Higher, higher Golden Fire (OPEN)

[Spirithawk]

It had been at least 3 sevendays since the discovery that dragons could go back in time. Christae and her Wingleaders had been discussing and carefully practicing the ability. It had taken one unfortunate event where a dragon hadn't returned from *between* to make certain that all of the dragons and riders took betweening from time to time very seriously.

Christae was worried about the fact that the Red Star was coming closer, and the weyr was still under-strength. She was also worried about the fact that she had no Weyrleader at her side to help run the Weyr. Supplies were a bit better with the hunting the dragons were doing, but with the training needed to prepare for Thread, the dragons couldn't spare much time to hunt to replenish the depleted stores. The unnatural heat was causing a lot of the fruit to spoil unless it was stored in the deepest cavern, and Christae was tempted to send riders out to High Reaches or some other cold place to bring back snow to keep the storerooms cool.

There were so many things that needed to be done. There was dried fish in the storerooms, and the drudges were working on drying some of the meat the dragons had brought back, but the small tithes had caused problems before. Now the tithes were even more pitiful if they came at all because everyone had been devastated by the hurricane. Caspian was the only one who sent a good tithe but even they had been sending smaller tithes. The wher hold was drawing off surplus provisions from the hold, but at least they sent something.

Christae was contemplating a plan that would hopefully solve the problem of too few full grown dragons in the Weyr. The previous two clutches of dragons were nowhere near full grown. The first class had been flying for a few sevendays. The second class was just beginning to fly and hadn't started *between* lessons yet. Everyone was behind thanks to the hurricane.

Christae could feel her golden dragon sleeping. She had been increasingly more difficult to deal with. The stress of the weyr business was wearing Christae down, and it was affecting Kaith's attitude. She didn't think the Queen was close to rising, not so soon after her last clutch, but the dragon had been off color. She attributed it to the recent death of the brown dragon that had attempted between times. It had been enough to make Kaith expressly forbid any dragon to go between times without her permission. No dragon had dared to defy the Queen's order on that one. The shock of Hithorth's death was warning enough!

The dragon thrashed on her ledge, with some unsavory dream. Christae sliced a redfruit up for Chiron and gave the pieces to her son. At least he was easily amused. She turned back to her work and continued copying the fading hide onto a new, clean one so that the information was not lost.

Kaith awoke with a fierce hunger. Her hide blazed brilliantly in the mid-morning sun. Christae was instantly aware of her dragon's state, and ran from the room, yelling for someone to see to Chiron.

"Shells and shards, it's too early!" Her dragon couldn't be rising this soon, but there was no mistaking it. The bronzes and larger browns were blooding their kills. Rhia raced across the bowl to her waiting brown. The WLM didn't want to be anywhere near a mating Kaith with her brown. Mneith hurriedly rose and winked between with barely enough height. She wouldn't take either to task. They were an experienced pair.

Kaith let out a bellow and launched herself from her ledge. The beasts in the pens squealed and screamed as she bore down upon them. She landed on a herdbeast and viciously snapped its neck before ripping into it.

"Blood only Kaith!" She cried, forcing her will upon the Queen. She was no stranger to this by now, but she was still dazed that she was rising so soon after her last clutch!

[Dragon]

There was so much tension and drama at Darkmoon with what had been going on. Even the care-free G'han found himself worn. He found many days long and hard, and his mood began to reflect it. He found sleep less and less. Whether it be simply from the stress or the late hours required of him. He was one of the newest wingleaders. It hadn't been that long since his return, and shortly after he found himself in the position of wingleader.

It was a significant shift in duty, and at such a strenious time. It was uncharacteristic of him when he began actually snapping at others. There were times when he even had to apologize to his own wing for his behavior. But today G'han found his bed earlier than what was usual lately. He hadn't bothered to change. He simply slid out of the dirty clothes he wore and fell into bed.

At the very least, he got a couple hours of sleep before Gerenanth decided to wake him. Gerenanth did not wait for his rider. He simply uttered the right word. Kaith. Even in G'han's groggy state, he knew what this meant. The bronzerider shook his head. Perhaps this was a good thing, the weyr would soon be populated with more Dragonriders, but even he was aware of the ever approaching threat and didn't know what this would mean. Either way, Christae may have thought this wasn't a good time.

