Peggeth's Choice

[Purrrdit]

PEGGETH’S CHOICE

1. Eastern Weyr, early spring:

The darkness was absolute. No light or even shades of darkness could be seen. It was actually more comforting to close her eyes and see the imagined shades of light and color, than to open them to the intense total void of blackness around her. The icy coldness seemed like a living thing, sucking the heat from her body. She kept picturing it as the biggest, ugliest, blackest tunnel snake ever, creeping ever closer to her, slowly swallowing her alive.

Uncontrollable shivers shook her body. She would never be warm again. Her family, those few she had known and loved all her life, would have already been taken by the cold. She knew that she would never see them again. Alone, she would always be alone now. It was coming for her, creeping ever closer. It would slowly suck all the heat, all the feeling from her. She would never leave this place.

She awoke to pale shadows coming from the doorway leading outside. Sweat covered her and dampened the blankets tucked closely around her. She always slept with at least three blankets now. The tangy taste of blood filled her mouth and tears ran down her cheeks. Taking repeated quick deep breaths; she tried to control the sobs wanting to escape.

At least she had not awakened screaming this time. No one else in the girls’ dorm was awake. Her first night here she had awakened everyone with her screams. It was better to bite her lips than to scream.
Had her parents and brothers felt the icy darkness and fear? Was it what they would feel forever now? Did Donal feel this same cold hopelessness?

She knew she would not be able to go back to sleep. It would be impossible to face the memories again, not this morning. Maybe, if she worked hard enough, got tired enough … maybe… she would be able to sleep through the night tonight.

Hopefully if she showed them how useful she could be, they would let her stay here, where it was always warm. Where, she would never really be cold again. Not while she was awake. At least she hadn’t awakened anyone else this time. She had to find a way to insure she didn’t awaken screaming ever again. If she did, she knew that they would send her away, like the others had. Maybe the next place would be really cold.

She was very careful to make no noise as she crawled out of the bed. Slowly, cautiously, she dressed. A blanket was neatly folded to carry with her. She started to fold a second blanket, paused, and then resolutely replaced it on the bed. The single blanket she hugged tightly to her chest, … in case it got cold. Slipping out of the dorm she headed for the beach. The moons cast plenty of light to see by. Normal darkness had never bothered her.

The Hatching Grounds had to be passed. Queen Helenth was sleeping by her eggs. During her brief stay at the last hold, she heard children talking about Queens attacking anyone disturbing their eggs. If only there was a different way to get to the beach, but she only knew the one path. Maybe later today, when it got light out, if they allowed her any free time, she could find a safer path. One that didn’t go anywhere near the Hatching Grounds. For now she snuck by very, very quietly.

She saw the beach for the first time yesterday and knew immediately that the ocean would be her balm. It would be relaxing to listen to the peaceful sounds of the waves, feel the warm sands, watch the movements of the water. She wouldn’t feel so alone there.

Mother would have loved the ocean. They could have sat and watched it together. She had always been able to talk to her mother or her little brother, Aron. He never stopped talking, and his eyes would shine whenever she taught him something new.

The tears had started running down her cheeks again. She had to put her hand over her mouth to insure a sob didn’t escape. Aron had stopped talking now. She would never hear his voice again. There wasn’t anyone here that she could talk to. She was alone; she would always be alone now.

You are not alone! I am here; I will talk to you, and listen.

She spun around in a circle looking everywhere especially in the near-by dark shadows. “Who are you? Where are you?”

I am Ranneth. I watch.

Don’t be afraid, there is nothing to hurt you. I am a very good watch dragon. I would not let anything hurt anyone I watch over.

“You’re a dragon? But how can you talk to me? I’m not your rider. Dragons only talk to their riders.”

We can talk to anyone we choose to talk to. You needed someone to talk to. I am here. You are very, very sad. You feel very alone! No one should be alone. I am here. You are not alone!

“But, you have a rider. You’ll always have a rider; you’ll never be alone. You couldn’t understand! You’ve never been alone. Is your rider listening now?” She squinted upwards. Trying to see if the rider was standing next to the brown dragon above her on the cliff. She didn’t want anyone else to feel sorry for her!

H’nor is by the fire. He reads one of the new books. He does not listen.

You are right, I have never been alone. But I can feel your pain, your loneliness. Other than H’nor there is no one else awake now. You should not be alone!

There are eggs hatching soon. Perhaps you will be chosen. Then you would never again be alone.

“NO! --- I -- I’m too young! The candidates are all at least 3 years older than me. I couldn’t be chosen! I’m not a candidate!”

The dragon chooses, not the man or woman. Path went to the stands to find Mirrim. Dragons choose where they will.

“NO! I could never be a dragon rider! Dragon riders go between. It’s dark and cold between. I can’t go between! They took me between to bring me here. I’LL NEVER GO BETWEEN AGAIN!”

Don’t shout. You will wake others. I hear what you think. You do not need to talk.

You need not fear between. Your dragon would always be with you. We keep our riders safe!

“No! You don’t understand, no one understands!” She turned to flee to the beach. The sobs could no longer be contained. They escaped around the hands she clamped over her mouth. Running to the end of the dock, she climbed down to the lower level, floating on the water, where she couldn’t be seen from the shore.

Placing the folded blanket on the float she sat on it, tightly hugging her bent knees. Her chin rested on her knees as she gazed out over the water. Ranneth had wanted to comfort her. She knew that and part of her was amazed and flattered that a dragon would actually talk to her. But he just felt sorry for her. Everyone felt sorry for her. It wasn’t the same as someone wanting to be with her just for herself.

She had been rude to a dragon. Her parents would be ashamed of her. She couldn’t believe she had actually yelled at a dragon. Dragons were very, very special! She would have to apologize.

Studying the sky she decided that it was still a long time till morning. When it started getting light, she would climb to the fire heights, to approach Ranneth face to face. Before she had to report to the kitchen to work. It was what her father had always taught her. If you make a mistake you are responsible to correct it.

Before … before the cold … she used to dream about being chosen by a dragon. … but that was before. It could never happen now! She gazed out at the reflections from the moons on the water, remembering and thinking. The light breeze slowly dried the tears on her cheeks.

Her parents would be very disappointed with her actions lately. Ranneth wasn’t the only one she needed to apologize to. She had a reason to be sad, but that didn’t mean she should make everyone else miserable.

Mother’s twin brother died in a mine cave-in last year. Mother had cried for two days, but then she had stopped. She had gathered all the children together and pointed to the old uncle Griff, who was visiting from neighboring High Pass Mining Hold.

She explained that about 40 turns ago, on the first day of the Pass, Griff had gone to work in the mines. Leaving his wife and children in the beautiful wooden home he had built for them. He had scoffed at the idea that Thread was real or that it would return. Even if the records were right, Thread hadn’t fallen for four hundred and fifty years. It would never fall again!
The emergency bell had rung at midday, when the Thread had started falling.

There was nothing anyone could do. Thread was already consuming anything organic that it touched. Griff had tried to get to his family. He took only one step outside before a Thread glanced off of the right side of his face, falling to his shoulder. As he fell, his feet extended back under the cave mouth, close enough for a friend to safely grab and pull him back under cover. Another quick thinking friend had helped to throw him into the wash water trough, drowning the Thread.

When he awoke, scarred and hurting, it was all over. Only pieces of glass, pottery and metal remained where his home had once stood. Cursing the friends who had saved him, he became mean and bitter. He had been unhappy and tried to make everyone else unhappy every day since.

Mother had said that she couldn’t be like that. That it was time to put her pain and unhappiness away and be thankful for what she had.

The water was really lovely. It looked so soothing. She left the blanket to crawl to the dock edge. Cautiously reaching out she tested the warm water. Making up her mind she removed her shoes, socks and pants, setting them back on the blanket.

On those rare days at High Mountain, when it actually got hot, they used to wade in the stream to cool down. Sitting on the edge, with her feet in the water, she slowly kicked her feet and remembered.

Mother was right; it was time to be thankful for what she had. She had no right to be rude and nasty to others. She didn’t want to spend her life like Griff.

The water was so peaceful. Small waves only one to two hands in height gently rocked the dock. Moonlight seemed to make the water sparkle with jewels. A light wind carried a smell totally different than anything she had ever enjoyed before. The scent of the sea mixed with the strange plants and flowers of this beautiful new land. Her eyelids began to droop.

“Hello!” The creature suddenly reared up out of the water in front of her, spraying moisture into the air. She scrambled backward, away from the edge; ready to flee up the ladder to the upper dock. The enormous dark gray fish kept standing on its tail. It turned its head to look out of each eye at her and made a high-pitched chittering squeeing sound. “Hello, who are you?”

It talked! It was actually talking to her. This must be a ship-fish or Dol… Dol-fin. There were some fishermen talking about them yesterday. They claimed that ship-fish were smart, friendly and helpful.

It had sunk back down into the water so that only its head was visible. The mouth curved to make it look like it was smiling at her. “My name is Heather. Are you a ship-fish?”

“Dolphin. Tana is dolphin. No fish, mammal. Dolphins mammal like Heather. Heather come to swim and play?”

“I don’t know how to swim. We had no ocean at High Mountain Hold.”

“Tana teach Heather. Heather come in water.”

Heather hesitated, “It’s too deep here. … I could walk in from the beach.”

“Shore too shallow Tana. Come in. Tana hold up Heather.”

Heather returned to the edge and cautiously knelt down. “Can I touch you?”

“Heather scratch Tana’s head. Scratches feel nice.”

Heather found that Tana’s skin was tough but smooth. Tana moved her head under her hand to show her where to scratch. There was a funny hole on the top of her head that opened and closed as Tana breathed.
Heather returned to sitting on the edge with her feet on either side of Tana’s body. Wow, if Donal could see her now. … No! … She had to put that behind her. … Tana had come to her, just to her. Tana didn’t know about what had happened. She was being nice just because she liked Heather.

“Heather come in water, hold Tana’s fin. We play.”

She hesitated, then shrugged her shoulders and slipped forward into the water. Her father had always complained that she was just like her mother, with more daring then all three of her brothers put together. He had always tried to act like he was upset with her for being so daring, but she had caught him smiling at her mother about it. Her mother had refused to tell her the story about that smile and how she had been daring. She had promised to tell her the whole story when she reached 14 turns.

Her face did not even touch the water before Tana had her top fin under her hand. The water felt delicious against her body. It was even nicer to be able to hold tightly to Tana. Tana wasn’t a person, she didn’t know what had happened, she couldn’t judge Heather as weak, or feel sorry for her. Animals were safe, they didn’t judge you. You didn’t have to prove yourself to animals. They couldn’t tell anyone else what you confided to them. Well … maybe that wasn’t really true since Tana could talk. But Heather knew instinctively that Tana was just as safe to talk to as her riding beast Blackie use to be. Hugging Tana was safe and she felt so warm and wonderful!

“Heather small. Heather hold dorsal fin and lay on top Tana, behind fin. Heather take ride.” Tana turned away from the dock, swiftly swimming westward along the beach.

It was fun! The feeling of moving through the water so rapidly, with Tana’s warm body under her was marvelous! She found herself actually laughing until a wave splashed water into her mouth.

Tana slowed and turned. Heather looked to see they were at least seven dragon lengths up the beach from the docks. “Heather hold breath? We go under water and jump?”

“I can hold my breath. We use to play bob for red fruit in the summer. And I always won!”

“Hold tight!” Tana sped forward. “Hold breath!” Tana made a quick shallow dive, down under water, and then leapt upward arching into the air and back into the water.

Tana stopped to listen to the happy sound of laughing coming from the previously sad child on her back. Humans were sad too often. They needed to laugh more. They should play more. Like dolphins!

“Oh Tana that was so much fun! Thank you!” She stretched her arms as far around Tana as possible, embracing her new friend. Tana was even better then Blackie! “Again, can we do it again?”

Tana was ecstatic that she could continue to have a human all to herself. Usually she had to share. She wondered briefly where the rest of the pod was. She was having such fun with Heather she hadn’t been listening to their calls.

***

Heather was exhausted by the time they had made four runs up and down along the beach. As they returned to the dock, a second dolphin suddenly came up next to Tana. It took only a second to eye Heather before squeeing, clicking, and nodding its head in an urgent manner. Tana stopped next to the ladder and reared out of the water as Heather climbed.

