Viaulysath had never felt quite so energized in her entire life. She felt tense with expectation, alive with the knowledge that this was it, today was the day.

She was not nervous. Many dragons she knew were nervous the first time they rose to mate. She had waited far too long for this day to come, and there was no way she was turning back now. Besides, she thought, her rider Kalena had told her all about what humans did for mating, and it sounded much more painful than anything she was about to endure!

The only question was if Naviantan was man enough to even come close to catching her.

You may be the only rider in contention, Viaulysath taunted, But that does not mean I am going to make this easy on you.

She laughed as she looked up at the bright blue morning sky. Unlike at SilverMoon Lair, where she had come from, the sky was a welcoming blue on that beautiful spring day, not the grey and dreary overcast of home.

Her rider, Kalena Vesper, was wearing a rather becoming pink dress, instead of her usual alchemist whites. She paced around, looking scared out of her mind.

What are you so afraid of? Viaulysath asked, raising a draconic eyebrow. You're not the one with a dragon twice your size chasing after you, she laughed playfully.

"Celanon can be ten times more enthusiastic than Naviantan ever would be," Kalena replied with a laugh.

But you love Celanon, do you not? Lysa replied.

"Well yes," Kalena replied, "But..."

Lysa snorted. I'm the one mating for my first time here, not you!

"This is your first time," Kalena said evenly. "This is my first time with Celanon."

And how is Celanon different from your previous lover? the night white dragon inquired.

Kalena's face turned bright red. "Celanon is absolutely nothing like Thaid!" she yelped. "Nothing like him at all. Those two have less in common than a Paza'i and a Thlarknian."

As you wish, Vi said. Do tell me, dear Lena, who is the Paza'i, and who is the Thlarknian?

"It was a figure of speech," Kalena grumbled. "And if you don't mind, I'd really rather not talk about Thaid right now. Or ever, for that matter."

Understandable, Viaulysath nodded. Besides. Nobody says you have to participate in my mating flight!

"Yes I do!" she said stubbornly. "I love Celanon."

Good then! Vi grinned. Then there is nothing to worry about

Celanon Gryphonson was, if anything, ten times more terrified than was his soon-to-be lover.

"When is she just going to hurry up and rise already?" he asked, wearing a permanent rut in the muddy ground as he paced continually.

When she feels like it, Naviantan replied evenly, And it wouldn't kill you to learn a little patience.

"Patience!" Celanon threw his hands into the air. "How can I be patient when you are preparing to ... to ... violate my true love's dragon!"

The normally humorless Naviantan suppressed a chuckle. Violate, eh? That's a rather strong word, don't you think.

"Yes, well, the thing is, when you catch Viaulysath, then I am going to have to, well, you know..."

And this is a bad thing, because?

"Well," Celanon once again scratched his head awkwardly. "It's not exactly something I've done before, you know, and, well, I'm probably going to mess it all up."

You can't mess it all up, Naviantan said patiently. You just do it. Let your human instincts take over, I know they're in there somewhere.

"I don't think that I was born with the instincts of a normal human male," Celanon replied, feeling as though he was about to hyperventilate.

Naviantan raised an eyebrow. Clearly not, he said evenly.

Celanon flushed. "Hey now. Just because I'm not Thaid, or anything..."

Naviantan did chuckle, this time. It is true, ridermine. You are not Thaid. And that should be the number one reason why you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

It is time! Viaulysath said suddenly, feeling the surge of excitement rush through her. Nobody was going to stop her in her flight now. She was Viaulysath, night white of Weyr Eriol, and she was the most powerful dragoness in all the land. Nobody was going to stop her, not her rider, not Naviantan, nobody.

Foolish Naviantan, she laughed. You really think that you are worthy of me?

Taking in the enormous power, she shot up into the sky, like a rocket heading for the stars. She was unstoppable. Naviantan shot up into the sky after her, thinking that he might actually be worthy of her.

Idiot dragon she taunted. No man is worthy of me!

A small part of her mind considered that if no man truly was worthy of her, then there was no real point in rising to mate, but she was too caught up in the moment to notice or care.

As she flew higher into the sky, she passed over some of the dragons native to this world that were looking at her with interest. She realized with some indignation that having a mating flight with just one chaser would never be very interesting. She was about to give Naviantan a little bit of competition.

Well, what are you waiting for? she shouted down to the idiot horny men who gathered below her. Do any of you think you are worthy of me? Come up here and prove it!

Two blue dragons, and one brown, eagerly joined the chase. Vi didn't know who they were, and frankly she didn't care. She wasn't going to let them catch her, anyway. Thrilled by the prospect of the chase, she flapped her wings and darted ever higher

Naviantan flew forward, ever steadfast in his pursuit. This was it. The day had finally arrived when he would finally catch is beautiful Viaulysath. At last, the two of them would be one.

And then, not far below, he saw them. Two blue dragons and a brown one, complete strangers, also pursuing the lovely night white dragoness.

