Righting Wrongs {Annith's First Flight}

[Admin]

Here it comes in the morning,
I’m just trying to forget,
Keep it real, keep it simple,
And somehow just get out of bed.

P'nay was sleeping. Surprisingly enough, he wasn't actually sleeping with someone. Since there was no one else to fill up his large cot and warm all of his furs, he was sprawled across the entirety of it, one arm hanging over one side and one foot sticking out from one of the corners opposite that side. He'd gotten to bed at a perfectly reasonably hour the past night, but that didn't keep him from just sleeping on, right into the middle of the afternoon. When he woke up, he would celebrate the fact that his wingleader was the Weyrleader and currently busy detailing with such affairs as the now pregnant Weyrwoman and the young weyrlings, which meant that there wasn't wing practice too often. That gave him plenty of time of time to sleep, spend time jumping R'ish whenever the pinkrider left any place that was public, hanging out with his beautiful dragon, and attempting to sleep with anyone he hadn't yet met in the Weyr. Life was good. The yellowrider was even aware of that as he lay there, sleeping soundly with his mouth wide open in a mixture of soundless snores and rumbling gargles.

At first, Annith was asleep too, sprawled out elegantly on her ledge in a way that was much more flattering than her rider's awkward position on his bed. But the sun hit its peak and she begin to stir, shifting her head as the silky, caressing rays of Rukbat reached her and warmed her soft hide. She basked in the light well remaining in a drowsy, partially asleep state. With her rider still basically unconscious and looking as if he would continue to be so for awhile yet, she felt no great need to stir. There was no pressing matter for her to attend to, and she quite enjoyed sleeping when she got the chance. That day was one of the few days she could get some proper sleep; her rider wasn't doing anything foolish that she was going to end up worrying about as soon as she awoke. He was utterly happy, for the time being, so she was happy as well. Gentle thoughts rolled through her mind - sleep was peaceful, sleeping riders were peaceful, midday and afternoon sunlight is so warm, midday and afternoon sunlight is the best, plenty of time to sleep, sleep, gentle rolling happy calm sleep, sleep, sleep . . . hunger, fierce sharp hunger.

Partially translucent eyelids slid open to reveal eyes that swirled a very pure, shockingly bright shade of blue. For a few moments, they continued to whirl lazily as her mind gradually woke up from her state of groggy dozing. Then they picked up speed as she became more agitated. Red tainted the blue, mixing with it to produce stains of purple where the two conflicting shades touched each other in her faceted eyes. She cared less about what was happening around her as she awoke; the world fell away from her even as it came more into focus physically. One slender toed, elegant foot was placed flat on the stone underneath. She eyed her own hide with interest for a moment. The difference in its typical appearance was subtle; there was a soft glow to the pale yellow that was her coloration. Snorting lightly, she rose to her feet in a rush, stretching out her neck in the process as she snaked her body around upon her ledge. She was not an exceptional beauty; she wasn’t vain enough to even really care or pretend that she was. She was no golden or coppery Queen. She was just a long, skinny yellow. For today, that was going to be enough though.

Stretching her neck out long, she let out a long, sweet, trumpeting call. She surveyed the bowl with mild interest, still feel very peaceful despite the odd, gnawing hunger that had developed in her stomach and chest and seemed to linger in every fiber of her body. Hard claws gripped the edge of the ledge where she had rested and her tail flicked lightly once behind her. The trumpet of that one delicate note was repeated and she stretched out her neck once again, looking skyward now. Something gripped at where her heart and her throat were, though she felt oddly detached from them. She wanted to fly, but she was so hungry. Food, blood, the thoughts were strong and firm in her. Gripping them liked she gripped the stone under her feet, she dropped out into the open air. Her wings snapped out on either side of her to catch her before she tumbled right into the ground just a short couple dozen feet below her. It was such a small distance, one that gave her no pride in conquering. Sweeping her wings downward to force herself a tinge higher for the time being, she glided across the bowl.

THUD! "Ow;" P'nay groaned, reaching a hand out in front of him to whack at the stupid ground that had decided to be a butt and make contact with his face when he'd rolled off the side of his bed. Shaking off the blow, he opened his eyes and tried to blink his sleepy mind into wakefulness. Something was happening. His 'I'm going to be getting some sometime soon' sense was tingling. It was almost as reliable as his ability to always flirt with the hopefuls on a search that were going to end up as candidates. Something, something, something, what was this something that was happen? Oh right, his dragon was flying . . . Oh Faranth, Anni was flying! He scrambled to try to get to his feet and hurried for the main part of the weyr, spinning around to avoid colliding into a wall that was inconveniently placed next to the door. He tried to rub sleep out of his eyes as he stumbled out, feet brushing lightly against the cool stone. Then just trying to blink sleep from his eyes instead, he peered out. Sure enough, there was Annith, gliding off. This hadn't been expected. She'd been as sweet-tempered as ever. She didn't look all that much different even now.

Oh well! So what if there hadn't been all that many signs that she'd been going to rise? It was certainly better than having her growling and snapping for days like Kalith had been preceding the Queen's maiden flight the past season. He grinned as he watched her and stretched lazily, thoughts darting about as he felt excitement and bits of dragon lust well up inside of him. There wasn't anything wrong with this. Annith would let a handsome, fine male dragon catch her and then he'd get to jump, on the context of being overwhelmed with flight feelings, whatever poor unsuspecting soul rode that honorable, amazing male dragon. To him, the prospects of this new experience seemed bright. In the past, he'd enjoy the effects of others flights; all flights were fun for him. This one was going to be extra special, and therefore had to be extra fun! And, better yet, he didn't even have a shirt! Now he just had to fix his hair. Scrunching up his face, he turned his attention away from his dragon for a moment and turned to trying to flatten his hair. Being just a tinge vain, he felt the need to look as pretty as his dragon.

Trying to avoid scaring the herdbeasts at first, Annith skirted towards the side of their pens. Then she darted over a group of them and dropped on the first one that her eyes fell on. Polite as could be, she bled it, not wishing to bother her rider by starting an argument with him by trying to actual eat. Sucking the young buck that she'd grabbed dry, she stood up from where she'd been lying on the ground and daintily licked the blood that had stained her muzzle and teeth off with her tongue. She eyed the herdbeasts that had fled far across the pen to try to escape her and then launched herself in the air again. For a moment, they tried to evade her but it didn't take her long to fall down on top of another young buck. She silenced it with a swift, bone snapping bite and licked at the blood that seeped from the wound, but her hunger felt satiated. The urge to fly became overwhelming. She flung her head back again and let out another melodic trumpet. It asked a simple question - who would like to come fly with her? Who thought they could catch her? Powerful muscles tensed and then loosened, and she was sky bound with easy sweeps of her wings.

Sunlight creeps in between the curtains,
Lose the sheets there’s no time for sleep,
I lie, I pretend ‘til I’m almost certain,
It’s a beautiful world.

[kia]

There was still so much to see and so much to do. The Lake had been perfect that day when he met P`nay and Chelo. The food was excellent, and the klah never seemed bitter to him. The skies were pure was that beautiful blue. And clouds so white that it was a shame when night decided to come through. And despite all these temptations and wanting to explore, Lio was still attached to Pern and his dragon. And if it was not for Mikidith, Lio would have been up all night staring at the bright stars. So, instead of curling up in his own bed, he had removed all his riding clothes for his nightwear and grabbed a blanket to curl up next to his dragon. Mikidith was so far and so comfortable. They were two hearts connected into once. The Brown loved his Rider, and the Rider loved his Brown. And together they had curled up for a long peaceful sleep.

The sun was rising and Mikidith had awoken. Careful not to wake his Mine, who had curled around his tail, Mikidith stretched his neck out to catch the few morning rays. It was going to be another peaceful day. Nothing could ruin this day. The only things that could happen would make this day even better. There were Weyrlings, and still some Candidates. So there was enough for a future Queen`s clutch, since non-Queen colors could not clutch. His eyes whirled with greens and blues, happy colors as he thought about what he and his Mine should do. Then, there was a blur. It was not golden, but yellow. But a bright, shiny yellow. And there was the source of it all. His eyes changed to that purple lust as red invaded his eyes. He would catch her. He had already thought she was beautiful in the past, but she was gorgeous now. She was a Queen in his eyes.

