(20.12) As the Snow Falls (males)

[Katlyn]

Zahal had been waiting. Simply waiting. Her green was on schedule; she knew that the moment Vatanith had started to get proddy a few days prior. At least their trip between hadn't thrown that off any. Nor, it seemed, had the blizzard brewing around the Weyr. Her green was sound asleep on their ledge as the snow fell and wind blew around them, creating almost white-out like conditions, but not quite. This storm was still calm enough for her to see a bit out into the chasm that was the main weyr, if she really tried. The olive tint that hid beneath her dark green hide had turned to a sheen, one which Zahal recognized instantly. It was only a matter of candlemarks, maybe even minutes. She pulled on some clothes and started walking, knowing that her steps would eventually lead her to the flight weyrs, but for now just walking.

Flights seemed to be the one time that the pair really fit in among the others of the weyrs. Both were able to unwind just enough. Both flirted. Both played. Any man who happened to be in Zahal's way as she moved from her weyr to the flight weyr quickly figured that out as she flashed them the occasional grin, a grin that wasn't innocent in the slightest. But she refused to do more than that, or to let them reply in kind.

She'd just reached the cooridor where the flight weyrs lay when Vatanith's head sprung up. Ah, that was the moment she had been waiting for. Vatanith's whirling eyes skimmed the horizon as the wind blew around the falling snow. Oh boys. . . she called out as she stood up to stretch. It might've been cold out, but there was an irristable warmth flowing through the small green. At least, by this Time's standards, she wasn't small. She launched herself into the air only to land on the plateau where a few, small beasts were still free, catching one carefully between her teeth. Her rider reminded her to bleed it, and for the most part she did. She just wanted the one though, and she barely even touched it before launching herself into the sky again, the wind carrying her up towards the mountains. Tag, you're it!! she challenged then, bellowing a laugh as she sped away. Who would dare to chase her in this weather?

((ooc: Here's a completely open, non-predetermined winner flight for everyone's enjoyment. Pick your males, pick npc males. Have fun!! Also, please read the rules ( izukoisland.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=plotting&thread=409 ) I posted up for Vatanith's flight, so you know how this is going to work.))

[sorra]

Oodath had his head buried under his wing as he was trying to stay warm. The blue didn't like the cold at all. And neither did his rider. Although Oodath's head shot up as soon as he heard Vatanith's call. He was instantly on his feet. Vatanith rises. I chase!he sneaky blue told his rider.

Tr'vin looked up quickly. Vatanith? Zahal! The teen was on his feet and out the door in an instant. He knew there would be no stopping his blue and he wasn't even going to try. Oodath had liked flights since he had first started chasing. The teen found his way to the flight room not long after Zahal got there.

Lovely Vatanith, I will gladly chase. I will be It as long as you want me to be.

~~~

Volcanth snorted a bit when Vatanith called out her challenge. The brown got to his feet and shook himself. He hadn't participated in a flight in a long time. Sometimes he could be quite grouchy and lived up to his name, but not this time. He would woo the green if he was able to. Vatanith, you need a strong dragon to be by your side. I will take you wherever you want to go.

T'res looked up in surprise when he heard his brown. Volcanth wasn't one to chase all the time. The brown rider shrugged and made his way to the flight rooms. He wasn't going to argue. If it kept his brown happy then so be it.

[Mik]

Serguth's head snapped up from his ledge where he lay sleepily after a long drill of the new Practices. He was not built for those things, one of the many blues that could not fly a full Fall, but His was in desperate need of someone to love unhindered. Though he adored the great golden Josiath and also her Rider and children, he could never catch her in a Flight. Yet, here was an opportunity to cheer his Rider up by getting him involved with someone else. Who said life was dull? As the challenge went up, the scrawny blue answered with a joyous bugle of his own. He would play this game of tag! The ultimate prize would be wonderful. Just as his Rider started to argue with him about Chasing, he launched from his ledge, straight for the Plateau. Not only was this green open for the chance of wooing, but she was completely new to the Weyr in more ways than one. {{I will Chase you as far as you’d like!}} he called out as he joined the flurry of blues and browns already joining the Chase.

R’bao was tired. He could not help but think of T’jas’ reign with the new Leadership of M’riel pushing the dragons too hard too fast. It was only a matter of time before wing strains became common place once again and something would have to be done about it. [[Serguth, not yet. I don’t want to Chase, yet,]] the Rider complained to his dragon, but the battle was lost as Serguth somehow had the energy to Chase a green. Serves him right for holding back his lifemate during Josiath’s Flight when he normally let the blue Chase even though he never lasted the whole Flight. So, with a frustrated vibe, the watchrider headed for the flight rooms to find the Rider of the green that had Risen.
~~~

