Challenge to Rights

[Spirithawk]

Christae idly twirled her quill. She was annoyed with logging in the goods from last tithe train. She was almost finished, but she would rather be outside. The day was a fine one and she would rather be on the lake shore or out by the beach.

Kaith was sunning herself on the fireheights, enjoying the day almost as much as her rider was disliking the work she had to do. Her hide glowed with health and her sleep was easy.

Christae worked for about an hour or so and then picked up the hides and her quill, satisfied that she had finished the job. She walked outside and was informed by a drudge that Sh'iron had gone out of the Weyr on business. She sighed.

She wished they had more time together. She hadn't really talked to him since he had found out that Nike and Ruanth had been flying. The pair had done well. The Weyrlings were graduating in a few sevendays, well some of them would be and Christae was proud of them.

Christae looked up at her dragon Queen as she exited the Weyrleader's office and her heart nearly stopped. She called for her fire lizard, cursing mentally. This was not a good time for the Weyrleader to be away from the Weyr.

Kaith was too gold to be just in good health. Christae sent Birinj to find the big bronze and the Weyrleader. If Kaith woke up she would rise and if they weren't there....Christae didn't want to think about what would happen if another bronze caught Kaith.

Christae heard screams from the feeding pens. Already, a couple of bronzes were blooding their kills, a sure sign that the Senior Queen was about to mate. Christae ran to the Weyrling Court and yelled for Miya. "Get Reinath away from here now. " She added as an afterthought. "Get any green dragons away as well. We can't afford to have one of them rising."

Christae sent the word through the Weyr that all green dragons were to leave quickly and quietly to avoid any chance that there would be a double flight. Kaith was normally a good natured Queen but when she flew the bronzes could not pay attention to any other dragon or she would rip them apart.

[Tenma]

Miya looked at Christae with confusion. What was going on, why was the Weyrwoman getting rid of her gold and the greens. They were all females. Her head shot torwards the pens to see the bonzes feeding. She understood. “Where are we supposed to go?” The goldrider asked nervously.

**************************
(I am using the adoptables.)

A large bronze stood over a herdbeast, blooding his kill. The time was finally here. The bronze snarled at any other dragon who came near. He was large enough and strong enough to do so. Myarananth was gone and know he would catch the gold. He was strong and powerful, and would easily prevail over the other weak bronzes and pathetic browns.

A young man of twenty-five ran outside. He had a thin body but was quite muscular. The man, recognized as L’ran, had light brown hair covering his head, and his face was clean. He wore a dark blue shirt and black leggings. His clothes were clean and his hair was tidy.

The man took large strides, and walked proudly. ~Make sure to only blood, Zaneth. I don’t need any other worthless soles to catch that beautiful creature.~ L’mis growled at Zaneth like normal.

I wouldn’t dare. That gold is my catch. He replied and looked up. His muzzle was bloody. Satsfied the bronze spread his large wings and flew to his perch to await the queen’s flight. No other weak bronze or pathetic brown will catch Kaith.
Finally Myaranth and Sh’iron were gone and Kaith was going to fly. Now no one could stop the two from catching their prize and becoming leaders.

[Spirithawk]

Christae turned to Miya. "Take her to another Weyr. Take her far away from here. Kaith will kill another female dragon if she gets close while she is rising and we can't take the chance of antoher female going into heat. She will wake soon. Go to Ista. You have the coordinates. You jumped there last sevenday with the other Weyrlings. Go there. It will be far enough away and they will welcome you until it is safe to return."

Christae watched as the bronzes blooded their kills. She was confident now. She knew how to control her Queen during a flight. The question was would Sh'iron and his bronze be back in time? Christae shuddered to think of another bronze flying her Queen.

Christae kept her thoughts and feelings from her gold. The longer Kaith remained asleep the more time Birinj would have to fetch Sh'iron back from his errand to Fort Weyr.

Christae frowned when she noticed one of the larger bronzes monopolizing the feeding pens for a while. She disliked the rider. He was power hungry and egotistical. He hadn't been too happy when Myaraneth had flown Kaith the first time. He had protested that he was from Dark Moon, not Sh'iron and the flight had been unfair since a Benden dragon had flown.

