The unbearable lightness of being

Three months. Three months since Aliseth, and then Eniseth, had proven the shadows were entirely unlike any other dragon beyond their smoke brothers.

Three months of endless extra drills, flying on top of flying between weyrling classes and the Weyrsenior.

Three months of E'zen barely acknowledging anyone not in his class - his fellow weyrlings he would talk with, occasionally at near-complete ease, almost always human - Weyrsenior and Weyrlingmaster got...grunts. A seemingly infinite array of grunts, shrugs, very little eye contact. Ignore, don't engage, don't start a fight with Br'son's smug face that Aliseth would take upon herself to try and finish with Yllaveth.

Aliseth, too, had been quiet, but that leashed rage was building alarmingly, and E'zen wasn't entirely sure what to do about it.

For the moment, of course, there was just lunch. Lunch and glaring, a new midday routine. Surrounded by whichever of his classmates had come to lunch, E'zen chewed over both his food and his worry that Aliseth might, unprovoked, attack one of the adult dragons before he could do anything about it.

Asteriel knew she was suppose to have her mind on others things. Ashrah had swapped a chore slot for lesson slot; Emanoth practically pranced up to Weyrling Master at their first solo flying lesson. Three months had seen Emanoth grow sleek and strong, his large wings the color of misty rainclouds. Yet, while Asteriel had been happy to get to know Revel more and their smoke dragons seem to be forming a tight kinship, she has worried. Many nights during her free time before light's out, she would walk with Emanoth and pass by the Weyrsenior's ledge. Sometimes Asteriel thought she could see the dark outline of Aliseth but she could never be sure. So her heart lept when she spotted E'zen sitting in the dinning hall. Forgetting about food entirely, the blond crossed to him and her golden curls bounced as she walked.

"E'zen." she said, her voice gentle and satin soft.

Something lurched violently inside him, but E'zen managed not to launch to his feet. Other classmates all around, but she'd come to talk to him, all golden and shiningly sweet. Emanoth and Aliseth could both fly, and fly well, and they could just take lunch somewhere else and -

He cleared his throat. "Asteriel. Uh. Want to join us for lunch?" Stupid, but his thoughts were not remotely on any words that might come out of his mouth.

She smiled, as only a girl relieved could smile. Blue eyes met his and crinkled around the edges as she grinned and nodded.

"I'd love to. If you like, I can go fill a tray for both of us." she said. There was a meaty smell on the air and something like soup. Meatrolls and tuber stew with cheese perhaps. Or maybe a beef broth with a touch of heavy cream. She could dream.

"I saw a basket of redfruit up front." she said shyly.

He didn't want her to go, and only belatedly checked himself from reaching out to grab her hand with his and pull her closer. Running a hand back through his hair instead, he smiled - a true, all-the-way-real, warm as anything smile - and nodded.

"That'd be great, thank you. I'll get the redfruit if you get the tray?" Food would clear his mind, surely.

Br'son sat near the back of the mess cavern, eyes on his 'second. Teagan was around here somewhere, too, but he was less worried about her. She at least was her same self with everyone, dragonrider, weyrling, smuggler, whomever. E'zan, on the the other hand, only got surlier and surlier, even when the restrictions on his movements were gradually eased.

So Br'son watched, and Yllaveth waited, her senses tuned to this most troublesome of her offspring. For if they flew at three months...

Br'son pushed that thought to the back of his mind, for it disturbed him. It stayed there, though, mocking him from the shadows of his consciousness.

When the smoke weyrling, Asteriel, approached E'zan, Br'son watched closely to see his 'second's reaction. So far, so good, the Weyrsenior thought. E'zan appeared to be acting just like a young man with an attraction to a lovely young woman. On one level, Br'son sympathized, and not for the first time he regretted this animosity that existed between them. Not just for the sake of the queens, but because, in truth, E'zan was possibly the only man on the planet who had the potential to understand what his life was like. Br'son would have liked to have been friends. But that rather wistful thought got pushed to the back as well. Things were as they were. His job was to watch, and be prepared.

His smile filled her with her a warm sensation of peace, like stepping into a freshly drawn back. She nodded again and leaned in with a sudden flourish of golden curls, her head ducking down.

