Shake Your Tail Feathers! {Forest Fari's Flight}

[Zirin]

“Fari.. Fari please come here…” U’wa called quietly to the huntyre who was currently perched on the rock wall, just out of reach. Her brown and green plumage standing out against the stark grey rocks. The normally responsive, well trained huntyre was ignoring him completely, something she had never before done. He called for her again, holding up the letter he wanted to send to his sister. Again, his call was answered with silence and the briefest ruffling of brown wings. Dropping his arms to his side, U’wa slumped against the wall wondering what had gotten into the huntyre lately. She had been ignoring him lately, and always seemed to be coming home at night with new trinkets for her little basket. At first he thought the bird had simply been off with Yufa, but his sister had also mentioned the strange behaviour. He reached into his pocket for one of the dried snack the huntyre liked to eat, hoping that would entice her back to him.

Fari ruffled her feathers again, gazing out at the sky as fire lizards and dragons, and the occasional huntyre drifted on the gentle breeze. It was indeed a beautiful sunny afternoon. She glanced down at Hers as he waved a piece of dried meat around. Her amber eyes showing the slightest hints of red, and it was then that Fari realized how unbelievably hungry she was. How had she not noticed the knowing pain in her stomach before? She swooped down, grabbing the morsel as she landed on U’wa’s outstretched arm, but she didn’t stay there long. Once she had swallowed the food she was off, realizing what it was that she felt.

She let out a melodious trill as she returned to her perch on the rocks. The sounds of her voice weaving into an enticing song of love as she called for the lunars and rainbows of the Weyr to come to her, to see her magnificence on this day. She spread her wings and ruffled her tail feathers, showing off the long, deep green plumes. The same colour adorned the feathers around her eyes as she watched a couple of males draw nearer. She glanced again at the skies. On this day, it would not be speed or strength that was needed to impress her. No, she wanted someone who could follow her tricks and manoeuvres through the air.

She let loose a final cry of longing before launching from the rocks, her eyes whirling a deep red in mating lust. Come, oh feathered ones! Conquer the skies!

[[ooc: Feel free to bring in NPC huntyres as well!]]]

[Lark]

Snow saw her first. The lunar belonging to K'tor was flying on some thermals when the Huntyre Queen swooped down into the skies with him. Crooning, the blue and white mail followed. His wings leveled out, silently brushing the invisible air with his feathers. He'd come and perform for this pretty. He was as good as any Rainbow that showed! If not better! Snowfire screetched as he swung around to mimic the Forest's movements. This was one of His' past candidate's huntyres. He knew her from around the Weyr, Fari was her name. She was sweet, sweeter than Pepper for sure. Casing again, he dove down.

The sun was still high in the sky, and for once there were no rainclouds yet. This was good, this was perfect! To the huntyres, the trouble in the Weyr didn't fully register. They saw intentions, flashes of movement, who wanted to be to the food first. They didn't recognize why someone was upset, or wonder why something had happened long after it was done. There was only now, and now Fari had risen. Bending around, Snowfire did a loop, laying flat his crest while letting his longer plumes trail behind him like ribbons. He was magnificent! Surely she'd see that?

[Zirin]

Fair twirled happily as her first suitor joined her in the skies, a lunar, it seemed. She gazed over his form as he rose to follow her, noticing first that she knew him; the lovely huntyre of Hers’ teacher long ago. She let her gaze linger a moment longer, taking note of the healthy sheen of his blue and white feathers. Yes, he was a fine male as far as looks went, but Fari knew looks could be deceiving, especially amongst the tamed huntyres. No, it would take much, much more than good looks to attract the tiny Forest. She tilted her wings, swooping to the side in a sudden sharp turn - a warm-up move - and was pleased to hear Snowfire’s voice as he followed her with ease. She chirped curiously as the lunar made a midair loop, crest down, beautiful plumes training behind him. Yes, she liked him, yet she wished there was another in the sky for her Flight. To her, the males were like the shells she collected, lovely on their own but only near another did the truly wonderful one shine.

Her voice rose again, this time in harmonious praise of her only suitor. The notes rising in time with the beat of her wings. Then her song changed, this time louder, calling once more for suitors to come. With her song floating through the air, she dove, ready to begin the real test. As she fell, she spiralled lightly, breaking off the dive to soar in a completely different direction, then two more loops and a new direction still. She called back to Snow. Keep up darling the notes whispered.

