Prisoners of our Selfishness {Coui's 3rd Flight}

[Boo]

{desc=Couineth takes control}

They’d had a lot of time to themselves over the past while… A lot of time to consider what had happened. Thoughts of the smokeweed, the planned expeditions and their own restricted freedom were at the forefront of her thoughts. Rayna remained defiantly stubborn, though. They had taken action themselves which, as far as she was concerned, demonstrated her willingness to lay down her life for the Weyr.

Apparently, this was not the most common nor sympathetic understanding amongst the Weyr. In her mind, she knew she had betrayed Avalle more than once now and for that she was sorry. However, she was unlikely to admit this fact even to the Senior Weyrwoman. The work she had been given was perhaps more than she had ever had in her life. From dawn until dusk, she was working. The only time she had to herself and Couineth was bathing and oiling yet even this was watched closely.

The gold was agitated and not because of Rayna’s frustration but rather due to the fact that all she wanted to do was fly. Fly with her rider away and keep her to herself. Rayna was hers. The gold’s hide had, in recent days, begun to glow faintly but it was not until a particularly cold day, when Noyth took to the skies, that Couineth showed just how agitated she was.

The small stuuuuuupid dragon is stealing MY attention. Selfish infant!
Rayna was in the records room at the time but she received an image of the gray shooting through the sky.
Perhaps it would be nice to have the attention away from us for a while.
Outside, Couineth had rumbled discontentedly.

Still, Couineth wanted to take her rider far away. They had time in their weyr together but that wasn’t enough. Even though it had been a pain to fly away from the Weyr, it had been nice to be with her rider on some sort of… trip. As the days passed, Couineth grew more restless until one morning, when the sun peeked through the winter clouds, the gold roared a challenge to the Weyr.

The sun hit her hide as she stood on the ledge, wings flared, glimmering in the light. Rayna was jolted awake by her dragon and jumped from her bed, wrapped in furs, touching Couineth’s foreleg.
If we cannot fly away then I will fly. We will be free in the skies together.
Heart hammering in her chest, Rayna stared at the gold. It seemed too early… Too soon after her last flight. Suddenly, Couineth grabbed her in a foreclaw and shot out of the weyr, screaming to the Weyr.
Couineth! Put me down, you have to!
Nooooo. I want to fly with you. You are mine and the others are being selfish to keep you away from me.
I’m not away from you, I will always be with you but you have to take me back to the weyr. You can’t bring me with you!
I don’t have to take you back to the Weyr.

With her other talon, she grabbed a wherry from the pens and blooded it in the air before snatching another and then shooting off into the skies. She then skimmed low to the beach and dropped her rider, carefully on the sand. Still wrapped in furs, Rayna watched as Couineth again shot into the skies.
We will fly together, Mine. If a man can find you then perhaps he is more worthy than I thought. I love you.
I love you too... Forever.
Transgressions were forgiven in that moment. Each individual's actions forgotten as they came together, Couineth looked back at the form of her rider, wrapped in furs and then screeched out once more.

The lust hit stronger than she’d ever felt it before and it was hard to keep her mind separate from Couineth’s. Impossible. She stood, barefoot and a little cold in the sands of the beach wondering whether she would spend this flight utterly alone. Yet not alone. She was flying with Couineth, reaching into the clouds and touching the skies.
If you are not worthy of Mine, you are not worthy of me. If you aren’t worthy of me, and many of you aren’t, then you will never find Mine.
This was the first time she had spoken to all the male dragons of the Weyr, issuing a challenge and an proclamation of sorts. She and Rayna were one, would always be and had always been. Nothing had made that clearer to the dragon than their time outside the Weyr. Flattery would only do so much but only if the acknowledgement stood.

[/blockquote]

[Zane]

It was just another day, or at least that's what Raksha had been hoping for.

Jedenath had other plans...

The golds call to the males did not go unheard by the Viridian. The mention of her rider made the dragon snort. Raksha had no concern for another female, not in the romantic sense at least, and so Jedenath wasn't at all worried about leaving the young woman in the center of the bowl. What he was concerned with, was winning.

Might as well wait here! Jedenath spoke to His, no longer walking alongside her. Raksha turned at her dragons voice, confused for a moment.

We just got back, are you seriously going after Couineth, of all dragons?

She's a queen-who could be my queen. I must chase!

