The Sun Has Nothing On Me (Goldflight)

[LyricalBlue]

((This is four months forward for the Weyr, two turns for the Weyrlings. Go ahead and update your bios guys.))

Dawn had just begun to show her face, haze was still rising over the jungle in a thick mist. The peak of the Weyr and its surrounding mountaintops cut through like the teeth of some great beast waiting below. In the east, the sun had just started to send its rays over the horizon and ever so slowly, the mist was banished along with the inky night. The sounds of the jungle began to rise upwards and the Watchdragon sat perched on his peak, a silent guardian while the Weyr still yet, slept.

Of course, such peace as this never lasted long. A cold whoosh of air that descended over the Weyr Bowl was the first herald of change. Eighteen pairs of dragon wings fanned out in a vee. First was a gold who was shining gold with more than health. Behind her were bronze and brown, then blue and greens at the length of the vee. The shining white gold dragon bugled and the Watchdragon reared back on his hind legs and let out a loud welcome.

The vee circled in impressively tight formation then descended into the bowl to land. By then, the whole Weyr had woken up to the news that the Weyrlings had returned. And they had found their way home on their own. N'sian was not with them, the elderly bronze had made one too many trips between and failed to come back, leaving the young dragons and riders on their own.

Nisurath arched her neck, the nearly white gold had grown tremendously and while she would never be as large as most golds, she had a length on the bronzes now. Her tail lashed sinuously as her rider slid down her shoulder. It had been two turns since Iaslia had seen her home. Her long red locks had been bobbed up to her ears and the fiery young woman had put on as much growth seemingly as her dragon. She was easily as tall as most of the men, but like her dragon, she would always be on the thin side.

The golden queen growled and clawed at the bare earth of the Weyr Bowl floor. Iaslia turned and pulled off the riding straps in bare seconds. They had arrived just in time, the bloodlust rose in the gold until Iaslia felt she had to scream. Once free of her straps, Nisurath spun on her heels and leaped into the Herdbeast pens like a shooting star. The redhead clutched the straps against her chest, panic welling up within her chest.

[hrsegrl]

Nisurath shines more brightly than before.The Bronze stated to his rider not feeling the need to express more. His rider was already aware of what was going on. Ev'os was not dim when it came to dragon lust and mating. He had heard the stories, he had even seen people under the effects now. Some from his own class from the greenflights. All of the greens from the class had risen at least once already. Some two or more already, depending on when the dragon had first matured. At first he had thought of letting Rovanoth try for a green but something had stopped him.

Rovanoth was not all that interested in greens which was odd for a male dragon though perhaps not a Bronze. The only dragon Rovanoth paid much attention to at all outside of drills was Nisurath. The Gold was his best friend outside of Ev'os and now that he knew what was about to happen, he felt even his own resolve fading. They were too closely related. He repeated to himself for the millionth time. While they had been gone, it was no secret to any of the Weyrlings that Ev'os and Iaslia had grown even closer. It was only natural considering their status and none of the Weyrlings had dared even bring it up in front of the two young people. If he were to admit that he loved her it would change nothing so he stayed silent on the matter.

Ev'os was good at keeping some things to himself although he did have a hard time not talking things out before this moment. He would have to restrain Rovanoth. It was better for all involved that he not let the Bronze try. That was not to say Rovanoth would win, nothing was certain with Gold flights. He could not in good conscious sleep with his niece. No matter what he felt or what he wanted. When they came out from Between and flew to the familiar sight of the Weyrbowl, he knew immediately what was going on with the radiant Gold.

With the grace of a man much practiced, he dismounted his Bronze and stood an arms length from Iaslia to her right. Rovanoth...His voice was a warning tone, they had previously discussed this man to dragon and he made it very clear that the Bronze was not to give chase. He was also taking off the straps thinking the Bronze would do what he was told and wait to meet with E'dian. Neither of them would fly Nisurath it would be the perfect time to have a chat with his brother about their Weyrling training.

Once free the Bronze made it perfectly clear he had no intention of doing what he was told. You humans are silly. I am a great Bronze, why should I not chase the magical Golden lady. I do not pretend my affections for her like the other Bronzes will. She deserves nothing but the best and you have said before I am the best. With that the Bronze followed the lovely Gold from the formation to the feeding grounds. He would blood if she allowed him to and only then.

