Golden Promises (Millieth's Flight)

[Tashe]

Sunrise. It could possibly be, in the Weyrwoman's opinion, the most beautiful time of day. The sky was like a painting, oranges and yellows combining in the silence of the morning. Kaegan had been up for hours, not able to find the will to sleep, quite the opposite of her glowing Queen. In the hours she had been able to settle down, the young woman had dreamed that she was a large Red Dragon, and Millieth was her golden-haired rider. They were vivid, and so far, had only come to her when the Queen was close to Rising.

Dawn was now fully upon the Weyr, Rukbat broke the horizon and intensified the colors already filling the sky. It was then that Millieth peeled back her eyes, revealing the tell tale purple that signified she was ready to fly. Removing herself from the edge of the Landing ledge as the Golden Dragon lifted her head from her forearms, Kaegan turned and receded into her Weyr. She needed to get to the Flightroom before she entirely lost her sense of direction and all of her wits. She was too tired to feel worried or nervous, and all of her concentration was focused on moving forward and keeping the rousing Millieth in check. Kaegan didn't stop to change out of her nightgown, or release her hair from the blue bow she had bound it back in. They wouldn't matter in the end anyways. She might as well have gone naked. She really hated flights.

----

Slowly getting to her feet, Millieth flared her wings. She was the Queen of the Weyr, and the males would come to claim the position beside her. They would be King! Letting loose a commanding snarl, the Golden female launched herself off of the rock ledge. Whoever caught her would be the best of them all, that was a promise in every way. Roaring so that everyone who inhabited the Weyr could hear her challenge, Millieth angled herself toward the feeding grounds.

Golden wings flashing as they backpedaled, the Queen dropped onto the back of the bovine, her claws ripping into it's flesh and killing it almost instantly. Perching over it, she roared once more before dipping her head to feast on her felled prey. /No. Blood only./ That voice! It always impeded her rights to finish her kill! She wasn't going to listen. Not this time. Sinking her teeth into the stomach of the bovine, Millieth pulled back on the flesh. /Blood. You may only have blood. You will fly like a Green if you eat the meat./ A Green? She was not a Green! The voice, no matter how annoying it was, was right. Moving her jaws to the bovines neck, the Gold drained it of as much blood as she could. Leaping into the air, she repeated this process twice more before she was finally satisfied.

Into the air again she rose, her eyes flashing dangerously. The males who came to call would be in for the Flight of their lives! Did they really think they were worthy enough for her attention? Let them come. She was ready for them. Turning tail, Millieth stretched out her wings and caught an air current, lifting higher into the air.

---

Stumbling more than once, Kaegan was doing her best to keep 'conscious' and practically failing, the bond between herself and Millieth was rapidly taking over. She had to get to the room before her males got there. What would it look like to them if their Queen wasn't there to greet them? They wouldn't like it... or her! Picking up her pace, the hem of her blue nightgown fluttering urgently around her legs, the Weyrwoman rounded corners and leapt down stairs.

It wasn't long before she made it to the Flightroom, though her entrance was anything but gracefully. Tripping halfway to the middle of the room, Kaegan/Millieth fell with a startled squeak. At least none of her males were there to have seen that...

[Rei]

She rises! The clear jubilation in Kaaoloth’s voice left no question in Sel’n’s mind as to who the female was. Millieth was finally rising and Kaaoloth thoroughly intended to give this flight his all. As loathe as the rider was to condone his mind mate’s affection for the golden mothers of the weyr, he could not possibly deny Kaaoloth a chance to chase. “Go on Kaaoloth. Just stay focused on Millieth.” He gave the brown’s hind leg a tap to send him off, and began to make his way to the flight rooms.

Kaaoloth threw himself off his ledge with an answering bugle and descended to the bloody feeding grounds. How vicious she was. How utterly feral. It awoke a part of the brown that had long since lay dormant. He wanted her more than he had wanted any gold. Kaaoloth was determined to do his utmost to show Millieth that he was worthy of her favor.

The brown landed upon a runner neatly breaking the creatures back. Parting his maw he fastened his teeth onto the neck of the beast and drained the creature of it’s life blood. Raising his head, Kaaoloth crooned low to the object of his desire, crimson rivulets of blood running down his jaw and dripping to mesh with the dust of the beast pen. He would blood for her. So what if he was not bronze? He was as strong as any of them. She would see.

The brown was able to blood once more before Millieth suddenly took flight. Kaaoloth flung the drained carcass of the bovine aside and gave a thunderous bellow as he sprang into the air. Opening his large wings he gave a few powerful beats and slipped into a thermal that ran parallel to the queen’s own updraft. He kept himself positioned a dragon length behind and to the right. A low croon escaped Kaaoloth’s throat. He was here, wherever the beauty went he would follow. To the Red star itself if she so desired.

