Forever Midnight (Tiida's Run)

[Rowana]

The night was deep and moonless. The tiny speckles of stars offered little illumination on the foliage below. Tiida did not care. It was perfect. Nothing would overshadow her beauty tonight. It was time at last! She had been waiting so long for this moment. Now was the time for her to shine!

Perched on top of the wherhandler apartments, she rose on her hind legs. Huge wings outstretched and tiny frill unfurled. ComeHandsomes! she cried joyfully. ComeChase! PrettyTiida! ChaseNow! Then she leaped. Her wings caught the air and for a moment she almost seemed to fly as she glided from the building. Where were her males? Had they thought she would never call for them? Did they fear the dark? She only wanted the bravest as hers!

Roivao stopped mid lecture. He had been telling his students about the hazards of heat to whers. Now he he was standing frozen, his mind in turmoil. Roisk crooned in concern, circling him warily. This was all that green pest's fault. Why had His ever allowed her to stay? She was annoying, rude, and now look what she was doing. If she ever got back from this madness, he was going to teach her to control herself. He was tempted to squash her, but that would make His sad.

Roi recognized the rush of feelings, but there was something different about them. Iloth had chased many females in his day, though he had rarely won. Roisk had chased a couple since he had matured, but this was different. He didn't want to chase anyone, he wanted to be chased! He glanced up and swore. Sel'n had warned him about salamandyrs and the powerful influence that had during mating. He had almost forgotten, assuming Tiida might be sterile because she was far past maturity. Apparently she had just been biding her time. Why now?! He was in the middle of class, for Faranth's sake!

"Class...um...dismissed..." he trailed off, barely paying attention to the others present. Conscious thought faded as Tiida's overwhelming desires took hold. Roi's last thought before he went running across the fields was that would never get another salamandyr as long as he lived. Never. Roisk grumbled moodily, glaring at the students. They better not try anything. Then he turned and trotted after his handler. Some beast had to stay sane in all this.

[Ember]

Charming and Misfit were restless in their sleep, Nephele noted as she crawled into her bed. The brown flitters twitched slightly in their sleep and girl watched them for a while. Evidentally whatever was troubling them wasn't enough to rouse Charming but Misfit opened his eyes blearily and looked up at her. Something..something had called him out of his sleep. He cheeped and uncurled, glancing at Charming almost smugly. Good. It was good he was asleep and could not bother Misfit. Nephele was far from happy though.

The brown fluted happily at his girl but his other girl waited for him! As he flew into the air and disappeared between the girl was stuck wondering exactly what purple meant in a draconic eye. At any rate, she could no longer try to sleep again with Misfit off doing he knew what...Oh. In the back of her mind she saw through Misfit's eyes the thing that had roused him so late at night. Now she could decipher that oddly familiar feeling. Lust. She'd been wondering when one of her darling browns would chase. She would have bet on Charming first since he was older but...every draconic thing had their time.

At least she had firelizards. A salamandyr would be much more troubling, considering Nuoth's still tender age. They were warned off of sexual interactions because of the effect it could have on young dragons. Had she kept paying attention she mayb have realized what Misfit was chasing actually was a 'mandyr but since sleep was impossible she went to the common room and sat with a book near an opened glowbasket to put Misfit out of her mind.

Misfit had not gone directly to the are of the chase. He'd made a quick pass by one of his many hiding spots to nab half of a cracker. The brown fluted pleasantly at Tiida as he appeared near but not too close to her. He was awesome, yes? He'd brought a gift! He was obsessed with crackers so his logical choice had been his tasty snack. Yummy idea, right?

[ravenmane]

Oh, Sk'leeeeeeeeeeeeer. Oh Sk'leeeeeeeeeeeeeer! You need to wake up, Sk'ler! Air blasted his face along with some large globs of saliva and the rider jerked upward. In the process several of his pets, mainly his fire-lizards and a canine, were dislodged onto each other. Voolli hissed loudly when the still sleeping Admiral refused to get off him while Joolree settled down next to the black canine at the end of the bed and Soltun chittered softly at Sk'ler. He patted the Brown appreciatively before glaring at the dark brown head shoved into his room. "Did you really have to spit on me, Triniath?" Trin rumbled with amusement. I am simply waking you up so I can tell you something. "And that would be?" The dragon pinned his rider with a baleful glance and then removed himself from the weyr.

