Follow Me! (Gold Firelizard Aries' Flight)

[Lark]

I'm the one, I'm the one who knows the dance
I'm the one, I'm the one who's got the prance
I'm the one, I'm the one who wears the pants
I wear the pants
I'm the one who tells you what to do
You're the one, you're the one if I let you
I'm the one, I'm the one who wears the pants
I wear the pants

The sunlight made the rock where Aries was curled up quite pleasant really. It was mid-day, busy as all get out too. Down below on the grounds of Trelis Weyr, drudges were rushing about to prepare for meals. Candidates were over in a corner with Zalanth and K'tor again, yet another lesson to attend to. The blue as normal was prancing about, but Aries didn't care. She was the only one that ever mattered to anyone! Crooning, the gold flicked her orangish tail like a happy cat. Scratching the dark rock she had placed herself on, her eyes swirled a happy blue, green.

She'd been like this more and more recently, prefering to stay by herself. Which, in Hers opinion was quite strange. Aries loved attention of any kind you see, and to be going off alone so often...well, that wasn't a good sign. However, the firelizard did as she pleased as any respectful gold would. Yawning, the flit showed row after row of white teeth. Things were just so boring right now! Tossing her head, Aries got up to her feet. Things needed a bit of a change, oh yes, she'd have to do something to make the Weyr more happy.

Everyone seemed to be in a frozen state, waiting impatiently for Hers' dragon to finally anounce the hatching of her eggs. Well! That gold wasn't the only important one here! She definitely was too. Hissing slightly, Aries' eyes started spinning faster, purple and red finding their way in and dominating the happier colors. She wanted people to follow her! She wanted people to pay attention to her!

Aries knew just how to do that too. Trilling pleasantly, the gold dived off her rocky post and spun around to where the kitchens were. She needed something.....ah yes. Right outside the kitchens was a small pond where fish were kept before they were killed and flayed. Reaching out with her talons, the gold cried out and plucked one from its cage. She was hungry, oh so hungry! Done with that, the gold mentally and physically called for her suitors to come.

It was time for them all to want her! Not anyone else, just her and no one else. Trilling, the gold flexed her orange tinted wings and admired the bright glow that emanated from them. She was beautiful, surely she'd attract many, many males. If not...well that would be dealt with eventually. Either way, she was in command today. They'd follow her lead and impress her! No one else, just her.

Hey you, follow me I'll take the lead
Can't you see
Don't you question me
You just do what I say
I don't have to try
To make you realize
Anything I wanna do, anything I'm gonna do
Anything I wanna do I do
And I don't have to try
Don't you disagree
Cause you know it's all about me
Be at my beck and call
I'm a know-it-all

[Akira]

Blue was sunning himself on the windowsill of His' room. It was sunny, and the bright rays felt good on the blue's hide, his polka-dotted tail curled up around him as he laid there, watching all the people of the Weyr running around like mad men and women. The firelizard's eyes slowly swirled blue green. He was very content to lay on the sunny ledge and just relax. Since His was out with the large blue dragon it seemed that he would have the entire afternoon to himself, and that was the way this flit liked to relax.

Blue almost jumped out of his skin when he saw a gold blur diving for the fish cage next to the kitchens. That meant one thing to the blue flitter. A golden flit was going to rise. He tried to imitate the roar that the larger dragons do when they go to rise to the challenge of a golden dragon, but with his small size it sounded more like a squeak. Blue stood on the ledge, and opened his blue wings, and started flapping them. He called out to the golden flit, and launched himself from his ledge, and began his chase of the golden firelizard Aries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rex had just finished getting a bath from His, and was sun drying on a rock next to the kitchens, waiting for lunch to roll around when the gold flit Aries made her appearance. He chirped a greeting to her as he watched her devour a fish. He cocked his head to the side, wondering what she was doing. Her intentions became very clear to him when he heard her challenge. He sent out his own mental challenge to her as he prepared himself to launch from his perch. Since his wings were still a little wet from his bath, he gave them a couple of strong flaps to get rid of the water still clinging to them.

He watched as a blue took up the chase and gave his own small roar. Rex spread his dark bronze striped wings, and launched himself into the sky, giving chase to the golden queen firelizard. There was no way that he would let himself be bested by a small blue pipsqueak. He lifted himself high into the sky, his wings and claws fighting to lift him higher, and propel him faster, and farther.

