Dark Skies, Dark Heart (Rinagth's Flight)

[Kisha-Ra]

J’on paced, back and forth, measuring the length and breadth of the room over and over with his paces, he was quite surprised that he hadn’t worn an obvious path across the floor by now. The reason for his pacing lay in the dim light of the overcast afternoon, sleeping restlessly, tail and wings occasionally twitching in time to whatever dragons dreamed of, and glowing. Oh yes, Rinagth was ordinarily a bright dragon but today she fairly blazed green with her unusual yellow highlights flashing with every slight movement, making her look as if someone had suspended flecks of pure gold in her hide for some reason. She was beautiful, but in her Flights she was not a pleasant or comfortable beast to be bonded to.

At least this time he was expecting it, J’on paused in his pacing to consider his only source of comfort, which was only just more comforting than nothing. He’d had enough time to prepare, which meant sending Wraith to find Chatti (for which he’d undoubtedly catch hell later), dropping Bane off at the epicentre of some havoc or another (J’on didn’t stay long enough investigate it), and making sure Yu was shut away somewhere where he couldn’t climb anything because the thought of leaving his feline yowling for hours on end wasn’t appealing. After all that was taken care of J’on had simply taken himself off to a flight weyr, out of the way, and proceeded to try and wear away the floor. It was beginning to seem that Rina was going to wait until nightfall to Rise, maybe he should just go and…

Rinagth rolled to her feet almost before her eyes were open and swung her head around, her deep purple and red eyes sweeping across the world, then as if to dismiss the entire thing her tail thumped down hard against the rock. Unworthy, unworthy, too dark, too damp, too hot. Intolerable! Rinagth’s wings snapped open as the green hissed her displeasure with everything. With a low growl rumbling in her chest she took wing and headed for the feeding pens.

Without pausing to select a specific animal to pounce on, Ringath dropped, pinning the nearest creature under her weight and flexing her talons into the flesh with deliberate slowness. Strictly speaking greens did not need to blood, but Rinagth liked to, or rather she liked the feeling of tearing something apart, hide and meat beneath her claws, bones shattering under her weight, hot blood sliding down her throat feeding the fire inside of her. She was no silly goldling to need holding back from her kills, Rinagth knew perfectly well what she wanted, and it certainly wasn’t to be weighed down by a full belly. Raising her blood spattered muzzle Rinagth roared, she wanted her males, they could come and chase her now, if they thought they were good enough for her!

[Lotty]

Twelve months was an important milestone. First of all it was a completion of a whole turn of a dragon's life. Pretty cool. It also meant that this particular pair were two thirds of the way through. Only another six months to go. Not too shabby. K'sel and Pettahth could go between and do this and do that and it was all pretty much great. Except one thing was sort of a mixed bag - good and bad all at once. The fact of the matter was that Pettahth would be chasing soon. Sure he could hold off and wait a few more months before going into flight overload but...the brown was already projecting every sign of his intentions.

Every green on the planet had been called "pretty". I like this one, she's pretty. Oh no I like that one...she's pretty and smart. Smarts somehow managed to find a way into the equation for the brown. He didn't like silly greens...well at least not normally. As soon as a green actually went up in the air his opinions would surely change. Which it did.

He had no experience with Rinagth before...well he obviously had none with flights in general, but that wasn't about to stop him today. Oh no! She was pretty. He would have her and nobody was going to do anything about it! Yes, he was getting a little big headed, not that he wasn't normally an overdetermined example of a brown anyway. Hey, had to be a little bit overbearing to make up for his tiny scale, the poor guy was only blue sized after all.

From his ledge he briefly mentioned to K'sel his plans for the day, as if he could slip in a flight between it all. K'sel...mine. Today I think I shall sun for a while, chase Rinagth, and later we should fly...practice some drills to impress Azrath at lessons with... Obviously the sunning part was already done, and he rose to his feet, making sure to stretch out his every tendon and ligament as his eyes swirled into an ever deepening shade of purple. The human counterpart continued to lounge on his bed...looking up to the cavernous ceiling of his weyr as he wrestled with the name in his head. Rinagth...Rinagth... Where did he know that?

