Golden Fire (Millieth's Maiden Flight!)

[Tashe]

It was quiet as the wind passed under the red wings of a female Dragon, the sun had risen and it's rays fell down onto the Weyr like thread. Swinging her head to the side as a tickle formed at the back of her mind, Kaegan pivoted in the air and began flying toward the canyon lazily, her red body streaking through the air. Gently circling over the weyr that she and her Mine shared, the female landed to face the human female who stood waiting on the ledge. Slowly swirling blue eyes took in the appearance of the woman, she had a mane of fiery blond hair which rimmed her perfectly formed face. Her large green segmented eyes were quickly changing color, and never settling on one for too long, although it didn't bother the Kaegan dragon in the least. Millieth was her Mine, and she was the most beautiful female she had ever seen in her short life.

Quietly lowering her large red head down to the level of the Human Millieth, the female was suddenly hit with a blast of emotion. The feelings matched the changing colors of her Mine's eyes, they shifted just as fast also, causing Kaegan to become extremely confused. Writhing with the untapped emotions, the red dragon was somehow able to look down at the human female who was looking away. Suddenly and without warning the Human Millieth looked up with such a force that the shock of what Kaegan saw didn't register right away. Roaring in defiance the red female....



Launching herself up from her furs screaming as Millieth screeched, Kaegan doubled over before watching her Golden dragon launch herself off of their landing platform. The emotions that were paled in her dream returned at full force, catching the young goldrider off guard and almost causing her to tumble over. Although she wasn't alone for long, the two person Shmee had assigned to help her through remembering the Flight instructions burst through the cavern entrance and without hesitation wheeled her out the door quietly whispering over and over the instructions. The craving for blood was almost over whelming as she was brought through the halls in the direction of the flight room...

Millieth- who was now Kaegan too- roared with a vengeance as she sped along in the lower altitudes, it took her only a few moments to burst in on the herd beast area. Quickly choosing her unfortunate prey, the large lust filled Queen descended like a knife upon the herd beast. /BLOOD ONLY MILLIETH!/ Having quickly going for it's belly, Millieth recoiled from the beast slightly as a voice erupted forcefully in her head. She wanted meat, and she wanted it now! Lowering her head to the belly again, the Queen roared in frustration as the annoying voice pierced her brain once more. Agitated, Millieth launched herself at the herd beasts throat, draining the blood that she so desperately needed. Still unsatisfied, the lusting female took down and drained two more herd beasts before she launched herself into the air, finally rejuvenated and ready to mate. Screeching once again, Millieth growled a challenge to the males of the weyr, were any of them good enough to catch her? The Gold would only have the strongest, fastest, and most intellegant... oh how she would test these males on all of these levels! [/size]

[Requiem]

Z'hin sat quietly on the weyrledge, his legs swinging lightly. There would be a weyrling lesson today, for the first day since the attack. So many...would not be there. So many. He looked out over the sky. Another hour or so, and it would be midday. Jessereth and Z'hin had been up since dawn. All the weyr seemed to be holding its breath, waiting expectantly, and as time drew on the brownpair thought that maybe they'd decided it was too soon after all. Kalierre, at least, would be unable to come. He remembered spying the healer, huddled in a pool of blood and deathly pale. Remembered his numb heart managing to twinge for her...

Z'hin rubbed at his face. Stubble. He should shave. The man didn't get up to move, though, merely continuing to watch the slow bustle of the weyr distantly.

She will Rise soon? Z'hin's hand moved from the clawed foot of his lifemate, rubbing along the male's foreleg. Jessereth had been more than just a little distracted over the last sevenday. It was a quiet, tentative sort of excitement, however - suitable for Z'hin's quiet sorrow. They had spent much time like this, together. In near silence. "Yes, Jess. I think so." And I will chase her? The man glanced up into the imploring gaze of his bonded. He knew the brown was a little afraid of this compulsion that had settled over him. But...mostly Jessereth was just anxious. "Yes. I think you will."

