Welcome to the Bipedra!

“Come on... where is your Dragonstake pride?” M*jora grinned, bedecked in green and black. “This is what... the fourth Bipedra? Haven’t you gotten used to it by now? I think it’s great fun.”

Tenken visibly bristled, head swiveling to give M*jora a narrow-eyed glare. “Why do you like the Bipedra so much? You can’t participate. The dragons are mean. They try... to... kill... things. People always get mad at me when I do that.”

M*jora shrugged jovially and his smile only grew. “It’s nice seeing the mean dragons tearing up each other instead of us for a change. Almost no Cy dragons ever get hurt in these things and the hatchlings aren’t really that bad.”

A noise like a flitter getting stepped on tore from Tenken’s throat. “Aren’t that bad? Have you ever dealt with the little monsters? They claw, bite, and some are poisonous. I got poisoned three times last year. THREE!” He held up three raised fingers accusingly in M*jora’s face, not that it phased the crescentleader.

“Fine fine...” sighed M*jora. “I guess that means you won’t be placing any bets?”

Tenken eyed the arrayed participants calculatingly then tossed a bag of gold back at M*jora. “I think the pureblood and the xeno mutt.”

“Ah... Elantris and Nacht... good choice! Now... anyone else have bets they’d like to place?” Dragonknights crowded forward, money in hand, M*jora was all too eager to take it from them.

Down on the flight fields, however, a different sort of frenzy was going on.

My... aren’t you the pretty one... purred Marquisth to Touzaya, the visiting xenoqueen.

Touzaya gave him a deprecating look from nose to tail, long fingers curling with dissatisfaction. You’d be more suited of one of my drones. Maybe.

Marquisth would have contested that if Horrid Nightspark hadn’t flown by, shocking the bipedal black with a flick of his long tail. Marquisth snapped after Horrid and was distracted, Touzaya slinking off while he wasn’t looking.

Elsewhere, pre-flight relations were about the same. There were wide ranges around both Elantris and Vrine’winith, no dragon or hydra quite foolish enough to meddle with them. The dragons from Arx Atra Mons were glaring down the one blue from Ryslen, harsh words flung from both sides. Trialth was feigning boredom at the entire occasion while Shevoris slunk through the shadows. Perhaps the only two sociable dragons were the undead Jemyki and the skittish Terea, both of which seemed very happy at each other’s company.

When G*non flew in atop the back of blue Dorth the hisses and screeches quieted down, all 75 heads of the 10 participants watching.

“Now,” boomed G*non in his best Commanding Of Others voice. “There aren’t many rules to the Bipedra... but they’re fairly important, so listen up! First... no killing anyone! This includes eating... mortal maiming... wing-breaking... burning... poisoning... diseasing... and whatever else you monstrosities can come up with! Second...” G*non trailed off for a moment, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “Naw... I don’t think there ever was a second.”

Even Gizath stopped his growling for a moment, dragons with baited breath waiting for the signal.

The ground rumbled as 18 dragons leapt into the sky, two tearing off along the ground. For the most part the females had scattered, not wanting to get in the way of another pair of claws. For... the most part.

“Get out of my way!” snapped Ael-coe, double-tails whipping back in the wind.

You stay out of my way! snarled back Raliorix, two of five heads hissing at the hydraneki.

Ael-coe glared but couldn’t do much beyond that. At only about 20’ long, she wasn’t the largest of the flyers present... in fact... one of the more petite. “Well... I hope you crash!” she yelled, changing course to bring herself downwards...

Hidden behind a mask of bones were blazing blue eyes that easily caught all four of Ael-coe’s in their gaze. Now... came the chill mental hiss of the Lantessama-born dragon. You be nice and I will.

Ael-coe’s response was lost in the rushing wind... but no one thought that she seemed to mind.

“WHOO HOO!” shouted S’ram, fist punching the air as he bounced up and down. “I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I knew that the funny furry one would get caught first! I win! I win! I-“

He might have said more if the flat of Tenken’s sword hadn’t come in direct contact with his head.

And for once, no one seemed to care.

Terea literally cringed before the scrutiny of her male pursuers. She didn’t know which was worse... getting caught quickly or getting caught after a long chase. If she was caught right at the get-go, the hydra would still have plenty of energy to do... what it liked. A shiver ran over her, rattling her wings and almost sending her into the claws of Shishayair. Terea flapped clear of the feather-winged dogdra but unfortunately came a little too close to Gizath, the bipedra only too happy to reach out and...

Gizath gave an insulted screech as Horrid flew cackling by, electricity sparking out of his tufted tail. “Heh heh! You have six heads more than me and you couldn’t see that one coming?”

