Who will lead us?

[Ria]

Rialana looked through the curtains to her sleeping room. She could just see the glowing hide of Henareth as she lounged on the ledge to her weyr. She was almost too glowing, Ria thought as she adjusted the heavy skirts on her hips and smoothed them out. Her oversized tunic billowed out around her arms and torso in soft folds. The spring air was moist with the promise of a wet summer. It would be a good time for a mating flight for everyone. It had been a horible shock to loose the weyrleader so soon after the pass was over and she had to admit, the weyr needed a weyrleader. She didn't know how to run the weyr as all her weyrmates had and she was tired of trying. She wondered which of the bronzes would rise to the chalange of flying the queen. They are all good and strong, and all their riders are experienced, but which one did she prefer? She didn't dare admit it to herself because she didn't want to try and influece Henareth's choice, the strongest would catch her.

Ria's hand stilled over her half finnished braid as she felt the change. The electricity ran through her as it had every time, she was ready to fly and Ria would be with her. Forgetting the braid, Ria took to her heals and ran to the ledge and passed by Henareth as she began to stand up, looking down at the heardbeasts with blood red eyes. Ria would have tripped if she had not been in such a state of mind, she had to get to the feeding grounds at least at the same time Henareth made her first kill. She was just in time, nearly out of breath, as Henareth dropped down onto one of the fat bull heardbeasts. Blood it ONLY, Henareth! They had done this too many times for Henareth to dissobay and even to grumble past the first tast of blood. Twenty one flight they had shared together, and now with the twenty second, they were free. One after another, Henareth blooded untill she lowered her muzzel to latch onto the seventh heardbeast's throat, her drinking had slowed with this last one, she was savoring the sweet tast of the blood. Ria knew as the phantom blood trickled down her throat that this would be her last before she took to the skies. Ria wondered if she was ready to face what was to come.

ooc:// you have until Sat. 7 at aproximatly 9:30 mountain time to post

[amber]

S'nar had awoken with his usual earliness, but something guided him not to the kitchen as he had always gone, but to the bowl to watch the sky as it was slowly set ablaze by Rukbat. The sun that brought all life to Pern and kept everything, just the way it was supposed to be. He looked up in time to see Cinenth spread his wings and drift to a sunny empty weyr. Well I guess its not hurting anyone The short bronze rider mused as he made it into the kitchen and filled him a mug of klah and a bowl with some porridge.

He found a table and then went back for the pitcher of klah, some sweet rolls and even an extra mug encase one of the queen riders showed up. As he was about to bite into his first roll he heard the scream of a mating flight and stood up with such force that he moved the table and broke a mug and the pitcher of klah, but he kept running even with a drudge yelling after him. Cinenth was already at the feeding paddocks his swirling eyes fixed on the queen. Stop staring and feed otherwise you have no hope S'nar yelled as he came to stand next to Ria. He was close to her, but not too close. Cinenth was almost delighted to see that he was the first male on scene. He buggled once...

Blood it! A simple order was all that was needed as the massive bronze landed on the second largest herdbeast in the meadow. He savored the red juice for a moment before taking another and another, until he had finished off seven beasts and then he took out a young calf and bit into its troat and slowly drank it waiting on the queen to lauch herself into the skies.

[daesiggil]

He was once more up too early. His gaze watching the skies as if sensing something. The Dragon behind him shifted each moment and Am'r nearly snapped in irritation at Calarith. A flash entered his mind and he sidestepped, just in time to let the Bronze pass as it roared his challenge. He growled lightly and tried to grasp Calarith's mind with his. The old dragon knew what he had to do, but he still tried to disobey Only blood, Calarith! He ordered, the usually calm voice of Calarith snarled back at him; but Am'r didn't back down ONLY BLOOD! He yelled in his mind again, almost causing a headache; he was running outside now, so that he could get closer and have more control over the enormous Bronze. Well, control? He was never sure how much control he had over the Dragon, but now he seemed to win. The annoyed Bronze pushed his teeth in one of the Herdbeasts throat and sucked out the blood. The tongue caressing the flesh as if he wanted to bite down.

Calarith seized the other Bronze and growled again. Although the flying Queen seemed to calm his nerves somewhat. He knew that he wouldn't be able to catch her. But by Faranth's egg, he would try his darned best. The dry hulk was dropped and he moved to the next, careful that it wasn't targeted by the other two. He sucked this unfortunate Herdbeast empty as well, before moving to the next. He didn't seem to get enough, although he was still warned by His that he only could drink the blood and not eat the actual flesh of his prey. The Bronze finally released his last prey and spread his wings to each side I'm ready, Am'rMine. He spoke finally, jaws parting and letting drying blood drip from his muzzle and onto the ground; making a rather gruesome picture. He gazed at the Queen, before one of the Heardbeast's young ran before him. Already somewhat irritated he did the same with the ones he drank empty before. This one was feisty, but the struggles weakened quickly.

