Aviciath Rises!

[bleedtearsofshame]

Sitareh pursed her lips into a frown as she glared at the man before her. "What do you mean by this?" she asked, gesturing towards the baskets that had been placed before her. The first tithing train (if one could really call it a train, being comprised of three wagons of food) had arrived at Araelen from one of the smaller Holds, and its wares were currently being inspected by the Weyrwoman.

The man blinked, startled at the anger that he could see flashing in the eyes of the woman before him. "I-I don't know, don't know what you mean," he stammered.

Her hand reached out, scooping up one of the redfruits lying at the top of the basket. Sitareh's nails curled around the fruit for a brief moment, making a show of examining the flesh of the redfruit before she merely hurled it at the man.

It bounced harmlessly off of the man's chest, as Sitareh had not allowed any force behind the toss. She just wanted to see the surprise blossom into fear at the maneuver, and she got her wish. The man stepped backwards, nervously eyeing the dragons that were lounging around the Weyr, as if he expected Aviciath to respond to her rider's temper and snatch him up and gobble him down.

Luckily, though, the golden dragon was taking a nap on her ledge, queen of her realm while she dozed in the sun. She was not awake enough to respond to the queenrider's emotions.

"Bruised!" she hissed, gratified by the flinch that crossed the man's face. "Covered in bruises, and absolutely miniscule. This is not a tithing, this is an insult! You offer us the worst of your harvest, and I will not have this! I will not stand for Holder's to keep the best from themselves! You forget what you owe to us, holder." The words were being spat from her throat with a fine viciousness. "You will return to your Hold and tell your Lord that I demand better. The next time you return, your fruit, your food, will be in perfect condition, do you understand me? For every bruise, for every cut or rotting fruit that I find, that will equal one day of Fall that the dragonriders will not protect your Hold."

The man's face was absolutely white by now, and he was stammering apology after apology. As gratifying as it was for Sitareh, seeing this cowering man whimpering in fear of the offense, it was also sickening. What a weakling. Babbling in the attempt to turn her mood, it was almost nauseating.

"Go away," she snarled at him, suddenly reaching her breaking point. She did not have the patience to deal with such persons today. "But remember my message to your Lord. And tell him that I will inspect each wagon myself."

Sitareh whirled away, trying to force the heated rush of fury from her veins. Her skin was flushed, her cheeks burning brightly with the force of her rage. Only three wagons? How did they expect an entire Weyr to survive on three wagons of bruised, tiny fruit? It was more than an insult, it was an outrage. And she would not have it.

"Not now," she snapped to a brownrider who stepped up to her side, his lips parted to impart some sort of message. "If you come near me, I swear by Aviciath's shell that I will not be held accountable for my actions."

He looked shocked and quickly retreated.

It was at that moment that Aviciath awoke. Her mind was a chaotic mass of emotions that caused Sitareh’s heart to pound in her chest, a mixture of wonder and excitement, and strangely enough, a hint of fear.

Aviciath had risen to her feet in a sensuous movement, stretching her body to admire its strength. Her eyes were whirling quickly, vivid rubies and golds with a mixture of amethyst that the woman had never seen before. Slowly, the wings that were folded so carefully against her back unfurled, as if realizing for the first time what their purpose was. To fly. Fly long and fly far.

Emotions were pouring into her mind from Aviciath's, a powerful rage of feelings and desires that began to rush through her bloodstream with a powerful gasp, wine in her blood and rage in her mind.

It was all happening now. Aviciath was rising, for the first time. The queen dragon's mind was a glittering world of fury, shards of anger and lust minglign together to create a burning rope that curled itself around Sitareh's mind, blending them together in one.

Aviciath lifted her head, jaws opening to utter a scream of challenge towards those puny males who wanted to earn the right to be HER mate.

A single scream that echoed through the Weyr, rolling off of the walls and alerting all to the event that was now taking place.

