Queen of the Night, Lydelask's run

Darkness had fallen some hours ago, but night was not yet upon them. Black clouds had covered the daytime sky, a flurried storm of dark angry hail and sleet had hung about the Weyr for hours, only the very fewest of spring flurries remaining from the previous season. If they hadn't already been used to waiting for the daystar to fall, the whers could have easily gone out during the day with minimal discomfort, if any at all! However, there was another factor that made going out into the lovely outdoors less than desirable. This was the few inches of snow that still remained upon the ground. Spring was on its way, but it wasn't here just yet, which only made being on the night guard rather miserable. Days were warm enough to melt another inch of snow, while nights froze that melted snow water into slick ice beneath the remaining white inches.

True spring was only a few days away, when the snow was fully melted and the grass green and in need of being charred back once more. A few more days would have been the perfect time for a wher run. Lydela knew Lydelask was close, she expected within the sevenday. The gold was probably the most irregular of all the queens the Weyr had, it was really frustrating for the Queenhandler.

Not that she blamed Lydelask! Her pretty gold was so very perfect! Even if she did throw her handler off balance every once in a while. At the moment, Lydela was preparing for the night ahead of her. The sun would set soon behind the dark clouds, but until then, she needed to get ready. First things first, she took a bath. In the cold months, she both started and ended the day with a hot bath, one to wake up, the other to warm up before bed.

As it was, she was stepping into the steamy waters, waking up a bit with the heat. Warm liquid pooled about her body as it came up to her shoulders. She took a deep breath and dipped all the way under, her hair floating about her, though some of it was pulled under with her small dive.

There was a small tug on her focus as the prettiest gold in the whole Weyr woke up. Rather immediately, however, the small tug became a sharp pull, making Lydela shoot up out of the water, splashing it about her pool. "Now?" she demanded the gold incredulously.

There is no other time, Lydelask stated simply, shaking herself as she rose before padding out of the den and into the cold. She puffed, little white clouds appearing before her nostrils, barely visible with her sense of sight. Her sharp talons kept her from slipping on the ice that was hidden beneath the snow, though the cool weather made it easy for her to find the biggest and strongest beasts in the herd, their bodies glowing with heat even as the rest of the world was cool.

Three beasts fell, her appetite insatiable, though Lydela's hold saw it that the queen only blooded them before carelessly tossing their drained bodies aside. Lydelask was a bit grumpier than usual, though this was likely mostly due to the cold nipping at her from every angle. Her golden hide would have gleamed brightly, if not for the moon being hidden by the dark clouds. Fortunately, whers did not require the light of the moon to see at night.

Once fed, she bolted out into the forests beyond the Weyr, bugling out to the wild whers and those of the Weyr. Her voice was loud and booming, sure to wake the males up, even if it was a bit early still for most of them, Males! Chase if you dare! Lydelask runs! she called out to them all, knowing that the Weyr promised more chasers now than she had had for her first run so many turns ago.


Lydela simply didn't know what to do! It was so warm and lovely in the water, and with the added desires flooding in from her pretty wher...well, the water was just doing wonders for her. Her door was open, let her suitors come to her! She pressed herself against the bathwall closest to the entrance, staring out the door in earnest for her males, or even females, to come to her! Surely with more and more handlers, she would have even more suitors than Lydelask's last run! "Oh the excitement!" she giggled, shivering with lusty desire.

It was miserable cold. No den to hide in either. But he managed. Even in the unsheltered daylight, he managed. Everything happened in its own way. The wild Orange that had been Josk was snuffling about in the trees, out and about in the darkness that the storm provided. He had no den to lay up in, so there was no point in not being up and moving. Cramming his snout through the snow and occasionally digging small holes through it and the ice and dirt beneath, he was busily finding and eating small animals that were trying to hide from the weather.

Not because he was hungry. He wasn't hungry. He wasn't above going and eating some of the Weyr's animals, especially when he was there visiting with his Tarsk. Yes. .. his Tarsk. Just because he'd left Jool didn't mean he was going to give up his little queenlet. He was doing it more out of needing something to do. One thing he hadn't counted on, when he'd left, was the lack of anything to do.

His head shot up, and he stood at attention with every line in his body trembling from tension as the first bugle ripped through the storm-induced night. Before the third one was uttered, the Orange joined in with his own bugle, taking off to meet the Golden Queen headed for the treeline he had been rooting around in. All thoughts of Tarsk were forgotten in the rush that accompanied the arrival of Lydelask. He had no name anymore, and as such had no way of introducing himself. But that didn't matter to him. In lieu of speaking to her, he just bugled again as he turned and fell in behind her, stocky legs propelling him across the snow, all of his talons digging into the icy floor beneath.

Okay, so he was Orange. So? That didn't mean he didn't think he didn't have a shot at chasing down this lovely Gold!

---

Boing. Boing. Boing. CRASH!

