The Jump Forward

[Ness]

"Sitareh? Thread? You came forward on purpose, then?" Lari turned to the other rider. "And you? You said your name is H'run? I know you're not from Artemis. Are you from this time, then? And how far exactly did we jump? How long ago was the storm that brought me here? Are we still on the southern continent?" Then she shook herself. She had too many questions and she was tired and still cold despite the blanket. She didn't think she had any actual injuries though. She was just in shock.

"Klah, yes. I think some klah is in order."

Greylith offers to help look for Olympia, Seioth said helpfully. She rarely even used the little firelizard's name and new Lari liked it when she did. Seioth had been fond her little green cousin, though. That she was not panicking over the loss reassured Lari more than the dragon's words. Surely if a dragon could between times, so could flitts. Perhaps Olympia could find her own way here. It sounded as though Memory had.

Seioth's earlier words cut through her thoughts.

"Gaylen? You are all right, aren't you? Seioth says you didn't have your medication for a long time. You do have it now, don't you? You can make more? Or C'lyn." Lari looked reassurance at the healer. He was definitely older than he'd been this morning. But then, it hadn't just been that morning that he'd last seen her. How long had it been for him?

[B'kay]

Gaylen's brow furrowed, confused as much by Memory's growing sense of worry as by Lari's words. She kept picturing the little green, remembering how she would play with Memory in the infirmary. Was she Memory's clutch mate?

Frustration caused her to tremble slightly as she struggled to remember. "Clutch mate?" she muttered aloud, and stroked the little faded gold who lit for a moment on her shoulder, and then hovered in agitation again.

"C'lyn makes my medicine," she said softly, absently, "I feel much better now. Were they clutch mates?"

Her brow furrows deepened. She could see the little green so clearly; see the infirmary at Artemis as it was; see the cove Lari had mentioned ....

"Wasn't that where we found the clutch?" Memory's clutch, when she had been so surprised to have the little queen choose her. Were they clutch mates?

Artemis, the cove, little green Olympia....

Memory's eyes whirled faster, faster, her wings fluttered as she zipped about like an insect around a candle flame, drawing close to something, but afraid, and darting away again....

"Little Olympia's left behind? We'll have to find her--" The little green, alone with out her bonded, at Artemis, in the cove, so long ago when they were still at Artemis, she could see it so clearly ... "Find her...."

Alabanth bugled in alarm, pressed his mind into Gaylen's tried to stop the thoughts--

But with a frightened screech, Memory was gone.

Gaylen gasped, reached out, grabbed at the empty air where her flitter had been a breath before. "Mem, NO, I didn't mean.... Oh, what have I done!?"

[Shikai]

H’run stood back slightly from the group, feeling perfectly useless. He had been right, the rider was a new arrival, and was in need of help. However, she seemed to be getting all she needed from Gaylen and now C’lyn, who, fortunately, knew who she was! In a sense, he was grateful, for he would hardly know what to do in such a situation on his own. But it was undeniably awkward standing there with nothing to do. At least he had Gawyth, he thought fondly to himself. Gawyth’s calming presence never failed to make any circumstances more bearable. He paid attention to the conversation, interested, and tried not to feel as though he were eavesdropping. He could hardly leave now; he might yet be needed!

H’run blinked as he was suddenly addressed, caught by surprise. He paused before replying, mentally trying to sort out what questions she had asked him to make sure he answered them all. “I don’t know exactly how many turns have passed since your time, but it’s been a very long time. Hundreds.” H’run hesitated, unsure what effect his words would have on the newcomer. She was scarcely older than himself, and looked quite cold and frightened…with good reason, given what had just happened to her. He didn’t want to upset her further, but he supposed she wanted to know, and perhaps it was best to get it over with. His tone was as solemn as his expression, although his words had an undertone of compassion that his face showed only traces of, due to his habitual schooling of his features. “…It’s been many turns. Artemis Moonlight Weyr…no longer exists. Araelen Weyr, where we are now, is Pern’s only weyr. And yes, this is the Southern Continent.”

Having answered her, he shifted his eyes from hers to glance at C’lyn and Gaylen. Sadly aware of Gaylen’s condition, his gaze came to fall on C’lyn. “If there’s anything Gawyth and I can do to help…?” He ventured, wanting to be given something to do rather than slip back into feeling useless.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn gasped as Alabanth's bugled his alarm and wrapped his arms around Gaylen, smoothing a hand over her hair. "Memory is strong Gaylen, I'm sure she'll be back," he said soothingly, but he wasn't so positive himself, but he couldn't let her know that.

He looked at H'run and smiled "Thank you for giving Larita the information I was hesitant about," he said, holding Gaylen gently. "Could you to the infirmary and fetch me the small flask I have lying on my desk? If you can't find it Journye or one of the others there can help you find it," he was thankful that the boy wanted to help and smiled "I think we can all use a dose of it," he said, more then willing to include H'run.

Greylith went to stand beside Seioth to offer her support for her fellow green to lean upon. She crooned soothingly to all, wishing there was more she could do.

