Dark is the Sky Above (Nyneveth's Maiden Flight)

[Lark]

Perhaps it would be cliche to say that this all started on a dark and stormy night, but it had. It had been just as such on the afternoon that Nyneveth had hatched, and in that way of thinking, it was only right that her trembling finally ceased on a day as such. Outside the Weyr's walls a storm brewed on the horizon, the first wave of weather tainting the air with fat drops of rain and wind that blew the tree-tops in certain ways back and forth. The actual storm was still a while away, the grey storm clouds hovering as if in wait for something special to happen, arcs of lightening lighting them up in vivid patterns like the hide of an Abyss.

The grey-green perched on her ledge, her eyes an equally dark grey but tinged with the ever growing presence of a new color, a color not seen since her impression. Emilia had been one of those riders that had ignored the signs of an impending flight, her mind staggering between the edges of ignorance and innocence in all of this. She neither cared, nor wanted such an event, and even now as she walked out of her weyr to her dragon's cave to check on the creature, she ignored the purple that was filtering through the usual grey/blue.

It was not there, she was not going to see it. She refused to see it. Yet Nyneveth would have none of that. For turns now she had spoken of a dark day, and this was it. This was the doom that so many had never believed. Sure she had also "predicted" the events that had come to past that were tragic in of themselves, but no one could guess that of all dragons, Nyneveth would be her own prediction. Her body quaked with the knowledge, the understanding that somehow she had not been able to fully understand now, and her rider shook her head adamantly the moment the knowledge passed between them.

"No! Nyneveth, you can't!"

But she would, her tongue snaked out of her parted jaws to taste the air that crackled in front of her with a lingering static. The storm was far enough away, the skies treacherous but safe. It was time. Her hide was a dull brightness, the green becoming more evident in its sporadic speckling across the stonelike hue that now glistened with a bit of light. Sweeping small wings, she let herself be taken by the wind, her body trusting the air she flew on to take her down to the feeding grounds and land on a fleeing herdbeast.

Tumbling tail over head, the grey-green hissed and drew her head back, her neck snaking in an arch before striking and ignoring her rider's protests to only blood the thing. No, she would have what she wanted on this day, she would be denied nothing. In the distance an arc of lightning threatened her flight and she cried out against it, the light disappearing as if obeying her commands. Again she shook out her wings and sang to the skies above, the cry shrill and eerie in the growing storm and darkening night.

Let the males come if they dared, let them fly to their demise. Nyneveth was not the normal dragoness they knew her for...she was not the same on this night! Rising to the air, the grey circled the WeyrHeights crying out her challenge to the males of Rainbow Mists before heading out over the land in the opposite direction of the storm clouds.

Thanking Faranth for small favors such as that, Emilia shivered and drew her blanket around her tighter, her eyes searching for a good place to hide. In a fit of sudden childishness and absurdity she ran toward the small closet where she kept supplies for oiling her dragoness, her hands throwing out the bits of odds and ends and shutting the door with a thud behind her.

Not, of course, that the darkness and close space helped her fear much. She needed to be free of anything trapping her just as her dragoness now was, but the idea of the coming events made her stay in her little hidey-hole, her lips curving up into a maniacal smile. They can't find me in here.....let them try, let's see if they're as smart as me. Let's play a game Nyneveth...let's play hide and seek!

The dragoness in the sky screamed her agreement, her wings tilting upward to let her dart into the clouds that lingered on the outer edges of the storm. The mist from them and the rain beat against her wings in a comforting rhythm, the trees below rising up and being dodged carefully as each passed by. Down she was drawn again toward those rising peaks, though her small body easily flitted to and fro between the canopy of the surrounding forests. Let them come, let them flee toward her and away from the storm....they knew nothing of fear...but they would. They would.

[Shoki]

It was stormy alright. R’le was inside, Burn draped over his shoulder. The pair were enjoying a night alone, peaceful inside. The weather had brought a dim excitement to them both, which was why R’le was coaxing Burn to play. The Flame’s head snapped at the bit of meat that R’le was dangling before him, which was as much playing as Burn could manage while remaining on R’le’s shoulder. The pair were enjoying themselves quietly, but they weren’t the only one of note.

