Sorka Hanrahan is the daughter of Red and Mairi Hanrahan, the wife of Sean Connell and rider of gold Faranth. She along with Sean are the leaders of Fort Weyr during the First Pass.
Biography
Sorka came to Pern with her mother, father, and brother Brian as a young child. Soon before Landing she met Sean Connell on the Yokohama's garden, and though Sean was suspicious of her at first, they eventually became good friends, and later lovers. It was Sorka and Sean who discovered fire lizards and their telekinetic powers and first Impressed some as pets, causing the creatures to be popular across Landing.
When Kitti Ping finished the first ever clutch of dragon eggs, Sorka was one of those chosen to be a candidate. At the hatching, she Impressed golden Faranth, the very last dragon to hatch in that particular clutch. Sorka's father, Red Hanrahan, was one of the veterinary specialists recruited for the expedition, and later became the founder of Ruatha Hold. She, along with Sean Connell, is the first person to Impress a Fire Lizard. She is married to Sean Connell, and is the rider of the queen dragon, Faranth.
She originally studied to become a veterinarian, like her father, and between the two of saved up work credits to have Contract for the stake that they never clamed before Impressing Faranth. She is considered to be the first Weyrwoman of Pern. She would discover that after Impression, she could hear the thoughts of all the dragons, and not just Faranth.
Sorka died eight years after Sean, most likely of old age. Her children and Wind Blossom were with her at her moment of death. Sorka's final request and will was to have her body donated to science to allow Wind Blossom to analyze the roots and possible solution to early-onset of dementia that was becoming evident among the elderly population of Pern. However, Wind Blossom was unable to accede to her wishes, and so the autopsy was never done. Both her queen Faranth and her fire lizard Duke when between together.
Her father's hold would, through out time, become known for producing excellent queen riders. Weyrwoman Lessa of Ruatha Hold in the Ninth Pass is most certainly a distant relative, if not a direct descendant of Sorka.
Personality and traits
Sorka is a very patient person, most of the time in dealing with her friend, and later husband, Sean. She is very good with animals and babies.