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Post by Kitari on May 5, 2009 23:20:04 GMT -5
The queen had been loathe to wake, for she was deep in a heavy slumber, but the emotions from her rider were too strong and tore her back to awareness. Alongside the rage pulsing from hers was a throbbing desire of her own: for blood. Lefayeth walked cat-like to the edge of her weyr, gazing out upon her realm with a hiss of satisfaction. Dawn was just breaking, and the first morning rays struck her golden hide so that it shone as brightly as Rukbat. She was a beacon, a star, and there were none in the Weyr who could ought but be drawn to her.
All she wanted to do was leap from her ledge and tear apart the creature that threatened hers, but another instinct was driving her, stronger even than that. Instead, she looked to the herdbeasts in the Feeding Grounds, imagining the taste of their blood, the feel of it running down her neck. But hers must be safe...
I am safe, came a voice, and that was all the assurance Lefayeth needed. She folded her wings and dropped, enjoying the rush of the wind before snapping the golden sails open, just in time. Lefayeth soared out over the drowsy herdbeasts, pleased that they were unprepared for such an early morning attack, and dropped onto the fattest she could find, tearing open its throat.
Two sounds caught her up short. One, the sound of a beast other than her own dying. Two, the insistent message that she should feed on only the blood.
It was the first that captured her attention.
As her arrow-shaped, golden head swiveled, she spotted another gold in the Grounds. Another gold in her Weyr.
A scream of rage erupted from Lefayeth, and she alternated bugles of challenge with hissing spats, greedily clawing at her herdbeast in warning to the other gold to stay away. What impudence! How dare Gwynevith show herself when it was Lefayeth's time to rise? The Weyr was hers, the males were hers, and nothing would stand in her way!
"No!" Kitari cried, still tangled with Alana on the floor of the Lower Caverns although their fight was completely forgotten. "Lefayeth, no!" What had she done, what had she done?!
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Post by B'kay on May 6, 2009 12:21:12 GMT -5
B'kay tossed about in his bed. He'd only been back in his old weyr, his precious weyr in the highest pinnacles of the cliffs surrounding the bowl, for a short time, but his sweet rest was troubled. Horrid dreams of golden dragons flaming one another ... but golden dragons did not flame. Sweat drenched the man's scarred face as he threw his blankets to the floor, still asleep, running from the flames, the flames that were now directed toward him. The heat, the heat, the burning ... Thread! Was it Thread that burned his body, or Fire that scorched his soul?
Suddenly he was being hefted into the air, sharp teeth around him!
NOOOO, the dragons, the dragons were going to eat him!
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh" -- his own scream finally woke him from the deep, hypnotic sleep. But it wasn't a dream! Razor teeth were around him, he was being held in powerful, crushing jaws!
Syth's jaws!
"Noooooo--- SYTH!"
The fire, the flame, the piercing pain were not B'kay's own, but his dragon's!
THEY FIGHT, THEY BURN, THEY RISE!
Madness pierced B'kay, as he fought to focus his newly-regained vision. He was being clenched around the middle in Syth's massive maw. Dim light turned to bright early morning sun as the cool air of outdoors breezed around his head and legs.
YOU SHALL NOT BE CAUGHT IN THE WEYR THIS TIME, MINE!
The madness intensified as Syth's eyes glowed orange, and then red.
And then the dragon dropped the man. The ground came up hard, though the fall was only a shallow one. B'kay, naked but for his sleeping breeches, sat up and looked about. He was at the entrance to the lower caverns, in the bowl, and his dragon, deep bronze and touched with the orange-gold glow of the rising sun, was speeding toward the feeding pens.
Rage, lust, desire, fear, terror, anger, hunger
The rider shook his head, confused. What did he mean, THEY rose?
Both Queens?
Noooo!
B'kay's breath came in gasps, ragged and shallow, as he stood, dizzy from the inner fires that burned him, trying desperately to separate his emotions from his dragon's.
