Escaping from this prison…

[nike]

They were sick of it. Sick of the harsh words. Sick of the odd looks. The whispering, the fake smiles, the dragons' words. Sick of staying and waiting for her to mature. Sick of sleeping in the same old room. But most of all, sick of this prison that they were in.

Nineteen months it had been. Nineteen months Nike, Master Dragonhealer, and Ruanth the White Dragon of Pern had been bonded. Nineteen months of torture from the other riders, the Weyrlings, the Weyrfolk, and even the other Weyrleaders. Nineteen months of living in the Weyrling Barracks with the Weyrling of Kaith's second clutch. And all during this time, not once had Nike been able to have lessons with Ruanth with the other Weyrlings.

Now, they were taking action. Taking action so when Thread came, they were ready to fight. When Southern Boll's Spring Gather came, they could go to it with D'ran and K'dan. And if, and when Ruanth was going to mate, they knew how to fly really well.

Nike was crouching low on a ledge in a nearby mountain by Dark Moon Weyr. She was wearing her Riding Gear. Zim, and Crystal were perched on her shoulders. Other wild firelizards were perched by the ledge, as close to the small white dragon next to the rider. Sighing, Nike stood up and turned to her dragon.
"Are you ready?" She asked. Her green eyes sparkled.
It had been so long since she had rode her own dragon. So long since she got that same feeling that her late, beloved green, Tirith gave her. So long since she had gotten out of the Weyr and felt really free.
Now, since Christae, and Sh'iron, and all the other riders of the Weyr were still sleeping, they could fly.

Ruanth turned her head to look at her rider. The white had grown half a foot in the last two months. She was now 12 feet, and 6 inches. Her wingspand was over 20 feet. She had grown strong. Strong from the long days spent by The Sea of Azvo, flying, and chasing the herd beasts.
I am always ready. Are you? The white asked.

"Yes. Yes I am ready." Nike said as she closed her riding jacket, put on her helmet, then her gloves. Under her jacket was a thin silver chain. Attached to the chain was a moon crestant with a gold dragon ingraved into it. It was her mother's. When she went to Fort Weyr to try and Immpress a dragon. But she failed. And now, Nike had Impressed two. A green, who died and she couldn't not save. And the second, and first female white of Pern.

As she was mounting her white, strapping herself in, attaching the straps to the rings around her belt, put her feet in the sturrips that only Ruanth's harness had, and grabed the strap that was made for the white rider to hold onto instad of the small little ridges, the Weyr had noted her absence, and was searching for the pair.

[Dragon]

K'dan hadn't been getting much sleep lately. He sat up in his bed and thought what he could do about this. G'han has mentioned that when he gets like this he will normally train. He's trained me long enough for me to do some of my own maybe I will give it a try. He had on some older, comfortable clothes so he decided to go out into an open area to train. He left out but was stopped by Hydrath.

Where are you going mine. You should really try to get some sleep. You have been to restless lately.
~I know but maybe this will help. If something is on my mind it will likely clear. This is how G'han says he deals with this sometimes. I thought I would give it a try~, he said to his dragon. The dragon nodded and followed him.

K'dan made sure he was far enough away that he wouldn't wake anyone. So then when he found his spot he began. He warmed up with some stretches then decided to run around a bit to loosen himself up.

[nike]

Nike took a deep breath. She had a firm grasp on the strap.
Her legs were tight. She was excited, and relaxed.
"I'm ready." the rider said. She didn't fear if Ruanth was going to drop to her death. She didn't fear that Ruanth would go /between/ forever. No. She had trust in Ruanth, and Nike knew that they were going to live.

Ruanth raised her wings, then leaped off the edge. The wind rushed by Nike as she closed her eyes. She could hear the wingbeat of Ruanth, the excited chitters of the firelizards, and her own thoughts. As the pair dropped, Ruanth pumped her wings, and stopped falling. Then she was gaining air. Rising higher and higher.