[B'dob and Bronze Thrandath]

The rumble the shook the floor of his weyr was enough to wake B'dob where he slept sprolled out on his bed. He sat bolt upright and looked around in a panic until he saw the glowing eyes off Thrandath on his ledge, "What is it, Thrandath? it was clear that the rumbling was comming from the great bonzes chest. Today is the day I think when our queen will fly. She is vibrant on her ledge. Come, I will lift you to the field. B'dob quickly pulled on his trousers and on of the open shirts, but he didn't want to take time to do up the buttons. Quickly he ran to his dragon and leaped to the forarm, nimbly scathing the shoulder so that he was settled between the propper ridges. He didn't bother with fighting straps because, for the duration of the flight, he did not plan to be on those great shoulders.

With his rider aboard, Thrandath took to the skies, flying lower and fast. Gently he set down on the feild a short way off from the hunting ground and let B'dob dismount before he swiftly angled a shallow flight to the edge of the hunting grounds and just in time to hear the queen make her first kill, and then those of the other two bronzes. Thrandath pounced onto one of the large heardbeasts and downed it with a sharp bite. It took little reminding from his rider for Thrandath to know he needed the blood, warm hot and sweet. Blood is what he needed to thrive, to catch the queen and he intended that he would. He took down six of the largest and sucked them dry before he knew that he had enough, enough to fill his belly and yet not make him too heavy for the flight. Silently he spread his wing, ready to take to the air once she rose.

B'dob made his way over to where the others stood. He was undeniably the tallest person there, though not the oldest. Am'r was old, in his fifties, and B'dob was surprised that he would let his dragon try for the queen, weyrleader was a hard job and he should know that. But he was only one of the rivals. S'nar was young and much in the company of the weyrwoman these past days but he was some six or seven turns her junior. B'dob was much closer to her own age and she was a beautiful woman. B'dob frowned then, knowing that his dragon's emotions were starting to take ahold of him.

[Ria]

ooc:// wow, I'm shocked at how fast everyone replyed to the thread, but since everyone has, we can go on. Round two, post before Monday 9 at aproximatly 1:30pm mountain time.

IC:// Henareth growled as she looked around at the three bronzes that blooded near her. Did they think that mear blood would allow them to catch her? She was the queen, she was all powerful in the skies and these small, wingless-ones could not best her in the air. With a snarrel she dropped the last drained carcase and sprang into the air, beating strongly with her massive wings. The termals would carry her high she knew and she instinctively caught one that rose out of the bowl. Up and up, she rose, free from all ties to the grownd for her beloved Ria was with her, body, mind and soal. For the moment, she didn't waist her engery on pointless manuvers, that could wait untill she was high above the ground. She snaked her head around her shoulder and bellowed her chalange to the bronzes that she knew were following. Her blood was up and she was reveling in it.

Ria streched unconiously to her full hight, up on the balls of her feet with her back arching to it's limit, her face was bare to the sky and her arms wide behind her as she leaped into the sky with Henareth. She had experienced the tearing of mind from body as she was absorbed into Henareth's mind. She did not fight it, she knew what joys awaited her in that merging of mind and soal. Breafly before she was totaly emerged the the mind of her dragon, Ria saw the three men, Am'r who was older and experianced in leading the weyr, B'dob the strong gentle giant, and S'nar her sweet companion of the past few seven-days. They were all loyal, brave, and gentile but which would Henareth take a fancy to. THen her mind was gone, enveloped in that of her dragon's. As they flew HenarethRia reveled and rejoiced. Again unconcious of her own movements, Ria reacted to her dragon's movements. She remained taught as they flew higher and higher still and as Henareth bellowed her challenge, Ria offered one of her own. She was strong, she was vibrant, she was alive!

[amber]

Cinenth had been waiting on the exact moment the beautiful Henareth took to the sky, only half a wingbeat after he he leapt skyward, growling at the other males. He would show them all that his age was nothing and that he could catch the beauty that was the golden queen My beautiful queen fly forever if you wish, I will be here on your wing tips the whole time He cooed as he too caught the thermal as it rushed hi into the skies of Pern. Even though he was young he knew to save his energy, because the queen could last longer then any of her followers, so he needed to outlast them. And being the closest to her, he had the best chance. He kept close to her and bugled as the air began to thin. He was loving this. Flights were everything, well that and training. He was out to do his best, but then again if he didn't catch this queen there was another, but that thought was from S'nar not from the great bronze...

