| Calm, rider-mine. You must not fret, it is only a
flight, and once it is over, I will have chosen the
best. “It’s not that, Aalimeth. It is my side. You’re a dragon, you choose a mate for a while. But me...” You understand nothing. True, I am a dragon - but human courtship seems quite strange... you remain bound forever. “Aalimeth, I...” Silence, Aalimeth hissed. You will not disturb me! She unfurled her pale bronze wings, her eyes glowing bright, fiery red. Then her bronze hide began to shimmer, as if shot through with starlight. “Aalimeth, no!” Yes, she whispered with glee. I glow; I rise! *** On the ledges of Darkling Dawn, five bodies stirred in their slumber. The bronze dragoness’ bugle was what they had heard, and each one’s yes glowed in determination. Aalimeth rose... and they, her suitors, would go until the end. Aalimeth watched as the males awoke. First to emerge from the ledges were the blues Hyunth and Iltraenth, her lovers back home. She snorted at them as they began blooding their kills. Next, a flurry of black and white wings took the form of two dragons, brown-white Porrenith and black-green Jasperth. Both were somewhat young, fresh into adulthood by her estimate. But where was the fifth? Aalimeth saw him then, the muscular wings pumping on the beautiful aqua body of Rukren. He glided down and struck his prey down with one swipe of his claw, then drained the blood in plain sight of Aalimeth. Obviously trying to impress her, she thought. He would be a challenge - he was on his second kill already! She had blooded seven by the time she took off into the warm wind in the sky. Behind her, the males were in hot pursuit. Leading them was Iltraenth. He made no sudden movements until he found the bronze female to slow somewhat, then he grasped her wings. I have you, love. Just you try to escape! Exactly what I intend to do, Aalimeth muttered as the blue attempted his mating. She made a sudden drop in altitude, hurling the small blue from her wings. Fool! You did not think it would be that easy did you? Yes, but I think you’ll like me better. Hyunth was above, almost upon Aalimeth. Trust me, I’ll give you beautiful children. Warbling, Aalimeth slowed. Of course you will, Hyunth - come here! Yes... Then the blue closed his eyes contentedly and readied himself. But he caught nothing; and spiralled headfirst to the ground instead. He heard Aalimeth’s taunting voice as he fell. You’re just as foolish as Iltraenth, I am full of tricks! With the twin blues out of the chase, she had only the rare males left: Porrenith, who was from a Special Clutch Zone himself, Jasperth, from Darkling Dawn, and Rukren... she wasn’t sure where he was from, she knew that he had no rider and that was all... To her surprise, Rukren gave a cry and dropped down out of the skies. Her eyes whirled yellow in despair, but flamed red once more. That was his lesson learned... he wouldn’t catch quick and tricky Aalimeth if he tried. That left only Jasperth and Porrenith. One would win her, she knew. But which to allow? C’mon, Aalimeth! I’ll be a good mate and father! Jasperth gained on the bronze, whose heart throbbed in an inner pain. Could Rukren have been the one for her? No. Fate decided now. No! She should be mine, and no other! Porrenith cut into Jasperth’s path, swerving in loops around the bronze and the young black-green. Then, in his anger, he dove at Jasperth and smacked his tail across his chest, winding him. Jasperth tumbled down until he hit the ground, motionless. You! Aalimeth hissed, seething in anger. You desire me, but to kill an opponent is unforgiveable! I will not fly you... murderer! Then she swept her claw against his muzzle, and Porrenith too tumbled to the landing safely. But Aalimeth, I live. I can’t fly you now... Let me go to my rider. And he got up, limping to his rider. Oh, Jasperth... I will see you again... With a mournful cry, Aalimeth locked her wings against her body and plummeted to the ground below. No chasers, no flight... she was hopeless, a dragoness without a mate after she had risen. She’d hit the ground soon, and feel her pain physically... But she was stopped, and wings of pale blue carried her higher as she opened her sorrowing eyes. Into the sunlight he carried her, as her tail twined with his and they met each others’ gaze. Breathe, you’re alive! The voice came out of the blue, in the skies and the flight. The clouds raced about them as they plunged and rose again, twirling and dancing for joy. Rukren! But you dropped out after... You said you were full of tricks, and so am I... and think of our children! Rascal, whispered the glimmering bronze with glee. And your rider... she is not ready for her weyrmate, is she? Rukren... thank you. Caught by a riderless dragon, that's you. But you are meant for me, you trickster, you. And on the ground, Rimaea emerged and was swept over with relief, knowing that the aqua Rukren was riderless. Kia, a golden glimmer beside her, chirped in joy. Rimaea looked overhead as the dragons twisted and flew through the skies. And the croon of Aalimeth was heard by dragons and humans alike. |
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