As it is said, so it shall be... [Levi's 1st Run]

[Lotty]

Like the sea creature she was so aptly named after, the salamandyr stirred in the middle of the dead night, awoken by some ancient and unspeakable desires and driven to bring ruin upon the world of men. Alive with the fire of this primordial passion, the gold's eyes flushed a royal purple to set in place like two exquisite amethysts, and her every muscle tensed pulling the black spars of her frill taught. The bordello red of the hide here hung like a banner from which all of her suitors had to follow... and they would, she assured herself with a flex of her craws and a heavy curling purr... they had no other choice after all. She was ready to paint this entire weyr black and blue.

So gather 'round, it was the christening of a monster... a queen laying in wait to take her rightful place on the throne.

With her golden mother gone and the other unmentionable egg layer conveniently pushed out of her memory, the wily creature thought it best to start her reign of terror, and who better to be her first victim than the very host on which she infested the day she hatched: Osnat. The poor girl, having grown up with knowledge of only the tumultuous sea as opposed to the equally dangerous nature of draconoid lust was blind-sided by the sudden rush of blood to the head. Eyelids shooting open the weyrling brought her hands to her face to feel the warm touches of her cheeks stained rose... and warmer and warmer she grew before realizing the furs she had snuggled into had to be pushed aside before she broke out into a frenzied sweat. What was going on?

Suspiciously two golden eyes shifted over in painfully slow increments before settling on the gilded demon all but spitting on her night stand. She should have noticed, Osnat scolded herself. The glowing hide, the nagging irritation that grew much larger than the teenage angst she was born with... two giant clues that the inevitable was happening. Leviathan was come into her own, and on this otherwise uneventful spring night, the gold salamandyr was going to leave her own footnote in Selenitas history, and embark on her maiden run through it's many and winding tunnels. Before her human bonded could even utter out the profanity that stood at the tip of her tongue, Levi had her wings cocked and readied, flying over first to harangue Perienmoth and use him for her devilish deeds, Call all! Let them know greatness. Fools that no abide, meet Levi wrath!

The blue dragon, more than confused lifted his head only to pull his profile into a quizzical s-curve before the bouncing ball of energy was off again, half leaping and half flying to the weyr's door... and with it the promise of the empty hallways. Nearly screaming with insolence, the gold called out to her suitors in the ever demanding voice that only royalty could possess, Come forth. With my word it comes... good ones knows to do as they are told. Follow me! In both the literal and figurative sense. Any male that so decided to show would be obligated to her attempts to enslave them, but then, when was that not the price of love?

Osnat's skin meanwhile began to crawl, pulling into goosebumps all across her body. She'd be set loose soon, she knew that much, and wild and crazed, to howl at the moons or whatever it was that those other mandyr owners did. Until then, feeling uncharacteristically helpless, the woman resorted to standing - or rather sitting - her ground there on her cot, nails digging into the mattress and grasping at the sheets that covered it. She gave a stern look at the door her so called "pet" managed to squeeze under and waited with no sort of excitement for the door to squeak open on accord of human hands.

(I assumed that since her class is at 10 months they are moved into individual weyrs, if not then this can be moved to the weyrling barracks. I tried to keep it intentionally vague.)

[Zephyr]

It happened in the night. Of course King had been aware of the chain of events. Levi had been looking especially shiny as of late. The bronze had made it his mission to watch her. Not in a creepy way mind you. He just wanted to make sure he was aware of when she finally chose to run. With Harmony gone and Dementia and Nocturne mated, Levi was his last chance. If he was ever going to become the king he was destined to be, then he had to have her.

This night, he had opted to go with Kaius and Kaiusk on their wherling training. The tall boy didn't think it was terribly odd. After all, he had come with them before. Just, most of the time, the salamandyr elected to sleep. Just because His had to sleep all day and be up all night didn't mean he had to, and most of the time he was sleeping around this time. Unfortunately, there was a gilded demon in his head, speaking the unspeakable and glowing like the sun. There would be no sleep for him tonight. He curled up on Kaius' shoulder, watching the gold wher trying to glide.

Too fat. Much too fat. Never fly that way. Look. I show. And with that, the ever helpful salamandyr spread his wings, leaping off his boy's shoulder. In the middle of his glide, Levi's words blasted into his brain in no subtle terms, and distracted, he veered off course, straight into a tree. He was vaguely aware of Kaius laughing at him, and saying something, but he didn't catch it. Kaiusk too was laughing at him, and she obviously said something to him, but Levi's mindvoice drowned out everything else.

As it should be.

Lilac colored eyes whirled silently in the dark as the salamandyr gathered himself and got up. He realized that no one's attention was on him. He supposed he should be taking Kaius into consideration. Kaiusk was nearly mature, and in two short months, King could run without worrying about scarring Kaiusk for life. Unfortunately, Levi wasn't waiting for two months. She was running now...

...and he had to chase her.

Without another glance, King ran in the direction of the wherling barracks, sliding under Kaius' door. Leaping on the bed, he glided to the nightstand and gripped something in his paws. It was a particularly shiny rock he had found the other day. It was cool and smooth and absolutely perfect...perfect for her. Leaping off the nightstand, he put the rock in his mouth and then bounded off in the direction he knew Levi was, his wings splayed out. The bronze took leaps and bounds, gliding in between. Anything to get to his queen sooner. His queen. She would be his queen. She had to be. He had to be the best. The best. And they would rule the mandyrs side by side (actually, levi would be the pants in the relationship, but he chose not to think about that). Little legs and long, leaping bounds took the golden striped bronze towards the riders' weyrs. Violet eyes saw the shine long before he saw the salamandyr and he skidded to a stop, eyes solely for the gold. Dropping the stone, he poised himself on it while he spoke.