Nike opened her eyes as Ruanth leveled out and caught a thermal. The white then started twirling and such. The rider looked down below her. She could see the Weyr. See the Wathdragon, and another one. A blue. But that was soon forgotten as Ruanth glided down close to the ground. A fair of firelizards followed behind.

As the wind rushed by, Nike's hear lifted. Raising her arm in the air as Ruanth did an arch in the air, the rider let out a loud cry of triumph.
But below the pair was K'dan, and the blue dragon.

[Dragon]

K'dan jumped in the air rolled forward and lept up to a stop. He then decided to do a back flip and rush forward. Trying his best to work on his agility. But just as he was in mid air doing the back flip he heard someone shouting. He fell flat on his face. His dragon couldn't help but laugh. K'dan stood up and brushed himself off. "Who the heck is up this early", he said as he tried to straighten his hair back with his hand.

Mine a dragon is flying. Is that not Nike and Ruanth? Hydrath questioned as he watched the pair that flew.

K'dan looked hard. "Yes I think it is, but I don't think we should follow. I don't want to inadvertantly cause them to fall now do I", he said. He thought long and hard. What if Ruanth truely wasn't ready and the two fell in mid flight. It would be best if she had someone there who could help her. He didn't want to wake anyone else up and besides that anyone else might want her to stop. K'dan couldn't take this from her, it meant so much that she would be able to fly Ruanth.

Why are you sitting there debating this. Isn't the obvious thing to do now is to fly at a distance from her so you won't get caught yet be able to help if something bad were to happen.
~But are we ready for such an undertaking. Could you help Ruanth if she plummited to the ground? Because even if we catch Nike if Ruanth went between then she would probably die anyway. She has already lost one dragon, losing another would surely kill her~, he said worriedly.

Do not worry so much. The two are doing fine now and besides I am bigger than Ruanth so I can help.
~I don't know. Maybe we should get someone else to help but I don't want them to try and stop her. She should be given this oppourtunity~, he said.

Listen then. Just ride me and we will follow ok. Nothing bad will become of this. Besides what could it hurt if we took to the skies to fly. Hydrath hoped to coax his rider into flying close to the two.

~Fine you win. Lets get ready~, K'dan said reluctantly. He got ready and hopped on Hydrath. The two took to the skies and made sure to fly close enough to Nike yet far away that they would not be seen. Hydrath had made sure to hide everything he had said previously from Nike so that they would not get caught.

[nike]

Nike grinned and laughed as Ruanth turned not on wingtip, but with her tail. Oh! She was so graceful! The white did cirlces, dives, arches. Anything one could think of when riding a dragon! Holding on to the strap, Nike closed her eyes.

This was oh so amazing! Tirith couldn't even fly this nimble, or so fast.
Can you go faster? Nike asked hopefully.
Of course I can! Ruanth said, then pumped her wings, and shot into the air. They passed the clouds, going higher and higher.
Then they stopped, and the white closed her wings to dive.

Nike gasped, then mentally grinned. As they fell, the sight of blue hide in the sky caught her eye.
I don't think we are alone.
We are not. That is Hydrath and K'dan. Ruanth said as she pulled out of her dive, so close to the ground too.
I think that would give them a pretty good scare. I want you to go towards them. I wanna know why they are here.
Alright. The white said, and swerved off to the side side to meet the larger blue.

The white was close to him. So close, that he wouldn't be able to escape her. Ruanth dove down, and flew under the blue, then came and hovered beside him.
Nike grinned over at K'dan.
"Why are you guys here?" she asked.
The white rider knew that K'dan and Hydrath would not tell on her. No. They couldn't and wouldn't. K'dan was too nice to tell on her.
Now Miya would.

[Dragon]

"Oh no they spotted us", K'dan said aloud to his dragon. He was suprised when Nike dove close to him. "I couldn't sleep then I heard you and decided to.....um.......keep...an...eye out for you", K'dan said replying to her, slowly saying the last part hoping Nike wouldn't be mad at him.

