Flying

[nike]

Sh'iron was crouching on the ground, loking at a map that he had taken.
Myranenth was sitting behind him.
Today was clear. An amazingly clear day. So clear that there were no clouds, and the sun shone like a gold dragon's hide. And it had been seventeen months since the hatching of Kaith's first clutch.
All the dragons were large enough to fly.
Largest of them all was the young queen who would be moving out of the Barracks soon. Even the copper was large enough to fly. Everyone but Nike's Ruanth. The white was only 12 feet in length, and with a wingspand of 22 feet. Too small to fly.

So today would be the lesson when all the Weyrlings would learn to fly. Since their old Weyrlingmaster, P'ren was gone. And the new one was also gone, the Weyrleader and his Wingleaders would take up the job of teaching the Weyrlings to fly. Over the past months, Wingleaders and 'Seconds taught the Weyrling their duties of a rider. And by the time Thread would come, everyone of them would be ready. But he wasn't too sure of the little white.

All the Weyrlings had made straps, gear, and anything that was needed to fly. The dragons' growning had almost stopped. All of them were good sizes, and he was proud of them all. Even Ruanth. Today would be a good day for the Weyrlings. Behind him were his Wingleaders, and their dragons.
each one would get a Weyrling or two, and teach them to fly. Sh'iron wanted to teach Miya and her gold, with Kia and her copper. But the one thing he wasn't too sure of was Nike, and Ruanth.

For the past seventeen months, they had been always told that they couldn't join in in lessons because Ruanth was too small. After all, the white was only a sport. Like Ruth. And as soon as the Weyrleader had posted the dates for Flight Lessons, she had been working hard on making her straps, and new riding gear. But how could he tell her that she couldn't fly Ruanth until she was really mature? That might take atleast five more Turns. He wasn't sure.

Sh'iron sighed and stood up. The Weyrling dragons would fly to the place where they were going to learn, while the Weyrling riders would fly on one of the Wingleaders' dragons. Then once they got to the cliff, the real flight would happen. He had taught them the simple flight. Just jumping up, then gliding down. But now, they would really fly their dragons.

He just wasn't too sure about Nike, and Ruanth. Knowing that two, they would leave and learn themselves. After all, Nike was once a full green rider. She knew these things more than many. The Weyrleader rolled up the map, waiting for the Weyrlings to come out. This would be fun.

[Dragon]

K'dan arrived and greeted the weyrleader. Hydrath followed behind him. He looked around amazed that he was the first one here. He hoped Sharan wouldn't follow him here. The flitt was getting bad at not staying put and intruding on his lessons. He was relieved at the moment that the bronze flitt hadn't shown up yet.

[nike]

Sh'iron looked up and smiled at K'dan.
"Hello, K'dan," The Weyrleader said with a smile. Yes, his blue had grown up fine. And soon they would be fighting Thread.
The bronze rider waited with his hands behind his back for the other Weyrlings.

--------------------------

Nike walked out of the Barracks with Ruanth at her side. The rider's hand was resting on the white's neck.
It had been amazing seventeen months. But for the later part of their time together, Nike and Ruanth had been missing out of the lessons. They got to watch, but not join in. This made Nike upset. She knew it was going to happen, but why did it come to somewhat of a shock to her?

Shaking her head, the white Weyrling and her dragon took their spot away from the door, close to K'dan.
Ruanth had different Riding Straps around her thin neck. Nike had to make them by hand, and randomly.
She had no guide, or help. They were made from trial and error.
And because of learning to fly soon, and Thread, Nike had made new Riding Gear too.
It was all black, with a red trim around the cuffs, collar, waist, and other open parts.
The fur on the inside was a red that matched her hair. Speaking of which, her long thick hair was cropped nicely so it would fit under her riding helmet.

Smileing sweetly at K'dan, Nike turned her eyes to Sh'iron.
The Weyrleader looked worriedly at the nineteen Turn old girl.
Why does he look like that? Ruanth asked.
I don't think he wants us to be here for the lesson. Nike replied. Just don't worry.

