Noon comet (Storith's maiden Flight)

[Kisha-Ra]

The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the sallow skinned figure of Janisi. She could feel her shoulders burning as a matter of fact but that was a distant worry compared to the immediate problem of Storith. The striped green lay nearby and it wasn’t only the strong sunlight and recent scrubbing that made her base shade of bright green glow so brightly against her seafoam markings. Storith was soon to Rise, perhaps even today, maybe when she woke from this nap. Janisi cast a desperate sidelong glance at her green as if looking at her full on would inspire Storith to wake and Rise, however Storith only twitched her tail in her sleep, leaving Janisi to fret some more.

Reassured that Storith still slept Janisi took a deep breath and tried to calm herself a little, just because she was probably the only greenweyrling ever to reach her dragon’s first Flight as virgin, that was no reason for her hands to shake so much. The thought of ceading control to Storith for a short while ought not to leave her with a cold sick feeling in her belly. Every other greenrider managed to get through these difficult times, some even enjoyed them, she should be able to as well. It was inevitable. It was part of being a greenrider. Would she give up Storith to escape this? No, never.

Unnoticed by her rider Storith stretched her body out sensuously and opened her eyes, a low growl rumbled in her throat and she rose to her feet ignoring the frantic reasoning of her bonded. I RISE![/color] Mentally and physically the young green bellowed her challenge to the Weyr and surged skyward in one of her almost vertical ascents.

Janisi froze in place, eyes wide, as she heard Storith’s challenge. Desire, lust, and a touch of fury woke full force and sang in veins. Where were her males then? Couldn’t they see she was ready for them, unworthy though they were? Janisi shook her against these alien thoughts…not yet, she couldn’t, flight room, not yet. Janisi stumbled off vaguely in the direction of the flight rooms, moving like a sleepwalker.

Rising like a green comet over the Weyr Storith howled her challenge again and turned at a right angle, heading away without looking to see which males followed.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath was dozing lazily by the river, his tail drifting in the swift flowing water. The brown's soft hide was a dark patch on the grass and his eyes were mostly closed. The sun was bright and hot, so much so that even the appeal of swimming in the cool water could not motivate him to move. A partly unfurled wing provided shade for his rider, who leaned against his side in a restful sleep. It was not a day for any kind of physical activity and the pair were content to spend it resting and enjoying the warmth of summer.

Someone, it seemed, had other ideas. Ruskeath's head rose sharply. His eyes were suddenly alert, watching the skies and the small green from that could not been seen among the blue. The brown's calm eyes were afire with purple. Nap forgotten, he rose to his claws and spread his wings in preparation for flight.

G'tor was jerked suddenly awake as his dragon pillow shifted away from him. Struggling to his feet, he felt the wave of desire and excitement that emanated from his dragon. He knew what this meant and shaded his eyes in an attempt to see the dragon in the sky. <Who is it?>

<Storith.> Ruskeath was already taking flight, though he had to run forward ungainly to get enough lift. As he rose, his grew more steady on confident. Like an arrow in the sky, he sped quickly to answer the green's challenge. He bellowed his own declaration of his presence as he neared her flight path. Such a lovely little female. With markings like the sea he and his rider loved.

G'tor was running as fast as he could to make it back towards the Weyr. With the last of his human comprehension, he recalled that Storith belong to one of the older Weyrlings, making this her first Rising. Then he was lost in the heated emotions of Ruskeath. His bare feet pelted the rough earth, but his mind was in the sky, feeling the rushing wind and the thrill of the chase. Ruskeath had chased many times, and though he had yet to catch, his determination was as strong as ever.

[dragon]

Kindrith's head came up and around, his eyes shining and taking on the deep purple tint again as he perceived her rising from her previous location. She rises!

E'yan's head came up from reading a new sheet of music he had been writing and making notes on. And then he lurched to his feet. "Oh, no you don't. I think we've had plenty of rises of late. You can sit this one out."