"It would be my pleasure." Asteriel demurred. Turning in a way that made her long hair flair away from her, Asteriel made her way back to where the main bulk of the food was. Picking up a tray, she took two bowls and filled them with what turned out to be tubers and cheese chowder. She placed four, freshly steaming meatrolls on a medium sized plate. Finding cups near to the station of soup, she poured Klah and creamed it heavily.

Turning with the tray in hand, Asteriel was surprised to see Casriel striding through the Hall, head high and eyes taking in all. Staff quickly moved out of her way and no one impeded her stride. She looked like a lioness, the way she eased across the stone floor with all confidence and regal bearing. Casriel, however, didn't give her more than a small smile and a nod of the head.

Casriel offered her sister a slight smile but avoided her. As much as she adored Asteriel, a Wingleader had a score of duties and none of them involved Weyrlings. She was curious to see the development of Asteriel's smoke dragon but it would have to wait for another day. Seeing Br'son toward the back of the hall, Casriel slowed her ground eating pace. She looked toward him as if to ask 'may I join you?' and inclined her head.

Br'son was startled to see Casriel appear, so hard had he been concentrating on E'zan. So the young Weyrsenior looked up with a jump, then gave her a smile. "Of course, Wingleader," he said. "Always. But I do want to ask, is this visit social or business?" He may have glanced over her shoulder at the troublesome shadowrider a few times while he spoke, but he was genuinely glad to see her.

***

"Asteriel!" M'dian said, a grin splitting his face in two. "Just the person we need. Settle this dispute for us!" The quartz weyrling hadn't seen E'zan earlier, otherwise he likely would have called out to the other young man as well. As it was, there was much laughing and good-natured finger pointing going on, and it just seemed like a good time to include the lovely blonde. M'dian reached out and caught at her free hand, intending to draw her toward their group.

E'zen had redfruits in hand and a small smile still on his face when Casriel crossed to Br'son and M'dian touched Asteriel.

He couldn't have said where the redfruits went, but, like his smile, they were gone, and everything about his demeanor changed.

Fists balled, shoulders set, he moved, all purpose and intent, and on the cliff face above them a deep pool of shadow shifted, inky black hide separating from the shade of the rock, wings unfurling, threat in every bit of her demeanor.

Emanoth came awake with a snap and roused himself with a deep rumble, his peaceful whirling blue eyes morphing into yellow speckled with tiny motes of red. The flying lessons had rounded out his baby fat into lean, strong muscle and with a light, whipping sound his wings unfurled. The sunlight struck them like it would fog, silver infused heather grey. Like mist chasing along the lines of a riverbank, he uncoiled himself and got to his feet.

Asteriel, heart of my heart..?

Asteriel almost dropped the laden tray when M'dian caught her free hand but it was the look in E'zens eyes that made her snatch her hand back as if she was burned. Emanoth's voice, the tenseness of his mind and his ready body echoed in the back of Asteriel's mind.

'Oh no.' Asteriel's blue eyes went wide. Something was about to happen...

****
"A bit of both act..." but Casriel never finished her sentence. She caught in the corner of her eye the subtle change of movement in the room and easing herself about face, the cobalt rider stared intently at the group of weyrlings, particularly Asteriel, M'dian and E'zen.

"Something's going on over there." she said decisively. On the heights where he was sunning, Maraxith rumbled low and deep in his chest.

"Maraxith feels it too." Casriel said.

(OOC:Ready with the magic wand if I read too much into the situation )

Br'son felt Yllaveth's unease, and her natural possessiveness rising within her. His eyes snapped to Casriel's face, and then to E'zan's. A single, flat swear word dropped form his lips, and then he was in motion, pushing past Casriel and hoping that she understood.

"Quartzriders, to me!" He bellowed, reaching out to those least likely to be affected through the emotions of their dragons. Since quartzes didn't rise or chase, they typically didn't amplify mating lust like other colors would do. The need to get Yllaveth out of there beat against the inside of his skull, but the Weyrsenior flexed his not-inconsiderable will and told his Titan queen to wait.

Wait, my love. I have to get Aliseth's rider first.

On her ledge, Yllaveth rumbled, but her love and trust in her rider kept her from mantling her wings and answering the young shadow queen's challenge. For now.

Br'son began to run. "E'zan... E'zan!" he called, grabbing the man by the shoulder and spinning him until they were face to face. "E'zan! Look at me! Aliseth is about to rise, do you understand me? Remember my lessons. Don't let her gorge, and don't let her go between!"

