Iceburn [Temperanth's Flight]

[Shoki]

75.13.07
Just at Nightfall

Hedara took a deep breath and then proceeded practicing her forms. It was late, and she was using what little free time she had to get better with her blade. She had actually been neglecting it a little bit, in favor of her strange three sectioned staff. Still, there was nothing so comforting as having her sword in her hand and feeling its weight as she danced around it. It gave her time to think. Temperanth was due to rise, which seemed to bring out mixed reactions from Hedara. Oh it was a wonderful, exciting thing, for most. The blond woman always seemed to find it annoying though. She had to lose a day, which messed up her schedule. Even more annoying, since they were now without a major hold it took resources to have new dragons. More paranoia for her, what with her weyrlings always getting kidnapped. Not to mention that who knew if someone was going to get upset over what impressed who. She grit her teeth. The only thing she half liked was Temperanth got to be a mother, and she loved that. The Ice could well cheer her up a bit with that, not that it would override the fifty other things she had to deal with because of it. It was infuriating sometimes.

Hedara slipped with her next step, but immediately straightened up and looked around the room. Who was around? She needed a spar to get her mind off this. She put her proper blade away and got out a practice sword to spar with. With any luck at all it would be a nice way to relax. However that required her to have any luck at all.

Night came early to the northern Weyr, and the humans were already avoiding the night air. A cool breeze was blowing in, bringing with it a few flurries. A few flakes made it to where the Ice Queen was sleeping, very gently attempting to wake her up. Of course, the Queen did not wake up gently at all. A fire blazed within her, which was only antagonized by the falling snow, rather than cooled. She rose, her eyes rapidly changing and taking off for a meal.

Hedara made a misstep, getting rewarded for it with a hit on her arm. A moment later she stood ramrod straight, looking intense. Her sparring partner gave a start, but she merely lowered the practice blade and spoke coolly.

“Thank you for the spar, my apologies as I must cut it short.” He then promptly started to collect her things all the while giving her attention to the Queen. Blood it. She hardly had to pay attention as she got her equipment together and go. Temepranth would blood it, she could make the Ice Queen see that was best. However she had to move briskly to her quarters, the Flight was only just beginning.

Temepranth stood over the beast she had just bled dry, feeling more angry than anything else. It was not nearly to her satisfaction. She was a QUEEN! The Ice bled another, and another, not feeling sated at all. However, more feelings were pushing her up and away. She roared to the skies, demanding the best to try and catch her. She took off, letting one more roar echo through the Weyr. She wouldn’t have any one sleeping through her moment of glory, oh no. The wind tumbled a few stray flakes around her, but it could not compare to her shining hide. Snow or no, she would be the star here.

[Serah]

It was a little late for a visit, when the Crimson pair arrived at the northern Weyr. But a visit they were there for. There was no real reason to this visit, other than A'burn wanted to see just what the northern Weyr looked like. Neither the Crimson nor his rider could have predicted what was to happen next. Though A'burn could not see what was happening, his dragon was perfectly aware of what was going on. There was a dragoness that was about to have a Flight. Neither rider nor dragon knew the dragoness that was having her Flight, but that didn't stop the Crimson.

As soon as Temperanth was in the air, Cyth was too. He followed, mainly silent as the Ice Queen let out her call to the Weyr. It was after her call to the Weyr that he spoke to the Queen. Dear Queen, Cyth has come to bask in your beauty. He called to Temperanth. At the moment, the Crimson only had eyes for the Ice. He had little idea if any other Chaser had joined him and the Queen in the sky. And frankly, he could not care less at the moment. He bugled a call to the Queen before falling silent once more as he followed her. He would follow her anywhere with how he felt in that moment.

Back in the Weyr, A'burn had started stumbling around, clearly lost. He knew this was a Queen Flight, so the rider must be living in a Queen's weyr. But he had little idea of the layout of Ice Stone Weyr, so he was just sort of stumbling around the Weyr until he found the right place. Eventually, he made it to Hedara's weyr. He knocked before he entered, and bowed slightly to the rider of the Ice. "Crimson Rider A'burn." He managed to say in introduction. His loss for words aside, he stayed near the back of the room. He was almost certain that Cyth would not win this Flight. Though if by some miracle he did, he did not want to be absent for that.

[Shoki]

Hedara’s gaze was not wholly clouded over, and her eyes seemed sharp, at least for the moment. Her room was to be invaded so she wished to keep her wits about her. More importantly though, she still had weapons on her, best keep safety in mind. She was thus when A’burn arrived and she observed him in silence. An image of a large dragon, only faintly illuminated in the night passed over her eyes. She wasn’t familiar with him, save for the brief introduction he gave. However she was used to that, she supposed. She took great care and put her swords out of the way. That done she finally stopped resisting so much and let her thoughts mix with the Queen’s.

