Race the Sun [Temperanth's Flight]

[Shoki]

79.02.10

Temperanth was awake far before the sun. Her rider was an early bird, and she had naturally adopted the mentality. It remained dark; no glowing threads of dawn could be seen. In the dark Temepranth began to seethe. She wanted, for some unknown reason, for the sun to be up. She stared at the horizon, which was decorated with stars, and waited. Tension continued to rise and she waited, impatient for the dawn. The Weyr was peaceful, but the Ice Queen was not. Each moment was eternal agony as she started to boil.

Until finally the horizon warmed with the light of early dawn. And Temepranth could take it no longer.

The Ice Queen’s roar shook her Weyr. The sun threatened to rise, now so would she. First, she looked for prey, and found a heardbeast to slack her thirst. As she blooded it, she could feel the steel in the back of her mind refuse to move. For now.

Hedara’s gaze was icy as she bid her Queen blood the creature. She stood with her sword in her hands and finally sure all was well, sheathed her blade. Hedara had been waiting for this to happen. As such she had done her work early and was exercising now. The advantage was she now had a sword in her hands. She felt better with weapons nearby. She headed toward her weyr but stopped in front of it. She disliked people near her weyr. Temperanth’s mood was rubbing off on her. She stood in front of her door, sword sheathed but in her hand, and waited.

Hard to say how this all would turn out.

[Kaya]

Saith's head raised as the Weyr rumbled with Temperanth's announcement. He had been awake for the evening hours as was customary, sliding through tunnels, both reassuring and alarming those within. He had toned down his usual inclination to startle people for the last several sevendays given the circumstances. It was too easy and thus no fun, not to mention what Mae had to say about it this time. So he had been trying more than usual to be a model citizen, if anything of the sort could be said of Saith.

He moved with haste to an exit, still peering about for those who would notice him. He'd rather not be until he chose to reveal his presence. Surprise counted for good deal. The Grey dragon glided around the nunatak until he could just make out Temperanth. His hide still holding onto the greys of the cold predawn light.

Mae on the other hand wanted nothing to do with this. She protested being wakened this early, protested Saith's ludicrous plan that he could have any hope of meaningfully participating in this Flight, and she definitely protested the sorts of feelings she was having about the most powerful woman in the Weyr. Mae sat up in her loose night shirt, crossed her arms over it, and sulked about her room that early morning.

[Kaya]

"N'tin was supposed to take them back but shells if I know where he is," D'jevec grumbled, passing through the hall towards the Bowl. He had ensnared one Kh'sol, BrownRider, from the kitchens with a mug of klah. Kh'sol was still working on his drink. He was split between disbelief and complete acceptance that this was happening. Because of course it was. These sorts of things always happened to him.

"Fine, Vec, but you owe me," he pushed the empty mug into the man's hands.

"Oh, dangerous for me," the DarkBlue Rider said. He stared at Kh'sol but easily secured the mug. He cracked a slow smile, but broke it interjecting, "So they're out there, those two," he pointed.

Kh'sol muttered an acknowledgement and picked up his pace towards them. Too early to-

"Ice Stone bound, are we?" he called out loudly to the two men with their bags. They nodded, one waved him over. Kh'sol reached out to Ornoth. He explained to the men that he would be taking them, change of plans, and to continue to wait. Preparations were made.

Time to go, he said.

We work too hard, the Brown dragon complained, raising up from the heights and the warm sun on his back. And we have all these watches, and-

You don't get to complain because I am awake more than you, Kh'sol cut him off.

With grumbling Ornoth arrived and let the passengers to Ice Stone settle onto him with their bags clipped in. Kh'sol checked over the arrangements and satisfied, he signaled the dragon to go.

When they left between Kh'sol swore it got colder. Shells, Ice Stone was cold. And dark. He shook in his riding jacket, gave silent thanks that he lived somewhere sensible, and urged Ornoth to go faster. Coming into the Bowl at Ice Stone was a relief, it cut down the wind chill, though not by enough. Kh'sol was unclipping the last bag when Temperanth's roar tore through the Weyr.

"Oh shells..." Kh'sol muttered. He threw all his will into keeping the Brown from pulling him and the bag into the air, only to fall from a deadly height not long after. When the clip snapped back into place, one bag lighter, he took off into the air. The two passengers covered their faces, one slipped on the ice.

Ornoth reveled in the call. This was something worth working hard for. Here was the true reason for his efforts this day. Kh'sol's blunt frown cut through. He was right, there was very little flowery about this for them. Ornoth wanted to fly after her so he would. Lucky him. Kh'sol retreated into the stone tunnels, it was useless to fight Ornoth when he was like this. The Brown circled the large Weyr of stone and ice, searching for Temperanth. He found her busy with a herdbeast and came to rest on the rock wall, digging his claws in. She was stunning. He would win her.

