Keep Calm and Fly Far

Writers: AL, Ames, Devin, Chelle, Emma, Heather, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th August 2014

Characters: Rhosyn, K'sedel, Y'gel, K'lvin, J'ren, D'ren, U'das, Lenala, H'vack
Description: Orlaith the mighty rises and chooses River Bluff's Weyrleader.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Briata

K'sedel

Y'gel

Lenala

It wasn't hard to see the signs. So many months she had been
pregnant-perhaps as a result of the last time. Now she wasn't. Rhosyn
didn't know if she was ready but it didn't matter. Orlaith was. The
big gold had done nothing but sleep the entire night. A hurricane
wouldn't wake her. As soon as the sun started to rise in the sky the
next morning, though, she had opened her eyes. They were whirling.

Red jewels greeted the day, surveying her Weyr and her demesne.
Bringing her head up and then stretching her wings, she didn't move
for a few moments.

The waves of mating lust hit her rider, forcing Rhosyn from her bed
quickly. The Weyrwoman fought the feelings from her dragon long enough
to wonder if the Weyr's other gold was still nearby. She ran to Lenala's
weyr, which thankfully was only a few steps from her own. "Lenala, wake up
and go!" She was screaming. She wouldn't be able to hold her long. When she
was ready, there would be no stopping her.

Y'gel sat up straight in bed and rubbed his eyes. He'd been sound
asleep when the spike of lust from Aughashyth hit him. The babies had
been up all night and poor Briata had been trying to handle it without
waking him but he'd finally sent her to bed and just carried Nisha
around and around while trying to get her back to sleep. So he'd gone
back to sleep only after the little one had finally dropped off and he
was able to put her down. It had been almost dawn when he'd finally
gotten back in bed. "Faranth," he swore as he pulled on loose trousers
and headed out.

"Whut?" Sleepy and bleary eyed Lenala didn't like pulled out of her sleep so
rudely. Then she heard Vilarth roar in her ledge and she was suddenly wide
awake. "Oh, it's Orlaith, isn't it?" She was up from her bed and pulling on
flight hides. She didn't have time to even straighten her
sleep mussed hair.

She just crammed it under helmet and snatched Vilarth's straps, running
outside.

U'das heard Zack reply to Orlaith's challenge and cursed soflty under his
breath. He didn't want to chase gold, but Zack did. Abandoning his
breakfast, he headed out where pretty much every bronzerider from the Weyr
was heading too.

K'sedel left the idea of breakfast as the noise reached his weyr. With a
brief pause to slip om shorts and a loose shirt, he made hsi way to where
the bronzeriders of River Bluff were gathering. Nikornath had beaten him to
his, his gaze firmly on the glowing prize he was determined to win again.

Lenala got straps on Vilarth and took her to air. They winked/between/.

Kenaranth was not about to be left behind. He arrived shortly before
his rider, wings half spread as he readied himself for the chase. He
shifted from foot to foot, his haunches tense with anticipation.
Colourful eyes whirled as the excitement grew. Any moment and the
beauty would be in the sky, and then he would give chase.

Through the dizzying lust, D'ren felt a spike of dread. **I know you
want to win, but_I_ don't.**

}:I will chase. I will prove myself.:{ Menanth's eyes flashed from the
ledge in the early morning light.

K'lvin had been standing out in the weyrbowl, enjoying a cup of klah
away from the noise of the Dining Cavern when Orlaith's lust swept
like a tangible wave through the Weyr. His dark eyes flicked up to his
ledge, where Xmrenth was perched, his eyes whirling rapidly, his
bronze wings flared out by his sides as he waited to accept the
Queen's challenge in the sky.

With Lenala and Vilarth gone, Rhosyn could now focus on her dragon.
She felt the instinct to mate rising, driving Orlaith's thoughts. The queen
was sluggish at first, pushing off the vestiges of sleep. And then, it all
came to the fore as her rider ran down to the feeding pens. The herdbeasts
scattered as a huge shadow flew over them, then dropped abruptly onto
one. She had made her first kill.

**Blood! Blood my love so you will fly far!** Rhosyn's love for her queen
but also her own will were imposed on the command even as she felt Orlaith's
desire to rend the meat and swallow it all. Those whirling red eyes came to
meet her for a moment. Each half of the pair was fearsome in their own way,
pushing and pulling at the other. Surprisingly, though, the small Weyrwoman
won out and the gold roared, sucking the blood from the animal's
throat where she'd torn it open.

One went, then two, then three, and the final was enough to give
Orlaith pause. She felt the males. Her head turned, watching them as
they waited. They were_hers_. Today, she would choose the best of
them-the one that would lead_her_ Weyr. Would it be her partner of a

few turns? Or would it be a new bronze companion? Getting up onto her
rear haunches, she spread her wings and held that pose for some time.
}:Prove your mettle to me this day for I am Orlaith-mighty queen of this
Weyr and I will only have one:{ A very long and loud bugle would probably
serve to wake the rest of the Weyr's denizens if they weren't already. And
then she left-beginning the long and arduous chase that only she could lead.

