"He says his name is Quinth!" The words echoed across the now strangely quiet hatching grounds. Only moments before the great cavern had been vibrating with the hums of the adult dragons and the cries of the newly hatched dragonettes searching for the one and only human with whom they were destined to connect. One by one the little creatures had been led away by their still awestruck weyrmates until only a tiny blue dragon had been left. The remaining candidates had formed a loose circle around the hatchling, each concentrating with all their might in the hopes that they would be the chosen one. The little dragon, however, had other plans. To the amazement of those in attendance, dragonrider and "commoner" alike, the blue had abandoned those on the hot sands and made his way towards the gallery of watchers, crying piteously all the way. From among those sitting in the ranks of the candidates' family members, a young man stood and stumbled forward just as the dragonette stumbled and fell on a step. Both human and dragon cried out in the same instant and in that moment impression was made. "He says his name is Quinth," Buck Cross repeated softly, cradling the little blue's head in his lap. From across the cavern the golden queen dragon and her bronze mate bugled their approval of the choice their offspring had made. The humans who now surrounded the pair began to murmur, some with approval, others in confusion, and still others with a bit of regret. The disappointed candidates were led from the hatching grounds by the weyrlingmaster who reassured the boys that they would have another opportunity. Buck heard the man's words and stiffened. "It's not right," he said. "I'm not supposed to . . . " Don't you like me? The thought was in his mind instantly. "It's not that I don't like you," the man replied. "Of course I like you. It's just that it's not fair. I wasn't even on the grounds and all these boys . . . " But none of them were right for me, Quinth responded piteously. You are the one. "But I'm too old," Buck tried again. "One of the others would be better for you. They know what to do, how to treat you." YOU are the one. If you don't want me, there is no one. Buck reached out to stroke the little dragon's eyeridge again, immediately feeling guilty for causing the little creature any pain. Marveling at the softness of the skin, softer even than Sarinth's, the man pondered his situation. The bonding that occurred at Impression could only be broken by death-either the human's or the dragon's. Tari had told him that more than once. He remembered then what Tari's mother had told him about the dragonettes going between when they had not found their mates. Suddenly fearful, the man from Earth realized that was what this hatchling would do if he rejected him. He wouldn't allow that-no matter what. But how was he supposed to know what to do? He had no real training-not like the disappointed boys who still stood on the hatching ground hoping against hope that the little dragon would change his mind and come back to one of them. You will be fine, Buck Cross, another "voice" stated firmly. Looking up, Buck saw the golden queen, Alaranth, watching him. The huge dragon nodded to show that it was her words he had heard. You know we will all be here for you, the voice he recognized as Tari's green Sarinth added. Tari, his weyrmate and mother of his son, smiled down at him. She had heard what Sarinth had said and her smile told him more than words that she would be at his side to do whatever needed to be done. "The dragons choose who they choose, Buck," the woman told him softly, as if she could read his mind. "You are Quinth's choice-his only choice. There can be no one else." Quinth crooned softly at the man's touch. I know you will be good to me, Buck Cross, he added. You are the one I am supposed to be with. It was then that Buck knew he would accept what fate had given him. He loved the little dragon with an almost overwhelming sense of completeness. Even with all that had happened to him in the past few months, he knew that he was happier now than he had ever been. By comparison, finding he had, not one, but two sons and coming into the future with a woman he knew he loved were mere moments of joy. All he wanted to do was look at the little blue dragon, just look at him. Buck had the amazing feeling of being together with Quinth. He had never felt the kind of acceptance and love he felt at that moment. And he knew this feeling would never leave him. No matter where he would go or what he would do, the rapport would remain between them. Not that he had any intention of being away from Quinth. Quinth had the softest skin he had ever touched, Buck decided. Even though the little blue would be among the smaller of the dragons of Pern, the man knew he would be the smartest, fastest, most perfect dragon who ever lived. Even though he was the last of the hatchlings to break shell, he was already steadier on his feet than any of the others. His wings-there was no doubt in Buck's mind that they were the most perfectly formed and were already drying faster than any of the others-even those who had hatched many minutes before him. Buck's heart filled with joy-so much joy that his chest hurt. His jaws ached, but he couldn't stop smiling. I want you! He thought firmly, knowing with certainty he had never wanted anything more. "I want you," he repeated verbally. Good, the little dragon replied, his panic subsiding. His eyes turned to a contented blue/green for a bit then began to whirl red. "What's wrong?" Buck asked, fighting a panic of his own. I'm hungry! he keened plaintively. He's hungry! The words came from other dragons as well as several dragonriders who stood nearby. The bombardment on both an auditory and mental level sent Buck's mind reeling. VERY hungry, the blue dragon confirmed. Tari reacted quickly to her friend's pained expression. "Come on," she said quietly, helping him to his feet. "I'll show you where to find food." The crowd of people surrounding them parted as the trio made their way down the steps and across the sand. Tari tried not to sound too concerned as she asked, "Are you all right?" Buck nodded in the careful way that people do when their heads ache. "Just a bit of 'sensory overload'," he confessed using a term he had read earlier. §§§§ As they walked along Tari smiled as her weyrmate carried on a running conversation with his new companion. "Come on," she heard Buck saying softly. "We've got to get you some food. Tari will show us where to go." Confidence flooded through Buck as they stepped onto the sand. He knew then that Quinth trusted him more completely than he had ever been trusted before. Automatically adjusting his stride to match that of the little being, he continued his reassuring chatter. "It's all right-l'll help you." The sand was hot and the young dragon's claws were still soft and damp from being in the egg. "Don't you worry, Quinth. It sure is hot in here, isn't it? My feet hurt too but that's okay. We'll be outside in just a few more steps. It's much cooler there. And there is food!" I'm