A New Morning (Aonith's flight

[dragon]

She'd been slumbering deep and sound, hidden away in the farthest back, deepest corner of her weyr. Well away from the weather outside. It had been raining, in that dismal, slow, dreary fashion that tended to put people to sleep. One of those showers that seemed to never end, that just drizzled on and on, under low, heavy, dull grey skies. Aonith paid it to nevermind, however, happily snoozing away.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Dorava watched as her dragon slept so peacefully. She knew, by the glow of Aonith's hide ... it was time yet again. And this time? There wasn't going to be any holding the poor green back. So far since thier arrival at Selenitas, every last one of Aonith's times of flight had been curtailed by wings that would not carry her. This time? Her wings were sound, and Dorava knew that the green was going to Fly ... and revel in it!

Dorava was somewhat happy for the green ... to blow off some steam that much needed the blowing. Aonith would be far happier afterward, of that she was more than sure.

Finally, the weather broke, revealing an afternoon that felt like morning. It was cool out, due to the wetness and shade the prior clouds had provided. Rukbat was in the wrong part of the sky, but low enough ... it felt like morning anyway. And to this false morning, Aonith awoke, lifting her head and gazing out at the Weyr with eyes that spun slowly in shades of lusty violet. She turned her head, and looked over at Dorava, who smiled at her.

"Have fun, love." the woman said, quietly. There was no need to raise her voice ... the dragon could hear her, even if she never vocalized. Beside her, on the bed, Val stood up, stretching upward to all his glorious height ... of a few inches.

The blue mandyr looked worried ... what was going on now? This was not something he was used to. But before he could even start to ask ... in whatever twisted way he tried to word it ... Aonith was on her feet and moving for the ledge. There, she paused for a moment, emerging somewhat as a surprise onto the Weyr. She looked around, but only for a short moment, before uttering her challenging bellow and leaping into the sky with all her might. Winging her way upward, the older green aimed for the fathomnless depths of the rich, freshly-washed blue sky overhead.

Then, Dorava moved, berating herself for only an instant. She should have been moving far sooner, but she'd been far to comfortable basking in Aonith's glow. Now ... she had to hurry. She never did make it all the way to the flight rooms before losing her mind entirely to the hearty lust washing over her from her too-long denied dragon. This day, the hunger would be sated! She arrived in the room, completely lost and caught up in Aonith ... she didn't see a room. All she saw was far-reaching potential, and wide open skies. Which ... so far ... was bereft of males. Where were they?!

Val, for his part, was determined to be an annoyance. He'd caught a ride the whole way, and was now scrambling up to Dorava's shoulder ... where he was now bouncing up and down and screetching at anything that moved. If anyone who arrived ventured too near, the normally shy mandyr might not be above leaping onto them and biting them a few times in tender areas.

[Requiem]

Pretty pretty flutters, came the sleepy sing-song. Kalierre paused long enough to glance in the direction - blocked by several feet of solid rock - that her dragon lay in. She was worried: about R'wign; about the weyr; about the infirmary that was already looking to be about ready to burst at the seams; about the healers who were already sick; about those who were bearing the burden of being understaffed and overwhelmed; about finding a way to stop this plague before it ran through all of Selenitas; about her own health, which she knew to be flagging. And now Phremath was acting queer, as well. Wearily, she put together more poultices - something R'wign would usually be doing. They weren't a cure by any means, but they seemed to help the patients rest a little easier. It felt as if she was trying to hold back the sea as the tide was coming in.

The ocean is made of tiny droplets of water. Remember that. One drop at a time. It was a measure of her fatigue that she didn't mask that at all from Phre. Swimming is fun. We should take Checkoth's and go swimming. Shouldn't we, Mine? You say he is hot, and that would make him cool again, right? He will be all right? So many have left... Shush, love. Don't worry about R'wign. I'll make sure he's fine. You're angry! Why? I'm sorry! Please, don't go away because you're angry...

Kalierre blinked, confused. Was that what had Phremath behaving so oddly? Don't worry, love. I'm not going anywhere. But Corinth's... I'm mad because I'm not sure how to make people better, Phre. I'm not going to leave. I could never be mad at you. The green subsided, tail flicking as her hide glistened beneath the kiss of rain. Even after these several turns, Phremath sometimes couldn't handle the realities of the infirmary, particularly when Kalierre was too weary to be as careful as she should about what she was exposing the childlike dragon to.

Why don't you play with your flutters? The challenge of the green on a ledge not so far distant didn't catch Kalierre's attention. Initially. Then something tweaked at her, and she frowned. Why would Phremath choose to...? Shards, it wasn't that she wanted to chase Aonith (which should have been a relief) but rather because the events of the last couple of weeks had put off the green's schedule. And somehow Kalierre had forgotten that Phre was past due to Rise. In desperation, she sought to rein in her mindmate, but Phremath was too deep too quickly, the mild residual drive radiating from Aonith enough to push her over.

Yes. I think I will. The big flutters...will be quite fun to play with. Not good. Kalierre was on her feet and limping as quickly as she possibly could toward the entrance to the infirmary. Phremath always - always - overwhelmed her. Inevitably. She didn't want to risk doing anything that might hurt a healer or patient...but she knew she was in trouble. She'd been known to leap from cliffs (or attempt to) in Flightlust...and she was far from help.

