Care to Court a Queen?

[Administrator]

Aslath stretched out lazily, getting into the perfect spot where the sun would be able to make her hide shimmer. She was flaunting herself off, determined to attract any males before the Flight. She wanted to get to know them, see which one would be the most worthy of her. Of course, it would all depend on the Flight, but she wanted to make sure her choice would be a good one. So she lounged around on the bank of the river, crooning loudly to attract attention to herself. Who would be able to ignore her? She was quite beautiful, even if she did say so herself. There was no other female around here who could rival her glow. Even the proddiest of greens were dimmed in her presence!

Letting her shining tail drift into the water, she was excited. She was looking forward to her first Flight. Every queen in history would never have had a Flight as brilliant as her own! She hoped that the males could keep up with her. Yes, her Flight would be long and hard, and her clutch would be bigger than any of Forts’, Bendens’, and even her own junior queens would ever hope to be. She would, of course, choose the best of all males to sire her hatchlings. Only the strongest, fastest, handsomest hatchlings would come out of her clutch! No more deformed dragons for Selenitas!

Trumpeting, she looked around lazily. Shmee was probably off being moody somewhere, so Aslath was safe to flirt with even a brown if she so dared. However, they would have to be one lucky brown indeed. She wanted as many bronzes resulting from her Flight as possible. Perhaps even a queen, but that would be pushing it. She didn’t want too many children to be competing with her. The two here already were bad enough, and they weren’t even full-grown!

She splashed her tail around, hoping to draw even more attention to herself. She simply would not let herself be ignored on such a beautiful day as today was! The males should be absolutely flocking to her! If they didn’t, she thought wickedly, they would not even stand a chance at catching her. She trumpeted, unable to wait any longer. Did any want to join her in her sunning?

[saberlin]

A warble came from R'ton's ledge as something had caught his great bronze beasts eye. He put down his leather boot and wandered over to see what it was, squinting in the bright sunlight. Rodonth was intently watching Smee's Queen bathing in the river. Her hide did seemed to glow so she was probably very close to getting ready to rise. R'ton hurumphed once, "Don't even think about it wherry brains."

Why not? She is still a Queen, even if you do not like her rider. There are only a few of us Bronzes here any how. If there were more I would not think about it. But one must do their bronzed duties.

With that Rodonth ruffled his wings a few times in and out before spreading them wide and falling acrobatically off of the Weyr ledge. He angled sharply showing his mighty pinions and the strength in them as he flew over the Gold. His croon increased ever louder and more enthused as he got closer to her. He landed a bit off, not wanting to crowd her, and certainly not wanting to anger her. She surely did have a presence about her that was amazing, and not just because she was the senior queen. There would always be others but this was Aslath of Selenitas.

You are looking magnificent today Golden Aslath. The sun finds you very bright and well! Might a humble bronze ask company from such a great dragon as yourself?

[evendar]

Haloth looked down to the splashing below and crooned as he saw the queen lounging. He stretched in a feline like manner, first each fore paw than the back ones. His eyes shone brightly green as he flared his large wings. The scars that flayed about them only adding to his masculinity. He wasn't ashamed of his scars like his rider. They showed he was strong and daring in Threadfall, that he was a fighter. He glided down to the waters edge, his claws creating tiny splashes as he landed. Of course he allowed not a drop to land on the glowing golden queen, but they made for some show.

Haloth let out a smug chirrup, his deep bronze bass making it sound like something alien. He puffed out his chest a bit and added a curl to his neck, showing off his masculinity like a struting Rooster. He bowed his head to the queen and said.

Hello fine Aslath, and how does this fine day find you? he asked in his eloquent way. His rider's harper training coming out in his flowing speech.

N'call just shook his head at his bronze and returned to the guitar he was mending. Haloth and his notions of flattery.

[Requiem]

He didn't care anymore. His was annoying. S'rei was off somewhere, probably stalking the Weyrwoman - yes, Salenth would continue to call it stalking, no matter what the man said about protection - while he expected Salenth to keep his distance from Aslath. Fat chance. The bronze didn't do double standards. Salenth. The tone was sharp. You can't fly her. The repercussions -

I don't care, Mine. And I'm not chasing her. I'm just looking at her. Like you look at Shmee. Salenth felt the flare of annoyance that indicated he'd scored a hit. Besides, I don't see what would be so wrong about it. It's not like I haven't fathered a clutch before. You'd have to catch her, Salenth. And if you did, then we would have more problems with Benden and Fort than we already do.