Mine, Annith Rises. I am off to chase, Mikidith quickly told his Rider, not wanting to miss a minute of it or else he would never forgive himself. And even though his Rider seemed not to hear and clung to his tail, the Brown stood up and tried to slowly remove his tail from his Rider`s grip. That did not work too well as plan as when it came to the tip of the tail, Mikidith`s strength picked up Lio and knocked him over onto his back, hitting his head on the floor. That woke him up. The man, now sprawled on the floor, turned to look at his dragon. “Where are you going?” he cried out, a little grumpy considering the dream that he had been having.

Annith Rises! I must chase this Queen! She is beautiful. You know I have admired her since the day we met. She is P`nay`s Yellow, Mikidith replied again, now leaping off the ledge to follow the Yellow. P`nay? P`nay! Yes! He remembered the rider. The man was handsome enough. And if Chelo had not been at the lake that day, surely he and P`nay might have had a chance to get to know each other better. But, alas, that had not happened. And he had been sad to part ways with P`nay. He really wanted to get to know the man along with maybe a few others. But P`nay did strike a true interest in him. Lio did not have time to dress. The effects were beginning to take over. But he did not resist. Instead, he stood and smiled. Fly hard and fly fast, my friend. And try to win if you can. I really would like to get to know P`nay better, indeed, he told Mikidith, who bugled back his answer that he would try his best.

Mikdith landed on a ledge near where Annith was blooding her kill. Even as she was about to Rise, she was a beauty and such the lady he had pronounced her to be. This would be a thrilling Flight once she Rose. He crooned lightly, trying his hardest to keep his songs of praise and beauty within him until they were finally in the air. But he could not help it. She was a Queen in his eyes. And how much he desired to win her was truly not because of only dragon lust and passion. He had met her before, known her to be sincere and kind, never mean to anyone. Such qualities he loved instantly. And now that she was Rising, he could finally give way to the praises that she deserved. She deserved nothing less than what she wanted. And he hoped that he could be her mate. To be the mate of such a queenly Yellow would be one of the greatest gifts Pern could ever give him.

She finally Rose into the air. Such beauty, agility, strength, and pride. He took off after her, bugling back to her call. He would chase! He would not fall out. He did not care how much it would tax him in the end. He had to prove to her that he was capable of being worthy as her mate. And for a quick moment, he bugle another call, saying it was not just his desire that he chased her, but it was because he knew how kind she was and that his Mine had a pure interest in her Mine. But, in case that she did not want to hear those things during the entire Flight, he returned to his songs of praise, praising her beauty, her presence, her kindness, and how she was a Queen in his eyes.

[4horseshowgirl4]

It was quiet in the infirmary. All of today's cases were either patched up and sent home or sleeping their ills away. B'nyur was lazing off, stirring every few minutes to tidy something or another up. Finally, he saw a Kingrider walk by, looking into the idle infirmary, with some dirt on the floor and a spill of some concoction here or there, with a surprised glance. That was enough motivation for the two slackers, B'nyur and Oveth. B'nyur heaved to his feet and grabbed rags, throwing a large brush at Oveth. He let soapy water cascade onto the wide expanse of the floor. The infirmary always seemed plenty big, as it had to be able to accommodate many dragons after serious events, but it never seemed so massive as when they had to clean it up. It wasn't worth asking drudges to do it. They never seemed to know where everything was supposed to go, and it wasn't like the Bluepair had anything better to do at the moment.

{You can scrub the floor, Oveth,} B'nyur ordered, somewhat teasingly, although Oveth already knew what the stiff-bristled brush meant. Oveth's sheer bulk meant that he could simply close his talons firmly around its end and use his weight to dig into the stone floor with far more efficiency than any human could. Still, it was a standing joke between the two that B'nyur made his dragon do such a demeaning task. He grinned slightly, waiting for Oveth's half-hearted protests that 'he was a dragon and dragons weren't shelled to scrub floors' or something along those lines, but the sharp retort never came. Puzzled, the Dragonhealer shot a look at the Blue, who was doing his duty, albeit very slowly. Something seemed to be distracting him-- he spent more time looking out of the infirmary's windows than at the floor he was supposed to be scrubbing.

B'nyur capped a bottle of redwort solution that he'd spilled earlier, and, mopping up the last drops, he set the rag down and marched over to Oveth, slapping him lightly on the shoulder. "What's up, buddy?" he said out loud, mentally pulling Oveth's attention toward him as one would physically haul on a runner's reins to swing its head around. Oveth's eyes darted toward His for a moment before turning back out the window. {Oveth?} B'nyur asked again, the Healer in him already guiding his hands over Oveth's stocky body, searching for a hot spot that would indicate pain. However, he knew that Oveth's issue was not physical. But what was distracting him so? If Kalith or another important person or dragon was arriving, he would be bouncing around, excitedly announcing to B'nyur what was happening. Suddenly, ten Turns with a Blue in a busy Weyr came back to B'nyur, and he frowned, realizing what was going on a moment before Oveth finally deigned to tell him.

A beauty is rising! Oveth said, his voice full of awe and respect. Please, Mine? I stand a chance of catching her here! Without really waiting for a response, he uncurled his claws from the brush and pushed and shoved his way out of the infirmary, his blue eyes slowly, almost imperceptibly, purpling. {Who is she, Oveth?} B'nyur asked. They stood at the edge of the Weyrbowl, a light autumn breeze flowing lazily over them, relaxing B'nyur and energizing Oveth. Mine, she calls!

[/color] Oveth's voice was full of his straining to find the lovely source of the beautiful, melodious summons that reached their ears. {Go, Oveth! Fly your heart out!} B'nyur slapped Oveth's shoulder again, but more encouraging than jokingly reprimanding this time. {You can do it!}

Oveth didn't wait for another word. His knew he could do it, so surely he could! He rocked back onto his haunches and launched himself into the air, his wings flapping hastily to keep him airborne until he hit his rhythm. Just then, he saw the object of his pursuit. It was Yellow Annith! Her feelings of lust and desire had already infiltered his system, but the emotions hit him with full force as he feasted his eyes on her. On the other side of the Bowl, B'nyur felt the first flush of the inevitable feelings that weren't his wash over him, and he walked briskly away from the infirmary, toward where he thought P'nay's weyr was. He was confident that his weyr would be pretty easy to find. Undoubtedly, people of all types would flock toward P'nay's dragon's Flight. Oveth was assured of stiff competition, and, as he wasn't exactly the finest Blue around and had never had success even chasing Greens, he could be fairly certain that Oveth would not emerge as the victor when this Flight was finished.

B'nyur settled against the wall on the inside of P'nay's weyr when he finally found it, leaning his large shoulders against it and making himself comfortable. Slowly, he was losing more and more control of his thoughts and feelings and becoming Oveth, and he finally surrendered to the feeling. Still, just as Oveth would never advance on a female until he had her express permission, B'nyur echoed his dragon's tendencies and stayed where he was, only nodding to P'nay. The 'Rider had not yet shown interest in him, and it would be rude to assume that he had. P'nay/Annith knew that B'nyur/Oveth were interested, otherwise they wouldn't be here. B'nyur/Oveth was confident in that face, so he would wait and let the other make the first move.

Oveth had no breath to wrap Annith in song as Mikidith had. He was pouring forth all of his energy into pursuing the lustrous Yellow, his wings flapping frantically and his tail whipping back and forth in his eagerness to join her. He would wrench his wings off of his shoulders before he willingly let another catch her! He soared below her, well out of reach, showing her that he wouldn't be so audacious as to make a move himself. Still, as a Blue, he was naturally speedier than the larger Annith and Mikidith, and, while lurking harmlessly far below Annith, he easily caught up to her, flying just behind her large shadow. She was a beauty, she was! Oveth was not worthy of her, but he would try his best for her! Such a dragon as her deserved no less! No, no! And while he could not match her quality, he could prove to her that he was the best of all of her suitors! And if he was not, then she would remember that he had tried![/right][/font]

[fidelli]

Oh where oh were could my baby be
The lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven so I've got to be good
So I can see my baby when I'll leave this world

F'del and A'mor had just broken up. It was an oddity - A'mor had woken up in his own room, and F'del had woken up alone. It was so confusing for the both of them that perhaps a dragon had to comfort an upset rider - but back to the beginning. F'del and A'mor had been on and off Weyrmates for such a long time, they had just begun to accept the fact that they weren't going to find anyone else willing to deal with them. A'mor tended to be grumpy and snappish and haughty and bouncy and sweet by turns all depending on who it was, and F'del was too relaxed to really make good friends with anyone - that was why they had each other. A'mor kept him safe when he over-dosed on fellis, and F'del held him back when A'mor got ready to dive into a fight headfirst without thinking about it. They loved each other like a pair of brothers who could occasionally share a kiss - nothing sparkling romantic, but it was enough for the both of them. Altith had Caught Noyth every time she had risen - it was just a sure fire thing that they would be seen together and do things together, and the dragons were best friends, if not Weyrmates.