No! Kindrith replied, stubbornly, before lauching into the air with his own replying bugle. She was the only object on his mind as he winged after her, catching every updraft he found along the way. And it was a good thing she was all-encompassing, too. Otherwise the brown rising from the river would have elicited a rather hostile reaction from the blue.

Crooning as soon as he got into range, Kindrith flipped over through the air to get her attention, before following after her again. Surely she saw him ... he was a big, strapping blue, and he was all hers.

Groaning in frustration, E'yan started making his way to the flightrooms, before his dragon's determination and lust could wash over him and make him as confused as he had been during the last flight, out in the forest. That had been ... rather disturbing.

[Avu]

((Leth demanded to enter once he saw Kindrith. xD;))

If you take out that part, that'll throw off the rhythm, though - don't. Change /that/ to a flat and make /that/ a natural, and then add a 'the' in front of /that/. T'kal cocked his head, studying the paper as he marked off the changes. Try changing /that/ to a sharp...add 'my' in front of 'pain', /there/...and add 'I sing' after 'sound', in the last stanza... The Brownrider flashed his dragon a pleased grin, scratching in the last of the changes. "I like, Leth. Thanks." Play it, the brown urged him, thrumming in pleasure as T'kal's grin widened, the Harper-bred boy readjusting the harp's position in front of him and closing his eyes briefly. "Start it off, Leth." The dragon obediently uttered a soft humming, his rich tenor tones twisting into a soft melodic song, and T'kal picked out the notes on the harp.

They'd only gotten through the second stanza when Leweleth's voice broke off with a soft whuff, the brown's head whipping around, eyes flashing with shades of violet, at the sound of a bellow, followed by a howl - and the distinctive sounds of masculine voices answering the challenge. Don't. Leth, you just got Tanith, you /adore/ Tanith, don't. You don't /need/ another - T'kal protested, his fingers stilling on the strings of the harp as the lust rose inside of him. My queen calls; thus I must go, the brown answered, his voice tight with excitement, the music forgotten as he threw up his head, his voice rising in a bugle, a bugle that slid into a long howl to answer the green's as he flared his wings, launching himself off of the Weyrledge and sliding upwards, his eyes fixed on the lovely green ahead of him.

Oh, she was so pretty. No, more than pretty. She was beautiful - so beautiful that it hurt. Leweleth's howl faded and swelled again, throat trembling as he dipped gracefully to one side of her, a respectable distance back. The sound produced, the notes rising and falling, quivering, resembled a song, excitement and desire strung through every measure. The song faltered with his wingbeats as he caught sight of Kindrith, hostility flashing through the brown's mind as a faint red tint briefly pervaded the purple, jewel-faceted eyes. The other brown he could stand. He was merely an opponent, easily defeated - but that blue! Leweleth remembered. Oh, yes, he remembered. And he wasn't planning to forget anytime soon. Kindrith's attack had been uncalled for, and though he'd gotten his revenge - and more - Leweleth still remembered. That blue would get a reckoning sooner than later. That he was in Stortih's Flight - unacceptable.

But it didn't show, save for a slight flare of his nostrils. Leweleth flared his wings, playfully diving under Storith before he dropped back to his original position, to one side, and below, the green, his croon caressing, encouraging, gentle as it swelled from his throat again. She was too clever to pick that distasteful blue. He didn't need to worry. Why would such a beautiful green bother with such a hideous blue? No. No need to worry. Of course not. Storith... It was to himself that he spoke; Leweleth broadcasted to nobody - the delicious name melted in his mind, ecstasy rippling through his frame as he flicked his wings, speeding up slightly, keeping the respectful gap between himself and Storith.