[kitsuneko]

Hari was perched on one of his favorite tree limbs, watching his human. He had been forbidden from joining His at times like this, when he was with the other young humans and the blue dragon, but he was only slightly miffed at this. He kept an eye on His from a distance, but there were a few things that could steal his attention away--such as females.

The brown flitter's eyes whirled more rapidly as he heard the gold's challenge to her suitors, and with no more thought to humans and their ways, he took off after her. He trilled a greeting to her, humming flirtatiously as he fell into place behind her. He ignored the blue and bronze that had also joined the chase--they did not matter, even if they were faster or stronger than Hari, for the golden queen would be his today!

[Zero]

Reign lifted his head from between his paws, cocking it slightly to the side as he observed a golden flit twist through the kitchen before darting out one of the windows. A moment later her challenge was sent and his entire demeanor had quickly changed. In an instant he was up, a low croon beginning to rumble in his throat as he stretched his wings to their full length. While paying no attention to His, who was seated only a mere table away, the brown took flight and quickly speeded away from the kitchens.

Eventually he spotted the golden queen and let off a miniature roar of his own as the few other suitors came into view as well. Well he wasn’t going to be having any of that. Digging down deep, the young flit stretched his wings to their limits as he strove to out fly the other suitors and catch the golden Aries.

[kia]

Rune was flying about with Comet and Tryst in tow. They were flitting here and there over Lynx, while the woman was attempting to climb some part of the Weyr that had not been carved out to be made safe for Weyr living. She grinned with joy as she reached a ledge, perfect in her opinion, as she scrambled to the end so she could sit on. Her legs over the side, her body stretching out with a yawn before leaning against the side of the rock, Lynx was very pleased with herself for her accomplishment. The big Blue, Azurith as he was named, was perched on a bigger ledge nearby, his eyes with orange tints in them. Rune could hear the big Blue fussing at their Lynx. But Rune was not paying much attention to that. He loved his Lynx! And he was happy to see her happy. Comet was first to land, landing on Lynx`s should as was his usual proper place. Tryst went next, going down to her lap to curl up like a cat. Rune was making his way down, but something caught his attention.

Yes, over there! Something shiny! It was moving about rather quickly. Diving, grabbing, something, and then off into the air. Then he heard both calls. A Queen! She was Rising! Oh how wonderful! With a chirp to Lynx, he did a loop-de-loop in the air and turned toward the flying Queen. She was very bright, as he could see, and she deserved many suitors, including himself. Yes! He would be a good suitor for her. Apparently there were others too, including a Blue. Though with Fire Lizard, any color could Chase any color, would not a Queen prefer a Bronze or Brown to produce a large, healthy Clutch? But he ignored the Blue. Unless the Blue gave him cause for reason, Rune discard the Blue as a threat. He would have only seen the Blue as a threat if a Green were Chasing. There was two other Bronzes and a Brown. Those he considered threats.

So off he Chased! He thrilled pleasantly, crooning to her, and tried to spread his wings as much as possible, showing that he was a good specimen as a mate. He would help her produce a mighty Clutch. And they would be strong. So strong! He pulled up and made a loop-de-loop, just for her, showing everything he had. He knew this Flight was just beginning, but he wanted to show her everything he was so she knew there was a choice here. He knew he would have to do more to prove his he was worthy. And he would show her just how much.

[Crovin]

The entire fair was sunning themselves, it was a fine day—Trelis was always beautiful. Of course they had splintered off into various groups because even a fair of hatchmates couldn’t coexist peacefully, but at least there was no fighting today. Naira had done her best to coax Seth into the lake for a swim, he of course knew there were better things they could be doing, but he had relented to his rider eventually. Now his glistening white hide, flashing full of gold and bronze in the sunlight, was the sunning ledge for most of the fair and even his rider—whose white hair seemed even more bright than his own flesh.

Jax would have none of this camaraderie of course. His perch was, as always, Naira’s shoulders, and his large body enveloped them as if a large feline. The Bronze’s eyes swirled warningly at his Brown and Blue brothers below who were elegantly draped on Seth’s strong wingshoulders—he even spared an angry glance for Cot, the larger Green, who was posing with Queenly intent on Seth’s head, and her smaller twin and the runt of the fair Dot…who had taken up a solitary position on one of the White’s outstretched wings. Like a White island amidst the tropical water the living ledge glided while all on top of him rested, his rider trailing her legs into the cool lake.