Of course, that all changes when you have something to fight over. Both of them were close enough to share mixed feelings about the children under their care. A'mor had been thinking that F'del had been ignoring Esper too much - the boy often just disappeared - and F'del, being the type he was, let the boy go. It also didn't help that Anima had impressed and he didn't, but that was another argument for another day. Right now, they were fighting over the newly Impressed Whiterider - listen in, go on.

"I can't believe you would honestly think that of me!" The slow, slightly lower pitched voice that brimmed with anger was F'del's, as he glared from across the room at A'mor. "Of course I think that! She's my little sister, I'm in charge of her!" A'mor's voice was slightly higher pitched, the thinner man's voice louder and quick compared to the drawl F'del never lost. "I wouldn't do that! She is another Weyrling - And she is MY sister just as much as Esper is YOUR brother." Two dragons watched silently - a big deal for one, and not so much for the other. They were sentinels, silent as the war was raged. "If she is your sister, I expect you to take care of her!" A'mor's words were bitten off at the end, almost slurred together, but years of living with him meant that F'del knew what he had said. "I can't show any special treatment! She already has it hard enough with Zucerroth being blind - her sharding brother is a Master Dragonhealer, and her other one is the Weyrlingmaster! She Impressed one of the most rare dragons on Pern, and you expect me to coddle her? She would hate me!" His voice cracked, and A'mor only glared at him. "If you cared about her, you would make sure she was alright." An angry snarl erupted from F'del, as Ribbon perched on his shoulder trilled her anger. "I am doing the best I can." Around A'mor ranged three flits - all gifts from F'del. They responded in turn, but they growled at Ribbon - they couldn't be angry at someone they considered just as much as Their's as A'mor.

"Than you aren't doing all you can." The blow was like a slap to the face, and F'del reeled back from the strike. "How... How dare you?" It was a question more than an exclamation, a whisper slicing through the silence that had fallen. Altith slipped back among the tunnel, out off the ledge that was Noyth's, and darted back to their Weyr - he couldn't be present during this fight. Noyth had crawled up closer to Her's, a comforting presence despite the fact that she couldn't do anything, and A'mor blushed a ragged red as he realized what he had said... But he stayed silent, and F'del did something very unlike him - he stormed out. The generally soft spoken, patient man was gone - in his place was a raging, slightly wild eyed person that was nothing like the Weyrlingmaster. He was quiet lucky that it was the afternoon, and lessons were over for the day - he wasn't a necessity unless something bad happened, and the whole Weyr was watching them for any signs of misbehaving.

Out the door of his friend's weyr and he stormed the corridors and halls til he found his - he and Altith had been moved to one with a bigger desk, befitting his station as Weyrlingmaster... Plus, he needed the room - papers were ordered everywhere and he had notes on every single Weyrling and everything about them. He and Altith hadn't minded the move... But now F'del found it too empty, too quiet. Altith was in his couch, the child's equivalence of sneaking away and pretending not to hear when parents fought. F'del came up to him now, wrapping an arm up with his leg and curling up next to him - the only comfort in the silence.

The reason behind the fight? A'mor had been nervous that Anima had bonded a Blind White, and had asked F'del to keep a closer watch on her. F'del, already knowing the other Weyrlings would mock her and Zucerroth for being a disabled pair, knew that his station and her brother's weren't going to help matters - he was planning on staying away from her as much as possible without hurting her feelings. A'mor had thought it wasn't right, and the fight had escalated, leaving them oddly alone. The day passed quietly, and the morning after they ran on auto-pilot - a lecture about Thread and the different types of Craft's, and he had let them all have the afternoon off. Perhaps that wasn't the wisest thing, for he ended up sprawled over his cot, hazed on more fellis than he usually took and totally out of everything - even the feelings Altith was sending to him.

Altith had watched His slowly spiral into depression, and had been panicking over it. He had no idea what to do - he generally ignored F'del's problem and they lived quite happily. But he was in a stupor, and Altith had to do something to knock him out of it! Of course, a Flight always got the juices pumping. Altith hadn't ever really spoken to Annith yet - he had meant to, she was pretty and sweet and kind, but the babies had distracted him from other dragons, and now he slightly regretted it. On his ledge sunning, the oddly colored Purple rose to his feet, patiently walking back inside... Alright, patiently bouncing back inside. Mine. No response. Mine. Nothing. Finally, with a huff, Altith walked over and shoved F'del off of the bed. It got a response... Barely. "Wha?" The Purple snorted down at him, and nosed the Rider to his feet. Go to Annith's room - Her's is P'nay. I Chase her, and I win her for you.

It was a noble cause, and after a few more explanations F'del understood. Beyond complaining, he stumbled to the door and out of it... Everything was so slow, even the colors. Pacing slowly towards where he knew the Yellowrider must be, he only managed to get there because Altith was slowly taking him in, Altith/F'del making it there on Altith's energy alone. The light Purple with all of his random colors had fallen from the ledge, stretching out wings that were too big, but fit him anyway. The splotched and splattered wings caught the air easily, only stopping at the pen to quickly snatch up a beast and blood it himself. He didn't need F'del for this - he had done it too often. Now, although she was already in the skies, did he take flight again, the beast's blood humming a happy tune in his head. Altith/F'del caught up quickly, in steady slow wingbeats, and looked over those there. A happy bugle of greeting to everyone, and then they were focused on the Yellow, the star of the show.

It didn't matter what was going on outside of the Flight - here, everything was game. F'del/Altith walked in, the drugs and blood and anger and lust all mixing together to create something more than what they generally had. Altith knew he had to win, for His - His needed someone to have now that Noyth's refused to talk to him. The Yellow before them was so pretty, and he fell behind the Brown, and slightly below him, saving energy. He was a talkative dragon - he showed his pleasure at being allowed to chase in a series of croons and yips and lazy rolls, enjoying the sun and the sky and the air caught under his wings as he followed the beauty to the stars and beyond. He would hold back until she needed him, and then he could carry Her home - he had to - for F'del.

When I woke up
The rain was pouring down
There were people standing all around
Something warm falling into my eyes

[jack]

R'ish had woken up aggravated. He wasn't entirely sure why, but the moment his eyes had snapped open he'd sat up...and downright glowered at the wall before him. And even now, a few hours later but still too early for his sleep schedule, he was still quite annoyed, pacing his room and gnawing on his thumb like a toddler hell-bent on thinking up trouble.

Gyth watched him with sleepy eyes, her wings folded partially over her head as though attempting to block out the man's continuous streams of inner cursing an monologuing..which always ended with an outloud yell and then a small temper tantrum in which he finally announced he couldn't figure out why he was mad in the first place. And then off he'd be again, ranting and raving like a wher ready to run and trapped in a tiny cave.

But while R'ish began anew his childish cycle, Gyth lifted her pretty little head, eyes whirling with amusement. Perhaps she'd found out why Hers was acting so strange! Mine.. "And I just can't make sense of it, by Faranth! I'm a quiet guy--a suave guy--I don't get pissed! Augh! But if that was true why am I so angry?! Shard it all! It makes no frag--" Mine.

The blond wheeled on his partner, eye twitching as he held his fists tight at his sides, the streak of green in his hair--yet another failed attempt--matching the look on his face all too well. "What is it, Gyth?"
The Pink giggled, seeming to be quite amused with her discovery, Annith is going to Fly today, R'ishMine! Isn't it exciting?