"Iaslia..." Ev'os said, concern apparent in his eyes. He was not sure what would happen but whatever did would effect their relationship one way or another. Neither choice was appealing at the moment. This just proved the Weyr needed new human blood more than new dragon blood, in Ev'os' mind. E'dian would not understand nor like what was happening now. Ev'os himself was not sure if he could forgive himself for losing control of Rovanoth so easily. "He won't see reason." He whispered so only she could hear, hoping she would understand what Rovanoth was about to do.

[E]

Four months had passed since their own fateful trip between. Even after that length of time, the bronze and rider both held scars they were sure now would not ever fully fade. It did not add to their beauty, but it did add to the fear and respect E’mion had found many of the riderless giving his bronze beast. E’mion himself had found himself in that strange libido that was the place between a celebrity within the weyr and being treated as if he had a plague. He had found it amusing thus far though.

When the wing burst from between, it was without a doubt that the pale yellow gold – nearly white – was the little weyrling they had gambled everything on. Seeing her now, all slim and sleek with little true bulk, E’mion seriously doubted how many eggs one so lean would even be able to carry to term. Could dragons miscarry? A frown set firmly on his face, he reached to his dragon mentally.

Yes that is the queen, and she is ready to be flown. E’mion could already feel the heat in his own body rising with his bronze’s. Then let us waste no time giving her a proper welcome home. We were originally sent to Ponaa because you were prime breeding stock. Let us thicken this Weyr’s Blood.

The great bronze, finally with meat and muscle back on his bones was easily larger than every other bronze in the Weyr. The weyrling bronze who just arrived would grow to be close in the coming turns, but for the moment, Malekith looked exactly what the lower cavern folk had taken to calling him; The Demon from Between. His hide was now healed, and his wings had been strengthening with extra drills for the past month, but the scars that covered his body gave the bright bronze sheen of his hide dark shadows.

As he roared out a welcome to the slender queen that shook the stones on the bottom of the Weyr floor, he leapt from his weyr ledge and followed that pale beauty to the feeding pens. Making a kill of his own well apart from the gold to give her space, his maw was soon red from the blood he drank and the fire that burned inside him intensified. Yes, it had been too long since he had a gold to fawn over…

E’mion himself had pulled on the nearest riding leathers, uncaring that they had been the ones he had worn the night before for drills. Once the breeches were on, he pulled on a shirt but never bothered lacing it closed as he moved toward the gold rider he had never met. His skin was dark and the chest you could see through the shirt made just about every woman in the Weyr wince with its three white scars going down its length from a feline fight and the seemingly twisting dark snakes that had become the scars from threadfall.

__________________________________________________

L’nuo woke to the calls of dragons outside his modest weyr. Lifting a groggy head off his pillow, he blinked a few times before his dragon let out a bugle of his own. It was far too early for his brown to be this excited, L’nuo decided instantly. Never the less, he tossed off his furs and ran a hand over his face as he reached for a clean pair of breeches. Pulling them on, he fastened them lazily as his brown finally got impatient enough to stick his nose into the sleeping quarters and blow a warm blast of air at L’nuo.

Hurry! The Queen Rises! Now that statement had the brownrider pausing and looking blankly at his brown. HURRY! Looking down at the breeches he was lacing, L’nuo couldn’t help but laugh as he finished more quickly. The explained the morning wood!
Grabbing a nearby tank top, he leapt onto his browns back without bothering with the riding straps and held on as the brown did a gentle glide to the group of people slowly growing around the new young weyrwoman. Sliding off his browns neck, Menith was instantly into the air again making way to the feeding grounds kill before the flight began but like the younger bronze already there, Menith waited till the gold gave allowance. L’nuo was glad to see he had not taken too long.

Turning toward the gold rider, he started a moment. Two turns had added some flesh and figure to the tall women standing before him. Perhaps not enough to satisfy L’nuo’s own tastes, but at least there was enough to fondle this time. While L’nuo never let himself get too hopeful winning a gold flight, he couldn’t help but give his brown encouragement at the sight of that fiery red hair.

Give it a good go, Menith. This is a prize I wouldn’t mind tasting. Nor I, rider mine.

[starshine]

(ooc: one quick comment. best line ever!! = "why should I not chase the magical Golden lady." Rovanoth I ask myself the same question everyday!! HG should get a cookie for that!!!)

