Her Royal Highness [Rajnith's Maiden Flight]

[Rei]

Mavenath flexed talons as Rajnith suddenly shot past him but he made no efforts to stop her. Instead he swung in another lazy circle and tucked his legs against his belly to defend it when Ekarth showed up. Momentarily agitation whirled though his eyes but the emotion was quickly quelled. If he had learned anything from Salenth at all it was that his smaller brethren had an advantage, but if he could get some claws in the gnats had little chance. He merely had to wait for the right opportunity to strike back. Patient like a feline he merely made sure to protect his more vulnerable areas when the blue drew near, all the while watching him for a mistake.

Unfortunately this took some of his attention off the chubby green. Still it was necessary. No way was the bronze trusting this one. Mavenath took pains to make sure he knew where Ekarth was, lustful and slightly amused whirling eyes switching between the object of his desire and the skinny blue.

As Rajnith shot past him and Ruskeath the bronze rumbled at the brush of her tail. Whirling eyes locked on hers and he responded to her beckon with a burst of speed, pushing past the brown to end up almost directly right behind the green. Fore talon’s flexed before he swung into an updraft and allowed it to carry him above the main pack. Riding it to a height about two lengths above the rest he powered forward keeping an eye on Rajnith as he did so. Head tilting to keep her in his sights he kept the advantage of height. If an opportunity presented itself he would be ready. Perhaps one of the more agile blues would be so kind as to accidentally herd the green upwards for him. One never knew.

Cr’oph raised one eyebrow as Tenlie approached, pushing Mavenath’s conscious down with minimal effort. It was almost getting easy and the bronze never fought him. Perhaps because the dragon to had learned firsthand just how dangerous it was to claim his rider’s mind in such a fashion. Especially in times like these. What with nearly everyone out of their mind. A slightly mocking smile was shot at the other chasers before the bronzer shrugged of his shirt and tossed it to the green. Amusement danced in his eyes before he spoke. “Worth? Sometimes worth is hard to measure my dear.” Crossing his arms over his bare chest he reclined against the wall again.

[rii]

Of course a green would only be concerned about what her suitors would do today. Tomorrow when they left her company, the deed and lust faded, she would not remember the empty promises they made her the day before. The flowers, well, Ekarth merely touched Rajnith's mind back with quiet, almost sinister laughter. The blue was bored, and whether she got upset.. or her chasers did.. all the more fun for him. Someone needed to entertain him; chasing a green's tail was not all that interesting to the blue.

He rolled on his back, sparing a glance back at the young green that followed him down through the maze of bodies. He looped, rolling back upwards with half a mind to snatch her right out of the sky as she came right to him. Instead he coiled around her lower half, his smaller wings syncing in with the invisible trails she left in her wake. So brilliant her glow, her hide emitting a tantalizing heat that was so very tempting him to curl his claws around her wing joints and claim here right and then – let the males continued their pauper games of earning her favor.

Dance puppets, your queen demands it.

He twirled away, falling further to skim along the river; cooling his wingtips in the water before catching an updraft to more easily gain altitude. Too closse, your risse sslowly into them. The sslowesst bronze could ssnatch you- Certainly looked like Maventh was tempted to do just that. -away O'Beauty. Yes, away from the other competitors. Ekarth playfully coiled through the thermal in wordless invite. At least he did, a moment before shooting out in a blur of motion, jetting forward with a feint of claws at Dhavalth's face.

Sshould have taken your chance.

Ba'sun have moved a couple of steps inside the room. A familiar hunger starting to roil up from the bond. Ekarth had never taken over his mind in a chase. The blue only caught, he didn't chase. Any prinkling of lust was usually a fore-warning that his dragon was tempted to make a grab. The only reason Ba'sun came up to the flight rooms was to make sure that he didn't end up grabbing the nearest person and forcing himself on them in the hallway.. in case Ekarth decided he had enough of toying with a green..

Please Ekarth, not a green on her maiden flight - I really don't want to deal with it.[/b]

[Rowana]

Rajnith flew so high that Ruskeath was nearly blinding by the sun as she neared it. He was no fool, however, even in the midst of a Chase. He could still watch her from the edges of his vision without risking his eyes. She climbed even higher, past the others. It was so far that the older brown practically surged with excitement. From this height, she could dare so many fantastic feats. What would she do?

