A/n: The situation has not changed. I do not own anything but the figments of my imagination and the nameless dragon.
First Flight
"All right, gather round Weyrlings," the voice of the Weyrlingmaster rang out, echoed by his brown Tampath's bugle, both effectively silencing the excited youngsters.
K'dra was feeling almost as nervous as the day she Impressed. The knots in her stomach had come up with a new pattern and now she felt almost sick with excitement. She was going to be the last to fly, but that didn't matter. Today she would fly green Terranth for the first time!
The Weyrleaders were there, of course, and K'nast the Wingsecond who was Weyrlingmaster, and R'ahvin, the bronze rider from Halcyon Weyr, who would be taking a few of the thirteen weyrlings now gathered in the bowl to Halcyon Weyr along with some of the senior weyrlings from the clutch before theirs.
Also present was Wyth, the golden queen whose clutch was this bunch. It was merely curiosity on her part, and interest on her rider's part, to see how much her recent clutch had come to learn. K'dra couldn't see bronze Bendeth, Wyth's current mate, anywhere.
Two weyrlings now had successfully completed their first flight, and the rapture on the face of dragon and rider alike was all K'dra needed to wish her turn was up.
Soon, was Terranth's soothing mental voice, and it did much for K'dra to relax, but she had caught the underlying excitement in the petite green's tone.
She was as impatient and eager to fly as I am, K'dra mused.
Idly, she cast her gaze up to where the two Weyrwomen and their great golden queens perched on the ledge overlooking the Bowl. Wyth's rider, Cadrina, was lounging against her leg, her very posture and demeanor very satisfied. Terranth shifted, bumping into K'dra who was standing nearby.
Sorry, Terranth murmured, her eyes whirling in apology.
"It's all right, my emerald beauty," K'dra soothed, as much to keep her mind off her nerves as to reassure her dragon.
"Nervous?"
K'dra turned to see S'na, formerly known as Shauna, one of her best friends on all of Pern besides Terranth, had moved beside them with her own green Shrith.
The usually bubbly S'na was now as nervous as K'dra had ever seen her, her sapphire eyes impatient, nervous, and anxious. Her long, honey-blond hair was now pulled back into a tight French braid, a few rebellious curls escaping to frame her heart-shaped face. K'dra's own raven black hair was cut short on the sides, and long on the top, which made it very much easier to wear her helmet for flying.
Both girls were dressed in wherhide jackets and boots, with thick trousers on. K'dra had already tightened her riding belt around her jacket and had stuffed her thick gloves in the belt. Her helmet and goggles dangled from one hand.
S'na was in the process of tightening her belt and checking Shrith's various straps and tethers. K'dra decided to do the same. She set her hat and goggles down and then proceeded to tighten and adjust the riding equipment.
"Is that too tight?" she asked her dragon, her hands moving expertly over the harnesses.
No.
"Is it comfortable?"
Yes, it is very comfortable and snug. You will not fall off.
"K'dra, look! Et'an and Tilanth are getting ready to fly!"
At S'na's excited outburst, Terranth and K'dra turned in time to see their other friends take to the air. K'dra sucked in her breath as Tilanth propelled them higher in the air and her joy skyrocketed as she, S'na, Shrith, and Terranth cheered for their friends.
Tilanth confidently soared above the Weyr, his wings sweeping in great strokes. Then they circled once more before coming in to land. It was kind of bumpy, but a great flight for a first. Et'an hopped off and hugged Tilanth's neck hard.
"That was a great flight, Tilanth!" he whooped, still caught up in the throes of his first flight.
Yes, it was. Next time, we will get the landing down, and the time after that we will be perfect.
Dragon and human both made that vow and then moved aside to make room for the next pair, who turned out to be Shrith and S'na. Et'an and Tilanth joined K'dra by Terranth just as A'dlar gave her the leg up.
The friends were silent in order to let S'na and Shrith savor this moment. A'dlar gave the 'go ahead' signal and they were gone.
This is so exciting, Terranth excitedly commented, her impatience to be up there herself re-igniting K'dra's own desire.
It seemed to take forever for her and Terranth's turn to come. Then A'dlar and K'nast were upon her smiling, and suddenly it was too quick. She gave them a weak smile as she realized their moment had finally come.
"Today's the day." A'dlar grinned at her.
The two experienced dragonriders checked Terranth from top to bottom, their main concern being that Terranth had been so small for a green. There was no doubt that she could carry K'dra, since she was also small.
Shrith and S'na came back, obviously reluctant to do so. A'dlar turned to K'dra, who had begun to fidget.
"Terranth is fit to fly, and if I'm not mistaken, you are too." There was a twinkle in his eye and he offered her a leg up. "With your permission green rider."
"Of course. Thank you Weyrleader."
K'dra mounted and settled upon the emerald dragon's neck, dainty but incredibly powerful, and eager to go. She placed her feet through the toe loops and secured herself with the straps from Terranth's neck strap.
Her helmet and goggles were in place and out of the corner of her eye, she saw R'ahvin by Xenith, grinning and giving her the thumbs up. Terranth moved in position, her wings unfurled, eyes whirling in anticipation.
A'dlar gave her the signal and they were off!
A strong heave of Terranth's hindquarters and a sweep of her wings and they were soon airborne. The initial thrust had snapped K'dra, who hadn't expected it to be so strong. The last time she'd been adragonback was when A'son Searched her and it hadn't been that bad. Then again, A'son had also been behind her and lessened the impact.
Very quickly they were soaring over the Bowl, the spectators dwindling to the size of ants. There was such a peace, flying above, just her and Terranth, as if the cares of this world were all gone.
You were right, my dragon-love.
Right about what? The dragon inquired.
You are fast. But I wouldn't try any maneuvers until we've tried our wings a few times.
To the side of them, a little bronze body appeared from between.
It is Mako, Terranth informed her rider, as Gavin's firelizard flitted in a crazy aerial dance, chirping excitedly. He is very happy and excited to see us flying, finally.
How did he know we were flying? K'dra wondered.
Terranth paused as if someone was speaking to her.
Tampath and Salarnath say K'nast and A'dlar want us to come back now.
"All right, let's go back." Mako gave a good-bye chirp before disappearing. With an unexpected agility, Terranth dropped her shoulder and pivoted on her wingtip, snapping K'dra taunt once again against the straps holding her and flew back toward the Bowl.
Next time warn me!
They circled once before Terranth descended, gracefully backwinging to land gently, and without the slightest jarring.
The pair was one step closer to searing Thread from the sky. And with this maiden flight, it made being a dragonrider all that more sweet.