Yes K'dan decided to do some training since he couldn't sleep then when you two screamed he fell flat on his face. It was hilarious. His dragon explained.

~Shut up~, K'dan said embarrised to his dragon.

[nike]

Nike grinned and laughed at what Hydrath said. Then her green eyes which were hidden by her goggles, narrowed.
"So you didn't think that Ruanth, and I could take care of ourselves?
Come on Ruanth, let's show them that we don't need any help."
THe white rider said.

Ruanth nodded, then turned to Hydrath.
You have chased me on the ground, now it is time for you to chase me in the air! The white said before darting up into the sky.

Let's show them Ruanth! Let's prove to them that we need no help! Nike told her dragon happily.

[Dragon]

"It's not...."K'dan trailed off as Nike flew away. He gave a sad sigh.

Come mine now is not the time to be depressed we must catch them. Hydrath sensed the confusion at what the blue said. Ruanth wants me to try and catch her.
"C-c-catch her?!

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]", K'dan shouted. He hoped it wasn't what he was thinking. He had to wonder to himself. How did he get dragged into all these predicaments. He gave a sigh as the blue darted off after the white.

I will catch you. You will see. Hydrath said as he gained ground on the white.

[Miki]

ooc|| Perhaps I'll finish reading later and post but I wanted to say... this may be a little too far in the future? So much could happen in that blank time.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith raised her head and spoke to her rider, waking her up from the deep, exhausted sleep that the goldrider was in. Christae sat up, careful not to disturb her weyrmate. She padded softly to the crib nearby, hoping that their son hadn't woken up.

They have done it beloved. Nike and Ruanth have flown, a bit after the other Weyrlings to be sure, but they did it. I knew they would.

~So you did love. I told Sh'iron that they would rebel.~ She sighed mentally. ~Just keep an eye on them. Ruanth will strain herself thinking that she is stronger than what she is. Nike should know better than to make her fly long, but with the excitement she might forget. Even the other Weyrlings were sore after their first flight and were not able to fly for long. Sh'iron should have let me let Ruanth fly riderless for a few days. If Ruanth was allowed to fly, even riderless, she would be able to fly longer.~

Christae dressed and went to join the great golden dragon out on the ledge. Quietly slipping the riding straps on. Are we going to stop them?

~No, I just want to congratulate them and see how well Ruanth flies. Let's go quietly my beauty.~ The gold dropped off of the cliff so as not to wake her slumbering mate or the baby and Weyrleader still inside the weyr. Christae only hoped that Sh'iron would not wake and find them gone with no explanation. Kaith flew to where the little white was and the pair watched the aerial display. When the white hovered they noted Hydrath's presence.

Hydrath is there with his rider K'dan.

~I know love.~

"Well done Nike. Your white flies beautifully. Next time though, I will have to give you chores. We can't let the Weyr think that I give you special treatment." Christae's voice was amused, but her tone also held pride. She was proud of her friend.

Very well done.

[Miki]

D'ran walked silently, his body stiff. Aureth was not far behind, also quiet so he didn't bother his Mine. He could not take this, though. [glow=blue,2,300]Mine, it is alright, you still have plenty of friends here.[/glow]D'ran did not answer. His mind was blank, just confusion.

Aureth's tail swished gently, cutting the air. He stood much taller than D'ran being an about average sized Blue, a little on the larger side. The two of them had been walking for quite some time now all over his Harper friend from his old Weyr.

Joron had been stricken with an illness and within a sevenday had died. Joron had been like a brother to him and through Suni the two had kept in touch. Now, though, he was gone and D'ran could never forget. [glow=blue,2,300]Mine, please, you will be okay.[/glow]D'ran did not answer again. He kept walking, just listening to the pits pad pats of Aureth. Then they stopped. Despite himself D'ran stopped and looked at him. His head was raised, watching the White streak fly through the air and then a Blue that was considerably bigger follow. It's Ruanth and Nike. Aureth could not believe his Mine had 'spoke.' [glow=blue,2,300]Yes, we should go see them, congragulate them.[/glow]D'ran sighed heavily and looked up. He watched himself, he watched from a distance. There. the body of D'ran was climbing onto his dragon without straps. That was not smart but the bpdy of D'ran did not realize. He gripped the ridges of his Blue dragon tightly so he didn't fall. He still did not realize he was doing something dangerous.