"STOP IT!!" The screech tested the very upper limits of Susan's voice. She was frazzled. Not enough sleep. Too much heavy labor. She wanted to go back to a day schedule, and sleep during the night like sane people. She wanted climate control. What kind of maddness was this, to go out at dark, in the night, during the middle of winter? It was crazieness is what it was! To stinking cold outside, and no amounts of layering of clothes helped keep her small frame warm. So she usually tried to find something to do inside.

Which made Susask stir crazy, of course. Until he started bouncing around and trashing things from pent-up energy. Oh why, oh why had she allowed Newsk to drag her out in the night that fateful evening? All for what? Some giant eggs? That hatched and turned into ... what? Raging balls of blue and green that had no manners!!

Okay, that was a bit harsh. She did love the annoying little snot. But she was cranky, he was cranky ... so she wasn't happy. Which made him cranky.

Susask flicked his tail to the side, standing in the middle of a smashed vase's remains. A vase that he had ... purportedly ... accidentally knocked down with his tumbling about. But he didn't seem too terribly upset about it, even though Susan certainly was. She'd paid good hard-earned marks for that vase. Marks earned at what she considered minimum wage for slave labor. She was educated! She had degrees! What in hell was she doing on a backwater world pulling security shifts in the cold?? She was busting her ass doing work that she wasn't meant to do. She couldn't even keep a decent manicure!! Not that she could get one here, but she did try to keep her nails trimmed and decent, for what it was worth.

So she found herself glaring at Susask, who glared right back at her. But the moment changed at the drop of a hat when Susask's attention was snatched by a sound only he heard. The resulting desire that rippled through his tiny body slammed into Susan's psyche like a derailed freight train. She literally staggered on her feet, unprepared for it, and entirely not understanding what it was either. Issuing a grunt, she staggered over to a wall and rested a hand on it as she tried to figure out these foreign feelings, and what they might mean. Why it was tying her guts up in knots. She wanted something... really badly. What was it though? Grasping at empty straws, she never noticed when Susask whirled about and darted down the hall, headed for outside.

I'm cominggggggg!!! he wailed, galloping as fast as he could go across stone floors and exploding out into the night. Bolting across the bowl and hopping beast pen fences, he never slowed down. Jumping one terrified beast that didn't get out of the way in time, he hopped the next fence and just kept going, tearing out into the night toward the forest. He could see her ... but she was getting away. She had a head start! That wasn't fair!! Desire lent his feet wings, and the Weedy sped after her, determined to catch up.

Though by the time he did he'd probably be too tired to continue on, as it was burning up all of his energy to run that fast, for that far.

If Susan survived the night, she would at least be grateful that he was no longer hyper.... for a little while.

The large, black wher had only just finished bathing when the call went out. It was cold, true, but he couldn't simply... Not bathe. That would be disgusting! He languidly glanced in the direction of the Queen's 'voice', wondering whether or not he wanted to join this time. It had been a while since his last Chase. Perhaps he was getting... Complacent? Oh no. That would never do. He gave himself a good, firm shake, flinging off as much excess water from his hide as he could before it froze on him, and then loped off towards the faint heat signature that was the pretty-pretty named-Queen. An owned-Queen, she was. He did not understand that. Wanting to be bonded? It was a strange concept, to be sure. Better not to think about.

He leaped off of a slight outcropping overhead, briefly stretching out his wings to slow his fall and show off as much of his supple, shining hide as he could. A suitably dramatic entrance, he supposed. He hit the ground running, slipping into a position directly behind the Queen, though it was a while back. This one chases, he called, proud in his namelessness, in his freedom and beauty. He kept himself at a steady, ground-eating pace, not gaining any ground, but not losing any either. He was an experienced Chaser. He would not burn up his energy so quickly, not even for this Queen!

A queen was running, and Tarrion's head lifted from his food. "Riosk, you are completely insane."

One thing he had learned...that while Tarsk ran but rarely, Riosk would chase any and every female that ran, wild or bonded, unless he was completely exhausted or Tarrion distracted him with work to the point where he didn't notice her call. Except one...Tarsk. Fortunately. Piloth, the medley dragon, was the same way. It appeared that medley males were just...

"Completely insane."

There was no stopping the dark colored twin, though. He streaked out of the den and across the wher bowl, pursuing the gold by scent more than anything else. He chased, and he rumbled in an almost soprano, almost female tone.

Surely Lydelask would, this time, see the virtues of a male who while he might be small was tough and so, so handsome! At least, Tarsk always said so...

Tarsk...was not about to discourage her brother's craziness. Likely, Tarrion thought as he stood, resigned, and headed out into the corridor, she thought it was funny...

I was merely stating the fact that it is not nearly so cold out this night as it was the last. You are over reacting, mine.

"Of all the nights to choose indignance as your reigning intent, why tonight?" Varon bemoaned, tugging the quilted overcoat he'd managed to acquire away from the celestial Wher's talons. "Do not damage this, or it will be you with the needle repairing it!"