The brown nuzzled Z'hin. It was Jess's quiet, something that had been part of the male since he first cracked shell, that allowed Z'hin to maintain some distance from the awakening lust of his lifemate. In all truth...he doubted a fledgling brown stood much chance to catch the junior queen. Not that he would ever expose Jessereth to that thought. He truly didn't need to. The brown was of the same mind. But Jessereth...he viewed this chasing of Millieth, despite the fact that it would take a miracle for him to actually Fly her, was indicative of his respect for the gold. He expected nothing in return, but she was too glorious, too beautiful and perfect, for him not to follow and worship her course across the skies.

Then, as if thinking of her had conjured Millieth, her great, primal cry ripped across the trees. Jessereth's head swiveled, his nostrils flaring. Z'hin blinked as the surge of excitement swept through him, consuming him. This, too, was new for the man. Trembling slightly, Z'hin directed a shaky smile at his bonded, patting the brown's leg. "Go," he whispered. The male nuzzled his lifemate one more time, overjoyed at the man's support...but then the compulsion was too strong, and he launched from his weyrledge, crying out to Millieth. Yes! He was here! He may not be worthy to Fly her, but she would allow him to follow in her radiant wake and worship her, wouldn't she? She must.

None are worthy of you, Lady Millieth, he spoke, in quiet awe, his wings pounding the air to close the distance that he might see her better. For now, for just this one moment, the only dragons in the air were Jessereth and Millieth, and he treasured that one, fleeting moment.

[saberlin]

Rodonth had been sleeping peacefully on his ledge, fairly oblivious to anything that had been going on in the past few days and glad to have been so relaxed. Suddenly the broze awoke with an urge to go on a flight. But he could feel that there were no greens to be chased, which meant that this chase would be a queen. THis was not Aslath and her petty rider which R'ton so dispised, but someone new. This time he would rise, this time, he would win the prize. He stretched his great wings and fanned them a few times before ducking into his Weyr just long enough to wake his.

Millieth Flies. I will chase her. I will win. You need to go to hers now.

His voice was unusually commanding and R'ton had just enough time to slid into pants before racing out the door and vaulting onto his dragons back. His hair was still a mess but whatever. He did however feel sorry about the scruffy condition of his cheeks. Women never liked to rub up against a scruffy face. Oh well. He had been relaxing as much as his dragon.

Rodonth landed a mere half a second on the Queens ledge to drop off his rider before making for the beast field. There he saw her. A beautiful and VERY young Gold. A shiver ran through his body as he looked on. Completely uncaring about the other dragon that was there. They were both males. Both equally wanting to win this flight. It would be up to the Queen. He did not step near to her, but called out to her of her beauty.

Wonderous Gold Millienth. None are so radient as you.

Meanwhile R'ton stayed on the outer part of the Queens Weyr and called in, "R'ton of bronze Rodonth. With you permission M'lady, I would like to come in."

[randi]

Thinking had become an easy pastime, getting lost in the past was easier as time passed. Being absorbed in his thoughts made it easier to ignore the small signs that his partner had been giving off since their encounter with Kaegan and Millieth. As the days passed, Bearinth had began showing more and more signs of nerves. Even when the pair had gone out for a brief flight, K'nam had found the bronze to be nervous, constantly glancing around, listening for the sound.

Little twitches had begun to give away Bearinth's preoccupation since that meeting, small tics. When he practically jumped out of his hide when K'nam blew his nose loudly, his nerves had begun wearing down. When the first trumpet had sounded, K'nam had lifted his head, watching the bronze, waiting to see what he'd do.

His calm eyes leaped into a frenzy of violet whirling, him taking off from the ledge of his weyr quickly, as if the instant might vanish in just a moment's time. K'nam headed for the Flight weyr quietly, obedient of his dragon's call. He felt a soft tugging from Bearinth, but not forceful emotions. Not yet. He slipped into the Flight weyr, keeping a respectable distance from Millieth's rider.

Bearinth didn't notice his competition in the air, his whirring eyes concentrated on one dragon, one gleaming goddess who commanded the air with such beauty that it made him never want to tear his eyes from her. He hovered in the air, watching for her to take Flight, waiting for the moment his chasing should begin.

