And then there were 22

[Spirithawk]

"I don't want her out for twelve hours Nike, just enough for me to get her with the rest of her eggs to guard them and for me to talk some sense into her." The woman looked thoughtful. "Never mind, twelve hours is good. Thank you."

She turned to her weyrmate. "I don't care what is done to the sharding theif as long as she is found and punished. I will not have it said that Dark Moon lets theives get away with stealing dragon eggs because then none of our eggs will be safe again. I have no sympathy for the thief."

"It would be quicker but you will need the room to maneuver because the bronzes are going to have to catch Kaith and it will be easier for him to catch her if there is only one rider on his back. If I could, I would send the bronzes riderless and have their riders direct them from the ground but it is simply too dangerous. Have the browns stand by as well. Blues and greens are too small to catch Kaith. She is simplly too big. Oh wait, you meant me ride a green or Ruanth."

Abruptly she turned to Nike. "How fast is Ruanth?" There was a speculative gleam in her eyes. If she was able to fly on a fast and nimble dragon, the dragon's rider could zip in and she could inject her Queen and then they could move out fast to let the bronzes catch her. "I need a fast and agile dragon that can get me close to Kaith fast and get out of there even faster because the bronzes need as much altitude as they can to be able to catch Kaith. I need a rider that is willing to risk their lives and the life of their WW."

[nike]

Nike gave a small smile. "Ruanth is, if not, the fastest and nimblest dragon in the Weyr. And we would be happy to assist you," She said. Ruanth at that time came out of the Barracks, and landed beside the two. "I'll go get her strapped up for the two of us, and the medical supplies." The Healer ran to the Barracks, leaving the basket and her dragon beside Christae.
Like Mine said, we would be happy to help you. And yes, we will be fast enough to get far enough away from Kaith to save us. The white nudged her Weyrwoman's shoulder with her nose.

†††††††††††

Sh'iron sighed as he ordered the bronze riders in what was about to happen.
"All of you have been trained, and I expect the best out of you. This is your Queen. Your senior queen with a clutch on the sands. Your dragons may feel stronger about keeping her safe then you, but you must put yourselves in your dragons positions," He said, his hands clasped behind his back, and his manner strict.

[Spirithawk]

"Good." Christae watched as the other riders scurried to do as they had been ordered. Rage still bloomed in her heart. She hated the fact that the theif that had upset her queen so was still out there with the egg.

"I want a full search of the Weyr. Leave no cavern, no matter how unused, left unsearched. I want you to look under every rock and rug, in every weyr. FIND THAT EGG!"

[nike]

Nike retured with her riding helmet, gloves, and straps thrown over her shoulder. With skilled, quick ginfers, she put the straps on her white, then put her helmet, and gloves on.
"Alright, ready to go!" The Healer said after putting the basket on the straps.
Ruanth turned to her rider with whriling eyes.
Christae said that she wanted a rider who would risk their life for her.
Nike sighed. Ruanth, Christae is the most important woman in the Weyr. And if something happens to Christae, then something would happen to Kaith, and thus the Weyr. We aren't that important compared to those two. They honestly could loose us. UNderstand?
I guess, but you are risking your life, your child's life, my life, and Zim and Crystal's! Ruanth said.
Nike looked down at her stomach and lightly rubbed it.

[Kandarra]

"Micra!" T'rin said, as his little green firelizard flew into his weyr, distraught and nervous. She landed on his shoulder hurriedly, her claws digging in painfully. "Ow--" he began, but the poor little thing was shivering so much, he didn't scold her. He stroked her, and wondered why she was upset. He soon found out, for he hadn't missed the brassy bugle and now there was Kaith's broadcast. An egg, stolen? he thought. He mounted Amparath and they flew out of the weyr, T'rin still in the riding gear he hadn't had a chance to change out of. He soon learned that he and Amparath were to aid in catching the queen.

