A/N: And now, what you have all been waiting for since you read the words "two mating flights" in the summary. Drum roll, please. Mating flight number one! Sorry it took so long to post

Disclaimer: The setting and theory belong to Anne McCaffrey, but the characters and plot are mine.

Chapter Six

What woke Fr'kane was a sense of urgency from Selmith. He sat up and rubbed sleep from his eyes. His back ached something fierce.

But he couldn't worry about that now. For he saw Selmith land on R'kun's ledge, looking about four times as brilliant a green as he had ever seen her.

"Oh, no," he groaned. She was about to rise, and he hadn't recognized the signs

R'kun sat up next to him. "Oh, no," he repeated when he saw Selmith.

"Why now?" Fr'kane whined.

R'kun looked sharply at him. "Why are you - oh, never mind. That doesn't matter now. Get to your own weyr. Now!"

Fr'kane heard the urgency in his voice and jumped to obey. He had just made it in the door when Selmith voiced a challenge to the group of males that had assembled, Bronth among them, and leaped into the air.

Fr'kane faltered, and nearly fell. Strong hands supported him and led him to his bed. "Stay with her," someone, he thought it was R'kun, said. "Don't lose her."

That was the last thing Fr'kane heard before rider and dragon lost all distinction.

He was Selmith, rising on an updraft, lost in the joy of unhindered flight, oblivious to all else. With graceful ease she spun, spiraled, and zigzagged up, down, and all around. She flew higher than ever before. She was absolutely invincible.

She was vaguely aware of the males following her. She delighted in eluding them. Eventually, she tired of the game she played. She turned, and laughed to see that most of them had fallen off.

She dived in among them. She eluded a blue, spat at a bronze, and found herself caught in the embrace of a brown, Bronth.

This was meant to be, she realized, and lost herself to the mating passion.

When Fr'kane was himself again, he saw R'kun in bed next to him, still holding him. A smile spread across his face.

"Fantastic," R'kun said hoarsely, a grin across his own face.

"More than that," Fr'kane said.

They just laid like that for a while. Then Fr'kane separated himself. He found his discarded clothes and put them on. He heard R'kun doing the same.

"Why were you in my weyr last night?" R'kun asked.

Fr'kane told him. "Nothing happened, if that's what you're worried about," he finished. "I wouldn't be dumb enough to compromise Selmith."

"I know you wouldn't," R'kun said. "I just wondered."

"I'm kind of wondering something myself," Fr'kane said. "Why were you so scared last night?"

R'kun turned white. "I really can't tell you that," he said.

"Look, whoever gave you a death threat is nowhere near here right now," Fr'kane said reasonably. "There's no way he could know if you tell me what's up."

"You don't know that," R'kun said. "He's got ears everywhere."

"Suit yourself," Fr'kane said, not wanting to upset him further. "I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong, though."

Korla wanted to scream. She and S'mar had thoroughly investigated both mine tunnel collapses, and it seemed they were both caused by the same person. Whoever it was, he or she seemed to have a grudge against Smiths. But as hard as they had both worked, there were no leads.

They had asked all the people at each mine if they remembered seeing anyone up to an hour before the collapse who didn't belong there. People remembered a brown dragon, but since no one had seen Weyr insignia, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The very idea that a rider would want anything to to with this made Korla's skin crawl. And it strengthened her resolve to catch this monster and make him pay.

And another thing that weighed on her mind was the imminence of Rinath's first mating flight. Just that morning, Fr'kane's Selmith had risen, and Korla hadn't seen him all day. She hoped they caught the killer before Rinath rose. It would be dreadful if they missed a chance to catch him simply because they were incapacitated.

With these issues mulling in her brain, Korla was about ready to explode at the evening meal. Not even the delicious food was able to calm her down.

S'mar was looking as frustrated as she was. "How does he do it?" he exploded halfway through the meal, causing the people around them to look at him. "Is he invisible?"

Korla had never seen his so upset. He usually wasn't this excitable, but then, neither was she. The hunt for this madman was consuming them.

"He's not invisible," she assured S'mar. "Though he might as well be."

"He could be setting up another tunnel collapse as we speak," S'mar growled.

It struck Korla how very true that was. "Shards, you're right," she whispered. "How cruel can this man be?"

A thought hit her. She turned desperate eyes to S'mar. "We need help. Who do you trust the most here?"

S'mar led the way to Fr'kane's weyr. He knew Fr'kane would keep the secret, and the young green rider could turn out to be a big help, despite being unable to take a hint sometimes. He smiled a little at the memory.

However annoying Fr'kane could be at times, S'mar was glad he had found R'kun. They were well suited, and Fr'kane deserved someone who would be able to love him the way he needed to be loved.

S'mar glanced sideways at Korla as they walked. He realized with a start that he was falling in love with that confidence she exuded despite all her troubles. Her world had collapsed around her, and yet she'd persevered. He didn't know if he would be able to do that in her shoes. And he wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

Why are you thinking bad about yourself? Nerith chided, listening in as usual.

I'm not, S'mar replied.

You were, Nerith said. You called yourself a coward.

Did not.

Did too.

Did not.

Yes, you did.

Argh! S'mar growled, a smile playing on his lips. I never get anywhere with you.

So why try? Nerith said arrogantly.

It was all S'mar could do to keep from laughing. He schooled his expression when they came to Fr'kane's weyr, though. It wouldn't do to appear unprofessional.

He knocked on the wall next to the entrance to let Fr'kane know they were there. There wasn't really much of a door, just a curtain barring the entrance. Fr'kane pushed this back now.

"S'mar? Korla?" he said. "Come in!"

Fr'kane looked none the worse for having experienced a mating flight that morning. He led them over to a small table and chairs.

"Where's R'kun?" Korla asked.

"Getting his stuff," Fr'kane replied. "He wants to move in." He was unable to say that without a smile.

"Congratulations," S'mar said sincerely. "He seems like a nice guy."

"He is," Fr'kane said. "Now, what's up?"

S'mar exchanged looks with Korla. "We need your help," she said.