Eastern Weyr - Commons Cavern
A grand stairway leads downward into the cool rock of the commons cavern, a place for socializing and relaxing, as well as an area that provides solid shelter from the seasonal storms of this area. One of the few caverns at Eastern Weyr, the rock here has been worn away by centuries worth of water movement, leaving a nearly glass smooth polish over much of the room. Rocky shelves line the walls on which electric lights covered with paper lanterns rest, providing adequate illumination for the area. High above are further light fixtures, enabling a wide range of lighting options here. A natural pool occupies half of the far end of the cavern and is supplied with heated water piped in by an ingenious techcrafter. All about the room are balconies of rock with stairs leading to them and small dumbwaiters for the purpose of delivering food and drink to their heights.
Xe'ter stumps his way in with that lack of sutbtley that's so common among his kind, his clothing and his knot marking him out immediately as a stranger in the place. If anything, he's gawking a bit. Um. There's a bathing cavern IN the living caverns, and there weren't any Weyr walls, really. But he also comes bearing…paperwork. A sheaf of it, as he makes a few nods and salutes and somewhat socially awkward comments, looking for the person in charge. This gets him pointed towards Syra, actually…and he ohs a bit, and turns his lanky frame that way. With those papers, and a small bottle of something, held like an offering. Or a distraction.
S'dan comes in, out of breath. He's covered with dust. He pauses as he enters but only after he nearly runs into someone. "'Scuse me!" he says and almost reels as he steps back. "Syra! Syra?" he calls out and blinks several times as his eyes adjust.
It's S'dan's outburst that gets Syra's attention, though her gaze flicks distractedly over towards the approaching Xe'ter as well. "/What/, S'dan?" She's not snappish, precisely, but her tone of voice is not precisely friendly either. "Did she do something else? Or did we get in a million bolts of pink cloth to match the purple?"
Xe'ter perks his ears up a little, as he finally makes his way towards Syra's table, and offers a crisp, proper, perfect salute. Sigh. One of THOSE bronzeriders. And this one looks like he MIGHT be old enough to shave or something… "Ista's duties to Eastern and her Queens, Weyrlady Syra…I'm Xe'ter, bronze Romth's rider, and I bring a gift from Weyrlady Cenlia." Cenlia's not HERE to hear herself referred to as 'weyrlady', and, "And with some goods…speaking of purple cloth. Word's gotten back to Ista you have a surplus…"
J'em limps his way into the caverns, muttering something about being stuck here or somesuch nonsense. Oh look, a crowd. Whee! He'll grab some klah and a seat, ayup.
S'dan approaches once he can focus. He waves a hand at Xe'ter to allow him to be heard first. When the otehr rider mentions something about purple fabric he just sort of shakes his head and looks down at the floor with a hand on one hip, resting.
K'nan walks into the Commons Cavern, from the main clearing.
"Ista's new one, eh?" Syra does not sound terribly impressed as she leans back in her chair to stare up at Xe'ter. "Our duties to her and her brute of a gold. Now. You want our cloth? We're happy to trade for it. /Very/ happy. If you have a proposal, I'm happy to take it to the council." She hesitates, then adds, "A gift? I'm nearly afraid to ask, bronzerider."
Xe'ter holds the bottle up, though from the look on his face, he's realized belatedly that he's stomped on S'dan's urgency. Um. Ooops. He offers the brownrider a very sheepish look, before he sets the bag down…it thumps with the sound of a full glass bottle, "A sample of what we brought in trade, ma'am…" Hey. Brute of a gold? She's Romth's sister! Sorta…by way of … nevermind. "I've a shipping harness full of fresh fruits, and several varieties of Ista's better liquors, and a couple of crates of men's pants." Seriously. Pants. He has such a PAINED expression to say that last bit.
Darlth> Darlth lumbers into the main clearing, from the western clearing.
Darlth> Darlth offers a throaty rumble Tequoia-wards.
Darlth> Tequoia looks up from where she's meandering her way in boredom along the beach. There's a smile for the bronze as she gives him a wave. "Hello" she says polightly and then kicks lightly at the sand a bit.
