i write sins, not tragedies [gold jingth’s flight]

[Avu]

Snow fell overnight, and the day dawned bright and freezing cold, a thin film of snow and ice clinging to the ground and to weyrledges. By noon, it was apparent that neither snow nor ice had any intention of melting, especially when a cold wind made its appearance. The sky was still clear blue, the sun shining blindingly off of snow, offering no warmth at all, distant and uncaring. Not that it mattered, of course; there was a sun much closer to Pern, on that day, a sun that could be touched without fear of burning, a sun drawn in glowing lines of molten gold.

Her breath came slow and steady, sides rising and falling quietly in sleep, her entire body sprawled across the ‘ledge.

Meira watched her silently from inside the weyr, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the still-unmade bed, eyes just this side of fever-bright. Her knees were drawn up, but not pulled against her chest, arms resting lightly on top of her knees and hands clasped loosely together. She’d been anticipating fear, even dread, for the day that Jingth Rose, finally, but at the moment, she just felt oddly detached, her mind blank. She forced herself to think about goldflights, what she was supposed to do, what Jingth would do, but it all seemed oddly unreal. The very concept of Jingth becoming so violent was…beyond comprehension.

Everything had been taken care of. More precisely, she’d emptied her weyr of other living creatures, period. Mimic took off earlier that morning to go see Lilitu, and she’d just asked him if he’d mind staying for a longer time; Riaren and Monster had been dropped off with R’wign. Technically the feline hadn’t had to go, and she kind of wished he hadn’t now: The silence was omnipresent and a constant reminder of what was soon to come. It had taken her quite a while to convince herself to leave the door unlocked, the final argument being that the door was made of wood.

And…yeah, all things considered, she’d kind of like to keep the door whole. It still took more courage than she had to leave it actually open, though, so it was closed. Just to give the illusion of security. It probably calmed her more than it should have.

Love.

Her head jolted up, and there was the fear she’d been anticipating, worming into the pit of her stomach. Jingth had woken so quietly she hadn’t even noticed, but now she could feel it, the heavy restless prickling in the back of her mind. But the eyes that appraised her silently, intently, were not purple. Meira swallowed, hands tightening a little around each other. “Are you not…Rising?” she asked, and even though the question sounded uncertain, she knew the answer nonetheless. “What are you waiting for?”

You, came the simple reply, and now it was more than a prickling sensation, the pins and needles replaced by full-blown hunger, hot and pervasive and undeniable. Jingth slithered off of the ‘ledge, gliding low straight to the Feeding Pens. She gave the herdbeasts no chance to cry out, bowling the first one over, the force snapping its spine, and Meira exhaled, reaching for her connection to the dragon, pressed, something she’d never needed to do with Jingth before.

Blood – Jingth, stay /with/ me, blood, you need to /blood it/…

The wave of resentment and rebellion washed over her, white-hot and ice-cold by turns, but the gold offered no scream. She lowered her head, sucked, red standing out in stark contrast to snow and to golden hide. Another herdbeast fell to her claws, and still Jingth made no sound to announce her imminent Flight; she wanted no male who could not see that for himself, who needed an announcement. Those that were not watching her as they all should be were hardly welcome.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth had been watching. For days now. Marking the countdown to Jingth’s rising with the subtle brightening of her hide. The frost and ice only highlighted her beauty and a soft croon left his throat as she aroused. Never mind that she couldn’t hear it. The brown mantled his wings as he waited for the youngest of Selenitas’s golds to move. From inside the weyr he could sense his bonded stirring and the groan as Sel'n realized that, yet again, the brown was determined to chase a gold. Although long ago his and given up arguing the point. Kaaoloth never won anyway. It was like a green flight. Only wiith added flare. Just don’t be a fool please. Mind your manners. I always do. Came the brief reply before the brown’s attention was completely stolen by the lovely Jingth.

As the gold descended to the feeding grounds Kaaoloth leapt from his ledge. The brown had already blooded this morning alongside a few of the bronzes who had not left for the impending flight. Although not a blooder normally the male always did before queen flights. Either with the queen or before her. With Jingth he was not sure if blooding with her would be tolerated. Hence the decision to do so before hand. Landing lightly on the outside edge of the feeding pens Kaaoloth offered a soft croon of greeting keeping a respectful distance between him and the glowing flame that was Jingth.

She drew him like moth to flame but he was not young nor stupid enough to be burnt. Adjusting himself to keep her in sight the large brown half flared is wings in anticipation, glad for the warm blood in his belly and the fire singing through his veins. They kept the cold out for now. Arriving chasers where not spared the briefest of glances. The male’s complete and utter attention was on the gold and if his rider had any say it would stay that way.

