[G] [C] 732.02.15 | Shimmering Surprises [Gold Flight]

This Flight was completely open to all male dragons in the Weyr. Krypth rose in month 9, a month before the 'sexy times' talk all Weyrlings are scheduled to have.

---

The sun was still faint in the distance when Jada rose, trained by more than 8 months of rising with the crack of dawn. The Harper stretched in her blankets, luxurious and lazy, feeling her shortened black hair stroke over bared upper arms and tangle amidst scratchy sheets. For some reason it irritated her more than usual, but she didn't do any more than make a low grunt. Too lazy. Her midsection ached and she felt like she had a headache already forming between her eyes, yet she had just woken up. It was hot, sticky Summer weather. Her body felt jittery and nervous, torn between restlessness and the urge to just be lazy. And she was hungry, but she couldn't quite tell if that was her burning need or Krypth's. The gold had just eaten yesterday afternoon, but she was still young... she probably needed another good feeding this evening. The dragonets weren't anticipated to be completely down to a meal every other day for fourteen more.

She stretched her arms up, watching the gray light start to play into the room. Krypth hummed in her sleep, a sharp sound, and rolled over. "Lazybones." she called softly. She could feel her bonded come awake, the mind pull itself from the lazy murk of sleep to pay heed to Jada's words. "We'll have class this morning. Would you like to fly to the lake before we join them?" Surely that would wake the dragon from the mists, if nothing else. Krypth had thus far reveled in their new-found freedom, and while more experienced riders had joined them any time they traveled too far from the Weyr proper, highly paranoid that they would do something silly, she and Krypth had finally been told it was alright to go so far as the lakeside on their own as long as they were careful.

Careful. Aye, that was certain. Jada wasn't going to risk her beloved. And apparently, she wasn't going to get a bath either. No. the dragonet's crisp voice was petulant, bitter. I don't want to go to the lake. I want to sleep. Go fly yourself. Irritation simmered under the mental communication and Jada felt the root cause of her malcontent at last. It was unfamiliar; Krypth was almost never in a poor temper unless Jada had said something stupid, or unless Charath was being a wicked creature again. And even Charath had to work to foul the dragonet's patience- if Veeth was near it took quite a bit to put Krypth in a mood. The dragonet rolled into a tighter ball, then unfurled as quickly as a lit flame, paws and wings flaring out and filling the increasingly-cramped room, long and sinuous body unfurling to her full length- quite over 16 feet long now! She was very close to the same size as Green Grith, just a hair larger than Green Larrikith.

"Alright." It was easier to just agree with a creature that much larger than yourself, especially when eyes that were normally a placid blue or green were tinged with a reddish orange. Jada rose to her feet and crossed to her partner, reaching out and stroking her hand over Krypth's shimmering hide. "Shall we go oil you down? And then I'll just bathe here at the Weyr. Or you can sleep a little longer if you like and I can oil you later." It was an offer she hoped would please her bonded. Alas, Krypth's nose slammed into Jada's hip roughly, unthinkingly, almost knocking the tall woman off her feel with furious determination.

I don't want to sleep. I don't want to be oiled. I want to fly.

"Do you want company?" For someone who was so insistent that she didn't want to go anywhere, Krypth certainly wanted to go somewhere, Jada reflected dryly. She would likely have a bruise on her hip well-formed by lunchtime.

Krypth's tail thrashed, knocking an instrument against the wall. I want to play in the mud. It is hot, and the sun is still down. This is miserable! She wanted to stretch her wings, and her legs, and roll in the slick, slimy mud until she was relaxed.

"Krypth!" Jada's voice came out just as shrewish as her dragon's, and the two glared at each other. "Outside. Now!"

No!

"Yes." She shoved at the gold dragon, barely budging the surprised creature. "I will not have you wrecking our room just because of your temper." She felt the dragon resist her command, and in a temper, Jada pushed at her again, commanding. "Get out!" She felt the gold cave, and watched the beast slink out of their room like a petulant tunnel-snake, not even glancing behind her. The Harper lifted the instrument, glaring down at it. What had gotten into the dragon? And why was she so angry? Krypth was allowed to have a bad day. But not to wreck their quarters.

The morning passed slowly, with Krypth sulking as she prowled around the edges of the class. Her aggression was carefully reigned in, but no one had been spared the lash of her tongue. She wallowed in the mud as it grew hot, letting the brown cake on her wings and hide. She demanded her rider's attention when she pleased, watching the Harper run back and forth, trying to pay attention to both the lecture and to Krypth herself. It was sweltering, but thank Faranth it was not raining as well- the extra water in the air would make it unbearable. As if it were not already!

At midday they broke for midday meal and to rest. The fruit juices were cold, and Jada tore into a piece of cold fruit greedily, letting the chill liquid drip down her chin, feeling a few seeds splatter onto her shirt. Her stomach growled, and she could feel Krypth's own hunger rising. Irritably, Krypth prowled the trees. "Soon, Krypth." she assured the golden creature, watching the sun dance over the bright gold that peeked through the faintly buttery hide. Faceted eyes were red as human blood, and the large head swung from side to side in fervent denial.

No. Now!

"It isn't time to eat yet, remember? After classes!"

I said now! The gold announced it to everyone, and lifted her head, shrieking her outrage at her Bonded attempting to deny her- her, Krypth, the future Queen! None would deny her! She wanted, and she would have what she pleased! She reared back on her haunches, shaking the caking mud off her wings in frustration. Her hide shone through, blazing like a pale yellow sun, and Jada could feel some of the people around her stiffen.

Half the Weyr could see her, maybe more; Krypth was in the middle of the Gathering square, arching her neck and crying aloud for all to hear. She wanted attention. She wanted to be acknowledged. Jada was surrounded by humans, and both females could feel the eyes on them. Krypth reveled in the attention. This- this was her rightful place. Jada...

A hand grabbed the human's arm, and the woman stared up into G'rem's deep brown eyes. She breathed his name, confused at why she was suddenly so... jittery. Again, she could feel her body shake, and she saw his lips move. "Control her." She saw the lips move, understood the words, but she still didn't comprehend the magnitude of what was happening. She didn't understand the sudden desire to stretch herself, to reach for the sky, and the sudden hunger for...

"Control..." She breathed the word softly, making G'rem strain to hear her. Control Krypth? No one could do that, least of all Jada.It would take a hurricane to contain the typhoon.

"Jada!" Another voice, another hand on her arm, and from the corner of her eye she thought she saw Nirinath launch her long body into the air, vanishing. Mouths were moving, bodies were pressing all 'round her, voices in her ear, and then she could imagine something in her mouth, metallic and sweet. Her head jerked as she was jerked around to face the Weyrlingmaster again, forced to meet his eyes. "Only blood!" he insisted, and in his eyes she saw something that made her jerk away from him, stumbling for something familiar. Her eyes turned to her dragon, flinging her body towards the herd of wherries they had, and Jada understood. Krypth couldn't eat.

It wasn't time.

Krypth shrieked again, a challenge to everyone and everything in hearing and pounced on the first panicked wherry, ripping the terrified creature open with extreme prejudice. Blood only? Blood? But Krypth was so hungry, and as the sweetness poured over Krypth's tongue, the taste spread through Jada's mouth, making her moan. So good. Jada licked her lips, and Krypth discarded the first of the corpses obediently when Jada assured her that there was more. Another. Their bodies shivered, and Jada heard herself make a small noise, vocalizing a secondary need. The dragon was focused on her prey, for now, but Jada's amber eyes slid to the people surrounding her, some of which looked alarmed and some of which...

She'd never been this close to Krypth, yet even now, in their rage and their need, the two females tangled together, hearts and minds in tandem.

Flesh. It filled her mouth, tantalizing, and Jada was distracted from a flush of fear in order to struggle with the blood-eyed beast. No! Bleed another. Obey! Blood only! It had to be blood. Why? She didn't know. She didn't understand what was happening.

Queens don't obey! Flesh filled their mouth, and Krypth tore the second wherry apart, muzzle delving into sweet meat. Only when she was sated on the corpse did she rise to her haunches, crying a challenge. Jada glanced behind her, at the crowd of Weyrfolk, eyes filled with Krypth's passion and a ghost of fear.

Shrieking for her males to come to her, Krypth rose into the air.

Gugaroth wasn't stupid.

Self-conscious and lacking confidence, certainly.

But Golds. Gugaroth knew Golds. He was born knowing Golds. It was in his blood, his flesh and bones, his very soul. As a Bronze it was his birthright to capture and claim a Gold, to father future generations of dragons. He had chased three times in his life, once as a young and naive Bronze and twice at Katila. Each time he had failed, due to both his lack of experience and what M'bal assured him was favouritism.

This was going to be different.

Before a female rose, she would become what was known as 'proddy'. In Golds, this was especially obvious. Gugaroth knew the signs. When Krypth had started to display them he had initially thought he was imagining things. It took M'bal's gentle reassurances and his own observation of the Weyrling pair to confirm, that yes they were acting what was conventionally known as proddy. M'bal however, brushed it away as a young hormonal woman trying to deal with a ferocious young Gold who was much too demanding and pushy for her own good. No Gold rose before she turned a year old. He forgot about it. Gugaroth did not.