Jedenath, I was trying to have a good day. Come on! Now she was beyond frustrated.

It took Jedenath no time at all to take to the air, leaving Raksha staring after her dragon for a mere moment, until his eyes began to whirr a fast purple.

Jedenath-Raksha were focused only on Couineth, and so they followed her as she went. Couineth, I can assure you that no other is as worthy as I. You shall soon see.

Raksha sunk to her knees, hating that Jedenath was putting her through this. He had never chased before, mostly because there had never been any queens around when they were. Now, he was chasing Couineth, a gold who, as far as Raksha was concerned, didn't care about anyone but herself.

The last thing she wanted was to be alone. Flight-lust was so unappealing, it was so... forced upon a person. She hated the feeling, she decided, and yet she wasn't all that unhappy about it. A person endured what they had to, and she'd known that someday Jedenath would chase. Today was that day.

There she sat, staring down at the stone of the bowl, unsure of how things would roll if she remained here alone. She supposed she'd find out. All she could think about right now was winning and having a warm body to press up against her own.

Not knowing if either would occur was a bummer.

[RavenSong]

Hemetath had been watching Couineth. He knew the temperament of his children's mother, knew how she enjoyed having attention on her. When she and her rider had been leashed to the Weyr after a particularly ill-advised trip, he'd paid more attention to her. P'ryt wasn't at all pleased with what Rayna had decided to do, but kept his tongue stilled regarding the matter. Avalle would handle it. It was his job to try and keep things together, especially after his poorly-chosen words during the meeting.

Hemetath knew P'ryt cared for Rayna, though whether it was more than friendship was anyone's guess. P'ryt himself didn't know. He just knew he wanted to keep his position as Junior Weyrleader to somewhat balance out D'lios, if he could at all. So both rider and dragon had been paying particular attention to Couineth, waiting for her to Rise.

Hemetath had noticed her slight glow likely around the same time Rayna had. He knew she was close to Rising, and knew she would probably be dramatic about it. Couineth was a spoiled brat and he knew it. It annoyed the Iron often, but Jainath's Hatching had shown him that she did care about more than just herself underneath it all. He did his best to cling to that knowledge when she pitched a fit about something.

He was lounging on his ledge when he saw Couineth on her ledge, glimmering in the light. Her scream to the Weyr got his attention, and P'ryt's. He stood, waiting for her challenge, waiting for her to streak into the skies. To begin the Chase before Couineth was ready would've been quite disrespectful.

If you are not worthy of Mine, you are not worthy of me. If you aren’t worthy of me, and many of you aren’t, then you will never find Mine.

A challenge issued by his Queen. Hemetath took off, chasing after her as she shot into the skies.

Where, Hemetath? P'ryt asked, stumbling down the tunnels to the Bowl. The Iron quickly shot him an image of Couineth rising from the beach. It was a good place to start looking, and P'ryt stumbled that way as Hemetath began the Chase.

Hemetath was, as usual, silent save for a brief touch to Couineth's mind. He showed her a picture of how P'ryt cared for Rayna, and how he cared for Couineth. There was minimal separation of the rider from the dragon in Hemetath's mind. He was so deeply bonded with P'ryt that they were one, and he felt all dragons were one with their rider regardless of how shallow or deep the bond between them and their rider happened to be.

[Kiran]

What on PERN do you think you're doing?!
I'm gong to Fly. What did you think I was going to do?
Sharding threadscored wh- She's a queen, Divith! A QUEEN. Do you honestly think that you have a chance?
I fly to honor her. There is nothing wrong with that. Now, get moving.

The blue unceremoniously set his rider down in the center of the weyrbowl. As Couineth had made the call and announcement that Hers was missing - hidden in some fashion - he decided that would give His the best chance at sussing out the absent Goldrider. Kelsira was left swearing and lust-riddled as Divith took to the air. Against the queen, against other males, he would have little chance of coming close. But he would most certainly try!

Divith fell in line at the back of the pack. Though he had little chance of winning the blue intended to let himself be heard. Couineth's call had resounded with something in him. Balance. The lack of divide between rider and dragon. How one is equal to the other... and in turn made one worth the other.

Most Beautiful Coineth, you and your rider are equal in worth, worth the entire weyr. You honor us by calling us to Fly with you. We do not prove our worth to you when you ask us to join you in the skies. Such an honor is something that bestows us with worth. The blue rose high to be seen in the crowd. Though I do not expect to be chosen, I thank you for giving this blue such worth. With that he corkscrew spiraled down back to his place.