Sel’n made the trip to Meira’s weyr in silence. He was well aware of her temperament having taught her in classes. Shy, introverted and a bit insecure. The older man had no wish to scare or upset her. As such he kept a careful rein on Kaaoloth blending consciousnesses just enough so the brown knew he had complete support without losing himself totally. Kaaoloth had a reputation for being pushy in flight. Sel’n was going to attempt to temper that today by keeping Kaaoloth focused on solely Jingth. As long as the other chasers didn’t bother with the older brown nothing should come of it. It was more a desire to protect Meira than anything. Above all else she had been, and always would be, a student of his. There was still a desire to protect her, and that desire at the moment trumped anything else.

Upon entering her weyr Sel’n gave a light smile to the goldrider. Noting her distraction, he backed up to lean against the near wall blue eyes carefully examining the room before drifting back to the goldrider. Soon the real tests would begin.

[Ember]

Ready was the brown dragon. He'd been on high alert ever since he noticed Jingth's increasing glow. That day it seemed almost blinding but he didn't turn his gaze away from the gold as she lay on her ledge. In the weyr behind him, his rider paced furiously, desperately wondering what to do. Green flights were bad enough but gold flights.... Dsoleth had been in them before and they were quite different from the fast paced flights of the smaller females. He wanted to bring Dsoleth away from the weyr, head to one of the southern islands and lounge there for a day with the brown seething at him. Yet at the same time the brownrider didn't want to leave, to abandon Meira during Jingth's flight (not that she was likely to see it as a betrayal).

T'san reached a decision and approached the brown where he laid with seeming nonchalance. "Come on Dsoleth. We're leaving. Plenty of females to - " No, T'sanmine. We are not leaving today. Or tomorrow. Or the day after that. No matter what the events or the outcomes we will stay here. "Deep, you brainless wherry. But who says you get to decide?" I do because no matter how hard you try you can't force me to leave. "Hmph. What do you even want kids for? They're awkward. Not to mention they can be annoying." The brown rumbled in amusement. Silly His didn't get it at all. He'd be good enough to explain it then.

When did I ever say I wanted hatchlings? I care only to fly for Jingth on this special day. Is that such a bad thing, T'sanmine? If I do not earn her favour that only means I did not work hard enough for it. Besides, as you remind me often enough, I have lost before. Did I mope so much then? Dsoleth questioned his, turning his head slightly so he could glance down at His. T'san sighed. "Fine! Don't come moping to me if you lose." If? When did it become if in his mind and not when? The brownrider extracted Nevroti from his shoulder and placed him on a high shelf. "Be good, little guy. You know the drill. I'll be back but you really can't come with me this time.

The brownrider didn't leave his weyr right away though. No point until the gold woke up. Dsoleth would let him know when he should make his way to where Meira was. Meira.... Hmph. Perhaps if Dsoleth won it wouldn't be just for his sake. Figured he'd fall for a goldriding healer with a kid. All things he previously avoided. He leaned against the door frame of his weyr with his eyes closed and waited. If Dsoleth's anxiety was any indication he thought the gold would be walking up soon. He would hate to get comfy only to have to move again right away. He didn't have to wait long.

The brown didn't give any more warning than an exagerated flick of his tail before standing up with more speed than one would have expected from his earlier relaxed pose. He would not keeping Jingth waiting. He stretched a bit on his ledge before launching into the air and making the short trip to the feeding grounds. Dsoleth circled once before landing a respectful distance away, crooning gently to the gold who was outshining the icy world. It was a cold day and the air stung slightly against his heated hide. He brushed her mind with a polite request to share the panicked herdbeasts. He could and would fly without blooding if she desired him to do so. It was ultimately her choice, as was the whole Flight. If given permission he would blood until she drew him up into the sky. If not he would stretch his wings further and prepare for an arduous Flight.

T'san was out the door before Dsoleth was even off his ledge. He was drawn by the awareness of Meira's whereabouts. Her weyr? Mm, interesting. Some did prefer their weyr over the flightrooms. He slowly let Dsoleth into his mind, lending his support and concsiousness to the beast. Just because he was doubtful of his - their - chances didn't mean he wouldn't be fully supportive. As far as browns went, Dsoleth was more built for gold flights than green flights. His brown was large and heavily muscled. He was strong with endurance and that would help. It helped even more than Jingth was small for a gold. The brownrider entered Meira's weyr and barely managed an innocent smile. He tried to keep his eyes off her body, to focus on her face, but the lust from the bond was strong. Just a little longer and he'd let the brown take over fully.

