One man's Worth [Ghost's Flight]

[Kisha-Ra]

Breakfast time meant the dining hall was full almost to bursting point, or at least it did this early in the morning when dragonriders, wherhandlers, and weyrfolk alike started trouping in to be fed. It was also the site of a battleground in the endless struggle to get Evil fed without Mo’rya ending up with honey in his hair and all over his clothes. Despite all the practice he’d had Evil was still not easy to feed him his chosen meal, and so far as Mo’rya could tell the blue’s only sustenance. Evil tended to be impatient, and wasn’t above trying to strangle his bonded with his tail if honey wasn’t forthcoming soon enough.

Compared to the trail that was Evil Mop’rya’s other pets were easy to ignore in the morning, Gaia was puttering about the floor of the hall, busily finding dropped beans and rice to plant in the floor cracks, Wit had gone back to sleep on the table with his chin resting on Mo’rya’s plate, and Ghost, well Ghost was often nowhere to be seen at this time of day so Mo’rya’s inability to find her wasn’t anything to remark upon, a totally unremarkable morning all told.

Well, unremarkable until Ghost did put in appearance, drifting down from on high like a falling star. The very clearly ready to Rise queen landed neatly in the middle of Mo’rya’s table, flicked her wings once and gave her human a soft little nuzzle on his free hand. Then as if her duty in greeting her bonded was done the gold turned back to the room, flared her huge wings and reared up onto her back wings to shriek in a manner never heard from her before. Once she was sure all eyes were on her Ghost fanned her wings slightly and gave voice to a sweet trilling song. Sorry about the noise everyone. Humans were so noisy weren’t they? Now, who would chase her?

Ghost shriek sent Evil shooting off the table as swiftly as a startled bird. Females were the enemy! Too sweet, too soft, absolutely sickening. Evil wanted no part in this farce thank you so very much! With that barrage of complaints the blue vanished, no doubt to find somewhere to hide until the Flight was over. Wit, too, responded to the gold’s call, though just like Evil he had no intention of chasing his golden slave; far too much effort, if she wanted to pick him up and fly with him fine, otherwise, no. However the tubby salamandyr didn’t find it too much effort to take a sphinxlike pose on the table top and speak in what could only be called a dramatic tone. Who will chase? Who dare to court the queen of night skies? Dance to her tune pipers, your fate awaits. Love! Passion! Fear! Doom! then, his input apparently over, the blue closed his eyes and lifted his half frill smugly. I am most clever. he confided quietly to his bonded as Ghost turned her head to give the blue salamandyr an incredulous look.

[Aftershock]

Samael sat at a table, mostly unaware of the hustle and bustle about him. He poked dejectedly at some scrambled eggs on his plate as Heimdall lounged on the floor at his feet, gnawing on the thick thighbone of what Samael assumed was a herdbeast, though with New Selenitas' difficulty keeping herdbeasts while staying hidden, Samael wasn't certain, though Heimdall didn't seem to mind. Sitting on the table beside Samael's plate, Freyr carefully gnawed on a piece of tough sausage. Ever since the hatching, Samael had been out of sorts, torn between his desire to find Vellani and talk to her, and his desire to leave her to her new dragonriding life and help her forget the simple blind boy who she was so kind to, as he would only slow her down.

Suddenly, Freyr stopped eating and stood up straight, eyes swirling purple as he scented something on the air. Then, he spotted the source of the pheromones... the nearly emaciatedly-petite Ghost fluttering to the table of Hers, then spreading her wings and shrieking. Posing himself in a most handsome manner, showing firm muscle under recently-oiled hide, the light glistening off his reddish-bronze skin, Freyr spread his wings in Ghost's direction and shrieked in return, his red chest puffed outward as he attempted to both capture the gold's attention and the attention of other firelizards... it would do no good to have the beautiful golden flit have too few suitors, though he was sure he would win her.