Mine, there is no nee... the sentence trailed completely off, startling the Ja Shatai into giving the draconic beast a second look.

"Varsk...? Is something wrong?" His speckled head came up, surpassing Varon's own height now he was pretty decently grown, and his shiny eyes began to whirl with color. The former Captain had learned this meant his semisentient pet was thinking deeply, but tonight there was something altogether different about his rigid posture. "Varsk." Varon instructed. "Status report." His head ducked about an inch.

My queen runs. Tonight she calls us - all males! - and I... we... um. the colors stilled briefly, before a dominant swatch of violet smeared the other colors and longing want tinged the wher's voice. Focusing on the Drebai, Varsk asked pointedly, May I answer her?

Varon felt off balance for the rush of heady need, but the question - and the context of it - made him frown pointedly at his Wher. "What are you, suddenly, a rock-headed lout? Of course you answer to the queen, dimeyes! If she has need of your services, you attend her. I didn't raise you to be a lazy, lowbred snot. Get out there and see what she needs, or so help me, if I have to hear that dimunitive human scream at me one more time, I'll take it out of your speckled backside in chunky bits." Varon gave the Wher a light slap upside the muzzle to solidify his point; the motion was more an attention-getter than any real hurt-inflicter, so the sufficiently cowed celestial merely straightened to his at-attention posture, squared his shoulders up and with a nod to his handler, darted promptly out the door of the room.

When he was gone, Varon heaved a sigh, and rubbed a thumb into an eye, frowning at the incredulity of such a query. That his Wher would ask such a stupid thing, after everything he'd taught th... th... th... eh? For some reason, all he wanted at the moment was to go and find... what was her name again?

Didn't matter... with permission, Varsk's overdriving need to catch up to and attend that bugling queen on her lusty run had turned loose everything that Varon had thought been long since schooled out of him. In a moment's wonder, the Ja Shatai felt his thoughts melt into one, cohesive ball, and he tottered out of the room very off balance. A moment to center, and he moved into a swift trot to where he was sure the queenhandler's offices were. Near them, were her personal quarters, so surely she could be found in one or the other. What he'd do with her or to her once he got there was never addressed, as the Drebai - not unlike Raalo, it seemed - completely forgot his genetic heritage and felt utterly convinced he was a spackleware draconic in pursuit of a gold one.

Outside in the snow at last, Varsk zeroed in on the mess in the herdpens left behind by the queen, and he went through it in a steadily increasing pace to catch up to her, bugling to her dwindling calls.

I attend my queen! he called, bold and assertive since he not only had permission, but had been chastised to think he even needed it. This action was condoned! He would chase!

Early darkness and a restless male wher meant Naolin was bundled up in warm clothes and perched on the back of of said wher while the rest of her fellow wherhandlers just getting ready for the day. It was easy to pinpoint the cause of Naolisk's unrest with unfailing accuracy as the pair covered the distance between Lydela's quarters and the feeding grounds multiple times. Lydelask was close to Running, a fact that every handler knew whether they had a male wher or not. A Run meant eggs and eggs meant wherlings which also meant that the slowly growing handler population would be having a few additions. As the current mate of the Queen and a large virile male, Naolisk was very eager to catch her this next time around.

Naolin, her eyes scanning the area out of habit, shivered and cursed her blasted wher's inability to stay inside. She loved him dearly and never regretted requesting to be his second handler, but for the love of little medley whers, there times when she wished he could just stay still. As if she had spoken those words aloud, Naolisk froze, his nose raised to sniff the air. Lydelask Runs. Claws dug impatiently at the frozen ground as his handler swiftly dismounted and moved out of his path moment before a golden bullet shot past them. Without a second thought the Pyro followed, a little slower perhaps, but following just the same.

He was quick to notice the arrival of other males, most notably his old rival, the orange once known as Josk, and his much smaller clutch-mate, the medley Riosk. The rest were quite young and inexperienced in Chasing, barring the Black, who was, ironically, the Pyro's sire, and among the youngsters, only Varsk was considered a threat with his size and coloring; However, Naolisk refused to be removed from his place as Lydelask's mate by a little babe or a cocky wild wher. So there he was, pacing himself behind his lovely Queen, following her and sometimes swerving off course to avoid obstacles and when he had no path to follow, he simply made his own.

---

Left far behind by her randy life-mate, Naolin was hurrying through the snow and ice towards Lydela's quarters. Even now, she was beginning to shed clothes in the lustful heat that enveloped her and had Naolin been in control of her behavior she would have been dying from shock and laughing her bum off at the hilarity of it. A half-naked wherhandler running around in the freezing snow because the Queen decided to Run. Why did something weird happen to her every time Lydelask Ran? it was like a funny curse. Mild surprise washed over Naolin's face when she arrived in the warm corridor outside Lydela's room and found only two other males when her wher-controlled mind knew there had to be at least one more present. With the two wild ones, there would be no handler. Once inside, Naolin called out to Lydela though what she actually said was lost in her lust-crazed mind.