Balance. Someone had to be chosen. Kelsira had the right of it, he would most likely lose, yet to keep the balance of the weyr dragons had to Chase. Even those such as him had to try.

[Maggie]

Task was not a fan of daytime. He had managed to get back to his lair before the evil sun peered out from behind the clouds, this time, and he was very pleased about this. He had just been about to settle down into a doze when he heard Couineth's call. Couineth was a very good dragon, even if she was a dragon. And he had sworn to protect her. Not that he was stupid enough to try and interfere with a queen in flight. He roared out an answer to her challenge. Couineth pretty-shiny queen. Prettiest. Shiniest. Rayna-Couineth's smart-strong. Outfly all. If wher, Task chase. Fly well. He setted down again, rumbling happily.

"I thought you hated dragons?" Talin looked up at him from where she was writing a long note for Guard to bring to Kosten back at Southern Boll. Task gave her a flat loof. Of course he hated dragons. Dragons were stupid and snooty and weird. Even Mini-Ana was only for friend because Gennesk said so and he was unfortunately attached to his Tal-Mine's hatchling who should have gotten a wher. Couineth was different though. It was obvious. Her Rayna was strong and brave and understood the need to act and hunt and find the evil, evil people threatening Ausk's territory that he was helping to protect. Obviously since Rayna was so different and understood whers, Couineth was a different, good sort of Queen dragon who brought him places so that he could protect the Weyr and destroy evil smokeweed and the people who grew it.

[Azhdarchid]

Halventh had spent the minutes since dawn hopping around on his ledge, each wherry-like bounce accompanied by a soft chirp. A brilliant blue bird in an invisible cage, he lifted off his front paws as Couineth shot southward over the Rim. The drake spent so long pawing he slipped back on one foot, landing hard on his left haunch. He clawed his way back to a dandy standing arch, but it was the mistake that finally drew his rider out.

L'xon pressed his bare hand to Halventh's flank, tracing his way to the front as Couineth's demands bit into his bones. Aside the blue's foreleg, he finally weakened, closing his eyes as his attempt to shuck on his riding jacket faltered and it sagged off his left shoulder.

"Oh..." he started, though he had meant to say something else. Something he could no longer remember. It was Queenflight. He turned toward the dragon's hide, pressing his forehead to it, eyes still shut as a flush of less appropriate memories drowned out almost all sense. Halventh purred at the shared intensity, inner lids rising across his deep red facets. Holding onto the dragon kept Lex from plunging to his knees, and Halventh indulged the need for balance rather than the one for Couineth.

Halventh knew him better than he knew himself.

A flash of strangeness cracked the storm and seeped through the fissure that remained. Faster, faster, till it fell through the memories, distorting the air as it went till L'xon was finally compelled to look at it head-on.

It was Halventh, not as he was now, but falling. Broken-winged, limp as if unconscious, but eyes wide and comprehending the approach of the flat black earth. L'xon startled out of trance, and the ember of his heart turned cold, tumbling to his stomach and making leaden ice of his legs.

No, he instructed Halventh. Never again. A single blink cleared the rose from his dragon's eyes, and Halventh twisted his blue beak toward the man without complaint. L'xon could feel the twitching of the beast's anxious hide, but Halventh did not complain. You don't remember, but to Fly her is to chase death. If not by D'lios' poison, then maybe the bursting of an overeager heart. And we're no longer worthy, he indicated, pulling up his lagging sleeve. I'm sorry. He tried to lean into that unyielding arm, tried to close his eyes again and sip what intoxication remained, as if he could soothe Halventh by draining it like a poison. A few fluffy drops of snow fell into his yellow hair while he lingered there, struggling.

What about Rayna?

What?

Halventh passed him a series of images, like pages of a storybook, strobing Couineth's movements past the low south wall. Even at this distance, the dragon had picked out the parcel the gold abandoned on the coast. Alone? L'xon pressed, even when he could see as much himself. The beach was home to fisherfolk and incoming tithe boats- at best, none of them equipped to handle a Weyrwoman under her queen's sway. At worst, a haven of strangers. Part of him hurt to think of the dragonless that way, but his blood had already been fired to it. The hurt was discarded. How could she expect anyone to reach her?

