Young Riders (1/3)

Writers: Duskdog, Francesca, Halyonix, Heather, Sia
Date Posted: 21st October 2024

Characters: K'lvin, J'nic, J'cello, V'dryn, H'taysh, N'kayden
Description: The Barrier Lake Weyrlings go on their first flights.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'kevyn/Aydhan (not by name)

J'nic

H'taysh

N'kayden

It was a miserable weather day, as far as days at Barrier Lake went. While it _was_ cloudy, the temperature was still well into the nineties, and the cloud coverage resulted in high humidity. Nevertheless, it was first flight days for the Weyrlings, so there was a buzz of excitement around the Weyr.

Wingleaders and their seconds were camped out on the Weyr heights to watch the Weyrlings in their first flights.

**No pressure,** K'lvin thought, but he remembered when he had been a Wingleader, he'd done the exact same thing.

"All set, J'nic?"

"Ready," J'nic replied with a nod. He thought all the weyrlings were mentally ready. However, first flights always had some surprises. He just hoped this day's surprises would not result in a trip to the healers.

K'lvin turned to address the group of nervous Weyrlings that were gathered before him.

"Good morning, everyone. Let's go through a few reminders before we get started, shall we?" He glanced around at the group. Some looked confidently excited, like N'kayden, and others looked slightly nervous, like A'lin. "We are focused _only_ on flight. Don't even _think_ about /between/ yet. When it is your turn you'll mount, secure your straps, take a lap around the Weyr and then come down for a landing. Remember with the landings that you need to anticipate the recoil of your dragon's neckridge when their feet touch the ground. If they come in too abrupt you'll get the wind knocked out of you."

The bronzerider's mouth lifted then into a slight smile. "You'll all do fine. You're ready. J'cello, you're up first."

Bairelth's mind churned nauseatingly at being called first and J'cello's heart sank in time with her. If it wasn't for J'cello's gentle presence in her mind and a hand on her shoulder, she would have bailed. Instead she only shied a little, nearly taking her rider clean off his feet.

"It's all right, sweet girl." He said gently. "Let me tug a bit on the straps and we'll be off, then we'll get to watch everyone else."

Bairelth looked up and over at the dragons along the cliff face. She didn't really understand the importance of a Wingleader, or Wingsecond, but all the massive adult dragons and two queens made her extra tense. }: Everyone's watching. :{

"They're showing their support." J'cello said with another pat. He clambered up with little grace, but managed to swing himself into the right spot without too much effort. He clipped himself in and gave her the go ahead. When she hesitated, he nudged her with his legs. **Sooner you do, sooner we can go.**

She practically threw herself into the air, J'cello's surprised shout causing a momentary mid-air falter, but she righted herself with only a little issue. J'cello shifted back, affecting as much of a relaxed posture he could given the wind on his face and the harbour below. He tried not to think about the people watching, that it was no big deal and it was too good a day for stress, but that almost made Bairelth's anxiety of the spectators worse.

She whipped through the lap and landed hard. K'lvin was right; J'cello was thrown forward and the neckridge knocked the wind clean out of him. His straps didn't prevent him from sliding sideways, either, and it took a bit of strength to haul himself upright enough to unhook and tumble back to the ground, wheezing.

Bairelth helped by panicking, shoving her big head clean into him and nearly knocking him over.

V'dryn winced. "That looked unpleasant," he remarked quietly. He thumped Zhomoth's flank as a reminder not to do the same.

}:Your rider just needs a moment to catch his breath:{ Raileth told Bairelth, her voice calm.

In the meantime, J'nic walked quickly to J'cello. "Relax, and lie down if you need to. You should feel a lot better in a few minutes." **So much for no visits to the healer.** It was not the best start to the day, but would hopefully drive K'lvin's point home to the other weyrlings.

"H'taysh, you're up next," K'lvin called.

Selkirth looked all around at the gathering older dragons, wide-eyed, as H'taysh fumbled a little with the straps. }:All of these dragons have come to see us! You and me! Isn't it exciting?:{

H'taysh tried not to look up, not quite ready to share in her enthusiasm. "I hope they're not gonna judge us forever based on just this very first flight! It's probably gonna be our worst one, just because it's all new and we're nervous..."

}:I'm not nervous. Why are you? I'm great, you're great! We're ready!:{ She practically wiggled with excitement, and he had to hold on with one hand, patting her neck, to settle her down.

"Okay, okay, I get it. We're gonna do this, right? We're gonna kill it out there!"

}:Right! We're killing!:{ she agreed, gathering herself and launching into the air. Her start was a little wobbly; it took a couple of dragonlengths of flight before she found her stride, but once she did, her path evened out and they _flew_. H'taysh's fingers gradually unclenched from a white-knuckled hold into something more natural. They weren't flying very fast, or far -- just a loop around the Weyr -- but the wind against his face was exhilarating, and by the time their flight was done, he was a little sad that it was over.

Selkirth landed with just a little extra bounce, and trumpeted her joy to the Weyr.

K'lvin glanced at the growing crowd of adult dragons on the top of the Weyr. "N'kayden, you're up!"

The young brownrider let out pent up breath. One that he'd been holding ever since H'taysh had finished his flight. **It's not a big deal. I've ridden dragons before. It's only _one_ lap around the Weyr, after all,** he coached himself.

}:And your parents are watching. I'm sure they'll be impressed with me,:{ Aberath preened, flexing his wings a little as N'kayden approached.

Sure enough, when N'kayden glanced up, he could see his parents' dragons on the weyrrim. Rather than adding pressure, it made N'kayden feel better. He knew they'd be supportive, no matter what.

Vaulting smoothly up to Aberath's neckridge, a move which he had practiced _tirelessly_ in an effort to appear smooth and confident, N'kayden made short work of buckling himself into his straps.

After getting the thumbs up from the Weyrlingmaster, N'kayden clamped his thighs down a little tighter. **Okay, Abe. Let's do this.**

The handsome young brown with the quizzical mark above his eyeridge sank back onto his haunches and then leaped forward. The motion snapped N'kayden's head around a little, but it didn't matter. The ground was quickly fading beneath them and the sky was ahead of them. Despite having ridden his parents dragons several times, this was different, it was new, and exciting.

For once he wasn't N'kevyn's son, or Aydhan's son, he was N'kayden of Brown Aberath!

Once their lap was over the pair landed, a little awkwardly, but safely back in front of the Weyrlingmaster.

Last updated on the October 28th 2024

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Young Riders (1/3)