very, very hungry, Quinth replied. "I'm so sorry," Buck was apologizing. "I didn't even think about getting you food. But we'll take care of that right now. " Tari watched her companion closely, noting with growing concern that the closer he got to the area where the other new dragons and their future riders were already engaged in what amounted to a feeding frenzy, the paler his skin seemed to get. "Wait a minute," she told him. "Let me get food and we'll go someplace a little quieter." "I'm all right," Buck replied evenly. "I have to get used to this sometime." "Maybe so," Tari agreed. "But now is not the time. Stay here!" she ordered signaling to a nearby drudge to bring a bowl of meat to them. Is something wrong? Quinth asked, his hunger replaced with concern. "Everything is fine," Buck answered. There are just so many dragons and they are all so hungry! he thought. I'm sorry, Quinth responded. Buck started as he realized his new friend had heard his thoughts. "It's not you, Quinth!" he declared. "You have worked really hard just to get hatched. You should be hungry! I'm all right, really . . . and as soon as we get you fed we'll both be just fine." Tari had taken the bowl of meat from the drudge and led them to a quiet corner of the feeding area as far as possible from the other dragonettes. A brown rider Buck recognized as Hollenenth's rider K'riss joined them. His own dragon had been scored by thread earlier in the month so he had volunteered to help the weyrlingmaster with his new charges. "Feed him," Tari prompted. "Just give him a little bit at a time until he gets used to chewing." The woman stepped back then, ready to help but allowing the man to do what needed to be done. Her own smile grew as the man continued to talk to the dragon comfortingly. "It's all right!" Buck promised. "It's all right. Your stomach will stop hurting, really. Here's more. Boy, you are hungry aren't you? No, wait, you need to chew otherwise you'll choke. Don't worry, there'll be as much as you want, but you need to chew." Chew? Quinth paused momentarily for an explanation. "Uh, . . . mash the meat between your teeth," Buck replied, demonstrating by making chomping motions with his own teeth. "These are teeth," he explained pointing. "You tear the meat with the front teeth and you chew with the back ones." Smiling as the little dragon imitated his actions, the man continued, "That's it. You've got it right now." Buck continued stuffing globs of meat into the dragonette's open maw. "Be careful," he advised. "Don't eat too fast or you'll get a stomach ache." K'riss nodded his agreement and approval. "It's not good to let him stuff himself," the brown rider confirmed. "Believe me a dragon with a stomach ache will make the entire weyr miserable." But I'm HUNGRY! Quinth moaned. "I know," Buck responded. "But there's plenty of food and you don't have to make a pig of yourself." Quinth paused again. What's a pig? he asked. "It's an animal on the planet where I was born," Buck laughed. "A pig eats everything and too much of it so it gets fat and can't move around very well." I will not get fat! Quinth stated firmly. "I know you won't," Buck reassured him. §§§§ Leaving Buck to explain that Earth pigs do not fly, Tari went to retrieve Steven. When she returned a bit later, Quinth's eyes were slowly whirling the green of contentment. Buck seemed more relaxed but then the other dragonettes were as drowsy as his own. "There's no way we can get him up to our weyr," Buck lamented unhappily. "He can't fly and I can't carry him that far." "It would probably be best for you to stay with the other weyrlings-at least until Quinth can get up the stairs on his own," Tari suggested. "Yeah, I guess so," Buck agreed reluctantly. "What about Steven? You've got to fly a fall tomorrow." "It looks like we may be needing to foster him after all," Tari mused. "Taking care of Quinth for the next few weeks is going to be a full time job," she continued rapidly before he could protest. "No," Buck said firmly. "Buck, you don't know what it's . . ." Tari started, her words trailing off as she saw the determination in the man's eyes. "I guess you're going to have to find out for yourself," she said with a sigh. Steven had approached Quinth while his parents were talking. Having spent the majority of his life to this point around Saranth the boy knew no fear when it came to the dragons. Reaching out a chubby hand, he scratched the blue's eye ridge. Quinth huffed in contented joy to the delight of the little boy. His giggle interrupted his parent's discussion and brought a smile to both their faces. "Looks like you might have another rider in the family," K'riss laughed. "Hopefully not for a very long time," Tari agreed. K'riss nodded his agreement. The end of threadfall couldn't happen soon enough for the older man. "Quinth itchy," Steven declared solemnly. "Quinth need oil now!" The three adults stared in amazement. True enough, the little dragon's distended belly was showing some signs of flaky skin, but Quinth had said nothing and was making no movement to indicate that he was in any distress. "The dragonettes will need to be oiled quite frequently over the next few days," K'riss explained. "I know," Buck told him. "I just didn't know Steven knew." K'riss called for a nearby drudge to bring one of the jars of oil that Buck now saw were being passed among the other weyrlings. Taking the jar and the small paddle, he set to work on Quinth's blue hide. "Steven help!" his son exclaimed, starting for the jar. "Oh no you don't," Tari countered, grabbing the boy before he could get closer. "Steven help Daddy!" the boy protested. "Steven is going to take a nap now," his mother corrected. "We'll be back when you're done." Buck paused for a minute to give his son a hug. "Sleep tight," he ordered. K'riss chuckled as Tari carried the still protesting child from the area. "You're going to have your hands full with that one," the brown rider warned. Buck grinned in response, then paused. "How do I know what to do?" he asked in consternation. "The others have been training for this-some since before the eggs were even layed. I'm never going to catch up to what they know." "Yes, you will," K'riss countered. "You'll be fine. Everyone will help you in every way we can." Buck's nod was a little less than enthusiastic as he turned back to the task at hand. K'riss watched, giving a few pointers but otherwise leaving the work to the other man. Buck knew he could have asked for help but it was his job. By golly, he thought. I'm going to prove I can do this as well as any of the others. Of course you can, Quinth agreed, rolling to one side so Buck could reach a particularly flaky patch. You are so kind and considerate and clever. I know you'll make me very happy. Buck paused again, then returned to work with a smile not unlike the ones he'd seen on Tari's face so many times over the past year. "Do you ever get used to them believing in you the way they do?" he asked over his shoulder. "Not really," the brown rider responded. §§§§ While blue dragons are smaller than their brown and