A Rising Star

Writers: AL, Chelle, Eimi, Emma, Paula, Rochelle
Date Posted: 10th October 2010

Characters: Rhosyn, R'syl, K'sedel, K'reyel, U'das, M'galec, J'ren
Description: Orlaith rises, making Rhosyn the Weyrwoman of River Bluff Weyr, officially.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Ariau

K'sedel

K'reyel

Sitting in the floor of her weyr, Rhosyn had the very large wherhide riding
harness laid out. Maintaining it was something that took a lot of time and
work, but it was essential to her safety. As she picked up the awl, she felt a tremor through her entire body. Going rigid, she brought her head up. There had been an undercurrent for some time, but she hadn't known when
it would happen exactly. After so many turns, it was easy to feel for it.

Hopping up, she ran to the ledge. Orlaith was coming up out of the ocean,
the water coming off of her pale hide. There was steam where she was hot
and the water was cool. Her eyes whirled quickly, the purples and reds
broadcasting to anyone that today it was time.

Rhosyn took the stairs two at a time. She was wearing a loose blue
sundress and she didn't take time to throw on shoes. When she hit the
sand, it was hot under her feet and it burned, but she didn't care. She saw
Ariau across the Bowl. "Get her out of here!" she screamed, urgently.

Taking to the air, the immense queen made a leap into the middle of
the feeding pens, scattering the herdbeasts and causing a stampede. She
began to rip into the carcass held in her foreclaws. **You blood!**

An audible hiss could be heard as Orlaith reared back as if stung.
}:I hunger! It is sweet smelling meat..:{ Her tongue came out, as if to
lick the side of the slain beast.
**No! Blood only. Don't you dare. You will fly high and have many eggs**
}:Eggs? Yes I will have many eggs:{ Her head swung around and she
roared, notifying the rest of the Weyr that something was happening, even
the dragondeaf. And with that agreement, she began to suck the beast dry,
the red running down her maw in rivulets. Once she was done, she looked
for another, but they had run from her. As she stalked forward, her eyes
gleamed. }:Such stupid creatures. They are as nothing to me. I will fly:{

Zackariath was warming up his wings, his gaze locked on to the blooding
Queen. With his past injury, the bronze needed to be careful with his wings. He nearly trembled with excitement.

**Don't push yourself too far, old buddy** U'das cautioned his dragon.
Although he was filled with excitement too. Could he snatch up his former
position back from K'sedel? Or were they just getting too old?

Erdenth knew. The bronze was never going to miss the calls from both
dragons and people that told of a flight starting. And that led to him
informing his rider that he better get himself moving, as he intended
to chase, and chase well.

Nikornath however used words. Words that were designed to tempt and
persuade Orlaith that he would be the one.
}:Let me fly with you, our eggs will be talked of for turns to come,
choose me,:{ Nikornath called out.
**Smooth talker,** K'sedel told him as he headed for the sands.

R'syl was in the middle of instructing the weyrlings when Usaeth's bugle
interrupted him, the bronze's sudden announcement causing him to stop
mid-sentence and close his eyes. **Do you really have to?**

}Orlaith rises!:{ Usaeth repeated, ignoring his rider's plea. }:Hurry!:{
Biting back a curse, the Weyrlingmaster waved for one of the staff
members to take over and hurried across the bowl toward the group
gathering near the pens.

Greens were often ignored, for their call was short and while teasing,
held little sway over a dragon if he chose to ignore it. A gold rising,
however, was quite another story. There was no way Kenaranth would
ignore such a call and J'ren was forced to participate. He didn't mind,
truthfully, so there were no complaints.

J'ren jogged to where the riders were gathering, hovering around Rhosyn
like wherries about to feed. He ducked his head and pushed into the
crowd to make room for him to be allowed to slip in. Kenaranth was up
in the air as soon as the gold was, bugling loudly, then going silent to
save his breath. His powerful wings beat at the air, adding to the streak
of bronze and occasional brown that chose to chase the queen.

M'galec found the gold's mating Flight quite an annoyance. After all,
it wasn't like _he_ would win the Flight! The dragons knew best, and
they should know that he was the most brilliant surgeon the Weyr had, so
he would be completely wasted behind a desk. Though, of course, it
wasn't as if he wouldn't also make a wise and fair Weyrleader as well.
He thought about that fact as he joined the waiting bronzeriders, his
eyes scanning the circle. There were many capable bronzes, but really,
were any half as smart as he? As his dragon eyed the queen, M'galec
also began to feel the pull. **We could win this... if we wanted
to...** he thought, eying the woman hungrily. Might as well let the
dragons decide!

