Flight 09
(Fabricantepazth's Flight Story)
|
Those who'd signed up for Fabricantepazth's flight didn't have long to wait. The starry-winged blue had made it clear once she'd met her last chaser that she was ready to rise, and even now, the five males who'd been been waiting for her watched her blood her second kill, each with the same lustful look in his eyes. Fabricantepazth eyed them the way that most dragoness' in heat do, with disgust for the most part. Liderverdadeiroth, the silver-winged blue that was also her clutch-mate, had already blooded a beast of his own and watched her with reserved longing. She knew he was only here because his bond wanted hers... but that didn't mean she was going to let him or his rider get anything! Naviantan... now this was an interesting dragon. He was the largest dragon of the lot: a bronzish creature with snowflake-markings feathering across his wings and headcrest. At the moment he was going for his own kill, moving with precision and grace. She'd have to be careful of him... The pale blue that watched her like someone might watch a girl way out of their league stood, poised, waiting for her to take off as if she might leave without him realizing it otherwise. She'd met him once before, when he'd clumsily bounced over to her and announced his name as Xayth, and then retreated when she'd simply given him a cold stare. Normally the starry-winged female was incredibly easy going, but at a time like this, she didn't really have the time to humor such obviously inexperienced chasers--not that she'd flown before... but that wasn't the point! The last two dragons, black Eirfolkth and the peculiar blue Sehmei, had taken wing already, and watched her from spiraling positions near the roof of the huge flight deck. She'd met Eirfolkth once before, as well, and he'd been charming enough. The problem was, though, that he was perhaps too charming! The riderless Sehmei looked like a snake in a chicken nest... ready to strike silently and without warning. He gave Fabricantepazth the creeps. Fabri'? Madison's voice murmured faintly into the blue female's heat-hazed mind. They're all here.... She'd be meaning the riders. Fabricantepazth snorted and flared her wings, and then glared when each of her chasers perked forward. She'd been more then polite to wait for their lazy riders to make themselves available to her bond... but now, now she'd show them a hard time!
 Madison sat nervously on the bed in the room she'd been assigned to, looking at her hands that were folded in her lap, for lack of anything better to do. She could feel the presence of the other riders in the room like an oppressive blanket. Ryan, who'd she'd known since before they'd bonded, sat possessively close to her, while R'lan shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot a short distance away. Elamen... well, he'd taken up a seat near the door, the last time Madison checked, and had made himself comfortable enough. "So," he'd said when he first entered the room, "this is everyone, is it?" R'lan had looked from the black-rider to Madison and shrugged, while Ryan openly snubbed him. The blue-starry rider, whilst blushing furiously, had nodded and dropped her hands back to her lap. A long pause had occurred, making the young woman nervous. "Well," Elamen broke the silence again, his voice somehow slicing through the awkwardness of the moment, "This shouldn't be so bad, then!" He grinned at the other riders nonchalantly, eliciting a small grin from Madison as she raised her blue eyes to watch their reactions. R'lan laughed nervously, obviously not put at ease. Ryan took a moment to glare at the black-rider, his frown plastered over his pale face. Madison watched him for a moment longer, worried that he might lose his temper. That was the last thing that she wanted! How are you doing out there, Fabri'? she asked, feeling a suddenly surge of adrenaline that could only have come across from her bond. More then fine, rider, believe me! There was a kind of ecstasy in the blue female's voice, which cut out for a moment. Then she was back again, sounding breathless even in mind, These guys are putting up a real flight! What, Madison giggled, are you going to be caught this quickly? Shards no! Fabri's voice came back, a rush of emotions flowing with it. I'm not even started yet! Madison giggled again, and finally let her dragon's full emotions flow across to her.
A half-deck below, the flight raced on. Fabricantepazth dove and wove her way through pillars, ducking once or twice from a near catch by one chaser or another. Xayth at this point trailed a short distance behind her clutch-mate, Liderverdadeiroth, who in turn was riding the currents set by Naviantan. The great bronze hadn't made any moves yet, instead watching his quarry twist and play with the black Eirfolkth and majestically moving Sehmei. Fabri' suddenly twisted out of the eastern-dragon's near grasp, her mouth gaping in a laugh as he attempted to catch her. Not shelling likely, she teased, and did a neat little wing flip so that she was heading back in the direction she'd come. Sehmei chuffed and froze in place, watching her and the black disappear back across the flight deck. Not that he'd expected to win... but now he could have some real fun, now that he wasn't concentrating on winning the flight... Xayth and Liderverdadeiroth realized at nearly identical moments that this was their chance: Fabricantepazth was dodging Eirfolkth, and was headed right towards them. Both blues dived, and both were sure that they'd catch her--but then Xayth wobbled, his wings brushing the larger blue-silvers. With a squawk, Xayth swerved uncontrolledly into his opponent, and both tumbled, tangled, towards the ground. Fabri' swerved around to watch them. Stupid mistake, that... but if the lighter of the blues was clumsy enough to do something like that, then she was glad that he wouldn't be tangling himself with her! She let out a small hiss of amusement, unaware of her other chasers until a massive shadow fell across her. Naviantan! It was worth the wait... he rumbled smugly, descending on the starry-blue slowly. Well it looks like you're going to have to wait some more! Fabri' retorted, trying to twist out of his grasp. The bronze-brown rumbled again, this time in laughter. You think I'll let you go that easi-- but cut himself off with a sodden-sounding roar! Fabricantepazth dove out of his suddenly loose grasp, and twisted around to see what had happened. Naviantan looked like he'd been hit by a wave, though where the water had come from... Fabri' caught a sparkle of light blue, and of the after-effects of a spell. Sehmei froze again, hovering for a moment while the huge bronze got his bearings, and took a moment to wink at the starry-blue he'd graciously (or not so graciously!) lost too. Fabricantepazth rumbled a chuckle of her own as Naviantan realized who'd splashed him, and, his temper flaring, chased the little blue away across the flight deck. I guess that just leaves you and me, doesn't it? Eirfolkth asked from a few dozen feet away. He'd been circling her, watching the comic event unfold. What do you say? The starry-winged blue chuffed, glaring at him... was she done yet? He swung in an arcing glide towards her, watching her carefully. You're giving me a choice? Of course I am... He pulled closer, a challenge in his eyes. Fabri' let her jaw gape in a draconic smile. Fine then. But I'm not done yet! and with that she dropped away. Let him chase her for a little longer yet! He might be a charmer, and considerate, but it was up to her when this flight ended, after all!
Time must have passed, but Madison hadn't noticed it. She suddenly realized that there was a body pressed against her own, that someone was running fingers through her hair. She turned slightly, and realized that Elamen was watching her through heavy lidded eyes. There was a pause that was nothing like before the flight. For one thing, this silence felt comfortable, and Madison didn't want to disturb it. She hardly dared breath as she took in his tan skin and dark hair. Finally gentle smile tugged at the black-rider's lips, and he leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead. Madison sighed and relaxed. "You know," he said, his voice quiet, "Eirfolkth was right when he told me you'd be beautiful." Madison giggled, much more at ease now then she had been before. "It's a little late for pickup lines, isn't it?" She felt his hand--which had gone back to moving through her green hair--freeze for a second. "I meant--"
"I know what you meant," she giggled again and reassured him with a kiss of her own. "Fabricantepazth was right, too, when she said you and your dragon were charming." And after that she didn't need to use words to quiet his protestations.
|