Sel’n/Kaaoloth entered the flight rooms a few minutes after Kaegan/Millieth. Her stumble caused a low whine of worry to escape the man’s voice. He refrained from approaching her however, in case she took offense to his proximity. He settled for an encouraging croon and an outstretched arm. If she allowed it Sel’n/Kaaoloth would help her to rise. The great golden one did not need to feel shame, even in her fall she was graceful.

[hseru]

Ah, it had been long. Too long. He hadn't risen to chase any female for some time, and now the Queen, the glorious Millieth had been shining like the sun for the past several sevendays. His eyes were always on her now, following her as was his right as a male, as a Bronze! Gareth lay awake on his weyrledge, muscles tense, wings fluttering in anticipation. It was coming. She would Rise soon, oh so soon. He felt it like a languid tingle over his skin. The sun broke over the horizon, and like a flash of liquid gold, Millieth dropped from her own ledge, swooping in low to take a herdbeast with endless grace. Gareth's claws gouged into the rock beneath his ledge as he leaned forward to watch, not yet shooting forward, his eyes starting to whirl with violet hues.

K'roi knew what was coming. If anything, he was surprised that the big bronze hadn't decided to try after a Green after all the time he'd spent torpid, but now Gareth's excitement was catching hold of him, and he welcomed it. Maybe he'd wake in the arms of a lovely flightmoth this time. His last lay had been... well, to put it nicely, she'd been rather homely, but K'roi had spent more than one night with her as she proved efficient in other things. He didn't bother wondering how waking in bed with Kaegan might be. Unpleasant, probably. She was from Benden, after all. Plus the woman was so skittish around men that she'd likely die of fright right afterwards. He frowned a bit, lightly admonishing his thoughts as he pulled on loose breeches and began padding barefoot and bare chested towards the flightrooms before Gareth launched. His hair was in disarray around his shoulders, barely brushed and sleep-rumpled. He had to judge based on actions, and the Jr Weyrwoman had treated things well enough. He could only feel sympathy for her at what had happened in the past, easing his annoyance at the idea of bedding her. If Gareth caught Millieth, he hoped he could be gentle to her, but he knew too well how the lust of a queenflight made it far too difficult to rationalize.

As if emphasizing his thoughts, Gareth bugled his intentions in a bone-shaking baritone, rattling the air around him. She had downed her second herdbeast and was on her third when he launched out, powerfully thrusting his huge body into space and cupping the air with his wings in a thunderclap of sound. The downwards thrust sent him shooting forward and up, skimming close to the ground for a moment before he rose up on another powerful downwards beat of his wings. He rose like a predator on the wing, angling upwards when he saw her doing the same, catching a thermal over the feeding grounds that sent him shooting skywards in an effort to overtake her height, despite his distance. Height was always good. It gave you an advantage in maneuvering. The big bronze began a low humming croon that thrummed through the air and his bones. Sweet, sweet Queen. Brighter than Rukbat, and more beautiful than anything. He completely ignored the Brown who'd joined, blooding as if he could match the longevity of a Bronze. A flicker of contempt that was completely inconsistent with the usually placid Bronze and then he only had eyes for the shining Sun rising before him.

He'd taken a little too long to reach the flightroom, and he entered as if on wings, the lust in his eyes. The man hummed, deep in his chest, watching as the Brown offered Her assistance. He hadn't seen her fall, perhaps she was merely baiting him? He slipped by, watching with hooded eyes and wondering if she'd take the proffered hand.

[Rowana]

It looked to be a good day. G'tor got up and stretched. After spending the previous day hauling fish to help with the new supplies, he was a little sore, but still looking forward to the day. It was still a little early yet, but that wasn't going to stop him. There was still plenty to be done and he liked to be up early to do oit. Of course Ruskeath had had it easy, lying around all day and watching while the humans did all the work. Lazy beast. G'tor glanced up to say as much, but stopped.

Something had his dragon's attention in the sky. Ruskeath was poised and alert, as if waiting for something. G'tor frowned and followed his gaze. A flash of gold, barely visible against the brilliant sunset. Millieth was rising! At last! G'tor smiled. He could see why Ruskeath was so interested. After all that had happened, this was a very important Flight for the weyr. He hoped Millieth chose well.

He looked back down, intent on returning to his original plan, when he felt an all too familiar twinge at his mind. G'tor whirled and stared at Ruskeath. Purple twinge was encroaching on blue within the dragon's eyes. His muscles were tensed, his wings were unfurled, everything ready to take flight. G'tor stared. His eyes went wide. Shards! Rusk was going to chase her! What in Faranth's name are you thinking?! G'tor's mind was in a rush, already slipping into the confusing mist of flightlust. You've never chased a queen before!

She calls. Ruskeath replied simply. His mind was focused only on the shiny female in the sky above. It would be rude not to answer. It was the last intelligible thing G'tor would get. Ruskeath gave a joyful cry and lept to the sky. He was coming, oh queen! Ruskeath pumped his wings, rising as high as he could to be closer to her. She was so beautiful! A jewel in the sky that rivaled the sun itself! If only he was worthy of her! Yet how could any hope to reach her level of perfection!