His eyelids wereheavy and drooping down into sleep just when...they were wide open again. J'on's dragon. That was Rinagth...but he didn't move to stop Pettahth from his glide down to the feeding grounds - the bugle already cut through the air, the brown had already announced his desire to chase. K'sel was out of luck, and not being one to panic or whine about the certain unpleasantries of weyr life he sat up in bed with a resigned sigh.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath dipped in the sky and circled back. What's wrong? G'tor asked worriedly. They were supposed to be heading home after spending the day at the beach. He was more than ready for a bath and a hot meal before heading to bed and he wasn't sure what had caused his dragon to suddenly change his mind. A sudden rush of emotion greeted him and a glanced down to a glowing green answered his question. Shards! Wasn't it a bit late for a flight?

You can't be serious? Now?! Ruskeath dropped lower, until he was lazily skimming the river's surface. I suggest you get off, Tor-mine, he said playfully. I do not intend to slow down. G'tor cursed loudly and vehemently. Ruskeath had a habit of picking the least opportune times to chase, but this really topped the rest. Tervain chattered in annoyance and G'tor pulled a sleepy Star out of his pocket. "Time to go girls," he told them, poking Star with a finger. "Don't complain at least you get to go to bed."

Star was not pleased. It was supposed to be time to feed her! Tervain chirped angrily at Ruskeath before betweening away. Star glared and sent more furious and impatient images. This had better not take long or she was finding her own dinner! With a flick of her wings she took off and followed Tervain. G'tor wasted no more time and jumped off Ruskeath's back and into the river. He had no desire to be riding during a flight. He just made it to shore when the real flight lust took hold.

Ruskeath bellowed his challenge to the other males. Did they too think they were worthy of her? Only one other seemed interested so far. He was a young brown that Ruskeath didn't recognize. It didn't matter. He was here for the challenge of Ringath's chase. Let them all come! Ruskeath was ready for whatever the sky queen wished of them. He circled close, waiting for her to make the first move.

[Ember]

Dsoleth's tail flicked idly as he sunned on his ledge, happily ignoring the goings on in the weyr behind him. The situation had been amusing only the first twenty times or so. Even his mindmate was getting used to the nearly constant commotion in the weyr. The little green monster was getting chased by the cat again. Not a new thing. Spice had taken an immediate liking to trying to pounce on Aliene. The game amused the fuzball for hours since the green was to ofast to catch. It was both a relief and a curse.

Aliene's suddenly heightened scream was drowned out by a demanding roar. Ah-ha. Just the distraction His and he needed. And what a worthy distraction too! Dsoleth stood up and left a stunned T'san and Aliene behind. "Dsoleth...you pick now of all times?" The brownrider said snippily. Aliene's mood was heavily affecting him. Hmm, on second though...his bond with Dsoleth was tight enough that it should block out most of Aliene's anger, right? Looks like the large brown had a good idea. When Aliene scurried up his leg, the brownrider caught the chasing feline and the cream and orange male stilled. Purrr.

"That's a good fuzball. You stay here and don't cause trouble, okay?" Spice mrrowed at him before allowing himself to be moved off his pet's lap and placed on the bed. Not much time..."Aliene...You have to stay here and -" HATE! "Yeah, yeah I know. But this is important. Dsoleth needs to chase." His thoughts were invaded by a strong feeling of distaste for the "winged idiot" from the rearing salamandyr. The fact she wasn't wailing at him was a good sign though...it meant she was at least trying to accept the situation. She loved Hers just that much.

"Good girl. See you later," he said, prying her off his clothes and putting her on the ground. She'd best scurry away before Spice say her again. T'san then sprinted towards the flight room as he began to feel Dsoleth's mind pouring over him. The brown arrived at the feeding grounds. Oh? His competition so far was a bit amusing. That was a young brown, was it not? The striped brown bugled at Rinagth. He'd chase her well to make up for such a young male chasing her. The other brown..well that might be worthy competition.

[Requiem]

Dark day. M'ta sprawled out on his weyrledge, head still damp after bathing as he stared upwards into the clouds, wondering if they'd be seeing any rain or not. The curls spilled lightly over his chest, clinging to his neck. Arching in an almost catlike stretch, he stroked Ligna's fur idly as the kitten batted at the curls on his chest, purring loudly enough to send vibrations through his body. PMS had taken up residence between her shoulderblades and was currently sleeping off an early afternoon of getting into everything. It was a decidedly quiet sort of mood that M'ta was in, though not a brooding one, and Behruth's languid sprawl on their ledge reflected that almost perfectly. Only Ligna seemed to have much energy at the moment.

