"The embassy is finally complete, Zucanno," I informed her, pulling up a holo-image on my wrist computer.
"Hmm, traditional Kendite architecture," she remarked, examining the image. "Seems to be a perfect structure."
"But…" I prompted, seeing the look of disappointment on her face.
"Truth be told, ch'lia," she responded, laying a furry paw on my shoulder. "I was actually hoping to see something more…"
"Pernese?"
Chuckling, Pumara nodded, planting a gentle kiss on my cheek.
"This image was the suggested design by the Kendite architects on the build team," I explained, grinning, a conspiratorial gleam in my eyes, "but not the final design."
I tapped a few keys and the image changed. Pumara's eyes lit up with surprise and delight at the image of the actual embassy.
"This is the design the combined build teams came up with," I told her, pointing out the very human design of the embassy's perimeter wall. "We kept the main building to the cultural designs of Pun Ch'lar so that any Kendite would feel at home at the embassy. The perimeter wall serves as a reminder of who will be protecting the embassy… and those who will be serving in it."
Gently, Pumara wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "Thank you, Liona. I am well and truly pleased with it all!"
Returning the hug, I whispered, "You are welcome, Zucanno. Now we just need to get you planetside so you can see it for real!"
In almost no time at all, Pumara changed into her finest dignitary garments before we hurried up to the launch bay. We met Fandarel along the way. He was so engrossed with what he was seeing and learning that he begged off returning so that he could continue his investigations. Pumara and I broke into giggles; the Matriarch herself excusing him to return to his efforts.
The departure from the orbital gateway and descent to Landing was almost anticlimactic, our ship touching down on the heavy landing pad that Helva had so recently vacated. From there, we boarded a runnerbeast carriage for an easy ride up to the gates of the Kendite embassy.
The Harper Hall turned out a musical extravaganza… singers and musicians welcoming the Matriarch with music unique to Pun Ch'lar. While I hadn't specifically asked for it, they chose to perform 'Keymon's Song', inviting me up on stage to do the main singing. The look on Pumara's face was absolutely priceless as the song entered that dreamlike state thanks to the singing fire lizards and the visiting dragons. It was several minutes after the song ended before the crowd was able to shake off the dreamy manifestation unique to the song on Pern.
"By the Fire Falls of Firlea!" Pumara whispered, slowly looking around at the gathered crowd including all the fire lizards and the dragons. She spun to me, whispering, "Key wasn't exaggerating, was he?"
Grinning as I wrapped my Kendite mother up in a gentle hug, I told her, "Glad you liked it!"
From there, we moved to the gates of the embassy complex where a massive red ribbon waited to be cut by the Matriarch, signaling the official opening of their embassy. She didn't bother with the massive scissors that were offered to her. With a lightning swift swipe of her claws, the ribbon easily parted, falling away, the crowd behind us cheering as the gates opened and we stepped through to examine the embassy building proper.
I followed behind Pumara, listening to her comments as she spoke with the Kendite staff that was now in residence. I had anticipated some complaints along the way, but the Matriarch remained pleasantly upbeat about the building and its furnishings. When we showed her to the private suite exclusively reserved for her whenever she visited Pern, she positively gushed with praise about its design and layout. When she tested the bed, she very nearly purred with delight.
"Marvelous!" she sighed, checking its feel at different orientations.
The inspection complete, we returned once more to the gates of the compound; many of the Pernese who had worked on the project close by, waiting to hear what the Matriarch had to say.
"Ch'lia, I am overwhelmed by what you and the others have built for us here on Pern!" she said in praise, her arm sweeping wide, taking in the entire compound. "You and your people are to be sincerely commended. This is a splendid facility!"
"It was a team effort, Zucanno," I responded, pointing to all the different members of the build team… Kendite, Aquilan, and Pernese.
Unexpectedly, my sat phone chose that moment to go off. Unclipping it from my belt, I turned it on.
"This is Dana," I spoke into the device.
"Sorry to interrupt the ceremonies at Landing," Darla responded, excitement in her voice as a familiar drone in the background finally reached my ears. "Hatching has started! We'd love to have you and the other Kendites join us if you can."
"There's a Hatching at Ista Weyr!" I excitedly reported to Zucanno. "They would like all the Kendites to come!"
