Aurelia
12th November 2005, 03:55 AM
Jaxom sighed. The young Ruathan lord was burdened with duties by the Warder Brand-he couldn't seem to escape any of them! A minor plague had spread among Ruatha's famed runnerbeasts, which affected the holders, who came complaining to Jaxom. Jarrol was down with another cold, Shawan was constantly vomiting, and Sharra was, too. Since he had few to help him, Jaxom had too many duties, even for a Lord.
To escape from all of this, he flew to Fort aboard his white dragon, Ruth, thinking maybe N'ton needed help with somethign Weyr-related. As the pair flew in above the Weyr Bowl, they were greeted by a bugle from the blue watchdragon-J'sor's Harith.
Harith says that Selianth will rise soon. It's her maiden flight, Ruth told his rider.
Jaxom smiled. It'll be good for Prilla. She's a good girl. Jaxom, while attending weyrling training classes at Fort, headed by Weyrlingmaster K'nebel, had made friends with the youngest Fort queenrider. Selianth, Prilla's queen, had fast made friends with Prilla. A skinny, awkward girl, the Ruatha-born Prilla had been Searched at the age of 16 Turns, and Impressed Selianth, earning her others' enmity. As Jaxom hadn't exactly been expected to Impress Ruth, the two bonded over this.
When does she rise? Who does Harith think will catch her?, Jaxom asked Ruth.
Ruth considered this for a moment. Harith says she should rise today, by sundown at least. The bronzes are getting ready. I think that maybe P'tors' bronze Talinth could catch her. He's young and fast. Or F'rit's Kimarth.
As the two landed in the Bowl, Jaxom asked Ruth, Whom does Prilla favor?
Ruth responded, No-one. Harith says she is reluctant to fly Selianth.
Jaxom frowned. What would Prilla do? He slid off Ruth, and patted his white beast on the neck. Where's N'ton?
He and Lioth are on sweep patrol. Some Weyr duty., Ruth replied, nuzzling Jaxom.
As Jaxom hugged Ruth, a humming began to echo through the air, tingling along his spine. Ruth exclaimed, Selianth rises!
Jaxom whirled to the Feeding Ground to see a big golden shape plunge into the mass of herdbeasts. A trembling Prilla stood on the ledge above, controlling Selianth barely.
Jaxom gasped. Selianth was going to gorge--Prilla's hold on her wasn't strong enough. The bronze riders surounding her only wanted to fly the queen-they didn't care about Prilla. Ruth!, he shouted. Help Selianth!
Jaxom scrambled up the roughly-hewn path to where Prilla stood, shakingly. He reached her and told her forcefully, "Do not let her gorge, Prilla!" Prilla trembled, but Selianth screamed her defiance as she only blooded the next buck.
"Prilla! Control her!" Jaxom shouted.
Prilla whirled. "Why should I? I'll only be raped by a bronze rider when she flies!"
Jaxom snapped, "No, you won't. If you want, I'll send Ruth after the bronzes to make sure they won't hurt you or Selianth."
Ruth! Can you do this?
Responded the dragon, Of course I'll help.
Prilla collapsed with relief. "Thank you, Jaxom!"
After blooding two other beasts, Selianth glowed an even more luminescent gold. Screeching at the top of her draconic lungs, she launched herself into the air, followed by ten bugling bronzes and one small white dragon.
Prilla swayed, and Jaxom caught her. As Selianth flew faster and farther, more bronzes dropped out. Finally, Jaxom asked, Ruth, who's left?
Responded the white, Just me and bronze Dalirth. Wait, he's falling back! What do I do?
Just then, Ruth accelerated and flew under Selianth to stop her and tell her that there were no bronzes left. Their wings became entangled, as did their tails, and Jaxom fell upon Prilla as their dragons mated in a rush of excitement.
**********************************************************
Sharra sat up in bed. She really wasn't feeling well-she had caught a virus from Shawan, which didn't look to be passing up soon. Where was Jaxom? Swinging her legs off the bed, she called out, "Jax? Where are you?"
There was no response, and Sharra walked out into the nearest corridor outside her bedroom. Brand stood there, talking to a trembling young man. "Brand?" she queried. "Where's Jaxom?"
Brand bowed. "My lady Sharra, I believe Lord Jaxom took Ruth to Fort Weyr."
Sharra nodded her thanks and turned back to her room. Ruth?, she asked.
At first there was no response, then the white dragon's weary mental tone sounded puzzledly, Sharra?
Sharra frowned. Ruth, what's wrong? Is Jaxom okay? Why are you at the Weyr?
Ruth replied, We came because it was too busy at Ruatha. Prilla's Selianth was rising when we got there, and I flew her.
Sharra stopped in her tracks. She gaped. What? You flew a queen? Jaxom...and Prilla?
Ruth responded, Yes. Jaxom and Prilla mated, like Selianth and I did. I hope to sire a good clutch, and Jaxom is content. They are weyrmates now.
Sharra gasped. Weyrmates? But....what...
