(09.18.2761) Month 5: First Unmounted Flight (attn Myth Busters, AWLMs)

[Rachel]

Nothing disrupted routine like a damned volcano and then a tropical storm. Puddles were still everywhere, and low-lying areas still soggy. But dragonet development could not be (excessively) delayed!

I'zaj smiled at the assembled group, who were gathered in the Weyrbowl. Any of those assembled would be able to guess what was going on - ramps had clearly been set up, and this day had been anticipated for some time. The first of many milestones. “Today is a milestone in your training; your dragonets get to fly,” he announced. “Without you. Don’t worry, you’ll be joining them in the air soon enough. The swimming lessons and the exercises that we've been doing have built up your dragon’s muscles and endurance, so all of them should be able to handle this exercise just fine.  
 
 “We are not going to have them go very far or very high today but just in case Dragonhealers are standing by,” he assured them. “I want your dragons to line up behind that ramp in order of color and from there in order of size. Make sure there is space between each of them!”
 
 He fell silent to wait for the dragonets to fall into place.  "Have them flap their wings a few times to get the ichor flowing," he instructed. "Then when it’s their turn and they're ready, have them take off and make their way towards you. We've already warmed up, so they can start off at a jog or just from standing on the edge - whatever your dragonet feels most comfortable with. They can glide for this first go-round, to get comfortable in the air, but we'll be doing this multiple times today, and we'd like you to encourage your dragon to try to flap and gain some altitude independently. Be careful with the landing. This ground is still wet!
 
 “No showing off and no goofing around. This is not a competition of any sort and anyone who tries to make it into one, shows off or goofs around, or is anything less than respectful will be grounded and given latrine duty. This is their first time in the air, so it’s bound to be a little… awkward.
 
 “If your dragonet doesn’t want to go during this first round, that’s fine,” he assured them. “However, everyone will have been expected to have flown by the end of this session. Now, before [Dragon name] starts us off, are there any questions?”



OOC: All right, folks, have fun with this! ;) Remember, this is their first time in the air and they are very young creatures. Keep your dragonet's reactions realistic - they'll likely be uncertain at first, but, by the same token, this is instinctive for them and most should do just fine.
 
 On that note, if you plan to have your dragonet have an accident, please let everyone know in a little OOC blurb at the end of your post. That way everyone knows to react and not to post too much. Please do respond promptly though. And have fun! 

Soggy ground: who wants a twisted ankle?!

[Allison Herzig]

I'lir wasn't a nervous sort of lad.  He didn't fret, didn't panic and most certainly didn't fidget.  Bronze riders didn't fidget, they paced.  He was merely bringing some air into his lungs and moving the blood through his legs, that was all.  A bit of movement was quite beneficial for the health after a protracted stay inside.

[[Belpheroth, would you care to come stroll with me?  And perhaps you ought stretch your wings a few times, gently, gently now.  Wouldn't want you to overly strain yourself, on this most momentous occasion.]]

(('Course I will,)) Belpheroth said absently, puffing up his chests and pumping his wings vigorously up and down.  He was going to fly!  This was gonna be great, ((I'm going to go fly now.  Watch me.))

[[Remember, Belpheroth, proceed slowly and cautiously.  A dragonlength or two should be sufficient.  I'm quite confident you will wish to repeat the procedure, which you cannot do if you wound yourself on your first attempt.]]

Belpheroth tuned I'lir out.  I'lir his knew lots of cool stuff, and was right most of the time, but Belpheroth wanted to fly.  He took a few steps back and he sprinted, all out, towards the ramp,  and gave a single hard flap of his wings as he reached the edge.  He shot up into the air, ((Woo!  Look at me.  I'm doing it.  This is awesome!))

[[That's lovely, Belpheroth, a most magnificent take-off.  Now perhaps we should glide as we were instructed?]]

((Yeah, yeah, glide, sure...)) Belpheroth was still flying upwards (albeit not particularly quickly).  He wasn't really quite sure how to turn, and, while he might not spend as much time thinking as I'lir, he was pretty sure if he stopped flapping he would fall, ((Let me just straighten out...)) Huh...Maybe if he lowered his neck and swung his body around?  Dove like he did while swimming?  Yeah, that was it.  It was just like swimming.  But in the air.

Belpheroth dove.  And, for a moment, it seemed to be working.  He spread his wings to slow himself as he fell, straightened out a little.  And then his wings wobbled.  On the ground, I'lir went white.  Belpheroth's glide lasted a mere instant more before a gust of wind hit, pushing him onto his side, and sending him tumbling uncontrollably to the ground, his body doing an awkward sort of roll through the air.

[[Belpheroth!  Belpheroth?  Are you alright?]]

