With the fireball gone from the sky, many of the riders had returned to their weyrs. A small few had decided to pay a visit to the dining caverns instead, gathering in small clusters at the tables. Kayta wove among them as they finishing up the last of the pastries that Berjoui had set out for dinner and indulged in one last cup of wine while they mulled over what had happened to the comet and what it might portend.

"Mark my words," An old bluerider muttered to a younger greenrider. "The next fall will be rougher. Surely that thing pulled thread out of its alignment."

"No it won't." Another insisted. "It'll be lighter because it burned it all up. Not that we'll see any benefit from that."

The mainlanders were more hesitant to give voice to their fears, nursing their cups of wine instead.

"No need to worry people about something that might not happen, Weyrwoman." One of them told her when she asked. "It's gone now."

Kayta sighed at that, deciding to ask N'kar to clarify things when he returned. Speaking of which, when would the brownrider return? And why hadn't he given any sort of a an update? She left the dining caverns and reached out to Lysith, asking her to bespeak Elanth.

It is chaos. He will not answer. The golden dragon huffed, her eyes whirling both orange and gold in the darkness. Suddenly she reared back – a huge achievement given how egg heavy she was - and bugled. Danger! A Tsunami comes!

The weyrwoman froze in her steps. "A what?"

A large shape dropped out of the darkness in front of her, and she staggered back, covering her face to protect her eyes from the sand it kicked up. When she finally looked up, she realized that it was Elanth, and N'kar was already sliding down his side.

"A tsunami!" He repeated as he jumped down from the brown dragon's forearm. "A great big bloody wave that will wash us all away if we don't move and move now."

It was too much to wrap her head around, and she staggered as she followed him back towards the weyrbowl and the dining caverns. "But the reef… we've had storms before and we've never flooded!"

N'bel appeared out of the shadows and gripped her arm, steadying her. "This is a bit more water than one of those storms."

"How much?"

He shook his head. "Monaco is evacuating. Half Circle Sea Hold in Nerat is sending it's fleet out to sea. Any lowland hold should move to high ground. We're in danger though, since the wave will hit us from both sides instead of just from the East."

"When?"

"As soon as possible." R'nahl grumbled as they caught up with N'kar in the dining cavern.

"Shards and shells!"

Those riders who had returned to bed stumbled back in, alerted by Lysith and Elanth's bugles. Standing on the dais, N'kar quickly repeated what had just been explained to Kayta. Ignoring the gasps and cries of alarm, he launched in to shouting out directions. The lower caverns folk would be moved first, along with as many supplies as possible. A wing would alert the holds to the impending disaster and assist them as needed. Since he had just watched another island be washed away, it would be best if they went to Southern until the danger had passed.

"There's a plain there – I'm sure many of you remember it, it's where we've let our dragons hunt in the past." N'bel continued. "We can wait it out there and then return and rebuild when it's safe."

"There's not enough time!" Someone in the crowd shouted, giving voice to Kayta's fears.

"Then we make time," N'kar replied. "Now go!" He jumped down from the dais as the dragonriders launched into action. They ran, either for their dragons or to help the lower cavern's folk, and how they did not run into each other while doing so was a mystery – but Kayta was pleased to see them acting as one for once.

Too bad it was taking a disaster for them to do so.

N'kar grabbed her arm, pulling her with him as he hurried back to their weyr. "Get dressed, then you and Malena will assist Berjoui."

"And the records?" She regretted her words as soon as she said them, but she was running on little sleep and she was still stunned by his news. However, the thought of loosing all that history, especially considering how odd their Weyr was, was heartbreaking. And to add insult to injury, she and Malena had finally gotten it all sorted the day before!

"People first." He reminded her.

"Right." She took a deep breath, trying to calm the panic building in her chest. She pulled on the pair of wherhide pants he threw at her. "Of course."

"Once you get whatever load she assigns you, and you deliver it, I want you to stay there and direct everyone." He continued, shoving clothing into a bag for her to carry. "Lysith is too egg heavy to be going back and forth. We can't risk this clutch."

"I know." In fact, judging from the size of Lysith's belly, she might start laying any moment. Hopefully she could hold off until things had calmed down though.

He pulled her close, cupping the back of her head and pressing a quick kiss against her lips. "I know. It'll be all right."

Striding back towards the lower caverns, N'kar grabbed the arm of a boy running towards them and thrust him towards Kayta. "Nelladwyn, stay with her."

"But I want to help you!"

He ruffled his hair, "You will help me the most if you stay with her and help her. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." He grumbled, but judging from his sulky tone, he really didn't. Still he did as his father said and stayed with Kayta, slinging her back over one shoulder while the brownrider ran off to see to other things.

At the kitchens, a large net had been spread out and filled with carrysacks overflowing with foodstuffs, tarps and sleeping furs. Five women and children stood by, clutching more bags to their chest, while others set up more nets and piled them with goods for the dragons to carry.