“Need T’lion right away! Jaya travel long long way come Eastern. Jaya baby comes now now. Bloodfish at opening not let baby come. T’lion need cut Bloodfish. Need now, now, hurry!”

“You need T’lion to cut off a bloodfish so the baby can come?”

“Need! Need now!” Tana turned to look eastward where Heather could see a group of closely packed dolphins coming toward them. Where? Where would rider T’lion be? How could she find him and get him here fast enough to save the baby and mother? Everyone was asleep.

“ RANNATH! RANNATH! Ranneth, please answer me, we need help now!”

I hear you. What is wrong?

“We need T’lion to come to the beach. One of the dolphins is having a baby and can’t because a bloodfish is at the hole. They need T’lion’s help.”

Maybe she should run up to the buildings. But most of the individual weyrs were scattered all around in the jungle. There was no way to tell which way T’lion’s might be. She didn’t even know who T’lion was!

T’lion comes. Healer Alisha comes with him.

“T’lion and a healer are coming.”

“Alta brings Jaya to shallow by shore for T’lion. Jaya tired, tired. Come long long way and baby try to come long time now.”

Heather climbed up from the float and ran to the shore so she could wade out to meet the group. There had to be something she could do to help! As she reached the shore she heard the sound of wings coming from the west and saw a bronze dragon winging in to land right in front of her, at the edge of the water. A man, wearing only short pants, rode him. The woman mounted behind had one arm around his waist and held a glow basket out to the side with the other hand. A brown fire lizard rode on her shoulders.

The rider dropped from the dragon’s shoulder within seconds of landing. Turning he took the glow basket from the woman, thrusting the handle towards Heather. “You must be Heather. Thanks for having Ranneth call Gadareth for me! Could you hold the glow for us?”

Heather barely had a grip on the glow, before he took two running steps into the water. Making a shallow dive he swam out to reach the dolphins.

“Hi, I’m Alisha and that was T’lion. He’s not usually so abrupt! Are you willing to help us?”

“Oh yes! Please let me help! I’ll do anything to help the dolphin and her baby!”

“For now we’ll need you to hold the glow. I’ll let you know when we need anything else.” Alisha had already started walking into the peaceful surf. She wore a strange garment, a combination of an apron and short pants, with bulging buttoned pockets scattered all over the front of her chest and hip area.

T’lion was standing next to a dolphin, supporting it by holding it’s pectoral flippers. Two other dolphins floated near by. As they reached him, Heather found that the water was chest deep for her, and just below T’lion’s waist.

“The bloodfish is attached just in front of the ventral slit. The long mouth sucker goes down through the skin and across the passage to a blood vessel on the other side. She’s been in labor for a long time! Her body trying to push the calf out of a blocked passage.

“Both her and the calf are in bad shape! The others supported and propelled her to get her here. She isn’t strong enough to roll onto her back. I’ll have to hold her while you kill the blood fish. They think that the calf will deliver as soon as the passage is open. But it is liable to be as weak as Jaya, or even unconscious.”

“Alright. Heather can you get up in front, next to T’lion by her head and hold the glow back over her towards me? I’ll try to catch the calf when it comes. After T’lion releases her be sure she rolls back upright, that the blowhole is above water. That’s how they breathe. Alta and Tana should move in to support her, but they can’t roll her over. Yell if you need help.”

Heather moved to Jaya’s head. Holding the glow up and back towards Jaya’s tail. She tried to be sure it was not in the way of either T’lion or Alisha, who was on the other side of him, by Jaya’s tail. Jaya’s eyes showed her pain and exhaustion. Reaching her hand out to caress Jaya’s head, Heather bent forward to whisper, “It is going to be alright! Both you and your baby will be fine.” She could see that Jaya’s abdomen kept rippling with contractions.

Alisha had removed a thin knife from one of the garment pockets. “Jaya, T’lion will be rolling you over now.” T’lion pushed down on the near pectoral flipper at the same time he pulled up and towards him on the opposite side flipper, rolling her towards him, onto her back. Alisha took a hold of the bloodfish, just behind the head, to steady it. She stabbed the knife into the exact spot in its head necessary to cause it to release the sucker as it died. Yanking it upward, she tugged the long mouth sucker out of the dolphin. The body was thrown backward toward the shore. In almost the same movement Alisha deftly returned the knife to its pocket with her other hand. Years of practice and use allowed her to do this and to fasten the flap on the pocket one handed without even looking. Her hands were free just in time to catch the calf as it was expelled out tail-first.

T’lion rolled Jaya back over and snatched the glow from Heather, swinging it to illuminate the calf. It was not moving, lying limply in Alisha’s arms. Alisha bent to blow a puff of air into the blowhole. She slid a hand up to press under the back of the left flipper, feeling for a heartbeat. It felt like an eternity, but was actually only four more puffs of air before the blowhole closed then opened back up, on its own. The body shuttered and firmed.

“He’s breathing! I saw him breath! You did it Alisha!” T’lion gently hugged her one armed, leaning forward to kiss the side of her smiling face. The brown fire lizard took to the air, chirping excitedly and doing a lighthearted aerial dance. T’lion and Alisha were sharing the same loving looks that her parents use to share. Heather could see how much each cared for the other. She no longer wondered how T’lion managed to find and bring Alisha so quickly.

T’lion used his free hand to grip the back of Alish’s clothing. “Here, let me steady you. Move back to where it’s shallow enough so you can sit with him in your lap. He’s too big to keep holding the way you are.”

As T’lion and Alisha moved back about one and a half man-heights to shallower water, Heather leaned down to hug Jaya. “He’s alive! Alisha got him breathing Jaya. He’s going to be OK. You’re both going to be OK!”

Dolphins were trilling, squeeing and clicking excitedly. Several were arching in great leaps out of the water. One tail walked backward, whistling happily. Alta and Tana supported Jaya on either side, but were very vocal in their excitement. “Heather do good. Very good! No time ring bell, wake people. Heather call dragon! Heather smart, smart.”

“T’lion best dolphineer! Alisha best medic! Jaya and calf live. Live long. Thank Heather! Thank T’lion! Thank Alisha!”

Jaya turned her nose into Heather’s hand, which had unconsciously returned to continue the soothing caresses to her head. “Thank Heather!”

“Oh no, I didn’t do anything, T’lion and Alisha did everything. I just held the glow. I’m so glad they could kill that terrible bloodfish and save your baby!”

Jaya weakly shook her head. All the dolphins became quiet as Jaya spoke again. Her weak voice carried even to T’lion and Alisha. “Heather calf. Heather never before swim or know dolphins. Heather think good! Heather do good! Thank Heather!”

T’lion returned to put an arm around Heather’s shoulder, hugging her. “She’s right! You did everything exactly right. Thank you!”

Heather burst into sobs. Turning into T’lion she hugged him tightly, continuing to sob. “I was afraid, so afraid! I thought they would die. I couldn’t stand if anyone else died!”

“Hey, it’s OK! No one died. Everyone’s fine! There’s no reason to cry now.” He continued to awkwardly hug the girl. Glancing at the brightening sky he called Gadareth, Can you take the glow for me? It’s bright enough without it now. It took only a few of Gadareth’s steps to reach T’lion from where he had been watching anxiously. The handle of the glow hooked neatly on a claw. T’lion’s hand was now free to stroke Heather’s hair as she sobbed into his chest.

Don’t ask her why she is upset! Ranneth said she lost her family in a disaster. She becomes angry if anyone feels sorry for her. She has nightmares. That is why she was awake.

Thanks Gadareth! Pass my thanks to Ranneth. T’lion continued to hold Heather as he addressed Jaya.

“Jaya, we have a sling and pulley system at the end of the dock. It can be used to lower patients into the water for dolphins to scan by sonar, or to support a weak or injured dolphin. Do you want to use it?”

“Calf needs to feed.”

“I can adjust the straps so he would have no trouble reaching your milk. We have loops on the straps so that when you’re feeling better another dolphin can release them if Alisha or I are not immediately available.”

“Good. This is good. No dolphineers in far east to help dolphins. Jaya must travel far far to come here. Very good, humans help dolphins and dolphins help humans. Need humans in far east.”

“Alisha, do you need anything before Heather and I set up the sling for Jaya?"
“Yes, I need Jaya to tell me the name of her beautiful son. I can’t keep calling him Handsome. He’ll get a big head.”

Heather released T’lion to stare in amazement at the ten dolphins all obviously laughing at Alisha’s joke. She wiped the tears from her face and found herself smiling with them.

“Heather name. Heather name my son!”

“Oh no, I couldn’t! Alisha and T’lion saved him. Not me.”

“I think that’s a great idea Jaya! Heather come get a good look at this wonderful calf.”

Heather and T’lion returned to find Alisha gently supporting the calf as he floated in front of her. He was darker than his dam with faint striping visible on his sides. In length he was about eleven hands. About as long as Heather was tall. The calf turned to look towards Heather squeeing and bobbing his head. Once started he kept up a steady stream of squees, clicks and whistles, obviously experimenting with his new voice. His eyes shone with his excitement in the new skill.

The happy smile on Heather’s face slowly changed to a sorrowful contemplation as she stared at the calf. “Aron, can we call him Aron?”

Alisha was confused at the return of sadness to Heather’s face. She was about to ask why, when she caught sight of T’lion, behind Heather, waving a hand and shaking his head. She changed her question to a statement. “Aron, that’s a beautiful name. What do you think Jaya?”

“Aron good! Son is Aron. Bring Aron to Jaya?”

“Heather, could you support him while I get up? Just keep a hand under his chest, he’s still a little wobbly.”

Heather knelt to place her hand under Aron, speaking to him softly. “Hi Aron. Alisha’s right, you are handsome! Do you like to have your head scratched like Tana?”

Heather slowly extended her caresses over Aron’s body. “Alisha, is there something wrong? His top dor-sal fin is soft and floppy!”

“He’s fine Heather! His dorsal fin and tail flukes are soft to make it easier for him to be born. They will become rigid in a day or two. We need to see if he will nurse now.”

“How can he nurse under water?”

“Jaya has nipples inside mammary slits in her abdomen on either side of the urogenital opening. Aron will push his nose into the slit. He’ll only nurse for five to ten seconds at a time, but will need to do so about four times an hour all day and night.”

*

;) total shortened & Continued in next post ...

[Lily]

Could we ask please that all feedback on stories are posted in the Feedback forum. If too many comments are posted with the story it spoils the continuity of it for others reading it

[Purrrdit]

T’lion asked Heather to help him set up the sling on the float while Alisha examined and helped mother and son. “Please pass that strap through the big loop and then to me. You’re Dilla’s new fosterling?” He saw her instantly still, her shoulders stiffening. Ranneth was right; she didn’t want to talk about why she was here. Since she was new here, maybe if he talked about other things he could get her to relax while they work.

She kept her back turned, fiddling with the straps. “Yes.”

“Dilla is a great person, but with Eastern’s first Gather and the Hatching all occurring in four days she’s liable to run you ragged. Not that there isn’t a lot to be done.

“Take this one through the loop on that one. Hopefully in the future we’ll have enough straps and fasteners to have a human rig and a separate dolphin rig always ready. It would save a lot of this time necessary to change from one pattern to the other.

“Did you know that Helenth’s clutch includes the first queen egg laid, at any Weyr, in almost five years! With the end of the Pass only 6 turns away, all of the queens are raising to mate less often and the numbers of eggs laid has been steadily decreasing. Alisha has been studying the old records. She suspects that Kitti Ping coded something into the genes of the dragons over 2500 turns ago, to keep there from being too many dragons in the turns when Thread wasn’t falling.

“Do you realize that Kitty Ping actually created Dragons from the genetic material of fire-lizards? I really have a problem picturing that Gadareth is related to a little fire-lizard! ---Now hand me that wide strap.

“Anyhow, the Hatching will fall at the beginning of three straight days with no Thread scheduled to fall on any inhabited areas. That means that dragon riders from every Weyr will be free to attend! The Gather is going to extend over all three days. As if that isn’t enough happening, with the winter as long and cold as it has been for most of Pern, everyone that can beg a dragon ride will be trying to come, just to get warm.”

Now what had he said? She had started relaxing and then tightened back up, drawing back in on herself. He would have to get Dilla alone later to find out the whole story.

