Snalth was off to a slow start, trailing behind the others. He wasn't concerned, not yet. She was just getting started with her tricks, and he would need his energy to keep pace with her. He wasn't as young as he used to be, which would be a disadvantage, but he wasn't going to just give up.
Not while there were still blues in the sky.
He could certainly last longer than a blue, than both of them even, but he admired their dedication to the weyrhold. Pity they weren't bigger. He began his own rise up, following after the others, watching the gold closely. She would likely dive before long, and he wanted to be ready for that.
Brown Gohulmordth 3d20 Strength, 4d20 Speed, 2d20 Toughness
13, 12, 15, 10, 17, 20
Gohulmordth lingered, still, at the back, playing the long game. It didn't matter to him whether he won or not – the spectacle was what he went after, the intricate and primal display.
Of course, he wouldn't mind the catching part.
He flapped powerfully with economy, working into a spiral. He knew if he cared to win that he would want his energy later, and he certainly would want to be awake enough to watch the action.
he said to his fellow males as his eyes – definitely purple, no matter how much he would deny it – remained firmly locked on the streaking gold shape above him...
Ititth felt he'd gotten a good start and contented himself with keeping up for now. He bet there would be plenty of time for showing off later. The joining of a couple of blues amused the brown. He gave them credit for trying, even if it was silly. He felt the group take an upward turn and nosed up toward the sky. He would fly strong and hard.
Toroeth did not call to her, not yet. There were many in the skies after her just as worthy as he. As Bandshidheth climbed, his stocky build with deep chest would come in handy. I follow you.
Goroth laughed silently to himself at the blue who was wasting his energy so early on but, to give the fellow his credit, he was among the front runners, even after his rebuff by the Queen. Goroth paid some heed to the Bronze however, always they had the upper hand, it wasn't fair to browns, especiall not fair to the blues, He'd seen clutches that Browns had won the gold, always lesser golds, younger, not in line to rule the Weyr, not yet, it was always the Bronzes that caught those queens, Well Goroth would pass his strength on, he might catch this Gold, he might not but someday he WOULD capture a breeding dragon and be the father of many, many strong, healthy hatchlings.
Oh she was climbing? This was where his strength came into play, wings used to carrying the larger bulk of his frame pumped, sending him after her. Still he bided his time, he was closer than before but not close enough to surge forwards and catch her, not yet.
Blue Lophorinth: 2d20 Strength, 5d20 Speed, 2d20 Toughness
Lophorinth trumpeted his laughter with delight at Acriculeth's words even as Banshideth chastised him, taking no offense from either large dragons comments on his eligibility. A third, surprising, voice entered his mind and Loph spared a split second of his concentration to send the mental impression of a wink and a blown kiss back at Poecileth.
He had taken the hint from Banshideth and while she climbed he fell back behind the pack. ~ I would rather the caress of your hide to the kiss of your claws! Though I will gladly bask under the lash of your tongue!~
Numbers to Match: 13, 12, 15, 10, 17, 20
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:22 pm
Lophorinth's reply received no further words from Banshidheth, only an impression of acknowledgement with the barest hint of satisfaction. Flattery was acceptable, so long as it didn't involve being called someone's 'baby.'
As she rose higher, she kept as much of an eye on her suitors as she could, and noted with great interest that thus far, there was a distinct lack of infighting among them. Would that change as the Flight progressed, and passions and frustration ran higher, or was this exhibitive of wherhold dragons' general character? Proof that they were savage when necessary, but not savages. But now was not the time for such musings.
Save for Lophorinth's initial overexuberance in addressing her, none of the males had done anything to distinguish themselves yet, and her closest follower was yet a little blue, slender and lovely to behold. In a rare gesture, she crooned to Magith, admiration and apology in one low, sweet sound.
What came next was anything but sweet. Banshidheth brought her climb to an abrupt end by dropping into a dive into the pack of males, fangs and claws flashing in the moonlight.
_______
Uh-oh! Choose either your Speed or Toughness dice to avoid her or suffer through the damage. (Any actual injuries received are player choice!)
Rugarth didn't mind that Banshidheth crooned at the blue in the lead. There didn't seem to be any genuine affection to the sound, and he doubted any queen would consent to be caught by a blue, let alone the Wherholds' only queen. She seemed too intelligent for that; they needed a big clutch of strong hatchlings to help the wherholds grow and prosper.
