Up, up, and away - Mosawyth Rises

[.K.aci]

I don't quite know
How to say how I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
And not enough

It was coming again. Toni was older, more aware of the signs now. Oh, shut thyself. Thou art not any older than thou were before. Toni flinched, looking back at the irritable Green. I am to. Thou flew last turn, Mosawyth! The Green snorted and looked back down at her couch, closing whirling red eyes. I am sleeping. The girl only shrugged, going back to the shirt she was mending in her hands. "Whatever thou wishes." Toni had known that Wyth was going to fly since two sevenday's ago, when she had become nitpicky over her diet, and just about everything else. Nothing Toni did was proper, and what was worse (in Toni's opinion because she could deal with Mosawyth no problem) was that the Green had been ignoring Gryth as well. She had pushed everyone away, and was irritable and altogether a total grouch - which was the exact opposite of Toni's mood.

Ever since the fateful day when Toni and N'ryl had had their heart to heart in the dining room, Toni had found herself relaxing around the man. She found herself saying it sometimes, just when she knew she was alone. "Weyrmates." It was such a special word - because, after all, who else wanted her as a weyrmate? The Green in the background snorted. Yes yes, all good and well. Thou art weyrmates, and that tookth much too long. The girl only stitched another line up and told her dragon happily, "I thought thou was sleeping?" The Queen snorted, and quit talking to Her's - but for once Toni was alright with that. Mosawyth wasn't due to Fly for at least another day or so (although she might end up killing herself if the Green got anymore nasty) and for once in her life everything was going well. Toni had the chance to lay back on her bed, close her eyes, and sigh with a happy smile on her lips.

Several candlemark's later, Toni woke up suddenly. She was cold - very cold. But it was warm - the summer sun was beginning in it's final decent, and the air had a lazy orange cast to it. Something was different, something was off - but after checking on the finally sleeping Mosawyth, Toni couldn't understand what. She went and took a bath, soaping shoulder length copper hair and trying to shake off the feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong. She had feel asleep in such a good mood... Then she knew it. She would go talk to N'ryl - he could help her figure it out. Unless he was busy... The girl paused brushing her hair, frowning at the face in the mirror. She didn't want to cause trouble...

Well, she could at least stop running around in a towel. A man's button-down tunic that was too big on her - N'ryl's, she believed - and a pair of white loose cotton pants that were for lazying around the weyr, and her hair finally fixed, Toni stood staring at her door. Go to see the man? Not to go see the man. That was the question. Finally, ever so slowly, Toni reached for the door handle, the battle going on behind her hazel eyes - when suddenly it crashed down. The storm that had been building up, Toni suddenly understood. She whipped around, all thoughts forgotten as she raced to the Green's couch. There Mosawyth stood, in all of her glory, roaring at the dying sun. "Wyth!" The Green tossed her head up, screaming her challenge even as she took off with a few great wingbeats in the air. Come, you wherry's with wings. Come and try to catch me!

It was a challenge that rang through the ears of every dragon in the weyr, and Toni could see the sudden movement as she stood on her ledge. Green's were rising, rider's hastily grabbing them and throwing them Between. This would be the Weyrling's first Flight going on overhead, and it would cause quite a stir beneath. But Mosawyth was concerned with none of that. She only cared about the skies, of the slim tremors of wind that ruffled the grass. She grabbed the first wherry, ravenous, and Toni felt her mind giving into the awful power of her dragon. "Nay!" The scream was rent from Toni's lips, tossed into the air and dashed away - but Mosawyth heard her. The Green screamed her fury, mantling her wings over the kill and hissing into the air. How DARE her rider tell her what to do?!

But Toni was older - she was ready for this. "Blood thy kill!" It was a yell, in both mind and body - and Mosawyth thrashed against the chains she was throwing over her. But Toni only clenched her fists together tighter and threw out more of the power, watching as the wind swept it away and up into the blood red and orange sky. "BLOOD IT!" With the final yell, the Green submitted, and although red tinged with the purple whirling eyes, she blooded the kill. Another one - it was not enough! Down swooped the Queen in Green hide, killing the creature with a snap of bone against bone. She delighted in the power she held now, the garish Green with red streaking her maw and claws. She went for the meat, and Toni again tightened the chain. "Blood!" The yell was out, and the fight was quicker this time - the Green hungered for the blood in the creature. The herd stampeded now, and the shrieks and frightened calls were music to Mosawyth's ears.