If G'han thought he was stressed, he knew Christae had to be even more so. He tried to help where he could, maybe that's why he wasn't getting so much sleep now. But even he couldn't take away all of the Weyrwoman's worries. He sighed, pulling on some decent pants and a shirt. He threw on some footwear and trudged off to the feeding pens.

Meanwhile, Gerenanth dove for the pens, blooding his kills. He wanted all the energy he could for this one. He had participated in Kaith's flights before and never won. Perhaps this time would be different. He was done with his last one, now he would wait for his queen, and then begin the chase.

G'han slowly made his way to the feeding pens. He stood by, watching his dragon blood his kills. His eyes showed the weariness of not just this day, but the many days before it. His posture was slouched, hoping Christae wouldn't be offended by it. He offered her a tired smile. But something told him once Gerenanth got into this flight, he would find some sort of unnatural energy to replace the near depleted bit he had now.

[Spirithawk]

OOC: Feel free to make or adopt a bronzerider for this thread. If you win, you will be asked to make him permanent, but if not, you can submit a bio for approval or just let him vanish.

[Akki]

It was an interesting time for Dark Moon. The discovery of being able to go back in time was both grand and sad. The newfound knowledge was definitely something to celebrate, that could not be denied. This ability would no doubt prove to be extremely useful.

However with Hithorth’s passing it was clear that this was not something that should be played around with. No one would dare to break the Queen’s orders about this one, it was simply too dangerous.

V’ian sat in the kitchens, arguing loudly with his sister about their childhood. “I absolutely did not push you down the stairs back then. You fell because you were clumsy. Still are.” V’ian huffed, waving a half eaten sweetroll at his sister. However, Akki didn’t have a chance to reply because suddenly Kaith’s bellow could be heard through out Dark Moon. V’ian swore loudly, shoving the food at his sister with a “Eat this.” Before moving quickly from the kitchen and towards the feeding pens.

Sorry but I will be giving chase. Waeith apologized, knowing that V’ian wanted to avoid any flights considering how the one with Anassa had ended. But there wasn’t really a chance to stop Waeith now, he was already diving towards the pens. Teeth sunk into the beasts below, the bronze ignored the screams that were emitted. There were better things to concentrate on. Gold things.

He dug into another animal, waiting and blooding until Kaith took the skies where he would follow. V’ian reached the pens after a minute or two of running and shot a look at Christae. The poor woman! Her dragon had just had a flight and now she was having another! It seemed almost unfair.

[seneth]

Skimming low over the trees of southern C'lar whistled softly to himself as he admired the beauty of the land bellow. "To think it was like this.." He murmured, whilst scratching his stubble thoughtfully. "That hurricane sure did a lot of damage...lucky we didn't travel between..." The man added with a grim expression. "You heard about the brown..

---

Admin's Note:[/hr][/i]" At the soft rumble beneath him, he patted the great bronze neck affectionately. "Sorry my old friend I know you don't like hearing..." 'Old?

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]'[/color] Answered an incredulous voice as a large eye turned to study him. 'I know we've been together a while...but your the eldest of us.' The large bronze snorted as he shifted to catch another air current. His flight lazy, unhurried. 'So why did you wish to travel here...' "You know why..." The rider smirked, as he resisted peeling off his headgear and thick riding jacket. "Shards its hot here..." The blue eyed man grimaced. "To think the climate would be so different here..."

Suddenly at the almighty bellow C'lar muttered an oath, "...That can't be...oh shards, let's get back to Southern Weyr...now!" The man yelped his form rigid. "Why would the senior queen be...its too soon...who's her mate? Surely there's a Weyrleader here...there's no need for you...us..." 'What about that pride you speak of often...I thought you wished to move here. That man you speak of often lived here...' The bronze rumbled soothingly, as he tried to convince his rider towards the decision he'd already made. "Yes…but...Wreth, its not that you can't catch her...its because you could dearest heart...there's no way I'd make a good leader..." C'lar muttered hurriedly, shifting his weight back as the bronze started his decent. It wasn't long before C'lar spotted the dragons quarry, with a soft groan the bronze deftly caught and bloodied a screaming beast.