Lydelask gave a trilled bugle, which sounded like a medium pitched warble that rang through the darkened air. It wasn't quite night yet, but the weather had allowed her run to start sooner rather than later, much to her happy surprise. Still, for the first time, the wher felt like she was truly running, and that her males were finally giving her the respect she deserved! So many suitors made the gold gleam a little brighter, though none of the males would notice this effect, they could sense her turning on her power.

Forward she thrust! Diving deep within the forests, expertly dodging trees and nonliving objects, things that many believed a wher was not capable of. Still, no obstacle was too great for her, and she even launched herself at the trunk of a younger tree, snapping it in half with her weight so that it carried her downwards and she could continue running, leaving tufts of snow falling on the chasers nearest to her.

Six males pursued her this night, six males desired her. Only one would be permitted to claim her, and Lydelask was not going to be making any early decisions. With so many, her males would have to work harder to win her! The two smaller ones were of little consequence, but she would not dismiss them early. No, like the larger males, they must prove their loyalty and love to her and her alone this night!

The smallest of her males was here, yet again, giving his all to chase her. There was a certain spot in Lydelask's love that burned for little Riosk, for she knew that, though he was not a proper size to sport a large clutch, he had more determination and adoration for her than any of the larger males. He had little to no chance of winning, yet he honored her with his chase again! She offered him a soft bugle, even as she leaped over a medium sized rock.

The wild orange, who had once been un-wild, was another repeating male. Though, she couldn't remember exactly why she felt mildly disgusted by his presence, she also noted that he did honor her with a bugle. Perhaps he could be forgiven for past indiscretions that she simply couldn't remember, though that would depend on his performance this night, as this was the night that mattered most.

There was another wild wher present. Lydelask remembered the black to be the sire of her first clutch. He had run hard, but she also felt like he hadn't proven himself fully in that previous run. He had had very little in the way of competition. Now was his chance to truly prove himself worthy, to be given yet another chance to show his worth and love for her! She flicked her tail suggestively in his direction, but sped up the pace!

The final of her repeating chasers was the sire of her latest clutch, the fiery Naolisk. He was strong and capable, but young still. He had sired a fine clutch, though one egg had not hatched. Was that due to some lacking on his part? This queen would surely say so, for it obviously was not her fault! Still, if he proved himself worthy, he would have another chance to prove it. Lydelask didn't mind giving out chances to those who deserved them. She slowed just enough so that her tail touched the tip of his nose, before instantly bolting off in another direction, toying with him as she toyed with all her males!

Running diagonally now, she leaped over a small creek, the top of the water frozen from the cold of the night storm. She had two new chasers, the first being the second of the smallest whers who were inconsequential. Her little daughterson gave chase. It was admirable, surely, though Lydelask couldn't help but be suspicious that the daughterson would try to steal her chosen male when the time came. For that reason, she would have to pay close attention to that one! Make sure her chosen male made the right decision to choose her back, lest he decide to end his life there.

The final suitor was one of the larger males. Though the celestial was young, he was a fine candidate, a decent challenger for his sire and his sire's sire. He was certainly one of her favorite sons, as Naolisk was, though she loved all of her children. He was strong and sturdy, even if he sometimes acted too much like a trained pet than a true wher. He would need to prove himself surely if he wanted to win her!

Bugling, excited from the run, she turned and angled herself at a cliff. Bugling her challenge, she ran fast and head on to the cliff, leaping off and spreading her wings so that she was able to glide down to the rocks below. The cliff wasn't terribly high, but the trouble would be with the rocks, so many were jagged and sharp, and they moved if one stepped wrong, it would certainly be a challenge! Prove to Lydelask who is the most deserving! she called out to them, desire coloring her voice.


-------------------

Lydela waited and waited, wading in the warm waters, waiting for her males to come. Lydelask's mind told her that there were six, though Lydela knew there to be only four. The former Josk and the alwayswild black would not have any company for her! Though, she knew the truth logically, that should either win she would have several choices to make all her own, she still hoped to have a suitor still deep int the throes of their whers! That was the preferred form, anyways, as it often led to far more wanton acts. And at this moment, Lydela was certainly wanton.

"You may enter!" she called out, hoping that there were individuals outside and she wasn't being impatient and foolish. She wanted her company now! Wanted all of her males! Even if two of those males were female! At this moment, Susan and Naolin could have easily passed for a male in Lydela's eyes, though she herself wasn't picky about parts when it came right down to it!

However, she was not so easily impressed! Just as Lydelask needed to be honored and respected, Lydela would require the same tributes. Her males wouldn't have to jump for her or do pretty tricks, but she was sure she could come up with some way to find their individual worths, even if it would only assist Lydelask in her decision, as Lydela would never have the winning vote above the pretty little queen.

