless." She now understood more about life here on Between. about how much they needed the Support of the FSP in preserving their way of life. More she, like the other FSP Ships Captains still headed this way had seen the destruction of the other CA established planets. Their drive to rapidly colonize and develop those planets using advanced technology had resulted in ecological disasters on global scales. Here they used only the bare minimum technology needed. They didn't pollute their world or go techno crazy. They didn't have the wars over trivial things the way the greedy Colonists recruited by the CA with promises of wealth and fame. Here they used the barter system. Trading goods for services and other goods. Yes, they had a currency of sorts, Marks, that were valued by the goods they represented. But those marks changed value from place to place based on how many were in circulation. The most valuable were Weyr Marks, the Weyrs only produced fifty per Dragon. They were also fairly good at maintaining the amount in circulation. The major holds had eventually learned that the more they produced the less value they had. Also, the less value their goods had in the trading market. True there were bandits who robbed and plundered, taking from others. But they didn't last long in a society that was against them, that had the aid of Dragons who could fly overhead without being heard for miles before they were on top of you. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Flying low over the desert, N'rissa's Wing had come back together, but spread out to cover more area. They were following the river to the sea, to discover what needed to be protected in the area where it spread out into lushly vegetated deltas before joining the vast water mass of the southern sea. The river delta spread out into a vast area of islands of varying sizes. Marsh grasses and moss-covered trees sprouted providing dense cover to the grazing beasts living there. Near the beginning of the delta, a low range of rocky hills rose up, the river parting as it flowed around them. Raising her arm, her hand gave the visual signals as she had Garth pass the message to the other dragons. Spread out in pairs, one high one low. D'van was flying high as they circled the low hills, the scent caught her nose first, wood smoke. 'D'van, do you see it?' 'No, it is filtered by the trees,' he answered. 'The grazers are running to the west.' 'Someone is running, being chased by those spotted cats,' S'tan reported. Instantly three pairs of dragons winked in to assist S'tan and G'brial. The figure was almost to the trees but stopped. The spotted cats closed in instantly but were not attacking. They circled their victim, facing the dragons. "Hold," called out N'rissa as she sent the command to the other dragons. 'They left a fresh kill, they weren't hunting hi, her,' reported M'gon. As the dragons hovered, the person reached out to touch the cats, her left arm draping over one, her right over the other two and they disappeared together. 'They jumped between!' echoed all the dragons at the same time. But to where? And why were those big cats acting that way? True they weren't Ligons or the solid blacks that lived in the jungles or the yellow ones that lived in the mountains. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Box Canyon Weyr; Star was surprised, they were meeting everyone of the newest Weyr, enjoying being shown around by the two very young Queen Riders when suddenly everyone was scrambling for dragons. "What's happening? Is it Thread?" she asked as J'nar started toward Harteth. "No, it isn't thread, do you wish to see?" he asked reaching for her hand. She took hold following him as Harteth landed. Then before she knew it, she was astride the dragon, his rider holding onto her around the waist. Though she had come here by dragon, she was still thrilled at the way he had taken charge, no one had treated her this way in the last twenty or more years. And there were the pair of riderless Queens, one on each side. Leaning forward he said, "Take a deep breath." They disappeared between and three short heartbeats later they came out above a set of low hills. Gorgeous and Stomper, their wings beating rapidly to catch up as they skipped between to get ahead. 'We should slow down for our little cousins,' Corrisanth suggested. 'Or they could ride upon us," finished Shebeth. "Are we visiting the spotted cats?" continued Corrisanth. "Spotted Cats?" Star was instantly alert. Her mind turned to the missing child aboard Nacona. "Yes, the dragons lost them though, and they can't find where they went to. We wouldn't normally be concerned but there was a young girl with them, we're concerned for her safety," J'nar told her. "Right now, our best bet is to let the Fire Lizards find them, then we can fly in and rescue her," he continued. "Wait, you mean she's with them?" "Yes, why?" "These spotted cats, are we talking Leopards or Cheetahs? Do they have the weep lines on their faces?" she asked as more dragons joined them. Reaching up to her own face N'rissa drew two lines along her nose, "Lines like this." Harteth projected the images from J'nar to the others. And then back to her from the other dragons, through Gorgeous and Stomper. "Cheetahs, they are not hunting her. Maybe they are hunting for her, to feed her," suggested Star. The dragons were landing near where they had last seen the cats and the girl. "You seem to know an awful lot about these cats, how come?" asked Sorkana as she joined them. "One of the teens on the Nacona was very interested in them. She started studying them and then a few weeks ago she disappeared from the ship. Oh, she's still there, she's just hiding because she's been going through a rough time." True she had been spotted briefly, twice since the first time she was reported missing. "What kind of rough time?" now Sorkana was curious. "Her mother died shortly after she began transitioning. She became withdrawn. I was hoping that this new interest in Between and her focus on the cats was the beginning of a return to her regular outgoing self." She looked around at the Dragon Riders stunned looks. "Weyr Leader, that girl just grabbed the Cheetahs kill and disappeared again," reported Lucky, a Green Rider. "We have more of those Cats coming this way, they're running in trios," reported someone else. "Family groups, those are mated trios," blurted out Star. "They've probably been hunting to feed kittens." Gorgeous and Stomper suddenly reappeared with dozens of Fire Lizards. 