G'tor cursed aloud. His neighbors would be glad of thick walls that evening. G'tor could curse profusely went he felt like it. Then he was running down the halls to the flightroom. Shard it all, Rusk! His dragon had never had ambition before. Why now?! What on Pern had gotten into him?! G'tor knew that the chances of a brown winning were small anyway. He only hoped that the odds stayed that way. Shards! He didn't want to be Weyrleader!

Lost in his dragon, G'tor stumbled into the room moments later. Two other males were present, but he ignored them. Only his queen mattered. She was the center of his attention, indeed of his whole world. He hummed soft greetings to Kaegan. She was so beautiful. Worthy of a dozen males. Why were there only three?

[Kisha-Ra]

R’aro was suspicious. Idith was being strange and secretive. First the bronze snuck off to the feeding grounds at false dawn and blocked R’aro out when normally R’aro couldn’t stop his dragon projecting to him while the bronze fed. That was new and strange but not enough by itself to make R’aro suspicious. However, now Idith lay out on the ledge, before the sun was up, and not in a relaxed pose either. Rather he was tense, poised for action. This impression was reinforced by the slow flicking of Idith’s tail and the way the bronze scanned the sky, head slowly turning from side to side.

R’aro leaned against the wall at the entrance to his weyr and studied Idith intensely, his firelizards had all blinked out between as soon as Idith left so he didn’t need to separate them every few minutes. He stared fixedly at the back of Idith’s head until the bronze had to turn around and face the gaze that distracted him so. Stop. You are distracting me.[/color] R’aro’s eyes half closed in exasperation. From what? You’re not thinking of chasing another green are you? NO, not a green.[/color] There was something in the bronze’s tone, something that told R’aro that Idith was omitting an important part of the truth. Then what?

MILLIETH![/color] the bronze’s cry was both exultant and dismayed. She was Rising but he, Idith, had not been ready. It was all R’aro’s fault. You cannot be serious! R’aro blurted, shocked by his dragon’s outcry, the shaft of annoyance and the entire situation. ‘Idith, you can’t. I can’t be weyrleader.’ R’aro’s desperate objection fell on deaf ears as Idith took wing. R’aro muttered several creative curses as he hurried back through his weyr. If last time was anything to go by he should run to the sharding flightroom.

Idith kited high above the feeding grounds, drifting above as Millieth blooded. he wasn’t going to waste time landing. Patience was a virtue and all that… Sudenlly the glowing queen was in the sky and Idith dropped his lazy drifting, shooting forward silently, as if seeking to impress his queen with his stealth.

[Tashe]

Shifting out of the updraft she was riding on, Millieth took a brief moment to check out the males who had come. Four? Only four! She snarled, the vocalization a mixture of dismay and disbelief. They weren't even all Bronzes! Only two, and one of them looked to be straight out of Weyrlinghood. Twisting about in a violent manner, the Golden Female made a slashing motion with her claws before slipping into a powerful updraft. She wasn't happy. Not at all. But they would have to do. If they were chasing her, they had to be the best, the best of each color. Another snarl signified a change in pace, her wings pumping harder, this action in combination with the updraft sent her rocketing upward. She was going to start this Flight with a climb!

The first male to join her Chase had been a Brown. Kaaoloth, yes that was his name. She remembered him from days ago, he had conversed with her on the drumheights. He was older, more experienced, and had gone through battles. On the down side, he was missing a leg, and he had come from another Weyr. The last time she had chosen someone from another Weyr, it had turned out badly. Giving her tail a twitch, she continued to rise. If he could keep up, he could chase her.

--

Footsteps alerted her to the presence of the first male. Oh no! Turning quickly, she winced, jolting the injury she had sustained to her elbow. She had only just noticed it's dull throbbing. She didn't want to appear weak. No, she was strong! Looking up as the footfalls stopped, Millieth tilted her head to the side, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. The Brown wanted to help? Glancing from his hand to his face, the Queen shook her head slowly, adding a smile to the movement. She could get up on her own. Pushing herself up onto her feet, Millieth rubbed her elbow, glancing past the Brown at the second male to arrive...

--

The older Bronze, she surprisingly didn't know. Normally, she was well versed in the appearances of pretty males, but he somehow had escaped her attentions. Millieth picked her brain for anything involving the male, but came up with nothing. He was a loose cannon. A unfamiliar thread... a mystery. The fact she knew little about the Bronze both intrigued her and made her wary. He would probably have to work the hardest.