He stood back from Halventh's leg, which the blue then bent for him. L'xon climbed, taking a sharp breath as he swung into the dip between the the last couple neckridges. Tell- But he did not know the Weyrleader's status. Perbiath might have very well attempted to extend his legacy. He had not been paying attention, and neither had Halventh once his own hopes were doused. Inform Weyrwoman Avalle.

Once his rider had at least a semblance of a normal grip on the ridge in front of him, Halventh fluttered from his ledge and glided with deflated purpose toward the southern sea.

Couineth dropped Rayna on the beach, he informed Callistath without preamble, the communication wheezed out more curt than the senior gold deserved. Halventh immediately followed, I am sorry! The apology stood more for him being the messenger than the message's tone. Callistath surely knew them by now, and not in an appreciative way.

Faster than the fastest running man- and to be honest, most involved suitors were not going to manage more than an aching stumble -Halventh swept down the river emptying from Dalibor and circled around to where Rayna lay bedraggled in her bed trappings. His wings extended forward in a wind-cutting semi-circle as his rider dismounted. L'xon did not make the mistake of approaching her, but ducked briefly out of Halventh's wingsails to examine his surroundings. One of the fisherfolks' rock-embedded huts was nearby, windowless, with a door to block the cold, thus no means of telling its occupation.

He staggered back into the circle, putting one hand to his dragon's chest. Even here, on the freezing sand, he needed balance. He stared across the handful of paces separating him from the Weyrwoman. Hopeless, his intuition whispered, and he stamped the word out before Halventh heard.

"Are you alright?"

[Nia]

Couineth Flies.

[/i]

I don't care.

Avalle's emotions betrayed her words, but Callistath didn't say anything in response. The Senior Weyrwoman sat at her desk, scratching away at some hides and writing other various responses. Thinking about Rayna made her temper flare hotly. She'd sworn herself and then gone off to do something reckless, a betrayal if Avalle ever saw one. She lifted her hand from the paper and used it to run through her hair. She was stressed out, but that was nothing new. It was just the sort of thing she'd learned to deal with by now.

As Avalle went back to her responses, her Gold suddenly started as she received Halventh's message. Thank you, Halventh,[/i] she replied back, and though Halventh was not exactly on her best side, he was still a very loyal dragon and Callistath was grateful for his messages. Occassionally. Avalle was not going to be happy about this, however.... Feeling the turmoil coming from her dragon, Avalle put down the hides again to turn back to Callistath, her questioning thoughts saying more than words would.

Couineth left Rayna on the beach.[/i] Callistath said, a hint of urgency in her voice, The suitors have begun to gather around her there.[/i] Avalle felt her face turn scarlet at that, and her shoulders shook in rage. "The BEACH?! In PUBLIC?! What were they THINKING?!" she shouted out loud as well, abruptly getting up from her desk. They were absolutely not going to let Dalibor be disgraced by another sharding Flight. It was not going to happen. As angry as Avalle was at Rayna, she was not about to let her Junior Weyrwoman disgrace herself or the Weyr in such a manner. Not again. It couldn't happen again.

We're going to get her, she told Callistath, who was very much in agreement. Avalle mounted Callistath as quickly as she could and the two were off, with Callistath dropping as low to the ground as she could in order to not disturbed Couineth's flight. The younger Gold was far enough away for Callistath to not appear as a challenge, but the senior Gold was careful all the same. She landed a ways away from Rayna and her suitors, who appeared to just be L'xon. She was slightly relieved that only one person had found her, and he had the decency to alert her. "Sorry," she muttered an apology to him, as she was not about to carry two lust-addled wherrybrains back to Rayna's weyr. "You'll have to find her again."

She grabbed the other Weyrwoman by the arm. "You're coming with me," she snapped at Rayna. Avalle dragged the other woman along with her, back to Callistath. It didn't matter if Rayna wanted to leave or not, she was going. She helped Rayna climb aboard Callistath and followed suit, eager to get away from this area and to get Rayna somewhere safe. As soon as the two of them were on the Gold, Callistath rose into the sky and began to glide back to Rayna's Weyr, keeping herself as hidden as a large, bright golden dragon could. Avalle considered having Callistath alert the rest of the suitors as to Rayna's new position, but she didn't want to risk Couineth's anger while she was flying. Hopefully Callistath's very obvious form flying across the Weyrbowl and landing in Rayna's weyr would be enough to alert them. If not, then Avalle supposed she didn't particularly care.