Little Rhapsody chirped softly and landed lightly on Gaylen's shoulder, nuzzling the older woman's cheek gently.

[Ness]

"Hundreds of turns?" Lari asked in disbelief. "Hundreds of turns and the old Weyr is gone. And my family. My family is gone. Oh, no. They must think I'm dead. I suppose I'm as good as dead. To them anyway."

But you are not dead, Mine! Seioth said, alarmed. You are alive and I am alive and we are together and we will find Olympia.

"Yes, yes," Lari soothed. "We are alive. And we are with Gaylen and C'lyn and if all the riders in this time are as kind as H'run here this must be a very good Weyr. We are alive." She wasn't so sure about finding her flitt, though. Lari forced her mind to go blank in a sort of meditation as she leaned against her dragon, stroking the soft hide.

Then Gaylen spoke aloud.

"Clutch mates?" Lari repeated after Gaylen, confused until the chattering golden flitter caught her eye. "Oh, you mean Memory and Olympia? Yes, they were. They are, I mean." Lari would not think of Olympia as gone.

"Wasn't that where we found the clutch?" Gaylen's words seemed disconnected and Lari wondered if she was conversing with Alabanth. She answered the question anyway.

"Do you mean the cove where the storm hit? Yes, I believe it was..." Lari watched Gaylen's firelizard zipping around with fascination, not understanding why she was so upset when Seioth was not.

Lari had a sudden vivid memory of the golden flitt and her own green playing about in the store room of the infirmiry at Artemis. They'd just caught an enormous tunnel snake. It took them both to lift it despite Memory's larger size. Lari nearly broke into tears again.

Alabanth's call and Memory's shriek interrupted her reverie. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Where's Memory gone?"

I think she has gone to find her clutch mate, Seioth said. The green sounded happy about the prospect, but worried for the little gold as well.

[B'kay]

Gaylen moaned as she leaned into C'lyn, seeking comfort in the one place she could always find it. But it wasn't there, for she could not feel her little flitt anywhere.

"She's gone, she's gone, what have I done."

Not gone, Alabanth reassured her. She went to the current location of Artemis, and then went between times. She believes she remembers the way.

"How can she remember the way now?" Gaylen asked, clear enough to be truly concerned, though she did not realize she'd spoken aloud. "She didn't know the way Then."

Then you were very ill. Now you have had your medicine again for some time. Your mind no longer explodes in sudden spells. Plus other dragons, here, and firelizards, had made the time-between trip -- many of them. The little sister showed me that she believes she can travel safely. I have faith in her.

Gaylen, her mind quite clear for the moment, looked at Lari, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. "Alabanth believes Memory can find Olympia and return safely." She glanced around, still scared, but finding reassurance in her dragon's faith in the little gold.

The old rider struggled to remain clear, closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to maintain control of her thoughts. "Did someone mention klah?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

[Ness]

"I'm sorry," Lari whispered to Gaylen. "I never meant for... She'll be alright," she tried to assure the bluerider. But Lari didn't really have any idea whether either the gold or the green would be okay. Everything she'd heard about Timing it had just been rumors or, at best, old stories with little detail and an air of fantasy about them.

Suddenly, Lari wished that Timing It was covered in Weyrling classes to prepare weyrlings for something like this or perhaps to prevent situations such as hers from occuring. Then she silently laughed at herself. There would be weyrlings spread throughout time with no idea where they were or when they were and no way to get back. Perhaps it was better that it had been kept mostly secret it her time. It obviously wasn't secret any more and Lari hope there were no foolish weyrlings who thought it would be fun to jump back in time and see themselves as babies or meet their parents before they were born.

Exhaustion was starting to overcome the greenrider and Lari nodded to Gaylen's question.

"Yes, klah," she said again, with more resolve. Hugging her blanket to her shoulders, he even took a few steps in the direction of the kitchens at Artemis before she realized she had no idea where the kitchens were in this new Weyr. Refusing to give in to the despair that crept up from somewhere inside her, Lari turned to the other riders.

"Could you show me where the kitchens are?" she asked, attempting some of her old confidence. But there a was a slight quaver in her voice that gave her away.

[C'lyn]

C'lyn hugged Gaylen firmly, yet gently as he kissed her temple again. He shifted to take her hand and smiled softly to both her and Larita "I think we can sweet talk some late lunch our of the kitchen women as well," he said gently as he held his free hand out to Larita.

He could understand her confusion. Even though he had come forward willingly it had taken him a while to get used to the lay out of the Weyr.

Tirenth, please inform your rider that a new Green and her rider have arrived and ask him if my own may show her to a weyr,[/color] she spoke to the Weyrleader's bronze politely, wanting Seioth and her rider to be comfortable.

C'lyn brushed his green's mind with love and thanks as he lead the two ladies toward the kitchen. He looked at Larita with a slight tilt of his head "I know the Beast Master wouldn't mind if Seioth fed," he said gently, not sure if her green was hungry or not, but wanted the offer to be out there. He had a soft spot for the Beast Master, he was a kind man.