Hear it! They quaver under me! The Green licked her maws and tossed the carcass behind her, away - it was nothing now. Now, she craved the copper taste in her mouth, and dove down again. But she didn't grab the first creature - she watched as she whipped them into a frenzy, and then grabbed the next creature, screaming her joy and fury. This was her day, her day to be Queen! Her Green hide glowed, and as she tossed her prey in the air to catch it, the sun neared the horizon. It stained her hide, lighting her up on fire as a brilliant beacon, and with another beast sucked dry, the Green cackled. Come to me, boys. I shalt liketh to dance. She settled then, licking her paw clean as she idly picked out another beast. But this one she blooded slowly, waiting and watching over the dead carcass as her boys gathered to her. These were HER dragon's, all of them... But only one would get the honor of dancing with her!

Toni was watching her dragon, only holding the chains loosely in her hand. With all of the blood singing through her veins, it was all the girl could do to not be suctioned into Mosawyth's mind. But she could help. Yes, I hear yonder creatures. Those words had been to her alone, a show to Her's that she had Impressed as good as a Gold - but Toni had wanted nothing else. "Fly, mine love. Fly hard and fast." The call tumbled from her lips and was tossed away - but Mosawyth heard and sent out one last trembling call from her lips, a last warning to those that wanted Her. And all should want Her!

Toni, meanwhile, stayed on the ledge. She would wait here this time, and watch as her dragon slipped into the skies like the beautiful creature she was. She would watch as the sun struggled through the last candlemarks of life, while Mosawyth outshone him. She let the males come, her back to the door - she knew who would be the winner of this Flight. She would be safe in the morning in the arms of one man. But Mosawyth heard her thoughts, and turned to look at the tiny figure up above. Gryth hath no special favor's here, MineOwn. I shalt pick the one that is the most worthy. Gryth's might not be who thou will wake up. And that was the last coherent thought Toni could get from the Queen.

Now the girl began to panic. She spun, eyes wide and haunted, to watch as they gathered into the room, one by one. When she wasn't there, they would come to the ledge - they were not stupid. And she watched them surround her, like a pack of hungry creatures, and she sought the eyes of no one there. Instead, she turned her back on them all, hugging herself fiercely as she chanted to herself four little words. It wilst be alright.

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here, ff I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

[Kitari]

Another long day of Sweepriding behind him, B'rec made his way thankfully down to the Lower Caverns. He was still grimy from the day spent flying, but he had only bothered to tear off his wherhide jacket, helmet, and gloves before proceeding down to eat. His flu had been thankfully in recession the past few days, but he still felt rather weak and wished to eat before cleaning up. Besides, the bluerider didn't really mind what others might think of his rather unkempt appearance, for he kept to himself almost exclusively during meals. Well, all of the time, really.

Taking a plate quietly and loading it with tubers, meat, and bread, the young man strode over to his usual table, in the corner and out of the way. There, he brushed back a stray strand of hair before digging in, content with the peace and quiet. It was such a rare thing in this Weyr, it seemed.

And for good reason. He wasn't half way through his dish when a distinctive scream rent the air, causing the bluerider to stiffen and swivel towards the entrance to the Caverns. A moment later, he shrugged, turning back to his plate. Another green was rising; it was hardly an unusual occurrence. But then, something unusual didn't happen.

I think, mine, that I doth want to give chase, this day. Mosawyth is a lovely dragoness, and I wouldst honour her.

B'rec nearly spat up his mouthful of klah, so shocked he was by this announcement. "Dagonth!" he hissed urgently, eyes growing round with fear, but the blue's thoughts only returned a touch of sympathy and overwhelming determination. He knew how anxious his was when it came to Flights, but he had sat out many times before. Today was his day to chase!

Thus, the blue, though tired from a day of Sweepriding, glided easily to a ledge overlooking the Feeding Grounds. The excitement and desire humming in his veins washed away the last clinging tendrils of weariness, and he bugled his challenge to the skies. Mosawyth would be his! Only Dagonth admired the green dragoness for what she was, a Queen! He would whisper his love to the emerald beauty and follow her through the skies until his wings carried him no further!

B'rec had no choice. The emotions his brown flitt Griffin had blasted him with were nothing as compared to Dagonth's. The bluerider was struggling even to see the plate in front of him now, for his vision kept filling with the sparkling green hide of Mosawyth. He was walking out of the Lower Caverns, drawn up the stairs to Toni's weyr, before he even realized that he'd stood up from the table. The pull was inexorable and would not be denied!

[B'kay]

SQUWAWK! SQUWAWK!

Panicked wherries scatter everywhere!