Catching hold of Lust, who was already beginning to growl ferociously in response to the surging emotion, Kalierre brought him in close to snag his attention. "Find Chewtoy. Do you hear? Chewtoy. Bring him to me as quickly as you can." Because there were precious few others, aside from the healer currently in one of the cots, who would brave a Flight-crazed Kali to keep her from inadvertently killing herself and any foolish enough to follow her. Chewtoy. Bring quickfast. Stay? "Yes. Just hurry."

Lust, reluctant -as he had been since the siege- to part from her, nevertheless made a dash for the steps, quickly winding in the direction of K'von. Hopefully he could find him...

Phremath, oblivious to the commotion she was causing on the ground and never once thinking it might be a problem for her to Rise at the same time as Aonith - and unlikely to care even if she did - leapt from her position at the top of the cliff, her wings catching the air beneath them before she hit an updraft and soared high. The second, smaller green made no challenge, twirling in place in silent invitation. Surely her males would come to her...and swiftly, too, for she had little patience. Aonith was, on the whole, ignored.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath was watching, tail twitching like a stalking cat. He knew this feeling and he welcomed it. It had been too long since his last chase and he was itching for the challenge. Any second now, she would rise and he would be ready. For once, G'tor had a little warning before his dragon went up. Part of him was glad. Ruskeath had stopped chasing when he got injured, and he had been a bit worried. But now he was a brown in his prime, and nothing could keep him from the chase for long.

Then Aonith's glowing form rose into the air and Ruskeath was away after her. He answered her cry of challenge with a deep bellow of his own. Yes, he was here! He arched his long neck, showing off powerful muscles and handsome red back. Was he worthy? He was ready to prove his strength to her in whatever tests she demanded. Already into the sky and Ruskeath caught another flash of green. His purple eyes swirled faster. Another lovely lady? Ruskeath crooned at Phremath. Why, yes! She was beautiful too! Ruskeath was not stingy with praise. He would chase them both! Now this was a challenge!

G'tor didn't bother to fight against Ruskeath's mind as he stumbled to the flightroom. He knew he would lose anyway. He frowned a little as the last of his human mind comprehended what was happening. Two greens at once? That sounded like trouble. But there was no chance to worry about it. Ruskeath thought it would be fun, so naturally G'tor did too.

~

"No, no, no, no, NO!" T'ke pratically screamed at Garaeth, even as his eyes turned purple. "Wasn't Emerith enough? Do you have to chase ever green that flies?!" Not every green. the blue returned in amusement. Only certain greens. T'ke decided he didn't care to know what that meant. Garaeth was going to chase this one and there was nothing he could do to stop it. "Fine!" he snapped, like he had to giver permission.

Garaeth crooned at him and took off. The blue tumbled into the sky with a playful loop. Aonith was so pretty! Oh! And Phremath to! Garaeth cried with delight at his two sky flowers. Could they see him? Did it make them happy? He longed to make them happy. Would they dance and play with him?

T'ke barreled down hallways in a dreamlike state, his mind lost. He had tried to fight it, but with two green's to chase, it had been a hopeless struggle. He hated flights. They frightened him. Having no control or even memory of his actions was not pleasant. Even worse when his dragon actually won. He knew full well what would happen then.

[neeuqtar]

The misty morning which had drenched the Weyr hadn't managed to convince Adith to go indoors. The months of sleeping outdoors had wiped all memory of sleeping in caves, and the dragon had developed a slight case of claustrophobia. The most Uu'n had managed to convince the dragon to do was to poke his twilight nose in. "Unnatural,"[/color] had been the dragon's disdainful declaration. Without further discussion, the blue had sprawled out on his ledge, as unmovable as the Star Stones. So he had slept that whole morning and afternoon with a woolen blanket over his face, with his heaviest tinted goggles on underneath of that.

Uu'n had slept alone in his musty rooms. Dael had abandoned her humanpet for the company of her Showofflove. The bluerider had gotten the distinct impression that she was still mad at him, though her fury was being cooled by the adoration of her bronze mate, and the thoughts and murmured words slipping though his sleeping mind and dark dreams were mostly peaceful, rather than hateful. And Adith had forgiven him... mostly.

As the afternoon's dawn broke through the clouds, the duo was just waking. Adith stretched and yawned, flaring his wings as his tail curled towards the sky in a very feline move. Mid-stretch, he swiveled his head, cocking it to the side as if listening to something. A very sleepy Uu'n staggered out of bed and dashed across the empty weyr, shoving past the insect-infested furs hanging in the dragon-doorway to splash, ankle-deep, into a puddle. "Wha-- Adith, what's going on...?" he asked, muzzy from sleep and only just realizing that he was standing in a freezing muddy puddle, gunk splashed up onto his bare legs, in only a loincloth, his hair sticking up at weird angles from sleep.

t is Aonith,[/i] Adith replied, sounding slightly puzzled as the green's bellow rang across the canyon. He shook his whole body, dog-like, sending the sopping blanket flying into Uu'n, knocking him over to sprawl in the mud puddle atop the stone.

"Ow... dammit, Adith... Are you going to Chase her?" Uu'n asked, peeling the soggy wool off of himself and scooting backwards out of the dirty water. Faranth, but he was soaked and as good as naked now. Undyed cotton, once wet, concealed almost nothing at all.

I... the dragon started. Uu'n caught sight of the familiar form of Phremath, flinging herself off the cliff into the scrubbed-clean sky, at the same instant as Adith did. The wave of emotion poured over him in a flood. Loneliness, longing, desire. He almost choked as he scrambled to his feet. I don't think so, Adith purred. He shook his form once again, warming up muscles cooled by rain, then leapt from his ledge to the neighboring, bounding once more before launching his scarred form into the sky.

