Arista sighed irritably. She was sure Plobynth’s flight was soon, but Plobynth refused to tell her whether she was right or wrong. Niunth, the only dragon that Plobynth wanted to sign up for her flight, was waiting anxiously. For as each day passed, Plobynth seemed to grow more and more distant from Niunth. She began to loathe each time he showed up and likewise, Arista was getting irritated with T’res coming around so much. After all, it wasn’t like T’res and Niunth needed to know everything in hers and Plobynth’s lives.
       Arista…it is time. Plobynth said quietly, unsure, into Arista’s head. Arista flopped back onto her couch. Please, Plobynth, not now. Please don’t rise yet.
       But it is not something I can help! Plobynth gave a loud call from the heights on which she sat. Several males flapped their wings, eager to chase her, but she bellowed at them or snapped at them, warning them to stay where they were. She would have even made Niunth stay if she could have, but Niunth would not and she finally relented and let him blood.
       “Arista!” The young woman turned around and glared at T’res. What in the world of Pern did he want now? Oh yes, his dragon was flying hers and she had no choice but to be with him now! Of course, she would have to be with anyone that caught her dragon, but she didn’t want that yet, she didn’t think she was ready.
       Arista walked outside with T’res at her side. He glared at any of the other men that seemed to want to get close to her. On the feeding grounds, Niunth was having a time chasing a couple of other eager males away from Plobynth.
       Without warning, Plobynth lifted from the ground and Arista went with her. Their minds became one. Arista-Plobynth looked behind themselves at the other males, Niunth was snarling at the two males on he feeding grounds. He wasn’t even paying any attention to her! Arista-Plobynth bellowed and dove at the ground, slashing at the males. All three stood on their hind legs and grabbed at her. Niunth had the best grip on her and she was pulled to the ground before she could protest. She was caught in a flurry of flashing claws and snapping teeth, fluttering wings and loud bellows. There wasn’t anywhere she could go but backwards.
       Angry that she had been pulled to the ground like she had and then been ignored to be fought over again, Arista-Plobynth bellowed once more and flapped into the air. This time Niunth did follow her and so did the other two males. Once again, a fight broke out in the middle of the air. Niunth bellowed and rammed the blue male in the side, dropping him to the ground. He would have attacked the blue more except that the other blue was closer to Plobynth than he liked.
       You didn’t sign up for her flight, you didn’t want her before, she’s mine, not yours! Niunth bellowed as he followed the other dragon.
       She’s mine, I may not have wanted her before, but