To the Skies - Mosawyth

[.K.aci]

Sitareh had found out. Toni did not know how she knew, or when the Weyrwoman had learned, but she and Mosawyth felt the wrath of the Senior Weyrwoman. From being in the background, Toni was suddenly in the forefront, everyone looking at her constantly as though at any moment she would go back in time and tell the Old Weyrwoman everything. Of course she wouldn't, even as those that she had begun to talk to and made friends with turned away with suspicion and anger in their eyes. Toni hated her mother, hated everything the woman stood for, and the girl with at times no backbone stood strong against the strain. She needed her freedom, without the Queenrider scoffing at the Green her daughter had Impressed every moment of the day, without the males of the Weyr lingering nearer and nearer as each day passed, knowing that the flighty Green would rise soon. Even though Toni was not a high rank as her mother would like, the idea had been planted that the one to catch Mosawyth would be rewarded.

Toni was afraid of boys, really and truly. The fact that they were there, all around, only drove her forward in time faster. And then, just as she was hoping the anonymity could and would continue, she had been called out to the front. The raging Weyrwoman had called her to her office, questioning her morals and her actions. It was all Toni could do not to collapse in a heap as the questions were flung at her, and the girl had barely escaped from her Weyr without fainting. It was a close call. And now, she was back under everyone's eye again. With a depressed sigh, Toni shut the door carefully of her Weyr, and slid to the floor, burying her slim face in graceful hands. Oh, to be invisible. If only it was possible...

At least Mosawyth was sleeping, she thought, rising to slip next door to her dragon's bed. The Green had been more tired than usual, a little more edgy. Something about this hadn't struck right in her mind, but with the pressure from the Weyrwoman. I mean, Toni could see where she was coming from. Just as they had made a home for themselves, a new Greenrider comes forward, the daughter of the Weyrwoman. Toni would be suspicious herself. Still, with a shake of copper hair, the girl turned back around to walk into her small Weyr. Nothing to worry about...

It was several hours later, and Toni was just drying off a body wet from the shower. With the first undergarments on, the girl was turning around to look for a shirt, when suddenly it hit her. What hit her? Staggering backwards, Toni looked wildly around, confused, until it came again. Ready for it, she understood. It was a roar, a terrifying scream that called for any who believed they were better than her to stand up. With a startled yelp, Toni did the first thing she knew. She threw on a shirt, and dove into her corner, hugging her knees and fighting to stem the sudden range of new emotion that coursed through her. Anger was thick, but lust, need, want, desire... It pulsed at her, ripping her to shreds without ever having to work, as she whimpered and fought down another wave. Mosawyth, ignoring Her's, dropped from her perch to glide to the hunting grounds.

Quick as a flash, the lithe green was on the first beast, grabbing it and carrying it up to the perch, hunching over it protectively as she screamed again. Ever on the watch for her dragon, Toni knew she had to do one thing for her. Rising up, the girl lurched against the wall, pressing herself against the door that she knew would soon would be the entrance to those Rider’s whom dragons chased hers. They wouldn’t get in without a fight.

"BLOOD!"

The yell was loud, both in the mind and body, and Mosawyth hissed her fury. This was HER Flight, and Her's fears would have no place! Jaws inched down to flash into the meat, and a second time, Toni yelled, "BLOOD IT!"

Whiplashing her head back as though struck, Mosawyth screamed her fury to the skies, again lurching for the meat.

"MOSAWYTH, BLOOD YOUR KILL!"

The dragon heard this time, understood, snarling with anger and unrestrained passion as she quivered on the ledge, ripping open the beast and swiftly sucking the blood from it. Again, she dropped down, and it took no prompting from Her's to blood it. It was what she needed, and now the meat looked repulsive, as she took a third, and a fourth, and a fifth. Toni, dizzy from the blood she could taste, and the muscles that she felt tense and ready, that in another mind she would have sworn she never had, collapsed back against the door harder, biting her lip hard and drawing blood.

Mosawyth, her muzzle stained and her eyes flashing a rainbow of colors, roared again, calling to her those males that believed themselves able to catch her. The arrow of the skies, the sleek Green was more endured than some of the other Greens, a deep dappled green like a forest in the early morning ray's as they touched upon a soft green moss. She was a beauty all her own, a little more streamlined than most, but elegant, graceful, beautiful in a feral elegance as she now rose and stalked along the ledge, rumbling, making no move to take off.

