written by Anaess, Cathairte of Cathair Utopian
"Damn it, Umuminaenth..it was much easier to oil you down when you were a hatchling! Now you've grown, and you're huge!"
You shouldn't complain. At least I don't fidget, like Kitt's starry Kith used to.
"Yes, and I'm glad for that! There, all done." Anaess finished oiling the rich cream hide. Umuminaenth seemed darker, more radiant, tinged with gold like sunlight..but, that could only mean..
"Umuminaenth! Is today the day you rise?!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Hush, Inness. I knew you would figure it out. Now is the time.
Umuminaenth lifted herself from the ground, and scrambled out of the cathair, launching herself into the air toward the feeding grounds.
Anaess hurried after. "Umuminaenth! BLOOD ONLY! Do you hear me, Umi? BLOOD IT!" Umuminaenth had pounced a frantic ryanth, and snarled rage and rebellion at her rider. Never-the-less, Anaess won the battle, and the three after that. Umuminaenth had begun to feel no need to gorge; she knew only that she must fly, away from the slow males who pursued her.
She lifted into the air, shooting upward quickly, bugling her contempt of the slow males who followed. One by one, various weaker coppers dropped out, until there were only two coppers--and one of those was Undasheth. Perhaps one would be worthy of her...then her tiring flight would be worth it.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Anaess was feeling the exultations of her dragon, soaring upward. The riders of the male dragons stood around her; she was oblivious to anything but Umuminaenth.
Umuminaenth was begining to get tired, and, spiraling downward, past the two remaining males, was caught by Undasheth..screaming her outrage, she turned toward him, only to find her neck intertwined with his, and her eyes whirled purple-white with the passion of mating; she forgave him.
Down below, while the merging dragons fell slowly, Anaess turned toward the rider, Ambrek, whose dragon had caught Umuminaenth. Anaess laughed, but they, too, felt the dragon passion, and Ambrek lifted her into his arms with a fierce kiss, then ran to his cathair and deposited her on his sleeping furs. They soon forgot anything but the dragonheat, and each other.
Waking up, Anaess found herself confused, tangled in sheets unfamiliar. Seeing Ambrek next to her brought back the events of the day before, and she felt embarrassed, but still tender and fond..Ambrek awoke as well, and smiled hazily at her.
"Good morning, mister Cathairix," Anaess purred in a teasing voice.
Ambrek grinned.
"Good morning, missus Cathairte."
They kissed again, then got dressed, and went their seperate ways for the time being. Ambrek grinned his triumph--his dragon had caught the Queen, and he had caught his love, the Cathairte!