The rider growled along with his dragon as he noticed the other men close to him, but the moment the actual flight began, he was lost with his dragon his mind was sucked into the bronze's and they were one, great wings beating the air seldom as the air carried them higher and higher. S'nar too was moving his body almost in tandem with Cinenth...

[daesiggil]

Calarith spread wings of Bronze quickly. He waited for a moment as he watched the two rise, with a small snarl he pumped his wings and rose into the sky. The chase had begun in his eyes, the same eyes that swirled with colors before setting on purple as he Bugled, his challenge for the other Bronzes. He could give some flattery Beautiful Henareth, powerful Henareth. He whispered, feeling the mind of Am'r merge with his Always will it fill my heart with joy to see you soar.. His voice was mere cooing now. His attention went back to the other bronzes and another snarl escaped him.

Am'r stood silently, he didn't look at the others around him. He knew that he would snarl at them, just like Calarith would do, instead he let his mind fall together with Calarith's. It would happen anyway and this would be far easier for the both of them.

He felt his body expand, become longer and more agile and the pain in his joints. His body bit his lower-lip at the pain and hissed softly. He felt again the deep respect for the Dragon that was his lifelong companion. He soon ignored the pain and moved the wings together with Calarith, they where one. They rose higher, higher than they would have thought possible that they could fly now. They felt younger than they had done in Turns, almost a miracle as both where quite old already and it didn't get better; never would.

[B'dob and Bronze Thrandath]

Thrandath suched the last of his meal dry as the other's began to take flight. With a grand vigor he flung the heardbeast away from him and took to the air, where his wings beat stong and fast and he made up the lost distance between him and the other bronzes. The air was magnificetly cold in the high reaches of the apnesphere and he strained harder to try and gain a lead on the others it was nearly impossible though with the air the way it was and with the queen flying so fast herself. Oh she would be a prize, Oh fierce, Henareth, come callenge us to new hights and make us earn you for you are a gem. he crooned through their mental link with eachother. B'dob was joined with him, his thoughts mixing in, but not fully, not as they once had, but Thrandath understood and funneled more emotions into the space that was not trance, he was determined to make B'dob feal. And as the man's desire for the woman doubled THrandath's own urge for the queendid too. He was determinded to catch her.

B'dob didn't allow himself to fall into the full rider trance, not yet, he had to be in controle of himself. He had learned, painfuly that durring the thick of the flight when the bronzes were flying, he could get violent when he was in full trance. A lashing of Thrandath's tail could result in him striking out at another rider. For that reason, he would not fall into total trance, not until the catch itself. THe movements of the riders only made this precotion more real to him.

[Ria]

ooc:// On again we go! I like the speed of the replies a lot. Anyway, round three, cut off is Wed the 11 and about 2pm mountain time. If we hurry, we can finish the flight before anyone has to be absent.

Henareth's cheast swelled with the praises of the bronzes. They were proving their worth's now and none too soon. The air was thinning and her wings were tiering. Swiftly she folded her wings to her back and dived down, below the level of the bronzes before she rolled her body to the left and starting to climb into the clouds. She was determined that they would not have her that easy, she was a queen, she was powerful, she was free and no bronze would tie her down to the ground. No, she was free. She snaked her head around and hissed down at the bronzes behind her, another chalange as bold as the first, who would be most extravigant if catching her!

Ria broke out of trance for a moment and felt her arms become sore and weak, the flight was a sprint, no one could hold on forever, but they had made it to the hights of the sky, they would be safe. Her body and mind were pulled back into trance then and she shivered as she saw from Henareth's eyes the dive, and as her dragon went into the role, she spun herself around, dragging her fingers across the bronze riders who circled her, entising as her dragon did, not knowing that that is what she did. SHe was fee in the clouds, not tied to the ground.

[amber]

Cinenth hissed and growled if another bronze drew too close to himself, and he kept up his crooning at the queen. As the air thinned he could feel his own wings wearing out abit, but he was determined to keep up. He was still riding the thermal, or at least he was. It all changed when the queen dove. He followed her nearly touching her wing tip with his muzzle as she passed and he took the dive as well. He flipped into his back and flew upside down for a distance before righting himself Beautiful Henareth, show us that you not only rule the skies, but own them as you do my heart. He would do his best to win her. He barrel rolled twice before climbing right behind the queen, careful to not loose her in the clouds...

