Hyperith roused from sleep while the sun was yet trapped behind the hills. She slowly slipped away from her brown bond, and out of their weyr; the cool air wrapped around her, waking her more fully and bringing the Weyr into sharp focus.

The sky was a pale, silvery grey; truly the 'darkling dawn' that the Weyr had been named for, as she winged silently down from the ledge of the weyr. And though dragons slept all around her, she felt more alone than ever before. But then, she'd always been with the older brown and green, since she'd chosen brown Taliphith at her hatching.

Let them sleep. She didn't want to share this day-before-dawning with anyone. Surely such a morning had been created just for her...

Her pale wings created drafting eddies of wind that swirled around her; youthlike, she chased a breath of air until it brought her down over a herdbeast field. And then something different: a smell, a sound, a desire and a need, took possession of her, and, shadowlike, she nearly fell from the air upon a dozing beast, scattering the herd.

She tasted hot, strengthening blood; it warmed and energized her, and she sought more. The bitter taste was strangely addictive, but, two beasts later, she could no longer remain earthbound. A consuming flame filled her, drawing her high into the sky, and she flew with it and in it, delighting in freedom and flight.

Her flightpath arced above the Weyr, carrying her into the zenith of the sky; she lost herself in the clear grey air, a brilliant opalescent silhouette against the half-darkness. She paused there, surveying the sleeping Weyr below from her lofty vantage point.

Wait... no. Somebeast stirred, a dark shape that spiraled up from the diminuitive Weyr, and she turned down, angrily abandoning her place among the fading stars in favor of chasing away the one who dared to intrude upon her dawn. But when she swept low over the Weyr, the dark one had gone - where?

Her curiousity piqued, she returned to the sky, seeking out the elusive one who watched her... and met and recognized him, for his hide was of black opal, the darkest dragon in the Weyr. Calmith, she called, and he dipped his obsidian head in assent. Yes.

He winged higher, trying to reach her, and she danced away, remaining just out of reach, like the rainbow she resembled. What do you want of me?

Ah, but I think you know my answer already, he replied, amusement coloring his voice, and she turned away, annoyed, because he was right.

A wish is not instantly fulfilled by its voicing, she told him lightly, shrugging away implications, and raced towards the glow that the sun had begun to cast on the horizon.

But the wisher may bring his own wish into being, Calmith responded, and followed her into the pale light of the sun.

They flew in silence, the dazzling dragoness always just ahead, just unreachable, and her faithful pursuer patient, persevering. When the fire within her had finally died to mere smouldering coals, she paused, weary, and he came to her, enfolding her in dark wings.

This is what you want, too, he murmured, a question and a statement, as they drifted down together.

It is, she affirmed, and at that moment, dawn broke in its full splendor over the Weyr, and the myriad colors of the sky were reflected by silvery-black and snow-white wings.

The warmth of their passion and of the rising sun was passed through them, to their bonds, and far below, brown Taliphith awakened, and emerged from the weyr to watch his rainbow lifemate's languorous descent. A moment later, the green Ygraith came to his side, whirling eyes full of triumph and pride in her dark bond, and they stood together, silent, sharing in the love of the rainbow-hued dragons.