You are the reason that light comes in the day. Rukbat longs to see you, turns its face and grants all on Pern life so that it may reflect off of your glowing hide. It glows solely to see you in the sky, ashamed that it appears so pale when compared to you, beautiful Millieth. The words flowed naturally, his mind in a whir.

Part of him longed to see who would give chase alongside him, but the bronze refused to look. However many rose to meet her, there were none among them who were worthy. None of them deserved this chance, big, small, brown, or bronze.

[missa]

Can I? Rinth's voice was questioning, whirling eyes turning from the skies to his mindmate's frustrated expression. His didn't want him to chase the young Queen, that was so blindingly obvious, but Rinth wanted to fly. He wanted to chase. Shifting in a show of uneasiness, he watched His, all the while edging closer to the weyrledge. Finally, W'liam sighed and nodded once.
"Go on, show them what you're made of."
Yay! Was the last words spoken as the bronze leapt from the weyrledge.

He could only watch as Rinth took off, perhaps he didn't want him to chase because Rinth was still his, he didn't want to share him. No matter how selfish that sounded. Well, W'liam didn't care, the bronze was his, and well, he didn't think the young bronze could win. Not against older bronzes and browns that would know what tricks could win a queens fancy. Rinth didn't, all he knew, as far as W'liam was concerned, was that he wanted to catch the queen.

He was young though, so he might not tire, and he was more handsome than any bronze in the weyr, born of mutated clutch or not. Of course, that's what any bronze rider should think, right? Running a hand through his hair, W'liam was rather surprised to get a scolding from Willow, who had landed on his head to get attention. Blinking in a rather dazed fashion at her, nothing was said as the green sent images of the flight rooms. She at least knew what she was doing. Well, not really, but that was where everyone else was going yes? So he should go there.

Another blinked before he nodded, yes, that sounded right. Argh! Rinth's lust was messing with his head, weren't they supposed to control it or something like that? What ever it was, the lessons had flown out of his head, like they always did at important times. Flight rooms, okay. Yes, now he had a destination, good. Alright, walking now. Yes, one foot infront of the other. Yes good, look at that, he made it. Breathing a sigh of relief, W'liam petted Willow gently before kissing her head and sending her off, stepping into the flight rooms as he allowed his mind to merge with Rinth's.

Oh this was wonderful, she was wonderful, a glorious jewel of the sky. Crooning cheerfully too her, Rinth beat his wings steadily to catch up to her. He had to do that, yes, for catching her was the best thing, the only thing on the bronzes mind. Flying, flying. Crooning again, it was obvious Rinth was already enjoying himself, whirling eyes locked on the form of Millieth, never faltering as he followed...

~*~

Thorith was quite comfortable, lounging where he was, head tilted towards the gentle scratching His was giving his eye ridges. Normally, flights didn't interest Thorith, mostly because His didn't like him flying females, but then, that happened. D'ran had learned to deal with it.
A gold flies... The comment was said with a rather off-handed air, even as Thorith turned his head away, towards the skies.

A muttered curse under his breath and D'ran waved at the brown, eyes narrowing in a playful glare.
"Go on then. Have fun." He growled, turning on his heel as the brown took off, trumpeting his acceptance of the challenge she set as he flared his wings to full length, pushing at the skies to push himself after the glowing gold that flew before them.

Millieth, your very name speaks of beauty and grace, and a strength none can hope to match. Grace our skies with your beauty, we follow.. Words were not something Thorith was very good at, actions were better.

(Crap but there you are)

[neeuqtar]

The bronze dragon shifted uneasily. He had felt the touches of Millieth's Flight coming on, though His hadn't noticed the gleam of the gold's hide. Duty tore at him, his duty to obey His, and the duty to the queen. His wouldn't be mad, right, if he won? Millieth's bugle echoed across the mountains, and the bronze dragon houghed. He was on his ledge--how? Then the dragon's eyes were snapped sharply to the nearby Weyr, where Millieth's golden form now shot over the Weyr's-Rim. He growled, then bellowed his challenge. No! came the mental shout, but the bronze had already steeled himself to ignore such a command from his rider. How could a brown dare to Chase a queen?!

