A/N:Haha, it seems many of you didn't appreciate my cliffhanger ending last chapter. Thanks for the laugh to the reviewer who reminded me I'm not writing a tv script. Was cracking up so bad I could barely write this chapter =).Here it is, the anticipated, chapter 9.
I can't find Branath!
"Focus everything into it! Call out his name!" Tessa said frantic.
Tessa herself reached out in the cold darkness of between to make a connection with Branath, she had no luck.
Branath.. we are here... help us find the way home.
They had been between for a while. Tessa began to wonder if they could, in fact, find Branath. Lessa had said that this method of traveling was unpredictable..yet if they would be truly lost, would they have the chance to think? Or would they just asphyxiate in the airless between while searching for their own time? Tessa's mind was spinning, and she couldn't control it. She thought she was going to lose her mind when something her her like a slap in the face.
All the dragons in Benden weyr simultaneously bugled early in the morning, minutes after B'non had locked himself within his room, weeping for the loss of Tessa and her queen, Cireth.
I have found them! They come from far away!
B'non was stunned at what his dragon said.
"Found them? How? You said you couldn't hear them!" B'non fumbled out of his weyr, racing towards the bowl. The dragons were all in a circle, bugling with great enthusiasm. B'non tried to talk to Branath, but it was as if Branath was asleep, his mind was blank. B'non eyed Branath curiously, his faceted eyes were closed, as were all the dragons in the weyr. The bugling stopped. The silence and tension in the weyr was overwhelming. A single dragon bugled her arrival. Cireth was home.
B'non pushed through the tight circle of dragons to Cireth. Through blurry eyes he saw Tessa stepping down, stronger than ever.
"B'non?" she asked quietly.
B'non blinked his eyes rapidly, forcing away tears. Later he would scold himself for his lack of composition. His arms found their way around Tessa's body, holding her close to him. She was as cold as death.
"I thought.. you were really gone," He said quietly, only so she could hear.
"Never gone.. just a little lost," She smiled at him, and he noticed her eyes too, were damp.
"I want to know what happened.. Branath couldn't find you," said, inquisitively.
"I'll tell you everything..but away from bystanders. We need to talk,"
I'm going to sun myself. Between was wretchedly cold.
Tessa smiled at her dragon's nonchalance. Managath was prodding her with questions, wondering if she was really okay. Renath wanted to know how she disappeared, but came back.
Squawking over her head alerted her that her fire lizards had made it safely, as well. Observing B'non's confused look as all three perched themselves about her body, she decided to make introductions.
"B'non, meet Kinzeth, a lucky little bronze, Aniceth the queen, and the perky little green is Preth," The fire lizards regarded B'non for a moment, then fluttered off to sun themselves along side Cireth.
"Those fire lizards were fully grown..Tessa.. how long have you been gone?" B'non asked quietly.
"I don't know," Tessa said sadly "A few months, most likely,"
B'non regarded Tessa for a moment. Her raven hair had been sun bleached and was showing red undertones, her skin had darkened considerably, one could pass her off as someone from Nerat or even Southern. She showed no signs of frailty, proof she had overcome the illness.
"So.. going to Southern helped you," B'non said, ushering her to a seat and pouring her klah.
"Remarkably so. Within days I was fully recovered, while it seems in the North those who are ill take weeks to recover."
"So that is the solution.." B'non pondered a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"What are you up to?" Tessa asked mischievously.
"Oh nothing much, just a bit of drilling for the younger dragons that haven't seen much action.. and some moving for a few people who need a sunny vacation to recuperate," B'non smiled at her.
"I'll help!" she stood up suddenly, nearly tipping her cup. B'non placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back into her seat, with more force that Tessa thought the slender man possessed.
"You just got back. Let me take care of things for a while," with a wink and a kiss on her cheek, he left, calling out to Branath to prepare to go to the Healer Hall. Tessa thoroughly enjoyed relaxing with a cup of klah.
"Cireth, don't tell anyone what we saw in the future.." Tessa said to her dragon.
Why? Shouldn't we warn them of what's to come?
"Everyone's already panicked about the disease..I'll take care of this on my own,"
I'm sure B'non would help you..
"I know he would.. but he has a weyr to manage," Tessa stood up, rejuvenated by her klah. She took a long warm bath and went to bed early. She had almost forgotten how comfortable a bed felt.
The next morning she entered B'nons weyr to talk to him. It had been months since she had really seen him, though only a few days for him. She knocked, then entered. He was asleep. She sat by her bed and waited for him to wake up. After a short while she decided to come back with klah. Once he smelled the klah, B'non was awake.
"Thanks," he said, gratefully sipping some klah. He stopped drinking for a moment and let out a lung wracking cough.
"Looks like you're going to southern," she said quietly.
"I'll be okay.." He said, "I promise."
"I hope you recover quickly, Cireth will fly soon." Tessa said.
Tessa was very worried. What would happen if B'non was too ill for Branath to fly Cireth? Managath was too young yet to fly, Renath was a bit too old. R'lon would make an okay weyrleader, but his age was showing. "Cireth, do you fly soon?" Tessa asked her dragon.
Yes...very soon
Tessa's heart sank. She smiled sweetly at B'non, who was slipping into his riding gear. She wouldn't let him see her doubts, all he should worry about was getting better. She kissed him good bye, and watched him leave on Branath.
Where is Branath headed? I fly soon!
"B'non is ill.. he's going to Southern to get better." Tessa said.
A single tear slipped down her cheek. Deep down, Tessa knew he wouldn't be back in time. Returning to her weyr, Tessa found a note on her bed from the masterhealer. There were only ten survivors remaining at Ruatha. They had been hit hardest, Benden had a few hundred, a small fraction of who had been there before the illness struck. Nerat only had three deaths. Tessa slipped into her riding gear and climbed onto Cireth.
Where are we going?
"To prepare for the future of course." Tessa said.
Cireth circled high over the weyr bow, waiting for directions.
Sorry that this was so short, but I wanted to lump the next few events together in the next chapter.