Once she had sucked the lifeblood out of three herdbeasts, Orlaith turned
away from their mangled bodies. The big gold spread her wings, daring
anyone to challenge her right. This was *her* Weyr. }:This night I make
it mine:{ She hissed and stretched her neck out, watching the males that
were gathering. And then, with a mighty leap, she was in the air.
Her big wingsails swept down, pushing her higher. She gained altitude,
heavy as she was, knowing she had to fly as high as she could. The
mating frenzy pushed her onward, knowing she couldn't be caught until she
wanted to be. }:If you think you might be worthy, come. If you are not, I
will break you:{ And then, she set out to prove to River Bluff that she,
Orlaith, was their best Queen, who would give them many eggs for turns to
come.

Zackariath leaped into the air, calling to the glowing Queen.

Nikornath was with him, his wings beating to gain him some height as he
surveyed the gold ahead of him.

Dwarkanath was not far behind. This gold was new, and therefore it was
anyone's chance to win. He was sure that he and his rider were the
best! Now he just had to prove it to her.

There was something about the hunt. The roar of the blood, both shed
and within one's veins. The heat that rose within one as there was a
chance, a pounce, a kill. But this hunt, it was more powerful, more
scintillating. Sight and sound and taste were magnified and desire
intensified the burning within to a fever pitch. Blood boiled, raged, urged one onward, higher and higher. Crafty and strong the queens were a
different kind of prey, prey that Kenaranth was all too happy to chase,
and all too determined to catch. His muscles bulged as he sprang into the
sky, powerful wings beating at the air, bringing him higher, and higher.
The golden prize glistened in the sunlight, taunting, teasing.

Usaeth pumped his wings, determined to gain enough altitude to catch the
soaring gold. Finding a small updraft in the turbulent wake of the queen, he shamelessly took advantage to get ever closer, trumpeting his challenge to the other bronzes. He knew she would be his. He was a better match for her than any of the others, and their eggs would be many.

She knew they were behind her, but she wouldn't spare a glance backwards
that might take her concentration away from flying. Barreling through the
skies, she looked like an out-of-control top turning and ascending as fast
as she could. Once Orlaith had hit course, she couldn't change it much. She wasn't as agile as a green nor as small. Going straight into a cloud, she was gone from sight for a time. When she came out on the other side, the water droplets made her hide shine as if there were tiny mirrors all over her. She veered left, grunting with her efforts. The warmer air meant a lot more thermals, which also helped her.

On the ground, Rhosyn had since lost her sense of place and time. The
goldrider was Orlaith, teasing her suitors as she flew from them, judging which of them was worthy of her. She was so high that the air was beginning to thin, making it harder to breathe. Struggling onward to ensure that her clutch would be healthy, she hissed, banking right. }:I choose for the Weyr who will lead. We both shall have the best:{

}: I'm the best! .{ Zackariath replied to her taunt. After all, Tabanirth
had thought so twice.

}:Experience will tell,:{ was Nikornath's response.

When Orlaith emerged from the cloud, Usaeth was thrilled to discover his
gamble on the thermals had brought him ahead of the others for a moment.
He swerved, following her as she banked, calling proudly to her. }:I am the
best flyer. We can fly high together, for _I_ am the best!:{

The hunt was still on, the prey sighted. She was a glittering prize that
swerved and feinted, turned and parried. All the while Kenaranth
was bent on his prize. His wings worked the sky, making the winds
his slave as he strove after that jeweled female so delicate, so strong.
Two hearts had become one, beating in a rhythm, a drum that sounded
out the beat to which those wings pumped. Higher, and higher, the sky
was their hunting ground and the prize was oh so delightful, if only one
could catch it. Catch her, catch her he would! She was just ahead, her tail whipping a beckoning call, a teasing tidbit that dangled before their noses, enticing them. Oh to catch that tail! To feel it wrap with his as they came together in the finale of their fevered dance.

Dwarkanath charged forward with determination. He knew he could be the
one to catch her! Overtaking a much younger bronze who had spent all
his energy at the start, he caught a thermal and allowed it to launch
him down and forward, waiting for the gold to make a dive to escape the
other bronzes. He knew he was not the fastest, but perhaps, like his
rider, he could use his wits to outsmart them all!

Much as Orlaith could outlast almost any other dragon, the flight had to
come to an end at some point and she recognized that. Satisfied that she
done all that she could, she began to consider which dragon she wanted.
When the choice was made, she turned on a dime, spending the last of her
energy, and she flew straight at the pack of males. Charging them, she dared them to stand up to her, to stay. Proving her choice was right-one of them did.

}:Mine!:{ bellowed the bronze that caught her. }:Let my deeds match my
words,:{ Nikornath had spotted the move, almost anticipated it and managed
to place himself right where he could take advantage. His wings spread wide, he supported the pair as they seemed to dance in the air, celebrating their flight.

Zackariath roared his disappointment and turned around to fly lazily back
home. Now that the rush and excitement of the Mating Flight was over,
fatigue was kicking in.

Last updated on the October 17th 2010

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A Rising Star