[Ivy]

//Helios ~ Eros ~ Poe//

Helios had been in the dining hall for a few candlemarks now hopping from table to table to try and spread some early morning cheer. Oh he was a playful brown to say the least, being an overall goofball to try and bring smiles to people's faces. He would have been trying to cheer His up but His had shooed him away - and big Bluebrother didn't seem very happy with him being there either. Instead of dwelling on it Helios had gone off to find other people who would enjoy his company, he could check in on His later. Soft croons and cheerful chirrups came from the brown as he turned his head to the side and watched the person in front of him. His attention, however, was swayed from the giggling young girl towards another table when he heard the gold cry out. Who would chase? Oh he would, certainly! Taking flight he circled over the gold and crooned happily to her, hello beautiful! He did a loop, as if to show off just how agile he was - surprisingly so for a brown. His red-brown hide shone with a healthy sheen as the light caught on him and he gave another soft croon, watching the female with eyes swirling a lovely mix of blue and a soft purple.

//

Another firelizard had been in the hall all this time as well, without his bonded. However Eros' intentions were not to spread cheer and joy amongst the denizens of the weyr. Oh no, the blue's motivations were much more selfish than that. He was here to sidle up to some other firelizards in order to gain favors from them. Some of their bonded's food? Yes please, he would take it gladly. A prime sunning place later in the day? Oh yes he would have that too. His shameless flirting knew no bounds - he was working his charms on females and other males. After all, in the right light he did appear to be just a different shade of green didn't he? And his lithe form only helped him play this card even better.

He had noted the gold when she arrived - he wasn't one to let much slip by him. However he was far more enthralled in the other blue he had offering him a flower than he was in the gold, that is until she flared her wings and cried out to the hall. She would be taking flight soon? Oh, having a gold for a mate would get him a lot of attention - perhaps even the favor of the gold's human pet. Another slave for him? Since his Ivyslave had become such a disappointment as of late. Dismissing the much darker hued blue Eros trilled and dove down towards the gold. Who would chase? He would chase, and he would win.

A hiss was given in the bronze and brown's directions - they could leave now. He was sure to win, even if he was a blue.

//

Poor Poe had been the unfortunate blue trying to woo a pretty little green, or what he thought was a green until he took off after a gold. Not a peep was given though as the stormy blue looked on from his roost amongst the rafters. He looked over to the loose group of other firelizards forming around Ghost after she called out - but he knew his chances with the gold were very slim. He was not so full of himself to think he could beat out the bronze or brown for her favor. Still she was beautiful and ever the respectful gentleman Poe took flight and gently dropped the flower he had in his clutches in front of her.

Having given his gift to the gold he made his way across the dining hall to where Ruliana was seated, picking at her food. "'Ello Poe, not up to playing loverboy today?" Ruliana teased lightly as she offered him some of her food, glancing past him to the gold making all the noise. "I bet she'd like you better than that bright little blue there." Still Poe stayed with His and ate quietly - he would chase only if others did not show up. And only to make sure the gold did not feel slighted by the lack of suitors.

[Ruby]

T'mund often forgot to eat, or ate at strange times. He preferred it that way; various traumatic experiences had left him with a bit of demophobia and/or agoraphobia... meaning crowds were not his thing. Occasionally, though, he forgot to forget, and ended up stuck in the dining hall when everyone else decided to eat, too. This was one of those days.

Luckily, Carenath was in rare form today, taking His' desire to be alone seriously. The tiny, legless bronze had already chased off a few weyrbrats trying to make friends, a pair of older aunties looking for an empty table, and even a pretty young lady that would normally be the sort that Carenath would attempt to charm up for T'mund. Not that it had ever worked. She'd gotten a bite for her troubles, and had run off appropriately chastened while Carenath returned to loop his snake-like body around T'mund's wrist as the Rider rushed to finish his food. He had to escape, back to his books!