Another pair, on another ledge not far away, though F'ur and Inocenth were rarely anything but restless. The Weyrlingmaster was lathered from over a candlemark of bouncing around what seemed to be a makeshift obstacle course that spanned three ledges. Yes. Three. The concept of personal property was apparently lost on him, though, since one was F'lix's...that really only left one - or two - other people he was intruding upon. Inocenth remained tightly curled at the edge of his ledge. Restful, though, would definitely not be the word for his posture. Inocenth always seemed to give off the impression of a coiled tunnelsnake.

His lids slid up slowly, leaving only the thin, transparent film still covering his eyes. The calm blue/green swirl that was very nearly black in Inocenth's eyes flashed briefly with flecks of a violent purple/red. His tongue flickered out, running over sharp teeth as he watched the young green, her lovely golden highlights...yes. Smeared with crimson. Glorious. Only ichor had more of an effect on him, the steady stream of a dragon's lifeblood. It was his only regret...that he was not large enough to hold most dragons in their dying throes - that most escaped Between. Pity. The male's tail flicked, ignoring the little screaming protests of Terror that were becoming few and far between. Intelligent His, training the creature to adapt. Somewhat. But the distraction annoyed. Blood, little one. The image of the slaughtered herdbeast sent Terror into fits, and Inocenth veritably purred his pleasure. Quiet, now, to admire the female who would be his.

Behruth's half-doze was interrupted by the booming cries of the dragons, the brown gazing down on the green who was the focal point of the circling dragons. Lovely shiny...Rinagth. He liked her, he did, though he worried at how angry she sounded. Wasn't she about to dance? Dancing was supposed to be something joyful. He crooned uncertainly at her, though she wouldn't hear. Maybe it was the other browns circling her like darters might their prey. That would likely annoy him too, he thought. Dark, PMS commented to his large shiny, clinging to the male's leg - awoken by Behruth's mounting interest. Neither of the males noticed their bonded's still figure beside them as he turned his head to attempt to see which female Ruth had taken a fancy to this time.

Nor did he ever fully catch sight of her, because the moment Behruth's decision to chase solidified, the brown leaping from his ledge and coiling in tight spirals down between the other circling suitors, M'ta's mind drowned in the pool of concern and lust that was Ruth. Ligna clawed at his chest as he stood, mewling piteously. Where was he goooing? His arm cradled her without thought, and she immediately set to lapping at the scratch marks. Not good. Not clean. Did he hurt? Did her claws do that?

Four. All browns. Tch. And one still a hatchling. None of them seemed to know how to meet her challenge, either, pathetic creatures. Inocenth stood, dark wings flaring, then folding neatly again. He stepped off his ledge as languidly as one might go for a stroll, twisting down the face of the cliffside before his wings snapped out just a few dragonlengths from the ground. His claws kicked up dirt as he lashed out, the downsweep of his wings kicking it up even higher, and he tacked the speed of his descent into horizontal speed, arcing up over the pens and snatching the herdbeast nearest Rinagth, clearing the other edge of the pen with a hissing growl of what might have been approval for the green.

The creature's throat was torn out in the next second, raining blood down on Rinagth. A most suitable decoration for her. And he dropped the creature on Dsoleth...or it would hit Dsoleth if the dragon didn't move. Now that was the way to answer her challenge.

Ruth's claws dug into the strong wood of the gate, tail lashing and splintering another beam in his agitation. He was not - was never - fond of violence, and he didn't like the turn this was taking. Dark! PMS cried, in response to Behruth's mounting irritation, the salamandyr streaming upwards and taking up lodging on the male's headknob. Ruth flashed an image of the falling beast to Dsoleth in case the other brown was not aware, his eyes returning to Rinagth's bloodied figure restlessly.

Not amused, not amused, not amused. The familiar cold lust was clawing at him, and the images of viciously slaughtered herdbeasts Inocenth kept sending his way to make sure Terror was out cold definitely wasn't putting F'ur in a better mood. He cursed the male roundly. Couldn't he behave like a normal dragon, just once? Inocenth's cold, mocking amusement washed over him. Since when was the pair of them ever normal? The blue had a point. F'ur's agitated stalk was accompanied by a slightly manic gaze as he pushed into the room, brushing past T'san. The only one there? No, because another entered on F'ur's heels, and if the bluerider had an oddness about him, that was nothing compared to the short rider who followed.

