The morning sun had just barely passed over the horizon, when a piercing scream cut through the air, shattering the peaceful tranquility that was usually present in the dawn hours.
The cry had came from Tayf's weyr, belonging to none other than her golden lifemate, Kallenth. The rousing dragons throughout Aden Weyr, were instantly awake, their bodies filled with tension, awaiting to see what was happening.
The passing weyrfolk stopped in their tracks, on their way to complete their morning tasks. Their eyes instinctively searched the skies, alert to anything that posed a threat to them and their home. Only when they saw the other Aden queens disappear /Between/, fleeing the Weyr, did comprehension dawm in their eyes. Kallenth was about to rise! Which meant that there would soon be a new clutch upon the sands.
The bronzes swiftly left their ledges, joined by a brown, landing quickly at the Feeding Grounds. They swooped down upon the unsuspecting herdbeasts, each one claiming an animal for himself. Carrying the struggling creatures in their claws, they reclaimed their positions upon the rim circling the Feeding Ground. Within moment, each herdbeast was dead, drained of its blood. After all, a queen was about to rise! They would need their strength if they wanted a chance to catch her.
Each dragon turned his head towards Kallenth's weyr, their eyes focused upon the empty ledge, waiting for the queen to reveal herself. Sure enough, the large gold walks out, her opalescent eyes swirling in large shades of crimson and yellow. She opened her enormous jaws, emitting another scream, filled with anger and challenge.
Quickly gliding to the Feeding Grounds, she landed upon a herdbest, snaking her neck around to sink her teeth into the animal's exposed neck. Tayf appeared at the scene at this time, shouldering her way through the gathered bronze and brown riders, her eyes wide with shock and surprise. "BLOOD ONLY!" she cried out, her voice ringing out clearly. Kallenth resisted those orders, her mind clashing against her rider's, fighting for control. "BLOOD ONLY!" Tayf yelled again, putting every ounce of her authority behind those words, forcing the queen to obey.
With a snarl, Kallenth tossed herdbeast carcass to the side, leaping upon another one. She still fought mentally, but not as hard as she had previously. By the time she had caught her third animal, she no longer protested. When she had drained that herdbeast, only one thought filled her mind. She had to fly! She had to fly hard and far, leaving these puny males in her wake!
With that thought, she leapt into the air, and with a mighty downsweep of her powerful wings, she was soaring high above the Weyr. The males quickly leapt after her, in a flurry wings and limbs, fighting to be at the head of the pack. Darinoth ended up succeeding that position, which surprised many of the onlookings, considering he was a brown, and smaller than several of his competitors.
They would never catch her, Kallenth thought smugly as she raced before them. She was beautiful, she was fast, she was mightier, and none of her suitors were worthy enough for her. Oh well. At least she could tease them a little.
Barely noticable, she began to slow her speed, until her followers were nearly on her tail. Then, without a moment of warning, she dove, causing the leaders of the group to overshoot their mark, and losing their positions.
Halath and Darinoth quickly realized their mistake, and turned in an effort to catch up with the group. But they knew that it was useless. Even though they rejoined the other males, they had spent precious energy due to that maneuver, and there was no hope of regaining their spot. With heavy disappointment, they dropped out of the flight.
Kallenth shrieked again when she noticed their departure, announcing her superiority to the weyr, and to the rest of the males that followed. As if to back up that statement, she executed a rapid series of twists and dives.
Ornuth had, unfortunately, chosen that time to use a shoot forward, reaching out to claim the gold. But his claws found only air. He gave a scream of frustration and fury, and he began to decend, seeking the comfort of his rider. Darenth ducked out, until she could no longer see him in her vision.
Smugly, the queen noticed their withdrawals. Two bronzes gone! That left... Naboth and Halith. Were either worthy of her? Maybe.
Kallenth began to tease and taunt her remaining two suitors, flaunting her sensuality. Turning on her tail suddenly, she quickly passed them, going in the opposite direction.
Then, a strong bronze neck wrapped around hers, startling her out of her little game. Forearms gripped her shoulders, and she panicked, only to find her wings fouled with his. Then, they began to fall.
Naboth and Halith saw that their chances of winning had disappeared, and that the queen had been caught. Heavy with sadness and disappointed, they returned to the ground.
Snaking her neck around slightly, the gold caught sight of a familiar dragon. Darenth! She had thought that he had dropped out of the race, but instead he had taken advantage of her tendency to dive, and had simply waited for the right moment.
With a sigh of satisfaction that surprised herself, Kallenth stopped struggling, and gave herself over to the bronze that had earned her affections.
Down below, Tayf threw herself into the arms of L'retan, and together, they made their way to an empty weyr, alone.
Meanwhile, the crowd smiled, and began to go one with their tasks. A clutch was going to be laid soon, and judging by the flight, it'd be a good one.