Lesson: Loops, Twists, and Dives! (N'rik)

[Ember]

"Gneiss, are you sure you wanted to come with us? You might fall or-" Stay! The brown reasserted for the millionth time that morning. When the brown wanted something, he got his way. End of story. Qaena was discovering this fairly slowly but discovering it all the same. His anger when she did not let him get his way quite frankly frightened her. It was one of those fieldwork days and they were practicing flying already and Qaena had wanted to leave the salamandyr safely on the ground but...he wouldn't have it.

I think the little will be alright. He can hide in your leathers! And I promise, promise, promise I'll be careful. The green was, of course, promising as much for Qaena's sake and her own sake as she was for the salamandyr. The salamandyr she positively adored even if he was quite the arrogant little one. Qaena hadn't been entirely surprised that the green accepted him easily but she'd been worried about the potential risks to the green if Gneiss chased. Thankfully Khiraeth was almost mature by some invisible standard...not to mention Khiraeth already knew about and seemingly understood human flights. Qaena didn't ask how she knew.

The greenweyrling instead turned her attention to her partner. Self-chosen, surprisingly. Khiraeth had, of course, had a hand in it, but still...Qaena did her count down before she turned to N'rik and asked, "Umm...shall we...uh, get into the air, then? D-do you want to go first? Or should we?" The point was to practice flight and give advice based on what Sel'n had taught them. Fairly simple in theory...probably entirely different in practice.

[Rowana]

N'rik was full of barely contained excitement. They'd been learning about flying in class and had even practice a few times, but now they actually got to do it on their own! Well, in pairs, but it was close enough. He was sure he was ready and Ophiuchusth was already so big! Granted he wasn't that big compared to a lot of other blues, and he was still so skinny, but N'rik was willing to bed not many were as handsome as his. Squirming in his leathers, he double checked the straps one more time. Alph nestled next to him in a pouch, but Path had to stay on the ground. No place for a canine on a dragon today.

N'rik turned at Qaena's voice. Was she worried? This was going to be fun! He hadn't partnered with her much in the past, but she seemed a nice enough person so he wasn't on edge. "Let's go!" he agreed with a grin. "We're ready!" Without waiting for further argument, he leaned forward. "Ready, Ophi?" Oh lets! the blue crooned, latching on to his rider's excitement. It will be fun, Khiraeth sister! He started off at a short run, spreading his long wings to catch the air as he leaped. "Woooo!" N'rik cried with delight, already watching the sky for Ophiuchusth benefit. They had had so much practice sharing sight that it was becoming second nature. Of course, it only work when they weren't distracted.

[Ember]

Qaena, at N'rik's assurance that he and Ophiuchusth were ready, smiled tentatively and turned to mount Khiraeth. No need to double check straps - she'd already triple and quadruple-checked them. It wasn't so much out of paranoia though. Qaena simply wanted to be prepared. There was no Sel'n around to make sure everything was a-okay afterall. Not that she was scared either. She had absolute faith in Khiraeth's ability to keep her safe. Possibly the only living thing (not even Gneiss counted) that didn't even register as a possible threat on her scale.

Yup yup, Phi! Khiraeth said in response to Ophiuchusth. She didn't even give second thought to giving her siblings nicknames. They were, after all, brothers and sisters. Besides, she frequently gave nicknames to others, too. Quirky, odd nicknames. As Qaena finished strapping in, Khiraeth gave a few bouncing waddles before momentum and the power in her wings combines to take her into the air where she felt she belonged. They spiralled upwards as Gneiss grumbled inside Qaena's flight leathers. Ready and watching you, Phi! Go for it! Khiraeth encouraged her brother when they got into a good position.

[Rowana]

Ophiuchusth angled his flight a little so Khiraeth could move next to him as they glided. He wobbled a little in the air, then steady again. Gliding was growing easier, especially once he learned to manage his huge wings. He wasn't sure he could manage it for long, but that was what practices was for, right? Off I go, Khi! he called joyfully, already latching onto Khiraeth's idea of nicknames. What a clever thought! N'rik called him 'Ophi' all the time, so why not names for other dragons? Hang on, 'Rik! he added, coming up with a nickname for him as well, though he was sure he liked it as much.

N'rik wrinkled his nose at his dragon's new interest in shortening his name even more. He leaned forward, focusing on the ground. They weren't that high up, but it suddenly look like a very long way down. Grinning from the adrenaline, N'rik's hands squeezed on the straps. I'm ready! Ophiuchusth gave a few readying flaps to get ready, then folded his wings into one of the dives Kaaoloth had showed them. Unfortunately, his wings were just too big to fold that quickly. They curled and waved in the air, finally coming unfurled halfway down and causing the blue to careen off course.

"Yeaaaaaaah!" N'rik cried in dismay. Nooooooo! Alph added in despair. Yeeeaaaoooooh! Ophiuchusth echoed them both as an afterthought. He flapped hard and awkwardly, pulling up enough so they didn't land head first. Instead, they just plowed into a large bunch of berry bushes, smearing the dark blue hide with gooey red juice. They came to a stop just beyond it, gazing back up at the green pair in the sky. N'rik was still shaky from the experience, but Ophiuchusth was no more worse for where. He was used to been clumsy by now. Your turn, Khi! I'm sure you will do beautifully! his cheerful encouraging voice oddly contrasting with his crash and messy appearance.

