Ripple in Time, or Flux as she was often known, was a dragoness of unparalleled quality. Her race was one of powerful element shapers. Of her colour, she was the only female, and one of the strongest. Her ability to create and destroy entire worlds had never before been seen among Nexus dragons. Because of this awesome power, she lacked the ability to use any breath weapon whatsoever. Aside from it, she had the power to create stable wormholes through space. These she used to transport herself from world to world, lacking the simplified ability of betweening. When it came to mobilizing large numbers, such as the ground forces used in the war, Flux was the one called up. She had been titled a demon dragoness for her gigantic build and solid, scaly covering. Her position in the Lead Wing had been earned not only because of her rider's bond with the Caretaker herself, but also because of Flux's personality. She was a leader, an entity of power, and the only one of her kin to have taken up residence at the Warren. Currently, the all-powerful dragoness was sunning herself on the flight fields.
Gray wingsails spread out over the emerald green grass, cut into fourths by the spider-thin lines of black that were her tines. Onyx light rippled down her muscular back, caressing each sharp-ended scale in turn. The gray spikes that began at the nape of her neck and ran down to the tip of her spaded tail cast shadows onto the already blackened mass of her bulk. Her head was pear-shaped with a crown of spikes adorning the back of her skull. Each grayish point stuck out impressively over the start of the dragoness' neck, providing nearly as much protection as the wickedly curved teeth that protruded over her lower lip. It was this trait that had perhaps earned her the nickname of 'demon dragoness'. Rows of bone white incisors hanging down from her upper jaw, displayed for all the world to see against the pitch black background of her scales. When it came to bloodlines, Flux was in no way, shape or form demonic. It was her demenour, only when she was angered, that shed light on the connection.
From the moment of her hatching, Flux had been protective of her bond. One would assume that only a strong-willed individual could bond a creature of such massive strength. Polana was quite the opposite. In fact, when it came time for the Wings to strike out against the hydras, Flux flew alone. Her rider would have only gotten in the way if she attempted to join the fighting. In all things, Flux thought of Polana's well being before her own... Most things. There was one topic that sat uneasily between rider and dragon. One subject that had been touched on only twice before, both with disasterous results for Polana's self-confidence. Now that the shy girl was married, quite happily, Flux was loath to bring it up again. But she had to.
The black dragoness snorted suddenly and lifted her head from the warm nest of grasses upon which it had been resting. Slitted blue eyes opened, passing quickly over the field around her. She took in the sight of other lounging dragons and dragoness, groupings of humanoids preparing themselves for battles ahead, and her rider sitting some distance away, enfolded in the loving embrace of her husband.
Rider-mine, we need to talk. The dragoness sent to her bond in sharp tones and choppy colours. Everything about her mental voice radiated uncertainty and foreboding. So much so that Polana was instantly attentive.
What is it, dear hear? She sent back in her own whispering soft voice that reflected so much of who she was. Like a frightened doe, Polana remained stalk-still in her beloved's arms, blank gaze turned in the direction of her bond.
Flux sighed, ruffling her wings and shifting her great bulk on the ground. She stalled for time and thought, looking anywhere but at the woman across the field. Abruptly, she stood and stalked over to the pair of humans. Her massive muzzle came down to within inches of Polana's face and wuffled a warmth breath over her willowly figure. Polana responded by relaxing her taut muscles and resting a slender hand on top of Flux's nose. She rubbed the soft scales, earning a pleased purr from the gigantic dragoness.
It's about this Weyr I found. Abri Weyr. Flux began as the soothing touch of her rider's hand calmed her nerves.
What about it? Polana coaxed. While she stroked her bond's nose, her husband kept his arms resting lightly on her shoulders. Telif was never far away when there wasn't work to be done. He was as overprotective of Polana as she was utterly shy.
There's a flight... a frenzy actually. The Midsummer's Night Dream frenzy. It's for dark dragons. Flux elaborated, slitting open one feline-shaped eye to study her rider's reaction.
Polana exhaled a trembling sigh and changed her soft, earthen brown gaze to match the wide, glassy eye of her bond staring down at her. She didn't cringe at the mention of another flight, but it did make her unease. The last had not been pleasent. Again? But you just flew at Azon!
That was a few months ago! Flux argued back. She lifted her head and turned it so that both of her black irises focussed on the fragile, breakable figure of Polana. Please, rider-mine? I've held it back as long as I can, but I need to fly.
Flux... Polana sighed, turning her face into Telif's shoulder. She heard her husband whisper softly in her ear, comforting words meant to ease her frazzled thoughts. Polana shut her eyes and shuddered, remembering past flights. Remembering what it had been like to be in some other man's arms. She couldn't do it again, especially now that she was married. Flux, I can't. I can't go to a flight that doesn't have Telif in it. Why can't you just pick a flight that will allow Dien to chase?
