Menolly is the gifted daughter of Yanus, Sea Holder of Half Circle Hold. her music is not tolerated in the hold because she is a girl and Yanus makes Menolly's life miserable. She runs away, lives in Holdless, Impresses nine firelizards, the tiny cousins of the dragons, is almost caught by Thread, but is saved by a dragonrider and taken to Benden Weyr.