Twin voices lifted to the skies. Adith's bell tones soared in a howl--not the pack-song he had taught Phremath so long ago, but the baying hunt-cry, a far wilder and darker song. Uu'n baritone shrieked in the wild yowl of a hunting feline, a screaming cry that resounded through the canyon with feral desire. The man scrambled along wet and treacherous stone, seeking the green he had desired for so long. He fell, striking stone with bare knees, and snarled, coming back up with a split knee oozing red. His legs took him towards her weyr, then, with a sense directed far more by instinct than thought, towards the infirmary. Where was she??

Adith winged higher, seeking a thermal in the cool air. Not the one which bore Phremath; that was her wind. His muscles protested work in such an unwarmed, unstretched state, and he summarily ignored them. He would fly for Phremath, no matter what...

[Ember]

Dsoleth rose from the weyrledge with an oddly graceful movement. T'san gave him a half-glare and stood up too. "Let me guess, there's another flight right?" Despite the violet hues entering his eyes the brown rumbled in amusement. Not quite, he said before launching into the air. There are two flights. T'san put a hand on his face and shook his head. Maybe the brown would piss both greens off somehow and give up on his own. In the meantime he had to get to the flightrooms. Just in case.

Dsoleth grumbled in irritation at his rider's thoughts. As if! He was experienced well enough in flights to know how not to piss off most greens. Or maybe that was his flight-ego talking. Either way he knew he had to pick only one of the greens to devote his attention to. But how did one decide between two pretties? He swooped close enough to give Phremath a good look over before swooping over towards Aonith. He crooned apology at Phremath and remained in a more advantageous place to chase Aonith. He didn't mean to slight her, he really didn't, but he could only choose one. So unfair.

T'san had started at a deadrun for the flightrooms. He could make a real fool of himself otherwise...Half way there though he realized something was wrong. What was it...? Oh! He was going to the wrong place. He could feel it. His green lay in the infirmary. Sure the other one was in the flightrooms but he didn't want that one. Or rather, he couldn't have both so he chose the other one he felt. He turned on his heels and began to head towards the infirmary. Despite a part of him reluctant to go there - diseased place, stay away! - he couldn't help it.

Too bad he wasn't paying attention to Dsoleth's choice. Dragon and rider had chosen opposite greens. The human part of the pair stopped, breathing heavily from his run, within the infirmary where Kalierre was. Dsoleth was drifting about in the skies with his eyes firmly locked on Aonith. An interesting turn of events, to be sure.

[lokath]

What a dreary day. R’el was cooped up inside his weyr, studying his new assignment. He was trying to memorize the list of names of all the riders on his newly assigned wing. I wish the weather would clear up. It would be nice to go for a swim. Although the comment was not really directed towars Kreyanth, the dragon nevertheless responded You have your wish, Mine. The sun shines clearly though the clouds.[/color] R’el, obviously confused by the fact that the sound of rain was still clear in the weyr, turned to look at Kreyanth just as the bronze let out an echoing trumpet and took to the skies. Two suns grace the sky, brighter than any I have seen before! And I chase the brightest and most beautiful![/i]

This was an… interesting development. As R’el rose from his chair, headed towards the unfamiliar flight rooms, in a slow stroll, mirroring Kreyanth’s lazy flight towards the greens. Hesitating as he came to an intersection, he looked one way than the other. One would lead to the first green, the other to the second. At the same time, Kreyanth was studying both greens from afar, comparing their hides, the brightness of their shine, the litheness of their small bodies. R’el glanced down both passages before the bronzapair made a decision, and Kreyanth/R’el set off at a slightly faster stride towards the one they chose.

R’el was usually relatively distanced from Flightlust, although Kreyanth’s compassion for his fellow dragons nearly always put him in a cheery mood for some time afterwards, but this time something was different. He strode powerfully, with an eerie grace to him, as he lost himself entirely to the mind of his dragon, the pair truly becoming one mind with two bodies. As R’el finally tread into the Flightroom, he locked eyes with Dorava, Kreyanth meeting Aonith’s at the same time, and the pair let out a roar of delight at the beauties they had chosen. The beauties that would soon Choose them.

[Sheari]

Third time's the charm[/i]

The bugle released by Aonith and the sudden vacancy of the weyr ledge left a grumpy C'ryl alone, surrounded by stone walls and a green fire lizard. Child chirped absently and lifted from a little outcropping in the weyr that she had claimed, gliding lazily out into the canyon.

The brown released an answering bugle of his own, that he had come to meet the challenge the green had put forth. The sky was a beautiful blue that went ignored in the violet gaze. Winging upward, there was a prize in the sky. A game would be played to determine the victor that Pagoth hoped to be. The chilled air from the passing storm fueled the energy he used to Chase as wingsails pocketed it and pushed him up.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught the glint of Phremath riding a thermal. Two greens rising at once? Pagoth crooned at the other Riser but continued to Chase Aonith. He would pursue her as well, eventually. They would have separate tricks and separate paths in mind, he was sure. He would make the decision when they parted ways.

C'ryl, feeling less disgruntled, made his way to Flight Rooms. He was relaxing more, as he began to lose himself in the battle of who's mind was stronger. Then he realized both Phremath and Aontih had Risen. A brief moment of being miffed and then Pagoth took over as the brownrider reached the room. Whom would win at the end of this game?