Where were the Queen Riders? He must find them!
The feeding grounds were already spattered in precious blood when the black-bronze Syth arrived. His wings high, his eyes whirled with hunger as he surveyed the scene before him. Brilliant gold, made even brighter as the rays of the rising sun touched glowing hide. The scent of blood made his stomach roil, but he had fed yesterday, and would resist the urge today. He needed to be light, to be agile, to be free to move, to speed, to fly unencumbered. Not the largest bronze, his smaller size meant he could maneuver well. Fully healed from his Threadscore, he had been exercising daily on the thermals around the Weyr, and was ready.
Syth was ready.
He was ready to Fly!
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Post by Skye on May 6, 2009 20:48:00 GMT -5
Mine, we have a situation in the feeding pens[/color] Gaelrith informed his rider who had gotten up early to get ready for his sweep ride. A'idin scowled into his mug of klah, then nearly chocked on the stuff as he stepped onto the ledge.
"What by the first egg!" he snapped as he dropped the mug, ignoring the sound of shattering clay as he stared down at the feeding pens. "Didn't those sharding Queen riders know their bonds were so close to rising?!" he yelled, his face turning red from anger and....desire?
He turned to look at his brown just as the large beast leaped from the ledge. "Gaelrith!" he yelled after the brown, running his hands through his hair.
He shook his head and sighed as he walked back into his weyr, still barefoot and shirtless as he hurried through his room and out to the stairs. He nearly took a tumble down them in his hurry to get down to the bowl to find the Queen riders. He couldn't believe his brown was willing to give chase to the Queens, but he couldn't begrudge him for wanting to try.
He made it down the stairs in one piece and went in search of the two riders.
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Post by Kitari on May 6, 2009 23:04:59 GMT -5
Whirling eyes gleamed orange and red, as Lefayeth hunched low over her kill and watched Gwynevith with burning intensity. The other gold seemed more interested in feasting than in threatening Lefayeth...for the time being. Thus, Lefayeth dipped her head, draining the remainder of her first herdbeast, though her whirling gaze remained fixed on Gwynevith. As the other queen leaped for a second animal, Lefayeth's wings flared upward in warning, accompanied by a sharp hiss.
She waited until the other gold was feeding again before hurling herself into the air. Lefayeth arced upwards before diving suddenly downward, into the wherry pen this time. She easily crushed the creature, tearing it with her claws and dipping her head to bite down on its neck for good measure. That nagging voice penetrated her thoughts once again, insisting on blood, and Lefayeth bugled her resistance. She would not be controlled by a voice, she would not be intimidated by Gwynevith! That one would tremble before Lefayeth's grace and power.
And yet her jaws froze at the sharp command that seized her mind. Lefayeth quivered for a moment, fighting still, before she began to suck the creature's bloody greedily. The voice was one she trusted, the gold had begun to realize, and so she acquiesced to that.
But Gwynevith was another story.
The bronzes had begun to gather, even a spattering of browns had joined the ranks, and Lefayeth was rational enough to realize that the males would be choosing to chase only one of them. They couldn't chase both. How dare Gwynevith steal her suitors! Although Lefayeth was much smaller than Gwynevith, even smaller than the largest bronzes, she was by far the more desirable catch. Pale gold hide that rippled as she shifted in the growing sunlight, proudly arching neck dappled in blood.
And Kitari, if not Gwynevith, was trembling, though not in awe. She was trembling with the effort of preventing that horrible event that everyone so feared. After pulling herself off the ground, she had frozen in place, staring through her dragon's eyes at a scene far removed from the Caverns. She had forgotten about Alana and their foolish fight, though a trickle of blood curled down her chin from her bottom lip. The rider could focus on nothing but keeping her beloved in check, telling her only to blood the kills and holding her back from attacking Gwynevith. "Please, Lefayeth," she murmured aloud, though unaware of it. "Please, my love."