There was always trouble in Paradise where the fair was concerned, possibly because they had no true Queen of their own—though Fort’s Weyrwoman had tried her best to ensure it. Naira let out a mellow sigh and shifted slightly straddling Seth’s tail and allowing her legs to sink into the water again. She was brought to heel by the sharp movement of Jax around her shoulders, his claws audibly sinking and picking at the thick leather shoulderguards she wore—for that very reason. Naira knew that look, shards they all knew that look.

The Bronze lept from her shoulder so powerfully that she fell back against Seth, scattering the fair and sending them into angry chiding chitters and hisses. Jax cast a glance back at her, and sent her a singular image—a Queen. He would go to ensure their fair would get one; eggs sired by strong blood: The females he bred always threw a Queen egg, sometimes even two—though whether that was the Bronze or the Gold was to be determined. Cogo was on his trailing air currents immediately and Naira threw the Brown a caustic look—the wherry-brained Firelizard would take any opportunity to drive his older—larger—brother red with anger. A Queen in flight was simply a bonus.

Cogo had his own parting thought for Naira—Jax crashing into a tree while he victoriously mated the Gold. The Whiterider sighed and laughed. The twin Greens returned to Seth, even Dot showing initiative now that Jax was gone; as did Blue Bir. Bir didn’t care to give chase to Golds, his preference had always run to Greens—Cot in particular—there was no Queen greater than her in his eyes. Naira laughed again and rested back against Seth. The pull of flight lust burned far brighter for dragons, but she could still enjoy the heady need she felt when Jax flew—and oh how he flew.

- - -

She was there. Ahead of him. He could smell her need on the winds she glided through and his chest swelled with an answering song that burst from his jaws into a hearty crow. Her King was coming. No other would fly as fast as he would, no other could fly as far as he could, and no other had mated with as many Queens as he had. His Bronze wings stretched out to the welcoming sky, mainsails and spars catching at the currents and forcing them to do his bidding; carrying, and lifting, and sailing—he was a metallic machine. Though not as quick to turn as his smaller, lesser-coloured brothers, with a wingspan of over six feet he could glide for ages on a fair wind—saving stamina by keeping pace in a sloap-soar until required to dive. His muscled body darted around low-hanging foliage until he could gain the advantage on his Queen in height, watching from above and calling to her in a deeply masculine bellow. She would be his!

The sun above was warm on his back, he felt its heat transfer into his wingshoulders and strengthen his taut muscles. His eyes whorled brilliantly with lust and rage as he spotted her suitors, his competitors—his lessers, and even in colour there were some who did not belong in a flight for his Queen. Would she be enraged that they dared follow her flashing metallic hide into the sky? Probably not, proddy Queens would accept any and all attention, but today her attention would end only on him! His bronze chest swelled with pride at her beauty as he warbled a lovesong down to her, his large wings casting shade to the ground beneath him, and sometimes over her golden flesh as he paced her effortlessly.

He was a grown Bronze, he had flown many Queens, and he was proud and regal. He arched his muscled neck for her, stretched his body so she could see the faint scars of battles past—he would kill for her if she required it. He would cleanse the air of the unfit Blues and Browns, and then he would feast on his Bronze fellows. To make her his. His warble which had been for her turned to a snarling roar at his competitors—away children, leave the breeding to those who were proven: The skies of Fort were thick with his progeny, he was sure in his heart that they filled the skies of all the Weyrs, and they would fill the skies here.

Cogo spun past him, wingspars folded tightly to his Brown body as he answered his clutchmate’s challenging roar with a cry of his own. His non-metallic hide sent a ripple of anger through Jax, his facetted eyes flashing red inside his bronze head. The Brown chortled his laughter and snapped his wings open, banking to sail above his larger brother and reach for his mainsails hoping to snag one on an extended claw and end the Bronze’s flight early. Cogo would have this Queen, as he swore to have all the Queens before—at least the ones that Jax had chased. His small head was filled with lustful needs and they would be fulfilled; through mating or through the destruction of his brother’s empire.

A snarl rippled through the Brown’s body and tore from his throat as he folded his wings tightly to his smaller—yet quicker—body, diving at his brother’s exposed back. This was no new game however; and with the smallest flick of his right leading-wingspar Jax rolled into a dive that carried him out of harms way and closer to his Queen. Eyes that locked onto her golden body again were awash with purples, and then with an audible crack his wingsails righted and carried him into an elegant dive toward her. She would be his, his and no other, he was the King here—only he could fly this Queen.

