Brilliant Mystery {Dael's Run}

[neeuqtar]

Uu'n wasn't sure exactly what was up with Daeluunya. The little salamandyr had been more and more easily angered over the past few days, to the point where she'd even chomped on his finger--though of course she instantly apologized, feeling terrible for hurting her-own. But whatever was going on... Run time now! she chirped, oddly cheerful, before scampering from his shoulder to the ground, and out a branch, leaping off into the sky, her small wings catching some sort of breeze and holding her aloft far longer than usual.

And her hide... when had it ever been so bright? He started breathing hard, vision clouding for some reason. What was going on? He... he wanted... Moaning deep in his throat, Uu'n slithered down the tree, landing on the ground with all the grace of a stone. He felt flushed, hot, and his groin pounded with an insatiable need. It only took moments for his unprepared mind to get tied to the salamandyr's, hands straying to finger his belt and the taut fabric of his pants. He needed...

Half walking, half staggering, his breath coming hard and hot, Uu'n made his way towards the Lower Caverns, eyes alight with lust and passion, already sweating through his dark clothing, though it was but the morning. He didn't even hear a frantic Adith screaming into his head, trying to make His listen.

Dael, the focal point of this, shrieked her challenge to the blue skies. It was breezy, just as she'd hoped, the wind giving her air under her wings so she could lure the firelizards to her Run. She would normally never think of them, but there were none of her kind present, and she needed, more than anything, a mate. And with her, was Uu'n.

((ENJOY >3 ))

[missa]

"Stay put!" E'nor sounded panicked as he kept hold of Kellris, who was anything but happy with him as he squirmed. After already having attention put on him by the sharding insane dancing woman in the Dining Hall, E'nor wanted no more attention. He was quite determined not to let go of Kellris.
"I'll sit on you if I have to!" Voice shrill, the Blue Weyrling sounded honestly terrified, even as Clestioth reassured him.

That obviously didn't work, for only moments later, Kel squirmed out of E'nor's hands and blinked between after the Gold Salamandyr. A high trill as her came out into the sunshine. Sure, she was a Gold, and usually Kel thought it out of his league, but it was something else too. Wings beat at the air, the sturdy brown showing off a coffee coloured hide as he twisted in the air, attempting to show off for the Gold. Wasn't it wonderful? Srely he was better, for he was the first to answer her sweet call!

Instantly, Clesioth bid his to find Adith's rider, since Kel was merely a flitt, E'nor shouldn't have too much trouble ignoring that, while he went and found Adith. Reaching out with his mind, the Blue gently spoke to the other.
Adith, it is alright. Would you like me to come there? If you need company I will help. Mine will find yours, perhaps he can help. It will be okay. Much as the Blue would like to be there, spreading a wing over the other to comfort him, Adith's permission to be near him was needed. Since the other Blue was sensitive to light...

E'nor wanted to shove Clestioth away, before taking a deep breath and nodding. Not that he thought it a good idea to find his fellow Weyrling, not with Kel joining his pet's Flight. Seeking Uu'n proved to be a harder task than E'nor had previously thought, since the other Weyrling was usually wearing dark clothing, he'd thought he'd stand out. Well, that was a mistake. When he did finally spot him, E'nor had to shove Kel's lust away.
"Uu'n!" Why him? Oh Faranth he was going to kill Clestioth and Kel, this wasn't fair. Shouldn't others be seeking him out? Surely not only Clestioth worried for Adith, but then, many probably had better control over their flitters.

[Tashe]

The only warning Saraina got was a fleeting feeling of lust from her blue before he screeched and launched himself off of her shoulder and streaked away. "ZOR NO!" Although her shout was in vain, the blueweyrling shot to her feet and darted off after her flitter in hopes of catching him. The only reason Zor would disappear from her side as fast as he did was a flight, and Saraina hated when he participated in them. It was the one thing she hated about all dragons, the way they could influence the feelings of their bonds made the woman feel ill at ease. Shouting unhappily at her male, Sara continued to run after the rapidly fading fire lizard. Cursing as she watched him between, the young woman growled at her younger blue to guide her to Zor. Watching as Scipio gave her colors and pictures, Saraina tooked off at a run towards where the flight would be happening. Fortunatly for her, Hokth had decided to take a nice deep rest only moments before. "One less thing to think about."

