it takes two to whisper quietly (vex's maiden run)

[glamourie]

A month had passed since Fort attacked Selenitas. The infirmary, being constructed of stone, was easily put back together. The Main Hall was being rebuilt in stone. Wounds were healing, but lives were lost forever. The first two sevendays, he’d been bedridden. The third, R’wign actually left Selenitas; call it breathing room, for it certainly was an accurate assessment. He’d needed to not see the Weyr. He’d needed time to be alone. So he’d gone to Southern Hold for a sevenday to relax… and he hadn’t wanted to come home. It’d only been M’ta’s insistence that brought him back. Teri could stay there with him, and M’ta could too… but Riaren couldn’t. That logic was the only thing that got him to come back, and it was painful. He was incredibly awkward, and all that he wanted more than anything else in the world, was to be completely left alone. He wanted to stay in his weyr and never come out. The people who mattered could come to him and then he never had to face the public. It was cowardly and pathetic. He didn’t care. He also didn’t do it.

Against everything that he wanted, R’wign was in the infirmary. He knew, intellectually, that he couldn’t avoid it forever. It would become a phobia if he didn’t force himself to deal with his issues. So he’d come to the infirmary, though whether or not he was actually on shift was questionable – the healer was literally sitting, perched, on the ledge. His left arm was bandaged, with his middle finger splinted because of being broken, while his right arm was in a sling to keep from jarring the joint injury to his shoulder. Most of the swelling on his face had gone down, but the scarring on his lip was still prominent enough to draw second and third looks. The bruises on his stomach, though, had healed. He was starting to make some progress in healing – soon the bandages on his arm would come off, though the shoulder injury still had quite awhile left to go. The worst ‘injury’ though was probably psychological: he was scared of the place he felt most comfortable at, previously. So, in a show of stubborn dedication, clad with firelizards, he’d decided to camp at the infirmary to answer questions.

It wasn’t that bad, all things considered. He tended to panic any time he was away from M’ta, and that morning was Blizzard Wing drills – so his weyrmate wasn’t around. That he hadn’t fled back to his weyr was a miracle, and he was getting better, slowly. Slowly. He didn’t quite panic anymore, and for the past two afternoons, he also hadn’t jumped out of his skin at loud, sudden sounds. He considered it an accomplishment, even if he did feel strangely restless; he’d actually found himself pacing around the infirmary to keep busy. It was more natural, in some ways, and completely out of the blue in others. Usually when he was bored, he reorganized things. He didn’t want to reorganize, though. He wanted to pace and watch everyone who was there like a predatory avian scouting for game.

The source of his excess energy and anxiety, R’wign would have assumed, was that he was finally coming out of his frightened reaction to being hurt. He wasn’t entirely wrong… but he had some help that he’d not noticed simply because he wasn’t used to the signs.

The ‘help’ came in the form of the green salamandyr who was currently sleeping on top of one of the jars on a shelf in the infirmary. Her dark green hide glistened like a polished emerald, complete with shimmer, and there was a very distinct lightening of her hide that only the most attentive would notice. She always seemed to have a metallic glint to her, but it was heightened to the point of being shiny in the past couple of days, and her usually sneaky behavior had diminished in favor of quiet analysis mimicking her mindmate’s: everything around her was watched with a simple intensity, measuring and judging, whenever she was awake. It’d been a whole day since Vex actually spoke – there were no words emerald, complete with shimmer, and there was a very distinct lightening of her hide that only the most attentive would notice. She always seemed to have a metallic glint to her, but it was heightened to the point of being shiny in the past couple of days, and her usually sneaky behavior had diminished in favor of quiet analysis mimicking her mindmate’s: everything around her was watched with a simple intensity, measuring and judging, whenever she was awake. It’d been a whole day since Vex actually spoke – there were no words needed.

It wouldn’t be long until the green woke from her slumber. The slight twitching of her tail was indication of that, and the ever-so-slight restless twitch of R’wign’s shoulders mirrored her mood. In her sleep, she let her wings droop down over the sides of the jar, and R’wign mimicked the pose by lounging back to rest on his good elbow, legs pulled up at the knee slightly. The cool brush of Checkoth on his mind was all but ignored as he lounged, watching the ledges nearby as if they were the most interesting things in the world. He didn’t even notice that absolutely none of his firelizards were there with him that particular day – that all of them had gone suspiciously missing ever since he woke up. He might’ve been nervous if he had.

