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Post by kysseh on Jul 6, 2008 10:14:24 GMT -5
Dohulth's legs, unused to such movement, were starting to protest such prolonged running, and the brown was frustrated by his own lack of endurance on the ground. He refused to give, though, and he settled into a rhythm that, even with Phremath's tricks, helped to ease the ache in his limbs. The touch of encouragement that he received from the lovely beauty, as well as her soft-spoken words, spurred him on, and he let out a deep, rumbling croon. Oh, he was here, and he was very strong! He would prove that to her too. He was not a show-off like the bronze, nor did he have the agility of some of the others. But he had endurance, and his great wings could carry them both if she would only let him.
Her croon let him know that her choice was near, and instinctively, the brown's steps came quicker. He accidentally sideswiped a tree and left scratches across his flank but dashed on, heedless. The brown was not about to let her get away while he could help it. He knew her from more than just this flight, and this was not some random lusty green. No, this was a dragon he called friend, and Dohulth was going to fight for her if he had to. He extended his neck and let out a low trill at the dragon ahead of him. Oh, but he wanted her!
K'von was in good form as soon as he hit the water, despite the slightly unconscious realization that something was still painfully attached to his hand. After a Turn of swimming to spearfish in the shallows, he had developed a neat enough swimming technique, and he moved with long strokes in an attempt to catch up. Dohulth's sudden resurgence of energy following Phremath's encouragement spilled over into K'von, and the brownrider moved his arms faster, trying to pull himself closer to that elusive womangreen that flaunted herself ahead of her pursuers.
Even as they emerged from the water to run again, K'von's human eyes picked up familiar details. Wet dark blonde hair... the smoothness of bared skin. Despite being almost completely locked behind Dohulth's eyes, K'von's own registered these things in his brain and moved both man and dragon to greater heights. The parallels of it were heartening, and K'von wanted it only that much more desperately... even after the desired object of his attention made a sharp about face to go the other way. That she brushed up against two of her suitors, even unconsciously, and then darted out of his path was not lost on him, and he growled low in his throat before throwing his feet into the ground and skidding to a halt to reverse direction. She would touch them but not him?! She would turn him down so easily? Now out of the water, his hand throbbed a bit more, and Dohulth nearly limped one step in unconscious sympathy at the bleeding injury before recovering his normal stride. K'von just kept moving, wondering furiously why he could not manage to catch up, even with his long, strong legs. Phremath's need had to be pushing the woman, had to be. There was otherwise just no way that she could outrun five men such as themselves, though he could not protest that she was still ahead of the rest. This bode well for his eventual chances.
As the trees disappeared suddenly, both man and dragon found themselves in headed for the cliffside, woman and green still ahead of them. Dohulth recognized Phremath's intent to get airborne, and he charged ahead. He crooned excitedly, seeing that she would be getting into the air again. Yes, flight! He could manage flight very well, and he was not about to keep his distance with the end so soon. Even she could not flee forever! As soon as he hit the cliff's edge, he simply dropped over, only unfurling his wings halfway to halt his otherwise-plunging momentum. When she suddenly soared, he followed, beating his massive wings to get the altitude to come close to her. Her scream he answered with a deep bugle of his own. He was here!
K'von came just clear enough from Dohulth's mind to recognize that Kalierre was making tracks straight for the cliff, and her scream let him know that she was about to go straight over. Panic overtook his mind for an instant that his lovely green should fall to her death, and while he would have answered with the panicked screams that it sounded like another of the suitors was letting loose, K'von settled instead for a harsh cry of warning. The thought of losing her made him push himself to the limits, exhausting his last reserves of energy to sprint headlong after her, one arm extended in a futile gesture in his intent to grab her and snatch her back from the edge. No! She could not fall!
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Kisha-Ra
Rider Mo?rya Rider Darya Rider K?fuzzi Rider J?on Handler Vivano Handler Yoalla
Happier'n a pig in mud ABOUT WHERBABIES!
Posts: 1,109
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Post by Kisha-Ra on Jul 6, 2008 13:56:17 GMT -5
Ylonth ran, pushing his body to the limits of its speed, head down, neck outstretched, wings tucked close to his body to keep them from slowing him down, the idea that he might damage his wings among the branches was far indeed from the blue dragon’s thoughts.
Let the strongest catch her? He would be the strongest! He would outrun and outfly his larger rivals for Phremath. The blue answered Phremath’s encouraging croon with a slightly breathless croon of his own and tried to put on a little more speed as Phremath led her chasers from the trees.
