Disclaimer: I don't own anything/anyone from the Pern world books. I do own most of the characters in this story and anything else not from the original series.

Chapter Ten: Laiath

'I can't Impress a dragon. I will not. I am not going to be a dragonrider.' Over and over Star chanted this and versions of it in her mind. 'Nono nono, nono NO. I am going home. To Earth, to Seattle. Where I belong...' With her eyes jammed as tightly closed as she could she couldn't see the hatching. 'Well it probably wouldn't hurt just to watch them...'

She opened her eyes and looked. Of the twenty-five or so eggs she could see five pairs walking off the Hatching Sands, a couple of pairs just finding each other, several lost-looking dragonets, two eggs cracking just now and scattered between these and egg shards were quite a few unhatched eggs. And there were many, many still, silent Candidates in their white robes.

Her gaze was drawn over to the largest of the eggs, the golden one, set by itself and guarded by the adult queen. A circle of three young women and two younger teenagers gathered around the golden egg. One of them, a shy girl of about thirteen, turned towards her, caught Star's eye. She looked small, not entirely sure of herself, but there was something in her face that Star couldn't place, a determination that surprised the unobserved watcher.

Her eyes were level, but she had no confidence in herself; she glanced at the ground more often than she looked at the cracking egg. That is Fyia. She comes from here. Star glanced up; without knowing how she spotted green Joozith, and smiled at the first full dragon she had known, the one who had brought here to this amazing place, to meet these amazing people. But Ramoth is right. You are the right one for the queen hatchling; she cannot be the new Goldrider.

Yes she can. Star looked over at the younger girl. There was a spark in her that the teenager from Earth had seen in very few people; Lessa and F'lar had it, as did some of the other dragonriders. She is to be a great Dragonrider, Joozith. I cannot be what you all wish me to be; I cannot join the ranks of the Dragonriders of Pern. Earth is my home and I will not leave permanently willingly. But Fyia is the right one for the new queen.

She had to ensure that Fyia would Impress. There was something in her face that made Star certain that this girl was the right one, an air about her of quiet power, a stern will but a gentle grace. Star strode towards the quickly jerking egg at a trot, oblivious to the people watching her.

The golden egg gave an enormous spasm and toppled over, splitting open and dumping a hatchling queen out on the hot sands. She squawked and stood up shakily, holding her head up with an I-meant-to-do-that attitude and looked around at the girls. She fixed her eyes on Star.

No.

The gold dragonet reeled back from the unexpected rejection. Star knelt with a sigh when the hatchling trembled and tried to hide herself under her wings. I'm sorry, young one, she told the queen. But I cannot be your rider.

Yes, you are, the little gold told her shyly, coming out from behind her wings.

No, I'm not, she said again gently. You didn't even look at these other girls; just went right to me because the older ones said so. Star looked up at the ranks of dragons, looking into their eyes squarely as she sent her voice to them to.

Simply because I can speak to you, you would not only prejudice a hatchling who would be forever stuck with your decision you would disregard my family, and keep me here with you.

She looked down at the hatchling. What is you name, little one? she asked.

The hatchling looked up at her with blue and green eyes. I am Laiath, she said.

Welcome to Benden Weyr, Laiath, queen dragon of Pern. Star looked around for the girl who was so obviously, in her mind, destined to be the little gold's Rider. The younger girl was walking away, like most of the unsuccessful Candidates. She didn't seem either disappointed or glad. What had happened, had happened. It was neither bad nor good; it just was.

"Fyia!" she called, trotting back to her. The blond girl looked up, puzzled.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I didn't Impress her; I can't be her Rider." Perhaps a little tactless, but it got the point across. "You are. Laiath, come meet Fyia!" she called to the young gold who walked unsteadily behind her.

"But- but she gave you her name!" protested the Benden Weyr girl, stepping forward all the same. "That means you did Impress!"

"Name, yes. Heart, no." Star stood back, hands behind her, and watched as Fyia knelt and touched the gold dragonet's shoulder.

Hello, she heard the little queen say.

Hello, she heard the girl say.

Star sighed, smiling, and turned away from them. All at once she became aware of the silence. The only sound in the Weyr was the soft murmuring of the crowd. She looked up, frowning. They were all staring at her. With a groan she looked back at Fyia and Laiath. "So much for going incognito," she muttered, then glanced at Joozith, mentally calling to her. The green dragon spiraled down to land on the sands and the teenager swung up to her saddle, directing her out of the Hatching Grounds.

They caught sight of Raia, gold Milath's Rider, standing outside of the on-foot exit of the Sands, waiting to greet one or the other of the new riders most likely. Yolia, rider of green Borth, was shaking hands with a new female greenrider, likely her Present self. Then Fyia and her Laiath came out as Joozith lazily spiraled around in the air, neither gaining nor loosing altitude. Raia stepped forward to say hello.

Something was not right here, Star felt. She narrowed her eyes as Benden's Weyrwoman from the future spoke to the newly-Impressed pair. Joozith, can we get closer? she asked. The green dragon let them drop until they could see Raia and the others clearly. Her gold, Milath, waited close by.

For some time they continued to circle, watching as Fyia fed her Laiath, Raia observing like a hawk. At last Star asked Joozith to land her, and crept up close, pretending to watch a new Bronzerider feed his friend. As soon as Laiath was finished, Raia moved in again, with Star listening intently.

"Here, can you come over here by Milath?" The elder gold leaned in close to peer at Laiath while Fyia looked up at her. None of them moved, and they did not appear to notice as Raia edged closer to her dragon's shoulder.

In a sudden swift move the Future Weyrwoman leapt up to her dragon's neck, and Milath shot forward to snatch Laiath and Fyia from the ground. Then the old queen vaulted skyward, but not before Star had lunged out and clung like a rat to the gold's arm.

The ground dropped away and the teenaged hung on. She screamed for all she was worth, calling all the dragons within her range to foil the hatchling-snatchers. Joozith was the first there, her eyes flaming orange and yellow, and she bellowed at Milath. Bronze Mnementh, Ramoth, the mother-queen and the remaining gold of Benden were only seconds behind, cadging in the thief from the future.

After Star had dropped free, onto Joozith's neck, her gold and bronze prison forced her to the ground and Star, with Lessa, F'lar and the other Bronze- and Goldriders who had gotten her, came forward, eyes glittering in fury.

Let…

Her…

Go…

NOW.

Milath shuddered and cringed from the power in Star's command. She dropped Laiath and Fyia and the teenager strode forward to stand directly between them. Star put her hand out to the new goldrider and helped her up. Fyia took a deep breath and she and her dragon were ushered away by Laiath's mother's Rider.

"We let you stay." Star's voice was deadly soft as she addressed Milath and Raia. "We thought you could be trusted."

"You don't understand!" the woman from the future cried.

"Then tell us!" challenged Star. Raia closed her eyes and bowed her head, then nodded slowly and dismounted from her dragon.

She slid down to lean against her queen's shoulder, taking a deep breath, and began her tale.