Post by Ruby on Feb 5, 2012 1:03:50 GMT -5
The climb was harder on Nitrath than it was on any of her chasers; ironically, Chaoth and Epifayrmuth would have the easiest times. Lighter frames, less weight to pull into the air. Eventually the gold realized she was struggling, and it was time to make her choice. But who should she pick? Everyone had flown so admirably, even avoiding the birds and keeping up with her in that breakneck drop, and their last words had been sweet, well thought-out. Higginth even offered her a bird, and Romeoth a poem. Epifayrmuth declared his love for her, which she'd always known, but it was lovely to hear none the less, and Chaoth was saving all his strength for flight, which was admirable in its own way. With a laugh and a final twist, Nitrath leveled out, glancing back.
Well. She'd just have to pick a different male every flight, wouldn't she? All had proven themselves more than worthy. Every dragon remaining in the air had points in their favor, and Caden had no input beyond Kierjaarth, Kierjaarth, Kierjaarth. That didn't seem like an especially safe choice, however, given that Nitrath's lust - while certainly good-natured and gentle, as only the Gold could manage - was sure to infect her Rider, no matter how much Caden denied it. Better to have a male that was here than one who was missing, and leave Caden to her own devices. No, that seemed like a bad idea, especially with a sword in the room. Nitrath didn't want her rider slaughtering her accidental mate, Flightmoth or otherwise. Kierjaarth? Thank you for coming, but Mine requires a mate as much as I do, at least this time. It was lovely to fly with you; go rest your wings.
Who else? Epifayrmuth and Chaoth. Both worthy mates, unquestionably, but they had been flying so long. She'd need to make her decision faster if she wanted one of them to carry her, but fast and maiden flight did not go together in Nitrath's mind. She'd flown to exhaust her chasers, but maybe, in the future, that wasn't the best choice. It certainly wasn't the only choice. Still, there was no denying that her brother and her brown friend were likely overestimating their abilities, and even if they weren't, the fall would be short and the clutch small. In the future, perhaps less eggs would be a worthy exchange for a favorite chaser, but now Selenitas needed all their strength. Still, she addressed each male separately and privately, giving personal rejections laced with all the pain she felt at disappointing them. Epi, brother, I love you as well, always. Someday you'll be my mate, no question about that, but today I need strong wings to carry me. I am much bigger than you, after all,[/i] she added, a touch of sad humor at the end. If only she had been small. And Chaoth? I clearly have much more to learn, and I hope you will continue to teach me. Thank you for flying with me to the very end! You are not my choice today, however.[/i]
Three males left: Higginth, Romeoth, and Weith. And if Nitrath was honest with herself, the decision was clear. Higginth and Romeoth had done nothing wrong, but the Gold was perceptive, and she'd sensed the tension between the two. If one won, there was a chance he would hold it above the other's head (consciously or no), and she simply couldn't stomach creating strife between her lovely bronzes. Perhaps in another flight, when they had solved their differences, or one made a grievous error. Not, however, today. Addressing the three remaining dragons, she started out quiet, unable to keep the exhaustion and disappointment that she couldn't have all three out of her voice. Romeoth? Higginth? You both flew beautifully, and thank you for your offers. The poem was beautiful, and the snack would be much appreciated... but today it must be Weith.[/i] After all, every chaser could see that the coppery bronze was the largest, the most powerful, and had stuck right with her through everything. He had flown cleverly, and even shown off some of his tricks... yes. Weith was her choice, and she was happy. Weith! Come, catch me![/i]
Nitrath-below was... well, fine. She didn't have much experience when it came to kissing, and she honestly couldn't tell whose was better than whose. It all seemed fine to her, although the more she did it, the more she liked it. Except for Weith. He was the only one that hadn't kissed her outright, that had waited for her to begin. That she had liked. That felt more correct, that was what she'd seen males do the few times Smath had chased. (Sure, Romeoth had waited for her approval, but it wasn't quite the same thing. Weith made her go to him). He was the right size, too, just a few inches shorter; he didn't make her feel like something she wasn't. She likely wouldn't have noticed R'men's disinterest in her looks in a regular situation, which meant she certainly didn't here; she wasn't the brightest glow in the basket when it came to men, assuming she wasn't fighting them, anyway.