By the third C'lar offered a resigned sigh, "I know I have to mature someday...maybe this is what I need..." The man thought aloud as the bronze easily took off and continued towards the Weyr. "Lucky we haven't been flying long...will the queen accept you? I didn't think it was open..." 'Don't worry, the more the better...more challenging...' The bronze rumbled distractedly as he manoeuvred into the Weyr. "Do us proud as you always do my friend..." The man grinned as he climbed down, his fingers fumbling to release the riding harness.
Once free the bronze ruffled and beat his broad wings, his rapidly whirling eyes studying the competition. With a confident snort he turned to the queen with a soothing croon. Whether she planned to accept him or not, he would chase her well.

By this time C'lar baring the colours of one of the northern Weyrs offered a slightly apologetic grin to the Weyrwoman and her growing number of attendants. "C'lar of bronze Wreth..." He murmured, offering a distracted salute and bow to the Weyrwoman. As he straightened his glistening blue eyes turned to his bronze...the glowing queen...then to the Weyrwoman. His form as tense as Wreth's as he waited with baited breath for the rising to begin.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith flicked a scornful glance over the arrivals. Only 3 males? How disappointing for her. She was the great Senior Queen of Dark Moon, one of the largest Queens on Pern. She deserved more than 3 measly males.

She fought against her rider to tear into the warm flesh of the beast below her. Her hunger and need pulsed through her body, making her golden hide pulse brighter in the blazing Southern sun. She bugled a challenge, the blood from her kill a dark stain against her golden maw.

She leapt on another buck, this time too hungry to bother fighting her rider. She drained the carcass dry and went for another. She broadcasted to any males that were interested from other weyrs that she was rising, and she was challenging! She called to her own males, urging them to chase. She needed to be challenged. She would only be flown by the best.

Outside the pens, Christae fought the rising emotion from her Queen with the ease of long practice. It was always hard, but nowhere near as hard as it was when her great Queen rose for the first time. She nodded to the newcomer. "Christae, of Kaith." She said in a strained voice. It was better now that the Queen wasn't fighting her, but she kept an iron control over her anyway. They needed a good clutch, and if she ate meat, it would slow the gold down.

[Minajerie]

R'khol sighed as he eased himself onto a bench, easing a plate of food onto the table before him. He took a sip from the cup of klah he had pored. He was over at a different Weyr... but he still needed to eat right? That's right. He had done his simple duty. He was on an errand for some of the higher ups at Ista weyr. They wanted somebody 'dependable' to deliver a message. Why that somebody had to be a wingleader, and that wingleader be him, he'd never know. It truly wasn't his business.

A muffled loud noise came from somewhere nearby. It reminded him of a call to rise from a queen... but that couldn't be...

Kaith is rising. Mine... I shall chase.

This was a point where R'khol half swallowed/choked his klah and spat it out in a surprised spray that luckily landed on no bystanders. "What?!

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]"

Dark Moon's Golden Queen, Kaith, is rising to be mated. I am here, she is here. I will give chase. It's what bronzes do.

B-But.... There were no words. He remembered Christae not having a Weyrleader... but hadn't her queen risen fairly recently? Wasn't this too soon for a rise? ...And why did this have to happen when he was here with Kegrith?!

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]

Fine, I'll be down in two shakes. You know to blood only if you want to catch the shining beauty. He heaved another sigh and shoved a bite of stew into his mouth, savored it's warmth before grabbing two meatrolls and heading off to where he was sure the other riders were gathering.

It didn't take him long to get there. "Greetings Weyrwoman Christae. I am R'khol, of Bronze Kegrith." He said his introduction in a very respectful, if resigned, manner. At least he wasn't involved with anyone at the moment...

He watched his bronze who had pounced on one of the herd and was quickly draining the carcass of it's bodily fluids.

[Akki]

There were only four dragons in all for the flight, which was actually surprising considering the lack of bronzes and browns. It was understandable why Rhia and Mneith had left, leaving four bronzes behind.

Waeith cracked the neck of another herdbeast, the audible sound of bones snapping in half echoing around as the others did the same. Normally Waeith was a patient dragon, a calm and collected one. But not when there were flights to be won. He didn’t particularly care for the beasts around him, he wanted to see the gold dragon take to the sky so he could follow her. Patience wasn’t a virtue when it was flight time. He let the animal in his mouth drop when he opened it and bugled back at the Queen. She didn’t need any other dragons, he was there!

