I have a question about inbetween. If a dragon and rider are inbetween for too long won’t they simply suffocate because there is no oxygen? And then die lost in the span of space and time? So when a rider dies the dragon suicides and goes inbetween to die? Or are the dragons simply lost since they are genetically modified would they need oxygen? I’ve been reading but that concept confuses me beyond belief.

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I was just talking about this with a friend earlier. The way I perceive it working is that, yes, a dragon would die if they stayed long enough between – it’s why they jump there when their Rider dies and why it’s such a great risk to Lessa when she originall jumps back in Dragonflight, because she can’t breathe. (Tell me how I’m s’posed to breathe with no aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir.)

I’ve been looking through The Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern to see if there’s a proper answer for this question, but the most they talk about between is in the Weyrling section:

When all the weyrlings of a Hatching are flying well in formation, the Weyrlingmaster starters training the weyrlings to go between. This training starts with drilling of terrain recognition, as the Weyrlingmaster instructs the dragonriders on how best to visualize their destination. When he is satisfied with the progress of a particular dragonpair, the Weyrlingmaster flies with the pair and takes them between – the rider playing the role of passenger as his dragon takes visual reference from the Weyrlingmaster. The fist jump between is always startling; the Weyrlingmaster will jump between with a pair several times before letting them visualize the destination and make the jump unaided.

Again, even with the greatest precautions, a few new weyrling pairs go between  and never reappear. During the more hurried training that has to be conducted during a Threadfall, it is not uncommon at this point to lose one or more weyrling pairs per Hatching. (pg. 56)

Otherwise, they just mention losing Riders between with no explanation. So I don’t know the actual specifics, but I think my theory holds.