What is the meaning of this? Naviantan growled as the three dragons came closer to him.

I thought you might like a challenge, Vi giggled from far above.

A challenge! Naviantan hissed. He would show them a challenge. He was bigger than the lot of them, anyway, and could probably easily outfly them. I have greater endurance than all of you,You will be no challenge for the likes of me.Naviantan wasn't trying to be a braggart, it was simply the objective truth.

Maybe, the first blue giggled, But we are faster. And your endurance will not help you if we get to the pretty lady first.

Blue #1 darted ahead of Naviantan, and was followed by the second blue. They began to gang around Viaulysath, and approached her with impressive speed. Suddenly, Naviantan was alarmed. If he didn't do something quickly, then they were going to steal her from him!

Darkness, Viaulysath swore as she suddenly saw the two blues literally on her tail. If they caught her ... but they wouldn't catch her.

Fools, she shouted. Did you honestly think that I would let you have me?

Blue #2 laughed. Did you, pretty lady, honestly think that we were quite so stupid to follow along with your foolish little games? We are not your personal amusement, Viaulysath, and we will have you.

For the first time in the flight, Vi was nervous. This was not the way it was supposed to turn out! Attempting to evade them, she dove downwards, but the two blues were extremely fast. But not as fast as Viaulysath, she muttered to herself.

She banked quickly to the right, and then down, then left, then down some more. She came into a steep dive, before pulling into a glide, and then shooting herself upwards again. She had to admit to herself that some of her energy she'd built up preparing for this flight was deminishing. She needed to shake these blues, and fast, before she was completely exhausted. Viaulysath was a small dragon, like the two blues chasing her. She was built for speed, but not for endurance. Still, she was one heck of a lot faster than them.

Come and get me if you dare! she exclaimed as she climbed ever higher.

She's a madwoman, Blue #1 said to Blue #2. Now come on. There's got to be a proddy green around here somewhere. We can get one for less effort than this.

The second blue nodded his agreement, and the two blues headed downwards.

Ha, Viaulysath smiled, trying to catch her breath. Those two had been amusing as she had hoped. Maybe a little too amusing. Now where was that big lug of a dragon, Naviantan? If he wanted to be her mate, he still had a long way to go.

Naviantan sighed in relief as the two blues surrendered and headed back to the ground. Now all he had to deal with was the brown, and Vi would be as good as his.

This one is your prize, then? The brown asked him.

Naviantan nodded. She likes to play her games, I suppose, he added, his mindvoice barely hiding the fact that he was more than a little annoyed at her.

Then she shall be yours, the brown smiled. There are plenty of fish in the sea if you know what I mean. I have better things to do than take yours.

Naviantan grunted in agreement as the brown dragon surrendered and headed for the land. Now, his competition was all gone, as it should have been from the first place. Actually, he was rather grateful to the two blues, for wearing out the lovely Viaulysath for him. She was wavering in her energy, he could tell. He may not have been as fast as her, but since she was tired, she'd surrender to him easily.

Viaulysath allowed herself a moment to regain energy before she prepared for Naviantan's chase. She glided for a few minutes, hanging tantalizingly waiting for Naviantan to find her. When he did, she sprung back into action, darting this way and that, using what remained of her energy to make Naviantan expend as much of his as possible. She knew that it was inevitable that he would have her. but she wasn't about to make it easy for him. She flew onward into the sky, above the clouds, her night-white body bathed in a swath of sunlight. Naviantan charged after her, and she marveled at how fine his body did look in that light.

And that was when things got strange.

The red dragon seemed to appear out of nowhere. He grinned at her, showing millions of sharp teeth.

Think you're Naviantan's prize? the red dragon asked. Think again!

The red dragon flew towards her, and before she could react, he had her, his claws gripping her flesh in the throws of passion. No! She was supposed to be caught by Naviantan! She struggled to break free, but the red dragon had her.

What ... are you doing? she gasped.

Just a favor for a friend, the red dragon replied.

And then, with a shock, she realized who this dragon was. Mithan, she whispered in terror, How in the Darkness did you get here?

From the ground, Kalena watched in confusion. Where had all those other dragons come from? She knew that her dragon had been egging on the other three for her amusement, but the red one -- there was something sinister about the red one. She yelled in terror through her bond link as the red dragon grabbed onto her bond, about to complete the mating flight.

Mithan... she heard Viaulysath gasp.

"No," Kalena whispered. "No!"

"What," Celanon asked, "What's going on?"

"What is he doing here?"

"What is who doing here?" Celanon wondered.

"Thaid," she whispered. "Thaid has to be here. That's why..."

Celanon looked up and saw what she was pointing at. "Darkness. Darkness, and more Darkness! No, you don't, Thaid," he growled. "I did not go through all of this just to have you beat me this way! Naviantan! Do something!"