Then, quite suddenly, she spun away and dropped from the sky. Ruskeath's heart leapt as she fell. Even he would be hard pressed to match such a dive. In an instant, she was among them, weaving so fast it was hard for him to keep track. He caught the flick of her tail as she drew close, and risked his own curling in her direction as she drew near. She wasn't ready to be caught yet, that was certain. It would still be a while yet. Ruskeath banked sharply to avoid the other dragons. He ducked under Mavenath with a roll of his body to an open spot behind the green. The young bronze might prefer height, but this brown would rather be as close as possible for a dragon his size. He wasn't so slow as to fall behind so easily.

G'tor sighed longingly as Tenlie moved away. She didn't like him anymore, it seemed. It was so sad to see her go. What could he do to make her come back? He didn't have anymore presents. She was too busy with the others to really notice him, but at her question he couldn't help but piped up. "With a lady as lovely as you, I don't see how there can be any doubt," he smiled shyly at her.

[Ruby]

Knotting the sleeves of Mavenath's shirt tightly around the neck, Rajnith turned it into a sack, then tossed it on the bed. Already, her chasers were defending her honor, and she felt they needed to be rewarded. Dhavalth first, of course, although Rajnith knew the words were for herself alone. A tiny hint of confusion flitted across her face, but it was immediately smothered as Rajnith slid a hand behind Dhavalth's neck, tilting the Blue's head up to kiss her (surprisingly soft) lips. Ruskeath she slid behind, wrapping arms around his chest before going up on tiptoe to peck the place where his jaw connected to his neck - or his mouth, if he turned his head fast enough. And Kierjaarth of course - she placed a kiss just at the corner of his lips, something leaking over from her usual reserve around the man.

Looking back at Mavenath, Rajnith felt pulled in two directions. In the sky, she appreciated Mavenath's abilities, his grace, and the arrogance confidence that lined up so well with her own. On the ground, however, she was quite put off. He didn't even seem to like her, and there was enough Tenlie left for her confidence to be profoundly shaken. Yes, this was Rajnith's day, but all of her chasers (yes, even Ekarth) had shown such worth that their counterparts did, in fact, factor in to the equation. What would happen... after? Would half of her wake up alone, comfortless, when many of the others would dote on her all day (according to their actions now, at least)? Rajnith did not approve.

Turning back to Mavenath, she cocked the other hip and gestured over her shoulder. "They appear to be able to measure it well enough, or at least take a stab at it.

"You will never win until you commit, Mavenath. Thank you, that will be all."
You will never win until Yours commits, Mavenath. Thank you, that will be all.

Her verbal dismissal was matched with a mental push, and Rajnith curled in close to Mavenath before physically shoving away from him, too. Claws stayed sheathed - she didn't intend to hurt him, just to keep him from hurting her. Done.

Next: Ekarth. By all arguments he could be dismissed as well - disrespectful, arrogant, problematic, one half uninterested... but something about his strangeness intrigued her. Perhaps not enough to allow her to submit to him, but she wanted him to see who she chose, to know exactly why it wasn't him. As if called by her thoughts, the Blue looped her tail, and Rajnith had to crush down panic. Tucking her wings to drop away, she recovered quickly, still a good length or two above the others. But they did not, did they? I suppose your technique was more effective than I had assumed, she conceeded, ignoring Ekarth's slash at Dhavalth. As much as she liked her Clutchbrother, he could defend himself - or learn from his own mistakes. She didn't think Ekarth would try for lasting damage.

Well and so, Ekarth may have had something to show her after all, but now Rajnith would follow her own instincts once again. Those instincts said up. This time, she sloughed from thermal to thermal, tucking her wings to avoid turbulence and zigzagging upwards. If there had been clouds, she would have burst through them long ago - the atmosphere was cooling and thinning rapidly now, but Rajnith didn't worry about the difficulty. She could hold her breath long enough, and if every stroke tired her wings twice as quickly, well, it was tiring the males too. Once she'd just about reached her limit, Rajnith flipped nose over tail, arching her back craning her neck to see where her chasers were. Then, tucking her wings in tight... she fell.