bronze brothers and baby dragons are far smaller than their adult kin, there was still a lot of dragon in Quinth to be oiled. By the time he was finished, Buck felt as if he'd just curried every horse in Sweetwater - and Fort Laramie. As he had worked, K'riss had kept up a running commentary of hints and instructions as well as stories of how Buck's life was going to change now that he was partnered for life with the little blue. Unfortunately the younger man was so tired, he was sure he wouldn't remember half of what he'd been told. "What next?" he asked the brown rider wearily as the older man finished his inspection of the now thoroughly oiled little dragon. "Now we find the two of you a place to take a nap," K'riss replied with a smile. "Before you fall down." Buck could barely put one foot in front of the other as the trio made their way slowly across the courtyard to the weyrling barracks. He noticed the other weyrlings seemed to all be moving in slow motion, as if the effort to move their legs was taking every bit of energy they had. A thought hit him and he turned to K'riss, the question forming on his lips. "It'll take some time but you'll get used to feeling what they feel," the man said with a grin. "Once you do, you'll be able to put it aside and not let it affect you as much as it is right now." Buck nodded his understanding but privately doubted it would be as easy as the other man made it seem. Then again, he knew from experience that Tari didn't seem to be affected all that much after Sarinth had fed. In fact it was only when the green dragon rose in a mating flight that his companion had been unable to separate herself from her dragon's emotions. I guess anything's possible, he thought. Tari joined them as the reached the entrance to the building where they would be staying. "Steven is asleep at Alvina's," she said in response to Buck's unasked question. "That way he's close by and will have someone to watch him when thread falls if you aren't available." Buck nodded, too tired at this point to argue with her. That was a battle he'd fight after he'd slept - and right now he felt like he could sleep for a month. The weyrling barracks weren't nearly as well appointed as his and Tari's weyr but, at that moment in time, Buck honestly thought he could have slept standing up. K'riss led him to what resembled a large set of steps with a ramp to one side. The upper level had been worn by the bodies of the dragonettes who'd spent their early lives in the barracks while the lower level was covered with an overstuffed mattress and a blanket. Buck helped Quinth up the ramp and waited until the little blue was settled before falling onto the mattress himself. The pair was asleep almost as soon as their heads touched down. Tari smiled warmly down at her weyrmate as she reached out to pull off his boots and then pulled the blanket over him. "Sleep tight," she whispered. §§§§ There had been times in his early life when Buck Cross had woken up hungry. Too often game had been scarce even for the best of the Kiowa hunters and his status with the tribe had been such that he'd been one of the last to eat what was available. The morning after the hatching, however, he woke disoriented and hungrier than he'd ever been. Buck? the question in his mind brought him to full consciousness. "I'm here, Quinth," he responded immediately. He sat up and instantly regretted the move. His head felt like someone had hit him with a rock. Twenty-eight dragon "voices" cried out in hunger - and he heard every one of them. Twenty-seven young people attempted to calm their companions both verbally and mentally - and each word and thought found its way into Buck Cross' mind. He tried to concentrate only on Quinth but couldn't catch hold of the blue's thoughts. Fear, indecision and most of all the hunger were all he could feel. "Are you all right?" The words sounded as if they were being whispered from across the room. Opening his eyes, Buck looked up to see K'riss standing in front of him. "Yes . . . no . . . I don't know," Buck replied. "There's so many of them . . . ho-how do you make them stop?" "Make who stop?" the brown rider asked. "Too many what?" His concern grew as Buck tried to stand only to fall back on his pallet. He signaled for the weyrlingmaster to come immediately, but didn't wait for the other man to get to their pallet. "Feed your dragon!" he commanded. The brown rider remembered how it had been when his own Hollenenth had been newly hatched. He knew what it was like to have to deal with the intense hunger of the bottomless pit of a growing dragon. And as someone who often assisted with new hatchlings, he'd often seen weyrlings who had problems coping. But usually the uncertain ones were much younger than the man in front of him. "FEED YOUR DRAGON! " K'riss bellowed. His concern for the other man expanded to include the little blue who was growing more and more agitated. Buck fought back his nausea and sat up a second time. Feed your dragon, he repeated to himself silently. Don't think about anything else, just get the food to Quinth. Mustering all the strength he could manage, he reached for a piece of meat from the platter the drudge had set before his bed. Turning slowly he offered the morsel to his dragon. Quinth's eyes were whirling rapidly shifting between the red of hunger and the yellow of pure panic. He heard Buck's thoughts and while he didn't understand them completely, he recognized that his new friend was in distress and was doing what he had to do to cope. Daintily he took the offered piece of meat and managed to chew it before swallowing. §§§§ Tari arrived at the weyrling barracks to find a small group of older riders surrounding the place where she had left her partner and his dragon the previous evening. She'd been awakened from a sound sleep by a frantic call from Sarinth. "What's wrong?" she asked anxiously, drawing K'riss aside. "I'm not sure," the brown rider responded. "When I got here Buck looked like he was going to faint. He was pale and it sure looked to me like he was in a lot of pain. He said there were 'so many of them' and then asked me how to 'make them stop'?" "Shards!" Tari exclaimed. "We should have known this was going to happen!" "What?" K'riss asked. "He's hearing all of them," Tari explained. "Buck hears all of the dragons." "Shards!" K'riss breathed in agreement. §§§§ "What are we going to do?" Tari asked the Fort and Benden weyrleaders. "He'll learn to block the others - eventually," Sorka, Fort's weyrwoman told her. "If he doesn't go insane first," K'riss offered quietly. As a brown rider, he was seldom privy to such conferences but he had been the first to see Buck's reactions and had been asked to join the group in their discussion. "We stand the potential to of not only losing a valuable dragon but a valuable human as well." Those in attendance shuddered involuntarily. "What did you do?" Tari asked the Fort weyrwoman. "How did you handle it when you first impressed?" "You must remember, Tari," Sorka replied. "When I was in this situation, there were far fewer dragons. I remember