Kesstriel was at home on the back of her blue. Claralth had matured nicely, he was well formed and his rich midnight color seemed like that of the moonless night sky in the middle of the hot season. He fell into formation and glided alongside the other blues as they dropped from between and circled down into the weyr. Her eyes adjusted to the light of the dawn after a moment and she gazed around at her fellow riders. Nisurath gleamed a white gold streak in the sky. Nisurath is ready to rise. What a way for us to mark our homecoming.[/color] Kess grinned at her dragons thought. Certianly Iaslia had known it was getting to be that time for her queen.

Once Claralths claws had touched the ground Kess slipped down his left foreleg and waited as ther rest of the riders had landed as well. She glanced to her cousin who was clutching her riding straps to her chest, panic rising in her eyes. With strides as long as her short legs could make them she strode to her cousins side and placed a hand her her arm. "Ia! Ia, you must not let her eat!" Her silver eyes scanned her cousins face.

~~~~~~~~

Z'skel has slept soundly, curled on top of the bed furs. Seth curled on his couch, the large bronze didn't even move, in his slumbering state. With a start the voice in his mind woke him, Z looked to the dragon, now making his way through the weyr. Nisurath rises to mate, hurry rider, there is not much time.[/color] Z'skel lept from the bed making a bee line for the doorway into the sleeping quarters before returning for clothing. Leathers would be a good idea, no sense in showing my entire self to the whole of the Weyr. He clamored for a clean pair of leather pants and a loose light colored shirt. Before again running out the door he checked himself in the shined metal mirror beside the curtain and racked his fine blonde hair back with his fingers. Grabbing a jacket, he ducked out of the sleeping room and headed after his dragon.

It is about time you caught up, any slower and you were going to miss it.[/color] The rider gave his bronze a stare through slitted eyes None of that... he cracked a smile at the dragon and glanced down into the Weyrbowl. The young queen had already lept into the herdbeast pens and was making quick work of the beasts. He waited beside his mount for the next move.

[LyricalBlue]

By the time Kess had made it to Iaslia's side, Nisurath was mantled over a panicking herdbeast and promptly tore out its throat. The blood sprayed over the gold's face, giving her a wild appearance. She bent to consume the beast, her own blood pounding when her rider's shout interrupted everything. Iaslia dropped the leathers, and waved her arms at the gold. Kess was right! The young woman bent her considerable will against the golden fury that was Nisurath.
"Blood it! Blood it only! You cannot eat!"

Nisurath swung her head over the herdbeast, fighting her rider's will. But after what seemed an eternity between them, Nisurath growled viciously and closed her maw over the beast's throat, sucking out its lifeblood. In seconds she took down another herdbeast and drained it in similar fashion. The color in her hide rose and Iaslia grabbed at Kess's shoulder, trying to steady herself against the gold's wild passion. Nisurath lifted her blood stained face to roar a challenge at the waiting males. Fools! They could not get anywhere near her! She could never be caught!

Iaslia could not help but become all too aware of the men around her. She could smell them, feel their presence. The air became so heavy she felt it pressing on her and fear grew into an icy lump in her stomach and she suddenly understood why Weyrwoman were supposed to take men to their weyr before their dragon rose for the first time. Their presence felt heavy, threatening, their sweat was sour in her nose. Green eyes flicked from Kess to Ev'os, the three of them were an odd triad indeed, but suddenly Ev'os became something entirely different. Rovanoth's response to Nisurath's challenge set him apart. Suddenly he was as much a threat as E'mion or Z'skel, these men she hardly knew.

Shining brightly now, Nisurath issued her challenge once more, then shot up into the air and dove over the rim of the Weyr. The gold had no intention of giving these males any chance, and as small as she was, typical tactics would not work with her. Iaslia ceased really being Iaslia and instead began to see what Nisurath was seeing.
Fly love fly!
The golden Queen tucked her wings against her sides and dove towards the treetops, the sun seemingly lighting her on fire.

[hrsegrl]

There was no choice now for Ev'os he was joining minds with his dragon who was set only on gaining the prize the other Bronzes were now taking interest in. The Gold shone before Rovanoth-Ev'os with a splendor unmatched by any he could recall. Vaguely he noticed Kess coaching Iaslia, she was no threat to him but these others...

He glanced first at the brownrider, L'nuo who seemed to be overly confident but no more so than the man nearer to Iaslia, E'mion. Who was he to think he had any claim on her? He was not even from here, what did he care for the Weyr at all? Just as he was done looking E'mion over the next Bronzer arrived, Z'skel. He hated them. All of them. If any of them dared touch her he might just snap.