Then she launched herself into the air. A few sweeps of her wings brought the dragon to the feeding grounds. Sensing the arrival of a hunter in their midst, herdbeasts began to scatter. But the gold was off. Wings folded to her side, she dove with talons outstretched, scooping up a large beast that cried out with fear. Aviciath’s teeth snapped into the flesh and ripped through tendons, and a powerful shake of her head broke the herdbeast’s neck with a sickening crunch. Blood erupted into her mouth, filling her body with strength. When the blood was gone, Aviciath tossed the drained carcass to the side. She had tasted blood, now she wanted flesh. A pounce brought down a second carefully selected victim, and Aviciath tore out the stomach of the herdbeast. It was still alive, and its screams echoed through the grounds.

Sitareh was struggling breathe properly against the waves of lust and fury that was pounding at her mind, trying to remember her training. Flesh! Aviciath was not supposed to eat flesh! Blood only. Flesh would bog down the gold, would shorten the flight.

“Blood only! No flesh! Do you hear me?” She was trying to keep control over her lifemate’s mind, but the queen's emotions had never been as intense as they were right now.

Aviciath shook her head with fury, sending chunks of intestines flying as she tried to resist. But Sitareh won, and the gold merely drank the blood from the herdbeast. She sent its corpse flying, and captured a third. This time, she did not try to fight her rider’s will. She was aware of the males beginning to gather around her, and her eyes began to whirl faster. She hissed at them, tail lashing with agitation as her talons shredded the hide of the headbeast, fangs puncturing the flesh to let another hot fount bathe her tongue. She was wriggling with sensuality, inviting the males to admire her beauty.

OOC: Okay, some of Aviciath's parts were reused, 'cause I have to run and I wanted to post a decently long post for peoples to respond to. Enjoy! Aviciath's flight has begun!

[Journye]

L'kas looked at Seath sitting perched on the edge of the ledge that was outside of their weyr and grinned a bit to himself before turning his attention back to the piece of parchment in front of him. He nearly fell over backwards in his chair when he heard a roar from outside. He scrambled to his feet and out onto the ledge beside Seath who was lashing his tail in anticipation.

L'kas grinned broadly as he saw Aviciath diving into the beast pens. He looked up at Seath who was watching her, nearly purring in anticipation as he admired her form and beauty despite her blood lust. Seath had been eating light, eating only enough to keep his strength, but still keep light enough for a good long flight.

L'kas gracefully made his way up to Seath's neck, and shouted loudly as Seath leaped from the the ledge, roaring in answer to Aviciath's challenge, he was more the ready to face this tempting challenge. He spread his wings just in time to make his landing gracefully and with only a slight thumps. L'kas slipped down to the ground and made his way toward Sitareh's weyr, looking over his shoulder to admire the gleam of his bronze and the beautiful golden glow of the Queen as she blooded the three herdbeasts.

Seath crouched near the pen, not too close to crowd the Queen, but close enough to admire her. He rumbled deep in his chest in admiration and eager anticipation, his wings held half spread ready to leap into the air as soon as the golden beauty made her own.

[M'kel]

M'kel was sprawled lethargically in the heated waters of his 'bathing chamber', suds from the soapstone still drifting away on the current. His hair was soaked, dripping strands curling onto his face, and he was immersed up to his chin in the steaming waters. His bare arms drifted freely on the surface of the water, and his mind drifted just as freely away from the world. Tirenth, in the outer weyr, lay sprawled on the sun-warmed stone, his gentle snores audible even within the weyr. Both were peacefully enjoying another day of rest, although they ought to have been out surveying. That was, until the burbling calm of the spring was shattered by the screams of a queen in heat.

An ear-splitting shriek resounded through the stone walls of the Weyr. It reverberated in the inner caverns of the bronzerider's weyr, startling M'kel out of his reverie. Before the dragonrider more than twitched, though, Tirenth was on his feet, shaking his head wildly to cleanse his mind of sleep. He needed to be alert now more than ever. The bronze bugled in returned challenge, bounding to the edge of his weyr and stretching his wings wide just in time to soar out into the Bowl. He landed on a ledge surrounding the Feeding Grounds, whirling eyes fixed upon the glittering golden gem in the fields below.