“Between set up, Hatching, Gather, and then clean up, it’s going to be a real mad house around here for at least a ten-day! At least we don’t have to worry about providing all the food. Since all the Weyrs are involved, they are all providing support with supplies and personal. But Mirrim and Dilla are sure to run everyone ragged with their determination to have everything organized and perfect.”

Heather suddenly spun around. Dismay and a look of fright froze her features. “Oh no! It’s morning! I was supposed to be at the kitchens at first full light.”

“Hey, calm down! Dilla will understand. You saved two lives this morning! In fact -- if you don’t mind -- I’d like to ask Dilla if you could stay and help us with Jaya and Aron for the rest of the day? The dolphins all like you already and you’re a hard worker!”

That changed her dismay to a look of hope and longing. “Could I? I really do love the Dolphins. Could I really help? Would you really want my help?”
“Heather, You really did make a difference this morning! Alisha, Gadareth and I would be happy for your help.

“HEY ALISHA, WE’RE READY WHEN EVER YOU AND JAYA ARE.”

Alisha conferred briefly with the dolphins then swam to the floating dock, keeping even with an adult and little Aron, who was actually swimming unassisted. Dolphins on either side supported Jaya.

“Jaya, you’re not going to let Natua be Aron’s aunt, are you? She already runs herd over half the calves in the bay.”

The dolphin with Aron sped ahead to take a sharp turn by the dock, using her tail to propel several buckets worth of water up into the air, striking T’lion directly in the face and chest. Only a light splash reached Heather standing next to him. She stood up on her tail as she taunted T’lion back, “Natua best aunt! All calves should have Natua! Natua teach all to splash T’lion!” She ended with an extended clicking squee laugh.

Everyone joined in her laughter including T’lion and a deep rumble from Gadareth. Heather found herself smiling again with a giggle escaping as she watched the water trickle down T’lion’s face.

T’lion indicated two large wheels on either side of the lift support “Heather, if you turn these two wheels together they raise or lower the straps evenly. If necessary, I may tell you to turn one or the other separately to adjust the height. Can you manage that?”

On her nod, he jumped into the water to join Jaya and her escorts. Securing Jaya into the support straps took only moments. Few adjustments were needed to make Jaya comfortable.

**

Heather had been staring at the enormous bronze dragon sprawled on the sandy beach. He was intently watching the brown fire lizard trying to tear the flesh off of the blood fish. The fire lizard was hampered by the lapping waves as the fish was at the edge of the wash. Alisha followed her gaze and started to laugh. “Gadareth, you greedy wherry, it’s Tonic’s turn to have it! If you’re lucky he’ll let you have the leftovers when he’s done. You know he’ll never be able to eat more then a quarter of a fish that big!”

She smiled and shook her head at Heather. “We go through this every time we remove a bloodfish. The dolphins will eat them if they’re hungry, but much prefer other fish. Gadareth and Tonic however treat them like bubbly pies. They love the taste of them! Tonic could never eat more than half of even the smallest, and Gadareth takes one bite and the whole thing disappears.” She raises her voice again to reach Gadareth; “I still think it would only be fair if Tonic gets firsts off of every one of them, since Gadareth always gets to finish them!”

Gadareth turned to stare at her for several long moments. His eyes twirling gently in a blue green shade. He then lazily got up and stretched his head forward to grab the tail of the blood fish with his teeth. Tonic screeched, flapping backward madly while scolding hysterically. Gadareth lifted and flipped his head quickly to the left, tossing the blood fish up onto the sands and out of the waves. He then flopped back down, turning his gaze away from the blood fish. Tonic stopped his scolding and paused to look at Gadareth, chirping several inquiring notes at him before flying to reclaim his meal. Gadareth’s eyes now sparkled with a brilliant deep green color.

T’lion was laughing so hard he was in danger of drowning. He did manage to swallow one mouthful of water. This resulted in him coughing at the same time he was laughing. It was hard to tell with him treading water, but it also appeared that moisture was leaking from his eyes. Several long moments passed before he could catch his breath to speak. “Gadareth says that Tonic was taking too long to eat it. He still insists that it would “only be fair” if he gets at least ten for every one that Tonic gets, since Tonic always gets at least eleven mouthfuls on his turn!”

Alisha shook her head as she climbed out of the water. “Gadareth did that on purpose to scare poor Tonic! I swear you and Gadareth are getting as bad as the dolphins! Everything is a game.” She was however smiling as she reached a hand down to offer T’lion assistance in leaving the water.

T’lion was unable to resist yanking her back into the water to give her a hug. “That’s why you love us! You got Persellan to allow you to specialize in Dolphins and Dragons because you love the fun and laughter!” He gave her a quick shove on top of her head sending her under water. Climbing quickly onto the dock, he grabbed the ladder support and braced himself before offering Alisha his hand.

Alisha pretended anger as she ignored the hand and climbed the ladder unassisted. “Heather, I know you’re new to Eastern, please don’t judge all of us on the infantile humor of T’lion and Gadareth!” She sent a mock glare at T’lion before turning back to Heather. She threw a wet arm around Heather’s shoulder “Seriously though, you did an exceptional job this morning, you should be proud of yourself!”

She gave Heather a quick hug before turning back to T’lion. “I want to keep an eye Aron. Could you and Heather bring me breakfast after you get yours? I’ll need you to stay with them later as I’m scheduled to work with Master Persellan.

“Heather, you are willing to stay to help us, aren’t you?”

“I would love to, if Dilla will allow me.”

Heather waited till T’lion and Alisha agreed on the assignments, before asking, “Would Ranneth still be on watch?”

T’lion turned to her quizzically, “They would have been relieved at dawn. What do you need?”

Heather hid her face by turning to retrieve her clothing and blanket. “I need to apologize to Ranneth, I was rude, I yelled at him.”

T’lion and Alisha exchanged a baffled look.

Gadareth, is Ranneth still awake? What do you know about this?

Ranneth is at his weyr and said to bring her to him. He does not tell me why.

“Gadareth says that Ranneth is at his weyr and will see you.”

Heather turned hugging the blanket tightly to her chest, but keeping her eyes on her feet. “Could you tell me how to get there?”

“H’nor and Ranneth’s weyr is a good distance east down the beach. We’ll fly you there.”

“Oh no! You don’t need to do that. I can walk.”

“Heather, it would take you all morning to walk there and back, even if there were paths to get there. We can fly you there in just a few moments.”

“No! I … I can’t … I won’t fly between!”

“That’s no problem! Their weyr to too close to bother flying between to get there. We will just be making a short straight flight. Gadareth has a very smooth wing stroke; he won’t even bounce you around. You’ll be fine!

“There are towels in the box on the top dock if you want to dry off before dressing. Grab one for me please. Just bring the damp towel with you. There is a basket for them by the kitchen.”

Gadareth, would you wing back and pick up the flying straps? I’ll make sure no one steals the blood fish while you’re gone.

She is right, you do have poor humor! I go.

Heather looked up as Gadareth took off. As he flew away she looked inquiringly at T’lion.

“He’s going for the riding straps. We didn’t have time to get them earlier.”

By the time Heather had dressed and reached the beach, Gadareth returned to land next to Tonic and the remains of the blood fish. The riding straps were clutched in his left front paw. Tonic left the blood fish and hovered briefly in front of Gadareth chirping politely. As he winged out to join Alisha, Gadareth again grabbed the fish by the tail, flipped it upward and caught it in his open mouth. He chewed twice before swallowing, his eyes a slow contented green.

She hadn’t had time to really notice Gadareth’s size earlier. She had thought the green dragon she rode from High Reaches was large. Gadareth must be almost twice as big! Her stomach tightened and she found herself trying to swallow a strange lump in her throat. Her hands, hugging the blanket and towels to her chest, were white knuckled.

“We never had time for a proper introduction earlier. Heather, this is Gadareth; he’s the best bronze ever! We have been transporting people all over Pern since we were weyrlings and never even had anyone get sick on us. Give me just a second to fasten the flying straps.”

She remembers and fears Between. And a place like Between? What place could be like Between?

I don’t know either. I really do need to talk to Dilla. Let’s get her up and going. Thinking about whatever it was isn’t going to make it any easier for her!

T’lion leapt up onto Gadareth’s forearm, grabbing the straps and swinging up to his back ridge. He needed only seconds to fasten the straps. “Pass me up the towels. --- OK, now if you just step up on his foreleg, I’ll pull you the rest of the way up.”

Heather stared up at him with out moving. Her voice cracked as she tried to speak. “You…you promise not to go between?”

“We promise Heather! I can even have Gadareth fly low to the trees, if you don’t want us to go high?”

“Oh no, height doesn’t matter, as long as you don’t go between.” She quickly climbed to her seat behind T’lion. He assisted her in fastening the flying straps and advised her to hold onto his waist as they took off.

Heather found that Gadareth’s flight was indeed smooth. As they soared above the jungle she began to relax. The jungle and beach were beautiful! There were a number of weyr clearings scattered in the trees, up and down all along the beach. Most were large with a number of buildings but several were individual huts. There were rounded circles indented into the ground near each hut. She wondered what they were until she saw a dragon curled up sleeping in one of them.

The view flying like this was extraordinary! Heather was really starting to savor the experience of flying above the trees, when she realized that Gadareth was gliding down to land in one of the larger clearings. There were three larger buildings in the clearing. She counted eleven dragon beds, but only one brown dragon was currently present.

As they landed, an elderly man came walking to meet them. “That’s H’nor, Ranneth’s rider. They retired here from Telgar Weyr about a year after the flood.

“H’nor, I’d like you to meet Heather, she’s the girl who asked Ranneth to wake us to help the dolphins. Thanks to her and Ranneth we have a healthy new calf, Aron. His mother, Jaya, should recover with a few hours of rest.”

H’nor studied Heather for a moment before smiling and extending his hand to her. “Ranneth has only ever chosen to speak to one other person that I know of, you must really be special!”

Heather looked down, cuffing her toe in the sand. Her voice wavered as she spoke. “No sir, I’m not special. Ranneth felt sorry for me because I was alone and upset.”

H’nor gently reached out to lift her chin, bringing her eyes up to meet his. “You’re wrong! Ranneth saw something special about you or he wouldn’t have bothered to speak to you. No matter how upset you were!”

“But I was rude to him! I actually yelled at him. --- And he was so wonderful, even though he should have been mad at me, he still answered me when the dolphin needed help! He has a right to be mad at me!”

“Ranneth, doesn’t hold grudges. Go see him, and scratch his eye ridges, he loves that.”

Heather walked slowly towards the old brown dragon tranquilly reposing in the sun. He opened his blue green eyes, which twirled slowly, to watch her.

She forced herself to walk directly up to the left side of his face, where she could look directly into his eye. “I need to apologize to you. I had no excuse to yell at you. --- I - I also wanted to thank you for helping me when I needed you.”

Ranneth remained silent. After a long moment, he tilted his eye ridge toward her, closing his eye.

Heather tentatively reached out to scratch the eye ridge. Ranneth shifted his head under her hand, in the same way Tana had, to impel her to scratch where it itched. After awhile Ranneth’s breathing slowed and soft snores mixed with his breath.

She might as well return to T’lion and Gadareth. Ranneth was obviously still annoyed. Hopefully some day he would forgive her. He really was a wonderful dragon just to have talked to her when she was feeling so alone and helping when the dolphins needed him.

I was never angry! You have friends now. You are no longer alone. Dolphins are nice; they find all the itchy spots under me when I swim.

Heather found herself smiling at Ranneth. He opened his eye to wink at her. But dragons are better friends! He winked a second time before curling his head back around to his side, closing his eyes and again appearing to go to sleep.

***

“… So it’s no surprise that she is so sad, and has those nightmares. My aunt Nella at High Reaches Hold wasn’t able to get her to open up and talk about what happened. So she couldn’t give me any more exact information. Heather was only there four nights before they sent her here to try to help stop the nightmares. She was waking everyone with her screaming. They thought the warmth might prevent the nightmares. The same problem occurred at High Pass Mining Hold where she was taken after the rescue. They sent her to High Reaches after only two nights!

"I’m sure, that once I get her to talk and tell me exactly what she went through, that she can then start to put it behind her. I’ve explained that to her and told her that she needs to talk it out, but so far she refuses.

