This is my first story so it probably isn't very good. Unless you have read the 'Dragonriders of Pern' series by Anne McCaffrey then you may not understand everything. The first book in the series is Dragonflight. It's a good book, you should read it. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Leaving home

Krito had always dreamed of being a dragonrider. Ever since he had first seen the beautiful yet terrifying dragons fly over the hold. He lived in the hills, with his mother and father, Torna and Kesto. He didn't know much, for his father forbid him to learn from a harper (since apparently they told lies), and he was not a girl so he couldn't learn drudge duties such as cooking and cleaning. Mostly he just collected firewood, and of course thought about dragons. He knew that there was very little chance of his dreams being fulfilled, since no one ever Searched in the hills, only when there was no where else, and since it was the middle of a Pass, everyone was eager to become a dragonrider. No one knew about Krito's dreams, for he knew he would be beaten if he told.

Although Krito had an extremely boring life, he did have one special gift. He found he could talk to dragons! When he was a mere seven turns he discovered this. Every time Thread was over his hold he would call out to the dragons, in his mind of course. They sometimes answered, but Thread kept them occupied most of the time. He had so far met 14 bronzes, 17 browns, 26 greens, and 20 blues. He had called out to a Queen once, but she didn't answer for why should a Queen answer to a boy of only eleven turns. After Thread had gone he would go out with the ground crews and check for any Thread that had escaped the wings. There was usually very few. He would look up into the sky and see if any dragons or dragonmen would stay; they never did.

One day Krito was as usual finding fire wood, when he heard a deafening bugle from above. He looked up and saw to his surprise, a bronze dragon in the sky. It was magnificent, with its big bronze wings spread out, and its tale flowing down. Krito so wished he could Impress and have a dragon of his own. The dragon landed in a clearing not far from where Krito was standing. Without thinking, Krito dropped his bundle of logs and ran towards the dragon. The bronze rider slid down the dragon's foreleg and came towards Krito.

"Hey you!" he called, "Do you know where the owner of this hold is. I'm on Search. Apparently quite a few dragons have told their riders that someone has been talking to them here. I'm F'lar of Benden by the way,"

"I'm Krito. My father owns this hold. We live in the building over there. I think he's in there." Krito didn't know why he didn't tell F'lar right then that he was the one that could talk to dragons. He guessed he didn't want to sound arrogant, and besides, F'lar would probably just think he was lying. And if he didn't Impress and he came back to the hold then Kesto would surely beat him.

"Lead the way then Krito, you look like you need a break from your work" said F'lar cheerfully.

Krito knew that F'lar's name rang a bell, but he could not remember where he had heard it before.

He puzzled over it as he walked F'lar to his father's room. Kesto was having lunch and a cup of klah when they entered.

"Bronze rider F'lar wishes to speak with you father" said Krito politely.

"What does he want?" said Kesto "Can't you see I'm busy!"

"I'm sure he won't take up to much of your time" said Krito. If he hadn't been used to his father's bad temper then he would have told him off for not paying any respect for a dragonrider. A bronze rider at that. Krito let F'lar in and stood at the door waiting to escort him back to his dragon. F'lar walked into the room, sat down at the table, and helped himself to some klah from the pot.

"What do you want?" said Kesto sounding extremely rude.

"We have heard that someone in your hold can speak to dragons. If they have enough turns then I would like to take them back to Benden Weyr because as you should know there is a rather large clutch there at the moment," said F'lar tactically ignoring Kesto's attitude.

"We have no one here that speaks to dragons that I know of. And even if someone did we have no men to spare," said Kesto angrily.

At this point Krito was looking everywhere in the room except at Kesto and F'lar. He knew they were talking about him but he didn't know how Kesto would react if he found out. He would probably beat him. Beating was the answer to everything; well that's what Kesto thought anyway. Krito decided to find something to distract himself. He looked out the window and saw the great bronze dragon.

Hello Krito thought to the bronze. What is your name? he said.

I am Mnementh, bronze dragon of Weyrleader F'lar replied the dragon (so thats who F'lar is, thought Krito, why he's the most important dragon rider in all of Pern!).

I'm Krito said Krito I am the one your rider is Searching for. But please do not tell F'lar right now, because if my father finds out then he will surely beat me for not telling him, and then if I don't Impress he will beat me again, said Krito worriedly.

I will not tell F'lar now, but I will tell him when he is not in the presence of your father. Then you can pack your things, write a letter explaining where you have gone and why, and we can be on a way back to Benden Weyr, said Mnementh.

I do not know how to write, said Krito

Then just tell someone where you are going.

Krito thanked him and went back to concentrating on the conversation between F'lar and Kesto.

"I have no men to spare. You cannot Search!" said Kesto fiercely.

"I can replace the man we take, and the replacement will be as good as or even better than the one we take!" said F'lar beginning to lose his temper.

"You have until this evening to Search, because I am not feeding a rider and a dragon!" said Kesto.

"Thankyou" said F'lar impatiently.

F'lar walked to the door and told Krito to give him a tour of the hold.

They started walking towards the courtyard when F'lar's eyes slid out of focus, meaning he was having a conversation with his dragon.

"You are the one that can talk to dragons?" said F'lar.

"Yes" Krito mumbled, "Did Mnementh tell you why I didn't tell you earlier?"

F'lar's eyes unfocused again.

"He has told me now. Go packs your things. Say farewell to whoever you wish and meet me at my dragon as soon as you've finished" said F'lar.

Krito quickly ran up to his sleeping room and shoved all his important belongings into a rucksack. He then ran to say goodbye to his best friend, Sempron. Then he sprinted towards the great bulk that was Mnementh.

And that's the end of the chapter. Please review!