[[short >.>]]

[Kisha-Ra]

Though it was no afternoon to bask in the sun Ylonth lay out in his ledge, apparently relaxed, though occasional flexing of his wings and talons revealed that the blue was not as relaxed as he might seem. He had noticed a certain glowing note to a green hide or two of late and he was certainly going to chase at least one of these lovely ladies, and win her, yes. Ylonth’s eyes took on a slightly lilac note at the thought. Now all he needed for his victory was a green to Rise for him.

As if to answer the blue’s thought the bellowed challenge of a rising green rang out. Aonith. Without hesitation he bounced off the ledge and into the air, totally ready to purse and win- but wait, what was this? Phremath too? For a moment Ylonth wavered caught between desires, he had to chase one, and one alone, to chase both would surely be to lose both. But which?

Ylonth adjusted his course slightly, he would chase Phremath, he remembered the unusual green and her Flights. She was totally brilliant, utterly unpredictable, and quite lovely besides. Yes, she was certainly the green for him.

On the stairs R’fuin wavered mid step, sharing in dragon’s indecision, and feeling the resultant choice. He turned and dashed down the stairs, remembering, with the small rational part of his mind that was left to him, that Kalierre was unlikely to be in the flightrooms. Of course her actual location was an unknown quantity, but that was another challenge.

((bleh, short.))

[dragon]

With yet another bellow to echo down the canyon that housed the Weyr, Frosstyth took to the air. All these flights of late were getting him rather wound up ... and eventually, one of these days, he was going to win one of them!!! Determination etched into every line of his thick body, Frosstyth ripped through the canopy with nary a heed to the scratches that was leaving on his chocolaty hide. Wings sweeping wide and downward, Frosstyth started up into the sky. Only to falter mid-beat when yet another green form appeared, glowing just as brightly...

No ... brighter! So pretty! Frosstyth tilted to one side, pulling his wings in a bit as he cut a turn through the cool, damp air. This one he could Chase! This one ... this one he would win! Beating his wings once more, he leveled out and hurried after Phremath. She didn't seem to be traveling very fast at all, though, as if she were somewhat afraid to put any effort into her wings ... small as they were. This was not good! She couldn't do that, falling out of the sky would be awful!

As she glided along, Frosstyth put more effort into his own flight, catching up to her swiftly, Aonith completely forgotten as he focused on the new gem of his eye. Swooping in low and under her, he spun over onto his back with his wings in tight to his body. The urge to reach up to her with his feet was almost irresistible, but he managed it. Instead, he opened his wings with a snap and flapped, hard, bringing them together quickly above his belly. The motion sent a massive gust of air upwards, toward Phremath and hopefully filled her wings to lift her higher. Unfortunately, it definitely thrust Frosstyth down ... and he had to correct quickly before he plummeted back-first into the forest and likely as not skewer himself.

Rolling over, he snapped his wings open again, just in time, arcing backwards to try and make altitude again ... in that one moment he'd fallen all the way to the back again, in that effort to keep Phremath soaring and flying. Rumbling deep in his chest, Frosstyth puffed and headed back up into the sky, following after her.


On the ground, C'oar was confused. Well ... that was an understatement for sure. Blasting along trails underneath the trees, he wasn't entirely sure where he was supposed to be going. Frosstyth had taken him completely by surprise, with no warning what so ever, so he likely as not was not even aware that he was caught up in a flight again. He was just simply one moment C'oar, and the next Frosstyth.

He had to rescue someone ... her ... where was she? He had no sharding idea. Instinct was to run to the flightrooms, but yet at the same time, he sensed that that was not where he was supposed to be going. No ... to the infirmary! That's where she was! Wait ... was that right? No, it couldn't be. Why would such a lovely gem go there? Where all the sick people were? He didn't want to go to the infirmary!

So, he was left just pelting along down the trails, confused and lost and wrestling with himself, all without being at all aware he was doing any of it. He was, after all, Frosstyth.

---

Aonith flew swiftly and quickly upwards, before spreading her wings wide and gliding straight on for a moment. Ah, it felt so good, to be flying! Free, and wild, with raw energy and lust burning through her system. She needed ... in a way her green frame had never known before. She needed ... and today she would be sated! But ... who would rise to her offer? Dropping her head and neck low, she looked back and down at the Weyr falling behind her.

Wait ... what was this? Some other snot of a green was trying to steal her thunder!! Normally a fairly placid green, Aonith usually would not have cared. But... now? When she was wound up so very tight, and needed so very badly? Never!! Rolling upside down, Aonith dived back toward the Weyr again, red glimmering in with the rich violet of her eyes. She was not going to tolerate this insolence!!

Then the males started arriving ... in swarms, from all corners of the Weyr. Males. Blues, Browns, even Bronzes! Aonith leveled off for a moment, feeling honored ... so many! She circled in place, roaring again, heart swelling with far too many feelings. Lusty need. Annoyance. And yet ... honor as well. They were there for her!

No, wait ...

Some of her males, her beloved males-! ... were chasing after that insolent little pudgy-winged mandyr!!! Aonith roared again, irritated, cutting another insanely sharp circle in the air, trying to decide what to do. What to do, what to do? Her nature and her need were pulling her in two very different directions. Finally, her lifelong nature won out, and she turned sharply with a dismissive flick of her tail, aiming outward and downward yet again. Wings flicking quickly, she sped toward the forest canopy beyond the Weyr, above the Canyon.