Darlth> Romth eyeballs the pale bronze, and then turns his gaze towards the girlchild. He gives a softer sort of sound, still masculine…but sassier, somehow. If a large, angular predator can be considered to be 'sassy'.
K'nan wanders her way into the cavern, hair wet from her recent trip to the 'springs "Pants? Mens pants? I'd rather have their skirts, or them out of their pants. I know ya got some over there at Ista. I saw them after I got out of jail there. Heard about them while in it." she states with a bright grin as she settles herself into a nearby chair. She's eager to hear more about getting rid of purple cloth. Aside from as a giant sock.
S'dan looks at Syra with an almost pained look on his face. He looks a bit dusty…and tired. And thirsty. But duty first.
Darlth> Or if even a male can be considered sassy.. Teq does pause a moment and peers at Romth "Yer a new one." she says and she frowns a little "Don't think yer from hear at all." she tilts her head a little as she looks the dragon over, as if looking for any identifying marks.
Darlth> Darlth settles down into a goodly sized scrape on the ground, and ignores the younger bronze with a decided lack of interest. Whippersnapper.
"Fruits we have growing on trees," Syra's lips twist up sardonically at her unfunny joke, "But Ista's liquors are always welcome. Faranth, I could use a drink right now, with this mess Azura has left us to clean up." She eyes the bottle, then mutters darkly, "I haven't had a headache like this since I stepped down; I'm starting to remember /why/." Her gaze slides over towards K'nan, eyes dark, before she snaps, "/What/, S'dan? Faranth help me, just spit it out."
Darlth> Romth cocks his head at the pale bronze for a moment…as if sizing him up, and then settles himself down, wings still a little spread. He whirls his eyes, bright blue and green, and arches his neck down…snuffling at the girlchild again. He is…in fact…a stranger to the Weyr.
S'dan starts right in. "I just sold 40 bolts of that stuff to Far Cry Hold…25 bolts to Ogren Hold….family is willing to help out, y'know…and two bolts to a seamstress at Ierne Weyrhold. She's actually in the WeaverCrafat. She says it's a big joke there…about the…uh…fabric." Then he smiles. "So we're famous!" Anything to get a laugh? He bounces up and down on the balls of his feet a couple of times to show that he's not tired at all. He's pretty happy, actually.
Xe'ter is quick to take the bottle completely out of its bag, and nudges it towards the goldrider…but he gives S'dan another one of those unusually sheepish sort of glances. Alright…uh. "If there's any left. There's a weaver at home that's keen on getting a fair amount of it…and he's related to Cenlia…somehow."
Darlth> Tequoia starts just a moment and looks curiously at Romth. "Oh." she murmurs and then grins brightly "Welcome to Eastern, and umm.. our oh our duties to you." she says with a proud little grin.
Darlth> Darlth snorts at Romth again, and lays his big head flat against his big paws, stretching out comfortably.
Darlth> Romth arches his neck up in a handsome pose, eyes still whirling. He'll accept those duties and all! He certainly seems friendly enough!
K'nan laughs "Famous, oh yeah, we're famous. We'll be called the wine weyr with all the purple we're sportin. Like one big bruised grape." she eyes that bottle coming out. "I see how it is, ply the golds, give them all the good booze and what not." There's a pause and then a groan and a muttered. "Don't do it Phaili, not that tail…"
"Sixty-seven bolts gone, fantastic! That's what, seven percent? And another sixty gone in the last couple of days, that only leaves us— /way too sharding much/!" By the end of the tirade, Syra is on her feet with crumpled up papers clenched tightly in both fists. It takes her a second to realize what she's done, though embarrasment is quick on its heels as she flushes under her tan. "I'm sorry, I don't— yes, of course, we're happy to trade with Ista, and speaking of the golds— K'nan? Have you seen any of the juniors about today?"
Darlth> Tequoia can't help but giggle at Darlth "Don't worry fella, I still like you too, after all you're an Eastern dragon." she says proud of her Weyr. A glance at ROmth "Not that Ista isn't bad, but I dunno their dragons at all. Though you seem nice enough."
Darlth> Darlth pfts out a huge breath, and stirs up a small cloud of dust…he seems to be GOOD at making dusty messes! He noses his big beak out a bit, as if he'd seek a pet…but then lifts his head…turning his face away as if he heard something /FASCINATING/.