We'll have problems with them, anyway, sooner or later. With that, the bronze settled along the riverbank, his long, serpentine body gleaming in the sunlight. He flared his wings and let out a great bass rumble, glaring around at the two young males that had gathered around Aslath before him. Very young males. No competition. They probably hadn't even chased a gold before. Hatchlings.

Salenth, usually not quite this pissy or high-handed, settled his wings on his back and turned his gaze to the glorious queen dragon. Part of his problem was his rider. S'rei had been getting on his nerves ever since his bout with the poison. And part, certainly, was Aslath's proximity to Flight. It drew out the dominant streak in Salenth, a streak that grew nastier each time S'rei attempted to squash it.

He would not refuse to chase Aslath. He liked her. Not as a bronze coveted a gold, but in general. She'd stayed by him in his terror at S'rei's brush with death, and he'd protected her while Shmee recovered. There was a bond there. And Salenth was not about to let another bronze come between them. Lady Aslath. It has been a long time. Your beauty has only grown with the days. He refrained on commenting about the dragonets that seemed to think they could challenge him. Salenth did not want to risk annoying the queen.

[Administrator]

Aslath crooned. Three strong bronzes appeared to be interested in her! Deciding to favor the first bronze first, she slid her tail around Rodonth's, feeling very flirtatious. Of course you may all sun with me,[/color] she replied with yet another croon, letting herself be a little vain. She deserved it, didn't she? After all, how many of these bronzes had ever had the chance to Fly a senior queen before? Not to mention this would be her first Flight. She had a right to a little bit of vanity.

This certainly has been a fine day, she replied lazily, stretching her neck out slowly to show off her strong glow. Her eyes whirled, green-blue with the slightest hint of purple. Her Flight was so soon, she thought in pleasure. Perhaps one of these fine specimens would be the lucky one to catch her, she thought wildly. Tracing her tail along Rodonth's back, she added lazily, Perfect day for a quick little flight.[/color]

She admired all three bronzes for a moment only. All so strong, handsome, all with good genes. Rodonth and Haloth weren't as well-known to her as Salenth was, but she remembered Shmee wasn't particularly happy with his rider at the moment. Nevertheless, some kind of greeting was due. Is Yours well?[/color] she asked politely, her tail now sliding from Rodonth over to Haloth, drawing figure eights along his hide almost absently. But not really- oh yes, she knew what she was doing.

[evendar]

Haloth settled to the ground with as much grandeur as he could muster. He crooned in pleasure and trailed his own tail along Aslath's tail ridges in gratitude for her caresses. He felt some slight antipathy at the bronze who seemed to be getting the most of her attention, but he didn't dwell on it. It was not the day to build rivalries. That day would come soon, but not yet.

Haloth stretched one wing up lazily, not blocking the queens sun, but letting the sun show through the thin membrane, showing off his dark scars. Her mention of a flight sent shivers down the young bronzes spine. He'd only caught green's before, quite a few of them, but green's non the less, and the aspect of catching a gold was intoxicating to him.

[saberlin]

Rodonth crooned loudly as the Queen came near him, even going as far as to wrap her tail with his. He was trying to be good and not let things go too far, as he did have feelings for the young green from Fort. But this Queen, it was almost as though some part of him, something more primal was trying to take over. He couldn't help but want her. He may be young, but he was not that young, though he had never wanted to fly the Benden Queens. They had been....less than appealing. Mostly for the fact that he could always tell that something was just less than right with them.

A quick flight you say? Queen's are known for their wonderful endurance and strength. Something I KNOW you possess Aslath.

He was other than that at somewhat at a loss of what to SAY to the Queen. As he was not normally a dragon of too many words. Instead he let the warm feeling of the sun seep into his hide and feeling the energy he could get from it. When the Queen was done with him he would go nap in the sun, if she wanted to be done with him, but a very large part of him was greatly hoping that she would continue her affections in his direction.

[ravenmane]

Cyanth appeared late as he usually was. The Bronze had decided to show when he saw Aslath surrounded by three others Bronze dragons. The great beast bowed to the Sr. Gold respectively. His eyes whirled a light shade of blue and green as he settled near the others.

I am sorry for my tardiness, Queen Aslath, but my rider had me preoccupied.

The beast rumbled, his eyes watching the shining Queen. He had entered just as Aslath brought up the topic of a short Flight. All the Bronze creature could do for a moment was chuckle.

Dear Aslath, we all know that you want a big clutch and long Flight.

Cyanth seemed nonchalant was he watched the Queen pay special atention to the other Bronze dragons. He still had a chance didn't he? Golden Queens loved to flirt with possible suitors and Cyanth did not mind her actions, well, not yet anyway.

[Requiem]

Salenth wasn't pleased. He knew Aslath was most likely paying this much attention to the other bronzes just to annoy him. At least, that was likely part of it. The other part was equally obvious to the bronze. The problems S'rei had created with Shmee was reflecting on him. If that continued, it might also effect the flight and, though S'rei had relented a little in keeping his presence masked from the Weyrwoman, the bronzerider was still obstinate; he wouldn't support Salenth giving chase.

The riders' influence on their dragons was going to make it difficult for the bronze. No, he didn't like it at all. Nor was he too happy to find Cyanth approaching, as well, for this particular bronze happened to be the one Salenth expected the most competition from. One of the young ones might catch Aslath at the start of the Flight, but most likely she would evade them, and the Flight would go to one of the older, more experienced males.

Her polite, cold tone did not escape him. And Salenth was far too proud to play the simpering game. If she was displeased with him, fine. She'd either get over it or she wouldn't, but he wouldn't be debasing himself to try and ease back into her good graces. Why should he be held responsible for S'rei's hardheadedness, anyway? If he didn't love the shard-blasted man so much, Salenth probably would have dropped him from the nearest cliff days ago.

He's well enough. Thank you for your concern. The polite frigidity of his answer mirrored her own.

[Administrator]

Aslath crooned, nuzzling Haloth's neck as he caressed her tail ridges. He certainly knew how to earn her favor! Deciding to start teasing the other bronzes further, she sidled closer to Haloth, her tail moving downwards to twine with his. She looked up at his wings, mildly surprised at the scars and she cuddled closer to him. Oh, she must be making the others extremely jealous! Eagerly gaining warmth from his bronze body, she asked curiously, How did you get those scars?[/color] She was not repulsed by them. In her eyes, they were only proof of a fierce warrior, perhaps a veteran of severe Threadscore that his strength had helped him overcome. That strength could be useful in hatchlings...

She crooned again as Rodonth and the newcomer Cyanth showered her with praise at how they thought her Flight would turn out. Sneakily, she loosened her tail from Haloth, and innocently moved it toward Cyanth, caressing his hindleg with graceful strokes. I do hope my Flight will be as long and hard as you seem to hope,[/color] Aslath told them mildly, as if not expecting to. However, what else was she going to think? Of course her Flight would be long! It would be long and hard and only the strongest would make it! She was determined to make it so the day after her Flight, these bronzes would barely be able to lift a wing. Somehow, this thought made her glow intensify ever-so-slightly. Her Flight would be better than had happened on Pern since the Golden Years- or even before! Faranth wouldn't have been able to Fly like Aslath would!

She casually turned her head toward Salenth. Why remove herself from such a warm presence as Haloth just to stand cold beside a bronze who seemed to be losing interest? The thought bothered her. They had gotten along so well in the cave, and now they were becoming so indifferent to one another as her Flight neared. Almost tauntingly toward the bronze who wasn't treating her with wanted attention, her tail slithered away from Cyanth back to Rodonth, firmly grasping his tail in it as she nuzzled Haloth, carefully not looking at Salenth. Even if he wasn't coming closer of his own accord, she could certainly tempt him.

[evendar]

Haloth forced himself to remain calm as Aslath chose him. Him to rest beside! Her glowing golden warmth against his hide felt wondrous, so different and so much better than any green's skin ever would. He let his tail entwine with hers tightly as he flexed his wing, slowly bringing it back down in a motion he hoped seemed flirtatious. Her nuzzling sent shivers up his spine and he let out a slight, low croon. Amazed by the golds interest in him.

Even as she spoke to the other bronzes she remained by him, and he felt so privileged, so in awe that this queen felt him worthy of her. He almost didn't realize when she asked him a question. Stumbling over his words he said as bravely and masculine as he could.



Its, Haloth didn't know his voice could sound so young. Its a grand tale of daring and strength my queen. My rider and I in one of our first Falls as a pair noticed a spare clump of Thread missed by the upper wings. In our haste to catch it we jumped below it, and while I flamed, it wrapped its cruel tendrils around us both. If I had not the reflexes of a feline to jump between, both I and mine would be lost today. His rider was a harper, and despite his nervousness over the queen's proximity, he knew how to weave a tale. Of course he himself barely remembered the day he'd been scored, but pulling the memories from his rider wasn't hard in the slightest.