I Pay Thee In Gold {Dael's Run}

[neeuqtar]

It was early morning in the Weyr, the stone and water lit only by the palest touch of predawn. Adith had retired to his own weyr, forsaking the light for sleep, his every muscle sore from hours of flying and the self-imposed nighttime sweeps across the land of Selenitas. Birds, rousing sleepily, called across the jungle, their sleepy cheeps slowly increasing into a chorus of sound spreading across the green around the Weyr, the calls of other creatures occasionally belting across the canyon, sending the avian population into silence for but a moment.

Above it all, Uu'n mused on the sunrise, perched on the Heights of the Weyr. Or perhaps 'mused' wasn't exactly the right term--Uu'n brooded, staring across the dark swath of the jungle into the clear blue of the sky, eyes unfocused. The wind across the Heights tousled his blond hair and tugged at his dark clothing, but the bluerider did not so much as blink. Sprawled across his head in a most undignified manner, golden Dael rested, her long tail twitching. But though the duo--and Adith--were very still, a furious argument was going on mentally.

Dael Run! the salamandyr insisted, her voice shrill and angry. No! You can't do that to me again! Adith snarled back. Yes, Run! Have to Run, make fire, yes! The blue dragon's talons clenched convulsively in his Weyr. Uu'n sighed, finally stirring, and leaned back, propping himself up with his arms. Enough, you two. Dael must Run, and it will be different this time, Silverwings, Uu'n said, cutting off angry exclamations from both. Trust me, Addy. You could Chase now... this will just be as if I was Chasing. Adith snarled again, not even close to sleep in the darkened weyr. I don't want you to Chase! There's nothing I can do about it, Adith, Uu'n said grumpily, as Dael slid down his back to the ground. He could almost feel her glowing, a hot sun on his skin.

Everything was hot... You know I love you, Addy, Uu'n gasped out as Dael trilled her challenge to the Weyr, yanking his mind to her. I know-- And then all was lost to Uu'n but the feel of rock beneath foot, and he was scrambling down the stairs to the place he knew he would find Chasers. The Flight weyrs...

Dael did not take such cautions. Rather than scurrying along the ground, the gold salamandyr, ran to the edge of the cliff-Heights and leapt off, her wings beating to keep her aloft in air too cool to bear thermals, soaring high above the Weyr. The sun lifted high enough above the horizon to send a ray of light to glance off of her gleaming gold hide. And for such a tiny creature, she could make a lot of noise...

[missa]

The moment the golden salamandyr trilled her challenge, Kellris leapt out of reach of his Mine-things hands. He'd lost last time, but that didn't mean he would loose again! He could win her, after all, he was better than the others, of course he was. Glancing back at E'nor only once before sweeping his wings out to launch from the weyr, after Dael.

Brown or no, Kellris was determined to win the glowing beauty before him, determined to beat the others in the flight. It wasn't like he was a tiny, runted brown after all, he would just have to show Dael just how wonderful her was, certainly better than the others like her. She was pretty, they were just... Small. Trilling loudly to the gold to let her know he was there and chasing, Kel twisted once in the air to show off every aspect of his hide.

"Oi! No!" E'nor had instantly grabbed at the brown flitter, scowling at him as he pranced out of reach. He didn't want this again! Why was Kel so set on making things so much harder? He'd lost last time, wasn't that enough to knock down his ego a little? Make him not want to chase.
... You are strange E'norMine. He'll chase until he wins. Most likely anyway. Are you going to leave? Can't you just stay with your Clestioth? Amusement warred with concern as the blue turned his head to nudge at E'nor's arm, the boy glaring after Kel with more despair than anything.
I wish. I suppose I shouldn't though. Attempting to brush Kel's mind aside was just as hard as before, why couldn't he just ignore the alure of the brown's mind? Others did.

Scrambling to his feet from where he'd been sitting with Clestioth, he clung to the bright blue for a moment before exiting the weyr. He didn't want this. Sharding flitt.
I'm here Mine, you shouldn't worry. It can't be that bad. Easy for him to say, it was strange that he hadn't had to worry about Clestioth chasing yet. He hadn't even made to do so, so it wasn't E'nor holding him back.. Glancing back at Clestioth before leaving the weyr, E'nor tugged away from Kel once again. Flight weyrs. Yes. He had to get there before completely giving up to Kel. Sharding flitt.

[glamourie]

What in the --

K'lir sat up abruptly, both hands coming up to his face. He could feel rather than see the distinct discomfort felt by the green weyrling who was turning around rapidly, as if fidgeting. He didn't open his eyes as a flood of mixed emotions he didn't fully understand surged through him - none of which were truly his own. Calistoth was extremely upset... and confused; confused beyond words and angry, as confusion always stirred anger for the young green. Her emotions often ruled K'lir with an iron fist. An angry Calistoth usually meant an unbearable K'lir, but circumstances had changed, for the source of her confusion and her anger was also bonded to him, and pulling his mind in another completely different direction. His hands moved along the top of the furs, feeling around anxiously for any sign of life or movement but nothing. Trouble was gone... and so was Showoff.

What is going on?
That gold salamandyr is being off.
I chase!

"NO!" K'lir blurted out, jumping to his feet abruptly. The movements sent all of his furs down around him as he threw himself up and over before belining (there was no other word for how fast he moved) to Calistoth's side. His arms wound around the green affectionately, though she ignored him to lash her tail in agitation and confusion. She didn't like what she was feeling, didn't understand it, and that confusion sent chills up K'lir's spine. He'd never been good at dealing with mixed feelings and often thought he'd explode if he didn't do something to express all of them at once (therefore, sudden outbursts of screaming fits were becoming a normal occurrence for K'lir). Having to deal with Calistoth's confusion - and anger at that confusion - was bad enough but the sudden burst of mating lust like blind heat, nothing he'd ever felt before, intensified by the fact that Showoff was not in any way trying to hide his feelings, was enough that K'lir was desperately clinging to the green.

Calistoth growled, then curled around K'lir possessively. You are mine. I won't let you leave here. I won't share you. You are mine. That salamandyr would do well not to test me, the green informed K'lir, and for once he didn't argue with her. Usually he defended Showoff, as he loved the 'mandyr every bit as much as he did Calistoth, every bit as much as he did Trouble, but... that particular instance, he wanted to stay with Calistoth, stay where he was safe.

Is mine. Will be mine. You stay out!

The vehement words were the last response Showoff offered Calistoth (and, ironically, he did not receive an argument for once). He scurried along the ground, running as best he could. Dael was in the air and his wings were much too small to give chase up there, but he was in no way counting himself out. She'd have to land eventually; flight was only limited! ... and there was simply no way any of those firelizards could compete with him!