So glad people have love for these dorks! I do too, and I am glad to share it with you!
-HTTYD-
She wasn't entirely sure it was the wisest idea, but neither of them had been willing to compromise on it and so Valka just tried to ensure they'd be safe. Even so, she found herself glancing back constantly, making sure Eret was still actually on Tripfire.
He was seated, holding on to a rope around her neck that Valka had tied carefully - tight enough to be worth Eret gripping, not so tight it would hurt Tripfire - and the female Stormcutter was ecstatic to be back in the air now her wings were healed. Valka would have preferred to teach Eret to fly a less... turbulent dragon first, but Tripfire wouldn't hear of it and Eret wasn't arguing with her.
Cloudjumper didn't mind not going far - he liked being able to watch Tripfire, and her clear joy to be in the sky only seemed to make him even happier to witness. They slowed to wait for them to catch up, and precisely what Valka feared would happen happened. Tripfire rolled, stretching herself out properly and Eret, not expecting it? Eret fell off.
He had an almost comical scream - comical save for the very real threat of imminent death.
"Uh, Tripfire? You're down a rider."
She twisted her head, roared in shock and dove down to retrieve a still-falling Eret, swooping back up with him safely clutched in her claws and he looked rather put-out as Valka couldn't help but laugh in relief.
"I did warn you!"
"Yeah yeah, how was I meant to know she'd throw me off so fast?"
"You've seen a Stormcutter fly before."
"Yeah but you make it look easy, standing up while he rolls around."
Valka giggled, hand on her belly as she tried to contain her amusement.
"I've been flying for over fifteen years, you haven't even been on a Stormcutter for fifteen minutes."
Grumbling, they moved to solid land so Eret could stop hanging freely from dragon-claw, Tripfire warbling and shuffling, keen to be back in the air. Eret stretched, reached to rub Tripfire's chest.
"You can go without me you know, stretch your wings properly."
Tripfire grumbled, staying exactly where she was. Valka smiled to herself. Their bond was still relatively new, but it was oh so powerful and she thrilled to watch it growing. Especially when she got to laugh as Eret groaned, Tripfire licking him repeatedly until she was satisfied he smelled like her again.
"Thanks, Tripfire. Come on, let's try this again if you're so determined to take me with you."
She rumbled happily, lowering her neck so Eret could climb up again. There was a thin scar on the side of her neck, barely noticeable unless she stretched it out fully. It wasn't from the razor netting, Valka knew by the healing state, and it left her curious about what could have caused it.
More aware of her rider this time, Tripfire refrained from any mid-air acrobatics and stuck to more simple movements, and after a few minutes Eret didn't even look that nervous about being pitched off again. They weren't too high up - he wasn't used to the thinner air higher up, and the last thing they needed was him fainting - but still, it was higher than Eret had ever been save for the trip to the trappers island before.
Part of Valka still kept watch, wary of trusting a human, but another part of her watched him with Tripfire, that connection visible and strong.
"Well, you seem to have the basics down. Let's go get some food shall we?"
It wasn't a full-nest lunch, since they were on what was effectively a training run, but if Eret planned on flying Tripfire full time, he'd need to be used to dives and fishing and just the general shifts of altitude. They dropped back to the island after the dragons made their catch, and Valka bit back a giggle when she saw Cloudjumper nudge a particularly large fish over to Tripfire with a sort of hopeful glance. Tripfire took it, but turned away and Cloudjumper sagged a little until Valka rubbed his side, offered him a reassuring smile.
"I know my dear. Give it time."
Cloudjumper nuzzled her, cooing and cheering up. While she couldn't say for certain Cloudjumper was exactly what Tripfire sought in a mate, she reckoned his chances would improve some when Tripfire was more settled. Getting back on her wings ought to help there, she mused. Grounded dragons were definitely tempermental. After they'd cooked some fish for the humans and the dragons had eaten their fill, they got back in the air - slowly, taking in some gentle gliding and just enjoying the feel of flying. Eret really relaxed in to it, his grip on the rope almost entirely slack.
"So, how is it?"
"A little rocky, but I think we're getting the hang of it. Right girl?"
"Rrowww."
They headed back, not wanting Tripfire to overdo it on her first proper recovered flight, but she certainly seemed much happier. After another few licks for Eret, she took herself off for a nap.
"Need me to do anything?"
"No no, you go on and join her. If I'm gone when you wake, I've probably taken the dragons out for lunch."
Eret smiled; he hadn't said that was what he wanted, but Valka caught the wistful watch and knew naps could be a warm, cosy bonding experience. Not to mention flying could wear one out if they weren't used to it. If they'd stayed out much longer, Eret would have been waddling from the sore thigh muscles.
"Alright. Thanks."
