Koora blasted another of the single pieces of thread which had some how gotten through the dragonrider’s defense less than an hour earlier. If I were up there, not one piece of thread would get past me. Ooo where’s a searchrider when you need one? Ista’s lacking in it’s defense and all I can do is clean up their mistakes!

“Vandin, take four crew members and fan out over to the east,” Koora gave out the commands sharply, “Tanrao take another five to the east. You three are with me!” The last three of the ground crew nodded curtly though it was obvious they weren’t in a liking mood of the young woman today. Who care’s what they think, just so long as no thread is allowed to burrow into the ground.

Koora was respected at Ista Hold and after finding she was a fairly good leader was given the rank of leader of a ground crew when she became old enough. Not many had a liking for her but then she never tired to get anyone to like her. Even back when she was only in her early teens and was protecting her younger cousin, who hardly made any friends while living in Ista. She’d lost track of her dearly loved cousin some turns ago after her cousin left with her half sister and her half sisters half brother for their new home in a Weyr down in the Southern Continent. She hadn’t heard from her since.

“Only a little more to check over then we can head back to the Hold,” Koora sighed running her free hand through her dark, sandy brown hair. Her stern, yet warm, brown eyes darted about, looking for signs of thread. As they came closer to the end of their sweep, the twenty-three turn old woman relaxed.

“Koora!” the urgent voice of one of her crewmembers cause the crew chief to jump. Whirling around the woman looked for where the man had spotted a stray parasite known as thread. Instead she found him, as well as the rest of her crew looking skywards and to the south. A dragon had appeared in the sky only moments before and now was heading towards them, no doubt heading towards Ista.

To the surprise of Koora and her crew the dragon slowly started to descend and as it did it’s color was clear as day to the crew chief. A queen and her rider, her mind hissed softly to her, Coming to patronize us and tell us what we’re doing wrong no doubt.

Koora watched as the golden dragon took her time gliding towards them. The leader of the crew knew there was a clearing near by that could easily consist as a gold’s landing strip. With a silent order the quartet of ground crew members walked towards the clearing. They had only to wait a few minutes till finally the young queen made a vertical landing. The eyes of the queen for a moment whirled a dangerous red but were quick to revert to an amused blue-green.

“May we help you, Weyrwoman?” Koora asked snipidly. The rider sat for a moment, obviously conversing with her dragon who rumbled before her rider spoke finally.

“I’m looking to talk to a woman named, Koora,” the rider’s voice was soft, yet commanding and it for some reason urked the crew chief.

“I am she, Weyrwoman,” Koora barely held herself back from growling out her words, “What would you have of me?”

“A word in private, my dear friend,” the rider replied looking pointedly at the crewmembers behind Koora. The young Istan’s dark tan seemed to darken in her withheld rage, yet at the same time she was curious as to what this dragonrider wanted of her in particular.

“You heard the Weyrwoman,” Koora growled at the gawking ground crew, “I’ll meet you back at the Hold, now go! Our work is done for today anyway.” For a moment the crew continued to stand still awed by the huge queen dragon before them. Throwing a glare over her shoulder the crewmembers finally followed her orders. As soon as her associates were out of sight the rider carefully dismounted, sliding down her golden lifemate’s raised forearm and sitting on her hand like claw looking down at Koora. To the twenty-three turn old’s annoyance the what she could see of the rider’s face was her brown eyes which seemed to hold a deep ball of laughter in them.

“What do you want, dragonrider?” Koora asked, her irritation growing by the second, “I need to report to my Lord Holder about how much the rider’s of your Weyr missed.”

“Ista’s dragons missed some thread?” the Weyrwoman asked seriously, “I’d always heard they were good about not letting it pass through their deffences.”

“You’re not from Ista Weyr?” Koora asked loosing some of her heat. The rider shook her head.

“Not in the least,” The queen rider replied, her eyes smiling, “However I lived my whole life here up until my 11th turn.” Here the queen rider started to take off her headgear and her dragon lowered her to the ground. Koora blinked, the Weyrwoman was about half a head if not more shorter than her. Helmet scarf and goggles off sandy blond hair cascaded down to just bellow the Weyrwoman’s shoulders and Koora’s anger was forgotten as she stood dumbfounded at who stood before her.

