The Sphinx’s Flight –Greenflight-

[maiwolf]

Had it only been a day ago when Vijaith had said that she looked beautiful? Htattath was not one for memory, but she knew that. She remembered every time a Bronze, Brown, or Blue said anything flattering to her. She could even remember a Gold saying good things about her once, though she forgot the gold’s name. It wasn’t Astoth, she knew that. Htattath knew she had felt different yesterday. Evelie had known, why hadn’t she told her dragon? For fear of another horrible flight? No, Htattath’s sleepy mind told her, not the flight, but the after flight.

Evelie lay awake in bed, dreading Htattath’s rise. She would rise today. Htattath had been overly happy yesterday, and that always signaled the green’s rise, not some bad temper. Htattath almost never grew ornery. Evelie bunched the furs around her as if they would provide protection from what was to come when her green woke up. Evelie prayed Htattath would not wake up soon, please no! But all things must come to an end, whether it be sleep, stories, or life.

Evelie did not want another flight. The last flight had ended wrong, with a man physically abusing her, knocking her unconscious, and later claiming it was flight lust. Greenflights never got that outrageous, and neither did Goldflights. The man had just been abusive, and hadn’t left her alone until she had taken it up with the Weyrleaders. Of course, both of those Weyrleaders were now dead, and so Evelie didn’t know how to bring it up to the new ones if it had ever happened again.

Htattath opened an eye; the eye was a gigantic pool of lust. Purple spilled ove: deep purple, light purple, every color purple Evelie could imagine. Evelie sat up as she watched her dragon bugle. That was not like Htattath, but then again, she wasn’t ever really like herself when she rose to mate. The green rose into the air just as Evelie rose to watch from her Weyr. The men knew where to find her, she knew that much. Who would participate?

[phlysolo]

The feelings hadn't been as strong as they were for Atoth, but they were there. Erusth had originally planned to over look the Rising of a green, but when he felt H'zu awake he thought better of it, his mind reaching out for his lifemate. H'zu could always steer him in the right direction if he was nervous, or scared, or unsure of himself. Not that the bronze often felt these emotions, but when they did arise, it was always H'zu who could help him make sense of what he was feeling.

A green...I feel her like I feel Atoth... Erusth rumbled, unhappily enough to bring the Wingleader out of bed.

"So be after her, handsome. It'll make you feel better after, well, you know," The bronzerider replied, a sad, sympathetic smile on his boyish face.

The bronzes gave a heavy sigh and sat up on his couch, his great head tossing back and forth as he woke himself up for what he would be doing moments from now. This was no gold Flight. He wouldn't need the endurance or energy boosts from a fresh buck. No, he'd eaten a day or so before; he'd be fine. Exiting onto the ledge, he stretched his wings wide, invigorating them, warming them up like the most seasoned athlete would do before an event.

"Now?" H'zu asked, feeling slightly giddy himself.

Soon...

Simultaneously, the two made for the exits, one casting a great dark shadow over the bowl as he descended, the other rushing from the room, ducking to and fro between Weyrfolk as he descended to the green and gold weyrs. Even then, with the green herself not even up in the air, both H'zu and Erusth could feel the beginnings of passion burning a steady course through them.

And suddenly, the green whom Erusth would chase was up, up, UP! Erusth doubted she would bother blooding her kills - she was no gold! With a loud trumpet, Erusth let it be known to her that he would be after her, that he would be the one to claim her as his own. If he could not have Atoth, then he would have her!

As he rose aloft, he could see clearly who this green empress was: Htattath, a green who had been his fellow Weyrmate for Turns. They might not be the closest friends, but at least he knew her! Knew her probably better than he knew that foolish queen! As he rose, he put himself directly in a flight path that would not only bring him straight to her but further signify that he was the first one after her!

[stolenhart]

Jasderth hadn't been clean long, barely five minutes. As a matter of fact he was still wet from his scrubbing. The newly promoted Weyrlingmaster Ph'in was just wading out of the ice cold lake when the brown gave a trumpeting blare and leapt out of the water, nearly drowning his rider in the process. Sorry mine but a green has risen, the brown sent as he fell in beside a large bronze. It had been awhile since a green had risen and the brown was keen to chase her, though he couldn't remember if he'd ever chased her before.

