Chapter 12 - Test
Notes/Disclaimer: This fic is based solely on the Dinotopia movie, NOT the series. I apologize for any inconsistencies with the books. I don't apologize for any inconsistencies with the series because it bit. I don't own the movie, or the series, or the books. Thank you.
The morning dawned crisp and cold. David was awake before the first light, but that was more from habit than from nerves. Which was not to say that he wasn't nervous.
David paced around his tiny room, waiting for the sun to rise and the test to begin. His family was probably here, he thought. They probably arrived the previous day, before he had. He wondered if Karl had ended up coming, or if he was still angry.
He was sitting on his bed, reviewing tactics in his head when the trumpeting call came echoing through the cliffs. He hopped to his feet, the tension mounting in his body, and stepped out to where the cadets traditionally gathered. Oonu was also there and stood in a crisp, military pose with his hands behind his back, completely silent. David could read the pride in the stern man's features, and tried to use that to bolster his own confidence. It wasn't really working.
When they were all assembled, Oonu saluted them. "Breathe deep," he intoned. "Fly high," they all chorused back.
"Today is the day that you will take the test that determines your initial placement with in the ranks of the Skybax Corps," Oonu went on. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you how important it is. You have been well trained by the best in Dinotopia. Do your best on this test; that is all that we can ask of you. Cadets, call your mounts."
One by one, the trainees approached the cliff on which they had passed their first trial, their acceptance by the Skybax. With a raised arm, they called to their mounts, who came to them quickly, as nervous as their riders. As their mounts arrived, they followed Oonu's directions and lined up, mounted on the backs of their birds, on the straight edge of the cliff beside the outcropping.
David was last to call his mount, as usual. As he stepped up to the edge of the ravine, he searched the canyon walls for a sight of the pale white wings that had carried him so often. He smiled when he caught sight of Freefall and raised his arm. The Skybax had been watching for him, and dropped off of his ledge immediately, coming quickly to rest in front of David.
David mounted up and Freefall took his place at the end of the cadet lineup.
David felt the adrenaline flood through him, preparing himself for the announcement of the test's content. While Sebastian had mentioned that the test occasionally contained strategy and tactics some years, he had said nothing else about the actual physical flight test. And so David waited nervously, wondering whether he would be up to the task.
Oonu gestured behind him into the ravine, which was just visible in the light of the new dawn.
"This will be your test," he said. "If you look closely, you will see that many of the outcroppings in this ravine have a large wooden hoop attached to them. There are twelve in all. You are to fly through them, in order, on to the last one. At the final hoop there will be an attached ball light enough that any wind currents will blow it to one side or the other. Your Skybax is to snatch it from the hoop and carry it to the final cliff edge where the two of you will land.
"The judges are there." He pointed to an area of cliff about halfway along the course, where several uniformed riders were perched upon their own mounts, their faces indistinguishable at this distance. From the color of their uniforms, it appeared as though there were one rider from each Squad. "Points are awarded based on how swiftly you complete the course," Oonu continued. "If you puncture the ball or hit any of the hoops, you will lose points. Each cadet will wait until he or she is called to begin, which will be done after a new ball has been secured at the last hoop. Does anyone have any questions on the procedure?"
None of the cadets indicated any questions. All of them seemed to be taking in the test requirements. David, for his part, was gaping.
But... But... That's so easy! I could do that blindfolded! Hell, I practically have!
"Well then cadets, let us begin the test. Cadet Connely, on my mark..."
David watched as Oonu started the first test, and stared in disbelief as she seemed to have trouble with it. She made it just barely through the first two hoops, but on the third one her mount's wingtip skimmed the side, causing him to plummet slightly before righting himself.
But the hoops are stationary! David thought incredulously. They're not even moving! How is that difficult?
But his surprise increased as cadet after cadet seemed to have problems with the test, simple though it seemed. Everyone seemed to hit at least two or three of the rings along the way. About half punctured the ball at the end.
About halfway through the list, one cadet jarred a hoop so badly that he broke it from the cliff face. Though the cadet managed to recover and continue, he didn't bother wasting valuable test time to go back for the hoop.
David watched it fall for about a split second, taking in its path towards the Pteranodons territory, and the inevitability of it waking a huge flock and disrupting the whole test. His training kicked in without thought and he motioned Freefall off the cliff. The Skybax responded immediately and without hesitation, the reaction time of a week's worth of learning to trust David implicitly.
They glided smoothly down and, with no effort at all, caught the hoop before it had fallen much farther and swept upwards with it. It was only when they were nearing the top of the canyon that David even began to register what they had done. He glanced over at the judges and hoped that he would not lose points for moving out of turn. He directed Freefall back to the small ledge to which the hoop had been attached and had him set it down, flying back to the cliff where the rest of the cadets waited.
