*EVENT* Limitless - Archith's Flight! 15.07.07

[Kaya]

It happened one afternoon that was unusually warm for that time of Turn, on a day when the air was tense and heavy. The Weyrwoman had woken up late that morning, mentally chained to her pillow and her eyes refusing to open. It had taken her far too long to get ready for the day ahead and even longer to shuffle down the hall to the kitchens. Work was especially tiresome today; she was back under the elder GoldRider’s tutelage for the afternoon as they reviewed the goings on in the world together. Time passed as slow as thick mud.

When lunch finally arrived the other GoldRider excused herself. Rilora figured she must have insulted her with her boring reactions and inattentive mindset. After eating she tried to find her to apologize but she was nowhere to be found. Perturbed, but conscious enough of the time off, Rilora crawled back up into her weyr and sank back into bed. She shouldn’t have gotten up today.

The folds of weighty sleep kept the senior pair down until late afternoon, the time when the sun was almost down in the winter months and the sky was finally cool again. Archith had fallen asleep on the Hegihts the night before and the warm evening hadn’t prompted her to move inside. A too curious firelizard was looking for scraps on the stone of the Weyr Heights. He had already found a half meatroll, dropped by some clumsy human no doubt. It was that find that made him brave, and so he paid no mind to the still slumbering Gold to his left. It chanced to pass that a Brown didn’t see the flitt, or much else with his eyes almost closed, as he glided to the Heights to get a good spot to watch the sunset. The flitter panicked, fearing being squished. He was young and didn’t think to retreat between until he had already reacted. He slammed into Archith’s head with a mighty UMPH before his wits sent him fleeing into the nothing space.

The impact was more than enough to wake the Gold. Her sleep had finally lightened, her consciousness on a hair thin string waiting to snap awake. The flitter was gone, but the rest of the Bowl, the Weyr and further out heard a heart stopping:

ROOOOAAAAAR!

They were both awake now. Archith-Rilora; Terror of the skies, Conqueror of mountains, Glory beyond compare. This was the day the world began.

The Gold had reared up on her hind legs, screaming at the sky that denied her entry. Her stiff wings forced themselves open and beat the villainous air in defiance. Sky rushed from her wings, filling the world. Her roar echoed back, first as itself, as silence, and finally as an overwhelming cry as the world was born. This was her domain, her world that bent to her every whim. She was Archith, highest of high Queens.

In a leap, a flash and a call of will the Gold dove for the far end of the valley where the herdbeasts pastured. The molten beast was upon the first too quickly, the others froze before darting toward stable and woods in fear. She downed another with her massive claw, biting the first ruthlessly and shaking it to tatters. Though there was a scrap of human will left to influence the dragon it was a dim candle compared to the sun that was Archith’s will. She scooped up the hideous shreds of herdbeast, consuming them. It made her feel powerful, alive--- it made her feel sick. Rilora’s struggling will caused the Gold to retch, pieces barely recognizable as meat hitting the ground for a second time. The mind let its sorrow be known. She screamed and screamed, barreling into another group of frightened herdbeasts, taking down three this time, one crushed under her back foot. She lapped at them, lamenting the unfairness of her state. The pitiful creatures defied her even in death. She could not eat them. Instead she would destroy them. Half of one was flung as far as she could manage, and she crushed the flattened one again for good measure. This was her world! She reigned here. All would know it. All would assemble and pay honor-no respect-no tribute-NO. They would pay their very selves to her. It was what she demanded and what she deserved.

[Simile]

The Bronze's head snapped up from where he rested on his ledge as the roar echoed through the Weyr. Archith. ARCHITH! His Queen! It only took a moment for his eyes to change. He watched her, beautiful. The beautiful gold of the most amazing kind. Queen of Queens, Queen of skies, Queen of land and Weyr. He stood. He would chase. He would Chase.

K'nan's head snapped up and he almost forgot to swallow the klah that was in his mouth, but with a gulp, he felt the hot liquid seer his throat, but he didn't care. His dragon was going to Chase. That meant that, soon, his mind would not be coherent enough for him to do much of anything other than soar the skies with Embraeth. HE didn't waste anytime, running towards Rilora's weyr where he was certain that every King Rider would soon be gathered in hopes that it would be their dragon to win.

