Leap of Faith (2/2)

Writers: Aaron, Devin, Duskdog, Halyonix, Iluva, Len, Sia, Steel, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st October 2024

Characters: J'lor, R'lor, B'lyse, C'rand, V'tian, Sh'del, L'fael, R'fayne, Tirraze, O'rosin, Saedyna, O'dyn
Description: The Weyrlings try /betweening/ for the first time.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 11

J'lor

R'lor

R'fayne

O'rosin

}: He was so afraid that we would be trapped together /between/, :{ Genireth explained to Kularth as he floated back down to the weyrling group. }: He really did give me a good image though, right? :{

}:You did well.:{ Kularth sent the young blue assurance.

"O'dyn, come here lad," R'lor said gently when the pair had landed.

The youth slid off Genireth's neck while wiping his eyes, trying to compose himself. "I w-w-was scared I'd m-mess up and...and..." he tried to explain, while tears threatened anew.

R'lor pulled him into a hug. "You did well. The first time is the hardest, and now that's over. You _know_ you can do it now." The physical contact helped him release some of his own emotions. R'lor was so afraid for them, but he had to project calm confidence to lead them through this dangerous test of their abilities and their bond with their dragons.

"You did very well," J'lor nodded his own approval to O'dyn and patted the side of his shoulder.

Comforted to some degree, O'dyn sniffled and wiped his eyes again. "Th-Thank you, sirs," he said. With Genireth crooning additional encouragement, the pair stepped aside so that the next pair could step forward.

R'lor turned to the next weyrling. "Saedyna and Avarith, it's your turn."

Saedyna swallowed. She'd only ever been /between/ on the ride to the Weyr and the cold black nothing had been terrifying. }:You are with me now,:{ Avarith said. }:I won't let anything bad happen to you.:{

She patted her green. Of course Avarith would take care of her. All Saedyna needed to do was give her a clear image. She pictured the Star Stones, just as they'd been practicing, and Avarith gave the image to Kularth. When they got permission, Avarith took off and hovered a few dragonlengths above the ground.

}:I know where we're going,:{ Avarith assured as Saedyna concentrated on the Star Stones again. Her heart beat a little fast, but she wasn't too worried. Kularth confirmed they could go and a breath later everything disappeared. Absolute darkness and silence surrounded Saedyna, she couldn't even feel Avarith under her.

}:I am here.:{

Then the world rushed back, and the Star Stones were just ahead of them. **We did it!** That hadn't been so bad.

}:It is easy,:{ Avarith said as they turned back to glide down toward the class.

"Good job!" R'lor was pleased to see Saedyna doing well in training. She'd been through so much, but was shaping up to be a strong dragonrider.

"L'fael and Sojanth, you're next."

L'fael gulped and tightened his riding straps. From what he heard from the other dragons, they appeared much calmer than their riders. So there should be nothing to it.

}:Try not to choke me:{

**Sorry, I'm just nervous.**

}:It'll be fine:{ Sojanth took to the skies, her oversized wings lifting her lightly into the updraft. }:Ready?:{

L'fael nodded as he took the coordinates and gave them to his green. Then it all went black. He counted to three like he had been taught. Before he could get to three they emerged above the star stones. Sojanth arched her neck and let the warm updraft carry them above the other weyrlings, and R'lor. L'fael leaned over to give her a pat on the neck, enjoying her smug emotions.

As they came in to land, R'lor said, "R'fayne and Skadith, it's your turn."

R’fayne had been restless since the lesson began, standing tighter and tenser than usual next to his dragon. Thankfully, by the third demonstration he had relaxed and felt like he did any other time he was going adragonback: ready to step up and strap in. Skadith, however, insisted on watching and waiting, as much to assess the others as to ensure they all came back safely. The blue ignored any wordless griping,

It was irritating, but for the best, since it did help to judge how high and how far the others got before they winked out, and up until V’tian and O’dyn sent grey hair through the Weyrling staff that was all he'd been focused on. He frowned both times, glancing at a few of the other holdkids. More of the world was coming down on top of them with each milestone, each mistake, each improvement. /Between/ meant being able to actually survive Threadfall. A non-negotiable, and quickly needed to become a second skin.

And, as terrible as some harder lessons in 'Fall would inevitably be, and as terrible as some of their classmates’ trips _could_ have been, even today, the worst part came from his own dragon here on the ground, when Skadith turned to look at him with _concern_, a look that instantly found the small knot still nestled in R’fayne’s stomach.

}: It will be fine. :{

R’fayne sternly reminded him that he’d been flying and /between/ing before Skadith had even been shelled, and the blue didn’t dare say anything else.

Still, his mind toyed with his dragon's meaning, scrutinizing the next few pairs carefully. They were looking less and less like dragonets and more like real dragons, he thought with mild approval; Sojanth landing with the familiar look of a dragon knowing that she'd done something of simple yet vital importance. Avarith’s natural enthusiasm, the swiftness of Berlinarth’s launch - all hearty reminders of what he already knew: this was easy, natural.