She would make them wait, and in the Weyr Toni could only groan and fight the urge to merge with her dragon. She would not - could not! She would get hurt, she would not succumb to the soothing voices and the warm arms of these males who ridiculed her! Pressed against the door to bar them entrance to her Weyr, she cursed her dragon, who paid her no heed. This would be good for Her’s when she finally gave in.

[Shikai]

H’run lay on his side in his bed, blue eyes fixed on a worn flute on the desk of his small weyr. Only the soft crooning of green Eloise, humming a rather mournful sounding song to herself as though encouraging H’run to join her in making music, prevented silence from ruling the room.

Why don’t you play it, mine?[/color] Gawyth asked, turning to push his bronze head past the curtain that separated his section of the weyr from H’run’s, laying it on the floor. His eyes whirled a dark, reflective shade of blue as they gazed questioningly at his rider. You used to play often, did you not? I bet you were good at it. I want to hear you.[/color]

H’run sighed, shifting himself so his eyes met his dragon’s, rolling onto his stomach and resting his head on his folded arms. “I don’t know. It’s been so long, I probably can’t play like I used to anymore.” He answered, shrugging. You won’t know unless you try![/color] The bronze exclaimed. “Exactly.” Gawyth rumbled, perplexed, seeking further explanation from his rider. “Well…” H’run began, but couldn’t find the words to continue. Gawyth’s eyes suddenly brightened with understanding, and he snorted in a derisive gesture. You’re afraid to find out you can’t play anymore. If you don’t try, you won’t know for sure. You’re being very silly, mine.[/color]

The weyrling didn’t answer, instead raising an arm to call Eloise down to him. The green fluttered to him obediently, nuzzling her tiny head against his hand. He scratched at her eyeridges and stroked the soft green hide, busying himself with that rather than talk further with Gawyth. There was a long moment of silence, before the bronze again broke into his rider’s thoughts.

So, I’ve been thinking, mine. Perhaps attempting to catch Plianth on my first flight was too ambitious.[/color] H’run’s eyebrows raised in surprise, both at the unexpected topic and his dragon’s words. “Yeah, do you think?” He grumbled in response, burying his face in the sleeping furs as he shuddered at the memory. To think, if Gawyth had won and he had wound up with Penna…He hadn’t been that panicked since the day his mother had died! The thought of that with any woman made him uncomfortable, to say the least, but he couldn’t imagine anyone worse to wake up in bed with the next morning than Penna. Except Sitareh perhaps, as she terrified everyone. All the same, it wasn’t an experience he was at all ready to repeat. Even though Gawyth fortunately hadn’t won, the end of the flight hadn’t brought the end of the startling turbulent emotions he really didn’t want. Throwing himself in the lake had helped somewhat.

Lost in his musings, he didn’t stop to think about why Gawyth had brought up the topic, so it wasn’t until the bronze spoke again that his attention was returned to his dragon. Yes, you are right. However, Mosawyth flies now, and I am going to try again. She is a beautiful creature, and should she allow me, I would be honored to catch her. I have more experience in flights now, and I will do my best. Now, I know you didn’t enjoy my last attempt, but that is because I didn’t win! If I had won, it would have been wonderful, you will see! So this time I will not fail. You’ll like it, mine, I’m sure of it![/color]

His speech made, the bronze leapt down from the weyrledge before H’run could hope to get a word in edgewise, quickly blooding first one herdbeast and then another, watching Mosawyth. The bronze crooned to the beautiful green, expressing his complements to her lithe form and lovely, mossy coloration.

H’run stared at the vacant dragoncouch, the mask that kept his emotions carefully concealed completely gone, leaving his expression one of absolute horror. “G-Gawyth…no…” He sputtered, five minutes too late, and buried his face in his sleeping furs again as he felt the most unwelcome flood of emotions beginning to pour into him. Oh shards and shells, not this again! Gawyth had just risen not so long ago, hadn’t he? Why did he need to try again? Why? Cursing his luck, H’run tried to remember who Mosawyth’s rider was. Mosawyth…Mosawyth and Toni? That was it, wasn’t it, the new greenrider? Everyone was buzzing about her being the daughter of the old weyrwoman, or something of the sort, but as he hadn’t come from the past, he had little interest in the rumors.