Your King is here. All for you, my queen. Whatever you like, you will get. He crooned huskily to the gold. The trick to this run was to give her all the control, let her do whatever she wanted. And above all, do NOT threaten her or make her feel like you're trying to surpass her...because King wouldn't dream of doing that. He got off the rock, he pushed the lovely, shiny thing towards her, crooning lightly. For Levi. One true queen. King is but humble gift giver. Shines for the shiny. Pretty, sparklespearkle.

Kaius hadn't noticed King was gone. He was busy with Kaiusk when the tinge in his abdomen started. It was hardly noticeable at first, until it took him over, spreading through his body like a wildfire. Stumbling, he glanced around frantically, noticing King was gone. " What?" He asked to no one in particular, stumbling again. King was just here. JUST here. How could he have found a female in such a short period of time. And why couldn't he have waited? He knew how hard Cotton's run was for him, and not Kaiusk was a little older, but not yet mature!

The boy stumbled again in the direction of the rider weyrs, catching Kaiusk's attention. Love? What's wrong? She asked anxiously, fear filled eyes on the boy. He mother had explained to her about Cotton's run...why Kaius couldn't have been permitted to go after his salamandyr. As she felt the emotions coming off of her boy in droves, she knew there was only one solution.

Notifying her mother that Hers' was going crazy with runlust, the wher walked right up to the boy and headbutted him a little forcefully. Confused and writing, Kaius fell to the ground, digging his fingers, claw like into the ground. Kaiusk then promptly sprawled out over the boy, putting as much weight on him as possible without hurting him. The wher licked his face, flicking her long tail behind her. I will save us both, my love. She said, preparing to not let the boy up for any reason. Let the silly salamandyr chase. He wouldn't take her boy from her. Not this time.

[Ruby]

HOLY COW FATFACE, LEVI-THING PRETTY RUNNESS! TAKIN CARE BIZNASS!

Groaning, Piden lifted his head off the pillow, twisting around awkwardly to get a visual on the salamandyr. Ah, there he was, going through discarded clothes. Red and Three had both hissed and retreated from Shells, as they had learned to do long ago - getting in his way when he was about to Chase was an excellent way to get mauled or at the very least hideously insulted. "Really?" the handler asked aloud, blinking owlishly at the salamandyr. "Right now?" Piden dropped his head back down, staring at the ceiling. "Ugh, she has worse timing than Dementia." Because who else could it be? Harmony dead, Dementia not due to run for a while yet - had to be Harmony's daughter. Leviathan. Fabulous.

Rolling back towards the warm body sharing his bed, Piden gently extracted his arm and shook his day-person awake. "Hey, you gotta go. Thanks, it was fun, but... yeah. Pidesk can walk you home if you don't wanna be alone in the dark." As the girl groggily found her clothes, Piden headed for the door - weaving only slightly - and opened it for Shells, who hadn't shut up. Bizzznass, bizznass times! Sock, where the sock? Myst have bizznas sock. Leviiiiithan, run run run! Worthy worthyyyyy! The salamandyr's mental voice faded as he turned the corner, off like a shot. With a sigh, Piden ushered the girl out, then took one final glance at the half-consumed bottle of wine on the dresser. Yeah, it was his night off, which usually meant he hung around late in the dining hall, found a willing partner, and drank wine with them until they were ready to go back to his apartment. He could feel his buzz rapidly fading towards hangover, and having that sort of headache while trying to deal with a bunch of sex-crazed mandyr people sounded like an excellent recipe for disaster.

So he snatched the bottle, adjusted his boxers, pulled on a short robe, and padded out into the night. Luckily he had excellent night vision - he stumbled once or twice, but he was generally pretty graceful and he could mostly see what was coming, so he was able to recover well. Mostly. Ugh, standing up had made whatever alcohol was left in his system go straight to his head, this was just turning out even better than he'd hoped. Sorry, Shells, you know I love you... if I could sober up I would, he apologized mentally. CLEAN FACE! Other false mate leave colory stuff all over, Levi must not knooowwww your fails, the Salamandyr hissed at his handler, paused just outside Osnat's weyr (Shells had scoped it out long ago and impressed the route onto his Handler's mind for just such a situation, so Piden was there nearly as fast as his Bronze). Scrubbing lipstick off his face (he'd missed the marks on his neck and chest, but luckily tousled hair and robe soooort of covered it up), he slid into the room, looking a bit of a hot mess, bottle of wine at his side. This, however, was Piden, and he somehow made it a sexy hot mess, offering Osnat the bottle with a ridiculously seductive smile. "Care for a drink? It's a good Blossom red..."

Shells, meanwhile, had passed his handler as he went into the room, laying a stolen necklace covered in shiny things at Leviathan's feet (or trying to lay it, anyway - it was so long and complicated that he'd gotten a bit tangled, but he wasn't fussed). King funny, noooo? he hummed, for once not shouting but simpering in the minds of all present. Bringing ugly rock, thingking he shine, when Shells bigger, shinier, bring such better gift. Shells also bring promise of two greenslaves, and big bronze ugly who do all he say. Greenslaves have slaves, too, Shells have mighty network, lay at Leviatin's feet. Shells had been doing this a long time - this was his queen, and no little greenish thing was going to take that away from him. Neeeway, Shells match Levi, see? he asked, flicking a blindingly red frill her direction, accenting his golden head and scarlet-bronze coloration. Think King mebbe mixed-up half-green-ugly-thing. Levian perfct, 'course, even has red like Shells! Color roses, color love, color blood. King dirt-color. And with that, the incredibly mature Shells stuck his tongue out at King, making a rude noise as he sorted out his long limbs and little wings, getting ready to run.

[Kisha-Ra]

Monster was pleased with his collection of rubbishtreasures. They were all so perfectly lined up, ready to present to the many loves of his live. The snoozing Demon was already draped with sticky bits of string that had come off a rolled roasting joint and had been recused from the bin (a cruel fate for a treasure fit for a lady) by Monster. What next? What now? So many to woo… The brown salamandyr snatched up a random item from his collection in his jaws and trotted for the door, he was sure to find someone beautiful out there, and who had never mattered to him.