An icy tendril of fear curled through Br'son's belly. Aliseth hadn't been taught to go between yet. Surely she wouldn't try... would she?

Yes, he answered himself. She would, and her sister would be right behind her... Bloody ashes! Flame these sharding shadows to the ground! Yllaveth, reach out to Gaveth, tell him to take Eniseth and lead her away somewhere, quickly! She can't be allowed to follow her sister into the air! Teach her between if you must!

As the queen reached out to her mate, Br'son refocused on his 'second's face.

"E'zen! Do you hear me?"

***

M'dian's smile had fallen away as soon as he caught sight of E'zen's murderous face. He took an instinctive step backwards, away from his classmate (and, he'd rather thought, sort-of-friend). But when the Weyrsenior came barreling into the fray and started shouting for help, he galvanized into action. He quickly took the loaded tray from Asteriel's fingers and placed it on a nearby table.

"Will Emanoth chase?" he asked the smoke weyrling in a low, intense tone. If so, M'dian rather thought that she wouldn't want to be staying in the middle of the very public dining hall for long.

E'ret was on his feet, food forgotten in the rush of the moment. Itzelbith trilled on his ledge and dropped off, landing in Bowl. The quartzrider was at Br'sons side in a moment but gave him some space to council the queen weyrling E'zen.

****
"Yes." Asteriel breathed, hardly looking at M'dian. Her heart was pounding and head swimming from the rising emotion. Asteriel realized suddenly that it was lust that was feeding back down through her bond with Emanoth. The blond squeezed her eyes shut tight for a moment, focusing upon what Ashrah had taught them. She reached out to her smoke dragon with purpose.

Fly, Emanoth! Asteriel's voice was clear and strong. It was all the smoke dragon needed.

****
Casriel instinctively gave way to Br'son and sprang after him, though her path diverted to Asteriel. Asteriel turned to look at her.

"Emanoth must blood. Don't throw yourself all into the sprint. This is an endurance game. He must stay with her. Don't be afraid. Fly and win!" Casriel's mouth stretched into a grin and Asteriel nodded. Already she could feel Emanoth blooding on the hunting ground, the rich tang of it filling Asteriel's mind as if she drank with him. Casriel backed off and privately touched Maraxith's mind.

We are sitting this one out. Casriel said and her tone brooked no argument.

She had no interest in poaching E'zen, especially when it was so obvious how Asteriel felt. Casriel would keep Asteriel close by encouraging her interests in a junior, male queenrider and with luck they would have a long life together. If E'zen kept Asteriel pregnant, Emanoth would never rival Maraxith for a Wingleader's position. If Aliseth took a fancy to Emanoth, it was unlikely she would share with Yllaveth given their antagonist relationship. Asteriel would be too happy to be the child oriented weyrmate and Casriel would tolerate little and less in a family rivalry. She got enough of that from J'ril.

Eniseth goes with Gaveth to be guarded. What shall I do?

As you say, Gaveth goes. Casriel replied smoothly, looking toward Br'son. Sidran would have to go to supervise Teagan.

Make yourself useful to Yllaveth. I will do likewise with Br'son.

Vianne's eyes widened, having missed most of the lead up in favor of half dozing at the table (training: the exhaust-ening). But she heard the Weyrsenior's urgent voice cut across the room, the call for quartzriders, and tugged Abry up as she stood.
*
The noise E'zen made was not quite human. Something of a growl, something of a challenge, and he threw himself on top of Br'son.

His eyes were fogged, and though his fists were clenched, it was as though he'd forgotten how to use them - he didn't punch or even try to land a blow, but he charged from close quarters all the same.

*
Sidran took the barest moment to close the oil pot, and to wonder ruefully what else these shadows were going to get up to. She was something of a mess, but Gaveth nothing less than perfection, and it hardly mattered, anyway. Gaveth had called to Eniseth in the same breath he'd shared Yllaveth's message with his rider, and Sidran wasn't going to hold them up for needless vanity.

*
Gaveth moved, and Aliseth watched, eyes all but glittering against the deepness of her hide. Eniseth was leaving - she stirred in protest, but so much of her attention had turned inward. Toward her, toward her rider. Something building - rage, rage and a desire to...what?

Hurt?

Strike out.

Show them.

Yes.