"She is the best little thing otherwise! Does anything you ask her. Will work all day and do a good job! But never a smile. Never any talking, unless you ask her something that she has to answer. The poor thing, she carries a blanket with her anywhere she goes!

"I’ve had some of the other girls try to approach her. They have tried to be friends, get her to talk, but she refuses. Of course, this is only her third day here. I’m sure in the next few days she’ll realize I’m right, and talk the problem out.”

T’lion spoke quickly into the slight pause, “Dilla, I hate to ask this of you. I know you’ve more work than you have helpers already, but, well, it’s the dolphins. They have really taken to Heather. They really like her, especially the poor mother Jaya and her new baby. She has a way with them and I’ve actually seen her smile around them. Could you let her work with Alisha and I?”

Dilla frowned and appeared to think briefly, “I’d intended to try to talk to her again today. And there are all those roots to be peeled and started soaking. --- You say she actually smiled?”

“Twice, you know what comedians those dolphins are. They make everything a game. In fact, Natua is always asking when you are going to come down to see her again.”

Dilla, who had been about to speak, stopped, stuck out her chin, stretched to her full height, and glared up at T’lion. Her first finger was raised and shaken under his nose. “I’ve raised nineteen fosterlings, not including the seven I have now. I know every trick ever thought up by a youth to try to get around me! You may have gone directly to the Weyrling Master and missed my fostering, but I guarantee that you will never pull anything over on me!”

“Dilla, I wasn’t trying to pull anything on you! Natua does ask about you. She acts as an “aunt” for the baby dolphins, helping all the others with their calves. I think she identifies with you.”

Dilla glared at him a moment longer, then her body relaxed and she nodded to herself. A half smile tilted the corner of her mouth as she slowly shook her head back and forth while looking up at him.

“You have always been a charmer. Maybe I was lucky I never had you to foster.

“I know I’m considered a nosy busybody and I admit I like to know the whole story about everything. But I would never do anything to hurt one of my children! I really do believe that it would be best for Heather to talk out what happened. But I want what's best for her, if those dolphins and you can get smiles out of that poor child, then that's what's best for her!

"Actually, without her sad face, the other fosterlings will probably be much happier and work harder. If for no other reason than that the sooner they finish, the more free time they get. Everyone's so excited about the Hatching and the Gather!"

"Thanks Dilla! We'll take good care of her." He waited till he was out of range of the broom Dilla held to add, "You really do need to come down to see Natua. Did I tell you that she calls you the little big woman, with all the calves?"

T'lion fled laughing as Dilla raised the broom and started towards him.

***

Tana had volunteered to teach Heather to swim. To T'lion's argument that she didn't have legs and arms and used a different method of swimming, Tana insisted that she had watched him swim and had studied how humans swim. Only T'lion was surprised at how successful Tana actually was. Alisha was quick to explain to him that Tana not only supplied the instruction but also the motivation to learn. The bonus was that in true dolphin tradition she also managed to make everything a fun game.

Alisha had T'lion helping to run medical tests on Jaya and Aron. "I appreciate your letting me take these readings Jaya. I've got the records from over 2500 turns ago, but I need to determine if there have been any physical changes. We are trying to update all the data on temperatures, sizes, reactions and abilities. Not only for dolphins, but for people and dragons too. You’re my first chance to test a new mother and calf. Of course I know that with how far you traveled, the blood fish and the extended labor, you’re not the average. But every bit of data can help."

"Very good, healers have data help others. Return far east. Tell pods come great healer Alisha!"

"I'm not great Jaya. I'm only a journeywoman. I still have a lot of learning to do."

"Always learn. Live is learn. Alisha make Aron breath, Alisha great! Alisha become great great!"

"You tell her Jaya! The girl doesn't believe me when I tell her she's great. She works too hard. Doesn't take time to play like Gadareth and me."

"Don't you start that again T'lion!

“Jaya, I realize your home is a far distance, but I hope you can stay here, at least for a while. Your body needs time to recover and I won't be sure that you’re not developing an infection for at least five days."

"Jaya stay through Gather. Natua say Master Dolphineer Readis come Gather. Want talk Master Readis! Need Dolphineer far east!”

An excited giggle drifted over the water, abruptly ending in a choking cough. Heather, obviously having swallowed a mouthful of water, was treading water by Tana. Both T’lion and Alisha watched for a moment to insure she was OK. Although with at least six dolphins in the area there was no real question of her safety.

As soon as she recovered she said something to Tana. Then holding her arms to her sides, palms facing outward, she swept them upward, forcing her body down, feet first under the water. Alisha counted to 45 before Heather resurfaced, again laughing. This time she appeared to have mastered the technique of timing her breathing, laughing and talking to compensate for the actions of the waves and managed not to swallow water.

As Alisha returned to taking Jaya’s temperature, T’lion cleared his throat. “With all the tests you’re doing and with Master Persellan and you treating humans, dragons and dolphins, I guess you could use an apprentice to help?”

Alisha deliberately took her time finishing Jaya’s checks before slowly returning the thermometer to its pocket in her coverall. She had designed the garment to fit her need to carry all her tools and medications yet keep her hands free to work. A computer check of old-time garments had found “overalls” and apron designs. She combined elements of both to come up with a design which met her needs, lots of secure pockets and a cool covering which could withstand repeated immersions in water. A journeywoman weaver had been happy to make up four for her. In exchange the journeywoman used the design with modifications to sell coveralls to various other workers.

“You’re talking about Heather?”

T’lion tried to think of where he had gone wrong in his plan. Alisha was obviously already onto him and she didn’t look happy. “I just thought you could use the help and she seems eager to learn and help.”

“Apprentices usually report only to their craft masters and journeypersons and live in the craft hall or with their masters. Where did you intend Heather to live?”

“I, ah, I thought maybe she could stay in that small storage room off of the healing hall, or in the extra room at our weyr?”

“I suppose you have already discuss this with Gadareth?”

“I, ah, well ah, yea.” T’lion was looking very worried. He glanced towards Gadareth sleeping in the sun on the beach. When Alisha cleared her throat he hurriedly turned back to her.

“It wouldn’t be my decision. Master Persellan would have to accept her.”

“I thought if you told him how good she is and explained about her situation.

“I only spent about a year in the Weyrling Barracks and I had Gadareth as my constant companion, but it’s hard to go from a small hold with just family to a barracks or dorm situation full of strangers. I know the other kids are good kids, but if someone’s different, or does something strange like screaming every time they go to sleep, kids tend to pick on them. I really think she needs some privacy. I told you how Dilla thinks she needs to talk about it, but I don’t think she’s right this time. Dilla’s a wonderful person and she’s a great foster mother, but I really don’t think she’s right this time.

“I want to get her out of that situation and just give her some time to recover without pressure. If it was me, if I lost everything and my family and suddenly had to go somewhere strange, I would at least want to be allowed some privacy.

“I’d take her as my apprentice, to be a Dolphineer, but I don’t really have any standing. I’m a dragon rider, and I wouldn’t change that for anything, but I’m also a Dolphineer! There isn’t any real standing for that, no real pay, or anything. Readis has recognition and they even have him training some people, but even he doesn’t get much compensation.”

Alisha stepped closer to T’lion, placing her hands on either side of his face and stretching up to kiss him. “I’m sorry T’lion! I wanted to pay you back for all the pranks you’re always playing and make you squirm a little before I told you how wonderful your idea was! This was the wrong time through. This is really important to you, and it should be! I fell in love with you because you’re so giving and you care so much about everything and everyone.”

“You’re not mad that I talked to Gadareth about this before you?”

“Gadareth is your other half. You’re a matched set. You were already a matched set when I met and fell in love with you. I could never be upset because of anything you did with Gadareth; he’s part of you! I wanted to pretend to put you on the spot, make you sweat, to pay you back for your stunt this morning. I’m sorry!” Alisha gave him another kiss, his arms going around her and hugging her tight.

T’lion finally ended the kiss, pulling back so that he could study her face. “Then you would consider asking Persellan about Heather?”

“I intended to do that even before you started trying to manipulate me. If anything I objected to that! You don’t have to set me up to get what you want. You don’t have to lay any groundwork. Just be honest with me. Tell me what you think and feel. Like you just did about Heather and her being in the dorm. Trust me to understand and agree. Even if I disagree, we can work together to find a solution. Between the three of us, we have a pretty good team going!”

She is right! We are lucky to have her.

Jaya, who had quietly listened to all of the exchange, nosed Aron out towards deeper water. She would have to discuss this with the local pod. It appeared that she would have something else to discuss with Dolphineer Master Readis.

###

Continued...

[Purrrdit]

2. Eastern Weyr, 4 days later:

Gather booths and tents filled almost every available open area, in and around the Eastern Weyr. The only exceptions appeared to be the field in front of the Healing Hall, the beach, and the Hatching Ground. The Hatching Ground was surrounded by eight tiered stands to allow for seating the thousands of people attending. A number of sellers had what were considered to be choice locations under the rear of those tiered seats. This was a popular site for cold drinks, fruit and snack type foods. Roofing was required to avoid dropped items or dirt from adding itself to the various food and drink items.

Most foods and almost all hot foods were being cooked and sold on the eastern end of the beach. This allowed the prevailing westerly wind to send all the heat and smoke east away from the other activities. The only exception was Eastern’s normal cooking area, and fires had even been curtailed there. The western end of the beach, under and close to the tree line, was used for an open dining and general relaxation area.

Dragons were scattered all over the sand, immediately adjacent to the water, all up and down the beach. Some slept, or tried to, in the early morning sun. Most bathed in the water, with groups of fire-lizards, riders, volunteers and dolphins to assist them. Several greens, a bronze and white Ruth were the center of a large group of youths and young at heart having fun in the warm waters. The dragons had consented to be diving platforms for the unofficial competitions taking place and resting areas for the younger children. Eleven dolphins played among them and gave rides to all those who asked.

The Healing Hall field was the official drop off area for dragons to unload their many passengers. Due to the number of ships also attending, the dock was also kept open for unloading. Ships were required to anchor at least 3 dragons’ lengths out from the beach. Several enterprising youth were charging to give the skipper and crew rides back in from anchorage. Their small crafts would eventually be beached twelve or more dragons lengths away from the center docks.

Menolly and Sharra wove their way through the people and booths catching up on the latest exploits of each other’s children, husbands, and coworkers. With dolphins and Ruth for lifeguards, the children could be safely allowed to enjoy a swim without human supervision.

Sharra inquired, “Have you noticed all the non-traditional booths at this Gather? Every new crafthall must have at least one display here. The Papercraft Hall has inexpensive tablets of all shapes and sizes and those new writing instruments. I already had them set aside paper for Jaxom and the kids to write and draw on and I have to remember to pick up one of those new pens as a gift for Oldive. I really like the ones made from the Broomtree wood.”

"I adore the tablets preprinted for writing music! They will save so much copying time. The cost is low enough that I think Sebell will consider purchasing some for the use of the Journeymen in the hall. I’m sure the apprentices will still have to copy from scratch, but with the cost so low he may consider letting them use paper.

“Oh look, even the Computerers Hall is here. Journeyman Bonne, it’s good to see you again. Surely you aren’t actually selling computers?”

“Not exactly, we’re taking orders. This basic informational storage unit holds a wide range of information and can also be used for instruction. This is our first completed unit, but we should be able to provide others to major holds and halls within a half turn. This one is going directly to the Harper Hall at Fort after the Gather. Master Sebell…” Her hand flew upward to cover her mouth. Her face changed from a happy smile to a look of despair. “SHARDS! I can’t believe I’m so stupid! Master Piemur will bust me down to an apprentice!”

Menolly smiled at Bonne, shaking her head back and forth gently. “Relax, I’ve found that things are rarely as bad as we first think they are. Now why don’t you explain why you think Piemur would demote a very promising Journeyman, who he obviously thinks very highly of?"

“Why do you think he thinks highly of me?”

“He placed you in charge of this Gather booth didn’t he?”
“But that’s just it! He trusted me to handle demonstrating the unit and taking orders, and then I go and run my mouth and ruin Master Sebell’s surprise.”

“You haven’t ruined any surprise, has she Sharra? I’m sure that if Sebell should ever try to surprise me or the Harperhall, that’s just what will happen, we will be surprised.”

“You mean you won’t tell him that I spoke out of turn?”