So he watched Krypth, mostly from afar. When the little queen was close to him he greeted her jovially, chatted if she had the time. It was only a scant few days, much shorter than a Gold's traditional proddy period. But that meant he was ready. He didn't doubt that there were other Bronzes that were doing just as he was, they all shared the burning drive to capture a Gold, much more so than their smaller Brown and Blue brothers. Oh they all had it, but wasn't it obvious? Bronzes were destined to capture Golds, after all, they were the only ones to share the beautiful metallic sheen the queens did.

During any other Gold's proddy time, Gugaroth would have adjusted what he ate, to make sure he wouldn't be heavy in the stomach when she rose. This time, even if he had wanted to he wouldn't have had time to do so. With Krypth being so small, just over half the size of Gugaroth who was the smallest full-grown Bronze in the Weyr, there was no way she would display the stamina and speed of a fully grown Gold like Nirinath. Gugaroth could have eaten minutes before Krypth rose and probably still managed to chase and catch her. As it was, he had eaten the day before and was lounging about beside the feeding pens, chatting to a few other Bronzes that had gathered there.

He had seen Krypth angrily leave to wallow in the mud earlier that day, something he curled his lip up at. How could she stand to purposefully roll in such filth? Hopefully it would cake up thick enough that it would crack and fall off in the summer heat, he didn't want to chase a filthy beast. The other Bronzes rumbled both in agreement and disagreement, the mud could be so cooling they crooned. Gugaroth tossed his head and snorted, so could water! And water kept you clean at the same time.

The sun was high in the sky now and Gugaroth could see people flocking to the dining hall for the midday meal and no doubt as much cool liquid they could get their hands on. He knew via M'bal's constant complaints that it was hard to keep the drinks cool in the heavy Katilian heat. Soon everyone would pause for a rest, some would sleep, others would do anything to stay cool. That morning he had offered to take M'bal for a flight around the Weyr, a nice quick one that would cool his body off. His rider had accepted gladly, it would be a nice break from the work of the day. The Bronze watched as M'bal approached, but his gaze wasn't quite right, as if he was looking through M'bal.

I said now!

Krypth's words were filled with outrage and Gugaroth stood, bellowing his agreement. His tail thrashed behind him as he uttered challenging hisses to the Bronzes he had lain beside so contentedly moments ago. Wings flaring he began to pace along the fences that penned the wherries, his eyes swirling the most vibrant shade of red. He didn't need to see Krypth to know that she shone like the sun, like she was on fire. But he still watched, eyes glued to the glowing beacon that stood so far away from him. He snarled, she was taking too long!

Then she was there, soaring brilliantly over the wherries. He roared with excitement and glee as he saw the green ichor marring her face. It was probably the only time he was happy to see such a mess. When she turned to the next wherry and ripped it apart Gugaroth let out an agonised screech. Flesh! M'bal's desperation and fury ripped through the Bronze, or perhaps it was his own disguised in the heat of the moment. She couldn't take flesh! But she was, and there was nothing they could do about it, it was only up to Jada. The second the corpse was discarded Gugaroth knew, this was it! As she shrieked he bellowed, his bunched up haunches shooting him into the air after her.

M'bal, once recovered from the confusion had turned, all thoughts of a joy-ride abandoned as Jada and the glowing queen came into sight. He ran to them, not even flinching when Krypth took off and flew low across the growing crowd. He had to reach Krypth, no, Jada! He wasn't being given a choice and he knew that, Gugaroth was already overpowering his mind and all he could see was gold. But this was how it was meant to be. When he saw Krypth taking flesh into her mouth he screamed, a mangled sound. He had meant to say something useful, to force Jada into controlling her dragon, but Gugaroth's presence was too much, he couldn't even think of words anymore, there was only primal lust and the object of it.

Krypth.

Aveleth was curled up serenely, his pretty blue head resting lightly upon the soft grey-blue shade of his feet, eyes half closed and swirling slowly with sleepiness. The young dragon was very obviously enjoying a moment of time in which he was not required to be on constant alert, his wings spread just enough to catch the very subtle breeze that whispered across the Gather Square, while the sun above seared down on him and made his hide quiver with heated delight. Summer was by far his favourite season, he decided, wriggling and spreading out some more as he brushed lightly against Z'ia's mind once more, checking to make sure the troublesome human was still preoccupied with the young woman.

Aveleth had no idea who the poor girl was, but she was dragonless and young and had most likely been at the bottom of a betting game between his own rider and that of Zeianth. As a rule, Aveleth greatly disproved of the disgraceful games that were played between the riders, the bickering and crude gestures that resulted when they 'won' or 'lost'. He didn't approve of it at all, and yet, Aveleth sighed softly as he tilted his head to look towards the general direction of his human and his latest exploit; it kept him so tame when he won. It was a time bracket in which Aveleth could relax, breathe, and feel the tension drain out of his shoulders and wing joints. It was in those moments that he felt he was actually allowed to be himself, without worrying about how much trouble Z'ia was going to cause, when he would next do something reckless... and then his knee high human would walk out of the room, strutting like a roster in a hen house, so smug and self assured. And Aveleth would feel the weight of the world crash down around him again.

The young dragon's thoughts were interrupted when the Krypth's screech reached him, causing the blue to jump visibly as he started, head whipping in the appropriate direction. Huge eyes sought out the mud caked form of the young queen, and Aveleth watched in fascination. Of course, Krypth threw tantrums all the time, and he had yet to decide if it were her nature, or the nature of being gold. Nirinath, of course, was extremely dignified and Aveleth was unsure whether the Weyrling was an opposite extreme, or the norm. What he did know, however, was that the growing dragonet was about to shoot into the sky like a star, and send the whole Weyr aflutter.

Unfortunately for Aveleth, that particular thought captured the distracted attention of Z'ia as he sprawled contently on the sheets of his lover's bed. Little Krypth was about to fly? He wasn't entirely sure he was willing to believe that, but Aveleth was not one to lie. The dragon simply didn't have it in him, and so, shoving his feet back through the legs of his pants and leaving the room without so much as a wave to the young woman still in the bed, Z'ia slinked out to where his dragon was watching the previews with a combination of amusement and anxiety. He didn't need to call his dragon's surety to question as he watched the stunning beacon of golden glory throw herself on the wherry pens, shredded the first wherry with such insistence that Z'ia's eyes widened more, while Aveleth sat up primly, folding his wings back and tilting his head as the bronzes began to corral the area.

Both human and dragon hissed between their teeth as Krypth's teeth sunk into the next wherry, removing chunks of flesh and seeming to swallow them whole. Aveleth moaned, dispirited by the implications of such a young gold and a gorging on her first flight, picking up all the background thoughts he didn't himself claim awareness of from Z'ia. Unfortunately, Z'ia had quickly come to the conclusion that if the young queen was going to ruin her own clutch size by gorging, than there would be absolutely no harm in Aveleth claiming the victory of her maiden flight!

As those thoughts rippled through the back of Aveleth's mind, the young dragon watched as Krypth screamed at them all once more, calling for them to prove themselves to her, and he felt Z'ia's thrill course through him, egging him on, preening, pleading - begging! Still, Aveleth sat, shocked and confused, as his gaze followed the first strong downbeat of Krypth's wide wings. Blue do not Fly Gold, Z'ia. Aveleth's timid and snowflake voice was oddly assured as he turned his gaze from the soaring gold, and the males that were suddenly flinging themselves into the air. Bronze, brown... "Not mature ones," Z'ia wheedled, turning great begging eyes on his dragon and peering up at the self-conscious beast with his heart in his eyes. Aveleth considered his human for a moment, before sighing wistfully and slowly rising.

You will, once more, get us into trouble. Another timidly stated fact, as the young dragon threw his wings wide and then leaped up into the air, wing-beats strong and steady he pushed himself through the air, cutting up the distance between himself and the pack without too much difficulty. His opal hide was the first of its shade to join the chase, but as he glanced around quickly, Aveleth was both pleased and disheartened to see his blue brothers follow his lead - or perhaps their riders figured as did his; a one off, a magnificent one off chance to fly the young queen! Z'ia's insatiable lust flickered through to him, sparking his own, despite the young dragon's initial disinterest (blue doesn't fly gold!) and he let the shaded emotion fill him, colouring his eyes, narrowed in on the awkward frame of Krypth.

He issued no challenge, no response, no reply; the shy dragon had not the confidence to bring such attention upon himself; instead, he slipped silently through the crowd, doing his best to avoid the wings of his fellows, and creep closer to the prize. Lust filled him, made him, contained him, and he felt his bonded's proud encouragement as he paced around the young human, filled with anticipation.

Pistoth had been quieter than usual for most of the day, and when Echlerov had inquired why, all the blue would respond was that he was waiting.

It was unusual, and perhaps that should have been the first sign that things were getting weird, but Echlerov wasn't going to complain. A break from the enthusiastic hatchling was fine with him. Still, he did have to wonder, but it wasn't until after lunch, when the young gold began to shriek in the middle of the gathering square, that he decided that it must be contagious. Krypth was acting weird as well.

I said now!

