This story focuses on the non-canon dragons/riders of Tennar Weyr. In my head there are currently 13 'main' characters, and the chapters will shift between their POVs. (You can find out who they are on my profile, if you are interested in the story, but it does contain a few spoilers!)
Chapter One: The Hatching's Aftermath
"Did you hear? That forsaken weyr had another hatching."
In the corner of the mess hall, a silent outcast was drawn in by the gossiping of two women. The hall was busy, and the pair didn't even notice the individual sitting in the shadows who didn't even belong there. It wasn't hard to guess where they were talking about; there was only one place known as the 'forsaken weyr'.
"Oh Faranth... dont' tell me there were more mutants?"
"Isn't there always? Two this time."
"Multiplying, huh? They'll be taken over the whole of Pern soon enough!"
"Don't be silly, the other Weyrleaders would slaughter them if they dare step out of line."
"Let's hope so..."
The outcast didn't need to listen to anymore, and quickly left the room. A small smile grew on their face as they thought back to the women's words. Sure, they were multiplying... but it so were humans. It was called breeding, and it was a perfectly natural thing to happen. No one seemed to remember that two 'normal' coloured dragons could have a 'mutant' – it wasn't just these 'mutants' who were breeding. Taking over Pern? Now that was humorous! Why would the 'mutants' want a world that despised and threatened to 'slaughter' them?
Coming to a stop just outside of the doors, the outcast breathed in the cold winter air – thriving on the frosty touch around the world. Somewhere in the distance, a wherry screamed; probably being caught by a dragon for dinner. The outcast looked up to the setting sun and chuckled.
"For such a hated weyr, your news sure does move fast, Tennar."
News had indeed travelled fast, for it the hatching had only been that morning in Tennar Weyr. Siene sighed aloud as she sat against her Blue Tuyath in the weyr bowl, exasperated after dealing with the new weyrlings. The blue snorted in amusement and tugged at the woman's cropped hair playfully.
"Do you mind?" she chastised.
You seem upset over something.
"How could I not?" Siene snapped – turning to face the blue with a horrified look.
It was just a poor thing betweening, it happens all the time if they don't find they're lifemate. You should know that fine well by now.
"Tuyath... as if any hatchling betweening isn't bad enough, this was a Black! The first one to be born since Black Zaith, only the seventh in known history! Such a dragon went between, how can I not be upset?"
The blue didn't say anything else on the matter; both dragon and rider knew that anything he did say would just cause more of an argument between the two. As always, it was Tuyath who changed the subject first – though it wasn't too far from the original problem.
Two mutants hatched today, huh?he said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, and a pair of green twins."
Tuyath seemed to laugh to himself. It's like you've got a group of 'wrong' weyrlings to train!
"Perfect for a female bluerider, huh? After all, I'm counted as a mutant myself by some."
Yeah, you're a mutant, I'm not!
"No, you're just the idiot who chose me!"
Tuyath headbutted his rider, and in return she batted him away. The Weyrlingmaster and her dragon continued to sit in the bowl for quite some time, until the moon was extremely high in the sky and they were approached by a familiar face.
"Is there a reason you two are cluttering up my bowl?" Eon asked, raising an eyebrow as he stared down at the pair. Siene glanced behind him at Brown Eonsk who was being distracted by an extremely short boy – Eon's youngest brother, Leon.
Chuckling, Siene pushed herself up and brushed any dust off her trousers. "Just relaxing after a hard day's work," she said. Eon seemed to understand what she meant, as his eyes flickered over towards the entrance to the Hatching Sands and then to the Weyrling Barracks.
"I was there," he admitted solemnly – though Siene already knew that; after all, Eon's other brother had Impressed one of the two mutants. Veon and his Prism Daneth were going to have some problems in the future, that was sure. "How's I'cas doing? I didn't get a chance to see him."
Siene dropped her eyes. "As expected, I guess: coping. I doubt anyone else would notice something was up."
"When Gatar heard, it was the first thing he asked about; he's dealing in pretty much the same way I guess I'cas is."
"I'cas will be fine; he has Weyrsecond duties to keep him busy. Gatar doesn't."
"Yeah, but Gatar doesn't care as much as I'cas. You know that."
Both fell silent; their minds spinning back to the past and the smiling face that lingered in their memories. Sure, the whole weyr remembered, but only the other Tennar Troubles were still hurting.
Time for Siene to go to bed. She needs her energy for weyrling training tomorrow!Tuyath announced; noticing the sadness that was slowly creeping into his rider's mind, and wanting to stop it before it got too bad.
"Night Siene."
"Night Eon."
The two childhood friends turned away from one another and started trudging back to their separate lives. One; going back to her weyr to sleep until daylight. The other; returning to his nocturnal life watching over the sleeping weyr.
However, both stopped in their tracks as the scream tore through Tennar Weyr.
It came from the Barracks! Tuyath shouted, not even waiting for his rider before lifting off into the air to cover the short distance as fast as possible. Siene broke into a run, Eon and Eonsk following – the WatchWher nature kicking in immediately at the possible threat. As they burst into the Weyrling Barracks (Tuyath already crouching in the common room), they were met with a crowd of male weyrlings and their dragons – all looking towards the female section.
Siene continued, directed by pointing weyrlings, and followed by Eon (who didn't think twice about entering the girl's section). Finally they found the source.
Calla sat in the corner of her room, hands pressed against her ears and knees tucked up to her chest, shivering and crying. Beside her, her young silver – Marseth – snarled angrily at thin air.
Eon flew to the girl's side whilst Siene moved towards the newly hatched silver.
"He won't... stop... he won't stop doing that... I want him to shut up..." Calla screamed, shaking her head from side to side violently.
"Stop what, Calla?" Eon asked – though Siene was about to herself.
"Talking! He's talking into my head..."
Everyone around seemed either shocked or irritated. It was Calla's roommate, Salii of Green Yanth who said what everyone else wanted to, but where too stunned.
"He's your dragon, of course he talks to you," she said in her quiet voice.
Calla's eyes flickered up at the exact same moment Marseth snapped her head around. "Not Marseth... Marseth got... angry... because he was talking to me without permission."
"Who?" Siene asked, now staring at the girl in confusion. Eon and her shared a look; both wondered if I'cas had asked his Silver Touth to pass on a message – but doubted it.
The girl's eyes clouded over and a look of fear crossed her face only moments before Marseth roared out in fury.
"Eon?" a voice from the doorway called.
As all eyes turned, Siene recognised Veon standing there with his usual serious expression.
"He's talking to me too," Veon explained.
"Who?" Siene asked, growing agitated. Veon locked eyes with her, as if waiting to see her reaction.
"That Black hatchling."