Chasing the Moon [Gold Flight]

It had been almost impossible for Jada to miss the signs this time. the irritability, the tetchiness, the fact that Krypth seemed to be getting more and more in her buttery hide. And Shards, the Gold had become a downright hussy, when it came down to it. She'd been eying the males like they were pieces of meat for the last sevenday. So when she woke one morning with a clenching in her gut that was almost nausea, she wasn't at all inclined to stray too far from her hut. Instead, she made herself a pot of klah and broke her fast, and waited. Waiting, however, was a pain in the arse, and not at all how she was inclined to spend a day.

But did she want to go wandering about? Maybe for some careful ventures. A bath, some time in the craft hall, and a nice meal in the Hall. Pacing. Pacing, it was all pacing. Krypth was roaming, prowling, and Jada was feeling the antsiness crawl up her legs to her hips, the feet crawling up her spine and spending time near her kidneys before trailing to her shoulder blades, the need to action forcing her to move, move.

It was after sunset when Jada made her way back to her hut with the leftover bits of her dinner, some bubbly pies, and some juice. She didn't want to have to wander out tomorrow if it wasn't necessary. Krypth hadn't yet risen, so chances were good it would be tomorrow. She put the food on her small kitchen counter, and moved onto her porch to look out over the Weyr. Krypth was still prowling, and Jada sighed, taking a seat on a chair and sipping at her drink.

She was just getting tired when the twisting need unfurled itself, fingers stretching out in her belly. The shriek of a panicked wherry, and Jada could taste blood in her mouth. Meat sliding down her throat. One bite, then another, before the Harper managed to shove her will onto the Golden beast. Blood.

No! More!

No! Blood!

Another defiant mouth full of meat, Krypth snarling her fury at the stupid human female who dared to hold her back from that which she craved. That third bite was the last, and on to another prey creature, neck snapping under the force of her pounce, life draining into the Gold's angry, hungry mouth. It was when the third beast was drained dry that Krypth lifted her red muzzle to the sky and shrieked a challenge to the males of the Weyr. Chase me, if you dare! Catch me, if you can!

She sprang into the sky like an arrow, aiming for the moon that hung low in the sky above.

---

Participation is welcomed, but a winner has already been decided for this Flight.

As evening rolled in yet another bottle rolled over to join its empty mates on the living room floor. N'gelt made a faint gurgling sound, attempting to summon the motivation to get up and find more ale. That of course, required him to stand up and right now... It wasn't the best idea. It had been almost three months since he had stepped down from his position as Weyrsecond, most of them a booze-induced haze once he had realized his weyrmate being sorely absent from his life now that there was no work to be done.

First anger had filled N'gelt. After all, wasn't it I'shan's duty to be there for him? His angry questions earned him only silence from his Brown, at which point he let the anger slip away with a more sombre emotion replacing it. Saquith had supported N'gelt in the only way he knew how as depression rippled through his rider's mind again, but it hadn't been enough. N'gelt still turned to the ale, to fog his mind, to blur out the pain.

Three months was a long time, too long for Saquith. When he saw Krypth rising into the dark sky, his blood boiled. With a terrifying roar he leapt aloft. N'gelt stirred, lurching forward so forcefully he fell to his hands and knees.  He tried to scream "No!" but the sound caught in his throat, causing him to cough violently. Scrambling upright he stumbled over to the door, tripping over his feet and abandoned items in the process. He fell against the door and thumped his fist on it.

"Saquith!"

No. The Brown's voice was dark and laced with rage. You are going to do something useful.

N'gelt gasped, shocked at the waves of emotions hitting him. He had never felt such anger and fury from his dragon, nor such a deep and pounding lust. Saquith rose higher into the sky, his eyes locked on Krypth's shimmering body. Another roar ripped from his chest as he pushed himself closer. His wings strained with the effort but size pulled him near with ease. A fleeting thought of glee at how short Krypth's flights were whisked through his mind, for he wouldn't be able to keep up such a frenzied pace for long. Alas, he was sorely out of practise in chasing females.

Krypth could feel the night air under her, pressing her upwards- for which the Weyr should be grateful. Her body was heavy, weighted down by the results of her greediness and Jada's slipped will. The Harper stumbled into her hut as Krypth shoved herself upwards, each of them desperate to reach their goal. Krypth wanted to test her males, regardless of the fact she was not at her peak. Jada wanted to make sure most of her personal items weren't strewn about the place. (They weren't, not that she would have had the presence of mind to pick them up. It was an automatic gesture, a fleeting thought.)

It was of distinct interest to the Gold that the lovely Saquith was among her chasers. He'd not followed her before, so his appearance made her eyes light with curiosity. Had he finally decided he was strong enough, powerful enough, to compete for her affection- tonight, at least? She bugled to him, mischief and lust tingeing her call.

A golden body tilted upwards, aiming for a steep angle. She might be weighted, but instinct drove her to aim for heights. The action spun her rider's head, and in her hut, Jada gripped a wall and waited, anxious. Would it be S'kef again? Someone new? Desire for the unknown partner beat at her, Krypth's desire as she pumped her wings and aimed for a goal.