“You do remember me, cousin?” the gold rider smiled. Koora slowly nodded wide-eyed.

“Quachir!” she finally shouted and rushed her younger cousin giving her a bear hug. Quachir giggled happily as she was spun around. “Why didn’t you ever write me that you’d been searched and impressed?”

“I’ve been getting conditioned for possibly being a Sr. Weyrwoman,” Quachir finally replied as she was set once again on the earth.

“I suppose, she’s huge!” Koora gasped, “What’s her name?”

“Mekoth,” Quachir replied as she looked up at her large gold lovingly, “She one of only a few queens who will be going to the new Weyr that’s being prepared in the far East right near a growing Hold called Kutou. There’s also been discustion of where we’ll have to protect, seems at this time It will be three newly named major holds, one of them being Kutou, another called Turaskae and then the other being Raku Sea Hold. There’s also a smaller one mentioned by one of our green riders as being called Bigahomla Hold somewhere in between the trio.”

“So if you’re so into getting this Weyr up, why come see me?” Koora asked. A small mischievous smile that had been rare back nearly ten turns back slowly appeared on Quachir’s features; Koora immediately became leery of her cousin, “You’re up to something, Chir… don’t look at me in that tone of voice!”

“Mekoth,” Chir smiled and the dragon scooped both rider and cousin up in her claws. Before Koora could protest Mekoth launched herself into the air, flapping her large wings strongly. Turning slight the dragon started a flight straight towards Ista Hold.

Koora waited in her room every so often looking out the window at the glowing Mekoth. What have they got cooked up for me? Koora sighed, she hated waiting, and more so secrets. A soft yet firm knock greeted her ears and the soft creek of her door opening announced a visitor. A brown fire lizard silently winged into the room and chirped as he found Koora. He glided back towards the door and landed on his owner’s shoulder

“Koora, what happened with our meeting up after Ground Crewing?” a slightly younger woman asked walking into the room. She was about 6’1” compared to Koora’s 5’8” despite the age difference seven turn difference, Koora having 25 turns. The other girl had shortly cropped tan, sort of sandy, hair and a deep tan skin tone associated with Istans Her eyes were brown yet a shade grayer than Koora’s own. However the small difference, it was obvious to most that the two were sisters.

“I had an unexpected visit at the end of our crewing, Sadel,” Koora smiled at her sister who arched an eyebrow at her, the only real emotion on her features, “Quachir’s back for a time… though she hasn’t told me why she’s hear.” Sadel’s schooled expression faltered at the mention of her turn older cousin.

“I though you would have been annoyed by the grand queen dragon that’s sitting out there,” Sadel smiled coyly, “I didn’t realize we’d had other visitors.”

“Actually, I came on her,” a voice came from behind the young Istan. Sadel smiled and walked over calmly to give her cousin a hug before questioning her.

“That big lump of gold out there is your’s?” Sadel asked in her ever calm, dry, voice, “Did you forget how Koora has a mortal annoyance for queens and their riders?”

“I forgot no such thing, Del,” Chir chuckled as she looked over at her older cousin, “And that big lump of gold as you call her is Mekoth, largest gold to come from Talor Cliff Weyr.”

“Her breading shows well,” Sadel replied respectfully.

“Your sister didn’t think that,” Chir smiled poking fun at her elder cousin. Koora mock glared at the queen rider, Chir had received a lot more nerve since they’d last seen her eight turns back; it fit her much better than that shy exterior she’d had back then, it made her seem much more powerful and some how made her looked more beautiful than what the two sisters remembered of their cousin.

“Meaning?”

“Don’t ask, little sister!” Koora piped in shooting a look at her cousin at the same time. She quickly brought them back to the subject that Chir had left her thinking about, “So what was the descution with ‘Lord High and Mighty?’” Sadel turned to her slightly younger cousin as well arching an eyebrow at Chir.

“Let’s put it this way, how do you feel about the Southern Continent?”