F'ur's eyes narrowed at the sight of the blood-smeared chest, tongue flickering out, over his lips. Fortunately, it was a brownrider and not Rinagth's. The bluerider kept his mind from slipping into Ino's with effort, as that never ended well. He very deliberately turned his attention to the greenrider, but the smell of blood lingered, and the feral cast to his features strengthened.

The young brownrider, shirtless and dripping water from his dark curls, which mingled with the blood on his chest, stood just inside the doorway, watching J'on raptly. There was a hesitance, there, but also a touch of very real anger that flared his nostrils. His hand stroked the kitten in a steady pattern, adding to the jaded distance behind his eyes and the surreal nature of the gathering in the room. This was going to be far from a normal Flight.

[mierce]

Blood.

Evrgarde licked her lips, noting with some bizarre pleasure the metallic taste of the thick fluid. She withdrew the metal baton from the glistening, pulpy, dark red and pink flesh that used to be a head and ran thin ricepaper over it before securing it to its holster and turning her back to Iorath (and Lange to a small degree) ripping apart the canine. It was a small beast, no more than a turn of age. She normally did not hunt youths, but this poor creature was wounded had wandered from its pack and unfortunately crossed paths with her. She needed a quick kill and the young canine provided it; pent up frustration and all that. Thanks, by the way.

Lust normally did not overcome Iorath, but he could sense a Green rising and well, sometimes instincts just kicks in. This, in turn, only made Evrgarde uneasy, and hunting was how dealt with those feelings. Yes, killing beasts comforted her. Let no one be deluded to think that this woman was any sort of animal lover.

The blue dragon closed one front paw over the mangled body of the canine and clamped his mouth around its head. With a grumble he flung his head back, ripping a portion of the canine’s upper spine out in the process. The detached head arched through the air over Evrgarde, sending flesh, blood, nerves, and bone fragments sprayed all over her. It didn’t really matter since she was already covered in the pup’s blood. She had personally clubbed it to death, after all.

A few moments later, she heard the familiar sound of blue wings spreading and with a few hasty movements was mounted on the blue’s back and rising in the air. Lange, not pleased with being left behind, quickly latched onto the blue’s hindquarters before he could gain too much speed. Did the green know where Hers was going? Evrgarde did not care. She didn’t really care much for the flitter anyway as it has been nothing but a nuisance. What the Green thought of flights was of no concern to her; Lange was already so noisy on a day-to-day basis that it was unlikely to get more annoying if she found something to complain about.

Iorath swooped down by the Weyr to let Evrgarde and Lange hop off before he followed after Rinagth. He called after her, the draconic rumble of his “voice” deep and loud enough to send vibrations through the ground. He circled tightly around the trees that comprised the Weyr a few times, navigating through tight spots despite before rising higher into the air.

While the blue warmed up for the chase, Evrgarde made a direct line for the flightroom. Along the way, she removed her blood stained leather gloves and attached them to her belt. This freed her hands to brush blood stained locks of hair from her similarly blood stained face. In the back of her head, she noted with a bit of disgust that maybe she ought to wash up before showing her face. As much as she found amusement in blood baths, she had enough sense to acknowledge that others most likely did not. Damn Iorath. He knew she didn’t pay much attention to signs that a Green would be about to rise, and should have warned her, given her an extra half hour to properly bathe.

Well, there wasn’t enough time for that now, and so she stepped steadfastly into the flightroom. Lange was perched on her shoulder chattering away, but quickly panicked upon seeing the feline in M’ta’s arms. A strangled squeak escaped the Green’s through before she launched into loud shrieking, and quickly betweened the hell out of there. Hers could deal with the feline. Lange wanted nothing to do with it.

[Kisha-Ra]

Rinagth looked up, her talons still slowly flexing in the steaming herdbeast flesh, as the first of her males began to arrive, a young brown, Rinagth’s eyes gleamed more purple than red for a moment as she brushed against his mind with a taunting thought. Maybe she’d show him what to do with the very best of greens, turning her head sharply to examine the next male to arrive. Ruskeath. Yes she knew him; she made sure she knew them all. Another brown, too? The touch of her thoughts against those of the older browns had a sharper, more challenging edge.