Well… Monster paused, blinked and shook his head so hard his frill flapped around, okay then. If the Leviathan wanted that, then Monster could hardly deprive her of himself. Be right there. Monster replied, although since he was not a Running gold his voice only reached those nearest him as the dull brown took off down the corridors, cheerfully dashing off to his meeting with a beautiful gold.

Monster skidded to a halt behind Shells, the other male’s mood not bring down the brown’s level of insane enthusiasm at all. Hello big and beautiful. Your Monster has arrived. Ignore the shinies and their shiny. Monster has best gift of all! The brown moved forward and leaned conspiratorially toward Levi, placing his offering; half an eggshell, on the ground at the gold’s feet. See?

Meanwhile Vivano was finding it inexplicably hard to concentrate on Vivask’s gliding, actually he couldn’t even tell if the bronze had started practicing yet, and for some reason he had the bizarre urge to grab an object at random and present it to the nearest female. At last he wandered off, shaking his head to try and clear it, Monster wasn’t usually this bad.

Vivask snorted softly to himself, he was certainly going to have a harsh word or two with that little Monster later, this wasn’t good behaviour at all to just go stealing Vivano from Vivask at any old time. Couldn’t Monster see that Vivano was supposed to be working with him and not Monster tonight? Apparently not. With a shake that was sort of a whole body shrug the bronze wandered after his handler, following faithfully until his golden sister came into his vision.

Well hello there sister. Vivask offered the golden wher genuine affection tinged with confusion and loped ahead of Vivano to come and see what she was up to. Was there some problem that caused Kaius to be under Kaiusk, or had they just fallen that way? Vivask didn't regard falling as a problem as such, more a fact of life. Curiously he gave Kaius a prod with his muzzle, then turned his attention back to Vivano as his handler tried to pass on by. This night was not going well, the bronze confessed to Kaiusk as he wrapped his tail around one of Vivano’s ankles to slow the human down. All Monster’s fault.

[Avu]

Titania uncoiled slowly at Leviathan’s call—ever so loud and demanding, wasn’t she, but nonetheless a queen and Running at that—from the dark crinkle of blanket she had nestled into, flicking a furtive glance at Hers to make sure he was asleep. He was, and pretty much thoroughly tangled up with Svelte’s anyway, so Titania expected it would take quite a bit of chaos for him to wake up to flail at her. Not that it would stop her anyway; the green scrambled up over T’san’s hip to the other side of the bed, and then leapt onto the ground with a flick of her tail at Darkling, who slitted a bewildered eye at her as she passed.

Distract him, if he wakes, she said simply, and slipped out from under the door into the hallway, scampering off to find Leviathan.

It didn’t take long, fortunately; Titania was already aware that Leviathan was going to Run after all—the Salamandyr grapevine was ever so expansive—and she wasn’t willing to get lost on the way there, so. The green snaked her sinuous way into the little party in Monster’s wake, unabashed by her own lack of gift. What was Leviathan going to really do with a necklace or a rock anyway, hoard it forever? Drag it with her when she Ran maybe, make it easier for the bronzes to keep up. The green flicked her gaze at King with a low purr of greeting. Shells and Monster were ignored as unimportant for all their babbling, Titania sending a purple-tinted glance at Leviathan.

You called, lovely, the green hummed, setting into a neat coil of wings and tail, light and expectant. I bring no gifts of rubies, but I would follow if you would have me. Quietly composed and perfectly polite—she liked greens better because they were actually more her size and Ran more and she could actually figure out what to expect, but she could hardly miss Leviathan’s maiden Run, could she? Titania settled her wings softly against her back, her tail an emerald loop around her haunches. The first impression was only as important as Leviathan wanted to make it, and the Run was the important—fun—part anyway.

Back in the Weyr, Darkling settled her head onto her forepaws, blinking in quiet bemusement at the two humans a few feet from her (unlike Titania she chose not to take the risk of being squashed if one of them rolled over in their sleep, thanks). Wasn’t sure what Titania’s paranoia came from—it wasn’t like A’emi was moving anyway, unless the Salamandyr wanted her to make him stop breathing, which was just not an option here. The firelizard yawned, and curled up to go back to sleep with another flicker of a glance at Hers. Still dead to the world, and it wasn’t like anything would wake him…

[Sheari]

Asshat was quite inclined to chase his golden Queen of a sister. She was wicked and vile and all those other things he craved. She embodied the chaos he so desired to create, and perhaps by persuing her she'd realize that they were PERFECT together. The brown rose from his position, curled next to the head of His. The weyr was pitch dark but he only needed the demanding call of Leviathan to guide him. Out of the door to R'men's sleeping chamberhe dashed, out into the private weyr and then he vanished into the corridor, he needed to find her first. Asshat extended his spiney frill calling, I come, sister-queen Leviathan! I have left the Asshat for you! Because surely the silly shiny-rider would be angered by this. The brown never cared.

He dashed into the corridor where Leviathan was, puffing pu pand staring down all the other present. King was the first he hissed at, charging at the younger Salamadyr, with a snap of his jaws to the air and veering off. Shells was his next rival, and he recieved a hiss and snap as well, a spiney frill flaring. The last, Monster, was no less worthy of a challenge. No one good but me. Sister-queen Leviathan knows! Overconfidence, thy name is Asshat. As the brown neared the gold he slowed his pursuit to give her room, puffing his chest out, ready to prove himself. He'd caught that silly green that was afraid of everything, and now he needed to cleanse himself.

The only chaser free from Asshat's challenges was Titania. His green sibling chasing confused him but she could help him. Yes, she could help him with the chaos. Perhaps she was perfect for him, too? She recieved not much in the way of acknowledgment, Leviathan being his sole attention grabber. Indeed, he would not attack her as he had the other rivals. Those males were trying to take form him what was rightfully his! That and Titania was a green, and queens chose browns...and bronzes.