Cogo roared his anger at the escape of his brother, and again he folded his wings like a great hawk, tumbling from the sky in a dive downward, not only toward the Queen and his Bronze brother, but toward the other suitors—his claws extended reaching out for wingsail and spar. He would bring one down if he could, be it Blue or Brown or even Bronze. King he may not be, but aged he was, he bore no few scars from his own flights—some even from his own brother. There was no fear in his heart, only anger—anger and need. They fell together—more in concert than they ever would be—large Bronze leading the charge thinking only of his Queen: Brown behind but gaining—claws extended—thinking only of sweet victory in combat.

[Lark]

Aries practically purred. Oh! So, so, so much attention for her! They all were wanting her and following her....and apparently fighting over her. Hissing, the gold rolled her eyes. Even though the spat was about her, the gold felt she had been wrong. Screetching unhappily, the gold changed her course to fly straight for the brown and bronze brothers. They would either be knocked away by her larger body, or let each other go. Either was fine with the Queen. Trilling, Aries nodded her orange, gold head and snapped her wings back out, thrusting herself up into the air again.

There were plenty of others here as well, and they were all awaiting her return. Showing off her glowing hide, the firelizard rolled between two of the many males that had followed her. A brown and a blue, though who they were exactly she didn't care about. She was the one of inportance, and she reminded them all with a flick of her tail and chirp. Angling upward again, the gold looked around. She needed a way to test these males other than to just out fly each other. Still hovering, the gold crooned as she found her test.

Before any of the males could reach out and capture her, the gold spiraled down in a sudden fall. She wanted to see how brave they really were. Beneath them all was a series of knifes, layed out to dry in the sunlight. Trilling the Queen headed straight for their sharp edges, only to pull back at the last second possible, hissing as her tail grazed one of the silver edges. A thin trail of green ichor was left on her orange, gold hide, but it didn't matter. Going back up to the rooftops, the Queen watched to see which of the males got closest as she did.

Chirping, Aries nodded her head. She wasn't done yet. Next up was a maze of sorts. Cuts of meat had been strung up in the kitchen, and the Gold wove in between them, hitting her body in them temporarily to send them swinging in her chaser's directions. Did it slow the female down and tire her? Faranth yes it did, and Aries shivered as she strained to keep going. She needed this to be a test though! She needed to see who was worthy of such greatness, who would go to their limits to take her.

Hovering now, once again high in the outside air after flying through an open window, Aries trilled. Try and catch me she seemed to say. She'd dodge as best she could, but one would eventually catch her. It may not even be of her choice, but any who reached this point would be worthy anyway. The gold was tired, and she didn't have the strength to keep flying without a mate. So, she'd wait and see who caught her...though of course she'd still do her best to make sure they didn't. Hopefully, in the end the Queen would still decide. Only time would tell though.

[kitsuneko]

Hari was worried to see another bronze, and then more and more fire lizards, join in the chase. How was he supposed to catch the Queen with all this competition. He nearly halted in the air as the gold changed her course, charging straight for two of her suitors, and it took a tricky bit of twisting midair for Hari to follow her new path and not fall straight out of the air.

The brown flitter chirped appreciatively as the golden queen showed off her glowing hide. It only fueled his determination to be her mate, rather than one of these arrogant bronzes. He doggedly chased the queen, firmly in the middle of the pack, until she dove suddenly, nearly cutting herself open on the sharp knives laid out to dry. She then turned expectant eyes to the males.

It didn't take Hari long to catch on to the game. He chirped excitedly, showing off for her, and dived down, to the danger of the knives. He didn't get quite as far as Aries, to wary of staining his neat, clean hide with ichor, but neither did he get slashed by the blades, and he was still close enough that he could have reached out and grabbed one of them by the handle had he had a mind to.

Nevertheless, feat completed, he resumed his steady flight, eager to see if his competitors would do as well. He still kept one eye on the ultimate prize, the golden queen, at all times, however. It looked as if she was starting to tire, and Hari intended to be there with her at the end of the flight.

[Zero]

Reign twisted his dark head to observe the competition even as a few began to fight and tumble through the air. He bellowed out his little threatening growl as his wings beat the air, almost as if he was daring one of the others to try challenging and attacking him. Swooping down, he twisted his dark frame gracefully through the air, successfully swooping out of the glittering golds way as she dived at the fighting pair before spiraling towards the ground.