How long until drills are over? It feels like an eternity.

Not too much longer now.

R’wign crinkled his nose and stretched out, pushing his bandaged arm up above his head. Perhaps it was instinct; the way he was dressed was definitely chosen deliberately. The black leather pants and loose fitting white shirt with low cut collar and cut off sleeves were ones that he thought he looked the best in and he’d woken up wanting to look outstanding. Fidgeting, the healer sighed and turned his head back toward the infirmary. People moving around bored him. Where was Meira? Or Kalierre? Someone worth looking at? – oh, he definitely needed M’ta to come back, if he was wanting to stare at Kalierre. And he was bored. Horribly bored. More than anything else in the world, he really wanted to get up and explore the Weyr; all at once, he wanted very badly to be anywhere but the infirmary, and it wasn’t fear at all.

Wings flapping, Vex slowly uncurled from her position on the top of the jar. On the ledge, R’wign slowly stretched and pushed himself upward. He turned his head slowly, watching her hop off the jar and stretch out, only to find himself mimicking her movements perfectly – arm stretched above his head again, back cracking. The butterflies in his stomach doubled with nervous realization of what was going on – and why he’d so badly wanted to keep M’ta in bed with him all morning. Not good. Not good at all.

It was entirely possible that R’wign would’ve asked Checkoth how Vex, a creature so tiny, could affect him enough that he was mimicking her behavior, had she not woken completely at that moment. But as Vex’s consciousness came, R’wign’s disappeared completely. The green leapt daintily onto the ground and walked across the infirmary floor, to the ledge where her mindmate was, and rubbed against his legs with a quiet purr. R’wign mimicked her behavior by half rubbing against the cliff face by the infirmary ledge, totally unaware of how strange he was behaving. The position of the salamandyr put her in view of all the ledges of the weyr, all the tree branches below and the river – a perfect spotlight for all to see her. And she flared her frill before sweetly announcing her challenge to the minds of all salamandyrs and firelizards alike:

Catch Vex, do you dare? Come Fixerplace fast if trying, you want. Vex will not wait long.

[Requiem]

Rynge, the blue mandyr sang quietly to anyone near, swimming around in a bucket of water. Where, yes, syringes that had been cleaned and desanitized were now left to be rinsed, and would be drawn out to dry later. Why was the blue swimming around above a forest of needlethorn? Because he was insane. (So his human would claim.)

The salamandyr had been watching Vex...or, rather, watching the Striped Sausage watching Vex. A lovely tactic designed by His to keep tabs on R'wign, considering none of M'ta's mindmates were that interested in the healer, but Sneak was very interested in all salamandyrs. Particularly this one over the last several days. PMS, however, had gotten bored watching a firelizard watching another salamandyr, so here he was, paddling around above a needlethorn forest singing faintly to himself.

M'ta himself was just hopping down from Behruth and tugging off the straps when he felt the first and least compelling of his mindmates switch over into an all-too-familiar mood. What with Behruth and PMS chasing so often, it wasn't at all difficult to identify in Sneak. Who of course was apparently not interested in divulging which firelizard had caught his interest. M'ta mentally shrugged (firelizard runoff just meant a particularly wild session with his weyrmate later) and returned to removing the straps and his own riding gear.

Sneak circled above the ledge, lighting on an outcropping of rock and hunkering down, the violet eyes whirling slowly as he watched her. Beautiful salamandyr. Normally he would have elected - sadly - not to pursue, but His liked her bonded. Very much so. This one time he could claim it as doing as His wanted, yes? (Of course he wasn't actually interested in a salamandyr. Who, him?)

But then she called for her chasers, and PMS stopped his paddling, clinging to the edge of the pail for a moment. A game? A game! Vex was finally awake and about to play a game! He scurried out of the pail and scrabbled across the floor, whipping out onto the weyrledge and pausing there, coming half up onto his hinds and partially flaring his frill in something like curious interest. Rynge?

M'ta blinked. Three hearbeats later, the sweat-soaked brownrider disappeared into his weyr, scampering for the infirmary with a queer bounce in his step. They were going to play a game, a game he wanted to be in, yes. And then they could mate and it would be so nice, wouldn't it, no one would make fun of him for mating with one of them? They were so interesting... The odd melding of PMS and Sneak in his mind made sense to him, anyway.