R'men, however, thought very little of Asshat's bravado. He made a silent vow to sleep with clothes on from now on, and rose only to lock his door. He did not know who Asshat was chasing or who that creature was bonded to. Leviathan. She is Perienmoth's gold thing. [/i] Weith commented, yawning. Sadly, R'men wasn't sure who Perienmoth's was. Gwenenveth's should know.[/i] The bronze was silent then. "Well, I can't just go and bother Vellani in the middle of the night, can I?" R'men retorted. He plopped down into a rather comfortable chair in the large room in his weyr that Weith slept in. He has donned a loose pair of pants since waking and rising, and had a strong urge to remove them.

"I am not going to streak through the weyr," he muttered to himself, a hand on his face. The thought to go bother Vellani was sounding better and better, but he knew it wasn't his usual thought process, since he had really just met the woman not long ago. "Leviathan," he mumbled to himself. The name was familiar, but he couldn't think of who had that creature. Hadn't she hatched with Asshat?

[Lotty]

So... it seemed she had quite the little field of contenders here. Two bronzes, two browns and even a.... green? While she sense that she should be vaguely irritated with the presence of a Titania - what a waste of a contender, how was she supposed to spread her spawn with a mandyr who lacked the tools to do so - she was going to take the green's desire to chase as some kind of compliment. After all, Levi was so great how could she not attract the attention of all the sane creatures of the weyr? It was with some degree of contention then that the gold considered the female before addressing her along with the rest of the chasers at large. Fine then. It was short, it was sweet, and she refused to do anyone any favors by putting herself out with thankfulness.

With another twitch of her tail, the gold began to caress the gifts with a glance of her eyes, wondering why on Pern any of her suitors thought it necessary to bring one in the first place. She was concerned in what they could do, not what they had, and there wasn't all that much she could do with shards, or shinies. To say that the thought didn't impress her was something of a lie though. It would be nice to think that their willingness to bring gifts now would transfer later into a willingness to do all of her dirty deeds, and with this in mind, the initial skepticism she granted the trinkets that littered the hall melted away into something of approval. She wove in and out between that which was laid before her: a stone from King, and some eggshell from Monster, before coyly mentioning to the pair of them, Good yous. Good. Don't leave here to be crunched by two leggers. No worth in hallways. Looks like the boys had to learn to carry her purse if they wanted to be seen with her.

Ignoring for the most part the long lines of compliments sent her way - though Shells offer of a grand network was amazingly appealing - she growled again as her desires rose and her body tensed in preparation to run. Follow then. Look alive. Twisting in a quick flip that turned her about and away from the crowd gathering before her, the mandyr finally took to four feet and began bounding down the long and dark hallways in search of another arena in which she could claim as her dominion. After assuring herself that her chasers were all in it without hesitation, the gold flickered her sights from side to side in search of... yes.... that was an opening big enough for even her large body. Pressing her wings in, the queen took a left turn in the hopes of throwing off anyone on her tail, and dove underneath the door of another poor rider's door. Once inside, she immediately made a path towards the bed.... nice and bouncy it could be a good launching pad for the mandyrs who weren't so great in the flying department.

Osnat meanwhile, found herself growling in place. That door of hers was taking it's sweet time opening. She felt like she had been in this room for an eternity or so just waiting, waiting, waiting. All the while she grew warmer, warmer, until she began to question the reality of it all. She began looking around her room maniacally. Here she was feeling all of this emotion, but there wasn't another human soul with which to share it. If one is bonded to a mandyr in lust ad nobody is there to see it, did it even happen at all? It seemed like a legitimate question until the door swung open and her head swiveled around to meet the sound at a supernatural speed. Who, who, who was this and what gift was it that they seemed to bring? Her voice rich with an elegance that ironically came from her mandyr and not her own upbringing, the woman peered up at the redhead in her room with something of a savage love, "Blossom red? Don't mind if I do...." She reached out and yanked the bottle away with an unexpectedly fierce force and began to guzzle the liquid haphazardly.

The wine splashing down her chin and neck, drizzling down the threadbare slip she had worn to sleep, she glanced up at Piden half-lidded eyes, and talked through the bottle, "Good." Apparently finished with her share then the run-crazed woman raised from her spot on the bed, her feet finally landing on solid ground. It was all well that Shells' came, but the others were missing, and this was unacceptable, "Come with...." With her straw colored hair disheveled and her skin very clearly sticky and wet from her bad table manners, the woman was dead set on hunting down the absent links.

[Ivy]

Sleep. It was such a welcome and lovely thing, something she could probably do for an entire sevenday with no problem. But there was a problem, wasn't there? She was 'dating' a wherling - and had spent the whole night before awake with him watching as he and his wher trained. Another problem? She was a Candidate and since there was a clutch on the way she was being pushed into doing more chores. So her day was shot, there had been no time to catch up on sleep then. Now. Now she had time though, and she was taking full advantage of it.

Blue eyes were hidden as she laid there asleep on her bunk, sprawled out beneath the covers. Hair fell like a fiery halo around her head, a mess but a beautiful mess all the same. Dreams filled her mind as she slept, images danced behind her eyelids and she was at peace. Then... Butifuls.[/color]

The word was a cold and soft hiss in her mind, barely even there at first, but then it repeated. Butifuls.[/color] The voice was being persistent wasn't it? Chase must! Butifuls no wait! Louder now. Shards, what was that?

Her body tingled and blue eyes flitted open to stare at the bottom of the top bunk in the dark - why oh why must it be now? She was so tired... But Perses did not seem to care. No, he'd heard the call from the Gold - had he expected it? No, he hadn't paid much attention to any one female to know when to expect one to rise. Was he going to Chase though? Yes. Yes he was.

Slithering against Ivy's legs beneath the covers he appeared at the top and then jumped to the floor and darted off, Butifuls, bestest coming for!

