All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey. Many thanks to Alec Johnson for his assistance with this information!

Confusion and Green Flight

Chailyn approaches Haloran to try to make some sense of what he's told her in the past few days. And J'lyn's Lorieth rises overhead, confusing the pair even further.

Chailyn - Wednesday, September 27, 2000, 2:02 PM
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You walk out into the bowl.

Southern Bowl(#396RDJL$)
Towering above, the bowl wall rises in a curving three-pointed arc as it shelters this southernmost point of Telgar Weyr's great caldera. Sloping down to the north to a slight degree, the floor of the bowl has been channeled so that runoff might drain down to the lake beyond. There are several strategically placed evergreens that serve to baffle the biting mountain winds away from the southern entrance into the living Caverns. The first few spring flowers are blooming in pots, and what weeds there are have a renewed, clean color. The smell of spring comes in on the west wind. Northward, the center of the bowl spreads hugely, leading to the feeding pens, hatching grounds, weyrling barracks and the Telgar Weyr lake. The ground-level weyrs of the queenriders dot the mountain to the northwest. Use '+view queenriders' to view them. The murmur of voices and the clatter of pots and chairs drifts from the Living Cavern, where the evening meal is being served.
The afternoon is clear and the sun shines brightly. A light wind blows and the spring air feels a bit nippy. The ground beneath your feet is wet from the last storm.

Contents:
DRAGONS: (Dilorenth) Ularrith Nyth
PLAYERS: Chailyn Haloran
OTHER: Hole in the Bowl

Chailyn comes out of the caverns, toting a large basket full of clothes. Clipped onto the edge of the basket are a set of clothespins. She pauses a moment, squinting up at the sigh, and then sighs in relief.

Haloran is outside, playing idly with Herman, the brown chirruping and burbling in his lap. He is staring out across the bowl, his head tilting to one side as he does.

Chailyn sets off towards the lake, nodding a cheerful greeting to the browns settled outside the living cavern. She pauses a moment, spying Haloran, and then offers quietly, "I was just heading out to pin up some sheets by the lake, Hal. Want to join me?"

Haloran jerks. *Her* voice. Then he cautiously turns his head. "Chai. I...if you need the help, sure." He pushes up, plunking the brown on his shoulder as he does. "I'm good for pinning up sheets."

Above, The spring air feels a bit nippy.

Chailyn simply nods, and heads further out towards the lake. "Sleep well?"

Telgar Weyr Lake Shore
The vegetation thickens near the lake, becoming a meadow that runs along the edge of a narrow, sandy beach. The sands spill down into a crystal lake to the north, lapping against the crater walls to the north and east. A fence runs northwest-southeast, blocking off the lake from the feeding grounds. The grass has a clean green color and is tender with spring. The first water lilies on the pond are blooming in yellow and white, and pink, yellow, and white wildflowers scatter the field. The white climbs even into the trees, with blowing petals amid the new green leaves. The herb garden, still mostly cut back for the winter, is hemmed about with crocuses. The red shades of sunset cast the meadow into deep, but peaceful shadows.

You could probably catch a 'fish' or two if you tried.

Haloran heads over from the central bowl.

Haloran follows after Chailyn, one hand still reaching up and toying absently with the burbling little brown. Herman's tiny wedge head delicately rubs at his cheek, little chirrups coming from him.

Chailyn plunks the basket down before lines that are strung up to one side of the bowl. She looks back over her shoulder and asks again, "How'd you sleep, Hal?" She starts to pull out a sheet, and the wind sets it to flapping."

Haloran is a boy. "Oh, I slept well. Once I could get to sleep. THat took a while, actually. Tossed and turned a lot." Helping to straighten the flapping sheet, he looks up at her. "You?"

Chailyn shrugs. "Kinda the same. A lot of tossing and turning." She pushes pins on to hold the sheet down. "And thinking." A pause and she says quietly, "About the other day."