Seeth bugled happily at the call, soon joining the fray merrily at the prospect of a green flight. He loved the Chase and even more, the prize in the end should he actually win one. {{I shall play your game, lovely one!}} he called out as he found himself in the pack that was beginning to Chase the green skyward.

I’yes quite enjoyed Flights no matter the circumstances involved and so he happily let his blue give Chase, heading for the flight rooms with a whistling tune as he anticipated a good roll in the furs with someone by the end of this Flight. At least, he hoped so.
~~~

A young brown had joined the Chase, just about to Graduate Weyrlinghood, but mature enough to try his hand at the Chase, his young Rider a little uncertain, but it was a fact of a dragonrider’s life as he had been told since Candidacy.

[kendrall]

Microth's head shot up as he heard Vatanith's call, the Blue's eyes whirling with excitement. Vatanith, I'll gladly Chase you wherever you want to go! the Blue bugled as he likewise took off to join the other Blues and Browns now forming up in their combined efforts to pursue the Green, jockeying for position as he headed towards the skies. Normally, the Blue had a temper, but it was quickly giving way to a pressing need to mate.

K'nes practically stumbled in the hallway as soon as he heard his Blue's excited cry that Vatanith was rising, and wasn't going to hold back. He had to laugh at himself for a moment as he stood up to wipe the dust off his trousers. Well, there was no point in delaying. Best to head to the Flight room where by now Zahal was probably waiting. After all, his Blue was the best of the bunch, and there was little doubt in his mind Vatanith would choose Microth as her mate for this Flight. The Future Rider was pretty and had a sharp tongue which is what he liked about her, but where K'nes differed with her was when it came to children. She adored them, he wanted nothing to do with them whatsoever.

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

Tamoith likewise started for the skies as soon as Vatanith raced past him. Lovely gem, I'll also play your little game![/b] He soon joined the rest of the field and beat his wings as fast as he could, trying to break away from the rest of the pack in his efforts to catch the prized Green, his continued bugling mingling with the other cries of the males.

Shibora happened to be in the records, browsing through them when she heard Tamoith announce he was going to play Vatanith's game. The twin sister of the former Wingsecond smiled a little when she figured out whom the Green's rider was. Zahal was shorter than she was, but that didn't mean she wasn't pretty. The Bluerider had to admit she had fantasized a little about Zahal when she arrived with M'riel and the others from the future; she also likewise fantasized about Ekaterina and Aquila. Shibora had planned on sitting down with the new Weyrleader to see where she would fit into his new scheme, but hadn't had the time thanks to R'en's persisting and unwanted attention. For a male, Shibora thought R'en was a little flamboyant if not slightly effeminate because of his rank as a Greenrider. Then again, she hardly knew the man, but wasn't so sure if she even wanted to make an effort.

Well, if her Tamoith won this flight, she could always ask Zahal about that field medic in the morning...


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

Oreath simply snorted with derision as he heard Vatanith's call for the males to play her little game. Had this been a different time, the Bronze wouldn't have thought twice about giving Chase. But that was practically a lifetime ago, when Green Shandrith had chosen the mighty Bronze time and time again over the skies of High Reaches Weyr. Now that Gold Josiath had chosen him as her mate, there was little point in even standing up and stretching. Oreath simply curled his tail around the Senior Gold's rump and snuggled in even tighter.

Within the warm confines of the private quarters he was sharing with Shayna, M'riel simply smiled as he continued reading the hides on the desk.

((OOC - Had to put Oreath's response in there, even though he's not participating.))

[kitllwynog]

Realtath was on his couch, curled up against cold, while His was doing chores in the kitchens. They would both be glad when Weyrling training was over and the only responsibilities they would have would be to themselves outside of drills.

Suddenly the bronze heard Vatanith's call and he sat up. I will Chase you and I will win, lovely green, he said, both as boast and a warning to N'reus. Then he raced out on to the ledge, flapping his wings to get his joints warmed up before vaulting off the ledge and into the snowing air and after glowing Vatanith. His who was still a bit bruised by his loss of Josiath so he fairly burned with the need to prove himself.

N'reus meanwhile, moaned into the vat of soapy water that he was standing over. You'd better win this time, he said to his dragon before making his apologies to the kitchen staff and racing to the Flight room.

[Katlyn]

Vatanith continued to fly up high over the island into the snow-filled clouds in the sky. Only once the buttom most layer of the clouds enveloped her did she level out, finally surveying the group that had gathered behind her. She wasn't surprised at all to find that it was mostly blues who had assembled to chase her, as their speed would be necessary for the flight she was about to send them on. The two browns didn't surprise her too much either, as they did stand somewhat of a chance. But the bronze, that single bronze, almost shocked her. Needless to say, the green was rather impressed by the bronze's attempt to chase her.

But being impressed at the very get go wasn't going to be what Vatanith used to choose her mate, if she managed to choose at all. Those dragons who had come back with would know Vatanith's flights, purely by reputation, as being near dare-devil like events. And in this weather, this flight would only be more so. Wordswill not impress me, boys, only flying, she told the ones who had gathered behind her.

Up ahead, she saw the smallest break in the clouds, and her first stunt was decided. The moment she reached it, she shot upwards again, to see which of the males would follow. Now, their chance to choose began. Would they follow her further upwards, or would they do something else? She would wait and see.


((OOC: Alright. End round 1. Make your picks, option 1, 2, or 3. Just to clarify, your posts should have your males following all the way up to the point of her shooting into that opening. What they do after that will follow after my next post. And please, indicate which option is for which dragon. Have fun!!))

[sorra]

(option 2)Volcanth watched Vatanith closely. He didn't know anything about this green and he didn't want to lose any ground with her. He could be a hot head at times, but not when it came to flights. Alright, so she didn't like words. Very well, then words we shall avoid, he told her bluntly. I see actions are more your style. He could live with that.

The brown ignored the others who had gathered around him. His full attention was on Vatanith. Volcanth decided that staying on her tail for the moment would be the best route to go, so that's just what he did. He shot through the clouds behind her, not wanting to lose sight of her.
~~~