The tingling grew more intense as the small Blue dashed his way from the Candidate Barracks towards the weyrs were riders lived. Snaking through this hall. Darting down that. Finally he made his way to Osnat's weyr (by some miracle, since he had never been there before - lust, it seemed, was a great compass) but it was just as the parade of salamandyrs was on its way out. The Gold led the way and Perses let out a whistle-like noise towards her, Butifuls! So late so sorry. Lousy prettyslave made late! Throw Ivy under the bus to make himself look better? Sure - he adored His but right now he needed the Gold running ahead of him. He fell into the group of chasers - two Bronzes, a Brown, and a... Green. Suddenly his attention was no longer wholly on Levi - Titania had half of it. Was she running? No. Was she female though? Yes, yes she was. And Perses was allllll about the women. Two butifuls tonight, so nice so nice. Perses whispered to the Green, if his mind-voice could come across as seductive and caressing it would have.

Still, last time he had lost a run because of his inability to focus on just one female. The Green would get his attention, but not all of it - he sped ahead and slid under the door behind Levi into the other rider's weyr. He cut in front of a few of the males in order to do so, leaving them seeing nothing but the 'racing stripes' of his hide.

While Perses had joined in the chase - Ivy had been stumbling her way around the weyr trying to figure out where on Pern she should be. She had enough sense about her to know if she showed up at Cainith's door he would have her - but she also knew his wher wasn't yet mature. Guilt drove her in the opposite direction of the wherhandler apartments then, not wanting to hurt Cainsk who was so dear to Cainith. Where then should she be? A surge of lust from Perses and she followed it blindly, letting their bond lead her bare feet and nearly bare body to where Osnat and Piden were. She nearly ran into Osnat-Levi as the other woman was making her way to leave her weyr to search the others out. Purring softly Ivy-Perses whispered, "Others no worthy of beautiful if they no come." Perses' mind was slipping over hers more and more with each passing moment. At least before she'd left the barracks she had enough sense to pull on a shirt over her undergarments. Just a shirt though. Oh well, it was long - and its not like she cared at the moment who saw her barely clad form.

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The rest of the weyr was resting - with the exception of the handlers, and S'rring. Eyes were open, staring at the ceiling as a hand worked to rub away the soreness in his left shoulder. Weyrlinghood was certainly a workout, daily drills. Chores. Training. He didn't mind it though, if anything he loved the hard work. His body on the other hand, well it could handle the beating and keep going - but it didn't have to be happy about it.

So when the call went out - unheard by the weyrling - and Atlas' eyes opened and took on a violet hue to them, S'rring knew. His bronze had chased before, and he knew as the tingling and warmth fell onto his body like a heavy blanket what was happening. "Who?" he whispered into the darkness to Atlas, who gave a soft reply, Leviathan.

S'rring glanced over to the slumbering form of his dragon. Uth would be fine - the first time Atlas chased Uth had been confused but mostly okay after it all. If anyone had been scarred by the last run Atlas participated in it would have been Au'st - he'd been so cross with S'rring after the run. Afraid it'd hurt Uth and in doing so hurt Oth as well. Shards was he glad he didn't have to share a room with him anymore, even if Uth still wanted to be with Oth.

The swirling violet took on a darker tinge to it and then Atlas was tossing things from his drawer. Black silk? No, not good enough. Red lace? Not daring enough. This thing and that thing thrown from the drawer to litter the floor below. S'rring had sleeping pants on and nothing else, but it would do - he got up from the bed and stretched his sore, toned muscled form. A few quick steps and he was snatching Atlas out of the way, fighting with the bronze over the articles of clothing in the drawer as they each searched for a present.

Atlas hissed and bit at His' hand. He clawed. Finally he found what he wanted - they were silk with lace along the edges. Black and red. Oh yes oh yes, Levi would love this gift, he was sure of it. Biting at His once more he took his treasure and jumped down from the drawer. Soon his tubby form was popping under the door as he ran off to find the gold.

Meanwhile S'rring was still pawing through Atlas' treasures. In the back of his mind, the part that was still clinging to sanity, he realized it was a bit distasteful to bring undergarments to a women that belonged to some other woman. But that was neither here nor there at the moment - S'rring-Atlas had to bring something to Osnat-Leviathan, something grand. He managed to grab a matching set - breastband and panties - both were lace. Oh she would adore this, she just had to.

Then he too was off, not quite in a full out run like the 'mandyr had been since he still had enough wits to know not to slam the door and wake Uth. Hopefully the brown would sleep throughout the whole ordeal, he'd had a very large meal just before bed.

Atlas made it to the back of the pack, he caught a glimpse of that glorious gold hide ahead of him and crooned quietly. For all he could talk to human females, he found himself without words. So he carried with him his gift - seeing some of the others also had gifts - and tried to insert himself into the main group just as Levi and a blue disappeared under the door ahead of them. Shards, he'd need to be quick, something his pudgy body didn't always allow for.

S'rring had found Osnat's room, by pure luck really. He'd seen Ivy-Perses walking through the hall and followed the redhead as if she were a beacon. Now there was the object of his desire - looking rather displeased. "Pretties for the pretty." He said, or was that Atlas speaking through him now? He couldn't quite tell as he held out the undergarments for her approval.

[Zephyr]

King eyed Shells critically when the reddish mandyr showed up. Eyes were tinged slightly red as the older bronze started flinging insults his way. He didn't know what to say for a while. Well, he did know what to say, but it wasn't proper to say such things in front of a lady. Instead, Shells only got a scathing hiss. May look like dirt, 'least I not as OLD as dirt. That was all Shells would get from King. He wanted to rip the others' face open, but there were other salamandyrs more worth of his attention. Like Leviathan...and...