[Rowana]

Hobbs rolled over onto his back. It was so nice to sit out in sun and be lazy for a change. His mistress had been so busy lately that it was tiring following her around. The stubborn, shiny worm usually took over his old spot on her shoulder, but at least he could live him to watch out for her. After the siege, he hadn't wanted to leave her alone after Tille had gone, but now she was much less gloomy. He could happily return to doing whatever he liked best, which was playing games or sunbathing.

He rolled over again as Vex's announcement entered his mind. Oh, a game! He LOVED games! Hobbs practically bounced with delight. He took flight, trilling merrily as he went. He zig-zagged through the air in a crooked fashion. He never seemed to be able to go straight anymore. Not since he'd hit his head. That was alright though, going this way was more fun! He could see two more salamandyrs playing too, blue just like him. Were they going to play too? The more chasers the better the game! Hobbs circled above Vex, singing sweetly. He was ready, when did they start?

Some distance away, Farryl was busy giving Peppeth a bath when she felt Hobbs rush of joy. She rolled her eyes. Again? Would he ever learn? The silly blue could never seem to resist a chase and he hadn't won one yet. What is it, Farryl-mine? Peppeth asked, nudging her to keep scrubbing. "Hmm? Oh, nothing. I just hope some poor salamandyr owner doesn't come chasing me down this morning." She went back to cleaning Peppeth's wing while she crooned happily. Zellos opened one eye from nap on a nearby rock. Fools, he declared and went back to sleep.

[Kisha-Ra]

It was the most beautifully perfect day, the sun was shining, a particularly brave darter was singing somewhere nearby and was not even killed and eaten by one of the many firelizards that inhabited the area, and the river was actually warm for a change, at least in the slower areas. R’fuin felt it was all in rather bad taste to be honest. Of course the reason he felt so grumpy about the whole business could be that he was examining his dragon’s newest scars, which, thankfully, were not bad, and listening sympathetically to his mourning salamandyr go on about how much Sprite would have loved to play on a day like this. At least Flirt was being quiet today. R’fuin noted the blue flitter as missing in the back of his mind, but there was nothing new about that, Flirt was often missing, and usually living up to his name

Indeed he was, the bright and pale patterned firelizard was currently in a tree by the river, prancing and strutting up and down with his long tail flung up over his back, totally unable to comprehend why the bright green feathered darter he was trying to impress (which was actually male) wouldn’t come out of that hollow in the trunk. He’d tried singing, bringing gifts, and he was always amazing so no need to try that. What was left? The firelizard fluttered his wings anxiously as he tried to think up a new plan. But fortunately for the entrapped darter Vex’s call distracted the blue before he could come up with anything.

Oh someone wanted to be chased? Flirt trilled delightedly and flung himself off the branch in a glide. He was just the firelizard for that, no one chased better than him! The blue vanished and reappeared moments later just above the infirmary ledge a respectful distance from Vex. He twirled, fluted, and landed lightly on the rock to make his usual strutting display with the tail he could only have inherited from his salamandyr dam held high. Vex need not worry, her finest chaser was here now.

[Ember]

Charming watched his girl work with some pink frabric diligently. Occasional he'd flutter up or land on her head and look at it from another angle. "Its almost done. Calm down...and I suggest you keep it from Diva, she muttered to her brown conspiratorily. What the green didn't know wouldn't hurt her. She was napping which was why Nephele was able to get any work done on her brown's 'outfit.' He'd seen something similar on a doll at the Gather and decided it would look good on him. Having been taught how to sew Nephele had insisted on making him something better.

"There, done! Not bad for a first attempt, is it?" The brown chittered admiringly. She wasn't entirely sure if it was because of him picturing himself in it or if he genuinely liked her work. "Alright, sit right here and let me put it on you." Charming landed again and Nephele slipped the fabric over his head and guided his forelegs into little holes. To accomodate his wings she'd made a pair of slits that could be closed closer to the joint with small clasps. Those had been the hardest part to sew on. Once she got the clasps hooked she picked Charming up and turned him this way and that looking at him. "You look good. I'm not gonna bother wondering how you manage to pull it off. Now shoo. Go show off."

Charming did as she suggested though he took a long moment in front of the mirror to admire himself before Nephele caught him at it and shooed him off again. He was considering where the best place to show off his outfit when he heard the calling of a green salamandyr. What a perfect opportunity! Fixerplace clearly meant the infirmary and he knew the place well enough after fetching items for his girl's friend. He didn't waste the energy flying straight there but popped in and, spotting the green that had called him, flew down to where she was. He landed with a flirtatious cheep. The chocolate brown made quite the sight in a pink, frilly dress.