The dragon was shrieking, and causing a scene, but when she began to hunt, ripping the wherries apart, it seemed to have been what Pistoth was waiting for. He was fully aware of the gold, his clutchmate, and he began to slink closer, his tail twitching like a cat, ready to fly the moment she did.

"What are you doing?"

I am going to chase Krypth. She is rising! His voice was impatient, as if he thought his beloved's question to be silly, that he thought that what was happening was rather obvious. And maybe it should have been, if Krypth had risen when she should have.

But, with her rising early, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to think, or do. It had been drummed into their heads that they weren't supposed to even think about sex until they had been told that it was allowed, but if Krypth was rising? Shards and shells. "You can't. It's..."

Before he could finish that, Pistoth had interrupted him.Why not? I am small and fast. I can fly just as well as the others.

"That's not what I meant."

She calls! He took off into the air, small but full of confidence. Have faith. Everything will go well.

Bronzes were destined to capture Golds

Blue do not fly Gold

S'kef agreed with both sentiments. He emerged from his hut, head spinning lightly as he roused himself from his after-lunch nap. The former Weyrsecond was in a bit of a rut, loose and purposeless since the loss of his job. The brownrider, denied his traditional coping mechanism, returned to his old friend: the bottle. He drank heavily, though not in violent streaks in the evenings. Instead, S'kef found himself gripping a bottle more often than not, never enough to get wildly intoxicated but always enough to stay just a little bit hazy.

It kept him calm, for the most part. It warmed and calmed him and kept his mind away from it's troubles. But it also made him...just a little bit unpredictable.

"What is she shrieking about?" the brownrider asked. He wasn't intoxicated anymore, but he remained just a little bit lightheaded and sluggish, a side effect of a bottle of red wine and a nap.

She is about to rise

S'kef raised a brow. "This early? She's young." He immeidatly thought of Miss Jada. That was an unfortunate situation for her to be in, but it was ultimately a good thing for the Weyr. More clutches. She should (and hopefully would) be pleased, though it couldn't be a pleasant situation to arrive in. The surly brownrider rubbed his eyes.

"Who is chasing?"

Many. Tyrrisath's mind wandered past several of the suitors who watched Krypth's gorging with their greedy eyes. As S'kef watched, he noticed an unusual and yet familiar stirring in Tyrrisath's mind.

S'kef's eyes widened. "....Tyr?" he asked, calling the dragon by a rare endearment. S'kef's hazy mind snapped to attention as he walked over to the brown. Tyrrisath snorted once and rose, lifting his hefty body from his wallow and stretching his wings.

You are without purpose

S'kef narrowed his eyes. Don't you dare. She belongs to a bronze. A strong bronze needs to fly her, Tyrrisath...we have no right!

No. You are wrong.

S'kef's jaw slacked. "How dare you!" he said. His heart skipped a beat. Never in their decades together had Tyrrisath denied an order. Never. Never! The sturdy brown was ever obedient, ever compliant...always so understanding and true. He was the one thing in the world that S'kef could always trust, always rely on, even moreso than himself! How could Tyrrisath deny him now, over so fundamental a thing?

Tyrrisath would not only deny his rider, but the very laws of nature?!

You are wrong the brown said, turning a red eye on his shocked rider. S'kef felt tears spring up into his eyes. The harsh brownrider was instantly ashamed, but there was nothing he could do. How could this happen? His J'ver had failed him, he'd lost his job and his purpose...and now his only standby was throwing his authority back in his face?

Had he no control over anything in his life anymore?

The brownrider balled his fists and glared accusingly at his dragon. "Tyrrisath, DOWN!" he bellowed furiously, his throat straining with the force of his cry. He felt his hands shaking as Tyrrisath extended his wings. S'kef took a step back, alarmed by the dragon's forwardness. Already S'kef could feel the dragon's lust stirring like a wildfire. Tyrrisath, so calm and quiet, would quickly blaze into a raging wildfire. The dragon's tranquil and serious mind sharpened and hardened all at once, thinking only of Krypth.

We deserve more. We deserve everything Tyrrisath explained as he stretched his mighty form. He could feel Krypth's hunger and energy coursing through the very air. His own blood rushed, his eyes crackling red like firecrackers.

You have worked hard these many turns. You do not deserve to be reduced to this. The dragon turned his nose skyward. This time, I will be the one to claim our glory

With that, the brown took a deep breath into his massive chest and let out a terrible roar. He launched himself skyward.

S'kef's knees buckled. How could this happen? Tyrrisath had denied his order....? Tild him he was wrong...?

In spite of it all, S'kef knew that the brown was right. Something had to be done. Tyrrisath was doing this not to settle his own lust alone, but for them. S'kef scowled, his dark side surging forward with a rush of determination.

I'm with you.

He ran his hands thorugh his hair and took in a deep breath. This was wrong. Golds belonged to bronzes...but if those filthy little blues were going to take a shot, he and Tyrrisath could, too. S'kef had always trusted Tyrrisath. Today, he would trust his dragon to lead them down the right path, a path that stood against everything S'kef believed in. Were they really as good as a bronzepair?

He had to believe they were, otherwise they stood no chance.

When he turned around and started to walk towards where his heart knew Jada would be, he was better than any bronzerider on Pern.

We'll treat you right, Miss Jada. He smirked.

The days since D’ren’s announcement about wings being reinstated had been both eventful yet routine. R’nd had taken to hiding from B’jin for a short time though it was clear the greenrider had been doing the same thing. Whether that time apart made either of them more enlightened remained a mystery yet they had stopped that dance of avoidance and currently shared midday meal together in the Dining Hall. Summer was once again in full swing with the heat becoming nearly unbearable when the sun was high so downtime was encouraged during the afternoon. He had yet to decide what would follow eating but a leisurely flight possibly ending at the lake didn’t sound too bad.

Naturally, Ayyonth had to go and contradict him. R’nd was about to take a bite of food, fork poised and ready to pop into his mouth when the dragon’s low voice filled his mind and his lust brushed against him soft enough to make the hair on his arms stand up and body tense up completely. What is it, Ayyonth? This seemed different than the usual interest in a green. His dragon seemed edgier, needier, and more determined. Krypth is about to take her maiden flight. I’m going to give chase. If R’nd wasn’t so stunned at the news of the young gold about to rise, he would have laughed at the idea of them trying to win her flight. Crazy talk. Blues don’t win gold flights, Ayyonth. It sucks but that’s the way it goes.

Ayyonth was still in his mood to go against him and shot down the defeat before the race even began, causing grey eyes to widen in surprise at the force. She is young, tiny still, and gorging as we bicker. I have a chance, R’nd. Do not deny me. Do you truly doubt my abilities? Ayyonth’s pain hit hard and R’nd grimaced at how he could have made his dragon feel that way. He sent his reassurance and love to Ayyonth and shook his head the slightest bit. You’re the best flyer, Ayyonth, and I know you’ll win easily. That’s the problem. Jada… Jada was never that interested. R’nd’s ego was mighty, as was proven by believing his blue would win a gold flight, but it could also be easily shaken with the right word or action. He was usually the one doing the rejections as far back as he could remember but the little Harper girl had managed to resist his advances and in the end R’nd gave up. He still talked with her casually and was the one to help her to the Healing Hall and stayed with her, among a few others, during the surgery. But seeing her look of horror or disgust at waking up beside him after the thrill of the flight was over wasn’t something R’nd particularly cared for that day.

You charmed her all the same and you know it. She will not act negatively toward you… outside what I imagine would happen with anyone since it is their first flight. As usual, Ayyonth had a point. He hated when the blue teased him but he hated it more when Ayyonth saw things logically. A smile tugged the corners of his mouth briefly before R’nd gave in. Could he really do anything else? Ayyonth’s lust was beginning to flood their bond and he didn’t think he was strong enough to ground such a wilful beast when a gold called to him. Go then. Show everyone how amazing you are at flying, Ayyonth!

With Ayyonth adding his beautiful hide to the pack of followers, R’nd slowly looked up from his fork he had been staring at during the entire conversation to stare with unfocused, lust-hazed eyes at B’jin, “Krypth flies. Ayyonth…” The words were whispered and the fork fell forgotten from his grasp more out of shock than the flightlust pulling him in hard.

D’hys had spent the early morning scrubbing and oiling his dragon, a task that could wear a man out and leave him wondering how some of the bronzeriders handled their dragons. He suspected they hired minions to assist or do it all for him. It had been an idea that crossed D’hys’ mind more than once, knowing firsthand that weyrbrats would love to help out with tending dragons in any way. Then again, perhaps he was just odd, having always enjoyed being physical and saw scrubbing Zeianth as another form of exercise to keep his body fit and trim. It was why he had gone for a jog along the beach of the lake after that task was finished while his big blue lazed in the rising sun.

When the day finally started to enter the phase where even he wasn’t crazy enough to push himself in such heat, the pair had packed up and returned to the weyr. D’hys went for the bathhouse to soak in one of the deeper baths while Zeianth moved to a shaded area to relax. The plan for the remainder of the day was to nap, or at least stay indoors and keep cool, before going out in the evening to added his share of the hunting, his newly assigned chore.