If they wanted to chase a puny runt like that, let them. They weren't worthy of her. Only a male not capable of real flight would chase something like that, anyway! And she wanted the best. The very best. For herself. She only needed one, anyway ... the very best of them. That other one could keep all the pudgy eyed losers of males that deigned to chase her. Reaching the forest, she rolled onto her side, pulling her wings in tight as she cut a hard and very fast turn to the right just above canopy level. As she zoomed past, leaves were sucked off of their branches and sent spiraling into the sky in a showy, sparkling light-green dark-green trail of glitter.

Twisting the other way, she rolled upright again, and spread her wings wide, angling them downward. All the speed of her body filled her wings swiftly with compressed air, lifting her nearly straight up back into the sky. It hurt, but at the same time it felt sooooo good. To fly! To be fast! To Rule the Sky! At the apex of that energy, as she started to slow, she started beating her wings again. It was time ... time to see who was up to the challenge of chasing Her. Aonith!

In the flight rooms, Dorava twirled around in the room, exuberant in the exquisite energy and freedom of flight that was pouring into her through her dragon. It was so good, she couldn't even begin to hold still. Racing around in a big circle and rapidly twirling around and around, it was amazing she didn't get completely dizzy and go splat on someone's feet. For the moment, she paid no never mind at all to who had showed up and who hadn't. Right now, it was the first flavor of ecstasy! Later, would come the rest. Later, when it became important, would she pause to find out who was here to show her their mettle. Their worth.

[Requiem]

Salenth lounged on the riverbank, watching the insanity erupting above with one eye. His crazy lumberjack wandered over, thoroughly soaked and remarkably not at all the worse for wear despite carrying an axe around in a lightning storm, the man pausing near his dragon to glance up at the many creatures screaming through the air. "I know it's fun when the sun comes out, but really?" Salenth huffed in amusement, stretching himself. S'rei glanced at him. "Well?"

You don't usually want me to Chase. "You're not usually constantly on edge from all the hormones, either," S'rei commented lightly. Phremath is one of them. "Then chase the other?" Salenth huffed again. Don't worry. I'm not that cruel. "Nice to know that you're above torturing me in certain ways, if not others." I was referring to Phremath's, actually. Do you think Phremath will be upset if I choose to chase Aonith over her? S'rei pondered. "Maybe for a little. But not long, I think."

Shaking himself, the bronze climbed to his feet. There were quite a few dragons rising to the call of both Phremath and Aonith, weren't there? He noted each, dismissing most, then huffed quietly to himself one last time. One of these days he'd land himself a pretty green, that he would. It would happen. Eventually. Hopefully. S'rei waved him on, and the bronze took to the skies.

His timing was, as usual, above reproach. Aonith just began her climb back into the skies, this time with a bronze close behind. He tucked his wings and spun almost langorously out from underneath her, banking into a thermal that bore him up and above in a slow twirl. An elegant entrance that played more to power and showiness than the manueverability he didn't really have. Salenth rumbled his appreciation at Aonith - and he was appreciative. A beautiful specimen, and one who wasn't threatened by a stunted green rising at the same time. That put her above a certain gold that he'd shared a ledge with for a time...

S'rei probably should have found someplace to put the axe rather than bringing it to the Flightroom, but his mind was miles away on random things that had nothing to do with the Flight, his feet taking him there of their own accord. He paused and glanced around at the gathering people. Were all here for Aonith? Or...? Because Kalierre wasn't here, and that worried him a little. She had odd habits during Flights.

Oh well. Surely some of the others bonded to the many dragons flying around would make sure she didn't do anything ridiculous. How much trouble could a cripple get into, anyway?

---

Phremath rode the thermal still higher, shedding her radiance over the dragons below as if she wished to draw them to her by sheer presence alone. Still she made no sound. The green merely marked the males flocking to her - to her and the other green who had Risen first. At any other time she might have been remorseful, but now she was not. The dragons would choose whom they chased, and she hadn't meant to share. She really hadn't.

Brown Ruskeath. She returned his croon. Blue Garaeth cried and looped between them. Phremath touched his mind gently, encouragingly, though she still didn't utter a cry to the air, perhaps waiting for it to clear of other dragon cries. Blue Adith rose near her, already clearly having chosen who to follow, but Phremath did not acknowledge this third male. There was a hurt there, though she couldn't remember what it was right now. It bothered her. Brown Dsoleth and Bronze Kreyanth turned from her. It saddened the green, and she touched their minds briefly, almost questioningly. Had they rejected her so soon? But that was fine, she supposed. Aonith had to have her males, too.

The next three, though, were more pleasing. She twirled in her thermal, which carried her still higher, twirled to entice the brown Pagoth who still hovered between the greens in indecision. Blue Ylonth came silent and faithful. She remembered him, and rewarded him with a croon. Then brown Frosstyth, a lovely youngling. He surprised her, he did, his wings shooting her upwards quickly and she coiled in the updraft, struggling to adjust for a few moments. There was one who should be here and wasn't. Reaching out to all the dragons who had honored her with their suit - and those who remained undecided - she spoke into their heads a most unusual pair of words. Thank you.

And she twisted, out of the buoying air, plummeting down toward the earth now far, far below at an impossible rate. Phremath went into a tight corkscrew, now nothing more than a whirling blur, the cry rising from her throat one of longing. Come, come, follow her, and she'd reward them...reward the best of her chasers the best, but they'd all have her gratitude. She wasn't so perfect as Aonith, but she promised them that much. If only Dohulth had come to Chase as well...