And, according to Nitrath, she wasn't allowed to fight him. Fine. She'd just go back to kissing him, he was the one she wanted! The others would get their dismissals from their dragons, Caden wasn't worried about that bit. It looked like she was going to have to make the first move again, which was fine with her. The males were mostly clustered up, so it was easy to close the gap between them in a few steps. Arms around his shoulders, she pushed him back towards the bed, not wasting time on words. Nitrath had that covered, as she usually did. Caden was pleased. For now.
Well. She'd just have to pick a different male every flight, wouldn't she? All had proven themselves more than worthy. Every dragon remaining in the air had points in their favor, and Caden had no input beyond Kierjaarth, Kierjaarth, Kierjaarth. That didn't seem like an especially safe choice, however, given that Nitrath's lust - while certainly good-natured and gentle, as only the Gold could manage - was sure to infect her Rider, no matter how much Caden denied it. Better to have a male that was here than one who was missing, and leave Caden to her own devices. No, that seemed like a bad idea, especially with a sword in the room. Nitrath didn't want her rider slaughtering her accidental mate, Flightmoth or otherwise. Kierjaarth? Thank you for coming, but Mine requires a mate as much as I do, at least this time. It was lovely to fly with you; go rest your wings.
Who else? Epifayrmuth and Chaoth. Both worthy mates, unquestionably, but they had been flying so long. She'd need to make her decision faster if she wanted one of them to carry her, but fast and maiden flight did not go together in Nitrath's mind. She'd flown to exhaust her chasers, but maybe, in the future, that wasn't the best choice. It certainly wasn't the only choice. Still, there was no denying that her brother and her brown friend were likely overestimating their abilities, and even if they weren't, the fall would be short and the clutch small. In the future, perhaps less eggs would be a worthy exchange for a favorite chaser, but now Selenitas needed all their strength. Still, she addressed each male separately and privately, giving personal rejections laced with all the pain she felt at disappointing them. Epi, brother, I love you as well, always. Someday you'll be my mate, no question about that, but today I need strong wings to carry me. I am much bigger than you, after all,[/i] she added, a touch of sad humor at the end. If only she had been small. And Chaoth? I clearly have much more to learn, and I hope you will continue to teach me. Thank you for flying with me to the very end! You are not my choice today, however.[/i]
Three males left: Higginth, Romeoth, and Weith. And if Nitrath was honest with herself, the decision was clear. Higginth and Romeoth had done nothing wrong, but the Gold was perceptive, and she'd sensed the tension between the two. If one won, there was a chance he would hold it above the other's head (consciously or no), and she simply couldn't stomach creating strife between her lovely bronzes. Perhaps in another flight, when they had solved their differences, or one made a grievous error. Not, however, today. Addressing the three remaining dragons, she started out quiet, unable to keep the exhaustion and disappointment that she couldn't have all three out of her voice. Romeoth? Higginth? You both flew beautifully, and thank you for your offers. The poem was beautiful, and the snack would be much appreciated... but today it must be Weith.[/i] After all, every chaser could see that the coppery bronze was the largest, the most powerful, and had stuck right with her through everything. He had flown cleverly, and even shown off some of his tricks... yes. Weith was her choice, and she was happy. Weith! Come, catch me![/i]
Nitrath-below was... well, fine. She didn't have much experience when it came to kissing, and she honestly couldn't tell whose was better than whose. It all seemed fine to her, although the more she did it, the more she liked it. Except for Weith. He was the only one that hadn't kissed her outright, that had waited for her to begin. That she had liked. That felt more correct, that was what she'd seen males do the few times Smath had chased. (Sure, Romeoth had waited for her approval, but it wasn't quite the same thing. Weith made her go to him). He was the right size, too, just a few inches shorter; he didn't make her feel like something she wasn't. She likely wouldn't have noticed R'men's disinterest in her looks in a regular situation, which meant she certainly didn't here; she wasn't the brightest glow in the basket when it came to men, assuming she wasn't fighting them, anyway.
And, according to Nitrath, she wasn't allowed to fight him. Fine. She'd just go back to kissing him, he was the one she wanted! The others would get their dismissals from their dragons, Caden wasn't worried about that bit. It looked like she was going to have to make the first move again, which was fine with her. The males were mostly clustered up, so it was easy to close the gap between them in a few steps. Arms around his shoulders, she pushed him back towards the bed, not wasting time on words. Nitrath had that covered, as she usually did. Caden was pleased. For now.