The next two in the line up she was more familiar with. She had heard of Ruskeath from the annoying Green she was often forced to endure. The Brown was older, and he too, was experienced. She had also remembered seeing Ruskeath around the Weyr from time to time, but only in passing. While Idith, the younger Bronze, she knew fairly well. He had come from the clutch that had produced her junior counterpart. He was young and fresh, maybe a little too fresh. He might not be able to out last the larger, and stronger males in the flight. He would have to work exceptionally hard.

Pinning her wings to her sides and arching backward, Millieth dove straight toward the group of chasers, her tail moving to and fro to keep her descent vertical. As she drew closer to the males, the Queen waited until the last moment, twisting so that she slipped between Gareth and Kaaoloth. Lashing her tail as she passed them downward, Millieth didn't wait to see if it had collided gently with either of them, she was too busy making the correct adjustments to her altitude. Opening her wings to slow herself, the Gold leveled out above the Drumheights, skirting the cliff's edge. Her chasers needed to expect the unexpected.

---

The other three males arrived within moments of each other, giving Millieth little time to survey them individually. The Bronzes, being of a higher rank and status, received the first of her glances. They were handsome, of course. Bronzes were supposed to be, but the Browns were also surprisingly nice to look at. So far, each of the chasers were equal in standing. But then again they had only just begun.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath payed little attention to the other males who joined the chase. The bronzes were unknown to him and he saw them only for what they were, larger and stronger than he. It would be difficult to capture Millieth's attention with them around, for he was only brown. Yet this did not daunt him, only made the chase all the more thrilling. He wanted no easy flight. His queen deserved only the best! Kaaoloth was an old adversary, one Ruskeath remembered from green flights. He too would be hard to best, despite his handicap. One did not need legs to fly.

Millieth was rising high into the sky and Ruskeath dismissed the other males to follow her. He had to work hard to reach the heights she glided to so easily. She was so beautiful, so strong. Truly a female worthy of all the males in the weyr. It saddened him that so few had come to witness her glorious flight. What would she do next? Ruskeath was used to greens and their playful ways. From her, he expected much greater challenges.

He would not be disappointed. In a matter of seconds, Millieth had turned from rising to diving. Dropping like a rain of gold between Kaaoloth and Gareth. So fast and so skilled! Only the tiniest of adjustments to keep from colliding with the other dragons. Ruskeath was impressed and he was ready. By the time she passed, he had tuck his own wings close and dropped like a stone. The brown's long wings and body may not be built for soaring like a bronze, but this he could do well. From turns of practice diving off cliffs, he managed to followed his queen towards the Drumheights below.

Ruskeath waited until the last possible moment. Then he flared his wings and arched his neck. Expertly he pulled out of the dive, wingtips just brushing the rock below. Soon he was gliding again, maintain a level behind and a little below his queen. Ruskeath's eyes flashed with pride and he crooned his joy to give chase. Had she seen him? Had she seen how skilled he was? How good he was at flying? He so longed to prove himself to her. He was as good as the bronzes. No, he could be even better! Worthy to fly with his beloved queen!

~

G'tor/Ruskeath lingered near his queen. He longed to be closer to her, to gain some spark of attention. But as yet, she had barely glanced at him. This was no silly green he sought. This was a lovely worth more than all the greens in the South. He crooned alluringly as dragon and man. He would prove he was worthy. Then she would see he was a male who could not be ignored.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth did not worry himself about the other chasers. The bronzes were not worth his attention or voice. Only the golden beacon above him was worthy of his undivided attention. As Millieth turned to view her pursuers the brown studied her expression carefully. Her body language would tell a lot about her current emotional state.

Her snarl and out strike were evidence enough at her displeasure. Why was she displeased? She had the best chasing her. The only dragons who were worthy of her beautiful glowing form. A low croon escaped his throat as she began her climb. Flaring his wings to their fullest, he worked his muscles hard climbing after her with gusto. His golden beauty need not be displeased. Oh no. The males chasing her were undoubtedly the only worthy ones and they would all prove it to her.

Kaaoloth watched her carefully and tensed slightly as she dove towards him. There was no way she could be choosing yet. Was she planning on lashing out at one of them? No she merely skirted between the bronze and himself. At the last second as she twisted Kaaoloth dipped a wing and rolled to the left away from the glowing queen and her well aimed tail lash. Clever girl. He rumbled happily. Oh yes now he desired her all the more. She was no sedate little green. Oh no she was much better than that. Not only did she have brains she had a temper to go with it.

As she continued her dive he tucked his wings to the side and fell in a controlled dive after her. As she pulled up he fell a bit below her and flared his wings to slow his decent. Leveling out he glided below her, rolling once to display his heavy musculature and scarred hide. Righting himself he again turned whirling purple orbs to the golden Millieth. The brown still had plenty left and was in playful spirits. After all it wasn’t everyday he got to chase such a gorgeous golden angel.

----

Sel’n/Kaaoloth noted her head shake and returned her faint smile as he stepped back. Yes his golden queen was strong but still she had a heart. She was not some drama queen who walked all over her subjects. No she was regal, beautiful, and approachable. He walked back to take his place in the semi-circle of males ringing the great golden queen. The flight was long from over. There was still plenty that could happen. The day was young.