“Bonne, as you get older and spend more time around men, you will find that there are many little things that women avoid telling men about. Oh, nothing major, nothing that could really effect Hold, Hall, or Pern, but lots of little things that they are happier not knowing about. Now why don’t you show me what this unit can do? - - If I like it, I may try to talk my husband into getting one for the Hall. ”

T’lion heard Menolly’s clear melodic laugh before she became visible in the crowd. He hurried forward to place his arms around the shoulders of both Menolly and Sharra. “Just the women I wanted!”

They had time only to turn smiling towards T’lion, before a hand descended onto T’lion's shoulder turning him. “What do you mean, you want my wife?” Sebell growled. “Did you hear him Jaxom, he “wants” our wives!”

“I heard him. I keep trying to tell you about Bronze riders Sebell.”

T’lion had a red flush covering his face and seemed to be having trouble putting his thoughts together. Although he had grown up giving frequent rides to Menolly and had occasional friendly contact with Sharra, he still stood in awe of the Master Harper of all Pern and the Lord Holder who rode white Ruth. “No sirs, I wouldn’t really want your wives. Not that way! They’re too old for me! I mean I wouldn’t be attracted to them. I…I mean…”

Menolly and Sharra burst into laugher, causing Jaxom to loose his glaring expression and a slight smile to touch his lips. Sebell managed one last serious retort, “I wasn’t aware that Bronze riders could become that shade of red, Jaxom.” Then the husbands joined in their wives’ laughter.

T’lion shut his mouth and visibly relaxed although the red flush was slower to fade.

“Sebell that was really mean, you know I could never consider a youth like T’lion when you are available.” Menolly felt it was only fair to get a little pay back in for the “old” remark. She hugged Sebell and turned to face T’lion. “Now that we have established, beyond any doubt, what you don’t want with us T’lion, what is it you do want?”

"I need a mind healer or maybe some type of teacher to help a young girl recover from a disaster which killed off almost everyone else in her hold. Master Persellan and Alisha hoped one of you two would be able to point me in the right direction.”

Jaxom stepped forward, holding up his hand in a halting motion. “Just one moment please. Is this Alisha the Journeyman healer who is studying Dragon history and creation?”

“Yes sir, that would be my weyrmate Alisha all right. She has read everything she can on Kitty Ping and the creation of Dragons. She has copies of most of the dragon records AIVAS restored from all the Weyr records too.”

“It seems I owe you an apology T’lion, after becoming upset that you wanted my wife, it seems that I in fact, want your Alisha. We just came from the Healing Hall looking for her. Can you tell me where to find her?”

T’lion’s eyes briefly unfocused indicating he was talking to his dragon. “She is helping to get things prepared and organized at the Weyrling Barracks.”

“Your dragon speaks to her?”

“No sir, not usually, but Gadareth does speak to her brown fire-lizard Tonic.”

“I think if I hurry I still have time to meet with Alisha, before my meeting with T’gellan. Sebell, you know you don’t need to come.”

“I’d be a poor friend if I didn’t support you in something you feel so strongly about. Besides, in this case, as the Master Harper, I also strongly agree with your proposal. Let’s go, we’ll need to hurry.”

Sharra stepped forward to give Jaxom a quick hug. “Good luck! If she isn’t agreeable, you know I am.”

Menolly waved the two men off then turned to T’lion, “Now, what’s this about needing a mind healer?”

T’lion stared after the men wondering what it was they needed from Alisha. Oh well, Alisha would tell him later. “Alisha said that computer records call them a Psychiatrist, a doctor who deals with mental and emotional problems. Neither her or Persellan know of anyone like that themselves, but thought that with you being Master Oldive’s assistant, Sharra, and with Menolly knowing almost every Harper, one of you might know someone who could help stop Heather’s nightmares. She wakes up screaming almost every night!”

Sharra was shaking her head with a look of regret on her face. “I’ve studied the idea and we’ve had patients who have needed that type of help in the past. Actually I can think of at least 6 patients I would love to have work with a Psychiatrist. But it will be years before we progress to the point that any of our healers would have the time to study and specialize to that degree.

Menolly wore a look of intense concentration, her left hand rubbing her chin. “Where is this girl?”

“Heather is here, at Eastern. They brought her here from High Reaches Hold hoping the warmth might help. Most of her family froze to death.”

“There is a young Journeyman Harper, named Georgus, he has done some really amazing things with troubled youth. Georgus is the oldest of nine children from a small beast hold. His father is a drunkard. His mother died with the birth of his youngest brother. She must have been an amazing person too. She had already taught him all of the teaching ballads and songs letter perfect. He was only twelve turns, but he took over raising all the children and taught them himself, letter perfect. The following turn his father struck his oldest sister Mayna on the head, during one of his drunken rages. She lost all of her sight. Georgus taught her how to take care of herself and her brothers and sisters. He also helped her discover how to find her way all though the hold and surrounding area just by touch and memory.

“One of our Journeymen route riders discovered him the next turn. He refused to come to the Harper Hall without Mayna and insisted that all his brothers and sisters had to be fostered out. He even insisted on approving all the fosterings! He helped Mayna learn her way all through Fort and the Harper Hall, in his free time between classes. Mayna is now a Journeyman Harper teaching voice classes. She’s also an amazing person and we are lucky to have her. I expect she will someday be a Master of Voice.

“Georgus teaches and is in charge of the dorm for the seven to eleven turn olds at the Landing School now. He is a truly amazing young man, seeming to have a gift for knowing exactly what is needed to help any troubled child.”

Sharra spoke up, “We stayed with Lytol and D’ram, at cove Hold last night. D’ram told us that he was picking up Master Samvel, of the Landing School and one of his instructors to attend the Hatching this morning. The instructor was a Journeyman D’ram is very impressed with, named Georgus.”

“Perfect! T’lion you’ll need to sit with us at the hatching. Naturally D’ram and his guests will be invited to sit with Jaxom, Sharra and family. That way we can introduce you to Georgus. That is if you can stand sitting with all Sharra’s and my children?”

***

They were running late. It always seemed that some type of problem was popping up at the school. Just as they were about to mount Tiroth, one of the seven turns olds had thrown a fit that he wasn’t allowed to join the older kids who had been selected to attend the Hatching and Gather. D’ram had been very understanding of the need to calm the boy. Georgus had explained that the children attending had to have all their studies up to date and had to put in a half a day of work detail at anything the Weyr required. This allowed them to eat at the Weyr kitchen and sleep on the floors, in the dorms, for the three nights. If the boy studied hard and behaved, he would have a chance to go next time.

Georgus couldn’t believe that he was actually flying to his first Hatching strapped atop Tiroth in the company of two such important people! As they came out of between, Tiroth immediately started humming. The surrounding trees appear to pulse in time to the humming. Georgus had recently seen a program showing old Earth celebrations and traditions. He could not help comparing the green, blue, brown, bronze and golden colored fire-lizards perched on every branch to the colorful ornament covered trees shown on the screen. The way the sun glinted off of their hides and glowing eyes as they moved even resembled the flashing lights.

He had never seen anything to compare to the Eastern Weyr’s cliff face, hillsides and beaches. They were covered by what appeared to be at least a thousand dragons. The golden Queens were in the choice positions directly above the Hatching Grounds. Their bronze mates perched around them. Some dragons, unable to find a suitable empty ledge or vacant mountainside location, had positions behind and next to the stands. A few of the larger bronze and brown dragons were actually peering over the top of the stands. A number of dragons appear very content to lie on the warm sands of the beach, closing their eyes and observing the proceedings through the eyes of their riders. All were slowly humming their anticipation tune indicating that the eggs would start hatching soon.

D’ram turned to shout back to them, “Tiroth, says that Queen Arwith has given him permission to land briefly on the Hatching grounds to unload. We will need to dismount quickly. They estimate the hatching will begin almost any time now. - - There’s Sharra and Jaxom waving for us to join them.”

**

Georgus was amazed that he was sitting in the front row seats of one of the two stands reserved for those in the leadership positions of Pern. Only the Weyrleaders themselves had better seating. The introductions had been cut short as the humming changed and the tempo became more intense.

A number of wet children and youths dashed between the stands to join them. White Ruth winged past, and being smaller than all the other dragons, managed to find a suitable ledge just above the stands. He was immediately joined by several fairs of fire-lizards, which joyfully perched on the surrounding cliff face and even on Ruth himself. A number of dripping wet firelizards also blinked out of between to land on the various shoulders of the adults and children surrounding Georgus.

Bronze Cabenth was perched on the main ledge above the stands. It was Cabenth, who had flown the golden queen Helenth and sired the eggs soon to be hatching. Jaxom commented that B’irto had impressed Cabenth at Ruth’s hatching. As the Weyrling Master, B’irto would be playing a major roll in the lives of the hatching dragons and those they chose to be their riders. He stood with the guides selected to assist the weyrlings just to the side of the Hatching Sands.

Helenth, the Weyr’s second queen, was also a Benden Weyr descendent. She reclined protectively near the queen egg keeping an alert eye on the other eleven eggs sitting on the hot sands of the Hatching ground. As the tempo of the hum kept intensifying, the candidates started out onto the hot sands. The Dragons were now encouraging the little dragonets to leave the eggs.

It had become more and more common for females to impress Green Dragons. Therefore there were nine girls included with the eighteen male candidates. Most of the girls immediately formed a circle around the Queen egg. The males and three of the girls concentrated on the other eggs. Most were paying special attention to the three largest, hoping to impress a Bronze Dragon.

Strangely, none of the candidates seemed to pay any attention to the small egg off to the one side. Yet Georgus noticed that Lord Jaxom, Sharra, Master Sebell, and Menolly all seemed to be watching that egg for the slightest movement. The Bronze rider, who had been briefly introduced as T’lion, and the Journeymen Healer Alisha, at his side, also kept focusing on the small egg.

The first egg to start rocking was off to the side from the Queen Egg and immediately in front of the stands. A hole appeared in the egg. Then another and another until suddenly the egg split apart and the brown dragonet unfolded itself from the shards of eggshell. Everyone held their breath as it pushed upright, swinging its head back and forth. For a second it seemed to look directly at Georgus, but then it turned to stagger to a boy wearing a technician apprentice’s shoulder knot. Their eyes met and they became bonded for life. The ex-technician looked up to the Queen Rider’s box, in the center stand. With tears in his eyes he stated, “His name is Anath and he wants me!”

Other eggs started cracking and Georgus was unsure where to watch. He became puzzled when he noticed that many of those seated with him continued to watch only the small egg. One of the young men behind him tapped him on the shoulder leaning forward to whisper, “Hi, I’m Jaxom’s son, Jarrol. This is your first hatching isn’t it? I thought so. I’ve seen you at Landing. My friend Justin said you’re the best teacher ever! No one else will tell you, but since you’re in the middle of this I thought you ought to know what was going on. That egg, the small one, it’s just like Ruth’s was. They never hatch.

“Ruth only hatched because Dad broke his shell open. Anyhow, Dad thinks the shells are all too thick on the small eggs and that’s why they never hatch. But most other riders think the eggs are dead, or the dragons in them are deformed and they are not meant to hatch. Dad was going to try to get Weyrleader T’gellan to approve them listening to the egg with a stethoscope and opening it, if the dragon is alive. I’m not sure if they got approval or not.”

Georgus was astonished at Jarrol’s revelations. Why would anyone not want a dragon to hatch? He had studied the records on the mission to move the Red Star. Only Ruth had been able to understand the concept and make the visualization necessary to go between to the bridge of the Yokohama. Without Ruth’s birth, it was very possible that they would never have succeeded in moving the planet and stopping future falls of Thread!

The Queen egg fractured and a small golden rear leg shoved outward creating a hole while the egg rocked. The leg was pulled back in to again strike the inner shell enlarging the hole. The next leg push combined with an equal straightening extension of the head and neck shoved the sections of the shell apart. After a brief rest the Queen squirmed upright to wobble onto her four legs. She turned a slow circle appearing to study each of the girls surrounding her, before carefully walking between two of them and past all six hoping to impress her.

One of the other girls had her back turned to the queen, hopefully watching a hatching green. The Queen lost her balance as she approached the girl and tumbled forward into the back of the girl’s legs. The girl fell backward on top of the young Queen catching and twisting one of her wings under them. The little Queen screamed with rage and pain. Arms, legs and wings flailed as they attempted to right themselves. Her scream was repeated by Helenth who became enraged that anyone would dare to injure her daughter and started to move forward. There was a collective gasp from the stands as several other candidates rushed forward to help.

