Mawgrim

You're right there. Although speculation already has it they've travelled to another world threatened by Thread and many other theories and rumours will do the rounds. The main issue with travelling on dragon back to the future is you can't be certain what it looks like. Remember the way Lessa found her way to the past was by looking at the tapestry depicting Ruatha Hold and noticing the differences. If someone from the past tried to go to a future Ruatha which no longer looked the same, they could get lost between forever. So it wouldn't be immediately obvious that was where they'd gone. You were lucky finding all that in your house. Mine is almost 200 years old, but the only thing I found in the attic when I moved in was a WW2 babies gas mask. It's still up there as I can't reach it.

That was exactly the feeling I was aiming for. Going back to a place she knew so well and finding it empty, with everyone she knew having vanished, brings it home to her, exactly as it has to those other riders. To those left behind, it's worse than losing someone in Fall. At least then you could be sure they were dead. Those poor folk, like V'nast, can never be certain and will always be wondering what happened. To those who went ahead, caught up in the whirl of preparations to leave, they probably didn't have time to really think about it until after they'd landed up in the future. Although it's never mentioned in 'Dragonflight', I'm inclined to believe Lessa only spoke personally to the weyrfolk at Fort. She only had contact with the Weyrleaders of the other Weyrs and they probably didn't mention Benden would stay behind. The riders would have assumed they could meet up with their friends and lovers in the future again. Not a problem for a couple from, for example, Fort and Telgar, or High Reaches and Igen, but if the one you loved was at Benden, only then would you realise you'd never see them again. D'gar knew from Lessa that Benden was the one remaining Weyr in her time, but maybe, with everything going on, he didn't comprehend that meant all of the weyrfolk there would be left behind in the past.

I wish they had, as well. But after Lessa woke up, things moved fast and transferring a few riders was probably the last thing on anyone's mind.

I hope they somehow found their way to join the others, maybe turning up at the other Weyrs before everyone left, then being taken along as they now knew the truth of what was happening.

I can understand how all of those shocking events have you the impetus to write this story. If only the same common sense could prevail in the real world. Conspiracy theorists are always easy to manipulate. Because they want to believe they are being told lies, it's too simple to get them to follow a cause. Thankfully, here in the UK we don't have shootings very often. However, even with a tough licensing system for people who own guns, safeguards don't always work. It's always horrific to find out people have lost their lives as a result of some disaffected and marginalized individual.

‘K’lettan was going to transfer here, to be with me.’ V’nast started sobbing again as Zalna tried to console him. All she could really offer was a cloth with which to mop up the tears running down his face. ‘Now he’s gone.’ ‘There, there,’ she said, patting his back. ‘I’m sure he’s fine.’ Hard to believe that this huge man, who had fought Thread for nearly fifteen Turns, could be so reduced. He had her sympathy though. Everyone she knew at Fort had vanished too. She would never see D’gar, M

Great chapter showing how different sections of the media twist facts to suit their own agenda. The release of the the security video at least shut up some of the conspiracy theorists. It's sad when people are hounded for their story, when they just need time to get over the terrible things that have happened.

I have a bad feeling about this... The description in this chapter is as lush as the gardens. I like the way you are introducing us to the characters and intrigues of the palace, in the same gradual way Somesh learns about them.

Feroz seems as if he might cause some trouble.

This has hooked me. The setting is unusual and the characters are well described.

There was so much packed in to this chapter, but it flowed easily through the different events. I loved Mary Ellen's notes she left for them to find after she'd gone. I also enjoyed the way this story tied in to the Maple Hollow stories. The school shooting was horrifying, as it should be. You left us in suspense wondering if Evan was still alive, then even when we knew he was, wondering about the extent of his injuries.

You may get your wish fairly soon!

They should definitely go for the DNA test as soon as the festive season is over. They should also be concerned regarding Nathan's dad's next move. He'll definitely report them, as his main aim in life seems to be making Nathan unhappy. If they've already got proof they aren’t related by then, it scuppers his plans. If they find out they are really twins/brothers/half-brothers then their best bet is to move as far away as they can and start over.

Adam and Andy taking on the bigots was brilliant. Eric going clothes shopping (even in a charity shop) is another step forward for him. Hopefully Emily will be able to help Felicity to at least acknowledge her controlling marriage isn't right. It might take her a while to do anything - poor woman is obviously living in fear.

Excellent first chapter. It's so refreshing to find accepting parents. I'm already sad about what is going to happen to Mary Ellen, but look forward to reading about how Evan and his dad cope with the loss and carry on.

As @Clancy59said, the canon stories concentrated more on Benden 400 Turns later. I knew that Zalna transferring to Benden would mean she was one of those left behind and wanted to write this from her perspective. If I’d been one of those riders at Benden, particularly if I’d had friends from the other Weyrs, I’d have been imagining the worst and trying to figure out where they'd gone.

I suppose it was just a time period Anne and Todd didn't find interesting. That's the good thing about fan fiction - you can fill in the blank spaces.

Zalna went back to her weyr to prepare for bed. Thoughts raced around her head. Now, she’d be unable to meet D’gar as she’d promised. She imagined T’ron would be telling all the Fort Weyr riders later, so he’d understand the reasons. When are we going to the beach again? Gemalth asked sleepily. Not for a while. We aren’t allowed to leave the Weyr. There is sickness and we must isolate ourselves. That is a pity. I liked seeing my old friends again. Although I did not like Ramoth.

I agree with all the other posts. DNA tests all round. Nathan's dad has lied so many times can we really believe anything he's saying. Reading this chapter made me look up the relevant laws in England and Wales. Interestingly enough, prior to 2003, incest was only illegal between a related man and woman. The 2003 act extended the scope to any siblings of whatever gender. Prior to finding out they were related, no offense was committed, but if they carry on now that they know, it would be illegal to have penetrative sex. So hand jobs would be OK! What a can of worms.

No, a different one. Lessa remembered the tapestry had been displayed at her family hold before Fax invaded. It was found again and brought to Benden Weyr. It portrayed the last battle against Thread at the end of the Eighth Pass over Ruatha. Lessa figured out that changes had been made to the Hold, as it didn't look the same in modern times and used the picture as a reference to go back in time.

Comments such as yours mean a lot to me. I write because I enjoy it, but having feedback is a bonus. I am so glad my words have helped you through some bad times. Because fan fiction is based around someone else's copyrighted work, an author can’t charge for it. It's written purely to fill in the gaps the original author left blank.

It was a hard scene to write, as well. I had to stop a few times because my glasses were misting up. Thank you.

I imagined one contained a longbow and arrows, so the 'scapegoat' could be taken down if he or she attempted to run. The other probably contains a sword or knife, to finish off the job.

I agree. He might be good at organising the Weyr to fight Thread, but he's never had to deal with something like this before. All he's been told is he must keep what's happening secret or he might imperil the future of Pern.

Thank you. This is a different sort of story than the others and it's my first one written from the point of view of someone who is close to the top of the hierarchy.