Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 22:18:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Corrinne S <quasito_cat@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Black Dragon of Pern Part 8

Pertinent information is posted at the beginning of
this series.  Comments are welcome at
quasito_cat@hotmail.com or quasito_cat@yahoo.com

Chapter 20

     The situation on the southern continent was one
of controlled chaos.  Dragons blinked in and out of
between depositing weyrfolk.  Fire lizards swooped in
and out of suitable caves, trying to show which were
the most habitable.  L'noth and Adelmisa directed
their wingleaders to reunite families as best they
could.  D'vis and three other journeyman healers
dispatched by the Masterhealer tended to minor scrapes
and burns.

     Lurah located several of the women from the lower
caverns and commandeered the first dragon rider
available, F'rness.  "We need cook-fires as soon as
possible," she told the green rider.  "The dragon
riders will need hot klah, and everyone needs food.  I
don't know what you can find here, but even wild
wherries will make a nourishing meal."

     F'rness and Dagenth were both tired, almost to
the point of exhaustion.  But the green rider knew
that Lurah's word was law so the two set about to
gather dry driftwood to start the cooking fires she
wanted.  That done F'rness located two of his closest
friends, B'mel and K'neth, and the three went in
search of meat.  They didn't find any wherries, but
did find a large group of herdbeasts, something they
didn't expect.

     "Shards!  Look at the size of their horns!" B'mel
exclaimed.  "I'll bet nobody ever saw anything that
big!"

     And it was almost true, because no one alive on
Pern had ever seen herdbeasts like those who existed
on the southern continent.  The beasts were massive,
nearly twice the size of northern herdbeasts.  Their
colors ranged from light tawny to deep red.  Their
horn-span was further across than the height of the
tallest known man on Pern and the ends of the horns
curved forward.

     "I wouldn't want to make one mad at me," K'neth
said.  "A person could get gored to death!"

     "Then we'll just have to stay away from the
horns," F'rness declared.  "We should be able to get
two of them with the dragons help, and they sure will
make a good evening meal."

     Two hours later the three dragon riders returned
to the temporary refuge, one marvelous heardbeast
dangling by a rope from each of the dragons.  Lurah
set the cooks to preparing two of the beasts for the
evening meal and Adelmisa sent K'neth to Freepoin Weyr
with the third in gratitude for the help with their
severely injured.

     . . .

     D'vis sought F'rness out after everyone had eaten
their fill of herdbeast and the tubers some of the
children had found.  "You and Dageth did a good job
today," he told the green rider.

     F'rness blushed under the praise, his pale skin
turning deep red at D'vis words.  The eighteen-year
olds gray eyes held a wistful look that betrayed his
heart.  "We were only doing what had to be done," he
replied.

     "Did you bespeak Dageth to rescue Skye?"

     "She did it on her own," F'rness answered.

     "You should let L'noth know," D'vis said.
"Greens don't usually show that much initiative."

     "I know," F'rness replied.  "I was surprised
myself when she took off like she did."  He thought
his knees would collapse when D'vis threw an arm
around his shoulders and led him toward the
Weyrleader.

 . . .

     L'noth reluctantly left his most severly injure
weyrfolk in the care of Freepointe's Weyrleader,
M'tew.

     "Thank you for all your help," L'Noth told his
long time friend.

     "You'd do the same for any other weyr," M'tew
replied.  "That's what dragontfolk do."  He walked
L'Noth to the center of the weyr where his own
weyrlings were busy loading dragons with supplies.
"We've packed as much food, clothing, and healer
supplies as we can spare.  The other weyrleaders and
major holders sent word that they'll be sending more
provisions soon.  Freepointe and Western Weyrs will
assume fighting Thread for you until your weyrfolk and
dragons recover."

     "I think we can cover threadfall," L'Noth said.

     "You know what the Masterhealer told you
earlier," M'tew replied for the head of the Healer
Craft was personally supervising the care of the
injured.

     "All of you, dragons included, need time to
recover from physical injuries and emotional shock,"
the Craftmaster had told Edmon's leader.

     All of Pern had felt the shock of the loss of a
weyr, weyrfolk, and dragons as word spread.  Holders
immediately sent word to the Weyrleaders that they
were prepared to offer any assistance needed.  The
Weyrleaders met and arranged to take turns ferrying
supplies to the temporary weyr on the southern
continent as well as assuming cover during threadfall.
 Freepointe and Western, bordering Edmon, seemed the
most logical.

     Masterhealer Benalen and MasterHarper Tokan,
summoned by Andren and Julani, were at Freepointe Weyr
enroute to the southern continent.  Both had had
serious talks with M'chell about Skye.  The
Masterhealer accepted M'chell's responsibility for
D'vis' failure to report the existence of the flyer to
either Andren or himself with only a mind rebuke,
reminding the golden rider that D'vis was a healer as
well as a bronze rider.

Chapter 21

     Three days later Master Benaren on Trelanth with
D'vis, and Master Tokan on Raganth with M'chell
emerged from between at the southern site.  Skye, now
fully recovered, joined them.  The marvelous sight of
Skye, his black wings in great contrast to the pale
gold of the early morning sunrise, amazed them as much
as his very existence.  Even M'chell, who had seen his
lover fly, was fascinated by the sight.

     Both craftmasters were determined to go through
ancient hides in search of answers once they were
assured that Edmon would recover in the gentle
southern air while a new site was located for a
permanent home.

     That evening, with everyone settled, L'Noth
summoned M'chell and Skye.  "Tarenth," he said to his
great bronze, "please bespeak Skye for me."  When the
bronze dragon turned his rainbow eyes to the flyer
L'Noth continued.  "We are all grateful to you for
your help in saving our children -- our hatchlings.  We
can't ever repay that debt.  I'm told that you search
for others of your kind, and we will help you in that
search.  But I want you to know this.  Even if we
never find other flyers, you have a family.  We ask
that you join us as part of Edmon Weyr and willingly
accept you as M'chell's mate.

     Tears filled Skye's great eyes as he suddenly
found himself surrounded by weyrfolk all wanting to
thank him and welcome him to the weyr. Several of
those were the children who knew he had saved their
lives.  He was filled with wonder as he realized that
he would never be alone again, that he could remain
with his beloved and have many clutchmates.

     Early the next morning, before dawn, M'chell and
Skye walked along the sandy beach at the edge of the
great ocean, their fingers twined together.

     "Are you happy?" M'chell asked.

     "I am filled with great happiness," Skye replied.
"What more could I desire than to be accepted by your
kind?"

     "Well," M'chell began tentatively, "you know that
I was foster father to D'vis and his brother.  And too
many foster parents were lost when the weyr was
destroyed.  L'Noth wants us to foster a pair of twins,
four-year old brother and sister.  I told him I would
ask you."

     "We are to have hatchlings?" Skye asked.

     "Yes," M'chell answered, "but only if you agree."

     Skye's answer was to take M'chell in his arms and
envelope both of them in his wings.  Their passionate
kiss ended as they sank to the sandy shore and mated,
solidifying their love, their joy in each other, and
their dream of a future together.