A green mandyr Runs tonight. Nonononono! That was all going through Sk'ler's mind. He did a quick head count and chose a few colorful words to describe his feelings. Runs and Flights were things of great evilness and the only downside of having dragons, salamandyrs, or fire-lizards. With other animals, like canines, you didn't get dragged into the whole sex thing when it occurred. Triniath snorted loudly. I'm not saying you are annoying. I just hate being intimate. Sky screwed his face up at the thought of intimacy. Still not a very mature person when it came for that part of life. Ha. You are only a wimp. Remember that time with Raiyth's and the Brown's? Stop rooting through my memories! Sk'ler growled as his face grew red.

Just as he was about to attempt sleep, a burst of excitement shot through his mind. "I hate you, Skye..." Grudgingly, he dragged himself away from the warm bed and bodies and stomped out to his life-mate. Can you get me close to wherever the little monster is. He didn't need an answer to know Triniath would do it. Neither were very eager for any accidents to happen during the middle of the night. As for the cause of both Sk'ler's and Triniath's annoyance, Skye was perched in a tree watching Tiida. Clutched his grasp was a small, but quite shiny earring Joolree had stolen. She wouldn't miss it and it would be replaced by morning. That he knew. What he didn't know was if his present would be expected. Didn't all the pretty pretty littles like shinies? He did, but would she?

With his little claws clinging tightly to the present, the wingless fire-lizard blinked between. He appeared a few feet away from the pretty pretty little green. For a moment, he was lost in bliss as he watched her glide, yet there were greater things to think about. Like his present! Skye chirped eagerly and awkwardly held up the earring for Tiida. Did she like it? Was it pretty enough? Definitely not as pretty as she, but it would have to do, yes? It was much better than that ugly brown cousin with a cracker. A cracker! Tiida was too pretty for a simple cracker! Stupid brown! Very stupid!

[Kisha-Ra]

If there had been any moonlight the silvery blue firelizard would have stood out starkly against the night. Bane sat quietly as he had for a while, watching the wherling lesson. He wasn’t quite sure what the dragon-uglies were actually supposed to do but when they did it he’d know about it, then he wouldn’t tell anyone else. That would teach everyone to be more interesting.

Wait! What was that? One of the little frilled ones was glowing brightly? That was most interesting. Lots of things happened when green frills glowed, normally they involved his mindmate being usurped by a human as well as Wraith, ugly little thing that she was, then it was left to Bane to wake J’on so he could escape before his mate turned on him. Humans were really most strange.

Bane dropped gracelessly into the air and drifted toward the green. Other firelizards were already there, one with a cracker and one with a shiny. What was this all about then? Well they’d just better not get too near his interesting frilled green now. Bane was watching them.

J’on rolled over in bed and stared blankly up at the celing of his weyr. Green salamandyrs, what in the world? Oh no. J’on’s eyes widened in comical dismay. ‘No Bane. Please, no salamandyrs. I can’t take another pairing like that.’ He groaned, though he still got up and pulled on the clothes he’d been wearing earlier. He had no real idea of what he was going to do about the whole situation, except fervently hope Bane would lose of course, but he did feel a whole lot better wearing clothes.


Troublemaker slipped out of the wherhandler’s quarters silently, well pleased with what he had in his mouth. The ring was made of shiny metal, as most rings were but best of all it had a big shiny stone in it. The only problem was that it glittered so much he’d been unable to fetch it during the day, he’d have been spotted in a moment, besides, those wher pests were in during the day. Stupids, sleeping all day. But who had the shiny thing now huh?

What now? Trouble stood still in the shadows, waiting for the next development. Chase? Chase who? A glimpse of wings above him gave the answer. What a lovely green salamandyr with only firelizards to chase her? What an insult! Well he’d easily show those fat asshats who was better around here. He already had the best present! Food? That pathetic little shiny? Mere trinkets compared to he wondrous thing Troublemaker had for her. Without aonther thought Troublemaker shot out of hiding and ran along under the gliding green. I chase best you. Bring best shiny gift of all! He announced, unable to see how he was going to give her the shiny if she wasn’t going to stop, he might have to abandon it somewhere…

I think it would be wise if you were to come over here. Emerith stood up as she spoke to her rider and stretched her body and wings. what? Why? O’dan was confused, wasn’t it late to go anywhere? Troublemaker is

Chasing O’dan finished for his green as a wave of disorientation flooded over him. Where the hell was Trouble anyway? Outside somewhere. Emerith. The greenrider clung stubbornly to his dragon’s consciousness as the green helpful projected nonsense bits of thought at him. She’d get him somewhere near, more safely than if he went blundering about in the dark under the influence of salamandyr lust anyway. He managed to get out to the weyrledge and onto his dragon without incident. Then he just hung on with all his determination as Emerith took off.

