Thank you all that've reviewed. This story's getting a little difficult for me. Know what I want to do, but don't know how I'm going to get there. Hmm, seems like one of my other stories. Also, if you've read my other Pern story, Redemption, I'm planning on adding another chapter real soon.

Btw, I don't think I'm Anne McCaffrey.

As F'lar watched silently, the last dragon and its rider fell into the Wing's formation. Spread out along the Bowl were the three Wings of F'lar, F'nor, and F'lesson. Each Wing was spread out in a V formation with the Wingleader in front, except for in the case of F'lar's Wing which didn't have the point. Inside each formation was a smaller V of ten dragons, mostly green but in some cases blue or brown.

All of the riders were mounted on their dragons with a pouch of firestone hanging down from the neck of each dragons. F'lar knew that they would remain like they were for as long as needed, but he felt that wasting anymore time would be pointless, even though everyone was present a full ten minutes ahead of time.

"Riders," F'lar said in a loud, booming voice, "we are practicing as a group today because I feel that the Weyr as a whole needs to be prepared for anything. Unfortunately, during last Fall, we lost a valuable member of the fighting Wings, which resulted in mass confusion. F'nor and myself have discussed ways to prevent it from happening again, which we're going to be practicing today, along with some multiple wing tactics."

"F'lar," called a Wingsecond of F'lar's Wing when F'lar fell silent, "what sort of preventative measures are we going to be practicing?"

"F'dric, we're going to be doing various exercises over the next sevenday," responded to the Wingsecond. F'dric was an old rider with grey streaks forming in his black hair. He was a rider long before F'lar Impressed Mnementh, but was still a very good rider. "Today we're going to be practicing any scenario that would cause J'ral and Jameth to drop out of a Fall. Jameth's been cleared for quick flights, so he'll be joining us in a short while."

As he watched all the riders expressions as he spoke, he felt regret that J'ral wouldn't be here to practice with the Wings. Mnementh, he thought to the dragon after he finished speaking, have the dragons be prepared for my signal to launch.

They're ready, F'lar, replied Mnementh after a moment.

With one last look at the dragons and their riders, F'lar gave the ancient signal for the dragons to take off. As one, all the dragons spread their wings for the most important down stroke. F'lar could feel Mnementh's muscles strain as he lifted off the ground. After the third stoke, Mnementh began to relax as he had overcome the pull of gravity and could fly higher easier, though the wing muscles had to fight for every dragonlength of altitude.

After a minute's flight, each Wing had settled into a loose fighting formation. Each dragon was a dragonlenght below the one in front of them and at least two dragonlenghts behind and half a dragonlenth to either side. The smaller, ten dragon groups took position below the main Wing, there to make certain that Thread didn't get missed. Each Wing had a different altitude to patrol: F'lar's was the highest, F'lesson's below and behind, and F'nor's was below F'lesson's and ahead of F'lar's.

Ok, Mnementh, let's start the drills, shall we? asked F'lar.

Mnementh took a moment before responding, I've alerted the Wingleaders and asked Miklath to send the weyrlings up to start dumping "Thread."

Good.

Without warning, a group of weyrlings appeared above F'lar, having been waiting long before F'nor ever told the Weyrlingmaster K'lon, rider of blue Miklath, to send them up to dump the "Thread," small silver ropes that looked like Thread. F'lar didn't have to warn the Wing that Thread was falling-each rider had already seen the Thread and urged their dragons to attack in a normal manner. At once, the Wings broke up into different flights among each Wingsecond and concentrated on different parts of the sky, spreading out to clearly cover the patrol zone.

After half an hour of practice in which very little Thread managed to get through the three Wings, F'lar had a selected group of riders that communicated directly to Jameth on where they were going to drop Thread take flight. He didn't warn the Wingleaders or Wingseconds except to inform them that Jameth will be taking charge of warning when Thread will cause them danger. F'lar had Mnementh relay to the dragons and riders as a whole that Jameth would be coming up shortly.