[Cait]

Irrikath rose before V'quin that morning, ever attuned to those people and creatures closest to him. With Temperanth restless, he could hardly settle himself. It had always been this way. When his rider's sister had been kidnapped, he'd not been able to rest any more than his rider. Any time V'quin was ill or injured, a dragon friend grumpy or upset...the poor Iron often found himself far too concerned about others. This, however, was different. As dragons tended to, he knew the source of Temperanth's ire and it made him as anxious as much as it excited him.

For Irrikath, flights were hit or miss and sometimes he simply couldn't be bothered. But Temperanth was both Queen and friend. Her rider was V'quin's friend. For some reason V'quin was always hesitant to participate in the Ice Queen's flights for reasons that the Iron never really understood. He would not forego this Flight, however. With all that had been going on in the South, the bits and pieces he kept picking up from V'quin and the thoughts about foreign dragons making him anxious, Irrikath felt duty bound to chase Temperanth if only to make certain she would suffer no harm.

At least that was his initial intention. But as dawn neared and Temperanth launched herself into the sky to hunt, Irrikath gripped the edge of his ledge and leaned forward slightly, eyes tracking the Ice Queen as a rumble started low in his chest.

[PhoenyxStar]

Ru'en and Brown Raith #bc4606 #ff7f00

"Mine It's time! She rises and I must chase for my blood turns"


The huge brown exclaimed to his short rider before pushing from the ledge on top of the bowl from his perch. The huge wings pushed the wind down and back as he swooped to circle lazily keeping a fair distance from the beautiful queen that feasted now.

Heaven help him as he came out from reading a book in his weyr. Raith just had to fly the most moodiest queen ever and was now dragging him into the widows lair. "if I die I am blaming you Raith"

the brown snorted as his eyes whirled a tinge of purple and blue. "It won't happen because I wouldn't let it Ru'en"

---

Bu'loin and Brown Heth #441b05 #da2701

Bu'loin twisted in his seat as he felt his dragon stir from sleep unsure why his beautiful dark reddish brown dragon was rising so early. "what is it Heth? Normally you'd still be asleep at this time." the dark skinned man asked quietly to his dragon.


"Temperanth rises and I tend to vie for her attentions!" the small brown replied as he crept towards his rider with a nudge. "Be safe Mine and watch her riders movement I don't think she welcomes company like us." His eyes whirled a slow orange, blue and purple as he was concerned for his rider before heading to the ledge. "I may be small but I will try to win her favor" the brown said boldly before dropping from the weyr and soaring to find a perch near her that would allow him a decent descent and rise to make up for his size.

"Oh lovely thanks for the heads up Heth." The dark man shifted and stopped what he was doing and headed towards the queens weyr slowly as he adjusted his knife on his lower thigh for his protection.

[Shoki]

Temperanth tossed aside the blooded beat and hunted another. While she blooded it, she could feel eyes, but more important, she could feel her impatience grow. She wanted to blood again, but she had waited for so long and wished to wait no longer to fly. When at last the second beast was drained dry, she flared her wings and roared again.

No more waiting.

She took off, flying to the horizon that finally showed a sliver of sun. She flew low over the fields of snow, taking pleasure of the chill wind against her with the fire burning inside her. The snow dazzled in the morning light, and Temperanth drew very close. Until finally she pumped and the fresh powder made a brief cloud. She looked no longer at the sun, or horizon, but began to climb, caring very little for looking back. This moment was hers, and if she decided to pay those behind her no mind, she would. It wouldn’t last forever, but she enjoyed the chill wind as she rose into the sky.

Hedara was still look at the corridor rather than at sky and snow. She rubbed her thumb against the smooth sheath of her sword while she waited. For what? The oncoming storm, she supposed. Though Temperanth rose her emotions had not yet overwhelmed her. Neither were there ‘invaders’ yet. Hedara centered herself, her eyes cold. In some ways she wished Temperanth would be quick and be done with this whole affair. That was probably the least likely scenario. There was a chance though. A snowflake’s chance in the forge, but a chance.

[Kaya]

Saith kept his slow glide while other wings beat into the air, rose snow flurries. Once he had a moment to size up the others and estimate Temperanth's intent he started to speed after them. It was a vantage point that amused him, which ultimately was more important than keeping his slender wings in the front for a moment longer before the trio of sturdy Browns overtook him. He could feel Mae's conscious sliding into view, taking in the splendor of the sunrise. If she had to be awake, she would find the good in it.

