Avicath's Exercise Program
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: Heather, Shawna
Date Posted: 1st July 2025
Characters: N'kayden, N'kevyn
Description: N’kevyn recruits help in whipping Avicath back into prime shape
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Q'vettan, D'brul, K'lvin
“If it isn’t my favorite son. The one who always has time for his beloved parents. Do you have plans this afternoon?” N’kevyn shamelessly slid into a seat across from N’kayden without waiting to be invited. “And in a related question, how does Aberath feel about friendly competition? Or not so friendly, depending on how grumpy Avicath is being.”
He’d spent the last two sevendays making the bronze take long flights around the territory, but that wasn’t really straining the bronze’s endurance the way he’d liked. Also, it was boring. It was time for a change in pace with Avicath’s fitness regime.
N’kayden raised an eyebrow at his father. “Well, I was going to take Itsy and Bitsy out for some sight-seeing. I think it’s good for them to experience new things.” Itsy, who was seated on his left shoulder, and Bitsy, who was seated on his right, both cocked their heads quizzically at the arrival of the “Big Man,” which was the image and emotion they kept sending to each other and N’kayden as well.
“Well how do they feel about dragon races?” N’kevyn reached out to try to scratch the little firelizards if they let him. “I was hoping Aberath might lend me a hand in getting Avicath a bit of a workout. Let the lazy old bronze see if he’s faster than the young agile brown.”
}:There’s no way he’s faster than _me_,:{ Aberath said confidently. He’d seen the things Avicath ate, after all.
N’kayden’s lips twitched with amusement. “Aberath is on board. And I think these two will have a blast. They won’t be able to keep up yet, but they like to burrow inside my jacket and ride curled up in my armpits.” He held up a hand, guessing what his father’s next question might be. “No, they don’t smell afterwards but it does pinch a little sometimes.”
Itsy and Bitsy practically oozed over N’kevyn’s outstretched hand adoringly. ~~Big Man. Happy scratches. Happy. Happy.~~ They chorused in harmony in N’kayden’s brain.
N’kevyn was content to scratch both firelizards, getting both hands involved as they oozed around. “I thought a nice race across the lake? It’ll entertain Tymborikath, as well, and that’ll earn us both points with your mother.”
Chuckling, he said, “I’m glad Citrine prefers curling around my neck instead, although right now she’s annoying Avicath. She likes sitting on his nose where he can barely see her.”
“Just across the lake, huh? Want to up the stakes with a friendly wager?” N’kayden flashed a toothy grin at his father.
“Why not? I swipe my marks from your mother anyway,” N’kevyn joked. “What’s your wager?”
N’kayden’s grin was one of mischief. “It’s not a money wager. The loser has to steal _all_ of mom’s klah mugs and hide them around the Weyr. She’ll have to hunt for them the way you did for those firelizard eggs.”
Knowingly or not, N’kayden had stepped onto dangerous grounds. “I don’t care what that ass Q’vettan put in that contract when he dissolved our marriage, those are my mugs. Your mother is the one who has been hiding them from me. Have you been helping her?!” N’kevyn turned laser sharp eyes on his son.
The young brownrider’s brow furrowed. “Wait… what? What does the Weyrleader have to do with the mugs?”
“He had my mugs in his office!” N’kevyn said with a rage entirely disproportionate to the event. “He thinks it’s funny that he gave your mother the mugs when he stuck his nose in our marriage.” Those two events were not connected anywhere but in his mind.
His son’s eyes narrowed as he visibly tried to calculate how all of this was connected. “Right, so…. No on the mugs, then?”
“No! Leave my mug collection out of it. Besides, we all know your mother’s greatest love is her shoe collection. I have to listen to it every time your sister swipes another pair,” N’kevyn pointed out.
N’kayden’s mischievous smile deepened. “Shoes,” he snapped his fingers, “perfect. Alright then, let’s do this thing.”
“Now remember, Aberath is young and spry- have him really give Avicath a challenge.” Considering N’kayden had probably seen the big bronze throw tantrums before, he would have reason to suspect that wouldn’t lead to a peaceful afternoon. “I need him back in gold chasing shape.”