It hadn't taken long for the Harper-bred Brownrider to go under completely. That Turn at High Reaches Weyr - struggling to recover afterwards - had strengthened his and Leweleth's bond, and the brown's feelings were wholly his now. A low, eager croon started in his throat as he ran his hand through blood-red hair, golden eyes tight with anticipation as he rose from his seated position, one foot nudging the harp away from him as he panted slightly, the heat from the Flightlust unbearable. His shirt was torn off, thrown to one side, as T'kal/Leweleth stared around his Weyr. Janisi/Storith - not here. Where was she? That she was a Weyrling didn't occur to T'kal/Leweleth. He only saw that achingly gorgeous green dancing ahead of him, sea-green markings taunting him, inciting such desire that it was impossible to live without her.

So where was she? T'kal/Leweleth pushed the door to his Weyr open, prowling softly down thet hall, his brilliant gold eyes searching for his glowing green. Quite suddenly, his body stiffened, and a snarl curled his upper lip as Leweleth caught sight of Kindrith - though E'yan/Kindrith was nowhere near him, that didn't stop T'kal/Leweleth from showing his displeasure. That ridiculous blue! Why didn't he just hop between and never come out again? It wasn't like anyone would care - no, they might celebrate. The brown growled softly, though the Flightrooms distracted him. Was his green in here? Ah, there she was! The growl was gone, replaced by an eager, loving croon, and a single word echoing through his mind, the name forming silently on dry lips: "Storith." His lovely Storith...

[Kisha-Ra]

Three males answered her and Storith snorted, piqued by such a small number of chasers. None of the males were ones she knew well, Ruskeath was older than her by a way, as was Kindrith. Lewleth was only a little older. Not that either of those factors would play any part in her Flight of course. Already Kindrith and Leweleth were out to impress her with their flying and she trilled at them, shameless in her encouragement of such tricks.

Suddenly an expression akin to a mischievous grin flitted across Storith’s muzzle, so they thought they were agile enough to play with her? She would see. In a sudden rush the green tucked her body up and rolled midair and whipped to dart back under her males. Let them follow that trick if they could! Rumbling at her own wicked mind Storith shot out from under the tails of her pretties and climbed again, up and up, then suddenly down and over her males again, tagging each of them playfully with her tail as she passed by.

Now she dived again, taking her flight lower and picking up speed without effort, playing with her chasers had cost her more engery than she thought, but now she could pull ahead of them with very little effort on her part. She levelled out and glanced behind, were they still with her? Good!

Janisi lurked just inside the doorway of the flight room, a wicked little smile that was entirely her dragon’s twisting her lips. No, there was not much of Janisi left now, she was one with Storith. Here they came, her males, she would taunt them just as cleverly here as in the air. But what was this? Was Leweleth paying attention to someone other than her? Ah no, now his challenge was forgotten and all for her. Good.

[Avu]

The dark brown uttered a soft croon in response to Storith's trill, though the delight that surged through him was bittersweet, as it had been clearly directed at not only he, but It as well. (And yes, It was not worthy of a name. No, it was merely an It, and that was all.) But that didn't mean he wasn't pleased at the recognition; he was, and his throat swelled in another musical warble in response to the trill, his rich tenor tones eager as he rolled, almost negiligently, onto his back to display his conformation to its best before he rolled over again, dropping only slightly before he soared upwards again, eyes whirling. He felt extraordinarily capable. Perhaps it was the Flightlust, the desire and the heat, surging through him; perhaps it was merely the vigorous exercises. Whatever it was, it was clear in the energy that rippled through the brown as he crooned again, throat tightening and -

Where was she going? Ah, tricky beauty! Leweleth crooned in soft appreciation of her clever antics as she doubled below them, throwing himself into a foreward flip. Awkward, slightly, though it got the job done and quite well, too; the brown's wingspan assured that he didn't fall too far before he caught himself and shot after Storith again, uttering an exultant bugle. See? Did she see? He'd done it. He was still after her, still in this. Leweleth threw himself after her, great sweeping wings pushing the brown up, his dark hide gleaming as he whirled on one wingtip, sending himself into a brief pirouette, letting Rukbat silhouette his form for one split second before he pulled out of the maneuver, throat swelling in an undeniably lusty purr as Storith's tail touched him lightly. How he wanted her. In that instant, Leweleth wanted her, resisted - and it took quite an effort. But she hadn't Chosen yet!