[Lark]

Snow crooned. It didn't matter if no other males showed, it was better odds for him. Of course, his lovely Forest Queen deserved more than that, but he'd have to do just fine. Singing for her, something gentle and sweet, he looped through the trees she guided him around. He made no move to catch her yet, instead he decided to admire her as her lovely wings beat the air. Oh, how perfect she was.

Then a screech erupted from beside, him. It's owner, another Lunar huntyre rocketed out of the canopy, talons stretched out. He wasn't going to lose this fight! Not to a huntyre that was weaker and stronger than he! That's what the newcomer said as he flew in beside Fari. The first lunar, Snowfire cawed unhappily at the second, Takorah. The hunting bird cawed back, beating his wings and singing his own song.

It was no sweet melody though, it was something primal and instinctual. A sound that resonated within his body and melded with his wing beats. Those were the drums, his voice was the chant, she was his prey. He was the hunter on the prowl. The larger lunar dodged a wing that Snow pushed toward him, snapping his beak in the other huntyre's direction. He would be the one to win Fari's heart, he Takorah! Not this weakling that thought he'd be the better father, the better mate. No, he'd defend her, protect her, cherish her too.

[Zirin]

Well, this was saddening wasn't it? Only a lunar had decided to chase her. Fari didn't seem to mind, however, she was fonder of lunars than of the pompous rainbows. Lunars showered her with the love and affection she wanted, they weren't all about themselves... usually. She cheeped softly as Snowfire sang her a wonderful little tune, enjoying the gentleness of the notes and feeling lulled into a comfortable happiness by the song. Her euphoric feeling disappeared as a loud screech cut through the air. Glancing back over her wings she noticed the arrival of a new lunar, this one she didn't recognize and assumed he was either wild, or bonded to someone she had never seen. He flew close to her, too close for the little Forest's comfort. His song too, was vastly different from the first lunars. Takorah's was raw, primal, and full of energy. A little scared, she tucked her wings and dove away from him, at first not noticing that the two fought mildly behind her. Looping around before rising once more, she noticed the light fighting and grew annoyed. She was the one who should be dodging the males, they were after her, not each other.

She rose up above the males, giving a final spin before diving back down. She wasn't thinking anymore, simply obsessed with the idea of getting them apart. Slipping easily between them, she continued her song, though this time the sound was urgent, filled with lust, of wanting... and was that the sound of fatigue? Yes, Fari's muscles were growing much too sore for her to continue this game. It was only her first and she did not yet know how to truly lead the males in an exhilarating chase. She needed to make them work a little more didn't she? She flapped her wings, rising higher and higher, her song growing louder with each beat, echoing the growing need within her. She added twists and twirls to her rise, making sure the males would follow her properly. Reaching the height of her climb, muscles screaming in protest, she twisted her body, expecting to level out for a bit for a brief rest. Her muscles, however, had a different idea, and she squawked in surprise as she felt her muscles give way, felt the rush of air as she plummeted through the air. This was it then, this was the end, she needed to be caught or she would continue to fall unprotected.

She twisted her body in a last ditch effort to pick her winner, her body shifting toward Snowfire as she fell. Would he be quick enough to catch her? Or would the other lunar, the hunter, steal Snow's prize from right under his beak. She called out weakly to Snowfire, urging him with the last notes of her song to be the winner.

[Lark]

Snowfire cawed as he saw his Forest Queen fall, he shot forward, not wanting to let her fall too far. Certainly not when there was another lunar here. He forced his wings to go harder, flicking a worried glance at the newcomer. Takorah screeched back, reaching forward as the Snow did, both straining to capture their prize. In a last ditch effort, Snowfire pushed himself further, and he wrapped his wings around Fari's falling form. He had her now! Everything was going to be okay. He sent that thought comfortingly to her again and again as he locked his talons with hers and let them fall. They'd snap their wings back open at the end before they reached the ground, just like the Eagles from the Terran lands had done. He didn't know anything but his Fari then, the other suitor was a memory, long, long forgotten.

[Zirin]

Both came for her, a thought that thrilled the tiny Forest, but it was her chosen mate, her Snowfire, that was successful in catching her. She crooned warmly as he wrapped around her before singing one last song, this one full of love and building in volume and intensity as they plummeted to the ground. The land below drew closer and closer, but Fari was not yet willing to break the embrace, not until she needed to.

Her song ended ubruptly, though it sounded so right, as the ground came too close for comfort. Wings snapping open, she caught the air alongside her mate and once she had the chance she fluttered over to a tree to rest, much too weary to continue in the air. She chirped, hoping Snow would follow her to roost. Yes, she had made a good choice.