The body of D'ran nodded and said something to his dragon through their connection. D'ran watche his body atop of the Blue lift into the air before he felt himself get pulled in as well.

D'ran looked ahead to try and spot the two dragons. the wind rushed at him, drying his eyes and mouth. A Gold. There was a streak of Gold too. Kaith must have come. Or Reneith (sp?). He continued but kept himself at a distance. It wasn't so much he didn't want to be spotted, he just didn't want to come to her. Why? He didn't know himself. His mind was jumbled and he could barely figure the simplest things. When he was distressed he normally wrote songs but now his hand shook far too much to even write his name he had been adorned with by his bond. No, he had just flew until he spotted her tail wisping through a cloud. Aureth sped up to try and catch up but D'ran had no feeling towards it. He just let his dragon decide. Aureth did decode. He decided not to go up to Nike just yet. D'ran was in no condition to talk any otherway then through their bond. He could barely do that.

[nike]

Nike's eyes were keen infront of her as she rested down close to Ruanth's neck. The white was twirling around when the pair caught sight of gold.
"Shards!" Nike muttered.
Slowing down, Ruanth backwinged and went over to Kaith and Christae.

Nike held her head high, waiting for her punshiment. At the Weyrwoman's words the girl lost her grip on the one strap, and stared in awe at the gold rider. "Really? Well we just had to get out of the Weyr. We needed to fly. Plus, we have to make it to Southern Boll's Spring Gather." Nike said patting the white's neck.

The sight of another shade of blue hide caught her eye. D'ran was here?
Nike and Ruanth turned their heads to see the pair. Not seeing the riding straps on the blue made Nike suck in air.
Why aren't they wearing their straps? Nike asked her dragon, even though she knew the answer.
They forget. Must have. Ruanth replied.
I know, but no one could be that wherry-headed.

[Miki]

[glow=blue,2,300]It seems they have seen us, Mine.[/glow]D'ran snapped back to relaity long enough to realize what his dragon said. He had gotten on the dragon in a daze and did not realize his lack of straps. Aureth would not tell him. He was so worried about what his Rider might do. he decided to jsut fly in a way that it was easy for his bonded to stay mounted.

Aureth circled aroung. He might not have been the smallest dragon but he was small and nimble and fast and all that jazz.

[Spirithawk]

((Reinath.....))

Christae smiled. "I was trying to convince Sh'iron to let Ruanth fly riderless for a while. I knew you weren't going to listen. Kaith though that Ruanth was ready, but we couldn't tell you anything openly. We have enough stress at this time without Sh'iron and me being at odds with each other. I do think that you two should land now and let me check Ruanth's wings for any strain. Kaith and I are proud, but I can't let the other riders think that you did this without my knowledge."

"Kaith, tell Aureth and Hydrath that they too must land and that if i catch D'ran on Aureth without straps again he will be given latrine duty." The gold obliged. "Nike, we will have to make this seem as if it were supervised. I want you and Ruanth to fly under my supervision for a few days before we tell the others. I don't want them thinking that Sh'iron and me don't have control over our riders. That would be detrimental to the weyr at this time."

[nike]

Nike nodded, and mentally told Ruanth to land. The white backwinged and took a cleared spot to land.
Once done, the fair of firelizards, wild and not, landed around the little dragon.
The white rider dismounted and took off her helmet. Looking up at the Weyrwoman, Nike grinned.
"Yes, but now since you've seen how well we fly, then you can't stop us from doing so," She said, patting the white's head happily. "Soon we are going to learn how to go /between./" the rider added.

Ruanth looked down at her rider. Really? We can go /between/ soon?
Yes, love. And as soon as the Spring gather comes around, we can go to it. Nike said, then spoke outloud.
"Oh and Christae, since Sh'iron wasn't here to see this, will tell him that we did really good at flying?"

