Heart's Desire

[Spirithawk]

The five dragons forged on, their speed increasing. Christae settled deeper in her riding jacket and clamped her legs as tightly as she could to her dragon's side to keep from falling. Behind her, the Healer squeaked and squeezed her waist. Christae leaned forward to check on the girl and saw that she was slumbering uneasily. She moved the furs so that they blocked most of the wind. They flew at a steady pace for about ten more minutes before they finally saw the peak of the old volcano that the weyr was built in.

"Almost there." She called encouragingly.

Should I speed up?

~I don't think so. The wind is cold enough as it is and not all of our riders are as seasoned for long flights at high speeds.~

Very well. I will let the Weyr know that we are almost there.

Christae gave silent approval and then settled back into her own thoughts. Her mind wandered back to the days when it had been her, Akki, Rhia, R'dan, Nike, and a little later, Nira as Weyrlings. Now things were not so simple. She had Chiron and Sh'iron and the Weyr. She felt like a mother with too many children even though she only had her little son. She pitied Rhia, with twins but then again, she envied the brownrider because she was only a Wingsecond.

She though about the pile of work waiting for her when she got back and mentally frowned. Outwardly, her face was serene but inwardly, she was tired. She had seen her weyrmate once in the past sevenday and they were both too busy to say or do anything other than work. Chiron took turns with her and Sh'iron and some of the Weyrfolk.

Christae noticed that Wolf was trembling and absently smoothed the hair away from the girl's face, murmering soothing words in the hopes of quieting her. Quiet, light sleep was good for her but not deep or troubled sleep. She hoped that Wolf would recover. She simply had to. Christae didn't know the girl but Kaith had been adamant that she survive.

[Tenma]

Nira looked at the great gold and her passengers with worry. Wolf was sleeping but looked greatly distessed. Christae also looked very distressed.

At Nira's command Siarath sped up a bit untill they were even with Kaith, though the gold was much larger.

"Christae, are you all right? Is something bothering you?" She asked worridly.

[Wolf]

As the bangs were pushed off the young girl's face her eyes slowly opened. "Where is he?" she asked Christae, almost forgetting for an instant where she was. Up on seeing Siarath and Nira once more everything came back to her in a rush. "Forget it," she muttered under her breath, looking off to the left with a cold yet hard glare. The straps still bind her down safely. "Are we there yet?" she asked, knowing she had asked that approximately 15-20 minutes ago, before she fell asleep. Her nap had been short and not so relaxing yet all the same... She hadn't gotten a good sleep in a while.

What was this Weyr going to be like? She'd never recalled up on having heard the name. She wasn't much of a traveler though so even some of the more infamous Hold and Weyr names slipped-by her. Maybe he'd be here? She couldn't get him off of her mind! She'd do what ever it took to find him!

[Akki]

Akki's faced paled slightly as the wind whipped through her hair, and she grew stiff. After a moment she relaxed, all though her face was still paler than usual. She felt as if any moment she would be whipped off Ebbeth and fall, plummeting towards the ground. And I can not help but wonder if you trust me Ebbeth said as he steadily beat his wings. I trust you with my life. And I, you. Promise me that we will fly more often. Now this confused her slightly, Ebbeth could fly whenever he wanted too. He didn't need her. Yes I do, you are a part of me are you not? I feel...awkward when I don't fly with you. As if I'm not whole Ebbeth replied, sensing her thoughts. How was it that her blue grew from a silly dragonet into a wise dragon? She looked over at Christae and grinned slightly, remembering back when it was them and the few others. The Weyr was steadily growing, Christae made it flourish with health. She either must be proud, or insane for running it in the first place.

[Spirithawk]

Christae looked up, startled from her reverie. "Nothing is wrong Nira." She lied unconvincingly. The Weyrwoman looked down and saw that Wolf was awake. "He?" She shrugged. She would not pressure the girl. "We will be arriving in five minutes."

Presently they crossed over the outer rim of the Weyr. A bugle of welcome reached the riders' ears and the Watchdragon reared up from his post. The old brown's rider waved and Christae returned the wave.

"We are here." She said softly. "Thank Faranth!" The Healer cried behind her.

[Wolf]

'And I was all concerned about it being days,' Wolf thought to herself sarcastically. She was actually rather surprised by the speed at which the dragons flew, knowing they were able to go even faster. Being a top the Golden Queen would be an experience she'd never forget even in these darn conditions. "We're here are we?" she repeated, it having been a rhetorical question. Her stomach continued to hurt, the girl happening to feel overly dizzy as of now. 'I don't want to be lying in bed for days, I want to head out and search as soon as possible.' In this matter she was being stubborn.