His rider's reaction was immediate, though it hadn't been as quick. M'kel jerked out of his restful state, splashing water wildly as he spun and clambered out of the water. There was no time to dry himself, so wherhide pants were hastily yanked over water sticky limbs. He was still tugging on one pant leg as he stumbled through his sleeping chamber, grabbing an unbuttoned tunic as he passed. This was tossed carelessly around his shoulders, ending up inside out, but the dragonrider didn't notice. He charged to the weyr ledge, bounding down the steps haphazardly. That Tirenth hadn't bothered to wait didn't surprise the rider; this was their first time.

Somehow, he made it down the stone steps alive, ignoring the fact that a major fall would have ruined their chances right there. M'kel's eyes darted around the Bowl in his frantic state, seeking the familiar form of Sitareh. All protocol had vanished from his singularly focused mind, and the bronzerider didn't know where to go. All he needed was to find the goldrider. His hazel eyes latched upon her, and his legs moved as if pulled on strings, drawing him inexorably towards her.

Yet, as he reached her, his eyes no longer saw her. His eyes were whirling red and orange, his muscles tensed and wings steadied in preparation for a downward sweep. The golden queen shone like a beacon in the sunlight, and it took all of his power to control his urge to lunge for her right now. Instead, Tirenth-M'kel reveled in the surging of blood against her muzzle, the grace with which she flaunted her attractive body. Her powerful jaws crushed bones with no effort; she was in her prime. He was ready, oh-so ready. Ready for the leap.

[biraun]

B’raun scooped up a spoonful of steaming broth and raised it to just below his mouth where he blew softly on it, cooling it slightly before bringing it to his lips. B’raun felt the warm soup caress his parched throat and felt the heat from it warming his core. It had been a long morning and B’raun had missed breakfast. He and Klazariath had been out scouting more of the Southern continent last night and decided to stay out for the night in order to get two sections of the shoreline completely charted and have the rest of the next day off to rest. As B’raun helped himself to lunch, Klazariath was doing what most other dragons were at that hour in the middle of the day, lounging mindlessly in the near-intoxicating heat. That was one thing B’raun could do without. He wasn’t such a fan of the suffocating temperatures that were frequent on the Southern continent.

As B’raun was half way through a gulp of the scrumptious soup, the impressive call shook the cavern of the dining area and made B’raun gag. He sputtered for a few seconds in surprise, clearing his trachea of the unwanted substance. The call was immediately recognized as the bugle of the only gold dragon of the newly established weyr partaking in her first flight. Within the next couple of seconds, an anxious B’raun jumped to his feet, knocking the rest of the contents of his bowl of soup onto the table, and lunging out into the grounds where his eyes took in the sight of the gold queen ripping herdbeasts to shreds. At that same moment he saw Klazariath rise from his slumber and, like the other bronzes in the Weyr, charge toward the rim of the bowl overlooking the queen in her fierce display of her beauty as she commanded their undivided attention. B’raun was quickly consumed by the emotions of his soul mate and his own mind was lost in a torrent of anxiety, lust, and anticipation.

[bleedtearsofshame]

Violet tinged eyes cast up towards the sky, watching as three bronzes took notice of their queen. Seath had always been properly appreciative of Aviciath's looks, a fine quality in a fine beast. Tirenth tended to keep away from her company, though she could admire the power that was coiled in the muscles beneath his hide. And Klazariath was a strong and handsome bronze. Any queen would be glad to count these three amongst their suitors!

Handsome, they might be. Strong, they might be. But they were puny in comparison to HER strength. Her intellect could curl their dim minds into shadows, her speed would leave them gasping for breath while she flew far beyond their reach. She was clever, she was quick, she was beautiful. These foolish bronzes had no hope of catching her.

Aviciath gave her head an imperious toss, an action that was repeated by her human counterpart on the ground. Sitareh found her lips curling into a smirk as her glazed eyes dimly accepted the approach of L'kas, M'kel, and B'raun. The trio of men had formed a loose semi-circle around her, and she could see their expressions shift as they too became one with their lifemates.

The queen slowly unfolded her wings, raising them up towards the sun. The southern light struck her hide to create a brilliant glitter of gold. Already, she could feel the blood of the herdbeasts curling itself lazily through her veins, igniting her senses beneath a wild energy. It was boiling and bubbling, mingling with her own to create the desire - no, the need - to fly. She needed to fly long, fly far, leave these pathetic males behind.