Xe'ter nods to Syra, and notes, "Fabulous. I'll go unpack Romth…and uh. Arrange to take as many bolts as you see fit." He shuffles his feet a little, as if he suddenly was completely off his game. Yeah. What is it with goldriders destroying paperwork and yelling? Golds make people go CRAZY! "If I could be bold enough to ask for someone to help me…the crates of liquor are rather fragile for one person to handle." He seeks the room. Maybe there's someone who could help?
Darlth> Darlth arches his neck up, and then heaves himself to his feet, taking to the skies in the next moment…leaving a cloud of dust behind him.
K'nan tilts her head a little bit as she thinks about it. "Come to think of it, I've not. They all seem to be in hiding. Not that I blame them. Too much purple I think. Course, likely their off tryin ta sell it and recover our losses." she notes absently "Oh I'm sure we can get someone ta help ya." she notes to Xe'ter.
Darlth> Romth watches Darlth go with a puzzled sort of expression, then sneezes a bit from the dustcloud.
S'dan shrugs. Then he scrunches up his face a little to try and think mathematically. "That's…three thousand seven hundred and fifty marks…I gave the seamstress a bit of a discount. But that is still more than what was paid out for them. So maybe it isn't such a bad deal after all? I mean, we do have a profit to show for it."
Darlth> Tequoia looks a little confused. "I wonder if I upset him." she ponders more to herself than anything and then theres a look at Romth "Oh you poor thing. He does that alot, it can get dusty and then there's one who digs holes."
Darlth> Romth snuffles a little, but sits up, his head cocked a bit, as if he too, heard something interesting…though he seems to be in less of a hurry to check it out.
J'em has gotten smart, see, he is sitting at his wing's table ever so quietly sipping his klah. His eye watches the caverns, darting here and there, focusing on people for a moment before moving on.
"I think one of them is— no. Wait." Syra sinks down into her chair, suddenly dizzy, and presses the heels of both hands against her eyes. "I think you need to go." Her voice is a million miles away, small and distant, as she continues, "Faranth help me, you all need to leave /right now/; she's waking up!"
Darlth> Tequoia watches the dragon and then cocks her head curiously "Are you talkin' with your rider, I wonder." she hmms a little as she studies the bronze. "Or maybe you're talkin' to Darlth." she ponders to herself.
Xe'ter blinks a little, and inquires…with all the guile of a newborn lamb, "Leave, ma'am? Waking up?"
S'dan leans over Syra and rests a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Syra? Do you feel all right?"
Darlth> Romth gives a bemused sort of thrumble. And then he spreads his wings out and though heavily laden with some sort of trading mission, he takes off skywards as well.
Darlth> Darlth takes off from the Main Clearing.
Xe'ter frowns a little, glancing out at the sounds of dragons taking off in the main clearing outside, "Shardit Romth! What the shells are you doing? You're still packed!"
K'nan is silent a moment as she watches Syra "What? DO you need a healer" She starts forward towards the gold. Then there's a look at Xe'ter, the sounds of dragons and then she just stares in utter bemusement at Syra.
"Sweet Faranth, mother of dragons." K'nan's jaw drops "She's not gone up in. How many turns now?" She sits back down in her seat and then she swears "Phaili's in the middle of that mess!" she yelps as she stands back up. "Oh Shards, he'll kill himself!"
S'dan steps back. "Wow," he says slowly, almost to myself. "Reminds me about Vinteth…"
Darlth> You glide down to land in the Southern Clearing.
Darlth> Eastern Weyr - Southern Clearing(#9736RA)
Darlth> People:
Dragons: Romth Phailinugoth Fenrith Arolaeth Osraebukath
Firelizards: Monaco
Objects: Pail Eastern Weyr RaceTrack Jumping Course: Eastern Weyr Wooly
And finally the oldtimer [J'em] gets to his feet, settling his mug upon the table and moving toward the weyrwoman. "Syra?" He asks concernedly, arriving beside her as quick as he can with his bum ankle. "I'm 'ere." He speaks softly, calmly for now.