Was that all? Rinagth flared her wings in righteous anger. Three? Three lousy, worthless males, was that all? Rinagth’s temper tantrum was averted by a fourth brown form weaving among the rest. A low growl emerged from her throat but Rinagth brushed Behruth’s mind with genuine affection, she remembered him. Something diverted her attention, a bright blue streak that hissed and snatched one of the herdbeasts out of the pen.

Rinagth’s gaze followed the blue, and rather than touch his mind as she had done with the others Rinagth chose to acknowledge this new dragon with another roar, challenging, taunting, alright he could best a cow, but that was hardly a challenge now was it? The green twitched her tail and finally lifted scarlet stained claws from her prey. The last male she heard Rinagth did not even bother to look at, the heat in her blood threatened to consume her, the time for standing still was done.

Ringath’s muscles bunches under her glowing hide and the green started to run across the pen, at the fence she leapt, spread her wings and howled, a wild eerie sound that carried a threat as well as a challenge. She had them now, they were hers. She would test them, to destruction if it seemed appropriate.

J’on swayed on his feet, clearly shaken by Rinagth’s utter fury, as the door swung open to admit the first chaser the young greenrider’s features rearranged themselves into a feral snarl that looked out of place on him, his posture changing from his normal slightly guilty looking stance to one that spoke pride and arrogance in every line as he looked over his shoulder at T’san.

The tableau was broken by the next man through the door, make that the next two men since F’ur and M’ta entered with a breath of each other. A growl that echoed Rinagth’s rumbled on the air, tinged with nervousness, no matter how much Rinagth admired and desired the dragons at this point J’on found the riders more than a little intimidating. If they worried him the fourth rider had him backing up two steps, though Rinagth’s instincts screamed to him the blood and gore was highly attractive he wasn’t quite that far gone yet.

Above the Weyr Rinagth rocketed upward, making an almost vertical ascent in a shaft of light that broke through the clouds, then abruptly she rolled, dropped and circled back below and behind her former pusuers. Her talons flexed idly as she focused on the males, waiting until they were all clear that she was no longr in front of them before she drove upward again weaving between the blue and brown hides, slashing out at random, they could move or they could be clawed. Their choice.

[Lotty]

Pettahth wasn't intimidated by the other competitors who joined the ranks of Rinagth's chasers. Nor was he when Rinagth touched his mind with her taunts, because any kind of attention from her was welcomed. He should have been a bit more but off, but the brown had a stubbornness that wasn't at all compromised by flight lust. She was his first flight for a reason, in his logic it was because he was hatched to chase her (and the next green, and the green after that, but what kind of dragon had that kind of foresight). If anything however, he was glad to be counted out by all the other males. It would make him look that much better when he gave all of them a run for their money - cue the slight puffing of his chest.

There was no time to prance around like a boastful ass though. No time for anything, not even shooting a second look over the other males, oh no, Rinagth was stealing the show with her radiant hide - specks of gold amongst an unforgiving florescent green - and she was taking off. Refusing to be left behind and being an excitable first time chaser he was quick to begin the hunt and follow the invisible trail left by his green majesty's every wingbeat. The first few flaps were awkward and jumbled, but he was still in the midst of something of a gangly youth. It was after the wind truly caught under sandstone wingsails that he leveled out into something of a steady pace, but every ready to change his cadence at the drop of a hat.

It was K'sel would oddly enough didn't seem so new to this, but perhaps a lifetime in the weyr was a good primer for the whole experience. Oh no, he wasn't excited, or at least he wasn't as long as he was aware and uncontrolled by the overwhelming emotions of his dragon. The teen instead sighed in contempt of the whole experience; casting dark unwelcoming glares at everything and everyone who crossed his path to the flight rooms. In other words, what was new? Well, this K'sel was certainly not what you wanted to encounter if you planned on having a nice day. His skin felt like it was absolutely on fire, and tearing his shirt off didn't sound like a half bad idea.

