Rhinth's Flight

Written by Luna Dawn broke the mists over Tripaldi, a strong wind rustled the banners above the immense hatching ground. Thread had been hard that fall, with very few breathers in between falls. The Weyr had been on alert all day as well as night for three days straight, and all of the dragons were exhausted. The watchdragon warbled a challenge to an approaching gold who trilled in response. The aging blue watched as the gold landed and sent a silent warning to the senior queen. Frinaith awoke and sighed at the watchdragon's news. Tiredly she woke her rider and commanded for all of the other females in the Weyr to do the same. Rhinth angled her wings, allowing her rider an aerial view of the Weyr. Luna looked towards the Weyrling barracks, half hoping to see Kweinalth but mostly hoping to see K'naret. The Weyrlings are being allowed to sleep late today, they worked hard delivering firestone to the other riders. "And why didn't we help out Rhinth?" the gold snorted. The other dragons said I am proddy, I'm not proddy am I Luna? The young woman laughed and stroked the sleek golden hide. "Thankfully no, but you sure were a few days ago, comparing Kweinalth to a well trained canine." I did? I'll have to apologize. Luna grinned as the wind whipped her face as the pair swooped in to land near the Lower caverns. Jumping off she patted Rhi's flank and walked off towards the caverns. Rhinth went with her, arching her neck to keep her eyes level with Luna's head. Luna, the last time I flew, what was it like? I remember very little, only hunger and that Kweinalth won. Luna stopped and regarded the dragon with a critical eye. Sighing she decided to answer, "You kind of changed, like you became an entirely different dragon. Why?" Just wondering. Overhead on a lower ledge a brown stuck his head out and warbled. Rhinth looked up and hissed up at him. Go back to sleep you filthy beast, and tell your bronze friends to get their muzzles out of the latrines! I am not! Shut up! Luna turned and looked at her gold, Rhi hissed and went into a crouch, her wings stiff and buzzing a little with agitation. Leave me be! From the looks of it Rhinth might have attacked the brown, but the commanding bugle of Frinaith stilled her. The Sr. Queen rose from her ledge, the other females following after her. Stop, no, I'm not going to rise now! Rhinth rose on her hind legs and spread her wings. I'm not, they lie, I would know! Frinaith and the other females trilled and with their riders disappeared between. Rhinth went back to all fours and glared at the brown. Now see what you did! I ought to flay that brown hide! The unknown brown warbled and several bronzes bugled. Rhinth hissed at them and backed away towards Luna. Tell them its not true Luna, I would know that I was rising wouldn't I? Wouldn't I? The panic in Rhi's tone scared Luna greatly, why would Rhinth be afraid? Kweinalth appeared on the ledge he and Rhinth usually shared. He bugled and mentally woke his rider. Awake K'naret, Rhinth rises but something is wrong. The Weyrlingmaster got up groggily and when his bronze repeated his warning he quickly dressed and ran out to the ledge. Luna was standing close to Rhinth, the pair were surrounded one three sides by three bronzes and a brown. Rhinth hissed and snapped out at a bronze who got too close. Kweinalth bugled again and launched himself from the ledge, backwinging he hissed at the other males while K'naret jumped off. K'naret ran up to Luna and embraced her, feeling his strong arms around her she immediately broke down in sobs. "What's wrong with her K'naret, she wasn't like this before." He smoothed her golden hair and looked up at the hissing gold. "She's just nervous Luna, if you calm she will." The goldrider visibly tried to relax, drawing in a shuddering breath. Kweinalth crooned to his mate, moving in close. Calm Rhinth, of course your not rising, they are insolent and know you not. The bronze said, his eyes whirling in blues and greens. She turned her head and regarded the bronze closely. You understand? Of course, you told me yourslf. Rhinth cocked her head slightly. The other males roared and bugled, angry at Kweinalth for cheating them out of the chase. Rhinth roared back at them, challenging them. She arched her neck and angled her head at her weyrmate. The time is upon me Kweinalth, I understand now. Fly high, the sky has no limits for our power! Arching her back and spreading shimmering wings