Let them come! (Ayleneth's Flight)

[summerrain]

75.08.20, dusk

It wasn't long after dinner when Yuki decided to get some rest. Her nightmares had returned again after her brother's near-death. She sighed as she made her way to the riders weyrs, having been given use of one while she remained at Ice Stone. The rumors were disturbing. The boy who was also in the infirmary had apparently been missing for a few days at least. Others had gone missing. Rape... Torture... It was too much like her own experience as a child. She didn't like the direction things were moving. But she opened he door and entered the weyr nonetheless.

Yuki sat in her weyr, looking around in the light of the rising moon. It was just as she remembered it. But something had been lingering at the back of her mind since leaving Rainbow Mists. Ayleneth's hide was beginning to glow a bit. It just wasn't a good time for this. For Ayleneth to Rise so soon after the damaged Clutch...

But a Rider could not stop their dragon from Rising if the desire came. None could.

And yet, Yuki was unprepared when Ayleneth's eyes snapped open, swirling red with desire. The emotions that hit always surprised the woman, even though she and the Aurora had been together ten Turns now. Ayleneth launched herself off a ledge toward the heardbeasts, landing on one.

Blood it! Yuki demanded of the Aurora. Blood it now! Ayleneth put up more of a fight than normal, growling and snapping at any who dared get too close. She relented after a short while, though, and sank her teeth into the neck of the poor creature who had fallen victim to her claws. She drained it quickly, and targeted another one. This one she bit round the middle, feeling its life force draining as she drained it.

With that, Ayleneth let out a roar that could've woken the entirety of Icy Caverns Hold had they been in it.

{Let them come!} was her challenge. {Let them test their abilities! Let them come to me!} And with that, she launched herself into the air.

[Terayne]

M'iren was half asleep when suddenly Storith's head came up, the Darkblue eyeing the outside. Storith? The dragon ignored him, rising to his feet and padding to his ledge, looking down at the Feeding Grounds, the beautiful creature therein.

Get you to her weyr. I will Chase her, he said simply, lunging off the ledge as she rose up into the air and darting after her, muscular body gleaming faintly in the fading light as his wings pounded his sides, a bellow resounding through the air as he accepted her challenge...

M'iren cursed and jumped out of bed, swiftly pulling on a pair of pants and sandals and racing out of his room. She was a visitor for now, even if she'd been born here, and he had no idea of where she'd been put! A locale suddenly jumped in his brain and he raced for it, sliding into the room and skidding to a halt, looking to the woman therein, the rider of the Aurora who's vision briefly overlapped as his mind began to meld to Storith's. He seated himself cross legged on the floor and steadied his breathing, closing his eyes and letting their minds connect fully. He was Storith, young, but not weak. This would only be his first Flight experience, but he was bound and determined to show the older males that he was a force to be reckoned with!

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan felt this terrible feeling rising in him as he looked over at his dragon. Just then a roar filled the air and he knew what that about to happen.

Can you control yourself? R'niaan mindspoke...worried that'd they would have another terrible situation arise.

Get to her weyr... the Crimson demanded of his Rider. For now, I chase and I shall fly higher than any other! R'niaan groaned when Bamath took off to the Weyr Heights to ready himself for the Fight, watching the Aurora with bright red eyes.

R'niaan picked up his pace as his exited the weyr, jogging along corridors and stairwells until he reached where his Crimson had gave him a picture of the woman's location. R'niaan flung the door open just in time for the lust his dragon was feeling to hit him hard, and he stumbled as his vision began to cross with Bamath's. He kind of stood there next to where the other Rider was sitting, swaying as he let Bamath and himself connect to the fullest extent. He felt overwhelming rises of desire and lust fill his body, he knew what the end of this could bring... physical satisfaction or something you would just walk away from. Nothing that would put a damper on R'niaan's spirit.

[summerrain]

Two. Not a bad start. But... Ayleneth's swirling eyes locked onto the Crimson. He was the one who had caused the boy to require another healing from a LifeWing at Lanikath's Hatching. She was not pleased that he would dare show himself to her. However...

She turned her gaze to the other one. A DarkBlue, and young at that. Inexperienced. She would just have to wait and see.