Haloran clears his throat and turns away to get another sheet, plucking up a set of clothespins. "I bet you are," he replies softly, carefully arranging the sheet on the line.

Chailyn leans on the line, holding on with both hands. "I just..." She stops. "No one's ever said something like that before, Hal. I guess I didn't handle it very well. And I'm sorry."

Haloran doesn't look, continuing to work on securing the sheet. "I don't know wh you haven't. You should. You should hear it all the time." With that, he finally raises his head, to look over in her direction.

Chailyn flushes faintly. "Well, I don't." She pulls away from the line, causing the sheets to bounce and sway. Another one is snatched and she starts putting it up. "I'm just not sure what to say. I've never really done this before."

Haloran snorts and pulls up another sheet, working on it. "No one /does/ it. It just happens. If you don't feel the same way, then there's nothing else to worry about."

Chailyn's nose wrinkles. "Well, that's sort of the point, isn't it? I mean, I've spent a lot of time trying *not* to think of anybody like that. It isn't something I'd know right this instant."

"Why? Cause some wrinkly rider at Igen didn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated?" Hal's voice raises, frustration on his face as he stares at her. "You can't let that diminish everything you do."

Chailyn blinks, taking a half step back, clearly startled. "It's not *diminishing*. It's just... it hasn't been a focus of mine. I'm not some silly caverns girl who falls in love every day, Hal. I mean, I adore Merali, but she's been weyrmated four times in two turns, since she ran off to Igen. I'm just not like that. And you wouldn't want me to be anyway." A pause and then she asks a trifle uncertainly, "Would you?"

Haloran scowls. "No. Of course not. Its just... I finally got the nerve to say something after turns and turns of staying quiet and I get .... I don't even get any sort of response at all, really. I don't know what to think." The next sheet is snapped up, arranged on the wire and fastened.

Chailyn looks honestly dismayed. "Turns and turns?" She stops dead, staring at him. "I... I really had no idea, Hal. Honest I didn't."

Haloran doesn't look at her, just keeps working. "I know. I wasn't /too/ obvious." Beat. "Much."

Chailyn chews on her lower lip. "I just... just never thought about it. Now I'm not sure what to do. Or to say. I don't *dis*like you, Hal. I don't want you to think that I do."

Haloran just grunts. "But you don't /like/ me. I understand." His voice stays light, at odds with the dejected set of his shoulders.

Chailyn shakes her head. "I don't know if I do. This is really coming out of the blue for me, Hal. You may've had turns and turns to think about it, but I've just had one night." She pauses and then asks cautiously, "Will you give me some time to figure it out?"

"Course I will," Haloran replies, giving Herman a little scritch first. "I'll always give you time, Chai."

Chailyn says quietly, "I don't know how it might end up. But... I'd like to see where it might go." She smiles faintly and offers, "But is it okay if I'm a bit slow? I mean, I'm practically an old maid."

Haloran snorts. "You aren't as bad as those aunties, really, y'know. You don't gossip, after all." A hint of a smile touches his lips.

Chailyn nods, agreeing. "No, I don't gossip. That's about the only difference."

Haloran shakes his head, adjusting the placement of a clothespin. "Nah. Yer prettier too."

Chailyn flushes faintly. "I don't really think so." she pulls up anothr sheet to secure. "And it makes me kinda uncomfortable to hear it," she admits quietly.

Haloran snorts. 'Fine. I won't mention. You do /act/ like an old silly woman, y'know." He seems almost irritated by it.

Chailyn frowns. "Why do you say that?"

Haloran just works on another sheet, motions chopped. "Oh, all scandalized, worse than a hold girl. Then you get all flustered when people compliment you when you /know/ you are worth it. And you fuss one way but I bet you'd fuss if I ignored you too. Sheesh."

From the expression on her face, Chailyn clearly doesn't know she's worth it. She flushes. "I'd fuss if you ignored me because we're friends. And friends don't ignore each other."

"No, they don't. Shard it, I don't..." He stops and just concentrates on what he is doing.