But it was not to be. As T'mund was starting in on his final few bites of fruit, an earsplitting shriek rang out. The Brownrider clapped his hands over his ears, but Carenath immediately took to the air. The near golden bronze's shimmering hide was set off beautifully by his whirling purple eyes... but that didn't stop T'mund from burying his head in his hands. Why, Jagjith, whyyyy? he moaned; the brown generally ignored him, busy with his own meal. Carenath, meanwhile, matched Ghost and Freyr's shrieks with his own (admittedly thinner) call, curling through the air like a ribbon while the others assembled.

[Rei]

Amour and Baron had each been sent on a errand. With Elysia laid up in bed, due to the feline run in she had just had, the two browns got to play messenger for her constantly. Not that either of them minded this. Baron was currently relaying a message for breakfast to the drudge while Amour had gotten bored and made his way into the dining hall to watch people. His brother was already handling the order so there was nothing really for him to do. Well besides people watch. He was looking for the one who has having the baby soon. Alas the woman seemed not to be there. Winging up into the rafters the small brown settled amongst the other firelizards there, chirping and chattering with them amiably until a bright golden comet caught his attention.

Oh! Gold! Pretty gold! It had been far to long since Amour had chased. Mostly because the brown only chased golds. Of any species but that was besides the point. Here was a bright golden glowing beauty who was demanding attention and who was he to deny her? The small brown dropped down from the rafters and trilled sweetly to Ghost flaring his wings and banking over the heads of the people gathered to show off in a series of loops and twists. Brown he may be but he was more the size of a blue with the musculature of a brown. Stamina and beauty. Yes he had it and she would see it as he gave his best for her. Maybe if he was lucky he’d have babies of his own! Winging past the table he rolled and chirped greetings to his competitors. The message was clear. Time to have fun and may the best flit win. Leveling out Amour hovered near Ghost a pleased and anxious hum resonating through his chest.

~~~

Baron peeked his head out of the kitchens and chirped once as he debated this turn of events. Technically with his errand done he was free yes? The large brown lifted his wings and twitched them uncertainly before he too winged to the Ghost’s table and settled near the others. His head tilted as he regarded his younger more eccentric brother as he watched him cavort in the air space above. Silly brother.

Baron’s attention went back to the gold. The more stoic of Elysia’s flits made no noise nor did he even pay attention to the others gathered. The gold was what mattered. Patiently he watched and waited. Undoubtedly the oldest firelizard there as of yet he had experience on his side. A pro at catching greens both wild and bonded Baron had yet to add a gold to his tally but perhaps this would be his lucky morning? Muscles bunched in preparation for take off, purple eyes whirling slowly as they focused on Ghost.

[Rowana]

Lurking on a high perch, was a lovely, marbled green fire lizard. She sat proudly, for all the world like a queen herself, watched as Ghost made her stately entrance. Yet this was no ordinary green. This was Haru! The strongest, most powerful, and most handsome bronze in all of Pern! Haru puffed out 'his' chest as 'he' watched the other males present themselves. Fools all of them! Even blues were trying their luck this time, how pathetic! They stood no chance against the larger males, who of course stood no chance against the great Haru! Clearly they should all go home now. This Chase was as good as won!

Deciding 'he' had let the public wait long enough, Haru roared, or rather squeaked, 'his' presence and dove for the table. Alighting on a nearby chair, 'he' posed proudly, wings partly displayed. Glaring at all the other worthless males, 'he' finally offered Ghost a loving chirp. Her old wildling companion was not here to ruin it this time. Haru was loyal and had returned! Surly she could see 'he' was better than all these cretins.

[Ember]

Nephele was slghtly distressed at the sheer number of people in the dining hall. She'd have thought less riders would want to be up so early but...oh well. She grabbed her food and food for her three firelizards before settling down with them at a relatively unoccupied table. Relatively, of course, being the key word. There hadn't been a single free table that she could see by the time she got there. She let the firelizards chatter at among each other and with the various other pets around without paying them any attention.