As the blue burst out of the treeline after the object of his desire, Phremath’s intent became clear; she would dive over the falls. Under normal circumstances Ylonth might have hesitated in doing the same, now, however, it was imperative for him to follow. The blue simply leapt over the cliff, keeping his wings furled, his body stretching out, yearning toward the green, and then she was gone, gliding away, and rising in a thermal. Ylonth was quick to pull out of his dive and follow her example.
R’fuin, being of the North, was no great swimmer, but thankfully Kalierre left the river before he could be left too far behind. He emerged from the water in a shower of freezing drops and bounded along after the greenrider with long loping strides. He took no note that this odd procession of chasers and chased was attracting some odd glances, not did he pay any mind to the branches that struck him as he raced by. Kalierre was all.
She reversed direction and brushed by him, tantalisingly close, and R’fuin pivoted on one foot, reversed course totally and nearly tangled himself with a couple of his rivals. Snarling at them he dodged to one side and forced more strength into his legs from somewhere. He, too, joined the mad dash for the cliff edge but, like his dragon, R’fuin discounted the danger of the drop in his desire to catch this green. From the bluerider came only a deep and wordless roar of challenge to answer Kalierre’s high scream.
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Post by ryanne on Jul 6, 2008 15:45:07 GMT -5
When her words reached Yiminth, the brown crooned to her, letting her know that he was behind her and following her as fast as he could. He could not stand losing sight of her. The Chase was not meant to be blind. He needed to see his green to follow her. He continued to bound along, though, an awkwardness to his movements added by the movement of his tail. She didn't disappear from him here, no, he couldn't lose her! He called to her, wanting her to know every moment that he was still here, faithfully following her with all that he had.
Beautiful beautiful Phremath, he murmured to her, in beat with their run through the water. The pain of the scrape from the forest forgotten and washed by the river's waters. The little bit of encouaragement was not lost on him. It gave him a little confidence, causing him to increase his speed a bit, trying to swish his tail back and forth to propel him forward more quickly. Oddly enough, the movement added a balance to his run, a grace to it that he didn't know he had. Moving a little faster, he edged his way up in the pack, determined to be the first behind his beautiful Phremath.
R'lor was murmuring the same to his green as he followed her into the water. He could swim and he would swim. So he ducked under quickly, finding a rhythm in his movements, pushing himself through the water like he was taught so long ago. He crooned to her, following her as quickly as he could and keeping away from the other males. Even in his Flight-crazed mind, he knew that bumping into another rider would cause a fight that would most likely lead to both of them being thrust out of the Flight that they were striving so hard to win.
Her quick reversal wasn't lost on him, the second she turned and began running back, he thrust his legs down, turning on his heels as quickly as possible. He righted himself just as she darted by. He let out a growl, reaching for her even though she was past him already. Lunging forward, he made it out of the water and back on track behind Kalierre fairly quickly, running into the trees without a thought to his own health. His feet pounded on the uneven ground, gaining scrapes and cuts from the branches and plants that got in his way. Caught up in the Chase, he didn't even notice the pain, simply running because he knew he couldn't lose his green.
He was confused only momentarily when he drew even with his own dragon, bursting out of the trees. Yiminth didn't even notice. He saw only his green, ignoring her bonded that was running alongside of them. R'lor quickly regained step, though, not losing almost any ground. He ran and Yiminth ran, refusing to fall behind and lose their greens. No. Even in this unnatural Flight, they would not be last or lose. They would win their greens however unconventionally it was.
Yiminth gained ground, quickly drawing away from his rider and closer to his green. Fly my Phremath, he urged, knowing as well that they needed to be in the air. He followed her over the edge, diving as neatly as he could. Normally, there was no way that he'd even think of performing such a feat, but he could only think of Phremath. He was dangerously close to the cliff, but he only gradually levelled off, knowing she had to find her way horizontal as well.
When she caught her thermal, he followed her, gliding on the rush of air as well, crooning in response to her scream. He'd followed, and he'd continue to follow until she Chose.
R'lor didn't hesitate in his run. Instinctively, he placed his trust in his green. She wouldn't lead them anywhere that would hurt them. No, she was just testing them and he was going to beat this test. His eyes blind to all put his running green, he raced forward, almost completely unaware of the end of the cliff.