Ayleneth opened her maw and let out a roar. They would come.
______

Yuki closed her eyes, oblivious to the two Riders who came in. She loved the feeling of flying, even if it was just from mind-sharing. When Yuki opened her eyes, Ayleneth's vision overlapped her own for a minute. When her vision cleared, she saw the two Riders. She stood and went to the younger one, sitting on the floor, and extended her hand.

"You are a Rider, yes?" she asked him softly. "Stand tall and be proud." Once he was on his feet, she turned to the other one.

"We are surprised that you show," Ayleneth-Yuki said. Her eyes seemed distant, yet focused at the same time. She watched R'niaan quizzically, unsure of what he really wanted. Then two became one, and Yuki found herself stumbling, almost falling into the KingRider's arms.

[Terayne]

M'iren/Storith looked up as the voice sounded, and unfocused eyes viewed both Yuki and Ayleneth at the same time. Her words faintly registered, and he/they took the offered hand, standing, but almost immediately leaning back to the wall, not quite steady on his/their feet. After a moment, equilibrium was found and he/they straightened and just watched as she went to the other Rider, also speaking to him. In his mind, M'iren/Storith saw a Crimson he/they recognized from the Hatching and his eyes briefly narrowed, then he/they shook off the thoughts and feelings. Focus on flying, on proving your worth, was their shared thought...

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan managed to grab his view of the situation in the weyr just in time to catch the AuroraRider in his arms. He steadied her on her own feet in front of him, his strong hands on her upper arms to steady her. He let himself become one with Bamath again, "Yes, to chase." He replied in a "zoned out" type of voice.

Bamath was ready to take flight, he let out a roar in reply to the Aurora's. It was only himself and a DarkBlue...shall others not chase? Is he too intimidating; yes, that's the reason. He was strong and fast, he had stamina...he was to be unrivaled! Bamath had a swell of pride in his chest. He was ready for her launch. He was ready to tail behind her as close as he could muster.

[summerrain]

Seemed none would follow. With that, Ayleneh launched herself into the air with only a few wingbeats, and was quickly soaring above the icy realm where she had been born. She caught an updraft, sending her higher into the air, and spiraled a bit, flaring her wings after just heartbeats. She coasted, allowing her suitors time to catch up. Just before they did, she flapped her wings and shot up into the clouds. The stars seemed to welcome her shimmering hide into their midst, and the darkening sky accentuated the glowing pinks and blues on her hide. She was the embodiment of the colors that shone in the northern sky at night. And they, her.

Yuki pushed gently off the Kingrider, steadying herself against the wall. Her green eyes flashed as the Flight began. Ayleneth's vision overlaid itself against her own, and she saw clouds and stars streaking past. This was where she belonged! Among her Northern family, with the stars and sky above and the icy grounds below. Jungles were no place for an Aurora. In their merged hearts, they both knew that Ayleneth had felt calmer since returning. And then, the Flightlust came back with a vengeance. Both suitors had good and bad, so she could not determine which one had her favor yet. Too many indeterminable things could occur. It was best to wait to see which one wanted her favor more. Which one wanted her more.

[Terayne]

Storith lunged up after her without hesitation, wingbeats strong. He knew he was a sore disadvantage against the Crimson, a King, and knew also that with the darkening sky he was at even MORE of one, as the shadow of his hide would make him near invisible. He would have to perform now, while she could still see him, and this made him unhappy because it meant he was forced to waste precious energy far too early in the Flight. So many things wrong, so many disadvantages against that blasted Crimson. And...

Stop it. Fly to her, prove yourself to her. Quit thinking!

The stern reprimand from his Mine had Storith flicking his tail, but he knew the man was right. He was overthinking this in an attempt to override the lust shimmering in his blood, and he needed to stop. Stop thinking. Just act.

With that he crooned softly to the Aurora and flipped over, soaring briefly on his back, then flipping over again and doing a spiraling loop upwards. He might be bulky, but he was still agile, remarkably so.

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan felt his Crimson's lust growing stronger and stronger. The Crimson watched the Aurora launch into the air and he left the Heights, hot on her tail. He barreled rolled under the smaller female and just as he was keeping time, she swooped into the clouds. He lost sight of her for a moment before catching an updraft in the winds, curving out of it to tag behind her. He was determined the smaller DarkBlue would not show him up...

I call to you, Ayleneth! I shall show you no other dragon is or will be worthy. He rolled again, placing himself under her once more, but only for a moment before he caught another wind that carried him up and off to the upper, back right side of her.