---

Taking a few minutes to fly away from his His, Zor finally slipped into the between. Emerging from the darkness, the royal blue male zipped to and fro, trying to zero in on the rising female. A flash of gold caught his turbidity swirling eyes, and he wheeled his wiry frame around to chase after the glittering Queen. Determined to compete with the other colors to win over this female's attention, Zor creeled in praise to the flying thing. It was a strange looking thing, different than a normal lizard of his kind, but it was still a female in flight. Flapping his long wings and trying to catch up with the golden apple of his eye, the joyful blue began to trill a melody to her, one that he had gotten many a good chirp from other females.

He knew that a Queen could last a long time in flight, so Zor set his small mind on trying to win her over with compliments and praise, and maybe a few songs or two about her beauty.

[Requiem]

Kalierre slipped the belt about her waist, cinching it with an almost vicious pull. Too many hours spent in the infirmary, too few given over to rest...It wore her thin. Though she'd taken the day to herself yesterday, and it had done wonders for her haggard appearance - even if the thought of returning today was enough to make her wish for the warmth of her furs - a weariness still claimed the woman. At least she no longer looked like the walking dead. Small blessings. Are you coming with me today, lovely? Phremath's head lifted from her couch, but it was early yet. She yawned. Maybe later, Mine, the green replied sleepily.

It was less than a minute later that the green's concern pressed in upon her rider's mind, Kalierre pausing in her walk. Adith. Phremath sounded shaken. He's upset. Hysterical. Something about His. Calm down, love. I'll find them. The healer's face now marred by a pensive frown, she'd taken no more than a few steps when she sensed Phremath drawing up behind her, the woman gazing up at the hatchling for a moment before continuing on her way.I'm worried. They both knew it was a needless comment, but it made Phremath feel a little better just to say it, so Kalierre let the words go without response.

What could be the problem? An adult dragon would have enough presence of mind to communicate the issue and the location to someone, but weyrlings were still young yet, and tended to be overtaken by emotion. Thus it was that Kalierre had no clue this was lust-driven, lest she simply would have let it run its course and hope Adith would bounce back swiftly. Such things happened and were unavoidable - and not really something she'd put herself in the middle of. But she didn't know.

Phremath followed as far as she could, left alone to wait anxiously and worry for Adith and His.

Spying the dark-clad figure from behind as it staggered drunkenly, the healer quickened her pace, latching onto Uu'n's shoulder and using it to swing herself about in front of him. "Uu'n! Are you - " A glance was all she needed. Stepping back as if she'd been burned, Kalierre froze for a moment, then turned her back on him, starting to distance herself. Uu'n was most definitely not aware, and that could be dangerous. Mine? We're not needed. But Adith... Will be fine. Phremath's stubborn streak was coming out. He's scared! Can't you do anything? No, Phremath. I can't. Just trust me. Try to calm Adith down, but...there's nothing I can do.

The green wasn't sure where her clutchmate was, but a distressed dragon tended to broadcast some of that distress, and she reached out to touch it. Mine says it will be all right, Adith. Please don't be scared. Her voice was tentative, as if she didn't quite believe what she said.

[Tashe]

Another body had joined the chase of the golden Queen, and it's bronze hide glinted slightly as he passed under the sun with a sense of grace and ease. This was the first time he had participated in a flight since his escape from Benden, and it felt good to chase after a female again, although any worry about his His still nagged at the back of his mind. This was one of the few times that Azaran was glad he wasn't a dragon, he didn't think he could put Kaegan through a flight, although he knew that Millieth was going to rise soon. It was a gut feeling at the least, and it seemed as if she had picked up a small shine recently, although not as bright as the Queen he was chasing.

Gently trilling to the queen as he passed by one of the other chasers, the Bronze pushed his way forward until he was close behind the Salamandyr. She looked strange, different than any female he had ever seen, although the memory of these creatures were lost as the lust of a flight had taken over. For at this moment she was the most beautiful thing around. Sending bold yet soothing images to the Queen as he tried to portray his feelings to her, Azaran kept up the swift beat of his wings.

(X3)

[neeuqtar]

The salamandyr's wings flapped hard, holding her in the air far longer than most of her kind could fly, though she was losing speed and altitude. Veering into a dive, Dael alighted on a tree, racing along the branch to fling herself into the air again, wings stretched to their fullest to catch the tailwind she so desired. And there it was! The breeze lifted the round body of the golden salamandyr into the air, tossing her higher than her beating wings could usually carry her. Hah! The feeble-minded creatures behind her were surely far too lowly for her to choose from! Yet she continued working for altitude they could easily have, no larger than (perhaps) a green flitter, and a far poorer flier.