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Post by B'kay on May 7, 2009 7:32:58 GMT -5
A touch on his arm, a voice in his ear, "They're in the dining hall--"
B'kay responded with a mute nod. He stumbled, blind not with injury but with lust and rage, toward the two Gold Riders. He braced himself against the corridor walls as he went, slowly, his motions stilted, his connection to his dragon more intense than it had ever been.
Syth saw the situation, but Syth was wrapped up in desire. B'kay tried to force his logic through the insanity that was building at the feeding pens.
PERN NEEDS DRAGONS
The thought pierced the mind of the dark bronze whose eyes whirled red.
PERN NEEDS DRAGONS
Syth echoed his rider's thoughts, as B'kay's mental control tightened around him.
The arrival of the other males jerked him back into battle mode -- how dare they challenge him for HIS Queens! He knew these Queens! He had taught these Queens! He owned their loyalty, and he had pledged his own!
He raised his wings and bugled, head lashing back and forth in defiance. He roared to Gwynevith, bugled to Lefayeth, sang them songs of bonding and power! Together they would rule the skies!
The enmity between the golds was affecting him, tearing him apart. The logical shout of Seath went through him like fire, enraging him! How dare that one tell HIS Queens what to do!
Syth screamed to the skies, challenging Rukbat herself to defy his bronzen might!
PERN NEED DRAGONS! B'kay repeated as he staggered into the presence of the two Queen Riders. He yanked the dragon's mind back to him forcefully, demanding that Syth remember the priority of every dragon rider. To protect Pern from Thread!
If anything happened to one of those Queens....
If anything happened to those two women....
If anything happened to Kitari....
Shock ran through the bronze rider like ice-water in his veins. What was this emotion? He had been through flights before, felt the lust, felt the intensity. But this was different, this was--
Syth roared. His emotions had suddenly shifted. He turned toward Lefayeth, drawn to her, making her the focus of his song. Why? What had happened?
He could not win both Golds.... He suddenly knew this, and he knew that Pern's very future was at stake.
Confusion warred with logic, as the bronze shone through the black shadows of his hide, making Syth glow with glory and power. The jagged white scar that ran down his neck stood out like a lightning bold against a stormy sky.
In the caverns, the rider stared at the two young weyrwomen -- only half-seeing them. Both were amazing, both were lovely, both were glowing with the glory of their dragons ... yet he knew that neither saw him. His vision fogged over with the images Syth relayed from outside -- and yet something deep inside noted the sweat that beaded, the clenched fists, the trickle of blood. These women were fighting for the lives of their dragons, for the safety of Pern--
He groaned and stumbled forward, closer, drawn to them, not even seeing the other riders that were gathering.
He saw them, but saw them not. He felt their emotions, and they mingled with his own. Like two golden threads had wound through the bronze of his soul, he was pulled into their battle like a marionette, and fought the madness that they must feel with all of his mental might.
And through it all, one gold thread shone brighter than the other, and he realized with terror that it had managed, somehow, to wrap itself around his heart.
But what if another wins her-- he thought, and for a moment that heart stopped beating.
Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a dark voice whispered. It was the voice of logic, of reason, of fate. That is the chance you take when you ride dragons....
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Post by Skye on May 7, 2009 15:49:13 GMT -5
A'idin stumbled into the dining cavern, vaguely aware of other riders gathering. He blinked his good eye and shook his head, clearing away some of the fogging thoughts his brown was loudly broadcasting. He hadn't even known that his brown had been interested in either of the golds, he had always thought Calith was the dragon he wanted, but he supposed losing in that flight enough times had changed his mind.
He shrugged and turned his attention to the two girls in the ring of male riders, nodding approval to the younger man who had stepped between him, but he knew the words he spoke were wasted, the look in the two gold rider's eyes were vague and distant, they were already struggling for control of their dragons.
He sighed and stopped fighting against the emotions his Gaelrith was sharing, letting them flow into his mind as surely as they were his own.
