• Deep in the forest on the southern continent
    Was the weyr that was known as Great Bay.
    On the sands of the weyr lay the 20 brand new eggs
    And among them one solitary gold.

    Imalene and Ikynath, T’ron and Galanth
    Together they ruled ov’r the weyr.
    Few others knew of their life to the south
    Save the Lord Holder Brennan of Tillek.

    To the skies they did take to search out candidates
    For the eggs hardening on the sand.
    Far and wide they did search and to Tillek they flew
    And were lucky to find quite a few.

    Men and women, boys and girls, most still children in their years
    They came to the weyr one and all.
    For a chance to impress and begin life anew
    Bound for life to their weyrmate and weyr.

    Came the call of the bronze that the time had arrived
    When the fledglings would break from their shells.
    Ran the hopeful young folk to the floor of the cave
    Robed in white and brimming with hope.

    To the sands came T’ron, Imalene in his arms
    And he laid her beside the old queen.
    Soon enough would the torch of the leadership pass
    To her daughter to new golden queen.

    Before long shells did break and the dragons came forth
    Searching out their life-mate on the sands.
    Blues and greens, browns and bronze and the one golden queen
    Found their riders, their weyrmates, their own.

    But the day was not over and joy was replaced
    With the keening of heartbroken dragons.
    For Ikynath arose and taking her rider
    Left weyr and Pern forever.