Oh, the lovely, lovely dancing green, wouldn't she see him again, acknowledge him again, touch him again? Leweleth's soft purr was definitely pleading again, the desire clear in his tones. Dive. Oh, he could dive! He was good at diving! Leweleth wasted no time, sharply throwing himself into a headlong fall, wings clasped tightly against his sleek dark sides. As Storith pulled out of the dive, so, too, did Leweleth, deftly flicking his wings open. The air that suddenly filled them, ballooned into them, nearly sent him back up again as Leweleth winged after her, gaining speed as his lovely green did, till the wind was rushing over his wings as he raced his shadow, the wind, across the ground, details blurring beneath him. Lovely, lovely Storith!

She was extraordinary. T'kal/Leweleth lowered his head slightly, a lustful purr emerging from his throat, his trained voice caressing, crooning, loving, hungry. Janisi/Storith was not human to the Brownrider. He was not in the Flightrooms; he was flying outside, the wind pushing his wings up, diving, rolling, displaying for this green in front of him; his eyes flickered over her, seeing not the Weyrling but the glowing, exquisitely lovely green. And yet, underlaid beyond that image, was Janisi, the girl's figure sending lust flooding through T'kal/Leweleth. The brown lowered his head deferentially, a curious mixture of a warble and a croon bursting from him as he slid into the Flightrooms entirely, running his hand along the doorframe as he let his eyes roam, much more freely than normal etiquette permitted, over Janisi/Storith's frame, yearning for her attention.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath pulled up sharply as Storith suddenly changed directions to fly under him. Such agility and grace! He crooned his approval of her skill. Such a green was more than worthy to chase. He watched her carefully as she rose again and came back. He felt the delicate touch of her tail and his heart leapt with excitement. Her playful and teasing nature only served to drive Ruskeath to new lengths.

Seeing Leweleth's attempts to follow Storith, Ruskeath scoffed. Was he not the older and stronger brown? Let the young ones try their silly tricks, he would show Storith his own. He pulled his wings tight and dropped like a stone. Faster and faster he fell, the ground rushing closer. Ruskeath did not fear the earth below. As Storith and Leweleth loamed ever closer, he twitched his tail sending him into a spin around the other brown. Fanning his wings at last, he pulled out of his dive, matching the other for speed just behind Storith. With eyes only for the lovely green, he purred loudly. Surely she would recognize him now?

Breathing hard from his long run, a glazed eyed G'tor reached the flight room. He could feel Janisi close by, but his mind was not in the room. In the sky above he flew, as much Ruskeath as the dragon himself. Determined and filled with desire, their eyes were on the dancing green before them. All others, even the other chasers, were forgotten.

[dragon]

She called to him! The sensation of her voice in his ear sent tingles through out the blue dragon's body, filling him with an encouragement like none other. He flipped over through the air again, before clapping both wings shut and twirling through the air after her like a launched missile. That was not something he could do for long, however, and he was forced to open his wings again before he lost any altitude, steadying his flight back out.

Kindrith twisted his wings suddenly as his beautiful gem shot by underneath him, throwing himself upward slightly as she passed. She was very clever and agile, turning like that and shooting in the other direction so quickly. A shining emerald gem! Shining in the noontime light, her lithe form gracing the sky made Kindrith want her even more.

He twisted around on his shoulders, since his wings were already twisted, and flipped over going upward and back. He was upright again almost as soon as he was turned around, his large wings filling with air once more as he pushed onward to follow her back and up into the sky. Kindrith crooned to her, in admiration and adoring devotion, as his eyes tracked her progress through the sky.

Ah! What was this? She was coming back down again. Kindrith twisted in flight again, turning to spin and go down again, even as she flashed by past him. The touch of her tail sent ecstatic shivers through his very being that made him swell up in glee, before calling to her again.