[Kisha-Ra]

Idith understood her dismay, and her ire; she was a queen and worthy of being chased by every male, even if the blues and some of the smaller browns wouldn’t last the whole chase. However not even every bronze was here! Insulting for Millieth but perhaps an advantage to Idith who wouldn’t have to deal with so any competitors now. Discreetly, and never letting his queen leave his sight Idith examined the other males. Gareth, Kaaoloth, and Ruskeath were tagged as his main competition, mostly because Idith knew them or knew of them. Kaaoloth was a dragon to watch, much older and more experienced than Idith and a battle veteran. The other brown was also an older beast than Idith, though that wasn’t hard, and fast as well. Gareth, Idith didn’t know much of that bronze, he was a mystery and bore watching.

As Millieth shot upward Idith dismissed all thought of the other males as he flared out his wings and put everything into climbing after Millieth, showing off the raw power inherent in his massive frame, he might be clumsy down there but here in the sky he was king!

Then, suddenly Millieth dived straight down at Gareth and Kaaoloth. What was she up to, surely she couldn’t have chosen one of them already? The Flight had barely begun! But no, she veered neatly between the bronze and the brown, and carried on going. Idith folded his wings and dropped like a stone with his body nearly vertical, his neck stretched out as if that would allow him to get a little closer. The heights came rushing up to meet him, Idith wrenched his body horizontal and spread his wings again, soaring out over the cliffs, his tail just brushing the rocks. He cast a glance at Millieth. Did she see how daring he was? Did she care?

R’aro skidded to a halt in the flightroom, the panic that had driven him to run supplanted by an entirely new emotion. His eyes slid around, resting briefly on each rider, marking who was a real challenge and who might be easily overcome. Then he ignored all of them totally. They weren’t what he was here for.

[Tashe]

Tipping her wing as though she was going to pull off to the left, Millieth drifted in that direction slightly before doing a barrel roll over the lip of the cliff. She adjusted her proximity to the rock face so that she was close enough to be daring, yet far enough away that she felt comfortable with the threat level. Yes, she had seen the males follow her in the Dive, but they wouldn't get their egos stroked any. No, a simple dive wouldn't and shouldn't be praised. Millieth wasn't the type of female to send false signals during a Flight, in fact she normally was blatantly obvious in her emotions. If she didn't like the Chaser, she would do something about it. And if she thought a certain male was deserving of praise, then she would praise them. These males thought that they were good enough for her, but only one was going to have enough guile to be chosen. Leveling out over the river below the Drumheights, Millieth almost lazily swayed back and forth over the sides of the river.

She had slowed for a reason. Waiting until the chasers had converged closely behind her, Millieth dropped altitude and backwinged, passing underneath her chasers in a sudden and fluid movement. Pumping her wings, the Queen shot upward again, climbing higher and flying away in a different direction than she had been before. These males had to be fast, if they wanted to catch her. She had been trained to evade other Dragons in flight, and so they would have to do their best to expect that training to show through.

Gently dipping downward, Millieth skirted the tops of the tallest trees, taking the time to glance backward at her chasers. She wanted to see who had dealt with her sudden change in course the swiftest. They all had their pros and their cons, but the Bronzes were certainly more pretty than the two Browns.

---

Oh joy, now all of her lovely males were here! She forgave the second Bronze for being a little late, though he certainly was naughty for being so. Because the Millieth in the sky was the one testing the males, the Millieth on the ground got to flirt interrupted with the grounded Dragonmen. Tilting her head to the side, the Queen put a hand to her face and flashed her lovelies a smile, not lingering on one face for too long. It took her a very difficult moment to choose which male she would toy with first, but eventually she chose.

She had a soft spot for Browns, having met a lot who were fairly interested in talking rather than flirting, and sometimes that was a refreshing change in pace. Sliding coquettishly up to Kaaoloth's side, Millieth did a little twirl before disappearing behind his back. Running her fingers down from his right shoulder to the lower left part of his back as she moved around him, the Queen made a soft noise. See. She wasn't completely un-thankful. He had been nice to offer to help her, and the quiet croon was her subtle way of thanking him. Moving away from the Brown before he could get any ideas, Millieth happily flounced her way over to the next dragon in her line up.

Gareth was a pretty bronze, he looked strong and passionate, like a leader should. Drawing in close, the Gold peered upward at his face. Oh his eyes! So unusual, and so unique. Reaching up with her right hand and placing her left on his chest, Millieth made to run a hand through the side of his hair, but ended up tugging on a lock playfully. Why neaten something that could become messy again later? Smiling deviously, the Queen leaned in close enough so that their bodies were touching then leapt backward gently. It was for her own benefit as well as his, she didn't want him thinking he was favored quite yet.