All nine screamed murder, but Horrid didn’t seem to mind. He was pacing alongside Terea now, eying her with a glint in purple eyes. “You knoooooooooow what I want to dooooooo?” he asked, a cat-like grin spreading over his cat-like snout.

Terea was afraid to ask... so she didn’t.

“I want to....” In a flash Horrid was wrapped around Terea, paws reaching and... “TICKLE!”

Terea’s wings failed her and they dropped from the sky, mental laughter following them all the way down.

And Horrid knew just what to do when they got there.

You... spat Shishayair mentally, long fluffy tail whipping back in the wind. Stop following me!

Despite his protests Ominous only flew faster, eyes blinking wide from behind her mask. This was the chance of a lifetime... her in the sky along with Shishayair. She wasn’t about to give up on this opportunity for anything.

I said... GET AWAY! Shishayair closed his feathered wings and dove, falling almost straight down towards the distant ground.

Ominous tucked her wings as well, shooting past Jemyki and Fadiaion. Shishayair let out a roar of pure frustration, banking at the very last moment and soaring upwards on the current of a thermal.

An anguished scream tore from Ominous’ throat as she saw the xenoqueen leaping.

Touzaya had decided at the beginning of the frenzy that she didn’t want the shame of being caught by a lesser male, so catching one herself was a logical alternative. When she saw the dogdra diving her reaction had been flawless and quick, rolling Shishayair beneath her before he even had a chance to yelp.

“No! No!” screeched Ominous, diving down at the xenoqueen that dared to steal Shishayair away.

A whip of the tail sent Ominous spinning away, into the whorling that was conveniently there to catch her. Need some help? asked Se’lere, the meaning behind his words all too clear.

“Not from you!” Ominous hissed and kicked but Se’lere had caught her firmly, fiery feathered wings held broad to support both their weight.

Ominous’ cold bitterness was as sharp a knife, but her resolve was melting away. Se’lere at least had featherwings like Shishayair... that had to be something... right?

These thoughts filled her head, until she could think no more.

And the onlookers collectively gasped when they saw another dragoness flapping up from the forest.

“What in the hells is that?” growled G*non as Dorth moved closer to the draconic interloper. “No more dragons allowed... we’re going to be firm on that! Right, Dorth?”

Maybe we should reconsider that.

G*non’s eyes widened as the full enormity of the dragoness became apparent. She was of a variety they had had at Cy before... a particularly nasty species hailing from the world of Fantasia. She was a kirintor and carried herself like a queen. G*non couldn’t find the will to ask Dorth to try to stop her.

“Leave that one!” shouted G*non over the wind. “It’d be more effort keeping her out than it’s worth.”

Agreed, sent back the blue dragon. Let’s just see what happens.

“Yes, let’s...”

The kirintor, Bethazmaveth, didn’t waste much time in getting into the flight. She knew that there was only one thing she would want.... The finest and most powerful male that the Bipedra had to offer.

Vrine’winith looked about right.

Vrine’winith had been terrorizing Salix, but Bethazmaveth suddenly seemed like a much more interesting target. She dove down at him and he did a flip in mid-air, leaving Bethazmaveth faced with claws, fangs, and cold armor.

Bethazmaveth screeched but didn’t back down. She lashed out with her hind claws, only to be blocked by Vrine’winith’s own taloned feet. All three of her barbed tails shot forward and one managed to make it past Vrine’winith’s whipping tail, sinking in between two of his onyx plates of belly armor.

I find your venom quite... intoxicating, thrummed Vrine’winith even as he sank his fangs into the flesh of one of Bethazmaveth’s necks. Your blood as well.

In response, Three more of Bethazmaveth’s heads shot out and latched onto flight joints, immobilizing all but one pair of Vrine’winith’s dark wings. A hiss of pain or pleasure boiled through a mouth full of blood and Vrine’winith wrapped Bethazmaveth tight in spiny embrace. They spun towards the ground with a rain of blood, blood that would leave the ground that it touched bare for years to come.

Elsewhere, the flight went on.

Tenken whooped as Nacht zoomed circles about the ever more aggravated Elantris. The 28-header was getting cranky, and Nacht was cutting it close. Still... if he caught her... Tenken would have enough money to hide out on some pretty island for months. “Get her! Get her!” yelled Tenken, Nacht swooping in for the win.

And, getting predictably smacked away by three lashing tails. Nacht managed to right himself in time to snag Salix as she swooped away from Marquisth. She certainly wasn’t as much of a catch as the pureblood would have been, but not bad nonetheless!