Slowly getting to his feet, he staggered toward the door to his weyr and reluctantly pulled it open, slipping out and walking toward where he believed the girl’s weyr was. Well, at least she wasn’t as old as Penna…H’run ran a hand through his black hair, not bothering to stop the scowl, mixed with more than a bit of fear and anxiety, from coloring his face. As he reached her weyr, the site of the door was almost enough to get him to turn back and flee down the hallway. Why did he have to go in, anyway? He could just go lock himself in his own weyr or something, and wait for it to be over! Couldn’t he? But he remembered what had happened to B’kay when the man was unable to leave his weyr when Syth won a flight. This wouldn’t be worse than possible death, would it? With a sigh, he reached out tentatively and lightly tried to turn the handle and open the door, but it resisted immediately.

Shards, this was already hard for him, he didn’t need any complications! Had the girl locked her door, or barricaded it, perhaps? He could hardly say he blamed her, but all these emotions were too much for H’run already. The weyrling sighed and seated himself beside the door, slumped against the wall, and hid his face in his hands. He certainly wasn’t about to force his way into the poor girl’s weyr. H’run let down his guard just enough to let himself merge a bit with Gawyth, so that he was now sitting, waiting, muscles tensed as he prepared to launch himself after Mosawyth as soon as she took flight...better to be there than where he was now.

[Cilnah]

Light glanced off the glass bowl that sat on the ledge, safe from falling, but placed carefully so that the light could dance through the crystalline waters. Small flashes of gold, white, and brown moved through the light. It was amazing they were still alive. But then again, he had remembered to feed them the past few days. It was an achievement, really. Most of the time, the fingerlings went for days on their own, somehow managing to survive.... Jade eyes watched the little ones impassively. He wasn't even sure why he kept them. He found no enjoyment in them really. But they were an excellent distraction for when one thought. He often found his gaze drawn to the shifting light of the bowl when he was deep in thought, as he was now.

Mine.

The thought did not penetrate his mind. He continued to ponder just why the fingerling bowl held such attraction to one deep in thought. When someone was so deep in thought that they did not see what they were looking at, why did it matter what the eyes were trained on? Why did his keep lingering on that simple bowl?

Wake up, Mine. There is news.

This time, N'yrl blinked, and his mind cleared as the amused voice of his bonded dragon broke through his thoughts. 'News?' he repeated, his own mind seeming drugged and weary, as it was when he woke up each day. 'What news is this, Gryth?' In his own dragon bed, Gryth chuckled at his rider's seemingly clouded mind. How silly he was, at times, getting so lost within his own thoughts.

The new greenrider. Toni. Her Mosawyth is getting ready to rise. It seems that the girl is having trouble accepting this.

N'yrl had to think for a moment to place the name. Ah, yes. The old Weyrwoman's daughter. He gave a grimace of sorts. Why was everyone so obsessed with that little girl? Well, little in the physical sense anyway. She's was a year older than he was, actually. The same age as his own sister...

Do not enter the dark again, N'yrl-Mine. I do not bring her up to depress you. I intend to try to win her flight. I thought it fair to warn you.

Slowly lifting off his bed, the bluerider shook his head. He knew better than to object. It wouldn't do him any good. And besides, perhaps it would do the dragon good. He needed to let off some steam, as it were. 'Very well, Gryth. I wish you luck.' He felt his companion's thanks as he swing his legs to the floor, and carefully pulled on a shirt, glancing in a mirror to make sure he wasn't too unpresentable. After all, if he was going to meet with Mosawyth's rider, he might as well try to make the appearance of caring. Not that he really did. He'd been through this before, and found no pleasure in it really, though Gryth did. That was all that mattered, he supposed.

Stepping out of his weyr, he silently padded down the hall to where he thought he remembered Toni was situated. There was already another boy there. He looked vaguely familiar, but N'yrl placed no stalk in trying to figure out who he was. It really didn't matter. What did, though, was his dragon's happiness, and reluctantly, he tapped on Toni's door.