Aviciath launched herself into the air with a powerful push of her backlegs, without warning. She gave a taunting shriek as her wings swept across the air, gaining height with each downward stroke. The discovery of a warm thermal gave her extra speed, and allowed her to conserve part of her energy.

Not that the queen needed to conserve any. It was a dazzling rush through her muscles, a blood-hot dance across her mind. She had energy to spare. She could fly for candlemarks if she needed too!

Even now, she allowed herself the amusement of barrel-rolling to the right, giving in to the pleasure of her own splendor. Her hide was a molten fire, her body writhed through the air with its own grace, and her call of challenge echoed across the empty skies.

She was Aviciath the Fair! None were worthy enough to catch her!

[M'kel]

Sharp, gleaming talons dug into the stone of the cliff, scraping the rocky promontory with the strength of their grip. Fingernails dug into the flesh of palms, forming tensed fists of constrained energy. Eyes glittered like jewels in a dark cave, peering out on a world they could not fully understand, for they were strangers to this world. It was Aviciath's world. Such beauty and perfection could not be understood by a lesser mind. Tirenth-M'kel knew it, and he hungered for a taste of that perfection. Even if he could not rival her strength and majesty, he longed to revel in it. She must be his.

There were competitors for this coveted prize. Other bronzes were arrayed around the Bowl, their eyes also riveted on the gleaming jewel in their midst. Only Tirenth-M'kel knew its value, though; only he could fathom the greatness they were in the presence of. Only he would truly appreciate her, if she chose him. She must choose him.

Klazariath and Seath were both his seniors. They had flown before, though never successfully. Nonetheless, they had valuable experience. They understood the ways of a queen in Flight, would be prepared for the tricks in the air that she may pull. This was Tirenth-M'kel's first Flight, as it was Aviciath's. He must be extra cautious, extra keen. He must swerve just right, reach for her at just the right moment, entwine his neck with hers when the time had come...

A flash of gold like lightning rising to the sky interrupted Tirenth-M'kel's fixated state. He had been so enraptured in admiring Aviciath's writhing form and blood drenched snout that he had forgotten she would leap at any moment. Muscles fired and wings spread wide, as Tirenth-M'kel powered off the ledge. In his haste to make up lost time, the bronze drove down with his wings so forcibly he feared his tendons would snap. But he was built for this. He was meant to fly.

Soaring upwards after the golden prize, his distance allowed Tirenth-M'kel to swoop sideways in response to Aviciath's barrel role. Had he been closer, he would not have been able to react as aptly. The bronze would need to be prepared for any such wily maneuvers, for he knew Aviciath would not give in without a thoroughly challenging Flight. Tirenth-M'kel scooped air to rise ever upwards, seeking a height slightly above his queen. This would allow him to watch her more easily, he hoped.

[Journye]

Seath bugled long and loud in response to Aviciath's shriek as she took to the skies. He leaped after her, his wings giving two powerful down strokes to push him high into the air. He spread his wings wide to catch the warm thermal rising from the sun warmed land below.

Seath turned his head slightly as he heard Tirenth behind him. He gave a slight hiss of challenge to the other bronze, L'kas on the ground hissing his own breath out from between clenched teeth. He had no harsh feelings toward M'kel, but this was a flight and he was Seath for this moment.

Seath turned his full attention back to the beautiful golden form of Aviciath and loudly crooned his admiration of her, of her sleek hide, the firm muscles under the golden gleam of her, everything about her was beauty and strength fitting qualities of a queen and well worth worshiping. He watched her barrel-roll and veered to the right himself, staying just slightly above her, not too far or he wouldn't be able to reach her when the moment was right. He wanted this golden goddess of the sky to be his!

[biraun]

Klazariath had his gaze fixed on the ferocious beauty flaunting her lucid body, her taught muscles, and her powerful jaws as they clamped down hard on a lifeless beast, sucking the warm blood from the corpse with utter delight. Klazariath was positive he would have a queen at last. He had waited long for the chance to finally catch a mate for his own, outdo all of the other bronzes who believed themselves more worthy than he. He wasn’t a social dragon, much like his life-partner, but he did enjoy the company of a queen dragon, especially when she was displaying such wild splendour that Klazariath was eager to devour.