Ph'in cursed his dragon soundly as he regained his footing, before climbing out of the water. He gathered his belongings and made his way to the green's weyr, taking a deep breathe when he realized it was a woman. Ph'in didn't like waking up to a man's backside things were always so awkward. Truthfully he shouldn't be here anyway since as Weyrlingmaster he shouldn't be participating in flights but Jasderth had a mind of his own and like his bonded, was always right.

Ilayria had chosen Ph'in to be the next Weyrlingmaster because he had been top of his own wing. Without a bronze in that clutch, Ph'in had been forced to be the wingleader and he'd done a good job at it. He knew everything there was to know about Weyrlings, had even spent time in the record rooms going over the records. He had the temperment for the position despite some extreme tendencies and Ilayria liked him, he was her brother after all.

[kat]

Z'ayn was woken up by his bronze, Kilzanth, poking him in the side with his nose. He was a bit startled to see that the bronze's eyes were hinted with tinges of purple and red-what was going on? Then, it hit him. "Aw, no...again, Kil? Astoth's flight just ended, and it must be a green..." his face fell a little, none to happy about this. What if the green belonged to a man? Kilzanth knew better than to chase greens-he preferred golds, anyhow!

It is not a man, mine, it is a girl. I am still displeased about the loss of Astoth, I will rise to chase her, the bronze confided. Well, Z'ayn supposed he couldn't argue that. Kilzanth didn't like Brenneth. Though he never went against the Weyrleader's dragon, he felt cheated and that the other bronze was a dishonorable dragon who did not deserve the golden Astoth. Maybe if he caught this green, whoever she was, then he would pipe down a bit. So, grumbling a little, he got up out of bed, wondering just whom the green belonged to. He knew of several greenriders-there were enough of them in the North-and after throwing on some clothes, he followed Kilzanth out of their Weyr, and began searching-using Kilzanth's own mind-for the bonded of the dragon.

Kilzanth had eaten well the day before, and it was a green flight, not a gold, so would not last as long. Still, he was determined to win, feeling the loss of the other day fade as he bugled in response to Htattath as he launched himself into the air after the glittering dragon, finding himself more interested in her than he would have at first thought. She was lovely, like a shimmering gemstone-why did he not chase greens like her before? Certainly she pleased him, and he wanted her then, as he pursued her much in the same manner he had pursued Astoth. He recognized another bronze from the gold flight, and glanced over at Erusth momentarily, but paid him no heed as he followed his green beauty, feeling the lust in his chest and extremities growing substantially.

Z'ayn, meanwhile, had managed to find Evelie's weyr quite easily enough. It was merely the start of the flight, and Kilzanth's lusting was only beginning, not at its main height. He cleared his throat and politely stood at the door of her Weyr, though he could see her standing there. Well, wasn't she just a lovely young woman? Still, why did she look nervous? His brows creased in concern, and he decided he'd wait to be invited in, rather than going in on his own. He admired her from there, the admiration obvious in his eyes though he kept his distance, wondering if this was her green's first time rising, or if she was nervous about who the victor would be.

"Hey there," he said, voice a little huskier due to his dragon's rising lust, and so, "Z'ayn...don't believe we've met," he told her, a disarming smile on his face, though he couldn't keep up conversation for much longer-he took a deep breath, Kilzanth's feeling beginning to take over, just like before, and gave her a half-smile.

[Femisis]

D’maske had been sitting innocently in his Weyr when the Flight began, reading a scroll on the ledge where he leaned against Beranth, his Brown of unusual size. Many called him the Weyr’s Gentle Giant. While Beranth was large for a Brown, nearly the size of a small Bronze, he was the most sensitive creature on Pern. He flat out refused to fight the South. He would fly patrols, yes, but there would be no fighting for him, not now, not ever. He hated all sorts of bloodshed, even that of a Wherry. The Brown even made His kill his food for him so he wouldn’t be responsible for the creature’s pain. As much as it annoyed him, D’maske couldn’t be angry with Beranth. He, too, was a pacifist, though not to the extent of his dragon. Even as the Green began to Rise he pondered this, though his train of thought was abruptly broken.

Mine, Htattath Rises.[/i] Beranth commented idly as he flicked his tail. May I chase her?[/I] He added suddenly, much more concerned and excited.