Ruth replied, Don't fret. He'll still be at Ruatha as the Lord....
Just then, Jaxom burst through the door. "Sharra....", he began with glazed eyes.
Sharra pushed away from him. She shook her head, sobbing, and collapsed on their bed.
**********************************************************
The sun gleamed down upon Fort's Hatching Sands. Selianth's clutch by Ruth was due to Hatch that day. Selianth had laid two queen eggs-a first for Fort in millenia, let alone from a white dragon!
Jaxom and Prilla stood on the Sands, talking.
"Is Sharra here?" Prilla asked timidly.
Jaxom shook his head glumly. "No, she isn't. Can you blame her? If she had Impressed, I wouldn't be happy at all if her dragon was flown by another rider's."
N'ton walked up to the young pair. "I'm glad to see we have two queens. Jaxom, is Sharra coming?"
The young lord shook his head mutely. Replied N'ton, "Ah."
Just then, the bronzes began to hum, with trilling notes added in by the greens. N'ton grinned and told the weyrmates, "Enjoy."
Standing on the sides, Jaxom and Prilla watched the Candidates being led onto the Sands. The humming intensified, and the eggs began to rock. Selianth's tongue flickered and her eyes glittered.
With a loud crack, one of the two queen eggs split. The crowd oohed. A bronze was a good omen, but the queen Egg hatching first was a better one! The small gold figure squawked, surveying her choices. Bounding across the Sands, she butted a portly young redhead in the knees, crooning. Kneeling, the young girl told the crowd, "I am Rulacca, rider of golden Yumith!"
Jaxom and Prilla smiled, as the other Eggs began to Hatch. Three bronzes and a blue popped out next, and were Impressed by their partners. Then, as more greens, blues, and browns Hatched, the other queen Egg began to rock. It split in two, revealing a bright gold dragonet. Crooning, the young queen moved decisively towards a tall brunette named Porinne. Prinne clasped the dragonet's head to her body, and exclaimed, "She says her name is Worath!"
Everyoen cheered. After the eggs finished Hatching, Ruth bugled. "I wish Sharra were here," Jaxom said, eyes downcast.
Prilla said, "Look!"
Tiptoeing across the scorching Sands was Sharra. Upon reaching Jaxom, she nodded to Prilla and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sorry, Jax. I overreacted...".
Jaxom cut her off with a huge kiss. "Sharrie, I love you."
Prilla smiled. Selianth bugled in a tenor tone. Then, Ruth told his rider and his wife, I'm glad you're happy. But can I eat now?
The two grinned, as did Prilla-Ruth had included her in his declaration, too. The three watched Ruth swoop out of the Cavern to the Feeding Grounds, as the Impressed pairs were led off the Sands.
To escape from all of this, he flew to Fort aboard his white dragon, Ruth, thinking maybe N'ton needed help with somethign Weyr-related. As the pair flew in above the Weyr Bowl, they were greeted by a bugle from the blue watchdragon-J'sor's Harith.
Harith says that Selianth will rise soon. It's her maiden flight, Ruth told his rider.
Jaxom smiled. It'll be good for Prilla. She's a good girl. Jaxom, while attending weyrling training classes at Fort, headed by Weyrlingmaster K'nebel, had made friends with the youngest Fort queenrider. Selianth, Prilla's queen, had fast made friends with Prilla. A skinny, awkward girl, the Ruatha-born Prilla had been Searched at the age of 16 Turns, and Impressed Selianth, earning her others' enmity. As Jaxom hadn't exactly been expected to Impress Ruth, the two bonded over this.
When does she rise? Who does Harith think will catch her?, Jaxom asked Ruth.
Ruth considered this for a moment. Harith says she should rise today, by sundown at least. The bronzes are getting ready. I think that maybe P'tors' bronze Talinth could catch her. He's young and fast. Or F'rit's Kimarth.
As the two landed in the Bowl, Jaxom asked Ruth, Whom does Prilla favor?
Ruth responded, No-one. Harith says she is reluctant to fly Selianth.
Jaxom frowned. What would Prilla do? He slid off Ruth, and patted his white beast on the neck. Where's N'ton?
He and Lioth are on sweep patrol. Some Weyr duty., Ruth replied, nuzzling Jaxom.
As Jaxom hugged Ruth, a humming began to echo through the air, tingling along his spine. Ruth exclaimed, Selianth rises!
Jaxom whirled to the Feeding Ground to see a big golden shape plunge into the mass of herdbeasts. A trembling Prilla stood on the ledge above, controlling Selianth barely.
Jaxom gasped. Selianth was going to gorge--Prilla's hold on her wasn't strong enough. The bronze riders surounding her only wanted to fly the queen-they didn't care about Prilla. Ruth!, he shouted. Help Selianth!
Jaxom scrambled up the roughly-hewn path to where Prilla stood, shakingly. He reached her and told her forcefully, "Do not let her gorge, Prilla!" Prilla trembled, but Selianth screamed her defiance as she only blooded the next buck.