Callistath landed on Rayna's ledge and Avalle helped her dismount, leading the younger woman back to her bed. She let go of Rayna's arm and exhaled in exasperation. It would be useless to scold her Junior Weyrwoman while she was still so connected to Couineth, but she would be hearing it later. "Keep a better reign on her next time," was all Avalle said before she turned abruptly to walk back to Callistath. She only allowed a slight glance back at Rayna to make sure the woman was okay before leaving. "This sharding Weyr...." Avalle thought grumpily to herself as she and Callistath left Rayna's weyr to go back to their own.[/blockquote][/size]

[Rii]

The heavy rustle of his dragon’s wings told T’yandon that yes, his work was about to get unavoidably delayed because yes, Ietermath was going to chase. Again. He swore that if it had wings, his bronze would fly it. As long as it was female, anyway - he’d heard once that a blue had decided to play a game of aerial tag with the ladies of the Weyr, and Ietermath obviously had not risen to that bait. Thank Faranth. He knew it was futile, and yet he couldn’t stop the words from falling off of his tongue. “Must you?”

She challenges, T’yandonMine! I can’t pass up a challenge, can I? Already he was on the weyr’s ledge, looking up into the sky. Ohhhmy. She took her rider with her!

The steadfast wingleader blinked. Well, that was going to make things awkward. He didn’t fancy trying to find her, but tradition indicated that he’d have to try. “You go on, then. Catch her if you can.” He’d make the effort. Rayna was a good person. Temperamental, a little, but that seemed to be the norm for Dalibor queenriders.

Ietermath launched himself into the air, bugling his enjoyment of the chance to fly and chase to the skies. The sunlight gleamed on his carefully-tended hide, lighting it a warm, earthy shade. Today would be different from when the last queen rose at Dalibor. Then, it had been all wrong, and he had been too sluggish to fly. Not so today. Today pure energy sang in his veins, encouraging every beat of his wings. He was taking part in this, his most favorite of all competitions, and he would not be denied.

Who could resist such a challenge, Couineth? he called exuberantly to the gold. I’ll prove myself to you as my rider does to yours. He strove to close the distance between them, to clip away what she’d gained with her head start. But she’d had to land on the beach, and he did not. He could catch her yet.

T’yandon did not take off running - or stumbling - as some might have done. He might have, except for the unmistakable sight of Callistath taking off captured his eyes. Given that queens were usually kept away from other queens during Flights, it could only be for some special reason. That when she returned, she stopped at Rayna and Couineth’s weyr instead of her own first, seemed to indicate that she’d gone to get Rayna.

Well. Only one way to find out. Leaving his weyr, the wingleader started off on the inconvenient-but-necessary hike to the Junior Weyrwoman’s.

[Boo]

Several things happened very quickly, or quickly enough for the pair as together they flew through the skies. Couineth had control. The strength of her will overpowered her rider in a way neither was entirely used to. First to join the Flight was a viridian Couineth did not know. Oh, she knew his name to be sure but he was not the viridian whom had followed her once before. The gold huffed at his words. No. The colour of her eyes flashed red as she then turned away.

A much more welcome mind touched hers then and she recalled her once mate, Hemetath. He had been a good father to her children, this she remembered a little with the help of her rider. As the iron took to the skies, she accepted the images he sent, welcoming them again. Worthy indeed… Rayna, on the beach kicked some sand into the air as she turned her gaze skyward again.

In the meantime a purple and a blue had joined the skies, Sholth flew along high above her apparently hoping to outfly her. The gold roared again and shot skywards, knocking him bodily around, he fell back with the slowest of the dragons. Another blue had joined, Divith. He was young, very young and that was all she truly recalled of him. His words intrigued her and for a moment she slowed. The gold slowed until she was close to the pack of dragons that followed but then sped up once more. This was about her after all. She sniffed and then addressed the blue.
Well of course.

The voice of a wher in her mind almost made her laugh, if she were the type of dragon to find humour in such a situation.
That goes without say.
Both she and Rayna, although perplexed, were pleased with the words. They flew on together, reminded of their strength and the work they had completed. There was no shame in the pair of them at all.