[Rei]

Cr’oph had decided to be randomly helpful today and when X’rx suggested infirmary work the red head shrugged and went with the flow. They could always use help there. Especially lately. Humming a tune he nudged his rolly polly brown. “Hey Jiggs go fetch someone will you? I need some direction.” The bronzeweyrling was hefting a box of supplies and had no idea where they went. Yes will go find fixer. Be soon back. The brown replied amiably before leaping to the ground.

Jiggles was happily bouncing through the infirmary on the errand for his when the call rang out, completely stopping him in his tracks. The masked brown tilted his head ever so slightly as the glimmer of green caught his attention. That tiny look was all the reason he needed. With a low purr of desire his gaze went from bright green to deep violet. Pretty one should never wait. The large brown purred as he drew closer. Sitting up on hind legs he briefly flared his wings, due to lack of any substantial frill, for effect. No wait for ugly flyers. Run fast. Jiggles dare catch. The male was held spellbound by the beauty before him. For now. Must have her.

Cr’oph dropped the box with a crash as Jiggles began his newest attempt at conquest. Cursing under his breath, there would be no Mavenath to help him this time, he tried to resist the draw of his mandyr. Must find Vex, no wait, not Vex, need to stay away. Back in his mind he felt the question from his dragon and struggled to reply. Jiggles again. The agitation from Mavenath at the answer helped Cr'oph keep his head a little longer but it was in vain. His legs seemed to have had a mind of their own, as they had taken him to the ledge of the infirmary. The sight of R’wign was the final straw. Eyes blinking the tall red head moved to stand by the beauty. “Vex pretty is. Chase will.” He purred much like his mandyr.

The withdrawal of his bonded had Mavenath growling in a fit of anger. After the last time Cr’oph had been careful to explain the situation and although the bronze now understood, he still didn’t like it. He hated the thought of something else taking his, even if it was only temporary. There wasn’t much he could do however. Digging his ivory claws into the riverbank he worked on keeping himself calm. The Jiggles was fast becoming a nuisance.

[Tashe]

Will you remove this pest? I cannot stand watching him pace so! Rubbing at a streak of dirt on her arm, Kaegan dusted off her hands and excused herself from the company of the stonecrafter before jogging over to her Queen. She was currently helping oversee the construction of the new Main Hall and since it was being remade in stone it opened a lot of new possibilities. Particularly the size and configuration of rooms. "Dash honey, please get off of her nose. Come here." Sometimes, the Weyrwoman wished that Salamandyrs would listen to Queens outside of their species, it would make her life a whole lot easier. She moved to pick her mindmate up, the 'mandyr on the other hand had other ideas. Startled as Dash scampered away from her, Kaegan frowned as she watched him disappear from sight. "Now where is he going?" Maybe he has finally realized he's just a worthless, annoying -- "Millieth be nice." Tucking her thumbs into her belt loops, the Weyrwoman shrugged. "Whatever." Walking away from the Gold, Kaegan began to catch the faint traces of a very familiar feeling.

Fanning out his wings as he leapt and jumped, Dash tried to eat up as much distance as he could. Oh he was so far away, he shouldn't have let His bring him along! He should have stayed in the sleeping place, he would have been much closer then. Oh dear, oh dear! It was fortunate though that he knew exactly where he was going, having crawled just about every inch of the Weyr. Vex had said she wouldn't wait long! He needed to hurry, Dash did. He needed to go faster. There! Therethere! Hopping across the planks of the dock, he crouched and swung his tail back and forth, planning his jump. Dash launched himself off of the edge and at the swiftly moving woodfloater. This would get him to the fixerplace fast! You! To wood thing near fixerplace go! Crawling along the edge of the boat he circled around to the other side. Wait wait. Must wait. Too far to jump~. Pacing back and forth as the small human rowed, the Brown felt like bouncing in anxiety.

As soon as they were close enough to his stop, Dash threw himself at it. Using his wings to guide himself he tried his best to land without falling. As he hit the wood he scrabbled to get a grip with his claws, pulling himself up off of the lip as soon as he could. Bouncing forward, he quickly made his way toward the fastest shortcut to the infirmary that he knew. Up, up, up he went! And eventually he made it to the landing ledge. Beautiful Vex. Smart Vex. You make the big star above shine. Sitting back on his hind legs, Dash crossed his front paws and bobbed his head slightly. He had made it! He was here!