That was until the three went curiously silent after a loud shriek. She glanced at them to notice that Sweetheart was skittering towards her and Mother and Charming were...deliberating? Who should go? Who deserved to go? She couldn't pick up much from them other than the fact that both were somewhat amused by the turn of events. Finally Charming gave a short little peep and nudged Mother encouragingly. The bronze flicked his wings in emphasis before hopping over to lick Nephele's hand and flutter off.

"Umm...what?" Charming chittered in amusement and flashed the image of a gold. A very shiny gold. "Oh. So you two were deciding who would chase?" The brown flicked his tail and didn't broadcast, clearly thinking the answer was obvious. "And? Why not both of you?" Charming then flashed an image of Nephele's green firelizard, his own daughter. "Uh-huh. Whatever then. Good luck to him."

Mother flew smoothly over to Ghost's table, landing without much fanfare. The only real evidence that he planned to chase at all was the violet colour of his eyes and the almost bow-like motion he made towards her. Most un-bronze of him but he didn't care. He would show what he was worth in flight and she could make her choice freely.

[Kisha-Ra]

Ghost gave Wit a curious look as the salamandyr made his speech. How strange he was… well, no matter the gold decided flicking her wings as a rather striking young bronze captured her attention with an answering challenge. Others were catching her attention too, enough of them to quite take her mind off Wit (since the tubby salamandyr clearly had no intention of pursuing her). An agile brown, the eye burningly bright Eros had come to try his luck too, even though he was a blue and small one at that, Ghost gave him points for audacity at least. Another blue approached and dropped a flower in front of her, but like Wit he didn’t seem to be too interested in the chase, Ghost gave him a soft chirp, the first sound she’d made since her challenge, in thanks for the gift before she went back to weighing up her admirers.

There were so many of them now, the emaciated gold blinked at the male firelizards who were still arriving, a tiny bronze had appeared from somewhere about to catch Ghost’s eyes with his very oddness, another two browns had joined the gathering, and a third bronze from somewhere, and… well bronze, brown, and blue were already represented, Ghost was gold, so why shouldn’t there be a green present? Gravely Ghost thanked everyone for coming, then, without further fanfare, took three bounds to the edge of the table and launched herself from there, gaining height with strong strokes of her wings. Not too high though, high enough to fly above most of the humans, but low enough to shoot out through the doorway and off down the corridors.

For the moment Ghost had no goal in mind other than to test her pursuers in the most time honoured of ways, any without the splendid endurance to traverse the winding corridors of New Selenitas and the agility to avoid whatever humans might be lurking in them might as well give up now. Without so much as a glance back to see if everyone, or indeed anyone, was following the queen shot along the corridors a blur of gold that made humans duck and dodge out of her way. For no reason other than because she could the large firelizard took a sharp left turn, and dropped her height to skim close enough to a human child to ruffle its hair with her tail as she passed. She was having fun!

[Ember]

Mother actually appreciated that the gold herself did not seem terribly well...gold-like either. Not that he necessarily disliked any firelizard but he certainly preferred the more mellow of his species. A little easier to get along with and, usually, have intelligent conversations with. When Ghost made her move, the bronze was quick to follow. He leapt off the table in a single bound, strong wings lifting him into the air easily. His wing membranes left a rainbow of bronze across the table as he darted after the gold.

He rose higher than she did, though he still cleared under the doorway by folding himself up briefly and barely skimming it. The bronze consequently lost some height afterwards but it didn't matter much. He was still well above any of the passing peoples' heads. All the same, he dropped a little lower. What good was a flight without some challenge? He could play it smart and just fly over everyone but most people ducked out of the way anyways and going around people wasn't that hard.

Mother watched the gold's stunt with the child and actually let out a small croon. Impressive, and the child was oh so cute too! He, however, did not try to mimic the act. He passed by over the child's shoulder without touching before rising up again to the average head height.

[Aftershock]

As Ghost crooned her thanks to the chasers, Freyr chirruped at Samael questioningly. In response, Samael smiled wanly, and responded, "Just because I can't get a girl, doesn't mean you should stop yourself. Go get her, Freyr."

Knowing that his bondbrother was there to keep His safe, Freyr chirruped happily and ran to the edge of the table, launching himself off at high speed after the fleeing gold flitter. He gave a shriek to the other chasers as if to say, "May the best chaser win," and shot down the hallway after his prize, chirruping in apology for the little girl that Ghost ruffled the hair of.

