Mating Flight 2- Sr. Queen Fananth and Bronze Halyaith

As recorded by Brina rider of Fananth

Mid-day sun shining on Fananth's golden hide, making it seem more brilliant then ever.  I sat, leaning against her soft hide, face towards the sun, enjoying some much deserved time off, when, a bronze smudge caught my eye, and a familiar bugle filled the air.   Turning my head in keen interest, I watched as Halyaith swooped on a large beast, and upon snapping its spine, began to suck the blood out of it.  Wait?  Why was he blooding his kill, there were no queens soon to rise, and none of the greens from Fananth's first clutch had reached maturity yet.    Suddenly the support behind me lifted, leaving me scrambling for balance, and with one powerful down swoop Fananth lifted herself up and towards the awaiting browns and bronzes.  

What was that for? 

You will never catch me!  Weaklings all of you!  Fananth's mental voice shrieked viciously.

What?!?  You big golden lug, what are you doing?  Concern filling my voice.

Within seconds, I realized it, as Fananth swooped, and with one blow felled two bewildered beasts, then began to tear into them, I instinctively cried.  NO You mustn't!!  Blood only! Do not eat the flesh, It will slow you, so that even a white could catch you.  I preyed upon her one weakness, hoping she would listen.

Screaming in outrage and defiance, she drained the blood from the 2 carcasses then discarded them and pounced on another.  Each time I threatened her with the white, and each time she blooded only.  

Then, with a final taunting scream to the bronzes and browns she propelled herself off the ledge, and into the air, catching a thermal, she soared higher and higher, then proceeded to complete several loops spinning and twirling in the air, but never letting her chasers too near.

On the ground, I could feel the draconic blood pumping through my veins.   And for only a moment did I see the males surrounding me.  Within seconds I was back with Fananth, soaring, looping, diving, and twirling, and crowing triumphantly as one after another the browns and bronzes dropped out.   

Finally, Fananth began to tire, but a quick glance behind her told her that the 2 remaining bronzes were doing no better.  Knowing her stamina was near its end, she tried one more desperate maneuver.  Catching a thermal, she rose higher into the air, silhouetted against the glowing noon sun.   Then at the peak of her climb, she dove with all her might, behind the trailing bronzes.  Both had already begun to climb the thermal, and when they realized their query was no longer above but behind and below them.   As soon as Fananth realized the 2 bronzes had begun diving, she again pushed her wings out, and catching the air in her down stroke, rose up again.    Standing on the feeding ground ledge, I could feel the presence of three male bodies, crowding me, I knew each one of them  well enough to distinguish between them, but said nothing, Fananth would find out soon enough.  What Fananth didn't realize and hadn't counted on, was one last bronze, a third, trailing behind and above the rest, conserving his strength for the final foray.   And staying high, for he knew that in an attempt to escape the other's capture, she would rise again.  As the queen rose, Halyaith plummeted, catching her in the middle of her glorious ascension.   Screaming defiance and disbelief, Fananth turned to see who had caught her.  Halyaith soothingly curled his tail around hers, twined his neck with hers and locking wings, started a slow descent towards the ground.