You can Certainly Try...
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, Devin, Duskdog, Estelle, Halyonix, Heather, Sia
Date Posted: 8th April 2026
Characters: K'thyr, M'thos, Rathandra, D'miran, Q'helias, H'lem, M'sar, N'dhavi, Hesbia, K'valas
Description: The senior weyrling dragonets attempt to fly for the first time
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 9 of Turn 13
“Have they been practicing their stretches?” K’thyr asked M’thos, the expression on his face one of intense focus as he looked over the stripling dragons who were ready to try their first flights that day.
"They have been, though some are more focused on it than others." M'thos said with a grin of someone who knew what the consequences would be, usually to humorous effect. "You'll see once they get going. A few of them have already started taking little leaps aloft, so this is to make sure everyone's developing properly before they strain themselves."
K’thyr nodded though his gaze did not move from the weyrlings. Little leaps were good. Even better that no one had tried to fly too early. “Good,” he answered after another moment of clinical observance. “Let’s have them get lined up and we’ll take a look at everyone.”
Nazoth stretched his large wings. }:Why are we waiting? Today we fly!:{
M’sar frowned thoughtfully, wondering why he should stop his dragon. **Maybe wait to make sure everyone’s lookin’ at you. Not as fun if half the class misses you showing off, yeah?**
}:Hmm, yes. Everyone should watch so they can see how to do it right.:{
}: Come, Hesbia, :{ Oriveth said with a certainty that Hesbia suddenly didn’t quite feel. She had been checking his wings every morning, measuring them against each day, noting their length. Surely, they were long enough now? They seemed like it. Maybe. Oriveth butted his head against her shoulder, exuding confidence. Hesbia blew out a long breath and tried not to overthink it.
Sazikoth was not one of the ones that would wait. She was already shifting impatiently from foot to foot, only standing in one place because of K'valas' hand on her shoulder. She didn't like to be looked at any more than he did, and the dragonhealer's gaze agitated her in a way she couldn't explain.
H’lem had kept quiet about his concerns about Mactallath flying. He was so… solid. The two of them had that in common, he supposed, but no one expected H’lem to fly.
Feeling his worries yet again, Mactallath protected a calm, cool confidence into H’lem’s mind. He was a rock. But he was strong. He had wings. They were strong, too. There was no need to fret, no need to doubt. He would fly as well as any of the others.
H’lem wished he was as confident as Mactallath about a great many things. Most things.
Elamith took his place in the line beside his classmates, his head held high and his eyes whirling fast. Although he sensed that his lifemate was nervous that the dragonhealer would find even the slightest flaw in his health - a patch of dry hide, or an overstrained wing muscle - he felt more than ready to take to the air and happy to show himself off. }:Don't worry. I'm in excellent condition!:{
Q’helias and Lyrasanth anchored the end of the line, man and dragon both quietly confident about their presentation and readiness. True, Q’helias had given up his dragon dreams for a while and devoted himself to the harper craft, but he was weyrborn through and through. He’d never forgotten the basic dragoncare he’d picked up as a dragon-mad bratling. Lyrasanth gleamed-- she had properly stretched too.
K’thyr stalked among the gathered dragonets with an intensity to his dark gaze that probably unnerved a few of them. He was focused -- looking at every joint, every wingtip -- and applying his clinical knowledge to each. Even though the files he had on each dragonet told him which ones belonged to the Holdless, he could not find fault with any of their care. Yet.
"Well, class, your dragons are welcome to play until it's their turn, provided they can come when called." M'thos said with too much confidence that they would. "After we get a volunteer to go first, anyway. Who'd like to take one for the team?"
Well, there was only one real cure for lack of confidence. Fake it until you make it.
“We will.” H’lem’s hand shot up.
“Us!” M’sar said at the same time. He shot a glare at H’lem, though the competitive feeling was mostly coming from Nazoth.