Back on the ground, Rajnith had easily scooped the remains of Kierjaarth's gift into the Mavenath-shirt-sack, leaving just a thin residue of fluff and grit on the bedfurs. That was placed carefully next to the bed, and she resettled Ruskeath's scarf before turning back to her chasers. Kierjaarth, Dhavalth, and Ruskeath were all clearly prepared to cater to her every whim, but Ekarth - typically - was hanging back by the door. With a gentle caress for each of the other three, she approached the older Blue, leaning in and up to bring her lips within inches of his, so close- but not touching. "Nothing to teach me?"

[Rei]

Cr’oph just snorted at Tenlie. “No they say what they hope you want to hear just to get a piece of tail. Sorry hun but I don’t think you need flowery words.” A short humorless laugh followed the greenrider’s reaction. Pushing off the wall the bronzer gave a mocking bow. “Your loss princess.”

High above in the sky Mavenath’s eyes whirled predominantly with amusement. Did she think herself a real queen? She obviously needed to be educated on the fact that her hide was not golden. I win what I choose. My bonded need have nothing to do with this. Yes he heard her dismissal but he had no intentions of obeying. Instead as Rajnith pushed off him he shot forward and sought to snag her with fore talons. Barely missing the male growled low in his chest and shot after her, putting to good use his massive wings. What Mavenath lacked in speed he could make up with in pure power. Besides the green was getting tired. Green’s where not known for their stamina, and he himself had plenty strength in reserve. So close to the female the bronze stayed, but wing length’s behind and above her, seeking to perhaps frighten her into making a mistake he could take advantage of.

Knowing his stunt would not be met with the best of reactions from the other chasers Mavenath kept their positions in mind as well as he tracked the green’s movements. Ekarth’s reactions where noted with a thread of amusement. Perhaps he could use the blue to his own ends? Catching a thermal the male used it to power himself upwards and past Rajnith leveling out above her and diving as she began her drop, talons reaching outwards to attempt once again to snag her. All to prove a point. He won what he wanted to win. No green, maiden or not, would tell him otherwise.

Cr’oph was halfway out the door when Mavenath’s intentions reached him. With a soft humorless chuckle he spun on a heel and stepped back into the room. Seemed as if it was not over yet then. Sorry bout your luck girlie.

[Ember]

Dhavalth was startled by Ekarth's sudden feint. He should have been expecting it given the blue's actions so far. As it was, he made to dodge the claws and lost whatever advantage he may have had. He growled lowly and flexed his claws. How he wanted to...but couldn't. Despite the lust and anger clouding his mind he knew better than to attack the blue. It wasn't his honour at this point that was holding him back. It was the fact that even he knew he didn't stand a chance against the blue. Probably didn't stand a real chance against any of the chasers, really.

As proven when he followed Rajnith upwards and Mavenath ended up above both him and the green. There was, apparently, another one among the chasers playing their own little game. Dhavalth's tail lashed the air brutally as he rose, using his over-large wings to his advantage to try and regain lost air from earlier. Despite his greater than usual endurance for a blue, he was still more inexperienced than the other males and the energy was melting away quickly. It was all or nothing.

It was mostly luck that he found himself in a favourable position when Rajnith began to fall. He twisted about in a way that was decidedly more serpentine than dragon to dive after her. He kicked out (careful of his claws) at the nearby Mavenath to try and stop the bronze from taking what wasn't his. Poor Rajnith, the fair maiden, to be troubled by rude suitors. He folded his wings tighter so he could fall faster and offer himself as her sanctuary. It was her choice, assuming one of the others didn't take it from her.

Jazheera was surprised by Rajnith's sudden gift of a kiss. She leaned into it hungrily, wanting more. She was so tempted to just keep the green with her, stop her from leaving. The blue made no move to grab her though. She merely sighed as the green fluttered off to the other males.

[Lotty]

He should have been happy he supposed, but in flight he was a jealous creature, all under the spell of his dragon's own lust. Watching the attention lavished on the others, a kiss on the lips for the blue, and hands around the chest of the brown, and he couldn't help be feel cheated by the sparse peck he received on the very edge of his mouth. Didn't he do good too? Although he received what little he did get as humbly as he could, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes as Rajnith went to amuse herself with Ekarth. So discouraging...at least it was for part of him anyway.