[Kain]

What a nice day! First a relaxing soak, then a calm afternoon leisurly laying about his weyr. He sighed, plucking a book off his small shelf, flopping back on his fur-layered bed. All in all, a very nice- what in Faranth's name was that? But then- S'pren snapped his book closed. He heard familiar sounds, and he was instantly on edge. He didn't know many at this new weyr, but he was still fairly sure that there was a severe lack of male greenriders here. He could feel the start of a headache when Giyriath stirred. Oh, Faranth, when was the last time the poor brown had been in a flight? It was at least a few months, and that was a stretch for the amorous brown.

Mine.

"Oh, shards, Gir, do you have to? I mean, I don't even know who her rider is," the brownrider whined.

Toni.

"Because you know-" S'pren was still ranting when the brown interrupted. "I- what?"

The rider. Toni.

"Shards and shells, Gir. A girl? Really? I know you want to but..."

Mine.

"Oh- by the first egg, just go. Whiner," S'pren muttered good naturedly. Sure, he wasn't really into that, but it would make his brown happy. And that made S'pren happy.

The brown swooped out of the weyr without another word, gliding effortlessly to the feeding grounds, his faceted eyes whirling a deep purple.

Coughing, S'pren asked a passing druge where to find Toni and started his trek. He wasn't particularly looking forward to this, but Gir wasn't the only one who'd been waiting. Possibly this was a blessing in disguise. He finally arrived at the girl's weyr, but... two others were there, outside. For a moment he was perplexed, then the door-knocking and disapointed faces fell into place. Sneaky girl. Maybe they could actually get along were it in another situation. Then his thoughts paused. What if they couldn't get in? What if Gir won? He paniked for a moment before taking the others into account. They were probably going to be irritated at losing as well... Not that bronze rider, straight at measure-stick, he was. But there was a bluerider too...

[M'kel]

((I am officially making Tirenth the Weyr's resident stud. He has now chased...in every Flight. Go Tirey! Tirenth: Don't you dare give me a nickname. Me: Awwwwww....))

Tirenth had been getting fidgety lately. And for an already troubled rider, with far too many conflicts and troubles in his life, this was a very unpleasant experience. M'kel would randomly spasm while walking through the Weyr, as Tirenth's emotions would unexpectedly wash through him, before he was able to smother that part of their connection for a little bit longer.

And today, he was doing it again. Do you know how long it's been, mine? came the familiar voice, self-deprecating in tone.

M'kel twitched, spilling hot klah all over his pants, and proceeded to leap up, hollering and trying to wave cool air towards the injured area while racing from the Lower Caverns in search of cool water. He found solace in the Lake, sinking miserably beneath the surface while shooting a million mental glares at his bronze, forlorn on their weyrledge. Once the burning sensation had subsided somewhat and his lungs were aching with that annoying desire to breathe, he breached the surface and actually did glare across at the prone bronze.

"A long time!" he grated, both mentally and out loud. "Well, for you anyways," M'kel added, with a wicked chuckle. After all, Tirenth may have failed in Calith's Flight, but M'kel certainly hadn't.

His bronze responded with an indignant snort, returning his rider's glare. Aviciath has not risen in Turns! And that silly green chose Syth. And Plianth chose Seath! It's not fair. Am I not the most handsome bronze in the Weyr?

M'kel rolled his eyes. They had been through this many...many times before. Yes, of course you are, he replied, tone reluctantly soothing. Those two...were just silly, that's all.

Yes, but I don't think Mosawyth will be so misled. Tirenth replied thoughtfully.

"Huh?" was M'kel's response, uncomprehending. A moment later, he watched as the great bronze rose, winging to the heights around the Feeding Ground to watch with whirling eyes as an green gem blooded kill after kill.

"Not again!" M'kel moaned, falling face first into the water and lying there for a moment. What would the Weyrfolk think of him, with a dragon that chased EVERY female? He knew what Sitareh already thought of him, in that regard, but his reputation was definitely slipping now for everyone else. Why, he even thought he'd heard the other day in the Lower Caverns a worker mentioning 'the bronzerider who thinks he's a greenrider'. That just wouldn't do!

