Who Ya Gonna Call? [Fenrisk's 3rd Run]

[RavenSong]

{desc=cuz long time on the ADO list lolololol}Midnight. It was Fenrisk's favorite time of night. There was no danger of Thread that night, and she had the night off with Fenrimere. Ordinarily, that would lead to pranks, but Fenrimere knew from the luminosity of Fenrisk's hide that she was due to Run soon.

How that would take place was still anyone's guess. Fenrimere knew Fenrisk wasn't all that great at hiding, so her usual 'pounce everyone' method of love wasn't going to work for a Run. She was a white, after all. When was an even better guess. Fenrimere regarded her beloved wher as they walked beside the lake in the autumn night, grinning impishly at her.

"'Oo d'you want to prank t'night, lovely?" she asked. Fenrisk hesitated, looking around. "Y'can't prank that Ironrider again, y'know," Fenrimere reminded her.

Fenrisk knows. Fenrisk prank everyone. Fenrisk... Fenrisk think Run now. Bye! Leaving Fenrimere laughing there in the Bowl, the white took off for the feeding pens. She leapt over the railing deftly, latching onto a herdbeast's neck and bringing it down with skill.

Don't forget, sweetling, blood it. Y'want to Run long and hard, right? Fenrimere reminded Fenrisk as she made her way back to their quarters. She left her door open for the suitors and lounged on her bed, grinning like an idiot. She could feel her own lust rising, bonded as she was to her white wher. Fenrisk gave a snort.

Fenrisk eat, she said, going for the beast's neck again. Fenrimere gave the white a little mental nudge.

Blood it, or y'can't prank everyone like you want.

Fiiiiiiiiiine, Fenrisk replied, drinking her fill of the blood before taking off, heading for the nearest exit.

Fenrisk am ghost! she called out to the males of the Weyr. What wher-boy catch ghost Fenrisk? HooooooooOOOOOOooooooo! Giggling, she beelined out of the Weyr and toward the trees, darting to and fro, dashing through the light of the moons. Her own glow made her like a ghost in the trees as she Ran. Ghost-catch Fenrisk! OoooooooOOOOOOOooooo! She echoed her mental howl with a vocal one, certainly catching the attention of wilds with that if she hadn't already with her mere presence.

[Gray]

Her howls, both mental and vocal shook the skies, causing a piece to dislodge. Or so it seemed. He was night incarnate, a bit of the inky blackness ripped from the atmosphere and brought to the ground. He prowled through his territory, melding into the shadows of the underbrush, his pronounced ridges stirring the plants. This was his domain. His hunting grounds. What made the Dalibor Whers think they could trespass? This was a run though, and perhaps that he could permit.

His eyes flashed between red and purple, the desire to chase fighting the desire to remove her from what he had claimed. Truthfully, she probably had more right than he to be there. But the black didn't care in the slightest. Finally, his lust won and he let loose a warbling howl. He would chase this elusive creature, and he was sure he would win. She would see he was the best choice.

For his color, he was small. A deep, purplish black, mottled with pale gray and darker spots, making him look oddly diseased. He was long of leg and swift, his claws digging deep into the ground beneath him. Once again he let loose a low, warbling howl. If Fenrisk was a Ghost, then he would be a nightmare. The black wasn't going to play nice, nor fair. Opponents beware.

SPOILER: Click to show

[Rappu]

Kersk think.
Kerke trimmed and twirled a stick in his hand. The blue wher was staring intently on a grid drawn in the sand, so intently it made Kerke smile. Tic-tac-toe on five would have been difficult to any wher, but Kersk enjoyed a challenge. He could feel Kersk's happy contemplation through their bond, and finding a solution was like the wher had candles lit in his mind. If it weren't for his tendency to chew and inability to hold cards in his front paws, Kersk probably could have joined wherhandlers' card games.
"You ready?"
The wher had gone quiet. He still stared at the grid, but clearly the grid was the last thing on his mind.
"Hello, Pern to Kersk?"

Something flashed in the night and Kersk's head snapped up. He rose.
Kersk on Pern... Kersk saw something! The blue's tail and legs twitched. He wanted to follow the white, shining shape. Follow it as far as it would go, to infinity and beyond, where nobody else had been...
"You're going to chase?"
Yes! Play later. This is important. It is Fenrisk.
With that, the blue was off, running after the white, shining ghost.