R'ish downright shut down. All bodily functions froze, all thoughts poofed into thin air, his furious expression melted away into a blank slate....and he stared....emptily...ahead.... "WHAT?!"

Before Gyth had a moment to think Hers was out of the room, shrugging some more decent clothing than his sleep-wear--or lack thereof--before darting faster than she'd ever seen him move towards the Yellow's Weyr. Gyth giggled to herself, tilting her head with a flick of her tail. While he knew that his lovely Gyth couldn't fly Annith, it seemed that he was intent on flying her rider! How delightful!

But it wasn't her business, and as R'ish slowed his pace to a walk and lazily approached P'nay's quarters, Gyth settled down in peace, deciding that now would be a grand time to take a nap. After all--her sleep had been very much interrupted by a grumpily-jealous Mine!

---

"Gotta say--this place isn't half-bad." T'el rolled onto his back as he spoke, grinning absently to himself as he peered from his perch--a random cliff face, mind you--towards the distant Weyr. Sjueth gave a rumble of agreement and flicked his tail, carefully adjusting his grip on the strange Iron-Rider. The man was literally back against the wall of a sheer cliff, his head dangling hundreds of feet above sharp pointy rocks and his arms crossed over his chest. One leg was absently crossed over another, the other leg disappearing into the mouth of his Iron partner.

Now why His decided this would be a good idea was well beyond Sjueth, but the Iron had decided as of late that not many good ideas rattled around in His's mind anymore. It was as though all the shock he'd suffered before was...belatedly coming to town. But it wasn't too much of a shock to him, and the Iron took it with grace, an amused look at His's antics the only reaction he gave.

But while he was intent on keeping a grip on his Mine, he noticed a flicker in the distance. Without warning he lifted his head, T'el giving a displeased squeak as he was lifted above his 'leaning post' and into the air before being rather roughly deposited on the dragon's neck. "Well that was rude! Droppin' a fella like that. What would you have done if it hadn't been your back? I could'a smashed my head open."

Not that he could have smashed his skull should he have dropped down the cliff.

A Flier.
"Oh?" T'el--draped across his dragon's neck--immediately moved into a more appropriate position, a brow arched and a curious look in his crazed eyes, "What kind? A flit? 'Cause those are boring."
A dragon, Mine. Yellow....she is very pretty.
"Oh-ho-ho! Old fellow has some spark in him yet." T'el cackled and grinned, licking his lips, "Mm~ Pretty girl Yellow, eh? Bet she has a pretty rider." His look grew wicked, "You want to chase, don't you baby? I feel it in yer neck. Well....normally I wouldn't agree with this decision(outright lies made him feel better, you see)...but as me and the lucious ladies have not had a get together in a while...I suppose it couldn't hurt to make a sudden appearence, hm? Just drop me off within walking distance and out of sight."

Sjueth didn't need anymore encouragement. A short grunt and he was into the air, powerful wings skyrocketing him into the air. He glided for a few miles before suddenly dropping lower, pausing only for an instant to let His drop to the ground before darting back up again.

The Iron's song was rich and pure, filled with nobility and grace as well as an undertone of life-experience and power. He bugled to the lovely Annith loudly and proudly, not afraid in the least to show off his existance to not only the beautiful sun she had become, but to the whole Weyr! Let anyone try and pick this brilliant yellow diamond from the sky while he still stood!

Brimming with energy he came in close, gliding along near the other suitors. He cast a glance upon them but did no more, not wanting to start a conflict. The gem would choose her suitor...but Sjueth would show her how effortlessly he spotted her amongst the rubble..he would show her that he was superior to the mud, the water, and the garish paint that dared to try and claim her. She was a shining diamond! A beauty that should be cleaned and adored..and what better to bring a gem from the earth than iron!

[Admin]

I'm keeping up, keeping up with the time lapse lifeline,
And they can run they can run from the farm to the last ride,
And we can hear we can hear the first beat to the flat line,
I'm keeping up, keeping up with the time lapse lifeline.

A bugle. A brown chased her. A familiar brown. Lake, water, fun, compliments, Mine and another, sparks and fabled romances that just lasted a moment. Thoughts filtered through her mind, gentle and soft. There was a burning fire, but it didn't seem able to do anything but make her shine. She wasn't jealous. She wasn't disdainful. Her heart went out to her pursuer, embraced him for everything that he was. The only uncertainty lay in whether that would mean that he could catch her or not. He bugled to her again, speaking to her with the raw emotion of it that he knew her, that he knew of her kindness. What kindness? Was she kind? Was she simply kindness? What was she? She was Annith! She was yellow! She was strong. She was soft. She cared. Did that make her kind? Did it matter? She cared so little about the compliments. Even as she shone, beckoning all to follow her with powerful wing strokes, there lacked any fierceness to her. There was just that urge, that instinct, that told her to fly, but that was all. She flew because she felt that it was right; there was no vendetta, no conquest in it.

There was another. He was smaller; he was bluer. He did not sing to her. All he did was fly after her. Look how hard he flew to try to catch her though! What if he hurt himself? What if he couldn't do that? Concerned touched at the yellow's thoughts for amount, but she resigned herself to the fact that she couldn't tarry. She did not know if he was the right one; she could not show him favor above any other suitor. That would be unkind to them, if she was not to pick them. It would be unjust to cause them any pain that was unnecessary. She let out another bugle, sweet pure voice punctuating the air in a short, delicate song as she sang in the only way a dragon could. It was not the conventional sort of song, but something that pierced and pervaded, stirring emotions by its sheer intensity and strength. There was the sweetness, showing the typical image of what she was, but it showed that she was not one to give up. She was strong! She would fight for what was right! She added more speed to the strokes of her slender, delicate wings, forcing her elegant body skyward with utter determination.

Another joined in the chase. He was larger than the blue at least, and much more purple than either of the other two. She knew who he was; she could identified the odd mixed purple hide as being the one that belonged to the dragon of the man who took care of the weyrlings. When he arrived, he greeted them all with a bugle, one that was so cheerful and happy. He then crooned and yipped to her, just to her, and rolled about as he joined the others in chasing her, so playful as he flew. It endeared him to her; he was so vibrant and so kind. But the brown was so strong and kind yet too. The blue was determined; she could tell that he was a sweet one too, sweeter than the others. The decision weighed heavy on her, and she strove to rid herself of it, trying to place it out of her mind like her rider could so well. He could keep all those pitiful, horrid, depressing thoughts at bay for so long! He was so strong, so amazing, though no one saw it! She strove yet more skyward, strove for a higher goal, a distant point beyond her own seeing. She would reach it; she didn't have to pick until then, if not farther!

There was yet another suitor. He was largest yet; he was metallic, glimmering faintly in the sun out of the corner of her eye. It was not the same as they way that she glowed, and he did not have her brilliant light yellow coloration. He was more silvery in color, displaying that he was an iron. Under normal circumstances, he outranked her, simply by the color of his hide, but such things did not matter when one such as she flew. His song was sung out loud and proud, so full of nobility and grace with plenty of richness and purity to his powerful voice. He sang with experience, but what did wariness of the world bring to anything? Age was a number, so abstract to her, both simply do her being a dragon, who hardly saw the past or the future all that concretely, and because of how she viewed the world. However, this one flew more effortlessly than the other two, having come up right beside them even after being the last to join in her chase. She held him to no fault, despite not recognizing him in the slightest, and embraced him just like the other three. Annith was no heart breaker, not like her rider was.

Well his dragon got lustily philosophical and soared for the sky, P'nay eyed the collection of men that had filled his weyr. He'd always had this thought that he had some small preference towards females, though he'd never say no to a male, but he was thinking that he was questionable. For a rider who should have been so high on dragon-lust he couldn't tell up from down, he seemed very unfazed. One could say that he had practice wrestling with such urgings, and he hardly fought it. He accepted it and sort of road the resulting wave. He was a bit too mixed up to be anything but confused when R'ish was the third to show up, but he did nothing but grin that devilish grin of his at his pinkriding lover in sheer amusement. "R'ish, darling, you came to celebrate Annith losing her draconic virginity! How delightful;" he drawled. His voice was a husky, breathy pant, showing that he was a bit out of it. However, he then laughed wholeheartedly, seeming to be just enjoying himself; he wasn't bothered with how his voice sounded. This was one of the most fabulous moments in his young life!