Embraeth watched her, tension building, his wings spread as he let himself fall from his ledge, preparing himself for the Flight. For her launch. More Beautiful than Rukbat... He would pay her anything. Everything. All of him. His Bronze hide would be hers if only she chose it.

K'nan already felt Embraeth's tug, but he did not stop. He kept on going, then moved into the weyr cautiously, very cautiously. It was her weyr. It was Archith she had to fight with. He bowed to her, placing a hand over his heart. She deserved all respect. He kept a respectful distance from her. It would be up to them in the end. Up to the Queen, ultimately.

He was certain that Browns and even the lower ranking males would chase as well. They would chase because of Archith's demand. Because she was the beauty of skies and of Pern. They would chase because she asked it. She was worth the effort from all of them. She would choose who she believed was worthy. Who was right for the Weyr, who displayed their strength, speed, and cunning.

Embraeth answered her challenge with a roar, not so loud as her own, but a promise to follow, to give her all she demanded. What she wished, what she willed. It was his duty, as a King, to give it to her. To give her him. To give her all his effort, all his willpower. Let her take to the skies and let him take after her. He would show her his strength. He had to. She, however, was the strongest, the most magnificent, most beautiful...

He was now on the ground, his wings half spread, his muscles tensed. He would follow her. He would pay her all she wished. His eyes swirled with red and purple.

[Kaya]

There was nothing left but a spattering of herdbeast strewn across the field in the Gold’s wake. She had destroyed and discarded the offending carcasses. Now she strode to the field’s center, her wings fanned out at her side. They drifted up and down, preparing for the skies. There was a strength deep inside her, but Archith had yet to tap into it. It was almost as if she couldn’t… The thought threatened to bring up her rage again. Her eyes had just started to swirl with temper when a faint word crossed her mind:

Go.

It was the simplest of meek commands. She knew it came from Rilora. It would be the last thought they shared apart. A rumble building in her throat the Gold tensed, gazing into the sky. There would be a brilliant sunset in mere moments. Her hide would be a part of it, the crowning glory of the display. The notion go repeated in their unified mind. In a snap the Gold was off the ground and beating her way into the air. The tiniest pieces of meat she still had felt heavy beyond compare. She coughed again but the majority remained lodged inside. She growled.

It was another challenge to fight, the air, her stomach, the emerging painting that lit up the sky. Victory called. The outstretched wings answered. She had taken off in Flight and with the edge of her tempered rage she called to her Weyr, to her suitors who would Chase or face her swiftly coming wrath. She let her taunt echo before issuing another, climbing higher into the sky. In the corner of her consciousness she felt the chasers closer than she wished. It fed her fire, directed her energy and sent her speeding off toward the north and east. This would be a competition of raw skill, stamina and strength. She wanted no obstacles in her way. The chasers would have to compete only with each other.

The Gold sped for the ridge of the valley, bursting over its crest back into the sun. Its rays lit her shining hide afire, adding shadow and light to her temporary dappled form. Still she climbed. She was not like other petty dragons, the ones she had seen in Flight. True strength was measured in height and in distance, not silly tricks or clever dives. The one who flew at her side would have to fight the sky, inch for inch, to climb. They would surpass the others; measure out their energy to keep her pace.

A low cloud stroked her wings with its coolness as she passed through. The air was still warm, but the higher they went the colder. Flying through clouds could hinder her progress. Archith swerved further east, searching for a gap through the building, yellowing clouds. Warmth, height, speed. She pumped her wings harder. There was a place ahead, she aimed for it with determination composed of desperation. Higher…higher…

She never looked back.

[Simile]

As she leaped skyward, K'nan felt it, the final tug from Embraeth's mind and his was soon swallowed up. I go. I will follow into the fires of Rukbat itself. He wasted no time in taking off, a rumble starting in his throat, almost sound like thunder in its way. Her wings graced the sky. Let it part for her! She was a Queen! Of skies and earth of Weyr and Dragons!

He growled, his eyes whirling as he focused on her. He would follow her. His large wings beat the air hard and forced it to give him leverage. He would earn the right to fly beside her, to be a King in her skies. He did not start to sing yet. He wished to Impress her, but there was no sound, nothing, that could come close to describing the beauty of the Queen. There was nothing more beautiful than her. Nothing one could use to compare her to. She was incomparable.