[Ember]

Khiraeth found herself expending far more energy than she needed to. A bit of over-excitement causing her to flap her wings faster and with less effect than if she'd been calmer. Still, the point was to practice and to find what worked best. That included managing energy levels. Not that she was lacking any at the moment anyways. Good luck, Phi! The green warbled happily before making a comment to her rider. Phi gave me a nickname too! Yay! Nicknames are such lovely things, Nana!

Qaena smiled softly at the green's enthusiasm even as she kept an eye on what they were supposed to be watching. Observational as she was, she immediately noticed what would undoubtedly hold the bluepair back - Ophiuchusth was going to have trouble with those large wings. He displayed the trouble associated with them a moment later when he had trouble folding them to his back. As the blue's trajectory was affect the greenpair watched in what seemed like slow motion as the other weyrlings crashed.

Khiraeth let out a concerned squeal and dipped clumsily lower in her flight to see if her brother was hurt while Qaena looked on in horror from the green's back. Phi? Khiraeth called out in concern. When the blue told her it was her tone she blinked in surprise as the worry faded from her whirling eyes. You worried me, Phi! The green rose to her former height and, on Qaena's hesitant signal, gave the green the go-ahead.

Khiraeth's dive was nowhere near as disastrous as Ophiuchusth's could have been but she still had quite a bit of practice ahead of her too. Even just going into the dive she had too many unnecessary movements. As she approached the ground she slowly opened her wings. While that didn't hurt as much as an abrupt break it brought her closer to the ground than she'd anticipated and she had trouble pulling up, too. Still...Wheeeee!

[Rowana]

Did I? Ophiuchusth sounded genuinely sorry to have worried his friend. N'rik whacked his neck gently. "You worried me too, idiot!" he gasped out, still trying to recover. "Why didn't you tell me you couldn't fold your wings right?" Ophi shrugged, which wasn't really something a dragon aught to do while carrying a rider. I did not know until I tried, he explained apologetically. N'rik blinked at that, then laughed. Alph took this chance to leap off the blue's back and into a nearby tree. Ground safe. Riding with those two was dangerous!

They watched as Khiraeth succeed at a much better dive. Oh, well done, Khi! Ophi cried with delight. You are good at this! Soon we will too, N'rik assured his dragon, and himself, with confidence. After all, didn't he have the best dragon in all Pern? They just needed more practice, that was all. Let's go! Shaking off twigs and leaves, Ophi started to run and leaped into the air again. He was a bit more wobbly, but otherwise none the worse for ware after his accident. Powering up with his large wings, he rose swiftly to meet up with Khiraeth. Would you like to go first this time? he asked politely.

[Ember]

Yes! You did. Naughty Phi, scaring me, Khiraeth said. Though there was some playfulness in her answer there was also a fair amount of sincerity too. The green adored all her siblings. Well, really, she adored most anyone. The loss of any one of her siblings would be especially sad though. There were few enough of them as it was and she'd known them the longest, even if sometimes she forgot the beginning.

The green, at Opiuchusth's praise, crooned pleasantly but commented, Much, much, much more practice needed, though, Phi! Qaena had mentioned a couple things she noticed and Khiraeth had discovered a couple other things, too. That and Gneiss had raged on the pair though his tantrum went largely ignored by the green while Qaena had managed, somehow, to soothe him. This practicing would be easier if you didn't actively think about it, the greenweyrling thought.

Khiraeth caught that thought and all but purred mid air. That is a fantastic idea, Nana! What is? There was no reply as Khiraeth flew to meet Ophiuchusth as he got back in the air. No, thanks, Phi! You can go first! She put on a burst of speed and flew dangerously close to her blue brother, tail flicking out gently to tag him. That is, you can be the first It! Game on! Khiraeth whizzed away.

[Rowana]

Oh, a game! Khiraeth was so very clever. They could practice and have fun at the same time! Not that flying wasn't fun anyway, but still. Ophiuchusth pumped his large wings hard to put on some extra speed. He glided swiftly after his sister, eyes shining with delight. Gliding was easier than diving, he didn't have to worry so much about where his wings went.

N'rik leaned forward with a breathless grin. Now this was flying! Ophi really could go fast if he wanted to. Older dragons could probably go faster, but they were doing a good job he thought. With hte skies fairly clear, N'rik watched Khiraeth so Ophi could pounce her when they were ready. The blue pair had risen higher on the wind, but that meant they had to drop again to tag her. Biting his lip in focus, N'rik made sure Ophi knew exactly what to do this time. Just fold them half way, he thought. We don't have to go far this time.

With a playful bark, Ophi angled down and folded his wings as N'rik instructed. It worked much better this time. They managed a slower, half dive towards Khiraeth, tapping her tail as they passed. Spreading wings once more, Ophi faltered in the air, climbing awkwardly back up to height. He needed to work on doing it faster, but at least he didn't crash this time. Got you, Khi! he chimed, rising higher out of her reach.