A golden gleam in the sky
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Devin, Cali, Eimi, Emma, Paula, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th May 2008
Characters: Teseada, U'kaiah, J'nus, N'vanik, Y'nub, G'ton, R'nok
Description: Onnyth rises to mate.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 3 of Turn 4
Warm and sunny weather. And that seemed to have put most of the weyrfolk into a good mood. But not Teseada. She'd snapped at a drudge that was clearing tables in the dining cavern and followed that up by giving a wingrider a bawling out for next to nothing in a wing meeting.
Onnyth meanwhile was sleeping, and glowing in the sun. Some were bound to have spotted that fact, a no doubt there was a betting pool forming on how long before she rose and which would be the lucky dragon that caught her.
As the day grew warmer, the gold awoke. Onnyth bellowed a challenge that echoed across the weyrbowl and leapt into the air, making for the feeding grounds. And that was when Teseada realised that Onnyth was rising.
"Blood, just blood!" she called aloud as a surge of lust swam through her. "Just blood," she ordered as she raced to the feeding grounds.
}:U'kaiah, it's time,:{ Kalamath called to his rider. The bronze shifted feet in excited agitation. A gold. A gold would rise.
But it was not just any gold. Not to U'kaiah. It was _Jaela's_ gold.
Dropping everything, he raced to the ledge and vaulted onto the bronze's back. **Fly hard, boy. This one is special!**
Viviranth roared an answer for the gold's challege. }: Come on, R'nok, we are chasing gold! :{ the bronze informed his rider.
R'nok just grunted but picked up his pace towards the feeding grounds.
}:Y'nub, wake up.:{ the bronzerider heard his lifemate say, but he did not want to respond. Teseada had put him on midnight sweepriding duty after their last meeting, and he'd only just gotten to bed. }Onnyth rises, I must be there to claim her. If you do not get up now, I will leave without you. :{ That got Y'nub's attention, and he was up and on his bronze's back without bothering with shoes or a shirt.
At least one herdbeast was grabbed by the neck and shaken until it's neck broke. Onnyth bent her great head and drained the blood, despite a desire to gorge herself. Teseada managed to impose her will on the gold. }:Only blood, only blood.:{ Another bronze landed nearby, body tense and ready as he watched the gold, his great, jeweled eyes whirling in anticipation. G'ton, his rider, approached the gold's rider, though he stopped before he drew too near.
**She looks so young...** J'nus' eyes narrowed as he watched Teseada.
The battle of wills she waged flickered across her face as she watched Onnyth, whose brilliance twinned the sun's. In his mind he heard Kopth rumble an agreement, but the bronze dragon was less concerned with the apparent youth of the gold dragon he planned to chase - and win.
}:Do not doubt me!:{ Loseth bugled.
The confidence and pride from his dragon was so strong N'vanik staggered back step. **Alright, alright! I'm sorry.** He walked the last few feet and joined the circle of riders. He knew better than to weigh Loseth down with his doubts, but shards he hated gold flights.
Losing them was so ...
}:N'vanik!:{
**Sorry.** He took a deep breath. **Fly well. You're the best dragon here. The best dragon on Pern!**
U'kaiah eyed the group standing around her just as his bronze was eyeing his own rivals. The competition would be fierce, but he wanted this gold like no other. **Don't take off too fast,** he reminded his lifemate.
His bronze's tone was confident and reassuring. }:Don't worry. I know what to do. I want her too.:{ A second herdbeast was dispatched in a manner much the same as the first.
The poor beast didn't stand a chance as Onnyth bit into it and drained it.
Her mouth was blood stained as she lifted her head and gave a bellow.
Following that, she shot into the air.
}: She is such a beauty, :{ Viviranth crooned and launched himself after her.
The gold had lifted off just as Y'nub and Larweth touched down. He vaulted from his bronze's back and made a very undignified landing as Larweth took off after his prize. **Get her Larweth, show them you're the best. Don't let the others take her from you!** Y'nub cheered him on as he brushed the dirt off his side and pants and joined the others.
He stood near the back, out of Teseada's view. He knew better than to antagonize her now, he needed her to concentrate to keep her gold under control. When Larweth won Onnyth, he'd have plenty of time to gloat.
G'ton's Jareth pounced into the air as soon as the queen took flight.
He trumpeted once, then went silent, his long wings pumping and legs held close to his body. The gold sparkled like sunlight dancing upon the water and his eyes were glued upon her, unwilling to let anything drive his focus away from that glittering prize.
Kopth's wings cast a slicing shadow across the Weyrbowl as the bronze took off after the young queen. **Be careful - she's inexperienced,** J'nus said silently. His eyes watered as he stared into the sky, but he couldn't look away. **She's not as tricky as the older queens, but her inexperience means that she's unpredictable.** This flight, he and Kopth would win. This flight...
What a sight to see, and just for her. She would lead them on a chase to remember. Onnyth shot off, in the direction of Opal Cove Hold, climbing sharply at first. She turned her head to call to the chasing pack.
}:Work hard if you want me!:{ }:Oh, we will, you beautiful thing! :{ Viviranth promised. On the ground, his rider had taken his place in the circle of men around Teseada. He rocked on the balls of his feet, waiting the outcome, caught in the dragonlust. She was just now the center of his whole world, the most desirable woman on Pern.
Larweth wasn't leader of the pack by far, but he was no longer in the tail end, having caught up to and passed two browns. She was young, so he didn't have hope for a long flight, but as he pushed his wings to the max he hoped it would be long enough for him to catch up.
An older bronze dropped back, giving up the chase. Loseth pulled up to avoid him and snorted with frustration. At least now the other dragon was out of his way and was no longer blocking his view of the young gold. On the ground, N'vanik took a step toward Teseada.
Kalamath saw the move the other bronze was making and decided it was time to call on his reserves. Onnyth had flown high and far for such a young gold, but soon she would either have to make a mistake or a choice, and the seasoned bronze was determined to be right there when she did.
The gold turned her head to see who was left. Larweth, Loseth and Kalamath were still there, and possibly others too. And though the flight might be the important thing right now, Onnyth still knew enough to hiss a warning to Larweth not to come closer, but then turned to the others. }:Such a choice, such handsome dragons, but now...:{ There was an abrupt trun, which no doubt shook off some more. }:Follow mw, and catch me!:{ Jareth surged forward, a blast of air escaping his nostrils. His forked tail whipped and slapped another dragon in the eye as he passed.
He didn't look back, his own eyes trained upon one single beautious creature that dominated the skies. He wanted her, more than anything, he wanted her. His muscles stretched and strained with effort as he drew closer. It wouldn't be long, not long...he would have her!
The clouds were high and wispy, but had provided enough cover for Kopth to sneak beneath the surge of dragons and suddenly cut upward near the queen. He bellowed his desire, his power and need, as the sun flashed off bronze flanks and the cold air streamed past his wingtips. He might have been older than most of the other dragons there, and perhaps a little slower than some, but when it came to distance he could outfly them all.
Larweth was almost to her. He was in a nose race with two other bronzes and he willed himself forward. She might not want to choose him, but she could faulter at any moment and he would have to seize the moment to claim her. He wouldn't let Y'nub down.
With a draconic shout, Onnyth made her choice, diving straight into the path of Kalamath. }:You!:{ she called, words that were echoed on the ground as her rider stumbled into the arms of his rider.
Last updated on the May 18th 2008