No, he could not sing. Though he thought he could. But he did not sing to her ... not in the normal sense of the song, anyway. However, he did ply his draconic voice to her ear, letting her know just how amazing she was. So clever! So speedy! so agile! So ... unmatchably beautiful!

Bringing his wings and limbs all in close to his body, Kindrith left his wingwrists poked out from his shoulders slightly to give him a minimum of control as he sped down into the dive after her. This sort of maneuvering was something that Kindrith was better at than either of the two browns following after.

Browns! Yes, he had seen them. But he ignored them. Browns. Ugh. The two dungpiles couldn't even hope to keep up with a tricksy lovely green like Storith! Having no competition but browns made Kindrith feel better, in a strange way. Though it was browns that had his eternal hatred for their annoying tendency to steal flights, Kindrith considered them all to be worthless. Which in turn meant that he had no competition. He was clearly the only dragon in the pack worth having! And his clever, amazingly shiny emerald gem would see that clearly! This, however, did not mean that Kindrith ignored where the browns were positioning themselves. They were habitually underwinged creatures, and he wasn't going to let them get away with anything if he could help it. Subconsciously he was totally aware of the dragons flying around him and how they were moving, all while his immediate now attention was focused squarely on Her. She was the only thing that mattered. She was the Queen of the sky. And she would be his!

Twisting his tail, Kindrith sent himself into another spin, shooting down after her toward the ground. Lithe and quick, he followed her through the air with no thought as to which way they were going. Any direction was good! When she leveled off, Kindrith spread his wings wide, though he was still spinning quite fast. The result was a quite showy full-wing spin for three full revolutions, before he stopped spinning and followed after her right side up.

E'yan/Kindrith paced a few steps away from the door, completely ignoring the other two males that had arrived after him. He knew who they were. They were unimportant. All that was important was the beautiful green before him. She was the whole world. And E'yan/Kindrith felt it every time Kindrith had one of those emotional spikes of pleasure from receiving attention from Storith. In turn, it made E'yan happy, too. He spoke to her, but not in words. In tones and in sound. Where Kindrith could not sing ... E'yan could. And quite well, with a completely matured voice. He sang low, in tones that only tickled the ear, tones that would excite and soothe at the same time. E'yan/Kindrith spoke to her in the universal soul-touching language of music, even as he admired her for everything that she was.

A most lovely green, indeed. Graceful and agile, with some real spirit!

[Kisha-Ra]

Storith crooned softly to Leweleth, his flying was impressive! Ah, but perhaps he was a little too proud of his efforts… No matter, she wasn’t going to choose yet, she had all of her admirers and each was wonderful in his own way. Ruskeath was brave to drop so daringly behind her, and Kindrith was agile, if not as thrilled with his own flying as Leweleth. She had better test them some more. With a teasing warble Storith shot forward again as fast as she could manage, no one was going to catch her that easily!

When she was certain everyone’s efforts were on catching her, though they would never manage to catch such a clever green as her, Storith neatly side slipped away into a rising thermal and soared on it for a moment, considering her next move. Then with a sudden spin she made it, turning to in the opposite direction once again but this time instead of passing over or under her males she danced among them.

Storith called playfully as she looped first Kindrith, wickedly and quite purposefully trailing her tail over his back and wings as she did so, then she darted over to Ruskaeth, looping him as well, though this time she went as far as to brush her body right against the brown’s. Nor had she forgotten Leweleth, no indeed, with another wicked little rumble Storith flipped and flew under the brown belly up before falling away and righting herself, taking her males up again. Her wings ached with tiny pinpricks of fatigue, the next time she got that close would be to twine with her chosen mate. Ah but who to choose? If only she could choose them all!