The bath was where D’hys still remained when all the commotion outside took place, drawing Zeianth’s attention and moving the quiet dragon from shade to a roof to see what was going on. He felt the uneasy tension from his brothers before spotting the muddy gold dragon heading to the herd. He watched with fascination as she bloodied and gorged on the animals and saw humans beginning to panic before Nirinath took off to leave the weyr. He knew what was about to happen and had a feeling he knew how D’hys would react to the news as well. Zeianth couldn’t deny that he was trembling a little at the idea before even giving voice to it. It was a true challenge and one he could fully support!

The little gold Krypth is about to rise. Should I give chase? Asking was a common courtesy and while neither male stood on ceremony and were overly polite, Zeianth still wanted to give D’hys a chance to voice his opinion. Of course it came just as he expected it would, Yes! As soon as she takes flight, get on her tail. Can you imagine the reaction when a blue wins her maiden flight? Zeianth chuckled with his human who was excited and dashing from the bath, clothes forgotten, with only a towel being hastily flung around his waist.

D’hys felt the moment Krypth rose and Zeianth pounced to follow. The lust they both gave off hit him unexpectedly and he staggered several steps just as he stepped out of the bathhouse. He shielded his eyes and glanced up and around to take in the sight of the dragons chasing after the muddy but still gleaming golden hide. He spotted Zeianth immediately as he was one of the first few blues and was pleased when he saw Aveleth as well. It wouldn’t be a proper challenge, or win, if Z’ia didn’t partake as well!

The glory that would come from winning this flight would be amazing! He would have bragging rights for turns to come about being the blue that banged the young queen. With a wicked grin in place, D’hys started the trek to find the pretty little goldrider.

Valerian rolled from his side onto his back and stretched his arms above his head before letting them drop, outstretched, to his sides. He was lying atop a blanket and pillow under one of the trees near the barracks. It was too hot to be productive, which he had softly laughed to himself about earlier on. Winter was his least favourite season, hating the cold and snow and his time in the most northern areas of the Northern continent, yet there he was now complaining that it was too hot. Of course it could have been attributed to something else as well. He was six days away from ‘celebrating’ his kidnapping at the hands of blue Ilveriath and his rider, I’shan? He could never remember his name. One turn and six days ago he had been lying under another tree, napping, with his guitar lying beside him. It was almost surreal as Valerian turned his head and green eyes rested their gaze on the same guitar lying on the ground beside a bowl of redfruit he was lazily snacking on.

How the turn had changed him and everything he knew.

Now, instead of being swept away by the first dragon he ever laid his eyes on, Valerian was bonded to his own dragon, one he was only just beginning to ride, though on the ground only. He didn’t really mind Katila or most of what had happened since I’shan waltzed into his life since it was something new and touched upon one of his biggest childhood dreams of seeing dragons. But Valerian knew that the moment he could ride on Veeth and they were able to take to the sky and fly on their own without B’jin holding onto him and Larrikith trying to kill him with her spirals, that it would all be worth it. Still, it remained an odd time and Valerian continued reflecting on his new life and whether he should find Ilveriath to thank him or not on the actual anniversary when Veeth started to twitch from the shade of his tree.

“What’s wrong?” Valerian sat up and watched his dragon with concern. Maybe it was too hot for the little blue that wasn’t quite so little anymore. Something doesn’t feel right. Veeth’s sweet lilting voice was tinged with concern as he tried to figure out what was going on. Valerian waited in silence, knowing that pressing someone while they were thinking or working didn’t get results any quicker than silence. Krypth isn’t happy and she… his voice trailed off and Veeth sat up, rigid, with his head tilted, clearly listening to something Valerian couldn’t hear.

Valerian knew what was happening before Veeth confirmed it as he felt lust radiating from his sweet little blue. This wasn’t right and he knew it. He had expected to go the full two turns before being allowed to even kiss someone again but here Veeth was, barely nine months old, and he was starting to react to what was clearly Krypth taking to the sky. That seemed far too early as well but the young gold did as she pleased when she pleased so it wasn’t entirely that surprising. Veeth clearly wanted to chase with how anxious he looked and twitchy he seemed to be. “Veeth, no. You can’t chase Krypth. What if you win?”

I think that’s the point, Valerian. Valerian would have laughed at the reply if he wasn’t close to having a mini freak out. “Veeth… it’s Krypth and Jada. You can’t. If you… then Jada and me…” Jada had more or less adopted him as an older brother and she showed no signs of interest in him. She would scream and whack him with a pillow if she woke up in the nude beside him and while Valerian knew he would appreciate the sight, he wanted to avoid a death by suffocation.

Exactly! You write such beautiful poems about love and I want to experience it as well. Don’t we love Krypth and Jada? Why shouldn’t I find her and see if it’s your ‘true love’ you write such wonderful things about. Valerian frowned at the argument and didn’t know how to tell Veeth that he had never experienced true love with another person before and only based his poetic stories on what old songs told him it was like and his own feelings for music. Still, he couldn’t let him do this and a glaring contest broke out as both males tried to show who was more determined.

In the end, beast beat man and Valerian sighed. Veeth had some logic in what he said. Who else but us will treat Krypth and Jada as sweetly and wonderfully as they deserve? With a chirp of encouragement, Veeth slipped out into a more open area and unfurled his wings. A moment later he was taking off and Valerian was left in awe, still, at how amazing his dragonet looked flying.

He was still worried about the outcome but whether it was the flightlust starting to take over or not, Valerian still found himself whispering encouragement as he moved to find a better view of the chase before he became one of the bumbling blueriders he used to find so amusing when a proddy greenrider was near.

“Good luck, Veeth. Show the girls that we care.”

Sensing Valerian’s complete support now, Veeth gave another chirp before he trumpeted his arrival for all to hear. He wanted Krypth to know that he was there for her and wouldn’t let anyone else interrupt their fun.

The first bellowed reply to Krypth's challenge made the Gold's rider nearly jump out of her skin, shrieking a reply of her own. Jada spun as a hand grabbed her, and she stared up at G'rem's desperate face. "Control her!" he snapped, and then he tried to kiss her. Jada shoved at him as Krypth's rage coursed through her. No! She wasn't ready to be caught! her hand broke free from the older man's grip, and she shoved her way to the railing, staring at the circle of eyes that surrounded her. It was frightening, on a level that was deeply buried under waves of desire and self-satisfaction.

They wanted her, as was only fitting. She was their little and future Queen!

She was calling out flirtatiously to the older males hot on her tail, and Krypth twisted to try and avoid the grab of someone, far too soon for her taste. She wanted to fly! Their lustful shrieks pleased her, and Krypth crooned encouragement, twisting in the sky like a ribbon of golden flame. To me. Her voice was seductive, a command. She liked seeing them strive for her, some graceful and massive, some- some smaller than her, and to them she chirped encouragement, voice softening. To me! Krypth spun and twisted, tangled her body, swimming low to the ground and then arcing high, using her small size to her advantage to slide between two older blues that were too fast and eager, gaining more height as a result. She shrieked a challenge, a command, summoning the eager males to her Golden form, and Jada felt something drop from her nerveless fingers as she spun around, eyes taking in the bodies both male and female that surrounded her.

Echlerov, a classmate. M'bal, a bronzerider. G'rem, S'kef! E'lore? More riders she didn't know, or barely knew, whose names spun through her head, tied to the dragons that spun through the sky after her. Jada felt dizzy and Krypth dipped in shock, spinning in a sudden corkscrew as she was distracted by Jada's own confusion.

Their whole body shook, trembling with desire. Krypth's ichor was flowing with heat, eyes brilliant, young voice sultry. Jada stumbled from the circle, heading for the Candidate barracks, scrambling into a run. She wasn't going to be tumbled in public, Shard it, and who knew when Krypth- and Jada- would be caught. She paused by Valerian- her first crush, the closest thing she had to family here!- desperation and anxiety flashing in her eyes, reaching out a hand to him; In a moment she saw Veeth among the pursuers and snatched back her hand, continuing her stumbling run for privacy.

You can't give someone an unfair chance, Jada! Not even on accident!

Seduce them! Tease them!

Whose thought was whose? Jada twisted, avoiding a greedy hand that reached for her, slapping it down. The Weyrling barracks were in sight, and the game was on!

---

This will be a short Flight! Krypth is laden down with meat in her tummy, and she doesn't have much stamina.

When Jada headed for the Weyrling Barracks, M’bal was there hot on her tail. He didn’t reach out, to grab her to try and prematurely end the flight. No, he had spoken with enough of the elder Bronzeriders to know that no Gold, particularly in her maiden flight, wanted an immediate capture. Neither did the Weyr as a whole, it would only generate a lacklustre clutch. Though... with her early rising and gorging, perhaps the clutch was already doomed to be small.

Gugaroth reflected M’bal’s movements, or was it the other way around? With each twist and dive Krypth made, he swooped after her. Being so tiny Krypth was able to perform manoeuvres like the Greens and Blues of the Weyrs, something he could not do even being small himself. He wouldn’t perform his flashy tricks yet, there were much too many suitors pursuing for that. For the time being he stayed close, but not over-bearingly so. His presence would be felt by Krypth, but not his body. Not yet.

