WHAT? screached the dragon, sounding very much like her rider, as T'bias explained the news. Merrie, sweet, I'm sorry. I know you feel ready to fly, but you can't. Not this year... Why not? What, do you feel I'm not good enough for the dragons here?
the dark Green snuffed,
tendrils of smoke curling
from her nostrils. No, of
course not. Merrameth...
love...it's not you. You know
I don't feel that way about
men. And you know there
are very few women riders
who ride male dragons
here. I don't want to ruin
your first flight because
of my...fear. It's not fair
to you. You should enjoy
your flight, without you
having to worry about me.

The Green dragon snuffed
a bit, looking at her rider
with very hurt eyes. She
had kown all along he would
not let her fly...but that didn't
stop her from wanting to
take to the sky as badly as
she did and find a mate. And
even though T'bias was
saying this flight was all
about her, it was all about
him too. Her flight would
be the moment when T'bias
would stop watching the
other Weyr couples walk
around with a heart that
craved the love of his own
kind, not just that of his flit
and dragon. She did want
him to be as happy as she
was.

With a heavy sigh, the
dragon nodded her great
noble head, lightly pressing
her nose into T'bias stomach
as he came over and hugged
her snout. All right, T'bias. I won't fly this year. I'm sorry, Merrie, the young man nearly sniffled, reaching to rub Zaton's eye ridge as the flit landed on the arch of Merrameth's neck and gave an almost mournful trill.

"I don't see why you just can't sign her up for the XGen flight at the Healing Den," came a voice from the door.

Sign her up for what? T'bias asked through Merrameth, giving R'lan a curious look. The Searchrider had become one of T'bias role modles and better friends during the past two years the young man had been there, though if you asked either of them, they wouldn't admit it. They were teacher and stunder...the SearchRider and the Searched. It was a rather comfortible friendship.

"Sign her up for the Cross Gender Flight at Baeris's Healing Den. Merrameth could fly, and be caught by a dragon whose rider is garunteed to be a woman," R'lan explained. "Both of your problems would be solved, you'd both be happy."

T'bias tried to remember if he had heard anything about this Healing Den. Didn't a few of the dragons from here fly in that big Hallow's Eve Flight a few months ago? he asked privately to Zaton, who nodded his head in response. And a few of their dragons flew here at the Flurry Flight, Merrameth added. T'bias, they've got some wonderful males over there! And their woman aren't that bad either, he muttered to himself, remember the new load of women who had taken up residense since their dragons where on the sands.

A smile curled over the man's lips as he turned his glowing gray eyes to his mentor. Thank you for the information, R'lan. I'll send Zaton over there right away and ask them to let Merrie fly. R'lan grinned slightly, nodding his head before slipping out of the door...calling over his shoulder "Ask Riale's Niawith if you need a bit of direction to get there!"

T'bias smiled at his flit and dragon before hurrying over to his desk and scribbling up a scroll. rolling it up tightly, he tied it to Zaton's leg and gave the flit a encouraging rub down. Find Niawith and ask him the way...then go straight over and drop this off, the excited rider instucted. Don't worry about returning until you've gotten an answer, Merrameth taked on just as excitedly as her Bond. A'right, a'right! Zaton crooned with a laugh, spreading out his wings in an impressive display. See you soon! and then he was gone, blinking between to find Niawtih.

The rider and drgaon sat where they were for a moment, before Merrameth asked quietly Do you think they'll take me? T'bias turned his gaze up at his dragon, smiling as he went to get her riding straps. Of course, they will Merrie! Don't worry about it...come on, let's go flying! Merramth let off a bugle of delight before slinking up to the ledge, waiting for T'bias to place her staps on and climb up before the two took off on a flight above the Weyr.
Character (c) Jennifer, yr 2001 & Beyond.
Image (c) to Ryslen Weyr.
Merrameth was flown! Twice! The X-Gen was a great success!
Read the Frenzy Flight.
Read the Frenzy Hatching.
And then read Part 2!
Or continue with T'bias and Merrie's story.