Marquisth was disappointed that he had lost Salix. But... there still were other dragonesses in the sky. Take the part-wraith Shevoris, for example. Silent as a ghost himself, Marquisth glided directly above where the 4-header flew. Do you like pain? he rumbled to his quarry, red eyes narrowed with delight.

Shevoris met his gaze with an extra six on top of the two, white teeth the only part of her that didn’t seem to suck the light in. Why, do you?

Just let me have you. You know you want it. Marquisth descended down and reached for the base of Shevoris’ wings, grossly underestimating the unpleasantness that the hydra species can possess.

I think it is about time that someone hurt you! hissed Shevoris, sinking claws and teeth into Marquisth who was puzzled... but compliant.

A most unusual suitor had found Elantris, a certain undead dragon with a flaming neck and skull head.

“It is too bad you weren’t nicer,” remarked Jemyki as he dodged two heads that snapped behind his tail. “I think that you’re actually sort of pretty behind all that meanness.”

“I think your carcass would be pretty!” snapped back Elantris, swiping a paw after him.

“You need to work on that temper!” Jemyki dodged more attacks, twirling playfully through the air. “You can’t have many friends.”

“I don’t need friends!” screamed Elantris. “Friends are only good for a meal if you run out of enemies!”

“Well... I’ll be your friend!” Jemyki flapped to almost level with the hydra, empty eyesockets watching her amusedly.

“You’ll be my dinner!” Elantris leapt, but at that moment Jemyki used one of his special abilities: Superflight. He was twining himself around the pureblood before she hit the ground.

“How about your mate?” hummed Jemyki persuasively.

“Fine... But I’ll eat you after.”

In another corner of the dark sky, Ayceth was chasing after the hy-queen Fadiaion. The blue was about half her size but made up for it with agility and speed. He could literally fly circles around Fadiaion and was using it to his advantage.

Aren’t you one of those Ryslen pests? snarled Fadiaion mentally, tails lashing behind her in irritation. Go chase someone else!

Ayceth did another loop, almost playfully. There isn’t a big selection left, is there?

Fadiaion let out a roar of frustration. Don’t you dare imply that I’m second class! I’ve been the finest dragoness in the sky from the very beginning! I ought to kill you, Ryslen-born flitter!

Ayceth didn’t think it would be a good idea to correct Fadiaion on his origin, so continued on in silence. Neither dragon spoke a word but they could tell that they were both winding down. Fadiaion didn’t like the connotations of breeding with one that was supposed to be her mortal enemy, but...

She could always threaten to bite a few heads off later.

The two riders of the dragons were in a similarly awkward position, but managed to work their way past rivalries pretty quickly. The Bipedra had brought two warring sides together... in a quite literal fashion.

Raliorix and Trialth found themselves at a bit of a sore point. There was both of them left... and only Gizath representing the males. This set the two females flying neck to neck, something that neither of them took much enjoyment from.

Go bite yourself! hissed Raliorix while swerving away from the glassy orange.

Raliorix replied with a five-voiced screech, taking a swipe at Trialth who wisely swerved away.

Gizath wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all. He would be equally happy with either of the dragonesses and was quite willing to let them fight over him. He watched them jabbing back and forth, but eventually it started to get dull. It was time for something to happen... in the form of Gizath lunging forward and twining around the surprised Trialth.

Trialth was emitting a triumphant squawk while Raliorix prepared to charge the two of them. She was the only female left... an embarrassment... and would at least have some blood for it.

But as it turned out, that wasn’t necessary.

A silver dragon with flaming skeletal wings had broken through G*non’s perimeter and flapped up behind Raliorix while she was distracted. Sezukar was all too happy to help her with her embarrassment, and Raliorix didn’t mind the large silver either. The last pair of the Bipedra dropped out of the sky, cheers erupting from the watching dragonknights.

“I won! I won!” shouted S’ram heedless of the swelling lump on his head.

Tenken scowled at S’ram, scowled at the mating dragons, then scowled at M*jora for good measure. There wasn’t anything fun about the Bipedra... especially not when it meant him losing money and possibly a finger or two at the hatching.

And there would be eggs soon...

And eggs meant candidates...

And candidates meant...

“Hey Tenken, grab your saddle and get moving!” G*non strode into the room with a hearty smirk, one that Tenken knew too well. “You’re going out on search. Have to get ready for the big hatching!”

“Yeah... like anyone can really be prepared for those beasties...” muttered Tenken as he slunk from the room.

But ready or not... they would come....

Fly back to Cy? Or how about to the Black Sands?