Even with the guidance he was giving his Bronze, M’bal could see his vision slipping, tinted with gold and shimmering around all the edges he was struggling to see where he was even walking. Gugaroth’s lust pounded and crashed against his body, the golden queen obscuring his vision as the two melded closer into one. It had been a long time since this had happened with such intensity, five years to be exact. Oh, he had chased Nirinath last time she rose, but it wasn’t quite with the same fervour, her favouritism of Ronarth was blatantly clear then. This time... Krypth showed interest in nobody, not that he had seen anyway. Of course she interacted with her clutch mates more often, but what else would you expect of a weyrling?

A weyrling...

Gugaroth’s confidence faltered, his mind seeking out his rider. M’bal... It was barely a whisper, only heard by M’bal from how close together they were mentally. ‘..Roth? What are you doing? Go!’ M’bal saw through the Bronze’s vision that he was slipping away, putting more space between himself and the shining Gold.

Is this worth it? Is this... real?

‘Real? Of course it’s real! Can’t you feel it? Get going!’ M’bal chided, trying to egg his dragon on. He could feel the lust starting to recede, doubt and confusion filling in the new hole. But she’s a weyrling... She’s not... a real Gold, is she? At that M’bal came to a halt, whirling around and glaring up at where his Bronze was. If it was possible his eyes would have whirled the most furious shade of red, but for now anger just radiated from him.

“You sharding dragon!” He screeched, unable to keep his thoughts to himself now with all the emotions that were flooding through him. “Get her!” But... Gugaroth started again, but M’bal cut him off, managing to keep a hold of himself so that he wouldn’t speak aloud. ‘She’s a weyrling! You know what? She’s the youngest Gold to rise! Catch her and you will have bragging rights... you caught the youngest Gold ever! You will sire the largest clutch even with her gorging. She’ll never clutch this large again!’

There were a few moments of silence as Gugaroth digested what his rider had said. Are you sure? He whimpered softly. ‘When have I ever been wrong?’ It was a good thing Gugaroth was a dragon and suffered a terrible long-term memory or he would have spat back a long list of times. Thankfully M’bal shoved memories of every success into his dragon’s mind, each celebration they had had over their triumphs. He felt Gugaroth’s confidence surging, the confusion and doubt flickering away. He pushed more and more until all there was was confidence, and lust of course.

Shining bronze wings beat more powerfully than they ever had, almost as if the confidence had given him a boost in strength as he surged forward. He had let Krypth slip away, but all wasn’t lost. He would reach her again, easily. Thankfully for the most part he had moved to the side of the pack, not the back and he was able to regain a lot of lost ground with ease.

Below, M’bal mimicked his dragon’s movements, bolting forward as his vision began to grow hazy with gold again. He smiled, this would be it.

Zeianth’s larger form was working against him with such a small female he pursued. He couldn’t make all the sharp dips and dives that Krypth did but he did his best to hang with the pack, though his lack of agility in this race caused D’hys to stumble all the more as he followed his instincts and headed where the goldrider was moving to. When Krypth suddenly pulled up between Zeianth and another blue – his attention wasn’t on anyone else around him and he couldn’t say who his tightest competitors were – D’hys gasped as his vision blurred and all he saw was mud-splattered shining hide before him. He went to his knees, both males hissing at the gold as she taunted them with such moves, and D’hys was quickly back on his feet with one hand subconsciously gripping at the towel that still stayed on hips, if only barely.

We can do this! One mind blended with the other and they took comfort in the trust they had in each other and the confidence both exuded. It propelled both on, bare feet working over a hot ground while icy blue wings flapped and glided beneath the hot sun. If anyone ever believed either was made entirely of ice, they only had to turn to them now to see them still going strong in the midday summer heat. Although it was a close call when D’hys’ vision blurred as he saw the brown hide of his father D’ser’s Epikoth and nearly ran into the side of a hut. That would have been embarrassing if his mind wasn’t wrapped up in the flight and his competitive nature wasn’t amped to the max at seeing Epikoth in the fray as well.

As one, they growled in irritation and determination. How dare D’ser think to chase a gold! If someone in their family line was to sleep with a pretty little goldrider, it would be D’hys, not the old man! D’hys caught up the pack of men running after Jada just in time to body check against a fellow bluerider as Zeianth flew by the dragon and they both move by D’ser and Epikoth without gracing them with so much as a blink of acknowledgement.

Just a little further! They were moving from the middle of the pack to the front. Close, so close! Our adorable prizes are within reach. Claim them! 

R’nd didn’t say another word to B’jin as he stood to follow Jada though his expression spoke volumes; he was being pulled under by the flightlust but confusion and the last remnants of fear over Jada’s reaction when he won were still there. For a few seconds longer, at least. As he turned away, all doubts were washed away and his confidence returned with his predatory grin hot on its trail.

They hadn’t chased Nirinath when she last rose so Krypth was their first golden chase and they were more than up for the challenge. Ayyonth’s size often helped him in winning flights though now it would likely prove a hindrance as they chased a weyrling. Then again, she was about the size of Larrikith and they had won the feisty green twice now and Ayyonth flew casually with her regularly as well. R’nd felt that gave them an edge over the competition, including the little blue weyrlings more Krypth’s size trying their luck in their first flight.

R’nd burst free of the Dining Hall and squinted in the bright afternoon sun, blinking rapidly to try and adjust to the shift in light. He knew Jada was moving away from him and just as Ayyonth did his best to work his way through the pack, R’nd began his trek that was almost a full blown run to close his gap. Ayyonth currently had the more interesting of views and R’nd welcomed the shift between vision without a flinch or fear of running into something. He knew the path to and from the weyrling barracks – for where else would a frightened weyrling on her maiden flight wish to be caught at? – thanks to having stayed there himself for two turns and now keeping up with some of the current weyrlings. The only obstacle would be of the human variety and those not in the chase would know to get out of the way and those that were? R’nd didn’t care if he knocked them down on his way to victory.

Ayyonth spiralled after Krypth as she dropped to fly low to the ground, used to such tricks from Larrikith. It didn’t buy him as much of a lead as he would have liked but he could sense some of the others falling back, even if just a bit. Every little bit counted in any race and with R’nd’s arrogance that they would win encouraging the blue, Ayyonth pitied his brothers for wasting their time on a hot summer’s day.

R’nd actually did end up colliding with another bluerider that had been pushed out of the way by another. While it was normally in his nature to make sure the man was okay and to help him up, R’nd shoved the poor man aside and took a few more long strides to find himself caught up to the pack and with Jada in sight. The young woman was already beautiful but she seemed to radiate like her dragon he kept seeing in her place in flickering images. There wasn’t time to fully stop and appreciate the beauty of either female as Ayyonth reminded with a sharp turn and dodge as he zipped by a brown. R’nd also didn’t like the way Jada reached out to the rider of the little blue that liked to linger about with Ayyonth and Larrikith.

The predator that came out during flights when his blood was pumping hard and lust flowing high, growled low in his throat but before he could react further, Jada was running past Valerian. Only one thing to do; he took off to follow, despite his panting from running such a distance in such heat.

Valerian had a new appreciation for dragonriders as he stumbled around the barracks from his spot under the tree to the front entrance. He was confused and dizzy from his vision switching between the trees and buildings before him and dragons flying around Veeth. He thought he would be sick with the first few flashes happening so suddenly and placed a hand against the wall for support before slumping against it. That was only the beginning. His thoughts were jumbled and sometimes he wasn’t sure if he actually had a thought or if it belonged to the determined blue holding his own against the big boys.

But the worst came when his mind went hazy around the edges from the lust Veeth gave off through their bond as he kept his loving yet fierce gaze on Krypth. After a point, like everything else, Valerian didn’t know who those feelings belonged to. Dragon and rider were becoming one and Valerian didn’t think he even knew which way was up anymore; at least not until Veeth dove after Krypth and his vision caught the sight of the ground rushing closer and closer to embrace them. He trembled as gold and blue dragons pulled up and flew low for several seconds, took a deep breath and pushed away from the wall.

He couldn’t stay there forever. There was a growing need in him to find Jada but he owed it to Veeth to do his part as well. His steps became more confident as he travelled from the barracks to the next building, weaving around nothing but air as he mimicked Veeth’s movements in the sky, and tripping over his own feet when he lost sight of what was in front of him. Belatedly he realised he never asked B’jin for details on what flightlust was like which left Valerian momentarily annoyed as he continued to cope with all the new sensations. Veeth didn’t appreciate the distraction and wandering mind toward another, even if it was dear sweet Larrikith, and pulled Valerian back to the chase.

Valerian kept working one foot in front of the other as he cheered Veeth on, or was it Veeth cheering him on? Either way their thoughts were melded into one common goal of showing their friends they were the only ones to treat them as they deserved. Still, it would be a lot easier if the other half of the goldpair was within sight. As if he had wished her into being, Jada rounded the corner and he resisted the sudden urge to run to her.

Jada seemed just as happy to see him. As she reached out for him, Valerian did the same and he smiled in relief. Unfortunately the connection of palm to palm never came as Jada did a rapid change of mind and ran by him, likely heading for her room. He lowered his hand and stood still as he watched Krypth fly from Veeth’s point of view. His little blue was determined to win, to show the girls they could rely on them and were loved. That alone was motivation enough to turn back the way he had just came but the lust Veeth gave off, stronger with each wing beat that brought him closer to his friend that Valerian could no longer ignore, made sure his feet kept moving despite all previous concerns.