When he was done glaring at the men, Rovanoth took a chance to blood while the Queen was occupied in her inner fight with Iaslia. The Bronze was ready more prepared than the others in his own mind. He blooded once more so that when she was finished and issuing her second cry he was done. He needed the energy more than the others after coming Between times. That was the only concern he had for his own stamina.

To look at him he was as strong as any of the Bronzes assembled though smaller than both Malekith and Seth. Malekith easily being the largest Bronze assembled. Still there was the factor that Nisurath too was small for her kind and one could hold out for hope that his agility would help him more than the larger Bronze's stamina. Ev'os, now entirely consumed with dragonlust was with his dragon, examining the other Bronzes and the brown with Rovanoth's eyes. Then the only thing Rovanoth-Ev'os could focus on was Gold Nisurath and her rider Iaslia.

Rovanoth's great wings flapped, gleaming with health as he took to the skies. The Queen's challenge was heard and he replied to her with an equal challenge, Fly as fast and as far as you can and I will follow as fast and as far as I can. Then we will see who is the best. It was almost playful as they used to play in the water at the Cove but the undertone said more. He would chase her forever if need be and he was determined to be there when she grew too tired to fly anymore.

[E]

After the four long months of being here, at this future Ponaa, E’mion still shook his head in disbelief at what the once great Weyr had become. This hiding had only hurt the Weyr. Dragon kind had been reduced to a gold who even in the fire of lust was a pale and small in comparison to her ancesters. Looking, while he still could at the bronze riders who stood around the young redhead, he only felt that disbelief and unease settle further into this stomach.

What was this? Truly, only three bronzes for the gold to chose from? It would not have been so terrible, E’mion decided, if the two who stood before him were old enough to have any true experience once-so-ever in leading a Weyr, or hell even a wing. One was fresh out of weyrlinghood and at only 2 or 3 turns old, the other bronze was not much further ahead in that game.

The older bronze rider, the one who lost his position as Weyrleader today – E’mion would have approved of that man and supported him. But with the woman on the gold dragon was his own blood daughter…. E’mion still wished he could have talked the man into simply allowing substitutes and still let his bronze fly. It was not an uncommon practice in the older days for weyrmates to allow their dragons to fly anyone, but keep themselves with eachother.

Yet here they were, Bronze and rider alike the oldest pair there. Oldest, but the ones in their prime and who knew what it would take to bring this Weyr back to fighting strength. It screamed its need for new blood… It also screamed its need for revenge on the people who had stolen the previous queen away from them. Too close had dragonkind come to the brink of extinction. That was something that the pair, today, would take the first step to fixing. A strong flight and a strong hand at leadership, that’s what this Weyr needed now more than anything.

As the gold issued her last challenge and lept into the air, Malekith took his time blooding his kill before lifting his maw and letting out his roar of defiance. Fly little gold, Fly fast and Fly high. When you are ready, I will teach you what it means to be a queen. The giant of a bronze watched as the two smaller, younger bronzes lept into the air and waited also for the brown to leap into the flight as well. Brown! You have no business here! Pay your dues to your queen quickly and take your leave.

Watching the queen fall beneath the lip of the bowl, the large bronze finally leapt from the ground himself as he felt E’mion meld with him. You start slowly Malekith, what game do you play at? You can not let these younger bronze beat you out!

The bronzes are small, the queen smaller. My wing need room to beat for a takeoff and I must allow my bulk time to chase such a little queen. There are reasons I do not chase greens E’mion. Rising over the lip of the bowl, he did not dip like the rest of the dragons, but beat his wings quickly to catch up to the group but kept his own altitude not too far above them. This was a game he had to play carefully and the bronze knew that all too well. He was not flying after a queen, he was not chasing her. He was hunting her.

__________________________________________________________

The brown heard the golds call and lept quickly to follow. His own blood was hot and he was eager. Unlike the bronzes, the brown chased greens often. Chasing the small flitty things had his own agility high and his confidence soared knowing he was the smallest dragon there. While every other gold flight that would be a bad thing, with how long and lithe this beauty was, it could make the difference. Beating his wings quickly, he was nearly at the tip of her tail when he heard the bronze demon’s shout at him.