This stoked D’maske’s curiosity enough that he put his scroll down to look, really look at the Brown. Now, it was rare that Beranth asked to Chase a dragon, Green or otherwise, and he only did so when he had a good reason, though it escaped D’maske why this time. He got along well enough with Evelie even if they weren’t good friends.

Htattath is beautiful.[/i] Beranth said simply as he stood to go, stretching his wings and limbering his muscles as best as he could. Yes, Htattath was a goddess among Greens, worth much more than the rejects of Astoth’s Flight. Most of them were, he knew, just trying to salvage their wounded pride. Htattath deserved better, as did Hers. Two great wingstrokes sent the Brown into the sky after the Green even as D’maske made his way toward Evelie’s Weyr, not that he knew where it was…

[saidaltam]

Vijaith liked to chase, even outside of flights, but flights were his favourite, and when Htattath bugled, Vijaith roused, looked up, and bugled back. :Mine! The pretty green flies!:[/color]

T'rel sat up, blinking blearily at Vijaith. "What?" he asked, head still half in a fog.

:I will catch her!:[/color] And, with that, the bronze launched himself skyward, chasing after her as he had the day before, at the lake. From here, she really was impossibly beautiful. He didn't understand why greens weren't given more affection. Certainly someone as pretty as Htattath deserved it!

T'rel had just long enough to groan and feel a flash of sullen agitation before Vijaith took to the sky. He hated green flights. At least gold flights, the competition was stiff and he could expect he probably wouldn't win, but Vijaith was strong, fast, and an insufferable flirt. He caught his share of greens, and, T'rel expected, just a little of everyone else's, too. It was no end of trouble for the rider, who grew to hate flights more and more with each one that passed. As always, however, the bronze's emotions spilled over and subsumed him, and he found himself migrating toward Evelie as Vijaith circled after Htattath gleefully.

[maiwolf]

Evelie could feel the lust building up inside her, but she would not let it overtake her. She was stubborn, she would not let it take her over fully. Not ever. Not since that time. But, inevitably, though, it would take over. She would, inevitably, become one with Htattath as the flight wore on.

Evelie turned when the first men trickled into her Weyr. ‘Oh, here they come.’ She thought miserably, and kept her hand on the wall for support. She recognized Bronzeriders and Brownriders, and was relieved. The man who had physically assaulted her had ridden a Blue. She felt a little calmer, and the furrow in her brow lessened somewhat. A wave of lust rolled over her and she clutched the wall. She studied each man as he came in. When one stopped and remembered his manners, Evelie managed a smile. It was a kind smile, but she liked to think it was only because of Htattath’s flight. “Come in if you wish,” she said, “They have.” She meant the guys who hadn’t asked. She raised her voice to all who could hear, semi-annoyed. “For all who might not know me, I’m Evelie. The dragon your dragons are chasing is Htattath.”

Another wave of lust captured her. She closed her stubborn blue eyes momentarily, and willed herself to gain control again. For a moment she could see through Htattath’s eyes.

Htattath did not need food to fly! Why would a dragon need food, it would just weigh her down—and besides, Htattath had just eaten a couple days before. The green ruled the skies, a surely feline waiting to spring.

And spring she did!

Htattath could feel rather than see the dragons following her. They were slower than her, bigger than her. How could they catch her? How could anyone be fast enough to catch her? How could anyone be smart enough to catch her? Yes, smart enough. Htattath was a weird one; she picked the smartest of the chasers.

She quickly dodged over the Eye Rock and started to fly fluidly through the air. She was one of the smallest, the daintiest, green in Northern Weyr. But she was also the most savage, the most conniving, if only in battle. Now was no different. But Htattath was not going to start off hard. Not unless the dragons did not know their history.

In a singsong voice, Htattath started the first rhyme:

Collectively, we three were one.
We could be seen in the failing sky,
Or spotted with the rising sun.
We shone during the day though we should have not.
We saved the world from torture.
And we moved the Red Star from its previous spot.
Who are we?