The last words cut Flux to the core. She ducked her head, for once meek before the projected anguish of her rider. I'm sorry, Polana. It was the only one I could find... I didn't think to sign up for a regular flight. She paused, looking from her rider to the man holding her.
Telif's arms surrounded Polana, tucking her against his chest as she tried to regain control of her panicking emotions. He was a contrast to her in every way. Dark brown hair to match her sun-kissed auburn hair; golden eyes as bright as the sun, shadowed by her chocolate brown irises; physical strength to oppose her willowy build; and a will stubborn enough to stand up to Flux, even in her bad moods. He stared at the black dragoness now, willful, metallic eyes boring into her thoughts. Like his mate, he was unable to speak to any dragon but his own. Kellarians were similar to Sawnay in that way, and in the exotic quality of their magic. Yet as Flux stared back at the often moody blue rider, a thought struck her as if picked directly from the man's brain.
"Telif can go with you!" Flux exclaimed aloud as the simplicity of the plan left her stunned. She berated herself for not having thought of it before, while at the same time congratulating herself on solving the problem. Flux turned a triumphant smile on her bond.
Polana wasn't looking at the titanic black dragoness. Intead, her eyes turned upwards to Telif, pleading and curious at once. There wasn't much height difference between them, Polana being closer to six feet than five, so the smile that Telif sent her radiated from all across his face.
"That sounds like a great idea." He responded warmly, turning his head to plant a quick kiss on Polana's cheek.
"Then it's decided!" Flux proclaimed with a proud rumble sitting in her broad chest. She lifted her head and straightened her shoulders, beaming down at the two humans as if she alone had been responsible for their happiness. "Telif will come with us to Abri Weyr for the Midsummer Night's Dream Frenzy."
It was as if the couple hadn't heard the black's happy announcement. Polana was staring up at Telif in that joyful, oblivious way that couples sometimes have, and Telif was grinning back down at her. He had heard Flux's words, and would gladly go to Abri with his wife and her bond. Gladly; mostly because he would make sure that he was the only one touching his beloved this time around. But before that, Telif had a plan of his own that had to be put into action.
"You go on ahead." He murmured to Polana, brushing a finger through her long, auburn locks. "I'll catch up in a little bit."
Polana nodded, swallowing hard to remain in control of her wavering voice. Even when she was feeling bold, she looked the part of a deer ready to run. It was just her style, unchangable since the day she was born. She could only manage to force one word past her lips, but it was enough to seal the arrangement. "Okay." She whispered, and knew that Telif would be at Abri within the day.
Polana left with Flux a few minutes later, the shy black rider watching her beloved until she could no longer see him in the blackness of Flux's wormhole. Telif still had his hand raised in a signal of farewell as the black tear in space closed behind his beloved and her bond. As soon as the sky was clear and blue once more, he dropped his hand and shoved both into his pockets. Telif smiled to himself, seeking out his bond with a mental nudge.
Are you sure we should have tricked them like that? Dien asked uncertainly as he backwinged to a landing beside his rider. He had left his distant resting place the moment Flux leapt into the air, taking care to slowly approach until he was certain that the black dragoness would not see him. Though they had often talked about finding their own mating flight, it had never happened. Dien longed for the same relationship with his black beauty that Telif had with his wife. Kellarians, long before making a practice of bonding humans, had lived in a society much like their own.
Hey, it's not my fault if Flux didn't have the sense to find out if blues could join the flight too. All the more reason to surprise her. Telif returned with a smug, mental laugh. He was smiling with abandon as he turned to face Dien, walking towards the gigantic blue's side from which he could get a leg up. Don't forget to stay out of sight as long as you can.
Dien returned with a conspiratory, almost giddy, rumble, dropping his shoulder to the ground and extending his wing for his rider. Of all the dragons in the Warren, Dien was closest to the titanic Flux in size. While this would make his chase all that much easier, it would hinder their plan of keeping him hidden. No doubt Flux would take a strip off his scaled hide the moment she found out that he had entered without her knowledge.
Right. Telif mused absently as he settled between Dien's massive shoulder blades. The girth of his bond's back was almost too much to wrap his legs around, but Telif managed, nearly doing the splits in the process. He glanced around once to check that the bags he had tied to Dien's forearm were still present and intact -they would be staying a while at Abri if everything went according to plan- then patted Dien's neck assuredly. Let's get going.
Dien leapt straight up into the sky, wings lurching downwards as he struggled to catch an air thermal. Soon, the sixty foot long blue was gliding upwards on strong currents, gathering his strength to make the jump to Abri Weyr. Before the mind-numbing chill of between settled into his bones, before Tris'Hath disappeared from sight for what would probably be a few months, Dien allowed a fleeting surge of joy to rush through his viens. At last, he was getting a chance to prove his worth to Flux!
Read Polana's story.
Read Telif's story.
Flux and Dien are flying in: The Midsummer's Night's Dream Frenzy
Background from: Abri Weyr