Uu'n's head whipped to the side at the sound of Kalierre's footfall. Eyes that were almost crazed cleared for a moment, as if in recognition, and a look of pleading passed over his face for a brief second, before Dael's emotions writ themselves deeper into his psyche. The young man made an inarticulate sound of longing, pressing his back against the stone. His lust painted Kalierre as more than someone who might have been his friend--but she was not one of the weak ones that chased him/Dael through the sky, and so she would not do. Where were their chasers?

But there! E'nor/Kel, the first brown in chase, and his eyes instantly locked on the other man. No matter that E'nor was a person Uu'n would feel no attraction to as himself; this was one of the chasers in the sky, and Uu'n's mind was Dael's. The blue weyrling growled, low and inviting, at the other rider, as if inviting him to follow.

It's not alright! He is gone from me! Adith shrieked at Clestioth, rearing and striking the wall of his weyr, rending gouges in the stone with his talons. Phremath's voice rang in his head then, and Adith dropped back to all fours, coming out of the light-shielded weyr, before yanking himself back in, eyes burning from the hideous brightness of the sun. Not responding mentally to the worried green, Adith tilted his head back and howled, the call for a lost member of the pack, his voice ringing in the cave he inhabited to echo out across the Weyrbowl.

Uu'n didn't notice.

[Requiem]

Kalierre, having distanced herself from Uu'n, took a moment to rest against the wall, staring blankly ahead of her. Most didn't doubt that the healer was soft-hearted. Still, she didn't often show her weaker sides, but his eyes...For a moment there, she'd seen her friend in them, and he was pleading, desperate for her help. The woman closed her eyes against the image. It wouldn't go away. No matter how much she told herself that it was impossible, that she could no more save him from himself than she could physically lift and move the entire weyr even a pace away, she felt guilty. Kalierre was no virgin. She'd been as open as possible about her liasons at Benden to avoid being seen as a 'challenge,' and it must have worked. Still, she knew that flightlust was something else entirely. Kali had seen so many go through it, though she herself, due to her uncanny ability, was just as adept at completely shutting out the emotions of dragons and flits as she was at tapping into them. Phremath - no, she probably wouldn't be able to do so with her. And it would likely be a detriment if she could. But she'd seen how it messed with people's heads, this lust that they couldn't fight. She didn't want that for Uu'n.

What could she have done, though? Nothing. Not really. Dragged him into a room and locked him inside? Not if he fought her. Uu'n was far stronger than she. There was no doubt of that. Lust-crazed? She was more likely to get tossed into the nearest wall than to do him any good. The pragmatism in that decision, perhaps, was what needled at her the most. Uu'n was her friend. He was one of the only ones Kalierre truly thought of that way. For him, she should have been at least willing to try. She didn't want to add more guilt to the mix, though. If he hurt her. Nor would it be good for Phremath. The green was close to panicing as it was.

Her jaw setting, she turned and strode for the infirmary. Her shift was starting. She made a mental note, though, to stop by and see Uu'n tonight. Maybe he'd need someone to talk to. Or maybe he'd just want to sit in silence, but at least he'd know he wasn't alone. No one should feel like they were alone.

Phremath jumped slightly at Adith's plaintive cry, the howl that she knew was meant for His. The green couldn't stand his hurt, his confusion. It was broadcasting strongly, at least to her. Or maybe that was part of Kalierre's gift. Phremath found she often heard or felt what she shouldn't, probably through the dragonhealer, but it didn't matter why she felt it. She did. Only Kalierre's stolid presence in her mind kept her from going catatonic herself. Phremath sensed the woman's worry for Adith's, though Hers was trying to keep it from her. She also knew, though, that KaliMine didn't believe this was so bad a thing. After all, she planned on seeing Uu'n and Adith tonight. That meant nothing bad was going to happen. Right?

Letting out an imperfect warble that was meant to say that she was here, the green did something that made Kalierre stop in her tracks, the woman's heart racing. Phremath leapt from the edge of the waterfall. Her small wings flapped once. Twice. Caught the air. And she glided, coming to a somewhat clumsy landing on Adith's weyrledge. The green couldn't fly. Not a bit. She could, however, glide, though she'd never done so from such a height.