Berjoui eyed Lysith as she waddled over and crouched down in an attempt to make it easier for everyone to get up. "Will Lysith have enough room?"

"Of course." Kayta reassured her and climbed up onto her dragon's neck. But even she was doubtful that the Queen could carry that much. Still, she helped the others on, sandwiching the children between herself and the women, and directing Nelladwyn to take the rear. Lysith lurched to her feet, then grabbed the net in her front claws. With first one downflap, and then a second she slowly rose into the sky, straining under the weight.

You're doing so well, Kayta crooned to her, patting her neck. You are big and strong and nothing will ever stop you.

Lysith grunted at that, her sides heaving from the effort. But continued to rise higher and higher, until the people running around the weyrbowl below were nothing but dots. Then she blinked between, taking them to the coordinates Kayta gave her.


Where the island had been humid, the plains of Southern suffered from more of a dry heat. Kayta directed Lysith to lower the net next to a hill and to land on the rise. As soon as the women and children had dismounted, she stripped out of her riding leathers and got to work organizing the pile of goods and gear.

As they worked, more dragons arrived, offloading their burdens and then taking flight to get more. It seemed like as soon as they went between, they were back with more, and soon the space was overflowing with lower caverns folk, holders, and crafters. Once again Kayta was struck by how they all worked as one, never questioning nor doubting each other. Old hurts had been forgotten, or at the very least, brushed aside for the moment.

The tarps were spread out and fashioned into lean-tos for the injured to lay under – and there were plenty, both riders injured from fighting thread and others who had been careless while getting things set up. A make shift kitchen was established nearby with several fire pits large enough to feed everyone, and a water source was found not too far away. Tents were pitched and assigned out, most of the riders giving their spots up so the holders and crafters could have more room. Sleeping with their dragons was more comfortable than sleeping on the ground anyways.

Kayta was pleased with the progress they had made in such a short amount of time. N'kar would be proud of them all when he finally was able to see it.

She had been checking in on the brownrider whenever possible. Currently he was busy helping some of the holders bring their herdbeasts over. While the holds did not have many, and those they did have could be easily replaced by the ones on the plain, the holders were loathe the few they had tamed. So each one was blindfolded and trussed up then carried by a careful bronze or brown dragon to their camp where they were dropped by very gently next to men and women who were quick to soothe them and lead them away from the great beasts. It was doubtful they would ever fully recover from their trials, but she supposed it was better than being washed out to sea.

He'll be here soon. Lysith spoke, relaying Elanth's message. They just have one more to go. Then he'll bring the holder and his sons.

Good, good. Kayta replied looking out over the camp. They had been lucky compared to Monaco and others. With so much warning they had been able to save more than she ever thought possible.

And then she spied Berjoui racing towards her. "We left behind a whole cask of numbweed!"

The weyrwoman blinked in surprise. She was fairly certain she had spied two casks over by the lean-tos. "So? Surely we have plenty."

"The others have gone bad."

"There's plenty of fresh numbweed near here. We can harvest it."

"It won't be ready to pick for at least two more months."

"Fine," Kayta sighed. "I'll send someone to get it." Maybe there would even be enough time to grab some of the records as well. She eyed the field, looking for a free dragonrider to send off – but most of those present were clearly exhausted. They were all grey, sick from going between times so much, and those who hadn't fallen asleep were close to doing so.

There was only one option. Yes, N'kar had told them to stay put, but surely one more trip between couldn't hurt? Lysith my love?

The dragon struggled to her feet. Let's go.

Kayta climbed on her back, and clipped into the riding straps. However, before she could take off, Nelladwyn dashed forward and climbed on. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Dad said to stay with you, so I'm staying with you."

For a moment she contemplated throwing him off, but it would take more time, and they had such a small window as it was. "Fine."

Lysith launched herself skyward and took them between. Three deep breaths later and they appeared over the island Weyr. The sky above was just beginning to turn grey as Rukbat inched it's way ever closer to their part of Pern, and the sea beyond the island was early calm. If she didn't know that disaster was looming just out of sight, she would have never suspected it. However, the lack of movement below aside from the breeze rippling through the trees was eerie, and she felt chills race up and down her spine as Lysith landed.

Forget the bloody records, she would get the cask and go – the faster, the better.

"Wait here." Kayta told Nelladwyn. "I'll only be a moment."

"But..."

"No buts. It's only one cask. I'll be fine."

The boy grumbled at that, but didn't say anything else as she slid down her dragon's shoulder, landing on the sand below. Once again a chill washed over her, but she ignored it and bolted towards the lower caverns. Thankfully the cask was easy to locate. She grabbed it and hefted it on to a hip, then turned to run back to Lysith as quickly as she could.

Unfortunately, someone was blocking the way. She frowned, not recognizing the shadow. "If Berjoui sent you, it's fine, I already got it."

"Berjoui did not send me." The all too familiar voice said. Kayta froze, watching in horror as he stepped further into the glow light. "I've been waiting a long time for this. We have some unfinished business, Weyrwoman."

"Z'char."