The black trumpeted out his adoration for the Queen as she flicked her tail in his direction, speeding up slightly so that he wouldn't lose her. Surely the tail-flick was a sign of favor? He was the one who would win this Run! There was no doubt! But... Wait! A greater sign of favor to the large-male-who-smelled-of-himself? That would never do! His eyes gained a slight tendril of red for a moment, before he pushed it away. The pretty-Gold would not condone fighting. Jealousy was weakness. He would simply have to prove to her that he was, indeed, the best of her Chasers! He sped up a bit more, until he was neck-and-neck with the male-who-smelled-of-him. A son? Maybe. A rival, now, though. The black whirled with the Queen, changing directions nearly as fast as she had. One good thing about being smaller than his maybe-son - he was more agile than him!

He nimbly leaped over the tiny creek, just as the Queen had. He was too heavy to simply run onto that thin ice! And there she went, turning again! He whipped himself around, following her persistently. A cliff, hmm? Very well! He fearlessly, bravely leaped after her, his wings outstretched. Thankfully, his wings were rather wide. Not as wide as the named-Gold's, of course, but wide enough! Unfortunately, though, this meant that he fell faster than her. The black carefully judged his landing, turning himself slightly to avoid a sharp rock. And... There! He was down! He sped after the Queen, occasionally stumbling, but fast enough. His goal was in front of him! He knew where he was going! This one will prove himself worthy! He called, letting out a bugle as he did so. Surely the beautiful Queen would not deny the handsomeness and majesty of Black!

The Orange bared his teeth as he ran, his stocky, compact frame hurtling him forward with all the power and speed he could produce. So many others. So many others, including thatone. He really really hated the not-brother that was the one that changed names too often. The one that always tried to steal the ladies away. While still paying close attention to Lydelask as she led the awfully large procession on a merry chase through the woods, he looked for things he could do to Naolisk. He wouldn't even care if those things knocked the Pyro down. But he just didn't feel dirt in the face was good enough this time. Not to mention dirt was a touch hard to come by, in the snow.

Hm! Maybe some snow kicked into Naolisk's face would work. Urk! He gathered himself up and launched, briefly flaring his wings to hurdle an obstacle he hadn't seen for all his spending time watching Lydelask. Recovering, and nicely too in his opinion, he hurried onward, talons churning up snow and leaflitter as he went.

He would show them all what Oranges were made of!

The pretty Gold was headed over the cliff!! Why did that sound like a bad idea? The Orange was unsure what to do for a moment, and then threw all caution to the winds. He was going to show them what Oranges were made of! (and hopefully not squishy bits that crushed easily into juicy bits) Speeding up as he reached the edge, he launched over it and spread his wings. First he glided for half a heartbeat before he realized that he wasn't going to pass up the rocks by just gliding... especially since he was headed downward pretty fast. Kicking his legs, the Orange started beating his wings for all he was worth, doing a pretty good desperate-dragon imitation.

Oh Shards this was gonna hurrrrrrt....

He kept flapping until his kicking legs reached the stones below. Scrabbling for purchase before his wings failed him entirely, he managed to more or less land without breaking anything. Or impaling himself. It was a close one though and one wrist was slightly sprained with several talons stressed.

OUCH

Limping for the first few steps, he managed to make it out of the rocks again, leaping into a run after her. Crazy lady! But he still desired her more than ever. Even if he was favoring a front leg now.

---

His heart was pounding so hard in his chest it felt like it was going to punch a hole through his ribs and fall out on the ground like so much rubbish. His muscles ached and burned like there was no tomorrow and it was time to die right now.

Oh misery me!

Susask was starting to lose the desire he'd started out with, instead getting swamped with more and more pain from over exertion just in trying to first catch up and then keep up.

Oh misery me!

It didn't help any that he really wasn't the most in-shape Wher around. But that was all Susan's fault! She didn't let him go out and run, or play, or anything. Instead it was all be inside where it was nicer, do small things that weren't difficult .... blargh!

Slowly Susask started losing speed as pure exhaustion took over, merely trotting through the trees and gasping for air. But he was still following!! Sortof ...

When it came to the cliff, he was already wayyyy behind tail end charlie. Coming to a stop he looked down over the cliff, and then plopped down right there, panting.

Ohforgetit.

He was tired.

At the very least, Riosk would not be the first of the chasers to drop out. The medley, shadowed shades of black and brown and blue, ran past Susask and on, on into the night.

On into the night where the gold tail teased and taunted him. Some small rational part of his mind knew he had no chance of catching her, but where females were concerned, the medley was not rational. The cliff!

Riosk spread his small wings, gliding down...his agility holding him in good stead for this trial, although he was already breathing far harder than the large males, than those who were the true contenders for this queen. Yet, he would chase until he could chase no more...and if that meant he fell asleep right there when he was done, then so be it. But let it be next to her! He was...the most agile, the neatest.

He had to have a chance.

Tarrion, of course, knew Riosk had little chance, but the wherlust was affecting him, drawing him.

