Christmas Weyrlings (Lesson 7)

[ladybug]

((I'm just going to pretend his straps were approved. >.>))

A'fyr breathed a sigh of relief when his straps were approved. When he had first started making straps, they turned out sloppy and not very secure at all, but he had vastly improved. He actually felt confident enough to use these straps. See? I told you they were good enough,[/color] Rudolth said as he trotted up to his rider.

Right as always. Ready to glide? A'fyr asked, securing the straps and then stepping up onto Rudolth's outstretched forearm to swing onto his back. A'fyr noticed that Rudolth was getting bigger. The seat was definitely higher than before. Very ready! I can't wait to fly with you,[/color] the brown said eagerly. They waited, ready for their turn.

[topaz]

((Same here...? :x))

So the honorable Weyrleader wouldn't be coming after all? Figures. Seemed like T'rid to shirk even the simplest of duties. Either way, the blueweyrling was quickly distracted by the shuffling of feet around him as the class lined up in front of I'fael's desk to have their straps innspected. C'vin hurried up to I'fael after C'oar, and held his straps out in front of him when he reached the desk. Getting the green light from his weyrlingmaster, C'vin was excited to hear that they would be gliding today! Hear that Mal!? Gliding! C'vin communicated happily to his blue as he followed the class out of the room and onto the field.

Mallowth jumped up from his plot on the grass quick as lightning, and galloped over to His. Oh Mine! Gliiiidiiinggg! Can you believe it? That's almost as good as real flying! The blue wriggled with pleasure and excitement as C'vin put on the straps, and quickly mounted, following the rest of the weyrlings into a line behind the bronzepair. Remember, let me know when you're going to take off, okay? All he got in response was a deep rumble and a slight nod of the head from his blue. Mallowth was far too excited to actually put words together. Oh, why couldn't Jaymith hurry up?!

[Rowana]

Farryl tilted her head back to glance at Ke'rin. She gave a small smile. "She is getting big," Farryl admitted, but her face quickly turned to a frown and she bit her lip worriedly. "I don't think she can carry me though. She's still so much smaller than even Ebolath." It had been of increasing concern for Farryl over the past few weeks. She had hoped that Peppeth would have a late growth spurt and catch up with her siblings, but she was still so tiny compared to them. And now they that they were starting gliding practice, it was going to be nearly impossible to keep Peppeth from being sad about it. She tried so hard. What if she never grew big enough for Farryl to ride? She was certain it would break the poor green's heart.

At least her straps were good. Farryl followed Ke'rin and the others outside. Peppeth bounded joyfully over to meet her, eyes swirling with delight. Did Farryl hear?! Peppeth is going to fly with her! Farryl hid her worry and patted the soft, green head. "I did hear, darling. It's just practice though, we won't be really flying just yet." She eased the straps over her dragon, trying to force the her excited partner to sit still. Can we go next? Can we?! she begged, watched Jaymith and Ke'rin move to first position. "We'll see. Let's watch how they do first."

T'ke relaxed visible. His straps weren't as bad as he thought. In no time, he was outside with his classmates. There was a definite air of excitement that T'ke wished he could share. Unfortunately, he was feeling too queasy. They were only gliding down the hill, but still, he half way suspected he was going to find out he was afraid of flying. Then he would likely throw up or faint in front of everyone. What a grand spectacle that would be. Come on, T'ke! Garaeth butted him for encouragement as T'ke put on the straps much too slowly. It will be fun! You will see! "Yeah, we'll see alright," T'ke muttered darkly.

[nightingale]

"She isn't so small." The bronzeweyrling reassured Farryl with a warm smile. "She's bigger than most runners, and if a runner can carry a fully grown man I don't see why Peppeth wouldn't be able to carry you." He realized that I'fael had begun speaking to the weyrlings again, and in his hurried attempt to gather the information he had missed the boy found a jolt of surprise in the fact that he was intended to go first. Hurry and put on my straps Ke'rin-mine. Jaymith pressed excitedly, dipping his head to make it easier for the boy to fit his flying straps into their proper places. As the bronzepair of our clutch, it is our duty to be the first to undertake a task such as this. Kei groaned softly and tried to keep his hands from shaking. His dragon's cool self assurance was comforting, but not excessively so. It didn't change the fact that Kei had never enjoyed being the center of attention.

Saeo bristled visibly as it was announced that Ke'rin would be starting off the gliding lesson. If weyrling master I'fael was starting with the bronze dragon, that meant that he was probably going in chromatic order. That placed she and Cherilith very close to the bottom of the list of participants, which was not a place that she was fond of occupying. I'm sure with such large wings, Jaymith will do very well. Cherilith mused quietly as he watched Ke'rin swing up into his riding straps. You'll do just fine yourself darling. Saeo huffed, offering the boy only the briefest of jealousy-laced glances before returning her attention to tightening her own straps. Just because his wings are large doesn't mean he knows how to use them.

Are you ready Mine? Jaymith asked his rider as the circled around to where they could stand under Morendoth's watchful eye. The boy nodded, tightening his thighs about his dragon's broad neck and taking a deep breath. He wasn't scared of flying, but he was more than a little concerned about making a fool of himself. Jaymith bunched his powerful muscles beneath him, his eyes flushed pale blue as he waited for the signal. When it came, the bronze was off with a bellow of excitement. Large and heavy though he was, Jaymith's fine body still Lent him a surprising swiftness on level ground. As they crested the hill his great wings opened, grabbing the air and lifting the dragon and his rider from the valley floor.

Kei had a hard time keeping his focus as the earth pulled away beneath him and adrenaline pounded behind his eyes, but Jaymith's enthusiasm was more than enough to mist over the boy's fear and keep him from remembering that it was even there. As gravity took over and they began to dip, Jaymith couldn't quite resist the urge to give his great wings a mighty flap, propelling them upward several meters -an act that nearly jostled Ke'rin from his seat and immediately drew a stream of anxious, wordless reprimands from the boy. Jaymith's disappointment was palpable, but feeling his rider's acute unease he refrained from beating his wings a second time, and touched in the center of the practice field -a long way off from their mark.

"Showoff..." Saeo muttered.