With another roar, the bronze leapt from the ledge, his handsome form streaking towards the Weyr, eyes pinning red-violet in lust and anger. The bronze was a beautiful creature, despite old scores and burn-scars, his massive wings framing the sky and his lithe body twisting through the winds, used to night-flight after so many months spent hiding from the Weyr. No more! He would show himself, take the prize that belonged to him, and him alone! His brassy bugle rent the air yet again, as he Chased the queen, at a right angle to the rest, but still following her path. And he had an advantage over the young ones and the browns: He had Chased queens before, and many greens. And he was higher than they, arcing up as the queen Rose higher.

Plunging into the clouds, the bronze's form gleamed through the enshrouding mist as he followed the queen's ascent on a parallel rise, but coming ever closer to the mob of Chasers. So many forgot that the path of the queen was not the best way to victory, nor that the race was fought, not on a track, as those bound to the ground, but in all the dimensions of the air. Thermals, clouds, deceit, violence: all these the bronze was willing to use to capture the queen. It was all he cared about.

On the ground, the bronze's rider growled, grabbing his head in anguish. Excusing himself from the person he was conversing with under the excuse of a migrane, the man ran for his clothes, stripping and changing with such rapidity it was amazing, especially given his lust-crazed state. He rubbed a handful of dirt into his dark hair, lightening it, and into his clothes, as if he had been wearing them for a long time. Panting now, eager for the Chase but still somewhat detached, the man crept away from his home, emerging near the entrance of the Weyr and staggering drunkenly to the Flight Weyr. None would recognize him, not under the control of lust... but his dragon would have serious consequences to face should he fail in this venture.

And then dragon and man were one, and no more thoughts of vengeance occupied the throughts of either. Only the queen Millieth, and the need to make her THEIRS.

((I thought it would be a fun time to reveal him, Mussie XP)

[Tashe]

Trumpeting again as the first Dragon joined her Flight, Millieth began to pump her wings, feeling herself speed up as she caught a particularly strong updraft. A brown had come first, but Jessereth had also been the first to find her a few days before... and he had been interesting to flirt with. Twisting back and forth through the sky and never letting the brown get to close, the shinning Queen noticed another dragon enter the chase, and this one was a Bronze. Yes, a bronze had finally come to the chase! Temporarily forgetting the brown, Millieth rose higher into the sky, quickly gaining altitude. Neither of these two were worthy! None of the Dragons here were! They had to prove themselves to her to even be recognized!

Another voice entered her head after the words of the other two, and even through her scrambled and confused brain she knew who it was. Bearinth had joined the flight, which meant another Bronze to chose from! Not long after the Bronze that once belonged to Benden spoke, three more joined her flight, making the chase consist of four Bronzes and two Browns. Joyful that her males began to flock to her, Millieth roared before leveling out and then abruptly diving at an angle away from her pursuers. Oh they were in for a challenge! She wasn't a lowly green, so words themselves weren't going to woo her! Although in the back of her mind the Queen was able to recognized five out of the six pursuers, she could not remember the name of the sixth, he was a mystery to her. Bugling a challenge at the newest chaser, Millieth continued to evade the males in her wake, occasionally she would slow down slightly to look back at the males, but that action only lasted for a few seconds.

Groaning slightly as she came closer to fully becoming the Queen, Kaegan could swear that her eyes were turning purple. Lust threatened to fill her body, and the need that started to build began to mingle with that of Millieth's. She had never experienced anything like it, and at the moment the sensation forced her to take refuge leaning against a wall of the flight room. A few minutes passed and men began to appear in the room, although after the first two all Kaegan could concentrate on is what her Gold could see.

[Requiem]

As soon as the two great bronzes joined the Flight, Jessereth peeled off to one side, angling down and away from the main body of the chasers. He still strove for Millieth; something in his genetic makeup would not allow him to simply be an onlooker, a worshiper, though he knew that this, doubtless, was all his pursuit would amount to. No, he simply didn't want to be near the bronzes. They bothered him, and space was his friend in this. Angling upward as Millieth dove, he could almost feel the wind off her wingbeats, the male crooning softly to her in passage. None would catch her this early. How he knew that, he wasn't sure, but he did. He continued upward, trying to keep the lead on her as far as altitude went, for she could use the strength of her wings to bring her upwards so much more quickly than he.