The side of him that was very much in the sky would not waiver. Lucky for him that he was bronze and had the great blessing of all that endurance; despite the hefty work he put into earlier ascents he was fresh on a second wind and willing to blow all of his energy on this last great hurrah knowing full and well that he needed to stand out from his competitors somehow. Slow and steady was good at winning races, but it was hardly effective in snagging attention, and really a green lady's flight was much more about that than just being fast. He began to think about his options.

He did not like playing sky police, and had no intention of doing a sharding thing about Ekarth's mocking little attempts at Dhavalth. Likely would have been the same story of the exiled Mavenath, but Kierjaarth took great exception to the fact that Mavenath had a shiny bronze hide much like him. Still he refused to be reactionary, to fall into the traps that younger excitable dragons might taken and he took pleasure instead in the fact that he was smaller than the other bronze and didn't have to overshoot the green and stalk so high for an advantage. Instead he was able to flip himself easily upon the sight of Rajnith's dive and fall into one himself. He was fearless in the approach, claws reached out like bayonets threatening anyone or anything that might try and thwart him as he sped down after the green. It was no surprise then that he was trying to jump right into the fray, his dark bronze body sidling up closer than safety should have allowed. As tempting as it was to throw in some words to the green, there was nothing that would work better than a purring croon.

If it wasn't enough for the human counterpart to be wrestling with some slight feelings of inadequacy, he caught out of the corner of his eye the other bronze turning back with a chuckle. A chuckle! This was funny? Funny!? His head snapped back with a growl deep in his throat. Clearly he was less than amused.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath watched the other males with a sparkle in his eye. Why were blues always so frisky? These two seemed ready to literally fight over Rajnith. Not that she wasn't worth fighting over, but the placid brown just didn't believe in violence in flights if it could be avoided. Ah well, so long as they didn't kill each other, he wasn't going to interfere. His focus was Rajnith, already climbing into the sky again.

Clear skies meant keeping track of the lovely green was easier than it might have been at these heights. She was going much higher this time. Ruskeath could feel his longs muscle straining harder in the thinning air. His lungs could take it. He hadn't spent a lifetime swimming in the ocean to be stopped by this. Swift wing beats caused him to rise quickly after the object of his delight. It was getting crowded in the sky. He had to adjust himself several times to avoid collision with the others.

When she turned on her nose, Ruskeath was ready. He knew what she would try next and was already tucking his wings as she fell. He'd been below when she'd started and had no trouble keeping himself under her shadow as she dove. He twisted his body skillfully, ready to catch her should she chose or let her pass if she did not. Kierjaarth seemed to have a similar plan, but Ruskeath was careful to stay clear of his claws. They might work together most days, but today they were rivals for Rajnith's affections. It would be unwise to forget that now.

G'tor felt his skin growing warm as Tenlie hugged him from behind. He turned to smile at her, and caught her lips at the side of his mouth. Blushing, he beamed happily, humming softly in appreciation. If he'd been a little quicker... She was still wearing his present. If nothing else, that had been a success and enough to make G'torhappy he'd come. His hands crossed behind him in an effort to keep from trying to take her hand again. That wouldn't do at all. They all had to wait until she gave the word.

[rii]

Ekarth crooned lovingly at Dhavalth, passing the other blue by and seeming to leave the flight all together. He slipped through the thermals, turning and twisting just to feel the stretch on his wings as he coiled through the air. The pass at the green had been made, the cards played, now came the moment he'd see the moves of the others who had had come to chance their luck at a prize. The dismissed bronze making a grab for her – Ekarth purred to himself down below. It wasn't long before the others crowded in. First the blue, then the older bronze and brown flanking the sides. All falling.

Being well below them, Ekarth watched the colorful movements, reading them much like he would an aerial battle. Rajnith had so few options available to her, maybe she would simply chose the claws offered to her in safety. Ekarth didn't dwell on the matter. He shot up, rising to meet the falling group head on. His wings bringing him in at an angle, positioning at one of Rajnith's only escapes. His claws flexed, ready, this time he wasn't letting her slip away.

The blue tucked his wings in close, making it easier to snake through the limited air. He should thank the other competitors for forcing her into such a narrow path – right to him, really.