----

It was Akki who answered Christae’s call for someone to watch Chiron. She had followed V’ian out of the kitchens and saw the little boy standing around, watching his mother go to the pens. She took the little boys hand in her own and stood at the edge of the bowl.

“I don’t think Dark Moon can handle all this drama.” She mumbled, watching as bronzes feasted beside each other; all waiting for the same golden prize to fly up. She glanced at Christae, taking note of who was there. G’han, her brother and two kids she didn’t know. “Scratch that, I don’t think Christae can handle all this drama.”

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Geth lay sprawled out on the shoulder of a mountain, idly chewing on the remains of a mountain caprine, not really hungry enough to actually just eat the thing. He was simply getting pleasure out of hearing the gristly crunching of the bones and warping of the gristle and meat around his teeth. The sunny patches were nice on his shiny hide, glistening under a fairly recent coat of oil. Not too far away, R'anl was busily hacking at a long, straight stick with his knife, sharpening the wooden thing. R'anl had gotten in the habit of taking Geth out to the mountains to eat, ever since realizing the state of the Weyr's supply of foodstuffs. And while Geth hunted and ate from wild stock well away from the Weyr, R'anl made an effort to trap something. Which meant he had quite a few traps scattered all over the mountain ... all made from local materials, as he didn't want to wander off with anything the Weyr did have.

That, and it kinda kept him out of the way of whatever in the world was going on back there. R'anl had long since figured out that a few people were staring at him oddly like he was guilty of something. He only hoped it didn't have anything to do with that rash of disappearances and murders that had been going on. Yeah, he was a newcomer, after a fashion, but sheesh. It made his skin crawl.

Unfortunately, being out here alone, no one knowing where he and Geth were ... didn't really help. But sometimes it was good to just get away, when there were no pressing duties to attend to. Maybe a few of the kitchen staff were wise to what he was up to, given the carcasses he tended to bring back, but hey. Who listened to or believed kitchen gossip?

Abruptly, Geth's head shot upward on his long neck, head turned to one side. R'anl stopped what he was doing almost as if suddenly cast in ice. "What is it?" R'anl asked, quietly, suspecting that maybe something was sneaking up on them (something stupid, if it thought it could get past a bronze dragon) Or worse, Thread had finally come.

Kaith.

R'anl got to his feet, stepping over to grab up Geth's harness off the ground where it had lain since R'anl had taken it off so the big male could go hunt freely. "What about her?" he asked, hoping that something terrible hadn't happened to the Weyr's Queen.

Geth answered by getting to his feet, leg of meat forgotten by his front toes. She rises. He bothered to mention, before launching into the air and beating his huge wings downward in a gust hard enough that it knocked R'anl clean over onto his backside.

"What?!" R'anl demanded, scrambling back to his feet. "Don't leave me here-!" R'anl started, just before Geth vanished into between. "... you oaf!" R'anl swore colorfully, kicked a rock into a tumbling plummet down the mountain's shoulder, and crammed his hands into his pockets to stalk around in a large circle. Great. Now what? The great lout had gone off and left him there. Alone. With no way back. Nevertheless, he was still going to feel the effects of everything. Great. Just great.

Geth reappeared over the Weyr, and canted hard into a tight circle overhead, head craned downward to see what there was to see. Not only to feast his eyes on the prize to be won, but also to size up the competition that he was going to have to out-fly to win. Geth had never won a Queen flight, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. Rather intense about the whole thing, R'anl often theorized he scared the ladies off by the single minded aggression that was poured into the chase.

Geth uttered a loud trumpet to announce his arrival and acceptance of the challenge, make sure that she knew he was there, saw him. It would not do at all if she completely missed him, not do at all. The one announcement uttered, however, was the last. Falling into utter, intense silence, he didn't address her or the other dragons in the area. Having looked over the other males, his gaze was now locked firmly upon that shining, golden frame before him.

He was ready.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith gave a croon that was nowhere near soft and soothing. She was pleased that more males had arrived. She gave a flap with her giant golden wings, and it almost seemed as if she would launch into the air to be chased, but instead, the giant beast landed on a large wherry buck. She drained half the carcass, blood streamed from her great maw, bright red against bright gold.