Rhinth bugled to the skies and launched herself, soaring smoothly towards the feeding grounds. Swooping down on the herd she grabbed a fat buck and landed, her golden nose hovering over the entrails her claws gouged free. Her tongue forked out and she lowered her head. BLOOD IT ONLY! Luna's mental shout startled the queen. Hissing angrily Rhinth looked across the bowl and locked wills with her rider. Don't you dare Rhinth, we've done this before! Blood only if you wish to fly! Snarling angrily Rhinth reluctantly obeyed, as the hot blood went down her long throat she became aware of a need, to fly high, far away. Hissing greedily she grabbed another and locked her teeth on the thick throat. After her fourth she straightened and watched the ring of humming males around her. None were worthy of her, none had even spoken to her before this. Arrogantly she arched her neck and locked eyes with Kweinalth, he stayed apart from the others, crouched, and ready to spring when she did. A stiff breeze picked up and Rhinth fanned her wings, the males spread their own wings and launched, all except Kweinalth, and Rhinth herself. Crowing her superiority Rhinth fanned her wings and met Kweinalth's gaze. Let's go. Like a shot she launched, Kweinalth following closely, both flying by the other males. Beating her wings gracefully Rhinth soared high into the lower cloud banks, marveling at the effortless sweep of her wings. Kweinalth followed her movement easily, Rhinth occasionally trilled to him enticingly, yet he remained calm, not going into the typical male frenzy. Suddenly he roared in anger, arrowing above her to knock another bronze shape out of the sky. Rhinth snarled and dove, leaving those two to bicker at their hearts content. Kweinalth snapped his jaws shut and dove as well, following her movements, keeping one eye on the queen, another on the supposedly empty sky. The other unlooked for males sped up, jostling and snapping at each other for a position to 'catch' the diving queen. Rhinth laughed at their puny efforts. As if I would be caught so easily, all know who has the only chance! Angling her wings she started to spin, using gravity and the speed of her descent to zoom past them. Soon she was only a golden hued blur as she swept in amongst their ranks. Bronze and brown wings tried to foul with hers, and talons left a few slashes on her sides but she didn't care, when she came quite close to the ground she opened her wings and catching a thermal soared upwards, the other contenders dropped, realizing they truly had no chance. Can you males dance? Crowing her cunning and intelligence Rhinth passed back into the clouds. Twirling and looping in the freedom of flight, she hissed when another shape came into view. She went high into the upper atmosphere, her golden form piercing the highest clouds, the bronze form of her weyrmate spiraling around her. Dance I can Rhinth, do you have the strength to fly on with me? he said, his own eyes whirling mischievously. Rhinth trumpeted to the azure skies, straining her wings for even greater flight. Aye bronze! she said, willing her failing endurance to hold her, trying to go ever higher. The wisplike clouds flowed around her and Kweinalth, he spun a little and crooned to his mate, daring her to follow. Rhinth snorted and drew alongside him, they reached the top of the clouds and found the air too thin, both shapes dove, flying straight into a thick cloudbank. Kweinalth crooned and righted himself so he flew horizontal to the ground. Rhinth trilled in response and righted her self as well. Can you dance on? The others have abandoned the chase. Rhinth sighed, the fires that had sustained her dying in the mist of the clouds. The winds caressed both of their forms as the bronze moved in close. Their talons locked and she felt the heat of his body envelope her as they soared on. Luna awoke with a start, panting somewhat, she looked around, then sighed in relief. Next to her K'naret stirred and she snuggled close, closing her eyes and letting the cool waters of sleep claim her. Outside on the ledge Rhinth also stirred, Kweinalth opened one eye and watched her closely as she stood and stretched. Fancy flying Rhinth, I think we impressed the youngsters. Rhinth lay back down and rested her head on his shoulder. Was it the students you only wanted to impress? Kweinalth rumbled and nudged her reprovingly. No, it was not the students I wished to impress, they were anyway.