The bronzerider was now standing in front of Sh'iron, listening to the plans in a state of disbelief. Who would steal an egg, and why? He had searched the eggs on the sands and noticed it was his favorite, the black void egg, that was missing. Now his brows were furrowed and his eyes creased with worry for the egg. What if it wasn't recovered? What if it hatched elsewhere, and didn't find a Chosen? Wouldn't it die? T'rin shuddered as he thought of Amparath's hatching, and felt pity for the hatchling inside the stolen egg. He hoped it would be recovered.

But he made himself focus on the here-and-now: catching the queen. Amparath would be able to help; he was the largest bronze from his clutch, and he was nearly full-grown. Of course, he wasn't as large as Myranenth, and definitely not Kaith, but he was still a large bronze and a strong flier.

Amparath swelled with pride as he caught these thoughts from his Chosen. I AM the largest and strongest bronze from my clutch! he said triumphantly, but resisted the urge to bugle. And I will aid our queen today.

[Spirithawk]

Christae watched as the bronzeriders assembled in front of their Weyrleader. "Where is G'han and Gerenanth. I want all bronzeriders and I want Mneith to be standing by. He is as large as some of the bronzes we have here. The other browns will be in a ring in the air surrounding the bronzes. I want the blues and greens on the lower level. If she drops they are to form a safety net. The older riders should know what I'm talking about. I doubt the bronzes will drop their Queen but we cannot be too careful. If she does drop through both the browns and bronzes they will form a pattern on the lower level to cushion her drop. We might have a few bruises but at least Kaith will not go between.

Christae called for her bronze flitt. The little creature shook. He could sense the anger emanating from the great one as he called Kaith and from his mistress. Birinj hid himself under Christae's hair. She absently stroked him on his back, knowing that if she couldn't calm him, he wouldn't bring her helmet. Her riding jacket was with her already. The flitt vanished with a chirp and soon came back with her helmet, almost falling from the weight. She accepted it from him and scratched his eye ridges. Then she turned to Nike.

The Weyrwoman winced when Kaith let out another ear splitting shriek. She noted the whirling red and orange eyes of the other dragons and the dull color of their hides. She had to get Kaith sedated quickly. "I appreciate the risk you are taking Nike. Thank you." She waited for the whiterider to mount and then slid onto Ruanth's back, securing the straps and accepting the basket with the sedative from the greenrider she had handed it to.

The blue and green dragons would be working riderless. A rider would be crushed under Kaith's weight in the safety net that was seldom used. If the bronzes and browns did not drop Kaith, they would have to pop between to get out of the way. "Riders mount up!" She called.

[Dragon]

R'dal had managed to calm his brown before he got out of control. Elith stayed in his weyr while R'dal went to go see just what was going on. People running about frantically, flitts here and there, dragons taking to the skies. His dragon told him the reason of all this chaos and R'dal couldn't believe it. What would give someone the motive to steal an egg? He nodded his head and tried to avoid all the people running about, though his large size did make that almost impossible as people seemed to slightly bump into him or even run into him. He wondered just where was his beloved Nira in all this mess. He walked over to where the Weyrwoman was and he could hear her giving orders of what to do. He wondered himself where the bronzerider, G'han was. It seemed there might be quite a few that have dissappeared in this mess, dragon and dragonrider alike. "I guess I'll retrieve Elith and we will be will join with the rest of the browns", he said to the Weyrwoman.

[Tenma]

Mine, get up! Reinath demanded for at least the fiftieth time.

No, let me sleep. Miya was exhausted. The extra hours of work for Christae were getting to her. She didn't want to get up early, because she all ready had to get up before dawn.

Please. Reinath insisted.

Is it dawn? Miya questioned groggily.

No. Reinath replied truthfully.

Then leave me alone. I will oil your hide in the morning. Miya didn't really know what was going on, but this argument had been going of for a long time.

Reinath huffed angrily. Things were getting urgent and her mine was being stubborn. Reinath took a deep breath and bugled as loudly as she could.