Chailyn says hesitantly, "No, go ahead. What were you going to say?"

Haloran shakes his head. "No. You need to think."

Chailyn objects, before she really thinks about it, "You know that's never been my strong point, Hal."

Haloran's eyes focus on her, softening. "I know. But I like you that way. ITs part of what you are."

Chailyn asks again, "Tell me what you were going to say? Please?"

Haloran shakes his head, not even opening his mouth this time.

Chailyn hazards a guess, "You don't want to be just a friend?"

Haloran shrugs. "I don't /not/ want to be your friend."

It takes Chailyn a moment to puzzle out that statement. Then she nods slowly. "But there's more that you want too." She shivers lightly, wrapping arms about herself.

Haloran shakes his head. "Not if you don't want it."

Chailyn looks a trifle surprised. "Course not! You're not a bully." There is a pause and she says, "You're a good man, Hal." She quirks a smile, "Though Faranth knows why you think I'm pretty." She shakes her head and then says, "And yeah, I guess I'm kinda curious to see those pants."

Haloran immediately blushes, a grin touching his lips. "The pants....oh well....Faranth. The pants."

Chailyn chuckles, ducking her head. "Well, you could have said no."

Haloran sighs. "No, there was too much fuss at that point."

Chailyn shrugs. "You still could have said no."

Haloran sighs and shrugs. "I could have, didn't. Oh well."

Chailyn chuckles. "I think Kich and Timbril'll be glad to see it. And I have to admit, I'm curious." She laughs. "besides, the red would look good on you."

Haloran blushes furiously, rubbing at his backside. "Just for you ladies," he grumbles.

Chailyn laughs. "Admit it. You like being the center of attention. And lots of oohing and ahhing from women doesn't hurt any, does it?" She clips another sheet on the line.

Haloran laughs and ducks his head, grimacing. "OK. A little bit."

Chailyn chuckles. "See? Give it a sevenday of wearing those things around, and you won't be interested in me anymore. Besides, Timbril's prettier."

Haloran's eyes widen at that. "Oh no, Once or twice maybe. Not a sevenday."

Chailyn just grins. "In for an eighth, in for the whole mark. Might as well." She finishes securing that sheet. "Besides, you might end up with a bevy of women to choose from that way."

Haloran snorts and wrestles with one final sheet. "No thank you. Just one has made my head all confused."

Chailyn stops at that statement and asks, "Do I really make you confused?"

Haloran nods. "A bit."

Chailyn half smiles at that, and turns to gather up her basket. "Should we head in and get something warm to drink? It's still a little chilly out here for me."

Haloran nods slightly, playing with Herman again. "That sounds good."

Chailyn smiles. "So, ready?" She heads off towards the caverns. "What're all those dragons doing - looks like dinnertime..."

You head in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering lake.
Central Bowl(#298RL$)
A stony field is the center of this great caldera, the size of which is unmatched at any other weyr--for the whole complement of all the wings at Telgar could rest comfortably within its towering cliffs. Shaped in a perfect oval, the rock walls seem perfect for keeping the usual chill winds stirring about. The ground is mostly made of pebbles and rocks, some hued the milky shades of old quartz, though there are patches where softer dirt and even trees sprout up from the ground. Southerly, the bowl opens onto the living caverns and the weyrleaders' quarters; the immense entrance to the hatching grounds lies to the northwest. Heading southwest will lead one back out into the rocky mountain ranges around Telgar's protective walls. Dragons may be seen, relaxing or fresh from feeding, to the north, as well as the soft lapping sounds of Telgar's lake touching the sandy shore. The weyrling barracks, always aflutter with activity, is to the direct west. If you're looking for the 'dutypair' to take you to an outweyr destination, they can be found here. The meadow near the lake is strewn with wild flowers, like little stars of pink, yellow, and white. The ground by the the barracks is quite muddy.
The evening is clear, with a few small clouds crossing the twinkling stars. Through the whispy clouds you can see the stars. The smaller Belior winks as a waxing crescent while Timor sleeps in darkness. A light wind blows and the spring air is cold.
Several smaller weyrs are located a few dragonlengths up the Bowl wall (+view Weyrlings).