Janisi stalked among her males in a bold daring manner that held nothing of the reserved holdbred girl and everything of the striped tease in the skies above. Her eye lighted first on G’tor and she swayed sideways to lean against him for a moment, hands drifting over the brownrider’s body, light, teasing. Then she spun away with a laugh and whirled into E’yan. The bluerider she circled like a feline, a tame and very affectionate feline, and one that liked him quite a bit. Then she darted away again, this time to T’kal, he shouldn’t be so far from her. Janisi tapped the brownrider playfully and darted away.

[Avu]

The flare of anger at Ruskeath - what was the brown's thought process, circling Leweleth as he had? Surely he realized that not only was he interfering with Leweleth's flight pattern, but that Storith was the one who deserved his attention - ? If he had to dance so - so badly, he might as well try to focus his attentions more on Storith. Nevertheless, the only flash of anger that the young brown dared show was a slight flare of his nostrils as he pushed himself faster still, his wings barely twitching as he soared, winds carrying his frame at breakneck speed after the green that danced ahead of him. Lovely and graceful, she danced. Surely - surely she would recognize that such an idiot as the other brown, such a wherry-headed homicidal /thing/ as the other blue - surely she would recognize they were not worthy of her? Yes, he recognized that she was the best. But he - was he not more adept than his chasers?

The fury at his other opponents - they weren't worthy. Surely they could honor Storith with a chase to be remembered, at the very least? - melted away at her croon. Directed at him, and only him, this time. His throat swelled in another bugle as he twisted his body into a barrel roll, his momentum carrying him forward neatly as he caught his fall on his wings, flicking himself deftly and cutting through Ruskeath's path before he twisted with another croon to Storith, a swift beat of his wings carrying him up and to her side, the brown's positioning neatly to his advantage; surely now, she could see him if she cared to? His form was displayed, was it not, to its best?

Some small part of the brown was aware of Storith's youth; he was closest to her age. He could teach her to Fly much better than these lusty, foolish old ones; he could love her much more than these others ever could; he could be a good first mate - or so Leweleth thought as he crooned again, the high sound fading into a low, throaty purr as the green slipped sideways, a thermal sending her - oh! Among them! But there was no Choice, yet - she was merely teasing them. Leweleth looped backwards, arching his back as the sky became the ground for one second, before his wings caught him again, the brown stretching said appendages as far out as he could. See his lovely, dark brown wings? He could share them with her, give them to her, offer up his whole body and soul to her, if she so desired!

The closeness of her, as she came close under him after her caresses to the other two - so lovely. It elicited a soft, anxious croon from the brown. So close. So close she'd been! Impulsively, Leweleth reached out to brush her mind lightly, his croon turning caressing. Lovely. To speak to a female in Flight - was, truly, an oddity for Leweleth. His physical voice was the one he exercised most in Flight - but how could he resist? It was one word, uttered in a breathy, lustful tone, sincerity ringing through that one, single word. Lovely. And she was. Absolutely lovely, lovely beyond anything - uncomparably gorgeous and so beautiful it hurt to imagine her being taken by anyone but he. Wouldn't she see how much he wanted her?

So beautiful. Her bold manner only incited more desire, T'kal/Leweleth dropping his head at a slight tilt, lips parting slightly in a smile. So young, too...matched in age, at the very least, they were. Was this Janisi/Storith's maiden Flight? So it would seem. She was simply too young to be it any other way. He could teach her, could show her how gentle, how wonderful Flight should be. As Janisi/Storith flitted from one chaser to the other, T'kal/Leweleth found his head tilted, golden eyes following her dancing form lightly as he soared on outstretched brown wings, as the wind caressed his skin, cooling the heat of Flightlust, as she tapped him, darted away. So enticing...T'kal/Leweleth obediently stepped forward, almost slinking after the green and stopping, forming an automatic, instinctive semi-circle with the other Chasers, though he gave little sign of seeing them.

They did not matter.

[dragon]

Kindrith shot after Storith with every ounce of speed he possessed when she took off like a comet through the sky. A lovely, shimmering, bright green comet, blazing brighter than anything else in the sky! He poured everything else he had into the speed, hoping to far out distance the other males all while drawing closer to her. Yes, he was loyal. He would follow her wherever she went. He would follow her, support her where those big louts could not. Too big! Too clumsy! Kindrith determined to show her just how agile and able he was ... doing his level best to impress her and follow her everywhere she went.