After what seemed like forever, Aviciath finally spread out her glamorous wings and with a few enormous downward beats she was airborne and soaring far into the distance. Klazariath was quick to propel himself after her, feeling the air about him resist his presence. His wings pumped hard though, forcing him forward at an impressive speed. He wanted to prove to Aviciath that he was worthy for her. He had to prove to her that he was the perfect candidate for her mate. As Klazariath strained to keep up with the ridiculously fast pace of the queen, B’raun trembled slightly on the ground, feeling the exertion himself. But their will was strong, and they were going to pursue Aviciath until she allowed him to catch her, no matter how long it would take.

[bleedtearsofshame]

Aviciath gave a bugle of pleasure, a mental laugh ringing through Sitareh's mind as she felt, rather than saw, the three males chasing close behind her. They all seemed to hovering slightly above her, allowing them a better angle to view her movements while they chased.

But the gold never liked to be predictable, and she did not like the idea of the bronzes trying to judge her movements, watching for the slight signals of her body to reveal her plans. No, she was far too clever for that!

With a scream that was a strange combination between triumph and challenge, Aviciath suddenly brought her wings close to her body, tucking them tightly to her sides and plummeting towards the ground. The air rushed around her, a downward plunge that was dizzying and electrifying. She spiraled as the ground reached upwards the meet her, a fallen beacon in the daylight.

For a moment, nothing else existed. She was not aware of the males behind her, or lust in her veins. There was only the joy of the flight, the freedom of the skies, the utter abandon of falling through the air. She was graceful, she was fast, she was like pure sunlight falling upon the wind, a plummeting dance of pirouettes.

Always one to court danger, to take risks, Aviciath didn't correct her flight until the last possible moment. Then, her wings snapped outwards to embrace the air, catching a thermal. That, coupled with the speed of her descent, sent her arcing upwards at a far quicker rate than she had expected. It was exhilarating.

The gold allowed herself to cast one glance over her shoulder, keeping an eye on her suitors. Any that fell out now would earn her disgust - but it would also cause her endless amusement. Aviciath had no intentions of making her capture easy! If these pathetic bronzes wished to be her mate, they would have to struggle. They would have to feel the strength drain from their bodies and their muscles cramping with aching pain - they would have to give themselves and still find the will to keep going when there was nothing left. Only then, would she know that they were worthy.

Still riding that thermal, Aviciath angled her wings to take her out towards the sea. The jungles were fun, but the waves were calling her. The ocean was much more dangerous, with unpredictable thermals and currents vying with each other for placement in the darkening sky. Even now, the sun was beginning to set. The clouds were colored with streaks of cherries and peaches, warm ambers and darker blues shading the seascape. The sun, slowly beginning to curl its way down past the horizon, cast its light upon the golden dragon and turned her hide from a molten fire to ruby-tinted.

Ruby red like the lust that danced in Sitareh's veins, like the desire aching in her body. She was one with her lifemate. They were together.

[Journye]

Seath bugled loudly as Aviciath dived, tucking his own wings to follow suit. He let out a rumble of laughter at the thrill of it, the wind whipping past him for the long moments of the fall. L'kas laughed out loud from his spot on the ground, he was one with his lifemate and enjoying it all.

Seath snapped his wings open long before the golden goddess did and he was alarmed to see how close she had come to the ground. But, ah she would not be Aviciath if she did not surprise her would be suitors. He followed her up, wings stretched wide to allow the thermal to carry him up after the shining jewel of the skies.

He glanced at the other two bonzes in pursuit and snored once before turning his complete attention back to Aviciath. She would need watching and his complete attention, she was a tricky one and that made the chase all the more thrilling to him. Ah it wasn't that she simply needed the attention she demanded it and rightly so!

He crooned in admiration as the setting sun lit up her golden hide all the more, a beautiful golden ruby. A jeweled goddess of the skies and he wanted to worship her properly if only she would allow him to be the one to win this chase. But he knew the flight was long from over and he was only just beginning to feel a bit of a strain in his wing joints, the burning of used muscle, but he would not give up. He bugled once more as he followed his queen toward the sea.