It had been then, by fate perhaps, that a messanger from another Alskyrian island had swooped into the Aerie to announce a huge clutch, the Paniya Festival, and Orotan had begun to realize what Cepeo was up to. The woman had seemed bitterly jealous that the three of them had bonded, while she had not. It didn't help that Aduro Aerie didn't seem likely to be hosting another public hatching, either... so she must have gotten a lift to a place where she could bond, as well. Of course the others, Neya and Myxckon, would have gone with her. Myxckon because he never had given up trying to pair with Cepeo, and because Neya, his wife, would have been sick with envy and doubt, had she stayed behind.

So Orotan and his two Gryphon Dancers (it was a far more appropriate term, and he liked the sound of it) had given chase. They'd only arrived at Paniya after the first wave of hatchings... and to his surprise, his three missing troupe members had bonded already! Of course Cepeo had put up a fight when he caught up with her... and both of their gryphons had had a spat, as well. But Zeloarah (Orotan's green bond) had put that loud-mouthed cockatoo gryphon in her place, and it seemed that the group would stay together... at least for now. There was still tension, of course, but now it had lowered to a tolerable level. In fact... the Neya and Myxckon were on better terms then they had been before! As soon as Myxckon began to sneak out on his wife, his gryphon would put up a fuss, and then Neya's gryphon would beat the living hell out of the poor male, and Myxckon would have to return home out of shame. It was painful, but it was still a healing process.

They'd managed to stay on Paniya for two years... but the urge to pick up and travel again was itching under their skin, just as it did with all Dancers. To Orotan, it felt as if fate had intervened once again. A group of Gryphon riders were gathering near the flight boards of the island, and Orotan overheard something about a trip... to 'Tripaldi'? He paused, Zeloarah close behind him, and listened. A young blonde woman... Rudo, if he remembered her name correctly, was talking with another pair of offworlders... "...it's nothing like what happened here, honestly. Tripaldi's Avian frenzy is open to gryphons from all over..."

Is she being serious? Zeloarah asked, her feathered crest fluffing as she nudged her bond. Orotan shrugged, and drew nearer.

"Excuse me... what was this about an avian frenzy?" He smiled that smile of his, nodded to the man and woman that Rudo was speaking with, and then turned his full attention on the young woman. She explained, of course, and by the time he was through, Orotan was certain that this was just what his group needed... it was an excuse to get up and out of here, a release for their gryphons (who were just into their sexual maturity), a way that, hopefully, they could bond into a real troupe again. And so he went and told the others, who for once all agreed to come along. It wasn't long before Orotan and his Gryphon Dancers were accompanying Rudo and her group... and it wouldn't be long after that that they reached Tripaldi, and experienced their first flight.

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Zeloarah and Orotan Dancer are the leaders of this troupe. Zeloarah will be looking for a bondless male above all others... she won't tolerate anyone pairing off with her Orotan, even if it means he has to deal with her overwhelming emotions himself! Barring that, she'd prefer a male-bonded male, seeing as how her bond would rather be by himself then with another man.

Kohoyochibiashe and Cepeo Dancer, previously contenders for leadership amongst the Dancers, for now, they're both looking for a good time. 'Chibi is shallow and will be more impressed with looks then anything else. Of course, she'll want her mate to have a handsome bond to pair with Cepeo! ((And a human male would be preferable, as I'm planning on throwing babies at Cepeo, if all goes well. >D))

Eiriok and Xehcken Dancer are the comic relief of the troupe. Xehcken, being a cross-dresser is still taken with women, so he'd prefer if Eiriok caught a female-bonded gryphon... hopefully a female who's open-minded enough to get past his peculiar garb! Eiriok, for his part, will probably want to mate with more then one female, if he can help it. He's the kind that just keeps going... and going...

Irask and Cyactin Dancer are such opposites that it's a wonder that they bonded in the first place. Cyactin is the typical hero: handsome and well muscled, always optomistic, if a bit naieve. Irask is often broody and will point out the mistakes of everyone. He'll be looking for a mate with guts and intelligence, someone worth the challenge of flying. Cyactin... well... he'll probably end up shy with whomever he ends up with.

Deyohofahze and Myxckon Dancer are to be held on a tight leash on this trip. Dey' will mate only with Dahmshe (below), if only because the vulture-hyena gryph won't allow it otherwise! Of course, Myxckon will keep close to Neya. After all, he is trying to learn to be faithful to his wife...

Dhamshe and Neya Dancer will be keeping close tabs on Dey' and Myxckon (above), and will make sure that the cockatoo/puma gryph mates with no one else other then Damshe, herself. Neya, for her part, will be sure to keep Myxckon too entertained to even think of leaving her arms.


Chapter 4

Chapter 2 (Currently unfinished) Chapter 1


Star City Dragonry is copyright (c) Terry Lynn Massey.