[rii]

Trilaranth shook off the snow that had collected in a light dusting over his fawn brown hide during the early morning. His wings flicked out, blowing the strange substance off his ledge. The bronze-sized brown snorted lightly before turning his attention to his rider. Eat quickly. Inside, with a mouth full of bread roll. R'ven's head lifted at the unusual command. Without having to put words to the question, the brown responded. Jingth rises.

R'ven swallowed, glancing briefly in Erilena's direction. I figured you didn't have an interest in golds. Isn't that a bronze thing? I pay my respects to those that deserve it. Frowning, R'ven brushed the crumbs from his face and shirt before excuses himself with the short explanation that Trilaranth was chasing.. a gold. Did that differ much from a green flight? R'ven never remembered much about those – his brown's hold on him during flights was strong. Still, was there some sort of etiquette he was suppose to follow..?

The only answer Trilaranth gave was to rumbled in amusement. As R'ven exited the weyr, Trilaranth slipped off the ledge and leisurely glided his way toward the feeding pens. No fancy entrance for him (His large wing-stretched presence in the sky was the only introduction he needed). Jingth was given space as she blood her kills. He had already done that the prior day – though it was hard to really tell with the brown. Trilaranth's always made a pleasant, bloody mess of his meals.

He would not speak unless spoken to. Simply there to compliment her worth by presenting himself as a desiring chaser. Whether she kept or dismissed him didn't matter.

[Sheari]

Weith had awoken very early this morning, watching the sun rise, as was his wont. He always did like to see the red disc fade to gold as the day went on, it fascinated him that something that was usually so brightly white in the sky could be so red in the morning. The bronze's favourite time for the sun, however, was the evening, in that hour where it looked almost just like morning. The weyrledge was an amazing vantage point, being on the third level of the western wall. He could watch most of the other dragons, and the top of the cliff was but a leap and glide for the sunrise.

A different sun was rising this day, however, and that one was being watched carefully. Weith observed Jingth as she woke and then rested on her ledge. Without any warning to the minds around her, the gold slipped away and Weith rose to his feet to follow. Wings open, he allowed himself to fall away from his own weyrledge and made his aerial travel to the pens. With two beasts down and three other dragons in attendance, Weith took down another. He dropped the carcass near to Jingth, a peace offering if you will. Circling back, he took his place among the watching males. Wings half-furled to make room accommodating his bulk. The other males so far were all brown, and not worth his attention.

The other three, however, were cause for a bit of concern. Jingth hated him, he knew, despite his perfection, and she preferred browns as far as his knowledge reached. He'd truly have to work to win her favour.

The desire swept over R'men without warning. In almost an instant he felt the urge to find the room that held Meira and just, be in it. No! He didn't want this! He wasn't ready! He wasn't prepared! In a near frenzy he took a blanket from his bed and wrapped himself in it to nearly immobilize him. Anything, to keep him from doing something, though what he was unsure. He curled into a ball on the floor, the fabric of the blanket restricting the motion. "No," he groaned, unable to fight. His dragon's influence hadn't overtaken him completely, but he was sure that, as soon as he left the ground, R'men would be unable to fight the wave that was ever looming.

Rising to his feet, the man loosened the blanket (keeping it about his shoulders, though) and began walking. Goldflights weren't held in the regular Flightrooms (or were they?), and he wouldn't go there by way of between. His boots scuffed the floor now and again, not caring where he walked. Of all things, his first flight had to be a goldflight. Entering the doorway, R'men took a spot on the wall a bit farther away from the others, as if he needed the room due to size and not personal space.

Odd.

[Ruby]

What on Pern are you doing?

Chasing.

I'm sorry, what?

Chasing, T'mundmine. Jingth is rising, I am chasing. The concept is not that complicated, why is your mouth so far open?

Suddenly concious that his mouth was in fact gaping hugely, T'mund snapped it shut, blinking at the door his Brown had just nonchalantly pushed open. He wasn't sure where E'iah and Viveth were, but he was sure that Jagjith's tail was now dissapearing from view as the baby dragon headed outside.

Chasing?

Jagjith ignored his rider, this time. T'mund kept blinking, trying to wrap his mind around this new development.

Jagjith, you can't even fly yet.