Ba'sun's eyes fell to a near close as he looked upon the girl. Ekarths designs to snatch her out of the air near impossible to ignore with her feeding that temptation on the ground. Her lips hovering near his, Ba'sun absently wetted his own, the back of his mind reasoning with him that Raj–Tenlie wasn't all that young. Ekarth attempt to grab her though, had Ba'sun stepping forward. Half pushing against Tenlie as he cut her path off from the other males. A low growl sounded in his throat as he took another step into her space, body pressing into hers to force her toward the wall; to no escape.

"You have a lot to learn. Ssso much."

[Ruby]

Is that so? Rajnith asked, her tone as innocent as could be, clearly fleeing his grasp for a wingbeat before collecting herself, flying off as if nothing had happened. The bronze dogged her every move, in a clear position of advantage, and she knew he would strike again whenever she gave the opening. Allowing herself to drift nearly within Mavenath's reach as she turned over, Rajnith paused at the top of her arch, flipping just the tip of her tail forward far enough to tickle right along Mavenath's chin. I believe you will find that you are incorrect, over time. Of course, one can lead a salamandyr to food, but one cannot make them eat unless one wants bites on their fingers... And with that, she folded her wings, dropping out of his range. Too slow, big bad Bronzie.

Within moments, though, Rajnith realized she was nearly trapped. The males, heavier and more aerodynamic than her rounded form, were falling faster, gaining with every foot. In her near vertical dive, Rajnith took stock: Above her, Mavenath; Dhavalth off to one side, gallantly offering himself without any thought for his own safety or reward; Ruskeath directly below, making it clear that if she were to choose him, it would be a choice, not forced; Kierjaarth opposite Dhavalth, protecting her flank, or perhaps moving in to attempt a catch; and Ekarth of course, coming in at an angle, choking off her escape. It looked like it was time for a choice.

Far below, Rajnith's tease had worked far better than she had expected, a fact she filed away for future reference. Allowing herself to be backed into the wall, she shot a look over her shoulder at Cr'oph, batting eyelashes as she leaned in to kiss Ekarth's neck. And... was that the hint of a moan that escaped her as Ekarth pushed harder, trapping her there? Ten would have been mortified, but Ten was elsewhere. "Truuueee..."

But she didn't stay, using what was surely a surprising amount of muscle in her arms to gently push Ekarth back far enough to slide out from behind him. It was Cr'oph she approached, keeping her distance from him; no games here. "You, I have already dismissed. Thank you." Mavenath, checked off the list.

In the air, Rajnith examined her remaining choices. Her main goal now was to spite the tenacious Bronze as much as possible; who would get under his skin the most? Dhavalth, little more than a hatchling, and a Blue at that? Ruskeath, steady brown, who had mostly flown under the radar, keeping out of any contention? Ekarth, antagonist to all? Or...

Or Kierjaarth, Bronze like Mavenath, older than Mavenath, more experianced. It occured to the Green that this could tick off Ekarth, too, to be bested by a dragon with just as much experiance, but not him (although Rajnith was pretty sure that the Blue didn't react normally to things, so who knew). Flaring her wings slightly, Rajnith canted sideways, the gap between herself and the older Bronze closing slightly. With a gentle croon, she touched the minds of Ruskeath and Dhavalth, Politics, my darlings. Please, visit my ledge anytime. Her mindvoice was sad a touch sad, and she added an extra push to the Blue, Try again. Next time, I promise it will be you. Ekaarth she fixed with one violet eye, echoing his own words back, Sooo much to learn.

Exhausted, spent beyond belief, Rajnith finally spread her wings, soaring up and over the blue as Tenlie danced past Ba'sun, with a final kiss each for Jazz and G'tor. If the pulled the two a little closer together before she left them, well, that was that, wasn't it? Then, the Green felt the tingle of the Bronze's body just above her own, and reached her neck up, twisting into the position she knew was correct. Below, Ten was shedding clothes, pushing Mi'rah towards the bed without a second look for any of the others. Rajnith had been caught.

[rii]

A move to the bronze, Ekarth's talons close on empty air, but it was nothing but laughter that he spared the green. Eyes whirling with amusement as his claws flashed again at Dhavalth, this time making no attempt at drawing up short of drawing ichor if the other blue didn't move quickly enough. The lust would be expended one way or another, the green would learn her err. Sso much, child, sso much. There was nothing but wicked delight in his words.