Haloran heads into the central bowl area from the lake shore to the north.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lorieth pounces upon a huge long-horned herdbeast. And the furry thing has the marbles to try to fight back! Roaring as the horns prick her front foreleg, she rips the darn thing's head off and tosses it aside, then sucks the blood from the twitching carcass, the crimson flood slithering down her muzzle.

In the Feeding Grounds, Kazeth's first move is a flashy whirl on one wingtip to pounce and slice cheerfully on a herdbeast, head kept cocked to see if this has, by chance, impressed his would-be lady love.

In the Feeding Grounds, Ilandrith is cautious at first, he's new here and doesn't know the feeding grounds at Telgar. Circling slowly, he looks below him to the waiting victims below. But once he's got his bearings down he goes like a shot. His slow start is rewarded with him landing right where an unsuspecting herdbeast had been standing. Had been, because faster than a blink of an eye he's down under the blue's teeth, squirming without effect under the weight of his clawed limbs holding him down. But soon his struggles end, as Ilandrith bloods deeply from his open neck.

Chailyn grimaces, looking over towards the carnage in the feeding grounds. "They really must be starved." She pauses and then watches a trifle clinically. "I think I see what Kiran means though. Does kinda make your blood cool."

In the Feeding Grounds, Rheinth lashes out with talon and tooth, rending into a hapless herdbeast who was unfortunate enough to get in his line of sight. Fangs sink deeply into the animal's neck as the blue takes his first taste of warm blood.

In the Feeding Grounds, Sooth glides over the fence, and slows to a hover, waiting for the other dragons to scare a herd or two his way. Sure enough, a small flock of fat wherries is soon running blindly towards him. He drops sharply, neatly spearing one on either hand. Before even touching the ground, he wings up, and finds a quiet corner to blood his prizes in relative piece.. though always able to see glorious Lorieth.

In the Feeding Grounds, Carabeth darts down from the sky, chasing a couple panicked herdbeasts. He singles one out and lands on it, dropping it to the ground. The beast squeals, but the sound is cut off as Carabeth slides a claw across its throat. The brown fastens his mouth to the cut, consuming the life giving liquid.

Haloran stares at the feeding grounds, his mouth working for a moment. "I...isn't that...there's just one female there, right? THat green?"

Chailyn tilts her head, still hanging on idly to the basket. "I think so. May be Lorieth. too far away from me to tell really. And I guess it'd make sense, the way the Weyrsecond was acting in the caverns. You know, all the time I was at Igen, I never saw a mating flight. And even while I've been here. Too sharding cold to go out." She wrinkles her nose. "It *is* awful bloody."

Haloran eyes Chailyn for a moment, in disbelief, "They need blood. For energy. I saw one here, earlier before you came. It gets worse."

In the Feeding Grounds, Lorieth attacks a willy wherry who thinks it can attack HER! Not likely, flappy thing. She rips it open and drains it of its lifeblood, throwing the body on top of that of the herbeast.

In the Feeding Grounds, Ilandrith raises his head and looks at Lorieth, watching once again. He tries to look innocent, harmless. He tries to look like the friendly next door neighbor, the one with blood running down its...oh wait, that doesn't work. He gives up and searches out his next victim. He quickly lifts himself off the ground only to land again a length away, landing right on another herdbeast. Moving off the animal, whose back broke loudly at the impact, he lowers his teeth to its stomach and tears at it, sinking his muzzle deeply into it, drinking hungrily.

Chailyn shrugs. "Blood washes out. *If* you don't let it set." She makes a faint moue of distaste at Lorieth's distain of the wherry. "Uck. The blood's all over the feathers." She speculates, "Easy to see why someone might think that a dragon might hurt em, caught up like this. Lookit their eyes. They're all purple."