I will make do. Anyway, I believe I could if I tried - my wing muscles are stronger than those of my siblings. I will be sure not to strain myself. Just think about it, T'mundmine: Salenth caught Millieth, and he is Weyrleader. Ciceroth caught Hepaticath, and he is Weyrsecond. Other dragons who have caught or at least chased Queens are Wingleaders, Wingseconds. The first step is the chase. I may as well start early.

Cue facepalm.

Do you realize what happens in Flight?

No, do you?

That's not the point. I won't let you do this. I forbid it. Plus, Jingth is huge, you'll never catch her.

Jagjith just snorted. By now he had joined the assembled Browns and Bronzes, sitting directly in the center of the pack and offering a wordless greeting to Kaaoloth, who he recognized from lessons, although the Brown had never taught his class. With his marbled wings half flared, he was ready to start whenever Jingth was. He was ready to try, at least.

T'mund put his head into his hands, pulling them down his face in despair. This was not going to be his day, he could tell already.

[Rowana]

Chaoth watched Jingth passively. He knew she was nearly ready to Rise. Her hide shone even more brightly than usually. The brown's tail twitched in anticipation. It was a cold day for flying, but he knew that wouldn't stop any of them. Once Jingth decided, they would all take to the sky. Merridan had been up since dawn anyway. She could feel Chaoth was excited about something. Her dragon was rarely overly emotional, so this could only mean a Flight was coming. Mer stretched her limbs. Looked like it was nearly time to go.

She is blooding, Chaoth warned. It was nearly time. Rising to his feet, Chaoth launched himself into a gently glide. He wanted to be ready when Jingth was. It would be rude to make her wait. He knew he wasn't her favorite, but he didn't mind working hard for the honor of the chase. At least he was large, easily matching some bronzes. Yet he hadn't come for the glory of winning, but rather the challenge of the Chase. Jingth was sure to make this a hard Flight and he wanted to be sure only the best would win her. They other chasers were nearly all browns like himself. He was pleased to see so many. All were strong and determined. Jingth could easily chose any of them. He was surprised to see Weith had joined them, and even more so since he was the only bronze so far. He didn't think the two had got along well during lessons. Perhaps times had changed.

The emotion was stronger than Mer remembered. Maybe Goldflights had that effect on people as well as dragons. At least Chaoth seemed to appreciate her problem, giving her time before the fully taking hold. Mer walked with sure steps down to Meira's room. Her mind seemed to find it instinctively, even though she had never been there. Her blood felt hot despite the cold. Other males were already here, but that hardly mattered. Meira was the center of attention, as it should be.

[Avu]

Ah, they came.

Jingth’s tail flicked once in anticipation, though she didn’t actively lift her head to survey those that came. They should come. This was her weyr, the males her lovely servants. The gold coiled around the body of the herdbeast, tongue licking out at the torn flesh. Blood seeped between her claws, trickled to paint bright red ribbons against the ice. She drank almost leisurely, tongue occasionally flicking out to lap at the flow of blood from the herdbeast’s throat. Pretend the bright hot burning need inside of her was controllable, pretend she had no need to rush or hurry…

Let them wait on her. Let them watch her and want her. Let them. Dsoleth’s touch against her mind had Jingth’s head tilting, eyes sliding slowly around the circle of males before they landed on him. She blinked lazily, murmured on a broadcast, Join me. It was almost a command instead of invitation as she sprang onto the herdbeast Weith had dropped. The bronze himself was ignored; she knew she hated him. She remembered. But that didn’t matter, not now. He could stay because he had come, had brought her food.

The third herdbeast’s throat was slit on a quick twist of one talon, the gold’s jaws clamping around the incision, sucking. Slowly…let them think she could do this all day, make them wait for her…her tongue flickered out, almost gently licking at the torn veins, where the flow had started to fall into a slower trickle. Jingth coiled around the kill, eyes half-narrowed and sparkling with purples, stilling entirely for a minute, only her eyes moving, sliding around the circle of males. Browns. It pleased her, though Kierjaarth’s absence did not, that the majority of her Chasers were brown. She’d always preferred browns.

Weith…she would see. But why…was there a hatchling.

This is not your place, weyrling, she informed him, coolly, and then she was airborne. The rush of wind, cold and biting, was gratifying, even though Jingth, determined not to make this just any simple forgettable goldflight, had gone closer to the ground than was any Rising gold’s typical. She skimmed just high enough not to snag her wings, careful to keep the males in sight at least in her peripheral vision; let them try to touch her early. She was close enough to the ground that the smallest error (on their part; she would make no such mistake) might end in crashing.