Others were joining, right and left. Another brown. Bronzes. He recognized Rinth immediately, even bugled a welcome that didn't seem to fit with the nature of the contest they were now in, but the other bronze came from a different direction. Away from Selenitas Weyr. He whirled tightly on a wingtip, giving over a precious part of his attention to this newcomer. Jessereth had never seen him before. Who was he? Something needled at the back of his mind, but he dismissed it as unimportant. The only thing worth concerning himself with was his pursuit of Millieth.

No, he would never catch her, but doing anything less than his best to attempt it was an insult worse than not chasing her at all. Jessereth would never do that to this, the first object of his burgeoning desire. Though it was a dragon's simple lust that made him objectify and romanticize her so, Millieth would always hold a special place as his first. The first he wanted and the first he chased. That gleaming golden goddess on an unreachable pedastal. He wheeled in the air, slashing downward across the sky, but changing directions at the last moment, certain she would see him coming. It was not meant to be an attempt to catch her, not this early. But to drive her away from those on her tail.

He was bold, this little, juvenile brown.

A heat had washed over Z'hin, more powerful than he had ever known. His legs kicked aimlessly at the open air, eyes following the streaks of color across the sky. He preferred this solitude. Then, slowly, he legs stopped kicking, and he felt himself drawing in to Jessereth, into a bond beyond that which they'd ever achieved in the past. Beginning to rise, the man unwittingly started sliding from his own weyrledge. A weight slammed into his chest, throwing Z'hin back against the stone.

He growled at Hrorek, already beyond words, the silent blue firelizard fluttering upward and away from his flailing arms. Nevertheless, Z'hin rolled to his hands and climbed to his feet, no longer in danger of plunging to the ground below and becoming a broken wreck of a man. He staggered down the back way, making it to the Flight room but barely. Something resembling a shy smile was cast Kaegan's way, but his eyes were empty and elsewhere, Z'hin leaning against one of the walls bonelessly and allowing himself to be swept away by Jessereth's lust.

[randi]

The wonder, the beauty, the star, rose in the air, her glorious glow beckoning to the awed Bearinth. His wings began pumping against the air in long strokes, eyes whirling quickly as the rage in his veins called out, demanding. He remained beneath her, completely unaware of his competition that she could choose instead. The great Millieth would not be caught by force, only by choice, it was impossible to think otherwise.

As she levelled out, he backwinged, flying upside down, intending to see what she'd do, before she plummeted away from him. He pinned his wings against him, falling back to where he was heads up while trying to follow her path as well.

When the young brown soared near her, Bearinth took note of him, letting his attention be distracted. When he cut away, the dark bronze dipped away, letting his concentration return to Millieth, almost leaping forward each time she paused to glance back. Those moment were so fleetingly breif, taunting, almost.

The instant that Bearinth had taken off, K'nam had found himself a perch on the wall, trying to keep himself seperate long enough to see the other riders enter. However, the intense emotions from his dragon swallowed him with ease.

[saberlin]

Rodonth pumped his wings harder as he heard the bugles and cries of more joining the flight. He dared not turn his head from the prize too look to see how many there truly were. The only thing in the skies that mattered was Millieth. He had not seen her in the days before as others had. Down by the river. But it made no difference to him. Not if he could out fly them all. Her beautiful Gold shining body radiated against the blues and whites of the clouds.

Rodonth bugled involuntarily and loudly at the exctacy of merely watching her fly. She was so amazing! But he had to keep his head about her if he was going to catch her at all.

***

back on the ground R'ton was greeted with Silence. There was no one in the Queen's Weyr. Cursing under his breath he raced to the stairs that would lead him elsewhere. More importantly that elsewhere being the flight rooms. That had to be where that young Queen Rider was at. How could he have been so fooling to think that she was here. Of course, he had not planned on there being a Queen flight for a while. Or that his dragon would actually be interested in her after not showing any interest at all in the last Queen that rose.