With complete disregard for his own safety he tucked his wings tightly against his body as he dived after his one and only goal. Twisting at the last moment, he chittered in annoyance as he rolled sharply to the left in his attempt to avoid the glistening knives. The male rolled a split second too late it seemed as his right hind leg caught the tip of a drying knife and drawing a thin trail of ichor. That didn’t seem to phase the eager boy in the slightest though as Reign quickly continued to give chase.

Calling to the beautiful Queen, Reign glided above her, twisting and flexing his brown hide in the sunlight. Not afraid to show the fact that he’s willing to risk bodily harm in hopes of catching her, seeing it not as a sign of weakness at all but only proving his dedication. His only moment of hesitation came from when she whipped through the kitchens, leaving a swinging maze of pain in her wake. He hovered for a moment before performing an acrobatic swoop to gain some speed before diving into the obstacle. His mind was fixated on one thing and one thing only and he was quickly loosing sight of it as Aries golden frame vanished in the midst of swinging meat.

At first he twisted and dived but after receiving a blow or two, Reign unleashed his frustration and anger on the last swinging hunk of meat. Latching onto the flesh with claws and fangs he ripped at the blood red meat but never ingested a morsel. It only took him a few moments till he was able to tear it from its hook to fall to the kitchen floor below and in the act forcing the rest of the hanging meat to swing more violently. He was certain that he wasn’t going to be getting any scraps from the staff anytime soon.

Darting through the window and back out into open air he trilled happily at his Queen. True he was feeling the fatigue of the chase by now but he wouldn’t quit, not ever. Surely she would see the potential in him now. That he had the strength and stamina to rival that of a bronze. That he could sire better offspring then any of his other competitors.

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[Akira]

Blue was really starting to think this was going to be impossible, but he couldn't give up now. Seeing the golden queen dive he spunn and dove after her...along with all the other males chasing her. He gave out a loud roar, well, as loud as he could muster. His little blue wings were starting to get extremely tired, which meant that he wouldn't be able to last much longer. Blue looked around at all the larger dragons once more, and gave up. He broke from his dive, and betweened himself to His' room. He was extremely tired, so he curled up on the pillow with his tail wrapped around him, and soon fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rex growled low in his throat as he dove after the golden queen. He opened and closed his copper bronze claws as he pushed himself faster, and harder. He oppened his jaws, and gave out the loudest, strongest roars he could. He had one thing on his mind, and that was catching this golden beauty. Rex's tail lashed out behind him as he clenched his dark, striped, bronze wings clenched tightly to his large body. He wouldn't give up, there wasn't a fiber in his body that would allow him to give up so early in Aries' flight.

Rex pulled up only seconds before hitting the sharp blades. He clawed at the open air as he climbed back into the sky after, hopefully, passign Aries' test. He wasn't really paying attention, if he had been, he would have noticed the long streak of green ichor that was now trailing down more than half of his overly-long tail. He growled again as he followed the golden firelizard into the maze of meat. He was starting to grow weary of all of this "testing". He growled as he saw two browns aproaching Aries.

He roared and dove through the meat. Rex was hit by more than three of the swinging hunks of meat. He didn't let that stop him though. He pushed himself further, and was soon out the kitchen window. Rex pumped his wings as hard as he could, trying to reach the golden queen before the others. He called out to her, and seemed to say, "I am coming my golden queen! Do not worry, your bronze Rex will soon be your king." yeah...this bronze really is full of himself.

[Crovin]

His Queen came! But not to choose, no—she came with anger in her heart. Treachery that heart of hers screamed, but his sang back only dominance and love. Still, his Queen was true—Gold and pure—she was no miniscule Green and therefor she was neither quick of wing nor tail—and her lust blinded her more passionately than his could. Not from your sky O’ Queen, he warbled back; I shall not fall and leave thee to dance with these unsuited children! His bronzed wings folded to his body and he fell towards her effortlessly—oh how young she was, he could have caught her then! He turned and felt their bodies meet; his firm wing shoulders grazing along her flank as he teased her lithe golden body with rough wingspars and his trailing tail. His body shivered with the possibilities. How easy it would be to twine his tail with hers, to foil her wings with his powerful mainsails, to capture her and take her for his own—but she wanted play, and play she would have—soon she would see.

