Altair gazed at the stars. They brought good things, they brought bad things, but they were always there. No matter where you were, on what world, you could always look up to the same sky...
Even on a strange planet, with 'dragons' and humans, working as partners so closely bonded they'd die together. Even on this strange planet called Pern, The stars were the same. As they had always been, and always would be...

It had started out normally. He and his friends had been outside, near the barryd, the giant tree-city they lived in. Two humans, Lili and Daman, and Altair, a Dimar. Lili was currently studying Telkai, genetic engineering. She didn't actually use it often, but she did turn her eyes violet, and has a silver streak in her hair.
Daman, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He had payed large amounts of nila, which was the money on Dimar, to get wings and a tail. It was fairly common for humans to buy their own wings, they lived high up, with no stairs, So flying was often the only way to get around. Daman also had a tail. Altair didn't really know why he wanted one.
"Why not?" Daman shrugged.
"Why do you want it. There's no real point." Altair answered. He could have said it telepathically, as Daman was a psi, and could hear him. But Altair felt it would be rude to Lili.
Lili laughed. "He just likes it cause it makes him look more like a demon."
"What's a demon?" Altair asked, confused.
"They were a mythical being on Earth. They usually had Dimar-like wings, forked tails, and horns." Lili turned to Daman. "Two out of three, Daman. Now you just need the horns."
"Naw, that would be pointless. I'm already a psi." Daman said.
Dimar's horns were what let them speak to each other telepathically. After the humans had settled on Dimar, they had learned to speak English, since not all of the humans cold hear them telepathically.
"Don't see why that would stop you-Hey! What's that?" Altair glimpsed two distant figures that had suddenly appeared from no where. They looked like Dimar, but all Altair could see were their outlines in the darkening sky. They were apparently fighting.
"Who are they?" Lili asked. "I don't think they're from Telka. And why are they fighting?"
Altair stared at them. "I don't know. Come on, let's go see." He lowered a foreleg so Lili could climb on his back. "You coming, Daman?"
"Yeah, maybe I'll actually get to use these things." They set off.

Altair wasn't quite sure what happened after that. Once they were in the air, and close enough to get a good look at the strangers, they realised they weren't even Dimar. While Dimar had scales and fur, these dragons had smooth hide, and red faceted eyes. One of the 'dragons' dropped suddenly, all but crashing into Altair, who had gone unnoticed. Suddenly, he was somewhere black, and very, very cold. He blacked out.

Altair woke up to the sound of voices behind him.
"An offworlder? He must be, he's certainly no dragon, that's for sure. But how did he get here?" He recognized the voice as a human male's. He lifted his head, and saw a man in front of him. However, he didn't pay much attention to the human, as he saw another one of the strange dragons behind him.
This one was brown, with blue-green faceted eyes. Why don't you ask him, R'es? Perhaps these 'dragons' were also a telepathic species, although they didn't seem to have any visible horns.
The man, presumably R'es, turned, startled to see him awake. "You're awake? Kraiteth, could you ask him how he got here, please?"
Altair looked confused. "Why would he have to tell you? I can talk perfectly fine."
R'es must have jumped a foot off the ground when he heard Altair speak. His jaw dropped. "You can talk? How? Where'd you come from?"
Generally, it is considered good manners to ask one their name, first, R'es. The dragon, Kraiteth said drily.
"Oh, right. Forgive me, I am R'es, rider of Brown Kraiteth and head searchrider of Sidra Weyr. May ask your name, stranger?"
"I am Altair. Could you tell me where I am?"
"Certainly, you are in Sidra Weyr, on Pern."
Altair had no idea what the man was talking about. He told him what had happened, hoping he might be able to tell him something.
Dragons fighting? Shameful. When we find out who they were...
"Easy, Kraiteth. We'll take care of them. Now, as to our traveler, I'm afraid we didn't find either of your friends. Likely, they are somewhere on Pern. In the mean time, why don't you stay here, Plobynth's clutch will hatch soon, why don't you stay to see it?"
As soon as R'es explained dragon hatchings, Altair eagerly agreed to attend.