She let out a mighty roar, a challenge to all the males who were there. She was Queen, and she would not be taken by just anyone. The male that caught her would have to be strong, and swift.

Her giant body surged upwards. Muscles expanded and contracted, rippling under the gleaming hide. She blazed, even brighter than before, a golden sun to those who were looking down from the rim of the Weyr bowl.

Kaith flapped her wings, once, twice, raising dust from the Bowl as she powered up strongly. She knew that the higher and longer she flew, the better her clutch would be, but for now, she didn't care. She was not ready for the males to catch her. She would show them how great she was. She was the largest living Queen on Pern, and they would show her the respect that she deserved.


She looped in a lazy spiral as she rose higher, catching a thermal as she went up. She gloried in the feel of the air rushing over her heated body. Her hide pulsed with a blazing light. She was magnificent, and she knew it.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Dead silence was the only response Geth offered in reply to Kaith when she uttered her deafening challenge. Just as soon as she launched off the ground and left the others behind, he twisted around in the air overhead to turn and take on a course that matched her own but as of yet did not overtake her. He was not so stupid as to try and crowd her space before she was even well and good off the ground!! As she climbed through the air, so too did he, a few dragonlengths higher than she was, mimicking her speed and ascent to stay with her. Though he did not pay any mind to it, this kept him well out of the maelstrom of winds that was getting kicked up into turbulence on the ground as one massive dragon after another took to the air, jostling for position.

It was already obvious that he was quite focused, the set of his face and lock of his eye, all he saw was her. All other dragons were completely and utterly gone in his mind, it was just her, and him. Despite the racket of calls and the noise of wingstrokes in the crowded air. She was the only creature in the world at the moment, and to his mind, that was how it should be. She was of utmost importance, in this very moment, nothing else had more value or allure.

Despite being so very far away and utterly abandoned, as it were, R'anl was intensely aware of what was going on with his dragon, almost able to see everything the great bronze beast saw. Parked on the top of a boulder, he heaved a weary sigh. All he could do was hope that Geth did not win, and would shortly be back to get him ... hopefully before something came up out of the rocks and ate him while he was stuck in the stupor of being mind-tied to a Chasing dragon.

She sure was pretty, though...

[Spirithawk]

OOC: Bump. I would like to finish this over the weekend. If not, I'll just cut it short.

[seneth]

Burying his hind talons into the ground, Wreth’s tail offered a ready flick as he eyed the feeding Queen. It was clear she wasn’t like the others of their past Weyr. The mighty gold was obviously one of the largest he’d seen, and he was sure she’d fly well because of it. To think he’d have the honour of giving chase, the bronze wondered lightly as he settled his form into a ready crouch. His mind ignoring the other bronzes as his muscles tensed and his broad wings unfurled slightly.

When the mighty gold dropped her last carcass a deep hum of anticipation rumbled in the depths of his throat. As his bronze form rearing up at her challenging roar, his eyes a whirl of red as she surged upwards. A bare moment later he leapt high with broad wings unfurling to catch the important down-stroke. Thrice he beat down, each stroke sending a flurry of dust and debris, before finally he was air born. The only thing between him and the mighty queen…the surrounding cloud of bronzes.

With an irritable snort he used the brief advantage of sheltering behind another, before finally gliding to one side to catch the thermal. Here with a flourishing twirl he tucked in his limbs, stretching his head in her direction as he gradually gained in speed. Finally he could see her properly…her gleaming form drawing him onwards. As the males, his body, the sky…everything forgotten, as he put his all into the chase.

[Minajerie]

Kegrith watched the golden queen from the corner of his eyes as his unfurled wings soaked up the heat of rukbat. He drained his herdbeast dry, the beast's life-blood giving him strength as readily as the ever shining star. Though, it's shine surely paled in intensity and beauty compared to Kaith's heated hide.

When the queen launched herself into the sky- her beauteous wings giving a three beat into the sky, Kegrith knew he must chase. Though, she seemed to be taking a lazy pace up into the heights of Pern.

Kegrith stretched out his neck, seeming to scent the air before he took a running jump off a grouping of rocks and launched himself into a quick moving thermal. A good place to start any particular thing... was in the high ground. Though not too high, otherwise he would be to far away when other bronzes started making their moves on his gold. And he wanted Kaith. She was golden and gorgeous, and large and in charge, and, well, everything.