It was too late to change Tirenth's mind, though. The fact that Sitareh would likely have an anheurysm if M'kel slept with Toni, of all people, mattered little to a dragon. Bubbles appeared around M'kel as he groaned, before pulling himself out of the Lake and trudging to the greenrider's weyr. He nodded bleakly to the men already assembled, before trying the door himself. Ah. That was nice of her. "Come on, Toni!" he cried, giving the door a good pounding. The last thing he needed was for Tirenth to win this Flight with only men around for company.

[.K.aci]

Ahhhh, boys! They were coming; they were going to EAT HER.

//Mine, shut up.

The snap of Mosawyth in her mind was not even registered as she pressed her body against the door. With a shake of her head, Mosawyth lost herself to the very blood that coursed through her veins, pacing on the ledge quietly. Quiet was never something that Mosawyth did without reason, and Toni gripped the door as her teeth dug lower into her bleeding lip. The pain was a tool, focusing on that instead of falling into the yawning hole that Mosawyth gave out.

She was a beauty, and she knew it. As though on a catwalk she strutted, long and slim, elegant and graceful. Sleek, she was larger than some of her brethren, but Mosawyth could care less for that. She dominated, her too-long wings stretched out over her head, raised straight up in the air. They were a startling contrast to the rest of her moss-colored body, the green almost black. Across her eyes ran a strip of the same color like a mask, dripping down her nose and puddling at the end of her face. Bold markings only served to enhance her looks as she lazily beat her wings, not enough to rise in the air but powerful long strokes that caused wind to writhe and twist around her.

The first to arrive was Gawyth. As he winged closer, he looked of the uniformed color, but Mosawyth saw (preening from the compliments), that he had sparks on his nose and wings. They were defiantly different, and she admired him. Young, but highly ranked. Of course, she deserved Bronze's flying for her. He was muscular, and while she preferred those that were more lithe, he had such an air of confidence she couldn't help but coo her appreciation.

Toni judged, not of her own free will but that part of her mind that was under Mosawyth's evil control, the rider. H'run was Gawth's rider, a taller fellow, with that really cute nose that seemed just a little to long. She wondered if he tugged on his nose when he was littler, and that's why it was a thrust prow in the middle of his face. His hair was longer, and he had seemed the quiet type...

NO. The handle turned, and she pressed herself against the door hard, knowing that that would be the first of them - But he gave up rather quickly, and Toni wouldn't know they masked each other, sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, both faces mirrored in anguish.

Mosawyth watched the next wing in, licking her chops hungrily and drinking in the sight of her suitors. A blue, not as high ranked, but a male non-the-less, larger than others. He was a handsome creature also, calm and stoic as he perched lightly, waiting. She admired patience, and he seemed not to fidget. Mosawyth, who may had been enjoying herself, was making her rider panic. Toni, who as another tap rapped at her chamber door, swallowed down a whimper. She didn't want to - didn't want to!

The Blue, Gryth, was bonded to a very tall fellow... But she really couldn't remember anything else about him. He towered over her tiny stature, and was pretty enough... Brilliant green eyes, the one time they had been in line for food and she had bumped into him he had peered down at her and apologized. She had thought him gallant then, but now he was nothing more than a parasite, and Mosawyth was snapping at her.

//MINE! Let them in.

Toni however, ignored the creature. N'ryl, she thought - she knew she was right. Toni made it a habit to know everyone at the small weyr, at least by dragon if not by sight.

A Brown was now arriving, Giyriath, and Wyth was purring in anticipation. Ah, they arrived, those worthy enough to chase her... And those that weren't. Shuddering almost as though she would take off, pausing for just a moment, she then froze, and resumed pacing, making them wait. She had all the time in the world, and the focus of such handsome boys? She would not willingly give that up.

The next male, and he didn't even bother knocking... Toni relaxed just slightly. Maybe they realized that spending the night with one of the girls of the lower caverns would be a better idea. She knew that some of the males enjoyed cuddling after, and Weyrmates? What would she do if Mosawyth attached herself to one dragon? She had severe self-esteem problems, her Mosawyth, and she would cling to male's praise as though that was her worth... What if she-

But not right now, she couldn't be worrying about it. Rising from her seat quickly, she ran through her dragons room and out onto the gouged ledge, peering out into a beautiful day as Mosawyth for just a moment turned to look at the tiny person.