Naviantan wanted to do something, but he wasn't exactly sure what. Mithan was about to violate his mate, unless he did something. But he was also a powerful Hathian war dragon with xeno blood. Not exactly someone he wanted to mess with. He was an intellectual sort of dragon, not a fighter. Could he really hope to defeat him?

Still, Naviantan could not afford to hesitate. Mithan's bond had a deep and seething hatred for his own bond, both of whom had fought for the affections of Vi's bond, long before any of the three dragons (and Thaid's second bond, Bangi) had been born. Those sentiments had transferred to the dragons, and if Mithan was allowed to have Viaulysath, then that could be Thaid's foot in the door, his chance to get Kalena back once and for all. Naviantan wasn't just fighting for Viaulysath, he was fighting for his bond. He could not let the red dragon get away with this!

Mithan came close, preparing to enter her, preparing to make her his.

Did your rider ... put you up to this? she asked.

No, Mithan said. My rider does not know I am here. But when I have you ... he will be so very pleased with me. Thaid has been alone too long. I will not allow it any longer.

You don't want me, Vi whispered. Go away!

Mithan laughed. Oh, I can't claim to be 100% altruistic. You're a lovely dragoness. I do definitely want you, too.

Suddenly, there was a thunk, disrupting their flight and sending them both tumbling. Mithan struggled to restabalize, but it wasn't working. There was another thunk, turning them end over end. Through the spinning vertigo, the two dragons saw that it was Naviantan, slamming into Mithan's side as hard as he could.

Stay ... away ... from my mate, Naviantan growled with more rage than Viaulysath had ever been aware the mild mannered intellectual could possess.

Are you crazy! Viaulysath shouted at the red half-Hathian. Let go of me or we'll both tumble to our deaths!

For a second, Mithan refused, but then he seemed to come to his senses. Thaid ... will kill me for this, he whispered, and then released her, fell for a bit, and regained his stability, quickly flying away.

Viaulysath seemed to be having a more difficult time restabelizing herself. Naviantan flew downward, and grabbed her, returning her to stable flight.

What do you know, Viaulysath said. You've caught me.

Yes, Naviantan said. I suppose I have. Shall we, then?

Celanon and Kalena looked at each other, and spontaneously embraced one another in happiness and relief. Naviantan had stopped Mithan, and the two dragons were at last completing their sacred dance in the sky.

"Well," Celanon said nervously as he held her close, "Since our dragons are going at it, I suppose we ought to..."

"I'm already way ahead of you," Kalena smiled. She was beginning to remove her pink dress. He realized he was shaking, with nervousness, and with the sudden realization of how beautiful she really was.

His heart seemed to be going a thousand miles an hour, as he struggled to remove his own tunic. then, he realized that wasn't his heart that was vibrating. It was the crystal ball in his pocket. Not the red one he used to talk only to Kalena, but the other one, the plain glass one. He picked it up, and was surprised to see the face of his younger sister.

"Lona?" he asked, his face turning bright red as he struggled to make himself look dressed.

"Celanon," she smiled. "Just calling to say hello."

"Oh," he said. "Um, hello. How ... how might you be?"

"I am fine, and yourself?" she smiled.

"Listen, Lona, I'm a little busy, can I call you back in ten minutes or so?" "Ten?" Kalena whisperred, smiling mischievously. "If Mithan had caught Vi, then we could call her back in five."

"I see," Lona said. "And just what might you be up to?"

"I'll call you back," Celanon repeated, more firmly.

"Well," Lona said, "Just so you know, our dad was supervising a portal experiment, and sent one of his favorite dragons into the Nexus."

Jakus Gryphonson was the Lord of the province of Gryphonson in Tharyaa, but he was also an accomplished dragonmage who worked with unbonded dragons. "That's nice," Celanon said. "Can I call you back?"

"Well whatever you're doing, I'd just like you to know that the portal they were using lead him to Draco's Inferno Weyr. He can see you, right now. And he's been instructed to report everything. Just thought you should know."

"Oh, right," Celanon said. "Well, all right then. I'll see you later."

Lona smiled her self-satisfied smile and winked out.

"My dad's got one of his friends here spying on us," Celanon said in disbelief.

"Spying on us?" Kalena asked, one eyebrow cocked.

He sighed. "Yeah."

"Lona sounded just oh so thrilled to tell us about it," Kalena pointed out.

"Yes, she would," Celanon sighed. "I guess I'll, uh, by you dinner."

Kalena nodded, trying to hide her disappointment better than Celanon was hiding his. "Viaulysath will have other flights," she said.

"Yes," Celanon said, "But my father will never approve of us participating, until we're married."

Kalena just laughed and kissed him. "Well, now that you mention it, marriage doesn't sound like such a half bad idea... At least, marriage to you!"

Feeling slightly better, Celanon and Kalena walked away, holding hands and whispering sweet nothings, and wondering just when they might have a moment -- a real moment -- alone together.