Jingth banked on one wing when the river came into sight, began to follow it indirectly towards the sea. At the same time, she flared her wings open, angled them to begin her ascent into the sky, fast enough to make it challenging, not fast enough to wear herself out – a delicate balance. That the wind was in her favor helped, of course, but that meant it was also in the favor of her Chasers.

Heh. Apparently men under Flightlust could open doors like sane people. Noted. In the middle of trying to keep Jingth from doing anything stupid (not that it seemed necessary just yet; the gold was being less bestial than she’d been expecting), the thought seemed more amusing than it should have. Of course, that might’ve also been because of the nervousness currently tightening in the pit of her stomach. Either or. The appearance of the Riders made it that much harder to concentrate on Jingth, too.

Meira wet her lips, swallowed, turned just enough to see them. And blinked when she saw T’san, his name forming automatically on her lips. It died in her throat almost immediately, though. Not T’san. Dsoleth, or somewhere in between, but not.

She stayed sitting, forced herself not to look at T’san because it was more than a little upsetting to see him not him. Sel’n, R’ven. Uh. A R’men with a blanket…? And a Merridan. Awkward. So maybe it was easier to not look at anyone, with Jingth’s mind expanding within her own, just let go. Easier said than done, though, with the bright flare of panic that came with trying to let go.

Great.

[rii]

Trilaranth circled the feeding pens, still giving Jingth her space and not allowing his shadow cross over her brilliant gold shine. It was impossible for him to remember that he had met the young queen was little more than a hatchling. She had out-sized him, but even then Trilaranth had thought just wait, one day he would be a formidable presence in the skies. Lo and behold..

Rolling wide, Trilaranth dropped in a shallow dive toward the canopy. As much as he adored greens, the fawn brown felt relieved that Jingth's flight would not be a series of turns and and speeds beyond him. He straightened his path, stretching out his wings to full to glide as long as possible without an additional wing beat. He dipped lower, turning claws to catch the top branches of a tree to send a spur of green and startled birds into the air before he angled to gain a small amount of altitude.

As soon as the trees broke away from underneath, Trilarath pulled himself higher into the sky – using more of his strength than relying fulling on the aiding wings. There was nothing wrong with being smart to use the air currents, but was hardly impressive..

R'ven had been heading toward the flight rooms.. at least until Trilaranth's mind seamlessly blanketed over his own and turned his feet back toward the weyrs. He stepped in through the doorway, moving through the other chasers without a care to their positioning. At least not at the moment. Most had kept their distance. Very respectful. And it better stay that way, R'ven thought with a pleasant, purring growl thrumming between man and dragon.

[Sheari]

The first touch of contact, the first words not to be laced with sarcasm or a bite (though not to him directly, but all the males present) to Weith made him preen a little. He licked his chest, which brought the weyrling into view. What? The brown was tiny in comparison to himself, and it almost amused him. The other brown posed no threat and the accidental glance he was cast was shifted back to the gold. What did she want them to join her in? Blooding the kills, or was she going to fly soon?

When Jingth did not leap off the ground, Weith caught a beast for himself. Its soft throat was quickly and easily opened and the blood flowed freely into the bronze. The energy, he felt it enter and fill him, he felt revived and even more ready. When the flow trickled to an end he caught a second beast, making a veritable mess of the kill and losing most of the blood to the snow. Innards pooled as sharp talons gutted the creature, its eyes glassy and dead.

And she was off.

Weith dropped the carcass as powerful hindquarters leapt off the ground and into the air, wings readied for pursuit. He positioned himself slightly above Jingth in altitude, back behind her. He wouldn't risk being so close to the ground, not for a second. With the gold in front of him, and so far ahead, he would see her movements and tricks and be able to imitate them when she did. Weith opened his wings and tilted at the river as Jingth did. When she leveled out, the bronze did as well, using the air to rise and follow. He could feel the speed increase, and with the speed the danger and the challenge. He was ready for this.

R'men, with the leap off the ground, lost his mind to his dragon. He was soaring after Jingth, felt the wind buffet him...but his wings were closed...? The man let his arms drop loosely to his sides, the corners of the blanket grasped tightly in his hands. He felt alive! He looked around at the other chasers, and was briefly confused by Merridan, until she faded into Chaoth and lost R'men/Weith's interest. The male that walked in then was noticed only enough to let him know he was there. Now, Meira was the focus, the prize. The blanket on R'men's shoulders moved subtly as his arms twitched occasionally in time with Weith's wing-beats.