//It will be alright Mine.[/i]

And then the hole was yawning wider, and Toni knew she was loosing as she flashed in and out of her dragon's eyes. She needed a distraction, something to think about other than... A subject of topic!

Wasn't Giyriath's gay? S'ren... S'pren! Hah, that was something to think about. He was tall to, but then, most of them were tall compared to her. He had pretty blond hair, and a dashing mischievous smile that he had turned on her only once when pulling some mindless prank on her. She had been eating when something huge and slimy landed in her food, and someone had yelled "Tunnelsnake!" With a yelp of shock, she had leapt up and upturned the bench to get away before realizing it had been a piece of something-or-other. With a small grin in recognition at the joke, (although she panicked that it had been thrown at her because someone hated her) she had picked the bench up carefully, and began to eat around the thing, looking up only once. Mosawyth calmly informed her that it had been Giyriath's that had done it, and the smile had proven her dragon correct. She did like the dark hair’d boys, sometimes wondered what it would be like to sink her hands in the thick mass…

And Mosawyth now was debating to Fly. She itched for take off, itched to soar long and hard and leave these worthless creatures behind... And then a Bronze creature was flying towards them, and Mosawyth's ego rose several hundred points. Tirenth was flying towards her, and then she was ready to go. The door flung open from M'kel's poundings and Toni yelped, spinning around and running through the small door, yelling,

"OUT OUT OUT OUT!"

But by then it was to late, and she was left standing in her small Weyr, in an over-sized shirt and nothing else, looking at the males as though a deer in the headlights. Backing up slowly, and running into a wall, she was trembling as she murmured,

"Ohhh, please, don't touch me, any of you."

Psychopathic girl-thing, yeah! He wasn’t as super tall as she was, which was nice, but then Mosawyth was tugging her into the fire and emotions and Toni thrust herself back, fighting it.

Mosawyth did not care about Her's anymore. With the dragons gathering around her, several more flocking in, she bugled triumphantly and flashed several looks around, judging. It seemed as though she would never take off, happy to preen and look, but suddenly she was falling off the edge of her ledge [[heh, rhymes]], and diving towards the ground, snapping open those wings just in time to glide effortlessly along the grass, stirring the herdbeast's into a frenzy and screaming her challenge. They would not catch her, ever; none were good enough for her grace and perfection! Spinning upwards in a sickening motion, she lost herself in the few clouds in the sky, careful to listen behind her as they struggled to catch up to her magnificence.

Toni was slipping in and out of her dragon's mind, and Toni-Mosawyth was screaming their challenge together as a too-hasty young Blue came to close. With a lash of her hand-wing the rider-dragon was thrust aside, and the Blue blinked Between as the rider hastily left the room. He didn't deserve her, and Toni felt so bad- No, he deserved it!

[[sorry if it's a little jumbled, just pretend a few NPC's are there also... xD]]

[M'kel]

Eyes whirling orange and yellow with lust and the anxiety of a Flight had only one focus: the mossy gem perched on her ledge, fluttering her lovely wings to tease them all. Tirenth was enjoying the show, for it was serving to quicken his heart rate and send the adrenaline throughout his veins without even taking to the air. It was also confirming in his mind that Mosawyth absolutely must be his, for she was full of life and playfulness, qualities he very much appreciated (not to mention her lithe figure and gleaming hide).

The great bronze tensed a number of times at her wing movements, eagerly awaiting her leap for the sky. That was where he would excel, for with a number of Flights in his past, Tirenth had gained much experience and endurance. There was no way a mere blue could outlast him, and that brown would not find Tirenth an easy rival. The nuisancy younger bronze was flying again, but Tirenth was still far more experienced than he.

At last, Mosawyth dove from her ledge, and Tirenth paused to bugle his challenge to the other males, striking a fierce pose on his ledge, before following suit and leaping into the air. He pounded his wings determinedly, gaining height to follow her into the clouds. Although he'd momentarily lost sight of her stunning form, his nostrils flared hungrily for her spicy scent. Soon, that gem would be his.