Go. I will explain. The on rush of lust was exactly how it had been the first time her Mandyr chased. It pulled on her consciousness and dragged her away, maybe not as powerfully as Millieth but it still consumed her. At a run she departed from the construction site, her red tunic fluttering slightly as the breeze caught it. Nothing mattered much, the sole thing she needed was to get to the prettyone. To the one she wanted to persue and make hers. Soon. She would be there soon! If only the distance was shorter to the place of fixing...

[glamourie]

Arrivals. Good, good. Vex flared her frill slightly and leapt up onto R’wign’s boot top. She turned around to look them all with coolly whirling violet eyes. The dark green salamandyr almost blended into the black leather of his boots; she was hard to see, if one ignored the decidedly metallic glint that shimmered in the afternoon light. The salamandyr did not notice the first of her firelizard chasers – it wasn’t unusual for Sneak to stare at her and she attributed much of his behavior to the same creepy gawking that he undertook most of the time. PMS was another story and she flirtatiously fanned her frill at him before half climbing up R’wign’s leg, clinging to the material of his pants to balance herself out. The position higher up made it easier for her to see her selection – analyze her oh so lovely males and decide what she thought of them. PMS was familiar; she knew him well. Sometimes he curled up with her on her ledge at night. She liked him well enough. Her pleasure flashed through her eyes before she fanned her frill again; she didn’t answer, though. No need to… yet. And she didn’t know what he was trying to say anyway.

Musical singing made her turn her head back, up toward the newly arrived blue firelizard, and she spared him a flare of her frill as well. If he wanted to extend excess energy by flying around, that was his prerogative, but she was going to wait – she wouldn’t wait long but she did say she’d wait. And she owed it to them to do that much. Her tail curled around as much of R’wign’s kneecap as it could fit (which wasn’t much, admittedly) and she turned to the second blue firelizard to arrive. Her head cocked to the side, silent laughter flashing through her violet eyes; amusing, that one. And… the next… had on a dress? A dress? The color reminded her of her mindmate’s hair (before he dyed it black again) and she trilled sweetly to Charming in response, very clearly amused by his ‘outfit.’

The next arrival actually made R’wign turn, his movements mimicking Vex’s. The little green flared her wings at Jiggles, teasingly, while R’wign actually turned on his toe and walked forward to stand toe-to-toe with Cr’oph. His hand, broken finger and all, reached out to stroke the tip of his index finger down the bronze weyrling’s jaw. He stepped forward until their bodies were perilously close and he leaned his head over to brush his lips against the other male’s cheek. The touching lingered only seconds – just enough to tempt – before he stepped away again, though a very soft, “Prettiest,” escaped his lips. Only Cr’oph would be able to hear him. The healer backed up slightly, until he was out on the ledge, head half-bowed; his eye was half-lidded to match the suggestive, baiting smile he wore that was not R’wign at all. R’wign most definitely would’ve only reserved that look for one person. And he wasn’t present yet.

Dash’s arrival distracted Vex, who turned her head toward the brown before cooing to him sweetly. Her wings flared and she took a silent count. Six. Three salamandyrs, three firelizards, that she could wager. More than satisfactory. Uncurling her tail, the salamandyr spoke to them all teasingly, Smartest, prettiest Vex, all see soon enough. Come, lovelies. Much to see, not time to waste. And then all at once, she flung herself off of R’wign’s leg and bolted away from the infirmary ledge.

Being a green, speed was Vex’s specialty, and she used it to her advantage. To all viewers, she very strongly resembled a forest green blur with metallic glints that seemed to shimmer in any lighting, and she ran with speed enough to alarm. The lighter streak down her back only seemed to highlight how fast she moved as she darted out the doorway and into the paths between the weyrs. She was careful enough to weave in and out of people’s feet, not at all eager to trip anyone, but the path she took was clearly toward the rider weyrs – her weyr. She knew how to get down and out from there, and she had a plan in mind for where she wanted to lead her lovely chasers. Provided, of course, that they could navigate the busy pathways to keep up with her.

Like his salamandyr, R’wign turned to move, but it wasn’t the hallway he sought. He actually spun on his toe and took off in a run across the wooden rope bridge that spanned the gorge, moving as if he trusted it completely. The planks creaked and swung under the sudden weight and he made no effort to brace himself on the railing; if they wanted him, they’d have to come and get him, dangerous bridge be damned.