He raced lightly over the steps and then pounded his feet into the ground trying to get to the flight rooms. He saw other men converging on them as well. By the looks of it there were other bronzes and even a few browns trying their luck at this flight. It was good to see other colors joining.

"Welcome 'Gents. Should be an interesting flight. I'm R'ton." May as well get to know the competition.

***

Millieth, your radience makes the sun look as though it were merely a tiny star in our sky. No Queen has shown brighter than you!

[Tashe]

At first, Millieth had dreaded the possibility of C'leon and his power hungry bronze appearing as they had done in Aslath's flight, but as that prospect faded so did her worry. Soon nothing but absolute primal instinct took over, lust spread from her head to the tips of her wings and rebounded throughout her body, the blood she had taken gave her energy and let her soar above the clouds. Pinning her wings to the side as Jessereth and Bearinth came dangerously near, the large golden Queen sped up and dipped herself to the side to avoid them. The two males weren't trying to catch her, of that she was sure, they had to be testing her reactions to their mock attempts. Well ha, they weren't even close to touching her, she hadn't allowed it. They at least, had begun to prove to her that they were intelligent, and had enough guts to test HER.

Twisting and turning, hopping from one warm updraft to another, Millieth evaded the attempts of the chasing males. The chase had brought the Queen and her shinning knights to the lower altitudes, wickedly the temptress brought the males down to the tree tops before swiftly changing gear and angling her body upward. With a hard beat of her wings, Millieth began climbing up into the air, and closer to the sun... the only thing that shone brighter than her. It was up near Rukbat were the Queen belonged, it was there that the two would battle for dominance of the skies, at least until one of them grew tired. In fact the Golden Dragon was feeling odd, the toll of the flight started to weigh on her shoulders, and becoming tired so early in the flight spelled a possible disaster. It meant she had to start picking the worthiest soon, before she ran out of engery...

The wall she was leaning on was solid, the only support that actually did anything for her, and the amount of emotion coursing through her veins felt like fire. The connection between herself and Millieth had wanned and then finally became one, it was like nothing Kaegan had ever experienced before. Shmee had described it precisely, she /was/ her dragon, and she was the one flying in the heavens. Eyes that were no longer her's turned and focused on one spot, no longer switching back and forth between the men who entered the flight room, all they could see now was what Millieth could see. Her feelings merged with the Queen's, allowing her to feel the full range of emotions that were spreading and pulsing through the Gold's body, but one ounce of her awareness somehow trained itself on the fatigue that began to slowly work it's way through Millieth's body. It wasn't normal for a Queen to become tired at this point, but the part of her that was attentive to this, knew that it had to do with the drugs Benden had put into her Queen.

Making a small noise as another sweep of romantic emotions ran amok with her body, Kaegan turned her foggy eyes round the room once before returning her attention back to her fight. Subconsciously twirling the lacing of the large green tunic she wore (since she had been sleeping in it and certainly had no time to change), the young Queenrider continued this unannounced twitch. Watching as Millieth switched her vision to her chasers again, Kaegan let her mind wonder over their riders, in similar ways as the Queen was looking at her males. She knew of four of the six riders, and as the Gold switched to each dragon the Weyrwoman switched to each rider. Z'hin and W'liam, she knew them... they had impressed from Fath's final clutch, both young men were Senior weyrlings, and were closer to her own age. On the other hand she knew K'nam and R'ton from Benden, although each of them came in a different faze of her life. She had met K'nam before she had impressed Millieth and R'ton had come after. Now the riders of the second brown and the mysterious bronze she had no imitate knowledge of, although a vague memory containing the brownrider's name popped into her cluttered head. It was D'ven or something....

[neeuqtar]

The bronze didn't drop from his high altitude much, instead keeping his altitude until moments before Millieth began to fling herself higher into the sky. Then, without warning, he folded his wings, dropping into a stomach-lurching free-fall, wings pinned to his sides. The great creature smashed through the diligently following ranks of bronze and brown, his wings whipping out and turning the speed of his dive back into altitude. The strain against his membranes was the pleasant reminder of the potentially debilitating move he had pulled, intended on scattering the followers of the golden beauty. Now he rose parallel to her, not following, even at times a little forward of her, so that from the ground it might look that they were flying in tandem, rather than in a dance of power and constant tests.