In the Feeding Grounds, Sooth finishes off his two birds remarkably neatly, tossing the empty carcasses aside, and crouches, once again waiting for the others' hunting to send prey his way. He lets more wherries scamper by, reaching out to bring down a bawling buck who'd unwisely been rolling his eyes at the dragons behind him, instead of the one in front of him.

In the Feeding Grounds, Kazeth settles to broodily blood his herdbeast. Didn't impress her a bit. She didn't even notice him. After a moment, he shakes his head, his movements becoming slow and fuzzy. Blood splatters, and a piece of flesh headed for his eye is enough to snap him back into his clear, sharp reality.

In the Feeding Grounds, Rheinth rumbles deep in his chest, violet tinged red eyes seeking another victim. Pause as Lorieth's exquite form enters his vision, then resume the search. His tail lashes out, snapping a herdbeast's spine in half, and a quick swipe of his forepaw disembowls the beast.

Haloran licks at his lips, nodding. "Don't usually see that. They were like that at the last flight I saw too. I wonder what it means..."

Chailyn shrugs slightly. "Mad? Upset? What do you think, Hal?"

Haloran watches the dragons and murmurs out, "Lusty."

Chailyn arches her eyebrows, blinking back out at the pasture. "You think?" then she blushes faintly. "Yeah, I guess it could be."

In the Feeding Grounds, Lorieth shrieks at those sharding MALES. She snags a passing herdbeast calf as a tasty treat and after draining it, shreds the cadaver, making a huge mess from such a little creature. Her hiss echoes off the bowl walls.

In the Feeding Grounds, Ilandrith looks around hungrily. Which one next? His decision is practically made for him as a wherry runs into his side with a *thump*. The blue gives the it a startled look, as if to say how stupid the soon to be dead animal was. It tries to get away but unsuccessfully, all Ilandrith has to do is extend an arm and pull it back by his talons. He wastes no time and with one deft move breaks the wherry's neck, ripping at it with his teeth. A lot of blood is lost to the ground as Ilandrith drinks messily, but enough reaches the blooding blue.

Haloran watches them and nods. "Just wait. She'll take to the sky and they'll all chase."

Chailyn turns a trifle green. Evidently she didn't know bovines could come apart that way. She half turns, blocking the green at least from her view. "Ugh. Nasty. I don't pity the herders cleaning all that up." Eyes turn to Haloran. "Tell me when it's safe to look again."

In the Feeding Grounds, Ooooh, just the kind he likes. Raising his head, Kazeth bawls lustily back, then uncoils his sleek muscles to hop up and and snag a caprine, managing to move about half a corral closer to Her. He drops his head, bloods with pleasure now.

Haloran looks a bit green himself, though he doesn't turn away. He's a boy, after all. "I...uh...yeah."

In the Feeding Grounds, Rheinth snarls at a smaller dragon that ventures to close, then snaps his head foreward like a striking snake to capture a spindly wherry in his jaws. Eyes seek out Lorieth, and he lashes his tail back and forth, offended at the impertinence of other males to block his sight.

Chailyn finds she's still holding the basket and drops it, crossing arms almost defensively over her chest. "The riders'll all be wanting wine or partners after this. I think I'll avoid the living caverns. If I went in, sure as thread falls that M'bon'd be after me." She grimaces at the mere mention of the older letcherous brownrider.

Haloran's face becomes stone, a frown creasing his face. "If he'd try, he'd have to get past me."

In the Feeding Grounds, Lorieth screams her defiance and launches herself skywards with a mocking, contemptuous look at the hatchlings who think they can catch her.

In the Feeding Grounds, Lorieth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry her aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

In the Feeding Grounds, Kazeth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

In the Feeding Grounds, Ilandrith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

In the Feeding Grounds, Rheinth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

In the Feeding Grounds, Carabeth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

Chailyn wrinkles her nose. "I'd bet he'd enjoy that."

Haloran just looks stubborn. "I don't care."