Emerith thought everything she could remember that made sense, bits of granny tales, snatches of song, parts of lessons and conversations, anything that her bonded could use to hold on to her mind and not Troublemaker’s, just for a little longer. Find the green salamandyr’s bonded.

[Rowana]

Tiida circled in the air, her sail like wings still holding her up. Where were her chases? Wasn't she pretty? Didn't they want her? Oh, there they were! BraveHandsomes! she sang with delight. ComeChase! PrettyTiida! Oh look! They had brought her presents! The first brown fire lizard had brought food. How sweet of him! The next one was blue and had brought something shiny. Was he a salamandyr or a fire lizard? Tiida didn't care. What a lovely gift he had brought! Another blue! He didn't have a present, but that was alright. He was handsome enough without one. And her at last was one of her own kin. He had brought the biggest shiny of all, how thoughtful!

Tiida crooned and trilled with delight! What fun this was! All this attention just for her. She circled again and curved in the air, as graceful as any fire lizard, before setting down on a small hillock. She could not stay in the air, but she would not be on the ground for long! Tiida loved to dance and the sky was the best place for it. She darted along in a zig zag path, searching for something high to jump from. She ventured no closer to her males. True, she loved their gifts, but she wasn't going to get closer and carrying things would slow her down. She had so much to do before she stopped. Tiida found a small tree and scrambled up, barely pausing before she launched herself into the air again. The wind bore her higher and she spun joyfully. What fun! Her males should work hard. She wanted them to keep up. It was no good to play alone.

Roisk caught up with Roivao's wild racing form and snapped his shirt. Roi stop so fast that he fell on his back with his wher looming over him. Stupid groundbeast! He thought, most unlike him. He was getting in the way! Roi growled and tried to get up, but Roisk was sitting, gently but firmly, on his handlers legs. He had decided that if Tiida must run, then there was no need for Roi to run too. He might get hurt. Besides, the other poor humans were coming here anyway. Roisk could see them, some even riding on dragon back. There was no need to rush about and cause injury. Roi continued to squirm and fussed, but Roisk was a lot bigger and heavier than he was. He was stuck. Stupid groundbeast!

[Ember]

Misfit chittered happily, although the sound was touched with a bit of confusion. 'Mandyr, not firelizard? Oh, but she was so graceful and prettypretty in the air! And since he could do a credible imitation of a 'mandyr crawling around why not chase? Although the problem of the cracker...It wasn't really heavy to him, considering he was much bigger than Tiida but it would be annoying on the ground. The brown wrapped his tail around the cracker experimentally while he flew. that would work for when Tiida landed. She would have to land eventually, given she was salamandyr and not firelizard...

Ah, there she went. Clumsy with cracker in tail the brown landed and began to scurry after her. Ah-ha. Ground work was easier without the cracker in the way. And wasn't he smart to think up such a solution. The bandit marked brown gave a soft peep for the greenpretty as he pointedly ignored the other firelizards. Scuttling about was something he was very good at, as far as firelizards go. He was adaptable to a 'mandyr's style. However the 'mandyr chaser...he was worth worrying about on the ground. He put it out of his mind as he watched the green climb up a tree and spring off.

Air! He spent the time she did springing off the tree to switch the grip of the cracker. He'd need maneouverability! He sprung off the ground after Tiida. She was cleverpretty he decided as he saw her use the currents to her advantage. If any 'mandyr was worth chasing, it was this one. He spiralled upwards after her, cheating slightly due to his ability to actually fly. Tiida was a very skilled glider though! He admired that skill in a 'mandyr even as he could see the disadvantages if she was an opponent trickster. Interestinggreencleverpretty.

[Kisha-Ra]

Chase her? Why would thee little green frilly want be chased? Was it a new game, Bane wondered, well it wouldn’t hurt oblige her now would it? The blue firelizard bounced up from his perch with more grace than usual, not a hard feat as Bane usually took off with all the grace of a dead avian. If she wanted to be chased he would chase her.

She was a pretty frilly, Bane noted, not as strange as the others, and she had enough wingspan to properly command the air, for a time at least. Just look at that, she was nearly as graceful as a firelizard green when she was in the air. She was quick too, landing and darting off in a convoluted path, one that Bane could follow from the air, since he was not burdened with useless things like the others.

She vanished somewhere, Bane spun in the air then trilled happily as the green came out of her tree and back into the air. There she was!