Aliseth rises. Hesriath said, curling her head back from the buck she had been about to finish off. With the weyrlings at lunch, Ashrah had taken the moment to go down and feed Hesriath. Across the distance the voices of dragons lanced the air. Ashrah moved to her dragon's side.

"We need to get back to the Weyr." she said. Hesriath snapped up the last haunch of the buck, swallowing it whole and Ashrah climbed onto her forearm as she raised it. Once Ashrah was settled on her dragon's neck and Hesriath was clear of the ground, she gave the visuals for the fire heights above White Lightning. Hesriath jumped Between and Ashrah held her breath.

The broke over the fire heights a moment later and Ashrah looked down to see Itzelbith and a few other quartz dragons in the Bowl. No sign of E'ret but Ashrah had Hesriath touch ground. She walked briskly into the Dinning Hall, spotting the main tangle of Weyrlings. She saw Vianne and Abry, Vianne tugging Abry to her feet. She saw M'dian too and E'ret standing near to Br'son.

Then she saw E'zen and her heart spotted for a second. Br'son was with him, Casriel with Asteriel. The cobalt Wingrider seemed to be preparing her sister; no doubt Emanoth would chase Aliseth given the feelings between the two weyrlings.

'Revel.' Ashrah reminded herself sharply. She moved with purpose to the tangle of Weyrlings.

"M'dian! Vianne! Abry! L'lian! Help Weyrsenior Br'son." Ashrah said, meeting his eyes and then E'rets. E'ret gave a clear nod of his head; this young people needed to learn to work on their feet.

"The rest of you Bright Hope Weyrlings are to report to the Weyrling Barracks. M'drist, that was not a request. Move." Ashrah said, sensing the older boy would go after his brother. She walked directly to Revel.

"If Sanovith chases, make sure he bloods. Keep with him. You must not allow him to go Between." Ashrah told Revel.

There was a low growl and Ashrah turned to see E'zen charge Br'son. Adrenaline exploded through Ashrah's bloodstream. She vaulted into motion, diving for the tangled pair. Her training took over as she attempted to engage E'zen through a back mount, hoping to place him in a body triangle.

"E'zen! Hold! Think! Your queen must blood. Hold!" the Weyrling Master bellowed, striving for a firm hold on the strong young man.

***
Emanoth came down hard on a squealing buck, immediately fastening his teeth on the warm neck of the animal. Asteriel had given him clear directions to blood and to keep with Aliseth. Yet instinct was taking over now and Emanoth knew what he had to do. The blood pooled in his belly and made his body sing with power. He rumbled to feel the energy building inside of him. Other males were gathering now.

Touching down across the field, the sun blazed over the ocean blue hide of Thortoth. The big blue growled as he sank his teeth into the warm belly of another buck. Beyond him, the bronze dragon Manticath felled a beast and bellowed brassily across the Hunting Grounds. The bronze drained the beast dry in seconds, mantling his antique colored wings and tossing his powerful head. The cobalt dragon Osgilath touched down as well, following suit. All around the Hunting Grounds, males of all colors touched down to gather for the shadow queen Aliseth.

Br'son went down under E'zen's weight and fury. He didn't even bother trying to block or defend. He was too busy. Holding back Yllaveth, who roared in fury at this treatment of her rider, was hard enough. But Br'son was desperately trying to get through to his 'second, too.

"Don't let her gorge!" He rasped, as some how or another some part of E'zen's body had ended up across his throat. "And don't let her go between. You'll lose her E'zen! You...have...to...listen...to me!"

***

M'dian nodded at Asteriel's response, then looked over his shoulder to see Abry and the others. "Let's take her to the flight weyr for now," he said. "And somebody get Revel there too," he said. A part of him wanted to wade in to the fracas on the floor, but Ashrah was already there, and Br'son was still struggling to speak.

Br'son. Yllaveth. Bloody shells.

"E'zen!" M'dian shouted. "You've got to let him go! He's got to get Yllaveth out of here, or she'll kill Aliseth! You know she can do it!"

Out on her ledge, the senior queen let out a brassy, angry bugle.

Maraxith answered Yllaveth's angry bugle with one of his own. The rising mating lust in him was dampened by both Casriel and the growing impatience for an upstart shadow queen.