what it was like, but I can only imagine what Buck must be going through with twenty-eight hungry dragonettes." "And their insecure partners," M'hall added. "We have to do something! " Tari exclaimed. "Buck is strong but he's not strong enough to deal with this." "Would distance help?" Torene asked. "Buck did seem to have an easier time of it once the other dragonettes were fed and taken out of the barracks," K'riss mused. "I'm sure the confinement of the weyrling barracks didn't help him any," Sorka agreed. "But I doubt there is anywhere in Benden where he won't be disturbed." "What about one of the other weyrs?" Sean, the Fort weyrleader suggested. "Fort has almost as many dragonettes as Benden," Torene replied. "How would we get them to any of the other weyrs? Quinth won't be able to fly for several sevendays at least." "Does it have to be a weyr?" K'riss asked. "I know of several large caves not too overly far from here - maybe one of them would do?" "They wouldn't be as comfortable as a proper weyr," M'hall reminded him. "Buck has lived in worse," Tari proclaimed. "And so have I when I was a runner." Her words left no doubt that whatever decision was made had better include her and Sarinth. M'hall nodded, knowing it would serve no useful purpose to argue with the green rider. "We have to fly threadfall in about an hour," he said. "After we're done, we'll go check out those caves." §§§§ That afternoon, assured that the weyrlingmaster would watch over the sleeping Quinth, Buck and Tari flew with M'hall and K'riss to the caves. "Well, they're deep enough," M'hall commented. "And there's a valley below where we can keep a few herdbeasts and where you can teach Quinth to fly when the time comes." "They're close enough to Benden that we can get supplies easily enough," Tari added. "It won't take much to make them comfortable enough to work for as long was we'll need them," K'riss pointed out. Tari glanced at her weyrmate, then caught M'hall and K'riss' eye to do the same. When they had been in Bendon, Buck had moved almost as if he were sleepwalking. Now he seemed to be more alert and active. "I've lived in worse," the object of their observation remarked. §§§§ Marana, Bendon weyr's head woman, insisted that she be taken to the caves before any move was done. She returned to the weyr and immediately began issuing orders to the various guilds to get the caves properly set up for their new inhabitants. "Not a fit place for man nor dragon!" Tari heard her mutter. "And most especially not for babe and dragonette!" Buck had flat out refused to discuss the possibility of leaving Steven at the weyr. "I've already missed out on one year of his life," he declared. "I don't intend to miss out on anymore." Tari had finally given up arguing and, instead, turned to Marana for help in finding someone willing to go with them to help out when needed. Fortunately, there were several volunteers more than willing to go with the little group. In fact some had to be turned down because the caves were limited in size. §§§§ "How are we going to get Quinth to the caves?" Buck asked. He and the dragonette had spent their second night together in a storage room as far away from the weyrling barracks as possible. The distance had helped some but, judging from the paleness of his face and the tightness around his eyes, Tari knew it hadn't been far enough. Marana had guaranteed them that the caves would be ready for them that evening - nothing short of threadfall would prevent that. "It's too far for him to walk," Tari mused. "And he's not ready to fly yet," K'riss added. "A cart?" Torene offered. "If we could find a beast calm enough around dragons to pull it . . ." M'hall countered. I could carry him, Sarinth contributed. "I suppose that would be possible," M'hall agreed after Tari relayed the green's words. "We could rig up some kind of a sling," Buck suggested. "Maybe a net from the fishercraft hall?" "If we build it right, Hollenenth could help Sarinth," K'riss offered. "Only to make it easier on Quinth," he added not to offend the green. K'riss had been one of the gratefully accepted volunteers to go along with the party. His knowledge of weyrling training would be most valuable. Between the dragonriders and the fishermen, a rig was assembled in just a few short hours. One of the masters had suggested putting a raft in the netting giving Quinth a relatively stable platform where he could lay and keep his still fragile wings from being harmed. A few attempts were made before the two grown dragons had worked out the best way to lift the platform. Now it was up to Buck to convince Quinth to take a ride. §§§§ Most of Benden's population found some reason to be near a window facing, if not in, the center courtyard when the little blue dragon was led to the strange contraption. His faith in his partner was enough to get him to step across the net and onto the wooden platform. With a mighty heave, the brown and green dragons lifted off. Buck was riding Brianth to save Sarinth the effort of having two riders as well as her precious cargo. He and M'hall stayed as close as possible in the even that Quinth would need to be calmed. The little blue, however, took everything in stride and after the first few exciting moments of being aloft, settled down to nap. §§§§ The next morning Buck work early and cautiously sat up. He could still hear the other dragonettes but they didn't have the same head-bashing effect on him - and he couldn't hear their riders at all. Smiling, he set to work taking care of Quinth. It was late morning by the time the rest of those who would be staying at the caves arrived from Benden. In short order, other caves were set up to corral the herdbeasts that would supply the inhabitants with meat and milk. Steven had come with the first wagon and immediately claimed a small ledge near where Quinth and Sarinth were sleeping as his place. The boy proceeded to follow Buck around declaring he was "helping Daddy" to anyone who would listen. After a couple of near misses involving the boy and a busy adult, Buck had no option but to turn Steven over to his new nanny, Aldara, for safekeeping. "Just until we get everything settled," he promised Steven. "There are too many people not watching where they're going and we don't want you getting hurt." "Steven want to help Daddy," the boy protested, his lower lip quivering. "Why don't Steven and I go down and check out the lake?" Aldara suggested, raising an eyebrow to get Buck's confirmation. "We need to make sure it's big enough for Quinth and the other dragons to bathe." "Quinth come too, Daddy?" Steven asked, his eyes growing bright with the prospect. I would like that very much, Quinth added from his ledge. It's very noisy and crowded in the caves. "That's a good idea, Steven" Buck agreed. "Steven, you could help Daddy by giving Quinth a bath." Leaning closer to Aldara, he continued in a whisper. "Not that Quinth needs a lot of help to get wet and Steven swims like a fish so you shouldn't have any trouble." "We'll be fine," the older woman responded in the same quiet voice. "Okay, Daddy!" Steven