Oh, Krypth. How lightly and swiftly she flew. Tyrrisath let out another resonating bellow, trumpeting against the wind and he streaked towards her with great strokes of his wings. She moved with the elegance and effortless speed of a green, though already he could see her more developed strength.

She would never fly like this again, he realized. Soon she would grow too large. She would, like her golden sisters, rely on her strength to keep her aloft for longer...not dart and dash like a green.

Oh, and she'd eaten so much! And she was so young...

Tyrrisath's eyes flushed an even deeper hue as he assessed the situation. Her small size and heavy load meant she wouldn't fly for long. She was young. Greenlike.

Tyrrisath knew he'd have to play smart. The little blues would actually stand something of a chance if she proved too agile for a larger male to catch. Tyrrisath knew how to snatch little greens, but few had given him a real test in quite some time. He concentrated, matching her elegant bobbing with heavy strokes of his wings. He didn't match her arcs and dives at first, making modest adjustments and continually increasing his speed.

But he couldn't cut corners forever. She would tire and be snatched! He uttered a sudden, lusty growl in reply to her teasing and continued, his mind and body growing more and more excited. Yes! He could hear her sweet voice. He reached out to her with his mind, brushing his steely confidence against her brazen desire.

You and I, Krypth he said in a deep, sultry tone. He accented his words with a great cry. Confident and cunning, he had no doubt in his mind now.


On the ground, S'kef continued his predatory prowl towards Jada. He emerged in the square just in time to see her brush past one of her classmates and take off for the barracks. Hah! So she wanted to play as her dragon did? Fabulous.

S'kef took off. He was focused, like an arrow fired from a bow. The Weyrling Barracks, huh? Strong and unafraid of his competitors, the brownrider shoved rudely past the first few as he made his way after her. Yes, she was so lovely! Innocent and kind, the sort that required a delicate touch. He stayed close behind her but did not crowd her, no matter howbadly he wanted to snatch her like he did J'ver.

Miss Jada was a lady. S'kef stood back, eyes wandering her like a jeweler appraising a gem. She was such a gem, as glittering and golden as her dragon.

"Miss Jada," he said in a courtly manner as he nodded his head, his voice weighed down and the effect either lost or amplified(depending on taste) by the rolling desire audible within it.

Miss Jada...

There were advantages to being small, and Pistoth followed her aerobatics effortlessly, trailing closely underneath her, dodging the bigger dragons as they came near him.

We come, we chase. The blue was responding to the gold's challenges admirably, though he knew the flight wasn't won yet. There were others, bronzes, browns, and older blues, who had done this before, chased and caught, and then there was Veeth. He would like Veeth to win if he didn't.

He spun down, following her corkscrew gracefully, trilling at the gold happily. He was enjoying this flight.

Down on the ground, Echlerov was following Jada to the barracks. It would be a tighter squeeze there, but would have more privacy, kind of. It would have to do though, and while others pressed closer to her, he stayed off towards the outside. There were a lot of people interested in the flight, including Valerian.

He flashed a grin at the other guy, glad to see that there was another weyrling in the flight. He was still half-expecting to be lectured once this was all over, but until it happened, he had better things to concentrate on.

Like this chase.

Fly well.

Jada gasped for breath, dizzy from exertion. The spinning and twirling was exhausting, and Krypth hadn't taken enough blood to sustain her frantic pace for long. The Gold crooned to her suitors, spinning and dipping and showing favoritism at last, flirting and twirling. Jada staggered into the wall of the Weyrling barracks, clinging to the wood as their suitors chased her down, staring at her as she reached for the door handle, only to have it thrust open by a greedy hand, the startled eyes of a Green Weyrling rider staring at them. Oruth's, and smarter than she looked. She darted away from the goldrider's burning gaze.

She could hear the commotion from the open doorway as doors slammed, Weyrlings who were unprepared for such emotions slamming the door and barring it against any Riders who needed consolation after a failed Flight. She could feel the wind under her wings. There could only be one, alas. But there was next time. Krypth hated the thought of leaving one of her beloved Chasers to loneliness.

R'nd received a breathless smile as Jada dropped from the sky to tease her suitors. Ayyonth was handsome, swift and strong, and R'nd was attractive enough in his human way. Krypth knew she had found his lips sweet, but the touch had been embarrassing. He would treat her gently enough to please them both. Zeianth was handsome, nubile. His was lusty, eager, yet he slipped behind and was overtaken by others, more eager than he it seemed. As Pistoth did his corkscrew behind Krypth, he received a croon and Jada's eyes flicked to Echlerov on the ground. he was keeping up with her, his small size and agility an advantage. Such a beautiful maneuver thrilled her. That he found as much delight as she herself in the chase and the game made her eyes blaze with joy. Yes!

Remenath was close on her tail, but Krypth did not desire him. He was handsome, yes, but he did not twirl and play, nor hunt her with the focus she desired. He was distracted, taken away from her by the need of His to protect his young. Tyrrisath, dear Tyrrisath, his brazen mental touch made Krypth shrill with delight as she flung herself forward again, a small arrow all her own across the top of the trees, racing for the other edge of them. Valerian and Veeth, ever-loving, so gentle. Krypth crooned their name, encouraging. She loved them too, they both did. But slow and steady wouldn't win!

Gugaroth's bronze body caught up to her too quickly, and for once the golden creature was glad for the annoyances that still pestered her. The better to hide among, to test his skills. Would he snatch her from above and spin her through the sky before they fell, entangled? Aveleth, the lovely creature, was fallibng behind, and she crooned her sorrow to him briefly, unable to spare more energy. Uhuroth tempted her, teased her with his beautiful form.

Name after name, dragon after dragon, as the pack started to split apart.

Jada laughed, joyous and pleased that they wanted her as much as they wanted them right now. She reached out her hand, crooked her finger, and darted into the Weyrling barracks. Her room was the easternmost corner, taken by Krypth so that the Gold could watch the sun rise. It was the last of her goal; Krypth wanted to see who would Chase, and who would Catch.

---

The five names in bold have been selected to gain on Krypth!
Do me a favor, and under the next post, those 5 characters give me a heads or tails? :D

A quick glance around revealed to Gugaroth that many dragons were already slipping away. He didn’t know whether it was their riders finally breaking through their lust to bring their dragons back down, or it they were simply becoming fatigued. It seemed strange if it were fatigue, they had barely been flying for long at all! His thoughts glazed over it however, swiftly returning to Krypth. He had caught up with ease, of course, but she was using her size to her advantage. Hiding amidst the group of males that were at the forefront of the pack he could see her shining, but he could not reach her.

He saw a Blue reach out to grab her, only for her small form to slip away and the dragon to drop down and out of the chase. Gugaroth snorted, only a fool would quit after the first attempt! He would do no such thing.

Krypth’s attentions to other males weren’t lost on the Bronze; he could see her reacting to them, encouraging them along. Rage bubbled up within him at the sight, how could she consider any but him? His hide, brilliant and brassy would be beautiful against hers, still containing scraps of hatchling gold between the icy shades of her adult hide. They would shine in the sky like the most beautiful sun.

The anger he felt within fuelled his desire even more. He dropped down closer to her, kicking out at dragons that were in his way. None could protect her like he would. None would love her like he would. Ichor coated his hind claws, a particularly nasty kick had slashed across the shoulder-wing joint of a stubborn Blue. Gugaroth let loose a massive roar, daring the other males to try and get in his way. To Krypth he turned his head, murmuring ever so gently to her. We will fly high Krypth, we will rule this Weyr. Every Weyr. A voice usually so sweet and light was deep and husky, overcome with lust but it was his promise.

They would rule every Weyr there ever was.

---

[sub]DUHURR HEADS. I DID NOT FORGET.[/sub]

Yes.

The weaklings were falling away. How satisfying it was, to pull away and leave them in his dust. Tyrrisath let loose a deep growl, almost like the sinister laughter that his bonded so often uttered.

Yes!

Tyrrisath surged forward, swiftly rushing up on the little queen. How good it felt to bask in his superiority, watching his competition flutter away like leaves in the wind! He stole a quick glance at his remaining competition, sparing only a moment of his time for them. Gugaroth? A respectable foe. Tyrrisath regarded the bronze as a worthy rival. The blues were less interesting, all small and weak...though, at the same time, their swiftness might aid them in this bizzare flight. Tyrrisath made a note not to count them out, but to instead watch his flanks for signs of brazen blue.

Let them go near his prize. They might be swift, but if he needed to, he could destroy them.

It was their way, his and S'kef's. Power! It was all about power.

As he dragon surged forward, he let his mind brush against Krypth's, his lust stoked by her excited trill. The dragon knew his rider's name, and by extension his own, still carried fear. The weak shivered before them. As he spoke to his Krypth this time, he allowed his voice to fall to Pern, creeping into the mind of those within range.

None of them know power like I do, Krypth. None!

Let them hear, and let them be afraid!