[/b][/center]

Along with trying to figure out the answer to her rhymes, the males had to keep up with her swift form. She knew what she was doing; she had flown many, many times before. She knew how to mess with dragons brains. She flipped promptly on her tail and flew back, coming straight into the chasing dragons. She was so small that she slipped through every would-be catcher’s claws that tried to reach for her. No dragon could catch her this fast! She still had more tricks![/blockquote]

[kat]

Kilzanth was quite taken aback when all of a sudden, the green began to speak in a singsong mannerism. What manner of trickery was this? Never before had a dragon begun speaking in riddles right in teh middle of a flight...was something wrong with her? Still, the riddle intrigued him. He had the memories of any other dragon, and knew Pern's history as well. He felt rather curious as to why she'd want to ask questions-was it some tactic to throw her pursuers off? Make them lose concentration?

The bronze followed her lead, and though he didn't know why she did it, he replied back serenely, You are the Day Sisters and Dawn sisters both, ships used to colonize our planet, and whom gave us two anti-matter engines to move the red star,[/color] he replied, trying not to feel silly, still curious by her tactics. He was speedy for all his size, and had the staying power the smaller dragons did not. Still, when she turned tail and darted past him, he had to flare his wings to turn about quickly, and then pump them a few times to gain momentum again. His tail was balanced out behind him like an aerial rudder, of sorts, and he only flapped when needed, keeping a fairly quick pace while he trailed his luscious prize. He was aware that he might have some competition with Erusth, but he didn't worry overmuch about the browns. They were not even faster than he, Kilzanth, was. They would not have his stamina or experience in training, either. He kept his entire focus on Htattath's fleeing form, so sleek and lovely, ignoring his competition altogether.

Z'ayn nodded as politely as he could, and sat down on the edge of her bed so that he could try and keep better control of himself. He looked at the other men there, all leering at the young woman, and felt a bit shamed. They were not in control of their feelings, but still, they looked like a pack of wild felines after a particularly plump wherry. He couldn't help but look, either, his own dragonlust building, though he did smile apologetically and replied, "Evelie...mrm...lovely name...Htattath..." he trailed off, as he was more and more caught up with his dragon's emotions-the chase was on, and Kilzanth wanted to win, very much so. He could feel what the bronze felt, and it was beginning to be as though he were with his dragon, chasing the green. He felt Kil's curiosity, and felt it himself, and was just as surprised by the green's odd riddles as he was. Still, as one, they pursued. He tried to focus, but his vision blurred and suddenly? He wasn't the one in control anymore.[/size]

[stolenhart]

Jasderth rumbled approvingly deep in his throat over her rhyme. What did it matter if they would not provide genetic material to a next generation? She was smart and cunning and fast, and biologically that is what mattered. Jasderth answered her query intelligently though, taking the answer straight from Ph'in's mind, The Dawnsisters, he didn't have to elaborate, everyone knew what the Dawnsisters had been and that they no longer existed. He followed after her then snorted in approved surprise when she back flipped and flew at them. He scattered down and left, away from her and the other male dragons reaching for her or dodging away. No sense in getting tangled in loose wings and sharp claws. He steadied himself, taking a wide turn so he could see where she went and anticipate her next move. He was nowhere near as fast as she was but he had the advantage in stamina. He could wait and make his move at the appropriate time, putting on a burst of speed at one moment that could rival her's.

Ph'in could have cared less what dragon his was chasing, he didn't care for women at all. Most of them turned from his face before ever getting to know the man underneath. Not a one of them understood anything. He gave her a polite nod but said nothing, getting as far away from her as he could in the room. There would be a drudge later who would see to his needs but for now, he let Jasderth's lust rage through his body. Flights always ended badly for him.

[saidaltam]

Startled by the unexpected question--this was a most unconventional flight, indeed!--Vijaith faltered and poured his confusion unconsciously into T'rel, whose mind echoed back the response even as it chorused from the minds of the other pursuers. Vijaith, half a heartbeat behind, nonetheless called it back to her, as had the pursuers before him: :Dawnsisters.:[/color] His faltering at that critical moment, a mere heartbeat before, saved him collision as Htattath flew back at her pursuers, though it did set him lagging behind, and the large bronze flicked his tail waspishly and spun around to chase after her once more.

T'rel was tardy in his arrival at the Weyr, but that was not uncommon. He spent so much effort in trying to keep what self control he could that he oftentimes found himself lost halfway to where he was going, having stumbled or grown turned around in dividing his mind between too many tasks. However, he did, inevitably, find Evelie's weyr, and, quietly, slipped inside. Evelie's eyes were closed, and T'rel thought it probably best, moving out of the way and closing his own eyes tightly. He had always had a soft spot for pretty eyes, and hers were very pretty. It would not help anything to look at them.