Darlth> Romth comes winging in, his motions fluid and youthful as he leaves the Eastern sky for the time being…and nevermind, he's still FULLY loaded with the heavy shipment packs that are reserved for heavy lifting by the bronzes and biggest of the browns. His voice, full of his juvenile oats, trills up and down excitedly, and far from…politely.
Syra shrugs off S'dan's hand, instinctively shying away from the contact. "No, S'dan— flame me dead, she's doing it. I don't know— I don't understand— /you need to leave/." She rounds on Xe'ter, uncovering her face to point a trembling hand at the young bronzerider. "I need to— I won't let her—" With a supreme force of will, she grits her teeth and finally spits out, "I think Arolaeth is going up. /Right now/."
Darlth> Phailinugoth sits back a little more and whuffles softly as he curls his tail back around himself. He noses forward just a fraction, his nostrils flaring. She's a lot igger than the greens he knows, but that doesn't seem to register. He'll still be happy to try and make her happy and so he croons softly. im aware of any danger to himself? Not really.
Xe'ter whips his head around, gawping…and then yelps, "Cenlia will kill me if he breaks the booze!" And then he's on his toes, high tailing it out…seeking his lifemate out to get those packs off him NOW!
Ur'con walks into the Commons Cavern, from the main clearing.
Xe'ter goes STREAKING by, as only a tall and weedy young bronzerider can. "ROOOOOOMMMMMMTH! No! Not with your packs on!"
"Sweet Faranth, mother of dragons." K'nan's jaw drops "She's not gone up in. How many turns now?" She sits back down in her seat and then she swears "Phaili's in the middle of that mess!" she yelps as she stands back up. "Oh Shards, he'll kill himself!"
Ur'con comes in, with a faintly concerned expression…nearly run over by the departing Istan bronzerider, "The shards is going on? XE'TER!" he yells after the boy…as if he knows him. "Don't Run!"
Darlth> Fenrith has been here the whole time, as usual, watching Arolaeth day and night the past few days. The bronze is feigning sleep though and doesn't move or twitch, he's just…still, eyes darting around the area.
Darlth> Phailinugoth pay attention to anything? Well, sometimes. It's always about a this and a that and oh look, shiny. Pause. Shiny red? There's a scramble back as the blue realizes the potential danger he is in then there's another thought and the blue warbles of so softly and offers up his basket of socks by nudging them towards the gold.
Darlth> Darlth lands with his usual thuddy grace, flapping wings and then settling down as if he'd meant to be lurking HERE the whole time! If he notices Fenrith (or that blue), he doesn't even give a polite wurble. He finds some claw grooming to be in order, instead, his pale hide gleaming with health under a fine layer of pale, powdered clay.
Darlth> Arolaeth blinks back the rest of her eyelids, revealing a gaze that glows darkly crimson. She rises to her haunches in an unusually fluid motion and stretches herself nose-to-tail like a feline. She's quiet— too quiet.
Darlth> Romth glides down to a gentle landing.
Darlth> Fenrith decides now might be the right time to let everyone know that he is here, and he gets to his own feet, stretching his old joints with all sorts of creaks and crackles, eyes turn on Arolaeth and the wolfen one stretches wings.
Darlth> Arolaeth tilts her head this way and that, snake-like, to study the gathering males. When she does project, it's with the considerable force of a queen who has known herself as such for nearly half a century. Normally black, emotionless mindtones are rippling with blue flame and power. « None of you are acceptable! » She spreads her wings again, as if to show off, then abruptly leaps into the air and glides towards the feeding grounds.
Darlth> Xe'ter comes RUNNING in, face red as his arms and legs PUMP at the air and ground, bellowing for his lifemate, "ROMTH! Let me get your packs! Turn away, Romth! Fracking turn away!"
S'dan walks over to the main clearing.
"She's going to kill us both! I don't know what she thinks she's /doing/," Syra grounds out between clenched teeth. "J'em." Her gaze, already flickering into the middle distance, lands on the bronzerider she's known for most of her life. "Help me— we— I have to get out there." And from the wobbly way she's getting back to her feet, it won't be terribly easy.
