Author's Note:

I do not own the Dragonriders of Pern franchise. All rights belong to their rightful owners. Here's the next chapter, featuring some new characters and an appearance from some old.

The entire Weyr was buzzing, and, of course, talking about nothing but Nareth's unprecendentedly large clutch. Sirena knew full well there were already bets going out on whether she would impress one of the golds. She was, after all, the daughter of the Senior-Weyrwoman, whose mother had been Senior-Weyrwoman before her, and hers before her.

It was a family legacy stretching back four generations, and further than that if one counted the fact her great great great grandmother had ridden green, a rarity for women at that time, though no longer at Sunspyre, and her father had been a brownrider.

It was a family legacy Sirena had broken six years ago when she failed to impress golden Lulorth, who had chosen Ranking Jalmoka instead. Jalmoka had been a beautiful girl, but had nothing between the ears, and was proving time and time again to be a terrible Queenrider.

People often talked about how much worse she must be if Lulorth would rather choose her.

Her mother said it was probably just her age that had worked against her. She had only been fourteen back then.

Now though, now there was a second chance. Two of them! Possibly even three, if one counted the Strange Gold.

If she didn't impress gold, Sirena told herself, she had to impress one of the other colours. This was really her last shot. She was nearly out of age to stand for impression, in fact, she would be had she been a boy.

She would take any colour, she would take green or whatever was inside one of the Odd Eggs, just so long as she impressed.

Many at the Weyr were confused as to why she hadn't, and there were those arguing she had been waiting for her gold to be shelled.

They would see.

"At least we should soon have some more company around here," Revina said as she tied off Sirena's long blonde braid. She was a weyrbred girl from the lower caverns with coppery red hair and merry hazel eyes, though had a fearsome temper when one riled her up. Three of her many older brothers were also standing as candidates.

"It is beginning to get a bit dull – and tiresome – with only us and Kuyaran."

Sirena smiled thinly. Kuyaran was often one of those people to rile Revina's temper. She was the daughter of Wingleader bronzerider T'vron, and didn't she know it? Her favourite topic was how she hadn't impressed yet because she was meant for gold, and her second favourite was that of her father's status. When there were more female candidates here before the last Hatching, Kuyaran had insisted on having her own sleeping chambers on account of her status. If that was the way things worked, Sirena should have had separate chambers, not her, but she was happy to share with Revina. She gave in just for the sake of keeping the peace.

"Mm, but with the two Queen eggs, we're likely to get a bunch of tunnel snakes, stuffy Ranking girls, or airheads who want to impress gold."

They swapped places, with Revina sitting on the stool and Sirena standing behind her.

"We all know who one of those gold eggs belongs to."

"I'm glad you acknowledge it," came a voice from outside their chambers a moment before Kuyaran let herself in. "And if the other gold is intelligent enough to choose one of you, as it should, we shouldn't need more Queen candidates."

Revina scowled. Sirena tugged a bit harder than needed on her hair.

"You know full well they need to give the Hatchlings choice. There were ten of us last time for Lulorth's egg, and that was only one."

"And she still chose the wrong rider," Kuyaran muttered. Something they could agree on at least. "I came to make sure I would keep my chambers to myself when they start bringing others in."

"Of course you won't," Sirena replied.

"What?"

"You can't. It's a matter of space."

"A bronzerider's daughter is due-"

"Nothing. We're all the same Rank here. We'll be looking at more female candidates this time; we won't have the room for you to be special."

Kuyaran sneered and stalked out. Revina scowled. "A dragon would have to be half-witted to choose someone as sour as her over- literally anyone else."

"The dragons choose," Sirena said, fastening her braid. "Mother says the first candidates might be arriving today. Do you want to come meet them and interfere with me?"

Someone would need to take over her duties when she was gone. Revina was only fourteen, but if she didn't impress she would do just fine. Revina grinned. "Sounds like a great plan."

Sirena held her hand out. "Shall we go?"