replied cheerfully, his moment of unhappiness completely forgotten. "Come on Quinth, bath time now." The trio left the caves with the toddler happily chattering all the way. §§§§ That evening when Tari returned from the threadfall, she found Steven sound asleep on his ledge, one hand dangling down to touch the top of Quinth's freshly oiled head. "He's had a busy day," Buck told her quietly. " . . . and two baths." "You really need to keep him out of that oil," Tari scolded, leaning back against him. "Should we let him sleep there?" "No reason not to," Buck responded. "He's as safe there as anywhere else right now. Besides, if he gets up, Quinth will let me know." "You need a bath," he added slipping his arms around her. "You smell like charred thread." "I have to take care of Sarinth first," she said wearily. "Well, we can kill two wherries with one stone," Buck laughed. "I found this secluded little spot with a bathing pool not far from here . . ." "Steven may end up with a little brother or sister before too very long," Aldara whispered to K'riss as they watched the pair walk arm and arm towards the cave entrance. "That would be just what they need," the dragonrider responded with just a touch of sarcasm. "As if they don't already have their hands full with the young one and a young dragon." "Somehow I think, if anyone can handle it, those two can," Aldara said firmly. §§§§ Over the next few days Buck found himself constantly reminded of his life with his Kiowa family. The individuals and family groups who had joined him and Tari were working together as a unit to make the caves their home, however temporary. The caves were partitioned off with wall hangings brought from Benden until each little group had some privacy but the common area used for cooking, childcare and gossiping was left open to all. If he had been able to ignore the two large and one small dragon who perched on the rocks near the entrance, he could have almost imagined himself back with his mother's tribe - especially after seeing Steven being taken care of by the nearest adult when the boy took a slight tumble. Everyone pitched in to help everyone else and in a very short time, the caves really were a home to the hardy souls who had left the safety of the weyr. Some had even commented that, should Buck and Tari decide to claim the area as a holding during the interval, they would be more than happy to support them. Buck wasn't so sure about being a Lord Holder but after several members of the group had approached him on the subject, he had agreed to at least consider it as an option. Right at that moment, however, Quinth was his top priority. The not-so-little dragon was requiring most of his daytime hours between feeding, bathing and oiling. Adding to the levels of stress was the fact that Steven continued to insist on "helping." Buck had finally been able to placate the toddler by making it Steven's "job" to give Quinth his twice-daily baths. "Aldara suggested we get Steven a pet of his own to nurture," Buck told Tari one evening. The couple was sharing a rare moment where offspring and dragons were sleeping. "Knowing your son, he'd try to oil the poor creature whether it needed it or not," Tari laughed. "My son, huh?" Buck protested. "I think you might have had something to do with his birth too you know?" "His birth, yes," Tari agreed. "How he's turned out since then . . . " "I think he's turned out very nicely, thank you," Buck interrupted, a hurt tone in his voice. Tari shifted so she could see his face - and almost apologized until she saw the twinkle in his eyes. She swatted at him and he ducked away quickly. "So," the woman continued. "Do you think you could manage to handle a little brother or sister for Steven half as well?" "Of course . . . " Buck started, his words trailing off as the meaning behind her words sank in. "You're . . . you mean you're p-pregnant?" he exclaimed. "According to Sarinth, I am," Tari confirmed. "How . . . when . . ." Tari smiled at his flustered questions. "I'm not very far along but far enough that I'm going to have to stop flying between. Which means no flying threadfall." "Good! " Buck responded emphatically. And this time I'm going to be around for pregnancy and the birth! he thought to himself. §§§§ The months seemed to rush by until Quinth was finally over the eating-sleeping-growing stage. K'riss and Buck spent the majority of their days working together to help Buck learn what he needed to know about flying the blue dragon. "He's going to be much faster and more agile than Hollenenth," the brown rider told him, mentally apologizing to his dragon at the unintended slight. "He'll be able to turn on a wing tip and you're going to have to learn how to stay aboard when it happens." "I've seen the difference between Brianth and Sarinth," Buck acknowledged. "Quinth shouldn't be that much faster than Sarinth, should he?" "It's hard to say," K'riss replied. "I've seen Sarinth do some pretty amazing things but she is a green dragon and is a bit bigger than Quinth will be when he's fully grown." "How much longer before I can actually fly with Quinth?" Buck asked. The dragonette had grown to sufficient size and his wings were strong enough to allow him to fly from the caves to the valley below. He'd even taken to hunting his own food with Sarinth and Hollenenth. "It shouldn't be too much longer," K'riss mused. "But don't be in such a hurry. You won't be flying thread for at least another turn or two. At most you'll be hauling firestone for a while before you actually get added to a wing of fighting dragons." "I can wait for that," Buck agreed. "I'm not all that anxious to get into the fighting wings yet. Especially not with another baby on the way." "How is Tari?" K'riss asked. The green rider had suffered from morning sickness the first trimester but seemed to be doing better now that she was into her second. "She's fine," Buck told him. "She still doesn't like the fact that she has to sit out the threadfalls with the rest of us land bound, but she knows that she's stuck until the baby gets here." "How about Steven? What does he think about having a new brother or sister?" "We've been spending time with Keller and Madessa," Buck replied. "Their baby is only a month old so he's getting used to having a little one around." Smiling, he added, "He told me if our baby was going to be like little Tucker, he'd rather have a dog." The two men shared a laugh before returning to the task of teaching Buck how to put the riding straps on Quinth. §§§§ Harder by far than Buck's training in dragon care was the training Sorka was giving him to help him deal with the fact that he could still hear all of the other dragons. There really was no precedent - as far as anyone knew for sure - only he and Sorka had the ability - so it was a matter of trial and error to see what worked well enough that the man wasn't incapacitated and what failed miserably. The weyrleader had suggested some mental exercises that usually resulted in severe headaches for the man. Most of the "training" had involved having one or more of