(option 3)Oodath almost seemed to snicker as he followed. The slippery blue loved flights. It gave him a chance to try different tricks and learn what the greens liked. This one didn't like to talk, fine. He would enjoy concentrating on his actions instead. Less words, well, if that's what she wanted. The blue stayed on her tail, wondering just what she had planned. As she dove for the clouds he spread his wings to follow behind. No sense in losing sight of her already. There would be time later for some tricks of his own.

[kitllwynog]

Neither Realtath nor N'reus was aware of Vatanith's reputation for acrobatics. It probably wouldn't have deterred the young bronze in any case. He had a strong belief in his abilities, and he wasn't an overly large bronze, so he thought he could keep up with anything she dished out. But his strategy would have to be different this time. The longer the Flight went on, the better for him, he'd have to try to stay near the front of the pack and keep the others from exercising their own opportunities until the smaller dragon's dropped from exhaustion. Hopefully, it would work out.

He followed her up into the sky with the others, not yet feeling the cold, too focused on the green in front of him. Then she shot upwards like an arrow and he had to decide now what to do. (option 3)

N'reus made it to the Flight room and peered around. The rider was a woman, which was all to the good, and no one he particularly knew. Well, that was perfect as far as he was concerned. He could focus all of his attention on giving his bronze the support he would need to win.