Above, Lorieth feels more than sees her chasers behind her and scowls as much as possible. Must fly, must get away, must FLEE. She dips and swerves, neatly avoiding any of the silly clunches who try to come at her from directly below. Jade wings beat through the crystal iciness of the sky.

In the Feeding Grounds, Sooth takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

Haloran says "They're skyward, Chailyn. Look up now. Its amazing."

Above, Rheinth beats powerful wings as he follows shining Lorieth, striving for a strong start in the race. Higher and higher he wings, aiming to gain a vantage where he can pursue and still study her movements, to try and anticipate her.

Above, Carabeth does his best to follow after the green, using his familiarity with the area to help him as best he can. He doesn't head for the front of the pack, instead biding his time and conserving some of his energy.

Above, Kazeth's haunches fling him upward, wings audibly cracking out to catch the air. Naturally his eyes deepen to dark purple, whirling fast in excitement that's echoed in his alto challenge: fly, flee for me, make it worth the effort.

Chailyn turns and looks upwards, watching the flurry of wings as they flip through the bowl. "Shells! They're going so fast."

Above, Ilandrith follows, azure wings beating to follow jade ones as Lorieth begins to lead them on the chase. He finds a steady pace, no need to use all his reserves now just to drop out, exhausted, before the deed is done. So he follows, the advantage of size giving him a good position, eyes never completely leaving that green body of hers, concentration fully on her and catching her.

Above, Sooth gets tangled in his last carcass, and scrambles desperately into the air, losing precious time and distance. Still, it's early yet, and anything can happen. He settles to the task of climbing upward, having plenty of wingroom since he's so far from the main pack.

Haloran nods slowly, a faint smile touching his lips as he watches. "Aren't they? Its amazing."

Above, Lorieth conserves her strength to keep her flying ahead of the pack and spirals upwards on a thermal, flying vocally silent, the only sound coming from her the beat of her massive wings on the cold Telgar night air.

Chailyn watches the sky, arms still wrapped around herself. "Oooh! Lookit that blue! nearly took the herdbeast with him." She releases her hold on herself long enough to point, "How long does it usually last for greens?"

Above, Ilandrith is always silent during flight, his concentration on proving his desire rather than telling the other chasers, and Lorieth, of it. And upwards he follows her, catching the thermal as well, keeping eyes on her jade form ahead of him. He spares a momentary glance away to make sure there are no other chasers too close on any side, and then his gaze comes back to its green mark.

Haloran is standing beside Chailyn, staring skyward as they watch the dragons racing overhead. "I dunno," he's admitting to the other woman.

Above, Sounds reflect back tenfold from behind her, blue here, brown there, bronze and blue and brown again. Streaked ultramarine and navy wings hover a third of the way back in the pack, Kazeth fighting for position with a younger, pushy brown.

Above, Rheinth keeps striving for altitude, until he perseves he's gained optimum hieght. Azure wings cup a soft thermal as he brings himself into a hovering glide. Strong start was achieved, now to conserve his energy for the final leg.

Chailyn mms softly, "She's fast. Has there ever been a green that didn't get caught, I wonder?"

Above, Sooth doesn't follow the spiral.. not that he's close enough to anyway. He simply follows the broader direction she's going in, sapphire wings beating steadily and strongly. Ground falls away rapidly, and he croooons in delight at the ancient ritual of the chase.

In the Feeding Grounds, Alerith takes flight, using the thermals rising from the bowl to carry him aloft -- much to the relief of the wherries.

Haloran shrugs slightly, eyeing the skies again. "I'm not really--does that one male have a chance do you think, showing up so late?"

Above, Carabeth moves with the majority of the group, only gaining in altitude a little. He choses instead to follow the green's horizontal direction rather than the vertical.

Chailyn shrugs. "I haven't a clue. Like I've seen any flights before."

Above, Lorieth levels out a few lengths above the pack chasing her. Her glowing jade hide marks her as the beacon to follow, even as the light fades more from the sky. Winging her way as fast as she can in the other direction, she neatly evades the infant males and glides for a bit.