Miya fell out of bed with shock. Her angry eyes stared down her full grown queen. The gold was larger than any other dragon in the Weyr except one, Kaith. "What do you want!" Miya shouted, not even bother to talk telepathically.

Someone has stolen one of the eggs. Kaith is furious and our help is needed immediately. Reinath spat out quickly.

Miya sat there for a moment, her eyelids trying to close. Reinath growled lightly and Miya let out a yawn before standing up. She quickly threw on some clothes, not really able to see what she was doing. She brushed her hair, because Miya never left her room without brushing her hair. She then ran out of her room.

Miya only had to leave her room to see the chaos. She could hear and feel the deep rumblings of anger in Reinath's throat. Miya stood there, shocked and amazed at what was going on, when it finally hit her. Someone had stolen the queen's egg.

She then realized that that egg belonged to someone else. If Reinath's egg had been stolen, and the two had never met, Miya would be devastated. She snuggled the queen's head and stood tall. She ran over to the Weyrwoman, but said nothing. She just didn't know what to do.

[Spirithawk]

Christae was sitting on Ruanth's back when Reinath and her rider finally made their appearance. "Miya, mount up and get airborne. I will have Nike tell Reinath what needs to be done and Reinath will order the other dragons. She will have to be VERY firm with them because they will want to listen to Kaith and Kaith's fury is very overpowering. She MUST make them listen to her until Kaith is more reasonable. We need to sedate her as fast as we can."

[Tenma]

Sedate? They were going to sedate the Sr. Queen? She didn't know that mothers would get so angry over losing one of their many eggs.

Having many eggs has nothing to do with it. You wouldn't want someone to rob your own child, whether you have one or ten. Reinath explained sternly.

Miya smirked. She buckled up her helmet again and climbed up Reinath's bent foreleg. The queen flapped her wings and rose into the air. The two then awaited their orders from Nike.

[nike]

Nike slipped on to Ruanth's back, and strapped herself in.
Are you ready to do this?
Kaith may be my clutch mother, and I also do not want to do this, but it must be done.
Yes, I know.
"Alright, let's go!" The Healer said as soon as Christae was settled in. Ruanth raised her wings, and leaped into the air. Her wings pumped, and the she hovered, waiting for the next order.
Reinath! Christae and I will fly under Kaith, and sedate her, then fly away. You and Miya will order the bronzes in catching Kaith when she falls. LIke Christae said, be strong with them. You will also help the largest bronzes to hold her up, and take her to the Hatching grounds. Nike said, her eyes never leaving the sight of Kaith. Is that clear?

"When ever you are ready, Christae!" Nike told the Weyrwoman over her shoulder. If must fell strange for Christae. Riding, that is. The Weyrwoman had to be used to riding Kaith's strong neck, so Ruanth had to be a change. A tad smile formed on her lips. Ruanth may be the smallest dragon at the time, but that wouldn't stand in her way!

[Tenma]

As the words filled into Reinath's head, the dragon relayed the words to Miya. The gold-rider felt a bit upset about Nike speaking directly to Reinath, but she knew that it had to be done and that this was an emergency. She held on tightly to the straps and let Reinath know telepathically that she was there for her.

Reinath knew what she must do, though she wasn't to proud of plotting against her clutch-mother. Bronzes, I need you all to listen to me. I am still a queen and you are all supposed to listen to me. We must take care of the Sr. Queen and right now that means to calm her down and sedate her. I need everyone's cooperation for the safety of Kaith. After being sedated the larger bronzes must help catch Kaith and carry her to safety. We must do this for Kaith and I will not stand anyone disobeying me. Reinath's voice was strong and demanding. At a moment it seemed to be Miya's voice. This made the gold-rider realize that her stubbornness could actually help the Weyr. Now they only had to wait.