None of them said anything as he landed and returned to his place in line but Romana, positioned next to him, flashed him a wide grin.
Nothing was said about his action, save that Oonu informed them all that there would be a longer delay between this cadet's test and the next while the hoop was reattached. But it didn't take long and the testing continued as usual.
David shook his head as he continued to watch the cadets struggle through the exam. Romana, when her turn came, was the only one who didn't seem to have too much trouble. She went slower than all the other cadets had, but in doing so managed to avoid hitting any of the rings. When she returned to the cliff from the finish line, she was smiling widely, her face flushed with exhilaration and achievement.
Then it was David's turn. He forced himself to overcome his surprise at the test's apparent simplicity and concentrate, in case there was something about it that was harder than it seemed. But as Oonu gave the signal and he sped forward, swooping nimbly through the hoops, he couldn't help but wonder why the others had had such trouble. It seemed easy enough to him.
When he reached the end, the ball was just snapping to the side at the end of some breeze. He motioned for Freefall to aim for the string, and they yanked it neatly from the hoop, carrying it by the tether to the cliff and so leaving the ball completely intact.
When he returned to the starting cliff, the first thing he noticed was the surprise on everyone's face, including Romana's. Apparently no one had expected him to handle the test so easily, and given their own performance, David couldn't blame them. He set down on the edge a little sheepishly, and waited at attention for Oonu to tell them what to do next.
Their leader returned shortly, looking as official as ever, even though the test had been completed. "Cadets," he said, "you may do what you like with the rest of the day. Your placements will be announced at the evening meal tonight. You are dismissed."
He called his mount to him and left, heading towards the judges still sitting on the cliffside. For a moment the cadets remained as they were, but then most began to dismount. A few, not wanting company, took off into the ravine for a leisure flight. David, for his part, dismounted, patting Freefall's haunch.
"We did good, friend," he told him.
Freefall agreed, sounding please. "Breathe deep, my friend," he said.
"Fly high," David responded, watching as Freefall launched himself into the great abyss that was the canyon. He followed his mount with his eyes until Freefall was only a small white figure, undistinguishable from any other Skybax but for his paleness.
He was just turning to go back when he was nearly knocked over by Romana plowing into him with an excited hug. "Oh my God, David!" she bubbled, "That was amazing! I can't believe it! You were so wonderful!"
David grinned sheepishly. "Oh, I don't know. I mean, I was fine, I guess. But the test was just so easy. I didn't really see why everyone had so much trouble."
"Easy?" said Romana incredulously. "You thought that was easy?" She grinned suddenly. "Ah well, I guess it's only natural when you train under the leader of the White Squad."
David stopped cold. "The what?"
Romana again turned an incredulous expression on him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean you've been training with him all the time and you didn't know?! Sebastian is the leader of the White Squad! He's one of the most powerful men in Dinotopia! Certainly he's the most talented flyer..."
"Oh." David didn't seem to be able to form a coherent thought. "No, I didn't know."
Romana laughed loudly at this and threw an arm over his shoulder. "Oh my God! That's so funny! I can't believe it. You got some of the best training in all of Dinotopia, and you didn't even get to properly appreciate it!"
Oh, I appreciated it, thought David to himself. There's no doubt about that.
When he got closer to the dorms, he was surprised to see his father and brother come rushing towards him, happy grins on their faces. For all that he had thought about them earlier that morning, he had forgotten that they would be there.
He bid goodbye to Romana and followed them to the guest accommodations, where they met up with Marion. With a start, David realized that he hadn't thought about her in almost a week. She smiled warmly at him and gave him a hug. He returned it, surprised that he felt no returning heartache, no pang of regret at the knowledge that she wasn't his.
They started with trivialities, quickly catching up on each other's lives during their interval apart. Marion's eyes widened when he mentioned that he had been training with Sebastian, and he spent the next hour or so outlining his training. He left out the parts that involved his personal life, but there was still enough to keep the three of them enthralled.
When it finally began to get into the afternoon, Marion and Frank excused themselves to go get ready for supper. David was about to leave also, since it was Karl's room, when his brother stopped him.
"Hey David?" he said quietly. "Look, I just... I wanted to apologize, okay? For being a dick. I mean, about Marion. I care about her a lot, but I know you care about her too, and-"
David held up a hand, interrupting him. "It's okay. You were right. I was jealous of you. Yeah, I liked her, but not the same way you did. That you still do, I guess. I'm over it. Actually, I've met someone new, believe it or not." He smiled shyly. "I mean, I doubt it'll work out or anything, but I've realized that losing Marion to you is not the end of the world."
Karl grinned. "I'm happy for you, Dave. You'll have to tell me all about her. But later. Right now we have to get ready for dinner. See you there?"
David nodded. "See ya."
He walked back towards his own room, wondering what the evening would bring.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.