BREAK

They took their breakfast out to the Weyrbowl and sat at the top of the slope, where they could look out over the sea. Sunspyre was set on an island, and in fact, the island was the Weyr. A few blue and green dragons flew out over the water, dipping their wings in the waves.

"Do you think you'll impress this time?" Revina asked.

"I hope so."

If she didn't, she would have to find a new position, a new place to fit in, and their family legacy would be irrevocably broken, since her mother was unable to have any more children now.

Two of the Search dragons, green Chanloth and blue Hiloth, burst from between above the bowl. Sirena shoved her uneaten bread roll back into her bag and sprang to her feet. "Show time!"

Four of the passengers on the two dragons were boys, who they had no say with, but the other two were girls, who the riders helped down to the ground. The smaller one gazed around, while the taller sneered down her nose.

"F'don, C'las, new candidates?" Sirena asked, wandering over to scratch Hiloth's eye ridge. F'don nodded as he lifted trunks down from the blue.

"From Redtrees Hold. Girls, this is Sirena. She's in charge of the girls' dormitory. We'll leave you in her capable hands."

The smaller girl curtsied neatly. "Thank you Lord riders."

The taller girl grunted a reply.

"Right," said Sirena after the two dragons left. "Grab your trunks, this way. You boys can come too, your quarters are near enough to ours."

The smallest boy, who only looked about ten or eleven, giggled nervously.

"What are your names?"

"Jakeiria," replied the older girl, who had long, thick dark hair worn loose to her midback, narrow, dark eyes, and sallen skin. "Who put you in charge?"

"I have authority by seniority and the fact I've been here longest."

"Then you can't be a very good candidate, can you?"

Sirena flushed scarlet. Revina scowled in righteous anger. "How dare you?"

Sirena touched her arm. "If you'd follow me, I'll show you to the candidate barracks."

"Won't someone be helping with my trunk?"

"Your trunk is your responsibility."

The smaller girl picked her much smaller luggage up with no trouble or protest. The taller one left hers in the Weyrbowl, muttering something about sending drudges for it later.

"You never told me your name," Sirena said to the smaller girl.

"Ritilia," she whispered. "I'm sorry about my sister. She's… She's always like that."

"Trust me kiddo, I've seen worse. She'll either get better, or she'll get gone. You need any help with that?" She pointed at her trunk. Ritilia shook her head.

"It's not heavy."

Sirena pointed the boys through to their quarters and led the two girls into theirs. There were twelve sleeping chambers, each currently equipped for two girls in each, but with room for the beds to be turned into bunks if needed.

"Pick a chamber," Sirena said. "You're the first ones in, so you've got first pick."

Ritilia took the chamber next to hers, while Jakeiria took one at the other side, next to Kuyaran. While they were settling, M'buk arrived with two girls following behind him.

"Two more for you Sirena. This is Annaliessa and Tummi."

Annaliessa was a slender girl of fifteen, with dark skin and a head of black curls. She was beautiful, and her tattered, threadbare clothes could do nothing to hide that. Tummi was her opposite in every way, a pasty skinned chubby girl with stringy brown hair and a green firelizard perched on her shoulder.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Annaliessa babbled. "Flying dragonback is wonderful! Will we get to do it again?"

"Probably not any time soon," Sirena replied, deciding to partner her up with quiet, pale Ritilia. "You'll be in this room. Didn't you bring anything with you?"

"I didn't have anything to bring. I'm an orphan," Annaliessa replied sadly.

"Right. I'll take you down to the tailor later. Tummi, you're in this room next to her."

Once they were all settled in their room, Sirena gathered the four new girls in the common room. "First things first. If you haven't any of the necessities, let me know and I'll get you sorted. Annaliessa, I know, I'll sort you."

Jakeiria rolled her eyes.

"If you haven't any trews, let me know and I'll get you some made. There'll be no dragonriding in skirts. Do any of you have any questions before I show you around?"

Annaliessa, of course, jumped straight in. "When do we get to see the eggs? When do they hatch?"

"Not yet and not yet. Anyone else?"

There wasn't, and so off they went for a tour of the Weyr.