Kerke stood still for a moment, scratching his neck. Well, well. Kersk chased rarely. He wouldn't mind it happening more frequently... Usually the blue just ran after Makkosk, and that... No. Shaking his head, Kerke threw the stick away and started walking towards Fenrimere's quarters.

Kersk ran. He saw flashes of white in the blue night, and followed the ghostly wher with light feet.
Fenrisk! Am scientist! Am science! Study ghosts!

Kerke walked into Fenrimere's room. "How's it going? I have to say, you look ravishing tonight." A bow. He reached to give the handler's hand a light kiss, then pulled back to stand respectfully at the foot of the bed. Kersk's excitement made his own heart beat faster, and he saw flashes of white light. This was going to be a great night.

[kireon]

Impask go, be shadow to bright one. Yes. Best plan! No one expect shadow from bright one.[/i] Impask's jaws parted in a terrifying display of naturally yellowed fangs that curved and often poked out the corner of his mouth. It was his parody of a smile, and it'd been endearing, maybe even a little cute as a baby, with the way he'd grown so rapidly and his bulky brawn slinked around like the actual shadow he thought himself to be nine times out of ten, it was nothing short of the stuff out of nightmares for those unused to him.

Which, granted, had been perfect to scar her brothers for life in the middle of the night. Impa could still, occasionally, hear the high pitched shriek from her eldest brother, and that alone kept her smirking long after the event had passed. Impask had been spoiled that day, not even a "no" in sight even in his most mischevious moents.

A mistake, as she'd learned the hard way, and one that'd taken her the better part of a week to train out of him again. Be it because he was stubborn like his handler, or just not that smart in the long run, he'd been bratty ever since in varying frustrating degrees.

But he hadn't left, and she met her red eyed wher with a quirk of her brow. "Who's the bright one?"

Impask blinked uncomprehendingly and perked up instantly after with a distinctly evil noise that might have been something between a growl and a chortle of laughter. Opposite me! Opposite! Fenrisk run, run away and I chase, catch! Catch ghost because shadow can touch ghost but ghost no touch else! Hahaha![/i] And bolted right out the door like the miniature demon in the night his appearance would suggest he was.

Impa sighed, pressed her fingers to her temples and rubbed firmly. Troublesome. Little. Brat. Might as well see if the bonded had a substitute, or if they'd be passing the night together in the end.

Impask pursued the sound, dashing into the forests to blend into the darkness thick as the hide on his frame. An eerie, high pitched sound not unlike a Terran hyena's cackling shrieked from his mouth as he caught brief sight of her, and intended on catching her for a fun roll and surprise.

He was second best at sneaky, after all. Only OriskHaHaHa better than he was at surprises. What follow bright one no matter how far?[/i] Impa had been trying to teach him riddles as a different kind of trick, if they answered right, they would be left alone. If wrong, he got to pounce them.

[Kila]

Summer, 6th Turn, 11th Pass

Nadya could tell that Nadysk was feeling a bit peculiar as they sat
outside by the lake, watching the moon reflect on the water and Aydan
run to and fro after his pillies. His thoughts were far off, his Handler
could tell, but she figured he would tell her about what had his
attention if he wanted to. After however many minutes or hours later,
the big Brown wher snapped suddenly to attention, rising to his feet in
one graceful movement that was surprising swift for a beast of his size.
Nadya looked at him expectantly. Fenrisk run, was
all he offered in explanation. He waited for the white blur to pass his
sight and then disappeared after her in the night.

"Oh goodie," Nadya said sarcastically to the empty weyrbowl. But
it was more exciting than she made it out to be. Her heart sped up and
began to beat the fickle dance of desire as she pushed herself to her
feet. She left Aydan behind without a second thought, knowing that he
would be okay with his wretched bugs and that he could find his way back
to her room on his own. Fenrimere's door beckoned and she found herself
inside the other woman's quarters in no time at all. She was ravishing
as she lounged on her bed, dark and beautiful. Nadya could imagine that
her skin would look striking up against her own remarkably pale body. If
her Wher was hunting ghosts, Fenrimere had one right in her room.