"Prilla! Control her!" Jaxom shouted.
Prilla whirled. "Why should I? I'll only be raped by a bronze rider when she flies!"
Jaxom snapped, "No, you won't. If you want, I'll send Ruth after the bronzes to make sure they won't hurt you or Selianth."
Ruth! Can you do this?
Responded the dragon, Of course I'll help.
Prilla collapsed with relief. "Thank you, Jaxom!"
After blooding two other beasts, Selianth glowed an even more luminescent gold. Screeching at the top of her draconic lungs, she launched herself into the air, followed by ten bugling bronzes and one small white dragon.
Prilla swayed, and Jaxom caught her. As Selianth flew faster and farther, more bronzes dropped out. Finally, Jaxom asked, Ruth, who's left?
Responded the white, Just me and bronze Dalirth. Wait, he's falling back! What do I do?
Just then, Ruth accelerated and flew under Selianth to stop her and tell her that there were no bronzes left. Their wings became entangled, as did their tails, and Jaxom fell upon Prilla as their dragons mated in a rush of excitement.
**********************************************************
Sharra sat up in bed. She really wasn't feeling well-she had caught a virus from Shawan, which didn't look to be passing up soon. Where was Jaxom? Swinging her legs off the bed, she called out, "Jax? Where are you?"
There was no response, and Sharra walked out into the nearest corridor outside her bedroom. Brand stood there, talking to a trembling young man. "Brand?" she queried. "Where's Jaxom?"
Brand bowed. "My lady Sharra, I believe Lord Jaxom took Ruth to Fort Weyr."
Sharra nodded her thanks and turned back to her room. Ruth?, she asked.
At first there was no response, then the white dragon's weary mental tone sounded puzzledly, Sharra?
Sharra frowned. Ruth, what's wrong? Is Jaxom okay? Why are you at the Weyr?
Ruth replied, We came because it was too busy at Ruatha. Prilla's Selianth was rising when we got there, and I flew her.
Sharra stopped in her tracks. She gaped. What? You flew a queen? Jaxom...and Prilla?
Ruth responded, Yes. Jaxom and Prilla mated, like Selianth and I did. I hope to sire a good clutch, and Jaxom is content. They are weyrmates now.
Sharra gasped. Weyrmates? But....what...
Ruth replied, Don't fret. He'll still be at Ruatha as the Lord....
Just then, Jaxom burst through the door. "Sharra....", he began with glazed eyes.
Sharra pushed away from him. She shook her head, sobbing, and collapsed on their bed.
**********************************************************
The sun gleamed down upon Fort's Hatching Sands. Selianth's clutch by Ruth was due to Hatch that day. Selianth had laid two queen eggs-a first for Fort in millenia, let alone from a white dragon!
Jaxom and Prilla stood on the Sands, talking.
"Is Sharra here?" Prilla asked timidly.
Jaxom shook his head glumly. "No, she isn't. Can you blame her? If she had Impressed, I wouldn't be happy at all if her dragon was flown by another rider's."
N'ton walked up to the young pair. "I'm glad to see we have two queens. Jaxom, is Sharra coming?"
The young lord shook his head mutely. Replied N'ton, "Ah."
Just then, the bronzes began to hum, with trilling notes added in by the greens. N'ton grinned and told the weyrmates, "Enjoy."
Standing on the sides, Jaxom and Prilla watched the Candidates being led onto the Sands. The humming intensified, and the eggs began to rock. Selianth's tongue flickered and her eyes glittered.
With a loud crack, one of the two queen eggs split. The crowd oohed. A bronze was a good omen, but the queen Egg hatching first was a better one! The small gold figure squawked, surveying her choices. Bounding across the Sands, she butted a portly young redhead in the knees, crooning. Kneeling, the young girl told the crowd, "I am Rulacca, rider of golden Yumith!"
Jaxom and Prilla smiled, as the other Eggs began to Hatch. Three bronzes and a blue popped out next, and were Impressed by their partners. Then, as more greens, blues, and browns Hatched, the other queen Egg began to rock. It split in two, revealing a bright gold dragonet. Crooning, the young queen moved decisively towards a tall brunette named Porinne. Prinne clasped the dragonet's head to her body, and exclaimed, "She says her name is Worath!"
Everyoen cheered. After the eggs finished Hatching, Ruth bugled. "I wish Sharra were here," Jaxom said, eyes downcast.
Prilla said, "Look!"
Tiptoeing across the scorching Sands was Sharra. Upon reaching Jaxom, she nodded to Prilla and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sorry, Jax. I overreacted...".
Jaxom cut her off with a huge kiss. "Sharrie, I love you."
Prilla smiled. Selianth bugled in a tenor tone. Then, Ruth told his rider and his wife, I'm glad you're happy. But can I eat now?
The two grinned, as did Prilla-Ruth had included her in his declaration, too. The three watched Ruth swoop out of the Cavern to the Feeding Grounds, as the Impressed pairs were led off the Sands.