[Tenma]

Seventeen year old Miya strode out. Her flowing blkack hair shone under the sun for she made sure it looked nice before she came out. She wore pitch black riding gear with adark green trim around the cuffs, collar, waist, and other open parts. The fur on the inside was a gold, like her dragon.

Speaking of which, the now almost fully grown Reinath walked at her bonded's side. Her neck was held up high, trying once again to make her seem larger then the others, which she now was. Being a queen Reinath was now larger then any other dragon of her clutch, yet smaller then her mother when she was this age. Finally we will get to fly. I bet it was the puny white holding us back. Reinath snorted.

Miya nodded in agreement and turned, her brown eyes looking at the Ruanth. ~Look at her. She is still puny. I doubt she will be allowed to fly already. Even if she had been holding us back.~ Miya snapped. In her hand was a black riding helmet. She stopped and waited for something to happen.

Reinath stopped next to her mine, whom she was now much larger then. Her shining gold hide only made the new dark blue riding straps seem more impressive.

[Dragon]

K'dan returned the weyrleader's smile and then looked over at Nike when she came. "Hey Nike", he said to her.

Hello Ruanth. How are you and your mine today? I hope the two of you are doing well.Hydrath spoke to Ruanth.

K'dan turned his attention now to Miya who came in after. "Hello Miya", he said. Today was a good day for him. He would soon learn how to fly with his dragon. He scratched the dragon's eyeridges and returned his attention back to Sh'iron

[Tenma]

"Hey K'dan." She said boridly, distaste hinting slightly in her voice.

((Ack, short.))

[Dragon]

K'dan smiled. He would expect her greeting to be nothing less. "Nice day for learning to fly is it not", he said to Nike and Miya.

[Miki]

D'ran strolled inside with his Blue beside him. The dragon had grown to a considerable size. It wasn't huge but it was bigger than that of his now seventeen turn old rider. The Harper brushed his brown hair and hazel eyes looked around at those who had already arrived. He spotted Nike and K'dan. Those were the people he really cared for that were here. Miya was just... there. He walked up with Aureth behind him. The Blue smiled at the White that was darfed by him a little now. [glow=blue,2,300]Hello Ruanth, Hydrath.[/glow]

[Spirithawk]

Kaith raised her head from her ledge. The chosen of my mate is going to teach the young ones how to fly. Christae looked up from the hides she had been correcting and sighed.

"He was supposed to tell me when he took them flying. Shall we join them?"

Yes, I would like to see our children fly. They have been working hard. I remember our first flight beloved. It will be amusing to see if they are as ungainly as we were.

"You are a good Queen if you can laugh at yourself."

Not at all Chosen. I am simply not as haughty as my fellow Queens.

Christae rose and changed into her riding gear. She took her baby son to the Lower Caverns and left him with one of the capable Weyrfolk who were only too happy to care for the Weyrleaders' son. She thanked them and then ran to where Kaith waited for her. "Take us to Sh'iron and the Weyrlings love." Kaith launched herself, glowing with pride as several of the dragons from the weyr bugled a welcome to their Queen and her rider.

We are strong. Thread will not stand against us! The great golden Queen's voice was confident, but not cocky. She landed next to her mate and gave him an affectionate nudge with her wedge-shaped head. Christae slid off of her dragon and walked to her weyrmate. "I think I remember asking you to tell me when you decided to take the young ones flying." She reached up and kissed his cheek. She didn't have to reach far because she was nearly as tall as he.

[Tenma]

Unlike other dragons that could be heard Reinath did not bugle to her mother. She simply looked up. When the queen landed Reinath bowed her head in respect.

Miya on the other hand just stood there.

Reinath snorted and nudged the soon to be Jr. Weyrwoman.

Miya mumbled something under her breath but also bowed her head. "Hello Weyrwoman Christae and Queen Kaith." She greeted them with disinterest.

Those were the only two they really chose to greet. The two just ignored all of the others from their clutch.