Gaelrith landed on a low ledge near the feeding pens, keeping a close eye on both golds. He looked them over, admiring qualities in both of them even though he knew he would have to give chase to only one, there was no way he could pursue both.
He looked over Gwynevith, noting her size and her grace, watching her for a moment.
He looked to Lefayeth. She was smaller, lines more dainty and graceful. Yes, she was just as worthy of attention as was her larger twin.
He with a soft sound he made his decision, he knew which one he would give chase to when the flight began. He remained in a crouch, ever watchful, waiting for the first movement of his choice, ready to take to the air behind her.
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Post by Kitari on May 8, 2009 15:38:31 GMT -5
Gwynevith's hissing was all Lefayeth could hear. It filled her mind, echoing in her very bones, and the gold's eyes were whirling at a near-impossible speed in response. Through her veins flowed a pulsing need to kill, and it was building, rather than lessening, with each beast she slew. For no amount of herdbeast blood she drank would ever eliminate the wrongness of Gwynevith's presence. The stain on her day of glory, the insult to her name. Only Gwynevith's blood would quench that thirst.
A foolish bronze was bugling at both of them, urging them not to fight, and Lefayeth's hiss was nearly a laugh at such impudence. They were Queens, though Gwynevith was far the lesser, and no bronze could command them. And Lefayeth decided in a moment of sweet vengeance that he would not win her today; he had lost that chance by thinking to control her. The only male who could ever catch her would bow to Lefayeth.
So caught up was the gold in these glorious thoughts, blood-smeared snout raised to the sky as she surveyed the bronzes and browns, that Gwynevith's roar caused her to recoil and flare her wings in surprise. A moment too late, Lefayeth realized what that call meant, and Gwynevith was in the air, soaring up and away from the Feeding Grounds.
NO! Gwynevith would not rise to Lefayeth's skies! She would NOT claim the Flight that was meant for the pale gold with serpentine grace still bound to the land! She would not steal Lefayeth's suitors!
Crouching low, muscles coiled in preparation to spring and wings extended for that crucial downsweep, Lefayeth screamed as Gwynevith swept low over the Grounds again, right over top of her! The threat was evident; Lefayeth could see the light glinting off the other gold's claws and feel the shadow pass over her smaller form. But she would not tremble, she would not waver; half-drained herdbeast forgotten, Lefayeth leapt to the skies.
The gold had not taken her fill of blood, but there was no more time. If she didn't remove this greedy traitor immediately, she would lose her bronzes. That would not be permitted! They would chase her and only her!
Lefayeth arced upwards, pumping her wings with deadly strokes and gaining on Gwynevith. She would take her, pull her from the skies, tear her to pieces, and then continue her Flight as it ought to be. Claws extended, teeth bared, reaching, tasting her scent, imagining her blood...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The scream filled her mind, distracting her intense thoughts, and Lefayeth was momentarily frozen and blank. An image filled the emptiness, and the queen instinctively grasped it, disappearing between.
Kitari had sent her to the skies over a small Fishing hold, where the goldrider had grown up.
No! Lefayeth realized too late that she had been tricked, but the lock on her mind would not permit another trip between. All she could do was broadcast her location to the males and hope desperately they would follow. They must...
It was a gamble, Kitari knew. How many bronzes and browns would make the trip between to chase her Lefayeth when there was another gold right in front of them? It tore her heart to feel her beloved's distress, but the consequences of not sending her away were too great. In the moment that Lefayeth had reached for Gwynevith, the desire had almost been too great, and Kitari had begun to want her blood just as much...until she pulled away with that scream that had echoed in the Lower Caverns as well as her dragon's mind.
The image of her home, the assurance that Lefayeth was there and safe, caused Kitari to sag slightly, relief lessening the tension in her limbs. No gold dragons would die today.
