High in the canyons Rohe was snarling and shrieking, bloody murder. He used his 9 inch talons at the ends of his hands to tear into the male who dared enter his cave. It was mating season for the Flyers. Those with mates were preoccupied in their hormone-crazed couplings, but Rohe was unmated, a status he was determined to change come this season. Rohe was Seekguard for his colony, the highest ranking fighter, leader of hunts. The Flyers were tactically advanced killers, able to organize and execute complex stratagems. But mating season could turn even the closest of the troupe against each other.
"Fuck out of my cave Shae" Rohe snarled at his second in command, the younger Flyer shrinking back into the canyon, teeth bared in equal menace.
"You're wasting this cave for us males who have a chance." Shae hissed. "How many seasons will it take before you get that no female wants to mate with you!"
Rhoe snorted "I may not be pretty but you're far too weak to challenge me."
"You should give this cave to me and support the growth of the colony brother" Shae said. "You and I both know there's no female who'd take you over me."
Rohe towered over the younger Flyer, mouth open baring rows of teeth. The male's head bore colorful markings, though immensely scarred, showing strength. He was bigger, his wingspan at least a third longer than Shae's. He puffed with air and let loose his anger "THIS IS MINE!" Rohe swiped at the Flyer until Shae was forced off of the cave's outer ledge, dripping blood. "GET OUT!" Rohe bellowed.
The other male lept from the cliff's edge into the air with powerful legs that thrust him nearly sixty feet. His wings shot from his sides. Flyers were revered as the gods of the sky. His bones were lightweight, they were the smallest of the three Kind. Shae's wingspan would cover three pickup trucks end to end, and were skin and bone not unlike a bat's. But the skin was thicker, coated by a thin layer of nail-like scales over top to protect from the baking sun.
Shae's scales were resplendent, falling in mesmerizing and threatening colored patterns across his back, pissing off Rohe. He was frankly jealous of Shae's advantage in this way. For a moment he glanced over to size up the competition, and frowned.
A wandering hand combed over what was left of his scales after fighting with the old Shaker colony. The colors were brighter for the season, but dim and inconsistent from scarring. Some patches of scales were permanently damaged and grew crooked. He barely entered into maturity when the two Kind were all-out warring. And his new scales barely survived when the shit was beaten out of him by a Shaker male.
Rohe's physique served as a reminder to the other Flyers why the Shaker population couldn't get out of hand again. It also made Rohe an invaluable defense strategist, as he was one of the few left from those times. The rest of the troupe looked to him when Shakers were concerned. But the females saw illness in his scarred body come time to mate, an image Rohe would rectify this season.
This cave was part of his plan, it was at a side of the canyon many of the females preferred to enter through, one in particular held Rohe's interest.
With two pointed leaps, Neni scaled the cliff of the canyon, her bowed legs easily finding foot holds on the cliff, she powered toward the highest caverns. A female Flyer did not fly at all, she soared up; upward with powerful bursts. The strongest females, the most terrible males, this was the hallmark of the second Kind.
Neni felt a wave of fire roll through her body. Her dormant heat like a ticking time bomb under her skin, itching and demanding a catalyst. She shook, knowing until she chose her mate, the flames would lick at her. She and the other female Flyers would choose their mate carefully, running from cave to cave to judge the displays the males put on.
It was a surprise. There was a small crowd of females clustered at the first cave's entrance. The scent of lust in the air, but the others held back, despite their unveiled interest. A Flyer always enjoys a show. Neni approached the cave and her mouth fell open.
Rohe had his back to the females. He had one wing open in display instead of both. Its blotchy span glinted in the rays of light, the broken patterns and inconsistent coloring was least of concern for the females watching.
There, in the corner of the den was Mere, the Younguard. Only a few born in every generation. Mere's role was to care for the male young in the skies as they first learned to fly. He had the bland coloration of a young, and was asexual. His form male but disposition fiercely maternal. The Younguard were protected above even females, their natures so subdued and nurturing.
Neni's eyes surely betrayed her. Three young, presumably Mere's charges, were playing with Rohe, their colorless wings bunching and splaying about the floor of the cave. He was entertaining them with mock fight. The smallest one began climbing Rohe's relaxed wing, and curled near his neck to watch, a telling sign of another Younguard. The cluster of females looked on with crooning noises.
Neni started to laugh, and all the other females' eyes turned toward her. "You must be desperate to stoop to this Seekguard" she mocked.
"Neni, I thought you might be watching me." Rohe spoke to her without taking his eyes off the young. "I would hope our young inherit your lack of respect"
"I don't think so Rohe, it seems even you acknowledge the role of Younguard would suit you better than that of mate" she snarked.
Rohe responded by gathering the wrestling young in his arms, and extending his other wing, turning toward the females. The others stepped back warily.
Neni's resolve shrunk, the male was overwhelming the entrance with the expanse of his wings. The colors on his face displaying his rank in their troupe, the highest there was. The contrast between his lethal features, the sharp talons, the powerful wings, his imposing stance, completely offset the jovial smooth-skinned young squirming happily in his embrace. They hung from him, it was preposterous. Like looking at hamsters sitting on the back of a tiger. The smallest one, the new Younguard, clung closely to Rohe's face, settling in for sleep.
Neni felt her womb clench. She was constantly aroused due to the oncoming heat, but the scene before her spoke to a hunger more primal than release. A few other females must have felt the same way. Twin colorful marks on either side of their temples flashed in arousal. Neni felt the heightened awareness on her scalp as the same thing happened to her. It was involuntary.
Rohe's eyes were drawn to the colorful marks on the females at the entrance of his cave. His wings flexing in response to the sight, determination set in as he saw Neni among them. Her temples lit up beautifully. That's for me, he thought, those are mine.
Rohe's predatory gaze landed on her, the hardness of it making Neni believe he could read her thoughts. His eyes flickered back and forth between her marks. She saw it there. The male's eyes softened as he removed the young clinging to him, and they returned to Mere. Rohe's wings shuttered in ripples, an action meant to mesmerize the female Flyers with pattern and color, the scales a measure of health and strength.
