Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Pern. I do, however, have my characters, and do not use them without my permission... Not that I think anyone wants to...
ANs: OK, this story is complicated. Here's the deal: I wrote a story. Pretty long, too. In word, it was over fifty pages. OK, kind of long. But, going through it, I decided it wasn't my favorite. So, I pulled out one of my favorite parts: the first mating flight. So, it may not be the best stand alone piece. It may not even be good at all. You don't get to know the characters real well - that was fleshed out in the story. But read it anyway, and PLEASE PLEASE review to tell me how I can fix it. I WILL listen to constructive critisism. And I will probably get flames. Oh well. Just read it.
ANs, pt 2: Thank you,lilybee, for your advice on perspectives. I've fixed that here. Anyone else who would like to give me help, it would be welcome.
Hungry, Kirroth said urgently, his eyes spinning.
"Right, right…" T'nar mumbled, trying to get up. He rubbed his eyes. "Just wait a minute…"
I'm hungry now, Kirroth said adamantly.
"'Now?' Why so urgent?"
I'm hungry now!
T'nar dressed as quickly as he could, then swung onto Kirroth's back. The bronze sprang off the ledge and swooped down to the hunting grounds.
To T'nar's surprise, several other bronzes were also approaching the herdbeasts' pens.
Then it hit him. Lilianth! The senior queen was rising!
Kirroth waited impatiently for his rider to dismount, then deftly killed a buck. He sucked the blood from the carcass, ignoring his rider's urgent questions.
The twenty-nine bronzes that would participate in Lilianth's first mating flight came quickly. Kirroth would be up against some good beasts, but T'nar had utmost faith in his dragon to catch the queen.
Ydrath blooded with deft experience, but Kirroth and T'nar ignored the bronze that had caught Horriath, the deceased queen, so many times. There were real threats they needed to be concerned about.
Orloth was, as C'var boasted, very muscled. Champioth, whose name gave his rider confidence, was healthy and strong, and U'bilo was cocky. Saienth, of B'diol, was also a good beast. And R'hil's Xaieoth was also in his prime.
All the bronzeriders mounted their beasts. Then, all flew, wings glinting, to the queen's weyr. They competed for space in front of it, crowding around the entrance. It was on ground level, so those unable to get right in the doorway stood right behind those who had been.
Kirroth had managed to get close enough, and T'nar swung off to stride into Lynnia's weyr.
"Wh-What's going on?" demanded Lynnia, unnerved by the expressions on the bronze riders' faces.
"Lilianth is rising!"
Shocked, Lynnia reeled backwards. When a rider reached out to grab her arm, she shrieked, "Don't touch me!"
The riders then commenced pelting the poor queen's rider with reminders, like "Don't let her eat!" and "She has to blood!" and "Control her!" and "Stay with her the whole time!"
"I know, I know!" Lynnia shouted, backing away from the bright-eyed men.
Her cry roused Lilianth. The queen's mind sent Lynnia reeling again, and she stumbled to the gold's head. But Lilianth swept out past her rider, snarling at the bronzes gathered around her weyr. They hastened to get out of the way.
Someone grabbed Lynnia and swung her up on Kirroth's neck. She didn't notice who the bronze or his rider were. Her attention was solely on her queen.
She was off the dark neck and running toward her queen as soon as the bronze had landed, shrieking, "Don't eat that, Lilianth! NO!"
Lilianth shrilled defiantly. She was desperately hungry.
"Don't you dare!"
Lynnia wasn't aware that she was speaking aloud. She had to stop Lilianth from doing anything but blooding.
Suddenly, another, equally glowing dragon swooped down from her weyr, a disheveled rider on her back.
Pinceath!
Lilianth swung her head up, bellowing her rejection of another female dragon in heat – even if it was just a green.
T'nar could have hit himself over the head. Pinceath was rising! At the same time as Lilianth!
Kirroth! Get S'til away from here!