Giving the males another twirl, Millieth stopped herself as soon as she faced the third male. She was sure Ruskeath want some affection too.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath was vaguely aware of the other three males, but only in so much as to avoid colliding with them. He was not intimidated by the competition. His focus was the golden queen. She, and she alone, deserved his every attention. The previous dive had been quick, almost without warning. It was clear he was going to have to be prepared if he expected to keep up with her. She had barely noticed his spectacular dive. It was going to take much more to impress her. That only made him more eager to prove he could be worthy.

He followed warily as she slowed, allowing the males to grow close. Surely she could not be tired already? Then she dropped. Another dive? But no, she was passing under them! What skill and grace! Like a flare of sunlight dancing in the sky. Ruskeath knew his wings were not made for such a trick, but he had one of his own. The brown pulled his wings close, as if to dive. He dropped his head down and twisted on a tight pivot until he was facing back the way they had come. Than he flared his wings again, pulling up to avoid the cliff so near below. It had been a risky move, and cost him some momentum, but it had been faster than taking a wide turn.

Millieth was rising again, and Ruskeath pumped his wings hard to keep pace. He had to keep her in sight. He had to be ready for the next trick. He wanted to show her how well he could fly. He was strong and in his prime. A flash of dark color amongst the paler males. Surely he must stand out handsomely in the sky. But it would take more than pretty colors to impress this queen. Ruskeath would put all his heart into this chase. His queen deserved no less!

~

Ruskeath in G'tor watched eagerly as his queen flirted with first Kaaoloth and then Gareth. She was so lovely. A delight to watch her twirl about so gracefully. He felt a pang of jealousy and disappointment. Did she favor them? Did that mean she did not like his attempts to be worthy? But no, she had moved away from each. The flight was far from over. She was looking at him now. Would she come closer? Ruskeath hummed invitingly. What must he do to earn her affection?
~

Star was not a happy salamandyr. The sun was already up and where was her human with breakfast! A quick search of the weyr showed that neither he, nor the large, brown beast were there. What could they be thinking, flying off without seeing to her food?! It didn't take the little white one long to locate Hers. His mind was easy to pick out, even when it was as foggy as it was today.

Star popped into the flight room. She completely ignored all others present and glided to G'tor's shoulder. With a fierce glare and a stream of urgent pictures of meat, she demanded breakfast. G'tor didn't even look at her. Tail flicking in irritation, she tried again, this time adding angry pictures of half eaten fingers if he did not comply. Still nothing. What was wrong with the stupid human?! All these humans! She could feel the stream of lust and longing coming from them, but she didn't understand it. What could possibly be more important than her food!

Star was disgusted and too hungry to wait for G'tor to come to his senses. With a vengeful nip at his ear, enough to draw a spot of blood, she took off again. Soon she had jumped between to the kitchens. The cooks always had plenty of food, and they certainly didn't need it all. Maybe she could try one of those sticky pastries today! After all, there was no silly human to stop her!

[hseru]

Gareth caught an adjacent updraft, following his golden Jewel through the skies as she rocketed upwards. There was nothing to match the sheer power and beauty of a Gold in Flight! He kept his wings carefully extended to gain the full benefit of the wind pressing beneath him. He watched with violet swirling eyes as she arched around into a dive, heading straight for him, and he watched carefully the trim of her wings, the flicks of her tail as she adjusted her course to swoop by so very close. He felt the buffeting of her passage, and saw the tailflick. Reacting on instinct, he reached out a gentle forehand to caress that golden streamer, easing the impact that might have landed somewhere on his body, and then cooing to her afterwards at what a fine, clever Queen she was.

All he needed was a single path-altering flap of his wings and he was heading down after her, now studiously ignoring the other males around him other than to avoid a collision. He was confident that should any such thing happen, he’d be able to correct his course without incident, but it would lose him precious ground and maybe even the Flight if his Queen thought him unworthy. He opened his wings a bit early as she pulled out of her dive, using the speed of his descent to send him shooting over the drumheights at a higher altitude, ducking lower to croon sweet things to his Queen, scooting to the side of her, rather than over so she wouldn’t feel as if he placed himself before her. He wasn’t as agile as a brown, but he was agile enough. He’d be able to follow, no matter where she went. He didn’t want to slip up and smash into something quite so early though, and if past Queenflights were anything to judge by, then this Sun was only just getting started. The bronze would have time to show his merit, though perhaps now that things were warming up, he should put decisive action into gaining her attention.