But there was V’tian, O’dyn, still in the back of his mind, and maybe others to come, too, if he wanted to explore that (he didn’t), and breathing came a lot quicker as Skadith stepped forward, unfurling his wings in wordless agreement at R’lor’s call. In his mind the Star Stones came quickly too, effortlessly. He mounted up, and with the straps as secure as they’d ever be, he gave a nod to the Weyrlingmaster as Skadith gave Kularth the image.

"We're ready, sir."

Then the air burst open and he became but a scant handful of things-- the straps in his hands, the warmth of their bodies together, their breath. Wind dragged over them, trying to shove them back to the ground. The Star Stones. The Star Stones. Skadith gladly took the image again, not about to let a little turbulence unsettle him.

Then they were nothing.

Just somewhere, nowhere, in the black. Knots and stomachs, wings and bodies, and whatever they could do in the air together instantly rendered irrelevant, and the nothingness stretched on and on. When R'fayne realized he hadn't been counting, the irrational thought that they were _lost_ came, the fear that they had accidentally entered nonexistance. No air. No time. No light, no sound.

Skadith rumbled reassuringly just as everything rushed back in vivid technicolor. The air here was the sweetest he'd ever smelled. Warm hide beneath his legs again brought such a deep sense of accomplishment that Dolphin Cove had never looked this good in his life. Each and every shift beneath those powerful wings meant it wasn’t doubt or fear acidifying his gut anymore - it was joy, deep and free.

As far as R'fayne was concerned, they were the real deal now. His rare brilliant smile was unshakeable as they touched back down. **Aren’t you something.**

}: Don't sound so surprised. :{ Skadith replied dryly.

"Well done." R'lor was pleased to see another pair make a successful jump. He considered the remaining weyrlings. "Tirraze and Riamorth, you're up next."

Tirraze glanced at her dragon. He tilted his head and lolled out his tongue, as he did. He was curious why she was looking at him instead of climbing aboard. There was no doubt in his mind, no worry. This was easy. Dragons did this like they breathed, like they flamed, and like they flew. It was part of their blood. She touched the end of his snoot with her hand and then leaned in to touch her forehead to it.

Whatever trace of disconnect she still had left within her, she had to banish. She had to be fully within herself, fully active and participating in what her body was doing. She had to fully commit to this life, this version of herself. Because there was no other life left to live but this one, and if she was not anchored to it, she would simply float away in the void forever.

Riamorth puffed his breath over her hair, and she smiled. There was so much more to hold her to this life than a mere fear of death. All she had to do was let go of the life she thought she would have.

}:It's all right,:{ said Riamorth. }:You can take off the leash. We can be free together.:{

Tirraze smiled and nodded and then climbed up. He was right. She tightened her straps, fastened the Tirraze she was to Riamorth and released the Tirraze she once might have become but now never would be to fade away.

Riamorth gave her image to Kularth, then once in the air, she gave it again. They vanished into the dark black nothing, but Tirraze was never afraid, never worried for even one moment they might not come back. She could feel her tether, and she followed it back.

The warm sun returned.

}:I knew you could do it.:{

And Tirraze laughed as she hugged Riamorth's neck.

A few successful attempts in a row should boost the others' confidence, R'lor thought. Still, there were a few of the more difficult weyrlings left to go. "O'rosin and Aeoluth, it's your turn."

The feeling of Aeoluth under him did nothing to calm O'rosin's nerves. Many, many extra lessons kept the brown from immediately jumping into the air, but he could feel the tightness in the great brown's muscles as he (barely) managed to wait for his turn. His tail swished side to side like a cat ready to pounce.

O'rosin shifted in his seat at the call of his name, silently urging Aeoluth to stay. The brown shifted back on his haunches, ready to throw them both into the air. He came down heavy on the command, though O'rosin was practiced enough that it hardly looked like he was tossed from his seat. "Steady.." He murmured. It took him a moment to send the visualization to Aeoluth who tossed it haphazardly at Kularth. Not good enough.The second try was good, and O'rosin barely got wind of R'lor's approval before Aeoluth was in the air and the ground was disappearing beneath them.

O'rosin tried to steel himself for what came next. Being able to /between/ would be good. He could visit his family again. They hadn't heard from him since he was Searched, months ago.

Aeoluth cocked his head at the thought, suddenly intensely interested. **No!** O'rosin corrected quickly. **We're not going that far.** He tried to visualize the star stones again, which he felt Aeoluth take and pass to Kularth. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to think about how high they were, or how much higher they were about to be. He tried not to think about how scared he'd been the last time he went /between/. He thought about the ocean, and the waves crashing against the rocks below the seaside weyr Aeoluth wanted-

And then they were /between/.

They did not reappear at the Star Stones.

Last updated on the November 4th 2024

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Leap of Faith (2/2)