Christae sincerely hoped that Sh'iron returned soon. At least he didn't make her feel like she was some prize to be won in a flight. He was a good, steady Weyrleader. The riders followed his lead and he backed Christae when she needed support. The pair worked well together. Christae didn't want to lose him as Weyrleader. She also didn't want another's hands on her.

[Tenma]

Miya stood for a moment then nodded. "I will wake Reinath and leave. I will also tall all the greenriders I know that they have to leave." She paused and thought about the few greenriders she knew. "What about Nike. Ruanth is white but she is a female. Should she leave?" Miya asked anxiously.

Before an answer was given Miya woke the sleepy gold.

What is is, Miyamine? I am tired, why do you wake me? Reinath complained.

~I am sorry Reinath but we must leave. Kaith is going to rise to mate soon.~ Miya reported.

Coming. Reinath said simply. A minute later a large queen appeared in the sky. As she came closer one could tell that this gold was too small to be Kaith and it was realized that is was Reinath, the gold who was too young to rise.

The gold landed near her mine. All of these dissapointed bronzes. That isn't right. Reinath snorted.

Miya couldn't help but smile. ~Relax. They are just looking for a flight.~ Miya reassured the gold and scratched her eyeridges. ~Now.~ Miya’s voice changed tone to determination. ~I need you to tell all of the greens and their riders to go to Ista.~ The goldrider instructed.

Reinath bobbed her head in what was supposed to be a nod. Greens. Please tell your riders that you are to go to Ista immediately. Sr. queen Kaith shall rise soon and we wish for no casualties. The queen relayed the message to all of the greens that she could the of, even the new green transfer.

~Well done.~ Miya congratulated the gold then turned to Christae for her answer.

*****************************

Zaneth’s large head darted upward as a gold glint caught the corner of his many-faceted eyes. It is a queen. Zaneth said hopefully to his rider.

L’ran looked upward. ~Are you sure that is Kaith? Remember there is that weyrling with a gold.~ The bronzerider questioned, knowing that the bronze had better eyesight then he did.

Zaneth narrowed his eyes and looked closely. You are right. That gold is too small to be Kaith. Zaneth snorted and looked away, waiting impatiently for the flight.

***********************

Niramine, Reinath contacts us. She says that Kaith shall fly soon and we are to go to Ista Weyr. Siarath relayed the message.

Nira nodded. ~Alright, one moment. I have to change into my riding gear.~ Nira replied and quickly changed. Then a thought crossed her mind. ~Hold on.~ She told the large green and ran towards the weyrling barracks. She grabbed Miya’s jacket and heavy clothing that could slip over the clothes she wore now. She also grabbed a riding helmet.

~There, I was right. Miya didn’t have her riding clothes. Let’s go.~ Nira ran outside towards the feeding pens. She handed Miya the clothes.

Siarath flew down and Nira climbed onto her back. “See you later, Christae.~ She smiled and Siarath flew up and winked between.

Another gold glint was seen and then gone. Lina had went between with her rider.

********************

Miya quietly took the clothes as Nira handed them too her and slipped them over her clothes, riding helmet in the crook of her arm.

[Spirithawk]

Christae debated. She didn't think that Ruanth would fly. The white was maturing slowly, but then again she was still female and she was not exactly like Ruth. Ruth couldn't fly as soon as Ruanth could. "Tell Nike to take Ruanth away as well. We can't afford to lose ANY dragons or riders."

Christae nodded with approval when the greens left. "You told them to go didn't you?" She smiled. "You will make a good Junior Weyrwoman Miya. Thank you. Now get you gone before Kaith wakes." Christae shifted nervously on her feet. "Shells what a day for Sh'iron and Myranenth to be gone!" She didn't realize that she had spoken aloud to the other goldrider.

[Spirithawk]

Rhia ran down the stairs from her weyr to the feeding pens where Christae and Miya were. She buckled on her helmet and waited for Mneith to land before she put the riding straps on the brown.