Skimming along to the side that faced jungle, he drifted as she made leftwards, towards him. He saw the barest twitch of her muscles and suddenly she disappeared over the edge, rolling away from him. Swinging his turnstile wings, he followed quickly, dipping below the edge and following her route. He swung close to the rocks. He knew this area well –it was his favorite bathing spot. He knew the projections from skimming the cliff face so often, and he was able to hug it closely, crooning that he was well versed in maneuvering in such a tight space, even for his size. Glory personified swung around to follow the river in lazy, wide arcs. She had something planned, he just knew it. He let off a bit on his speed, though not enough to lose his place. There! She dropped beneath them, almost disappearing completely she completed the move so quickly. Gareth moved fast, slamming his hind legs and tail into the water for the briefest moment with a loud splash to slow him enough quickly so that he could pull directly upwards with his remaining speed and spinning in a complete loop that left him shooting after Her upside down for a handful of seconds, water dripping from him like glistening rain. He altered his course, pumping strongly as he slipped right side up again in a smooth barrel roll, and shot upwards and out after her retreating form. Her move had cost him precious lengths, but he worked hard to make it up. Feisty and clever. This Queen wasn’t just any dragon’s catch. Gareth bugled his devotion after her as he rose on gilded wings, the forest flashing beneath like a blurred carpet of green.

...

She was strong, and regal. Beautiful and wily, and so very coy as she flitted about them, having refused the offer of help as a strong queen should. The bronze thirsted for her, and she gave them each a sip one by one to ease the ache of wanting, only to increase it by doing so. First one of the Browns. He watched with interest and a small flame of jealousy. It was quickly wiped away as she descended on him next, peering up close to him. He practically purred as she laid a hand on his chest, the spot warming to her touch. His mismatched eyes blazed, and he let a soft, alluring smile cross his lips as he watched her, letting his arms remain at ease. If she wanted him, she would pick him. It would likely make her unhappy if he reached for her though, so he kept still, showing her his want with his eyes and his lips.

He leaned slightly into the tug she gave his hair, grinning fiercely at the playfulness of the action. Oh, this was a female he wanted alright. He allowed his body to slide downwards into a handsless caress when she briefly made contact with him chest to chest, promising more should she chose him. He was fit, well able to please her. He watched with flashing eyes as she danced away with a twirl, admiring the inherent grace there. He wanted more, and he moved a bit now that she'd paced away from him, just a step or two to show his eagerness, but keep from pressing her. A soft rumble continued in his chest, verbal testament, a soft reminder of his presence.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth followed Millieth’s flight path with practiced ease. She would not lose him that easily. While some dragons focused on her glowing form as a whole, the brown focused more on her flight muscle groupings. Patterns in the flexing would tell him what she would do before his eyes would. The old brown used the trick often in battle and to a lesser extent in queen flights. Browns had a disadvantage to bronzes in stamina but a clear advantage in maneuverability. Unfortunately for Kaaoloth he was not a typical brown in size and so even the limited agility of his color sometimes escaped him depending on the maneuver.

As Millieth fell over the edge Kaaoloth went with her skirting the rock face with a bit of daring. Such a maneuver was a bit out of character for the level headed brown but at this point he was willing to pull out all the stops for a chance at impressing her. As Millieth broke off to descend towards the river Kaaoloth outstretched his back talons and pushed off against the cliff face to gain a bit more speed. Leveling out just a bit below the golden queen he studied her lazy drifting carefully. Surely she was going to do something more trying. Yes, they only had to wait for it.

Ah the bunching of muscles and then back winging to bring herself out from below her chasers. Clever girl. Ignoring the other males, except for a quick glance to note their positions, Kaaoloth stilled his wings into a glide and then thrust this head down, at the same time giving a single hard flap with both wings. Flipping his bulk neatly head over tail he dropped a bit of altitude to right himself and, with wingtips a few inches from the rivers surface, leveled out and gave a couple of hard beats to begin climbing back after the queen. Such a maneuver was difficult at best but he had pulled it off as best as his body type would allow.

Now he put his energy into climbing after her. The burning had started in his wings but that small bit of discomfort was pushed to the back of his mind. Ignoring his pain had become second nature to the large brown. After all if one gave into it they were lucky to live in battle.

As Millieth dipped downward Kaaoloth followed and caught a updraft to linger a bit above her. He was still a few dragon lengths away but he had done the best he could given his position and bulk. The queens backward glance was noted, but not acknowledged with anything other than a soft croon. Now was not the time for slowing off.

---

As Millieth slid towards him a soft croon escaped the mans throat. He made no move to touch her instead letting the sensation her trailing fingers caused pulse through his body and make him ache for her all the more. The touch was all he needed to assure him that he was still in this game. He was a worthy brown, worthy perhaps of a queen. Her attention proved that. As she moved away he locked his eyes on her retreating figure unwilling to lose sight of her for even a moment.

[Tashe]

Well of course he wanted attention, what male wouldn't! Sliding over to Ruskeath, Millieth ran her hand down his arm before rubbing up against his back with her own, very much like a feline does when it greets someone it likes. He was warm despite the cool morning air that penetrated the Riderweyrs, and it felt nice. Pulling herself away from the warmth, no matter how much she wanted to stay, the Queen then slid quietly over to the second Bronze. He really had done little to impress her, a shame for she had expected at least the young Bronze's best. Letting her hand trail once across his shoulders, Millieth escaped the line of males and fled back to the middle of the room, standing pleasantly with her hands upon her hips. Now, who would she choose to be in her inner circle?