Gritting his teeth he lolligagged enough to apparently show up last. Which was perfectly fine with the rational, human part of him. Standing in the back of the pack was great - besides that one chick had blood all over her...hey it takes all kinds alright - but Pettahth wanted so much more causing the scruffy, black haired boy to practically reel with an exotic drunkeness. This was worse than that time he drank the loveweed laced wine on accident, probably because he knew and expected the waves of desire that rolled over him.

[Ember]

Rinagth's challenge was eagerly accepted by the large brown. Choosing to rise for her was seeming like a very good idea. She knew how to handle the rowdy male chasers, something the brown really liked. Bold females really were preferred by the brown. Her flared wings made him climb a little higher in the air. Soon she'd start the chase. A blooded green would prove to be an interesting target. Perhaps it would allow her to go on longer and give him a chance to show his own endurance.

A warning flashed through his mind and the brown slipped between quickly. Ducking thread or ducking cows, it was all too easy for him. He reappeared above the brown who'd given him the warning. Dsoleth spared the smaller brown a grateful thought before responding to the challenge in Rinagth's call. His tail slashed the air as he sped forward after her. She'd lead them on an interesting chase, no doubt.

T'san paused after entering the room. The atmosphere seemed threatening and dangerous. He liked it. As others arrived behind him the brownrider stepped further into the room, going towards the greenrider before stopping. No need to go too close and annoy the one he'd been seeking. The ones who'd arrived a moment after him were spared a glance. It would be interesting.

Dsoleth was appreciative of Rinagth's trick. The chasers had become the chased. He looked down towards her with growing respect. As she raced up to meet the males he went upwards too. Up and out, really. Those claws wouldn't be pleasant if they hit. Despite his preparations, the claws grazed his side, leaving shallow trails of ichor. He called out to her challengingly. That wouldn't be enough to stop him!

[mierce]

Iorath watched Rinagth rise from the pens, her brilliant green hide like a beacon against the drab colored skies. His eyes swirled a dark blue, the color dangerously edging closer to violet. Was that a challenge? Why yes, he’ll take her up on the offer, even if the green didn’t even acknowledge him. Apparent disinterest was not going to deter him from chasing.

Another deep thundering sound rumbled from his throat and began to climb upwards after her. His larger wings granted him some advantage in slowly closing the distance between them, but the green soon plunged through the clouds again forcing him to wrap his wings around his body and roll to the side to avoid getting slashed. He unfurled his wings once Rinagth had passed him, and resumed the chase, dodging whenever she would attempt to lash out at him only to follow again. To observers from the ground, it would probably resemble a tango between dragons with multiple simultaneous partners.

Meanwhile in the flightroom Evrgarde moved to the side when K’sel entered. She gave him a passing glance, then turned her back and circled around the group of males until she had a clear view of the young greenrider in the middle of the room. Nearly 10 turns at the Weyr has since nearly desensitized her to almost any imaginable bizarre thing that could happen during a flight, but she still didn’t like to completely lose herself to lust. To be like those men who sought out Gadrea for pleasure and satisfaction.

Her eyes drifted slowly across the faces in the room. Most were somewhat familiar in a we-may-have-crossed-each-other-in-the-hallways kind of way, though she only knew a few by name. Eventually her eyes wandered back to J’on and settled on watching his movements and changes in expression. She rested her right hand on the pommel of her baton while slowly clenching and unclenching her left fist. The tension in the room and from the dragons overhead was palpable, and it was all she could do to keep herself calm.

[Requiem]

Behruth crooned to Rinagth, relieved that she wasn't so mad as to not recognize him - or think that he was trying to pin her down like the others seemed to be. The young brown (though not as young as the hatchling) really just wanted to dance with her. Did she not deserve that sort of attention? Beautiful, shining greens should be honored, they should, particularly ones as playful and lovely as Rinagth.

Inordinately pleased with himself for drawing out another challenge just for him (and painting her in blood, but no one ever said Inocenth was entirely - sane) the blue lashed around Pettahth, trailing one claw up along the shoulderblade. Either he'd miscalculated or he meant to just tease the creature with it, because no ichor spilled. Yet. Completing the loop, he followed Rinagth upward in a flurry of wingstrokes, tail lashing when one of the browns got too close. He snapped at her tail, teeth closing just beyond the tip, and peeling off neatly just before her dive.