"Mneith is as large as the bronzes and I don't want to take the chance of him catching Kaith. I am going to find Sh'iron and Myranenth. He is at Fort Weyr right?" Gylfie popped from between and chittered at her mistress. "Gylfie says the big bronze is still at Fort. I'm going fetch them."

Christae nodded to the brownrider as Rhia leapt astride her dragon and the huge brown launched himself. He rose high enough to go between and winked out.

[Tenma]

Miya nodded. "I know." She smirked at her reply to the compliment. Reinath gave the same message to Ruanth as she had to the greens. She then remember Kylath and decided it would be a good idea to get rid of the copper too, so she sent the message to the female mutant dragon.

Miya buckled on the helmet and Reinath flapped her large wings. The two pictured the place carefully, still frightened of the nothingness of between, then they dissappeared.

[Dragon]

G'han was out training harder than normal. He awoke to the dream yet again. They had disappeared when he told Rhia about it but they seemed to have come back when she had the twins. He adored the twins, proud to be a father. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the nightmares that haunted his mind. He returned to the weyr and looked at his bronze. He was heading to the feeding pens. G'han raised an eyebrow and ran to follow him. "Oh no!"he shouted. He had no choice though it was too late, he couldn't stop his bronze. ~Blood it Gerenanth, just blood it~, he said a bit depressed but he pressed it in the dragon's mind. Gerenanth did as he said and blooded it. G'han could do nothing but watch as his dragon would soon try and catch whatever dragon were to rise. He prodded his dragon's mind, it was Kaith. "Oh boy", G'han said sarcastically.

[nike]

Nike had looked up from her place beside Ruanth on the couch in their barracks. Her concussion was healed, buts he was still not allowed back to work.
The drudge spoke in hurried words that Nike barely made out before she understood from the sounds outside.

Jumping up the white rider threw the straps on her beloved white, then shoved on her own riding jacket, helmet, and gloves. No time for anything else. The two hurriedly ran outside with Zim and Crystal following.

Catching Christae's arm as they passed by, Nike smiled.
"Good luck," She mururmed to the gold rider, then jumped up on Ruanth's neck, strapped herself in, and then the two went to Ista Weyr with the rest of the greens and Miya.

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

Sh'iron smiled and gave a nod to the Fort Weyrleader, then walked away with a happy little sigh. So far, everything was going well. He had been at Fort for little more than half a day. The plans for Threadfall were going great, as planned.

Myranenth was slightly jumpy. He opened his eyes every so often, looked around widely, then slowly put his head down. Like he was expecting something to attack.

Shaking his head, the young Dark Moon Weyr Weyrleader strode to his tempoary weyr where he was allowed to rest if he got tired. His long arms swayed at his sides as he walked across the large Weyr's Bowl.

All of a sudden, a tiny bronze firelizard appeared above his head. The bronze was chittering madly. At that moment, Myranenth leaped off the rim and landed next to his rider.
The little one says that Kaith is going to fly! Hurry! No one but I shall catch her! The huge bronze said, pushing his rider with his nose.

Cursing, Sh'iron ran towawrds his weyr, and grabed Myranenth's straps, his riding gear, and his small pack. Quickly as he could, the bronze rider put hid dragon's straps on, and leapt on his back when he saw a brown dragon come gliding down.
Rhia, and Mneith.
They must be here to tell him about the flight.

But before he could even wave, Myranenth jumped into the air, and went /between./
They came out above Dark Moon to the sight of a sleeping Kaith, and a blooding bronze.
Myranenth glided down, and Sh'iron ripped off his straps and ran towards Chrisate.

"I got here as soon as I could. I hope I'm not too late," He said, worriedly.

Myranenth started blooding his kill, snarling at the other bronze.
He did not need to tell the other bronze that Kaith was his mate. His queen. The one who caught her during her first flight and was there when she clutched, and when her first clutch hatched. He had been there. And he would be here now.

[Dragon]

G'han gave a bit of a sighed relief as the weyrleader's bronze appeared. Truth be told he really didn't want Gerenanth to win the flight but he had no choice and on the other hand he couldn't allow that other bronzerider to be weyrleader. For a moment he felt himself in a bind but he was sure Sh'iron's bronze would catch Kaith again. He said nothing and hid this from his bronze who was blooding his kill.

