Catch A Falling Dragon
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Avery
Date Posted: 12th April 2017
Characters: L'pin, A'vel, Thaura
Description: The weyrling class learns to catch falling dragons.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 9 of Turn 8
The first day of catch drills were some of the worst moments of
training, L'pin thought. The weyrlings were just now looking
comfortable with formation swaps and delicate maneuvering in the air.
They'd been practicing hard to learn to stay in their places and not
collide. And now they'd be falling out of position, plummeting through
the air and trusting their classmates to catch them.
The class had been split up into the usual group of nine, each group
assigned to one of the Weyrlingmasters. The remaining few pairs (those
with rider or dragon injured or too young to participate) were with
the weyrlingstaff assistants. The plan for this day would be having
the riderless dragons fall and be caught by other members of the
class. A few experienced riders had been on hand to show off the
proper form for various types of catching - solo large dragon catching
a smaller one, or smaller dragons pair-catching a counterpart. Now it
was time for them to practice.
This lesson was being done down on the beach and a few minute's flight
away, so that the groups could space out without risk of interfering
with each other or with the normal passage of other dragons into and
out of the Weyrbowl. The water or the sand would be a better surface
to land on if something went wrong than the harder rock found on
weyrledges.
A'vel was fidgeting in his place in the line. He was scared about this
lesson, no matter how brave he'd tried to be. Tsogath was going to be
up there all alone, and then she was going to have to close her wings
and let herself fall, let herself be caught by another dragon. Would
the bronzes be able to hold her? What if it was a pair of smaller
dragons and one of them was out of place?
}:I will be fine,:{ Tsogath reassured him. She was looking forward to
this lesson as a test of her skills. Falling and being caught didn't
sound appealing. But the idea of catching another pair, now that
sounded marvelous.
}:Are you ready?:{ she asked the other dragons in her group, mindvoice
bright and cheery.
}:Yes. This will be fun!:{ Churanoth said. The blue was looking
forward to falling. He loved dives and other aerial tricks. First he
had to catch Tsogath, though.
Tsogath wiggled in place, her hindlimbs quivering like those of a
feline poised to pounce. She looked rather ridiculous in A'vel's
opinion. }:May we go now?:{ she asked Chaneth.
Someone had to be the first to go, in the group. L'pin would rather it
be a volunteer than having to pick someone out because nobody wanted
to go. Tsogath was a green and small in size, so she could be caught
by a solo brown or a pair of the smaller chromatics. Lavith was also a
small green, so she and Churanoth would be a good pair.
Chaneth announced to the group of nine. }:Tsogath, to the level of the
high altitude flight. Churanoth, Lavith, to the mid-altitude so you
catch her.:{
"Tsogath will fall first. Churanoth and Lavith will catch," L'pin
announced so the humans heard the instructions too, smiling over at
the trio of weyrlings he'd named. A'vel looked nervous for his partner
while Thaura seemed confident. He wondered if that would stick when it
was her green's time to fall.
}:Take wing,:{ ordered Chaneth.
Tsogath immediately leapt up and beat her wings in order to get higher
up than the other dragons. She felt proud and powerful hovering high
up and looking down at the others. There was no fear as she waited to
fall.
Lavith was slow to get up but her strokes were steady as she flew to
the mid-height and waited for the signal.
Churanoth had beat her to the mark, eyes whirling with eagerness.
The blue's rider patted A'vel on the shoulder. "She'll be fine.
Churanoth won't let her fall."
A'vel gave him a grateful smile. After all, no dragon wanted an
accident to happen. "I trust him. Falling just sounds terrifying."
}:And go!:{ Chaneth commanded, with a bugle as an audible signal to the rest.
Tsogath looked down to confirm where the other dragons were, and then
closed her wings and let herself start falling. It was a strange
sensation, like diving but with no control. She wanted to extend her
wings but knew that wasn't part of the test yet.
Lavith stayed side-by-side with Churanoth and poised herself to
support the weight. Tsogath was right above them now, and she surged
up to try to catch the green's body, not wanting to get all the weight
on herself. Maybe she could just support a wing?
Then there was no time for thinking. Tsogath was right there, thudding down.
Churanoth saw his partner move and realized he'd have to adjust. With
a grunt of effort he caught the green alongside Lavith and managed a
few wingbeats to maintain altitude. Thankfully Tsogath was small so he
was able to bear most of her weight. }:You are heavier than I thought.
Are you alright?:{
}:Wheee!:{ Tsogath said as she fell. She landed on Churanoth's back
and slid slightly, left wing sliding out to the side, but Lavith's
nose was there to support it so she didn't overbalance him. }:I am
fine. This is fun! You will like it.:{
}:Now slowly lower her to the ground together. Stay in touch so you
don't drop.:{ Chaneth ordered.
Lavith let Churanoth set the pace of descent. It was harder to do it
supporting another weight, she thought, but she was determined to do
well.
A'vel breathed out a sigh of relief from the ground as Tsogath was
caught and the dragons descended. So far, so good. She was burbling
happily in his mind, at least.
The trip down was awkward and Churanoth's landing was clumsy and
rough. }:Oof, that was hard.:{
"See, they did fine." The bluerider grinned at A'vel.
A'vel smiled back. "Tsogath had fun. That's good." But it had been
heartstopping for him to watch her start to fall.
}:Do I get to catch you next? The fall was fun,:{ Tsogath chattered.
She'd said it, but she was still thinking it.
}:Can I fall next?:{ Churanoth asked Chaneth.
}:Yes, you may go. Tsogath and Lavith will catch you.:{ Chaneth said.
Now Tsogath wriggled in excitement. }:I won't drop you,:{ she said as
they got into position for the next round.
}:Make sure you help, Lavith. I am heavier than Tsogath.:{ Churanoth
launched himself and began climbing to the appropriate height.
}:I will help,:{ Lavith said, sounding offended. She settled into
place and waited.
Tsogath was last in place, beating her wings to keep steady and level
with Lavith.
}:Go,:{ Chaneth commanded.
}:Yaay!:{ Churanoth bugled happily and tucked his wings. The air
rushed past him as he plunged through the sky.
Tsogath moved upwards and flared her wings so that she could catch the
blue. He impacted first on Tsogath and the green tried valiantly to
bear the weight of him. Lavish took a moment to adjust to the other
green's surge upwards, but she was able to come up and take on some of
the weight. Together the greens began to lower hm down.
}:We got him!:{ Tsogath crowed to Churanoth and Chaneth and Lavith.
}:I want to do that again.:{ Churanoth bubbled with enthusiasm but
kept as still as he could to make it easier on the greens.
Churanoth's rider shook his head with an amused grin. "He's having a
wonderful time."
}:You may go again once all the dragons have gone,:{ Chaneth told the
small group.
"At least they are. Wonder if we will later on?" When it was their
turn to fall, A'vel meant. But that would be later in the sevenday.
"I'm looking forward to it," Thaura said with a grin.
Last updated on the April 25th 2017