You can't go to him, Adith, Phremath said needlessly. He couldn't enter into the light. And, without His to put on his goggles...Yes, Adith might fight it to save His, but trying to fly when he couldn't see was so very dangerous. Phremath couldn't let him do that. Mine. She thinks to go to him tonight. He'll be all right. See? He'll be all right. Conviction, there. It's like... The green searched for the word inside the mind of Hers. Like Flight. Like how it will be when you chase. He will come back soon. The next statement was directed to Kali. Chase? Yes. All females rise, and most males chase at least once. You will rise. That did not make her feel easy. It's normal.

This is normal, Phremath repeated to Adith, quietly. She knew he didn't like to be touched. Still, the green wanted to touch him. To comfort him. It hurt to see him so upset. It disturbed her. Settling for a compromise, Phremath edged closer to him, in case he wanted the comfort. She didn't touch him though. He'll be back. You'll see. He'll be back.

[Tashe]

By now both of the girls who had chased after their flitters, one owning the only bronze in the chase and the other a wiry blue, had erupted into the seen and were trying to catch their breath.

"I'm... going to... kill that damn... Zor." Growling slightly as Saraina watched the flitters (and Salamandyr) chased each other through the bright blue sky. It wasn't exactly fair to the girl that her blue tried to fly every female flitter in the weyr when they rose, and even though he did it often, the bluerider still hadn't accepted the fact. Letting her grey-green eyes sweep across the area, Sara tried to forget for a moment that she as here to console Zor after his loss in the flight. Blinking slightly as her eyes flickered from E'nor to Kaegan, the young woman huffed slightly, she had not expected to see the young Weyrwoman here. 'I wonder if Ara is here then...'

----

Growling as a bronze and a brown flitter flew past him, Zor pumped his wings bit faster, even though he was beginning to tire. Oh how he hated bronzes and sometimes browns, they would always steal the female away from him, but to him they were nothing more than a bunch of social snobs that don't deserve a shinny hide.

Trilling a louder more upbeat song, the wiry blue tried to call attention away from the other males and onto himself. He wasn't about to give way to the higher males just yet, he still had some fight in him.

---

Coughing slightly as she panted, Kaegan rubbed her throbbing side before looking up at the sky and at the flight that was currently in progress. It had been a complete shock to the young woman that her Bronze had suddenly up and disappeared on her, let alone find out that he had joined a flight. Azaran normally didn't participate in flights and on the rare occasion he had they were always females he had grown attached to. So there for it made Kaegan wonder why he had felt attracted to this particular flitter, besides that it looked to be a Queen.

Letting her attention switch from the flight to the people around her, the young Weyrwoman caught Saraina's eyes for a brief moment and offered a wave in greeting. Her friend's blue flitter must be participating too, poor thing won't have a chance. Looking backwards, Kaegan caught a glimps of Kalierre before she had exited quickly, it made the young woman wonder why she had left in such a hurry.

---

Listening to the voice of the other flitters as they called out to the queen, the Bronze always waited till there was an opening to trill to her, therefore his calls could be more clear and vocalized. Training his quickly swirling lavender eyes upon the Queen as she rose and fall because of the wind, Azaran powerfully made his way closer to her and all of her glory. Calling out his praises once more, the brass colored male continued to inch his way toward the mock queen flitter. She would be his, not the brown or the blue's.. his.

Keeping his attention on the Dael, the bronze spared a small amount of attention on the brown who was chasing also. He was his only rival in this flight, since he had never heard of a Queen allowing herself to be caught by a lowly blue.

[missa]

Kel's wings splayed to their full length, whirling eyes taking in the bronze and blue in one sweep, before he returned his attention to Dael. Wings sweeping in natural motions to push hismelf after her. Legs brought tucked up close to his body, keeping them out of the way. Making him more streamlined, and removing something that would distract him. Something the Brown couldn't afford with a Bronze in the chase as well.

Still he could win, he was just as good as any bronze, was just as good as anyone else in any case. He could win the golden Dael, he would win her. His would be ever so proud of him, or so Kel hoped anyway. He wouldn't give in, it wasn't in the persistant Brown's nature to just give in. The only one he needed to watch, was the bronze, for no Queen was going to allow a blue to twine with her.

E'nor froze as his fellow weyrling turned to him, a panicked look crossing the fourteen turn old's features. He didn't like these feelings, this lust tugging at his mind that he was trying so desperately to ignore. It just... Oh dear, this wasn't funny. Not to E'nor, and when the green-weyrling left, he gave a startled sound, eyes widening. What was she doing? Why was she leaving? Kel's lust tugged at his mind again, and E'nor bit his lip, maybe he shoudl just accept it? Kel was a brown, he'd like chasing yes? He was lucky he hadn't chased before... Oh dear.