“Mind letting me come along then too, Chir?” Sadel commented without letting her sister reply to the queen rider’s question, “This place hardly feels like home anymore.” Both women looked at the short haired young woman who sported a somber look. Koora watched her little sister for a moment longer and shrugged.

“South sounds nice,” Koora sighed, “It’s coming on to the summer months here soon… It should be going on to the wet season there, right?” She watched as her cousin’s eyes clouded over, more than likely talking with Mekoth.

“True,” Chir replied, “But the Senior Queen at Ryslen Weyr, Litayth, says they’re having some odd weather which includes snow, and that’s where we’re going.”

“Snow?” both sisters replied in unison Koora looking confused and both looking excited.

“Never seen snow before,” Sadel commented with a rare glimmer of excitement in her gray-brown eyes, “So can I come, even if Koora doesn’t agree to go?”

“You’re not the only one who’s not seen snow!” Koora growled and snorted out her reply to her cousin’s question, “Count me in! How long we gonna be there?”

“About two turns, I’ve made the arrangements with Tiyanni,” Chir replied without skipping a beat. Koora’s jaw dropped while her sister looked at their cousin criticly.

“You pop out of the blue and expect us to drop everything in our lives and come live at a Weyr on the other side of Pern for two turns? Chir this isn’t like you, you usually plan far in advance.” Chir smirked at her younger cousin.

“Just start packin’,” she chuckled, “I’ve got the clothes you’ll need to travel there already for you,” she tossed a bag into the center of the room which would later prove to be winter attire, “I’ll fill you in as you pack.”

Koora looked at Mekoth warily again as she could see the queen resisting some primal urge that the ground crew chief pointedly avoided asking about. Instead she became curious again, this time of what Chir had said earlier about snow.

“Chir you said Litayth said that there was snow, you meant Mekoth told you that the Sr. Queen at Ryslen said so right?” she asked as she carefully climbed up the arm of the giant sized gold.

“Acttually, I talked to her directly,” Chir chuckled, “I can hear all dragons… I found it out after arriving at Talor Cliff eight turns ago.” Chir grew modest about her rare ability as her two cousins looked at her in awe.

“And you need us to search out prospects for Weyrfolk at this new Weyr you’re starting with your friends?” Sadel replied dryly though it was her way of joking.

“I can hear all dragons, cousin,” Chir replied in her commanding voice, “But even I can’t pick out people who might be good for the jobs in the Weyr. We’re so to speak planting a few people in each Weyr to ask around and see about though whom might feel cramped where they are now. The original seven Weyrs seem to not want to have anything to so with us though. Even Ista Weyr won’t have it.”

“Knew there was a reason I didn’t like the Weyrleaders at Ista much,” Koora replied with a chuckle though her face was grim. Her grim look soon disappeared with curiosity at their soon to be duty, “So what you’re tellin’ us is that we’ll be Searchers for Weyrfolk right?”

“Correct,” Quachir replied handing them each a riding helmet, one of which she’d oddly found at the Hold., “Now, we’re already slightly late for getting to the meeting so if we could get moving?”

“Already the Weyrwoman, she’s being pushy with us, Del,” Koora winked at her younger sister who just shook her head, her features otherwise showing no emotion. She then looked at the gold she was about to ride to their new home, she respected Mekoth but golds were defiantly the last thing on her list of dragons to impress, even in fire lizards. With a shrug she crawled up on Mekoth’s extended arm and sat down in front of her sister and behind Chir, “Well let’s get on with it. ON TO RYSLEN AND THE NEW ADVENTURES WE FIND THERE!” Chir giggled in front of her before Mekoth leapt forward and beat her leathery wings at the sky only to disappear between three dragons lengths above the ground.

Koora found herself the witness of two flights within nearly three months and one the craziest she’d ever heard of; a Winter Flurry is what Tiyanni had called it that night that Kare, white Oroth’s rider, had gotten angry with Ar’wen, blue Camoth’s rider. That was the same night she found that her cousin had decided that with the votes of the other riders of the new Weyr to be that they would call it Seiryuu; it had something to do with Seiryuu having 1/3 of their dragons being blue instead of the usual green and that this Seiryuu of legond was a blue dragon “god” that protected the East which was where the Weyr would be based in the Northern continent, so far east that they were very close to being West.