R'niaan felt a push and he released his grip on the girl. He steadied himself, trying to bring his own vision back. He caught a glimpse of Yuki, the light shining down on her from the just rising moon was wonderful as it shone in from the ledge. He felt a rush of lust...we wanted to grab her in his arms. He refrained even though his dragon's feelings were overwhelming.

[summerrain]

She watched them, saw what they did. Not exactly impressive, compared to some of the dragons at Rainbow Mists, not really. She dove, then, moments before she would've crashed, she flared her wings and began climbing again. She would test their maneuverability to its limits. They would have to follow her if they wanted to impress her.

So what if she was being demanding? It was time for her to be the center of attention. Is that not the longing of every dragoness? To become the center of attention for at least one special dragon? Every dragoness becomes self-centered when it is her time to Rise. It was normal.

Yuki stepped away from the two who stood before her. Today would be Ayleneth's choice, just as it had been when the Aurora had chosen Yuki. It was the Aurora's time to shine. Yuki simply rode on her waves.

[Terayne]

The Darkblue wasn't surprised when she didn't seem impressed. He wasn't either, with himself OR his competition, who he was watching closely. He didn't trust Crimsons, personally, didn't like their arrogant vanity. Storith...

Shaking his head, he refocused, darting up into the clouds, then back out, with just enough speed that they briefly clung to his wings, making him look like he was a living part of them, spreading their hazy beauty through the night, seeking to give the beautiful Aurora a veil that would always shine. She was so lovely, and he crooned appreciatively as she began climbing once more, following her demands as fully as was possible.

[shapeshifter]

The Crimson wasn't done yet. He watched as she did her swoop dive, flying over her in the process. He back flipped in air in order to reposition himself behind her for the dive. He went behind her but he pulled up before she did...just so when she came up he'd be above her. He missed his target slightly, and ended up off to the upper side of her. He crooned to her.

Beautiful Ayleneth... he crooned to her, he was never one for sweet words. Bamath then caught a glimpse of the DarkBlue. He was more of a challenge than he thought. Bamath felt that rage come over him as the DarkBlue was growing closer and closer to the Aurora.

Control yourself or back out of the Flight! R'niaan shouted in his head at Bamath, the dragon was more aggressive during a Flight...like he was before he and R'niaan changed.

I am fine. Bamath replied back to his mine, soaring after the Aurora in the process.

[summerrain]

The DarkBlue... He was too close. Ayleneth snapped at him, growling menacingly. Then she shot off into the clouds, flying straight into them. The Crimson grabbed her attention again, the red of his hide darkening in the night. She decided that some Wing maneuvers would be best to test them.

She swerved suddenly around a cloud, used to doing so, being in the highest-flying Wing at Rainbow Mists. These others, however... It would test them. And that was her objective.

She dropped suddenly, spiraling downwards. She was at about the level of the top of the Weyr when she flared her wings again and pulled out of the dive. She angled up, aiming almost for the moon. When she again reached the sky, she turned back to see if her suitors were following still.

In the darkening sky, all traces of sunset fading slowly, the DarkBlue was hard to spot. The Crimson, however, was quite obvious. She was pleased that neither of them had given up yet, though she was just beginning to feel the strain in her wings. She had not Risen in such cold in a long time. It was going to cut her Flight short. But she would indeed make the best of it.

[Terayne]

Storith backed off as she snapped at him, wheeling and whirling off to the side, avoiding the bloody Crimson by diving downwards. He resisted the urge to snarl at his competitor and instead refocused on his goal. Impress Ayleneth enough that she chose him over that King. Continuing to dart and wheel, he did his best, even as he began to fade into the night, and a low, rumbling thrum echoed from deep within his chest, rising and falling, broken by a low, almost singing tone. She might not be able to SEE him, but dangit he'd make sure she didn't forget he was there!

[shapeshifter]

The Crimson wouldn't let the DarkBlue be the cause of his demise. He controlled his rage that had been building and darted off after the Aurora. She may not have been a Queen dragon, but this night she would be /his/ Queen. Bamath rolled, plummeted and soared through the star lit sky; he was hot on her tail. The air was crisp and cold, very pleasant to him...but he also could feel his energy beginning to wane slightly. He woud not let it show! He pushed on, kicking up his speed.