[Spirithawk]

"I won't stop you from flying. You will resume lessons with the other Weyrlings. If anything, you two are more advanced than the others because you have been through the lessons already Nike." She bit her lip, not meaning to remind the whiterider about her beloved Tirith's death. "We will supervise your flying every night. She flew wonderfully, but you might want to watch her turns a bit. She was shaky on one of them, not bad, and not half as clumsy as some of the other weyrlings, but just something to keep in mind." Christae slid down Kaith's large back and went to the White.

"Tell Kaith if any of this hurts Ruanth and no lying. I want to make sure you didn't strain yourself in any way and I don't want your rider to check you because there is always the chance that she will think that a slight sore spot is nothing and wind up in your really straining yourself." She looked at Nike and smiled. "Not that I don't think you are trustworthy."

She began to run her hands over the small white, checking her wingjoints and making sure she was still sound. "You will learn to go /between/ with the other riders and I had better not catch you two trying it on your own. The other riders will be learning in two sevendays. You have that amount of time to whip Ruanth into shape for going /between/. Tomorrow she will be sore, but that is normal. I have a salve that we used on the other dragonets."

She put her hands on her hips. "You are lucky that I truly thought Ruanth was ready, otherwise I would tan your hide. Sh'iron will tan my hide for encouraging you. I will let him see for himself how well you fly in two sevenday's time. I will wait that long to tell him that you two are learning how to go /between/."

[Miki]

Aureth listened to Kaith but he did not tell his Mine. [glow=blue,2,300]Kaith, I will land but please try not to have anyone come in to talk to him. Perhaps later but not now. Not in the morning either.[/glow]With that he carefully lowered to the ground. He extended to blue legs until he reached the ground beneath him.

D'ran briskly and quietly slid down the dragon, eyes blank. Aureth left him standing and hewaalked over to Kaith who was only an Aureth away (as in the size of Aureth is what's between). D'ran just stood by the Blue's waving tail.

[Spirithawk]

((They were supposed to land near kaith.....she needed to tell them not to speak about Nike's flying))

[Dragon]

Hydrath was gaining on Ruanth but the pair stopped. Hydrath landed as he was told.

~Shoot I bet we are in trouble~, K'dan said to his dragon.

Do not worry mine. We are in no trouble. How could we get in trouble for wanting to look after Nike and make sure she would be ok.

~Hydrath shush. Nike can hear you remember, stop speaking so openly~, K'dan said as he turned a bit red but hoped no one would notice.

[nike]

Nike nodded at what Christae. "Yes, I know," The white rider said as the memories of flying Tirith came back.
But strangely, these memories weren't as bad as they used to be. Now she could feel the happiness that she had felt, and the joy. Everything that she thought was gone came back to her in a rush of emotions. Shaking her head, Nike smiled and came back to relaity. "yeah, I will agree with you. She's not the best. But you gotta give her some slack. This was her first time flying with me on her," Nike said, patting the white's hide.

Ruanth rolled her shoulders, then looked at the much larger queen.
My shoulders are sore. But that happens when I fly like I did. My joints are also sore. Other than that, it is fine. The white said with wirling eyes.
Nike smiled. "I know you trust me, Chriaste," the rider said.

"I can't wait to show off Ruanth's flying skills in front of the others. It will show Miya tat Ruanth might be small, but she was a lot faster, and quicker in the air than her large queen. No offense Kaith. You had a wonderful daughter. But still, she needs to get a slap in the face for the way she's been treating us," Nike said as she punched the air.
Nike grinned impishly when Christae was done with Ruanth.
"Well I'm sorry about that. But still, admit this, you'd rather have a tan hide than one less amazing dragon full of skills fighting Thread," The rider grinned then turned to Hydrath, and K'dan.
"Why thank you Hydrath. You are Yours are very kind. I am glad taht I know them," Nike said, winking at K'dan.