They were catching up to her! There was speed and power, and she was heavy, and sluggish. Even the blood she had drained for energy weighted her, contributed to her pace- less than optimal. More than enough to keep an element of challenge.

As lust threatened to overwhelm N'gelt he scrabbled to open the door, his vision a mix of the door and Krypth's shining body. The intensity of the flight was new to the pair, Saquith had never chased a Gold before nor had he risen after a Green with such a fire in his belly. Eventually the door handle was found and opened, the Brownrider fell from the momentum of it. He grunted and thrust himself up as quickly as his alcohol-muddled body would allow and was on his way.

High above, Saquith snarled. Another Brown banked to get closer to Krypth but only succeeded in falling victim to Saquith's claws. The other contender creeled and wheeled away, ichor dripping down his shoulder. A dark rumble of joy escaped him as he pushed higher. This joy was short lived. Other males were pressing in on him and trying to steal his prize! As each neared he lashed out, teeth snapping and claws raking. Krypth's bugle to him earned her a bold roar in response. It was his claim of her, none should get her but him on that night.

N'gelt mirrored Saquith's actions in a drunken manner, even if the corresponding rider was absent from the area. He continued to stumble amidst the huts, letting the feeling in his gut lead him to wherever the stupid Goldrider was. He tried his best not to let his thoughts stray to the deed he would potentially be performing if his Brown managed to capture the Gold, though that wasn't too hard given his thoughts mostly revolved around Krypth and how they would catch her.

When he reached the hut he was glad to see the door wide open and half ran inside, his head swinging side to side trying to find Jada. Spotting her he made a rumbling sound in his throat that Saquith echoed with a prideful bugle above. This would be their time, S'kef wouldn't be the winner today.

The addition of the new face to her Flight pleased Krypth more than she could say. The fact that he was willing to fight for her was even more pleasing, and Krypth responded to it by avoiding the grasping claws of another. The brown could fight his way up to her, through the others, and when he rose to her height he could have her. She sang to him, encouraging him upwards, higher- higher!

He roared to her and she shrieked her reply. Come, challengers! Who would challenge the one she had chosen for the right to have her? Who would out-race him, out-fly him, avoid tooth and claw enough to come to her side? None? Cowards! The brown was gaining on her swiftly, and Krypth winged upwards frantically, aiming for the stars- for the clouds. Height, all the longer to fly, to fall.

In the hut below, N'gelt growled at Jada, and her heart froze, torn between a flash of fear and the urge to react to it as Krypth would. Her body moved of its own volition a moment before her mind caught up, her smaller body crashing into N'gelt's and pulling his mouth to hers. The kiss was unpracticed, disinterested in romance and devoid of any softer emotion than desire. It was KrypthJadaKrypthJadaKrypth, lust given a human outlet in a way dragons could not display.

Saquith screeched; yes! Krypth would be his! He strove higher and higher, beating away Brown and Bronze. There was no more Blue at this height, they were too small and weak to get through the bulk of the other males anymore. Another Bronze wheeled away, another Brown, another Bronze. The ranks were thinning as they saw their chances dropping.

When Jada threw herself at N'gelt he groaned, partly as his last human thought before Saquith consumed him, but also because he felt his Brown's disdain running through him. Golds didn't choose who they got to mate with, it was the males! He gripped her upper arms tightly, if she was going to be idiotic enough to throw herself at him, she wouldn't escape. With that he finally let go of his last bit of humanity and the dragon took over.

A triumphant shriek tore itself from Saquith's throat as he felt his rider give in. It sent his ichor pounding through his body, breathed energy into tired limbs. Pale wings beat the air anew, pulling his massive body higher up into the sky. His thin tail lashed behind him and he growled. This was it, the end.

One final burst of power brought him level with Krypth. He banked and pulled up beneath the Gold, readying himself. Straining against the peculiar angle he lurched up and forward, grabbing her by the shoulders. A triumphant bugle and his tail was quickly wrapped around hers, then his neck. Lust and euphoria overran his and his rider's mind as he flared his wings to keep them aloft.

~~sekrits~~

When the flight lust began to fade from N'gelt's mind he became quickly aware of the situation he was in. Seeing the female form laying beside him he let out a sound of disgust and shoved Jada back forcefully. He curled his lip and sat up too quickly, his vision spinning as his brain reminded him how intoxicated he was. Once it stilled he was quick to vacate the Goldrider's hut, or as quick as he could without falling over or causing injury.

As the lust faded from Jada's mind, she became quite aware of the stink of alcohol. Thank Faranth she wasn't being clung to- whoever it was shoved her away with a sound of disgust. Surely she didn't smell bad? Who- Oh. It was N'gelt. Well, she couldn't exactly complain about getting shoved away then. Though shards, he smelled of cheap swill. She'd obviously gotten spoiled by the fact that S'kef knew about hygiene.

Krypth, at least, was happy as a clam as a choice was made. Saquith reached for her, and she moved to avoid him in counter to Jada's actions- and he adjusted, lurching up, claws digging into her hide and making her shriek in fury and glee. She wasn't ready for this to end- but she was more than content in the winner.

Jada eyed the brownrider as he stumbled about her hunt, wincing as he knocked something off one of her tables. Still, he was out quickly, and without hurting her, himself, or causing any damage.