Drawing him to Lydela's den, and no doubt he could find somebody to slake that need once this run was concluded. Two of the whers had no human partners and Lydela would need the fire to be quenched regardless of who might win.

And besides...this was a Weyr. Tarrion had never had problems gaining sexual partners before or after his brief period of exclusivity with Jool...

Varon made it into the room - for some reason, his attire never once crossed his mind, so it was all still on him - and went right up to the tub in which the nude queenhandler lay, though he stopped there, a doubly-perplexed look on his face as his addled mind tried to comprehend so much water in one place. Being from an arid planet had set his instinctual habits back on their heels when presented with the tub. The part of him that was still Drebai and not Wher was very, very perplexed by how to tread waves to get to what those waves contained... think, think!

Wait... they're shallow. Heh! No problem! Perhaps the most haunting smirk crossed the crazed ex-Captain's features that they had ever hosted, and he stepped over the lip into the tub after Lydela without submerging much more than his thighs.

====

Meanwhile, Varsk was having no such inhibitory revelations. The rocky crags in the ground were easily navigable, even when it was mount and surpass one's crest or ram into the shoulder of a fellow chaser. He mounted it easily.

Inhale.

Measure.

Exhale.

Extend, bunch, extend, bunch, gather, leap, bunch, coil just so, balancing landing impact with his natural springiness. Varsk's extensive training on posture, poise, and bodily control was paying off bigtime. He knew how to pattern his legs so he ran more efficiently than he would have naturally, and while this did not necessarily make him faster, it did make him better reserved with his energy when it came to endurance.

And so he flew across the ground with great temperance and balance, his gait measured and calculated, each step grasping, coiling, positioned just so to best translate each motion into forward momentum. He watched the other males in his peripheral, careful to avoid when they were forced to swerve by rocks or trees, giving them room when they needed it, taking it when they did not.

He would serve his queen's needs, by the ancestors, and he would make his bonded PROUD to know Varsk!

Inhale.

Measure.

Exhale.

Out the other side of the small forest was a cliff. Being not in front (even of the other males) made it evident even before he came to a point where he could have determined as much for himself. So he altered course, caught the last downed log perched in another tree's branches, and mounted it with a syncopated rhythm of catching, clawing steps, then shot both wings out at its peak.

He went up, for just a tiny bit of ways, first, before cresting an apex of flight and angling back down. This minor lapse of time in the air gave him all the time he needed to note just where every stone and rock down below was; and how each turned and stirred for the beautiful Lydelask's landing. He saw how the orange landed badly - a twinge of sympathy pain for that one quickly dissipated under a fresh wave of needy lust - and angled himself to strike a good place, and hopefully at a good angle.

Varsk made touchdown with one rear foot in a bed of tiny pebbles, and it cost him his poise and balance both. Pebbles shot into the air behind him like a rain of bullets from Rodegnar's gun, and the Wher went for a sprawling slide for almost a full stride's length before he lifted up again and, with a single beat of his stunted Wher-wings, gave a miniature launch and set again aground steady.

From there, he launched right back into his pursuing run, careful to measure each breath and trying hard to take stock of his own person just to be sure while also focusing on that alluring gold queen out ahead.

Wowza but momma was a fast gal!

Varsk would be fast, too... and he would make everyone proud! He would perform whatever task the queen required of him to his best ability, and be impressive besides! Today was the final exam, he was sure, and this was the test he'd trained so hard to master.

He trumpeted to her, golden beauty, a note of how wondrous she looked when in motion. Certain since nothing obviously hurt from that landing that he'd made it out of the splashdown alright after all, Varsk chose that moment to suck in a double lungful and pour on a burst of speed to rank up in the lineup. He would not be in the back, not anymore!

Though hardly distinguishable from the other Whers at first, the thundering sounds of Varsk's feet striking the ground changed from their pattern to one all his own as he changed what he was doing; and with the pattern of footfalls altered, the rhythm of the night was offset.

Varsk dodged the orange who was trying not to limp, and aimed for the flank-side of that black, certain he had enough to make it up that far before he had to slow and pace again.

He could pace a while yet. His handler had made sure he was as muscularly toned and well-formed as he could possibly become.

Varsk just wished he knew what the point of all this was! Surely the lovely queen would explain once they were done with the test! Varsk would ace the test just for her!

And then ask what it was for. Priorities, Varon had always said. Tonight, Varsk felt his were in perfect order.

It was an irritating six males and one female equation where only one got lucky. Got to twine with that gorgeous piece of tail. She'd been his first mate the first female to pick him. His brother, the piece of sun-dweller dung, had been his only true competition that time and he was back. The obnoxious brat. He-- Pondering thoughts were thrown to the wind as he swerved to avoid a crowded bunch of trees that dared stand in his way. Lusty focus was interrupted by the playful manner of Lydelask as she danced among the residents of Aphelion's neighboring forest. A young tree was torn down by the Queen's passage as she ruthlessly removed it from her path. Most likely, it's future as a towering giant had been taken away as the unknowing (and shiny) tree-killer was pursued diligently by six males of equal carelessness.

