Moreta

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Moreta is the Fort Weyr Weyrwoman in Anne McCaffrey's Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern. Moreta Impressed her golden queen, Orlith, at Ista Weyr. While there, she had a liaison with the bronze rider D'say, and she bore to him M'ray, who Impressed brown Quoarth. After moving to Fort Weyr, headed by L'mal and his bronze Clinnith, and Weyrwoman Leri and Holth, she eventually rose to the rank of Weyrwoman after Leri retired when Holth no longer rose to mate and the death of L'mal, leaving the Weyrleadership vacant. Moreta, as the next senior weyrwoman, became Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr, and her weyrmate, bronze rider Sh'gall, rider of Kadith as Weyrleader (Moreta thought that although he was a good wingleader (along with others), he was ineffective in matters other than Threadfall). They differed on many matters, and did not often get along. Moreta had several weyrwomen under her command, including the junior weyrwomen Kamiana and Pelianth, and Haura and Werth.

[edit] Dragonlady of Pern

Moreta, while attending a Ruathan gather, first heard of a disease, later found to be caused by a mysterious Southern Continent feline that was infecting all of Pern, including dragonriders and herdbeasts, although dragons themselves were immune. After much searching for the cure, with the help of MasterHealer Capiam at Healer Hall, Lord Alessan of Ruatha Hold, the healer Rill, Nerilka of Fort Hold, and M'barak and his blue Arith, Moreta discovered that the cure could be made from the serum of already infected patients' blood.

Tragically, while delivering the serum to various holds across Pern, Moreta and her borrowed dragon, Leri's old Holth (Orlith was in Clutch at Fort Weyr and unable to leave), tired as their mission wore on and finally went between so exhausted that they were trapped there forever. Orlith stayed at the Weyr until the eggs hatched, then went between with Leri, to die as their 'other halves' had. Lord Alessan, who had fallen in love with Moreta, and Sh'gall, her weyrmate, were both grief-stricken. Orlith had laid a queen egg, though, and Alessan's Searched sister, Oklina, Impressed the new queen, Hannath, becoming the weyrmate of the High Reaches wingleader, B'lerion, rider of bronze Nabeth.