Ekarth may have come up empty handed in the skies, but on the ground the green was very much still within reach, and Ba'sun was so very gone to his dragon's whims. Tenlie may have danced away, drunk on ego, but in her shadow he stalked patiently after each step. The smile on his features far from the casual joking one he shared with riders and weyrfolk on a daily basis. He stepped around the other riders, watching as the green shed her skins, making sweet, silent promises to the bronze.

Sorry Keirjaarth, nothing personal.

Ba'sun's hand coiled in Tenlie's dark hair, yanking her back before she could climb onto the bed. The other hand curved over her throat, pulling her slender body back against his own; stealing her from the bronze. "Sso foolissh. You'll learn. The hard way." The bluerider retreated backwards with the spoils, smiling sweetly at Mi'rah the whole way, hissing a quiet laughter at the bronze before focusing his attention on the flight crazed girl. The next moment he shoved her against the wall, arm twisted behind her as his teeth found the side of her neck..

[Lotty]

As the flight drew to a close and Kierjaarth reveled in his success, his neck craned out to twine with Rajnith's and not a thought was spared to the other contenders, much less even begin the think that he won by any merits other than some kind of grudge war. He didn't care to much for the process as long as it resulted in him winning. Sure Mi'rah's feelings were bound to be hurt one way or another come morning, but the dragon had a much more steely heart and clung to his green prize.

It would seem that all was well and that finally the poor bronzerider would be rewarded for turns of patience. Winning anything other than a game of chess was not all that of a familiar feeling for him, but it was a welcomed one and he took the victory much the same way a child would if they got their birthday wish for a pony fulfilled. Unfortunately for the blue, it would seem that like that said child, he was adverse to sharing, and not at all above throwing a tantrum over having his things taken away from him.

It simply was a situation that even the stuttering doormat would take great offense to. One moment his hands were reaching down, down, as he greedily motioned to help her with those pesky clothes and all the while backtracking towards the bed. The next moment he was puckering his lips and closing his eyes to steal the first of many kisses when he realized he was coming up with nothing. No fireworks, no lump in his throat, no powderkeg explosions. Literally nothing but air and skin sliding away underneath his fingertips as he fluttered his sights onto his prize being taken from him. His Rajnith.

If that wasn't already enough, there was the mocking laughter... just enough to throw him into a rage, albeit a quiet one. Frantic flailing would do nothing but attract attention, and just let them think that he would so passively let this go...expected that kind of behavior would be from one sharing head space with Mi'rah. Cooly he picked up the scarf that had been discarded on the ground and took it between two hands twisting it into a noose that he intended to hand this criminal with. Nobody stole from him, not anymore, and in quick, concise movements came up behind Ekarth, reaching around the neck with every intention of destroying the thief.

[Ember]

Dhavalth realized the other males' intentions as they clsoed in on the falling Rajnith. She was quite trapped, wasn't she? Poor maiden...though there was little he could do to help her in such a situation. She would have to make her choice fast or have it made for her. The blue watched as she drifted towards Kierjaarth and knew he had lost that one. He brushed her mind in understanding but didn't dare place too much hope in her promise. He would try again and he would prove himself worthy the next time.

The blue was startled by the sudden flash of claws and tried to pull away from them. He hissed as the claws met his hide anyways and pulled away from the flight quickly. The wounds weren't deep but they did hurt as he flew towards the infirmary ledge. His would...not be able to help the blue noticed. She was far too occupied in the after effects of the flight, too lost to his own lust to notice much more than a vague sensation of pain through their bond. As long as she was okay he supposed he could handle himself for a while.

Jazz stumbled into G'tor after Tenlie left them, awareness slowly coming back to her. It wasn't quick enough for the small woman to stop the flight lust driven reaction. She latched onto G'tor hungrily, small arms gowing around his waist as far as they would go. Get down already! Stupid tall people with their...being tall. She'd start climbing up in a moment if he didn't comply right away!

Indeed, Jazheera really was far too gone to notice much going on within the room or even in the sky. She recognized the sensation of pain though she had a feeling it wasn't her own. She also noticed sounds of struggle in the room. Were Ekarth and Mavenath fighting over some little moth? She could live with finding out in the morning though. Rajnith had been a sweetheart to make her task easy after the flight.