Standing there, a small dot in the Weyrbowl, Rhosyn was only somewhat
aware of the men coming toward her, waiting for their chance. It was
so early that she sun was just beginning to break the horizon. Most of
the world was still dark. That would make Orlaith harder to see, but
when the sun came up, the shine would reflect off that pale gold hide
like a star.

}: I'm worthy, I've led this Weyr before! :{ Zackariath answered to her and
then launched himself to the air after her.

Nikornath was already beating his wings as he took off. }:I don't need words
my beauty,:{ he told Orlaith. }:My actions and deeds speak for me.:{

}:I am young and strong!:{ Menanth said with a bugle for emphasis. }:I
am worthy.:{ Powerful wings carried him into the sky after the pale
Queen.

Rilarth joined in the chorus of bronzes that were stating their
intentions to chase the golden queen. H'vack joined the others
gathered around Rhosyn.

Xmrenth leapt into the sky, wings a blur as he fought to gain altitude
quickly behind the rocketing queen. The bronze didn't feel the need to say
anything to Orlaith. If he caught her it would be from the strength of his
wings, not the skill of his words. It had always been that way for Xmrenth.

Nikornath knew, he knew he could do this as he followed Orlaith through the
skies.

Aughashyth flew strongly with the other bronzes. He was well rested
and in his prime and even his early life injury didn't impede him this
day. }:Beautiful Orlaith,:{ he crooned after the desire of his heart.

So many strong bronzes, it made her heart happy. Any of them could give her
many eggs for their Weyr. Both Zackariath and Nikornath had served the
Weyr before. They were proven. Menanth was young, but he had given
Vilarth good eggs. Could he lead? Rilarth and Xmrenth she still didn't
really know. But perhaps they could bring new blood into the Weyr.
Then there was Augashyth. She liked him. His rider was useful. With
her ichor humming through her veins, Orlaith flew onward, pushing as
high as she could go. There were trees underneath them and they were
on Jade Harbor's lands, giving the holders quite a show as the sun continued
to rise. The reds, golds, and oranges of the dawn reflected off of the hides
of the dragons. Orlaith's own pale one looked as if fire had touched it. }:I
will burn your wings before this chase is through. Can you pursue me
through the pain? Are you strong enough to sacrifice for your Weyr?:{

Zackariath didn't reply to her, for he was no longer so sure. He had once
Scored his wing seriously and it was left weaker than the other. It
was starting to burn and ache. Besides, he was probably the smallest
of bronzes chasing her. He was already falling behind.

There was no answer from Kenaranth either. The bronze surged forward,
passing Zackariath with his eyes upon the golden prize, ahead. The
flight wasn't over yet, but she wouldn't wait too much longer and he
wanted to be in the right place at the right moment. As soon as he
saw an opening, he would pounce. His wings pumped at the air,
sounding deep bellows with every stroke. His nostrils flared as the
wind ripped at them, teasing him with her scent as much as his eyes
did with her glow.

Rilarth kept pace with the others. He was virile and strong. Surely he
could win, though winning a gold flight had not happened for him in
quite some time, and not at all since they'd settled at River Bluff.
Still, he would press onward, hoping to win the golden prize.

Menanth had begun to tire, but her words drove him on. }:I am strong!:{
He kept on as some began to drop out -- the young, the old, the
injured.

Finally, Orlaith saw how high the sun was and she decided it was time.
She turned and made one last sweep, flying by her suitors. Her eyes washed
over them, the ones that were left. Which of them were worthy? Making her
choice, she began to ascend. She had to be high-so high-to fall and have the
most time. There had to be good eggs-they needed them since it was just her
and Vilarth. Closing her eyes when she could go no farther, she folded her
wings to her body and started to fall. }:Nikornath, we must lead them all to
glory. We must show them the way. So now, you must catch me again!:{

Down below, Rhosyn was completely caught up in Orlaith's need. She didn't
see anything but the sky with its blues and white clouds. She felt
herself falling, weightless, and her mind knew with certainty that she
had done her best. Her red hair fanned out from her body as her arms
opened and she danced, waiting for her partner to catch her while the
wind whipped her face and her hide.

Rilarth had tried hard to push his way after the queen, but the higher
she flew, the further he seemed to fall behind, until her choice was
made. The bronze veered off, exhausted.

H'vack shook himself free of the flight trance, uncertain whether he
was pleased or upset not to have won. He loved his position as
Weyrlingmaster, but what bronzerider didn't aspire to lead the Weyr?
He quickly found himself a willing companion. He would dwell on his
mixed thoughts at another time.

Nikornath responded to Orlaith's word in the only way he could, spreading
his wings to enfold the golden dragon, even as his rider imitated the
gesture with his own arms. "Mine!" came the word, and K'sedel would never
know whether they were his words, or whether he was echoing Nikornath.

Last updated on the August 17th 2014

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Keep Calm and Fly Far