The Freedom of the Skies
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Avery, Devin, Chelle, Heather, Leigh M-F., Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd April 2016
Characters: Alina, L'exan, L'pin, L'cor, Sh'dori, E'rae, Z'ku, S'avn
Description: Imarith rises for the second time.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 27 of Turn 8
Imarith was irritable and hard to control. The green wanted to _fly_ and hated that there were other dragons in her way. Alina struggled through morning drills, trying in vain to ignore her dragon's temper and the glow of her green hide. They were all portents of a near-future she'd rather not have to live through.
As soon as she'd pulled the straps from Imarith's back, her dragon promptly curled up and gone to sleep on her ledge. There would be no waking her, and there was no way that they would be able to attend afternoon drills. Alina sighed and debated going down for lunch. Her stomach lurched unhappily. **Maybe not.** Instead she curled up next to her dragon on their ledge and watched the Weyrbowl. Dragons glittered in the sun and the sway of trees in the wind far below was similar to the sea. On a little rise a bit closer to the Lower Caverns, a bevvy of windmills spun circles and kept the fans in the kitchens on.
Time slipped past. Alina let it. Finally Imarith began to stir, and her rider rose and headed down toward the mating cots with a pit in her stomach. Her palms were sweaty and her stomach roiled.
And then Imarith woke up. The green dragon stretched like a feline before coming to perch on the edge of her ledge. She could feel her rider's unhappiness, but was more interested in the flash of wings in the Weyrbowl. Blue, brown and bronze... }:I will fly!:{ She spread her wings and launched into the air. }:Catch me-- if you can!:{
}:Hey, L'exan,:{ the blue said casually from their ledge.
"What?" the bluerider asked from his bed, where he was trying to finish mending a small tear in one of his riding gloves.
}:There's a green coming into heat.:{ Larzeth flexed his claws into the stone, an almost predatory motion.
"You haven't chased in a while," L'exan noted, putting the glove and sewing kit aside to join his dragon.
}:You chase enough that I don't have to,:{ Larzeth snorted as his rider mounted up. }:But this one is quite lovely.:{ He glided to the ground carefully, and L'exan slid off once they landed. }:Besides, you almost never say no.:{
"You know me so well," L'exan laughed, and went for the appropriate area. Ooo, the greenrider involved was a cutie. The bluerider gladly gave himself over to Larzeth when the green went up and the blue shot after her.
Chaneth was watching the green dragon whose hide was glowing with predatory interest. This dragon he knew well. His rider thought of her rider often. He had seen her fly for some time and knew he wanted her! His tail lashed as he waited for her to awake.
}:I will chase.:{
**Who?** L'pin thought, distracted by his hidework.
}:Imarith. She glows.:{
**NO! Chaneth, she was one of our - ** the bluerider started to object.
The discussion was ended when Imarith launched to the sky. Chaneth was hot after her, leaping into the air and striving for altitude. She would race for the sky and then after a long chase, he would win her.
Flight lust washed over L'pin and he staggered, realizing Chaneth would not be dissuaded. He started towards the mating cots, hoping that he wouldn't win.
Xemroth had been eyeing Imarith since drills that morning and he was waiting when she took to the air. The bronze hurried after her, leaving his rider to make his own way down to the Bowl.
**Alina. Oh boy.** Z'ku wasn't close with his wingmate but he knew she hadn't enjoyed her first flight and wasn't looking forward to this one. The odds were in his favor, though. A blue or even a brown was more likely to win. Let someone else wake up next to an unhappy greenrider.
L'cor trotted down the steps when Tonuth announced he was chasing. At this point his lifemate was chasing more often than he could ever remember so L'cor wasn't necessarily looking forward to this one. He didn't really know the rider though he had seen her around and thought she was a bit shy.
Half-lost in Imarith's mind, Alina hadn't been watching when the men of the Weyr began to file in around her. She glanced up now and the blood drained from her face when she saw L'pin. **Oh sweet Faranth, no!** Waking up with L'pin would be akin to waking up next to a family member. **Imarith, if you let Chaneth catch you I will skin you!!**
}:I like Chaneth.:{ Imarith tipped her wings in the blue dragon's direction, but her rider's aversion was beginning to seep through to her own consciousness., and she flitted away.
Rahmuth was bit late joining the chasers. He and his rider were just back from a sweep duty. That meant the brown was already tired and having disadvantage. That didn't hinder him. His lust was stronger than his exhaustion.
Sh'dori grumbled a bit, he would have preferred a quick wash and hearty meal than this.
E'rae didn't have any ties to the girl, but Leith knew a fine green when he saw one. When it came to chasing, the blue made all the decisions. And this one he was keen on winning. Flying as fast as he could, he arrowed in and snorted, blowing air and causing whirls of smoke in the moistness.
The bluerider took his place, watching the others with his arms crossed. He still didn't quite feel like home in Dolphin Cove but it was familiar, nonetheless.
Ahhh, so there was some indecision on the green's part. Larzeth would have grinned if a dragon's lips were flexible enough for such. }:Choose me, lovely one. I will fly you well, and my rider will treat yours the way they wish to be,:{ he promised.
}:I will show you the true meaning of flight,:{ Chaneth promised Imarith, undeterred by his rider's feelings. He tilted his wings so they caught the light and crooned at her.
Stepping into the flight room and seeing Alina was a feeling that S'avn couldn't quite put into words. He liked her just fine, she wasn't as annoying as most greenriders he knew, but he hadn't forgot winning her first flight and how... awkward things had been afterward. He didn't look forward to that kind of wake-up again, but at the same time, he knew her in a way that none of the others did, and maybe at least being with a familiar face would make things easier for her... Maybe.
}:We will fly her again.:{ Mayfeth assured him.
Xemroth shifted to catch a thermal and gained some ground. }:Imarith, you are lovely. You are a fine, strong green.:{ Z'ku was lost to his dragon, his earlier reluctance gone as he reached out to Alina.
Imarith trilled with delight, feeling powerful and desired as she darted through the clear air. She flew out over the ocean, the thermals lifting her wings as the sea breezes perfumed her slipstream with salt. The water glittered beneath her and dazzled the eyes. She twisted in the air to send the reflections back in her pursuer's faces.
A shadow overhead was her only warning as a blue tried to snatch her from the air. Imarith tumbled out of the way, she and her rider euphoric that her suitor had missed. That trick had been used by Mayfeth on their last flight and Imarith knew better than to fall for it now. She shot skyward steeply, seeking height-- but her suitors were too close. Larger wings were able to gain elevation more quickly, and Imarith was overtaken and snatched from the sky.
She twined her neck with blue Larzeth as Alina turned blindly toward L'exan.
Larzeth wasn't called "Lightning Lad" just for his markings: He could become a bolt of blue with the right motivation, and he had put on a burst of speed to catch Imarith. Below, reflecting his triumph, L'exan whooped and swept Alina up in his arms. "Tell me what you want," he purred, and lowered his face to the greenrider's to kiss her.
Last updated on the April 22nd 2016