Clestioth crooned sadly, he hated others being unhappy, all he wanted was to make it better for Adith, and yet, the Blue wasn't sure just how to do that. Shifting uncomfortably, he tried again, his voice still managing to sound optimistic as well as soothing.
He is not gone Adith... He is still there. Always there, Yours would never leaver you. Nevernever. Why ever would he do that? Mine is with Yours, he won't leave, so Yours is still there, he is just... Distracted. Yes, he is distracted. Taking all this from E'nor as his rider tried desperately to not only ignore Kel, but help Clestioth understand, and by extension, help Adith.

(Finally!)

[neeuqtar]

((Just to close this quickly, so we can get on to the business of salamandyr bebbies...))

The salamandyr would have Run for far longer, had her Chasers been of her kind. As it was, the little queen did not want to risk losing the fire-lizard suitors, no matter how distasteful, and made her choice quicky. If it had to be a flitter, she would choose bronze. Veering for Azaran, Dael locked her long talons with his toes, pressing her round body against his in the necessity of lust.

Uu'n, half-crazed, lurched for E'nor, then away, not sure what to do. With a strangled noise, he grabbed his head in his hands, bending over as if with pain, and moaned with the agony of thwarted lust, Adith's terror fighting for dominance with Dael's lust. Neither truly won as Uu'n backed up--hard--into the cliff-face, bruising his hips, then slid helplessly to the ground, whimpering like a beated animal.

Adith's hide shivered, and the blue pressed himself against Phremath in his terror and sorrow, burying his nose between her misshapen wings. How can this be normal? he cried in agony akin to Uu'n's, whimpering into Phremath's backridge. Why is he doing this to me? Why can't I have him back now? He promised never to leave me alone!! His cry of sorrow was laced with despair, his lovely blue-violet wings plastered against his sides. The blue didn't understand, and at the core of his being the uncertainty of being forgotten by even his mother raised its ugly head. He forgot you, he doesn't love you, you're not good enough... Tell me he still loves me, Adith begged Phremath. Why is he forgetting me?

[Requiem]

Phremath trembled under the power of Adith's distress. A good distance away, Kalierre entered into the infirmary, striding directly for the small office that was both home and prison to her. The woman busied herself with the paperwork stacked haphazardly on her desk, growling softly in her throat. So much work. So much...She shouldn't have taken a day off. Kalierre muttered darkly beneath her breath, but even she wasn't aware of what she was saying. Something caught in her throat. The dragonhealer refused to dwell on it, pushing it aside. But the thought was relentless. Who was Uu'n with? Who had he chosen to sate his lust? Kalierre's fist crashed into the hardwood of the desk with a muffled curse. Shardit! Why should she care?! It was nothing. Nothing. But the look in his eyes as he turned to her in desperation wouldn't leave her.

In Adith's weyr, Phremath froze as she felt the blue's touch, the surprise quickly melting in the face of overwhelming sympathy. Would she have been any less distressed, in his situation? How could a dragon handle this separation?! No, it couldn't be normal. Hers...She trusted Hers. But, even if it was normal, it could never possibly feel normal. This talk of rises and chases was beyond her. All she knew was that Adith was cut off from His, somehow, and there could be nothing more terrifying than that.

I don't think he chose to be gone, Phremath stated softly, allowing him to touch her, to draw comfort from their closeness. She did nothing to change that position, afraid it might startle him, but the green crooned softly in the hopes it might calm him. Of course he loves you, Phremath responded, her words soft and calm in the face of Adith's terror. Though she trembled. Oh, she trembled. You chose him. He is Yours. You are his love and his heart. If this was true of Phremath's Kali, it must also be true of Adith's. Oh, the simplicity of the green's mind, the brilliant simplicity.

He will come back to you as soon as he can. He could not forget you any more than he could forget to draw breath. You are his life, Adith. And until he returns, I will stay with you. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. A long speech, for the small green with her misshapen wings. A quiet one. But the passion in the words, the certainty and the overwhelming tenderness, was blatantly obvious. Crooning still, Phremath pressed just that little bit closer to him.

Pride swelled in Kali's chest at her little Phremath, the woman stepping out into the corridor. I love you, my heart. I know. The dragonhealer smiled, her eyes glistening.