As Tirenth leapt into the air, M'kel leapt into the room. It was rather a spectacular sight, as the door flung open under his pounding fist and he plunged in, only to trip over her bed and sprawl across it. He looked up through eyes that only half-saw his surroundings, unaware of how his position might make the greenrider uncomfortable. There she was, slender figure quivering before him, and she was yelling something nonsensical about 'out'. His name wasn't out, it was M'kel-Tirenth! Dismissing this, he slid off the bed to approach her, entirely enveloped in Tirenth's desire by now. Her cowering posture did manage to get through to him somewhat, though, as she begged them not to touch her.

Fine then, he thought, reluctantly stopping a step or two away. He could wait. When the Flight was one, there would be touching, whether she liked it or not. "I'm not going to hurt you," he murmured, hoping that would help.

[Kain]

Giyriath was becoming impatient. While he enjoyed the green's sleek beauty, the constant edge her movements were causing was starting to grate on his nerves. His wings were twitching every time the dragon so much as glanced around. The brown registered another bronze's arrival with irritation, counting him as just another opponent that he actually had to care about. How... inconvenient.

On the other end of the spectrum, S'pren was relieved when the door opened. While he probably could have made due without her, he doubted many of the others would have responded well to his advances, dragon-roused or otherwise.

But this was not going the way he'd expected! The girl rode a green, didn't she? What in Faranth's name was she doing? If he'd been completely conscious, he probably would have helped the girl, or at least left. As it were, he just stood there looking confused. The girl- Toni- was trying to get away from them, but S'pren, who's mind was not really his own anymore, couldn't comprehend this.

Giyriath twitched again, but this time it wasn't a false alarm! Within seconds of Mosawyth's take off, the brown was in the air, beaten only by that late-comer bronze and a blue he didn't recognize. Then, though, the blue edged too close too soon and the green lashed at him and sent him out of the running. Pleased that already there was one less competitor, Giyriath realized that a position farther from the green might be preferred at the moment. At least, until she started considering her options. But first she would flaunt. And she deserved it! The brown's tail hopefully twitched ever so slightly at the though.

[Shikai]

Gawyth fought to remain patient as Mosawyth remained on the ledge, teasing her suitors, flaunting her beauty, enticing the males to follow her. It was frustrating to be made to wait for the flight to begin, but wouldn’t that only make it more wonderful when it began? Yes, when he won, the anticipation would only make his victory greater. His tail began to sway behind him despite himself as he watched her, admiring her more by the minute as she preened, seeming aware of the effect her actions had on the males, and enjoying it. While it was somewhat of a nuisance at the moment, eager as Gawyth was to take to the skies, he nonetheless admired her spirit, toying with her suitors so.

The bronze very much ignored the other dragons as they appeared to pay tribute to the beautiful green. What did it matter who else was there? He would win, he had to win. It didn’t matter whether he had to beat out a handful of blues or half the weyr’s dragons. This time, Gawyth would not lose. He would not lose Mosawyth.

His eyes trained on her, he sprung to the air immediately as she fell from the weyrledge, pushing off the ground with a powerful surge of his well-muscled hind legs. He launched himself after her, the strength and conviction in his flight to be expected of one of his build. It meant that Gawyth wasn’t quite as maneuverable, certainly, but if he caught her, he could support the both of them, carrying her for much longer than those pesky blues. Yes, bronzes were the best in that respect, the challenge was to compete with the faster colors to keep up in the meantime.

H’run sighed as Gawyth took to the air at last, knowing there was no getting out of the flight now. Not that there had ever been the possibility of dissuading his dragon from chasing Mosawyth. He winced as his dragon’s emotion’s flooded over him with renewed vigor. Not quite as bad as the chance that he would end up in bed with someone he doubted he had ever spoken to, he nonetheless hated this aspect of the flight. He always keep himself carefully controlled, certainly not letting his emotions run rampant. Flights ripped him from his comfort zone. H’run couldn’t stuff the dragonlust, flowing through the mental connection from Gawyth to his rider, into a bottle deep within him as he did with other unwanted feelings, hiding it away never to be dealt with. He couldn’t ignore it, it was all he could do to control his face, keep it from showing his fear. And even that was slipping away from him as all his security was pulled from him.