[Spirithawk]

Chrisate turned to the younger Queenrider and smiled. "Good morning Miya, Reinath. I have received a satisfactory report from the Weyrlingmaster about you two. After dinner tonight I want you to report to my Weyr. It is time for you to learn about healing herbs. All Weyrwomen need to know how to tend to Threadscored and sick riders and dragons." Christae ignored the fact that Miya had to be goaded by her dragon into greeting her. She had been working the Weyrling pair hard.

Greetings Reinath and Miya. Kaith was equally as solemn as her daughter. She no longer called the younger Queen "little one" because she was no longer little. She was already bigger than some of the full grown browns.

"Reinath is looking great Miya. Soon you will be moved to your own weyr. You will be able to take your pick of the Junior Queens quarters since you are the only Junior Queen pair." Christae said after running a critical eye on the younger Queen. Christae wondered if Reinath's first flight would happen within the next two Turns. Queen dragons often flew sooner and more often when Threadfall was immenent and Christae was worried that Kaith would fly soon again. She had become rather testy at times, usually a sign of a flight to come withing the next few months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A brown dragon, easily larger than any of the small bronzes appeared from between . He bugled a tired welcome to the riders below. The rider upon his back wore the shoulder knots of a wingsecond and both dragon and rider bore all the signs of having been up all night. The brown landed and his rider slipped out of the riding straps and leapt to the ground. Close up, the figure of a young woman could be discerned under the riding gear.

Greetings to you my Queens. The brown bowed his head to the two Queens before him as his rider walked to the Weyrleaders. The Wingsecond bowed before the Weyrleaders. "Weyrleaders, I have a reply from the Harpers. I also have a report from the Night Watch." Rhia had been up all night keeping an eye on the Red Star and the land around her post for any sign of Threadfall. The archivists had reminded the Dragonriders that the signs of Threadfall were visible at night as well and several riders were sent to take guard duty, nicknamed the Night Watch.

[Tenma]

"All right. I will be there." Miya ensured Christae. "Thankyou." The goldrider replied at the compliment to her bonded. She smiled slightly, glad she would be able to choose the weyr that she wanted.

Reinath held her head up high once again upon being complimented by the weyrwoman. She bowed her head to Mneith as the brown greeted her.

((Sorry about the bad posts.))

[nike]

Sh'iron grinned as Kaith landed, and Christae walked over to him.
The Weyrleader put his arm around her shoulder, and returned her kiss.
"Sorry, too excited to teach the Weyrlings myself," He said, then added in an undertone. "You can talk to Nike and Ruanth about not flying."
Myranenth nudged his mate back.

Sh'iron waited for the other Weyrlings to come out.
When Rhia came he nodded. "Good job Wingsecond Rhia. Put the report in our Weyr, then take some reset. Unless you and G'han want to help teaching the Weyrlings to fly."

----------------------------

Ruanth bugled up at her mother. Nike smiled.
She couldn't wait to get to flying!
The White Rider turned to D'ran.
"Hello, D'ran," She said, then added to both of the blue riders.
"This is going to be so awesome. It was amazing when I learned to fly Tirith.
You two will truely love it."

The white turned her eyes to the two larger blues.
She had gotten used to them being larger than her. Yes she had.
But it was still a slight shock with the other dragons.
Such as with the browns, bronzes, and the two Queens.
Hello, Hydrath, Aureth. Are you excited about learning to fly?

[Dragon]

Indeed. It seems K'dan and myself have been waiting for this day for a long time now. K'dan seemed to enjoy it when G'han took him to ride Gerenanth when he first arrived here. I can't wait to soar(sp?) into the open skies with my fellow dragons and be able to help out more around the weyr. He looked up at the larger Aureth. It was to be expected though. Next to Ruanth, Hydrath was one of the smallest dragons in the weyr. But the pair were no longer bothered by it.

"Hello D'ran", he said to the fellow weyrling. "Yes it will be awesome. I have been waiting for the day I could fly with Hydrath", he said to Nike.

[Miki]

Aureth gave a bugle with Ruanth before turning to her. [glow=blue,2,300]How could I not be? I've always wanted to be able to just jump off a ledge and... not fall.[/glow]He gave a grin in a dragonic way and the crouched lower so he was more or less even with the other dragons. Sure, he had grown pretty large but he was not all that much larger than the two.