Kh'sol had made it into the nunatak tunnels by then. His skin still protested the cold, despite his flight jacket. Wasn't called Ice Stone for nothing... Ornoth leaping to the air from the cliff face and pulling himself forward in great gusts contrasted the cold hallway Kh'sol occupied. He hurried a step towards somewhere warmer. The Brown dragon admired the snow below, Temperanth, the sparkle of the ice around the Ice Queen. And then she started the tortuous climb, Ornoth following faithfully, spending everything to match her pace.

[Cait]

It had begun! With an eager bugle, Irrikath launched himself into the sky and took off after sparkling Ice Queen, eyes squinted against the morning light were whirling with excitement and lust. Somewhere behind the Iron, still in their weyr, V’quin cursed and landed on the cold ground in a tangle of blankets and furs, jolted awake from a rather steamy dream by his dragon’s cry.

As Irrikath climbed higher and higher after Temperanth, his grey hide shifting with black shadows as the light bounced off of him, he looked around to see who else would join. All were suspicious, yes he must stay close to his Queen.

Groaning, V’quin untangled himself from the bedcovers and pulled on the nearest pair of pants he could find and his riding jacket, not bothering with a tunic. Cramming his feet into a pair of fur-lined slippers, he slipped into the corridors and with the single-minded purpose of needing to be near Hedara, made his way to her weyr. As he neared, his urgent pace slowed and he gave his head a shake. Hedara wasn’t known for welcoming flight competitors but Irrikath’s need to protect was so tightly entwined with his lust that it was a little difficult to keep away.

[shapeshifter]

R'niaan was still asleep in his weyr in the early hours. It wasn't until Bamath's agitation stirred him from his sleep in an annoyed state did he wake and tune into his surroundings. A roar pierced the crisp air in his weyr and rumbled in his chest.

~Temperanth, she rises.~

He clambered his way out of his furs, throwing on a fresh tunic and breeches hanging out of his trunk, stumbling haphazardly into boots as he made his way to the ledge. Bamath waited, his swirling eyes could be seen shining through the dim light outside; his large frame teetering on the edge of their high ledge. As the Queen hit the air so did a flurry of dragon's wings, Bamath among those in the cluster chase. The Crimsonrider shielded his eyes from the wing induced winds, only removing his right arm when the sound began to fade. R'niaan held the wall as his dragon's emotions raged on, keeping his internal calm to steady his dragon in the heat of the flight. /We keep ourselves present, we keep ourselves focused./ he preached to his dragon, letting the oneness of the two take effect as the dragon soared higher and higher.

Bamath joined the flanks of the others, falling towards the back of the chase to wait for a opportune moment to win the Ice Queen.

[Shoki]

As the Ice continued to rise, she suddenly felt a cold rush of the high winds of her home. Under normal circumstances they would have chilled her to her core. Instead of embracing it, she fought against it, the heat inside keeping her wings moving. These were her winds, and she would rise to meet them. Even though she could feel the soreness in her wings as she rose, she felt exhilarated. The chase was on. Temperanth tilted her head back slightly, gently, then faster leveling out as she looked back at the dragons behind her. Browns, and Grey. A hazy Iron and Crimson too. A Moonlight had also come to bid for her attentions. With colors of lust, of pride and mischief in her eyes, she reached out to them directly for the first time.


[smear:33ccff]Show me your best.[/smear:3366ff]

Temepranth left the statement vague, and then flipped around before starting the climb again. This time, not so unilaterally focused on the sky.

Hedara’s gaze flickered, sky and flashing dragon hides interrupting. At the same time, she spied the riders come. She looked down at them with an imperial gaze, but it appeared that for the most part the riders were willing to leave her some space. One of the riders (a flash of black and yellow colored him to Hedara’s eyes) took a step too close, but she pointed the sheathed sword, and pushed him back after he didn’t get it for a moment. He stepped back. Good enough. She folded her arms, sword still in hand and watched them all. Temepranth’s feelings were flowing through her veins, heating her, but not pressing her to action. It was starting to get unbearable. Hedara naturally desired to be master of her emotions, and losing control was going to be infuriating. She stubbornly clung on for a while longer, even as she noted V’quin’s presence which was simultaneously comforting and vexing.

[shapeshifter]

Bamath quietly followed behind the Queen, keeping a close eye on her as she bolted upwards more and more. He climbed with her, still not making any attempts to grab out at her as he neared her. He would keep his energy reserved for the right time. An icy wind gave him a draft boost as he dipped down slightly and used it to carry him higher than before. He felt the chill in his body but his blood pumped for the Queen with such fury that it was easy to ignore.


R'niaan stumbled from his ledge back into his weyr. He had grown accustom to flights but still had issues with separating their vision sometimes. He groaned as he reached out towards the door to make his way into the hallway. For a brief second he thought the Flight might be the death of him thanks to the sleep deprivation.