[Requiem]

(This is crap cause I had a Chinese paper to write last night - which I was still finishing this morning - but I don't want to make anyone wait.)

Oh, she was looking at him. For the first time, PMS had the barest hint of an inkling just what this game really was about, most likely thanks to Sneak seeping over through His, and the blue fanned his own frill in response, tail flicking slightly. He hunkered down, watching her with interest. Waiting. Waiting.

Yet he wasn't the first to react when Vex took off running. No, the first to react was the firelizard who had been watching her, day after day, almost since the moment he was hatched. Sneak burst from his spot in a flurry of wingstrokes, darting back through the infirmary and swerving awkwardly to avoid the tall heads trying to get in his way. He was, as ever, silent, but he did not intend to lose her. Never.

PMS squealed happily, dashing through the forest of legs with abandon. The game was on! He spurred his limbs as fast as he could manage, skittering over shoes, coiling around furniture, and very nearly becoming a very flat little blue salamandyr a number of times. How exciting! Perfect glittering cuddlemate definitely knew how to play this game, yes. Oh, was that a...? He swerved toward a shiny plate that had dropped with a crash, but his attention snapped back to Vex, the salamandyr leaping onto the still-spinning plate with a gleeful Ryyyynggeee! before launching himself onto someone's back. He found their shoulder and glided, landing almost at Vex's tailtip.

(It seemed that Sneak managed to help focus him.)

The man vaulted a cot at a dead run, knowing he should see her, but she was beyond the wall and that just wasn't right. Rounding the entrance to the ledge at such a speed that he ended in a crouch, hand clutching at the stone to keep from slamming into the wall just outside, his eyes found her. Whooping, he sprung forward in a sprinter's lunge. No hesitation at the bridge. If it swayed, he didn't notice, his feet finding the wood confidently. (And it did sway quite alarmingly. Neither R'wign nor M'ta were light men, and the creaks should have been enough to warn any sane person that too much more of this would probably end disastrously.)

[Rowana]

The game was afoot! Hobbs trilled with delight. Vex was so clever, and pretty, and fast! He had to dive to gain enough momentum to keep up with her. He ducked under the door frame, barely missing some poor apprentice's head as he passed. Normally he would have stopped to chirp an apology, but not today. Today the lovely Vex had all his attention. Where was she going to lead them? He would follow anywhere she wanted to go!

He couldn't fly straight very well, so he twisted his body from side to side as he flew. Sometimes he banked so far that his wings were almost vertical. This made it easier to avoid the heads of people walking by, but there were still a few close calls. He used one person as a launching pad for an extra burst of speed. He was sure they would understand. He had to keep up or be left behind! He could see the flash of green with a blue one close behind just below him. He trilled again and leveled out carefully. He was here! What would they play next?

[Ember]

Charming mimicked the classical salamandyr meerkat post and actually ran a paw down the front of the dress much as he'd seen his girl do with her coverings. Vex's trill earned her a pleasant flute in response. Yes, it was grand, wasn't it? Especially so on him. He made it look good, not the other way around. At her words the brown firelizard had a choice to make. He'd really only intended to come and show off and amuse some of the fixers and fixed. Hmm, hmm.

The chocolatey brown made his choice and bounced off the ground to dart through the air after the green salamandyr. He kept low to the ground just to be fair and to keep her in sight. Chasing her, he was. She was a cute little thing and surely she wouldn't object to such a handsome chaser, salamandyr or firelizard. She led them out to a place full of many people. He dodged through and around people's legs, enjoying the looks some were shooting him.

Charming noticed a familiar blue for the first time since he arrived and he trilled pleasantly at Hobbs. He remembered that one. He wished his friend luck just as much as he wished himself luck. If he didn't win he'd rather a friend did. Not that he was likely to lose though. The firelizard was a confident little beast.

[Kisha-Ra]

Flirt’s whole body swayed sideways, yearning after the green salamandyr as she teased, and frilled, and flirted. The blue managed to keep his movements down to twitching his tail slowly from side to side while he waited. Oh yes! Flirt agreed, she was certainly the prettiest. Smartest? Well, he’d see, he was supposed to be seeing much.