[kendrall]

Microth (Option 2)

By the time K'nes made his way to the Flight room, he could see there were already quite a few potential suitors waiting. He let himself go for a moment, seeing the skies through his dragon's as Microth continued his pursuit of the green gem as she continued to soar through the cold skies, reaching a small break in the clouds and shooting up through it. If words wouldn't woo her, then outpacing the slower Browns and the one Bronze would suffice. Microth opted to follow her through the break in the clouds, climbing in Vatanith's wake as he jockeyed for position with the other Blues that were likewise following suit.

****************************
Tamoith (Option 1)

Shibora likewise made her way to the Flight room, and noticed that so far, she was the only female Rider in attendance. She gave Zahal a dazzling smile when she saw the pretty Greenrider, hoping that her Tamoith would win this Flight. Her Blue, meanwhile, was likewise following the others towards that small break, but instead of chasing after her like the others, Tamoith simply slowed down and started to circle directly underneath the cloud Vatanith had gone through. Either the Green would come back down again, or she would break away to one side or the other. If it was the former, then the Blue would be in perfect position to catch his prize. If it was the latter, it wouldn't take him much to catch up again.

[Mik]

((Option 3)) - Serguth kept up with the pack of males easily, his lean, scrawny build more aerodynamic than most blues about the Weyr. When Vatanith said that words would not impress her, he decided to just give all his effort into his speed and agility. After all, he did usually Chase Josiath and any gold that Rose even though he never made it the full Flight. He did manage Tsunath and Fraith’s Flights, but they were short due to them fighting over the males. He shot for the opening that Vatanith disappeared into, planning on staying on her tail for as long as he possibly could.

R’bao entered the desired flight room to find out who the Rider was as his blue’s lust was beginning to take over his being. Realizing that it was a woman made him happy at least, but he was still sorrowful over his “loss” of Shayna’s company with Oreath’s catch of Josiath in her Weyrwoman Flight.
~~~

((Option 2)) - Seeth was long and lean and so was able to keep up with practically any green that Rose above Izuko Island, even the larger greens despite his injuries of a few turns back. He had worked hard with his Rider to be back in tip top shape for Chasing the ladies when they challenged. The blue chased the end of the pack into the clouds and he was among the blues that chose to go skyward after her into the break in the clouds, hoping to get ahead of some of the others in the move.

I’yes ceased his whistling as he entered the flight room that Seeth’s desires led him to and whistled like a canine at the Rider of the green in question. A pretty little thing she was!
~~~

((Option 1)) - The Weyrling brown followed Vatanith wherever she went but when it came to the gap in the clouds that she shot up into, he held back. Part of him wanted to be sure of where he was headed and by going blindly into a cloud bank, that would not do. So the young brown circled below the cloud with another male, awaiting his next sighting of the glowing green in the lead.
~~~

[Katlyn]

((Alright guys. For this last round, Option 1 was the continues on in the flight (ie, they manage to figure out what she's about to do), Option 2 was the set back (ie, they don't manage what she's doing, but don't get forced out so far that they can't keep chasing after they get back on track (yet)) and Option 3 is the same as option 1 this time!!! I won't do that next round!))

Shortly after she shot into the opening in the clouds, she looked and saw a number of the males had followed her there. Well, that was all fine and dandy, but then again. . .there were a number of males who hadn't followed her. It was the males who hadn't followed her that she was most curious about. She all but flipped and dove straight towards the ones who had followed her before quickly veering away from them. No, they wouldn't catch her quite so easily. Would they be able to change their course to follow her though?

When Vatanith finally reappeared, underneath the cloud line, she was a bit of a distance away from those woh had stayed at the opening she had shot up into just moments before. ((Oh, you can't catch me from there!!)) she challenged them, heading straight towards the mountains.

She dove down then, her wing tip skimming the surface of a not yet quite frozen mountain lake before righting herself again and flying straight towards one of the mountains nearby, and the treeline, sparing only a moment to glace back to see all the males still behind her. Well then, now was time to start the challenge.

((Alright, again, option 1, 2, or 3))

[sorra]

(3) Volcanth snorted as Vatanith evaded him. Well, not this time. He spun on his tail, doing his best to right his course. The brown wasn't out of it yet. Or at least he wasn't ready to call it quits yet. It took him a bit longer to get turned around then what the smaller dragons would have, but he found a thermal easily and continued after Vatanith. If he could just keep his stamina up and stay at least close to her he would have a chance.

He watched as she headed for the mountains and the lake. The brown folded his wings to his back and dove after her. He was curious to see just what she was up to next.

(1) Oodath snaked his way through the others, wanting to be as close as he could. It was nice that he was a larger blue and he wanted to prove to Vatanith that he was worthy of her. He was surprised as she turned away from the ones who had managed to actually follow her move. Hmm, so it seemed like he was going to have to be trickier. Well, sneaky he could do.

The blue angled one wing to turn and head in Vatanith's new direction. He pumped his wings to make up some ground, watching as she dove toward the lake. He hesitated briefly, wondering if he should dive after her or try to stay above her.

[Mik]

Option 1 - The Weyrling brown soon decided to follow another male through the cloud that Vatanith had disappeared into, hoping that by following another, he would not be fully blind to what might confront him once he got through. The glowing green was soon in sight again and now coming at him, the brown trying in vain to alter his course to to follow her sudden veer in direction. Was this how all greens were? He managed to turn to follow her toward the mountains, not nearly brave enough nor wreckless enough to get too close to the lake waters and the treelines. That just would not do!
~~~