Flying up alongside Mother, Freyr bobbed his wings as if to say, "It is a pleasure competing with you," before giving himself a little extra burst of speed, making sure to stay right on Ghost's tail as she bobbed and weaved through New Selenitas' corridors, crooning after Ghost to compliment her agility while simultaneously quietly chirruping apologetically to any humans Ghost startled with her antics.

[Ruby]

Carenath had never landed, so when Ghost took to the air, the tiny, legless bronze was one of the first to follow. That didn't last long, though. All of the bronzes, even the browns outstripped the little bronze in length and wing size; he only outsized the blue-green and the green. What were those two doing here? Ah well. It was not Carenath's place to dismiss others, and Ghost seemed to have accepted them. Anyway, he had plenty more to worry about. He was fast and agile, but to keep up with a queen like Ghost, he would have to keep an eye on his stamina, not the other chasers.

Dipping through the door after two of the bronzes, Carenath entered the hallway low, then decided to stay low as the first three chasers looped up and over a little child in the hall. Instead of going over or around, Carenath ducked low, slipping between the child's legs and making it giggle. Picking up a trilling song, the little bronze did his best to stay towards the middle of the pack, although it was a stretch already. He kept closer to the floor, though, alternately dodging feet and legs, twisting and twirling when there were no humans to avoid. Carenath had just about one thing going for him, and that was his extraordinary agility - without legs, he pretty much had to twist and turn with every flap of his wings, so it came naturally. All he had to do was get Ghost to notice... and that is what the song was for.

[Rowana]

Haru bobbed her head in respect. Ghost was always so regal and queenly, it was a pleasure to chase her. Of course, 'he' would be pleased to chase any gold, but this one had been 'his' first Chase, and was therefore one of the best. Haru would only chase the best, after all. It was why 'he' never bothered with silly greens and their whims. As Ghost took off for the door, Haru was quick to give chase. Let the other males play it safe and use their size to urge humans from their path. Haru was not only a great flyer, but an agile one as well!

Ducking under the door, Haru began a merry dance through the corridors. 'He' weaved left and right, rising up and down, and brushing humans with the tips of 'his' wings. Crooning at Ghost's boldness, Haru dove for the human child, neatly zooming between her legs, hissing at Careneth. Silly creature had stolen 'his' great trick! No time to start a fight now, however. Ghost was waiting and 'he' would not loose her to some legless almost worm. Soaring up again with a twirl, Haru resumed 'his' chase for the beautiful queen. Naturally only 'he' was truly worthy.

~

Annatolli's eyes widened as the commotion drew near. It was a whole fair of fire lizards and salamandyrs! The girl barely had time to get over her excitement when the gold one passed over her head followed quickly by the rest. Nhim, with her again, dove into her shirt as Anna burst into giggles. Two of them even went between her legs! "Silly, Nhim," the girl patted the blue fondly, still gazing after the Chase in amazement. "Why don't you play too?" Nhim shivered. It was all too much for him. He would rather be safe with His and this little human would have to do for now.

[Rei]

As Ghost shot from the table Amour twisted neatly in place, a bugle leaving his throat that sounded suspiciously like the song that always heralded the start of runner races. Go! Go! Go! Wings beat in rapid succession as he swung into place somewhere amongst the middle of the pack. Pushing himself harder the small brown shot ahead of one of the bronzes. The tiniest one. A brief whistle was offered the male as Amour headed straight for the child Ghost and the others had just passed. Instead of passing underneath her or over her head as the others had he rolled and shot past her shoulder, wing tips just inches from brushing along her ear. Pushing for more speed the brown came up beside Freyr using the young bronze’s slip stream to his advantage for a moment to take some of the stress off his own wings.

Vibrant violet eyes fixed on Ghost the brown was forced to break away from the young bronze to dodge one person and then another one. Small and agile Amour put his own twists on his maneuvers. A flash of a half twist here, a loop there, a perfectly calculated near miss with that one’s head. All the while he kept at least a base knowledge of the positions of the other chasers. The rest of his attention split between Ghost and watching just what the heck he was doing. It wouldn’t do to run into someone now. Not with the possibility of maybe siring babies on the line.