****
Asteriel nodded to indicate she would follow where they led her. Emanoth's mind seemed to fill her own with a pulsing, ruddy light. She could feel his growing desire, his impatience and his need. A blush flushed across Asteriel's face and she felt hot across the chest.

"Emanoth." she whispered her dragon's name like it was a prayer.
****
They all knew their way to the Flight weyr, having been present for Anarath's mating flight. T'kal, Z'ash and L'thyr did not speak as they walked but each exchanged a puzzled expression when no rider waited for them there. T'kals blue eyes flicked outside at Yllaveth's angry trumpet answered in part by Maraxith.

"Something..." T'kal began.

"Isn't right." Z'ash answered and the young man rubbed the lower half of his face anxiously.

L'thyr reached out for Osgilath, brushing his mind over the young cobalt. He was drinking deep the hot blood of a herdbeast, the lust riding high in his mind.

Be careful out there. This isn't gentle Anarath or kind Nwynth you are chasing. Who knows what Aliseth will do if see lashes out.
***
Tahlana was cuddled with Tahlansk and groaned at the sudden bevy of noise. She rolled over and covered her arm with her face. Tahlansk nuzzled deeper into her handler's side.
***
V'tayn was with Anarath on their ledge and wondered if he should go to Kyabree. R'fariel would have Vorganth chase, would be not. It would be a shame for Vorganth to miss out siring his first clutch.

"Love, wish Vorganth luck and tell him to bring himself to my weyr if Aliseth selects another. Tell Nwynth to bring Kyabree if she wants to come." V'tayn asked of his dragon. Anarath turned her head and reached out to the scarlet and the cobalt.

Swift Flying, Vorganth! If Aliseth selects another, bring your rider to my weyr. Nwynth, bring your rider to my weyr if she so desires. My rider would like to be with her if Vorganth wins Aliseth. He would like to be with them both is Aliseth selects another to fly her.

There was no other word for it: E'zen flailed. With a great deal of strength and anger behind it, but a flail all the same.

Still, the back of his head landed against someone's surface, and the only thing coming clear in his vision was Br'son's face, turning red, satisfyingly under his arm, and finally, finally all of his frustration -

had changed into something else. Anger, yes, and the overwhelming need to break free of constraints, an unbearable need, push for -

some of Br'son's words - one his words - cut through. Lose. It echoed, and took a moment, M'dian's voice, and that building pressure.

His eyes focused on Br'son's, finally, and he saw, for the first time, genuine sincerity (whether or not it had been there before, this was first in terms of registering it).

"Get off," he said, going still. Curse words tumbled through his head as he reached for Aliseth.

The bottom fell out of his world. Aliseth was a pit, deepening, widening, all need and want and raging violence.

Her wings unfurled, and without a sound she dove from the ledge and hit the pen in a blur of teeth and talons, making a point to buffet one of the males with her tail to be very clear who had right of way with the meat.

Aliseth,

Rejection, flat and brutal. She wanted none of what her rider had to say, instead ripping a herdbeast clear in half and burying her muzzle in the intestines. How dare these males be in her way when she was hungry? How dare they stare at her, wanting?

Revel smiled to herself as she watched the byplay between Asteriel and E'zen.  Of course, she'd seen it for what it was long ago, but wouldn't have said a word to either of them unless they brought it up.  They were cute together, and it was nice to see E'zen lighting up the way he did when the other smokerider was around.

What she didn't expect, though, was the violent way her classmate reacted when M'dian rather innocently (or so it appeared to her) touched Asteriel's hand.  Standing up with the intent of following him-- and distracting or otherwise preventing violence-- herself, Revel stopped short as Sanovith suddenly roused with an entirely different sort of interest than she'd felt from him before.

Surely… surely Aliseth wasn't…  It was too soon, wasn't it?  She was too young to--

The Weyrsenior's yell cut through her thoughts, confirming her worries.  "Faranth's first egg," she muttered, running a hand through her hair and attempting to push back the dragonlust she could feel coming from Sanovith.  Now wasn't the time to let herself get lost in it, not when it appeared that E'zen was ready to fight sooner than tear someone's clothes off…  And with all of their classmates around…

Where was Teagan?

Hearing Ashrah's voice, the smokerider turned towards her.  She vaguely heard the other names, but her focus sharpened on the instructions for herself.  It was all she could do to nod in response-- she had no plans of letting Sanovith go, even if she had to completely stop him from chasing.  But she knew she could handle it, unlike the youngest queenrider they had.  "Teagan?" she croaked out, trying to ask after the girl's whereabouts.