As the girl rolled off the little Queen and came to her knees, their eyes made contact. Both Queens immediately quieted. The little Queen stretched her nose forward to rest on the girl’s chest. Now the girl sobbed, tears of joy and pain combining to flow down her cheeks. Looking to the center stand she managed to yell, “I think I broke Starith’s wing tip.”

Weyrling Master B’irto rushed forward. Alisha grabbed her medical bag and hurried out from the stands to join Master Persellan rushing from where he had sat with the Weyrleaders. As they examined the Queen the other eggs continued to hatch. The hatching green managed to avoid the cluster around the queen, finding her way to one of the girls the queen had bypassed.

“Dad it moved! I saw it move!” was suddenly yelled by Jarrol.

Everyone in their section returned their attention to the small egg. As it continued to obviously rock back and forth, Jaxom stood, clenching his fists tightly. “He can’t get the shell open! - - - If we wait till all the others leave the field, it may be too late!” He looked to the Queen’s box and saw that T’gellan was in urgent conversation with Wyerleaders F’lar and Lessa.

Jaxom had just returned his gaze to the egg when the top half suddenly split cleanly from the bottom. The top half then appeared to lift straight upward for an arm length before it paused, then tilted and fell to the side. As the white dragonet straightened up out of the egg, Ruth reared back on his haunches, extended his wings, and lifted his head skyward to loudly bugle his jubilation. His actions and rejoicing call were repeatedly echoed by every firelizard present.

Most of those in the stands had been concentrating on the drama around the little queen and missed the strange opening of the smallest egg. However between Ruth’s double toned proclamation and its duplication by the firelizards, everyone now stared at the strange dragonet carefully climbing from her egg.

Male candidates started to move forward but most stopped as the sex of the dragonet became obvious to all those having previously lived around dragons. Whispered conversations sprung up both on the field and in the stands. Four female candidates eagerly moved forward.

Feelings of intense hunger and loneliness spread across the entire hatching grounds and the stands. Some of the very young children started to cry aloud. The blue and two green dragonets, which were the last to hatch, immediately started creeling their hunger.

Even the golden Starith screeched a hungry demand. After a brief discussion between the Healers and the Weyrling Master, Becca carefully picked up her new life partner to carry her from the field. B’irto and Persellan lent Becca steadying hands as needed. Alisha remained on the field, slowly retrieved her medical bag and stared at the white dragonet, as she walked sideways towards her place in the stands.

The white dragonet appeared to examine each of the four girls. She then turned towards the remaining girl on the field, as two boys and a girl lead the last of her eggmates from the Hatching Grounds. After a brief study of the girl, the dragonet turned her gaze toward the stands.

She stumbled forward as if to meet with Alisha. Alisha stopped all movement standing frozen on the field with Tonic tightly wound around her neck. She had never allowed herself to really dream of impressing a dragon. Now, briefly, all her hidden dreams and hopes came alive in the beautiful yellow orange eyes whirling wildly from the gleaming white dragon in front of her.

YOU ARE NOT HER! The eyes lifted and turned to scan all the stands, making each watcher feel as if she had looked directly at them. SHE IS NOT HERE!

The anguished words were heard by every person and dragon present. Profound feelings of despair, hopelessness and loneliness now flooded everyone’s minds. Tears ran freely down many of the faces as they watched the dragonet collapse despondently onto the sands. Her bright yellow eyes closing as her head fell to the sand.

Georgus found that tears flowed from his own eyes, but he didn’t understand why everyone just stood and watched. Jaxom had sunk back into his seat, covering his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking. Others around them had like reactions. He turned to Jarrol and demanded “What is wrong, why doesn’t anyone help her? She is hungry and alone!”

Jarrol shook his head, his words becoming sobs. “She will die, dragons that don’t choose die.”

Georgus could not believe what he heard. But as he looked to D’ram, the elder nodded, “It’s in the old records, dragons that don’t choose die. There is nothing we can do.”

“You’re wrong! You’re all wrong! She is an infant. Infants do what you expect them to do, especially if they can hear thoughts. Of course she will die if you expect her to die. But if you expect her to live, she will also be able to do that!”

Georgus leapt from the stand onto the sands and ran to the dragonet. He fell to his knees in front of her. Gently he reached out to lift her head and make her look at him. “You will find your chosen! She just isn’t here right now. We will help you find her! It doesn’t matter if she isn’t here right now. We will find her!”

The dragonet opened her lavender eyes to stare at Georgus. “I promise you that we will help you find her. I’ll help you find her, I promise! But until then you need to eat and get stronger.”

She studied him intensely. Her eyes slowly changed to orange. You are not my chosen.

“No, but I can be your friend. I can help you, feed you, care for you until your chosen is found!”

Alisha, standing to the side, stepped forward. “He’s right! We will help you find your chosen. Until then we can be your friends. I know that isn’t quite the same, but it’s only for a little while, just until you find the girl you are looking for. It doesn’t really matter if you impress today, or tomorrow, or several days from now. But you do need to eat and let us take care of you!”

MY NAME IS PEGGETH. I AM GLAD YOU ARE MY FRIENDS!

**
To be continued...

[Purrrdit]

As Peggeth was led out of the Hatching Grounds, a brief quiet settled over the stands, then it seemed that everyone was talking at once. Instead of leaving the stands to head for the Celebration Dinner, it appeared that most people wanted to discuss the happenings of the morning.

T’gellan stood up in the Queen’s box and raised his hands requesting attention. It took longer than normal for silence to fall. A number of people were so deep into their arguments, that even with neighbors nudging them, they refused to realize that T’gellan was waiting to speak. Monarth finally trumpeted to demand attention.

“I’m sure you will all be happy to know that our new Queen Starith is doing fine! Weyrling Master B’irto informs me that Queen Starith’s wing tip claw was only dislocated and that Master Persellan has already forced it back into place.

“We want to thank you all for sharing this hatching with us. As you know a Celebration Dinner awaits you at our kitchen and dining area.

“We also wanted to be sure everyone realized that although Eastern Weyr has provided the warm Gather location and the Hatching celebration is of course ours, the Gather itself is the joint effort of all of the Weyrs. Every Weyr has worked hard to make this joint venture a success! Landing has also contributed to what we hope will be a very successful Gather. We invite you to feel free to stay for all three days.

“After the Celebration Dinner, the western end of the Dinning Hall will be partitioned off into sleeping sections, most of which have already been reserved. However, the remainder of the Hall will be a general sleeping area for anyone wishing to use it.

“As most of you are aware it is safe to sleep on the beach here at Eastern. Considering the great weather we expect this may be the most comfortable bedding available. The stables, on the far eastern end of our settlement, also offers sheltered sleeping if anyone wishes to find space there. There will be extra Watch Riders posted all around the Weyr for the entire Gather.

“Thank you for sharing this Hatching with us and please feel welcomed to join us in our Celebration Dinner!”

**

Jaxom had a strange disconcerted look on his face as he continued to stare towards the Weyrling Barracks. As T’gellan finished his speech, Jaxom shook his head and turned to Sharra and the others, “Ruth relays from Monarth that T’gellan asks that I join them. I’ll let you know whatever I can, when we finish.”

As Jaxom left and the stands began to clear, Sebell turned to Samvel; “Will you be staying?”

“Other than an order from you, I can’t imagine anything that would get me to miss this. I’ve always hoped to be present at an historical event I could tell my students and grandchildren about. I would hate to leave in the middle of it!”

Sebell blinked, considered and then smiled, “Yes, exactly the approach we need. This has been an historical event. Which we have all been privileged to witness. Peggeth is different then other dragons, even Ruth. We do know how important Ruth has been to Pern. No one knows yet what will happen with Peggeth or what she could someday offer Pern. That’s the line Harpers will need to relay. Please pass that request to as many Harpers as you can.

“Menolly, we’ll need to use your new song at the Celebration. Please explain to Sharra what it’s about and why. Sorry Sharra, I know neither Jaxom nor Oldive will really appreciate it, but it does serve a necessary purpose. I had originally hoped to explain it to both of them before they ever heard it sung. But maybe they’ll both accept it after this hatching better than they would have before.

“Now Robse and Jarrol, you’re the oldest so you’re in charge!” He stared momentarily at each of the children. “You’ve all been around privileged information before, so I’ll trust you all to mind what you say. You’ve heard what I told Master Samvel, those are the only comments I expect from any of you!”

Sebell left to try to join the Weyrleaders and Samvel headed towards a nearby group of Harpers. Menolly turned to speak, but Sharra made eye contact and barely shook her head. She turned her gaze to her children; “I’ve already asked Ruth not to talk to any of you about what is occurring, so don’t try to ask him! Both he and your father will really need our support until Peggeth is out of danger. I expect your best behavior!” Adding Menolly’s children to her gaze, “All of you! I know you’re all even better than a Harper at sniffing out information, but please remember what Master Sebell has told you. Now all of you go enjoy the celebration.”

The children hurried out of the stands, heading east towards the Dinning Hall, with only a few longing glances towards the Weyrling Barracks. D’ram and T’lion exchanged glances and quickly followed them. Menolly glanced around to see that for the most part the stands had all emptied out. A few scattered groups still sat and talked in various areas, including the group of Weyrleaders that Sebell had now joined.

“Do you want to talk here, or somewhere else?”

“Considering how crowded everywhere else is, we might as well stay here. Besides, we can keep an eye on the men from here. If this is about your song, we’ve already heard it.”

“What! How could you? You must mean another song. I only wrote ‘What use is a Man?’ after the Turnover Gather at Fort, and it hasn’t been sung publicly yet.”

Sharra smiled and gently shook her head. “Your forgetting the Traders, they spent several sevendays at Fort after the Gather, before traveling to Ruatha. They heard your apprentices practicing and felt that as it was about Ruth, they should all learn it to sing for us.

“It’s one of your tunes, it has a great rhythm and it’s fun to sing! They have taught it to everyone in the Hold. Who all feel they should sing it around Jaxom, every chance they get! ‘What use is a dragon so small and unique?’”

Menolly was shaking her head as she sunk down to sit on the seat. “Scorch it! We wanted to explain. To make sure Jaxom understood the reasons behind the song, before he ever heard it. We know what a private person he is. He has never wanted any attention called to Ruth even after all they have done for Pern!”

“It’s OK! He does know why you wrote the song. After all, Ruth was one of the firsts to arrive to rescue Camo from those Bitra bullies attacking him. They had no right to beat Camo like that, just because he’s different, just because he has a Queen firelizard!”

Menolly’s eyes were haunted as she gazed towards her friend. “Oh Sharra, I knew from the moment Camo accidentally impressed Olos’ hatchling that there would be jealousy. But ‘Pretty’ has been so very good for him! She makes him so happy and she helps take care of him. If he gets hurt or needs anything she knows whom to go to get help for him. When they attacked him at the Gather, she not only attacked them herself, but called every other firelizard and Ruth to come help. If Ruth hadn’t called in the other riders and then ordered the firelizards to stop, I’m not sure if any of them would have survived. Jays, the four of them had a lot worse injuries than Camo’s broken arm and bruises, but I could still wish I had been there myself.”

Sharra reached over to gently take Menolly’s clenched hands into hers, gently rubbing the tension out of the fists. “It’s OK, I’d feel the same if it were one of my children.” When Menolly’s head shot up to look with amazement at Sharra, she laughed, shaking her head. “It’s only logical, Camo is Robinton’s only child, and you loved them both. Even though Camo’s what, twelve or thirteen turns older than you are, mentally he’ll always be a young child. I assume he has recovered completely?”

“Physically he’s as healthy as anyone in their sixth decade, but mentally they really hurt him. I think that’s the first time anyone ever really showed prejudice and hatred directly towards him. They scared him; he wouldn’t leave the Hall anymore. He wouldn’t let Pretty out of his sight.

“He and Silvina have retired to Paradise River. They live close to Alemi. The Weyr, Hall and Hold sent volunteers to build them a cothold. There were so many volunteers; they finished everything in two days. It’s the best thing for both of them with their joint ache anyway.”

“But I’ll bet it’s not the same without them, and you lose not only a brother or son in Camo, but a mother in Silvina.”