He followed her into the thermal, and shot upward after her, crooning happily to her. She was so beautiful from any and all angles. He delighted in just watching her fly through the air. Such a marvelous thing, to see something so agile and supple moving through the air with speed and dexterity. Something that even Golds could not even hope to accomplish to any measure. A more wonderful creature, Kindrith was sure he had never seen.

Kindrith was shocked somewhat when she dived past and around him. How in the world was he supposed to follow her through that? Tricksy lady. So smart! He tried to follow her around himself anyway, leaving him twisted in the sky for a moment as he tumbled over his own form. But he was a blue, and he could do that and still stay in the air in some semblance of order. It was fairly easy to twist about in the air and follow her around. However ... he hadn't been expecting her to actually touch him! When her tail dragged across his wings and back, every muscle in his body ceased up and went rigid as his mind set off firecrackers with the pleasure of the contact.

Unfortunately, this left him in a rather awkward position in the sky as she left him to play with the browns. He wasn't upright, and he certainly didn't have his wings open. Kindrith dropped several hundred feet in the air before getting his wits back about him and rotating in the air to open his wings with a pop. Somehow, despite the action being a total failing on his part, Kindrith did not lose faith. He was not going to give up so easily ... not now that he was getting attention! He beat his wings hard to regain that altitude, slipping back into the thermal to get higher.

Kindrith realized he didn't have as far to climb, either, noticing that she had done something similar as he had ... she'd fallen a bit while playing around. Which, in turn, left him far closer to her than he had been, had he not dropped. Eager to use every advantage to its fullest, he winged after her again, pouring the speed back on as she left the cluster of males.

Browns were so slow and clumsy in the air, that with them being so close to one another Kindrith fully expected them to get tangled up in each other very shortly here. And he was glad he was not in that pile of wherrydung! Kindrith did not feel the need to attack either brown ... or even snarl at them ... they were doing quite a good job of humiliating themselves without him. More power to them! It left Kindrith's attention free to focus on his lovely emerald comet.

E'yan smiled softly and appreciatively as Janisi twirled to him. It was all he could do, to refrain from reaching out to her in response to the dance. He also had to fight hard to resist the urge to turn with her as she circled him. Ah, but he wanted to touch her, dance with her, sweep her off her feet! He reached out after her as she danced onward, over to T'kal, as if he had actually been able to dance with her and send her on her way. He really didn't want her over there with T'kal ... he'd much rather have her near him again. But there was no restraining her, and he knew it. She didn't stay over there long, darting back again, and E'yan's gaze followed her there.

[Rowana]

Ruskeath watched Storith dance with pride and admiration. Surely no green he had ever chased had ever been so bold or skilled. Her twisting form was like a leaf on the wing, illusive and delicate. The other dragons were forgotten in her presence. His eyes saw only her lustrous green hide on the blue of the sky. He crooned as she approached him coming close enough for him to dip his neck to touch her back. She was warm beneath him and his determination fired anew. He would chase her until the ends of the Pern and beyond. Where ever she flew, he would follow her.

True, Ruskeath was not as agile as the blue, but that did not mean he could not fly well. He brought his wings close again and dropped away from the other dragons. As he did, he turned his body in as quick a turn as he could manage. Then he flared his wings to draw his momentum into rising. He had to work hard to get back up to Storith's height, but it was worth it to once again have her in sight. It was worth any stress he put his body through to see her again.

G'tor subconsciously reached out a hand to brush Janisi before she was gone again. Her touch was so tantalizing, but she was not his yet. He resisted the temptation to move after her, even as she went to the other men. In the end, the choice would be her's and Storith's, but G'tor and Ruskeath were of one mind as they flew. They would prove that they were worthy of her choice more than any other.