The tension grew as Olika, the dark haired beauty who rode Iris, stood watching that same dragon. Iris was glowing radiantly and could be seen by all despite the moonless night as she fought the age-old battle of blooding with her rider.
“I said blood it, Iris, and that is what you shall do!” Olika commanded, her voice strong, used to chanting spells. With a snarl the spectral dragon obeyed, her hide gleaming ever stronger as she drank.
The male dragons, strong and rather special in coloring, and their equally handsome riders watched with bated breath, waiting for the moment when Iris would spread her wings.
There were six male dragons present. Among them were Al’tus, a handsome green/black-winged boy with black dragon Mejiroth, Znarfmid, a man who looked rather eerie and formidable, and his egg-toting Ombreth, Se’nn, a man who tried to be romantic but often ended up looking silly, and his copper Orienth, and the brothers Merrin and Perrin with fireworks-black Mashakath and black-fireworks Hertzith. Last of all was the ghostly figure of an extraordinarily gorgeous, armor-wearing man. That was Orion, and he rode the blackest-brown Oiharauth. Seeing how close Orion and Olika were, Cathairte Anaess suspected that Oiharauth would be the one to claim Iris.
Without any warning, Iris vaulted into the air, roaring scornfully at the males that took so long to follow her. In the dark night sky, most of the males disappeared, but Iris was a shining beacon that all eyes were trained upon. Olika shouted joyfully, unaware that Orion had his arm gently around her shoulder; she was deaf and blind to all but her dragon.
You are absolutely fabulous! she mind-whispered to Iris, and the spectral beauty agreed, soaring higher. All the while Oiharauth was sailing a respectful—and hidden—distance from Iris. The other males were bolder.
Ombreth, who had shed his cumbersome basket, was fast and powerful, and soon he had nearly overtaken the swift Iris. He was bright against the night sky, however, and Iris saw him. She executed a series of complicated twists and turns that left the bewildered Ombreth in the stardust. He hovered hopefully for a few minutes, then dejectedly returned to Znarfmid and his eggs.
Hertzith and Mashakath, inverse fireworks and black dragon brothers, decided to work together, as had their bonds in the past to create a truly wonderful scheme. They, in their darkness, were not easily seen; indeed, Hertzith nearly disappeared, being the darker of the two. They came at Iris from opposite directions, cloaked in the protective shadows of the night. A scream was heard, and Olika gasped as her dragon was nearly captured by the mischievous fireworks duo. Accentuate nearly. Olika and Iris combined all their willpower-which was quite a lot-to defeat the two, and Iris narrowly escaped the double embrace. Routed as they were, but not dimmed at all cheer-wise, Hertzith and Mashakath returned to the ground.
There were still three contenders, and it seemed they would not be trounced as easily as the three before them.
Al’tus decided to view the Chase from more enhanced seating, using his great green and black wings to propel himself upward. He was just in time to see his Mejiroth attempt an age-old ploy: dropping onto Iris from cover of clouds. It did not work for him, this time. Iris merely pulled a barrel roll, dislodging the dismayed Mejiroth, who tumbled from her back and only righted himself seconds before hitting the ground. Needless to say, he suffered a few bruises.
Copper Orienth now saw his chance. Iris had been distracted by Mejiroth; and now, still disturbed, she flew haphazardly through the air. Stealthily he flew, intent on the radiant figure he saw before him. The stars began shine clearly, and the moon was revealed in full brilliance. Nearly reaching his goal, Orienth perceived an arrow, straight and true, aimed at Iris. It was the blackest-brown Oiharauth, and as he and Iris melded and tumbled through the air in love struck bliss, Orienth sank slowly to the ground.
Below, the shade of Orion and his lover, Olika, disappeared into quieter corners, as their dragons maintained a slow float to the earth.