[Kandarra]

I will, said Amparath, confirming his pledge to help. T'rin mounted up, and waited for orders, though he didn't know from whom. With a pang he looked at Miya, then looked away, focusing on the other bronzes that had gathered and the general bustle. He couldn't think of Miya now; he had to pay attention so that they could safely bring Kaith down from the skies.

[Spirithawk]

Christae felt Kaith's rage intensify when the younger gold launched herself. "Nike, tell Reinath to watch out. Kaith isn't in the mood to be nice to another gold."

Sneaking thief! I will rend her limb from limb when I find her. How the Queen knew that the culprit was female was a mystery but there were many females in the weyr. It would be hard to pinpoint just one female.

"Tell Reinath to get the browns to form a circle just under the bronzes and for the greens and blues to form their safety net. They must be ready to go between at a moment's notice to get out of the way. They cannot cut it close. This has to be perfectly timed. Nike, I need you to wait until Kaith climbs again because right now she does not have enough altitude for the bronzes to stop her descent."

Christae was glad to be up on a dragon again but she wished that dragon was Kaith. Ruanth's body was buffeted by the wind a bit more than Kaith's and the motion of her wings keeping them aloft was more noticeable.

[nike]

Nike nodded.
Reinath! Be careful! Kaith doesn't seem to be happy that your in the air at the moment. The white rider said, and swallowed hard. If only this person could see what they have done. Everyone on Pern knew that dragons chose their rider. It wasn't like a firelizard or wher hatching. Unless, the person was from a far off hold and didn't know that. But still, the theif had to know the halls of Dark Moon. Nike had mastered them in over a Turn. Lightly, she shook her head, and tiled her head back to listen to Christae.

Get the browns to form a circle just under the bronzes and for the blues and greens to form their safety net. Make sure they are all ready to go /between/ to get out of the way. It also has to be perfectly timmed. Nike told the gold as her green eyes scanned the secen below. "Alright, Weyrwoman. Just tell me when," She said. "You do know where to put the seditive, don't you?" The Healer asked as an after thought. That was the one thing she didn't like seeing, people who knew how to heal, but always got something wrong. Healing, there was no room for mistakes. And if Christae didn't know where to put it, that showed two things, she didn't know how to heal, and didn't know the basics of being a Queen Rider. ALL queen riders needed to know the basics of Healing a dragon. The Healer stroked Ruanth's neck softly, waiting for the command.

†††††††††††

Sh'iron was up on Myranenth as soon as Reinath had spread her wings. The Weyrleader perched ontop of his flying bronze, with the rest of the dragons behind him. Eyes flickered over the sight. Kaith roaring, dragons flying, waiting for an order, Miya on Reinath, getting orders from Nike who got them from Christae, and those two were on Ruanth. His eyes flickered over to the two female riders on the little white. Sh'iron longed to see Christae atop Kaith, tall, proud, and beautiful. Of course, he had nothing against Ruanth, it was just that Christae deserved to be on a gold, not a little white.

[Tenma]

The browns are to form a circle underneath the bronzes. Underneath that the blues and greens are to form a net. Every able dragon is to help ensure the safety of our Sr. Queen. Everyone needs to be ready to go between, for Kaith is angry and we don't need any injured dragons. Our timing has to be perfect. Once again Reinath's voice was strong and commanding, causing it to seem much like Miya's. The queen spoke carefully, making sure she sent the message to the right dragons, and especially not to Kaith.

[Akki]

"I'll help." She told K'dan before she turned to Sargon and said, "I'd like your help, look for the flitt and Hydrath. Don't dawdle too, see if you can find anything out about this also but don't get in anyone's way.". The flitt listened carefully, chirped and flew off. Akki had to admit, she was slightly amazed at how calm Sargon was now.

Mine, they need blues and greens to help. I know you told me to stay but I must go and help Ebbeth said as he he took off heading towards the gathering of bronzes, blues, browns and greens that were there to help Kaith. Go then, they need help She replied as she headed into a room, looking for the lost flitt.