Suddenly, though, Rayna was jarred by the presence of someone wholly unwelcome. Her features contorted into a draconic snarl as Couineth also growled her displeasure.
“You!”
She fought Avalle’s grip for a short while but was unable to extract herself from the other woman’s hold.
“We are flying alone this time. Together and alone,” she hissed, although her words likely fell on deaf ears, as she was suddenly airborne once more.
Mine!
Moments later, she was dropped unceremoniously at her own Weyr and landed on the ground and then turned to watch Avalle leave.
“We will only be one,” she murmured almost to herself.
But Avalle’s words struck something inside the woman and her eyes went wide as she realised exactly how little control she held at that moment.
Couineth, you have to calm down.

There was still a fight, still her mind was not her own, not completely and she staggered to her feet as she heard footsteps outside her weyr. In the skies, Couineth was calmed only slightly noting the presence of the bronze dragon. She had once chosen a bronze… This was not the same but he was a welcome addition. So, the rest of the Weyr was unworthy of her? No matter, they were all selfish anyway. Selfish and stupid. She didn’t want to be near anyone like that.

[/blockquote]

[RavenSong]

Hemetath/P'ryt, bonded as they were in the depths of Flightlust, briefly noted Callistath's gleaming golden hide as she returned Rayna to her Weyr. Shambling like a lust-addled zombie, P'ryt turned from the entrance of the Bowl to head toward Rayna's weyr. Hemetath urged him on, so the shambling walk became a stumbling run. He would win the day! He would be there for Rayna/Couineth, and he would give Dalibor another clutch.

P'ryt was pretty well out of his mind when he stumbled into Rayna's weyr. He faceplanted just inside her door and just sorta stared at her with a dopey grin on his face.

"Hi," he said, grinning like an idiot. He paid no mind to T'yandon, as Hemetath really paid no attention to anyone else in the skies.

Hemetath pursued Couineth silently, his mighty metallic wings beating the air. When he saw Rayna through P'ryt's eyes, he let Couineth know, a smug sort of pride conveyed with his image. See? We know you're one with your rider, seemed to be the message behind the image.

Selfish Callistath, he said, showing Couineth an image of himself flicking the Senior gold out of his mind after she'd deposited Rayna in her weyr. Callistath? Who was she? Hmph! He only had eyes for Couineth, the queen of his heart, the queen whose mighty children filled Dalibor's skies and protected Dalibor's Holds. He made sure she knew that with another series of images, passed along in silence. Along with that was the surety that he would be an excellent companion to stand against other selfish dragons, like selfish Perbiath and his extremely-selfish rider. Surely Couineth in all her mighty wisdom could see how she needed Hemetath at her side with stupid Perbiath swanning around! That selfish brown had turned everything on its head. Couineth and Hemetath had to make it right and show the world that Dalibor's proper queen would do things right where selfish old Callistath and Perbiath had failed. Couineth would rule with humble, unselfish Hemetath attending to her every need, just like he had last time she clutched. Beautiful Couineth, he crooned, the ache of his love for her evident in those two simple words.

Despite himself, Hemetath really had fallen in love with the selfish Gold, and he was determined to prove himself to her again and again until she loved him back, even though she never would.

[Kiran]

Kelsira stumbled up the stairs towards the weyr that Callistath and her rider had dumped Couineth's rider in. She was a foolish, sharding idiot. Or, more accurately, Divith was. And she would give the blue a stern talking-to when this was over. But her conciousness was fast fading and she stumbled over her own feet several times as she attempted to walk, confused why she wasn't in the air. The blue and the clouds faded in and out of her sight. She could see a glint of gold ahead. Couineth. Her rider was there.

Kelsira sighed as she stepped over the ironrider who was splayed on the floor and took a place in the corner. Behind most everyone else, where she belonged. Where Divith belonged. Divith was behind the pack as well, knowing very well where his place was in the balance of things, knowing he had no chance of winning. The blue strayed upwards so that his wings could trail the clouds. He could have sprinted forward, ahead of some of the other, larger dragons, but that would have been a waste of energy and an interruption of the Balance of the Flight. No, instead the blue watched from a place where he hoped he could see everything happen.

Divith would return to his weyr once the Queen had chosen. And eventually Kelsira would join him, and their own balance would be regained.

He made no further calls or pleas for her attention. He was merely a lowly blue and as such knew what his place was. Divith could practically hear Kelsira's growl as he made that decision. She wanted, needed, the goldrider. For Divith to not even try! What was all that about 'honoring her'? Divith let out a low chuckle. He desired the Queen as well but knew what his chances were. He honored her by Flying after her. That was his honor. The blue glided where he could over look the events that would occur soon enough.