[Femisis]

Beranth rumbled his approval as Htattath began her rhyme. What a clever Green! He thought, rather pleased at the whole idea. If only Queens were this sensible, then Pern would be a much better place. Well, at least the Greens had some sense, some intelligence and cleverness underneath their kindness and silliness. That’s why he much preferred them over Golds, especially when a pretty and smart thing like Htattath came around, a goddess among Greens as he’d begun to call her. The answer to your conundrum, oh queen of quizzes, is the Dawnsisters. He replied respectfully, making sure to keep much of his focus on flying. It wouldn’t do to have an accident during a Flight, now would it? I eagerly await your next question, lovely one. I expect it to be good.[/i] He added teasingly. Beranth was more clever than most people took him for, even if he wasn’t a combat specialist. After all, what dragon didn’t like a good riddle every now and then?

The Brown snorted in amusement as the Green turned back and slipped right through her claws, once again praising her cleverness. What a trickster she was! He would play her game, play it right to the end, but he would win! Refusing to expend much energy catching up this early on, he simply winged to the left to fly a huge arc in the other direction. From there he searched for thermals to pull him along, refusing to spare more than a few wingbeats to catch back up to the group. There would be time to catch up later once everyone else was tired, so for now he would follow watchfully like a hawk on the hunt.

Having finally found Evelie’s Weyr, D’maske quietly sauntered in, still (mostly) in control of his senses. That wouldn’t last long, though, so he felt it best to introduce himself before he completely lost it, not that he was much of an animal under the influence of Dragonlust. “Sorry for barging in,” He said after gently tapping Evelie on the shoulder, “But my brute of a Brown found your Htattath simply too irresistible to ignore. I’m D’maske, by the way.” He added, finding that his thoughts were just a bit more jumbled than they were a few minuets ago. Sharding dragon…

[maiwolf]

Htattath was not surprised that her followers had answered the first question—and all correctly, too. She continued to fly straight, knowing that if any dragons had been lazy and had just flown in a semi-circle, she would run straight into them. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t at least make it harder for the males to follow her. Htattath knew what she was doing, and so she knew where she was going, and how to distract the chasers. Her chasers. Because, of course she wanted them distracted in order for them to not answer the questions.

Any male that did not answer a question, or did not answer one quickly or correctly, was out.

Htattath swerved sharply to the right before doubling back and swerving to the left. She had checked to see if any males were still turning in slow semi-circles. No, they weren’t. Again, she swerved, but this time the swerve turned into an almost ninety degree angle, and she shot narrowly past her closest chaser’s nose. She drew her wings into her body and, as quickly as she could, pointed her nose downward. This was a trick to keep the flight lasting longer. Not a lot of wing flaps means less and less energy exerted. She plummeted to the ground, her head spinning with information she knew. What rhyme to ask next?

Even as she angled her body upward and opened her wings to soar right up into the sky again, Htattath knew what she was going to say. As did Evelie, and Evelie congratulated her dragon.

She is the first of us to come.
She is the one we most remember.
Her hide sparkled a fantastic gold.
We swear by her egg many a time.
And yet we never remember her rider.
Who is she?

[/color][/center]
To give the males an even harder time, she slowed her flight. She was not in it for the speed. She banked, turned right, kept turning right—right into the males, or she would have been if she wasn’t now spiraling down, again. She was willing the males to begin the slow dive with her.

Evelie had tried time and time again to keep her mind to herself, but she could now feel her mind giving way. Her eyesight was Htattath’s because her human eyes were shut. She could dimly feel her hand supporting her on the wall. But nothing else. No more. She was no longer Evelie, she was Htattath. And she would not choose the winner of the flight by choosing the strongest, she would choose by choosing the most intelligent. It seemed dragons nowadays were bred for brawn not brains. And though Htattath was no queen, she was going to choose the smartest anyway.
[/blockquote]

[saidaltam]

:She is Faranth, pretty green, and only she could be as pretty as thee,:[/color] Vijaith crooned, watching the green spiral down. He'd been in enough gold flights to know better than to fall for that trick, though, and so he kept his height, grabbing a thermal and circling slowly on it, waiting for the green to rise up to his level again.