[Ember]

Dsoleth watched her blood her kill, waiting for her to lead them, for her to take command. That was what golds did and that was why he liked them. The invitation - order? - to blood as well had the brown attacking a herdbeast without second thought. He latched hungrily onto the neck and began to suck. He was considerably quicker at it than Jingth was. She was on her third while he was only on his first, after all. He preferred a second one before she led her chasers on a merry chase. He discarded the first body and moved onto the next while examining the chasers. Mostly browns. Curious. The lack of bronzes didn't bother him though.

He returned his attention to the queen and was somewhat amused by her slow blooding. She was definitely taking her time. He didn't mind the wait but he did wonder about it. Dsoleth's attention was snagged by the gold's utter lack of movement. He stopped his blooding and spread his wings. She had stopped blooding so surely...yes! She sprung into the air and the brown followed suit a moment later, abandoning his kill for a far more interesting Jingth. His launch put him higher than Jingth's flight and he lowered to accomodate. He could go lower than she did and did so.

Amusing to think that he'd been larger than her at one point. Less than half his age yet she was considerably larger. Small she may be for a gold but she still outsized all but the freakishly large bronzes. Dsoleth let her lead him as she would for a bit, following her turn as she led them towards the ocean. He ascended at a sharper angle than she did though, aiming for a position up and to her left a bit. The air currents were a little more helpful along that path. He saw no shame in using what he could to conserve his strength for the more critical moments in the flight. Gold flights weren't all about flashy moves and trying to go as fast as possible.

The wind made it colder than it was on the ground but with fresh blood in his system it was easier to ignore. It would prove to be an interesting chase, battling the elements and their limits. Dsoleth hung back a little, reserving his speed and energy for a while. He could go faster than Jingth if he wished but that wasn't the goal. The goal was out lasting the others. For Jingth he'd try hard.

T'san wasn't all gone by the time he got to Meira's weyr, though Dsoleth had definitely taken over a majority of it. The brownrider had very little ability to block out the dragon (not when he depended so much on him) and he rarely even bothered to try. His dragon getting some tail occasionally wasn't really a bad thing. When the chase finally started he let Dsoleth have it all without much resistance though he did manage to position himself against a wall beforehand. If neither of the goldpair enticed either of them, Dsoleth wasn't bold enough to make the first move. That was the Rising female's right anyways.

[Lotty]

He was watching, but then, he was always watching. That was sort of the bronze dragon's thing, he had to keep tabs on everything that was going on in the weyr, and should he miss out on one step, one piece of gossip, one little observation then that would be one less piece of ammo for when he engaged in his habitual rabble rousing activities. Oh how he got a rise out of being a meddler from time to time, and in Jingth he found a co-conspirator, for she at least gave him a target and justification - if somewhat shaky and unfounded - for his typical misdeeds. However, none of these plebeian browns were on his hit list at all. Only a handful he could claim to have ever bothered communicating with...these were mostly limited to his wing.

Another streak of brown swept by and after a brief moment of alarm and excitement he settled his head back down on the ledge as he waited...slowly beginning to assume that perhaps the hate was genuine and real. His target really was "above" chasing the young gold, interesting, because one could say almost the same for him: Kierjaarth had his own goals and winning wasn't necessarily one of them. Shards, in his smug mind winning would be much too simple. A seasoned bronzed against a Selenitas menagerie of browns? Let the young have their fun, and he would have his, that was all there was to it. The dragon's wings twitched with anticipation...bonehead-bronze was going to make him late, and regardless of his true intentions it was just going to make him look sooooo bad, and Jingth was an esteemed associate that he would rather not lose due to some horrible timing.

I'd...rather you not chase at all. Mi'rah was regrettably already awake, dressed, and sitting on edge of his bed, all but pouting at the bronze for even considering participation in the very unsavory engagement. Come now, she is not your hatchling as you so feared, so there is no excuse for you to pussyfoot your way out of this flight. I don't see the point when you intend not to win and....things are awkward. She runs away from me. But this isn't about you and.. A clip of bronze passed by his sights and he stuffed his rider's mouth with a rush of emotion. He saw this Weith he was looking for. The hunt was on.

Sure things were a little slow - he was going to gain a reputation in this weyr for always being late out of the gates - but he needed to dilly daddle behind this time for very good reason. Strategy was always something his rider dearly loved and this time he would employ it too. On harassing the only other bronze chaser. And so the gold's beckoning was lost on him, he got not a chance to wait around, the bronze had to dive on a beast and suck it dry for what its worth faster than he had ever bothered before, though all of the messy, drippy blood on him may serve his purposes well soon....until then he looked up and took off in a quick, ferocious, leap. Jingth's mind was touched of course briefly. His apologies he needed to put forth to her, and also his promise that he would do something the other dragons would not....