Phremath intended to fly well for her lovelies, to prove to them that they'd chosen the right female to follow. One stunted wing sprung out, turning the corkscrew into what appeared to be an awkward wing over wing tumble that somehow ended with her catching a slipstream sideways, rolling out of it and finding another thermal just over the falls. She rode it up for a few seconds, arced upwards, then plunged straight down the face of the waterfall, peeling suddenly left and speeding just a few feet above the canyon floor, toward another, smaller drop off.

It was never easy, to keep up with Phremath. She operated on another set of rules entirely from every other green to take to the skies...and she would choose the one who adjusted to her the best.

Kalierre had somehow made her way up the face of the cliff without being at all aware that she was climbing stairs. Every few feet...an article of clothing. A shoe. A sock. The leather binding her hair in a braid. Breastband. Underclothes. By the time she reached the top, she was completely nude and crooning to herself. It had been sooo hot. Now it was still hot, but not as much. Something told her to hold onto the cane, but otherwise there was nothing binding her to the woman she'd been. Her nostrils flared, her head turning. The scars that traced her mangled hip covered it white and feathery, almost more of a decoration than a deformity.

Where were her males? They were here...but not...and it confused her. She should be flying...falling...twisting...but her males weren't here and if they weren't here to chase her, she'd leave them far behind. Kalierre let out a feral cry of frustration and hunger. Where were they?

[Rowana]

Ruskeath faulted slightly in the air. He could not chase them both, no matter how much he wanted to. He was but one dragon after all. What did they expect of him? No time to think over the decision, the other males were already pulling away. Ruskeath sent Phremath an apologetic croon. He was sorry, but he would chase Aonith. She had been the first light in his eyes this time. Not sparing another though, Ruskeath whizzed after Aonith. His green queen, master of the skies!

With a cry of joy and challenge he twisted his body, turning in a arch much wider than hers but tight enough to strain his muscles. He didn't care, anything to keep up with her. She was so graceful. He loved how the leaves danced in her wake. Then she was rising high and fast. Ruskeath struggled to keep up. He could dive and weave better than most dragons his size, but he wasn't so good and rising. His wings were too narrow. He did his best, pumping his muscles until the arched and he zoomed upward to her. Had she seen? He would give only his best for her. And she deserved even more.

G'tor watched Dorova longingly. She was so beautiful, so graceful. He marveled and how she could twirl about them all without missing a beat. Would she come to him? She had shown no favors yet. Maybe he would please her. He wanted to show her, he had eyes only for her. She was his whole world.

~

Garaeth delighted in Phremath's attention and in a moment his mind was set. She seemed so lovely and playful! He wanted to dance with her! He wanted to show her true happiness like no other could. He crooned with delight. He didn't care what she looked like. She was perfect, and that was all that mattered. Pulling his wings tight, he followed her down. Round and round in endless circles only a little wider than hers.

Then she tumbled away. Garaeth pulled up sharply, snapping his wings back and almost crashing. He hadn't been ready for that. Clearly this was not going to be like his last chase. A great challenge she was! And all the more fun because of it. Garaeth recovered quickly and flapped to keep up with her. It was amazing how fast she could go! Garaeth rumbled his approval and praise. Phremath was a marvel. Down she went and Garaeth went after her. The water rushed up to meet him, but he teased it by dropping dangerously close. Water splashed and his claws ripped the river below. How as that? He hoped it pleased her.

T'ke veered away from the flight room. He stumbled down corridors with no concept of where he was going. He only knew he had to find her, now! He kept going, knocking down several people in his way. Up and up he climbed until there she was. T'ke grinned almost stupidly at her. He had made it! Was she happy to see him?

[neeuqtar]

She didn't so much as acknowledge him, which stung. The words he had said to his rider about deserving to be yelled at were all but forgotten--this was Phremath, his beloved Phremath. Why would she scorn him so? The irony of the statement was completely lost on the lustful dragon. But then... she thanked him. Thanked him. What did it matter if she had sent the same thanks to the rest of her Chasers? She shouldn't have thanked them. They should be thanking her, for her existance, her beauty, her skill...

The blue dragon was taken by surprise as she dropped, corkscrewing in a dive. He floundered for just a moment, before tilting to the side, his wings snapping musically against his body, only his foresail spread to catch the crosswind. He flipped perpendicular to the ground, losing all lift, and thrummed the joy of flight as his slim body, heavier than Phremath's, dropped like a stone in pursuit of the tiny green and the other blue who dared follow closer than he. Adith dropped past Phremath as she tumbled into a slipstream, then out towards the thermal just infront of the fall's downdraft.

With a second piercing howl, this one tempered far more by the joy of being here, following Phremath... Chasing her... Adith twisted the other way from Phremath, crossing underneath her as she side-slipped, in a series of cloverleaf turns combined with a barrel roll that just about sent his own tail-tips whipping into his eyes at one point. He had nothing to fear for his sight, not be-goggled as he was... just below Phremath now, his tail dug through the water of the falls, stinging, as he spread his wings wide once more to climb after her--

She shot past him, and Adith arced over the thermal and folded his wings once more, parallel Garaeth as he fell. The blue dragon snarled once, silently, then pumped his wings and shot down faster, the spray around him getting on his goggles and making it impossible to see-- Instinct, and a hardwired memory of the area, far more than skill, made him snap his wings out once more, turning his free-fall into a horizontal race. Not fast enough, and the water rushed to meet him-- Adith tipped his wings, slowing him somewhat, before hitting a mid-river with his forelegs, as hating as ever of touching the water. The shock and compression stung, but the dragon kept going, launching off with his back legs to wing over the water, further back now.

