Nidus Ryslen
2004 Flurry Flight

The ledges of Nidus Ryslen glittered with new fallen snow and shone with the white and silvery hides of the pale dragons who had assembled with the high hopes that the only White dragon to hatch from the last Flurry would rise to mate and declare her flight open to her kindred snow queens - in the vernacular to Call the next Flurry.
As the silvery light of false dawn faded and the first rays of golden sunlight shone brightly off the huge mica flakes, a small yet lithe and determined dragon stirred from her slumber. Her snow-marked hide shone brighter than ever before, and the first furious urge to mate brought her immediately to full wakefulness.
Laiquasse, it is time. The RysHathian purred into the mind of her bond as she rose from her couch. Their mutual bond Liuntinweiain stirred also. He was most excited, though completely unaffected by Fanyaramaremea's urgency.
They've been waiting since an hour before dawn. Liun' informed Fanya' and Laiquasse. They know it's time.
The white dragoness seemed to strut in her proddy pride.

All eyes were on the snow queen as she appeared on her ledge. Eighteen males watched her every moved - some more lucidly than others. The urge to mate flowed like fire in their veins. Also, thirteen queens eagerly awaited some sign that she would share her flight, her day, her pack of ready males. Fanya's crystal clear bugle split the morning, inviting the queens to arise and join her in flight.

The riders and caretakers of the queens and their future mates assembled in the dining hall, some blurry-eyed from being awoken in such a manner and some clear headed and ready to face the day despite the early hour.

S'ron appeared only briefly to gather breakfast and Klah for his beloved Melodia as well as for himself. Laiquasse did not appear at all.

To one side, L'ken (always a morning person) played gentle host to Myia, bringing her a light breakfast of toasted bread and fruit and tea. In her hair she wore a snow white blossom, a gift from L'ken, and a promise.

As Fanya' launched into the sky with a cry of defiance, the other queens leapt for the sky also, sending drifts of sparkling snow back into the air. The males followed a moment later, beating up a larger cloud of powdery snow as they too fought for altitude.

The queens had scattered, forcing the males to decide almost immediately whom they were going to spend prime energy trying to catch. The two Winter dragons from Lantessama flew as far and as fast as they could, while Fanya' went for height. The rainbow duowing beauty Attanaltath went for both.

The white RysHathian turned to see where her suitors were, and was caught off guard by a strong and cold wind current which blew her into the furry and feathery grasp of Rindel-Syaess. Fanya' did not fight it - she wanted him for her mate, and together they spiralled to the ground.

Tebriniath flew as fast as she could, giggling as her bond flew through the water like a serpent swimming in water. All too soon Sedorian twined his sinuous Eastern-dragon body with that of the silver-point Light purple. On her wings they floated gently to the ground.

The two Winter queens wove through the sky, darting past and dancing through their pack of chasers. The quiet Eastern dragon Naphredeari was amongst them. Perhaps it was his wingless flight that caught her interest, but the next time Ishrym turned her path intersected with that of Naphredeari. Sonasteth was left with an entourage of interested males but was not at all displeased.

Neither was Attanaltath, who found herself caught by the Wild Prism Haeriyaan.

Perhaps it seemed unfair to Lesarakel and Talyrise that their bonds had chosen riderless mates, but the male righters might have been as eager as their bonds to 'give chase.'

Gr'ant, one of the Seiryuu Flits hockey team wandered over towards the two and sketched a bow to Lesarakel. "..." He began awkwardly, then asked in a rush "Are you a fan of Ryslen's hockey team?"

Lesarakel looked oddly at the Terran. "What's hockey?"

"Um... nevermind." He said, then whispered a proposition in her ear. Moments later they were nowhere to be seen. In the interim, Healer M'lian had escorted Talyrise off, both of them wearing a clandestine sort of grin.

Meanwhile, the glitzy wild Hathian Rhiava led her suitors on a dizzying chase through the snowy skies. While she had her eyes on Tentreth, Thtayjuth caught her off guard, twining his black-striped white form with hers.

Now Feres was standing alone, but one hoped it wouldn't be for too long!