The Beastmaster, now not only small but gaunt and sunken from his long bout with the flu, looked up, wide eyed.

LOOK OUT, C'TRAIN!

Stampeding wherries surrounded him.

"Auuugh!"

He jumped over the fence just in time!

Green Fury! A dragon landed, killing.

BLOOD, BLOOD EVERYWHERE! STREAM, GUSH, SPATTER!

C'train backed away, eyes round. Where is Rhobith?

The brown dragon is afloat on his back in the lake.

Come To Me, Boys!

Fire, hot fire! His eyes whirl, he rights himself. Water spatters everywhere--

SPLASH!

As he leaps to the skies!

GRRRAAAAAA! He shouts at the blue who has already gathered!

He is big, he is brown, he is swift and strong! He is RHOBITH!

Glowing amber streaks accents his sepia hide. Wings wide and strong raise high, waiting to chase, waiting to catch!

Mosawyth! Beautiful Mosawyth! The most glorious green in the Weyr!

C'train is dazed. Above, he sees Toni. He enters the Weyr, and begins to climb.

MOAN ... STUMBLE

He enters her weyr, and approaches her, pulled by his dragon's need.

Little C'train, weak from flu, zombie-like.

Rhobith will chase. C'train must obey.

[OOC: writing comic book style is really hard!]

[Cilnah]

There it went again. That tail, back and forth, over and over again. He was surprised there wasn't a groove in the floor of the Blue's ledge. To say he had been irritated would be no small understatement. It was starting to get to N'ryl, though he understood his bonded's concern. His chosen Mosawyth had suddenly become cold and nearly heartless, it seemed to the rider. And neither he nor his dragon could figure out why. "For the thousandth time, Gryth! Would you please settle down? You're making me nervous just watching you!" His only reply was a grunt, and the large head turned to stare out across the bowl.

Waving a hand, the man turned from his place near the dragon and looked out as well, watching the sun blaze it's way lower. It was almost set, and the glow across the land was beautiful in a haunting sort of way. N'ryl's mind began to wander, and as always it wandered in the direction of Toni, and he wondered what she was up to. He hadn't seen her that day, various things keeping him occupied. He would have gone straight to her weyr, but he couldn't stand to be around the temperamental Green as she was lately. It wasn't a thought he was particularly happy to admit, but it was true non-the-less.

A shriek ringing across the bowl jerked him out of his thoughts, and as his head snapped up, so did the Blue's. A wave of anger and understanding buffeted him, hitting him so strongly that he stumbled back against the wall. A roar, much nearer at hand, had N'ryl sure that his eardrums would burst, and he looked around wildly to see Gryth on his feet, his head thrown back as his wings opened and he fell from his ledge. It took the man a moment to re-orientate himself, but as soon as he did he pushed off the wall and sprinted from the room, not even bothering to shut the door behind him. There was only one thought running through his mind: The other dragon's riders as they answered the bloodlust running through their body.

Indeed, there were already men gathering. A few female's were there as well, but he paid them no heed as he pushed through the door into the now familiar weyr, tossing a glare at anyone who was nearby. A soft growl built up in his chest as he saw the people there, but he suppressed it as his eyes sought his weyrmate. She wasn't there. "Ledge," N'ryl grunted to himself and it wasn't a moment before he was there. A surprising flash of possession ran through him, making him shiver as he saw her standing there in what he recognized as one of his own shirts. He must have left it there sometime... When he wasn't sure. Taking the two steps that separated them, he moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his head drop lightly on top of hers. He hoped his presence would help to comfort her as he stood between herself and the others, and anyone who dared get close would have to deal with him.

In the sky, a large blue screamed his rage. How dare others gather for HIS Mosawyth?! Gryth roared again, beating his wings down hard as he settled near to the feeding pin. His head flashed from side to side, his eyes whirling with anger as he studied each of the males gathering to give chase. Again he roared, this time at the Green herself as she blooded the beasts. How dare she not tell him that the time approached! And how dare she to call to the others when she belonged to him and him only! The Blue's tail thrashed with barely reigned fury, the stress and agitation of the past sevendays only adding fuel to the fire. Just let someone else try to catch her! They would feel the bite of his jaws and the sting of his claws. Any who touched HIS Queen Green would regret it, of that he would make absolutely sure.

[.K.aci]

Had Toni knew that N'yrl had not been there to visit because of her Green - well, the rider may have actually asserted more forthrightness than usual, especially to her Green. She would have understood of course - the Green spent her time pacing and sleeping, making snide comments and sharp-edged blades were thrown quite near hearts. Toni had let her be, and merely missed the Bluerider.