However, she didn't get a response, as the Weyrlingmaster immediately leaped to Br'son's help when E'zen rushed the titanrider.

Swaying, she would have thrown herself into the fray, but  others were there, those who'd followed Br'son.  So all she did was watch helplessly, worry over Teagan and E'zen fighting for dominance beyond Sanovith's rising desire to chase.

------

Outside, Sanovith somehow knew not to go too far, not to eat too much.  They'd been taught such, and for once he didn't push it, didn't try to prove it wouldn't matter.  This wasn't the time.  No, the proof would be in the chase, and the catch.  And he was ready, despite his rider's reservations, and the tiny part of her that tried to hold him back, knowing E'zen was Asteriel's.

Well.  Just because the humans were a pair didn't mean Aliseth was Emanoth's.  He had a chance, too, and he was going to take it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

R'fariel had been on his way to the dining cavern for lunch, himself, when he felt Vorganth's shift from near-doze to full alertness.  Knowing what it meant, Raf glanced up, wondering which dragon he was wanting to chase now.

Nwynth? he asked, half hoping Kya's scarlet had finally decided to rise.  But he didn't need Vorganth's vision attempting to superimpose itself on his own to understand that it wasn't either of his friends' dragons, but one of the shadow queens, who was drawing all the attention.

As the cobaltrider watched, Aliseth pounced on a herdbeast and started tearing into it.  That didn't seem right, not when riders of all female dragons were taught to blood only, weren't they?

And why wasn't Yllaveth gone yet?  Br'son should have taken her away already, shouldn't he?

Confused, he hurriedly headed for the flight weyrs, hoping someone there would have an answer… and that this wasn't going to turn ugly, fast.

------

Vorganth acknowledged Anarath's words with the briefest rumble of agreement.  He knew well who his rider would wish to spend time with if Aliseth didn't choose him.  However, he intended for the shadow queen to pick him above any others.  So they would just have to wait and see, wouldn't they?

The impact of E'zens head slinging back caught the side of Ashrah's skull but did little to slacken her hold. An experienced fighter, Ashrah knew to keep her face tucked against the back of E'zens shoulder. It was an impact and Ashrah tasted blood in her mouth when she bit her tongue. She hissed through her teeth, spitting blood and frothy saliva.

"You get off! Let go of him, E'zen!" Ashrah commanded.
*****
Casriel saw Revel's face and caught her words. With Ashrah trying to restrain the young shadow weyrling, she worried she could cause more damage to Br'son if she intervened. She would wait until the situation was settled. She moved to the smoke weyrling's side instead.

"Teagan is under the care of Weyrleader Sidran. She is in good hands. If your smoke is chasing, head down to the Flight weyr with the others." Casriel said, noting the girl's expression. She added, a bit more gently.

"It's all part of riding a male fighting dragon. You'll get used to it and it will go better for your beast if you aretherewith him."
***
It was Thortoth who took the blow from Aliseth as she passed and he yelped in surprise. Emanoth was out of her range but Manticath and Osgilath had to shuffle out of the way.

Imioth sensed the Shadow’s need to rise when the other males did. Unfortunately for Sh’lor he was completely caught off guard by the sudden wave of desire that flooded through him. Ugh, Was his dragon going to fly every freak of nature known to dragon kind? He thought irritably as he threw a pair of pants on and walked toward the flight weyrs in a sort of pre-flight haze.

The brown was on the larger end of the spectrum for his color and most likely if not the largest brown than close to the largest left on Pern. It gave him a chance against the Cobalts, Smokes and the Bronzes. Imioth had practice to back him as well, experience that would help him in some ways during the flight though this was the first time a Shadow would fly. They didn’t know what that could mean.

While his rider made his way to the appropriate flight weyr, shirtless and without shoes, Imioth blooded his kills, keeping away from the other males as much as he could. He didn’t want to get into it with them before the Shadow Queen was in the air.

Sh’lor growled under his breath as he entered the flight room, feeling the feral and savage nature of the great brown that was his bonded as he tore into the flesh of herdbeast and blooded. They were ready for Aliseth to rise.

