Through the Clouds

Writers: Devin, Chelle, Emma, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th September 2012

Characters: Cyradis, R'enh, N'vanik, K'deren, N'mor, C'vris
Description: Panitath Rises and makes Cyradis Weyrwoman
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 3 of Turn 6

Cyradis

R'enh

N'vanik

K'deren

She had felt it for days but kept it to herself, grinding through each
one knowing what was just around the corner. Her record keeping had
told her it would be soon but now she was actually feeling the build
up. The best thing this time was another rider wouldn't be stealing
the Senior spot _and_ her weyrmate without warning.

More than anything else she felt a prickly irritation that wanted to
lash out at anyone and anything. So she stayed away from N'vanik. If
she didn't have the added irritation of his attitude she could keep it
firmly under control. But even with that precaution it wasn't by any
means easy.That certain expectancy she'd come to associate with her
gold Rising to mate built to a peak. But there she was still asleep in
her weyr.

R'enh shook his head in the Wing meeting he was leading. Mnoranth's
spike of lust hit him like a brick. He felt the bronze dive onto a
herdbeast and sucked in a sharp breath. **Gold.** He could see others
in the room reacting. "Dismissed," was all he said and headed out of
the room.

Not in that room but instead flying over the Weyr, Zorameth came to an
abrupt halt, almost throwing his rider directly into his neck ridge. C'vris'
straps caught him before he thudded against it, though. **What was that
for?** the bronzerider scolded.

}:Panitath rises. We will have a Weyrwoman and I will be
Weyrleader-not Loseth:{ the mature bronze growled. C'vris felt the
turns long rivalry opening up again and he couldn't help but wonder if
there might be a possibility. Maybe he was what Dolphin Cove needed to
keep its Weyrwoman, not N'vanik. Holding on as Zorameth dove to the
Bowl, he hurried to unbuckle the straps and get off, rushing around to
take off the harness. The bronze was anxious as he put up with his rider,
then C'vris took off, straps half dragging in the sand as they hung over
his shoulder.

N'vanik was out of the infirmary, but he still wasn't cleared to fly
Fall. Over the last few sevendays, he'd believed more and more that he
wasn't meant to be Weyrleader again. But when Loseth announced the
Queen was rising, the bronze made it clear he didn't share his rider's
doubts.

}:She will be mine!:{ he bugled to the Weyr, diving from his perch on
the Heights.

Grumbling, N'vanik made his way out to the bowl. **If R'ehn wins, it
won't be so bad. I can live with that.** But if it was someone else?
How long could he stand to watch someone else leading his Weyr?

Donneth knew that realistically he couldn't win, but he also knew how his
K'deren felt about Panitath's rider. And that thought was enough to have the
brown persuade his rider to take part in the chase at least, to show her how
much he cared.

The brown was on his way to the bowl to lead a drill, which was hastily
abandoned as other bronze pairs arrived to join in the flight.

As soon as she heard the bugle from Loseth she knew the time was upon
them and ran to the outer weyr. Panitath glowed! This was really
happening was all that crossed her mind before the giant gold awoke
with a ravenous hunger and flung herself from the ledge. Cyradis

steeled her will and shouted with all her strength. "Blood Only!" She
sped down the outer steps to see the males gathering and blooding
their own kills.

Panitath's eyes whirled red and orange and she snapped the neck of one
beast and immediately tried to rip out the soft underbelly.

**No! Blood, Panithath, Only the blood!** Cyradis sent with a will of
steel as she arrived at the flight room. She'd done this so many times
before and knew the struggle of wills was paramount to a good clutch.

Panitath screamed her rage at her lifemate's interference but
complied, sucking the beast dry before pouncing on a second. Cyradis
repeated her mantra of **Only the blood** over and over while her
lifemate tried to fight and defy her.

Mnoranth watched with intense concentration as the gold blooded her
kills. His already lay drained around him as he waited for her to
Rise. He wanted this and knew he could do it. He'd won gold more than
once before. }:I will win you,:{ he declared.

There was no arguing between Zorameth and his rider. Both wanted this more
than anything. Naked ambition was in the bronze's whirling red eyes and he
was clear in the way he looked at Panitath. It would be glorious mating with
her and winning the Weyr. And then maybe he could it again and again
and again... C'vris shivered as he ran to where the goldrider would receive
her suitors, knowing very soon his thoughts would not be his own. They would
belong to Zorameth and her.

N'mor swallowed. This was only their second gold Flight that Kedvencth
was taking part of. He fervently wished they didn't win! He was far
from ready to be a Weyrleader.