Nadysk chase Frenriskghost! the Brown bellowed as
he barreled after her. She was a ghost- blinding white in the
black night. Even now dark shadows were melting out of the night to join
the chase, looking dull and devoid of color next to Fenrisk. Nadysk knew
little of pranking, his bonded not being one for jokes or nonsense, so
if she turned and decided to play with them then he would be the
biggest, baddest target. He could probably use it more than any of the
others too. While Fenrisk charged ahead, having fun with it all, he was
set and serious. Fenrisk bright moon ghost! Wher ghosts
follow moon, catch bright ghost! he called to her, if not
mirthful then at least excited. Thundering through the wild after an
exotic and beautiful lady made him feel alive!

[Maggie]

Gennesk bristled a bit. All the OooooOOOOoooooOOO-ing was reminding him badly of a certain terrible day he had had recently that was full of honking. Evil, evil, evil honking. Was Fenrisk a honker? He wasn't so sure he wanted to chase someone who was in league with the Evil Honk-Thing. But maybe... Fenrisk was a silly wher. Maybe she wasn't a honk-thing. Maybe she was a howl-thing? And she was very pretty and shiny...

A roar made his mind up. If nothing else, he did love competing with Task. As usual, Task did not think very much about what he was doing. There was a pretty, tiny female wher running and he had to chase. His territory was safe for now, so it was fine to leave it. He charged head first, roarinig his intent to the sky, trying to intimidate any others who would try to stake a claim.

Gennesk took a different approach. trotting along quickly, head held high, he imitated Fenrisk's ululating cry. Gennesk is for ghost-catch! Gennesk is be chase Fenrisk-ghost! he called out happily.

[RavenSong]

OooooooOOOOOOOOOoooooo! Fenrisk howled, darting through the trees as the males pursued her. She noticed them all and, if she had a face capable of doing so, would've grinned like a cheshire cat. She approximated the gesture anyways, baring her teeth, her jaw opening just a shade.

Yes! Follow! she called. She started to circle around them to get a good look at them. Nadysk, Gennesk, Impask, Task, and Kersk were known to her. The other male, the silent wild, wasn't one she knew. She howled at him, expecting a response before charging at him directly. Before he could pounce on her, though, she veered away.

Ahahaha. Stupid wild think Fenrisk-ghost get pounce. Never! AAAAAOOOOOOO! Cackling her wherish giggles, she ran on, beelining through a fallen hollow log. She climbed up several rocks and bounded off the other side of them, exulting in the power she felt. All these male whers chasing her was awesome to the little white.

She'd heard Kersk earlier, as he started Chasing. She didn't know what science was and thought about it for a bit off and on as she Ran.

What science be? she asked. How study ghost? Can't touch ghost, no study. You silly Kersk, she said, giggling. He was spared a prank for the moment. She needed to figure out a good one for him.

Impask's words caught her attention shortly thereafter. Ohhh, she liked them.

Impask chase forever! No catch. Nothing touch ghost! But ghost hide in shadow, yep! Fenrisk always hide in shadow. His riddle gave her pause, mentally, almost causing her to careen into a tree. Shadow follow bright thing, silly! Clever Impask. So clever, she'd have to come up with a really fitting prank to pull on him before she made her choice. She wasn't by any means ready to make her choice, though.

Nadysk's simple words made Fenrisk giggle again.

Moon ghost yes! Fenriskghost slip through all claws. All claws! Nadysk best if catch ghost. Ghost not be touch! AAaaaaaoooOOOOOOOOOO!

But poor sweet Gennesk was her focus when she realized he was there. She knew the best prank for him. Task was noted, but since he was new she didn't know him quite so well. She knew that Gennesk, on the other thing, would lose his mind if something honked at him. She ran up a tree and leapt off, gliding for a short way to put herself nearer to Gennesk. As she ran by Gennesk, she let out a HONK worthy of Quince herself. She kept running, giggling like a hyena.

Ghost honk for Gennesk! She called cheerfully, heading back towards the Weyr, weaving in and out of the trees.