The kick-off, though, had given him enough extra altitude to beat his wings without fouling them in the turbulent waters, and the blue dragon powered forward, shaking his head slightly to clear the water off of his goggles. It was terrifying being a creature in flight, and blind... luckily the wind of his passage sent the water trailing away, and though his vision was impaired, he could see again. To make up for his embarrassing display, Adith listed towards the canyon wall, kicking out again with his hind legs to send him shooting across the river, higher, twirling in a barrel roll that slowed as he unfurled his wings, turning into a small corkscrew. And then the drop came once more...

---

Uu'n caught sight of Kalierre as she climbed the Weyrcliff, and after a moment of awed pause, he ran up after her, sweating with the exertion of exercise just after sleep, and still mud-spattered. He wanted to stop, smell her clothes as she abandoned them, delight in her, but she ran on, and he followed. The wound in his knee stung and bled sluggishly, but he ignored it. Unimportant. Instead, he scrambled up the stairs, his wet loincloth clinging awkwardly to his legs. With a growl, he grabbed it, ripped it off. The wet cloth tore, leaving just a scrap of fabric attached to the cord tied around his waist. Uu'n ignored that, too.

He made it up the cliff, panting slightly from the sudden exertion, as she screamed, her call to the males. He answered with his own cry, vaulting onto a height of stone near her. The bluerider crouched, ready to pursue when she ran, when she Flew. A hungry smile crossed his scarred face, and lustful light filled his eyes. What was she waiting for?

[Ember]

Dsoleth watched for Aonith's reaction to the other green Rising curiously. Phremath was willing to share the day with another and the brown admired that even as he resented it. He couldn't chase both when they chose to Rise at the same time! He huffed as he waited for Aonith to lead him on a merry chase. She, too, finally seemed to accept she had a rival for the attention of the males present. That made her worthy to chase. Yet, for all that he seemed prepared and decisive the questioning presence in his mind made him croon apologetically at Phremath. Surely she wouldn't hate him for his choice! If she wanted logic, technically Aonith had announced herself first. Oh but he felt so guilty now...

And there went the green he was going to chase. Whoops! He rushed after her but not before sparing a single word for Phremath. If he could not devote his attention to her than at least she deserved that. Sorry. It was awkward to say and he gave her a last look. Now for the one he was trying to win...She was headed for the forest, he noted with alarm. She wouldn't lead her males through the foliage would she? He didn't much like when greens did that. Ah! Not so. She was simply dancing with the leaves. He crooned admiration for her trick and decided to be daring. He went close over the tops of the trees as she went upwards into the air. With an excited bugle to attract her attention the brown let his forepaws brush against the leaves at the top of the trees, wings beating in a shorter stroke that used more energy to stay aloft.

Speaking of which, he should stop his little trick. Though he had far more endurance than a green he didn't want to unnecessarily tire himself out now. He may need his energy for extra speed. He beat his wings harder for a moment to make enough air room for his regular sweeping strokes. Once he had that he angled upwards to rise after her in the air, aware of the distance between him and the lovely green. Plus the troublesome gravity working against him.

T'san had arrived at the entrance of the infirmary to realize that what he sought wasn't there. Instead his senses pulled him upwards, up to the cliff. Oh! He caught sight of her climbing up and headed that way. He needed to hurry or she'd think him late!

[Kisha-Ra]

Aonith roared, irked, no doubt, but Ylonth paid her no mind. She was no longer important, all his attention must be focused on Phremath or she would surely evade him, and then what would he do? The blue shifted his wings slightly so he could more easily turn his muzzle upward to admire Phremath as she drifted and spiralled above him. Ylonth made no move upward after her, not yet.

She noticed him! She remembered him! Ylonth was elated by Phremath’s little croon of acknowledgement but not so bold as to assume the Flight was his just yet, though somewhere on the ground far below R’fuin bounced and danced a few steps as an expression of Ylonth’s feelings. The dragon was the more dignified of the pair however and only tucked his head close in to his body, arching his neck proudly to display a little of his pleasure to the green. It would do for her to think he didn’t adore her.

Thank them? For what? Ylonth thought indignantly. It was her due and their duty to chase! There was a thought to be out into action right away as Phremath slipped out of the rising air and dropped away, spinning as she fell away with such a cry that Ylonth couldn’t help but break his silence and raise his own voice in brief feral howl that somehow expressed his desire and determination perfectly.

Down he went, wings folded, falling after Phremath rather than flying, and revelling in it. Down and down and down went the green and her chasers, falling like so many brightly coloured rocks from the sky, and then Phremath was above him, rolling then soaring away from him. Ylonth crooned his appreciation for such wiles as he pulled his body around and snapped out his wings to go up and after her.

Down over the falls, water rushing parallel to his body, air rushing past, tugging at his wing, bidding him open them, save himself. Not yet, not yet… now! Ylonth’s wings burst open at the last possible second to keep him from plunging headlong into the river. The blue wrenched his body through ninety degrees as fast as possible, somehow managing to rise just a little and spin wing over wing, well clear of the river, though as he pulled up the waterfall had thoroughly soaked his tail and hindquarters. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered but her.