The shirtless yellowrider turned his attention to the other three that had found places. "Hello Lio. Should have guessed to see you here. I ain't so blind that I didn't notice that Mikidith fancied Anni;" he addressed the man who was bonded to the brown pursuer of the group. It wasn't a drawl this time. His voice simply conveyed amusement, and he quickly turned his attention to the next, eyes slightly unfocused as he peered through a thick veil of the pounding emotions of his dragon. "Hello bluerider that I do not know. It's going to be so ironic if you win;" he informed B'nyur, sounding just a bit sympathetic now, though still mainly amused about this. There was a longer pause as he turned about again, unable to see the rider of the iron. Where was he? Oh, well, there was one other still. His eyes settled on F'del in a piercing look for a moment that drew out into several. Then he approached the oblivious purplerider and gave him a hug. "You are so screwed up, bucko. My sympathies;" he murmured, then released his captive. He whirled around and faced skyward, attention drifting.

No one else came to pursue her. She shot yet higher skyward, headed out away from the Weyr and out onto open ocean off the island. A blue expanse stretched out below her, and she was suddenly tumbling towards it. She folded her wings against her sides and dropped, falling towards the breaking waves so far below her now. There was Hers, in her mind, there with her now as she fell! He'd been doing odd things, speaking to those who chased, at least to the other sides of those who chased, to their lifemates, their other halves. It didn't matter. She tried to let the world fall away as she fell towards it, thrilling in the feeling of the wind whipping around. Such a dive gave her a few short moments of utter freedom. Then, at the oddest moment she could feel to pick, she spread her wings wide and arched her way back skyward, dancing agilely through the sky. She was thin as could be, built on such delicate lines, but she was larger than the more normal agile greens and pinks. What was she? Was she just Annith? Was she one that you could catch? Even she didn't know the answer to that.

It was just like that,
Was like that,
And just like that,
And just like that, it's done.

[kia]

Mikidith crooned and bugled to his lovely Queen. She sang his songs of praise. Oh how beautiful she was. How agile she was. Nothing compared to her. She was brighter than Rukbat. Her shine could light this entire world. No, she was the light of this world. He had seen beautiful female dragons, but never one such as her. Nothing compared to her the moment that he had laid his eyes on her. He knew he must have her. But that was very selfish of him. Only she could choose who she wanted in the end. And he really hoped it was him. He may be a large Brown, but he would never compete for those Coppers and Golds. They did not interest him. But why would any dragon want a Copper or Gold when they could try for a beautiful Yellow. Yes, Yellows were the perfect color. Pern could not have brought forth such a beautiful Yellow such as Annith. Annith was the Queen of Yellows, the Queen of the Skies, and the Queen in Mikidith`s heart. Oh how much he yearned for her.

Lio, still in his nightwear, allowed Miki`s feelings to guide him to P`nay`s weyr. But as his feet carried him from his own weyr to the other`s weyr, he carried a happy smile on his face. And in his mind, he was not only connected with his dragon but also cheering on his dragon. He was wanting Miki to win so he and P`nay could finally get to know each other. And regardless if Miki won the Flight or not, Lio would still pursue P`nay. Lio could not doubt the fact that P`nay was a very handsome man and there was something that drew him to P`nay. And speaking of the devil, there was P`nay there. He heard him speak to R`ish, another fine looking man, before turning his attention to Lio. Lio grinned, flirting and wanting. Then he chuckled lightly. “Aye, there was no denying that Miki had his eyes on your precious and very beautiful Yellow. But it is not just Miki who was interested in Annith,” he replied back to the man, winking and hinting. And while he said this, he rather hoped that Miki would win.

The sea came into Mikidith`s narrow vision. All he saw was the Yellow Queen in his sights. Of course he kept aware of his settings. If he did not, he would not have noticed the ocean that lay ahead of him.And he saw her tumbling towards the water. He sped just a little, but stayed behind her in case she corrected herself. He was offering himself to her for if she needed help. But she did not need help. No! She was agile and quick and smart. She did not need anyone`s help in her fall. It was as if she had planned it. He folded his wings and fell with her. The ocean was getting closer and closer. But he was determined to follow her and show his strength. But at the same time, he continued his songs of beauty. No Queen matched Yellow Annith. She was one of a kind. A true Queen! And Mikidith hope that she would grace him with her presence as he mate. And then she suddenly arched upwards and headed back to the skies. Mikidith was quick to respond as he arched his body toward her. There was a little tension in his body as it rebelled to do what it was told, but the lust of the Flight had more control than anything. And now, in that moment, both LioMikidith were even more determined to win. They would not drop out. They dared not drop out. They could not lose this chance to prove themselves as somebody interesting to ones that they were very much interested in.

[fidelli]

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

;;Altith chased, purple and blue whirling eyes focused on one thing. She was as pretty as the early-rise, and the Purple knew he had to catch her. She had to pick him - His needed Her's! His wings stretched out, the too big articles catching air in huge sweeps and thrusting himself after her as she shot forward, a glimmering star in the morning that refused to be outshone by Rukbat. She was pretty, and kind, and determined, and he lost himself in the beauty that she didn't realize she had. For His, he would Catch her, but the unselfish dragon didn't realize that he wanted her to, in a far different way that he had wanted to ever Catch Noyth. She was so pretty, and her kindness had been spread around the Weyr through both human and dragon speech.

;;An Iron joined the Chase, and Altith barely spared a glance for the newcomer - until he realized that it wasn't one he knew. Then the Purple swung a pale head around for a moment to study him, only curious. Perhaps he had just transferred over - perhaps it was like the Brown that Kalith had ripped apart. It didn't matter - may the better dragon win. He turned back to the glimmering creature up ahead, and sang to her with all he could - the notes of desperation that pushed him forward bled into the song, and he followed her up and up, wherever she would lead - she could be the savior for them both.

;;Jade eyes watched the yellowrider with as much attention as his dragon fixed the yellow, although his were clouded with pain and drugs. He was speaking to them all in turn - if F'del focused hard enough, he could understand him. The first was... A Pinkrider? Pink's were females... It was too hard to comprehend - he leaned up against the wall and simply watched, feeding his strength to the Purple flying. He watched, a simple shadow that he had been and always would be, until the brilliant eyes met P'nay's. He looked at him too deeply, for too long - F'del's gaze drifted downward, the rider knowing that he was not worth this young man's attention. It was simply a dragon caring for His that led him to stand here before a young man that deserved so much better... And then warm arms were around him, and a soothing voice. F'del returned the hug for as long as it was there - a warm comforting body that cared. Flight lust barely filtered in there, some of it blocked by the pure emotion of sadness that crept under his skin and threatened to overwhelm him.

;;But Altith was there to rescue His, and lost a few wingbeats as he dove back into His's mind, battling away the fear and sadness that often overswept people who thought they had nothing left. When the rider let go F'del missed the warmth - but had Altith to curl back into, and let him go without a fuss... Although the warmth of a human touch still left a steady ache in his heart that a dragon couldn't touch. Now F'del felt selfish - through all the haze he could feel that Altith really did like this dragon, and that something was driving him to catch Her. He gave Altith all of it, and once again they were F'del/Altith, back sweeping into the skies, behind the Iron and Brown but cheerfully crooning the primal song of praise and joy that she deserved.

;;On and on, with the sky as their playground, Altith/F'del used all of the endurance they had built up chasing after her. She was the one thing that might save the two of them - they were enough together, but not too proud to admit that everyone needed to be held. A'mor and Noyth were too proud - they could not ever go back to the way it was with them, and now Altith/F'del knew that they needed this. On and on, on past the land and into the ocean that spanned below. Altith could see shipfish dancing in the waves, struck by the emotions that heated the air and sang through the wind, and rejoiced in the giddiness they brought with them. And then the yellow gem was falling, folding her wings and diving down to the sea. She looked like a tear drop that the sky had released, crying over the fact that it was loosing such a beautiful creature. Altith didn't care - he folded his wings and fell with her, down and down, spiraling without a care in the world.