The blue firelizard shot forward for all of three bounding steps after the salamandyr before he realised that he need not chase her on the ground and took to the air in a sudden flurry of wings. Flirt flew low, less than a foot above the ground, intent on being close to Vex rather than his own safety. Whoops! Flirt swerved wildly to avoid smacking into an errant leg (honestly, why was someone’s leg in the middle of this?), then looped back to follow the sparkly green blur again. Where was she taking them? Flirt didn’t care, he was so obviously amazing that he could handle anything, so it hardly mattered.

Not mygreen he chases. Do not want. Spriteling want. My Spriteling. Trick complained and curled into a ball, wrapping his tail around his body. R’fuin sighed. ‘Oh great. I hope we’re not plagued with whoever owns that green then.’ He muttered, while seriously hoping Flirt didn’t win. That would be something of an immense blow to Trick if the firelizard were to acquire a mate so soon after Trick had lost his, or would it? Did salamandyrs even think like that? R’fuin really had no idea but he was staying right here. Flirt would get no help from him.

[Rei]

Jiggles flared his own wings again in answer to her flirting movement. Oh pretty shiny wonderful green. His dark violet eyes never left her form as she scrambled up her bonded’s leg. Bouncing closer he trilled sweetly. Prettiest, smartest of all is Vex. He agreed. Much better than ugly gold. Was he intentionally trying to inflate her ego? Perhaps. It never did hurt to make complements. Then she was flinging herself from her bonded to scamper away. Oh no, no. no. Scrambling to get his large form underneath him the masked brown bounced after her surprisingly quickly. Yes he would win this time.

The press of people did little to dissuade him as he bounced and glided, thank Faranth for his large wings, up and over the moving boots. It was harder than it looked keeping up with such a lovely green while trying not to get stomped. Jiggles kept up a trilling as he scampered to clue Vex into the fact that he wasn’t far behind. Run, far fast. He coursed as he leapt onto someone’s leg to scamper up and throw himself into a glide after the shimmering beauty. Wherever they where going he would follow. No way he was going to let some flitters beat him. His green.

Cr’oph held his breath as R’wign approached. The closeness made him long to reach out and touch but he knew better. Not his place. Hers certainly but not his. He seemed to be rewarded for his actions as a finger brushed along the length of his jaw. The man didn’t even try to hide the shudder of pleasure the touch brought. Had he been himself he would likely have been horrified but as it was he only saw Vex. “Prettiest.” The weyrling echoed. He only finally took a deep breath when the man moved away. Still Cr’oph’s eyes never left R’wign.

When the healer moved to the bridge he followed after never missing a beat. He saw Pms ahead of him but that didn’t bother him to much. Vex was smart she would only pick the best. Pms, or was it Sneak, either way the blue? Brown? Wasn’t the best Vex would see that. The swaying of the bridge didn’t bother him at all. Cr’oph/Jiggles was light on his feet, confident. However all the confidence in the world wouldn’t help you survive a freefall. Try telling that to mandyr lust driven humans.

[Tashe]

No time, no time. Time flies quick. He returned Vex's coo with one of his own, happy that she noticed him. That she paid attention to him. Tapping a claw against the ground as he swung his head side to side, the Brown counted quietly. Oh dear, oh my. There were five others that he could see. There were many vying for Vex's attentions, but Vex was most undeniably worth it. She certainly was prettiest! Smartest! Most-- oh! Momentarily shocked by the Green's sudden departure, he lost precious time the stuff they apparently had to little of. Scampering forward, Dash found himself in last once more. How was Vex going to notice him from waaaay back here? He needed to think of something, something devious? Something cunning? Anything really, anything to get him from the back to the front!

Well. In front of the bigger Brown would be the best first step. Dash knew he couldn't out run Blues, and he certainly couldn't out run Vex; look how fast she was going! Dashing out the doorway and onto the paths, the Salamandyr did his best to dodge the many feet that fell heavily around him. Watch out. Look out. Dash coming through! No stepping please! Hopping onto a shoe, the Brown launched himself into a glide, swerving around legs and bags. He fought to keep the others in sight, feeling immensely glad every time he caught a glimpse of a familiar patch of hide here, or a flash of color there. Busy, busy! Why did humans have to be so big? They should be smaller.

Oh dear, she was tired. Bursting into the Infirmary, the Brown gave no recognition when her name was called. She pumped the gas and ran, making little allowances for people getting in her way. She was last! Oh how she hated being last, it was simply the worst place you could be in. Vaulting over a bench, Kaegan very nearly stumbled when she reached the landing ledge panting a few moments later. They had left? Left without her? Turning around her eyes caught the violently swaying bridge. They... they went over /that/? Extending her stride, the Brown hesitantly touched one of the poles that the bridge was tied off to. She was probably the lightest Chaser but with three already on the bridge, and how bad it was swaying... even she knew that it could break if she dashed wildly across it.