[Ruby]

She'd chosen, she'd won, a Bronze for her queen, although Rajnith of course had no delusions of shinyness. She had her smears of yellow and her glow, that was all she needed. Ten was so caught up in what was going on above her that she could do little but smile and reach for Mi'rah, letting him finish with her shirt as she began to work on his own - there. It hadn't been intended to be removed over the head so roughly, but she didn't mind. She had won, he was hers, she was his, and now if only his stupid pants hadn't been in the way -

Whaaattt?? That hurt! With the huge majority of her brain still focused on the Bronzerider (and his pants) now across the room, it took Ten quite some time to figure out even what part of her the pain was coming from, not to mention discovering exactly why he was so far over there. Something hurt, though (Her head? Her neck? Scalp, maybe?), and she couldn't stop the tears that sprang to her eyes. She did manage to identify Ekarth - Ba'sun - before he twisted her around, but there wasn't a lot she could do from there. Before she even had a moment to collect herself, she was pushed into the wall again, facing it this time. Tears beaded up again as Ba'sun shoved her face against the rough stone, sandpapering the skin off her right cheek as she tried to crane her neck around, looking for Mi'rah. This was NOT right!

Still, though, the flightlust was there, taking up so much of her mental capacity. As much as she hated that it was the Blue behind her, with his teeth at her neck, it was so easy to close her eyes and imagine he was bronze, the one she truly wanted. Closing her mouth on a sound that could have been caused by either pain or pleasure, she rallied her failing defenses, straightening and stiffening, moving her weight to one foot. The Blue might be good enough, but it was the Bronze she was with in the sky, and if he was here, he was hers. Ba'sun's legs were spread - they had to be, if he wanted to keep his balance for more than a second - and really, that was all she needed. When daughters were bought and sold for their ability to make a good wife, it was important to know how to protect the goods.

With a half strangled grunt, Ten shifted sideways enough to bring her right leg up a little, then slammed her foot down on the arch of Ba'sun's. Only once she'd gotten there did she realize that that particular move was meant to be performed in boots, or at least slippers with a hard bottom - her own bare foot was unlikely to do much damage, although it certainly wouldn't be pleasant with all the force in a woman's leg. In the moment of the Bluerider's shock, she struggled sideways, trying to escape to Mi'rah's protective embrace. She assumed it would be protective, anyway.

((Ten can't really see what's going on, so if Mi'rah wants to go for Ba'sun's neck before she steps on his foot, (or whatever), that's cool. Anything's fine by me~))

[rii]

He kept the majority of his weight against Tenlie, one hand still fastened around her wrist to keep the limb twisted behind her. His free hand worked at his own clothing - not an easy feat - and he only managed to unbuckle his belt when Tenlie moved. Whatever she had in mind to do, his instant reaction was to twist her arm further. The green was little more than an object to him; he wouldn't bat a lash if he busted her arm. He might have, or maybe he did, Ba'sun didn't have time to register. As soon as he felt the pass of fabric in front of his face, and the presence behind him, he simply let go to Tenlie—

– and snapped his head backwards with all intentions of busting Mi'rah's nose in with the back of his skull. It was reckless, sudden, and all Ekarth. He had been known to kill other chasers at Benden. At least Ba'sun had mind enough to set his belt knife down before he had come up to the flight rooms. A hand reflexively flew up to grab at Mi'rah's, finding the man's strength relentless.

The trickle of pain worked to make Ekarth's presence begin to wane. Ba'sun's dark eyes quickly scanned the room, face starting to turn red from the difficulty in breathing. There, there was the girl – Ba'sun made a choking sound as he tried to speak. Alright guy, you win, let go. Ba'sun went still, not out yet, but not wanting to incite any further actions from the chaser behind him. (maybe if he played dead he'd go away). Hopefully the winner would become distracted by the sight of Tenlie and let him go.

Ba'sun really didn't want to take drastic measures to free himself. S'rei would not be happy about a dead rider. It happened, but Ba'sun didn't really want to have to explain it. No sir, wasn't the first time he came out of flight with bruises or cuts. Damnit Ekarth.

Along the bond came the blue's laughter.