He switched thermals when he deemed it necessary. Kaith in his sights, as well as the other bronze beaus. He did not plan on losing this. It was too important to him.


Down below R'khol shifted uncomfortably, his hands going back and forth from unclenching to clenching into fists. Why? Why now? When he knew not the people of this weyr? He feared that even if Kegrith did not win his lady, he would be pulled into the lust of the flight, and spend a night of loving with another- whom he did not know! It wasn't so much the fact that she would be a stranger, as in the fact that he would feel... like he somehow used her. He would stay here just from remorse when in fact he belonged at another weyr! R'khol sighed as he saw a transfer in his future... at the very least... and at the most... well, he would cross that bridge if and when he reached it.

(( Blah, I think I fail at flight posts, but oh well, here... ))

[Dragon]

The queen rose to the air. The flight began. Gerenanth was very eager to give chase. He had tried before and had not been victorious. Would this time be any different? Gerenanth wasn't focused on that though, and neither was his rider.

Her challenge was made, and Gerenanth answered swiftly. He gave a mighty beat of his wings and took chase. The other males didn't matter, only Kaith. She was queen and she would have his full attention. Fast, faster, fastest. Gerenanth was picking up speed as he chased after Kaith. He twirled his body, not wanting to simply chase. No, that would simply bore the mighty queen.

G'han could feel Gerenanth's emotions, his determination, his energy, his drive. It was the pick-me-up G'han had expected in this flight and his body no longer showed that tired posture he had before. This was a revitalized G'han, running on the adreniline coming from his own dragon. Gerenanth was pumped, so was G'han.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith whirled, and flew higher, feeling the urgency of her flight more than before. The Red Star pulsed balefully in the air and she flew faster, almost as if she were trying to out pace the glaring celestial being that threatened all of Pern. She twisted and turned in the air with more agility than would be expected from a Queen, much less a Queen of her size. She was nowhere near as limber as a green, but she was like a dancer in the air.

She dipped and dove, striving to make sure the male that caught her would sire a large clutch. A gust of wind blew her back unexpectly and she dropped back, closer to the rutting males behind her than she liked.

She tried to go higher, the the winds whipping off the coast were stronger than she thought. She leveled out and tried to gain speed. The chase had been going on for quite some time now, and most of the males were still behind her, slower by a bit, but there.

Kaith dropped her speed just a bit to see if any of the males were bold enough to make a move for her.

[Minajerie]

Now was a good time. The winds felt right, and Kaith had slowed her pace just a little, testing them to see who would bite. Kegrith would. He would happily nip at this bait she laid out so seductively.

Tucking his wings into his body he dropped, his body going into a slight spin before he opened his wings again with a resounding pop! He caught an updraft and soared around the golden beauty, crooning to her. Twisting so that he could always see her. She was his. His fire, his everything. And he was so close!

[Spirithawk]

The great golden beast glanced over her shoulder. It was a newcomer who had risen to her challenge. He crooned sweetly to her, and on a whim, she allowed her great body to slow. She flapped her wings to keep herself aloft and allowed him to twine with her.

Usually, she fought to the last, but the flight had gone on long enough and she was high enough for the flight to last quite a bit longer, especially with the thermals and the coastal winds. She would have a good clutch to help repopulate her weyr.

Kegrith was from another Weyr. Their children would have new blood. She didn't really want to mate with one of those who were from previous clutches here at the weyr because the blood line would be too limited.

She bugled as she allowed herself to be caught, and surrendered herself to the glories of the flight. Back on the ground Christae swayed. She was still Kaith, but she was more herself. Christae glanced up at the rider of the dragon who had won her Queen. This would be the third time that she wound up with someone that was not from her weyr for the flight, and a stranger to her. Hopefully this man would do well by her weyr. If not, she would see to it that he had no power. Her riders were loyal to her. These thoughts were ones that she would think afterwards. For now, the passion of the flight shimmered in her brown eyes as she led the way to one of the ground floor weyrs.

((Fade...this can be continued in the adult section but this portion of this thread is over since we are a pg-13 site. Mina can respond))

Congratulations to our new Weyrleader. This flight was determined with complete randomness. A non-member picked a number from 1-5 since there were 5 males participating. The number 4 was picked and that was Kegrith's number.