D'ran gave a quick bow to Kaith before excitedly turning to Nike and K'an. "I'm sure I will. I have been waiting forever to be taught to fly Aureth."

[Dragon]

K'dan turned to the weyrwoman and greeted her, "Hello Weyrwoman Christae". A smile showed on his face, eager and excited to learn to fly with Hydrath.

[Spirithawk]

Christae grimmaced and her voice was as soft as her weyrmate's when she spoke. "I am not looking forward to that prospect. They have been looking forward to it so. Could we consider Ruanth flying riderless? Perhaps with a pair of dragons experienced with falling rescues to catch her? Rhia and Mneith are pretty good at that. So are Nira and her green. Ruanth could fly riderless until she is a bit bigger. That way, they aren't as devastated and Ruanth can get some practice without straining her wings? That way we won't have the same mutiny that Ruatha had with Lord Jaxom and Ruth."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rhia bowed. "I will do so." A green flitt appeared and landed on the rider's shoulder. "If you need me to help with the Weyrlings, my rest can wait and Gylfie here can deliver the messages. She is a trustworthy flitt. Nike and Ruanth helped me train her."

[Kandarra]

T'rin hurried a bit as he dressed, pulling a tunic over his muscular torso and yanking up his pants. He fastened those and grabbed his riding gear.
Got your straps?
Yes. They are in my claws. I am trying not to cut them.
Good. I worked hard on those. T'rin grabbed his brown riding gear and rubbed his fingers in the bronze-dyed fur lining the inside. He'd ordered it specially from his home hold, and surprisingly, Brina had paid for it. No note, though. Of course. Just her way. However, the bronzerider wasn't going to question her motives. He had his own riding gear.
Are we going? Amparath asked rather impatiently. We are already somewhat late.
Yes, yes, sorry, T'rin replied apologetically. He jogged out the door of the barracks and met Amparath outside. He secured the riding straps snugly and the pair made their way to the gathering of riders and weyrlings. He bowed to the weyrleaders and Rhia, and Amparath greeted their dragons.
"Hello Nike, D'ran, K'dan, Miya." T'rin grinned his grin at each of the other riders, and his eyes stopped on Miya's. Good day, Reinath. You're looking especially well today. He went to stand by Miya and said softly, "I'm excited. This is going to be fun. If we practice, we don't have to be here at the Weyr all the time." He smiled and turned his attention to Sh'iron and Christae.
Hello, Reinath. How are you feeling?

[Tenma]

Reinath stood tall upon T'rin's compliment.

"Hello T'rin. I cannot wait. We won't be restricted to this tiny weyr. I have been so bored. I have explored the weyrs hundreds of times and have little to do with G'age missing." She explained, her eyes examining the weyrleader with impatience. "They have been holding this lesson off because of that puny white. Look at her! It will be amazing if they allow her to fly even now." Miya whispered to the bronzerider. "Though I am glad they aren't holding the lesson off any longer. At that rate Reinath would fly to mate before she even knew how to fly in the air." The goldrider sighed.

Hello Amparath. I am fine but itching to soar in the sky. Havn't you been longing for this day? Reinath asked the bronze.

[Kandarra]

"Yes, that would be... difficult to describe. Luckily, that's not going to happen. And really..." T'rin hesitated. "I don't think it has to do with Ruanth." The bronzerider stressed the white's name. "Ruanth is smaller, yes, it's true. But she can't help it. And it doesn't make her weak. Ruth had powers that other dragons didn't, and it may be the same with Ruanth. You need to stop treating her like she's your inferior before you really become junior weyrwoman, because that is not the kind of weyrwoman Christae will want, or that this Weyr needs." T'rin sighed. He hadn't wanted to criticize Miya, but it had bothered him for too long.

Ignoring the conversation of his rider, Amparath replied courteously, Yes, I have. To spread my wings with T'rin on my back... it is a dream. But not any longer.