Behruth, who had launched off the splintering fence directly after Rinagth sprinted past him, swirled to one side, banking to avoid two plummeting dragons and the condensed knot of those dragons who had already responded and those who hadn't. He didn't follow immediately, waiting to get a better view of her - until he had an idea of where the other browns were. Behruth was bold in his own right, yes, but he was also smaller than most of the other chasers here. All but the blues, actually. It would be easy to get blown off course with so many wings churning the air in such a confined space.

He coiled around Rinagth, his mind brushing hers with a touch of concern. Did she know she'd scratched Dsoleth? (Surely it was an accident.) Behruth powered upwards after her, giving the green space as he twisted through the cloud cover. She definitely didn't seem to want to be crowded.

Inocenth didn't seem to care if she did or not. The blue was smaller than some greens, and had no trouble keeping up. In fact, he was built for speed. He banked just enough as she blasted back upwards to avoid the claws, the tips tickling his underbelly as he crooned...mockingly...to her. Inocenth streamed upward right on her tail. Would she like to attempt another try? He was feeling generous. He banked suddenly, slashing upwards at her snout. Higher pretty. Higher.

An aggravated, anxious growl left Behruth's throat, the male deliberately directing his flightpath between the vicious blue and Rinagth a split second after Inocenth banked. Cold amusement washed over him and caused his muscles to twitch as he tucked his wings tight, narrowly avoiding the jaws snapping for his wingsail. He turned it into a steep plummet, wings straining to catch a slipstream before blasting upwards in a thermal. Shaken, the male hovered over the chasing dragons for a moment, but the desire to have and protect the green won out over his unease, and he dove in her direction, twisting into a tight corkscrew.

F'ur stepped to one side and faded back, watching still more riders funneling into the flightroom. Distracted. He shook his head again, captivated by the blood on the woman for a moment as he fought off the queer urge to lick it off her neck. Concentrating on J'on was hardly any better, however. He couldn't help the mocking smirk, wanting to press close to the green and back her - him - up against the wall. His hands plunged into his pockets, knowing his hold on Inocenth was tenuous at best. Why was he reining back the blue again?

The boy placidly stroking the cat glanced up at the woman, wrinkling his nose at her in distaste. Didn't she - he - know that the blood was highly inappropriate? Tch. He distanced himself from her, subconsciously taking up a position slightly apart from the other males. Ligna mewled at the firelizard that had freaked, burying herself tightly against M'ta and unwittingly getting blood on her light fur as a result. Her eyes darted around the room nervously, and she decided this position was probably the safest. Her whiskers twitched.

[Rowana]

More males had arrived. Ruskeath was pleased. It was a fine group of challengers for such a magnificent lady. But he did not intend to lose so easily. He cirlced the air lazily and waited for Ringath to decided the time to move. It would be soon now. He could feel her fury as if it was part of the air. This would be a chase to put his heart into! Then she was up, crying out her challenge. Ruskeath bellowed an answer, low, deep and thrumming.

Look how beautiful she was! The clouds them selves parted ways to let her pass. He could not rise quite so fast or so straight, but up he climbed. He would fly to the very heavens for her. Then she was gone! She had dropped out of sight behind them. Ruskeath tucked his wings and curved himself, trying once again to fall into her path. She blew past them, back into the sky. He rolled out of the way, feeling one claw draw a thin line on his leg. What did it matter? It was only a scratch and only made him more determined. He would not be scared away so easily as that!

G'tor stumbled into J'on's flight room. He was dripping wet and feeling rather uncomfortable. He was late and he was a mess. What if he was regected? Nervously he circled around the room, watching J'on eagerly. He ignored the others present. He shook himself like a canine, spraying water everywhere. Why was he ashamed? Water was good and fun! Surely J'on would love it too.

[Kisha-Ra]

Rinagth paid no mind to which dragons she marked as she passed them, she tired of this game and they were too close to her. She broke away, pulling free of the crowded males with a final slash at Inocenth, to find not only had the blue dodged, and not only did he mock her, but he actually had the audacity to strike back at her. At her! Rinagth snapped her tail back the impudent blue’s muzzle as she rose higher, once again not caring if she hit the target or not.