Menolly turned to hug Sharra tightly. “You’re so good for me, it helps to be able to talk to someone who really understands.” Pulling back and wiping a tear from her eye; “Why don’t we see each other more often? I know you visit Oldive at least once a week. I kept meaning to try to catch you there to talk and then letting it slip my mind.”

“I kept doing the same. I always end up so busy whenever I get there that there is never enough time.” Sharra caught the gleam of laughter in Menolly’s eye and found herself laughing back. “Yes, I know that when Ruth brings me I could “make the time” but Jaxom would have both of our hides. Ruth can’t keep a secret from him!

“By the way, Oldive already knows about the song too. If you ever really need to keep one of your songs a secret, you’ll need to find a sound proof place for your singers to practice. ‘What use is a man so twisted and bent?’ He loves it! And he really appreciates the idea of showing how wrong it is to prejudge anyone. Ruth loves the song too! On the other hand you are lucky Jaxom didn’t get a hold of you the first time he heard it.”

Menolly looked up sharply, studied Sharra’s expression, then grinned unrepentedly. “Sebell wants it sung at the celebration to make everyone recall how Ruth was the first to return to the Yokohama. By making them remember how important Ruth has been to Pern, he’ll make them start thinking about how important Peggeth might someday be. Most of them have never experienced the emotions a firelizard can project, let alone a dragon. To actually hear the voice of a dragon and to feel the despair she was feeling.” Menolly pursed her lips remembering, then started chuckling. Do you think they have enough food at the dinner after everyone felt those hunger pains?”

**

Heather had volunteered to stay in the Weyrling Barracks guarding the pails of meat chunks from those few insects the repel weed didn’t work on. The twelve pails were each covered with a light cloth and the repel weed scattered over top of the cloth. Standing in the center hall, when each Weyrling couple arrived she insured that they were directed towards an empty bed on either the boys’ or girls’ side, giving the new rider an uncovered pail so they could immediately start feeding their starving partner.

She wiped the tears from her eyes as she kept watching the four dragonets in the girls’ side. This had never happened during the day before, losing control of her emotions, becoming so lonely and feeling hopeless. Luckily the Weyrlings arriving had been crying also, upset about the poor Queen’s wing. They were going to really think she was crazy if she didn’t soon get herself under control! She was even hearing voices!

Alisha and Georgus led the stumbling Peggeth into the Barracks. As they entered, Heather looked up seeing the most beautiful dragonet ever! The gleaming white hide almost seemed to sparkle with other colors. She was a good half a hand smaller than the others were. Her eyes…

Alisha and Georgus found themselves holding their breath as they watched Peggeth and Heather stare into each other’s eyes.

Why do you fear being chosen?

“I can’t be! A rider has to go between, I can’t go between!”

I have not found my chosen yet. --- Georgus and Alisha are my friends. Will you also be my friend?

Georgus, a friend does not have to go between, do they?

“No Peggeth, a friend would not have to go between. You can have as many friends as you want. Although most people have only a few really close friends and a number of others who are not so close.”

Peggeth looked back and forth between the three of them; I will have all of you as my friends! I like all of you! Turning her gaze to Heather; I am Peggeth. I am very hungry. Will you feed me now?

Heather still had tears running down her cheeks, but now they were tears of joy and she was smiling widely as she turned to grab the last pail. As she tried to hurry to uncover it and carry it towards Peggeth, she stumbled, losing her grip and causing the pail to start falling and spilling forward. The pail stopped in mid air, with the meat hanging on the lip. Only one glob of meat managed to fall to the floor. The pail righted itself and returned to Heather’s outstretched hands.

Please, I am very hungry!
Heather was frozen, staring at the pail in her hands.

Alisha hurried forward to take the pail and bring it to Peggeth. Grabbing a half handful of the chunks, she smiled at Peggeth. “Open your mouth love, I can’t feed you otherwise.

“Georgus and Heather, I think it’s time that you both know a Weyr secret. Some dragons are telekinetic, which means that they can move things with their minds.”

***

[Purrrdit]

T’lion ducked under the rope surrounding the Weyrling Barracks. B’irto’s idea of partitioning off the Barracks to keep everyone at least a third of a dragon length away from the open shutters of the Barracks appeared to be working well. The new Barracks were a big improvement to the stuffy one T’lion had endured. The top half of all the walls were hinged to open out and up, allowing for thorough air circulation in hot weather or for them to be closed tight in bad weather. The building had also been enlarged to allow for more space and privacy for the Weyrlings.

When he quietly entered the doorway looking for Alisha, he heard the gentle snores of the dragonets coming from the dorms on either side. Glancing into the girl’s side he saw Starith sleeping on the Queen’s platform, the tip of her right wing bandaged and splinted into a closed position with extensions protruding above the wing tip to protect it. Three greens also slept on platforms toward the back of the room.

Peggeth was curled on one of the platforms to the left side. Heather was asleep next to her, lying on her side facing the dragonet. He couldn’t resist quietly approaching to get a better look at them. Heather’s face was relaxed in her sleep giving her a peaceful look that he had only seen before when she swam with the dolphins. One of her hands was extended to touch the side of Peggeth’s muzzle. Peggeth’s tail was curled up and over Heather’s waist. He had obviously missed something. Had Heather been chosen?

He turned to find Alisha, sending a request to Gadareth. As he returned to the hallway, Tonic flew out of the door to the Weyrling Master’s room on the other end of the Barracks. Tonic hovered in front of T’lion, briefly made eye contact and issued several soft chirps before he returned to B’irto’s doorway. T’lion followed.

B’irto, Alisha, Georgus and Jaxom looked up as he entered. Alisha stood, “Oh T’lion, I’m sorry but I am going to be tied up for hours yet. We have to try to get all our information together for a meeting with the Weyrleaders later.”

“This is about Peggeth? Did she choose Heather?”

“She selected Heather to be her friend, the same as Georgus and I. Georgus thinks that as long as she has friends to care about her and to help her, she can survive without impressing. We need to try to figure out how to help her find her chosen and how to keep her healthy until then. We were just trying to compare Ruth’s mental characteristics to other dragons. If we determine exactly how he is different, it might help us understand Peggeth better.”

T’lion turned to nod to Jaxom. “Can Ruth talk to the dolphins?”

Jaxom wore a puzzled expression, “Ruth seems to be able to make the dolphins understand what he wants, or where it itches, but he can’t actually talk to them.”

“Peggeth can. Readis and Alemi where running late, about an hour out of Eastern when the hatching occurred. Everyone on the ship heard every word Peggeth spoke, same as everyone in the stands. They also felt the emotions. So did the dolphin pods with them and all the pods in the bay. The dolphins are all concerned about Peggeth. There are hundreds of them in the bay now. They all want to meet Peggeth and to be her friends.”

Alisha sank slowly back into her chair, a stunned expression on her face.

B’irto motioned T’lion to take a vacant chair “By the first shell, what else can happen?” He shook his head as he absently rubbed his forehead and up towards his receding hairline. “To think I was actually hoping that we would have an exciting Hatching today!”

Georgus recovered from the new surprise first, “What was the last thing you heard her say? What was the last thing the dolphins heard?”

“That her name was Peggeth and that she was glad to have friends.”

B’irto grinned, “By the first shell, at least something worked! Cabenth asked Helenth to talk to Peggeth and make her understand that she had to stop shouting so that everyone could hear and feel her. She has talked to Georgus, Alisha and Heather after she left the Hatching Ground and even included me in her conversation at one point. So at least she is now controlling who hears her.”

***

Jaxom sat next to T’gellan at the conference table, which was surrounded by all of the Weyrleaders. T’gellan rose as the last to arrive found seats. “We asked Jaxom earlier, as the only white rider, to research Peggeth’s status and report back to us. He tells me that Alisha, a journeyman healer specializing in dragons, and one of those picked by Peggeth to be her ‘friends’ can better explain what we presently know and what may be conjectured about Peggeth. Does anyone object to her presence? --- No? --- Good!

“I want to also request that Weyrling Master B’irto and MasterHarper Sebell be allowed to attend. We will need the support of the Harper’s Hall to settle all the confusion Peggeth’s hatching has aroused. Any objections?” T’gellan walked to the door to ask Alisha, B’irto and Sebell to join them.

As they found seats, T’gellan formally introduced Alisha. “Alisha is an Eastern Healer, but as I said she is specializing in dragons. This includes studying dragon history. She has spent the last five years either at Landing or here collecting all the available data on the creation of dragons and their history. She is presently working on a comparison of the physical traits of the original dragons to the traits of our present dragons. I think she has taken the measurement, temperature and heart rate of every Eastern dragon at least once.”

As the laughter died, Lessa spoke up, causing an instant respectful hush. “What has your research found in comparing the original dragons to our dragons?”

“I haven’t completed gathering all the statistics I would like, but basically today’s dragons are much bigger than the original dragons, especially those of Benden or Ramoth descent.” Alisha waited for the laughter to die before adding, “However even with the greater size, the basic physical characteristics, such as temperature, heart rate, and body proportions appear to have remained true to the patterns Kitty Ping originally programmed into the first eggs she created.”

Lessa fixed her gaze on Alisha for long moments then nodded her head. “I would like to hear more about these original dragons and your study later. You haven’t taken measurements from Ramoth and Mnementh yet.”

Alisha smiled and bowed towards the Benden leaders, “Thank You! I hadn’t hoped to have the chance to take up any of your valuable time, but it would greatly improve my study to take measurements from your dragons.

“Today I was able to take measurements from Ruth and Peggeth. Their proportions are well within the same standards as all other colors. Like blues and greens their proportions are such that they should have more maneuverability and should be able to make tighter more exacting turns at speed, but will not have the durability for extended flights that a brown or bronze have. The only obvious difference between Ruth and Peggeth are those normal for a male versus a female. Peggeth’s hip and abdominal measurements proportions more closely match a green’s or a Queen’s while Ruth’s are those of a male dragon.”

Adrea, gold rider of Beljeth, of Southern interrupted, “You mean she is a functioning female? Will she be able to mate?”

“I have no way of determining that at this point, but as far as I can tell she should be physically able to mate and produce offspring.”

Adrea frowned, “Ruth looks male, but he has never risen in a mating flight. I thought that sports were infertile?” Adrea appeared to suddenly realize what she was saying and turned an embarrassed glance toward Jaxom.

Jaxom kept his face totally expressionless as he rose to address those present. “It is true that Ruth has never entered into the mating flights of any green or gold. However, he has always told me that blues and browns and bronzes fly greens and that only browns and bronzes fly Queens. He says that he is not a blue, brown or bronze. I’m not sure what would happen if Peggeth would ever lift in a mating flight.”

Alisha spoke up, “Jaxom’s right. We have no way of knowing what will happen as far as mating until Peggeth reaches an age where she would normally start mating flights.”

G’narish, bronze rider of Gyarmath of Igen Weyr, spoke up, “That’s if she even lives. How can she survive without a rider? The records clearly state that dragons that don’t choose die!”

“I’ve studied all those records, in fact I’ve studied every record we have been able to locate and restore from all the Weyrs and from Landing. There are records of seven dragonets who failed to impress and died. Most were in the first few generations of dragons born and there were other abnormalities present in the hatchlings. All of the seven were either green or blues. None were Queens or bronzes, which traditionally are at least a little more independent than greens and blues. There are no recent records of any dragonets failing to choose.

“Jaxom, B’irto, and T’lion have spent the afternoon comparing Ruth’s attributes to those of other known dragons. Ruth is much more independent than any other dragon they know of. He will not only frequently speak to people other than his rider but has allowed another rider to ride him when Jaxom was unable to. The most notable of these instances is when Brekke needed to go to help Master Robinton, when he had his heart attack. However he also frequently gives rides to Jaxom’s wife Sharra and son Jarrol when it is inconvenient for Jaxom to get away from Ruatha Hold. Ruth flew to the Yokohama alone and on his own initiative before Jaxom could stop him. All this shows that although Ruth does have a traditional bond with Jaxom, he also thinks independently of Jaxom and is capable of reasoning abilities different than any other known dragon.

“We believe that Peggeth has this same independence and reasoning ability. Georgus’ approach of telling her that we would help her find her chosen and that it was OK to have friends to help her until her chosen is found, appears to be exactly what was necessary to keep her from willing herself to death. We believe that as long as she continues to believe that she is OK without a rider that she will be.