Darlth> Darlth gives a SNORT of bemused disdain for the young Istan bronze, and then leaps into the air, lighter than his bulk would suggest he could. Not to chase the black-minded gold…but to follow, at a respectful distance.
Darlth> Phailinugoth is startled by the gold and watches as she flys off towards the ground. Course, he did admire those wings. Makes him wonder what he ever saw in anyone else, let a lone a greens who's wings are so tiny. Forget about the size difference. Size doesn't matter really. He leaps after as well, Twisting his little body in flight as he shows off, completely ignoring anything from K'nan.
J'em manages to push his way through the growing crowd, his pale eye glaring to those that dare refuse to move. He finally reaches Syra's side and reaches out for her. "I'm 'ere Dear." Though there is a quickness in his breath as he fights his bronze's growing lust. And if anyone dare try to get between him and his friend, so help them Faranth, he's got a cane and he knows how to use it. "Let's get y'outta public."
K'nan isn't getting between anyone, no she's got other worries on her hands. Namely an idiotic blue with no sense. "It's that stupid tail." she mutters to herself as she shoves her way through the crowd. "Get out of the bloddy way people. Before someone gets bit!"
K'nan walks over to the main clearing.
J'em walks over to the main clearing.
You walk over to the main clearing, entering the room…
Darlth> J'em walks into the southern clearing, from the main clearing.
Darlth> J'em walks over to the ground weyr.
Darlth> K'nan walks into the southern clearing, from the main clearing.
Darlth> K'nan walks over to the ground weyr.
Darlth> K'nan walks into the clearing, from the ground weyr.
Darlth> Xe'ter is struggling with Romth…the young bronze is DANCING in place, trying to be patient enough to let his rider get his packs off…but that's ALL he gets off…the packs come down…more or less. One hopes it's the fruit or pants that get left behind, as Romth SURGES away from his lifemate, after the gold with a BELLOW of defiance…he won't be left behind!
Eastern Weyr - Southern Clearing
The southern clearing of Eastern Weyr is nearly comparable in size to the main clearing, though it contains a distinctly different landscape. Opening into the feeding grounds and the infirmary it serves as a major area for wing drills and relaxation in the evenings during the cooler seasons. Dirt pathways meander from structure to structure, linking the areas of the weyr well, though sparse grass lines the trails and provides space for entertainment and relaxation. Tall trees to all sides of the clearing offer shade and serve to delineate the boundaries of the weyr from the wilderness. To the opposite side from the infirmary, huts and weyrs have been set up in island fashion.
Arolaeth flings herself down atop the unsuspecting herd, crushing two beasts to the ground before they even know what's hit them. There's no sign of the show of a few sevendays ago; this is ALL business, now. She wastes no time in blooding, draining both in quick succession; it's probably to the benefit of the males who are not as wary as Fenrith that she is thusly occupied, silent again save for a low, throbbing growl.
Darlth waits patiently…the panic the feral gold inspires in the herds will send one his way…and he snatches a prime herdbeast by the flank with one verigris claw, dragging it back to him as it bawls in terror for its life. Not that it has long to fear…a moment later, it's misery is ended by the bronze's pale jaws, sending bloodspatter up his putty-colored face.
Fenrith wings over the herd a moment, getting the beasts all riled up and fleeing the wrath of the bronzen wolf, but one isn't so lucky as Fenrith lands roughly upon it with a cracking of bones, neck of the poor beast is slit and the old bonze lowers his maw, lapping hungrily at the wonderfully tasty lifeblood.
Romth is somewhat hampered by his packing straps, and struggles for a moment before he simply RIPS them off with his jaws, flinging them aside in his haste to join the blooding…a moment later, he's landed upon a beast himself, offering ululating tribute to the queen before he begins to blood himself.
Phailinugoth follows in behind the much bigger dragons and then there's a beast coming his way and he pounces on it. Oooo watch it wriggle. K'nan has made it out there and she's watching Phaili. "Come on, that's it. Play with your food. THat'd be so much better." she murmurs quietly and there's a glance towards Xe'ter. No, she's not going to try and help him, at least not with getting things off. But removing stuff? Maybe and she carefully makes her way over that way.. Phailinugoth is enjoying the flow of blood, down his mouth and on the ground.