The bronze didn't waste any more time, he swerved dangerously close to the only other of his kind in the flight and growled his ominous greeting, Hello baby bronze, did they let you out to play today?

Less than enthralled, Mi'rah had to walk his gimpy behind all the way over to Meira's weyr, guided half by memory and the rest with aid from the ever looming flight lust. Heavy it was not, but strong enough to edge him to the door, and after a hesitant moment, through it, though normally the rider would have had no qualms with waiting in the hall. After all, it was awfully stuffy and crowed in the room, and he wasn't keen on accidentally bumping into others as he was prone to doing, making his whole entrance a very ginger, and quiet operation. Maybe he could just go unnoticed...

[Rei]

Kaaoloth shifted almost imperceptibly forward, rocking back on his haunches as he watched Jingth with purple whirling eyes. The color shifted and contained hints of a bright blue as well. Magnificent was the gold. One of his students. He genuinely liked the gold after all and desired her all the more for that reason. Jingth ranked up with Hepaticath in his mind. He had taught both golds after all and he was proud of them. Rumbling low in his throat the three legged male marked each of the arriving males as an obstacle and nothing more. Shadows on his peripherals. As she curled around the third beast his tail flicked in anticipation. Soon. He could feel it.

Sure enough immediately after dismissing a foolish hatchling she was airborne. With a resounding bugle of challenge and celebration Kaaoloth sprang after the fiery gold. Large wings quickly sending him airborne. The test was on and the massive brown would give Jingth the entirety of his ability as he had every gold before or since. Instead of following the gold from directly behind the male pushed himself to draw up alongside her right flank. Keeping two dragon lengths of space between himself and Jingth the brown powered his wings in a steady rhythm, eyes fixed on her form as she moved. Subtle movements or reactions from her would be easy to follow this way. Experienced Kaaoloth was in gold flights, having participated in them all his life. Eventually she have to go upwards even if, for now, she stayed low. It was a subtle test of ability in direction and control Jingth tested and the older brown had no doubt that he would pass with flying colors.

Angling towards the river after the golden beauty Kaaoloth dipped enough to allow wingtips to barely brush the surface of the liquid before he to flared his large wings and powered upwards after her. Upward towards the cold unforgiving sky above. The fire the gold inspired in him burned away any lingering feelings of chill. It was impossible to be cold with her light to warm him. A beacon to drive him forward. Determined the brown was not to fall back at any point in the flight. Not this time. This time he desired to run towards the front. Adjusting his wing membrane to take advantage of the wind the male powered upwards. Best take advantage of what respite he could get now. The flight had just begun and endurance was something queens had far more of than greens. The time to display strength would come later. Conservation was key in winning. Kaaoloth didn’t want to fall back at the end when strength really mattered.

Sel’n met Meira’s eyes for a brief second as she examined her chasers. The older rider trying to give her a reassuring smile before her attention slid elsewhere. The brownrider didn’t move to approach. Nor did he speak. Instead he offered his presence silently wishing he could do more to comfort her but knowing there was nothing he could do. Instead he kept a handle on Kaaoloth proud for the moment that the brown was obeying well. If anything could be said for his dragon it was that he truly did pull out all the stops when chasing the glimmering matriarchs of the weyr. It was less an obsession and more true desire and Sel’n couldn’t deny the brown a chance however slim.

[Ruby]

T'mund lifted his head from where he'd dropped it on to the desk. While he didn't totally understand the mechanics of Flight, or what happened during them, he remembered Carenath's first foray into the world of mating. While the Firelizard's pull was much weaker than a dragon's, he'd still felt something. Now, he felt nothing. Not a flare of passion for the rising gold, not a hint of desire or a touch of lust. Zip. He didn't even know where the Gold's rider was. With Carenath, he could have pointed, even though he hadn't known who the owner was. Still: nothing.

Out with the dragons, Jagjith rose when Jingth jumped on Weith's herdbeast, holding his wings out stiffly. He hunkered down like the older dragons were, figuring he probably needed all the vertical help he could get. The brown would try, because if he could fly before all of his siblings he would truly lead the pack. Any second now...

But then Jingth brushed his mind, and Jagjith settled back on his haunches as the rest took to the air. He was generally polite, and really, it was a little early for this sort of behavior. It was abundantly clear that the baby Brown was outsized (although certainly not outclassed), and only one thing would fix that: time. He thanked Jingth with a gentle brush, offering her a formal, Fly long and hard, my Queen, before watching them dissapear past the trees. Once all the chasers were out of sight, he turned tail, heading back to his T'mund.