Like Alana, she too was far away from her self in the Lower Caverns, far removed from the awareness of bronze and brownriders hovering near, even of Alana swaying on her feet nearby. She had spread her wings, soaring over the sparkling sapphire waters of the ocean below, feeling Rukbat's touch light her golden hide, and calling her challenge to the wind. Tucking her wings, she spiraled lower and lower towards the ocean. She was a falling star, and no one would catch her.
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Post by B'kay on May 8, 2009 20:35:33 GMT -5
Almost as soon as Lefayeth leapt in fury, Syth leapt in fear! The rage that emanated from the Golden dragon was overpowering, weaving through the flight-lust like thread through a lush forest. He pumped his wings hard, not knowing what he would do if he overtook her -- but before he'd closed half the distance, she was gone!
GONE!
He roared in anger, eyes blazing red, and slashed the air with his white-scarred neck!
GONE!
And then a vision filled his mind, she was there! Water below, blue skies above, and the heat of Rukbat adding to the fire within!
Syth went Between, and emerged in those blue skies. He looked this way and that, scanning, momentarily confused, before his sights locked on the gleaming golden hide not far ahead.
The wind gave way behind his wings as the deep bronze dragon sped forward in pursuit of the object of his Worship!
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Post by Skye on May 9, 2009 18:57:44 GMT -5
As soon as Lefayeth leaped into the air, Gaelrith launched himself off of the low ledge. He pumped his wings, pushing himself to put himself between the two golds if need be.
Then suddenly, Lefayeth disappeared between. Gaelrith roared in confusion, snapping his wings open to hover in place, looking around desperately for her to reappear, she had to reappear.
Then there it was, an image in his mind and he didn't even think twice, but disappeared between to follow the siren's call. As he reemerged from the cold nothing over the blue sea he bugled his admiration of the lithe gold. He scanned the sky for her jewel hide, hissing when he spotted the form of the dark bronze Syth.
He pumped his wings to catch up with the two, more then willing to prove that a brown could be worthy of a Queen's notice.
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Post by Kitari on May 11, 2009 13:50:18 GMT -5
The wind's soothing fingers danced all along her sleek hide as she dove downward to meet the sea. The deep blue waters flashed beckoningly in Rukbat's early light, but it was the pale blue sky that drew Lefayeth most, and she flared her wings to come out of her steep dive. From there, the queen twisted her head 'round to survey the skies above and determine which males had deemed to follow her. The sight that met her whirling eyes, of two dark dragons against the light sky, elicited a bugle of dismay. Only two?! Two suitors for the mightest of queens, Lefayeth herself?
The queen was half-tempted to deny them both and never be caught, to fly over the oceans forever, but she could not deny the urges of a Flight. As the males winged towards her, Lefayeth began to climb once again, soaring briefly over the shoreline to take advantage of the early morning thermals rising from the rocks. As she gained altitude, the golden queen cast a glance backwards to identify her pursuers, and her frustration was somewhat assuaged. Only one bronze, but Syth was not a dragon to flick one's tail at. And the brown, Gaelrith, was the Weyrlingmaster in Syth's absence... At least she didn't have to deal with any uppity young Weyrlings too bold for their own good!
Realizing that the pair was gaining on her quickly, since they hadn't had to make up the height that she had after diving (not to mention her petite size), Lefayeth did a barrel roll farther inland, spreading her wings to soar higher and higher. She had danced with the sea, but now it was time to reclaim the skies. She would climb until the air was too thin to breathe, until the males began to falter, and only then would she consider being caught!
If Kitari had been cognizant enough, or even relieved of some of her earlier stress, she probably would have rolled her eyes at such foolishly bold thoughts. However, the goldrider was still vibrating with the effort of restraining Lefayeth from returning to the Weyr, where she wanted to fly most. As well, the part of her that wasn't still fighting for control was soaring through those clouds with the gold and reveling in the Flight. Lefayeth was right, after all; no one could be worthy of them!
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