As Jameth took flight, he contacted the group of dragons whom would be dropping Thread where he wanted them to. Joleth, Kameth, I would like the two of you to drop Thread onto the Weyrleader as soon as I join the fighting. I'll tell you when.

Our riders have been informed and are waiting for your arrival.

Good. Tolath, I would like you to dump a really thick patch of Thread right onto Wingleader F'lesson seconds after I warn F'lar about the danger he'll be in. Malath, you're going to be the one that puts me out of action. I'll be flying below Wingleader F'nor. I want you to put a very thick patch of Thread that forces the entire Wing between on my order. Put it as close as you can to the Wing.

My rider will happily do this, replied Malath, a green dragon.

By this time, Jameth was approaching the patrol zone and could see the flames of the dragons practicing quite clearly. Ok, Joleth and Kameth, I'm approaching the practice zone. As he entered the formation, he said to Mnementh, Mnementh, inform F'lar that I'm here and am ready to do my part.

Welcome, Jameth. F'lar says that he's happy that you're here and wishes you to proceed with your drills.

Happily, Mnementh. Changing to his group of dragons, he said, Joleth and Kameth, you may proceed.

Proceeding, Jameth came the happy reply from Joleth, a young brown whose rider was a good friend of J'ral's.

Mnementh, there's a big patch of Thread falling right on top of you.

We see, thanks for the warning, replied Mnementh as the front of the Weyrleader's Wing made a short hop between while the second half of the Wing closed together and formed a new V and promptly charred the Thread that fell right on top of them. As soon as the Thread was cleared, Mnementh and his group of dragons and riders rejoined the rest of the Wing, which promptly resumed formation.

Jameth didn't have time for watching as just after he warned the Weyrleader, Tolath reported that he was performing his part. Golanth, inform the riders in the back of your Wing that there's Thread falling back there.

I've informed them and they're evading. I'm jumping between with the front part of the Wing to flame the Thread.

Good. Solath, I would like you to make a drop over F'lesson's secondary Wing formation.

Will do.

Jolanth, there's a patch of Thread that got through F'lesson's main Wing formation. It's heading on top of you.

See it and it's flamed.

Malath, it's time for you to do your part.

Understood.

F'nor, there's a thick patch of Thread right above you. Jump between now and have your secondary Wing take care of it.

Understood.

With that, his Wing went between and Jameth took a second longer and felt the ropes hit his wings and back. He jumped between over the Weyr and began the long spiral down to land. Mnementh, inform the Wings that I've suffered severe scoreing to the wings and back. I'm out for the remainder of the Fall.

Two hours after the beginning of practice, F'lar had the Wings land. During the course of the practice, there were only five "scores," of which three were severe enough for the dragons to land at the Weyr.

"Good practice, everyone. I was pleased with the results of the practice. We had results with how the Wings handled the three times that we had Jameth up here. Only after the first time that he got lost did it come close to not being business as usuall. Unfortunately, you knew that he would be forced to land, so I'll have to find a way to fix that, eventually.

"You're all dismissed, except for K'lar, W'kin, and Marisa. I would like to chat with the three of you before you leave. All three Wings will practice again tomorrow. I might be adding in R'bin's Wing for the practice, too. Same time, but meet me along the rim."

A chorus of "Yes, F'lar's" echoed around the Bowl as riders either flew to their weyrs or did other things. Within minutes, the whole Bowl was empty except for the three riders that F'lar had asked to meet with him.

"F'lar, I'm assuming that you would like to find out what happened to us when we got hit by Thread," said K'lar, the rider of bronze Jolanth. He was hit shortly after Jameth left for the first time.

"Correct."

"Sir, I just didn't pay attention well enough. I thought that F'lesson and Golanth had flamed some Thread, but at least three strands got through and hit Jolanth on his right wing. It was a careless mistake and could've been disastrous during a real Fall."

"Correct, K'lar. You're normally not one to do things like that, which is why you lead the secondary formation, which could be considered a Wing in some aspects." Looking at the other two, he included, "All three of you are great riders. Normally you don't get scored. I would hate for careless mistakes ending your life. Dismissed."