Dragonsong - Pern: Harper Hall, Bk 1 Author:Anne McCaffrey Menolly -- Mistress of Music, Ward of Fire Lizards — Every two hundred years or so, shimmering threads fall, raining black ruin on Fern. The great dragons of Fern hurl themselves through the beleaguered skies, flaming tongues of fire to destroy deadly Thread and save the planet. It was not Threadfall that made Menolly unhappy. It was her Ether wh... more »o betrayed her ambition to be a Harper, who thwarted her love of music. Menolly had no choice but to run away. She came upon a group of fire lizards, wild relatives of the fire-breathing dragons. Her music swirled about them; she taught nine to sing, suddenly Menolly was no longer alone.« less
In a strict culture and household which undervalues girls with unusual talent, Menolly runs away and finds friends and the knowledge that she is special, in a good way.