Low growls give way to an out-and-out roar as a bronze gets to close, and only avoids a skewering by the barest of margins. « UNWORTHY! » With no more warning than that, Arolaeth flings herself into the air. Her wings bell out, and she seems to be going nearly straight up, slipping from thermal to thermal with the instinctive skill that comes with so many turns of flying the same skies.
Darlth is surprisingly wary. The range of bronzeflesh here could be considered flattering for the feral Arolaeth…the youthful Romth, the rangy old Fenrith…and him. Prime, glowingly pale, vital…he flings himself skyward, leaving the herdbeast he was blooding utterly forgotten. He does not cut through the air with Turns of experience, nor with grace…he rises up with pure brutal FORCE, winging after the object of his desire without wasting any breath or effort. Heh. He'll show her WORTHY.
Phailinugoth is certainly one of the unworthy, but does he know that? Of course not. All of a sudden the others are leaving and he looks up from his mangled kill. « Hey! Wait for me! I'll give you ribbons!» comes the bugling call of the blue who darts up into the air after the others. If K'nan hadn't been side-tracked by falling booze, he may have stayed. Least that's what K'nans kicking herself over as she watches helplessly as her blue goes up after the others, lagging quite a ways behind. "Idiot."
Fenrith tosses his kill aside, drained of blood to give this old bronze the energy. With a strong downstroke he rockets into the sky, following the prized gold high into the air, she's not the only one who has experience in this sky, but for now he doesn't push himself too hard, just hard enough to remain one of the contenders for now, eyes whorl a deep red-purple as they watch Aro's form.
Xe'ter is, like his bronze, utterly enraptured by the gold's rising form into the sky. If he hears the bluerider's unhappy complaint…he doesn't notice. In fact, he doesn't seem to notice that there's a blue, vainly chasing after the blackened gold into the skies. Romth, though, has noticed…and despite the fact that he's got ichor-marks across his wingshoulders and chest where he removed his own straps, he's leapt skywards with the rest, his wings beating out a sycopation, a heart-beat rhythm that dances all on its own. Dah-dah-dada-dah-dah…rah-rah-rara-rah-rah…
If Arolaeth is aware of the horde of bronze - and blue - flesh chasing after her, she doesn't seem intent on taunting them. Rather, she soars ever-upwards, taking full advantage of her superior size to gain all-important altitude. She seems to be staying over the Weyr, more or less; her flight path has her going up in loose spirals over the area of the southern clearing.
Ur'con shuffles a little, opening up his tunic a bit against the pouring sweat on his brow and chest…and watches as Darlth takes a more direct route…up up up, until he actually rises above the gold; it might not be his most effective tactic, but the gleaming, pale bronze is now in a good place to dive DOWN…after her when her strength and her will falter….and what a pair they would make, one so dark, one so pallid…and well matched size for size too…for Darlth is a surprisingly large bronze!
Phailinugoth is weaving after, this way and that way and ever after the others. For the moment he's going strong, though there's a little falter that causes K'nan's heart to lurch and she chokes out a cry as she stumbles back a little. Phailinugoth is enjoying the chase, course he always enjoys the chase. Not often he can enjoy the catch, but the chase is where it's at. His crooning cry can be heard along the wind, almost like the lonesome cry of some avian.
Fenrith is just biding his time, wingbeats taking im up and up, he'll level out beneath the golden one for now, it's not yet time to make his move. He growls against animalistic urges his rider tries to control. It's not time, not tme just yet. Golden body is once again sought out, eyes focusing upon the beautiful and tantalizing Arolaeth with determination.
Romth is silent, as he gives chase…he lets the throb of his wings in the air be his song; there is no mistaking that he's a youngster…he cannot have given chase as often as ANY of the older bronzes (or Phailinugoth) have caught! But he is not dissuaded, his handsome bronze hide flashing in the light…watching the gold flee him. No worries…he's not troubled in the least; he'll follow her until she loves him, no matter how unworthy she finds him now!
Kestilran walks into the southern clearing, from the main clearing.
Tequoia walks into the southern clearing, from the main clearing.