He let out a playful warble, directing it at the queen instead of the bronze. Listen to these boys, all serious in their prize. Let us show them how agility can best stamina my queen. You take the lead, and I will follow.

Nearly on the tip of her tail, he matched her speed as he followed her in a dive over the weyr’s ledge. The speed and excitement had his adrenaline on fire and watching the queen’s hide seemingly burst into flames in the sunlight had him sending out another loving warble. What a beauty!

L’nuo was not far behind his own dragon. With him flying greens so often, however, he had a breath more control over his own link, and he took advantage of that. Moving forward in his own body, he put a hand on the other woman there, clearly helping the gold rider.

“Lead her to her Weyr. She’ll be completely connected and won’t think to move there on her own. The flight could be a long one, it could be short. It’s hard to tell with the first flight. So do not hesitate to begin moving her, the men will follow naturally.” That being said, the only brown rider with enough gall to chase a queen, took a step back with the bronze riders and joined the small semi circle around the redhead. Letting go of his own control, L’nuo slipped easily into his brown and followed after the gold on wings of his one true love, Menith.

[starshine]

The bluerider stood no taller then the redheads shoulders. She braced herself at her cousin’s grasp, the girls fingers digging into her slender shoulder. Iaslia was in the full throws of her dragon’s passion and it was all Kess could do but to coach her. Not that Kesstriel knew much about queen flights, just what she had learned as a candidate and such.

At the trumpeting of Nisuraths revolt her silver eyes flashed to the queen in the herding pen. Like a streak through the morning air the gold shot up and out of the Weyr into the clear sky above them. With the gold out of sight Kess refocused her eyes on her cousin. "Stay with her Iaslia, don't let her go between." Her words came in a voice unfamiliar to her. In the time the young riders had spent at the cove, she had grown a stronger will and a toughened sense. These words that made their way out of her mouth reflected the person she had become in that short two turn span.

“…the men will follow naturally.” She didn’t turn to look at who was speaking to her, choosing only to focus on her cousin as she slipped into her dragon completely. Kess placed a hand on the girls shoulder, attempting to guide the girl in the direction of her weyr.

-----

Z'skels eyes flashed from bronzerider to bronzerider, finally landing on the young girl, the rider of the queen Nisurath, The queen let out her challenge and Seth responded, shooting into the air after her, a light colored streak across the sky. Fly Seth, faster then ever. The riders eyes followed those of his dragon, sticking to him as he chased the spitfire gold. Seth-Z’skel glided as the gold dove with agility unexpected. This one is going to give those bronzes a good show. This won’t be easy.

Z’skel seeing through the eyes of his Seth, watched as the world swirled around him. The landscape never ceased to amaze him in flight. His bronze made every attempt to keep up, diving with the gold, keeping close to her movements. His wings flexed with each swoop, folding close to him, then flashing outward pulling him up into the air. The gold’s hide glistened like champagne diamonds, a brilliant color in the sun. She is a quick one.[/color] The bronzes tone was not that of amazement, or defeat, but that of challenge. And a challenge it was proving to be as he sped after the young queen. Seth rose to the challenge, determined to shine among the others.

He soared, gaining altitude, surveying the progress of the flight momentarily. The shift in perspective allowed him to catch his breath before diving back into the frey. The battery of wings, in varying shades of bronze and brown clamored after the wisp like gold, making an almost monochromatic streak of paint across the sky.

[LyricalBlue]

((Monocromatic streak of paint across the sky = <3 ))

Ha! Nisurath trilled as she dove, the voices of her suitors falling on deaf ears. These fools were no match for her, they could bask in her glory but they would never catch her! As she dove towards the tree line, her rider laughed out loud and dropped her hand from Kess's shoulder, only barely hearing anything her cousin had to say. Between? Oh no, that was no place for them, they had bronzes to taunt. And a brown, bold creature that he was, but he was no less worthy than any of the others. Iaslia realized that she had no reason to fear, they would never catch her. They were fierce and free, and far too powerful to be contained. An odd pair they were, skinny and small. But they were still Queen and none could eve begin to impress them.