It was just a good thing for the bronze that T'rel had been a history buff in his day, too, though he'd likely have gotten that one on his own. The rhyming, however, was all T'rel's, what was left of T'rel, which, by then, was little more than a sparrow on the dragon's back, tied up and winging along for the ride. What else was he to do, with his body lost to him and his mind torn away by his dragon's passion? There was nothing but the flight, right then, for him or for Vijaith.

[stolenhart]

He watched and waited, rejoining the pack after a few moments once she had zigged and zagged around the entire pack. He watched her dive but no dragon in her right mind would go down to end a flight. Height was the key. He knew she was coming back up, if only for a brief moment. And she did, sing-songing another ryhme into his head. What was it with this green? Wanting a smart dragon to win. He gave a grumble of discontent knowing for a brief second what his rider felt towards women before his lust washed away his resentment.

Faranth, he spoke angling his wings downward so that he dropped beneath the pack near Htattath, letting her see his freshly washed hide shine dully in the light. Though no metal colored his hide, it still glowed with good health as it was well taken care of. Jasderth was a very handsome brown after all.

[Femisis]

Highly amused by all of this Beranth continued to follow behind Htattath, just close enough to keep with the pack yet copying her maneuvers as little as possible. She wanted an intelligent mate, yes? Then he would do the intelligent thing and save his strength instead of wasting it trying to race the Green. She was much more speedy and agile than he so it would be a waste to try. He would bide his time, wait until the opportune moment to take the initative and jump in. Until then, he would focus on the riddles. They were simple now, but would become much more difficult as time went on.

The answer is Faranth, mother of us all, from who came the most intelligent of Greens.[/i] He answered, making sure to flatter her. She was a queen in her own right and deserved praises as such. It was a pity she wasn’t a Gold. If she was, she’d be a fine leader.

Catching the dive, Beranth folded his wings and made the dive with Htattath, making sure to check his speed as the ground got closer. It wouldn’t do to die from this, now would it? He could feel D’maske with him now, fully and completely. Silly His, he was always so far behind in things, but they were one now. This would be much easier that way.

[maiwolf]

Please note that all my greenflights I decide by rolling a dice. =3

Htattath could feel her wings beginning to tire. But she was the queen of the skies, how could she tire? She was below most of her chasers, though her instincts told her to fly high, higher than those that were chasing. She knew she could not fly higher than Bronzes in the sane part of her mind, but the part that was, clearly, in possession of her functions, told her to go high, higher, highest! Those Bronzes, those Browns, they were expecting her to go up in the same direction that she went down in. They expected her to be stupid, to fly the way they wanted her to fly.

She had one more rhyme she wanted to ask, but she knew fairly well who she wanted as her mate. This rhyme would just be for fun, to see if they knew, to see if they were really smart. Htattath knew the answer, of course. Htattath knew many answers. She also knew many questions, and, as shown, loved to ask them. This question would be, by a considerable sum, the hardest. Htattath felt a small glimmer of happiness in the notion that she would confuse males.

So, as she turned on her tail, once again, and climbed up the opposite way around, the glorious, smart green figured out how to phrase her question. The last question of the flight had to be special, after all. She winged her way up, and though the strain on her wings was great, she made her laborious way above the chasing males. And she started her last rhyme; to which the answer was simple.

This relationship is hard to explain.
Sometimes you hate him, or her, and wish to be alone.
Sometimes you feel like you’re diving into driving rain.
But always you’re connected in mind, body, spirit.
If one fades away so will the other, what relationship is it?

Then she fanned her wings, effectively slowing her speed. She passed several Bronzes, a Brown. And then she found him. He would be hers, if only for now. She felt the joy and elation in her heart as she saw him, still chasing her. Vijaith, you won’t let Htattath fall?

[/b][/blockquote]

[saidaltam]

:Mine,:[/color] Vijaith purred in reply, both in answer to her rhyme and in a more possessive sense. :I will never let you fall, pretty green.:[/color] Flaring his wings as she had, the bronze twisted around and stretched out his neck toward the green. He would not let her fall. What dragon would ever be such a fool? And, as the knowledge that he had won her flooded through him, Vijaith could not imagine a better moment. Nor, being of one mind, could T'rel.