The young bronze watched Panitath carefully. He was probably the
youngest of the all males around her.

Panitath whipped her head around to challenge the males gathered
around her and snapped at one that was too close. None of them were
near good enough for her. She launched into the air and with giant
stokes of glowing gold wings she shot skyward. }:Puny males! Who among
you can catch me?:{

Cyradis stood in the group of tall riders gathered around her and
scanned the group. She reached out for K'deren's hand in mute
gratitude for his being there. Never once in all their turns together
had Panitath chosen brown. She didn't expect that to change no matter
how much but she appreciated his try.

She caught her breath and blinked as her mind began to merge with
Panitath's. Then she snarled at the riders around her, a reflection of
her lifemate's challenge to her suitors.

The brownrider took her hand for a moment, knowing that within moments with
the dragons in the sky it would become immaterial. he squeezed gently
before letting go, even as Donneth followed Panitath above the Weyr.

With a powerful lunge, Loseth shot far and high above the Weyr. He had
claimed two golden Queens as his mate, and Panitath would be his
third. }:Mine!:{ he roared, following her and the faster, over-eager
males. They would tire long before him.

With lust pulling at him and Loseth's mind-voice echoing in his head,
it was hard for N'vanik to hold onto his doubts. He glanced around at
the other riders. No, none of them would take his place. This was
_his_ Weyr! Even though he was grounded, even with his arm in a sling,
he was going to prove he was still strong enough to lead. He glared at
Cyradis, challenging her and her dragon to do their best.

Far from puny, Zorameth took off after her in that way that only a bronze
had.
He wasn't quick like some blue. No-he steamrolled through the sky. Once he
started, he wouldn't be stopped. Short of catching Panitath, this dragon was
not going to falter. Growling at her assessment, he was determined to prove
her wrong.

Seeing the snarl, C'vris just grinned. This wasn't going to be easy but
anything worth doing never was. He already felt his wings working to keep
himself aloft and the bond getting stronger-with everything coming from
Zorameth. Gold flights were the best always. Cyradis and C'vris of Dolphin
Cove-it had a certain ring to it, didn't it? He almost laughed in K'deren's
direction. What did a brownrider have to hope for?

Mnoranth wasn't the least bit put off by the other males vying for the
golden prize. He'd caught two mates of his own before as well and
matched Loseth beat for beat as they raced after Panitath. The browns
were quicker off the mark than the bronzes but that wouldn't last and
couldn't compare to the might of bronze!

Kedvencth took to the air, joining the other males in the chase. N'mor
sighed, they were committed now. Then he allowed the their bond to take over
and dragonlust engulfed him. They were one and they wanted the gold!

Panitath looked over her shoulder repeatedly and taunted the males following
her. She flew strongly for a long time until some of her chasers began to
tire and fall away. Only a few remained with her. Kedvencth, Loseth,
Mnoranth, Zorameth, and a few others still flew strongly vying for her
attention and position. Yet she rose higher until she burst through the
clouds far above the ocean. She slid sideways her choice made and turned to
backwing directly in his path. Her lifemate might not want this but right
then he was the best. }:Loseth:{ she called as he appeared.

The bronze lost no time claiming her, wrapping tight around her. }:Mine!:{
he bellowed out to the Weyr as they began to fall. No one would take the
Queen or the leadership from him.

On the ground, N'vanik grabbed Cyradis with the same intensity. Heedless of
his injured shoulder, he tore off his sling as they entered the flight room.
He didn't feel the pain, only need. She was his, the Weyr was his, just as
it should be.

Disappointment, rage, anger flew through the bond Donneth shared with
K'deren as Panitath was caught. Donneth returned to the Weyr, K'deren could
only turn to a willing woman, one eager to lead him to an empty flight room,
for a necessary, but empty activity.

Thwarted again, Zorameth was indeed wrathful, but the burning in his wings
was more important and brought him back to the Weyr to nurse his wounded
pride. He had thought this would be his chance!

His rider stalked out, pulling someone around to see to his needs. C'vris would
not give up. Someday, he would be the one chosen.

Ked's disappointment left a bitter taste to N'mor's mouth. But he soon
forgot it when he was approached by one of the women who preyed the
Flight's loosers. She was old enough to be his mother, she has wicked
eyes, sultry smile and hoarse, sexy voice when she asked: "Need a help
with that dragonlust, bronzerider?"

"Yes!" N'mor couldn't care less about her age when he wrapped his arms
around her.

Last updated on the September 24th 2012

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Through the Clouds