The Dragons Know Best

Writers: Clancey, Eimi, Paula, Roxanne
Date Posted: 25th July 2010

Characters: Hygalia, T'mahl, U'kaiah, J'darin, D'wrayt, G'nir
Description: Genith rises to choose her mate
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 5

J'darin

G'nir

Seventeen turns of riding a gold told her exactly what was coming.
Hygalia, had never had it as bad as some goldriders. Some of them
seemed to have trouble distancing themselves from their lifemates, but
for whatever reason, this goldrider could. That didn't mean it didn't
effect her. She could feel it coming without seeing the glowing
Genith's hide.

It was hunger for something, but nothing sounded good. It was feeling
that she just wanted to do something, but didn't actually want to move.
It was a desire to sleep, and yet she was completely awake. She could
go about her day, getting things done, being civil, even cordial to
those around her. It took a little work, that was all. But it was
always in the back of her mind. That feeling that at any moment,
something was going to happen. When Genith dozed off, a natural need to
conserve her strength before the moment came, Hygalia breathed a sigh of
utter relief. She whispered a word into the ear of a passing drudge to
spread the word - a gold would soon rise to mate and the Weyrfolk should
be prepared.

Of course there was no need to tell the bronzes. They had been circling
her for days. Their riders, also, had tried to find a reason to get
close to Hygalia, but she had politely avoided contact with them since
she arrived. Even T'mahl she had kept at arms length, communicating in
person only when necessary. She knew she had not been brought to this
Weyr in the _hope_ that her gold would win the right to be Senior Queen.

There was no competition necessary. Hygalia had been picked
specifically to fill the role as Weyrwoman, and Genith as Senior Queen.
This Flight was merely a formality in her mind. But she wanted only the
best to be her new partner in this venture, and she was determined that
her own preference would not cloud her lifemate's judgement. After all,
she knew there were many qualified bronzes to choose from, and she had
spent her days gather information on them all. She reflected on each as
she made her way towards the feeding pens.

D'wrayt had been Weyrleader before T'mahl. He had shown incredible
leadership, and it had been a surprise when his bronze had not been
chosen in the last Flight. Could he reclaim the position again?

J'darin also had been a Weyrleader before. His bronze had not been
ousted, but had been taken out of the chase due to injury. If was fully
recovered, there was a good chance he could pull off an amazing feat -
to be able to claim to have been Weyrleader at _two_ Weyrs.

G'nir was new to the Weyr, just like she was. He had something to
prove. It seemed the bronzerider had been in a position of leadership
before, but had fallen from his Weyrleader's graces. Was he unfit to
lead? Or was it more that he was unfit to follow?

And then there was U'kaiah, a stable Wingleader that seemed to be well
known at the Weyr. He had been there for the first Fall and had quickly
climbed the ranks to a Wingleader position. That bronzerider was well
liked, respected, and had proved himself more than capable. It also
seemed he had a thing for goldriders, and they for him. Might it not
just be his destiny?

T'mahl also could not be discounted. After a rocky start, he had seemed
to settle into the position well enough. Despite his inability to lead
a Fall in the beginning, it seemed he had overcome his fear and proved
himself a knowledgeable tactician, though cautious commander. Being
confirmed in his position might just give him the confidence to go from
being an adequate Weyrleader to a truly good one.

As Hygalia leaned her elbows against the feeding pen fence, she wondered
which one it would be... But no sooner had that thought flashed through
her mind then she felt her lifemate stirring.

**It's time.**

~~**~~

J'darin froze in the act of talking to a weyrling who had Impressed blue
but didn't understand why. Or 'pretended' not to understand,and he was
having trouble adapting. Every muscle in his body went tense and
Hasaarth bugled his intentions from outside, in the bowl.
The new Weyrwoman! Her gold was Rising! Oh ... and whoever caught...
Weyrleader.

He didn't really -want- to be Weyrleader here, not when his heart was
still torn open from Dolphin Cove, and he wasn't quite as cock-sure as
he had been before the 'Scoring that he was _capable_. Hasaarth was
sure, as
was apparent from his loud bugles, trumpeting his intentions to the
entire
Weyr.

Either way.... he had to run!

"My apologies, L'stin. I have to go! The new Weyrwoman's gold is
rising. You had best get yourself to the barracks and distracted. This
may be a little intense..." He smiled but rushed up and hurriedly out
the door,
leaving the young weyrling to find his own way home.

G'nir was already there, nearly shacking with excitement. Finally! A
gold flight, a senior gold's s flight. Who ever won would be leading the
Weyr. And G'nir very much wanted to be the Weyrleader. He had coveted
the posítion since day he Impressed Nirreth. So far it had eluded him.
Perhaps the rigth time was now. It would certainly complete his
homecoming; to become a Weyrleader of the Weyr he had Impressed in.
Nirreth sensed he had his riders full support and roared a challange to
the other
bronzed. He was also sizing up the competition. The truth was they all
had
pretty equal chances. They were all fine bronzes in their primes,
already
proved themselves. It was going to be a tough race.