That's out of your system, then? the Weyrling asked as Jagjith came back into their room. Jagjith sat down, fixing his rider with an intense, yellow-green stare.

Next time, I will have her.

[Requiem]

What? Teri giggled, wrapping her small hands around M'ta's wrist. The man had a half-amused, half-quizzical expression on his face as he regarded the small brown feigning sleep...half off the weyrledge. His fingers brushed lightly over the child's belly, sparking a fit of giggles and an attempt to push away the man's hand. "Just wondering how long you're going to pretend you're not chasing. And...is that really comfortable?" Sort of? He flicked his tail in mild agitation, causing him to slide forward towards the edge of the ledge, his wings flaring to prevent a fall. So many already. The big weyrling. Tril-a-something. "Trilaranth, yes." Kierjaarth. Weith. "She's not fond of bronzes, unless that changes during Flightlust." Fond of Dsoleth. "Mm." And there's Kaaoloth, and little brother Chaoth. "Not so little anymore." Even a cute little brown baby trying to chase. Maybe I could- "Too big for that. Gold flights can get violent, too...Ruth?" Hm? "Come on little Teri Terror, the Behr is going to go play with all those dragons in the sky. He's being shy, though. What do you say to that?" The baby made a raspberry, then giggled. "Bear! Fly bestest!"

M'ta stepped back into the weyr, brushing a kiss over R'wign's temple. "Good for Roo. Play nice with Riaren. Mm?" Teri clung to his neck for a few extra seconds, looking to her 'brother' as if she couldn't quite decide if this was a good thing or not. M'ta kissed her nose. "Play nice." Setting the baby down, he glanced back out toward the ledge. She'll never forgive you if you don't chase, especially if it's only because you're anxious about being small. Half on and half off the ledge, the brown whined at His, the violet taints that had been swirling through his eyes faintly since Jingth first moved toward the herdbeasts growing stronger. But... Jingth adores you. She is not Millieth. M'ta wasn't worried about Meira's gold near-drowning his brown, no matter how driven by Flightlust. I know that. Well, this awkward half-aroused state is driving me crazy. What are you waiting for? It was not a question. The man gave Ruth a firm mental push that might as well have been a physical one, for the brown made a startled sound and slid off the ledge, jerking sideways and pushing off the wall of the cliff with his hind legs. Plunging down the face of the cliff. There was nothing for it but to dive; the downstroke of his wings would have shredded them completely.

The small brown executed a neat, tight twist near the base of the cliff, snapping open the wing furthest from the unforgiving stone to hit a hard 90 degree turn. Mine thinks you are too big for me to carry in a gold Flight, little brown brother. I wanted to help you see what it was like...but better if you chase on your own wings. Next time. He brushed the weyrling's mind gently as he buzzed overhead, just high enough that his tail didn't clip the young dragon or his rider. Another tight, one-winged hairline turn, and the male dipped low to skip through a more peaceful section of river, flapping hard then snapping his wings shut in a near-violent barrel roll that stalled with the outhrust of wings, flinging water everywhere in a wide arc. Behruth might have gotten a late start, worried about His hating Jingth and Hers just like he had the other goldpair at the termination of that Flight, but one thing could be said for him: there was nothing half-hearted about his pursuit.

Almost the instant that the brown had fully entered the Flight, mere seconds after M'ta gave him the dubiously encouraging push, the brown's mind took the rider's with him, and the man whirled on the balls of his feet, springing for the door. Late, late, he needed to catch up or be left behind! The small man darted neatly through any remaining people in the hall - most knew better than to stay out with the overlying blanket of lust given off by a Queen Flight - M'ta came to the door right after Mi'rah. Ducking low and coiling around the older bronzerider almost playfully, he trailed his fingers along the man's arm, then slipped into a less-crowded space, dropping into a crouch and flashing a playful smile at Meira. His fingers brushed over the ground, other arm propped on a knee. Wanted to get closer to play, he did, but all the others were hanging back. Odd, odd.

The smallest of Jingth's males swirled upwards in a flurry of wingstrokes, not following her tail but keeping to his now familiar stair step pattern through the thermals that even the cold weather couldn't completely destroy. He coiled nimbly around Kierjaarth, flicking his tail at the bronze in an almost teasing manner. Just the briefest of apologetic touches to the mind of his golden sister. Her couch was late, but he was here.