Nisurath pulled her wings against her body tighter, streaking faster and faster towards the ground. But her heart screamed that she must again go up! Instinct told her to flare her pale wings out to catch the air like a chute. She shot forward, inches above the treetops, then twisted and pumped her wings, heading back up towards the glorious sun. The wind was the only lover she desired, these bronze beasts were too slow! The gold laughed at their pitiful attempts as she soared higher and higher. The sun kissed her hide and the wind stoked the burning fire within.

Iaslia was too much Nisurath now to be herself or respond, so when Kess began to lead, she followed. "Ha! These fools are no match!" The fear was gone, replaced by pounding blood and surging wildness. Let them try, oh let them try. She would dance on the clouds as they struggled below. Worthy of her! Show her how to be a Queen. Nisurath trumpeted and Iaslia echoed her cry. "I'll show you a Queen!" These males, with their sweat and heavy breath! Ha! Let them beg for attention! They would only compete with themselves. She would never be caught!

Flaring her wings once more, Nisurath virtually paused in the air, taunting the males that sought her. She dipped her head down to watch them in regal hauteur. This is what it meant to be a Queen! She would be no prize for their competition for she could not be caught. Faceted jewel like eyes whirled red with the heat that scorched her blood. Once more she roared, daring them to continue their fruitless chase, taunting them to continue. They stood no chance! The queen beat her wings down once more and twisted away, her tail flicking in indignation. How dare they even try!

[hrsegrl]

The Queen was as fiesty as ever now that she was in the air. Nothing any of them could say would stay her from her course. She cared little for any of them in this moment. She was free at last to roam the skies at her leisure. Though Rovanoth was younger than the others he could sense this about her, this was no game and if it were there would only be one winner, her.

Rovanoth was faster than intended at first for he had never given chase to any green before and now his first was after a Gold. Not just any Gold, he told himself. Now was not the time to act too swiftly. Ev'os who was mind joined with him reminded that the Gold would tire and so could he. Not that Rovanoth would allow himself to ever give up. He would make it to the end no matter what.

Ev'os was right though, too fast would make him tired. Instead he tried to find ways to gain ground that did not only involve speed. Anticipating some of her movements helped and he knew her better than anyone else. Perhaps that was an advantage but he knew this was not Nisurath as they had ever seen her before. She was surprising and new.

Instinctively he knew where the other males were. Malekith was above them for he was larger, much larger than the others. The brown, Mentith was closely following the small Gold. Seth too was fast and quite close to the brown and himself. His focus was only on Nisurath who showed no signs of slowing.

On the ground, Ev'os smiled at Iaslia's words. She had never been like anyone else. He had no doubt she would give them the hardest flight they had ever or probably ever would experience. Without thought he followed where Iaslia went. They were all flying, vying to impress her for just a moment but instead they were all impressed by her. The lady of their dreams.

[E]

The brown had known that heart pounding drop would be coming, but he had not been ready for how high it began and how long it lasted. Despite his trust in the gold, he broke the fall a moment earlier than her and ended up needing to circle back around and correct his path as the queen finally broke hers, speeding quickly away from him. Letting out a warble that was a mixture of frustration and playfulness, the brown still seen this chase as more of a game than a true matting flight – after all, browns didn’t catch golds, they simply showed them they had their love before dropping out to allow those worthy to mate a gold continue.

Watching the gold in her quick ascent, Menith let out another playful warble cheering on the beauty. Ah but he had been following too closely and had broken too soon. Now he was easily in the back of the pack and he knew that he would not be able to pass the bronzes. In those few short seconds of hesitation and lack of trust in the gold’s judgment and his own wings he had let his own chance at her break.

Fly high my queen! Do not let these beasts catch you, for it is you who rule the skys! And with that, the brown turned wistful wings toward home. Perhaps next time. The gold was unlike others… perhaps he would have a better chance next time, perhaps then he will trust in his own wings to carry him to victory.

[exit Brown Menith stage left]

_______________________________________________________________

Unlike the brown Menith, Malekith had a much better position at the end of her maneuvers. While yes he had dipped when she dropped in her dive toward the tree tops, because of his own height he had a lot more time to change directions and it left him close behind her in her climb. The next dive… he told himselve as he let his massive wings pump to keep up the speed she flew with… the next dive I will be close enough to dive with her and catch her.