“Ruth also appears to have other abilities, which are different, or at least more strongly developed, than other dragons. I realize that the timing ability is a Weyr secret along with dragon’s telekinetic abilities, but I know you are all aware of them. I discovered those abilities in my studies and dealings with dragons. I’m told that Master Sebell is also aware of these abilities and has also respected your desire for secrecy.

“Ruth always knows where and when he is. He also has more mastery of his telekinetic abilities of any dragon other than green Zaranth, who has apparently been developing her control most of her life.

“I know that some of you saw the way Peggeth’s shell opened and questioned if Ruth had used telekinesis to break it and lift the top away. We believe that Peggeth opened her own egg with telekinesis.”

Lessa interrupted, “That’s impossible! She’s a hatchling, she never had any training.”

“Please let me explain. I’ll try to answer any questions when I’m finished. I’m sure everyone has seen how the firelizards respond to Ruth. He communicates with them on a level that no other dragon can. I believe this is because Ruth is more closely related to firelizards than any other dragon.”

Her statement had even Jaxom fixing a questioning gaze on her face.

“Everyone here knows the basic story of how Kit Ping Yung or Kitti Ping, created dragons from the genetic material of firelizards. But I doubt you realize exactly how amazing what she did was. She took the tiny embryo from a firelizard egg and actually programmed it to not only grow to hundreds of times it’s original size, but to change in intelligence, disposition, and physical characteristics. She even programmed in the desire for the new dragons to bond for life with a human.

“Kitti Ping also programmed in future changes in the dragons. Designing them to continue increasing in size, to produce mostly golds, bronzes and browns for the first few generations and later to have the numbers of greens and blues increase. The increase in matings and eggs laid before the beginning of a pass and the decrease in mating and eggs towards the end of a pass were all things she planned and programmed into those original tiny embryos. Even after studying all the records for the last five years it is almost impossible for me to conceive all the things she successfully planned for.

“Kitti Ping died before any of the eggs she created hatched. In fact she died manipulating the gene patterns and chromosomes of the forty second altered egg. That egg hatched along with seventeen others. There were exact records kept of what possible attributes were hoped for in each of the eggs. Except for that last, forty second egg. Kitti Ping died before she could record what she had programmed into that embryo.

“Most dragons have a short memory, they can’t remember what occurred months, let alone years, ago. Firelizards on the other hand have what appears to be a racial memory. For example hatchlings from Menolly’s gold Beauty automatically know how to harmonize with songs, even if they are hatched at a hold with no other firelizards present. Ruth can answer exacting questions concerning what he saw on the bridge of the Yokohama when he first went between to that bridge. He remembers Sallah Telgar’s body being on that bridge and he remembers bringing the body back.

“By the third and forth generation of dragons, when the numbers of greens and blues started increasing, the practice of taking unhatched eggs Between immediately after the Hatching was firmly in place. If Kitti Ping had programmed a different type of dragon to occur at the same time as the increase in greens and blues and if there was something as simple as an increase in the thickness of the shell which prevented those eggs from hatching, no one would ever have realized the problem.”

A frozen stillness settled on the room as Alisha finished talking. F’lar finally spoke up, “You’re saying that Kitti Ping planned to have white dragons appear in future generations?”

“I’m saying I think it is possible. Only a few records from those generations have been recovered. There is one mention to a clutch of eggs containing one egg much smaller then all the others and that the egg didn’t hatch. In our more recent records, from the last three passes, I find two to four small eggs mentioned during each generation. This is more then I would expect for a natural occurring mutation. But that is the other possibility for the existence of white dragons.”

N’ton, rider of bronze Lioth, of Fort, forced himself to ask the question haunting all of them. “You think all those eggs where healthy white dragons?”

“I think it is possible. Ruth hatched because Jaxom broke open his shell. Peggeth hatched because both her parents have become proficient at telekinesis.”

***
To be continued::shhh:

[Purrrdit]

3. Eastern Weyr:

The amount and variety of the items, which had accumulated in the large storage room, in the nine years since the Weyrling Barracks had been built, was truly astounding. Everything from new and worn strap connectors and fasteners, to spare clothing, to a beautifully carved wooden baby rattle, had been shoved into the room. Green rider Danegge had been given B’irto’s blessing in deciding which items should be kept, which should be offered to the Weyrlings and which should be forwarded to Mirrim to go back into the general Weyr supplies.

Georgus, and Becca were helping Danegge to finish cleaning out the storage room next to the Weyrling Master’s room. Moving in one of the dragon platforms and several of the attachable couches would have to wait until after the dragonets awoke. B’irto had agreed to Georgus’ and Alisha’s request to have a private room for Peggeth, since any or all of them might need to share it at various times. Alisha had managed to brief Georgus about Heather’s history before the first meeting about Peggeth had started, but they hadn’t mentioned Heather’s nightmares to B’irto, when requesting the storage room.

Georgus was impressed with what he had seen of Becca so far. Having returned early from the Celebration Dinner, after checking to insure that Starith was still sleeping, she had immediately volunteered to help Danegge and him. She came from Boca South, a small hold south of Island River Hold, but didn’t seem to have any relatives or friends who had come to the Hatching.

As they stored the last of the supplies to be kept, in a partitioned off corner of the boy’s barracks, Becca’s head suddenly lifted. A charming smile lit up her petite face and her eyes clouded briefly. After a brief, “Excuse me, Starith is hungry and her wing hurts!”, she hurried towards the girl’s side of the barracks.

J’osh, who had impressed bronze hatchling Skieth, almost collided into Georgus, as he came running into the barracks. He didn’t slow his rush as he heedlessly continued into the boy’s side of the barracks. St’ven, rider of brown Mealth followed at a relaxed pace, shaking his head. “He isn’t normally such a lackwit, I know his parents taught him manners, but for the first few days the demands of your hatchling take precedence over everything else.”

Georgus grinned back as he hurried to check if Peggeth had awakened. B’irto had explained that Danegge would take charge of the girls and St’ven the boys to insure that they each received a pail of meat and container of oil to take with them as they led the hatchlings to the beach for their first baths. He noticed that Medic, Persellan’s bronze firelizard was no longer perched on a beam above Starith. Becca was already brushing numbweed down into the top of the open-ended splint, to coat the wingtip and claw. Starith had eyes only for the pail of meat sitting nearby.

All the dragonets had fallen asleep soon after eating their first meals. Unlike the other youth, who had left to join the Celebration as soon as their dragonets had fallen asleep, Heather had been content to fall into a dreamless slumber next to Peggeth. Heather was still sleeping soundly, her one hand maintaining contact with Peggeth’s muzzle. Peggeth appeared to be awakening. Her eyelids fluttered briefly before they started to slowly open. Legs, wings, neck and tail were extended outward in a stretching motion. She bumped Heather’s forehead sharply with her nose, causing them both to wake abruptly.

Georgus chuckled at the expressions on both faces as he inquired, “Are you hurt?”

Heather, busy rubbing her forehead, smiled and started to open her mouth to answer.

I am very hungry. You need to feed me!

Heather and Georgus’ eyes met over Peggeth’s head and they both started laughing.

I am not funny! I am hungry. Friends should have food to feed me.

“I have food for you Peggeth, and we will feed you, but first you must walk to the beach.”

Peggeth turned her head to watch Becca and Starith walking out together. Becca carried a pail and a sealed bottle in one hand and used the other to help steady Starith’s awkward gait, caused by the splinted wing’s extra weight and position.

I could eat here first.

“Oh no you couldn’t! As soon as you have a pail of food in that belly, all you’re going to want to do is sleep again. B’irto’s orders are that you walk to the beach before getting half of the pail. Then you have to be bathed and oiled before you get the rest. If you want to sleep on the beach after that it will not matter.”

Would a bath make my skin stop itching?

“The bath will help, but after you’re clean and we can rub in the oil, that should make your skin feel really good. Heather, Alisha asked me to tell you that from now on your main duty is caring for Peggeth. You’re not to worry about the Healing Hall or the Dolphins. Alisha is at a meeting with the Weyrleaders, but should join us on the beach later.”

A questioning frown marred Heather’s face. “I’m to leave the dolphins alone?”

“Oh no, you can still spend any time you want with them, as long as Peggeth doesn’t need you. You just don’t have any other specific duties.”

Heather continued frowning, then looked toward Peggeth and blossomed into a smile. “I can stay with Peggeth and still visit the dolphins when we bathe!”

I am very hungry! Can we go?

Danegge stepped over to them, “Hold up for just a minute before you leave. Weyrlings, I need all your attention for a moment.” She waited until all three greens had joined them. “I not sure if you all know each other or not, so first let’s each name ourselves and our dragons. You can also give a summary of who you are and where you’re from. I know your dragons are demanding food, but they are going to need to learn to be patient. This will be a short first lesson. I’m Danegge, and my partner is green Ptath. We have been together almost eleven turns now. Our first Weyrling assignment was during the Fireball and the flooding it caused.”

“I’m Dena, Kirath is my green.” She hugged the apparently shy green next to her, who was trying to hide her head behind Dena’s leg. “My family was originally from Southern Boll Hold, but I was born at Landing after Da came to work at the new Glasscrafthall.”

“Tanith is my dragon and I’m Jude. I use to live at Honshu where mum is the cook.”

“This gorgeous green is Adreth. I’m Riala from a fishing hold at Great Bay.

“This is Peggeth, I’m Georgus a Journeyman Harper and a history instructor at Landing and this is Heather, originally from High Mountain Hold. Peggeth has selected us and Alisha, a Journeyman Healer here, at Eastern, to be her friends until she finds her chosen. We are all glad to meet you.”

I am Peggeth. Can we go eat now?

The startled expressions on Danegge’s and the Weyrling’s faces indicated that Peggeth had decided that everyone should hear her words.

Danegge laughed, smiling broadly at Peggeth. “I had forgotten how one track a hatchling’s mind can be. I’m happy to meet you Peggeth and it will only be a couple more minutes before you can go eat. First I have to explain to your riders or friends how to properly take care of you.”

Starith goes to eat now.

“That’s because Master Persellan is waiting on the beach to fit a removable splint to her wing. I’ll be reviewing all this with her later.

“Here are pails for each of you. Take a good look at the amount in your pail. See the ribbons on each pail, white ribbon is Peggeth, Starith’s has gold, and there is green for all you lovely ladies. You’ll need to decide between you how to mark future pails for the greens, and don’t forget to check with B’rull who has green Gilopth. Usually you each decide on a specific number of knots in the ribbon to indicate which is your dragon’s pail.

“From now on you are responsible for cleaning and filling those pails. You will have to prepare your own cuttings by going to the butcher hall on the eastern end of the settlement. Make sure to cut your chunks small enough not to choke your partner. Today we put an appropriate amount in each pail for your size dragon. They can get sick if you over feed them. You may increase the amount by no more then a finger width height on the pail each day. If you’re not sure on your amounts please ask one of us. Store your prepared pail in the cold room at the butcher hall. You’ll need to run for it when needed. For about the first three days you’ll need to make it a practice to only feed half the pail to your dragonet and then wash and oil them before feeding the second half. After those first three days the intense need to just eat and sleep constantly should ease.

“Now your escorts are waiting outside to assist in clearing a path through the crowd so you can get down to the beach.”

Six of the students from Landing had drawn the coveted duty of escorting the Weyrlings from the barracks and assisting as needed on the beach. Eastern’s fosterlings, who were around dragons everyday, had allowed that this was a more logical job for those who would be having a once in a lifetime experience, but there were still some envious looks. It was easy to forget how cute a hatchling could be. It was really amazing how the dragonets could start out the size of a canine, which could be carried, if necessary, out of the Hatching Grounds, and would eventually grow to a size large enough to carry many men.

As they exited, Boaz, an eleven turn old from Landing and his brother Micah, one of the nine turn olds, were waiting for them along with two older students Tomus and Byob. Georgus was surprised to see them, “Boaz, Micah, how did you get this assignment? You weren’t on the original list.”

The boys had been startled to see their dormmaster still with the white dragon, but recovered quickly. Boaz grinned, “Leah let me have her place.”

“And Jayim let me have his place.” Micah mumbled. “I had to help with the dragonets, I’m going to be a dragonrider after