----

In her quarters, Fenrimere smiled warmly at Kerke. His kiss to her hand was a courtly gesture that charmed her. Any other time, she'd be on him in a heartbeat for it. Impa got a warm smile as well. Fenrimere didn't have a substitute, which could be a boon or a detriment depending on how Impa felt about it. Nadya too was given a warm smile. Fenrimere knew Nadya quite well, as they'd shared Dalibor's space for Turns. She found Nadya -quite- beautiful. Idly she wondered who'd be sharing her bed.

[Maggie]

A honk! There was honking! He knew that the Evil Honk-Thing was in on this somehow! He had always known! There was no other reason for there to be honking! He roared in rage, his eyes suddenly whirling a bright red as he started charging around, hunting for the Evil Honk-Thing. He was going to eat it! He was going to crunch it to pieces! He was going to--

Gennesk! The snap of his handler's voice brought him mostly back to reality and he flattened, as Genner usually made him do when he was rampaging. He took a few deep breaths, sulking. The Evil Honk-Thing was ruining his life. Gennesk that's enough, come home,Genner ordered. You can play wherrider saviours of Pern with Mouse. Yes. Mini-Mouse. He would lay with Mini-Mouse and everything would be well. Still sulking, although heartened by this new prospect, Gennesk left the chase, going back to his lair.

---

Although Genner had gone to find W'lin as he always did when Gennesk chased, Talin made her way to Fenrimere's quarters. She had forgotten how strongly runs affected her. It had been a very long time since Task had chased anything, cloistered as they were at the Hold. She gave the other woman a small wave as she entered, trying to control herself for the moment.

[Gray]

More and more males answered her ghostly call. No matter. He knew he was the best. Lithe and gnarled, with tings that grasped at the sky with spindled claws, he darted too and fro. Then she was coming for him. She howled, and he let loose his undulating response. Had she chose him? And so quickly? There was a rush of pride as he raced to meet her. The domesticated pups of Dalibor could never compare to one such as him! He readied to pounce, muscle coiling and before he could, she was gone.
He stopped, perplexed her giggles taunting him. After a few moments he let loose a few choked coughs, the black's dry version of laughter.
Trisk tricked. His voice was like branches scratching at windows, soft and eerie. His pride was wounded, but he was not the only one. He watched as Gennesk left, and he chuckled again. Success! One down. Four others to go.

Filled with determination, he fired off another wavering cry and redoubled his efforts. The others could woo her with words and silly riddles. But he would catch! He was the best, could she not see? It took so much more to live as a wild, especially when as small as him. Fenrisk was certainly clever enough to know that!

[Kila]

Fenrisk was a good deal smaller than Nadysk- all the other Whers
were. His size worked to his advantage in some ways, but at the moment
it was proving to be a hindrance. The quick little shot through a hollow
log and leapt off of rocks like stepping stones. Nadysk had to leap the
log and scattered the stones as he barreled through, following in her
footsteps. He whipped his head from side to side only to find her
circling them. She inspected her suitors gleefully, floating about them
like the fabled ghost she spoke of. Nadysk slowed so as not to leave her
behind, but in the blink of an eye she was off again.

She would not be caught easily, the Brown realized in short order. She
charged a Black, some wild or other that he did not know, but veered
away at the last second. He could feel the other Wher's pride grow and
then vanish, snatched away by the female's trickery. Gennesk too was
accosted, tormented with a honk and drove him mad and eventually out of
the run. One less, Nadysk thought, choosing to see
the good in it.

He would be tested too, he knew, in Fenrisk's own special way.
Nadysk not afraid! he declared, bounding after her
again. Not afraid of ghosts, Nadysk no no. CHASE
ghost! He was elated when she spoke to him in turn.
Fenriskmoonghost slip through all claws, yes, but not
claws of best! Best Wher coming catch Fenrisk! Even slippery ghost no
slide through claws. Big words, but he would show her the truth
of them if she would let him.

[kireon]

Impask loosed an even more sinister sounding cackle- the noise that came forth could only be called such a thing, nothing else- as he sped off and veered to the left. He would get the ghost, because he was Impask and shadows could go where solid things couldn not. Smart Fenrisk, to know what answer was. Best ghost for pranks, they would scare everyone, best laughter always. Smart and everything. That she almost smacked into a tree was proof that she was the best, somehow, because she'd had to think and everyone knew a ghost wasn't good at thinking on the run.