His Brown brother was not nearly as lucky, nor as observant: The last thing he expected was a Queen to charge among suitors who might capture her ahead of time—before the flight lust would ensure proper fertility. The golden arrow struck him like a preybird and he felt his body shudder with the impact as he was dragged partially beneath her, his wings ineffectually beating against her own as if he were the Queen-be-caught. Lust was still there in his mind and he tried to twine with her—tail and neck—to capture her; but it was not enough and he was far too dazed. He cooed lovingly at her but fell away; dead weight and loose sails barely containing his drop to the loamy terra below. His mind was filled with angry images from his Bronze brother, but he was far too gone to return them, and as the grasses came up to meet him he slipped into a darkness that—if not as chill—was as deep as between.

Jax continued his downward angle from the encounter with his Queen, his large powerful wings opening to kiss the sky and level him out into a slower descent—she would return this way of course. The two of them could fly higher than any present, and outfly them all, but if she wanted to keep her lessor suitors in tow she would need to stay low. His eyes flashed red with deepest anger at the sounds that reached him, and the visions, his brother attempting to capture the Gold Queen for himself! Ah…but of course he could not, not that she would have allowed that—still the audacity of the Brown sent a ripple through his larger brother…something that was nearly pride. Jax chittered angrily and filled the Brown’s mind with thoughts of Jax’s own victory, chasing the plummeting form with those thoughts as if to drive him into terra harder. Still. He had done his fair proud. The Bronze spared a moment to send visions to Seth, his great White cousin, and to Naira—that they could find the Brownling should he not rise to see the culmination of this flight.

The snapping of the air around the Gold as she dropped past him filled Jax with renewed flight lust and returned his thoughts to the present. Her flight was curious indeed, she seemed to be seeking something—something other than her suitors—and she was so intent that thought had caused her to pause mid-air. How unnatural a thing, and Jax found himself forming an obsession over her curiosity, something that went beyond his typical need to cover any female that came within a hundred mile radius. Young and virile, and quirky this one was. He gave her the fantasies she had, and made no move to capture her; instead simply soaring above her on large wings that carried him in lazy circles. Then she was diving! Oh ho! Like a jay to the fruit she dove as if possessed toward sharpened utensils left out in the sun—nearly she seemed intent on dicing herself upon them but pulled away—Jax’s eyes found ichor, his sensitive nostrils found the warming scent lifted up to him in the air: That was all the coaxing he needed.

He fell from the sky; wingspars wrapping sails tightly to his body as everything smoothed into a single cohesive teardrop-shape. The warm air raked his body as if angry that he dared bend it to his will. He dropped behind the level of the drying rack and below it. The bronzed wingspars opened and mainsails caught the wind with an audible crack as he grazed the long grasses and swooped up toward the knives: When he advanced upon them he extended spar and claw. Showers of sparks were raked from his touch and he trumpeted a merry challenge before clutching the Queenichor-blade in his talons and lifting it free—much to the angry shouts of Kitchenfolk and Weyrbrat alike. He gained altitude again with mighty downstrokes his muscles feeling nothing but the heat of the sun—was he not Bronze? Was he not the strongest here, able to fly the furthest? Perhaps he could not turn like his lessor brothers, but he could fly his Queen until the sun left the sky, and the silverstars took its place, and still have energy with which to couple.

He hefted the blade and then dragged his tongue alongside the dangerous edgings lapping up the taste of his Queen, and his eyes roiled with purples that had no name—the lust within him was screamed Weyr-wide, and to anyone far below who could hear. He gave a cursory glance of the world around him and then swung his hips deftly, turning minutely to launch the blade at his fellow suitors—certain that no Nairafolk were below to take the blade—roaring his anger and his lust. Then he followed her—she his Queen—unabated and unwavering in his chase. She had watched her males from the safety of a high wall, and now she fell to the sky again with another test—Jax’s chest filled with an anger you could only have for someone you need—what he would do to this Queen-of-the-Sky when he caught her.

She disappeared again within the caverns of the Nairafolk, and Jax was last to follow—allowing this test to be well and truly set up before he made his grand entrance. Even his brother was there ahead of him—his brother? Jax bugled and received a return chirrup, mocking and light—yes the Brown had found his head and his wings, and was back—back to chase. Cogo dove between the meat readily enough, far faster than his Bronze brothers—though not as agile as the Blues—he stuck to the bottom of the cuts. Lower here they swung further and wider allowing him to careen on the winds they made in passing; long graceful arcs and swirls his tail curling along the meat to help him push off toward the next. It was a dance, and Cogo loved his dance as he loved warm sunlight and emerald females. He wove like a fine basket and passed below a second Bronze who was not his brother—coming out ahead of both those Kings and careening into the sunlight toward the Queen.