Rathandra was just glad it wasn’t her and yawned as she sat down and leaned against Morivath. The green was _slightly_ more interested in today’s training since it meant she would actually get to do something.
At H’lem’s insistence, K’thyr came over to take a closer look at Mactallath. With his arms folded over his muscular chest and his dark eyes looking over every line, he looked formidable, brooding. But he eventually said, “He’s good to fly.” He nodded to M’thos as he went to look over M’sar’s brown. Wasn’t this one of the Holdless? Yes. He had Impressed a big brown. K’thyr scowled thoughtfully. “He’s got some proportions to him,” he remarked.
“He’s the biggest in the clutch,” M’sar patted his dragon proudly.
Nazoth puffed out his chest. It was ample, as was the rest of him.
"Go on ahead, Mactallath." M'thos said cheerily. "Doesn't need to be too far. Just a few flaps, see if you can get airborne. H'lem, try to keep an 'ear' out, if you will, in case he feels any pain. M'sar, Nazoth's good to give it a try too."
Nazoth beamed, eyes whirling eagerly. M’sar couldn’t help a smile as his brown’s wings spread wide.
}:I will show you all how it’s done!:{ Nazoth leapt into the air, powerful wings beating.
And he promptly fell back down with a thud. }:I will try again.:{
This time his jump got him a bit more height, but he was no more successful. His wings simply weren’t able to carry him. }:Hmm. Flying is harder than it looks.:{
K’thyr scowled. This was not good. His eyes unfocused as he spoke with Eometh a moment but then returned to their critical sharpness as he asked M’sar, “Have you been overfeeding him?”
“Well I ain’t gonna let him go hungry.” M’sar frowned at the dragonhealer and then looked back at Nazoth, realizing his size might be . . . a problem.
H’lem’s worry only grew. Although, he had to admit, K’thyr had not expressed concern at the look of Mactallath, despite his solid frame. Perhaps he could get aloft after all.
**Go on, then.**
Mactallath leapt into the air. He grunted with the strain of the air as it filled his wings, but it did not hurt. Just a few flaps. He had been certain he could have flown all the way across the Weyr. But he found he was grateful the few flaps were all he was allowed.
H’lem breathed a sigh of relief as he touched back down some dragonlengths away.
While Eometh reported that Mactallath was in fine shape for flying, K’thyr’s expression had darkened at M’sar’s response. “You do remember that a baby dragon has no concept of overeating and _will_ overeat if you let them, right?” he asked.
“He’s fine!” M’sar said of his very obviously overfed dragon.
Nazoth huffed, eyes whirling unhappily as he watched his clutchmate make a successful flight. If Mactallath could do it, he could! Nazoth heaved himself up, straining as hard as he could. He managed half a flap before gravity " and his massive bulk " brought him down. }:Why can’t I fly?:{
M'thos looked between obese brown and rider, checking both expressions for any signs of pain underneath the general emotional distress.
}: Sometimes our riders' schedules don't fit.:{ Fianwyth gently said to Nazoth, }: That's okay. They'll figure out what you need to do to get you into the air soon.:{
"We'll need to talk about doing some laps in the shallows of the lakes." M'thos said easily. "And having one of the assistants help you moderate his meals. A'ten needs something constructive to do. We're going to want him to trim down before he's expected to hunt on his own, or else he's really going to go hungry until he can get it."
Then, as an afterthought, Fianwyth nudged The Littlest's brown. }: Good job, Mactallath. :{ Fianwyth said, }: Tell your rider that we said it was excellent.:{
K’thyr’s scowl didn’t lighten as he went over to M’thos. “Laps and stretches. Especially on those wings. If he exerts himself again before he’s lost weight, he’ll pull a muscle.” In his mind, he made note that one of the Holdless ruffians was overfeeding a dragon -- a quiet, biased mark against the whole lot. Raising his voice, he called, “Who’s next?
