Jiranika listened to Weyrwoman Filia repeat the story of her own Impression for the hundredth time. She was sitting on the warm Sands beside Asatira among the other girl Candidates.

Her eyes kept shifting in the direction of the male Candidates learning about fighting dragons.

"I hope you become Weyrwoman," Jiranika whispered to Asatira.

"Why?" The dark haired girl asked appalled.

"I think I would be much better suited for a green dragon," Jiranika said with a sly smile.

"What? You know only men ride fighting dragons," Asatira said with a nervous glance at the Weyrwoman.

"It hasn't always been that way," Jiranika said. "There were several women riding green dragons in the ninth pass, there has even been a report of one or two women on blue dragons."

"That is scandalous," Asatira said, but she was smiling at her friend.

"I would feel better on a fighting dragon for when the Twelfth Pass comes about," Jiranika said.

"Shhh," Asatira admonished. "You know as well as I that Thread is never returning."

"Did I say Thread?" Jiranika asked. "I just feel something..."

"Girls!" Filia called them to attention. "This is vital information if you are going to survive Impression."

Jiranika and Asatira fell silent.

Once they were released from the Weyrwoman's presence and sent back to their barracks, Asatira and Jiranika picked up their conversation again.

"The ninth pass was the last of Thread," Asatira said convinced.

"I agree with you, for the most part, but I feel in my bones that something is coming with the return of the red star, maybe not Thread, maybe it is Thread," Jiranika explained.

"There is nothing," Asatira said.

"Then why are the dragons restless when the red star appears? Why are the older riders anxious, even though none of them were alive for the last Threadfall? Others feel it too, the dragons feel it," Jiranika said.

"I want to believe you," Asatira said, "But I would rather believe we are safe."

Jiranika smiled a little out of context to their conversation. She saw M'kya standing with Gwyneth only a few lengths away. He was watching her, and she felt a sudden rush of tingles through her body.

"What?" Asatira asked seeing her face. She followed her friend's gaze and saw the greenrider. "Oh." Asatira and M'kya weren't friends. They tolerated each other, but Asatira felt that Jiranika was giving an inappropriate impression and idea of what she wanted from him.

"Hey, I'll catch up with you in a bit," Jiranika said nudging Asatira.

"Don't get in trouble," Asatira said warningly. "It isn't natural, the way you are with him."

"M'kya is a great friend," Jiranika said beginning to break off from their trajectory. "And it isn't anymore unnatural than your infatuation with the Weyrleader." Jiranika smiled, and Asatira smiled back. They didn't always agree with one another, but they really were the best of friends.

"Be careful," Asatira said. Jiranika nodded and then turned and picked up her pace as she approached M'kya.

"Don't you have things to do, greenrider?" Jiranika asked teasingly.

"Don't order me around, you haven't Impressed gold yet," M'kya said returning her playful smile.

"I don't think I will," Jiranika said suddenly becoming serious.

"Why, you'd make a wonderful Weyrwoman," M'kya said.

"Good evening dear Gwyneth, as always you are absolutely stunning," Jiranika said ignoring M'kya's question for the moment. The green dragon preened at the compliment, and lowered her head. Jiranika obligingly scratched the soft eye ridge that had Gwyneth humming in pleasure.

"Gwyneth says you are meant for great things," M'kya said.

"Well I can do great things on a fighting dragon," Jiranika said. "Besides, I'd feel more comfortable on a flaming dragon, with the twelfth pass approaching."

"You think Thread is to return?" M'kya asked not even looking surprised that Jiranika mentioned wanting to Impress a fighting dragon.

"I don't know what is coming, but it is something," Jiranika said softly. She had only discussed her odd premonitions with Asatira, and she felt suddenly self conscious.

"That would explain Gwyneth's strange nightmares, and my own," M'kya said looking thoughtful. "A green would suite you very well," He added.

"A green?" Jiranika asked. "I love green dragons, especially this one here," She said nudging Gwyneth, who warbled in delight. "Perhaps I could Impress a green." Jiranika was deep in thought. They fell into an easy silence.

A large shadow fell across the Candidate and the young rider. A bronze shape landed less than a dragonlength away from Jiranika and M'kya. Jiranika recognized the rider, and a surly glare took over her features.

"V'vek, I thought you were at Fort Weyr," Jiranika said not even offering him the pleasantries of dragonriders.

"They asked me to come back and help with the new weyrlings," The bronzerider said smiling pleasantly at the girl. "Jiranika, you have not yet met my Bronze Arunth,"

Jiranika gave a nod of acknowledgment towards the dragon, and then looked back at V'vek.

"What are you doing, future junior Weyrwoman, keeping company with greenriders?" V'vek asked looking condescendingly at M'kya.

"I happen to like keeping the company of greenriders, so you just shut your mouth bronzerider V'vek," Jiranika said. She knew she could get in trouble, a Candidate was a really low rank, and he was a full fledged bronzerider.

V'vek smiled indulgently at Jiranika.

"For now," He said. "But once you Impress that pretty little gold, we can be together like we always wanted." Jiranika snorted.

"Like you always wanted," She corrected. V'vek shrugged.

"You will see, Arunth will out fly any other bronze in order to win you and your queen," He said.

"Arunth won't come within a hundred dragonlegnths of whichever dragon I Impress," Jiranika snapped.

"Greens don't Fly Golds!" V'vek hissed before remounting Arunth and taking off into the air again.

"That man," Jiranika said clearly irked. She turned a smile on M'kya. "He grew up at Nabol, his family was close to mine, then he was Searched, and I thought I was rid of him." She gave a soft laugh.

"If you Impress a green I suppose that will get him off your back," M'kya said. "He seems to be the type that only goes for gold." They both shared a small laugh

"I should get back to the Barracks, I don't want to get in trouble," Jiranika said finally. The two shared one final look full of longing and affection. It surprised Jiranika how much she enjoyed M'kya's company, and how much she felt herself longing for more, sometimes.