Flux's voice rang clear through the mid-day sky as she burst into air above the Warren. Her black wings shadowed the ground below her, the wing sails eeriely translucent. She grinned draconically as brassy voices rose in greeting to her bellow. Snapping her wings back to her sides, she tucked her legs under her belly and dove towards the ground. Polana clung precariously to the dragoness' saddle, her head nearly pressed against Flux's back.
The lush, green grass of the flight field spread out before her at an alarming rate. At the last second, Flux flared out her wings and dug her long talons into the soft ground. She looked sheepishly back at Polana after the jarring landing.
"Sorry." Her voice sounded deep and moonlit as it always did. Polana had the distinct sense of a quiet, night sky whenever listening to her dragoness. Unlike many of the other dragons of the Warren, Flux chose to speak outloud.
"It's alright." Polana smiled weakly and slid down Ripple in Time's shoulder. Her feet touched the ground and she steadied herself quickly. Her balance had improved greatly since bonding the giant black. Flux's tail wagged back and forth in a slow motion like an energetic puppy. She sat down and gazed out at the approaching dragons with prideful eyes.
Welcome back Polana. Mystic will be glad to see you. Myrah'Care was the first to greet them. She bowed her head in awknowledgement to Flux then sat before them. And a pleasure to meet you...
"Ripple in Time. Better known as Flux." Flux spoke proudly, tilting her head so that the light caught on her scales and made them gleam like onyx.
Nice to meet you Flux. I am Blakoreth and this is my lovely mate, Myrah'Care. Blak chuckled as he sat beside the silver dragoness. He purred quietly and nuzzled Myrah'Care, earning a light chuckle from Flux for his words.
Polana smiled and turned to face the many riders here to congratulate her as the dragons continued to converse among themselves. Flux switched over to mindspeak to accomidate the many voices now entering her mind. Above the collection of dragons and riders, Tolt and Dracan flew and cheeped among the flits.
"Are you glad to be home?" A familiar voice chuckled from somewhere to Polana's side. The girl turned and grinned broadly as she noticed Mystic.
"Mystic!" She cried happily and threw her arms around the mage's neck. Mystic chuckled and returned the hug. "Of course I'm happy!" She pulled away and seemed to almost bounce with excitment.
Mystic smiled softly and listened as Polana launched into tales of what had happened the five years she'd been away. She could see the change in her, no longer a shy and quiet street rat. Flux smiled smugly and glanced down at Mystic.
Of course not. She has me now. The dragoness' deep voice filled her mind. Mystic chuckled quietly and nodded mentally back to the black.
There is no one better suited for the job.
* * * Polana's hand ached from scribbling out the flight charts all morning. Still, she refused to put down her pen until it was finished. (Probably a trait copied from Mystic). Since being informed of the war and it's current position, Polana had surprised everyone by taking charge of what she was given. Along with Myia, Melodia, S'ron and Ren, she helped Mystic take care of the Warren's records and political matters. She would still withdraw into herself sometimes, preferring the quiet of solitude to the chaotic buzz of war.
Flux had assigned herself to being tutored by Myrah'Care in council matters. She learned quickly and was an asset in keeping everything organized. Both by her massive size and commanding nature. Today though, the black dragoness seemed agitated and refused to sit still. Her tail thwapped the ground in a irratic rythem as she stared out of the weyr tunnel to the bright sunlight beyond.
"Why don't you go for a quick flight love? You seem agitated." Polana didn't look up from her work as she continued to write, a veil of red hair blocking her view of the glowing black. Flux turned her cat-like eyes away from the bright light and looked down at her rider. Her scales gleamed like onyx in the flickering flame of the fireplace, dancing with an eerie red light.
"I don't want to go for a quick flight." She returned shortly, slapping her tail against the ground again.
Polana sighed and looked up at Flux. "Why not? What's got you so... so irritated lately?"
"The same thing as you." Ripple in Time stood abruptly and walked down the short (for her) tunnel outside. She was forced to lower her head to shoulder level in order to keep from braining herself on the low ceiling. Polana sighed again and scraped her chair against the sandy ground as she stood to follow her dragoness. Dracan and Tolt cheeped sleepily from the desk, having been woken by the noise. Polana shushed them quickly then walked briskly out of the weyr.
"What?" The seamstress stopped outside the tunnel and blinked in the brilliant sunlight. Flux had already adjusted and swung her head around to peer back at the woman.
"I want to fly."
"So fly!" Polana walked up beside the black's head and rubbed her jaw gently.
"I mean really fly." Flux said again, a low purr in her throat from the attention Polana was giving her. The girl stopped suddenly, her eyes slowly growing wider and wider as she realized what the dragoness was referring to.
"Oh no."
"Please? There's a dark dragon flight Mystic's been talking about. M'lor, T'lor, Moonshadow and A'und have already gone. I want to fly!" She almost bellowed, her tail moving in slow arches back and forth over the grass.
Polana began backing away slowly. "No. Flux! You know I'm not ready for this!"
"But I am!" Flux sighed in frustration and sat down heavily, her head still turned and facing her rider. "It's only one flight and I'm an adult now. You already know some of the other riders there. Usually I'd just pick a mate but here you get to choose and... and... I just wanna fly!" The gaint black stomped her foot irritably, almost pouting as she gazed down at Polana. Polana sighed and rested her hand against Ripple in Time's leg.
"Alright."
Flux purred and nuzzled her rider, nearly pushing Polana off her feet. "Thank you! Don't worry about one of those smelly males touching you. Only the best will have me." She growled quietly. "And none of them are nearly good enough for you."
Polana laughed quietly and hugged as much of Flux's muzzle as she could reach. "We'd better go tell Mystic then."
"Hurry! The flight will be soon!" Flux said eagerly as Polana ran off to Mystic's weyr. She spread her wings tauntingly, showing off to whatever male passed by. A quiet smirk spread across her draconic face. Like any of them were good enough for her and her rider.
Read Flux's hatching.
Read Polana's impression.
Read Polana's Search story.
Read Polana's story.
Flux was impressed from: Sayney Dragon Adoption Agency