Jax bellowed angrily at his Brown fairmate, and watched with red-tinged purple eyes as the sub-King finished the trial not only ahead of him but ahead of the other Bronze—who was rather destroying the course with his body as Jax watched. Stupid child. He was no shortwing Green who could lithely escape even the hiss of meat on his flesh, and to boot he was the size of most that was hung—if not in body then in wingspan. The test of blades had been for Kings, this here was for agility, but what if he made it for himself. He dove in recklessly through the top of the meat where the cuts angled up in such a way as to give him more room, and the sway was less noticeable. He used tail and spars, talon and ridges, to swirl among them like an angry serpent—every ounce of his flesh was used as pressure points and holds: Both to push him forward and drag him along.

He came out boiling angry and filled with need, he damn near bellowed his anger at the other suitors and only his lust kept him from chiding the young Queen he chased. Fly you silly girl! A trial by air and stamina and speed not this! Allow those lessor colours to fall away to terra and weep their wearied muscles—not he! He dropped from the exit of the Kitchen Caverns, dropping low again to those hot loamy sands of the island, and then he did what he was born to do—coloured to do. His great bronze wings opened their full length, wingsails rippling with the effect of the air upon them, and then they billowed out as he gave a powerful downstroke. His rough wingspars teased the ground briefly as his wings came beneath him together; meeting in a kiss not unlike a preybirds wings mid-flight. Another. Then another. Four mighty strokes in total and he rose like an arrow from terra itself—a Bronze arrow for his Queen.

He was silent like the stalking feline and his eyes were for only her as he came upon her with speed bourne from his pre-rise dive, powerful wings, and the warm air that lifted him to meet her. He passed the others—even his own brother who was trying his best to reach her—and continued, the air molding his wingsails into silence against his muscled body. Then he was there, beneath her, and all he focused on was that which he needed to do to catch her. His enormous bronzed wings spread wide beneath her body, hoping to block her own from gaining purchase on the wind, hoping to block the currents of air that held her aloft and cause her to sink more surely into his body. His tail slid against her own seductively and tried to twine them together—tried to press her to him where she belonged with her King. And his head and neck mirrored his tail—throaty lust warbles vibrating his chest against hers with need as he caressed bronze flesh against her golden with silky hisses and tried to twine their necks completely.

Come to me, my Queen. He projected to her flashes of lust and images of their falling to terra together. Your King has flown well for you, come to me.

[kia]

Rune chirped to Aries, crooning and singing to her in the best way that he could. He could almost reach out and touch her, but he would not. He had to be patient. He had to let the Queen choose her winner. And as it seemed that she was slowing down and the males could touch her, she dove. Down, down she went towards danger. Rune seemed to chirp in fear! No! Their Queen should not be hurt or killed! He dove after her, Chasing her just like the other males who had braved the dive with her. Sure enough, upon fixing his direction, the tip of one of his toes was knicked. He was bleeding a little. Nevermind the ichor coming from him! His Queen was bleeding! No, not her! Not her and her pretty hide!

As he sped up some, trying to make sure the Queen was completely safe and that only a small cut was on her, she moved and dodged. Soon there was hanging meat swaying back and forth, making it difficult for him to duck in and out to avoid being hit. At one point, some meat seemed to hit his tail, causing his movement to become daze as his tail was what helped him balance and shift directions in the air. Wing helped, but tails also affected momement. No time to worry about the other males! He had a goal in mind! He wanted to prove to the Queen that he was mate worthy!

Now they were out! And the Bronzes were all going after Aries! Rune screeched in annoyance of all of them going after her. He dove too, tucking in his wings some, but letting them hang a little loose for him to catch himself and slow down again, able to fly on again. The Queen was waiting on her mate! She was either going to be picked or be caught. Rune moved toward her, his mind thinking of how wonderful their children would be if she chose him. He would be loyal to her. Loving. Caring. and he would be protective of her and bring her food and treats. Yes! He should be her suitor. Their children would be lovely. All lovely and healthy. He hoped these thoughts he sent to her would help her be swayed toward him.