the other dragons trying to distract Buck while he concentrating on Quinth. At first they'd gotten through every time but gradually he learned to block most of the unwanted thoughts and focus specifically on his own dragon and Quinth's needs. Hopes were high after just a couple of months that they could move back to Benden but those hopes were dashed when he spent just one night there. The adult dragons were far more focused than the still growing dragonettes - and they'd not considered the fact that the weyrlings would be just as much of a problem as their charges. So the group had returned to the caves and settled in to try again. This time Sorka had made sure that they worked with both draconic and human thoughts. Buck insisted that they work harder, knowing that Tari would be much more comfortable at the weyr with the healers around her. "You don't have to push so hard," Tari told him after one particularly grueling day. Buck had returned to their sleeping area, pale and stiff with pain. "Roger can be here in a heartbeat and Aldara is an experienced midwife." "I just don't want to take any chances," Buck answered. "Especially after the problems Steven had." "Roger says what happened to Steven was most likely caused by my going between the way I did," Tari reminded him. "It's not going to happen to this baby." "'Most likely'," Buck repeated. "But he doesn't know for sure. If being at Benden will make a difference we're going to be there and I'm going to be with you when the baby is born!" No amount of argument or even Roger's volunteering to come live at the caves until the baby was born would change the young man's mind. Finally, after a lot of hard work and excruciating headaches, Buck was able to block all but the most intense thoughts from both dragon and human. Even after the breakthrough that granted him relative peace, the family stayed on in the caves until it was closer to Tari's due date mostly because of the people who had come with them - and the fact that the one-on-one training K'riss was giving him with Quinth was helping him catch up with the other weyrlings. §§§§ "What are you up to?" Tari asked. Buck smiled at his now very pregnant wife as he picked up his riding jacket. "Quinth and I are going for a little ride today." "Really?" Tari exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because K'riss just told me last night and you were already asleep by the time I got here." Buck explained. "If you'll give me a few minutes to get dressed, I'd like to go with you," the woman told him. Buck hesitated, trying to decide on a diplomatic way to tell her he didn't think it was a good idea. Once again Tari read his mind. "You're not going to be going that far and you are not going to be going between. There's no reason why I can't go along," she stated firmly. "I'm really tired of being cooped up in this cave. Sarinth hasn't had any real exercise in months." Knowing that a lot of the emotion Tari was showing was due to her condition, Buck really didn't want to argue with her. She will be fine, Buck Cross, Sarinth's voice sounded in his head. I won't let her tire herself too much. "Can't argue with both of you," Buck muttered. "Get a move on woman! Time's a-wasting!" he ordered, then ducked as a pillow came flying in his general direction. §§§§ It was hard to tell who was more nervous about the first flight of the blue dragon - but anyone watching knew it wasn't Buck or Quinth. Word spread quickly throughout the caves and everyone not otherwise occupied was jockeying for the best position available to watch. Buck double checked the riding straps, smiling as Tari and K'riss checked them too. "You guys worry too much," he chided, as he settled easily between the neck ridges. There was a collective holding of breaths as Quinth confidently stepped up to and off the ledge. No one moved or spoke until the blue dragon and his rider soared into sight. A double pump of Buck's fist in the air signaled a cheer from the watchers. The first ride was a short one even though Quinth assured Hollenenth and Sarinth that he was more than capable of flying a greater distance. The two mature dragons insisted that the youngster abide by the rules. A gentle "reinforcement" from Alaranth prevented any real argument. For the first time in his life on Pern, Buck experienced true and total freedom. He knew that from that time on, nothing would hold him back except for his own desires. §§§§ The next few weeks literally flew by. K'riss worked the pair hard to build up the little dragon's strength and Buck champed at the bit for the first chance to fly between. The brown rider held him back, refusing to allow the duo to make the trip until he was confident that they could do everything required of them. "You're already a few sevendays ahead of the other weyrlings," he admitted candidly. "But you are not ready to fly between yet." "When?" Buck asked anxiously. "When I say so and not before, young man," K'riss replied emphatically. "That goes for you too, young dragon," he added in Quinth's direction. "Do not make me speak to Alaranth." Quinth's eyes whirled in amusement. He is too cautious, he said to his rider. I know, Buck agreed. But he's the boss and we have to do as he says - for now. §§§§ "You would think he was the only dragonette ever to go between," Buck muttered under his breath. The day for what he thought of as Quinth's first real flight had finally come - and everyone for miles around had come out to watch. Well, this is MY first time, his dragon responded haughtily. "Be careful not to trip over that ego," Buck answered with a laugh. For the past four days, he and his blue dragon had flown "straight" back and forth between the caves and Benden Weyr so many times Buck thought he could have done it on foot without a map. K'riss insisted that he know exactly where he wanted to go and would not allow the pair to go between until he was certain they did. "Remember what we practiced," the brown rider called from astride his own dragon. "Think about where you want to go and make sure Quinth has the image before you give him the go ahead." "Yeah, yeah," Buck muttered, at the same time sending his teacher the thumbs up to indicate he understood. Do you have the image? he asked Quinth. I do, came the confident reply. "Then let's go!" Buck pumped his arm in the air and was between. He thought he was prepared but the cold that was the void invaded even his bones. "Cough three times," he told himself. "Cough three times." It sure seemed a lot longer than three times before the warmth of Pern's sun reached him. Seconds later it occurred to him that the sun was in the wrong place. Quinth, where are we? he asked. Where you wanted us to be, the blue dragon responded. "But this isn't right," Buck said aloud. "It's too early in the morning." This is when you wanted to be here, Quinth informed him. Buck grew slightly dizzy as he looked up to see himself standing shirtless on the ledge in front of the weyr he shared with Tari. As he watched Tari stepped up behind him wearing only his shirt and slipped her arms around his waist. At