The First Flight

Writers: Paula, Stasha
Date Posted: 28th March 2008

Characters: E'naer, M'delon
Description: E'naer gives the approval for M'delon and Valinth's first flight
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 20 of Turn 4

"M'delon and Valinth!" E'naer called next pair of weyrlings to him.

M'delon felt his heart chatter like an eager firelizard as he stepped forward from the group of weyrlings. The sounds and words of encouragement from his friends passed with the rest of the secondary sounds around him. All he could hear now were his soft steps in the snow as he and Valinth edged closer to where they belonged... with each other high in the sky.

He gave a courteous nod to the Weyrlingmaster Third, as Valinth settled behind him.

E'naer nodded encouragingly to the the weyrling. "I'm checking Valinth's growth and health before you can fly together for the first time," he explained, grinning. This was exciting time, for him too. "Has he been complaining about any problems?"

"No," M'delon answered confidently as he glanced over to the young brown. When Valinth began to fly on his own, he proved to be strong and ready in the sky, and was persistent that M'delon could ride with him.

}:I feel fine:{ Valinth added before he turned to Eillispeth and let out a short impatient bugle. }:We've waited so long:{ his eyes whirled in eager greens and blues as he begged the green }:Can we fly now?:{ }: Soon, very soon. As soon as my rider has looked your wings and muscles,:{ The older green replied to the young one with soothing tone.

"Valinth, would you be kind and extend your wings directly to the side to their full lenght and straighten your tail," E'naer asked, adressing the brown directly.

}: Like this, :{ Eillispeth showed an example.

Valinth mimicked the green and spread out his impressive wingspan. His wings where slightly longer than normal, with sturdy wing sails that were a slight off hue with dark browns lacing through them. His muscles were well defined in his chest, shoulders, back, and wing limbs. His leg and tail were also well toned as the brown straightened himself out for E'naer, but his appearance still shadowed that of an adolescent dragon.

"Well?" M'delon dared to ask the greenrider in his timid voice. "Do you think he's ready?"

"Let's see," E'naer said thoughtfully. He circled the brown, tested his wing membrane, run his fingers along the bones, felt for the muscles, looked for crack in the hide. Finally he was done with his examination. "Oh, he's ready all right. A very handsome young fellow," the dragonhealer complimented.

Valinth's eyes whirled merrily at the greenrider's compliment. He was a handsome brown, and did not need to be told, but he enjoyed the random reminders.

"So does this mean I can mount Valinth so we can fly?" M'delon asked eagerly, hoping this was the final confirmation that he needed to climb onto Valinth.

E'naer nodded and smiled like a proud father. "Put the straps on him and fly!"

M'delon nearly let out a cry of joy, but he was able to maintain his boyish urge. He slipped the straps onto Valinth and assured himself that they were on securely before he mounted on. It was still an odd sensation as he climbed onto his beast, settling himself between the ridges at the base of his neck.

}:We are ready:{ Valinth crouched back on his hind legs preparing to lung himself into the air, yet he waited for M'delon to give the final okay, who waited for the signal from E'naer.

E'naer watched careful when M'delon put the straps on to see that they were correctly in place. He nodded with satisfaction. Moving aside, he gave the pair signal to test their wings together for the first time.
This first flight would be very short.

M'delon began to feel his heart throbbing, threatening to erupt from his chest. He had waited for this moment for so long that he began to doubt if it would ever happen. Yet after the painful wait he was now strapped securely onto an eager Valinth who's eyes were turned to the sky. Was he ready? M'delon wondered, doubting his own ability for the first time.

}:We were meant for this!:{ Valinth proclaimed with a triumphant bugle. He leaped forcefully into the air as his wings swooped, down propelling them further up the cliff side. Only the strength of gravity pulled down on them as they fought to free themselves of it with the rolling strength of Valinth's wings. But an air current caught them and aided in their escape, sending them further up the cliff side to the peaks of the weyr.

M'delon's arms were still grasping tightly at Valinth's neck as they steadied themselves in the sky. Once they were soaring, however, the young boy gained the courage to prop himself up and gaze around his new surroundings. They were flying, M'delon realized as the air crest his skin and whistle passed his ears. They were flying! After turns of waiting he was where he belonged, high in the sky with the wind hitting his face and the ground far below them. Never had M'delon felt so exhilarated before in his life, and never had he felt such power, such strength, and such freedom! To soar without restraint of terrain.
The sky was their world, the clouds their lands, and the sun their beaten path.

**Valinth! We're flying** He let out a cry, proclaiming his achievement to the weyr and all of Pern.

Valinth accompanied him with a deep brass bugle that echoed over the weyr, and beat down the walls of the corridors. }:We are flying! We are free! :{ He declared for all to hear. }:We are free!:{
**Okay, Eillispeth, call him down. That's more than enough for a first flight! We don't want Valinth to tire too much. Tell him he can fly longer tomorrow," E'naer said to his lifemate. He hated to interrupt their ecstatic moment, but safety came first.

The green reached out to talk to the young brown and her tone was surprisingly commanding. More like queen's than green's.

Valinth's eyes turned into soft greens before he craned his neck over to his lifemate. }:Eillispeth says we have to land:{ Valinth gave a weak protest, though he knew he had to obey the greens firm command.
}:Can we fly just a little longer?:{ he asked M'delon as if he were the reigning authority.

But M'delon was just a weyrling, and had no authority what so ever.
**If she says we have to land, then we have to land, Val** M'delon thought back to his brown with a hint of disappointment in his tone.
It was too short, they had just started, but they had to comply with the E'naer because he was their superior. Still it did not stop the young brownrider from wishing they could fly a little longer. **We should land now**

Valitn turned one last time on his wings before he began to glide back down to the weyr. It was a rocky descent, throwing M'delon's stomach once or twice into his chest as they fought some of the air currents, but they survived. Once the brown touched ground he made several skips as he steadied himself on his landing, tossing up some lose snow. Yet he longed to spring back into the air again. ):Can't we fly just a little longer, Eillispeth?:{ he begged the green.

}: No. You will fly little longer every day. You have to let your wings get used to the weight of a rider :{ Eillispeth replied, echoing the words of her rider.

E'naer gestured M'delon to dismount.

The weyrling complied as Valinth informed him of what Ellispeth said.
"Will we be able to fly on our own soon?" M'delon dared to ask as he approached the greenrider in response to Valinth's comment.

"Soon enough. Keep an eye of Valinth, if he suffers any soreness in his wings tonight," E'naer instructed. "You flew bit longer than intented. You don't want him to overstrain his strength. That will get you grounded until he recovers," the weyrlingmaster's third warned.

Grounded? Well, that was enough to keep the boy from even pondering over a second flight. But he was thrilled to know he would fly again tomorrow. "Thank you E'naer," he bowed to the Weyrlingmaster Third.

"Off you go now, there's still more waiting for their turn," E'naer grinned.

Last updated on the March 29th 2008

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The First Flight