Back on the ground, S'kef was on a mission. He felt his dragon's strength as he flew. Those sweetened, sultry words gave S'kef new drive as he moved through the weyrling barracks, dispassionately shoving his way past the confused weyrlings.

Only one of them was worthy of his attention.

S'kef at last arrived before her. He smiled, his eyes backlit by hungry fire, and knelt. "Miss Jada..." he said cordially, his voice all but shaking with anticipation.

Power. He knew it. He'd once wielded it.

And we will again

Let them hear. And let them be afraid.

---

Tails, I guess >> I always pick tails

Pisoth was flying well, dancing between the bigger dragons as he chased after Krypth. She was worthy to be chased, to fly with, and he trilled playful at her when she crooned at him. Most of the other dragons were taking this so seriously, with hardly any joy in thier flight. She was just a prize to them, but not to him.

Not ever. She deserved more than that.

Echlerov grinned as they entered the barracks, having heard some of the doors slam shut. He had to wonder who had gotten caught in here, though he didn't have much sympathy for them. It wasn't like they were confined to the barracks, though now they would be stuck in there for a while. At least until things began to calm down.

Pistoth rolled to avoid a brown's tail, looping up and over to move closer to the gold. She was a shining star, bright against the blue of the sky, and he followed her happily, full of eagerness and excitement. He might not be worthy of such as she, but he was going to do his best, was going to do all that he could to make his golden clutchmate happy.

---------
Heads

In Ayyonth’s opinion, R’nd, while great at mimicking his movements and capturing their prey on the ground, was usually only a step above useless once he let their emotions take over. He was all about the lust he was pulled into but that often helped encourage Ayyonth onward; like it did then. His rider was a lover and while he was rather good at playing and acting nice, it was clear R’nd was also a predator and the determination he displayed in order to win was spectacular and in the end, Ayyonth couldn’t have asked for more out of his silly human.

As one, they dodged left and right, weaving through their respective groups and earning startled gasps or angry growls. Neither escaped unscathed as Ayyonth passed a brown that had his talons out and angled just for the daring blue that chose to make another dive after the agile little gold. R’nd, on his end, came across a rider at the right time to receive blunt nails raking his upper arm and leaving three thin scratches that welted with only one drawing a thin line of blood. Ayyonth growled his anger at the attack and bellowed his determination that nothing would sway him from being by Krypth’s side, proving he would gladly take an injury for the lovely lady that should never have to suffer a stroke of violence against her. R’nd paid his minor injury no mind and later would reflect on it as nothing of note though he did spare enough of his mind not influenced by lust to worry about Ayyonth and wonder if his dragon would have a scar and when he should clean and treat the wound.

“I’m here for you, my beautiful lady,” R’nd spoke aloud, his voice oddly serene given the amount of confidence he exuded and the swagger that brought him so close to Jada. Ayyonth had spoken the same line in time with R’nd but to Krypth only as he ducked and twirled around a bronze and curved to the left to end up a nose in front of the male and just a breath away from the pretty gold.

They were too close to give up now despite the knowledge that blues never won gold. Knowing Larrikith would likely maim him, even if only verbally, for chasing another female, Ayyonth and R’nd both knew it would be worth it when they had the seemingly delicate but strong females beneath them. R’nd smiled, a hint of his feral grin showing through though it was more aligned to his usual friendlier smile that let Jada know he would be a strong, playful, and kind partner.

---

Ugh, forgot the voting thing. Um... Heads, I guess.

Valerian was done with being the confused and floundering weyrling. It was hard to be anything else with a new found determination that pushed his feet into a jog and a confidence that knew the natural conclusion of the flight would see Veeth and him as the winners. The Harper that was typically on the quiet side that just went along with whatever he was thrown into, now pushed his way through the crowd, giving good hard shoves to anyone in his way as Veeth pushed himself further with quicker flaps of his wings while bugling his superiority to everyone around him. He was the smallest dragon in the chase but that didn’t mean he was the weakest or one to be overlooked!

Someone’s foot narrowly avoided being stomped as Valerian changed his mind at the last second. There was no need to be so violent, some small functioning portion of his brain pointed out. The men around him had done nothing to warrant such behaviour; except he quickly argued with himself that they had deigned themselves worthy of Jada’s time and affection. That was reason enough to punish them with a little jolt of pain they wouldn’t remember or feel come the next day.

Veeth snuck between larger dragons with dips and nothing more than flying straight and steady. He would use his small form to his advantage and the other dragons would just have to deal with it! Valerian seemed to be finally getting into the chase entirely now as Veeth didn’t feel any further hesitation or confusion emitting from his human. That was a good sign and boosted the little blue’s morale enough to send him into a furious flurry of wings and concentration. The flight was intense but Veeth was having such fun! Only Krypth would understand the joy when they were alone together after the exhilaration of the chase.

With a final shove, Valerian emerged from the crowd gathered around Jada’s door to stand beside a man that was kneeling before the goldrider. That seemed like a wonderful idea with how dizzy he was still getting with some of the sudden shifts between what he was seeing but Valerian held his ground with both feet firmly planted to the floor. As he stood before Jada’s taunting and judging golden gaze, Valerian knew he was aroused but wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed. Let her know that she turned him on, that he found nothing about her repulsive. Veeth’s own desire was strong and was an excellent guide for their first crazy journey together but Valerian wasn’t fool enough, even while lost in flightlust, to believe he wasn’t physically affected by his friend’s beauty.

“Jada,” he spoke with his hand lifting to her once more in the hope she would take it, “Us. It’s always been you and me.” Valerian offered her one of his rare smiles to go with his hand that would lead to a sweet embrace.

---

lol did it again despite me chanting to myself to remember. Tails.

As she danced, she knew the end was coming near. She'd made her selections, though other males still chased her. This was not a pick-and-choose. This was a competition for her bed, her heart for a night. They showed her speed and strength, beauty and grace, and Krypth was pleased in all the males who chased her. She had lost a good quarter of her tail, fallen back or fallen out of the competition. She mourned their loss, crying out after them. How irritating! But not disheartening, for each one who dropped from the race was someone who didn't deserve her, or didn't want her. They would regret that decision, as she fell from the sky with her chosen male!

Gugaroth let loose a massive roar, challenging the rest of the group that chased her, and Krypth crooned lowly, taunting. We will fly high Krypth, we will rule this Weyr. Every Weyr. His promise was pleasing, and Krypth was sorely tempted to end her game. But there were still other males who had not made their promises to her, laid their offerings at her feet. Jada stared at M'bal, amber eyes intent on his face as he shoved his way through the crowd of men towards her. She stared at him, tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip, eyes judging him. There was no lack. He was strong, and they would look beautiful as they fell from the sky.

But another man distracted her, made her blink down in him even as Krypth found herself spinning to avoid the hungry grasp of another, who nearly ran into the kneeling man as she stared at him. None of them know power like I do, Krypth. None! To him, she would be his queen? That thrilled Jada- or was it Krypth? Or both? To her core, the thought of having such a power over someone. Especially he, who caused so much fear. To harness it, control it, they would love her and fear her. Jada leaned in close, transfixed by his gaze, closer and closer. Tyrrisath gained even as S'kef did, an inch closer as Jada leaned down, and down...

“I’m here for you, my beautiful lady,” R’nd spoke aloud, and the weyrling almost jumped out of her skin, leaping backwards as she remembered the chase was still on. Ayyonth ducked and twirled around a bronze in the sky, coming close beside her, and Jada tried to step away. The circle was closing! She knew these men, packing around her with only a small gap left. Krypth saw it too, and took it, sliding between a brown and a blue who collided with a shriek, snapping around her, screaming, narrowly avoiding bashing into a large bronze form. Ichor flew, and so did a punch, two men rolling into each other. Jada was pinned to the wall, the fighting men having taken up the hole. She was trapped!

Her classmates, Veeth and Pistoth? Where were they? She had almost forgotten them in the thrill of what was being offered? Ahh, there was one, her Pistoth having been temporarily blocked by a flash of brown tail behind her, but not caught up in the fight between her two aggressive suitors, falling through the sky as though they themselves thought to mate, hissing and snarling in masculine rage. Thrilling as it might be, Krypth didn't slow, desperation oozing from her now along with liquid. she was going to tire soon, unable to keep up this frantic pace she had set. And if she slowed, as Jada had, she would be trapped, trapped, and the game would be over!

And there, there was Veeth, blue and slim, having darted around the crowd, as Valerian shoved through as well, holding out his hand to her. His gaze was open and honest, even in dragon-born lust showing her something bitter and sweet, causing her amber eyes to flicker away, uncertain. “Jada, us. It’s always been you and me.” And then he smiled, and Jada made a soft noise in the back of her throat. Wanting, raw and incredibly human, as nature warred with nature, and there was no winner.

Love and Power, side by side, pulling her in three directions. Bronze, Brown, Blue, all fitting, fitting. Even her other chosen still stood there, waiting for a decision to be reached. But how? How to decide? It was her first flight, and she would show the Weyr why she was fit to be their Queen! Yet at once, she ached for there to be more about this flight than power, but instead for there to be joy! It was a ritual of life, even in the wherry ichor that smeared her mouth and throat.