Arolaeth's wings beat steadily, in a strong, even rhythm that she could continue all day. She tips in the air, peering back over her shoulder to study pack that straggles after her with canny intelligence. Blue flames lash out amongst them, scorching and a little painful and more than a little taunting. « None of you are worthy, none of you are able to do your duty as you ought! » She tips further, losing air as she sideslips far, far over the clearing to cut into a downdraft that drops her like a stone.
Darlth isn't phazed by the gold's taunts…it's not her mind he's fascinated with at the moment! The blue flames roll off of him like waves against a massive stone, and he remains…and then folds his verigris-tinted wings and dives after, falling like the massif that he is, intent on following her down, down, down.
Kestilran and Tequoia sneak in and watch from around some trees.
Aha! There comes the trickery! Fenrith rumbles amusedly to himself and pushes himself to move quicker forward, afterall he doesn't want to stay too far behind. A haunting howl emanates through the sky as the wolf roars his challenge to the golden one, wouldn't want her to forget about him, he's still here, muahahaha!
Phailinugoth is lucky to be so far behind, the flames don't quite get him as bad. But he does end up back winging at the flames and then falters again, he's been up in the air too long for him and he starts coming down. K'nan herself bout had a heart attack at the flames and the back winging and then the near falling. She falls back, knocking against some other poor hapless fool. "You shardin' idiot. I'm gonna murder ya iffen ya get yerself killed." Luckily enough Phailinugoth comes in for a landing, safe if extremely tired. He flops onto the ground as K'nan races over to him. "You stupid fool. You don't go after golds, no matter how much fun pouncing their tail might be."
Tequoia gives a little gasp as she hides with Kesti as she watches the gold up on high and the other dragons as well. "Wow." she whispers softly "Arn't they amazing?"
Perhaps inexperience and overconfidence play into it…but then again, nasty leather-cuts across his broad chest and wingshoulders probably don't help…or the unfamiliar skies…or the sudden noises from the older, wiser bronzes…who knows. Perhaps it was just a fleeting infatuation…a bad romance only in Romth's mind, but he fumbles, caught offguard by the gold's sudden dive, by Fenrith's throaty howls…but he finds himself slipping behind, even as the big-hearted blue falters and fails back. Phailinugoth's failure, though, seems to prick him like spurs, and he renews his effort, for the time being.
Kestilran shrugs. "I hated it when my Mom's dragon rose at Fort. It always meant that I'd have another little brother and another father who wasn't a father at all and who paid no attention to me." Then he laughs at the Blue dragon. "Hah! He should get a prize just for trying!"
Arolaeth's wings snap open again, the joints creaking in a way that has to be audible even on the ground. It cuts out the flames, though not before there's a final, sharp lashing at the minds of those behind her, above her, below her— after her. « Weak! » She taunts, even as she struggles to regain lost altitude with sides heaving like a bellows. She's vulnerable in that moment, despite her defiance to her suitors, particularly to those who might know how to use a nearby crosswind to their own advantage.
Darlth falls, and falls far, though he uses /that/ to his advantage…overreaching the gold, and then snapping his own wide wings open to make use of crosswind and momentum — he rolls and swoops in a show of athletic prowess generally reserved for the smaller, lesser dragons. But right now, he is DARLTH, and he is not dissuaded. Let the young bronze falter in his inexperience and let the old bronze chase in futility. He rolls, chasing after the taunting gold with a single minded, lust-eyed devotion, losing only the slightest of ground to Fenrith. Down below, his sweating rider swipes his forearm over his brow, and breathes out…as if he weren't as certain of his lifemate as Darlth is of himself.
You mean like a certain bronzen wolf? Fenrith is amused as his howl at least unnerves a few of the suitors, and the weak shall fall. With a baring of teeth and a growl seeping through the minds of those gathered, whether it be dragon or human, the bronze spots what he was looking for and he wings himself around. Hopefully no one's too close because the bronze might use him as a trampoline as the wolf bounces into the crosswind and thusly using it quite to his own advantage as it gets him nearer the golden beauty.
Tequoia ohs a little "That's too bad. I've got several brothers and sisters, but my parents are the same as theirs, not that Da paid much attention to us gorls and mum was happy enough to get me out of her hair. She nods a little "Though wasn't it silly of him to try?" she wonders.