R’fuin stumbled along, far below his dragon, guided only by instinct as rational thought was stripped away from him by dragonlust. He made a low sound and looked around hopefully, where had she gone, his lovely little green? Little tease. Well no matter, he’d find her soon enough.

Ah there she was, see? Wicked little green. R’fuin looked up, confused as to how Kalierre was so far above him, but accepting what he could see. He sprinted for the steps, determined not to be left behind, and bounded up them on all fours, getting his hands and feet tangled up in discarded clothing as he went. Growling he stood upright on the top step and shook one of the offending garments from his foot, flicking it back down the stairs in disgust. Stupid fouling tangle-cloth, no wonder no one wanted it. He’d never have fallen behind if there wasn’t so much cloth wrapped around him, he decided. Bits of his clothing flew down the stairs to join the collection of discarded garments as he removed it. There! Now he’d be able to keep up with his green.

[dragon]

Frosstyth turned as quickly as he could but it was still a by far larger arc than any of the smaller dragons made in doing the same. All of his energy that he'd put toward gaining altitude to get back to where Phremath was, was lost. A complete waste. Oh well ... no matter. The lovely green knew what she was doing! He tried very hard to follow her through her dive, but he didn't quite make it. He just wasn't cut out for this agility stuff. No, his strengths lay in raw power, and it showed in the rippling motions of his hide over a thick muscular structure.

Nevertheless, Frosstyth did the best he could manage without, say, ripping a wing off. His arc over the waterfall was by far less daring and showy as the lovely green's, or the rest of her agile suitors. Instead, knowing that she could not, after all, keep going down, cruised along at a much more shallow angle ... and making up some of his lost distance as he dropped altitude slowly, traveling along it.

This was not to say, however, that his flight was boring. Indeed not, knowing that he had to make up for his lack of agility somehow, he started dancing in the air as he cruised, trying for a bid to earn her attention again. Twirling through the air, sometimes with his wings closed and sometimes with them spread in a wing-over-wing motion, he trumpeted again. Varying the tones, he made it almost like a very short song in her honor, before throwing himself downward into a barrel roll that shed even more altitude and a little speed.

He did not want to over shoot her, after all, as she led her flight along so close to the canyon floor! No, it would be sacrilege to do such a thing, and steal her thunder in that fashion. As she flashed by underneath, he dropped again, to get back into the race. Splashing heavily into the water with no notice of who's path he'd just disrupted, Frosstyth leapt powerfully back into the air again, wings spread as wide as he dared, throwing water in all directions yet again.

Now, directly over the river with the rest, he pulled his beats to keep from smacking his wings off the trees or the water below ... really, he was too big for this, but it did not mean he would not try!

C'oar, finally getting his bearings on where it was he was, and where it was he was supposed to be ... took off in a flat out run. Already having been outside the canyon, he had no perilous stairs to climb, and no heaps and drifts of clothing to overcome. Instead, he ended up blasting through the jungle as fast as he could go, getting quite scratched up as he went. A few times he got smacked across the face by a thin branch, but he didn't seem to notice as he ran along, anyway.

He had a place to be.

Reaching the edge of the canyon, his footsteps turned at the last instant to run along it instead of over the raw edge ... as he'd been about to do initially. Some small part of him managed to remember that he was human ... and that he could not, after all, fly. That was Frosstyth's department. Nevermind that where he wanted to be was on top of the canyon, and not down in it.

Part of the reason why he'd almost leapt off the rock face was that he was on the wrong side of the canyon!! Which was most distressing, indeed. Running along at his best speed (never minding how far he had to go), C'oar finally made it to the end of the canyon, upstream of the Weyr. There, he stripped off his shirt even as he dashed toward the river. Never slowing, he jumped in, and swam across. It was a very good thing that he was very focused, very determined, and a powerful if not very good swimmer. For he just barely reached the other side before he would have been swept right off the waterfall after the flight itself. Climbing the far bank, C'oar broke into a run again, lungs heaving and burning from the top speed marathon. Dripping wet, now, he started back down the lip of the canyon again.

She was there. He knew she was. And he had to be there!

---

Aonith reached a certain point in height, and then just hung there for a moment, looking back down at her chasers. To see how they were doing, how they kept up ... and to notice if they tried to do anything showy. She liked showy things ... it told her that they could think even while in such a state... and were thinking about her! Which was always important, yes. Especially now!

She was somewhat saddened to see that she was left with only two browns now, of all the browns and blues and bronzes that had started out chasing her. That was depressing, indeed ... but it did show that these two were the most dedicated out of the lot! That was worth something... oh! What was this? A new bronze was joining in, for her! Pleased all over again, Aonith threw herseif sideways into a gleeful tumble through the air, before starting a spinning descent all over again, back toward the forest canopy. There, she pulled out of her spin just in time to level off out of her downward plunge. Smacking her tail off the canopy, she sent up another spray of green leaves to twinkle in her wake before zooming quickly across the treetops.

Wait ... wait ... there! Spotting the crack that was the river, she vanished down between the treetops into the chasm that was the upstream river. Turning up it, away from the Weyr and its canyon, she flew for several long heartbeats before erupting back through the canopy in a likely looking spot that wouldn't scratch her all to bits for it. Twirling sideways, she arced over backwards, before spinning back around to be right side up again, and flying upriver again, this time above the forest. This only lasted a few more dragonlengths, before she started back up into the sky again.

It was almost time to give in and pick someone ... her wings were starting to get tired from all that zooming around and twirling! Oh, but it had been fun!! There really was no feeling like the feeling of flying...