U'kaiah and Kalamath had been on edge all day. Neither one had failed
to notice the nice shine to their new Senior Queen's hide. As a result,
he was one of the first to reach Hygalia's side. He had just been
waiting for this chance. T'mahl had succeeded D'wrayt. U'kaiah had
been sure if anyone would supplant the man who had been his mentor,
almost father, since the day he had Impressed his bronze, he thought it
would be him. And look at the coward that had beat him to it! T'mahl
might have proved himself since, but U'kaiah could not forget the sight
of the man who was supposed to be their Weyrleader _cowering_ on a
storage room floor in sheer panic before his first Fall. Now it was
U'kaiah's chance to right that wrong and take the position he had spent
turns proving he deserved!

T'mahl joined the circle with mixed feelings, standing between U'kaiah
and G'nir. He knew he had proved himself a bit of a disappointment at
first, but he thought he had proved himself by facing his deepest fears
and leading the Wings successfully in Threadfall. But he knew the
dragons knew best. He just hoped they were more forgiving then their
riders and could see what he and Uluruth were truly worth, as they had
before.

Genith did not make the bronzes wait long. She was not a particularly
young gold. Once her appetite was satiated, she knew what she wanted.
She wanted to fly; she wanted to soar! She wanted to leave those silly
bronzes and browns in the dust and make them chase her faster and
further than they even thought they could go!

}:Follow me and catch me if you can!:{ she screamed as she lifted
herself into the sky with a thunderous clap of her wings.

Oh, she was beautiful! J'darin's eyes tracked the gold as she launched
herself, quickly followed by Hasaarth and all the premier bronzes in the
Weyr, even a few younger bronzes and older, larger browns. She would
be a prize for sure!

Hasaarth's mind was all on the chase and J'darin urged him on with voice
and heart. If there was a tiny piece of him that hoped Hasaarth would
not win, he tried his best to damp that piece in the deep lust and
longing
washing over his lifemate, and him. Hasaarth had no such qualms, and
believed with all of his heart that they belonged in charge of a Weyr.
He turned his attention to Hygalia, etching her face in his mind. He
knew already she would make a good Weyrwoman, or she would never have
been chosen, but what of _her_ ? He moved closer to her, responding to
Hasaarth's longing by reaching for Genith's rider the way his bronze
reached for Genith, straining his wings to keep up.

Treadoryth took off after the gold and was just as determined as his
rider to win this chase. D'wrayt had been waiting for this day from the
moment he saw the goldrider who had transferred in. He was failing at
his
attempts to adjust to not being in charge and wanted to win this
flight.He
glanced at the others around him and knew it would be a well fought
battle for
whoever claimed the gold at the end. All of them were worthy opponents,
but Treadoryth had beat them before. With a shake of his head, he
refocused
himself on cheering his dragon on.

Nirreth didn't loiter. He was among the main group of chasers when the
reached the sky. He called Genith, a certain that he was the right to
her. G'nir was bitting his lip, his mind merging with his dragon's. The
infused G'nir/Nirreth-being felt invincible. His wings were strong, he
had no injuries to hinder them, their mind was ablaze with
determination.
Genith sored high in the sky, delighted at so many handsome bronzes
chasing after her. She teased them, letting one approach almost close
enough to reach her, only for her to fold her wings and dive down and
out of their grasp, or with mighty flaps of her wings, leave him
struggling in her wake.

There was one bronze, however, she seriously under estimated. Kalamath
was catching up, and she enjoyed taunting him, swaying back and forth in
front of him on the wind, just out of the determined bronze's reach.
With a strong surge he lunged forward, hoping to catch her at last.
Genith saw him coming and chose that moment to fold her wings and duck
beneath him. It was the wrong move since she flew straight into the
path of another veteran bronze just waiting for her.

Nirreth had been observing her until he learned how she reacted. Then he
just waited for a mistake like this. When she ducked to avoid Kalamath,
Nirreth was there, ready. Eighteen turns and countless green- and
goldflights culminated to this. She was his! He twined his neck and tail
with her, locking his mighty wings open to keep them air.
Hasaarth roared his disappointment, though he had been lagging behind
Kalamath in the chase. But he had gone the opposite way of Nirreth and
Nirreth had caught her! On the ground, J'darin stumbled away from the
woman and the bronzerider suddenly glued together near him and hungrily
searched for a willing companion. While he was not completely
disappointed that
Hasaarth had lost, he ached for release in a way he did not often, and
it had been so long... Women were available in plenty and he chose one
that
reminded him of ... someone... and disappeared to work off his
frustration while his bronze went to his ledge, trying to swallow his
own aching
loss.

Treadoryth spiraled back towards the ground and the weyrlake. He
wanted to soak in the water until he could think clearly. D'wrayt felt
the hole of despair widening again and then there were the women that
were hoping to catch one of the riders whose dragon lost. He let
himself be led away by one of them hoping that she would help drown
out the sorrow and need he felt at the moment.

T'mahl could feel his heart sink as he was pulled back towards the Weyr
entrance. The dragons had deemed him worthy once, but it seemed they,
like everyone else, could not forgive his first mistakes. He could not
think what he would do next. All he could do was resign himself to his
fate and accept the comfort of a willing young woman.

U'kaiah did not take the loss nearly as well. He screamed at the sky as
his Kalamath was out maneuvered by a more experienced bronze. They had
come so close. So _close_! And yet he was left empty handed, _again_!
All of his hard work, all of his sacrifice, and still another man would
take the place that was rightfully his. He had _earned_ it! The
frustration mixed with the powerful dragon lust made for a dangerous
combination, and the young woman he grabbed and pulled towards the Weyr
would be the unfortunate recipient of the brunt of it.

Last updated on the August 4th 2010

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