;;But then it happened - she caught the air far before he thought she would, and startled, thrust his wings out. He could feel the strain on them, and screamed in sudden pain, echoed by F'del - they were too old to make mistakes like this! Altith struggled for a few minutes, gliding along the ocean, and F'del fought with him to return home. But no! Altith would not give up! His NEEDED this! With pain screaming in his right wing, he flapped it gamely, slowly rising in the air and keeping up gamely. He still sang - she deserved it, a quieter cooing croon that was intertwined with desperation and pain, but still idolizing her, using lust and fear for His to push him on, hanging in the back of the back but gamely chasing after her - he wasn't going to Quit, and he had felt much worse pain, doing much stupider things. He could carry them home! He could carry the beautiful, kind creature back... He knew what she was, even as he fought for her. She was Annith - she was kindness, and beauty, and sweetness that cared for everything when she didn't have to. She was happiness... She wasn't just Annith - she was Annith.

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know I'll be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination

[jack]

A smooth smirk slid onto the pinkrider's lips and he gave a pleased hum, sidling over to his rightful place at P'nay's side. Long arms wrapped around the man's back as he chuckled, nuzzling the back of his darling's neck as he crooned, "Of course, darling."

He shifted, following his lover with a wide smirk, allowing him to slide free of his grasp but never wander too far. He looked over the suitors with great interest, his eyes gleaming mischeviously. "Hm~ You're going to let me in on the fun, aren't you babe?" He whispered, draping his arms around the other's waist when he got a chance, "I won't miss out on this."

---

Down the gem went, and down too followed Sjueth, his great wings tucked and his eyes whirling faster and faster. He was strong and fast..but she was so agile and beautiful. The Iron's great shining hide was nothing to her glowing brilliance...he knew that, and it just made him fly harder.

He and His had gone through hell. His had seen it all, and Sjueth had watched it all through that one gloomy eye. But now all that lone eye saw was Annith, and the only thought in his head was of her, of that gorgeous yellow diamond in the sky.

She arched back, skyrocketing up and Sjueth stretched out his wide wings with a snap, tilting himself to the side to spiral up after her. He could not dance as perfectly as her, but the winds were in his favor, and years of flight finely tuned his senses, sending him shooting after her only a winglength behind the others.

He gave out another bugle, strong and pure, calling out to her with his powerful voice. He promised open skies and gleaming stars, polished gems meticulously gathered and lovingly shined. Great seas, shining moons, all were hers! All were hers!

---

Sjueth's feelings were strong, his mind set completely on that gleaming diamond, and T'el shuddered at the strength of it, his dull eyes flashing with need. It had been a while since Sjueth had tried to fly anything, and the adoration he had brimming in him made him sigh, licking his lips.

The rider paused and closed his eyes, honing in on his dragon's need, and smirked, an iron-colored trail appearing before him. "There we are.."

T'el opened his eyes and gave a grin, moving into a run. Sjueth told him the way and the man was eager to follow, slinking his way through the weyr with a manic grin and a pounding heart. Up...down...around...straight...slow.....stop....wait...run...

He came to a sliding stop as the trail took a sudden turn and he paused, slinking slowly up to the doorway before him. Well now. That certainly was no lady! But...he could live with that.

"Mornin', gents." He crooned as he slid in, licking his lips as he looked over each man in turn. But it was P'nay himself that held T'el's attention most cleanly, the man's youthful look and bright eyes attracting the ironrider easily. "Ooh-ho. Aren't you a change in scenery." He licked his lips again and slid further in, holding him proudly as though to show off his rank despite knowing that, should he be caught or recognized, things might get a tad bit nasty.

"Name's T'el. Sjueth is the Iron."

Oh yah. Great way to remain discreet.

[4horseshowgirl4]

Oveth's dark blue wings cut through the air with greater ease as the sheer exertion somewhat tempered his urgent feelings, and he began flying with greater ease. This first part of the Flight would be the easiest for him. It would be later, when the decision came near and everyone's wings were aching, where Oveth, as the smallest participating, would suffer the most. Oveth maintained his position under Annith as she soared higher, tipping his wings into the air to climb to a greater altitude himself. She crooned! Oveth sucked in a great breath of air, panting out a reply that hardly escaped his mouth; a pathetic little squeak. He shook his head, taking in another gasp of air to try again. There! A proper croon, high-pitched and sweet rather than powerful and commanding, came from him, and he tilted his head towards the sky, letting the sound carress Annith, if she deigned to listen to it.

But now was the time to impress her! Oveth was not pushing himself to the fullest now that he had caught his stride, so to speak; untapped speed still lay in his body yet. He had to make his move while he still had the stamina reserves to do so! He crooned again before darting forward, weaving tightly side-to-side, but still easily keeping up with the much larger, slower dragons. New muscles in his wings were used to keep up this serpentining movement far beneath Annith, resting the ones he had been using to follow her upward climb. A flash of bright green spilled into the gleaming purple of his eyes: he was quite enjoying himself. It wasn't often that he was able to show off for such a beautiful female such as Annith! It wasn't often that he was able to put his meager talents forward and try to prove that he was the best! He could not remember his past losses to swifter and stronger dragons than himself, but Oveth would hope beyond hope that Annith would find him just as worthy as the Kings and Sub-Kings in this battle of the sky.

His eyes were only for Annith, though he could not help but notice the sheer size of his competition. For the first time, he felt a rush of anxiety. What if he lost?! What if Annith chose someone else?! No, no! No one else would love her as she deserved to be loved! No one else could care for her as much as Oveth could! What if the winner was mean to her?! Oveth could not let that happen! A franticness overcame Oveth as she dove toward the seas. No, he couldn't let that happen! He had to win! He had to show her that he was the best choice! Perhaps not the biggest or strongest, but the best nonetheless! Maybe he was the long shot in this Flight, but he had a chance, didn't he?

Oveth darted a dragonlength to the right, getting out of Annith's way as she rushed past him. He then climbed into the air, before turning over on his back, making a giant loop in the air. Several dragons had already followed her to the water, and Oveth closed off his loop, pressing his wings to his side and dropping like a stone headfirst to the churning water. The wind screamed as he accelerated, and he seemed to have left his stomach several dragonlengths above his head. His eyes snapped shut against the wind, and Oveth made himself feel how far above the crests of the waves he was, rather than trying to see it through eyes blurred with protective tears. He tried to flatten himself out through the dive all the more, doing anything to will his body to go faster, faster! Finally, his eyes and wings snapped open at the same instant mere yards above the ocean's surface. His muscles strained to slow himself down, the effort seemingly enough to make them almost snap. Oveth extended his limbs toward the gleaming surface as the water, Rukbat's rays bouncing off of it and making it nearly as glimmering and eye-catching as Annith. As his talons dragged through the water, he sent up huge sprays behind him. Finally, he tucked his feet back underneath him and rose back into the air.

"How so, Yellowrider?" B'nyur half-purred to P'nay, smiling warmly, in a way that was on the edge of being flirtacious. He had welcomed Oveth's every thought into his head, and he was slowly losing sight of the people in this room. He stopped seeing P'nay, a man of which he was slightly leery because of his reputation, and only saw the undeniable beauty of Annith. He stepped toward P'nay... Annith... whoever it was... both images swam through B'nyur's head, the images from B'nyur's eyes and those from Oveth's fighting for dominance... but the figure had already moved on to the 'Rider of the next suitor. He felt a quiet pang of disappointment, but as P'nay had left his attention, he lapsed back into Oveth's mind, his presence there urging the Blue on so he would not have to see P'nay choose the attention of another over that of his.

Oveth surged gamely after Annith as she climbed higher and higher, but his wings were aching already. He was tiring from the great effort of showing off and wrenching his body out of the dive, but he would not acknowledge that fact! He pushed his fatigue to the back of his mind, though it still continued to prod at him every few seconds, a nagging worry that grew with every stroke through which he forced his sore wings. Still, he filled his eyes with the enrapturing sight of Annith, and, suddenly, his pain didn't seem so important any more. What was a little tiredness to the greatest prize of all of Pern? He crooned again, though the sound was weak-sounding, betraying his exhaustion.