And yet, even as she sat in the spin of rider's slowly gathering, and panicked about Mosawyth's words, she wanted him next ot her. She wanted him next to her, physically and mentally - she needed that steady reassurance that the rider seemed to bring with him into a room. And yet, she worried he wouldn't come. She ached for his hands around her, for the protection she had begun to associate with him... But she felt for Gryth, as well, she knew that he would feel the pain as soon as Mosawth screamed her challenge... And N'ryl still wasn't here. Slowly breahting in and out, trying not to panic, the Greenrider fought her way inward, forcing herself back to the Queen that was ripping apart a herdbeast, slowly and surely. She was not blooding anymore - the blood she had borrowed sang in her veins. And yet she reveled in the terror she had inspired, reveled in the very essence of fury, fear, and pain that she was causing...

Until something snapped for them both. Like a fresh breath of wind, someone was wrapping his hands around her stomach - she only tightened for an instant when she realized that it was N'yrl. Her nose told her so, her eyes sought upwards for the jade color, mouth moving urgently even as she felt Mosawyth like a volcano. "N'yrl, she said she made no promises who would catch her! Mosawyth MUST be caught by Gryth!" And then - it happened, the explosion of fury that had been building in the proddy Queen. She had watched him drop from the sky, even as she scanned her other suitor's. They would be enough... Perhaps. But it was no help when he roared at her. The Queen rose up her full height, and screamed back. She belonged to no one! She was free! This was HER Flight, and the winner would be one she would have chosen - there was no belonging! A scream of pure fury, an elegance ripped from a bloodied maw as she declared herself - and in a surge she was up in the sky. Up, up, faster than she could have normally done, blood fresh in her veins. Into the sky she shot like an arrow, and Toni stayed with her this time.

Up to the sky, as high as she could go - she would watch and wait for them to gather before her before pausing in her wingbeats, slowing down enough that she could pinwheel tightly, shooting through with with a ferocity that surprised even Her's, her claw's outstretched and murder in her eyes. Right back the other way she came, flying back up and up, out and over the ocean, letting them chase her through the ripping winds, even as Toni held on for dear life to the hands anchoring her to the Weyr.

[Cilnah]

N'ryl did little more an tighten his grip around her as she froze, knowing that she would relax a bit when she realized just who it was that was touching her. Someone familiar, rather than the mass of blurred faces that he was shooting glares at. "Don't worry, Toni. She is his chosen one, just as he is hers. Even in her current state, she would not forget that." The Bluerider felt a shiver go through him at the anger buffeting him from his dragon. Not that he could blame poor Gryth. She really could have warned him that the time was coming. But at least they would know the signs for next time, and would not be so easily swayed by Wyth's moods.

The man rested his head once more atop the girl's, letting his consciousness float up with the wings of his Blue. But he retained enough of himself to keep himself between Toni and her would-be suitors, shifting his weight to place his bulk as needed if one of them dared to move closer. Out in the bowl, Gryth's tail continued to twitch in the manner of an agitated cat. She was still calling to others! Why?! Was HE not the one who had treated her as more than a simple Green? Was HE not the one who had been faithful to her when those Bronzes would have simply moved on to the next dragoness to fly? So why? Why was she calling to the others? Did he really mean so little to the fickle Green? He intended to ask her just that when this was over.

As the Green Queen took to her wings, so did the Blue, having experience enough to keep away from her in the first few efforts, knowing that she enjoyed showing off. As she should, she was an agile Green, she deserved to be admired. As HE had always done. Gryth continued to growl deep in his chest as he held back, waiting until the time when she would become serious, allowing himself brief glances of the other males chasing to see how they held up. Some seemed to be doing alright, but others did not seem to realize how to handle this particular challenge. He let out a small roar of pride, praising his Queen for her abilities, and then became serious, as she headed out over the ocean. Now was the time, he decided. Now was the time to truly give chase.

And so he did.

He was doing well, too. He was almost upon her, despite the slight strain in his wings. Until and errant sea breeze caught his wingtip and sent him tumbling. In the weyr, N'ryl have a small gasp of pain, feeling as his dragon did the pull of over stretched tendons as Gryth fought to steady himself before plunging into the water's depths. The others were far enough back that he was not terribly worried. That is, until he looked up, feeling a buffet that was far too strong to be a regular breeze.

There, reaching out to try to wrap his neck and tail around his beautiful Green Queen, was a Brown. Gryth roared in dismay. N'ryl stiffened, swinging his head around to watch as a figure straightened, stepping a bit forward with a smirk on his face.