When Titania showed up, King cave a flick of his frilless spines in acknowledgement, crooning ever so slightly to her before turning his attention back to Leviathan. It wouldn't be too good for him to be giving too much attention to another female, even if this female didn't seem to like male salamandyrs. More and more males showed up. This was going to be interesting. King still remembered Dementia's run. She had let firelizards participate. So far, he hadn't seen any firelizards, but the night was still young.

Leviathan inspected the gifts that were brought to her. King's heart pounded away in his chest. Eyes widened a little when she ordered them to carry their gifts. Good thing he hadn't brought a very big gift, he thought darting forward to snatch the stone up in his teeth. Then the gold was off! King nearly jumped in his haste to get ahead of Shells. Little feet carried the bronze salamandyr down the hallway after Leviathan. Her glow lit up the dark corridor, and he could see her, a shiny beacon of perfection. The stone was held tightly in his jaws as the gold turned sharply, disappearing under a door.

It was an easy fit, and King came up on the other side without trouble. Taking stock of the room, he saw Levi running towards a bed and ran right after her, flaring his wings some. He was already darting around the room with his eyes, trying to find something, anything to impress his lovely queen with. That time would come soon though, as he rushed towards the bed.

Kaiusk crooned at her brother as he came over. Curiously, she looked up at his boy from where she lay on hers. Is yours' salamandyr running too? She queried lightly, shifting herself to avoid Kaius' fingernails. They didn't hurt too much on her thick hide, but they were uncomfortable. Perhaps you should sit on him as well. It makes it so much easier. She finished with another croon, watching as he sniffed Kaius. I can help? She offered hopefully, flicking her long tail behind her. It would be so easy to just...trip Vivano so Vivask could restrain him easier. It was better than losing her brother. She didn't quite know what happened if their people did have sex, but she didn't want to risk Vivask. Kaiusk crooned her concern.

Beneath her golden bulk, Kaius was straining futilely. The wher wasn't hurting him, but he needed to get up. Couldn't she see! He had to find Leviathan! " I need her!" He said while trying to scratch at Kaiusk. The wher blinked and patted the boy's head awkwardly with a two clawed paw. You'll be okay love. You just think you need her. What you need now, is me. To save you from yourself. Obviously. She then looked at Vivask. Are you going to let him go to her, brother?

[Ruby]

The other chasers were largely ignored... NOT! Ugly Monster-thing n' Assha, color poo, think they good enough? Oh wrong. Green thing? Fool. Mate wif oooogly blueface, not good 'nough for Gold, how presume to chase? Tiny, puny, patheticscule. Slaves to Levishan, yes, not mates! King and Atlas at least were bronze, even if Shells clearly outsized King and probably outsized Atlas. Reasonable competition. He'd still win, but at least this way no one would think he was lowering himself by competing against lesser colors. He wasn't quite done, though. The Bronze's mindvoice smoothed out and turned soft as he redirected his attention to Leviathan, although he never bothered to speak to anyone privately. Levi-lovey-shiny want Shells remove unworthies? Or she benevolent queen, let them bask in Levi-glory? No need rush answer, just say word, Shells take care ovit.

It appeared the Gold would be taking her time after all, probably because she was busy talking to King and Monster instead of listening to him. Finally untangling himself from the necklace, he crouched low on his over-long legs, waiting for the chase to start. But Leviathan had asked that the gifts not be left behind, and there was no way Shells was dragging that whole thing behind him the whole run. Instead, he hung back, letting the other chasers cut ahead of him as he reached out mentally for Piden (and, of course, everyone else in the vicinity). Slave! Come get shinypretty, give to Levitin's Snat. Shinything for hoomans, get in Levi way iffn she try run. With that taken care of, Shells scuttled off after the rest of the chasers, his oddly stilt-like legs eating up the distance between himself and the back of the pack. By the time the last chaser ducked under the door, Shells was right at his (or her) heels, passing up slower mandyrs as he streaked for the bed. As he caught up to King, though, he couldn't help but snap his enormous frill in the other Bronze's direction, cooing, Wif age comes 'sperence and hinteligence, stupid baby thing. Neeeeway, King clearly no know how old dirt actually is. Dirt OLD! Like Dementail, an' Red.

Piden, meanwhile, was grinning absolutely wolfishly at Osnat. "My kinna girl," he slurred, although the slightly confused speech had far more to do with Shells' influence than any alcohol he had consumed. "Pretty... Osnat." Yes, that was her name, as much as he wanted to call her Leviathan. When she stood, he very nearly reached out to wipe the wine from her mouth, but just as he extended his arm Shells called him, demanding that he present 'Snat' with his gift. Well, that all seemed to work out, since Osnat had just breezed out of the room, looking for her other chasers. "Hang - Hang on!" Piden called, half laughing as he stooped to pick up the necklace. "Shells brought you a gift. Levi... Osnat? Necklace, shiny, from Shells," he said, hustling along behind the determined young woman.

The Blue had joined them now, and as much as Shells wanted to forcibly eject Perses from the run, Piden had no problem with Ivy. She'd be a perfectly wonderful flightmoth, if the necessity came up and the opportunity presented itself. Slipping around in front of Osnat (that night vision was coming in handy once again), Piden walked backwards so he could speak directly to her. "Persivy right, no need to find the unworthies. Shells plenty worthy of Leviathan, just like Piden is worthy of Osnat..." Unfortunately, Atlas's owner chose that moment to show up, offering a pair of underwear Piden was fairly certain he recognized. Shooting a look at the Weyrling, Piden... hang on. This one was hot too. Well then.

[Kisha-Ra]

Monster was pleased, the gold’s declaration of her obvious love for him was perhaps a little lukewarm, but no matter. The other males meant less than nothing to him, speaking or silent, although the appearance of a green did. How pretty she was! Later he would find her a gift of her very own, something nice…

That was all the thought Monster could currently spare for the green since Leviathan told him to pick up his gift and follow. Snatching the eggshell back up in his jaws the brown skittered off down the corridor with his own brand of cheerful comment. The Monster is alive. All forks must die but he live on with a ginormous gift of links. Despite his nonsense Monster ran swiftly, occasionally jumping into the air to show off his ability to glide or some little trick he could perform in midair. Just in case it would garner him some little bit of attention for Levi, or failing that, Titania. Since he was so enthused with his ability to do tricks Monster overshot the door Leviathan vanished under but he wasn’t the sort to let that get him down, he simply rolled himself end over end and scrambled for the door.