She was more beautiful than the skies, than Rukbat, the clouds, seas, and trees. More beautiful than any other Queen and more beautiful than anything that could be supplied to him to form a song for her. To form a tune from. More beautiful than any sound he could make. Let his efforts show his love for her, his determination show how beautiful she was. He stretched his wings further. However, he didn't exert himself too much yet. The Flight would get harder. The Flight would stretch on. Of course... He would try his hardest. He would win.

Embraeth-K'nan could feel their heart pounding, a warrior's song to lead them into battle. They were going into battle to compete with the others there for a prize beyond all prizes. For the beautiful Queen. For Archith. She was powerful, terrible, beautiful, wonderful, and incredible. she was so many things... But most of all, she was the Queen of the skies.

He watched the rays of light on her hide, dappled as it was. Breathtaking, but of course, he could not allow something to literally take his breath at this moment. He needed it. All of it. As much of it as he could have. He needed it if he were to win this battle. To Fly this Queen. He would need as much strength as he could muster.

He crooned slightly. He would prove himself and fly beside her! He only looked forward, unconcerned, for the moment at least, about the other males in this Flight. Only she mattered. Only she mattered in the end.

K'nan's mind was with his dragon, but his eyes were fixed on Rilora. The lovely young woman who had captured his heart from the moment that he had met her so many Turns ago... Her beauty was in so much... Her appearance... her personality... She was amazing. Quite simply amazing.

[sweetlilangel]

Kronikoth lifted his head at the Queen's call, looking out from his ledge. There was no reason to rush to her side while she blooded her kills. The dragon's instincts told him to wait and preserve his energies.Take to the skies when she did.

Though Kronikoth didn't move, Mi'an sensed his intentions immediately and began to move deftly through the Weyr to get to Rilora's weyr. He stepped inside as he reached it and moved to side, making sure he wasn't in the way of other riders, before stopping.

Then it began. Archith took to the skies and without a sound Kronikoth swept his wings up, cupping them full of air as the came back down and he launched after her. He propelled into the air, following her higher and higher, paying no heed to the other dragons around them. In his mind's eye only he and Archith were flying up through the clouds and into the thinner of air...

Only he and the beautiful gem, glowing by the dying rays of Rukbat were making their way for the breaks in the clouds that would perserve precious energy and allow them to fly ever higher. Only they were gliding through the cooler air...

[Kaya]

The gap between the clouds was shifting from the wind. Archith corrected slightly, still aiming for its center. The bottoms of the clouds were starting to turn a faint orange and their tops were darkening slightly. She was gaining on the opening, foot at a time, feeling her powerful muscles and the wind against her wings. It was freedom at its finest, sheer unrivaled power that propelled her into this state. She would stay free; her thoughts recoiled as she noticed a flash of bronze behind her.

Spurred on by defiance and the tiniest bit of fear, Archith started her climb through the clouds. The great building giants surrounded her on all sides, their colors changing only the slightest amount as each minute, each wing beat passed. It was a steep climb, one that would challenge the others. She knew because she felt the strain in her wings. Her muscles protested such treatment, but they didn’t matter. Nothing but height mattered. The desire to climb was driving her from the core: Climb, fly higher…

The breeze that skirted the edge of the clouds hit the Gold with cooler air. A rumble of displeasure escaped her throat. This would not do, and the higher they went the colder. Still, she knew she must go, up into the clouds and as far beyond as she dared. Past these dangerous clouds that, while no rain or other harsh weather threatened, they were dark enough to be foreboding. Was it the fading sunlight? No one would chance their life on such an assumption. Dark, building clouds could spell death. Glare set against the ominous clouds Archith plunged ahead, higher into the skies. Always higher, and always just the slightest bit slower…

Rilora-Archith finally took notice of the men surrounding her in her weyr. More than the people she felt the presence of their dragons, but the human side of the pair demanded out of alarm that they see the human suitors too. Her eyes flicked about the room, seeing faces she knew well and some she barely knew at all…if that. She had woken up in the center of the bed and had not moved since. Rilora shrunk further back into the furs; as if she could sink so far they’d never find her. Archith might be taking all this with a brave face but Rilora was terrified. For all she’d been instructed, told what Flights were like, her Gold’s will and strength of mind were unparalleled. She felt the dragon’s urge to focus pulling her sight away, the sensation of warm furs was replaced with chilling wind and the view to crescent moons lingering in the sky. The few clouds further above were becoming even more brilliant, the setting sun leaving them alight with colors that would have more than honored even the most deserving of Sunset dragons.