that moment he realized they were at the weyr just after the first time Sarinth had risen in a mating flight - the first time he'd realized what being a dragon rider at that moment in time meant. "Wait!" Buck exclaimed. "You timed it?" You wanted to come here now, so I brought you here. "But you're not supposed to know how to do that!" Why not? the dragon sounded confused - and worried. "Never mind for now," Buck replied. "Take us to Benden when we need to be there." §§§§ For the next few days Buck was exceedingly careful to give Quinth the exact coordinates K'riss told him to give. He considered telling the brown rider of his little "side trip" to the past but decided against it. He wasn't sure what the others would think and didn't want to get himself or Quinth in trouble with the weyrleaders. You have to promise me that you'll not time it again, he informed Quinth. Not unless we really, really need to do it. I don't understand, Buck, the blue dragon responded. His "voice" had changed as he had grown. He now sounded very much like Hollenenth and Brianth. Buck wasn't sure if the change was real or just because he expected it. But I'll do what you say. And whatever you do, do NOT tell any of the other dragons you can do it! Buck insisted. Right now they think Sarinth is the only one who can, we need to keep it that way. I won't tell anyone, Quinth vowed. §§§§ "Buck?" Tari's voice was strained as she gently shook her weyrmate awake. "It's time." "Just give me five more . . . " Buck's words ended abruptly as he realized what the woman was telling him. Rising quickly, he helped Tari to get more comfortable in her bed. They had moved back to Benden just the previous day. Sarinth had already issued the call for Roger, the healer, so all the couple could do was wait. Of all the things that had happened in his life, of all the miraculous experiences he'd lived through, there was no doubt in Buck's mind that the birth of his child was the most memorable. "Congratulations, you have a son," Roger said with a smile. "Is he okay?" Tari asked anxiously. "He appears perfectly healthy, Tari," Roger replied over the baby's lusty cry. "I'd like to run a couple of tests to check for liver problems but his color is good and he's very definitely got a set of lungs on him." Roger turned to Buck and held out the blanket wrapped bundle. "Would you like to hold your son?" the healer asked. Gently, tenderly, Buck took the baby in his arms. Peeling back the blanket, he did the standard finger and toe count. "Ten of each, I hope?" Tari said quietly as she watched. "Ten of each," he confirmed. "Do you have a name in mind?" Roger asked. "It's Buck's turn this time," Tari replied. The pair hadn't really discussed names but she thought she knew what choice her weyrmate would make. "I was thinking . . . " Buck said hesitantly. "I'd like to name him Ike." Tears filled Tari's eyes at the choice. Buck seldom spoke of his other life, but the woman knew he often thought of the days that were long past. Ike had been his best - and only - friend for a very big part of his life. "Ike is a perfect name," she agreed. "He even kinda looks like Ike," Buck offered with a grin, gently rubbing the baby's bald head. §§§§ Tari woke up early the next morning to find the bed beside her empty. The space was still warm so Buck hadn't been gone long. Rising carefully, the woman pulled on a robe and shuffled across to the room where her two sons now slept. Buck was sitting between Steven's bed and Ike's crib. He had one hand on each of the boys and his head was bowed as if in prayer. As she watched, she saw his lips moving silently. He wonders how he could be so lucky, Sarinth told her. His word is 'blessed.' SARINTH! Tari reprimanded silently. You shouldn't be . . . I'm not, the green dragon protested. Quinth is telling me. Tari started to apologize but Sarinth continued. Quinth is asking me why he feels so sad about his friend . . . a friend he's not thought of until now. Tell Quinth this is something he will have to talk to Buck about, Tari responded. It's not our place to tell him. I've already told Quinth as much, Sarinth replied. Briefly Tari considered going to Buck - to offer him comfort, but thought better of it. He needed his time alone with his boys. Silently the woman returned to bed. §§§§ I don't understand. Quinth was laying patiently waiting for Buck to finish applying the last bit of oil to his wing tip. Tari and Sarinth were able to save you, why can't you save your friend Ike? "Ike died before Tari and Sarinth came back for me," Buck explained. "He had been dead a long time." But if they went back over three hundred Turns to save you, the dragon reasoned, it would be nothing to go back a few more Turns to save Ike. You could do it? Buck asked silently in case anyone else was listening. If you can visualize the place, I can take us there, the blue dragon responded confidently. Buck grew silent as he considered what his companion was suggesting. When he'd first came forward to Pern, he'd considered asking Tari and Sarinth to do exactly that, but then things had gotten so convoluted with Steven and Tari being thread-scored, he'd not really thought about it since. They had saved him because they knew when he was going to die. Buck knew to the moment when Ike was going to die as well. To the very second that the bullet from Neville's gun had ended his best friend's life. Why couldn't he stop that from happening? §§§§ Knowing he couldn't just go to Tari with his idea, Buck decided to do a little research on his own. While the computers would have been faster, he had just never gotten the hang of the fool things so searching through the many copied books - most of which were hand written by Tari - he read everything he could find about the Pony Express and what happened after the group disbanded. He even found a list of obituaries from Rock Creek but Ike's name had never been entered. "You okay?" Buck looked up to find Tari's brother Thom standing in front of the table where he had his books and notes spread out. "Yeah, just thinking," he replied, mentally kicking himself for not being aware of the other man's presence. "What are you doing here?" "Blame it on Tari," Thom said with a shrug. "I started helping her with her research of old Earth before she went back for you and got hooked on it. I think the Civil War era is one of the most fascinating times of your history." "Fascinating only if you didn't live through it," Buck commented sadly. "Too many good men and women died for a principle - on both sides." "Did you go?" Thom asked curiously. "No, I kept saying it wasn't my fight," Buck answered. "I had friends who fought on both sides. I guess I figured, if I didn't fight for either side, I wouldn't have to worry about maybe meeting up with one or the other." Thom nodded his understanding. "So what brings you here?" Buck hesitated, not sure if he wanted to share his idea with this man. He considered Thom a friend, but he was Tari's brother. "You have my word, whatever it is, it'll stay between us," Thom told him, with the same uncanny insight into his