Koora had found getting used to Weyr life to be fairly exciting, an adventure to be sure. She’d found herself nearly attacked by a tunnel snake one day and then having a snowball fight the next. As of late there’d been a hatching of a green and blue’s clutch producing some three greens, a blue, and two brown as well as Ryslen’s infamous nights and lights, a night green and two blues a light and a night were also part of the clutch bringing it to a clutching of nine even though there were only eight eggs; one had hatched reveling the twin browns.

Now the sands were full of whites, Lights, and silvers as they took turns watching what was at least 42 eggs on the sands. It was in this way that Koora discovered the gray looking green whom she’d catch every so often looking in to see what was happening. She thought nothing of it till the day that she was looking in on the ground curiously.

Senorith was on the ground with a few other smaller dragons and snarled at them as they got too close to the stash of eggs which seemed to be her own brood. Stuffy old queen, The light greens and whites have much more of a say to this than she does! I can’t stand the way she treats them, either! Queens are nothing but trouble, steel my rider then go and snap at the other dams of the clutch…! a voice agreed with her in her head coupled with both mental snort and a physical one from high above.

The Istan born woman whirled about in her heals to find a green forearm only a few feet away. Turning her head upwards there was the beautiful green head of the dragon she’d seen so many times by the entrance to the hatching grounds. The green growled at the golden queen this time emphasizing some unspoken words to herself.

“You have no rider?” Koora asked sadden by the dragon’s comment. The golds took her away from me, I’m sure of it! It was nearly six months ago that I woke up to find her gone. She’s alive, I can feel that much but she’s blocked me off. I can just feel that flaunty gold prancing about keeping her captive. the green replied finally taking her eyes away from the hatching ground in disgust and looked down at the young woman she was bespeaking.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Koora replied almost laying her hand upon the green but thinking better of it, she might not like that, “It must be very painful to know you’re rider’s alive and she won’t or can’t come back to you.” There was silence for a time between the two of them as both collected their own thoughts. The green gave a short sigh and walked off to one of the lower weyrs causing Koora to panic for a moment.

“Wait don’t go!” Koora ran after the dragoness and for a moment she almost thought the green had chuckled as she slowed. Koora panted slightly before speaking again, “What’s your name?” I am Aventrineth… and you are? the green’s question seemed a bit hesitant on her part but it made Koora smile.

“I’m Koora, formally of Ista,” she replied. She grew wide-eyed as the green’s head suddenly found itself half an arms length in front of her. Well Koora, formally of Ista, I was just about to go on an adventure, they’ve become dull without another along with me… since you’re the only one around would you like to come on this with me? Koora stared at the green as her mind worked at double pace. An adventure with this green? Would I get in trouble for doing so? What would Tiyanni say if she found that I’d gone?… Ah who cares what she says, she’s just another gold rider who probably all high and mighty unlike what she’s been showing me since I arrived! The green rumbled in front of her and Koora chuckled suspecting that the green had heard her thoughts.

“Why not, let’s give it a try,” Koora grinned and moved tentatively to get on the green, Aventrineth quickly stopped her. Koora, formally of Ista, if you wish to come go gather some riding clothes, we will be going between. the green told her with whirling green eyes that had flecks of orange and red running through them.

“Aventrineth, you can just call me Koora, it’s a huge mouth full to give what you’ve been doing,” Koora replied as she ran off in search of the required riding garbs. If that is so, Koora, then call me Aven so you are not tongue tied yourself. the green seemed to wink in the mental reply.

Koora slowed slightly at the dragons words. That was a rare thing for a dragon to ask a human other than their rider to call them by a shortened version of their name, it was a nice thing for Koora to hear from anybody these days. She’d been living a little to seriously since her arrival at the snow covered Ryslen and now was a day to get back to being the adventurious sort that she’d been back at Ista when not on Ground Crew duty.