Naolisk himself tore vegetation out of his way as he strove to win the heart of his Queen once again. His attention focused on the female ahead though a sliver devoted itself keeping tabs on the competition. The Orange with his unpredictability, the black much older and more experienced, and Varsk who was young and strange due to the influence of an unusual handler. Riosk, his personality incredulously audacious, and Susask, a conundrum Naolisk most certainly did not understand, were of little concern due to their size in comparison to the other four. While Lydelask could choose any male she desired no matter how small or off-kilter, as the only true Queen Wher, her actions and decisions had a tremendous effect on the Whers of Aphelion.

The brush of a golden tail-tip along his nose startled the Pyro as he struggled to keep up with the tantalizing female and her teasing was enough to momentarily slow the beast down in his turn and allow the wild black to pull ahead slightly. A growl deep in his throat rumbled ominously as the Pyro unhappily kept his instinctive drive to attack at bay. Niggling notions told him that an attack on another Chaser would be a grave mistake on his part; however, it didn't stop him from snarling a warning at the Orange, Black, and Varsk. Lydelask would be his and they better know that.

A cliff appeared in the wher's line of vision and he muttered unintelligible words to his handler. Such a pretty female sure had an uncanny ability to be a devious little thing not that he was complaining. Much. It was always nice to prove oneself to both the prize and the competitors. Legs bunched under him as they shoved him through the air. Wings, a bit shorter and wider than considered normal, stretched out to their full length in an instinctive gesture to slow the Pyro's descent. Even if his kind had dwelt in the night and on the ground for centuries, the instinct for such incidents remained hidden away until needed.

His landing was not perfect nor comfortable and as he also suffered some injury, mainly cuts and scratches, though they were not to the same extent as the sprained limb of the Orange. A little pride bloomed at that and the Pyro shot after Lydelask, ready for the next challenge. Out of the corner of his eye, Naolisk could see Varsk keeping up with the Black and his lips pulled back in a snarl to flash sharp teeth at the youngster. It's meaning was clear. Be careful.

--

Her eyes narrowed at Varon as he actually got into the tub. Looking at Lydela was fine, but if the little twit touched her, Naolin would probably show a side of herself most people never witnessed. She sashayed towards the fine golden creature who lay clad in only clear water and playfully bowed and winked. Her red hair, as fiery as the hide of her life-mate, had come loose from its binding and fell forward with the movement. Her fingers played with the strands, some wet at the tip from dipping into the bath, and smiled. All the while, Varon and Tarrion were kept in view and watched. Keep your friends closer and your enemies closer so the saying goes...

--

As the Chasers and their Queen disappeared over the cliff, leaving Susask behind, a dark brown wher appeared and flopped down quietly beside the Weedy. Bipisk had followed the Run from a distance, curiosity of a young child driving him to keep up. When jumping off a cliff, no matter how short, had been required to continue, the Brown had simply decided it was boring to watch a bunch of males and anyway, leaving poor little Susask alone wouldn't be right even if the sisterbrother was okay. So Bipisk was content to stare after the crazy Queen and enjoy the company of his exhausted clutch-mate. D'aw.

She had outlasted one of her suitors! Even if the falling suitor was one of the smaller ones, the queen was still excited to have so many suitors that one could fall behind without her caring for the future clutch! Especially as it was her daughterson that had fallen from the chase. Lydelask had a great sense of glee from this, knowing that her daughterson would likely have only stolen her chosen victor in the end anyways! She felt as if her suitors were safer now, were more determined, and more worthy, for none had succumbed to the daughterson!

Five remained. A pleasant remainder. Five very determined males, two proven sires, four proven chasers, and one who seemed capable as the rest. Which would be her victor? She wasn't sure of this just yet, they had not proven herself so the chase was still anyone's game.

However, there was something unforgivable happening. Her males were focusing more on each other than on her! Lydelask let out a bugled roar, certain that each chaser heard her and heeded her warning. There would simply be no violence in her run, lest those that partook in the activities wanted to find themselves scarred and removed from her chase.

Lydelask charged forward, determined and unforgiving. Her males were not done yet, they still had a queen to win! A clutch to sire! But only if they were the lucky one at the end of the race, only if they were the worthiest of her choices.

She dodged a large boulder, then wove through the dwindling trees as she neared the ocean. Every creature in Aphelion knew how dangerous the waters were, though she would not dare risk her suitors to the monster within the oceans, there was something else that made the area desirable.

Trees gave way to grassy hills, grassy hills giving away to sandy dunes. Her speed slowed, as any creature's would in the gravely area. With every bound she made, sand flew up into the faces of her nearest suitors, giving her a slightly wicked sense of glee.

My males, she called out sweetly, though there was that strong command in her voice that no male could ignore, least of all in the current situation. My males will prove their worth. Impress me or forfeit, she said, leaping from dune to dune, wings outstretched to catch the wind and glide her when she was at the peak of the jump.