Oveth summoned up his strength and courage to push past the rest and take the lead in this race where the others seemed content to wait and make their moves in the stretch run. He wrung the last of his speed out of his wings to do so. He was directly behind Annith, letting his smaller body glide in her slipstream. He was spent; at this point, he could do no more than fight until the end and struggle to keep up with those whose endurance was greater than his. He gamely held onto his position, but each wingbeat grew more clumsy and less effective. Still, he fought to hold his form together, doing his best to make each stroke strong, getting the most out of what he had left.

[/font]

[Admin]

Except you're the queen of everything,
As far as the eye can see,
Under your command,
I will be your guardian.

Replies to what he said. A brief contact with someone, with R'ish. Pressing in around him. Having slipped away from the realm where he'd been conscious enough to see, the yellowrider was far away in the skies with his dragon. With her dive, she had pulled him back in and he could feel it all. The lust of a dragon filled him, simplifying matters down to basic, feral thoughts. He was only dimly aware when the iron's rider arrived. There was just the vague knowledge that he was there amongst the others. Away in the sky, he flew apart from them, held up by the joyful soul that he was forever bonded to. And a single tear slipped down his cheek as he stared off towards where they flew. An aching heart that never healed. The pain of being left behind. Memories of others. All those things pressed at him in that moment, and all he did was cry a single tear.

High in the sky, Annith heard her suitors sing there songs as all of them continued to follow as she pressed towards the sky again when she righted herself from her fall. She soared for the sky and the wind that carried her was thick with their voices. They did not meld together but they made such a beautiful symphony together.

There was the brown, with his croons and bugles. His song was one that ever praised her, which she couldn't understand but she appreciated nonetheless. He was always there and so determined to continue after her. He had been there, ready to assist her when she had fallen though she had not needed it, and been quick to follow her when she straightened out of her quick descent. It was plain that he cared. He cared so much for her and thus he had to have a good, kind soul. What more, she could distinctly recall who he was, even in her lower state of awareness as lust gnawed at her mind, as a real person. He was not just some suitor; he was Mikidith, of L'can who preferred to be called Lio. There were memories that tugged at her heartstrings, building him up to be something that was great and good as was possible.

There was the iron, with his strong, pure bugle. It held so much promise, told her that everything was hers. In her naivety, she believed that it was possible, and did not doubt that he was capable of so much. However, she was not the sort to be really tempted, though his song was so beautiful. There was strength and protection to what he offered. She did want the skies, and the seas, and the stars, and the moons; she loved the beauty of the world around her. This suitor said that he knew of such things; that she could have such things. He was the one who knew it all, who offered to wrap her in a warm embrace that where she would be able to see all and know all. The strength and skill of the iron was an utter temptation; he was the ruler of everything that he saw fit to rule. She could see it, see all that he was capable of and knew of.

Then there was the one who had screamed with pain when he had tried to follow her new ascent, the purple with that sadness. An empathic, caring sort of dragon, she had a second sense for such things. He found some strength and still flew after her, though she could see, out of the corner of one of her faceted eyes, that his right wing was weak. Still he sang on, a warbling croon that was touched with desperation. It made her hurt, to know that he was in pain. She had not intended for any of them to get hurt! She had only meant to drive them on! She had only wanted to dance through the sky; she had only wanted to catch the wind so she could feel what it felt. Would he be alright? Why did he not go back? She was not worth it, not worth possibly being maimed for life or suffering from such pain. She never held an illusion she was.

There was one more and he came forward to dominant her sight at the front of all the others as he pressed on. He had crooned, a gentle, piercing sound. He was the one who showed the most exhaustion and his movements were growing clumsier, but she found something endearing in that. He strove so hard so that he could have a chance to win. He had his own sort of courage and his own sort of courage. Nothing about him was normal and everything about him was unique with slight twists of what you would expect. He glided right there behind her; he looked so graceful despite his tiredness. How hard he tried, pushing himself to his limit! It tugged at her heart. Knowing that they were trying so hard for her, all of them and not just the purple, made her entire body ache. She loved there songs! She loved them all! She wanted them safe!

Perhaps it wasn't just that though. Hers was sad. It was all too much! With a loud trumpet, she surged upward, tucked into a minuscule spiral to ascent straight without bothering to go in another other direction except the limits of the sky. She spoke to them all, though the words were focused on her rider. It was an oddity of theirs. Even in the flight, they were so distinct, two voices that only melded into one far back. The conversation rang through the heads of all those participating.
Don't be sad, MineOwn.
I'm not, lovely. Don't stop because I'm bad at concentrating.
I know where I am needed. I know you miss L'oren.
Who? I can't recall anyone by that name.
I know you remember. I know you know Usteth's. I know you love him.
I've never loved anyone.
Of course you have! You love Doppelith's, and Gyth's, and Usteth's, in different ways!
I love you, Annith, love.
I love you too, Mine, love.
No more words were spoke. In the sky, Annith stopped in her ascent and hovered in the air. Long, graceful wings held her aloft but in the same place with gentle, subtle strokes. Her lifemate no longer cried any tears. Despite the moment of weakness, the dull pain that she could feel that he felt had faded back to its normal ache hidden deep inside of him. Joy and light once again conjured both their worlds. A cheerful cry was released from her maw, filling the air with purity.

Blood for blood. Pain for pain. Soul for soul. Two broken souls can mend to one. Heart for heart. Two broken hearts can mend and beat together. She fell a short way, then burst forward to her chosen one of the males. With gentle motions, she locked their claws and twined her tail and neck with his. Her agile, slender body pressed against one that was only slightly more burly. Brilliant yellow was set against deep, mismatched purple and she pulled him from the sky with her as she fell towards the ground without even a thought for ever stopping. For you and Yours, Altith. For me and Mine, Altith; she murmured to him. The horrid idea of leaving the others alone in the sky was overwhelmed by happiness and contentment at her choice. She had caught herself a beautiful purple. The part of her mind occupied by her rider was so proud.

As the lust surged when his yellow chose who she wanted to choose, P'nay lunged for one of the men in his weyr. It was R'ish. He pulled the pinkrider into a quick kiss, firmly gripping his collar in one hand. After a brief moment, he broke the contact and dragged the other man over to F'del. He gripped the purplerider's collar in his free hand and kissed him as well, though it was longer and deeper. The lust pressed him to want to be closer. Some small bit of consciousness won out finally though and he broke apart, so he could drag his two prisoners towards his bed backwards. "Any of you is more than welcome to join us. As I'm sure most of you are already aware of, I'm a whore;" he told them blunt. Chin tilted slightly towards his chest, his arms spread out to his sides, a smile on his face, he looked possessed. Then he continued his dragging.

We're coming apart,
But we hold it together,
Hold it together, together again,
Don't let me go.

[kia]

(( Make this short. ))

Lio could feel Miki`s disappoint in his mind and heart. The Brown had lost. Lost ot his lovely Yellow Queen. He felt this pain and looked over at P`nay. "I congratulate you. Another time perhaps," he said with a gentle smile. But the smile hid his disappointment as well. His heart had been in on this. And in truth, he rather though Miki would win. And it was disheartening to see his dragon so sad. Another Flight, another lost. Lio could feel it inside his mind. You will catch a female one of theses days. There is always Gyth. There was no reply as Lio walked away from P`nay`s weyr. You will win one day. Even if it not Gyth, it will be okay.

Mine, no words...

Lio was quiet. Miki was apparently down. The man watched as his Brown returned to a nearby ledge and curcled up. At least this time he did not end up with a physical scar.

[jack]

The gem had chosen...and it was not him. Sjueth gave a bugling cry, the distress and fury of being won out by a Purple clear in his voice. Muscles stiff and eye whirling in conflicting emotions he whirled from the scene, pumping his tired wings to send him as far away from the glorious diamond and her awfully painted pet as he could get.

T'el turned away from the group as he heard Sjueth's cry, wincing when the great iron betweened back to camp. The man gave a huff of annoyance, quirking his jaw to the side as his eyes narrowed. Stop pouting and go destroy someone, Sjueth. He growled in his mind, the iron giving an annoyed huff of his own before silencing his mental cursing.

While T'el tuned out his dragon's fury and began to mull through 'what the hell do I do now' thoughts, R'ish found himself pulled into a lusty kiss, his eyes wide in shock but soon closed in an eager grin as he kissed right back. But before he could even think about the lust he himself was gathering, he was being yanked and pulled to the side.