"Now?!" Key exclaimed, joining us.
"Zucanno?"
"Adragonback?"
I nodded. "Fastest way to get there."
"We have plenty of dragons to get you there, Matriarch," B'gon cut in, gesturing at the crowd of healer-riders and their lifemates behind him.
"Then we'd best hurry!" Pumara responded, taking off at a run for Tarnaa.
With quiet and efficient dispatch, the Kendites and the Aquilans quickly mounted dragons, sitting in front of their riders. Without a word, the entire flight took wing, vanishing between after barely gaining wing room. A few heartbeats later, the entire fair appeared above Ista Weyr, heading single-file into the upper entrance of the Hatching ground. With quiet dispatch, each dragon discharged their passengers, the Kendites and Aquilans gathering together in the available spaces left in the tiers.
"Glad you could make it!" Darla cheerily greeted us as she ran up to Pumara and me, the dragon hum almost deafening in volume.
"Wait!" I exclaimed, recognizing the queen on the Hatching sands. "Laneth?! Are you serious?!"
Vigorously, a broad grin on her face, Darla nodded.
"Darla!" I exclaimed, wrapping my friend up in a bone-creaking bear hug.
High on a perch above the Sands, I spotted Groth watchfully observing the rapidly progressing Hatching.
"By the First Egg!" I whispered, tears filling my eyes, my heart soaring with joy.
"Liona?"
Wiping my tears, I turned to Pumara, explaining, "Laneth was the first dragon that I healed."
"If Dana and her friend, Ryeena, hadn't been at Moreta's Hold on that fateful day," Darla explained, hugging my arm, "Laneth would've lost her wing and probably would've died."
"Why?" Pumara wondered, clearly concerned.
"Darla and her dragon were fighting Thread," I explained, glancing her way. "They came out of between right into a tangle of that damned parasite. At that precise moment, Ryeena and I were outside of the main building of Moreta's Hold, using my blaster and Ryeena wielding a flamethrower to char Thread from the skies. Laneth's cry of pain was so severe, both Ryeena and I heard it, dropping both of us to our knees. Silently, I cried out, asking whoever it was to stop."
"Ah!" my Zucanno concluded, smiling at me. "The dragon must've somehow sensed your healing abilities, homing in on your cry like a beacon. Well done, ch'lia!"
At that precise moment, every humming dragon suddenly fell silent, causing the Hatching Ground to echo with a collective gasp; the eggs rocking violently.
"Ch'lia?" Pumara whispered, glancing around the Hatching Ground.
"Watch," I replied, smiling as I gave her arm a hug.
One of the larger eggs in the main clutch suddenly split open, spilling out…
"A bronze!" the crowd cheered.
High above, Groth bugled with unabashed pride.
Righting himself, the little dragonet headed straight for a suntanned lad from Robinton Cove, a cheer rising from the crowd as several in attendance glanced my way.
And so it went for most of the Hatching; eager dragonets of every color shedding their shells and pairing off with their chosen lifemates. Glancing briefly at Pumara, I noted tears in her eyes, an unexpected deep longing in her feral eyes. To her right, Key also had tears running down his furry cheeks; his own expression matching the Matriarch's.
A few eggs still remaining in the main clutch, one practically exploded, the bronze within howling and hissing at the crowd. Slowly, the bronze made his way down the line of remaining potential candidates. To everyone's surprise, he reached the end of the line without making a choice!
As F'lar and Lessa had done that day I had Impressed Tarnaa, G'dened and Cosira's eyes met mine, their plea unmistakable. Recalling everything I had used that day to not only find the blue's lifemate but also Ryeena's, I reached my mind out, quietly sensing the hatchling's aura, searching for his lifemate in the Hatching Ground crowd.
"What's wrong with him?" Keymon asked, worried eyes on the plaintively calling dragonet.
"He hasn't found his lifemate yet," Pumara responded, glancing my way. "Ch'lia, what is it?"
"Something I once learned back at the Academy," I explained, my eyes closed as I concentrated.
Key gasped, his eyes flying wide. "The psychic pairing lesson!" he exclaimed.
I nodded, feeling a stirring in the crowd nearby, very near in fact. I gasped, turning to him when I realized… "It's you he wants, Key!"
Lifemate, where are you? the little bronze wailed, scanning the crowd.
Judging by the enormous size of Key's suddenly wide eyes, he had heard the same thing.
"What do I do?" he whispered, glancing frantically about.
"Go to him," I replied as I rose. "I'll come with you to assist, but we need to hurry."
"Your ch'hin is right, Key," Pumara added, her expression reflecting her concern. "If the hatchling doesn't find a lifemate, it will go between! Please. Hurry!"
Taking Key's paw, the two of us hurried down the steps to the hot sands of the Hatching Ground. Fortunately, the Federation boots Key was wearing were more than well insulated against both heat and cold. The moment we reached the sands, the hatchling turned.
Lifemate! he exclaimed, moving as quickly as he could to close the distance.
Without further urging, Key met the hatchling halfway, dropping to his knees in front of him.
"I don't understand," Key wept, gently folding the hatchling's wings to his back. "I'm not human like the others. Why pick me?"
"That has been a running question since the dragons were first created, ch'har," I chuckled, thumping him on the back. "No one knows why a dragon chooses one being over another. They just do!"
Gently taking the hatchling's wobbly head between his paws, Key tenderly placed his forehead against the little dragon's, tears pouring down his cheeks. When he pulled back to meet the hatchling's eyes once more, he wept, "His name is Firleth!"
Glancing over at G'dened and Cosira, no one could mistake the stunned expressions on their faces. The other weyrmen from Ista looked on, amused, and surprised at the draconic choice, which could not be forced. Could not be questioned. Could not be changed.
"He's hungry!" Key whispered, more tears falling. "I can actually feel it! This is… this is…"
I waved to a couple of the Istan bronze riders I knew. As they came running up, I turned to Key, saying, "These are some of my friends, ch'har. Follow them out to the weyr bowl. They'll get you started."
Nodding, Key rose, leading the little bronze hatchling out to where food awaited. Hastily, I rejoined Pumara back up in the tiers, her own face awash in awe at what she had just witnessed.
"Oh, ch'lia!" Pumara wept, tears falling. "The look on his face. Confused, frightened, yet, in the end, totally at peace! Is this what Impression is like?"
Smiling, I nodded, giving her a hug. "I only wish you had a chance to experience that most wondrous of events, Zucanno."
The Hatching still had a few surprises in store. One of the eggs hatched, spilling a nimble blue dragonet to the sands. Several of the lads rushed forward to right him, but, oddly, he didn't choose any of them. Instead, he moved on down the line of boys, searching for his chosen lifemate. Imagine the crowd's surprise and consternation when he reached the end of the line but didn't choose any of them.
Lifemate! Where are you? he cried out piteously, the gathered dragons crooning reassurance to him.
"Ch'lia?" Pumara was as confused as the rest. "Again?"
I nodded, shrugging. But, this time, I had noticed something unusual… in the way one of the Aquilan visitors had reacted to the cry.
Rising, I went over to where my other Star Service friend, Davar, was sitting. The look on his face told the whole story.
"You heard that, didn't you?" I asked, kneeling beside him.
"Skipper, I…" he stammered, his eyes threatening to pop from his head. "What by the sacred waters is going on? How could the psionics screeners have been so wrong about the three of us?"
Taking his trembling hand in mine, I replied, "Because they didn't know about the dragons of Pern." Tilting my head to one side so that I could peer up into his astonished face, I asked, "You want him, don't you?"
He turned, looking at me, and his expression told me all I needed to know.
"Come on," I softly spoke, taking his hand and helping Dav to his shaky feet. "This way."
Gasps of surprise and whispers of astonishment followed the two of us as we hurried down the steps of the tier. The moment our feet hit the sands, the blue hatchling came hurrying up to us, trilling with happiness!
Lifemate!
I let go of Dav's hand and stepped back. This was a private moment I didn't dare interrupt. Tears pouring down his face, Dav slowly knelt in the hot sands, totally oblivious to its intense heat.
"I…" Dav tried to speak, but the sudden flood of emotions temporarily robbed him of speech. "Are you sure I'm the one you want, little one?"
You are the one I choose, lifemate, the little blue happily trilled, rubbing his muzzle against Dav's tear-soaked cheek. I will have no other!
Sobbing openly, probably for the first time in a long while, Dav threw his trembling arms around the little blue's neck, hugging him tightly.
"Then I accept, little one," Dav wept, more tears falling.
Pulling back, he gently took the hatchling's head in his hands. Just as Key had done moments before, Dav touched his forehead to the little blue's for just a moment before pulling back to gaze lovingly into his rainbow-colored eyes.
"He says his name is Marineth!"
Sudden cheers and applause erupted, and I was startled to find the entire group of Aquilan visitors on their collective feet, cheering and applauding like mad, bringing a pleased smile to my face.
Several more senior Istan riders came forward, taking charge of Dav and his new hatchling, leading him out of the grounds so that Marineth could be fed and Dav's lessons on how to care for a dragon could begin. All the Kendite Matriarch could do as I rejoined her in the tiers was shake her head in amazement, a broad grin of delight on my face!
This Hatching still had a final and unexpected surprise. Once all the other hatchlings had been paired up with their new lifemates and led from the Hatching Ground, that left only the solitary queen egg, rocking violently as its occupant struggled to break free. Abruptly, the egg slowed then stopped, sending a collective gasp from the crowd, the dragons crooning worriedly.
Before I knew what was happening, Pumara leaped to her feet, pelting down the stairs two and three at a time, pushing through the female candidates as she came up to the motionless egg. Somehow sensing the little queen was in trouble, without a moment's hesitation, she slashed at the shell with her claws, tearing great chunks of it away, revealing the thick egg sac within. When she unexpectedly met the gaze of the little queen, she gasped, the plea for help in those yellow-hued eyes unmistakable. Without a second thought, Pumara sank her claws into the sac, rending it apart in seconds, freeing the crooning queen from inside.
Slowly, tenderly, Pumara knelt, oblivious to the intense heat of the Hatching sands, carefully helping to flip the little queen over onto her feet. Gently, she helped open the hatchling's wings so that they could dry. She was not, however, prepared for the little queen's loving rub of her cheek with its head.
Lifemate! the little queen trilled, her eyes shading to a brilliant amethyst as she wrapped her neck around Pumara's.
"I… I was…" Pumara stammered, hugging the little queen's head to her own, tears falling unashamedly from her face, "so afraid… afraid you would die!"
But I didn't, the hatchling trilled, love in every syllable, thanks to you!
Stories of Lord Jaxom and how he had rescued Ruth in a similar manner instantly came to mind, bringing a renewed smile to my face.
Her paws trembling, Pumara gently cradled the little queen's wobbly head, asking, "Are you sure this is what you want? There are others here, humans, who I'm sure would be happy to have you."
You are the one I choose, Lifemate, the little queen trilled, love and gratitude flooding the Kendite Matriarch.
"Then I welcome you, little one," Pumara whispered, touching her forehead to the little queen's, "into my heart and soul. I pray I prove worthy of you!" As she pulled back to once more gaze into those deeply amethyst eyes, she sobbed, "Her name is Punath!"
The Hatching Ground exploded with dragons bugling their delight, the basso rumbles deafeningly reverberating off the stone walls. Not to be outdone, every last visitor burst into cheers and applause… they, too, relieved that the queen had been saved. Briefly, I met the gazes of G'dened and Cosira on the far side of the Hatching Ground. They were smiling and nodding, accepting yet another unexpected draconic choice.
"Zucanno?"
"My child," she wept, glancing up at me with happy, tear-filled eyes, "I had imagined what this thing called Impression might be like…"
"And?" I prompted when she hesitated.
"It wasn't even close to the wonder and awe I feel," she sobbed, hugging the little queen's head to her own. "Thank you, Punath!"
G'dened and Cosira arrived, taking charge of the new queen dragon and her rider, slowly leading them out of the Hatching Ground so that Punath could be fed and oiled.
This day had started off mundanely enough… finishing on a roller coaster ride of joy and ecstasy for three of my friends… K'mon, D'var, and Pumara, though I couldn't help wondering how my two Star Service friends would react to the shortening of their given names. Chuckling to myself, I followed the foursome out of the Istan Hatching Grounds.