They strove forward into the night sky, clouds obscuring the view and the light. The Ice glanced back for a moment, but kept her focus forward. It was right and good to have them admire her, she was a Queen after all. But, they would have to give their all for her. She spun upward, seeking the location where the snowflakes fell from. The bracing weather would have no bearing on her speed, she was an Ice! It would slide over her hide and her inner fire would keep her warm.

Abruptly she shifted, changed direction, but always upward. She looked back, a critical, almost contemptuous gaze. Mixed mind indeed, Hedara-Temperanth was a critical creature. Those who chose to follow would have to prove themselves indeed. She would take note of every misstep, and consider every strength. She whipped back to her original course, first she would best the clouds in the sky, and if there were those that could manage well enough then perhaps she might have a will to choose a champion. That is, if she felt as though there was a champion worth choosing.

[Itoshii]

Cier stretched as she finally settled down in her weyr, sitting down in a chair to take off her boots. Brignith had been a little off all day, almost as if distracted. He hadn't even seemed enthusiastic when she suggested they go for a fly and enjoy themselves after their tasks for the day were through. She began unlacing the first boot when suddenly she felt her dragon tense in anticipation.

You may want to keep your boots on

"What's going on Brig?" she questioned, though she hardly got the whole sentence out of her mouth before she heard the roar, the kind that announces the flight. But who?

Temperanth, oh such a beautiful queen! his statement was as much an answer to his Rider as a song to the Ice taking to the skies.

"But Brign-" she shot up out of her chair, nearly falling back into it as Brignith began to seep into her mind. Temperanth? It took a moment for her dragon addled mind to comprehend, the Senior Queen?! But that meant... Hedara. Brignith had never chased a dragon with a female rider before, he knew how she felt about that. Her feet were moving beneath her, somehow not tripping over her unlaced boot. For a moment she was in the sky with her dragon, then she was in the Weyrwoman's weyr, a Rider she didn't really recognize was there as well. Then she was in the skies again and she was Brignith, singing to the shining Ice Queen before him.

Oh, my lovely queen, he called, his massive Cloud wings keeping him in the race. I denied my beloved skies for you but now we can share the heavens!
He flourished his words with a tight barrel roll, keeping with her turns and striving ever upwards after her. His Rider didn't doubt his ability to fly after a dragon so much larger than himself, against dragons larger than himself, she doubted that such a dragon would choose a color so much lower than she. He, however, had complete confidence. After all, he was much more likable than a brooding Crimson.

[Serah]

Another dragon had entered the bid for the Ice Queen. This dragon was a Cloud. A small dragon with a large wingspan. Cyth knew not to count this dragon out just yet. The Flight had only just begun and thus both dragons had an equal chance, at least in his mind. He didn't know what the Queen was thinking. He just knew he had to keep flying and Impress her. What he did not want to admit was that the Cloud might have a slightly better chance just because the Queen would probably know him. Although, being an unknown had its advantages too.

The Crimson was determined to use whatever advantages he could. He crooned to the Queen, to let her know that he would not give up. Especially since there was a more familiar male around. He would follow anywhere she went in this cold and snowy sky. This was a Flight he was very determined to win. His would just have to deal with whatever was to follow. The Crimson pushed on through the snow, through the night he could barely see through to follow the Ice Queen Temperanth.

Cyth flew on, moving next to the Cloud. This Cloud seemed confident in his ability to win. That was something that Cyth could admire in the smaller dragon. A strong enough drive could be the difference of winning and losing in this Flight. And sure as eggs hatch, he was not backing down either! He would keep pace with the smaller dragon, and hopefully win the heart of the Queen.

[Shoki]

Though not entirely pleased, the Queen’s pride was bolstered somewhat when Brignith arrived to chase. After all, this was her night and she had better be a prize worth chasing. However, she was still taking time to peer back toward them, judging their performances. All while climbing ever higher.

She was compelled, driven toward the clouds that even now spit out little groups of snowflakes down to the dragons, and to the ground. The night made everything dim, the overcast skies had even more dampening effect, but she knew what was beyond. Pushing forward even though there were sweet calls to her, she strained forward until finally, at last, she dove into the clouds that marred the lovely sky. For a few wings beats, it was like the world was dark and gray but soon enough the Ice broke through the clouds, revealing a starry night, and a cool but dimly lit world above the one she knew so well. In a moment she buzzed the clouds, only barely touching them as she swept across the cloudscape. Silvery light would illuminate much here.

As if a counterpoint to the serene, wonderfully calm view around, Temperanth was raging inside. Her wings wanted to move her, ever forward, and her critical gaze was observant to all behind her. Most of all, a small bitter pill of disappointment, mostly in her own self. As had been observed she could not always see what it was she sought. Perhaps, as before one clear moment of inspiration would strike and she would see what she wanted.