Jada stepped forward, holding out her hands. The circle was frozen around her, and for a moment there was an opening. She took it, and gladly. There was another hallway on the way to her room; she could dart down there, and draw some of the males with her. Thin the crowd! If none chose to try and cut her off by going the other way, she could make her room. Or be stuck in the hallway. She could feel the energy fading, the sheer lust rising to the fore. She only had a minute left, maybe more, and so much more desire to play! To test their resolve and their wanting!

---

Results
Gugaroth - Gain; S'kef - Gain; Echlerov - Lose; R'nd - Lose; Valerian - Gain
Thanks for flipping. ;) It has no real effect beyond a little rp mixup, unless you want it to. :)
Go post some catch attempts!

S'kef watched with glee as Jada darted through the opening, taking off down the hallway in an effort to prolong the teasing. Crafty girl! He knew there was more to her than met the eye! So many scoffed at Jada for her perceived incompetence, but S'kef knew better.

Dragons made no mistakes, least of all the illustrious metallics! Yes, Miss Jada was a diamond in the rough. The brownrider smiled and watched as Jada disappeared around the corner.

Oh my. He knew at once that he could try and head her off by going the other way if he chose, but now was not the time for games. He surged forward, shoving violently passed some poor, flimsy challenger and throwing the lesser man to the floor. "Out of my way," the brownrider said, deep voice brimming with unbridled lust.

Another bluerider? Z'ia, was it? S'kef shoved him unceremoniously into the wall and took off at a full sprint. How nicely he'd recovered from his illness! He could feel the strength and energy of his returned health flowing through him, intensified by his want. She would be his!

S'kef ran, and spread his wings...

...and let out a frightful bellow. Tyrrisath screamed and snapped his jaw cruelly at a blue who wandered too close. Tge smaller dragon shrieked and wheeled to the side, dropping awkwardly from the chase. Tyrrisath's pride surged. Let no challenger rest easy! Tyrrisath would show the young queen power! He would prove her doubters wrong! He would show her his strength, his willingness to fight for her honor!

Yes, Tyrrisath was a warrior, and like any true warrior, he fought for a just cause.

His great muscles fired, sending him streaking towards the young gold. This was his moment of truth.

I have never wanted anything so bad His usually stoic voice was strained with passion.

He ignored the burn of exertion as he charged headlong into the wind, his eyes afire with stubborn fury. She would be his!

He was closing in! So close...

So close...

He reached.

Valerian was so close he could have taken one more step with outstretched arms and pulled Jada into a hug, but he knew better. He was Harper-trained and knew the general mechanics behind Flights even if he didn’t know the nitty gritty specifics of how the rider felt before experiencing it himself. His actions meant nothing during the chase. He could hold and hug Jada all he wanted, and likely earn some bruising from her or his rivals in the process, but it was Veeth that would make the difference. The little blue held the heavy weight of pressure on his back, needing to appease the lust that had sparked in one and grew to intense proportions in two.

In a brief moment of clarity in which his vision wasn’t blurring between room and sky, Valerian watched Jada slip away from everyone’s grasp and head for what he presumed would be her room. He took a step to give chase like another challenger did but he wasn’t nearly as quick in following. As much as his lust for his friend had grown and drove him onward in the bizarre experience, he could feel Veeth tiring and his dear little one mattered far more right then. Thoughts of encouragement were sent as well as concern as Veeth continued in giving his best.

It was unfortunate but not entirely unforeseen either when one of the weyrlings began losing ground. Veeth had put all of his determination, desire, and unfortunately, his stamina into the last burst of speed to make up the difference and join the leaders of the pack. He had only learned to fly not even a month before and his young wings were growing tired. There simply wasn’t another chance to overtake his older, larger, and stronger brothers again, which was extremely clear as several dragons moved passed him.

He had been so close!

I’m sorry, his sweet and musical voice was tinged with sadness as he spoke to Valerian and Krypth alone. He had wanted to make them both happy but he couldn’t keep up.

As Veeth descended, Valerian fell to his knees, one hand braced on the wall as if to climb back to his feet and continue after Jada. Instead, he stayed where he was, confused, disappointed, and even upset. It was still hard to figure out all the thoughts and emotions shared between their bond and Valerian wasn’t sure when that would pass. But one thing he knew for certain as he watched Jada’s form move further down the hall with a man he now recognised as S’kef hot on her trail, he was angry that he wasn’t going to win; and not for Veeth’s lack of trying. The anger was laid solely against himself. Wasn’t he supposed to protect the sweet girl? Flights were not kind and given who had the lead, Valerian’s skin crawled with disgust.

“Jada,” his voice was as soft as Veeth’s as he reached for his friend that wouldn’t see the gesture, hear his voice, or even notice him. At the sound of the rest of the mob approaching, Valerian quickly crawled to the nearby door that had been left open, and rested in the doorway with his mind reeling from emotions and still the dizziness brought on by the flickering vision.

While R’nd often liked to focus on the finer details, he was also adept at seeing the bigger picture. He liked to know his surroundings and the best way to keep a step ahead in almost anything he did. It didn’t always work as it was hard to clearly predict how a person would react but he felt he was rather good at coming up with scenarios. Now was one of those times. He knew the weyrlings barracks from his own time within the walls and visiting the new batch so he was familiar with a second route to Jada’s room. He was still of the opinion that was where she would head if she wasn’t caught before then so when she bolted during a small opening, R’nd went the other way.

He ran down the hall as Ayyonth continued his steady push ever closer to the beautiful gold that teased and enticed. There was the hope he would beat his rivals to help the cause and motivate Ayyonth into making the final play on his end but R’nd was pleasantly surprised to see he had beaten her as well. He stepped inside her room, a bold move he wouldn’t have done outside the flight but morals and self-imposed restraints were checked at the door as soon as the female rose. With his predatory nature in full swing, R’nd grinned in delight at the game he had just initiated. Why chase, though he had been and his waiting would only be for a few seconds, when the prey could come to you for an ambush? The surprise he suspected he would give Jada might just be the edge needed to win. If it threw the goldpair off enough, Ayyonth had a chance to swoop in, overtaking the rivals he had yet to shake.

Ayyonth was focused and crooned his adoration for the little gold though in the back of his mind Larrikith lurked, glaring. He knew his feisty green companion wouldn’t be happy that he chased another, a gold at that! Since she would already be furious, Ayyonth figured he might as well go for the gold; literally. R’nd hadn’t been up to the idea at first but his human was absorbed in the flightlust and the desire to win, so why give up now? He swerved around the blue weyrling Larrikith had a fondness for and made his final push, giving everything he had left in him to catch up to Tyrrisath and show the arrogant brown that a blue is just as worthy and amazing – perhaps even more so.

Krypth was on that last burst of energy as she sailed over the edge of the treetops. Screams were coming from behind her as male dragons that might never dream to chase one such as herself tore at each other for superiority in chase of a rare prize that may never come for them again. Jada could hear the sound of footsteps behind her, pacing her, some racing to catch up to her. She darted around a corner and broke into a run, taking another turn to try and cut back behind the horde, to run behind them. Krypth would be caught, and who- Jada felt a wave of sorrow, strong, and Krypth crooned. Her sorrow was intense, and Jada gasped, gripping the wall. Above, the Gold slipped through the greedy grasp of one groping dragon, the bronze too big, not prepared for her small size. She spun, twirling, crooning to her Veeth. She could wait for him, she could evade her suitors. He loved her so, and had tried so hard. It was the least she could give for him. He could reach her high, just a little higher, and then they could fall. Together.

Jada stumbled into her room, blinking blurrily at the figure there. Ayy- no, R'nd. Krypth was eager, ready, spinning and twirling in the center of the males that reached for her, desperation tinging her crooning. Still seductive, still just for Veeth to know her secret, that she was waiting for the one whose heart had won her, even if his form could not keep up. A brown crashed into Gugaroth, knocking the grasping bronze out of the way as Krypth tried to backtrack. She had made her choice! Left and right, it was her right to lead her suitors where she wanted. Hers was in their room, staring at one predator, but there were many more to come.

They wanted him, in that moment. Handsome, and smart, clever Ayyonth's. To think to hunt Hers, to Catch her instead of Chasing her. Jada desired him at that moment, her amber eyes lit on the bluerider with a fierce glee. Krypth strove towards her chosen. Not Ayyonth, though unlike her beloved he had kept up with her. His was handsome, and offered something akin to affection. But he had not suffered for her, sacrificed himself for her. She reached out for Veeth, crooning his name, reaching to tangle with him and drag him with her in her last burst of energy.

And Tyrrisath snatched her from the sky, tangling with her. His claws dug into her hide, and S'kef's mouth crashed against Jada's. Krypth shrieked in outrage, fury, shrieking the name of her chosen- her denied!- mate, and then sank her teeth into Tyrrisath's shoulder. He was strong! Handsome! Powerful! He had shown intelligence, and a predatory instinct. Krypth shrieked, and Jada moaned against the brownrider's mouth. Golden wings flared in the sunlight as the dragons twined, and She became one with her Bonded, the two women falling on their partners with the same need, the same unburdened joy. A strong mate was as good, in other ways, as a loved mate.