Extremely sorry, everyone! I started back at uni this week, so I've been a little busy, and unfortunately, my writing time has suffered because of it.
Today's disclaimer is brought to you by the virtual flies I was creating on Thursday.
"Did you hear the news, M'kai?" V'lan asked excitedly.
"What news, V'lan?" M'kai asked as he took the cup from his lips, trying to conceal a laugh at V'lan's enthusiasm.
"Cheriath is blooding her kill!" V'lan whispered.
They were at the summer Gather at Southern, and M'kai had just finished a set and was refreshing himself when V'lan arrived and dragged him over to a corner to speak. Cheriath's partner Alisa was one of the junior Weyrwomen at Ista.
"Are you coming?" he asked, leading the way out of the shadows. "We can make it in time if we leave now."
"I still have another set to do," M'kai said regretfully. "You go, and tell me about it later."
"You're going to miss out on a lot of fun, M'kai," V'lan said with a grin, then ran to the beach, where his brown Talleth was already landing.
"Enjoy yourself, V'lan!" M'kai roared after him as they took off and disappeared.
Why do we not go to fly Cheriath? Tyrith asked wistfully. We both enjoy mating flights.
I prefer to know the person first, M'kai replied. Besides, Alisa is much too old for me.
Is Kirsty? Tyrith asked.
No, Kirsty is not too old, M'kai sent back, amused at his dragon's cunning. Tyrith knew that M'kai had been thinking of Kirsty a lot lately.
Good, because Camanth says that Aredath is blooding her kill and Drianne asks would we please come, Tyrith said matter-of-factly.
"What!" M'kai yelped, attracting odd looks from passers-by. "Why didn't you tell me, you overgrown lizard?"
You did not ask, Tyrith said smugly.
Get down here NOW, M'kai ordered.
x
"Where is she?" M'kai asked, bursting into the room.
Drianne looked up at the sound of his entrance, and smiled when she saw who it was. "Kirsty's already in the room, so you'd better tell Tyrith to get down to the hunting grounds. Everyone's just waiting for Aredath to finish."
"He's on his way," M'kai said breathlessly, his eyes briefly unfocusing as he passed on the information on to Tyrith. "Thanks for calling me back."
As he strode towards the room set aside for mating flights, Drianne called after him, "Of course I called you back. You're my friend, and I know you've been waiting for this."
"Besides," she added quietly to herself, "she wouldn't go in until I told her you were coming. She loves you, M'kai. She'll be miserable with anyone else."
x
M'kai quietly closed the door behind him and turned to find a semicircle of male riders around Kirsty, who was backed up against the wall, obviously terrified. Her eyes brightened as she caught sight of him, and she smiled, but the smile dissolved as there came a roar from outside and M'kai felt Tyrith launch himself into the air after Aredath, the others half a breath behind.
"I'm here for you, Kirsty," M'kai murmured, moving forward.
"I know you are," she replied softly. "You always have been, ever since I met you."
That was the last opportunity they had for coherent conversation, as they were caught up in the primeval emotions of the great beasts they rode.
x
"I knew it would be you, M'kai," Kirsty said much later, when they were still lying in each other's arms. "As soon as you walked in, I knew. It just couldn't be anyone else."
"I felt the same way," M'kai said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "I wasn't going to let anyone else have you. Not for all of Pern."
He sighed, and made to get up, but Kirsty pulled him back down. "Can't we stay here for a little while longer?" she murmured, trailing her fingers down his arm.
"Maybe a little while," he readily agreed, bending to kiss her again.
Suddenly, the door was flung open and B'kennor burst in. Kirsty blushed scarlet and hid under the covers of the bed, but M'kai just looked up and said, "Hello, B'kennor. What's the matter?"
"I've got some fantastic news!" B'kennor shouted happily, and danced over to him. "Drianne just told me she's going to have a baby!"
"That's wonderful news, B'kennor, but don't you think you could have waited?" M'kai asked dryly, looking pointedly at Kirsty.
This time, it was B'kennor's turn to blush, and he began to babble apologies, but M'kai just laughed and waved them off. "Next time you burst in on me unannounced, do you think you could do it at some time of the day when I'm not busy?" he said with a smile.
B'kennor smiled too, and began to roar with laughter. "I'm sorry, M'kai," he wheezed. "Drianne told me you were in here, and she did try to stop me, but I didn't listen. Next time, I'll pay a little bit more attention." He doubled over with laughter, and M'kai joined him.
x
"There are three more Falls left that are in our territory, so we'll draw for which wings fly them," B'kennor announced the next night at dinner, holding up a riding helmet. "In this helmet, there are enough papers for every wingleader in this room. Most are blank, but three of them have the site of a Fall written on them. The wingleaders who draw these slips will fly the Fall their slip says."
"Sounds fair," D'ron remarked. "Who wants to draw first?"
"Well, since you've spoken up, big brother, I think you should," said M'kai, grinning.
The room started laughing as D'ron, smiling at his brother's quick wit, stood and took a paper from B'kennor's helmet. "You could have washed the helmet out first, B'kennor!" he said in mock disgust, holding the paper away from him. More laughter followed him back to his seat, then the other wingleaders drew, one by one.
"Who got the Falls?" B'kennor asked.
"I did," called K'tim, Kirsty's wingleader.
"So did I," called M'kai, giving Kirsty a quick squeeze. They had been inseparable all day, and he had had his arm around her most of the meal.
"Me too," called J'nin, waving the slip around excitedly.
Looking around at all the disappointed faces around him, M'kai added, "Anyone who wants to fly one of the last Threadfalls is welcome to join my wing."
"In that case, why don't we just split the Weyr into three groups and all fly?" D'ron asked. "That way, everyone gets to fly Thread, and no one is left out."
"That sounds like a good idea to me, D'ron," B'kennor said. "Does anyone have any objections?" There was a complete silence. "Good," B'kennor said, nodding in satisfaction. "We'll let the three who drew the slips head the groups. Drianne will divide the Weyr, and the groups will be posted by the end of the sevenday."
Sorry, short chapter. The next one will be too, as it just happens to be where a natural break falls.