[Tenma]

~Shards. Sh'iron and Myaranth are back. You are going to have to beat him. I am pretty sure that Kaith won't purposely choose him. We still have a chance if you can outfly him.~ L'ran continued to swear under his breath as he glared angrily at the current Weyrleader.

Of course I will. Even with Myaranth here, I can still outfly him. I beleive him and I are the largest bronzes so we will outfly the others. Zaneth replied.

~Yeah, and not all of the competetors are too willing. G'han and Rhia don't want to catch Kaith. If we are lucky, their unwillingness might hinder their dragons abilities. Either way, we will win.~ L'ran snarled.

Both rider and dragon glared at their enemy of the same species. ((Human staring at human, dragon staring at dragon.))

[Dragon]

G'han looked at L'ran, a dispicable man he was. He wasn't worthy to be weyrleader in his eyes. If at anyrate Gerenanth could possibly divert his attention from Sh'iron and his dragon and give them a chance at winning though he knew Gerenanth would try to catch the queen and not worry about that. G'han was not to be taken lightly, though he didn't wish this he would step up to make sure that the wrong person didn't get the position of Weyrleader. He wasn't to be counted out before the flight even started.

[Spirithawk]

Christae gave Nike a tight-lipped smile when the white rider wished her good luck. "Thank's Nike now get going." She scanned the skies for any sign of the huge bronze Myranenth. She would not let any other rider have her.

The young goldrider let out a cry of relief when the enormous bronze erupted from between. "Shells and Shards Sh'iron you had me scared. I couldn't take another bronze catching Kaith. What a day for you to be away from the Weyr." She embraced him. For a few moments, letting her venerability show. Then she straightened up, becoming the Weyrwoman once more.

"You aren't too late. Kaith is still sleeping but she should wake at any moment." Christae took a deep breath. The gold's hide was becoming steadily brighter and she started to become more restless in her sleep, her tail lashing from side to side.

Christae made her way to the feeding pens from where she had been in the Weyrling Courtyard. She waited at the feeding pens for her dragon to wake. She stood with her back straight, ready for anything as the bronze riders began to converge around her.

Kaith opened her jewel-faceted eyes. Christae was instantly aware of the Queen's wakefulness. The large golden dragon reared up with a growl. Her eyes began to whirl dizzingly red. She launched herself from the fireheights and bore in on the feeding pens. She killed a buck with a viscious swipe of her claws.

"Blood only Kaith!" Christae yelled at the Queen, pressing her will on the dragoness. Kaith fought her rider for all she was worth. Christae's face was pale with the strain of keeping the Queen in check. She would not allow her Queen to eat the hot flesh she craved. Kaith would not be heavy for this flight.

Kaith could not afford to be slow. If she was slow another dragon would catch her. Kaith sucked the carcass dry and jumped at another wherry buck. The huge gold sucked that carcass dry after fighting with her rider to eat the steaming entrails. She growled and snarled at the bronzes ringing the feeding pens.

The great gold didn't bother to fight her rider as she caught a herdbeast and sucked the hot blood from it's body. She snarled as she jumped for another carcass. She blooded her fourth carcass and jumped for another one. She sucked at the neck and then let the body fall.

Kaith rose from the feeding pens, suddenly pulsing with a bright golden light. She screamed a taunting challenge to the bronzes as her enourmous wings swept the sky, bringing her flying high and strong through the air. She would not be caught by an unworthy dragon. Even Myranenth would have to work for her. The flight would be fast, high, and furious.

[Dragon]

Gerenanth was blooding his last kill as the queen awoke and rose to the skies after blooding her kill. The bronze took off after her. High into the skies he sored (sp?). He didn't bother to look anywhere but up at the queen as he flew towards her, like an arrow shot intot he skies. G'han watched as his dragon took off after her, there was nothing he could do now, the chase was on.

[Tenma]

As the queen awoke Zaneth hummed deeply in the back of his throat.

~Finally.~ L'ran growled impatiently. ~Go on Zaneth, catch her.~ The bronzerider snapped.