Ebbeth flew quickly to the gathering of dragons, and then listened to Reinath. Despite the mass amount of chaos going on, he acknowledged the fact that Reinath now seemed like a true Queen. He admits it, he didn't respect her before except now he did, not fully mind you, but it seemed to grow with every passing moment. He flew underneath the browns and joined the other blues and greens.

[Spirithawk]

"If we can get under her, just behind her jaw would be the best place because it is the softest part of the hide and near one of the main veins of ichor. If not, near the wing joint because if she is flying, the ichor is pumping to that wing joint and it will spread through her body the fastest. If I can't get it there, anywhere on her underbelly near her chest will do. Master Healer, please don't question my capability right now. I know that if i stick her too close to her heart, the direct jolt will probably kill her but I also know that I need to get it near the major veins of ichor so that it spreads quickly and she is not raging because someone stuck her with a needlethorn."

Kaith began to spiral upwards, seeking to escape from the net and ring of browns. The bronzes were nearly in position to catch her but she was not cooperating. She thought that she was escaping from them, but in reality she was making it easier for her rider to sedate her. "Steady, steady...Kaith please forgive me." She whispered, not realizing that she was close enough to Nike for the whiterider to hear. "NOW! Everyone move into position. Nike, get me up there."

[Dragon]

K'dan nodded and could sense the confusion from Sharan but just where was he. He tried to focus in on the flitt's images, but it was a mass confusion. "Got it. He's in the kitchens now", he said and ran off to the kitchens. ~Hydrath. Where are you?~, K'dan tried to contact the blue. Kaith's egg has been stolen I have to find it. "Hydrath stop now. You, a lone dragon, can't find it. Get back here, NOW!", K'dan shouted the last word. The blue snorted in anger. "Great Hydrath is so riled up. "Hydrath meet me in the weyrbowl, please", K'dan tried to persuade the blue. He was already in the kitchens and he grabbed Sharan who was snacking on a piece of meat. The flitt hissed when he was pulled away from his meal. "Eat it later Sharan, you're with me now", K'dan stated. He looked over to Akki and spoke, "Come on, to the weyrbowl. Maybe I can convince Hydrath to calm down and land.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

G'han had been flying on Gerenanth as the dragon heard the queen's fits of rage. Gerenanth gave an angry growl and took off with G'han on his back. "Gerenanth what in Faranth are you doing", G'han shouted as the bronze sped up. "Slow down", G'han shouted, trying to raise his voice above his dragon's. Gerenanth spun angrily as they went over the lake. "Shards this was suppose to be a more leisurely ride", he said angrily. He fell off his dragon as he lost his hold on him and splashed into the lake. I should have gotten my gear, this was suppose to be just a short ride. He thought before hitting the water with a large splash. He managed to crawl out of the lake, spitting out water. He tilted his head up from laying in the shallow water and shouted at Gerenanth to no avail. He lumbered onto his feet and walked unsteady to the mass crowd of people running around. He was soaked and boy did he hurt. The water stung hitting it that hard, such a deafening sound too. "Shards I have to go get Gerenanth, wherever that wherry head is", he said as he wiped the dripping water from his face.

[nike]

Nike smiled to herself from Christae's anger.
"Alright," She said, and turned her eyes to see G'han fall into the lake. The Healer rolled her eyes. She swallowed, and then nodded to herself. When Christae gave the order,
Nike told Ruanth to go. THe white flapped her wings, and darted towards Kaith.
The Healer had ingored Christae's words that she spoke to herself.

††††††††††††††

Myranenth was the first one under Kaith, read to catch her when she would fall.
He said that he would be there, and now he is. Sh'iron leaned down on his stomach, close to the bonze's neck. The Weyrleader spotted Ruath dart towards Kaith. Good, so hopefully this would be over soon. He swallowed, and got ready to catch the huge queen.