~~~

Baron launched powerfully from the table as the rest did. The brown didn’t bother with showboating or trying to impress right of the bat. More then likely Ghost was too busy paying attention to where she was going to bother with watching them anyway. Large wings caught the air as the bulky brown powered though the doorway after her. He wasn’t as fast as some of these smaller chasers and certainly not as agile. Baron’s strength was his stamina, which was rather respectable for a brown, that and his intelligence. He was much smarter then his exuberant brother for instance. Much more level in temperament too. If he did not catch this female there would always be others. There were a fair amount of greens in the weyr after all.

Taking up a position towards the back on the pack on purpose Baron winged after the others, watching Ghost carefully as he effortlessly wound around and through people. He didn’t bother to put any extra flair into his moves for the time being. That wasn’t to say the brown couldn’t. He was quite the daredevil at times. Just currently he found it more advantageous to watch the others and keep the crafty gold in sight. Plus staying at a higher altitude then the others would give him better reaction time once the gold undoubtedly rose again. She had to be high to end the flight after all. Once Ghost rose again he’d be the one with a better position.

[Kisha-Ra]

Ghost trilled softly to the giggling child she’d passed so close over and risked a look behind her to see how her chasers were dealing with the corridors full of human obstacles. It seemed as if she’d lost one or two on the way but it was hard to be sure in this confined environment. The large gold stole a few more glances back as she winged her way through a straight section of corridor. The three bronzes who’d come to pursue her seemed to be doing well, even the small, odd one, but they were by no means the only ones who’d made it this far there were still two browns in hot pursuit and even the green seemed to be holding her own, although Ghost still wasn’t sure why a green was so ardently pursuing her.

Ghost was tired of the corridors now, they were challenging enough but her blood burned for the cool air of the open sky, or at least the open space under the thick jungle canopy. Shooting up a flight of stairs partially satisfied her but the gold was still on the lookout for an open door and when she found a human just opening one she darted through it before the figure in the doorway had time to do more than step to one side. Ghost fluted a song of cheerful thanks to the human and added a note of encouragement to her males before zipping up and over the back of a mildly curious dragon and out into the lush jungle.

Ghost shot upwards like a comet heading right for the overlapping branches above with a single minded intensity, until she drifted right below them, and turned her head once again to survey her suitors, a challenging look in her eye, things were about to get more interesting.

[Aftershock]

Freyr continued to pursue the thin gold through the hallways, and crooned at her encouragingly whenever she glanced backwards, sending images of the two of them together, with Ghost herself extra-radiant in his mind's eye. After she jetted through the doorway, Freyr slipped after her, then turned around and hovered beside it, pushing it a bit with his small arms to make sure the human that opened it didn't close it behind him. He didn't want the door to shut and close out the others, removing chasers from the sight of Ghost and making her feel bad.

Turning around after he was sure the door was staying open, he pushed himself hard to make up for time lost due to his own delay, following Ghost into the branch-choked sky hiding the Weyr from above, screeching into the air to make sure Ghost knew he was on his way, though his wing muscles were beginning to burn a bit from pushing himself so hard. He was not very good at conserving his energy, this being his first Flight, but he clamped down on his discomfort, knowing he'd push himself as hard as necessary to make sure Ghost was his.