As if to prove that she could not be bidden to take a certain path Rinagth dropped again taking her Flight right above the river, stretching her body out into the flattest shape possible so that she could get close to the water. Each wingstroke sent a fine mist of cool water droplets up to spatter her burning hide. Oh but it wasn’t enough! Maybe the clouds would be nicer, why did she bother to come down here in the first place?

A few strong flaps of Rinagth’s long wings took her above the nearest obstructions, allowing the green to turn sharply and pull up into one of those steep ascents she so adored, pulling sharply level as she entered the clouds, for a few moments she just flew straight, revelling in her own speed and skill far more than that of her followers. Ah yes… Her dragons… Well this was hardly a challenge for them was it? Could they find her if she hid in these clouds? They had better! Rinagth veered off and took herself higher and deeper into the cloudbank, whirling and spinning strange patterns in the greyness to confuse her chasers.

J’on’s eyes raked over those present again, as if he could strip them of their skins with his gaze alone. Rinagth’s fury pulled her rider in ever deeper, filling him with formless urges to bite, tear, claw, to destroy without thought or reason. The part of him that was still human, the part that kept his movements down to stalking back and forth before the human counterparts of his chasers rather than leaping at them, wondered if Rinagth had been this bad before, but the thought slipped away like quicksilver, leaving the greenrider frowning slightly.

Shaking himself to dismiss the sense of something lost J’on looked around the room again and smiled a thin, nasty smile. Yessss, they were all here. All was as should be, the scent of blood, the touch of water against his body, and the almost tangible aura of lust that filled the room confirmed this in his mind.

[Lotty]

This was probably not the best flight for a new dragon, but Pettahth would deny that until the day he died - or forgot. Not only did Rinagth strike back at her suitors but he felt the drag of another's claw across his shoulder. Nothing that would pierce hide, but even a wrong look could not be forgiven with the brown in this state. He looked up and saw a flash of blue hide, the color only belonging to Inocenth. Pettahth was entirely displeased with this, but choosing not to meddle with the dragon - the concept most likely coming somewhere from the depths of rationality - he was only encouraged that much more to win. Funny how that worked.

Determination was certainly a large part of who Pettahth was. He had it all in abundance. Tapping into this well of perpetual motion and energy he seemed to store, he followed the green out over the river - hardly at all intimidated by the threat of further injury. Battle scars he may have in the end, but he would wear them proudly as memory of the beautiful Rinagth. Valor and chivalry seemed to not be lost on him still. Staying in the midst of things was things was ok for now, certainly it was important to stick out but he wouldn't want to stick out because he was behind - being left behind was not something he did. Hence the reason he was the last dragon standing from his clutch.

That was when she took to the clouds, her fantastical green hues took on a muted sort of pallor in the mists. The brown had to scope out those glowing fleck of near yellow on her hide, but sometimes it was blinding since it seemed that they were already so near the sun. Where was his pretty pretty Rinagth? He could only swear he say glimpses of her flash in and out of sight, and relying on this hope, he tried to follow the ghosts of her trail.

[Ember]

Dsoleth was rather entertained by Rinagth's flight. She seemed a violent creature by nature. He wasn't violent himself but he found the violent flight compelling. It has been a long time since he'd been able to chase in such a flight. It was a bit of a shame he wasn't quicker or he'd be up there really showing his stuff. He'd have to settle for showing his best as a large brown, rather than a brown attempting to be a blue.

Dsoleth watched her go down to the river. His descent wasn't as quick or as steep. Greens were known for their changing minds, after all. A medium height worked best for the brown in the past and so he'd stick to it now. He thrummed deeply as he watched her approach the water. Green, red, and gray-blue. It was a colourful display, though he wasn't sure she realized it. Did he dare express the thought that she was gorgeous? Would that insult her or would she appreciate it?

Rinagth suddenly rose high and fast...straight into the clouds. Flecks of dismay entered his violet eyes as he flew up and burst into the clouds as well. Hide and seek, was it? Dsoleth followed stray wisps in the clouds, wondering it was her trail or simply his imagination. An interesting challenge, in these clouds. If only he could find her and make her see that he was worthy of her.

T'san stood his ground as J'on paced like a feral feline. Ready to pounce on one of them but waiting to see which one would be the best. The smile seemed more like J'on was bearing his fangs than anything else. The brownrider's psoture shifted slightly, challengingly. Dare the other rider bite him, make him his?