As the four rose higher the air became thinner and Malekith could feel it in his wings as he had to work harder to keep altitude and breathe. Even so he chased on, knowing full well that the other dragons would be feeling the thinner air as well. Passing through the first of the clouds, he was glad to see the gold had not changed courses in the middle of it and he was still close behind.

Hearing her roars of challenge, he let out a deafening roar of his own to let her know that he still chased her, and would chase her to the ends of the sky. And when she tired, he would be there to take her home. When he first saw the little gold he had been the one needing to be carried, he planned on proving to the queen that he had not been wasted effort.

[starshine]

Seth whirled in the air, following the gold as close as he could get. The bronze was young, and full of energy but as the flight progressed he gradually lost stamina. Z'skel balled his hands into fists as he followed the young goldrider to her weyr. Seth was slowing. Go on, fly as fast as you can. Push. He was indifferent to gaining leadership, though he knew the gold was what the bronze lusted after. I fear she might be just out of my reach. The tone in the bronzes note was not that of defeat, mearly a statement of what Z'skel had known.

Seth spread his wings, catching himself and swinging back. He let the wisp of gold slip farther away, his eyes whirling slowly. Give them the flight of their lives.... He headed back to the weyr taking his time gliding and swooping at his own leisure.

Z'skel blinked as he returned to his own head. What a flight it head been! This new gold was a feisty one for sure and had given Seth a run for it. A fair try. He smirked and slinked out of the weyr, making his way down into the lower caverns.

[LyricalBlue]

First brown Menith dropped out and Nisurath trilled at her triumph, then as the chase continued, Seth dropped out. None of them could keep up with her. Nisurath danced through the clouds, taunting the remaining bronze pair. She flicked her tail fork at them contemptuously then tucked her wings and dove, twisting to fly under the two males. She flashed the underside of her belly before twisting away once more. Rovanoth was close, but not close enough!

The gold roared to her remaining suitors. Was this the best they had? As the flight continued, her wingbeats began to falter and the gold sought the lower heights for easier breathing. She could not let them catch her! Foolish males to think they were worthy of her. Nisurath cupped her wings against an updraft and caught a small breather, glancing upwards to see where the two bronzes still were. Young Rovanoth, her clutchmate and Malekith, the huge strange bronze who she had very little interaction with.

Though she lacked the experience of an older Queen, the small gold waited, gliding slowly. The gesture after the wild maneuvers was almost contemptuous. And her rider far below, giggled once more. Oh yes, they had the number of these bronzes and she was not about to give up this fight easily. She would see now, what they could do.

[hrsegrl]

The young Bronze was glad he had not gone all out as the brown had for now he was not as tired. Certainly not tired enough to quit. As if quitting were an option! Rovanoth was pleased he had outlasted both the brown and the other young Bronze. He would prove himself worthy yet. She was close, so close but he had to be closer to catch her and she knew it. Rovanoth knew she must be growing tired for he felt his own muscles tightening as he flew.

As Nisurath taunted them, diving below Malekith and himself he guessed at her direction and took off following her. He beat his wings steadily though they were obviously smaller than Malekith's who would not be nearly as tired as either Rovanoth or Nisurath. The youger Bronze was much quicker though and was going to have to use his speed to his advantage.

The roaring challenge of the Queen only made him want to chase her further. Certainly it was no deterrent. It was his intention to get close, close enough that she could choose to rely on his strength to get her home. Only one thing mattered now, Nisurath. When she began to glide he knew he could catch up it would only take moments before he was there. She thought she had them but he still had speed and strength to bring him forth. Rovanoth moved so that he was coming toward her from her left side. His wing tip was almost within reach of her own bur Malekith too, he could sense was close.

Ev'os felt like he was being consumed by his dragon's thoughts and feelings. He wanted badly to reach out for the woman before him but held back. There was still a flight to finish and she was under no man's claim. Ev'os felt his Bronze's wings growing sore but the youngster would not give in to pain. He wanted to finish.

[wonder123]

It had been quiet around Ponaa. Too quiet, for too long. For four months now it had seemed like the Weyr was collectively holding its breath. With Gaelle's death, no one could idlely push away thoughts of extinction anymore. Hope lay with a group of kids who'd been sent off who to knew where, or to be more exact, when. Rumors mingled with facts, and even though there had been no real news lately, everyone seemed to know some new development about the group of missing weyrling.