Finding that his queen had led him to a dim room Monster looked around curiously. And since Leviathan seemed to be heading for the bed he flung himself into the air for the kind of erratic flight that was all he could manage, crash landing on the bed and hooking his claws into the furs to right himself. Oh what a clever Monster he was!

Vivano looked down, confused by the wher tail looped around his leg. He didn’t remember Vivask ever doing that before… Vivano reached down to unwind the tail from his ankle and caught sight of Kaius on the floor. ‘Why’re you down there?’ He asked in a dazed tone, trying hard to resist the urge to speak nonsense. ‘More to the point why didn’t I notice you before?’ That was a very good question indeed.

Yes, yes, Monster was a monstrous thing indeed. Vivask agreed solemnly. Tripping was help now? What if Vivano were to crack his head on the floor? The bronze shifted his wings uncomfortably at the thought. Why should that help anyway? Containing Monster would help, except he was the sort to wriggle out of any trap. The image of Monster nimbly writhing out of a cage was supplied to go with this idea.

‘Her? She is here. Isn’t she?’ Vivano looked intently at Kaiusk, suddenly becoming aware that there was a distinct difference between her and Leviathan now that he came to study her. But why wouldn’t she be Levi? Why wouldn’t Leviathan be here?

Vivano didn’t seem just about to run off. Vivask didn’t unwind his tail from his handler’s leg despite this expressed opinion. He supposed not, not if it worried his sister so that Vivano might go but the whole sitting on seemed quite unneeded, Vivask was pretty big after all, might squash his handler.

[Avu]

The part Titania despised most about some Runs were the other Chasers, and not in the sense that they existed but in the sense that they were really, really annoying. She blinked at King’s acknowledgement of her subtle greeting, but Perses’ comment earned him a blank look and a quiet Focus brother, nothing gold can stay, a gentle warning before she flicked her tail at Shells, leveling him a dispassionately unimpressed look. His insults didn’t really sting because she knew bronzes usually won golds, but they were uncalled for and obnoxious and she thought they made him look quite insecure.

She didn’t deign to answer him; Leviathan in any case had given her permission if not her approval and Titania wasn’t going to push or test that. Without the offer of a gift she equally had nothing to carry away from Leviathan, and so the green sprang nimbly into flight when the gold did, slipping ghostlike in the wake of the Run with her wings clasped tight against her sides. Gliding could come later when there was more of a need; for now she was easily faster than the bulkier males anyway, and nowhere near tired.

The green wormed under the door, far enough behind Leviathan that she was well-prepared for the gold’s turn, with a squirm of wings and tail, scanning the room in silent alertness before she coiled to spring into a long low glide past Shells, throwing a faintly yellow glance at the bronze, commenting lowly to Shells and King only, With age comes arrogance; with arrogance comes an inevitable fall. And anyway, clearly age didn’t come with a penchant for proper grammar (not that Titania was really a stickler for that for all her fancy words, but A’emi was and it rubbed off on her when she was irritated).

She leapt into another steeper launch near the base of the bed, catching herself on the bedpost and coiling her body around it, clambering up with neat efficiency and a vaguely concerned glance at Monster. At least the brown seemed absolutely unperturbed by his own crash landing, which Titania took to mean that he was okay. Or at least so scrambled that he thought he was okay, which case she doubted concern would be much appreciated anyway. The green’s eyes flashed back to Leviathan and she hummed a low trill at the gold, wordless for time being.

[Sheari]

Asshat sent a particularly vicious hiss Shells' way. HOW DARE HE?! How could he tell a QUEEN who was good enough for her or not! Not that Asshat was aware of if Leviathan had been looped into the statement or not, clearly they just broadcasted everything like he did. If the brown hadn't been so focused on the gold, he may have pounced upon and attacked the offending bronze. But no, he was simply not worth his time if Shells was going to be so foolish. Leviathan was surely intelligent enough to know that Asshat was the best. With dashing good looks and superiority everywhere how could she not?

As the gold took off, the brown did as he was told. He hissed and spat at all the other males but for the most part chased after Leviathan. As the gold turned Asshat over shot, claws scrambling a bit on the rock, and doubled back to slip under the door after her. He extended his wings off his back and spread them to prevent any other males from passing him as he wiggled through the gap. If whoever this weyr belonged to was still in it, they'd have quite the shock seeing a cluster of Salamandyrs suddenly burts from beneath a closed door.

R'men, was quite pleased at the vague thought he caught from his mindmate that it wasn't his door. Still in his chair, R'men was focusing his mind on who Leviathan belonged to. It was futile, he knew, since he hardly even knew who the Salamandyr was, but nonetheless he tried. The effort eventually made the effort of resistance harder. The more he thought about the gold, the more he felt the urge to find her mindmate. That lead to things most undesirable. Instead, the dragonrider started humming nonsense to himself.

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts..."

[Aftershock]

Rollhead was sleeping in Cainith's room when the call came. Tiny eyes shot open, swirling purple, when the memories came... Mouse's run, the fight, His being attacked... and the old scar on Rollhead's left wing from Mouse's assault flared in phantom pain as the memory rolled over him, and the purple of his eyes shifted to an angry red as the Runlust was erased by the painful memory of his first (and only) Chase. Rollhead snorted in irritation, and was about to settle back to sleep when suddenly a thought rattled through his tiny brain... the Clutchmommy had a blue salamandyr, and it was only a baby. It had no idea how dangerous a Run could be, and it might put the Clutchmommy in danger!