[Kaya]

Ornoth summoned his best. It was all that was asked of him, yet it asked for everything. He felt the chilling winds take away his energy, wingbeat at a time. He let it take reserve and caution too. The young and overconfident Brown rose up in swirls, letting the wind buffet him into spirals and twirls. Kh'sol snorted at the flashy display, so unlike his Brown's usual tough persona. Ornoth tried to justify it as a sort of strength when there was nothing else to be done. A wasteful use of energy that could have been spent climbing alone, yet he continued to rise with them. He called after Temperanth's attention.

Saith watched the climb from near the back. He was swift but not powerful. The angry morning winds were pushing him about. Yet his best was not giving up. The bleak sky above bleak ice, filled with hostile winds and freezing air, any sane Grey would have backed down long ago, maybe would have lacked the courage to rise in the first place. And while Mae begrudged many things about this Flight, her dragon's strength of determination was not one of them.

[shapeshifter]

Bamath roared, his sound escaping from his chest was lustful and strong. His wing beats hit the air hard and with fervor out of no where. He screamed through the air, using his upward climb to down-draft and put himself among the leaders. His reserved energy now being put to use to secure his spot in the running for the wings of the Ice Queen. He called out to her, bugling his lustful joy at the sight of her glowing form cutting through the crisp air.

For R'niaan, Bamath's roar vibrated through the Weyr, it could audibly be heard as a faint roar, for they were high up now... but for R'niaan.. it deafened him. He groaned as he felt his way to the door of a familiar weyr that he had visited only the day before and banged his fist on the door, almost buckling at his knees and beginning to perspire just above his eyebrows from the intense emotions.

[Shoki]

Temperanth’s wings ached as she pushed through the winds to claim her sky. She pressed on even while he gaze slid back to the suitors. She burned, but what she might want, ah so hard to say. What was presented to her was varied and she could appreciate all. The Stranger Brown, so enthusiastic in his display of twirls was hard to ignore. Saith, very small but stubborn in his chase was not over looked either. Temperanth did find the smaller males to be tempting, there were some other Browns and a Moonlight chasing. They had their own charms.

Bamath roared again. The Sound broke through even the rush of wings and wind and Temperanth could not help notice that. Yes, he was a fine Crimson indeed. He fought for her very admirably indeed. So much will, and the Ice did not forget that at all. Very tempting. She glanced back, not even thinking at it to look at Irrakath. Yes, he too was here. Even with her blood burning and her mind so full of flight, she knew he would be there. He was always there.

She turned her gaze to the sky and pushed forward once more, before flipping around, facing the males below her. The moment hung in the air as she did, knowing the choice was at hand.

Hedara tried to keep her gaze on the ground but she might as well wish ice was warm. Her eyes were sharp in appearance even so. Her breath was starting to increase. This was unbearable. She caught glimpses of those around her and though here stance had never changed she lifted her hand. This couldn’t last forever. Standing in place was not going to get anyone anywhere.

Temperanth decided. From complete indecision to there would be no other winner. Curious how that happened. She twirled suddenly, pulling away to turn to the sun once again. [smear:33ccff]I know you are there.[/smear:3366ff] She glanced back only once. [smear:33ccff]Stop hiding and fly with me Irrakath. [/smear:3366ff]

Hedara finished reaching out and grabbed V’quin’s wrist. She pulled him back, opening the door and pulling him through into her weyr. She closed the door and finally dropped her sword. She didn’t relax, that was the last thing on her mind, but she did finally stop looking like she was going into combat. She then reached out for V’quins face. Her hand was hot. It felt like it burned when she touched his cheek. She wasn’t about to pull away now though.

[Cait]

Irrikath kept himself close enough to be relevant but even with his lust pressing him forward, the need to protect was always present. What if the crimson was a plant from another Weyr? What if that brown got violent? Let the others be flashy and daring, the hazed Iron would stick to being steady and ever-present. It was what he did best, not even flight lust could cause him to break from his foundations.

In the end, after all the displays of virility, Temperanth made her decision and for a moment, Irrikath was a bit stunned. The shock, didn’t last for long, however, as he took the Ice queen’s invitation and rose into the sun with her, his hide dark and dull-seeming beside her own. No words were needed though he let out a short-lived little trumpet of victory. For the moment he was content; as close as he would be to her, none would harm the Weyr’s senior queen.

A hand like a hot metal band closed around V’quin’s wrist and even as he felt his dragon surge forward, he felt his own body be yanked through the doorway. As he stepped into her touch, V’quin’s hand moved to pull Hedara closer. The tiniest part in his brain warned him that this might lead to trouble, but there was no denying Irrikath.