Haloran shakes his head. "I don't either, y'know."

Chailyn tilts her head back, watching the progress of the flight. "Shells and shards. I can't imagine what the riders are going through. I've seen enough riders after a flight. Must be awful during one."

Above, Rheinth follows glorious Lorieth's path, roughly. No use wasting precious energy trying to exactly copy every twist and turn the wily green can execute. He allows himself to fly steadily above the middle of the pack. Let those who are over eager tire themselves to the point of dropping out, he can wait until the time is right to chase her in definate earnest.

Haloran just shakes his head. "I can't imagine. There's a lot about being a rider that I can't imagine, actually. I'm trying but..."

Above, Ilandrith follows Lorieth as best a chaser could, never losing sight of that beacon in the night. He inches up his speed a notch, though not enough to tire out his smallish form. He follows even as she evades their pursuit, because evade all she wants, he will still follow her to any length. Singleminded lust pushes him on, and as light fails and hides everything else, his attention is on that one beacon that is his destination.

Above, Carabeth beats his wings rhythmically, moving up slightly in the pack as he exerts more energy. His efforts grow stronger now as his lust for the green before them increases. He is determined to have her at any cost.

Above, Kazeth is really hardly infant, despite the way he reaches to swipe a long talon down the side of the pushy brown, who drops back, crimson welling from a superficial slash. Kazeth downsweeps his wings strongly and speeds ahead, surging to the front of the pack momentarily, until their speed also increases to match hers.

Above, Aleriththough late, is never too late. Infant he is certaintly not though! Oh yes, that gets his blood boiling, even though that might have something to do with that delectable green hide..those lovely little flicks of her tail. MMmmm she is one gorgeus morsel. His velvety blood-red wings mirror his blood's desire, pumping fast and strong, pushing him closer to that matchless jewel.

The spring air feels a bit nippy. The cloud cover lessens until the sky is clear.

Above, Sooth continues to work steadily on gaining altitude, now actually making ground on the bravely glowing green as she plays with her suitors instead of just fleeing. A vagrant thermal gives him a small unexpected boost, and he works on, calmly and steadily.

Chailyn nods. "They're just like everyone else, really. Same hopes and dreams. They just have a really big thing that follows them around all over the place. E'vrin's a good example." She seems ready to say something further, and then clamps her lips shut, looking back up to the sky.

Above, Lorieth gets a sharp pain in her foot where the herdbeast attacked her and glancing down realizes that the wound is still oozing ichor. Ignoring it and the sudden tightness in her wingtips, she continues bobbing and weaving, trying to avoid the males but gradually losing distance.

Above, Sooth climbs still, steadily upward, now actually rising above the playful green. Not content, he continues to rise, still in clear air because of his awkward start and subsequently unorthodox path after the beauteous dream-dragon.

Above, Alerith like a dragon sensing a weak though tasty herdbeast increases his pace. Red-sail-wings move in a rythm almost like a heartbeat. Alerith's heart is beating, only for that certainty that Lorieth, lovely, lilting, luscious Lorieth. *MMmmmMm* His heartbeat, his wingbeat increases, as he yearns to set this greenest of emeralds within his crown.

Above, Ilandrith notices Lorieth slowing down and increases his speed. The chasers are gaining, and he's determined to be one of them that has a chance at the glowing green. Her injury is his chance to end this flight, time for comforting Lorieth will be later, once *he's* caught her and stopped this merry flight.

Above, Rheinth, tired of being patient, stretches flaxen wings against the icy winds, pushing steadily towards the front of the pack. The glowing beacon which is Lorieth drawing him ever forward.

Above, Carabeth puts in more effort as he notices Lorieth falter. He bugles, attempting to sound enticing as he pursues her. He moves forward and a little higher, trying to give himself space.

Haloran nods slowly, not bothering to answer as he watches the race overhead. "She's slowing." He murmurs.