Kelsira had faded into Divith enough that it was all she could do to watch as well. There would be a partner for her after this, most certainly. Not Couineth. Not Rayna. No. They had won Flights and they would lost Flights, but there would be somebody for every situation. They needn't be alone. And the Gold needn't be alone, either.

He did make one last statement, a last assurance to Couineth. Knowing it would not sway her opinion of him. Most glorious Couineth, I shall follow your splendor until I have no strength left. For you are too strong and beautiful a Queen for one such as I. I am yours until that moment. True in every sense of the word. Divith could not keep up for much longer. As it was the small gap between him and the rest of the pack was widening and he could feel himself losing altitude. He could still look over the events but knew that if she did not choose soon that he would drift into the sea. The blue wasn't exactly in a mood for that, but he had made his choice known when he had followed Couineth into the air.

[Rii]

T’yandon shook his head, arriving at Rayna’s weyr in good breath and measured stride. Not for him the frantic, needy runs some riders took to reach the target of their desires. He could hold himself apart from his beloved bronze until he was chosen - if he was chosen. Although Ietermath chased frequently and even won from time to time, he’d yet to call a queen his own. Which, in the rider’s humble opinion, was absolutely fine with him.

He wasn’t sure if Rayna had any sense of anything but Couineth, but he offered her a respectful nod before folding his arms and leaning against the wall. P’ryt - his former wingleader - was well about lost to flightlust already, he noted in mild amusement. Logically it was the ironrider, or rather the iron, that the gold would choose. No other past suitors of hers had chosen to take to the sky this day. Dislike of Couineth, perhaps? He couldn’t say. It certainly didn’t matter in the slightest to Ietermath.

The bronze exulted in the wild freedom of the open sky, the chance to strive against his fellows for the sweetest of prizes. The spirit of competition had always ran strong in him, and radiant Couineth shone with the glory of having risen to mate, sweeping away any thought of her potentially undesirable disposition. What did he care? She was lovely today, and he would win or drive himself wing-sore in the attempt.

A little much, don’t you think? his bonded’s mindvoice nudged him from the Weyr.

Much! It is the best of what it calls for, he answered in indignation, shifting his attention back to the gold. Couineth, you are the brightest part of this day, Ietermath called. Only the finest can have you - no, the second finest, for the finest is you! Let T’yandon have his misgivings of their chances. He would show her his best, as a queen’s challenge deserved.

[Maggie]

Task growled. Talin arched an eyebrow at him. "What now?"

Other-queen fetch Pretty-queen Rayna, he explained. Talin frowned at the familiar rumblings she could feel in her mind.

"Forget about it. You are not guarding Rayna during a Flight. No way on Pern. Chase the thought out of your tiny little brain, there is no way we are getting involved in a queenflight in any way, shape or form. Even by sending Guard," she added, knowing that now that he had an idea in his head, Task might try and be sneaky. He was always sneaky like that, when he thought that something was his duty. He glared at her and growled. She glared back evenly. If she had to have survival instincts for the two of them, she would. "Couineth can take care of herself and Rayna knows what she's doing. Unless she deliberately asks you, you stay out of it. Stay. Out. You can guard the hatching sands later, if she lets you."

Task grumbled. He did not like this, but he knew better than to disregard his Tal-Mine's orders. He would remember that promise, though. He would guard the eggs. No one would bother Couineth and her eggs. Talin gave him a fond look. She would need to find Rayna later, when this was all over and tell her that Couineth might have acquired a personal guard.

[Boo]

The gold dragon shot further skywards, towards the clouds, the words of her bonded doing very little to calm the giant. She was not, however, as those dragons who would lash out at her suitors. There was every chance that she might ruin her own hide with such actions. Couineth had seen other dragons in their Flights. However, simply because she didn’t lash out at the dragons physically did not mean that she wouldn’t lash out at all. Verbally, she would speak to them and, in addition, she was perfectly capable of feeling anger.

At that moment, Hemetath’s emotions bubbled at the surface, his pride angering her. The iron’s image was quick to disappear as he spoke to her. Callistath was selfish. Everyone else was selfish. They didn’t understand how important she was and it was pretty clear that they didn’t much care. The gold banked around and examined the dragons once more.

