Nachth was awakened from her light nap to the shrill sounds of Shalna's little green, Mavcha. What is it? she asked sleepily.
Mavcha chirped excitedly and showed Nachth and image of someplace the flit remembered from a long time ago. It looked a bit like Dark Moon's Weyrbowl, but it was different. It must be another weyr, Nachth reasoned, but couldn't imagine why Mavcha was so excited.
Her question was answered the next moment when Shalna burst into their weyr. They had only recently been cleared to go Between but they'd had their weyr for some time now, ever since first flight. Wake up darling! Shalna called happily, waving a message hide. I've got very, very good news!
That good? Nachth asked, raising her head from her couch to eye her rider. She couldn't recall seeing Shalna quite so ecstatic before, except perhaps during their first flight.
We've been cleared! Shalna exclaimed, flailing the hide about and making no sense whatsoever. We're transferring to Quinalt Weyr tommorow. Oh I can't wait! She dashed over and gave Nachth a quick hug around the neck. Isn't it wonderful, Nachth?
Nachth looked down at her rider. I don't know what you're so excited about, she replied simply. Why can't we just stay at Dark Moon Weyr? I like it here, there's lots of nice dragons here. It's our home.
But Quinalt's my home, Shalna pleaded, looking considerably less happy than she had a few moments before. I haven't seen it in over a turn. Plus, P'sol's there. We have to go back.
Can't P'sol come here? Nachth asked, pained that she couldn't share everything with her rider but determined to stay at Dark Moon. I'm sure they'd like it here.
Oh Nachth, it's not just P'sol, Shalna explained. Quinalt's my home. Dark Moon'll only be a hop between away, no matter where we are, but Quinalt's my home, and it's meant to be yours too.
Nachth regarded her rider for a moment and could see in the expression on Shlana's face that Quinalt did indeed mean as much to her as she said it did. If it makes you happy to be at Quinalt, Nacth replied slowly, I think I'll be able to learn to love it too.
Nachth would have given up flying for the smile of relief and gratitude and love on Shalna's face after she said those words. We'll vist Dark Moon often, Shalna promised, scratching Nachth's eye-ridges soothingly.
As soon as Shalna left to make the final arrangements for leaving, Nachth got up and ambled out to her ledge, settling herself so that she could look out over all of Dark Moon Weyr. Yes, she would miss this weyr, the weyr she'd seen every day since Hatching. She loved it dearly, though not nearly as much as she loved Shalna. She'd leave for Shalna.
Someone's dragon had obviously heard that Shalna and Nachth were leaving, for Masseth, Nachth's favorite and closest clutchmate, though she didn't think of him as a clutchmate, arrived to wish her farewell. T'zer is thinking about transferring with you and your rider, he explained. Nachth felt a little bit better about leaving knowing that Masseth might be coming with her.
Masseth stayed with her for a while before leaving. Nachth watched him leave sadly, wondering if that would be the last time she'd see him. Had her rider not been so fixed on P'sol and his bronze, she might have conisdered Masseth as a mate. He would be a hard friend to leave behind.
The next morning, Nachth and Shalna departed. T'zer and Masseth had to stay longer because T'zer had to make arrangements for his belongings to be brought to him, but they would be coming. Shalna climbed up onto Nachth's back and secured herself in the riding straps and checked to make sure that Mavcha was on her shoulder. Let's go, Nachth, Shalna said, and Nachth dutifully lept into the air and winked between, taking one last, loving glance at Dark Moon Weyr before all was black.