}:I am in gold chasing shape. I am in the best shape,:{ Avicath grumbled as he landed nearby, rudely including N’kayden in the words.
}:Am I supposed to be the ‘gold’ in this scenario?:{ Aberath asked N’kayden _privately_ as the bronze landed beside him. While the brown was on the largest end of his size scale, he looked small next to Avicath.
**Use whatever motivation you need, but get across that like first,** N’kayden told him.
“Alright you two, on the count of three. One, two, three!”
Aberath bolted from the ledge. Okay, maybe bolted was too strong a descriptor, but he certainly leaped as quickly as he could to try and get the advantage.
Avicath took a little more oomf to get himself into the air, and gave a disgruntled bellow at the head start that gave the younger, lighter brown. }:That’s cheating!:{
The sound of N’kevyn’s hearty laugh carried faintly over the sound of the wind and beating wings. Avicath wasn’t exactly fast, but his massive wings propelled him forward in powerful spurts, and he slowly closed the gap as they flew over the lake.
**He’s gaining on you,** N’kayden advised from the ground.
}:Of course he is! His wings are _massive_.:{ Aberath complained.
“How are you liking your new Wing and Wingleader?” Nkayden asked his father as they waited on the dragons.
The fact that his rider had laughed at him spurred Avicath to greater speed, though he would be slower on the turn to head back to where they started.
“Too soon to tell. He’s very direct. Blunt. Could be good, could be bad. I’m terribly disappointed I had to stop making the “take your son to work” jokes,” N’kevyn said with exaggerated mournfulness. “Any big changes in Skybroom? I’m not sad I don’t have a weyrlingmaster looking over all my sweep reports. Does he give you grades?”
“Well, I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten that I helped glue him to his chair during Weyrlinghood so….” N’kayden flashed his father a grin. “It’s actually not bad. Familiarity isn’t bad when your life depends on the strength of the Wing. And you know how things were after J’nus and Jeyme both left.”
“So what you’re saying is you’re currently looking for some more glue?” N’kevyn’s chuckle cut off with a muttered, “Don’t you dare,” that was not directed at his son.
In the air, Avicath closed his mouth from where he appeared to be considering biting Aberath’s tail. With a disgruntled huff, the bronze gave another mighty heave of his wings and pulled roughly even as they returned to their starting point
}:That’s not fair. He only won because it wasn’t long enough.:{
N’kevyn chuckled. “Well, hopefully that taught him a lesson about why he needs to practice. Threadfall isn’t a race. He’s gotten complacent.”
The feelings flooding in from Aberath were a mixture of sheer panic and exultation. He’d “won” but been frightened for his life the entire time. The young brown wondered if that was what it felt like trying to chase a gold dragon?
“Everyone says rider preferences play a part in gold flights. I’m sure Avicath has Tym’s next flight,” N’kayden said, still with that bit of overconfidence in the abilities of his parents and their dragons that carries into young adulthood.
N’kevyn snorted, “We will see. I give it his usual fifty fifty odds. I just want to make sure he puts up a good show at least. Tell Aberath I appreciate his help. He’s looking very good, by the way. Fast off the draw, very level and even. He’ll be impressive once he’s fully grown into himself.”
Aberath preened with the praise from his lifemate’s sire.
“He’s pretty set on winning a green flight. He’s been trying whenever he can. Which has been both fun and exhausting all at the same time.” N’kayden didn’t mind the bit of added chaos to his day, but he would be a little relieved when Aberath didn’t feel the need to chase anything with a pair of green wings.
Speaking of which…
**Aberath,** N’kayden said cautiously.
}:She’s rising. Emerveth. I’m going to chase!:{ The brown launched into the sky without further warning.
N’kayden looked at his father with shrug. “Well, I guess I’d better get to the flight room. See ya, Dad,” he called over his shoulder as he jogged off.
“Don’t worry, he will outgrow chasing every green,” N'kevyn said, “but good luck.”
Avicath raised his head curiously, but N’kevyn cautioned, **You wouldn't want Aberath to outfly you twice, would you?** The indignation at least distracted the bronze from joining the chase, and N’kevyn started a slow wander towards his weyr.
Last updated on the July 3rd 2025