As P’ryt entered her Weyr, Rayna had gained enough control over herself to lower her hands from where they had been over her face and look at him. Her head cocked to one side as she raised an eyebrow at the normally rather composed male and then she looked to T’yandon.
“This your friend?”
Suddenly, though she smiled at the two of them and sat herself down on the bed. The young woman also earned a nod of greeting. Others, sometimes, became frustrated with blues chasing Queens but in her opinion, if they won then there was really nothing to be done about it. Perhaps they deserved it if they were willing to work hard enough.

Ietermath earned a snort but this also shifted into a pleased reaction. She was the finest and he should not have made that mistake easily. Did no dragon here truly understand how she felt? They said they did but she wasn’t so sure.
You’re right, I am the finest.
She liked this bronze. Well, as much as Couineth could like any dragon and on another day she might have chosen him… If she knew how close he was with his rider… If she was certain of his allegiances and selflessness. However she flew close to Hemetath. Some would think it love on her part but it was another thing entirely.

You are Yours… Yours is you. I and Mine are the same. We are the best and for that we must choose another who is almost as good. Hemetath, can you catch me as Yours catches mine?
As Couineth fell, Rayna once again lost herself and stood, climbing onto a chair and then onto a desk as she stood above her suitors. Bronze and blue riders both earned a nod of appreciation but it was P’ryt that she turned her full attention upon.
“Catch us.”
Then she turned and fell backwards.

{ooc: Thanks so much guys for posting ^-^ Sorry everyone couldn't win! You all did actually make the choice very difficult...}

[/blockquote]

[Zane]

The viridian could tell early on that this queen was a selfish one. Many golds were, in his opinion, however, and therefore he cared not. As long as he managed to gain an upper hand, and perhaps catch the queen, then nothing else really mattered. He didn't have to like her at all-that's not what any of this was about.

It was becoming more and more plain that the gold didn't much care for his surly nature. The bronze that entered the flight had both stamina and size on the sub-king, and so he kept giving the dragon the stink eye as they both pursued Couineth.

Raksha remained where she was, in the center of the bowl, even as Rayna was dropped in her weyr. It wasn't proper, no, but the girl just really had no inclination to go. By the time the flight started she was so focused on Jedenath's will for power and glory that she could barely think, let alone move.

The gold wanted further praise, praise that she wouldn't receive from the viridian. He was not the type to lie in order to further his chances of winning. He would be honest, for he was an honest beast by nature. Perhaps he shouldn't have entered, not when he barely knew the gold in question. Hemetath knew the gold, and so, as the flight neared it's end, it was Hemetath who caught her.

Jedenath was quick to fall back, slowing his pace. Having done his best to keep up, and impress Couineth with his strength, he was understandably disappointed by her choice. Hemetath had an advantage, not only because he knew her, but because he'd caught her prior. Golds oftentimes tended to stick with the same mate throughout the span of their life.

Despite his spent energy, he was quick to get out of there. The last thing he needed was someone commenting on his loss. Diving into his and Raksha's weyr grumpily, the viridian curled up with every intention of sleeping. He was, by no means, pleased. There was a pang of guilt for leaving his rider behind, but, at the moment, he couldn't bring himself to correct his err.

Raksha bit her lip as the flight came to a close. How had Jedenath thought he was going to win? The disappointment was rolling off the viridian in waves. At least, for the moment, it was making her lust easier to bear. She still felt as if she were in a state of need, however, and so she looked about the bowl casually. Was it wrong to just pick up anyone? She wasn't sure. Did everyone resort to such acts under the influence of flightlust? She imagined so. Despite, she frowned, unable to make up her mind. She'd only had one other, and the last thing she needed was for more talk to circulate. No, entering his weyr would only create more trouble. And yet... When had she ever cared before about what others thought? This wasn't about anyone else, this was about her.

She wanted to be selfish. And, even if she had to argue with him endlessly over the matter, she was going to get Jedenath to help her. Jedenath? The tinge of fear in her voice brought the dragon out of his stupor. Stupid boy, Mine needs you. Pick her up in the weyrbowl. Now. He sent his message to Xiro'el begrudgingly. He cared far too much about His' suffering to fight her. It's not as if their coupling needed to be spoken of once the deed was done. Jedenath was not willing to allow His to pursue a scoundrel. That was that.