[Itoshii]

Brignith felt a surge to the challenge when the Queen didn't seem to approve (even if she wasn't disproving either) of his joining the chase. He may not be the largest dragon, but oh he was mighty. He knew these skies as we as, if not better, than anyone and a little snow wasn't going to shoot him down.

He powered through the flurries of ice, the crystals keeping the burn of his surging wings at bay. Without hesitation he entered the layer of clouds after the queen who seemed so much a part of the beautiful snowscape below and burst out of the clouds behind her, following her path and curving his wings slightly so as to drag some of his hide's namesake along with him. Their tone was so close to the patches on his hide, had it been daytime he may have been lost to the skies. But his soft blue hide stood out from the quickly darkening skies, leaving him an outline, a ghost of the day that had been.

He crooned and warbled to the glowing female before him, beginning to feel the strain with the cooling snow no longer there. He tilted to the size, dragging one of his oversized wings through the clouds below him, slicing a path beneath him. He took only a moment to glance at his Crimson competition. He may be large, and he may be a king, but the skies were Brignith's home and, despite his aching muscles, he knew that the Queen before him was no fool. Clearly he was the best choice. Willing his muscles to work harder he put on a surge of speed in an attempt to close the distance between himself and Temperanth.

[Serah]

Cyth continued to follow the Ice Queen. The snow was annoying, but it was something the Crimson could work around. Something he could not work around, was the Cloud somehow managing to win this Flight! He saw the Ice Queen head into and above the clouds and saw the much smaller dragon fly after her. He roared his challenge to the smaller dragon as he shot up to follow the Ice Queen. The snow blurred his already bad night vision to being worse.

The Crimson was marginally happier when he emerged above the clouds where there was no snow. Yes, the Crimson could see the beauty of the Queen much better now. He crooned to the Ice Queen as he saw her. Just to let her know that she was the most beautiful thing in his world. Other than his roar of challenge, Cyth pretty much ignored the Cloud. He still kept to thinking that he had at least a little edge over the smaller dragon. He would probably think that until the end.

[Shoki]

Temperanth glanced back, listening to the calls to her. In the silvery light both dragons looked like they were not their true color, or perhaps that was merely her night vision playing tricks on her. Still, clear as could be, she could see the large form of the Crimson and the large winged Cloud casting shadows on the clouds just below them. Everything here in the thin air looked so striking, so perfectly clear. Her wings were starting to tire, the heat only tempered the smallest bit from the naturally cold winter air. These were her skies, for however much longer. She would make this last, and she would make sure that she was the star.

So with her own pride fueling her she made one final dash upwards, pushing herself to fly even higher. She was always, always thinking of what was best. However, every once in a while she could use her stubbornness to have one selfish moment longer. So even though it was a waste of energy that could be used to go higher, so twirled upward, enjoying her moment in the night sky.

Hedara wasn’t aware of herself. She was high in the night sky, above the clouds. So the blond woman didn’t really realize that even though her eyes were looking forward, severe in their gaze, that her shoulders lowered a little and a tiny smile could be seen on her face. Like she could have one little moment to relax. However Hedara-Temperanth was driven together once more, the Ice Queen’s gaze being all important.

Temperanth’s twirl ended with her facing the two males behind her, eyes whirling as she stared. The moment hung in the air, and she felt weightless, like a snowflake. After what seemed too long, it came to her, her thoughts, her flash of inspiration. What she wanted. Temperanth looked down at the Crimson King, and spoke.

Perhaps next time, Cyth. The Ice Queen dove, swooping by the Cloud, before looking back in a somewhat mischievous manner.

Well, Brignith. Catch me if you can. She was quite tired. But one more little bit of fun couldn’t hurt her now. Temperanth let the swoop do most of the work, slowing as she climbed back to where she was, hanging in the sky again.

[Itoshii]

Brignith paid no heed to the King's challenging roar. On any other day it may have intimidated him, forced him to back down, but not on this night, when such a glowing prize soared just out of his reach. He rolled to the side to ensure that there was enough room between himself and the Crimson, in case any claws flew out in a sneaky move. Oh, but his wings were tiring and he had begun to wonder if he could outfly the Queen or, more importantly, his competition.

But then Temperanth twirled ahead and faced them and hoped that he had made it as far as the Ice could go, pride welling up within him and giving him the little nugde to go on. He could feel her judging himself and Cyth and knew the end had indeed come. And then she spoke. He barely cared about the words she spoke to the Crimson beside him, all he heard was the words she spoke to him. It was a challenge and an invitation, and as she sopped past him he didn't hesitate for a moment before following her.

Oh, lovely Temperanth. My lovely Ice Queen He crooned, making a final surge forward to capture her in his embrace before they fell, focused only on her and getting them safely to the ground below.