---

Lydela was practically purring. She had three males to chose from, unlike her wher with five choices. Still, this gave her more of a choice, knowing full well that if one of two wild were chosen she would have to find the preferable male to take their place! Once she had been given the offer of a handler with one of those wilds, but no more. Still, she could hardly be unhappy with that with her pretty choices all dancing before her.

She giggled as they began to enter, Riosk, Naolisk, Varsk, all her pretty three. So lovely they were! She smiled to Riosk, winked to Naolisk, and....hissed at Varsk! The big blue Varsk dared enter her pool! He got close to her. How dare he do so without permission!? Her eyes focused on him, glittering with promised menace should he think to overstep his bounds once again.

Fortunately for them all, Varsk kept his hands to himself and merely watched. Lydela-sk was distracted by pretty Naolisk bowing down to her properly. She passed a smile to the pyro, reaching out and playing with the hair that dangled before her, even if only for a second. So pretty were her choices! So warm and perfect. Riosk kept his distance, so she simply blew him a kiss, letting him know that she had her eye on him as well.

To Varsk....well, his first gift was that she didn't leave a scar on his hide for being so impetuous as to join her in her circle. However, there was such a dashing aura about him, she rather enjoyed that he was daring and courageous. He was a pretty male, if stupid and inexperienced. So she passed him a promising smile as well, reaching out to touch him, if only for a second before pulling away, her eyes returning to that menacing glare that informed him he was best to keep his distance.

The forest, and then the beach! The desirable one was leaping from dune to dune, spreading her oh-so-splendid wings.

Riosk lifted his head to watch her as he ran, his talons scrabbling on the sand. He was too far behind to end up with sand catching the facets of his eyes, but no matter! She would see his virtues, she would see that size was not at all important in the grand scheme of things.

He, Riosk, was...

...not looking at ALL where he was going. As her bulk appeared from behind a dune, Riosk leapt towards her...

...and slammed RIGHT into the side of a dune. The sand was loose enough that rather than bouncing off, Riosk ploughed INTO it, all but his shadow colored tail vanishing under the sand.

SPLUTTER! He extricated himself with the best possible 'Must have been some other wher' pose...but by the time he did so, Lydelask and the others were long gone.

And, just to make things worse, in his mind, came Tarsk's bright, brilliant laughter.

He was going to yank her TAIL for this!

The Orange ran for all he was worth even while favoring his twisted wrist. But in not using that leg much, his other front leg was getting more and more tired faster than it was supposed to be, having to carry all of the weight as he pounded across the ground. Soon it got so tired that he ended up using the bum one anyway, just to try and keep going.

His powerful haunches kept him moving quickly across the ground, relying on his front feet to just keep him elevated between jumps. So even though he was favoring a leg and another leg was getting tired quickly, his speed didn't suffer much for it. Only his steering. Flaring one wing or the other as required to help him balance through a dodge that wasn't as graceful as it could or should have been, the Orange was determined to win.

His lovely lady was a swift one, both on her feet and in her mind. He couldn't help but snigger in amusement as she started tossing sand with her feet as she ran. It made him glad he wasn't one of the two right up on her tail. They would catch the worst of that! He hadn't been able to chunk dirt at Naolisk this time around, so she was doing it for him!! How lovely.

He was fairly confident the Pyro and Black would have to drop back for the sand in their faces, that left him with just one contender to figure out how to deal with; Varsk.

The big beast was young and inexperienced. Surely he could figure out something to manage to shift the Celestial away from the Queen. But for now, his attention was stolen by the Chase, and by the poor footing. Floundering his way up the side of a dune, he reached the top and jumped from it with all of his might. Spreading his wings and beating them feircely, he skidded his way back down the other side. Giving up that quickly on the up-and-downing of the dunes, he took off running through the low places where gravity would not be pulling him in frustrating directions.

While the bigger whers fought with the loose sand slowly going up the dunes one after another, the Orange ran for all he was worth, snaking back and forth between them. So he was traveling a greater distance. He made up for it with greater speed and sounder footing ... and far less frustration.

Clambering up a smaller dune to check where he was, Josk was distressed to note that he was a tad farther away from his lovely lady climbing the next dune than he intended to be. He stood still for that moment, watching all the big whers doing big wher stuff and trying to conquer the surroundings by sheer might. Leaning forward, he focused in on where Lydelask was running. Cunning would win him this Run faster than sheer might would. Sheer might would lose him to those big oafs.

Imprinting what he saw on his mind as firmly as he could manage, he attempted something most wild whers would never really try unless truly desperate. But having once had a handler and having done just this many times, he was confident in what he was doing....

And he REALLY wanted to win.

Leaping off of the dune and spreading his wings again, he vanished into between.

And reappeared not too far off of Lydelask's flank. Crashing into the side of the dune there, he scrambled up after her, crooning to her tenderly. My lady! I be here! he reminded hopefully.