Kayla glowered down at the Feeding Grounds, watching as Kadith tormented, and was tormented by, her suitors. Despite a particular hatred for anything bronze at the moment, she had to admit that Kadith had a good selection of males. Bronze Mavrenuth, a pernese dragon who had moved to Alskyr and learned to speak aloud. "Very loud." she thought, a wry smile crossing her face. Still, he was a good dragon, only slightly clumsy in landing.

It isn't landing that wins flights, rider mine. Kadith had made her aware of this time and again. She also had a selection of odd males to choose from, starry-winged bronze Rianeth was one of them. One of the bigger ones, Rianeth rivaled Kadith in size, though she wasn't a huge gold. His rider seemed adept enough at leadership skills, records keeping an all that. Then there was the gold... male gold Opasth. Kadith was intrigued by him when he first arrived, it's not everyday that male gold lands in your weyr. Kayla had only one aversion to him; he was an Alsykrian dragon. "Kind of ironic..." she mused. Well, Kadith liked him and she also had her rider's interests in mind so, his rider must also have a certain quality to him.

Only one other bronze was in the flight, currently. Bronze Frenath, whom Kadith also liked. Not as a mate, however. H'nal, his rider, had been acting Weyrleader in J'son's untimely withdrawal, and a huge help. She couldn't blame him for trying to maybe become weyrleader, but knew in her heart Frenath wouldn't win. The flight had yet to fill, causing Kayla to worry. Kadith was so close to rising. Do not worry, I am not rising yet. No matter how much I may like the current males, I know to let a flight fill. "I know you do...I guess it's nerves, you know." Kadith, now tired of being splashed and snapping back winged up to her weyr for the evening. I will make the right choice. the gold insisted. "I trust you, with everything." Kayla wrapped her arms around Kadith's muzzle and kissed the end of it. She turned and settled in the bed for the night, suddenly drained.

Loud bugles and angry roars awoke her later that night. Then, she caught snippets of what the dragons were saying:

If Kadith doesn't tear you to ribbons, I sure will!

There were more voices, human ones shouting this such as the dragons. All of it stopped when an infuriated roar echoed over the weyr. "Kadith..." she whispered and leapt from the bed, for the stairs. Down below, the suitors eagerly circled the Feedling Grounds, kills blooded and at the ready. Kadith made her presence well known as she glided down from her weyr, snatching up a wherry and snapping it's neck. "Blood only Kadith, blood!" Kayla repeated over and over to her gold. She reared back and bellowed, blood stark against the golden muzzle and matching her fire-red eyes. If I want to eat it I will and no one can stop me! Without Kadith's usual help, Kayla found it harder to shut out the other dragons, especially when they all were so incensed at some arrival. Clamping her hands over her ears, she concentrated on her queen. The belligerent dragon fought back just as hard. "You know better! Blood it or you'll never get so much as one toe off the ground!" Kadith screamed and took the whole wherry in her mouth, shaking her head from side to side and savaging the carcass. I'm hungry, and when I'm hungry I eat!

She dropped the wherry and just as she took a bite, Kayla screamed, "SHARD IT KADITH, YOU BLOOD THAT DAMN WHERRY OR YOUR CLUTCH WILL BE SMALL AND WEAK!" The thought of unhealthy hatchlings stunned Kadith enough for her to think clearly. She bugled one last time but blooded her kill and dove for another. Kayla became aware that there were four men all standing close, but there were five dragons near the Feeding Grounds. "I thought Kadith's flight wasn't full..." That was her last conscious thought as Kadith took to the sky.

Shining like the sun at high noon, the gold queen soared away from her chasers. The three "normal" bronzes seemed to be taking the lead, while the starry and male gold lingered behind. Come, my Kadith. You know I've always longed for you... Frenath crooned as he drifted just ahead of the pack. He inched his way closer and just when he reached out to grab her tail, she planted a hind foot right onto the tip of his nose and kicked him powerfully away. Sorry, my old friend! You will have to save your longing for some other time. Frenath spun away and when he finally caught himself, there was no hope of catching up. She taunted the remaining four males, turning back and flying just out of reach.

In her distration, Kadith failed to notice Mavrenuth coming from above, and didn't realize he was missing from the group until he grabbed her shoulders and warbled. "You've chosen the right bronze for you, lovely gold!" he crowed. I don't believe she's chosen you, yet! Rianeth trumpeted and tackled Mavrenuth, sweeping him off Kadith's back and getting them both tangled in a flurry of starry and bronze wings. They struggled and bellowed, so intent on their own battle they scarcely noticed the flight growing farther and farther away.

"Just two left..." Kayla thought, and examined the males remaining around her. Shiffer, rider of male gold Opasth and one other, approaching from a crowd of onlookers. Once his face came into focus, she gasped. "You..."

Of course it's me! Do you really think that I would let any other dragon fly you, my beloved? Whirling toward the familiar bronze, Kadith screamed in rage. How dare you return like this! Opasth hovered nearby, briefly confused when Kadith didn't run from the bronze. Instead, she attacked him. Astaroth caught her as she charged and crooned softly. Come now, let's set aside our differences... Kadith softened and allowed Astaroth closer.

"I didn't know what I was thinking...when I remembered that Kadith was to rise soon, I returned as quickly as possible." J'son soothed, crading Kayla in his arms. She sighed and pulled back to look up at him. "Let me give you something, before we make up." she said, a soft grin on her face. Without another word, she pulled back her fist and slugged him hard in the jaw, knocking him out.

This occured just as Astaroth had pulled even with Kadith. With an angered bellow, he looked down to the weyr. Even though you are injured, you must leave immediately after reciving proper care... Kadith said, obvious rage in her voice. She reached out with both forepaws and dug them into his wingsails, shredding them to ribbons. The bronze screamed in pain and plummeted to the ground, luckily landing in the weyrlake and suffering no more injuries. On the ground, Kayla rubbed her fist and looked up. There was only one left. "It isn't so unheard of, a gold flying a gold." Shiffer said, taking her injured hand and kissing it. If I'm not mistaken, it happened not too long ago at Beach Shards. Opasth rumbled as he twined necks with Kadith. Kayla couldn't help but laugh. "What is it?" Shiffer asked. She smiled and caressed his face. "I always used to hate irony...I'm seeing it's strong points now."