}: My turn! :{ Sazikoth declared with a low rumble. She took off into a run without any further preamble, causing K'valas to stumble when her weight was suddenly no longer pressing hard against him. She leapt into the air before her wings were fully ready and landed hard, a little surprised but not losing balance or momentum. Another few hops and she was fully airborne, gaining just enough altitude to glide down the length of the training yard.
She landed roughly but didn't lose her footing, turning back towards K'valas to puff out her chest and preen.
**No one likes a show-off, love.** K'valas said, though he didn't hide his grin as she hopped back. Still, it felt good that his girl could show off after Nazoth's disaster of an attempt.
"There we go." M'thos said. "Anyone else ready to go? I'd rather not call people out."
Malzyveth stepped up, spreading his wings and rolling his shoulders and wingjoints, just naturally expecting the group to recognize the fact that he has decided to take up space in this moment. He hadn’t been in any hurry -- no reason to -- and N’dhavi had felt the same. N’dhavi recognized that there were moments where it was important to step up and claim what you want before anyone else, but also some wisdom in watching and waiting. For this? No rush. Nothing to prove.
And also… watching Nazoth fail to fly was really, really funny.
Malzyveth took a few steps for momentum and then leapt and flapped, raising into the air for a few wingbeats before giving a short (and a bit shaky) glide down.
}:There,:{ he said. }:I am capable, as are all of you. We will fly, and we will get better at it. There is nothing to fear, but there will be no excuses.:{
“Like being an unflying tub of lard,” N’dhavi elaborated.
}:I did not say that,:{ Malzyveth corrected. }:I do not need to. He knows. Let him fix it.:{
M’sar’s head snapped around. “Hey! So what if he’s fat. He’s the _fattest_ dragon, and he’s bigger than your stupid bronze! He just needs to get his wings stronger, that’s all.”
Then in a quieter tone he added, “Sorry Malzyveth, you ain’t stupid. Didn’t mean that.”
"That's enough, the two of you." M'thos said.
D'miran eyed the two holdless weyrlings with barely concealed disdain, then turned his attention to Elamith, who was fidgeting and bouncing on his feet as he watched his clutchmates take to the air - or attempt to. The little blue was sturdy, but not all out of shape, he noted proudly, and they had diligently practiced the wing stretches. They would have no trouble with this.
**Are you ready? We’ll show them. **
}: I'm ready! :{ Elamith stepped forward, his voice bubbling over with excitement. }: May I try? :{
K’thyr, his arms crossed over his chest as his dark eyes looked over Elamith critically, nodded, granting permission. D’miran came from good stock. K’thyr remembered his greenrider uncle fondly.
Elamith took a deep breath, his chest swelling, then bounded forward and leapt into the air, leaving the ground behind with a strong downbeat of his wings. }: Oh! Wow, I'm flying! Wheee! :{ After a few wobbly flaps, he reached the top of his arc and glided down to land a little faster than he'd intended. He hit the ground with his claws scrabbling frantically to slow himself down, and very nearly went head over heels, just managing to regain his balance in time.
D'miran cautiously opened one eye and saw to his relief that Elamith was both unharmed and the right way up, if looking a little sheepish and dusty. **Hey, that was great! Well done! We'll practice landing until we get the hang of it.**
K’thyr clapped in approval. “Shaky but he’ll get better with practice,” he said with stern pride to D’miran. He looked around for the next volunteer.
Oriveth’s head tilted to the side as he looked at his rider. }: Shall we? :{ he suggested in that dark timbre that never ceased to ripple through Hesbia like low thunder.
“Yeah, let’s do this,” she said. She knew her dragon would have none of the problems that Nazoth did. Oriveth was the sleekest of the class. Barely waiting for permission from the scowling Weyrdragonhealer, they took off. Hesbia could feel Oriveth readjusting the new weight distribution as his wings pumped, catching his balance just in time to fan and land with solid thump.
Hesbia let out a crowing scream of victory and slapped Oriveth’s neckridge. “That’s how it’s done!” she declared.
Last updated on the May 1st 2026