Then Banshidheth dove towards her pursuers in a whirl of teeth and claws. Making a split-second decision, Rugarth chose not to try and dodge her. Instead he folded his wings to fall in her wake, choosing not to let her momentary nearness go to waste. Her claws rent a gash in his face as she flashed past, and between the pain and ichor swiftly running from the wound he couldn't tell if she'd scratched his eye. He closed it to be safe - he still had one good eye, and that would have to do for now - and ignored the pain as best he could. He could not let it distract him from the queen.
Oh heck no.. she crooned at the blue?! Sure they were all 'equal' but Goroth couldn't restrain the snarl that erupted from his maw, just as he was about to surge forwards to try and get in front of the blue, the gold dived among them, He knew there was no way he was getting out of her way in time, he was just too big.
Instead he made a grab for her as she dived, even as he himself turned to get himself onto her level, receiving a deep slash from razor claws along his neck, the scored splashed Ichor about, deep but not life threatening, he'd had worse from the takeovers, he was a big brown, he could take it, he reached his claws out when she was close but missed, however despite the fact he turned slowly, he was closer to her than he was before.
Magith was rather pleased with himself for keeping up with the much larger gold, knowing that he wouldn't be able to for much longer. He hadn't expected her to respond to him, her croon saying everything. He wished that he was bigger, for once, something that was unusual, but he wasn't. He bugled back at her, a sound filled with understanding and respect for her, spiraling out of her way as she dove down.
Perhaps now the browns would start to prove themselves worthy, to show that they wouldn't let a measly blue beat them. Not that he could in the long run, but for the moment still, he was not ready to back out yet. He flipped, and then dove down, following after her, dancing around the browns and bronzes that were being struck by her claws.
Blue Lophorinth: 2d20 Strength, 5d20 Speed, 2d20 Toughness (rolling speed!)
A wark! of surprise escaped the blue as he saw the scrambling and drawn ichor from above a moment before Banshideth was upon him. His small size and position in the back served him well as he dove to the side, well out of reach of her claws.
~Hahaha! Knew you couldn't resist me!~ The blue warbled as he flipped over and dove down after the queen. Now that the pack was scattered maybe he could claim the lead position! Realistically he knew his chances were slim to none, but he figured there was always a chance and he wasn't about to let it slip past him without putting in his best efforts.
And there. Sometimes golds were predictable, though there were several other options she could have chosen as well. He was not fast enough to completely get out of her way, her claws scoring his backside, and he let out a brief yelp of pain.
It was a minor hurt, and wouldn't effect his flying, and he dove after her. His resolve was stronger now, his desire to catch her high.
The gold played and file well. Oddly, or by sheer luck, the blues were ahead into he pack of competitors. He moved back and forth, trying to keep himself steady before making a move. Toroeth was actually in the back of the back when Banshidheth decided to show her fierce demeanor. Her claws struck out at flesh.
A back claw caught him, almost like an after thought and he hissed. Normally calm and reserved, the brown began to let himself be overcome by the emotion of Flight.
Brown Gohulmordth 3d20 Strength, 4d20 Speed, 2d20 Toughness
13, 12, 15, 10, 17, 20 (Rolling for Speed)
Gohulmordth stuck with slow and steady, even as his fellows powered around him. It was intriguing to the brown that not one but two blues would try for the shining hide before him, but it was not surprising. Of course the blues would try. This was a wherhold, after all, where not a shaff was given about color and a Brown or a Bronze could step back and let others take responsibility.
Gohulmordth, like his rider, was not one for responsibility.
he said placidly as the queen's claws flashed silver and, soon, the verdigris green of ichor, gliding out of the way of her massacre with a firm beat of her wings,
His evasion had taken him out of the main pack and he banked back, losing valuable ground... air... in his maneuver. It gave him a great view, however, of the carnage. He rumbled approvingly and, for the first time since the flight began, a flutter of true passion and lust began at his heart. Purple bled towards the center of his eyes as he angled himself so as to join the pack again.
A spatter of ichor from one of his competitors splashed his face as he turned, again, to the center of his attention. he said, heat leaking into his usually monotonic and calm mental voice,
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