...or something like that.

Impask kept to the trees, in the darkness where he was perfectly at home and happy with, skulking swiftly past the underbrush. Big as he was and that off-black color of his hide helped him blend in essentially perfectly, if not for glowing red eyes that shattered the darkness. Fenrisk smart, best ghost.[/b]

He raced up a fallen log, dark talons scouring scars into the deadwood as he launched himself off and lunged, just barely missing the racing white with a shriek of laughter that lapsed into the same hyena-like giggling she had. SURPRISE! FENRISK GET RIGHT; IMPASK ALWAYS AND FOREVER SHADOW. He announced, scrabbling to regain purchase and whirled to continue pursuing the lovely glowing ghost-moonlight wher.

Impa resisted the urge to roll her eyes in response to her wher's hairbrained schemes. He was a troublesome child, and there were no children in that room; just grown adults of varying assortment. She smiled in return, a slight lilt to her voice as she gave a murmured, throaty greeting in response. Whoever the woman chose was sure to be a lucky one that night, though among those who gathered, the losers weren't exactly out in the cold for options either.

She, unlike her wher, was particularly less friendly, less inclined to start immediate trouble- and was more like the shadow he tried to be.

[RavenSong]

Fenrisk kept running, determined to make the best one win through sheer stamina. However, the burn in her limbs told her she needed to make her choice sooner than she really would've liked. Ahh, the curse of being a small white wher. So she decided she'd choose the brightest of them all and the one most like her.

Not in body. In brain. She was a smart one, she thought. She wanted a smart sire for her babies so they'd be smart too, if they developed this time. But she didn't want to hurt the feelings of the other males Chasing her. What to do, what to do... hmm...

Nadysk! she called. Nadysk Goodbrown, Strongbrown, always friend Fenrisk! Come prank with Fenrisk sometime. Yes, yes, surely compliments to their greatness would be sufficient.

Kersk! You funny. Be Fenrisk friend forever! Teach science. She howled to him once more, looping back toward the Weyr.

Trisk! Fenrisk give warn, stay out Dalibor. Not want bite. Nice Trisk! Fenrisk said to the wild black. She was, after all, a nice wher. But she really would bite him if he didn't heed her warning. Once she caught sight of her true target, though, she made her choice.

Fenrisk pick clever Impask, she declared firmly, stopping as soon as she knew Impask would be the first to catch up. Impask best. Other boys for friends. Impask shadow perfect for Fenrisk ghost. OooooooOOOOO!

---

In Fenrimere's quarters, the dark-skinned woman got up and pulled Impa close to her.

"If Impa doesn' mind sharin', I'm not averse t'both of you joinin'," she said to Kerke and Nadya, smiling. She was open to quite a bit when it came to Runs, it seemed. Leaving the question there for Impa to answer, she pulled the Blackhandler to her bed and got busy.

[Rappu]

Kersk's muscles strained, his muscles ached and although he did his best to keep up with the white wher, he was a marathoner, not a sprinter. The white seemed to fly and float effortlessly from wher to wher. Kersk could have followed her for a long time - from afar. He huffed and snorted, focusing only on Fenrisk. His competitors might have been ahead, flashes of colour in the dark, but the blue wher's eyes stayed glued on Fenrisk.

Just looking wasn't enough. The white looped around him, flitting away as a flash, and elicited a frustrated bark. Kerke watched as Fenrisk chose Impask, watched a little while after the two, and turned. He was disappointed, but it only stung a little. Nothing like Kerke's heartaches, at least. He could go and tear up a good pile of bacon, sleep some and tomorrow it would be better. Scratches and bruises healed.

Kerke smiled at Fenrimere's suggestion, opening his shirt and revealing sleek, trimmed muscles and slightly tanned skin. "I'd be honoured. Learned a thing or two way back when..."
Tonight he wouldn't suffer heartache or loneliness. Tonight would be the perfect kind of casual fun that made doubts and worries disappear.