Decisions! She didn't want to be left behind! "Nnnn.... bad swing..." Huffing she collected her nerves and waited until at least one of them had reached the other side. Taking her chance Kaegan sped lightly down the planks, hands out to either side of her and hovering just above the guide ropes. Oh she hated this rocking! It was making her feel all off balanced. Oh dear, oh dear. She only hoped she could catch up with the Prettyone after this. Whining quietly to herself as the bridge tossed her about, the Brown concentrated on not falling to her doom so that she was still alive to give chase. Dying now would /not/ be a good idea. Nor would it be the best time. Oh no, not the best time at all. Didn't you know, she didn't have much of it?

[glamourie]

Almost rabbit-like, Vex ran, her movements like bouncing through the hallway. The little green salamandyr was almost impossible to see in the storm of movement back and forth – but she was keeping track of her chasers, oh yes she was, and – and the sausage was chasing her. How strange, how unusual. He normally stared, and she’d been quite convinced that the firelizard disliked her. Not that she cared, mind, since Vex didn’t think too highly of him either, but it was strange to find that he apparently liked her enough to follow her around. A smug satisfaction filled her. So that was why he stared – because he couldn’t tire of looking at how beautiful she was. That explained so much. (And no matter what anyone told her, she’d be sure that the brown firelizard worshipped her from there on out – because once Vex convinced herself of something, it was actually very hard to change her mind off of it.) That knowledge encouraged her to run faster, leaping through the hallways until she reached the entrance to R’wign and M’ta’s shared weyr – her weyr – and scrambled inside. Her place. She knew it very well.

Unfortunately, Vex wasn’t the only inhabitant of the weyr, a fact that she’d almost forgotten in the heat of moment. She was fine, but her chasers… well, strangers and Empress rarely got along well.

Vex leapt across the ground of the weyr, flinging herself onto the coffee table. Her little claws hit fabric – the coverings that protected the wood from damage – and she turned to coo pleasantly back at her chasers. Keep up, keep up, pretties. Much to do, much to see. Be safe, lovelies. My place. My rules. Her frill flared and then she flung herself onto the couch, wings spreading to offer a very little glide. If they were smart, they’d follow her. The feline on the bed had lifted her head and turned to look at the intrusion with skeptical blue eyes, and it wouldn’t be long before the arrival of many winged and frilled creatures became extremely fascinating to her. She’d never hurt Vex – but the others weren’t Hers, and were fair game. Vex was smart enough to know exactly what she was doing, too… best to keep up with her, or run the risk of becoming an Empress snack.

The green salamandyr teasingly wove her tail through the air and scurried along the back of the couch. It was black and she nearly blended in, save for the bright streak that spanned the length of her back. Keep a close eye out or lose track of her~ And she was only getting started. They were keeping up so well, her pretties, and to the brown who complimented her she added only, Why want gold, would anyone? Vex faster. You see, soon. Careful, pretties. Very careful. The Empress comes~ And then at once, she did a somersault off the back of the couch, flipping midair to land scrambling on the ground. Keep up, keep up~

Her human half was far less graceful. Though he reached the other end of the rapidly wobbling bridge safely, he did end up grabbing the post connecting it to the far side of the gorge to balance himself out and he immediately writhed around it, twisting to get a look at the chasers with a half-lidded eye and a playful smile that might’ve looked more natural if not for the posture that accompanied it. Pretties pretties… So many pretties. Sneak/PMS, Jiggles, and the brown s/he recognized but couldn’t quite pin as to why. Where were the rest? Stomping one foot, he bolted across the ledge to the far side and then – not even seeming to realize how dangerous it was – jumped to the nearest ledge. Fortunately for him, it was close and down half a level, so he did not immediately fall to his doom; R’wign did not possess the salamandyr ability to leap huge distances with little effort, after all.

“Missing pretties are dumb,” he said loudly enough that the ones on the ledge above would still be able to hear. Not missing a beat, he scrambled across his new perch and looked back again before baitingly smiling, “Brave enough to follow? Careful, careful.” He didn’t wait for an answer to that, though – actually bolting into the weyr with little regard for whose it might’ve been. Privacy, what was that?