The stage was set. The players were in their places. The audience waited with baited breath. The answer everyone wanted to know was coming.

[sweetlilangel]

Kronikoth followed his queen, adjusting his own course so he would not lose her. His eyes held her glowing form in site as the moved up into the colder hair. Higher and higher they went.

The cooler air was thicker, heavy than the warmer air below. While the steepness of the climb put strain on the wings, the heavy air was easier to cup in the sails as he flew higher and use to propel him. One small gift for such a high stakes flight as this.

As she continued up above the clouds the human half of Kronikoth-Mi'an took more notices of the colors that brilliantly lit the clouds and the slivers of the moons.. Kronikoth only took notice of his queen. She was far more brilliant than these colors that attracted his human. They were vaguely aware of movement in the bed, but Kronikoth refused to relinquish his focus long enough for Mi'an to find out more than that.

[Simile]

Embraeth still sang, even if it did not matter. Even if all that mattered was speed and strength, height and distance. It was important to him that she knew all she was in his heart. But it was not as though the song was not being stolen from him. It was pointless to keep singing as the cool breeze pressed in around his body. He beat his wings harder. Let all havoc fall upon him. Let the clouds have their storms. It didn't matter. The only storm that had his interest, the only one that mattered, was Archith. Her hide was more beautiful than the colors of the clouds in the fading light as she flew onwards. It was harder. But the air was heavier. It gave more leverage. The heavy air was worth the strain.

And strain it was and, though it was, he had other things on his mind. He had to remain focused on her. On the Queen of his dreams. She was the most beautiful being to grace the skies. He rumbled his defiance at the strain in his own wings, at the clouds that darkened and built in a threatening manner. No! It would not defeat him! The storm didn't matter. All that mattered was ahead of him. His determination. That was what he needed to show her, and that was what he would show her. He beat his wings again harder. He needed the strength he had now.

Embraeth-K'nan shared a moment in which they were neither in the air nor in the room exclusively. K'nan felt his heart constrict a little at Rilora's fear. He knelt there, watching her. He would do his best... Not to intimidate her. To control himself. For her. Whether he won or lost.... Rilora mattered... He felt himself yanked back into the clouds and cold by Embraeth who seemed to berate him, angry that he would show weakness at this time. They were in a battle against elements and against the others, competing for the attentions of a determined and beautiful Queen who ruled all skies. He wanted to fly with her, beside her. He wanted her to choose him. Why would he if he did not give them good reason. If K'nan didn't. If Embraeth didn't? They had to be determined. They had to give it there all!

With that, Embraeth gave another strong beat of his wings, attempting to gain more distance.

[Kaya]

With a final beat of her wings, Archith crested the top of the cloud. In the distance she could see the far horizon of the ocean, lighting up as the sun dipped closer to its waves. Above, she saw more clouds. Too many to fight for height. This was the top. This was it. She had reached for the sky and had it clinched in her claws. The Gold turned to look straight forward again, focusing on escape now. It was down to advantage and speed, which she was rapidly losing.

The scraps of meat she hadn't managed to expel were starting to hurt and her left wing sprung to the forefront of her mind with a throbbing ache. She was a stubborn one, though. Archith would not fall, would not plead with those who sought her. She would be strong until the bitter end, though Rilora's conscious begged for an outcome that ended well. They felt each other's exhaustion, from exertion and fear, both wearing off as the sky lit up in a patch work of sky and cloud. An impressive sunset it was.

The cramp tightened in Archith's wing and she knew she couldn't hold out much longer. It was chose with dignity or fall with shame. Lose the precious height she had battled so hard to attain. She would not, could not bare that. And so it was, at the end of her strength, Archith accepted the outcome she knew was coming all along. A victor. Her victor. Her Bronze.

Promeuth, cleverest of males, I choose. Come. The skies still call me.

It was done. Now all he had to do was catch her...