Above, Sooth croons in concern, noticing that she's flying with some difficulty.

Chailyn nods, her attention as rapt as Haloran's on the skies above. Hands curl into loose fists as she leans forward, almost willing the green more strength.

Above, Kazeth twists and ducks with more effort -- but more hope, more energy, as she slows. Another long, loud, lusty call, as his eyes flame red-amethyst, glinting with the last of the light in the sky.

Above, Lorieth dips her wings more, the pain in her leg shooting up to unfocus her thoughts of evading capture. Her faltering flying causes her to lose distance and altitude. She even goes so far as to get wobbly in the air.

Above, Sooth oops, that's not so good. Driven by both lust and concern, he closes his wings and drops after her, actually picking up enough speed in the process of falling to bring him near her.

Above, Ilandrith allows concern to bring his voice back to him, as he rumbles to Lorieth, the first sound from him since rising. He picks up the speed again, determined to be the one to steady her course and bring her to safety.

Above, Kazeth, not motivated by concern but by pure, mindless lust, notes only the falter, the wobble, and speeds onward, wings trembling with effort in the pause between strokes.

Above, Rheinth pushes forward, concern beginning to battle with lust in his whirling eyes. He lets out an anxious croon, striving to get closer. The lovely lady cannot be hurt, for such beauty should never be marred.

Above, Alerith is restful. Yes, he is just one big brown pillow. With spikes and wings..and um..hide..and no feathers..and well he's not rectangular. But that doesn't matter! He can be a pillow, oh so restful, oh so soothing. Brown is -such- a soothing color. Don't you think Brown is nice color LoRIieeth? His red-brown wings pump faster, body elongating, stretching his size to his advantage, working fast and swift. Lorieth should have only the best in pillows after all.

Above, Carabeth croons loudly as the green falters again and he spreads his wings wide, using them to his best advantage. The sweep up and down steadily, gathering air under them as he does his best to pull ahead of the pack.

Above, The pain is too much. She takes to gliding, not losing much altitude but losing lots of speed. Her wings correct direction, but do not do much more. The pack is nearly on her, but at this point that matters not.

Above, Carabeth surges forward, darting around another brown in his way. His determination carries him toward the green. He bugles once more, making his presence known to those near him as he stretches toward his goal.

Above, Ilandrith uses that speed he's been saving up. Saving up for her. He puts on the speed, but times the burst to end without passing her by. His tail whips out to be ready to attempt a snatch at her and ensnare her to him, his wings ready to support and envelope her.

Above, Alerith draws his wings in close to his body and dives after the slowing green. He'll show her who the best pillow is. He'll treat her just right, put that lovely emerald foot on a pillow and kiss and make it better. Wings stretching outwards, neck elongating, yearning and stretching for that ulitimate of prizes.

Above, One last, extra strong downbeat and Kazeth is there beside her, half-tangling and pulling away from other wings in the frenzy. Green flies - green must be caught - and maybe it's he that will catch this time. Voice drops to an entreating, lustful rumble.

Above, Rheinth pulls on his reserves, attaining a burst of speed to send him close to to wonderous Lorieth. Closer, close enough to offer assistance, comfort, whatever she may desire. Will his desired love allow him to help her? He croons towards her, inviting, concerned.

Above, Sooth continues to fall sharply, just the wingtips out enough to guide him towards the vision of loveliness, who hurts. He has to dig deeply once, to twist around a pair of blues that are trying to get around each other, and then the long blue wings snap open to grab air, slowing him down to her speed with a creak of bones she might even hear. Even as he does so, he's reaching, ready to hold her weight, croooning deeply.

Above, Lorieth shrieks her defiance, yet not very enthusiastically. She feels a pressure in her foot and the a pressure as a warm blue body is wrapped around her. The mindouch and voice tell her that it's Kazeth helping her finish off the proddiness and help her to the ground and waiting healers.

Chailyn swallows. "Gosh." A pause and she offers, "I, uh, I think I forgot something in the caverns."