The Fourth Flurry
Well it's about time they invited me back! The regal gold huffed as her tail danced an irratic pattern over the tall, green grass of early winter. She snorted and growled, showing to all the world that she was the most powerful queen alive, and any who dared challange her would be in trouble. Slender, knife-like claws dug into the rich, sun warmed earth and turned over great chunks. Though on other worlds, humans were starting to bundle up in layers of clothes and dragons spent more and more time indoors, the Warren of Tris'Hath never felt more than a brief chill. Being situated in the sunny tropics, winter was just another season that meant humid nights and little rain. Senorith loved the warm weather and clear skies, mostly because it brought out the best shine on her silken gold hide. At the moment, though, she was preoccupied with throwing a tanturm the likes of which hadn't been seen in a while. For all her mannerly upbringing, Senorith was still just a proddy queen. Imagine, just leaving me out of a Flurry. I wait an entire year for that event, and then they put up a restriction against previous fliers! They wouldn't have half the good blood that fly that event if it wasn't for me. She continued to huff, her angry tirad falling on patient ears.
And if they didn't limit some of the participants some of the years, they wouldn't get any new blood. Senorith, it's just the way of genetics. Besides, you're more gold than white. The cool, spring-like voice belonged to a much smaller white gold dragoness lounging beside her larger matron. Senorith was considered to be the 'mother' of the Warren, but there were some females that would accept no less than equal standing with the queen. Creesath, bonded of Melodia, was one of them.
Yes, well, you'd think by now I would have earned special status. Senorith tossed her head in a great show of superiority, indicating that logic was beneath her. Creesath chuckled quietly.
Of course. Who could argue with that? Creesath was thankful that Senorith took her words as a compliment, and didn't pick up on the veiled sarcasm edging her tone. She rolled over onto her side, stretching her neck out over the plush grass, and let the sun's rays soak into her mostly white hide. Creesath was made for the Flurry, but she had never thought to attend. She had only been in one flight previously, and that was years ago. It was time to get her tired old hide back into the air.
They're still talking. I hate this time of the year. A deep, bass rumble greeted the two dragonesses from the flight field tunnels as Creesath's mate, Sploth, came lumbering out to meet them. Sploth was also her clutch sibling, but parentage just didn't matter back in the day when they were born. Old World dragons were odd like that.
Creesath trilled lovingly to her mate, lifting her head to give him a quick nuzzle before settling back down to reply. They're always busy at tax time. You know Melodia's better with numbers than Myia.
Yes, but she needs Myia there to make sure she doesn't set the records on fire. Senorith retorted with an amused rumble. Her tantrum had died down since Creesath had satiated her ego, and all that remained was a slow, cat-like twitching of her tail. The thought of her rider besting someone else's always put her in a good mood, proddy or not.
Sploth grunted as he flopped down beside his white-gold mate, spreading himself out to get the best benefit of the ticklish grass. His rider always tried to help the girls do their work, but he was far better at just keeping the books in order. Sploth, on the other hand, knew when he was useless and eagerly made use of that time to beat a hasty retreat. It wasn't that he was lazy, only that he didn't like work. Which was somewhat contradictory to the responsibilities of his position.
Well, maybe if she burns down the place... again... we'll be able to head out to Ryslen sooner. Are we even signed up yet? He mused after cracking the widest yawn his draconic muzzle would allow.
That was once, she didn't really burn anything down, and no. Creesath replied succiently. She loved her rider dearly, but there wasn't a person in the Warren who didn't know Melodia for the clutz she was.
Well, if you two land lizards would get up, maybe we could go sign ourselves up and pick up our riders later. Senorith said with a motherly scoff.
Myia would never let you go to Ryslen without her. She's been talking of L'ken all week. Sploth returned with an absent wave of his claw.
If she's so eager she shouldn't be taking so long. I'm getting tired of waiting. The white-gold queen's tail gave a particularly violent lash, crushing a nearby patch of clover. She was known for her mood swings, and even though Creesath had done her best to calm her, Senorith was starting to get agitated once more. Without warning, she whipped her head around and bellowed at the Warren. MYIA!
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" The short statured matryonus shouted back as she hurried out of one of the tunnel entrances, Melodia and S'ron following in her wake. Though she was too far away for Senorith to hear her verbal speech, the dragon riders of the Warren had grown accustomed to speaking aloud. Since their dragons had picked up the habit of always broadcasting their mental speech to one and all, it was simply easier speaking so that one wasn't repeating oneself to people who weren't telepaths. Melodia and S'ron had heard Senorith's impatient call just as clearly. "You know, unlike you guys, we can't just teleport all over the Warren. We had to hand the tax forms to Mystic in person."
"I'm really sorry about dropping them, Myia." Melodia, tripping over her own two feet as she hurried to keep up with the amber-haired woman, apologized for the millionth time since scattering the stack of papers all over the ground. "I didn't mean to."
"I know, Mel, I know. Let's just hurry before that wherry of mine throws another fit." Myia returned, picking up the pace as she tugged her winter gloves on. She had already packed a bag of warmth clothes, as well as taking out her fur lined jacket that only saw use around this time of the year. The thick, leather boots worn by most dragon riders were enough to keep her feet warm while the snow was still light.
"Um... what're you doing?" S'ron asked while fixing a scrutinous gaze on Myia's gloves. He nearly fell over her when the gold rider stopped abruptly.
"You two haven't been to Ryslen before, have you?" Myia asked, passing a look from Melodia to S'ron. Both of them were still wearing the light, airy clothes worn by all inhabitants of the Warren year round. Both shook their heads. Myia turned to face the dragons again and held up one finger to stay them where they sat. "One second."
Oh for Elint's sake! Senorith cried as the trio of humans disappeared back inside the Warren.
Several minutes later, Myia led the husband and wife pair out of the Warren once more. This time, both of them were dressed appropriately. Myia had lent Melodia a winter jacket and a pair of gloves, but hadn't been able to do anything about her pants. S'ron had managed to get a spare jacket and hat from T'nin, who did a great deal of hunting in the northern mountain ranges, but was lacking gloves or boots. Mystic, upon hearing of their predicament, had told them to go on ahead and she'd send supplies later.
Senorith did not look happy by the time the three of them finally arrived at their dragons' sides, breathing a little harshly after running from one end of the Warren to the other. She gave her rider a disapproving glare and huffed angrily. Are we ready now?
"Yes, Your Highness, we're ready." Myia returned, swinging herself up to Senorith's back when the light shaded queen allowed her a step up. She settled between the dragoness' neck ridges, then glanced at the sun. "I told L'ken we'd be there already."
We'll just have to time it then. Senorith said while stretching her wings. She had launched herself into the air and was gaining altitude by the time Sploth and Creesath were ready to follow. Luckily, she was getting ready to between by the time she heard Sploth's comment, else she would have gone back to smack him.
Time it? Gods, I haven't done that since my weyrling days! The white-bronze laughed, earning a head shake from his mate. Seconds later, the two mostly white dragons had followed Senorith into between, on their way to the Fourth Ryslen Flurry.
Myia and Senorith
Melodia and Creesath
S'ron and SplothAll three are flying in the Fourth Ryslen Flurry.
