Kristine yawned and stretched out her legs as she awoke.Wincing at the soreness in her back, she slowly got out of her chair and onto her feet.
Now, how many times have I warned you about sleeping in that chair? You not only get a sore back, but you can't ride straight for days! Kaliinse scolded as she turned her head in Kristine's direction. Mumbling something, she grabbed her towel and started getting ready to go take a shower.
I wouldn't bother; your friends are outside the door. Kaliinse stated casually, sticking her tongue out lazily at her rider. Kristine glared at the great purple and black dragoness, and sighed, getting up to get the door. Almost at once, both Lita and Kieran walked in and sat down. Nikki followed a little slower, followed by K'ran, one of the riders who transferred from Morning Star. Kristine arched her eyebrows, and Nikki blushed, but said nothing.
"Wow, I didn't expect to have company, first of all, so I'm not even showered yet." Kristine declared as she pulled on her boots. Lita scoffed and looked around.
"You never expect company, Teeny. Look at this place; it's a mess!" Lita teased her cousin, and Kristine rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at her. Aoide took that as a cue to cheep loudly and poke her head out of 'her bag'. Kristine walked over and pulled the two-toned flitter out of her hiding spot, and she immediately made a nest among Kristine's hair.
"Damnit Aoide...here...go bother Kali." Kristine said as she detatched Aoide and put her on top of the Night Purple's head.
Why do I have to watch the little beast? Kaliinse whined, but shifted so Aoide could get comfortable.
"Now, why are you all bothering me at this early of an hour anyway?" Kristine asked as she walked back into the room, and Nikki smiled.
"Well, I didn't know they were on their way over here, so it's a sort of coincidence. I wanted to tell you that I'd found someone. K'ran and I are engaged, basically." Nikki said with joy, and looked up at K'ran, squeezing his hand. Kristine got up and hugged Nikki, as did Lita and Kieran. It was strangely odd, having a K'ran and a Kieran in the circle...but Kristine shrugged. Kieran looked over at Kristine and smiled.
"Lita and I are on a mission to find bonds. But, we can't seem to find a place we both can agree on that has spaces available. Quadora and Liazeth told us we could go anywhere we liked, with 'potential like ours'." Kieran commented, and glared at Lita.
"Don't look at me like that, you dork! I'm not the only one to blame! Besides, I still think we should go to Darkling Dawn." Lita replied quickly, sticking her tongue out at Kieran. Kristine sighed and started thinking.
Kali, why don't we take them to see Darkling Dawn? It'd give us a chance to go sight-seeing and get in some vacation time. Kristine stated, and Kaliinse rumbled in agreement. Kristine turned back to her two friends, who had turned around to see what the Night Purple was rumbing about, and smirked.
"Alright you two...we're going on a little vacation...just the three of us. Kaliinse has agreed to ferry you to whatever places you'd like to check out. Nikki, K'ran...I don't think you two would want to tag along, right? Alright then. Lita, Kieran...grab an extra pair of clothes and a jacket...we're going to Darkling Dawn today." Kristine declared, and Kieran and Lita grinned from ear to ear and went to go get their things. Kristine spent that time congratulating Nikki and her lover. Nikki and K'ran left the minute Kieran and Lita got back.
Ready then? Let's go. I wanna go see the new stock they just got in. Kaliinse rumbled, and Kristine rolled her eyes, and knew she wasn't talking about food.