'Nelly is here, Nelly is here,' they projected to Star. "Nelly?" she asked confused. 'Nelly and Kittens,' they projected an image of the girl surrounded by several kittens as she began cutting up the Grazer to feed them. "Riders, let them pass," ordered Sorkana. "Get your Dragons in the sky and stay out of the area." "Where are you going?" asked D'ven when she sent Gayleth aloft without her. "I am going to ask if she needs anything that we can provide," she said. "And be sure that she is safe." "Can I go with you?" asked Star. "She had to come from the Nocona, the Fire Lizards know her name" "I am going with you," J'nar insisted. "I'm not going to chance losing you, I brought you here, remember? I'm responsible for your safety." Deep down, he knew there was more there than just the facts he'd stated. His dragon knew it too. Together the three began following a trail up into the foothills ahead of the onrushing cats. Cats that were slowing down as they approached. It wasn't long before they were surrounded by them, still they all continued toward the middle of the hills. They didn't have to go far before they smelled the odor of wood smoke. Following the path, they entered a draw, the short cliffs on each side held ledges and small caves. The big cats around them wandering off to those caves as they passed. It was the bigger cavern near the head end where both sides of the draw grew together into a sheer cliff about sixty foot tall. A little fire had been built on the wide ledge, a stick leaned over that little fire, a small bit of meat roasting, a young girl, her back to them, knelt cutting strips from the carcass and tossing them to the dozen or so kittens of varying ages. The mother cats sat facing the strangers as they carefully approached. Still busy doling out portions the girl said, "You aren't armed, and you aren't hostile, so they let you pass." She slowly stood up and crossed to a little spring trickling from the rocks nearby to wash her hands. "We just wanted to be sure that you are alright here," stated Sorkana as the girl ran her fingers through her long blond hair. "I am Weyr Woman and Leader Sorkana of Western Between." "I'm Nelshee of the Cheetah Delta," she turned around to face them as an older cat, her right foreleg splinted limped from inside the cave. "Nelly? We've been searching the ship for you," stated Star. "I've been here with my Cat Clan. You didn't get my note? I left it on the teacher's desk," she informed Captain Star Boyle. "Sorry we never found a note. I'm just happy that you are safe," admitted Star. "Here, I am Nelshee. Is it safe for the others to return to their hunt? We only had time to bring back enough for the kittens," She explained. "No one will harm them," promised Sorkana. "Is there anything we can do to help or bring to make things easier?" They sat and talked about things, Gayleth directing the other dragons to drive the grazers closer to the cats' collection of dens. No, the Cheetahs could not jump between. Yes, they usually lived in much smaller family groups, but since Thread started falling, they had banded together. The fall in two days' time would be the first that the Riders had more to protect here than the just plant life and the wild grazers. They had a group of intelligent cats here, that were nothing like the Ligons or even those other breeds of big cats found on the southern continent of Pern. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The return to Box Canyon Weyr was nice, they needed for J'nar to make the arrangements for his Riders to patrol and keep watch over the Cheetah Delta. It had been late over dinner that she had become closer to J'nar, she couldn't begin to explain it, or really understand it herself. There was just something about the young man. "I'll stay the night here, then he can return me to the Nacona in the morning," she had told both Sorkana and Captain Tillek. Laying in his bed afterwards a thought hit her, she hoped the two gold Riders wouldn't be jealous of her. 'Why should they be jealous? No one holds a claim on J'nar the way that you do.' The thought had hit her so strong, so matter of fact. It was the first time she had heard the dragon so clearly in her mind. 'Why do you say that?' she asked, now a bit unsure of herself. 'Because we will not allow you to jump between for the next few weeks,' it was almost like an echo of three voices. Harteth and her two fire lizards had responded to her question. It was over breakfast that she asked one of the young Queen Riders why her Fire Lizards and Harteth had made the statement to her. Dorty closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side then answered with an amused grin, "Dragon's, if they know, will not allow anyone to go between during the first trimester." "The first 'trimester?' oh, oh crap," she gasped in sudden realization of what Dorty meant. Now she was a bit frightened, she'd never had any children before. She was forty-nine and her entire life had been about her career, at least up until last night with J'nar. Contacting Nacona, she requested a shuttle to come and pick her up. She also requested that the ships Doctor, Commander Albright be aboard when it arrived in two days. She had two more wonderful days to spend with J'nar while she waited. Also, the shuttle would arrive just before Thread Fall, she would get to see the Dragons in action. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sorkana sat visiting with Sistine, Vitath had gorged herself after the hatching, which was understandable due to her age. And while Zinda had allowed the young Queen Rider to fly and go between at home, she was still upset that she had made such a long jump. Vitath's wings were still developing their strength and stamina, and Zinda had insisted she wait at western until after the Fall to be guided home. "Yes, I admit, Fire Lizards begin flying as soon as they hatch," stated Zinda. "But they are nowhere even close to the dragons in size. That is why we always insist they be a full turn old before they begin carrying their rider." "And 'wild' dragons learn not only to fly but to go between within a few seven days of hatching," pointed out Sorkana. Tiva nodded her head in support, having arrived now that she had been given the ok to go between in her condition. Zinda saw the look in the young girl's eyes, "You will not be flying with a Queen's wing during the fall. Vitath will be here to help with treating dragon injuries only." "Yes, and then we are going to the Western Weyr on Pern," Sistine insisted. "That Weyr needs to have their Queen present even if she is too young to mate yet." Sorkana had to hide her grin behind her hand, at the look on Zinda's face. There were two full wings at Pern's Western Weyr, but no Queen, Vitath was supposed to be that Queen. "You have certainly become the Weyr Woman I knew that you could be," stated Zinda. "Like your sister, you will lead your Weyr." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Gunnery Sergeant D. D. Miles of the Longbow sought out Sorkana for a private discussion. 'She is like you, only different,' advised Gayleth. It took a bit as D.D. hedged around the issue, unsure how the Weyr Woman would receive the information. "On the FSP Ships, the medical doctors have a way to change women like us, I mean those trapped in the wrong body," she began trying to explain. "There are surgeries that can change you to have the sexual parts of a woman, like I was changed after my injuries in combat. They have even learned to create a synthetic womb to allow us to bear children if we wish to do so," she explained. "But those alterations need to be done before we reach twenty-five years of age, or rather turns." "Why are you me telling of this?" Sorkana wanted to know. "I already have two wonderful children, and a mate who enjoys me just the way that I am. My Weyr and all who know me accept that I am a woman." "Didn't you ever wish that you could be as other women? They could make it so for you and for the others like you, as they did for me." "Sorki and Timia?" They talk about the processes and the recovery times, and the other aspects of the reconstructive surgeries. Then Sorkana said, "You have given me much to think about. But I never felt less of a woman before you told me this. Mine is not the only decision that needs to be consulted." Later, laying in D'ven's arms she told him of the new information she had received. Then she asked him if he ever wished that she could be as other women. Caressing her face, he kissed her lips. "To me, you are perfect the way that you are. But if you think, feel a need to be as other women, I will understand." "Only if you wanted me to, but, but perhaps for Sorki or Timia or even Lotti." "Love, the choice for yourself belongs to you, you already know how I feel. As for the others, I think they too should decide for themselves. Plus, for not only their safety, but that of their dragons I believe we should learn more from the ships doctors," he advised. 'Sorki and Timia would wish this,' echoed three dragons in her mind. The next morning over breakfast the two sought her out to ask questions. It was a long careful discussion which ended with an invitation to talk to Dr Marchand. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Medical Section; FSP Longbow: Sorkana flanked by Sorki, Timia, Tiva, Lotti and Master Dolphineer Jenna met with Dr Marchand aboard Longbow. As they sat in a group meeting they were introduced to Dr Yung and Dr Fong who were also Psychologists as well as Surgeons. Dr Fong was joining them by Video since she was still aboard FSP Nacona. They went over the FSP Medical Regulations for such surgeries, and then all three doctors agreed that both Pern and Between were well outside of the FSP Medical restrictions. All they really needed since each of the four Transgenders were well established in their life style all they needed was parental or guardian approval for those not already adults. "Doctors," began Sorkana. "The only one not considered an adult by Between or Pern Law is Sorki. But she is a Queen Rider, and falls into a special classification." "Yes, she does, but even with your permission she should be at least ten standard years old," stated Dr Yung. Which was then followed by disagreements with the other three who felt she should be at least thirteen. "I disagree, FSP Medical Standards has proven that those who are changed at younger ages, approximately ten, have a higher rate of success in reproductive development." Dr Yung was adamant about his opinions, he felt that Sorki, having lived nearly her entire life as a girl, was more than ready to undergo the surgeries once she was ten turns old. In her case another two turns. It was then decided that Jenna would be the first, followed by Timia and then Sorki when she was ten turns old. Lotti like Sorkana felt they were already as complete as they needed to be. They both had chosen mates who accepted them as they already were, and it was better than trying to change and possibly lose everything they had gained.