She carefully gathered a set of clothing that was made for some rider, helmet goggles, boots, the whole works. With a quick look around, Koora giggled as she swiped them leaving a note behind that they’d be returned later. Finding one of the larger latrines empty she quickly slipped on the clothing which oddly seemed to fit her well. Slipping on the scarf goggles and helmet she walked out of the stall trying to look like a confident dragonrider. To her relief those that saw here as she rushed to meet up with Aventrineth… No, Aven, did not stop her or even look at her oddly, they thought she was just another dragonrider going out for a jaunt.

She found Aven with two large bags sitting next to her and a set of riding straps as well. Aventrineth quickly explained herself, Borrowed the straps from one of my sisters and I was planning on flaming while we’re on this adventure, I haven’t flamed in months!

Koora chuckled, the dragon would undoubtedly be full of adventurous trouble, but she didn’t care, she was sure this dragon would be a great friend. With a little bit of instructing from Aventrineth, Koora was quick to have the riding straps on the dragon to secure the firestone bags to each side of Aventrineth. Within a half hour the duo were in the air and disappeared between.

Koora and Aventrineth appeared over a seemingly deserted shore still in the South yet defiantly in warmer air space. They winged their way around the area, the green giving her passenger a good look at the area. A large sandy beach stood out most to the Istan bread woman vision. I’m glad you picked that out so quickly. You’d be a good one to go between with, you’d be able to get the details down once unlike my rider when learning to do so… that’s where we’ll land as well. the green told her turning her head so that it nearly touched Koora, Feed me the stones. Aye, aye, Aven! Koora giggled in reply as she carefully opened the bag and fed the green a few stones before Aventrineth started to circle to land.

A few dragonlengths from the ground the green belched out a burst of flame, more amazing Koora than startling her. The Aventrineth seemed to smirk smugly at this in Koora’s mind. Test flame? Clearing the pathways again. As they landed Aventrineth quickly found a target.

Tunnel snake; a nest of them at that! Flame ‘em, Aven! They’ll help ya’ clear your fireways! Koora growled still a bit mad at that tunnel snake who’d gone after her while she was exploring just outside Ryslen. A burst of flame illuminated the area and six tunnel snakes scatters as two others fell to the ground charred.

“That’s the way, Aven!” Koora whooped, “And you said you need practice after a few months of not flaming? You were being modist.” With a roar Aventrineth once again flamed at the tunnel snakes charring another one and with a swipe of her claw killing off another three. The other two were lucky enough to get out of sight and reach.

I’m still out of practice, If I were in the form I was just before my rider disappeared I would have got them all on the first flame. the green rumbled a bit annoyed at her own lack of performance. Koora thumped the green’s side, which she now noticed was much brighter than before; the color of a normal healthy green.

“Do you need more firestones, Aven?” Koora asked not really knowing how much flame the green had used. I haven’t even used a hundredth of the stones you gave me… but yes, I should have a full stomach of stones to work with. If you would? the green replied opening her mouth to receive what firestones Koora could fit into the dragons mouth. As the green chewed Koora leaned back in the flight straps and looked at the sky above her, it was quite a lovely day. She shivered as she saw a wisp of a cloud, something gray and a bit redish.

She cocked her head slightly as they were facing the cliff wall and the cloud was disturbing her. She turned herself fully and the color drained from her face under the heavy leathers. The green was turning as she felt Koora’s fears and nearly gave the woman whiplash as she whirled about to see what the girl was so startled by.

“AVEN! THREAD!” Koora yelped, her mind mildly scolded her for thinking so many times how if she’d had a dragon she’d be up there and fighting better than the queens. I see it. Hold on, Koora! the green’s war cry cut through the air as she leapt into the air to meet her mortal enemy, I think this will be our adventure instead…! They say it will only last for a few minutes longer and won’t reach land. Are you ready for this, do you think you can handle this crash course in flying Thread? Koora watched the silvery rain fall towards the sea before her. A burning rage welled up inside her as she thought of the Queens at Ista Weyr again and nodded sharply.

“LET’S DO IT, AVEN!” Koora growled and the duo shot towards the mindless spore.