Well she did have big wings and Troublemaker had nowhere to climb and glide from but the brown didn’t let that deter him in the slightest, he just ran underneath her, darting from side to side, sure that she’d come down eventually. She liked the shiny, she’d want to come and get it, she would.

But, she just ran off ahead when she landed, scrambling up a tree to get back to the air. He was going to have to leave the shiny somewhere and come back for it later. There was no way he could glide properly with it in his mouth, it was big, and heavy. Trouble’s gaze flicked around, where? The brown zipped off the course of the Run for a moment, almost looking as if he were losing interest, dived into a pile of dead leaves, and came out without his stolen treasure. Later get. Give. he assured Tiida as he bounded out of the leaf pile and scrambled onto the nearest small height that he could launch himself from. His glide was somewhat less than impressive, being too near the ground to catch any night breezes but it was enough. He could glide, he would follow, just as soon as he found something tall enough to jump off of.

Emerith decided that she loved bronze whers, she was so grateful to this one for pointing out and holding down his bonded. The green dragon landed carefully, her rider wasn’t holding on at all tightly. There you go, you can get off now. We are on the ground.

O’dan couldn’t quite seem to recall how you were supposed to get down. He couldn’t even recall just why he was up here. Then his eye fell on Roivao, pinned beneath his wher. Ah the green! Yes she was wonderful was she not? O’dan scabbled, wobbled, and fell down the side of his dragon. He quickly rolled to his feet, hoping the gren hadn’t seen, he wasn’t normally so clumsy, really.

[Rowana]

Tiida rolled in the air and cried out joyfully. Let them try and catch her in the air! She was the wind itself! Even fire lizards could not catch her! Until she wanted them too that was. She twirled and zigzagged, even as she drifted closer to ground. She couldn't stay up forever. How were her males keeping up? Misfit was doing well. Look how clever he was! Following her even when she went on the ground and still holding her present. Tiida crooned in delight. She hoped he would keep up. Bane was a handsome one. Such a lovely blue color and so attentive. Trouble had the best gift. So big and shiny! She would be happy to have it later, but she hoped he wouldn't think that was all it would take to win her. He was doing well too, for all he was still on the ground.

Tiida's endurance was running thin. She need another landing point! She weaved, letting the wind carry her closer to the jungle's edge. There! Another tree! Tiida landed on a low branch, but she wasn't going to jump off all at once. She leaped, a short trip to another tree. Four more jumps and she was four more trees away from when she's first landed. Laughing in delight, she took to the air again. Had they kept up? It would be hard to see her in the trees, but she was sure they could do it. She only wanted the best after all!

Roisk rumbled moodily and looked at Emerith in gratitude. He was glad she had come and brought Hers with her. Maybe with one of the others so close, His would calm down. It was getting hard to keep him still without hurting him. Roivao continued to growl and claw at Roisk, with little effect. His eyes looked around madly and then spotted O'dan. There was one of his males! He was late! Roi didn't care that he was clumsy. No if only this stupid ground beast would get off him!

[Ember]

Misfit trilled exuberantly as he matched Tiida's speed in the air. He could do that much! He respectfully kept his distance from her and as she started to lose height he twisted to his side for a moment and simply watched her. Then the prettyclevergreen landed and he crooned sadly. It was wonderful to share the skies with her but every 'mandyr had to land at some point. He cheeped curiously as she stuck to the trees, permanently tilted head accenting his curiosity. He didn't really want to land again since dancing in the air with her was so much more fun.

So..Instead he zigzagged above and below the branches she landed on playfully, nearly losing sight of her pretty form in the dark outlines of the trees. She was a tricky one! Misfit landed briefly on the last tree before kicking off with force upwards. He went up, up, up...then folded his wings and entered a steep dive that would bring him very close to Tiida but not too close. Look how daring he was! As he went zipping past her he trilled again and broke out of the dive to watch her from underneath. Was she impressed with him?

Nephele sighed and rubbed her temples. Why did Misfit have to chase at such a late time? Really, weyrlings were supposed to be asleep by that time. She'd just have to wait for whatever green it was to end the flight so she could actually get to bed. She had a feeling the next day's lesson would be rather important and require her attention.

[Kisha-Ra]

Bane trilled his appreciation for the green’s aerial skills, and shot a glare at Misfit for trilling at more or less the same time. How rude! Bane drifted lower and lower, twisting and turning, to glide low over the ground after the green.