Quiorith peered out at the dark skies, a croon escaping him. There were, as R’le had pointed out to him, sailors who viewed the ocean in the same way the Cloud viewed the sky. Dangerous and moody at times, calm and sanguine in others. Quiorith got no dull excitement from a stormy sky, it was an electric energy. The energy should have worn off somewhat, since he’d had the day to fly around and burn off energy, but it hadn’t. Instead it seemed to have amplified as the storm approached. Still, he was mostly content to merely observe the tumultuous skies. Or at least he was, until a shrill cry echoed through the night, punctuated by the sound of thunder. Quiorith stared out into the night, his wings unconsciously opening, as he stepped forward out of shelter. The feeling of cold rain against his hide, the wind that tugged at his wings, and the sight of lighting in the sky, it all mix with the cry to create an exquisite invitation. One he could not refuse. Emotions welled up quickly, but before he could take off a hand grabbed at him. Quiorith’s head turned on R’le, his eyes whirling intensely.

“Careful.” R’le was starting to stagger under the dragon’s strong emotions, but his eyes were still intent on what was going on around him. The rider sighed, before brushing his wet hair back onto his head. “I’d say don’t do something stupid, but, that’s us isn’t it? Gotta do something stupid for the ladies.” R’le chuckled, low and quiet, but Quiorith understood. The Cloud’s wings stretched out again, and R’le stepped back again before speaking again. “Just be careful.” Quiorith snorted then took off. R’le sighed. Of course Quiorith was the careful one. Normally. R’le twitched a bit, the feelings threatening to swallow him whole again. No way, he wouldn’t let them. Not before he got a towel.

Quiorith barreled upward, all joy as he flew in the wind and rain. A dark and stormy night, huh? Well if he had to select a dragoness that would rise in this night, Nyneveth was the only choice. The Gray-Green dragoness would be hard to find in this night of wind and rain, but Quiorith could do it! He had a friend in the sky, a moody, trickster friend, but a friend. He could hear the scream to the sky, something of a challenge. Quiorith was almost disappointed that it was away from the storm. Still, more the reason to have a friend on his side. His wings stretched out and he threw himself to the wind so he could be blown forward, toward Nyneveth’s voice. Quiorith was tossed about toward the trees, switching immediately to a more controlled flight. He coaxed the wind to let him where he liked, and slid through as he liked. His excitement and the flightlust had been slowly building up, until now, finally he couldn’t resist any more. He roared, a cry out to the dragoness, to be heard above the din of the storm behind them. He was here! Come what may, he was here to chase.

[Anaxarete]

A strange dragon came between out of the northeast. Instantly, Valaranth and his rider were aware of the unexpected hazard they'd flown into -- both Flight and storm. The storm did not worry Z'kar overmuch as it was a good distance off, though the conflicting and unpredictable drafts slowed their descent. But the Flight... The crimson bellowed his challenge to the males already in the air as he banked down into the Weyr bowl, while Z'kar squinted to make out the female that had risen against the horizon. Valaranth deposited his rider unceremoniously, and barely restrained himself long enough for Z'kar to remove his riding straps before launching himself back into the dark, cloudy sky.

Z'kar stood there in the soaking rain a moment, completely disoriented in a strange Weyr and higher brain functions temporarily impeded. He had no idea whose dragon was flying, but she wasn't a queen, so this shouldn't raise too much of a fuss. It didn't change that he had no idea who or where that dragon's rider was. He'd work something out, even if it was with someone in the Lower Caverns rather than the rider in question. Warm and willing was warm and willing.

Valaranth threw himself into the flight with great zeal, bent on making up lost time. No fancy flying, not when he had so much air to cover and yet, he could spare the breath to croon his approval of the grey-green female who challenged her suitors so. After all, she would never choose him if he didn't make himself known. Who wouldn't choose such a dragon, broad of wing and vivid against the stormy sky? Valaranth certainly didn't understand the reasoning of those who did not, though he would never grudge them their choice. Z'kar might, but Valaranth did not have the memory to hold onto ill-feeling, and there would always be other flights.

That did not mean, however, that the crimson wouldn't fly to the fullest extent of his abilities in this one. Normally, with his great bulk and wingspan, Valaranth's best tactic was to conserve his strength through use of long glides until smaller dragons tired, but now his muscular wings beat rapidly to catch up with the other contenders.