The door suddenly opened as another rider – was that M’kel? pounded on the door, which finally gave way. H’run did not get up, remaining against the wall outside, until he was the only one left in the corridor. Reluctantly, he got to his feet, somewhat shaky as his mind was in two places at once, and peered inside. A surge of guilt washed over him as his eyes at last saw the greenrider. Faranth, the poor girl looked terrified…she wasn’t unattractive, but he was nearly as fearful of Gawyth winning Mosawyth’s flight as he had been that the bronze would win Plianth’s. She looked more like a frightened child at the moment, dressed in nothing but an oversized shirt, than a young woman soon to bed one of the men in the room. To make things worse, she was shouting at them to get out, and then begging them not to touch her. Well, that was a request he would certainly grant. But…oh, he involuntarily stumbled forward as his control lapsed for a moment, no longer a distressed weyrling but a bronze dragon, beating his way through the sky after the brilliant emerald prize…

H’run wrenched his control back, planting himself firmly near the back of the group, determined to keep a respectful distance from the poor girl. By Faranth, Gawyth had better not win this flight. He was feeling guilty already, knowing the anguish he was causing her. If he had to touch her as she was so pleading for him not to do, well…he wasn’t sure what he would do.

These anxious thoughts trailed off as Gawyth once again became dominant, surging through the air in powerful bursts toward Mosawyth. He vaguely noted the disappearance of a blue who had been too bold, although he wasn’t really concerned with the other dragons. No, for now, he had to keep up, remain with Mosawyth until she made her choice. Of course, should any other dragons draw too close to her, he would have to change his tactics, for he was not about to let another win the lovely green, especially through methods of questionable honor.

[Felina]

((So now we have, just to add to the confusion, a female brownrider. xD Poor Fel... Poor Toni.))

Sunny was curled up on her chest, sleeping. He was taking a break from Breunth's constant wonderings. However, it seemed that Breunth would still interrupt his sleep anyhow, as he did his rider's. The constant prodding at her mind woke Felina up gently enough, but one look at the way Breunth's shadow was so close to the ledge made her groan in exasperation. Not today, not today of all days. Not ever did she want this.

Felina, mine. When they say I'm a very handsome dragon, is it true?

I... well. Yes, of course.

And when I fly very fast and the other dragons cannot all keep up, are they holding back what they can do?

No, not at all! You are the quickest, most beautiful dragon in this weyr and on all Pern and quite possibly ever. But don't you think that this is a little... hasty?[/i]

Breunth turned his head slowly towards his rider, who was quickly becoming more and more distraught. Mine, Her's is a girl. There will be no conflict. With that last word, he exploded into the sky, powerful wings beating at the air that was far too thick, because it kept pushing him back and kept him from going fast enough. He heard the bugling of the other males in the weyr; was she already in the sky and too far gone for him to do anything at all? Had he frightened his already fragile rider for nothing?

Felina was left standing in the weyr, clutching the still-sleeping Sunny to her. Bree's emotions were hers, and waves of doubt kept on coming. Was it worth finding this... girl... that the silly brown had now forced her to get far too close to? And yet, that age-old tradition, with perhaps some sense in it, couldn't be completely ignored. Carefully, she set the bronze fire lizard down. He wouldn't sleep much longer. Even they weren't immune to the turbulence that swept through the weyr at these times. She'd gotten away from the last one. Rather against Breunth's will, they had disappeared Between to come back out on the other side of the world.

The girl wasn't hard to find. Just follow the somewhat dazed male riders, and half the work was already done. She could understand why they were a bit out of it, though. Spikes of longing kept attacking her, and there was a strange purplish haze to the world. Imagined, but still. Abruptly, she was aware of her wings pushing through the too-thick air, and the heavy breath in massive lungs. Mosawyth was in the air at last! There was... a ring around the girl. She was as afraid as Felina was, undoubtedly. Compelled by something stronger than human nature, she joined the circle. Of men. She was not one of them. She would not be one of them.

She was hideous, in comparison. A scarred freak. Toni and Mosawyth were beautiful, both of them. Mosawyth practically gliding through the air, faster than she, they, ever could have thought. They could not keep up, were not meant to. But she would tire, yes. And they, he, would not slow. He forgot the rider, attached and trying desperately to sort out what was hers and what was his, and flew. He was what was real, and with no resistance at all, Felina became Breunth became Felina and with one mind they challenged.