((I...I think so,)) Belpheroth thought a bit shakily, stumbling as he tried to stand, shaking dust off his wings, ((I get hurt a lot, don't I?))

[[That is because your rather admirably gallant nature appears unfortunately prone to foolhardiness,]] I'lir thought, a relieved smile rising to the sides of lips, [[Maybe you'll know enough to be a Healer yourself soon.]]

Belpheroth gave a polite laugh.  It wasn't much of a joke, but when he'd first Impressed I'lir, I'lir had never jested with him at all, ((But I always get back up again.  Because I'm awesome.))

[[Yes, you are.  What's your assessment of the damage?]] I'lir asked as he knelt besides Belpheroth, carefully examining his limbs.  His wings were fortunately untorn, but the angle of his left foreleg looked too acute to be a sign of full health, "Weyrlingmaster, might I request a Healer's attentions?  For Belpheroth, not myself, if you please."  It was fortunate indeed that I'lir was a steady minded sort of lad...or had just seen Bel injured enough times by this point that even he had been forced to include he had Impressed a most miraculously resilient sort of dragon.

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[Runninggrass]

Belpheroth gave a polite laugh.  It wasn't much of a joke, but when he'd first Impressed I'lir, I'lir had never jested with him at all, ((But I always get back up again.  Because I'm awesome.))

 

[[Yes, you are.  What's your assessment of the damage?]] I'lir asked as he knelt besides Belpheroth, carefully examining his limbs.  His wings were fortunately untorn, but the angle of his left foreleg looked too acute to be a sign of full health, "Weyrlingmaster, might I request a Healer's attentions?  For Belpheroth, not myself, if you please."  It was fortunate indeed that I'lir was a steady minded sort of lad...or had just seen Bel injured enough times by this point that even he had been forced to include he had Impressed a most miraculously resilient sort of dragon.

 

~~~

 

Whew!

 

Crash and BURN!

 

Fi laughed to herself even as she was running to help I'lir with Belphiroth. Her aid would probably be unwanted, but since the night that she'd sat up with the boy and talked to him about what happened with that unstable older Weyrling and given him some tips on being more. . . Personable, she felt a little more responsible for the brainy little idiot.

 

"He alright, I'lir? That was pretty impressive, if you don't mind me saying." She stood off just a little, so that she wouldn't be in anyone's way, but still offering her support. "Man, if you're gonna go down, that's one sharding awesome way of doing it, Bel! You're damn resiliant, big guy!"

 

Satyrth moved after Fi at an unusually reserved pace, his wings flapping slowly to get them warmed up for his own flight down the line. They were right about smack dab in the middle of the list, and his turn wasn't for a little bit, so he could take the time to console his brother. ((That was a rather spectacular crash. I hope you didn't get whiplash. You've got a brave spirit and strong wings, no doubt you'll lead us in many things! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off! Move on, move on with a smile and a scoff! Hold your head high, brother mine, your flight indeed was quite sublime! Try again, you know you can! This time just follow the plan!))

[Multi- Facets]

With injured dragonets off to the side to be cared for, and other colors having gone ahead, it was finally Atalanth's turn. Kioko was trying to calm her pounding heart; the green was excited enough without getting feedback from her.

Atalanth flexed her wings one more time, then held them out. Before her partner could say anything encouraging or cautionary, the not so little green was plowing forward, letting out a cheer of ()YEEEHAW!() as she practically bounced off the ramp into the air.

Kioko let out a shriek of delight and jumped up and down, clapping her hands. She caught herself a moment later and blushed brilliantly, but tried to straighten her shoulders and stand taller anyway. That was her dragon up there; she had a right to be proud and happy, especially since Atalanth seemed to be having no trouble at all. In fact, she was flying pretty high-

No, wait, too high. Circle back now or we'll get in trouble! Kioko called.

()Awwww,() the green complained. ()Must I really?()

YES, ATTIE!

()Meep!() Wow, Kioko had never yelled at her like that before. Atalanth found herself dipping a wing and circling back before she really realized what was happening. In moments, she had landed, sliding to a stop in the muck, and Kioko was at her side, hugging her neck.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," she whispered. "I just didn't want anything to happen to you."

Atalanth immediately felt better. Her bond hadn't been trying to be mean; she was being her loving self, as usual, and maybe riding a little high on emotion. The green could deal with that. ()But I looked good up there, right?() she asked hopefully.

"You looked magnificent, my champion."

And all was well.

= M-F

Kioko and Atalanth.

[Kil]

It was her turn. That's how it always went. After the males it was always Atalanth and then herself, then the other greens. But not today. Today, Circeth wasn't participating. 

She *wanted* to fly. Of course she did. But she wouldn't deign to do it like this. Like some afterthought. 

She sat, tail curled about her toes, and slowly turned her head to face the next in line. ((You may go.))