The blue welcomed the sight of the jungle’s edge, it was very hard to follow such a quick little frilly through all the hanging obstacles, the blue was sure the leaves, vines, and flowers had been placed deliberately all over the place by his rivals to prevent him from flying close to Tiida.

Bane rolled over a few times rapidly as he realised the green was going to fly again, she was the best ever flying frilly! Oh, she wasn’t flying? Where did she go? Bane flew along in the direction he’d last seen Tiida leap in for a few moments, peering about. Ah, she was in the trees still, very sneaky.

She was good at this jumping thing; it was almost as fast as flying, maybe Bane would have to try it some time. Just look how far she’d gone in a few bounds. Where was she again. There! Out of the trees now, Bane looped his flight path around the green in a few wide circles, trilling happily. He was so pleased to see her again!


Troublemaker sprinted to catch up with Tiida, an easier feat now he was unburdened by a heavy, but oh so sparkly, shiny. He dashed up the nearest tree, bounding out along a low vranch and hurling himself out into the air again, he was by no means the best glider but he was in the air, that was what was really important. However, to his embarrassment Trouble was soon forced to land and run along the ground after the green. Oh it was so unfair.

Determined not to be outdone by he firelizards the brown climbed up the same tree as Tiida, ran out along a branch and leapt into a glide. But where was she? The brown caught the shape of a mandyr jumping nearby and twisted, sheering off to land in the tree again, so she’d fooled him had she? Well he wasn’t out of the running yet. He ran and bounded through the concealing branches, relying on glimpses of glowing green for Tiida’s location until she took to the air again. Naturally Troublemaker burst out of the foliage after her in his very best glide, sneakily catching the breeze to help him along.

O’dan frowned, what was that bronze doing? Couldn’t he see that the green didn’t want him? Off! He pushed against the bronze wher’s shoulder, only to find Roisk as impossible to move as a dragon. ‘Not want you. Off.’ He demanded, with all of Troublemaker’s eloquence. Emerith just stretched herself out on the ground, like Roisk, she could do nothing but wait patiently and try and see to it that her bonded didn’t hurt himself.

[Rowana]

Tiida broke through the cover of the trees and into open air again. Being chased was such fun! These lovely males clearly wanted her. They didn't mind that her wings were too big and her frill to small. She was perfect! She wished she could pick them all! Sadly she only wanted one in the end. All the flying and excitement was waring her out faster than she had hoped. Maybe it was time to finish. She turned lazily in the air, eying her prospects carefully. Misfit was a fun chaser. Bane was a handsome one. Troublemaker was determined. She recalled another, but she couldn't see him now. They were all lovely. Which to chose?

There! He was the one! Tiida collapsed her wings and dropped on top of her chosen. GoodHandsome she crooned to Misfit. LoveTiida. Yes yes? She curled around him and caressed him. He had been such a fine chaser. He was the best to have made the chase such fun! And now she was his.

Roisk turned his head and gave O'dan a tired look. Did the silly human really think he could move him. But then, he was hardly thinking straight. Neither was his bonded. Roivao was squirming harder now, and even tried to bite into one of the wher's claws. "Big groundbeast!" he screamed. "WantFree!" Roisk just blinked at him. Where was his male? Why wasn't he here. Roi beat the ground in frustration. O'dan wasn't the one he wanted at all. But he was the only one here. He would do.

Roi kicked at the great lump and it finally gave way. Roisk had decided holding him down anymore would do more harm than good. With an apologetic look to Emerith, he had moved off. Roi wasted no time. He jumped up and tackled O'dan to the ground, rolling through the grass. "Handsome," Roi crooned in Tiida's high voice. "GoodHandsome."

[Ember]

Misfit fought the urge to nibble on the cracker in his paws. He'd either have the chance a little later or he'd have to give it up grudgingly as a present to Tiida even if she didn't choose him. The lightly coloured brown had little to worry about though. A light weight on his back made the brown squawk with surprise and then croon adoringly. The prettylovely had chosen him!

Nor words were possible for the brown but he knew Tiida would understand him anyways. She was his, and he hers after all. Love Tiida, he would! She would always be welcome to his cracker stashes, yes yes. And to himself of course. It was a bit strange that he'd end up with a green 'mandyr considering he liked to blame his antics on them. Tiida had proven herself worthy in the air though and now she had him to support her when she fell.

He crooned again to the green on top of him. He remained in the air a while longer, circling down slowly. They couldn't do anything up in the air if she was on his back..Misfit was eager to share his gift with her. Crackers, however, paled in comparison to their rival, Tiida. PrettyloveTiida.