(Sorry, sorry again, for not posting a new chapter for so long, and for any typos in the past chapters, I will get to correcting it as soon as possible.)

The next day, both Z'ev and Mercy were mentally absent throughout their respective duties. In the case of the brownrider, it wasn't really noticed, since he had at least turned up, which was an improvement, but Mercy found herself getting picked at constantly by the other weyrlings and by the weyrlingmaster. But somehow, she really didn't care, her mind was busy thinking about and noting the way people acted in the weyr, and especially around the weyrleaders. She hadn't really noticed before, but there was a visible difference from the lower rank riders to the upper ranks. Most blueriders and greenriders avoided the weyrleaders, some of the brownriders did as well, but the bronzes and most of the browns tried their best to rise in the ranks, and the only way to do that was to please the weyrleaders.

Without really knowing why, Mercy took note of the faces and the names she knew, creating a sort of list in her head for something she didn't know what was. At the end of the day, she had about ten names, almost all of them being blueriders, though a few were browns, like Z'ev. However, she hid the list in the back of her head, she was worried about something else. She was worried about Z'ev.

Not in particular because of how he was acting, but because how she felt when she thought of him. She really couldn't help it, though, it seemed as if it had just popped up overnight, and she didn't understand the reason why. Not that it was unpleasant or annoying in any way, it was just very distracting. When she was finally finished with her duties, she couldn't help but sneak as close to the brownriders' group in the dining hall as she could, just to have a chance to get a glimpse of him and to hear his voice. She wasn't particularly happy with what she heard, though, and it soon became clear that he wasn't around the brownriders on this evening. She could hear the other riders speak in solemn and worried voices, but she couldn't hear their hushed words clearly. Curiosity soon became too strong for her, and she dared sneak a little closer than she should to hear them.

"Lovuth was spotted over southern hold this evening, so he's not decided to cut it short and go between." One of the brownriders said, looking at the others with worry. Mercy knew well who he was: T'lien, Lavith's rider. He was wingsecond with Z'ev in the lowest-ranking of the brown wings, the same wing that R'vero had been wingleader of. The others looked at him with the same expression in their eyes; genuine worry. Mercy couldn't help but inch closer as K'lien, rider of brown Ravith, a tall, slim man with hints of grey in his hair, spoke, "But he has still been missing for almost half a day. We can't keep this from the weyrleaders much longer." he looked around at each of the other riders, and Mercy was suddenly worried that he'd spot her, so she crept deeper into the shadows in an attempt to hide, like she had done in the cave when she was searched. This time, however, it worked, and the rider's sharp gaze did not find her. After this, however, she didn't dare stay, and she crept back to the weyrling table, where nobody had seen her leave, just as she had anticipated.

At the very first chance she got, she sneaked away from the stuffed room and back to Neath, who was waiting in the weyr that the green and blue weyrlings shared. The emerald dragon's eyes were whirling a radiant orange color with a hint of red. She was clearly worried. Mercy sighed deeply and wrapped her arms around her dragon's neck. After almost half a turn, Neath was large enough to fly, though the weyrlingmaster hadn't bothered with that yet, already resulting in several accidents among the bolder lads who had impressed browns and bronzes. Neath and Mercy, however, had carefully practiced and not overstepped, but that also resulted in them being somewhat behind the others. None of them minded, because being 'ahead' would likely result in a couple of broken limbs and a sevenday in bed. Neither of the two particularly wanted that. However, Mercy was ready to throw away all caution in this case, she simply wanted to find Z'ev and Lovuth, and her worry was travelling along the bond to her dragon's mind, making Neath just as worried. Lovuth is not in the weyr. And you are worried, what has happened? the little dragon asked. Mercy sighed deeply, "I don't know. But they can't find Z'ev anywhere. Can you contact Lovuth?" she asked, keeping herself from getting hopeful. Neath wasn't even a full turn yet, it was to be expected that she couldn't necessarily contact any dragon she knew, no matter where they were.

Neath looked down at her with those dazzling eyes that were slowly turning a calmer yellow, I can find him, but not speak to him. she said, the whirling in her eyes slowing almost to a halt. Mercy exhaled deeply, partly in relief and partly in annoyance, "So he's blocked us, has he? We'll see about that." she said, determination in her voice, "Let's do some flying." she grinned with anticipation as Neath shook those beautiful wings of hers, growling lightly. The green dragon was clearly thrilled about doing something against the strict, unwritten rules, and finally doing what a rider and dragon were born to do. Fly.

They weren't quite so confident when they struggled to get on the flying harness that they had certainly not been instructed or informed about. They'd only been given the leather and then copied the design, neither knew how to strap it on. But, by the help of intuition and having seen it done many times, they did manage, and soon they were standing on the edge of the weyr, Mercy slightly trembling against the chill of night and the slight fright that she was feeling. But she was determined, as was Neath, and neither would give up now. So, in unspoken accord, Mercy leaned forward just as Neath jumped off of the cliff, spreading her wings in an instinctive maneuver to avoid hitting the sharp rocks beneath as they plummeted for a moment before the green dragon managed to pull up and beat her wings once, then twice, gaining altitude and climbing upwards through the air, slowly but securely. And before they could even think about it, they were properly flying, rising up above the weyr and towards the coastline that was laying ahead like a misty border in the horizon, where the land of southern and its ocean met.