---

Brielody heard the commotion and did what she could to keep Aurayath close. “Come in closer to me.” She told the green. Unsure of what to expect from the rising Shadow Queen, she wanted her green far away from any of the males. In the meantime, she would wait in her weyr for everything to be over. All of those men and women under the affect of flight lust, she did not want to put herself in a position to get caught up in it. She knew too much about these things to do something that dumb.

--

Nwynth was relaxing on her ledge but suddenly alert when Aliseth became ready. The scarlet knew better than to get in the way of a Queen. Especially Aliseth, as the Shadow had proven to be most tempestuous. Anarath and V’tayn were asking for their company during the flight. Kyabree also thought that Vorganth would certainly chase. There was no reason for him not to. A fine cobalt like him should try to sire a clutch. Still, R’fariel would be missed if he won. Responding quickly to the invitation, We will be there in a moment.

Nwynth spoke to Anarath before Kyabree mounted her Scarlet.

The redhead didn’t bother changing into riding clothes. She was perfectly comfortable wearing her loose pants and a tank top for now. When Nwynth deposited her on the other Scarlet’s ledge, she went in as she had been invited to.

E'zen didn't answer Ashrah, because he was beyond hearing. He let go of Br'son when he went still, locked in something beyond anything he'd ever known.

Not a battle, not a fight, but...whatever it was, it threatened to rip him just as cleanly as the herdbeast.

Her mouth buried in innards, Aliseth raged, silently, motionlessly, just the simplest shift of her jaws would pour meat and -

It happened invisibly, but the important thing was it happened. Aliseth did, in fact, shift, but for blood.

And more killing.

Casriel then moved to Br'son and took hold of him. She had been waiting for the boy to let go and contemplating kicking him in the face as she passed. She did not but put her body over her Weyrsenior protectively.

With Casriel standing over Br'son, Ashrah shifted and got her feet under her. She pushed away from him, letting him go. Her eyes were iron hard and her mouth a firm line, stained with blood. Victory suddenly appeared and landed on Casriel's shoulder, hissing angrily.

Again Maraxith bellowed and Hesriath added her voice to the rising throng.

Ashrah and Casriel stood tense to see what E'zen might do next. Both women held their breath and waited for Br'sons orders.
------
M'drist was seeing chaos in the Mess Hall. Well, the last thing Ashrah had said was get back to the Weyrling barracks. Turning to look at the rest of the Bright Hope class, M'drist cleared his voice.

"You all hear the Weyrling Master. If you aren't a quartz or smoke, get back to the Weyrling Barracks." he barked.

Revel nodded, grateful for the older woman's words. Part of the weight was lifted as she recognized that Teagan was safe. But she couldn't quite leave yet, not with E'zen and Br'son still…

She let out a breath as she realized that her classmate had finally left off his hold on the titanrider. Did that mean it was done? That he was ready to head down to the flight weyrs, himself? Or was he simply catching his breath, waiting for Ashrah to let him go?

Still torn, she hesitated, though Sanovith's pull was growing greater as he watched Aliseth and the other males gathering around her.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Worried and completely at a loss as to what she might be able to do to help, if anything, Jemma nodded at M'drist's orders and moved to follow her classmates out of the Mess Hall. "Do you think they'll be okay?"

Abry stepped back and spat a bit of blood to the side (elbow), with a bit of a wild grin. Now this - especially since it wasn't anything she'd ever have to deal with - was a bit of old school fun.

Vianne staggered a little and fixed her hair, breathless. She could feel it now, the energy rising around them, and was deeply thankful her quartz did nothing to magnify it. There was interest, to be sure, but more a 'learning how things went' then a 'get involved' sort of way. So much better.

Br'son scrambled to his feet, dragging in great breaths of air.

Come get me, he ordered his queen, in the tone that would not be disobeyed. So no matter how much Yllaveth yearned to show this young upstart who was in charge, she restrained herself to a the short glide down to the riverbank. She splashed down in the shallows facing the Mess Hall and called urgently for her rider to come to her.

"I will," he said, not realizing that he spoke out loud. "E'zan," he ordered, "Look at me." Either the other young man lifted or someone pulled his hair back so that their eyes met. Br'son didn't notice, and he didn't care. "Acknowledge this. Keep her to blood only. Stay with her. Do not let her go [i]between/i]. Show me you understand. None of us want to lose her. You are our only hope. You can do this. Show me you understand!"