Valka heard Tripfire respond happily to Eret's joining her, warmed by it, before heading to check on the recovering dragons. Her blinded Hobblegrunt was finally on the mend, and they were starting on small trips around the nest, so he could learn by scent and by the senses of his head frills how to find his way around. With some luck, he'd be able to go flying again soon. They'd had quite a few injured on the last raids, but no losses on the last two, and Valka was relieved to see the rescued were healing, recovering. Safe. Her work often felt like it would never be over, but Valka knew she was making a difference - even if it was just to the individuals she saved, it was so much more than nothing.
"Hmmph!"
Eret glanced up, but Tripfire wasn't even looking at him. He turned his head back to his parchment.
"HMMPH!"
"What is it Tripfire?"
Still nothing. Eret sighed, looking around for something to ply her with so she'd stop throwing a hissy fit.
"Here, want some jerky girl?"
It took her a minute to turn, but Tripfire edged closer and swiped it from his hand with a full, soggy lick. Something she looked extraordinarily proud of.
"Thanks. I know you wanted to go. I did too, but I'm too recognisable right now and we aren't experienced flyers together yet. If we went, we'd put the others at risk."
Valka and Cloudjumper were out on a rescue, and Eret really had wanted to go, to help, but Valka raised the valid concerns Eret had just repeated to his dragon, who seemed to understand those points logically. That didn't mean she liked it.
He was getting the hang of flying though, slowly but surely. Valka suggested, and Tripfire approved of, Eret making some kind of saddle that could fit her neck more comfortably than rope, and still give Eret somewhere to hang on to. So he was designing it, some of the basics he knew but there was still a lot to work out that was all new for dragons. Although Eret knew once he'd done that, he ought to start working on a flight suit so that when Valka finally let them join her on a rescue, he wasn't immediately recognised by other trappers, his ex-co workers.
"Alright, c'mere. I need to measure you again, make sure I get it all right or when I make it it won't fit."
It would have been much easier with two people to measure the bulky dragon neck, but Eret managed to get what he needed, glad to see his previous measures were indeed right. He'd already gotten the wool to pad the straps, in case the leather wouldn't hurt her. When he brought that up to Valka, she hadn't said anything. She'd looked at him kinda oddly, then simply nodded and went back to her sewing.
Now he just needed some big enough leather to make the actual saddle. He opted to practice with fabric first, keen to ensure the proportions were right before he wasted a lot of leather and messed it up. Tripfire did her best to be helpful, even if her idea of 'helpful' was stealing the material he was about to pick up, and to let out a dragon-laugh when Eret asked for it back. Eventually retrieving it, Eret got to work on his stitching while Tripfire entertained herself with watching the dragons flying past the vantage point of Valka's quarters. He told her she could go join them, but she was insistent on staying with him.
It made him smile, though he knew he ought to ensure Tripfire didn't become completely dependent on him - he doubted she would, Eret was just who she felt safe near as she adjusted to the nest. If he could get her to go flying by herself, he'd feel much better.
"Alright then. This ought to be the right size, though obviously the real one will be heavier and buckle up but lets see..." Eret wrapped it in place, nodding to himself as Tripfire tried to investigate "hold still, I can't see if it fits with you doing the head twist."
Once it was on, Eret was relieved to find it fit well, and he made a note to add a few inches to the slack so Tripfire would be able to turn her head comfortably.
"And this is why it's good to do a test run. Alright then. Go over my plans, then I can get to work soon. Valka's not back yet, so we should go do the check ups before we settle in for the night."
Eret was perched by a low fire sipping at some tea when he saw Tripfire's fins flare, heard the distinctive sound of dragons returning. He got up to go check - sometimes there were several injured or skittish, and Valka could use the help. To his relief, the worst they had that night was a few sprained wings from escaping traps hastily. That only needed rest and maybe some of Valka's healing balm in the morning.
"Fruitful trip?"
Valka lifted her helmet, head nodding once it was visible.
"Quite so. Not a large shipment, but a few rarer species intended for the market. And, as it was quite a high priced affair they ran, the looting was incredibly rewarding too. Lots of leather and spices, even some good quality metal which can be traded next time I head out to one of the outposts."
"You rogue pillager you. I'm so proud."
She rolled her eyes, having one dragon lead the others to where food and comfortable resting spots were while she removed her armour, stretched once the heavy material was off. Eret found himself with a peculiar sensation in his chest as he helped Valka move the haul into their correct spots, both sharing a quiet laugh as Cloudjumper presented Tripfire with a gift of some sort he'd brought back.
Watching Valka drop down next to the fire, warming chilled fingers - and stealing the rest of his tea - Eret realised what the feeling was.
He was glad Valka was home.
-HTTYD-
N'awh, Eret already feels at home in the nest!