Leaping off the bed in a panic and scrambling through Cainith's apartment, Rollhead squeezed under the door and went screaming in Cainith's direction, mindshouting to him, "GODDESS!!! LEVIATHAN RUN!!! CLUTCHMOMMY IN DANGER!!!"

Cainith was working with the other wherlings, watching Cainsk glide, when he noticed the odd behavior from Kaius and Vivano, as both of them began to wander off, followed by their whers. He was about to write it off as a restroom break or something when Rollhead's mindscream blasted his mind, and he stumbled as Cainsk landed from his last glide, looking at his handler confusedly. Recovering, he remembered that both Vivano and Kaius had salamandyrs, and knowing what was going on, he realized the danger they were in, well remembering the notorious Run he had been involved in. Clomping after his fellow wherlings, he sent to Rollhead, "Find the Run, see if Perses is there. If he is, find Ivy... er, the Clutchmommy. She could be in trouble."

Catching up with Vivano and Kaius, he saw that their whers were attempting to restrain their handlers, but that the Runlust was making it dangerous for the immature whers as their handlers lost control of their actions. Kneeling down to where Kaius was held under Kaiusk, he said to the golden wher, "I'll take over for you, if you'd let me. I'd rather myself harmed than a clutchsister of Cainsk." If she let him, he would pick Kaius up off the ground and attempt to hold the crazed teenager by lifting him off the ground under his armpits, then putting him down face-first near Vivano and placing a knee in his back to hold him down. He would then reach over and attempt to grab and restrain Vivano around the waist, telling Vivask, "I would get some distance between yourself and yours, Vivask. He's just confused now, but salamandyr owners under the effects of Runlust can get violent when restrained at a moment's notice. I've got this."

Rollhead, meanwhile, would use the obvious trail left behind by a gold salamandyr run (both physical and mental) to find the group. Spotting Perses among the cluster of male (and one female) 'mandyrs chasing Leviathan, Rollhead screeches in terror and begins to run around the hallways of the Weyr, mindscreaming as hard as he can, "CLUTCHMOMMY!!! CLUTCHMOMMY!!! WHERE YOU BE? ROLLHEAD SAVE YOU!!!"

[Lotty]

Blah, blah, blah. Levi wished that the other mandyrs would realize that she didn't care for whatever rabble noise they had to offer. She wasn't one to be reasoned with right now, and the sound of their voices only put them at risk. There was after all very little that they could say right, but there was a whole lot that could be mentioned that would send her into an unholy fury. Perses who had slipped into the fold caught her attention with a peculiar choice of words. Butifuls? Beautiful. Consider self corrected, it wasn't like her brainless followers could always be expected to use proper grammar - she for instance didn't herself - and so she was letting the blue off easy. Mostly. To Shells she decided to test his word and promises of allegiance and ordered him about, Do so much for Levi-Queen? Eyes the Pursesess, do he know Levi is the one, the beautiful alones?

For her part, she was just doing her best to keep her energy focused, and inside of the rider's weyr, immediately jumped and clung to the inner sheet of a bed that was stuck poking out from underneath the large and heavy fur that covered the entirety of the cot. Ah, yes. Now this would be even more fun that the original plan. How long could her suitors keep up following her around the natural labyrinth of the man's bed clothes? Especially since it's occupant seemed stirred back to life, and the gold took advantage of this, running her claws over the rider's legs immediately conjuring a kick and struggle as he awoke. In between gutteral groans, legs and arms swished again, sailing towards a cluster of Levi's followers. Not to mention the shaking and buckling the mattress did, it's surface wobbling in ripple like effect. The gold, feeling that great effort had been put into her obstacle - her own body was beginning to tire from constantly worming around and pushing aside bundled and knotted blankets - squeezed out again into the open air and pounced onto the pillow she found there.

With her wings snapping open she used the last of her resources to fly above her chasers and see which of them had the same great power to levitate such as she. Of course, the creature of the abyss couldn't help but taunt a little along the way, Come out, come out. Look up and see me... She vaguely knew, thanks to a croon, that at one point Titania was perched on a bed post, and she watched her side for any rogue attempts to catch from the green, Does the Monster still stand? Asshat? Atlas? Give us one more try...

Osnat found herself suddenly just about running into others. An act that had her growling deep in her throat. Who dares after all to delay her in her Faranth given right to collect her minions? In her move to avoid contact, the possessed stalled for a moment, catching the whisper in her ear and noting that oh no... this wasn't an obstacle it was a gift. A chaser. Ah... she wanted. The avoidance maneuver twisted nearly into an attack. She reached out to wrap the woman - who she only saw as a blue mandyr - into her strong, scarred arms for a momentary embrace. Of course her embraces were more dangerous than they were loving, and under the influence of Leviathan angled her head in to give the alluring Persivy a biting kiss, but was interrupted. There was just so many others she had to divide her attention between.

On one hand she had Piden showing her the necklace, one she reasoned must have been left behind in the mandyr's leap off the metaphorical blocks. Then, just as she began untangling herself from Ivy to follow the shine and wonder of the jewelry was distracted yet again by S'rring's arrival and his own offerings. Ohhh! It was red just like her frill! To that she gave a sultry laugh, and rubbed her hands down her face and neck in delight before reaching out to grasp at them. "Pretties!" She began to echo with some pleased humming, as she placed the underwear on and over her head; not that she really knew it was underwear and that underwear did not in fact get worn like a hat. Grabbing at the breastband next, she wrung it behind her shoulders like a boa and began swaying too and fro with dark laughter, "Good gifts, you all please me so... much better... much more loyal." She curled a finger towards herself, "The loyal should get closer." While Perses was subject to her suspicion in the race, at least the blue had a representative coming to attend to the human half's needs, and that was enough to tame Osnat-Levi's previous distaste.

Besides, what was more important? There were bodies here, and the bodies, she wanted them all.