Zaneth agreed fullheartedly and leapt in the sky. He dropped but an inch when his large bronze wings flapped open. He stroked them down then up then back down. A burst of speed sent him hurtling at the queen. He bugled in response to the warning, his deep voice loud, chalenging, proud, and determined.

[Miki]

Kia lay quietly on the shore of the lake. Where she was it was surprisingly alone. She slowly opened her eyes to see Kylath soaring above. The rider yawned and streached her arms. "Kylath," she called. The dragon, of course, did not here. Kylath. The copper looked down and soared to the ground. Her wings spread out like saws cutting throught the air. She gently landed on the shore. Her front two legs landed and she took a few steps with them before her back to touched ground. [shadow=red,left,300]Yes?[/shadow]"I just wanted to check how you were doing." Kylath looked a little annoyed but slowly it changed to a thoughtful expression. [shadow=red,left,300]Kiamine, we must go. Kaith is rising and we do not want any fatalities.[/shadow]Kia looked worried. "Come, I need to get your straps!"

Kia ran while Kylath glided to her room. She dressed appropriately, grabbed the straps, and hurried to slip them on and drop her helmet on. Kylath held out a copper-hided leg and Kia climbed up. "Let's go," she whispered and Kylath jumped into the sky. Within a moment's the time, the two were far away from Dark Moon Weyr.

--

Idath and S'far were certainly not leaving the Weyr.

Idath, you are so mean. I'm just saying. Don't be too harsh on the other dragons.

Idath and S'far were abit different than most riders, especally considering that the hide of Idath is unmistakably bronze. The two are very close, sharing everything and almost never getting mad. Of course, that doesn't mean they are very rude about the other riders and dragons. S'far was still pretty young, what wa sone supposed to expect from him? Well, sure, if he set himself to a task he got it down summarily. He was actually a very dependable guy.

Idath's head sudenlly rose. Idath... are you okay? Just as S'far finished speaking, Idath jumped out into the air. He flew off until his rider could not see him. Idath quickly ran outside and looked for his dragon. Instead he saw Kaith soaring in the sky. He looked for Christae, hoping she was alright. Why did he always do that? If she was not she would have enough people crowding around her. Instead he looked up at his dragon that was diligantly following the queen dragon. He was silent. There was no use in wasting energy on bugling or any other fluff like that. He was determined to catch her. That was how he would prove himself, not the sound of his voice.

ooc|| Should Idath catch Kaith, I'd be happy to make him a character.

[nike]

Myranenth eye's were only for Kaith as she woke. The bronze took a perch up above the queen and the other, looking fown at them from the highest point on the rim. His eyes were wirling faster and faster as the wonderful queen that was his mate, killed.

At her bugle, he returned it, and didn't take any extra moment to snap open his wings, and push forward into the air. Gaining speed, the huge bronze made his way, close to the front, not in the front, nor the middle, but very close.

Myranenth was ditermed to catch Kaith. Yes he was. Very much so.

[Tenma]

Zaneth glared as Myranenth zoomed past. He snorted angrily ang flapped his wings till he was neck to neck with his rival. He bugled. You won't beat me this time. He said to the bronze. His whirling eyes were on the queen but he payed close attention to Myranenth. The moment that bronze made a move for the queen he would beat him to it and grabbed the beauty. No matter what.

((Dun dun dun....lol))

[Dragon]

Gerenanth flew up next to Zanethth, putting the larger bronze between him and Myranenth. Do not forget I am in this as well. The bronze was smaller but speed was his advantage. He had good endurance as well but for now he would stay even with the others not yet wanting to make his move so early in the flight. Underestimating Gerenanth would be the undoing of any bronze and Gerenanth was out to prove that fact.

[Tenma]

Zaneth snorted in amusment. You? Would you really do that to your rider. He has a weyrmate and two children. Why would any bronze dare to even try to catch the queen. Do you risk seperating them, angering your rider, possibly destroying the bond between you. A shameful bronze you would become. The large bronze said in a deep lecturing tone, as he tried to dissuade the smaller and younger bronze, without making it obvious. It was hard to tell that he was being tricky, he sounded serious and responsibile.