Weyrwoman Tai was very busy getting the Weyr residents-those without dragons, anyway-to fly ahead to the time in which Maura Lynna Weyr was located and already running. Several people had chosen to stay behind to make the Weyr and get it up and running. Those who went ahead in time would never see those who remained again. Tai had been thinking for a long time about staying and helping to start the new Weyr, but T’rukel had gone ahead and the other Weyr residents had insisted that she too, go ahead.
      But with a white’s clutch on the sands, that was quite difficult for her. T’rukel had been needed in the future, Tai was needed in the past. And Tai missed T’rukel dearly. Don’t worry, Tai. We will be with them soon. Isifth crooned. And I will be flying again soon and only Monrith will catch me! Isifth added. She had clutched but once on the sands of Sidra.
      “That’s true. But we won’t see them until this clutch hatches and only two candidates are-”
      And at that very moment, Tai heard the one thing she had been longing to hear for the past month: the call of the mother dragon from the sands, announcing the hatching. “Good! I don’t care if we don’t have enough candidates…not really.” Tai added guiltily after a moment. She missed T’rukel too much. What will it be like, to no longer be Weyrwoman, but have another person as Weyrwoman above me? Tai wondered.
      Oh, don’t worry. Isifth said. You get along well with almost everyone. You should be able to give the future Weyrwoman a few tips and pointers. Isifth said with what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
      Tai remembered why they were leaving this Weyr. There had been several short earthquakes recently. Some quick, but short, tests had shown that the Weyr was slowly moving towards a place over a deep pool of magma in the earth. Within the next hundred or so years, the mountain in which the Weyr set would become an active volcano. They had to move their Weyr.
      So Tai had set upon a crazy scheme that her Weyrmate had said would never work. But it had. And several people had gone forward already. Including one Searchrider and a bunch of other people including the Weyrlingmaster, F’lnor, and his brown Krispith, whom she had wanted to stay behind with her, but they had also been needed ahead in time. So they had gone.
      Tai had felt almost alone until she had heard the sound of the dragons hatching.
      Er…we’ll have to stay back here until they’re Weyrlings, Tai. Isifth said.
      “No, R’es and F’lnor found that you can take hatchlings through time. But they and their riders must be firmly attached to the back of a dragon and the hatchling must be covered well.” Tai ran into the sands where Millkath was now hovering over her children.
      Ru and Sondra, the two candidates, were standing on the sands, eagerly awaiting the hatching. And as one, two eggs hatched, revealing a blue and a green. Tai knew to whom each of the dragons would go. Sondra would get the green and Ru the blue. She sighed. She could finally go and be with T’rukel again!
      The green walked up to Sandra and seemed to be communicating with her because Sandra’s eyes took on that hazy look. The blue, too, was communicating with Ru, the white falcon fluttering it’s wings in frustration, seeming to reflect his master’s feelings.
      Then, all at once, there was an ear-braking shrill. I’m here, I’m here already! Stop talking to her, she’s MINE, Tamith! The green was shoved out of the way. Sixteen in around three months? That means you’ll be around eighteen or nineteen when I’m an adult. So everyone can just BACK OFF ABOUT THE AGE! The baby dragon shouted the last part to everyone, some were cringing from the sound. Isifth was staring proudly at her granddaughter.
      Just like me. Isifth commented. Tai could be heard laughing at her dragon in a mocking manner.
      Will you have me, Sondra? The baby dragon suddenly stepped into the light. A green body, but much bigger than the last green, could be now seen standing before Sondra. I am Zintath!
      Ru suddenly turned on his heels and started to walk out of the sands, finally choosing to ignore the blue dragonet. But something streaked towards him and knocked him flat on his face and ignored the raucous and enraged shrieking of the beautiful white falcon.
      I’m Xanoth! You will have me, Ru, won’t you? Please, Ru! Another little blue dragonet stood on his back, taking the place of the one who had been talking to him before Ru had stalked off, waiting for his answer. I like your falcon and I like you, Ru! I know you don't like dragons...but please...you were searched by a fine dragonrider who knows what he's doing...even if he doesn't know what a falcon is...and can be a bit rude at times...but so can you...not that I mean anything against you by that. The little blue added hastily, snuffling around...Oh, I'm talking to the back of your head. The blue got off Ru and walked around to the front. Please Ru, be my rider. Be Ru, rider of Xanoth, will you?
      Tai stood up and stretched. At last! She thought to her dragon. We can have the dragonets come forward in time with us and then they can go wherever they want to go, past, present, future, another world, when they are adults. Whatever they want. And what about that blue and green that didn't Impress?
      Isifth glanced over to a dark shadowy corner in the sands where the hatchlings had gone. There were two people there Tai knew, but barely. K'rik was now rider of blue Civith and Ruanna was now rider of green Tamith. Two more people to add to the wings. They were residents of Sidra and would now become dragonriders for Maura Lynna. The hatching was over and Tai was glad. She could go and be with T'rukel again. Millkath and her rider left the sands then. Also happy to no longer be stuck in the sands.