Kirroth added his bellow to the other bronzes'. When Pinceath continued down to the Hunting Grounds, Kirroth and three other males leapt skyward, flying at Pinceath until the green squeaked, going between.
Lilianth flung wide her glowing wings, calling seductively to the tense bronzes waiting around her. Then she leapt into the air.
All became one with their dragons. Kirroth's mind blended with T'nar's. Lynnia couldn't tell her mind from Lilianth's. None of the humans noticed when they were prodded into the queen's weyr by the anxious weyrfolk. And the flight began.
Lilianth soared through the air on wings that had never known such strength. The bronzes followed her admirably, though she knew that none of them could match her.
Kirroth spun in midair to avoid hitting Einth, as the other bronze blundered. His claws unintentionally raked the other bronze across the side. Einth screamed and went between. Kirroth once again powered his wings, in hot pursuit of Lilianth.
Lilianth flew, mocking the males with the occasional taunting call.
Suddenly, though, another screech matched hers. Furious, Lilianth spun around, searching for the other female. How dare another attempt to contend for her bronzes!
There was a green. Pinceath. Forgetting the bronzes, Lilianth shot toward Pinceath, letting loose a bellow of intense anger.
Pinceath had apparently left her rider somewhere, and come back to mate. But Lilianth refused to share. She flew toward the green, talons outstretched. But Pinceath, smaller and more maneuverable, darted out of the way, shrieking.
Pinceath evaded Lilianth and flew to the bronzes, calling invitingly to them. But she didn't notice the bigger queen come up behind her.
Lilianth dealt Pinceath a slashing blow across the hindquarters, causing the green to scream in pain, whirling to face the queen. Lilianth took advantage of the speed the green had put on, raking the other in the face while Pinceath was still off-balance.
Wailing, Pinceath backwinged. But Lilianth was bent on blood, and flew full toward the green.
No! Lynnia thought desperately, but it was too late. Lilianth dove at Pinceath and locked her jaws on the green's neck.
She disentangled herself just in time to avoid being brought by Pinceath as the green went between, her agony provoking her to seek the oblivion.
Satisfied, Lilianth turned to the bronzes, who had hovered, confused, nearby. They keened, lamenting the dead dragon. But they realized that this was the queen they were facing, and took up the chase once more.
Lilianth threw Pinceath out of her mind quickly, flying far and fast away from the males, not tired enough to impact the flight.
Bronzes began falling back, until Kirroth was only sharing the airspace with Orloth, Champioth, Saienth, and Xaieoth. He disregarded them, locking his sights only on the queen.
Lilianth glanced back. Seeing the number of bronzes still following her, she sharply turned to the left, causing Champioth and Xaieoth to collide. They went between, reappearing over the weyrfolk, so far away.
Kirroth, Orloth, and Saienth powered their wings, after the queen.
Lilianth turned and folded her wings, diving. Saienth went between, squealing in fright as he almost collided with Orloth.
Now, it was only between Kirroth and Orloth. Kirroth flew on, his wings aching.
He was shocked when he felt his wing crumple against his side. Orloth had hit him! He jerked his wing back out, putting on an extra burst of speed. Orloth bellowed in frustration as Kirroth sped past him. He snapped at the other bronze's tail.
Lilianth, amused, slowed to watch the two bronzes squabble. So she was caught off-guard when Kirroth ducked under Orloth and plummeted straight for her.
He caught her quickly, before she could evade him. Twisting his neck around hers, he spread his wings. Outmaneuvered, Lilianth did the same, slowing the speed of their terrific descent.
Lynnia was surprised to find herself back in her own body, in her bed. T'nar smiled at her.
She gave a happy sigh, then closed her eyes, blissfully unaware – for the present – of the pain of the rider of that green, Pinceath.
ANs: It never says that greens fight like queens do when mating, but it never says they don't. So, I say they do. If people want me to, I might put up the rest of - or more of - the story, but for now, it's a standalone. Really, please review. I WILL do what people think I should with this story! Honest!