thoughts that Tari had. "I had a good friend, Ike McSwain," Buck started, deciding he needed to share with someone and, since he was getting nowhere with the books, maybe Thom could help him on the computers. "He died - was killed - by a gunslinger a few months after Tari left the first time." "And you think you can save him the way Tari saved you," Thom jumped ahead. "Why not?" Buck asked. "He died on old Earth not here on Pern. Anything he was meant to do, he did before he died. If I can figure out a way to bring him forward, he'll be able to live a life he should have lived and it shouldn't make a difference because he was already dead." Thom chewed on his lower lip, another habit he shared with his sister. "But how are you going to change what happened when you and others saw it happen?" he asked. "I'm not sure," Buck admitted. "I don't have everything figured out yet. But I'll think of something." He looked down at a photo that had been included with the book. "He was my best friend, my only friend for a very long time," he continued sadly. "I don't think it's fair that I'm here and alive and he's nothing but a memory. He deserved more than that!" "A lot of people could give the same reason for saving their relatives' or friends' lives, Buck," Thom said cautiously. "The problem is, if everyone did what you want to do, at some point history would be changed - and not necessarily for the better." "But I can't see how any change would happen if I go after Ike," Buck argued. "He died and his body was burned. He didn't leave any family behind and his death didn't prevent any family from being born. He was just a nameless character in history and his living would change nothing in the past or in this future." Thom considered what the other man was saying. "You're right," he agreed. "It's not like my going back and stopping Tari from going back to your time the first time, or stopping someone here from dieing that might actually make a difference in our time." Buck nodded. "See? Ike is ashes now, has been for over three hundred and fifty Turns. His life was over and done and nothing in history would be changed if he is brought to now instead of burning him on a funeral pyre." "The only problem I see is that Tari can't fly between times right now and she'll never let you fly Sarinth," the other man pointed out. "She won't have to," Buck countered. In for a penny, in for a pound, he thought. "Quinth knows how to go between times," he said in a rush. "Shards!" Thom exclaimed then immediately hushed before the librarians came to see what was wrong. "When did you find out he could do that?" "Our very first flight between," Buck told him. "I didn't realize I was thinking of Benden at another time until we go there." "Does Tari - no of course she doesn't. " "We haven't done it but just that one time," Buck informed him. "Okay," Thom replied, then, deciding the topic was one best left for another day, abruptly changed the subject. "So why are you reading the books instead of using the computers?" Thom asked. "Derrick wouldn't have a problem letting you do some research as long as you are willing to help out with the copying a bit." "I just can't get the hang of those things," Buck admitted. "It would take me longer to figure out how to get where I wanted to go - especially if you add on the time Derrick would make me put in to do the copying." Thom considered the options. "Maybe we could narrow things down a little and then I can help you with the computers," he offered. Buck nodded his thanks and then showed the runner his research to that point. §§§§ "NO!" "Why not?!" Buck had taken a great deal of time to come up with all the logical arguments he could think of before he made his proposition to Tari. To find out she was so adamantly against his idea had actually come as a surprise to him. "You went back and saved me," he tried again. "Why can't we do the same for Ike?" "Because Ike DIED!" Tari explained. "You saw him die - you have memories of what happened after he died . . . including his funeral." "So?" the man asked. "If we stop him before that happens, the memories will change and . . ." Tari cut him off sharply. "And Ike would be alive and you would not have done what you did after his death and you would not be what you are today." "You don't know that," Buck protested. "I may have been something better than I am." "Buck . . . " This time he interrupted. "I've done the research, Tari. Thom helped me plot the jumps so we could be there right before Nev . . . right before Ike gets shot." Walking to the work desk at the side of their rooms, he picked up a sheet of paper. "We can be there and back before anyone even knows we're gone." "The weyrleaders have prohibited timing it," Tari countered, playing her trump card. "They've prohibited timing to save anyone on Pern," Buck replied, dismissing the argument. "Ike hasn't ever been on Pern." "No, Buck," Tari said firmly. "Quinth isn't big enough to try and I won't let Sarinth do it." "Not even for Ike?" Buck tried, playing on Tari's affection for his long dead friend. "Not even for Ike." §§§§ "She's so damned pig-headed!" Buck had flown to the library to meet with Tari's brother Thom and had told him what the woman had said. "She's always been stubborn," Thom agreed. "But she may be right." Buck stared at his friend. "How can you say that?" he asked incredulously. "I thought you were on my side." "I guess I hadn't thought it the way Tari did," Thom admitted. "It really didn't occur to me that things that happened after Ike's death would have shaped what you became back then." "There's nothing to say I wouldn't have turned out exactly as I did if Ike had lived," Buck argued. "I might have even been a better person for having him as a friend." "That may be true, Buck," Thom replied thoughtfully. "But a change, any change, could make a big difference . . . " "Don't give me that ripple in time thing," Buck interrupted angrily. "There's no proof of any of that! There's no proof that anything we did back then would make a difference now! Except my best friend would be alive and happy and still in my life!" With that, Buck turned and started to walk away. What they don't know won't hurt anyone, he thought angrily. I know Quinth can do it. Of course I can, came Quinth's instantaneous reply. "Buck, wait," Thom called after him. "I'll go with you." Buck looked at the other man skeptically. "Look, you're going to go one way or the other right?" At Buck's nod, Thom continued, "You're going to need someone's help. Besides, Tari would never forgive me if I let you go alone and you get lost." Buck considered protesting that Tari would never forgive him if something happened to her brother, but ultimately he couldn't stop the excitement from creeping back into his voice. "So when can we go?" Can you handle three riders, Quinth? he asked his dragon. Of course I can, Quinth repeated. "No time like the present," Thom sighed. The two men walked to the waiting blue dragon who easily lifted both of them off the ground. In the wink of an eye, the next adventure began. §§§§ Email Cathy HOME