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Post by reqqy on Jul 6, 2008 18:27:27 GMT -5
All of her lovelies grew excited as they realized where she was taking them in this last leg of the Flight - so much so that they braved the daring dive down the side of the cliff face. It briefly occurred to her that one might get hurt. Briefly. But none of them did, and Phremath was too desperate now from the need to choose, to be flown, that she wasted no more time on the thought. The time had come. They blossomed around her, some following, some attempting to grab her attention before she made this choice - the most important choice on anyone's mind at the moment. From all, she felt the yearning. Oh, she'd love to accept each and every one, to let that yearning be fulfilled, but it was impossible. At least they all knew better than to attempt to snare her - she would not have countenanced that at all.
Turning tightly in place, she picked through her options in rapid speed. The bronze's compliments...they warmed her, stroked her ego. Unfortunately, she didn't need that ego stroked. It sounded strange to her heart, to be called queen of anything, though she certainly had commanded the attention of these five. He was such a large, strong creature. But, in the end, he was still the only one whose hesitation in the beginning had angered her, and some internal instict told her that she didn't want a dragon so large - not when she was so small.
Phremath turned from him.
Turned from him, and toward the blue, dipping almost leisurely into a swirl that allowed her to ride an eddy a small distance from her males, wary in case any tried anything in her distraction. This one had played her game, had run the flight her way, and had never flagged. Brave, brave blue, with his lesser stamina. He did not feel right to her.
That left the three remaining browns, all of which she favored with a quiet trill, rising on a column of warm air. Of the three, she wavered between two of them, poised to go to either. Finally, though, her mind made up, Phremath suddenly shot toward the eldest of the three...
They were crying out. She couldn't make out the words, and Kali/Phremath growled, displeased. The small, caged part of her that was human attempted to claw its way back to the surface on the current of the cries. It made the womandragon's strides falter, Kalierre slowing enough - not a lot, but enough - for the males who pursued her to close the small distance remaining. And then the hands encircled her, pulling at her, pulling her backward. She almost gave in. But, in the end, she could not understand why he refused to let her fly! Didn't he know it would be so much better? Hissing, she jerked from his hands, ignoring the furrows fingers made in flesh and darting toward another.
...and turned aside, an inexplicable flash of anger welling up inside her. This one would not do. Her flight path brought her above her suitors for a few precious moments, and she crooned to her choice - the right choice - carressing his mind to make it clear that she'd chosen him above the rest. She would fold into a dive now, and he must catch her as she passed. Not a fast dive, but she didn't want to risk anyone else taking her when she'd chosen him. He could do that, right? Of course he could. She would not have granted him this if it were not so. Phremath's body elongated into a dive, taking her right into the grasp of...
Something unseen, unheard directed her to the one that she needed. She flung herself at him to be away from the man who'd tried to catch her before she'd chosen, who'd denied her the flight that was hers. Well, she would deny him! The womandragon clung to her choice, nuzzling at him, a soft whimper in her throat. Why didn't he respond to her right away? She needed him! Kali/Phremath pressed closer to him, nipping at his chest and neck in her impatience. "Please..." It was little more than an exhaled breath.
...her chosen brown. She twined her tail around his, content to be in his grasp. And, as his wings carried the twain of them, Phremath crooned a soft series of notes that sounded vaguely reminiscent of a certain melody. Yes, despite how quiet he'd been, she had heard him. Her brown. The one who'd followed every step of the way. The one who'd never voiced his frustration. The one who'd sent thoughts of adoration and sang for her. Triniath was hers, and she was his. Phremath crooned.
Kissing the underside of his jaw, Kalierre repeated, "Sk'ler, please."
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Post by kysseh on Jul 6, 2008 18:52:53 GMT -5
Dohulth followed as closely as he dared as Phremath looked over her options. The fact that she turned aside the over-confident bronze encouraged him, and he crooned softly to the lovely before him, even after she turned to peruse the blue. Then the blue was turned down, and Dohulth felt a thrill as she turned to the three browns, crooning softly in response to her trill. She wanted one of them! He flared out his overlarge wings, tilting his gray-brown head to one side to watch her affectionately as she hesitated. Then she came for him, and he felt a surge of exaltation! She had chosen him, and he fully extended his wings, outstretching his neck in preparation to take her under his wings.
K'von, feeling Dohulth's triumph jolt through him, was surprised when his hand closed on something. Oh! He suddenly remembered Kalierre, and he was holding her, and he hauled her back from the cliff's edge, retaining enough sense to know that that cliff's edge was dangerous. He was just about to take her fully into his arms when she hissed and jerked away, and he let out a soft cry of distress. What?! What was she doing?! He had just saved her from the cliff! She chose him, and-
Dohulth's creel of upset was clearly audible, and the brown's eyes quickly took on yellow whirl as he witnessed Phremath's angry rejection. K'von's distress melted with Dohulth's, and the pair reached a sudden understanding of what had just taken place, and both had to watch in painful agony as Kali/Phremath chose a weyrling pair. It was almost more than Dohulth could take, and the brown simply folded his wings and went for the clear space of the cliff's edge near His and the other stupefied riders, steadfastly refusing to look at the airborne mating pair behind him for fear that he have a rare fit of anger. Disappointment could not even describe his emotional turmoil. But they had saved them! Why had Kali/Phremath turned away?!
