Another request from one of my brilliant muses (or whatever they want to call themselves…I like the Chaos Crew but whatever) Kenju! He thought I would be best for this one because I don't like baseball, basketball, and football is sacrilege to me. No my sport is RODEO! And don't start with me I will debate you until I am blue in the face IT IS A SPORT!
But I digress A Viking/Dragon Rodeo! Yeah there is a new name so don't fret. It is the first annual Dragon Training Spectacular! Or whatever you want to call it. It has…well you will see :P
The group of teens and a few adults readied to show their skills in the arena. They had been practicing for months now.
Tuffnut was entered in the first event, Bareback Wild Dragon riding, along with fourteen other boys: Sailorneck, Hickoryrone, Freefin, Hogslanguage, Roguesway, Ramdile, Fogborne, Carntringe, Hazyhouse, Woodjuggler, Damppalm, Barrenskull, Wartan, and Placidnet. All strong dragon riders in their own right. Tuffnut was looking over his riding rope making sure it was all ready for his wild ride.
The dragon he drew a dragon by the name of Helspitter, she was a changewing with one Hell of an attitude problem. Anju was standing by helping all the dragons into their chutes and rigging them down with the rope that the rider was allowed to hold onto and the flank strap that pinned their wings and made them buck harder.
Tuffnut handed Anju the rope he was allowed to use for the ride. The blue dragon Halfling strapped the rope on and watched as other Halflings did the same to other wild dragons along the way makeshift chutes build along the walls of the amphitheater.
Tuffnut ran over the rules in his head again. Stay on for eight seconds. (A/N: In earlier years of rodeo it was originally ten seconds.) Don't forget to mark it out (heels/spurs on the horses or in this case dragons shoulders when its front feet hit the ground.) Find the dragons rhythm and spur in that rhythm. The judges give fifty points to the rider earned and fifty to the dragon if earned. The pick-up dragons would then come down and pick you up (if you made it through the ride.)
Tuffnut watched as the first rider was called for his ride. Hickoryone on a young Nightmare who had yet to learn how to make his body catch fire, lucky for Hickoryone. He strapped himself wedged his gloved fist into the wound rope. He noticed the brunette boy bite his lip and nodded sharply. The Viking judges slung the gate open and the young dragon barreled out, his back claws reaching for the chain roof of the ampithetre.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Tuffnut counted in his head. The riders and pick up dragons swooped down and scooped Hicoryone up and set him on the ground.
Tuffnut saw the next boy nod his head ready and the dragon barrel out of the chute and started getting himself ready for his ride. Fogborne hit the ground gasping (it isn't soft dirt in the ampithetre remember its stone) before clambering to his feet and making his way out of the arena.
"Right Tuff, almost ready?" Anju asked, tightening the flank strap.
"Almost," he said, wrapping the rope tighter around his fist. He leaned back planting his boots on the neck of his dragon, clenching his fist behind him.
He glanced out to the arena and then focused. It was time to show what he was made of. He bit his lip and nodded quickly.
After that everything seemed to go in slow motion. The gate opened and with a roar the dragon arched her back to the sky.
He found his rhythm with the dragon and started his count. One. He drew his feet back. Slamming his heels back into her neck.
Two. His head slammed against her spinned rump. Her grunting and the pounding of her claws on the ground echoed in his head. Tuffnut's teeth clenched as they crashed around the arena.
Three. Tuffnt felt Helfire pulling at her flank strap, trying to get her wings free.
Four. It seemed like this was taking forever. He was only halfway through this helacious ride.
Five. His bones seemed to be getting knocked loose.
Six. WHO THE HELL SIGNED HIM UP FOR THIS! Oh right. Him.
Seven. Just one more second. He could last one more second.
Eight. He heard the pick-up dragons unlatch their claws from the netting up above and swoop down to grab him by his shoulders and help him to the ground. He glanced to the judges who gave him a score of 82. The current leader. Tuffnut went behind the chutes and caught his breath.
The adrenaline was fading off and the pain in his arm back and neck started running through him. He took a breath and made his way out to the other competitors to help them get ready for their ride.
It was (and is) way that Vikings (or cowboys) were to their brothers. He knew that by helping the others he may very well loose his position as leader but he was only slightly worried for his loss. He kinda rooted for his opponents as well.
It wasn't like most Viking contests. Here they seemed all like brothers and sisters in a battle with each other not against each other. And that's what mattered.
Yep this is probably going to be more a rant/fight for my sport than a fanfic. I hope Kenju doesn't mind. I am really glad he asked me to write this :D I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like rodeo DON'T YOU DARE FLAME UNLESS YOU WANT A COWGIRL TO ATTACK. Haha j/k but seriously don't be hating my sport.
Oh! Interesting fact about this. One of the reasons I am so fluent in bareback bronc riding is my dad used to do this!