He bugled again, peeling off and to the back, wings belling outwards as a thermal caught him and flung him back upwards to the scudding bellies of the clouds, putting him behind Millieth once again, and above her, the tips of his beating wings flinging trails of misty cloud down in coiling tendrils that were blown from existence by the swift passage of the wind. The keen eyes of the bronze caught the faintest indications of tiredness, and the tiniest of growls curled in his throat, dead in a moment. Surely he was the best choice! The bronze would not merely consign himself to following, he would always strive to prove that he could think, act, dance better than any other dragon in the sky, dance a dance of wings and heat and passion in the sky for the golden sun that soared infront of him, her wings more tasteful than the sun, her form more perfect than that of any other female. Who dared challenge him?

The rider's fingers curled into a loose fist as his dragon dropped in his mock-attack on the other dragons, stepping forward and to the side, escaping the group of riders that was packing into the weyr. His eyes flicked from person to person, the queen never quite gone from his sight, but each of the potential threats to him kept watched, so that he could never be thwarted in his plans. For he was the best, the most worthy, the strongest of those there--and he would never allow himself to be ignored!

[Requiem]

Jessereth, who had briefly crossed the path of his rivals in his attempt to drive Millieth in the direction he desired - of course she was far too smart for that, his goddess! - threw himself out of the bronze's path with a growl. The sheer force of this unknown creature's plummet spurred him further than he'd meant to go. In a surge of annoyance, the juvenile brown powered himself higher, his body straining against the winds and the gravity that sought to tie him down. He would not be thwarted. He would not be one of those who dropped behind, too tired to pursue the gleaming sun that rivaled Rukbat above. His muscles jumped with each wingstroke. Then he hit a thermal and soared, wheeling tightly to maintain his position in the buoying air.

By some fortune, Millieth chose that moment to begin her own ascent, driving her closer to him. He slipped out of the thermal, moving sedately so as not to draw her gaze, ever so carefully toward her blind spot. The bronze, too, streamed upward. What right had he to Millieth? Jessereth might be a mere brown, but he adored the glowing nymph who had leveled out not far below him. What right had this stranger to pursue her so closely? Millieth was his, his to worship and to chase. He swirled down on a flurry of wingbeats, passing just before the bronze's snout and forcing the great beast to pull up - if only for a second - or risk a collision that would likely take both of them out of the chase. One ill turn deserved another.

Downward still, not in a straight plummet, but with his wings to anchor him, so that he rose slightly to pass over her haunches and settled in close to her hip. He crooned quietly to her, announcing his presence so she wouldn't turn into him. Jessereth - he could not fly so long or so hard as these others. But he knew Millieth was flagging, and the croon was one of encouragement. Mostly because, after that stunt of the big, mean bronze, he would rather have any other catch her. She must continue on! His position kept her from turning away from the main body of her pursuers, unless she were to evade him with a sudden dive, though he thought he was ready for that.

For the first time since he'd entered the Flight, Jessereth let a small hope flair. She would tire before him - not long before, but before. And he was close to her now, wasn't he? They were almost touching. He let himself sink lower, a wingtip tickling along her underbelly, before he flipped to his side and pulled away again, riding a new thermal for a few precious moments. Up. Higher. Through the clouds. His eyes followed her movements with reverence. There was no way for him to catch her flanking her like that. She'd react too swiftly to any move he made. But up here, up here he could look for the opening. Maybe she would allow him to catch her, even though he was just a lowly brown? It had to be better than that bronze.

Z'hin could barely separate himself from Jessereth. He found his eyes never left Kaegan, but he wasn't seeing the redheaded woman, a vague acquaintance from the turn spent at Selenitas. No, he saw Millieth. He must catch her. His heart, his soul...The man shook his head, struggling for a moment against the blurring of realities. He felt the eyes upon him, and broke his gaze for just a moment, turning his head to watch the man out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't recognize him. Then again, through the growing haze, he wasn't sure he could recognize anyone. That look the man gave him, though, caused Z'hin's lip to curl up in a snarl.