"Whoa.." Eyes back to being wide he blinked, staring at F'del with lifted brows...before he was being pulled again. Becoming a tad bit dizzy but altogether quite pleased at the new idea of a threesome, he grinned absently and allowed himself to be tugged to and fro, turning his gaze to F'del.

Nice enough fellow, that was for sure! He could certainly stand a roll in the hay with him...although how much action he'd actually get was a question. Lord knows P'nay had the ability to handle a bundle...but with flightlust...mm. This could be fun!

A brow quirked up sharply, grey eyes gleaming in thought as Sjueth's unfulfilled lust made itself known again in the man's gun, twisting and churning and determindedly clawing at his insides. He licked his lips and cocked his head to the side, a lop-sided grin spreading onto his face as he put his hands to his hips, moving forwards. "I'll take y' up on that, prettyface." He crooned, slinking to the group with odd pride. "That is...if you don't mind a fella from the wrong side of town in yer bed."

[fidelli]

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried

;;All there was was he and the dragon, chasing after something far bigger than the two of them. This was for His. F’del knew that Altith wanted this, more than he had ever wanted anything else – he could feel the way the dragon idolized her kindness, loved the way that she was such a happy creature, and more… But the more was hidden from view, so F’del was content to throw himself in the Purple, eyes lost out into the sky where she had Flown.

Altith was in pain. He could feel the joint had pulled out a little, and that calculated part of His that never went away thought it was most likely just a pulled muscle. F’del could feel the pain in his arm, a numb distant pain like an echo… Which was funny, because he thought it should be amplified by the flight feelings. He had talons where fingers should be, his blood was green and pulsing through his veins… Altith was hoarding the pain from His – he didn’t need to feel anymore of it already. But the walls between them, whatever was left, was steadily dropping, and with a hurr of fear Altith realized that he couldn’t focus on her with everything she needed and not keep the pain from His. The dragon made the choice that wasn’t really a choice at all, and lost whatever he had gained – he stayed steady behind the Iron, but unable to pull ahead.

;;But that pain wasn’t nearly everything. She was everything, her, right then and their. She was different from His, in a different part of his feelings. Annith was a feeling he hadn’t quite felt when flying after others, and he wanted to Catch her even more, to see if the feeling continued on if he caught her. She was different than other dragons, a kindred spirit in the kindness. She wasn’t perfection – there were better shaped dragons out there, with better figures… But she knew that she wasn’t perfect, and that made her something that rose above them all, high on a pedestal that just couldn’t be knocked over. She wasn’t an illusion. She was worth it all. His land was the sky. His wings were bigger than every dragon here, nearly as big as the Iron’s – it made him look ungainly and floppy, when he wasn’t proportional. But here in the sky, it was where he truly regained, and where he danced with the clouds and sang with the wind.

;;She was just as beautiful as the world they flew on now, and she outshone everything in her quiet steady way. He hoped that he deserved her. He hoped that he was even worth what he was doing now, trailing after her like the love-sick puppy he was. You are. I promise. You are every bit as worth it as that Iron is. It was His, suddenly jolted from the fellis and flight lust as though he had been dunked in a vat of ice water. His’s voice was crystal clear, as it really hadn’t been since he had Hatched and first spoken to him, and the sheer force behind the voice made the Purple double his efforts. He would be that worth that His’s spoke of, despite not understanding how he had ever earned it. He would be it, for Annith… And for His.

;;Don't be sad, MineOwn. The voice lingered in Altith’s ears, and he gave a croon of condolence, even as he and F’del’s mind wrapped tighter around each other to fend off the sadness. The sadness was catching, after all. I'm not, lovely. Don't stop because I'm bad at concentrating. F’del blinked suddenly, turning his eyes from the sky to watch P’nay, looking as bright as if he wasn’t high on flight lust and ditzy on fellis. I know where I am needed. I know you miss L'oren. Who? I can't recall anyone by that name. I know you remember. I know you know Usteth's. I know you love him. I've never loved anyone. Of course you have! You love Doppelith's, and Gyth's, and Usteth's, in different ways! I love you, Annith, love. I love you too, Mine, love. The words rang clear in their minds, and yet Altith/F’del only crooned to the brilliant yellow sun. He understood her, more than she would ever know, for Their’s were more alike in that aspect than the two could ever even begin to understand.

;;And then she was halting, high in the sky, and Altith unsteadily rose to flap just below her as her other suitors did. This was the decision, and each dragon here had been in enough Flights to not just dart in and lock claws with the beautiful creature – a Flight, in the end, was only a show, and Annith the judge. His too-big wings cupped the air in powerful strokes, and even through the pair he spun in a happy circle, cheered by her happiness. Despite the pain, despite the tiredness she had dragged them through, it was all worth it. Even if he lost, it had been for His, and any dragon that she picked would be right, for her happy trill was all the noise he needed now. But she was falling! Down, toward where they had ringed below her, and shot towards – right towards him. The other competitors (who Altith had cheerfully thought of as his brand new Flight Buddies) fell away, leaving only them. Right to him she came, tail and neck twining as they twisted together until only color could tell them apart. He clung to her as much as she clung to him, throwing out the large wings to take them home, to the steady pull of F’del.

;;For you and Yours, Altith. For me and Mine, Altith. Her words were enough – he still crooned his song, sang to her with the happiness he felt. The depression was gone, and the notes were touched with relief. This was all for F’del… And as they spiraled from the sky in a flight as old as time, he sang the emotions that he didn’t know could come out any other way. It was all for F’del and Annith. She needed more happiness in her life – the sunshine needed the happy brilliant flutterby to dance in her rays and make her smile

;;F’del, meanwhile, had his mind hooked around Altith, worried for the Purple… But the pain had been totally forgotten as he celebrated the one who had thought he was enough to actually pick him. And then, and only then, did he let the lust swamp over. He always enjoyed flightlust – it lasted for candlemarks, and as Altith knew… A distraction, as far as they went, it was a good one. He came too, looking around wildly for the Yellowrider – to find him lip-locked with the Pinkrider. Dismay made him sway, and uncertainty. What did that mean, the Pinkrider was more desirable than he – and then a hand was around his shirt collar and he got to kiss him. Delightful. F’del was nothing what he usually was. Amiable, cheerful, relaxed – it was all gone, and all that was left was the urge to let everything go. It was long, and wonderful, and he pushed back, wanting to twine with the man as much as he dragon had twined with the yellow… But he was pulling away, and a small whine escaped pouted lips. The bed! That’d be nice, and he eagerly pushed, helping. ‘Any of you is more than welcome to join us. As I'm sure most of you are already aware of, I'm a whore.’ Hmm, he had heard that. He didn’t care – to each his own, and the swamp of irritatence that he didn’t only get P’nay was gone in a flash. Eh, the more the merrier… And he promptly crashed his lips back down on the slightly shorter man. By Faranth, HIS dragon had won the flight, he got to kiss him.

;;But there was two! And F’del was certainly throwing all caution to the wind – he shifted to the Pinkrider that P’nay was holding – R’ash? It didn’t matter – everything was colored and highlighted, and the fellis made it all the more delightful. Anyway, he shifted to the Pinkrider and decided that he would now kiss him – which he promptly did. Yay men! He didn’t mind any of these men joining them… Except…‘I'll take y' up on that, prettyface. That is...if you don't mind a fella from the wrong side of town in yer bed.’ F’del was turning to the Ironrider who was definitely NOT apart of the Weyr. It was probably a renegade that had been rumored to be about, and they probably had FLEAS. “No.” It was simple, but very firm and ice cold. He would love to share – three, why not make it four, all tangled with lust and drugs? – and the Brownrider leaving had made him a little sad, but he would not share his prize(s) with that dirty renegade. “You should Leave.” And then he decided that his lips had far better things to do than talk, and he was kissing R’ish again, but then again, P’nay was looking lonely so as they all fell on the bed he couldn’t really remember who he was kissing anymore. All he knew that it was nice to forget, if just for a moment, and ride on Altith’s glee – be the dragon for a night, why not?

In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died
It's time now to sing out
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends