the wonders I've seen [ Muraaph's flight ]

[Kilnarak]

Through my eyes stare into me. I bear my heart for all to see.

A're knew to watch for when the seasons changed, winter to spring. When the air began to grow warmer by slight increments, the winter's frost and snow melting away with the dawn, only to freeze again in slick ice as dusk fell. He watched for the shoots of plants to break through the ground, vibrant green against grays of winter. And even if he hadn't, he kept a rough calendar in his eyling, marking the days as they passed (so maybe he skipped one or two here and there, forgetting - but Muraaph always remembered the days he forgot, she kept track when he couldn't). So A're knew when spring was beginning, and more importantly, he when the day of his birth was nearing. He knew when it was time to plan for a party.

For all that he saw it coming, A're didn't actually do much planning beyond making certain that he had the night off and that the Eyrie's own small (and rather impromptu) caravansary would be stocked well enough to entertain a small party. He didn't particular care to make sure that the place would be empty - really, he wouldn't mind a few new faces amidst those he was already familiar with. And it was always more fun to gamble against strangers than friends - it didn't leave him feeling as bad about taking their money.

While it had originally been erected as a few temporary lean-to structures in the empty caverns on the ground-floor of the Eyrie, the buildings had been built upon a bit since then and now was comprised of a handful of rather simply made buildings that could serve as inns and lodgings for weary travelers. They also served, more often than not, as small-scale gambling houses. A're had been particularly pleased with this latter development, and often frequented the place if only for an outlet for those vices. The proprietors were used to seeing Muraaph alight in the clearing set aside for wagons and tents to be set up, although today had been a touch different as along with Muraaph another green - Valenph - settled in the clearing.

They had been there since the late-afternoon, generally having a good time - Lady Luck favored A're, and he wasn't even cheating (at least, not much!) For the most part, his game of choice had been dice - at the moment, it was Liar's Dice, with each loser (upon being eliminated) buying a round of drinks. He didn't have any high expectations of the night - gifts were appreciated, but not necessary; really he just wanted to have fun (and maybe free beer). So far the greenrider was having a fair enough time of it - there had been a few spats between his guests, although for the most part he had spent the evening grinning like an idiot and laughing uproariously.

Outside of the buildings, the evening was a more quiet affair. Usually Muraaph was content enough to sit outside and chat, or wing around the Eyrie; this evening, however, she was antsy. She had been a bit on edge when they landed - but really, A're hadn't had much time to think on it before he was swept up in the celebration inside. Muraaph had even bid him go, offering pleasant - if somewhat distracted - wishes. The green had been conversing in off-and-on spurts with Valenph for most of the evening - her mental words clipped and short, although she didn't seem particularly angry. Distracted, her orange gaze swept skyward often, her conversation cutting off abruptly and her posture drawing tense whenever she spied other simourv winging past overhead.

By now, it was well into dusk, the setting sun painting the sky in all the hues of a bonfire, and Muraaph had tensed again although there were no other forms to be seen in the sky. The green's gaze swept the air above the Eyrie, once, twice, again - not paying any heed to her green sister (who may or may not have been speaking to her at that moment). The smaller green's attention tore downward abruptly, her eyes dilating as they focused upon Valenph. I hunger, and a brief head-butt to the shoulder were all that she offered her sister, before she abruptly flung herself into the air with a powerful thrust of her wings.

Despite her words, Muraaph's flight did not lead her toward the feeding pens. She had done this often enough now, she knew it was not physical hunger that gnawed at her. Instead, the green spiraled higher and higher before she finally brought herself to a halt and loosed a piercing scream out into the air above the Eyrie. A challenge with no words, although still the sense of her desire radiated out from her to any who might respond to it - they would know what it meant, she needn't tell them.

Muraaph waited, the dying light painting her green feathers fiery gold and orange where it touched them. She waited until she saw pursuit, and then waited a bit more before turning about in an abrupt dive and winging away from the canyon, toward the sunset, shrieking in challenge as well as in exhilaration as the wind whipped past her feathers. On the world below, in his tavern, Hers had not yet realized what was happening. But he would soon enough.

With my face turned to the sun, there ever standing still.

[zeis]

M'ari loved a good party. He loved A're's parties especially. The man knew how to have a good time, knew at least a hundred good bar songs, and was a challenging if dubious card player. Plus, A're was his buddy, as as far at the green-rider was concerned, buddies stuck together. So he didn't need much convincing to go, and may or may not have scheduled another rider to take his shift for the day even before being invited. Not that he had any doubts, why wouldn't A're invite him? So, he had shown up, dressed stylishly in his mind, garishly to anyone else, decked out in trinkets and jewelry and looking very much like a stage performer rather than a bar patron.

The night was going great. The green-rider was on his fourth drink and still going strong, grateful for his remarkable ability to keep liquor down. He had just been eliminated from the dice game, but he was still up more diasks than he had come in here with. He gave an over dramatic, 'what will become of me', sigh, and pushed a small pile of the wooden carved coins A're's way. It wasn't a big deal if he lost, as long as he didn't go into the red. He could always make it back later. Maybe challenge people to a drinking game once this game was done. He was pretty good at those, but sadly, people knew it. A reputation was hard to live down.

Outside, Valenph sat in respectful companionable silence with Muraaph. Her green sister hadn't been particularly chatty this evening, a fact she had noticed early on. She didn't pry however, as she was not a prying creature who demanded attention. Perhaps she was having a disagreement with A're? From what she could tell through M'ari's eyes everything seemed well, and the other green rider was laughing. There were no troubled thoughts lingering about, except from the minds of the losers. It was none of her business though, so she did not push her sister to speak, and laid her head to rest comfortably on her fore-claws, gazing sedately at the appearing stars.

A sudden movement from Muraaph caught her attention, and she flicked her ears toward the other green, eyes rolling to regard her. What she saw raised a red flag somewhere in her mind. The larger simourv lifted her head to regard the smaller with new alertness. Something was happening. Something was different. She realized what ti was the moment the other green spoke, her voice and and subsequently the currents running through it ringing through her head. Muraaph was rising. She nipped lovingly at her sisters ear at the head-butt, but offered no more affection or resistance than that. It was not wise to get in the way. What was going on this night could not be stopped by anything short of a victorious male. But, A're! Poor A're...

M'ari? The voice sounded cautious, but insistent, surprising him a little. Valenph had been surprisingly quiet tonight, and the green-rider had gotten too caught up in the games to say much himself. Hey, there, beautiful. Guess what? I'm ahead 34 diasks, and- M'ari, I think things are about to get very interesting for A're- Oh, they are! He's gonna win this round, I know it. He's probably got those loaded dice- He was interrupted by a demanding thought, that cut through the chatter not only in his mind but at all the riders at the table, including the birthday boy.

Muraaph flies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Muraaph flies! Canph hissed from where he was crouched at the feeding pens, the cow pinned under his right claw forgotten. His pink and white beak was splattered with blood, and his eyes watched her ascend higher and higher with greedy eyes. Nearby, his rider's gaze snapped to the sky, and he pushed himself off the fence he had been reclining on to his feet. K'huna did not look particularly thrilled, but he cast a knowing and somewhat accepting look out of the side of his eye toward his simourv. There was no point in fighting it, already those familiar feelings were rising in the depths of his mind, creeping insidiously over the mysterious link he shared with the red simourv.

She hung there like a leaf caught in an insects web, hovering delicately and beautifully, but at the same time formidably. It was bait, a trap. And it was bait he intended to take. He launched himself into the air, abandoning both his unfinished dinner, and his rider, whose own will was steadily crumbling. He pumped his wings, and sailed after her, giving a caw of acknowledgment, his tone full of challenge not just for other males but for Muraaph as well. The red was worthy, and he planned to show her that. He was the first suitor, and he intended to stay in first.

K'huna staggered back against the fence, partly buffeted by the wind from Canph's take off, and partly because his legs were threatening to buckle under him. He leaned there for several moments at the simourv was gone, and stared intently after him with a steadily clouding expression. His breathing became more ragged, his resigned expression more pained and determined. The man looked around frantically, as if he had never seen this part of the Eyrie before. He had to find A're, because A're was waiting for him. But... where? His room first, but what if he wasn't there...? He staggered uncertainly forward, not sure of where to go, but determined to wander until he found A're.

[Fox]

Silas had been rather conflicted upon receiving the invitation to A’re’s birthday. On one hand, there was bound to be gambling, and the young man knew without a shadow of a doubt that the greenrider was a bit of a cardsharp and bound to be dusting off his skills tonight. Silas had lost enough money to the man once without repeating the mistake, especially now that his store of diasks was running rather low as he hadn’t been able to man the shop as he might have wished. On the other hand, A’re and Muraaph had searched him, and he did like the guy when he wasn’t cheating the pants of someone. It had ended up being no contest, really, and when the time came Silas was there, empty-handed but there. Hey, his presence should be enough of a present, right?

Get it? Presence, present… yeah nevermind.

He had joined a card table after giving his best wishes to the birthday boy, because he’d rather take his chance on the group of people who might give him an honest game of Chase the Lady, rather than the no doubt rigged Liar’s Dice. But then again, Silas didn’t really have any idea how interesting the evening was going to get.

&

It was A’re’s birthday. Or at least, A’re’s birthday celebration. The redrider had gotten him a bottle of ale; good ale too that he’d spent a pretty penny on. Why? Because for all his nagging, K’ean considered A’re a friend and it was the least he could do. What’s more, for the special occasion, K’ean had decided to just this once break out the diasks and gamble a few rounds. He wasn’t all that good at it; more middling than anything, and by the time the evening was well and truly underway, the redrider was down a considerable amount. The majority of that had gone to A’re, K’ean noticed amusedly, but he wasn’t going to fuss too much. He wouldn’t accuse a man of cheating on his birthday. That was just cruel. Grinning widely, the redrider took a gulp of the beer he held in one hand, the same bottle he had been slowly whittling away at all evening. His tolerance of alcohol wasn’t the best, and K’ean would count the evening a success if he didn’t end it with a bang, namely that of him dancing on tables. He could do without that close to his evening.

Up in the eyling, Seronaph yawned cavernously, bored by the antics of His human. He saw no point in this whole exercise, but then it wasn’t as if the red could remember his Hatching-day. There was really no need to celebrate such a thing, but humans could be silly and somewhat ridiculous sometimes. In fact, the red was just considering curling up for a nice early nap when a scream of challenge rent the air. Immediately, Seronaph’s head shot up from its relaxed position braced on his forelegs and unerringly, his amber eyes turned to fix on the gleaming green-and-yellow splash of colour that hung in the skies.

Muraaph.

Far, far below, in the caverns of Eyrie, K’ean was suddenly hit by a dizzying wave of lust and passion. He froze in place, hands closing convulsively around the dice he had been preparing to throw, so much that the muscles in his forearm stood out from the tightness of his grip. Wooden corners dug into flesh, but blue eyes were already unfocused as an unsteady tendril of thought reached out for his simourv. He knew what was happening. And it was just his luck. The only question that remained was which simourv was rising now? The answer was not one that K’ean would have guessed at all, as the wordless image of Muraaph, suspended in the skies on wings the colour of emerald and jade and topaz; an image that any jeweller would die to obtain, his blue eyes refocused, shocked, on A’re.

Muraaph was flying. Which meant that A’re… Crap. Just. Damn. Damn it all because this was just his luck. K’ean’s voice was hoarse as he echoed unwittingly the words that Canph said to K’huna, transmitted to him also from Seronaph. ”Muraaph flies.”

With a rustle of black-edged wings, Seronaph launched himself off the ledge, wings striving for purchase as he arrowed towards Muraaph. There was another red ahead of him-- Canph-- but Seronaph was not worried. Canph was first, yes, but Seronaph would ensure that he did not remain so. Oh, no no no, Canph in the lead? This red would rather eat his own riding gear than allow that to happen. After all, what was a little competition between brothers? With only the rustle of wind over his wings as warning, Seronaph ploughed straight for Canph, intending to barrel into the other red, even as amber eyes remained fixed on her. On lovely Muraaph. The prize.

[Kat]

Ros’n was on drink four, which meant she only had one more before she would start removing her clothing. She tended to get flirtatious at drink four, often displaying affection to the women around her who she would not touch or approach otherwise, but since she was in the company of only men, Ros’n was flirting equally with everyone, hanging on A’re’s words, pouting at M’ari when he took her money, and otherwise winking and smiling appropriately. Ros’n was a seductress in the most organic form, a woman trained and honed to use her feminine wiles to manipulate men, and her behavor was only manipulative, as in the end, she found no attraction or desire in the hard, muscled bodies of the male sex. Ros’n was a woman’s woman, one who desired only for the subtle curves of a feminine form, but that did not stop her from flirting shamelessly with the men around her. She was not cruel or intentional with her manipulations; she barely understood that she preformed them, but she had been inculcated with the concept that she could only have power if she subjected herself to the male eye, and she did so often. The fact that she disliked male bodies did not matter; the flirtation was not about that, it was about subtly manipulating the situation of society to place herself ahead of others. Ros’n had very few positive traits beyond the supple curves of her form. She was not unusually intelligent or physically powerful. She was not compassionate or empathetic, but she was beautiful, a perfect siren of a woman, and she knew how to use her body to alter her situation in the world. The problem with Ros’n’s drinking was that it removed all of her subtly and skill and left her only with the desire to expose her body to the people around her, without providing her the means to do it with any grace. Which was why Wegmeph usually stopped her from consuming drink five, as he disliked the thought of his rider dancing naked atop a table, which had happened on more than one occasion. Drink five was always the problem drink.

And Ros’n even realized, as she downed another shot of some clear alcohol, that Wegmeph did not stop her from drinking said shot, which she chased with a large gulp of ale. Usually he protested and she had to choose to ignore him or not. In fact, the blue was rather absent from her mind, which might explain why she had consumed so much alcohol in such a short amount of time, and how she ahd managed to lose 69 diasks already. Wegmeph’s other job, when Ros’n was partying, was to prevent her from gambling. She was the worst gambler imaginable. She did not have the ability to lie very well, and her bright, animated face always revealed her hands. And to make matters worse, even though she was quite skilled with figures, she was terrible at managing money. It seemed like such an unimportant commodity to a girl who had always taken and bartered for what she wanted. Some children who grew up poor become obsessed with finance, Ros’n grew up poor and thus never grew an appreciation for the way to handle money. She would be quite upset in the morning when she realized she did not have any extra funds to spend on trinkets and bangles, but for now, allowing the men to beat her at dice sounded like a perfectly valid way to spend her diasks. Maybe one of them would sleep with her, although she would have preferred to find a woman. Sex was sex, and in her intoxicated state, pleasuring a man through a display of her particularly honed bedroom skills sounded like a perfect way to spend the night. She may not physically get any enjoyment from it, but at least she could prove that she was truly better at sex than the average person and thus gain some more notoriety for her charming ways. Ros’n had a reputation to uphold, one dear to her heart, as if she stopped sleeping with men, her liaisons with women might start gossip, and Ros’n would begin to lose some of the hold she had over the male sex.

Ros’n lost another round of dice, and she waved her hand in the air to show that she wished to buy drinks. What did it matter? She had lost so much money already that she did not care that she had lost again. She would make it back, somehow, and if not, she would beg her friends until someone loaned her some funds. She had bought almost all the drinks for the night as it was. What did it matter? Nothing mattered. She flashed the men around the table a small, sly smile, before she leaned back in her chair. She probably should not have another drink, but she wanted one pretty badly. She was about to reach the state where she became quite uncontrolled, and she was not keen on nakedness tonight. It was still too cold outside, and she might catch an illness. That would be so unfortunate. Especially since her night had been going really well so far, well, despite the fact that she was losing. She had even presented A’re with a gift of which she was proud, a thick, silver bracelet which was both attractive and quite masculine. Ros’n was good with jewelry. It had always been a tool of her mother’s trade, and she understood how to match pieces with the contours of the human form. After all, the necklace which dangled gently in the line of her cleavage did improve the appearance of Ros’n’s bust, or at least, it did draw attention to Ros’n’s bust, which hardly needed to be improved. Ros’n smiled again. She was just in the best mood. She should go to more parties. The Eyrie should just throw more parties. The riders needed a break.

And it was in that mindset, that Ros’n felt Wegmeph stir. She did not understand what was happening when it started, but it was the first time that she felt connected to her blue. He had been quiet and absent all night. But now he was there, controlling her mind and pulling her into a bizarre, cluttered and muddled sense of awareness. Suddenly, her desire to seduce increased. She wanted to leap across the table to anyone who would accept her. Ros’n stirred in her seat, but she did not move. She knew something was wrong, because she was suddenly quite aware of the attractiveness of the people around her. The men who had only been the means to a reputation before, the means to an end, before, suddenly blossomed into stunning and charming individuals. Ros’n found herself admiring the way their shirts fell across their flat, muscle-bound chests. And that desire, that stirring of attraction, was unusual for Ros’n. She normally found men shapeless and stern, but now they were as curved and soft as any woman. What was happening? She was so confused, and the world had begun to spin around her as if her mind could not handle the stress. She felt like she was going to tumble out of her chair.
”I’m finding all of you very attractive—and I don’t usually—“
Ros’n began to announce. Her words were not slurred exactly, but her pronouncement of them signaled that she was not entirely sober and that she was speaking words she would not dare say if she was. She was cut off by a sharp mental injection from Wegmeph.
Muraaph flies.

[/color]
Wegmeph announced. On another night, he would have prevented her from speaking her thoughts at all, but he was distracted by the green, who danced at him from the air. He launched himself in the air, twisting himself into a streamlined position as he rose. The two reds were in front of him, but Wegmeph did not care. He had beaten them before, both of them, and today, he was satisfied just to chase. The Blue simourv loved the chase itself, and the outcome was only an added bonus. Besides, both reds were hasty and frantic, and Wegmeph had faith that his calm, more stern approach had potential to dominate. It had in Altaph’s flight, and it would serve him well again, if not today, then another night.
[/blockquote][/size]

[Cy]

[/I] man, so that wasn’t truly a factor in his decision making at all. Even if he’d been invited by a complete stranger, curiosity would demand he attend. Because celebrations were typically filled with crowds and crowds usually had a plethora of handsome options, and he was rather fond of handsome options. Even without them, celebrations were celebrations, full of fun and awesome and more fun! And fun totally should have been his name.

Decked out in his best and brightest, Embry had plunged his way to the middle of a handful of strangers and it didn’t matter at all because he was still having the time of his life. Though it was uncertain whether that fact was due to his sociable nature in general or the drinks that he’d consumed to that point. Both seemed likely. Alcohol flowed through his veins and it made him giggle. His cheeks hurt, but his grin failed to dim to any degree; he flirted shamelessly, wobbled and cooed and made eyes and then flirted some more. His mind was very much not on the game at hand and he was almost to the end of his diasks, but he couldn’t even care. He cared more about A’re’s hair and M’ari’s eyes and Silas still had the most amazing shoulders in the world and – K’ean’s random cryptic statements? Raising his eyebrows at the announcement that Muraaph was flying, he sipped at his drink before glancing around the rest of the crowd to see the reactions of the rest. It didn’t seem that important. Isn’t that what simourv did, they flew? “What does that mean?” He questioned with a small chuckle, amused smirk sitting on his face as he looked back to K’ean for answers.

&&&

On a rare occasion, T’ia could show up to an event on time. For A’re, she could do so – and she would have if she hadn’t spotted Ros’n first. Spotting the younger woman, the proverbial thorn in her side, all stiff and loosening up drink by drink, something had clicked inside of her. Her spite against the bluerider was strong enough to provoke a physical reaction. Nerves had twisted, weights had settled, and her jaw tensed. Suddenly, her casual attire no longer seemed good enough. Relaxing at this informal celebration was no longer the goal. Now, she needed to show up that ridiculous wench. So she took all the time to return back to her cabin, disturbing Shovaph from her nap and yet ignoring all of her inquiries, just so she could change. She found fabrics brought with her from her days as a dancer, rich in color and tauntingly thin. They wrapped about her form in layers, weaving along to emphasize her curves and keeping her midriff exposed. Her hair remained down in sloppy waves. She adorned her limbs with a variety of silver; bangles, necklaces, rings. Whipping on touches to her features, she inspected every detail to a tired point before allowing herself to be satisfied enough to finally head back out, barefoot and with purpose. She’d surely be beyond fashionably late.

She still laughed and smiled as she arrived though, apologized coyly to A’re for her late arrival before pressing a kiss to his cheek and then settling down in a seat beside him. She’d blatantly ignore Ros’n and it wouldn’t be long before a drink of her own would be placed in front of her. She didn’t play, she merely observed and cheered, encouraged and flirted, nursing the one drink the whole while. Alcohol had never really been a vice of hers. She didn’t need it in order to be without inhibitions. She was just leaning over to whisper something in the birthday boy’s ear when her intentions were distracted by K’ean’s serious voice breaking the frivolity of the occasion. Her dark eyes snapped to the familiar man’s face, looking over his unfocused gaze and slack jaw expression. Oh, he was adorable. Abandoning the action she’d been in the middle of, she offered a chuckle to herself as she reclined back in her seat, draping one arm over the back of her chair as she brought her drink up, shooting a quick glance to Embry at his ignorant question. “It means a lot of fun.” She teased with laughter in her tone, taking a sip as she turned her gaze to focus on Ros’n from over the lip of her mug.[/ul][/size]

[maiwolf]

[/i], and he just wanted to sleep. After having waited on Anoglyph, made sure Glyph was fine, and everything, all he wanted was some sleep. What did he get? Anoglyph suddenly snapping back to his senses.

Muraaph flies. Anoglyph said simply, and B’oone blinked slowly, wondering what Glyph meant before actually realizing that the Red was being seized by flightlust. The Redrider held his head with a hand, shaking it slowly before standing and throwing his shirt back on. Of course it had to be now. But B’oone was not complaining. In fact, B’oone would rather not complain when it came to Anoglyph feeling better. That was why he was actually going through with it.

When he reached A’re, he realized today was A’re’s birthday and that the thought had completely and totally skipped his mind. Pulling a longer shift because of koxi fears certainly did leave his memory a bit fuzzy. Not like Anoglyph let him go places much anymore, especially when he was in a good mood. Or… as good a mood as Glyph got. The Red seemed always to be angry. It was on rare occasions that Anoglyph was happy. It seemed now that this was one of those rare occasions.

It was strange to see Anoglyph go from completely down in the dumps to as happy as he was going to get, but when B’oone glanced back at his dragon, he was actually happy to see his Red this happy. With a sudden gust of air, Anoglyph took off, already in hot pursuit. That Green had brought him out of his stupor. That Green would see what Anoglyph was made of, even if he had to be different from his normal self. Even if he was different than his normal self tonight.[/ul]

[Birdy]

[/u] know them. On the other end of the spectrum, he’d seen M’ari around earlier but had the sneakiest suspicion that the greenrider was avoiding him. He grinned to himself at the thought and took another drink before looking back to the table to try and figure out just what he was doing wrong. After a few moments of trying to focus on the dice he gave up and sat back, starting on another drink.

Deneph was sitting outside and, as usual, deeply involved in preening himself. He had been trying to talk to His all night but the slurred responses he got back, tough amusing, were hard to understand. From what he did understand, T’an was not doing well at gambling. According to the blue rider he was “losin’ on purpose t’give those less fortunate a try”, Deneph accepted that, it was nice of his to take pity on those that were obviously below him. H-hey Deneph, T’an’s voice filled his head. You should like, totally try this st- A piercing scream filled the previously quiet air and the blue’s ears pricked toward the source. A green, looking very out of place against the sunset was challenging him to chase her. It didn’t occur to the blue that this was an open flight, in his mind he only saw the two of them twirling in the air and everyone looking at them. They would be the best pair of simourvs in all of Pohono! Surely she would see that!

T’an was barely aware of the change in his Simourv, more focused on the newly poured drink in front of him. It was only when the Deneph’s wave of lust brushed his intoxicated mind did he feel that something was wrong. He turned his head to look in the direction of the blue, nearly toppling out of his chair at the sudden motion. Deneph? he tried. Muraaph flies, the Simourv said at first, then And we chase!

The blue launched himself into the air, screeching a response to the green and darting after her. He didn’t see the only suitors, they were obviously below him, and all he saw was an opportunity to be seen and to catch a lovely green in the process.

[/ul]
[/size]

[Kilnarak]

It wasn't you, it wasn't me; it wasn't anything.

Muraaph screamed again in exhilaration, not for her suitors but for herself - reveling in feeling of the wind tearing past her with each strong beat of her wings. She was built for speed, if not for stamina, and she put her all into gaining as much acceleration as possible - she would revel too in the dull ache of tired muscles when this was over, but as of yet her joy in the simple act of flying so very much faster than she was normally allowed and the building lust she felt for her suitors would carry her. She sensed their presence behind her, their own desire for her lending her strength. She heard Canph and Deneph calling behind her and sensed others besides, although she did not turn to see who else chased. They were unimportant for now, they were so far behind her, so slow! Muraaph could fly circles about them if she wanted - and the idea was a tempting one, perhaps when they drew closer?

Of course, in the end, one would catch her. Or perhaps she would catch one of them. That would be an interesting turn-about, wouldn't it? Muraaph's wingbeats slowed slightly - she had drawn well away from the Eyrie, mountains and slushy snow and sparse needle-leaf trees below her. She wasn't tired, not yet, but she played as if she was - circling lazily lower until her wingtips brushed the treetops, letting her pursuit catch up a bit before she put on another burst of speed. As she slowed, however, the green finally took the opportunity to look back and assess those who had followed her. Canph and Seronaph were at the forefront, were they fighting? The thought was darkly pleasing, that two such handsome reds would fight over her. And behind them, a third red, the much darker form of Anoglyph, and two blues, the stolid Wegmeph and flighty Deneph. It pleased her to no end to see so many suitors, even if none were the regal blacks. Muraaph's vibrant orange eyes flicked from one to the next, weighing their strengths and weaknesses as she waited.

When they had drawn close enough for her liking, the slender green offered up another call to her suitors, this less a screech and more a sing-song ululation - rising and falling in a playful rhythm. Would they sing for her, these competing males? She was moving even as she called - not away but towards, skimming swiftly just above the tree-tops and tauntingly flapping just out of reach when they grasped at her. She circled southward toward further tree-cover, perhaps planning to duck beneath their expansive boughs - if they would not sing, would they dance? It was a game, but like any game, someone would have to win eventually.

Far below and away, a certain greenrider spent a moment sitting frozen in shock at the dual voices announcing in unison - one mental, the other physical - that Muraaph was flying. He had tensed mid-throw, the dice that had been rattling in his cup suddenly stilled and the arm he'd had wrapped about his Lady Luck, T'ia, tightening it's hold abruptly. Muraaph was...? But...? He hadn't even noticed the building presence of the flightlust, pushing off the growing sensation as merely the effects of the freely flowing alcohol, the thrill of a good game, the influence of a rather lovely lady sitting oh-so-close to his side - of all of the lovely faces surrounding him, each with its own charm. Mura...? he reached out tentatively to his bonded, hoping it was only a mistake and instead gasping aloud as the green's hungry desire flooded into his mind through the open contact.

A're released T'ia and shoved away from the table abruptly, perhaps a bit too roughly as the chair he had formerly occupied was knocked down with the motion and his abandoned wooden dice skittered across the table and to the floor. He backed away from the table with a similar suddenness, stumbling into the recently arrived B'oone in the process. He felt a sudden sense of panic - not so much at the flight itself, but at the situation it had arisen in. This was a bad, bad, bad place; too public, too many people. But his panic was swiftly dulling, his thoughts scattered - now that he realized it, he couldn't simply push it aside. His thoughts shifted away from panic and instead focused on those here in near the same order Muraaph noticed theirs: K'ean, lovely and concerned; and B'oone's strong presence just at his back. Ros'n, unutterably beautiful; and T'an, so delicate and vibrant. He looked to the riders first, but then to the others - they were all so attractive, and he did not care that it was public, he did not care who found him; let Muraaph make her choices, he would simply take what came his way.

It was a day so long awaited, and a chance to be as me.

[zeis]

Valenph's proclamation, and soon after K'ean's vocalization caught M'ari completely off guard. Normally a quick thinker, the gears inside his head ground to a temporary halt, as he fixed A're with a quizzical gaze, thick eyebrows upraised. Outside the screaming continued, not just Muraaph's voice anymore, but the calls of other simourv in response. He looked from the other green-rider to the faces of the riders around the table, all similarly clouded. Oh hell. It wasn't just some sort of joke. He had seen that look before. Knew that look, and what it meant. He half hauled himself out of his chair, and paused just a moment to weigh his options.

Never leave a man behind.

"You can consider this my present." He sighed as darted from his chair to A'res side, just as B'oone appeared to block the other man's retreat from the table. M'ari hesitated at first, judging the panic mixed with lust on his friends face. Oddly enough he had never been in this situation before. Clear headed and in control of himself while everyone else was dying for sex. He glanced briefly and longingly toward Ros'n, and then with mild discomfort toward T'an. That face seemed somehow familiar. A're owed him big for this.

"A're? You understand me?" He asked cheerily, his voice also as tad panicked as he reached out to snag the collar of the mans jacket and pull him away, retreating a short distance away from the amorous riders. M'ari spun his friend to face him, glancing warily from his friend's face to the would-be suitors. He spoke to him with a nervous, slightly condescending voice, the voice one would use with a wounded child in a crisis. "It's me, M'ari. I'm going to get you out of here, okay? Okay, lets go, come on."


He flashed A're a tentative grin, and half dragged half guided him hastily around B'oone toward the door, keeping his eyes warily on the other people in the room. "Alright, we're walking, here we go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canph, after his initial warning to the other males, had turned his longing, challenging gaze back on the bright darting form of Muraaph. He heard wingbeats other than his own joining the chase, but he did not see Seronaph until it was too late. The other red barreled into him, and easily got the better of the charge, startling him and shoving him rudely off course with an angry squawk. Oh, no, he did NOT! He recovered quickly, and pumped his wings to get back on course, keeping at least an even pace with his red-brother and struggling to go faster. Anoglyph, Wegmeph, and Deneph were forgotten. None of them had the audacity Seronaph had. It was Seronaph who was the threat.

As Muraaph, in a wonder of wonders, turned around and started flying closer, he made his move. Speeding up slightly, he veered into Seronaph's airspace, and tried to bat powerfully at the other red's face with one wing, intending to obscure his rival's vision. He sang a song that was a mix of spite and desire, and dove after the elusive green, striving for her every moment he could, but still coming up disappointed. He would catch her. He would.

[Birdy]

[/size]

[winged]

All she'd wanted was a night's worth of light drinking. Nothing excessive - a mug of ale or something to that effect, just enough to wind down so she could get a good night's sleep. The day had been a disagreeable one, and her muscles twinged painfully in a preemptive strike before the new dawn brought on the aches and pains in full force. Just when she'd thought she'd leapt the hurdle on physical fitness, K'huna schemed up something that caught her blindsided. Damned Red...

That's not very nice to say about Canph's! He is a good teacher, I like him.[/b] Right on time, her feathered conscience chimed in with a lightly scolding remark. Smirking over her half-emptied cup of unidentified liquid (it wasn't very potent, the tavern keeper had likely recognized her and chosen a lighter replacement for the stronger brews on purpose), taking the tongue lashing with surprisingly good humor. You just learned what that word means, now you're using it against me. It'd been a real trick teaching Laraph the many expletives that often slipped out of I'dou's mouth in private. She cursed lightly in public - she swore like a sailor when alone. Well, as alone as she'd ever get with a massive bird sharing her rooms...

I'm not a bird, you said so yourself. Another loving quip from Laraph, whose attempts at punishment were feeble at best. Yes, I'dou had terrible habits, but the Gray was devoted enough to focus on her winning traits more frequently. Now if only everyone else could think the same way, I'dou would have lots of friends! What is so fun about drinking, anyways?[/b] Laraph drank water all the time, but she didn't derive any distinct pleasure from it. From the simourv's point of view, alcohol was just something flavored differently from water - it made people act funny, too. I'dou had been very silly the night following their Bonding.

It's not fun...it's just to help me relax. Unless you want me pacing around the eyrie all night? Another fortifying gulp of whatever-it-was, and a vaguely curious sweep of the room with her eyes. Of course, the first thing they landed on was the rambunctious celebration currently taking place. That, too, she took with an unexpectedly massive grain of salt; she should really be annoyed with their raucous shouts and lascivious behavior...the most she could summon was a snort of amusement at how stupid they were acting. ...man, this alcohol was good stuff. I'dou hadn't felt this good in a while.

Did you fall asleep on me? Jokingly, I'dou mentally prodded the suddenly quiet simourv, distantly aware that the chick was fixated on something else. Something apparently exciting - the young woman could feel the Gray's anticipation, almost felt the urge to fidget herself.

Muraaph rises! Trilling from her eager post within their personal quarters, Laraph leapt to her clawed feet and warbled in excitement and encouragement to the green already a-wing. Flights were yet obscurely fascinating to the chick, if only for the wonderful rush of endorphins and adrenaline that seemed to electrify everyone. The females always looked so pretty, too! Not quite mature enough yet to experience full fledged lust, Laraph happily settled for feeling obscenely happy.

Such was not the case for I'dou, who had abruptly spewed her latest mouthful of ale at the alarming news, eyes wide and threatening to bulge from her head while Laraph carried on joyously. The explosive response was mirrored quite dramatically as earthbound A're found himself cornered by eager suitors, in mimicry of the aerial battle above - and suddenly her enjoyable evening was the very last place she wanted to be.

Pale and nearly shaking with an absurd rush of anxiety (she HATED Flights, she didn't want anything to do with them!), I'dou at last shakily ejected herself from her seat. Heart hammering wildly in her chest, the winglet made a drunken stagger for the door, tripping over one an overturned chair in the process and nearly face-planting in the process. She was panicked now, and as graceless as a hatched chick.

I'dou, are you all right? Distantly concerned for her frantic rider, amidst cheering for Muraaph and basking in her happy glow, Laraph warbled as a stream of absolute gibberish answered to the negatory. No? ...well, she'd be okay. She just drank a little too much.

[Kat]

Ros’n was blinded by the hazy feeling of intoxication. The world spun around her, circling her body as if it tilted up and down, and yet it spun. The whole situation was very disorienting. She was falling out of her chair, but somehow, the woman managed to balance her body in a seated, upright position, by sliding one of her long, slim legs out from her body, which bent in a way to for an angle. It kept her from spilling onto the ground. When T’ia came into the room, she was dressed like Sundra. and Ros’n snarled at her. Why was her mother here, incarnated in this vile girl? Ros’n’s lips twisted into a horrible snarl. When T’ia grabbed onto A’re, Ros’n was not amused. She was sitting next to the green rider as well, actually between the two greenriders, and so to combat T’ia’s advance, Ros’n wrapped her own arm around the boy. The bangles were too much. They covered too much of T’ia’s skin. Ros’n knew that she looked better. And so, when A’re jerked upwards, and tossed the table forwards, Ros’n tumbled to the ground in a pile of arms and legs.

Wegmeph knew that other simourvs joined the flight, but he ignored their presence around him. The blue giant was focused on the twisting, dancing form of the green in front of him. She reminded her of his, in some way, in the way she moved through the air, in the way she teased, the suitors, twisted her body to taunt them. Wegmeph had watched his do that many times, but he knew that the situation was different, because while Muraaph teased them, taunted them, she did it because a primal desire for one of the male simourvs. Ros’n did not have the same drive for men, and Wegmeph did not really understand his bonded’s relationship to men. She did not like them, but she wanted them to like her. She just liked the attention of the boys, but so did Muraaph, Wegmeph could tell, and he wanted to oblige her with his interest. Muraaph was pausing, waiting for them to catch up with her. Wegmeph pumped his strong, stout wings, and he burst forwards, streaking towards the two reds in the lead, and leveling himself with Deneph and Anoglyph.

Muraaph had such a pretty voice. She warbled for them, calling a lovely melody into the air. Wegmeph was so pleased. She was such a beautiful, musical bird. It was absolutely inspiring. Wegmeph was not the most vocal simourv, but the desire for the green and her song inspired him. He lifted his head, and he called, singing the sound into the air in a lower, more rumbling voice. He never sang. His voice sounded out of work. He only squawked sometimes when his rider stepped out of place. He darted towards Muraaph as she began her circle, and Wegmeph’s body soared.

The flight lust was beginning to set into Ros’n’s body. Her body pulsed with it, and the intoxicated state of her blood only made the lust consume her so much more completely. She stood up with a graceful bow, and although her movement was a bit off kilter, she managed to right herself with an unusual steadiness, which was lost as soon as she was on her feet. She tightened her stance, and she thrust her head backwards in an accomplished posture. She was lovely. They should all want her. But they were leaving, and she even kind of wanted to men, even A’re and M’ari were feminine enough that Ros’n could make do with them. But then again, boys were not that good at sex, she had found, at least not towards the female partner. It was the most unfortunate situation, but it was true. Maybe she should just leave the boys to themselves and make do with her own abilities. She was thinking about that idea, when she saw I’dou enter the room, and suddenly, she found the young grayrider positively irresistible.

When I’dou started to fall, Ros’n clucked in an understanding manner. She was at the girl’s side in a second, and the sight of the vanishing boys was forgotten. Ros’n reached out to catch the girl, and her hands lingered on I’dou’s body rather shamelessly. I’dou was so little, like a doll, and Ros’n was pleased. Ros’n grinned, as her eyes scanned over I’dou with a certain sense of desire which was mostly modivated by Wegmeph’s lust. It was so powerful. Ros’n wondered how long she could keep her hands on I’dou without the girl becoming awkward or bothered. Ros’n guessed she would have to find out.

[winged]

All the frenzy and panic of the moment had seemingly been spent on the mad dash for the door. Still caught in a haze of indiscriminate, crippling horror, I'dou went limp in Rosn's grip while her brain sluggishly worked to riddle out why she wasn't kissing the floor at that very moment. A moment's worth of awkward groping rewarded her with the knowledge that someone was holding on to her, which brought with it a combination of relief and discomfort. "T-thanks." Long gone red in the face with embarrassment and self-consciousness, the gray rider made the feeble attempt to dislodge herself and be gone as quick as can be.

Except the hands didn't seem to want to let go. And they were awfully close to...close to...oh fu--

"GET OFF ME!" It was a yowl, and a painfully desperate one at that. I'dou nearly clawed Ros'n in her overwhelming need to get free of the lusty blue rider, inciting a squawk from Laraph at the raging, emotional spike she felt emanating from Hers. What was wrong? Did you hurt yourself? What's wrong? The questions were nearly panicky, and the gray's enthusiasm for the flight was squandered on her rider's distress.

She'stouchingmeshe'stouchingmeshe'stouchingme! Came the unintelligible stream, and the panic had set in fully once more. She'd twisted around just enough in her squirming desperation to see Ros'n's face leering down at her, and expectedly, it only made her all the more anxious to be running like a madwoman down the halls, as far away from this...this...THIS. The winglet could actually feel only the marginal affects of the flight, realistically (as she vehemently REFUSED to follow the emotions through), but just that faint touch was enough to turn a normally collected person into a spastic headcase.

[Kilnarak]

I let the wind run through my hands as I turned to walk away.

She had dropped just below the tree-cover and abruptly slammed to a halt, sinking her talons into the trunk of the broad tree she had come to rest against. The move had been intentional, rather than an accident - Muraaph had changed her mind, realizing the majority of her suitors would not be able to complete the flight through the canopy - their wings too broad, too bulky - and even if they followed above, she would not be able to watch them dance for her. The green did not mean to evade them, not entirely, she merely meant to test them. She paused on her tree-trunk, clinging like a lizard and catching her breath as the ever closing males drew nearer still.

And then, just as abruptly as she had stopped, Muraaph launched herself from the tree again - flinging herself directly toward her suitors with another warbling cry. The angle of her renewed flight gave the impression that she meant to barrel straight into the midst of them. She threw herself directly at the pair of reds in the lead, Seronaph and Canph, playing a game of chicken. At the last possible moment, however, the elusive green dropped away from her chasers, falling like a stone from the sky only to snap her wings out just above the ground. She was slowing, tiring, and she had felt the reds' grasping talons brush past the feathers of her wings and back. She couldn't keep this up much longer, her stamina waning, but still Muraaph meant to stretch the chase for as long as she might. It was exhilarating, moreso than any other race, and a part of her wished she could keep it up forever.

Muraaph skimmed low to the ground, moving at a glide - easy to maintain without expending too much energy. She would conserve her strength for when the males reached for her again, for when she would need to move and move quickly to evade them - to keep their attention, to keep them chasing. She wished, distantly, that she might keep them all rivetted, watching her and only her - but of course, such pleasures would only last the length of the flight, and their interests would wane, would snap away, when another female rose. The thought depressed her a touch, but it wasn't something she could focus on with the heady mixture of emotions and hormones buzzing through her head. She called another snippet of song back to her suitors, the notes a bit raw, hoarse, tired.

A're was confused. Just a moment ago he had been standing up against Boone, reveling in the red-rider's strength and proximity, and then, abruptly, he was not. There had been a sudden tug on the back of his coat, and now he was a few stumbling-steps away and facing M'ari. He blinked at the other green-rider, trying to puzzle through how he had moved and mostly ignoring what his friend was saying to him - uncomprehending of M'ari's concern. Words weren't important, not now; actions were important, presence was important, beauty was important. He had never noticed before just how lovely his friend's eyes were, how brilliantly intoxicating that shade of green was, how charmingly he grinned and smiled.

The slighter green-rider was caught in the process of reaching for him, wondering if his lips were as soft as they looked, when he was suddenly jerked into motion again. A're also had not been aware that his friend had quite so strong a grip, not until the other man had a hold of his arm and was hauling him away from the tavern. Was dragging him... away? "M'ari, what th' hell!?" he yelped, resisting the forward pull once he realized they were moving away from all his oh-so-lovely comrades, his friends and fellow riders. He didn't want to leave them. He wanted so much more than to leave them. The slighter rider tried to stop, resisting the forward pull, tugging against it. A ragged sound, nearly a growl, escaped his clenched teeth - an animalistic noise, so strange escaping the green-rider's often grinning lips. "Don' want ta go!"

A're put up enough resistance to, at the very least, halt their forward progression away from the tavern - although he seemed to be straining at that. He didn't understand, or no... M'ari didn't seem to understand! Why should they leave? Unless... Unless his friend wanted him for himself? But M'ari wasn't flying... Valenph obviously would not chase another female. Perhaps M'ari simply thought he was in danger? But he could not fully dislodge the idea that the usually womanizing green-rider had less than chaste reasoning in dragging him off. A're was torn between the desire to act on this idea, and the desire to shove his friend away and run back into the amorous crowd that awaited him in the tavern.

In distant days I long to sense it all so clear.

[zeis]

M'ari's progress away from the tavern with A're halted rather unexpectedly when two things happened. The green rider expected neither of these things, and both upset him quite dearly. First, his fellow green-riding pal recovered enough of his senses to speak, but then started struggling against him. This wasn't going to be easy. Flights are never easy, M'ari. Valenph advised with a sigh from where she still reclined, her attention having turned away from the flight to where he wrestled with Muraaph's rider. He struggled with the other man, trying to restrain him from heading back. "You can't be serious!" M'ari shook his head, using his best 'I'm trying to reason with you' voice. He knew his friend liked men and all, but there was a difference between normal romance and this. "You're just not thinking clearly about this!"

That was when the second unfortunate thing happened. The green-rider didn't hear the approaching boot steps over his scuffling with A're, but he did become quite suddenly aware of a figure standing too closely behind him. Someones hand laid gently on his shoulder with an insistent little squeeze, and he turned to face whoever it was almost unconsciously. K'huna had materialized out of the night behind him, and stood looking him over with an expression that contained confusion, resolve, anger, and pure desire. The red-rider was practically pressed against him, blocking further retreat. M'ari gaped stupidly at him for a few moments, unsure how to keep on dealing with these situations as they revealed themselves.

The searching look on the Wingletmaster's face hardened into something else when his golden eyes glimpsed A're struggling. M'ari was a pretty creature, but this was the one he had searched the night for. He'd found A're at last. This person. This interfering infuriating person did not belong here. He was in the way. His hand on M'ari's shoulder clamped down, and the other cocked back powerfully behind him. The punch that connected with M'ari's jaw sent him reeling away with almost drunken stagger, freeing A're of his grasp. The red-rider paid no notice to the hasty retreat of the injured rogue, and stumbled forward to take his place. He reached out tentatively, meaning to touch A're's face. So beautiful...

That was it. M'ari didn't want any further part of K'huna, and as for A're.... the red-rider could have him. He circled away from the two out of their mind riders back toward the tavern with a pained, sulking expression. Both his hands were pressed gingerly to his injured mouth, and he paused just off to the side of the doorway into the ramshackle little building to spit a small quantity of blood. The sight of that blood and the pain rolling off what he was sure would be the ugliest most enduring bruise he had ever had sent a wave of nausea through him. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, DAMN IT, OWW!"

Are you okay? Valenph asked a bit worriedly, kneading the ground beneath her with her claws. A sympathetic pain had set her own jaw to aching, but it was nothing she could not endure. She felt a wave of annoyance at K'huna for striking her rider, but she knew he had not been entirely in control of his actions. M'ari on the other hand was, and had gotten in the way of that volatile swell of emotions she had so often warned him against. But... he was still her rider, and he was hurting. Even if she did say that she told him so, he wasn't really in the state of mind to learn anything concrete from his mistake. The guy punched me! I'm not okay!

Do you still feel like saving damsels in distress? She asked him, having become aware of a quite different struggle that was still going on in the tavern. The sense of irony in asking him to interfere again in a similar situation was not wasted on her, but she figured that I'dou would not begrudge the assistance. At his sullen questioning line of thought, she mimicked the memory of the cries she had heard from inside. The swell of panicked and angry emotions. I think our future Phoenix needs some help.

M'ari turned to regard the door reluctantly. Just great. Ros'n was probably going to pop him in the face too. He wished he could be selfish and walk away, but this was not something that good guys walked away from. Wasn't that what he was? He may have been a cheat, a thief, and a liar but he did have morals. This happened to be against them. He sighed and darted through the door back inside, dodging other amorous riders to reach Ros'n and I'dou's side. He flashed the gray-rider a meaningful look before attempting to pry the two of them apart. "Now, let go, Ros'n! Look at her, she's scared!"