Depression masked itself as a new restlessness in the bronzerider. Drills were pointless, he figured, if the real threat was an unseen poison or attack durning the night. Dragons, his wonderful Myneth in particular, were meant to fight Thread. Instead the most important of them had been killed. How did that happen? Bad things did not happen to R'lec. By this time, the plan had been to have seduced Gaelle, and win her next flight. Everyone knew dragons were influenced by their riders' inclinations.

Well, at least some of the times.

She rises!

"What?" R'lec tossed a small stone into a lake - they'd left yesterday for an extended hunting trip. It was their usual excuse when a spell of restlessness came on. Myneth had cut into his rider's dark musings - a habit he'd gotten into these past few months - that R'lec could had sworn he's misheard him. Who could be rising? The bronze rumbled, annoyed to have to repeat himself. He was tired of these games R'lec was playing these days. It'd gotten so bad, the bronzerider had actually turned down one of the Lower Cavern women earlier that week. His rider's strange behavior was enough to upset the usual vain bronze. This news, however, could not wait. It would not. Myneth still had his priorities straight. Queens were still first.

Nisurath rises. They have returned. If you don't mount up right now, I'll leave you.

Finally, R'lec came to. It was amazing what a brisk word from Myneth could do. A spark of the his old same lit his eyes as he vaulted up into the saddle. They hadn't missed a flight yet, they'd be damned if they started now. By the time they winked between, it had lit a fire in both dragon and rider. Only seconds later, they appeared in the middle of the action, R'lec had just enough sense of mind to command Myneth to set him down before he took off after the young queen. Encumbered by the saddle, Myneth was slow at the start, compounded by the fact they were a shadow late behind the others. One dragon, a brown, was already breaking away from the pack, giving up on his quest. That mattered little to the large bronze. If his competition was mere browns and young bronzes, Myneth would have no trouble catching up.

Myneth's roar echoed, and he shot after the group. His wings abusing the air around him, surging his large body forward to attempt to claim this prize. The last Gold on Pern.

---

T'van looked over the Weyr as the wing blinked into the air above it. His heart stirred slightly at the beauty of the scene before them, but there were no emotion attached. T'van had only called the Weyr home for a week or so before impressing. If anything, the Cove had become that for him. Not Ponaa, or Southern Hold. It was in that cove that he'd truly become a Rider and, despite the odds, actually bonded with some of his fellow Weyrlings. It was with confindence and ease that the young man and his large brown flew on the left flank of Nisurath.

They touched down, but they were not greeted with embraces or handclasps from the ones they'd left behind. T'van turned after dismounting Hirith to see a whole scene unfolded before him. A young queen blooding a kill. Bronzes and others readying for a choice.

It took a moment for it to click. Hirith, as always, was the first to make a move. But they'd just arrived! T'van couldn't believe Nisurath would rise so quickly. The brown skipped lightly from where he'd landed to closer to the other males. Although the brown knew there was no coming between Nisurath and Rovanoth, Hirith had grown closer to them than the other of the group. They had his respect, and the queen especially, his devotion.

T'van had no plans on participating in this flight whatsoever. His head whipped back and forth from the terrifying sight of the eager young gold blooding her kill to the circle of pursuers his lifemate had just joined. What are you doing?! Hirith's response was simple. What I was made for.

There was no more discussion. Nisurath saved them that as she announced her challenge and took to the skies. Hirith wasn't the only brown participating at least. He stayed well behind the others though, content to see where the chase would lead and to conserve his own strength. He was smart - Hirith knew that with these bronzes he would have to be careful. Although he might come close to their bulk (indeed, he rivaled some of the smaller bronzes, and was not far behind his brother Rovanoth in size), they had more experience. The brown would not tax his endurance until he was sure he had a shot. The window of opportunity was small, but he would not be stopped.

T'van joined the ring around Iaslia, his mind beginning to cloud with dragon lust. He stood to the left of Ev'os, as if in support. But it was only a matter of time before they would be enemies. Hirith crooned to Nisurath. I follow you. T'van felt himself lurch forward involuntarily as his focus was torn by the woman in front of him and the fight in the skies.

(Can edit or delete, no prob)