Option 2 - Serguth shot through the opening without any hesitancy, keen on remaining on the larger green’s tail if he were to have any sort of chance at this Flight. Her sudden turn was met rather quickly and he was among the closer males when she headed toward the mountains, chasing the green as best he could, matching her daring moves with his own, the treetops bending at the turbulence that disturbed their snowy wonder from the speeding dragons. He was not as close to the lake waters as she had been, but he was staying close.
~~~

Option 3 - Seeth’s recklessly blind shot into the clouds after Vatanith was met with a near collision with another male. Hissing, the lean blue dove away to give himself some space. That was too close to an undesired maneuver. His dodge of the other male set him off course to Vatanith’s dive and when she headed for the mountains, he was struggling to get back in the game and was trailing the other males still in the Chase.
~~~

[kendrall]

Microth (Option 3)

Microth hissed in retaliation at Seeth as the two Blues nearly collided with each other after following Vatanith through the clouds, and likewise broke away to allow himself some clearance between him and the others. The Green gem turned and dove straight at Microth and the others who followed her through the cloudbreak, then banked hard and disappeared again. The Blue roared with frustration as he sought to reacquire his target, then caught sight of the Green diving towards a nearly-frozen mountain lake. He folded his wings back and dove, letting gravity take a hold of him, angling hard as Vatanith flew towards one of the nearby mountains, just barely skimming above the treetops. Well, it was time to end this little game.

Microth spread his wings wide at the last minute, letting the membranes fill with cold air and came out of his dive, neatly sliding into a position just above and behind Vatanith. The Blue would do his best to keep pace with the Green gem, and wasn't going to let her fool him twice.

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

Tamoith (Option 1)

Tamoith was impressed. Vatanith had figured out what he and some of the others were up to; the ones who refused to follow her through the clouds, and as the Green bugled her challenge the Blue simply dove after her as she skimmed the top of an icy mountain lake, then made her run towards a mountain. Tamoith pulled hard at the air, steadily closing in to make his move. The wake of air caused by Vatanith's high-speed manuever followed by the male dragons' caused the treetops to sway, but the Blue didn't let the turbulence affect him. No, Tamoith would gradually gain ground on the Green little by little, following her through her tight twists and turns the best he could.

[kendrall]

((OOC - Posting on behalf of Kit))

Realtath watched as Vatanith shot through the clouds but opted to hold off from pursuing her, figuring out what the Green was up to. She shot past the males whom followed her through the gap, broke away into another cloudbank and finally re-emerged a good distance away from the smaller Bronze and the group that waited for her to make her move. She teased them before making for the mountains, diving towards a lake before righting herself again, skimming just above the treeline.

Realtath did his best to keep pace with the faster Blues, doing his best to rely on the various jet streams and thermals to maintain his position towards the back of the lead group while the other group - the ones who followed Vatanith through the clouds - were steadily gaining.

(Option 2)