   As they landed at Darkling Dawn, Kaliinse hailed the watchdragon, Evelia. With a nod in their direction, everyone dismounted and waited patiently as Kaliinse took off to leave more room for those who still needed to unload passengers.
I'll be lounging on lakeshore. Tell me when you're done. Kaliinse commented casually as she backwinged a few hundred feet from where she dropped them off. Kristine looked over at her friends, who were spinning around slowly, as if they'd never seen a place like this before.
"It's different, isn't it? It's really lovely, once you know where you're going. And the view at sunset is breathtaking." Kristine explained as they slowly made their way towards the hatching grounds. A roar from inside stopped them all, and Kristine smirked, looking for someone who could be the rider of the dragoness. Without finding anyone, Kristine ushered her two friends towards the candidate listings, and found 5 spots open.
"Well, what do you think?" Lita asked Kieran as they looked around. He sighed and tried to poke his head into the hatching grounds, but thought better of it. Instead, he turned to Lita and shook his head.
"If you want, you can stay. I want to look elsewhere before I make a decision." Kieran replied lightly, looking at Kristine. "In any case, she said she was taking a vacation, so why not look around more." Kieran commented, which earned him a giggle from Kristine and a sigh from Lita.
"Alright, you two. But, for right now, let's enjoy Darkling Dawn." Kristine said and looked over to her dragoness. Something odd filled her mind...it was like...like a hot shot of air flushed over her. Blushing, she turned towards Kaliinse.
Kali? Kristine asked tenatively, hoping everything was okay. All she got in return was a growl, and then...
You'd better be ready, ridermine...I rise! Gulping, she ran towards the Weyrwoman's quarters and flung the door open.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't know she was going to..." Kristine stammered, her face flushed from more than just embarrassment. Teah dropped what she was doing and called for Eirine, the Headwoman.
"Find out where Solange is and tell her to stay in the hatching cavern with her dragon. We have a room where you can stay for the duration of the flight. Hurry along now, before you completely lose control." She explained as she led Kristine to a small secluded room. Very few males rose to her challenging bugle, but there were enough. Kristine, flustered beyond thought, didn't even see who came into the room. Nor did she care at the moment. Kali, this is your first flight; give them hell, or I'll give it to you, instead! Kristine bellowed into her dragon's mind, smirking. With a loud rumble, Kaliinse blooded her kills and jumped into the air.
Puny little things...c'mon, I dare you, try to catch me! Kaliinse taunted the four males tha had followed her into the air in time. White-Blue Niizilith was the first after her, his muzzle still slick with blood, followed by blues Ciqantath and Ryren'Imou, and Brown Arajaxth. Kaliinse felt like she was as light as a feather when she took off, and started into a few aerobatic spirals. The males followed her into her dizzying corkscrews and ups and downs. Finally, she stopped and caught a thermal, soaring higher up into the sky. All four of the males battled for the thermal, and in the end, only two caught it in time. Arajaxth and Ciqantath both circled downwards, defeated.
   Meanwhile, Kristine was gripping the edge of the bedpost as she bit her lip. She was only half aware of what was going on around her. She knew there were two people in her room besides her, and both were just as tense as she was. Finally, she cleared her head enough to look around. At first, she only saw Ryqhin, rider of Ryren'Imou, but she knew there was another person. She turned around, and immediately caught sight of the fiery red hair she'd become accustomed to seeing. She smiled, shocked beyond belief, and he nodded. He figited around, awaiting the outcome of the flight; Niizilith was bondless.
   Kaliinse bellowed back at her suitors, and turned her head about. Ryren'Imou was close; too close for her comfort. She pulled her tail up into the air and let it whip back down, smacking the blue in the snout. Stunned, he lost a bit of momentum, and backed off. Niizilith crowed at Kaliinse.
Beautiful one, dark rose...I shall have you. Niizilith murmured to Kaliinse privately, who snorted, but turned her head to the side.
You really want me that bad? Well, you're going to work for it. I hope you're not tired! Kaliinse crooned back at him, and lashed her tail about behind her. Niizilith growled and pumped his wings harder, grabbing a small thermal and flew high into the clouds. Ryren was the only one left chasing her, and as she turned around, she frowned.
How can this be? You are not worthy of me! Even if it takes all night, I will fly until you tire and stop chasing. I will not submit! Kaliinse roared, and down on the ground, Kristine flinched. And then, Kaliinse pulled up, stopping herself and letting the blue soar past her.
Idiot. I told you you will not have me. Kaliinse quipped at the blue, and with a snort, started doing small corkscrews.
And I told you, my dark one, that I will overcome, and take you. Niizilith said with a smirk. Out of nowhere, he glided down and pulled her into his embrace. Kaliinse struggled only for a moment before submitting to him, and they glided through the sky, slowly decending.
You sneaky little... Kaliinse stopped and crooned, you sure know how to treat a lady.
  Ryqhin murmured something and left the room, silently closing the door behind him. Kristine smiled at Kieran, and sat down on the bed.
"Kieran, I..." She started, but he leaned down over her, covering her mouth in a passionate kiss. He leaned back up and smiled at her dazed expression.
"I've been waiting to do that for a long, long time, Kristine. I love you with all my heart." Kieran said breathlessly, and without letting her reply, bent down to kiss her again. Neither of them heard from Lita until the next day.

   "Kali, we have to find somewhere for you to clutch. Darkling Dawn is full and will be for the next few months!" Kristine hissed at her dragon as she pulled on her boots two days later. Lita and Kieran had gone on a little tour of the grounds, so she had some time alone.
You worry too much. I say, since I still have a few weeks until I have to lay my eggs, that we ask them where they want to go next, and see if they have any room on their sands. Kaliinse suggested, and stretched. Niizilith had also gone off to do his own thing, although he had every intention of following them to wherever they were going until the eggs had hatched. Kristine sighed and prayed, for the first time in her life, that they went somewhere with a vacancy.
"I hope you know what you're saying, deary. I just don't want to be stuck somewhere with no room on the sands when you feel that you have to lay your eggs." Kristine told her bond, who rumbled.
Don't worry. I think I know where we're going next anyway. Kaliinse said, but wouldn't say anything more. As Kristine was about to ask, Kieran and Lita walked in. With a smile, Lita ran up to her cousin and winked.
"We're outta here; it's a long wait for the next clutch to hatch, so we have time to look other places, if I wanted to come back. Kieran was talking about Star City; it's a space-port, kinda, but he said they're vacant for Kali, as well. We talked to a few riders who had been there before, and they're willing to tell Kaliinse the coordinates." Lita explained to her cousin, who looked over at Kaliinse, dumbstruck.
"Well, I'll be damned! Kali, get those coordinates, we're going to Star City." Kristine said, and smiled, grabbing Kieran's arm, pulling him with her to get the riding gear.

Riser	Chasers	Winners
Kaliinse Female Night-Purple Ryslenese	Niizilith Male Blue-White 'Prenese'	Niizilith Male Blue-White 'Prenese'

Written byDracleia