Young Riders (2/3)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Corrin, Halyonix, Heather, Iluva, Yvonne
Date Posted: 21st October 2024
Characters: V'dryn, Ketlyn, Kailis, Casmari, A'radess, R'bain, K'lvin
Description: The Barrier Lake Weyrlings go on their first flights.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 12
When it was their turn, Zhomoth was ready to go. He swept down into a crouch so that V'dryn could climb aboard. Whoever said that a dragon was made for their rider was right! Zhomoth was a perfect fit of a mount. With a permissive nod from the Weyrlingmaster after securing his rider in, Zhomoth took off. V'dryn felt a bit of vertigo as the ground fell away, scrambling for a better grip on the straps. }: I will not let you fall, ever, :{ Zhomoth promised. }: This is finally how we are meant to be! :{
Indeed they were! If Impressing Zhomoth had assured V'dryn that he was meant to be at the Weyr, this moment opened up the rest of the world for him, as Zhomoth made a wide though slightly unbalanced turn. **I'm not a burden, am I?** V'dryn worried.
}: Never! The weight distribution is different but I will easily adjust. Hold tight. :{ Zhomoth fanned his wings for a landing, which was more like a few hops before he stopped. }: I will have to practice that as well, :{ he realized, looking around.
"That's how blues' do!" Casmari called, clapping for her fellow bluerider.
"Ketlyn! Your turn." K'lvin nodded at the greenrider.
Varinth spread her wings in anticipation as Ketlyn pulled herself onto her neck. The straps she'd made creaked as she buckled herself in and despite K'lvin and J'nic both assuring her that they would hold, Ketlyn still had an irrational fear that they would disintegrate over the Weyr and she'd plummet to her death.
}:I will not let you fall,:{ Varinth reassured her. The green dragon's thoughts were filled with blue skies and the feel of the wind. }:Let's go!:{
Ketlyn barely had time to brace herself before Varinth leapt into the air. Wind and sun and vertigo hit her face and she gripped Varinth's warm, soft neck with her knees. Before she could look up from Varinth's neck the ground was rushing at them again and they''d somehow already completed their lap of the Weyrbowl. Varinth landed and Ketlyn's teeth clicked together. **That was amazing!**
Yes. That was good. The pleased and proud feelings flowed from Chordath into Kailis. They had made straps together. And now those straps had held fast and made Varith's rider safe. Yes. Good. Yes.
Zhomoth let out a congratulatory bugle as Varinth landed. }: You did it! :{
K'lvin looked down at the next name on his clipboard. There were many gathered with special interest to watch the next Weyrling in her first flight.
"Casmari, you and Sebiath are up!"
Casmari's fingers were trembling a bit as she shoved on her riding gloves. She could see Piketh's light, golden hide from a distance and knew that her mother was watching. Beside the gold, there was a familiar blue, which meant her father had come up to watch as well.
She knew others had come to watch as well, to see if she and Sebiath would perform differently than the other 'regular' Weyrlings. Maybe even some of them hoped she would do poorly to prove that women didn't belong on a blue dragon.
**Let's prove them wrong, Seb.**
}:By my calculations, we already have. We've survived this long, haven't we? Come. Let's show off a bit.:{ Sebiath encouraged as Casmari climbed to his neckridge and cinched the riding straps into place.
The stone blue dragon was much more agile in his take off than brown Aberath had been. Casmari, as well, seemed to anticipate his movements in a way that made her ride look fluid and confident.
Sebiath warbled a greeting to Piketh and Vemyth as he flew over Rasme and C'ris, the latter of which was waving exaggeratedly.
}:I don't know if you can hear him, but he's yelling he loves you and he's proud of you.:{ Sebiath reported.
**Of course he is,** Casmari thought, her cheeks reddening a bit, even though she loved her father and his exaggerated shows of love and affection.
As smoothly as they took off, they landed. The flight had been far too short, Casmari thought. She wished they could have at least taken one more lap.
"A'radess," K'lvin waved the bronze Weyrling forward for his turn.
At his name, A'radess doubled checked his double checking, though there wasn't much need. Tarvanneth rumbled in agreement, his sense of _knowing_ they would not just do fine, but do _well_ too infectious for his rider to resist. He flashed K'lvin and J'nic a smile, letting out a long deep breath before he gave his bronze the signal.
Huge dark sails filled the air around him, cold air in A'radess' lungs as inertia tried to pulled him back, testing the straps. What had looked like a rough ride for some and a smooth for others paled in comparison to the real thing - maybe that was the most exhilarating part. Doing it themselves, finally. Tarvanneth dipped a wing tip, following the arc set out for them with too much speed and causing A'radess' hair to raise. **Woah there, bud. Slow down a little.** he urged, though the bronze wasn't listening to his words, only the tight bundle of joy and excitement in his stomach.
}: There is nothing better than this! :{
The warm sun glittered across his hide, marking their reluctant descent like a comet dropping out of sky. **Slow, Tarv, slow!**
Ah, shard it.
A harsh, reverberating roar rang out for all to hear, Tarvanneth celebrating their power and potential like a triumphant child finally getting their way. A'radess joined him in his second roar. His entire family had earmarked the candlemark, and he hoped they were watching as _his_ dragon showed them what was real, what was possible.
Unfortunately, not reinging in their enthusiasm costed them their landed. The bronze stumbled and slid, snarled at the ground as if it was refusing to cooperate, ripped out huge chunks of earth and grass in an effort to stop. He almost didn't, and that brought a new awareness to the young dragon as he righted himself: the very real the threat of flipping over and crushing his rider.
"Hey, hey." A'radess said soothingly, feeling Tarvanneth's fear tainting their euphoria. "You're okay, I'm okay." He rubbed his harsh-breathing neck reassuringly, glancing at the Weyrlingmasters with a grimace. **I'm sorry. That was my fault.** In addition to almost killing his rider, Tarvanneth had wrenched his wing, and the only sound the pair made this time was a single despondent croon.
R’bain winced at the bronze pair's rough landing. **Let’s not do _that_.**
}:What happened to wanting to be the fastest in the class?:{ Brinolth asked, undaunted. That had been their original goal.
**That was before I saw A’radess almost get flattened. New plan. Let’s be the slowest-- take it nice and easy. We’ll have the most air time of all of them.**
That sounded good to the blue. More time flying was more time flying, and he knew from their bond that R’bain was excited to fly. He hadn’t been plucked out of a far flung hold by a searchrider. He’d just walked himself to the candidate barracks after being declared fit to stand. This would be his first time in the air. A first time for both of them. Brinolth could feel it was Important. That made him excited too.
Last updated on the October 28th 2024