Koora winced as Aventrineth took them between for the last time, this time having finished with the fall and heading back to Ryslen. Are you alright, Koora? It’s just a scratch, Aven, just get me to the Weyrhealer and I’ll be as good as new in a matter of an hour. The green nodded to her friend and soon reappeared over Ryslen Weyr. Taking a steep dive Aventrineth landed near the infirmary, Koora wasn’t even jostled by the move, she’d been trained well in nearly ten minutes. Crash courses were some times a good thing… with a few disadvantages.

It was a little over an hour later, and a long lecture from Weyrwoman Tiyanni that Koora finally made her way outside. Pompus queen rider, you were fine with me! I know that Aven, but she still had a right to do that, we should have left well enough alone, it wasn’t hurting anybody on the sea… in fact it was feeding the fish and dolphins. Aventrineth snorted but accepted the answer. The started to walk across the bowl Aventrineth leaving Koora’s side for a time to get a drink from the a mouth full of snow, that’s when it happened.

Koora looked up in the sky, rubbing her soar left shoulder which had been bandaged firmly. She blinked as she spotted a large Talor Cliff bred gold circling to land. Mekoth? The queen landed moments later only to have her rider leap down to the ground a bit recklessly.

“Koora are you alright? They told me you were in Threadfall only a half hour ago and got here as quickly as I could, What were you thinking?!?!” Quachir’s normally calm voice rattled off the questions in rapid concession.

“I’m fine, Chir, just a scratch,” Koora started when suddenly the ground shook like an earthshake was happening. GET AWAY FROM MY RIDER, YOU WILL NOT HAVE HER! Aventrineth’s voice entered both women’s heads with such force if it had been physical it would have knocked them both out.

She’s my rider not yours, you lowly green! Mekoth’s voice boomed through both their heads startling Koora for having to hear the haughty queen’s voice for the first time. Both female screeched out their rage at one another, baring their sharp teeth.

“STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!” both cousin shouted causing the two dragons to pause and Mekoth to look down at her rider in surprise at the rare outburst. Koora was the first to speak as she turned to the green she’d made friends with that day.

“My cousin, Quachir, was your rider?” Koora asked with amazement, “But she’s said she’s been with Mekoth for nearly nine turns now, how can that be right.” The green stopped confused. This snobby wherry was talking about that one? the green replied looking down her snout at Chir, I thought she was going after you… take you away the way my other rider was stolen while I slept.

“Don’t worry about that, Aven, from what Chir’s told me, Mekoth doesn’t like female humans other than Chir and her half sister,” Koora soothed the green rubbing her snout that had come down in worry over the woman. She stopped in mid-stroke as it hit her what the green was saying, “You want me to be your rider?” Aventrineth rumbled in reply yet eyed Mekoth warily. Chir on the other hand was smiling brightly though a small scowl played in her eyes.

“This means we’ll have two dragons at Seiryuu who will hate each other,” Chir chuckled, Mekoth glared down at the new green pair. She may steel you away from me if she comes to my Weyr. I wouldn’t want your lousy human in a million turns! the green snapped back.

“Quite that, both of you!” Chir commanded her calm air reining once again, “Can we make a deal between you to?”

“Yeah, be friends, Chir wouldn’t try to impress to another and I would never try to impress a gold, they’re way to stuck up!” Koora growled receiving a glare from the queen who towered above them; Chir tried to school her looks so that she would not burst out laughing. The two dragons seemed to come to an agreement and Aventrineth spoke their minds.

You are the dragon of my rider’s cousin, for that I will respect you but you are the only one I will place my allegiance in. Think of me as your guard, Mekoth. Aventrineth eyed the queen as she titled her head in her offer. Mekoth spread her wings and to both riders’ surprise made her answer known, I accept, Aventrineth, it will be a pleasure to have one of your standards in my Weyr.

“How long do you think this will last?” Chir chuckled to her cousin.

“I think they’re sincere about this one,” Koora replied and then winked, “Looks like I’ll be your guard once again, with a little help.” Chir chuckled clapping her cousin on the arm… the green rider yelped in pain; it had been the left arm that the queen rider had chosen to congratulate her on. Koora was quick to reassure Aventrineth that it was an accident and so the green pairing of Koora and Aventrineth started.