---

Clever. These males were clever, she had to give them that. It was obvious even the Browns knew how to anticipate when she was about to move. Three of the four males had stood out, their unique and calculated responses to her evasions had definitely not gone without notice. It was time to eliminate one of the chasers. Leveling out at a high altitude, Millieth wheeled around, speeding toward her chasers head on. Taking the few moments of time she had to reconfirm her decision. Angling her wings so that her momentum carried her upward, the Queen passed over Idith with a snarl, pressing her mind against his with a sort of finality. He was dismissed, and clearly, not the best of the males!

Another roll and she was off to the east, to the rising Rukbat, the only other thing shimmering in the sky. Three were left, a Bronze and two Browns, both of which were probably glad to see one of the Bronzes be dismissed. The second elimination was going to be much harder than the first, the remaining males having so far, proven their worth in flight and reaction time. In skill, it was a tough call, one she would have to make soon. Slowing her pace slightly as a fire began to burn in her wings, Millieth hated the fact her flights were always cut short by the stupid pain. Her muscles bunched as she arched into a shallow dive, letting her instincts run her body on autopilot while she devoted a moment to thought. Who was next?

---

Idith was gone. She no longer recognized his presence in the room, her eyes trained solely on the three remaining males in the room. They were all so pretty! But somewhere she knew she could only have one, much to her dismay. But which one? Lips pulling down at their corners, Millieth crossed her arms haughtily. Sure, the three remaining were all worthy of her attention, but were they all worthy to sire her children?

Letting her arms drop, the Queen let go of the look of dismay and replaced it with the smile she had worn before. Well there was one thing she could decide now, and that was the first thing she was going to do. Leaping over to Kaaoloth in two bounds, Millieth tilted her head to the side before grabbing the Brown's arm. She tugged on it gently, a signal for him to move forward, toward the middle of the room. He was safe... for now.

---

Twisting downward and steepening her dive, Millieth chose a particularly uneven patch of trees to skim across. Dodging the tips that rose higher above the lowest ones, the Gold began to weave back and forth across the forest, a stalling tactic she had used before. Her body was getting heavy and she still hadn't made a decision, other than to keep the three limbed Brown. If she kept going at this pace she'd never have enough strength for the final climb. There! She had it, the next one to be dismissed. Wheeling around a particularly large treetop in the tightest circle she could, Millieth crossed over the line of chasers once more. Putting pressure on the mind of Ruskaeth, the Queen dismissed him a little more kindly than she had done with Idith, she wanted him to know he had done well.

Finally, she had her final two. Directing her nose to the sky, Millieth began her last ascent, knowing that once she hit it's zenith, she would no longer have enough strength for anything but the decent. A Brown and a Bronze, it always seemed to come down to that. But she had to be certain, certain that the one she picked was able to lead the dragons by her side. Ever so slowly, her speed began to decrease, and soon, she was only a little a head of the two males. Kaaoloth... or Gareth... she knew it was going to be a trivial matter on which she made the decision.

She was tired, so tired now, and everything was sore. She had to choose now, no second thoughts. Stilling her wings and slowing herself to closely match the speed of her chosen one, Millieth flipped herself over and latched on, twining her neck with his. Gareth was her Bronze! Letting her instincts kick in, the Gold trusted the Bronze to guide them safely through.

---

She burned, not a painful searing, but that annoying itch that you can't seem to placate. She had pulled her two males to the center, forgetting about the second Brown as easily as she had the first dragon she had eliminated. She had grown tired of this game she was playing, and wanted to choose her male right then and there. It was then that she made her decision, leaping forward, Millieth wrapped her arms around Gareth/K'roi and pulled herself into him. He was hers, and she was His.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath felt the soft presence of Millieth's mind on his. She was pleased with him, but he was not the one. He felt disappointed, and yet honored. That she had taken a moment to thank him, and that left him feeling satisfied. He had even surpassed the younger bronze, and surely that was an accomplishment for a brown such as he. He was glad he had been able to chase her so well, especially when so few bronzes had answered her call. Millieth had chosen well, and her clutch would be strong. What more could he ask for?

As Ruskeath drifted away from the flight and winged back to his weyr, G'tor slowing came back to his senses. He breathed a sigh of relief. He knew it was unfair to Ruskeath, but he was glad his dragon hadn't won. The Weyr needed a strong leader right now, and he knew he wasn't up to the task. He worked much better in the background, doing what help he could. Feeling now that he was likely intruding, he slipped out of the flight room. He felt exhausted, as if he were the one who had been preforming aerial acrobatics. It had certainly been a more exciting morning than he had expected. Now he needed a nap!