The only fully white female in the flight besides Fanya' herself was Seryth, a relatively experienced flier as far as Flurries went. Perhaps that should have made it less surprising that she dove at the one she chose, plucking sunset winged Icy Galan out of the air.

Amalthia shyly and slyly beckoned to Feres, and they departed.

A gold-spotted white led a bronze-spotted white through the sky, a long and leisurely flight for two rather exclusive fliers. As Creesath and Sploth twined tails, S'ron and Melodia exchanged a picture perfect romantic kiss - in the privacy of their own nidulet, of course!

Ore Drak Okkina was the most confused of the males participating in the Flurry flight. This free for all was not how things were done on Icarus! Where was the courtship? A stunning silvery-gold female - large, with horns and a mane, and a second set of vestigial wings near her hips - caught his eye. Overwhelming lust was an unfamiliar sensation, and Airgeaceth'thenkajriji laughed lightly as she backstroked through the air. Airgeaceth's own bloodline preferred a rational choice in mates, not that Okkina would know that until after their pairing was long since over.

In the far corner of the sky, Sonasteth's chasers were starting to get anxious. There were six females in the sky, but four of them were pretty solidly spoken for. White wings picked up the pace and the only full-white male in the flight caught the winter female with a show of tender strength. Together Sonasteth and Lantirth spiralled slowly to the snow covered ground below.

Ba'nor offered a hand to Siren Siang, one which was accepted fully. Kirikoya and Era looked at M'rcel and Eindered, and maybe one of them vowed to bring their own post-flight company next time. After a moment Eindered bowed to Era and Kirikoya gave a nod to M'rcel. It was safe to say that those riders all went back to bed.

The first dragon from DragonHope to visit Ryslen closed on his quarry, blue wings working hard to bring the white dragon up beside the large golden queen. Shekaiolia drifted into his grasp, allowing herself to be caught by Garreth.

Eight males remained in the sky, and four females - all untouchable. Frux was anoyed, having come from Avengaea specially to see what the fuss was all about. Tentreth, Taesavath and Noocith were on the verge of panic - until the wild Rhiava retook the sky. Those three were after her then, and it would have been a relentless pursuit, except that Rhiava's choice had already been made. She still wanted Tentreth. The silver-blue eagerly joined with the glitzy white, leaving Noocith and Taesavath in the sky.

The blue pearl RysHathian Obioleth had shown great endurance in his pursuit of Pink-Silver Eisleth. Serine and Blitz had vanished, and the pink and blue came together finally.

High in the sky and far far from Ryslen, Senorith grew just tired enough and let Relieth catch up the last length before practically tackling him. L'ken laughed and scooped Myia up in his arms, twirling her around.

Before Noocith and Taesavath could converge on Ayazith, Airgeaceth' and Attanaltath once again rose into the sky. Hot on their tails were Haeriyaan and Thtayjuth. The stakes were higher now than before.

The Night White Duowing Kinsayth slowly crept up on Nevioth. She was hardly tired, and had led him on a long chase. She would have gone much further, but she didn't want to wait any longer! They quickly fell from the sky in their amorous embrace.

While Shekaiolia rose back up into the sky also, and white Seryth followed suit. The black-striped white crept ahead of the pack of males and then slowly ahead of the starry queen Airgeaceth'. She pounced, taking the Darkling Dawn male down. Thtayjuth couldn't have been happier.

High above Ryslen, Attanaltath chose her second mate and Noocith, the rainbow white "mutt" did his eager best to make her happy.

The white queen wove between the remaining and returned males. Taesavath wasn't having any more of it, and twined with Seryth possibly a bit roughly - but she allowed it, for whatever reason queens do. In the same moment Shekaiolia twisted away from Frux Ivou and into the grip of Haeriyaan.

Silver Siamese Purple Ayazith slipped back into her bond's loving grasp and Loyenth - a RysHathian - gratefully brought their long flight to a beautiful end.

Frux Ivou turned a slow circle in the sky. He alone hadn't mated and now he was alone? That was all wrong! From the cloud cover came a shimmering snow angel - Fanya had secretly retaken the sky and came to the Light dragon. No words were exchanged, but Frux finally found out what all this fuss was about.

A highly successful Flurry, 20 matings in all.