S'nar was in full trance, but only because he could control himself until the catch he was one with his dragon, but was not flapping his arms, or copying his moves. No but he was high above the earth one with the smallest bronze in the sky...

[daesiggil]

Calarith of course followed with delight, his eyes still a swirling purple. He felt powerful again; although he, like the others was also tiring. He didn't show it though, he could handle pain, then he could handle a bit tiredness as well. He followed soon as she dived, his wings folding against his body and eyes narrowing lightly to protect them from the biting air. He had no doubt anymore that Am'r and he would win this.

Am'r felt the Queen rider's finger on his body and had to suppress a shiver. He wasn't attracted to her, but the Dragon's emotions got the better of him and he wanted to grab her. He could restrain himself with relative ease however, turns of practice. He felt Calarith call out once more Henareth of the skies, show us why you are the Queen from our, mine, heart... Am'r nearly could snort, hearing Calarith sprout of things what only could be said in Romance.

He didn't think about it again as his mind sank into Calarith's once more, completely.

[B'dob and Bronze Thrandath]

Thrandath flew close behind the queen, his wings quivering with the fatugue of the flight. It would soon be over, but he knew that this queen would have some fun with the bronzes before being caught. He had followed her before. As she dove, he rumbled in amusement, but did not follow her down. Instead he glided above her and watched as the other two followed close to her, she would not let herself be caught this early. Her role startled him then and he quickly tried to fly as close to her as she flew up past him, crooning to her, Oh clever, Henareth. You are truely the queen of our hearts and minds. She was lost in the clouds to him from the bottom. He flew higher then though, above the clouds, trying to spot her. Another rumble rose from his chest as she spottend the golden glow of her body as it skimmed through the cloud. The sight of the bronze blurs that followed so close to her made him bellow and he dove, reaserting himself into the close chase for the queen.

B'dob quivered as her fingers trailed across his stomach and he almost lost himself in the trance that he was fighting so hard to resist. Thank the powers that be that Ria and the other bronze riders were all acoustomed to the mating flights of the queens. His has the mind that was warped so completely by the flight to where it could tramatize an unacoustomed rider. He would fight the trance now and until he could safely let down his guard.

[Ria]

ooc://Woot Woot! Almost done. Round four and don't forget that the bronzes can make an atempt to catch my beautiful Henareth here, but leave your move open! Happy flying!

Henareth bugled her delight in the flight and the way that the bronzes followed her down, and up again. The moisture from the cloud condenced on her hide, making her shine like the most radient piece of jewelry on Pern. Her wings ached and she knew that she would have to end this soon, but which one had flown her best and deserved to have her. In a last attempt to challenge the bronzes she put on a brust of speed and looped backwards until she could dive down through the midst of her lovers that followed her so galiently, zigzagging back and forth until she had trailed her head along each of their hides. And then shot skyward again on a path just feet form her dive. Maybe one would be bold enough.

Ria smiled a wicked grin at her dragon's manuvering and in turn moved unconsiously among the bronze riders. Ria followed ehr dragon's movements until she rose again, a chalenge in her thoughts. Ria laughed in the joy of the flight, the thoughts, the fealings and was, too, antisipating the catch!

[amber]

Cinenth had been almost on her wingtips as she gold beauty danced through the sky. He hissed at the other males now and then and when the queen sped up he followed suit, not losing and ground to her. When she looped he rolled amost on his wing tip and shot after her. As she touched him he crooned at her once more. Instead of following her dive he waited and made his move to catch her after she rose again. He reached out for her hoping to catch her and keep the others at bay...

S'nar began to reach for Ria, but stopped, he knew to wait until the queen had made up her mind...

[daesiggil]

Calarith wasn't as patient to wait for the Queen to come back from her dive. He folded his wings along his body, making him smaller and gain speed quicker as he followed her. He growled at the other males once more, before another Bugle escaped him and to the Queen; as she beats her wings again to rise, so did he. He wanted to stay as close as was possible to her. He knew that it was her choice and that she would choose a younger Bronze than him, but he could -as he kept in mind- always try and hope.

The pain in his joints was getting too bad to ignore and he slowed. He could curse him being old now, forced too it and a roar escaped him; anger and pain mixing through each other. He slowed further, trying to spare himself from the pain even more. He wouldn't stop, but he had finally no hope anymore of catching her.

(OoC: Poor Calarith, oldness ain't pleasant)