It was not all Dohulth's distress, though, for K'von felt a sharp tug at his heartstrings when he finally became fully conscious. He was nude, just a few yards from the cliff's edge, watching Kali--one whom he loosely called friend--snuggling up to a weyrling, of all creatures. He was also intensely aware of the bleeding agony of his left hand and looked down to see the fierce bronze salamandyr still clinging on for dear life. Well, doesn't that just beat it all? he thought bitterly, a sentiment which Dohulth echoed as the brownrider stalked, still very unclothed, over to his dragon to mount somewhat gingerly.
As the brown made for the rivershore to allow his rider to collect his clothes and whatever was left of his dignity, neither spoke a single word. They didn't have to. The angry disappointment was echoed in both hearts, and after collecting and donning the necessary garments, K'von simply turned Dohulth's head back toward their weyr. The first priority now was to get the little creature off so that the brownpair could lick their metaphorical heartwounds in relative peace.
As if that was even possible.
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Post by ravenmane on Jul 6, 2008 21:09:19 GMT -5
It was nearing. So close, and yet so far. One male, only one, would be Chosen and allowed to mate. Oh how he wanted her, craved her like his lungs craved the air, like his soul craved peaceful silence. To lose such a beauty… The very idea made the Brown nearly frantic on the inside, but he acted as though nothing was wrong even though only one male would get the chance to be with Phremath and four would return to their weyrs. Alone. His eyes, a bright hopeful purple, watched happily as the darling Phremath turned away from Corinth. The Bronze had seemed… aloof as the Flight occurred, not bothering to join in the ground Chase until near the end when the lovely Green was preparing to choose. Such actions seemed like an insult to Triniath, and a brief swirl of red passed through his eyes. It was so hard to wait for what would happen, the final decision the would decide who would be allowed to touch and caress the glistening jade green hide that belonged to Phremath.
All eyes watched her, and tension thickened the air. Who would be Chosen? Which male had proved himself in her eyes? So many questions raced through his head, nagging at his mind. He almost crowed with delight as Phremath rejected, but as usual, the Brown’s desire for quiet took command even though he continued to quietly hum his little tune. Then, they were only down to three. First the highest ranking male had been rejected, and then the lowest had been turned aside. Now, Phremath would choose between the three Browns that had Chased, Dohulth, Yiminth, and Triniath. His eyes, first a bright glowing purple and now a dull grayish yellow, watched as the lovely jade beauty darted towards the most experienced male of the trio, Dohulth, but in an instant, the darling Green turned away, rejecting him in that agonizing moment. His breath caught in his throat as a loving and gentle touch caressed his mind. As she dove towards him, Triniath moved to catch her. Even as he caught the beautiful Phremath, Triniath continued to only hum his little tune.
His tail twined with hers as the Brown pulled her close and spread his wings to carry them both. She had been so graceful, so elegant that despite the deformity of her wings, Phremath had flown, and run, like the wind. Her croon comforted Triniath, and he nuzzled her smooth cheek. He wanted to cry out to the world, to proclaim what had happened. He had won the beautiful Phremath. Not the others, not the powerful Corinth, but him, the silent Brown called Triniath. My Phremath, came the whispered declaration and was carried away on the wind as the two dragons twined above in the sky.
For Sk’ler, it was much more confusing to him when Kalierre chose. At first, it seemed as though the Bronze had won, claiming the Green as his own, but the Green had other ideas. As the woman wrenched herself from K’von’s grasp, Sk’ler took an involuntary step forward. He didn’t know if he would be chosen or not, but the man’s will was beginning to fail. Then, suddenly the Green was clinging to him with a great ferocity, and it took the weyrling a moment to realize what was happening. First shock stilled him, and then it was quickly followed with a feeling of triumph shared between himself and Triniath. His Brown had! They had won! Behind his hazel eyes, a flicker of the rider’s consciousness appeared at the silent declaration, but it disappeared as Kalierre/Phremath received his undivided attention. “Kalierre…” His voice trailed off as he sought the woman’s mouth with his. Then, he gratefully sunk into sweet oblivion as his body twined with Kalierre’s.
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