Moaning softly, the brownweyrling finally released himself completely to the flight. Jessereth/Z'hin streaked above and slightly to one side of Millieth, waiting for the moment when he could make his move, that perfect moment that would come only once.

[randi]

Following after her faithfully, Bearinth found himself getting lower. Not wanting to accidently hit the trees, he remained slightly above her, waiting. When he heard a triumphant trumpet, he chanced a glance back, noticing the close proximity of a bronze he had never before seen, who could have hit him for all he was paying attention before soaring back up.

In the moment his gaze was diverted, Millieth had soared upwards. The sight of the spectacle almost distracted him, but not enough. The lust in his veins drove him on, his wings flaring, catching the wind. He propelled himself up, barrelrolling above her. He intended to bide his time.

However, the young brown came between them, beneath him. He angled his wings, slowly gliding down on the outside, keeping the brown between himself and Millieth until he was beneath the brown, but slightly above her. If she looked to the side, she would glimpse him, watching, waiting.

In the event that the other competitors got close enough to her, tried to take her when she would choose the bronze or brown worthy of her, he hoped he would be fast enough. Fast enough. He kept his eyes on her again, marvelling at her. He crooned gently, softly at her. Even if she chose another over him, he adored her, and would continue, he was fairly certain.

[missa]

Rinth was enjoying himself, wings splayed to full length, forcing himself to keep up with the others. A brief glance was given to Jessereth, along with a happy, enthusiastic greeting. After that, all of the young Bronze's attention was on the glittering gold he persued. She was pretty, beautiful, magnificent, amazing and... He was running out of words to describe her with.

To Rinth, she seemed to tease, to test, and for all he knew that could be what was on her mind. Choosing the best, picking through them, choosing the most worthy of her suitors. He personally doubted he'd catch her, there were others older than he, and knew tricks he didn't, yet he wasn't about to give in. She teased, she tempted, slowing down as though observing them and then speeding ahead, Rinth was up to the challange, more than anyone else. Well, maybe not... He was certainly the most enthusiastic about it though!

Millieth angled downward, through the skies, close to the trees. Trees, Rinth didn't like trees anymore. Trees were bad, they stole His and then kept him from His, and stopped him saving His. Oh no, he didn't like trees at all, but he wasn't going to give up because of something little like that, oh no, it only made him more determined to keep up with Millieth. She angled upwards and Rinth gave a trill of delight, enjoying the flight imensly as he followed her, determined to catch her. She was tiring awfully quickly wasn't she? Surprise flickered, pressed down by hope, he could do this. He could.

Silently watching Kaegan, W'liam refused to move, not even taking a step towards the gold that claimed Rinth's attention for now, and His by extension. He wanted her, there was no denying that, Rinth wanted this. He wanted to win, normally, he wasn't overly competetive, he didn't care whether he won or lost. Perhaps flights were different for him, maybe it was just something in every bronze that demanded they expend new amounts of energy? He no longer, maybe he'd ask later, at the moment only one thing that mattered. Winning.

~*~

Perhaps he should start chasing greens more often, it was a thought, it might give him a better chance when it came to the longer, and harder Gold flights. Thorith wouldn't dwell on such a thought for long, he made his choice, he stuck to it, even if his wings were beginning to ache, he had to keep flying, had to Chase, finish the Flight.

Thorith wasn't one to give up, a trait born more out of stubborness than anything else, he was refusing to bow out now. Refused to give up, perhaps it was silly, his wings folding as he followed her closer to the trees, skating over them, chasing the one being that rivalled Rukbat in the skies. Brilliant, bright, glorious, nothing matched her beauty.

He'd follow her until his wings could no longer hold him up, or until the chase was won, though it seemed the latter was more likely. She seemed tired, or maybe that was just him, who knew? A low rumble of appreciation for her, Thorith pushing himself after her.

D'ran stepped closer, ever so slightly, before moving back. It wasn't the first time he'd flown with Thorith, it would no doubt not be the last, but that didn't stop him wanting the woman infront of him. He no longer felt earthbound, or guilty about not actualy having got to know her, or barely have spoken to her at all. There was only the excitement of the flight.