Kestilran shrugs. "Beats me."
Romth redoubles his efforts, and though his wings have taken on the tattoo of a racing heartbeat, those below…even his young rider… can see he's lost the chase. He can try, and try hard…but he's too far behind…and Xe'ter sways a little on his feet…swearing and reaching his hands out towards his lifemate, as if he could recall him by will alone.
K'nan stays curled up on her blue, happy that he's okay. Phailinugoth on the other hand has somehow managed to land near his basket of socks and has heis head resting on the now flat basket. He's happy. As the flight continues overhead, K'nan can't help but glance over at the others there in the clearing. Oh yeah, she's watching. Even if she stays attached to her blue.
Arolaeth is all-too-aware of Fenrith's approach; she doesn't even need to look to feel his presence over her wing. The gold scans outward, mindvoice silent but firm in its touch as she identifies the nearest of her pursuers. The touch withdraws, and apparently she has reached a decision, because she rolls, abruptly, in a maneuver she's sure to be feeling for the next couple of sevendays. She reaches out with onyx-curved talons for Fenrith, in a reversal of the usual situation as she takes charge of her own fate with an echoing roar.
Darlth dives again, almost reflexively, but he is just .that. much too far away…and when the gold's gone and changed the rules? It doesn't matter how close or how clever he might be…he FLAILS past, and then spirals away with a belligerent ROAR at Fenrith…as if it was the elder bronzes's fault! Ur'con breaks from his near trance, and then abruptly…takes to his heels and runs, leaving the scene…and headed more or less towards the direction that Darlth went. Or maybe it's back to the commons cavern…one or the other.
Romth gives a frustrated sound, too, as Darlth peels away…but he's far too far away, as the dark gold and the wolfen bronze merge into a single falling star. He breaks away, heading back to his lifemate…who is still standing in the middle of the remains of his trading mission…
Fenrith knew he would get her, well, he hoped anyway. And as he's seized he lets out a final rumble and twines with his golden mate happily.
K'nan takes in a deep breath and shudders just a little as the pair merges together. Phailinugoth croons softly and K'nan buries herself into his hide a moment and then sits up "Too much, too much." she gets up and staggers off through the clearing. Now where's a randy artist when you need one?"
Tequoia is silent as she watches the bronze and gold. She swallows a little and gives herself a bit of a shake. Not too sure iffen she's liking what she's feeling and excuses herself away from Kesti and runs off into the trees.
Xe'ter stands his ground, until Romth lands…but nothing like the sight of even minor injuries to shake him out of his rand…well. Mostly. He rushes to the young bronze's side, clambering up on an offered leg to comfort…and to have a look at the scrapes and bruises…it looks worse than it is!
Fenrith gets Arolaeth, all right. Including the set of new scars that the queen's grasping talons are probably going to leave behind!
Yay for scars! He hasn't had any fresh ones in awhile! :)
Kestilran turns his head as Tequoia runs off "Girls," is all he says in a sort of flat tone. Well, if she doesn't want to watch, and the dragons have come down to settle, he may as well go to bed, too. At least go get something to eat at home.
============================= General ===============================
Message: 1/4 Posted Author
Rise of the Old Guard at Eastern Fri Jul 1 Syra
When Senior Weyrwoman Azura stepped down from leadership at Eastern Weyr following a series of disasterous financial decisions, she took the traditional step of handing off the day-to-day work to the retired Weyrwoman Syra while holding the knot itself for whichever queen next took to the skies. Nobody expected that queen to be Arolaeth herself, great-granddam of Azura's Svetlanath - least of all her rider. And /certainly/ not within a sevenday of Azura's retirement.
Amidst trade negotiations with Ista, Arolaeth decided it was a perfect time to re-assert her dominance over Eastern Weyr - and she chose her long-time mate Fenrith to accompany her. Now the bemused elder riders find themselves Weyrleaders once more, and once they've recovered sufficiently from post-flight stress to leave the infirmary, they'll go about trying to put to rights what many turns of mismanagement has wrought.
So be kind to poor Syra and J'em: they're old and sore and not in the /least/ bit prepared for all of this chaos to be dumped on their heads. So much for the peaceful life of retirement!