Taking the First Jump (1)
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: Kastaka, Cali, Devin, AL, Ainsley
Date Posted: 29th April 2009
Characters: F'gol, Meledei, Ri'len, Sorsha, K'sen, Cosani, W'lerin, Afkica
Description: The dragonets jump for the first time.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 8 of Turn 5
Sorsha sat next to Ri'len as she watched Roseth slowly stretch her wings high into the air. The dragonets had been broken up into small groups, and were using the time this sevenday to build up wing and leg strength so they could learn to carry their rider's weight. They were there for moral support more than anything, the weyrlingstaff didn't want the weyrlings near the dragons in case of any balance issues or misjudging of distances as the dragons started to jump.
Sarath had bounded all the way from the weyrling barracks to the training area with barely suppressed excitement. It was all K'sen could do to keep her calm enough to stay on the ground until the exercise officially began.
}: Whee! I'm going to fly! :{ she enthused as she was assigned to her group.
**No flying, Sarath! Just a little jumping when the nice weyrlingmasters say, okay?** wheedled K'sen tiredly.
}: I can't have a little jump to warm up? Just a little bounce? :{ asked Sarath coyly.
**No, Sarath, you're going to need all your strength for the actual exercises,** insisted K'sen firmly.
}: But Roseth's stretching her wings already! :{ complained Sarath.
**Okay, okay, you can stretch out your wings a bit, but very carefully,** concluded K'sen. **If you strain anything now you won't be able to join in the jumping!**
Sarath gently extended her wings, but very slowly, keeping her rider's warning in mind.
Elleth seemed as enthusiastic as Sarath, bounding after the green with as much eagerness. She skidded to a halt when Sarath had come to a stop and the gold had bounded right past her. She twirled around a few times, then fairly skipped (as much as a dragon could skip) over to Tealth and nipped him playfully. She paused, her head bobbing up as she looked in the direction of her lifemate.
**Calm down, little one.** Meledei admonished. **See what Sarath is doing? Why don't you do what she's doing?**
The gold watched Sarath for a moment, then turned around to swat playfully at Tealth.
**Come on Elleth.** Meledei's voice became sterner. The gold ducked her head as if in apology, then began to copy Sarath's movements.
Ri'len sat silently beside Sorsha. Monilath had actually been one of the first to do as expected, stretching out his wings as much as he could until the muscled burned pleasantly. He also took time to stretch his legs, looking, for a moment, like a weird, overgrown, reddish-bronze feline.
}:I have stretched my wings, and my legs, and my tail,:{ Shailth said. }:When do I get to jump? Now?:{
**When the staff says we can.** Cosani didn't blame her green for being impatient. She couldn't wait until they could fly. That was a while away, though, and Shalith needed to properly build up her strength so she wouldn't strain herself.
Tahgirath continued to stretch his wings. }:I do not see why they want to jump before we have been told.:{ he said somewhat prissily.
**They're excited. Aren't you excited?** R'min asked. He'd gotten used to Tahgirath's refusal to do anything outside of the laws and regulations, and to be a stickler for the rules.
}:Yes, but I understand that I am not to jump yet. They do not.:{
R'min rolled his eyes and laughed out loud. "Tah is such a pain in the rear. I swear, everything he does he asks me to get permission for first!"
"That's better than Tealth," F'gol replied with a grin as he watched his blue's legs dance back and forth in anticipation as he saw the brown dragon and his rider approach. "He thinks he can do _anything_. He'll get into trouble one day."
"Hello everyone, I'm N'reg." the old brown rider introduced himself. His shredded shoulder was keeping him out of Threadfall, but he felt useful while recovering helping out with the weyrlings, and there was nothing wrong with his lifemate. "Winigeth and I are going to be helping your group with jumping this week. We asked you all to stay
over here away from the young dragons because they sometimes get a bit overconfident in their abilities and we don't want anyone accidentaly getting smacked by a wing or stepped on."
N'reg smiled as he saw the surprise on some as well as the nods of understanding. At least this group had a few with sense. "Now, Winigeth will be instructing the dragons mostly, but I'll be relaying what he's saying. You need to keep control of your lifemates as well now. They'll think they can do it all this first day but you have to be strong and keep them to the little step jumps we'll be working on today. Understand?"
Cosani nodded along with the rest. There were plenty of rules she didn't like, but when it came to her lifemate, she wanted to be sure Shalith didn't hurt herself. **Soon, now, but pay attention.**
}:Winigeth likes me. :{ Roseth told Sorsha with an aire of superiority. }: He says I am stretching well. :{
**Don't show off.** Sorsha reminded her green beauty.
Ri'len stood as the brownrider began to talk and listened. Monilath paused in his stretching but a moment then resumed, his wings angling out, then drawing back in.
Elleth took a little hop toward the brownrider, though it didn't do much to close the wide gap between them. Meledei snickered pleasantly at her enthusiasm, but paid close attention to what their teacher had to say.
}: It's time! :{ Tealth informed F'gol eagerly as Winigeth told all the young dragons they'd stretched enough.
N'reg listened to his brown and kept his eyes on the dragonets while speaking to the small group of weyrlings around him. "For today, they'll keep their wings tucked in. They're not to stretch them out and catch air as they jump. He's explaining how they need to keep level as they push off with not only their back feet, but also their front. After he demonstrates, they're to follow with _one_ jump."
**One jump only Roseth.** Sorsha could feel Roseth's excitement and she wanted to make sure she didn't overstep herself.
}: Aww, but it's all awkward with my wings tucked in, :{ complained Sarath. }: I'll just fall straight back down again and probably land wrong, too. :{
**You'll be fine,** K'sen reassured her. **Just listen to what the dragon says about balancing.**
Last updated on the May 3rd 2009