[[As per M'kel's suggesion. X3]]

[.K.aci]

As he tightened his grip around her, the girl gave a breathy sigh of relief and shifted, spinning in his grasp so that she could inhale the scent that was just N'yrl, fingers grasping the cloth of his shirt and winding her fingers through it. Her forehead buried in it, she clung to him as much as she could, shifting so that she did not have to see anything, did not have to focus on the stares. N'yrl would protect her, tucked in the warmth and safety. She had come to associate that from him, in his quiet way. He was her safety, her moments of being almost able to stand in normal society. But now, with the emotions she buried and supressed and ignored coursing through her body, she had to much of everything. She wanted to pin N'yrl against the wall, to get as close to him as she could. But she always wanted to hide in her corner, and never come out.

'Don't worry, Toni. She is his chosen one, just as he is hers. Even in her current state, she would not forget that.' The Green, still pacing, felt the anger rising off the Blue and snarled. How dare he be angry with her! This was her freedom! Yes, perhaps she should have told him, but the change in the her? Should he not have guessed? She was herself, not just his! She was still a mind of her own, and she could and would have her own secrets, her own freedom! She snarled at the Blue and let herself be taken by the other admirations, preening and ignoring the hurt she felt minutly that Gryth would not praise her like the others. Every other day yes, but now and here was different - this was the special day. This was HER day!

Gryth was irritated however, that He would chase away all her other suitors. She growled, fury and lust making her glow, the blood singing on her veins. The silly boy was protecting Hers, and she needed to be out, to be under the pressure and the eyes of the males to see just how beautiful the two of them truly were. Toni only pressed her mind into Gryth and allowed the Green to do as she would, spreading the green wings and taking Flight. But she latched onto N'yrl with a soft whine of fear, and pressed up against him more, refusing to see the outside world. Everything was focused down on N'yrl, the touch of the cloth under her hands, the smell, the heartbeat.

Gryth only ignored Her's and turned back to the meager assourtment of suitors, taking them in. She could taste the fury coming from him, and it only made her more angry herself. He had indeed treated her more than a simple Green, and if she was totally honest with herself, the Green knew that he would Fly her today. It was the way of it all - she loved the Blue. But it was also the dance - she wanted to have the adventure, Fly among the boys and laugh, always able to return to the warm safe embrace she knew his wings would provid her with in the end. Why could she not have a little fun, and be able to wake completly sated with him curled around her?

And when she did take to the skies, they all knew it was her playing. She preened, she twisted, she turned. It was everything she did, and she enjoyed it all. No one was allowed near her - she snapped if they came even a few feet too close from, and she would slip away like smoke up in the air. She was freedom, she was life, she was everything right there in the sky, and she made sure that they admired her for it! Her few glances back showed that she was right - only a few were staying up with her, and she was pleased to note that Gryth was doing the best of them all. He knew how to Fly her correctly, the Blue, but as she slipped deeper over the sea and began to play with the sea breezes, she scanned her other suitors. Another Blue who flew well, a Brown too. And they admired her praising her - and she in her vainness too it all in. Or, maybe she wasn't vain. Maybe she was worried that she was not quite good enough, often as much as Her's did. The Green just took another view on it, acting differently than Her's in the face of her insecurity.

She allowed them closer with every moment that went by, as the hour slipped into the second and she began to tire. She wanted now to have the close contact, and she let them press in - but she kept eyeing the Blue who was closer now, closer... Until the wind decided not to favor him. She was still riding on it, saving the last of her energy as she pushed them al high up. Gryth was buffeted aside, and Mosawyth watched him tumble aside with something akin to horror. He was, of course, alright - he would be, of course, he was Gryth. And she expected him to be fine, to right himself and surge back upwards to sweep her up.

The wind alerted her to the new reality - that life was not always what it seemed, and things happened not according to plan. It was not a sea breeze that brushed her - it was the brush of wings, pressing her up against him. The Green saw herself captured by the Brown, and fought at first, a struggle, growling - but lust is a strong thing, and instincts stronger, and the Green allowed him to take her in the end, allowed the twining of necks.

Toni, underneath it all, seperated herself from Mosawyth and Gryth with a panicked gasp of air, pushing out of his embrace to swing around to the male, looking up into the smirking face. She froze, swaying - instincts, just like Gryth - like dragon, like rider... She swayed to the Brownrider again, pain wrenching her heart aside - but the dance had begun, as Wyth fell from the sky held up by Brown wings.

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