"You won't fall off," Dagur reassured. "Come on. She let me on!"
"But you know what you're doing," Iris argued. Enigma whimpered. "I'm sorry girl I didn't mean that to be mean. You're just so big! What if you don't like me on you?"
"If you don't use that saddle I used precious leather on," Jon threatened. "I will personally tie you to that dragon."
"Fine!"
Weeks had past since the moment in the woods and in the creek. Hunting season had begun and it was time to fill the freezers. Dagur had the brilliant idea to use Enigma to help bring their kills back so the dogs wouldn't be overworked. A good idea but for some reason that lead to him and Jon designing a saddle and now Dagur trying to convince Iris to get on Engima's back. Which terrified her.
Enigma looked so eager for Iris to get on her back. The dragon chirped and purred, rubbing her face against her eagerly. She had willingly let Dagur on, she even pranced around with him on her back, while looking at Iris with excitement.
"I'm going to fall," Iris whimpered as she stood next to Enigma. The dragon crouched down with a churp, nudging at her. "I'm getting on I'm getting on! Oh what if I slide off you Enigma?"
"Aren't you the one who cried for years to have a horse?" Jon asked drily.
"Horse saddles are different," Iris argued. "And no offense Enigma, they aren't covered in scales and a giant lion mane!"
"Hold onto her mane," Dagur instructed. "Shift your weight forward. Bring your legs back. Feel how much more stable you are now?"
"Yeah," she grudgingly admitted.
"This is a flight stance. Leaning forward against her back helps reduce the drag so she can fly better."
"NO FLYING ENGIMA!"
"Calm down, she won't. Now sit up a bit. Keep your legs back and grip her sides. There. This is a ground stance. While she's walking or running around you can sit like this or however you feel comfortable."
"Please get on with me." He shook his head at her whine.
"You need to ride her yourself first. Ride around the homestead then I'll get on."
Enigma gave an excited coo and took a few steps forward. Iris shoved her hands deep into the dragon's mane to get a good grip. This encouraged her to keep moving. Her smooth walk surprised Iris. She had expected Enigma to be bumpy or jolting but it was like riding on a cloud or a boat on a calm lake.
With a churp Enigma picked up the pace to a trot, following the perimeter fence. The dogs watched warily from their houses. They were still nervous around the dragon and Iris didn't blame them. Within the first few days Enigma had established her dominance over them when they tried to pick a fight. Now they kept their distance unless Jon was about.
Halfway around the compound, Enigma stopped. She looked at the fence that was taller than both of them. Iris wasn't sure what she was thinking until it was too late. Without any warning Enigma leaped upward from a standstill and grasped the top of the fence. Somehow she was able to balance herself like a cat as Iris clung to her in silent terror.
The dragon looked back, giving another coo. It was if she was asking Iris to trust her. She stared at the brilliant red eyes that looked back at her. She swallowed hard.
"Let's see what you got." That was all Enigma needed apparently.
With a happy growl the dragon leaped off the fence, spreading her wings as she did. Her wings flapped, sending powerful drafts towards the ground, and sped forward through the air. They were flying! Enigma angled her wings as a gust of wind came through and used it to get higher.
"Legs back, lean forward," Iris muttered to herself. "Reduce the drag."
Enigma cooed curiously, looking back at Iris. With a bob of her head the dragon flew above the homestead. Dagur looked up and whooped. Jon looked up as well. Iris could see him shaking his head at the sight. Enigma gave a roar and what could only be described as a cough. A ball of fire shot from her and exploded. Iris yelped and held on tighter as Dagur cheered. Someone was excited.
She couldn't lie though. Flying was exciting. It gave a sense of freedom she never felt before and a feeling of connection with Enigma. Her life was literally in this dragon's hands, paws, but the thought didn't scare her like it had. Deep in her soul she knew Enigma wouldn't let her fall.
Another roar sounded only this one wasn't from Enigma. It was further away. Enigma growled and roared herself but this one seemed to be a challenge. She stopped flying and hovered in the air while growling. Something burst from the woods into the air. It was another dragon and it was headed straight for them!
"Enigma!" Was that the dragon that had attacked her before? What if it was going to attack them?
The other dragon was moving fast and getting closer. It looked similar to Enigma only it was purple with shorter wings and only hair on the back of its neck running down to the tip of its tail. It snarled, banking to hover before them. Its eyes were a brilliant silver and a sycle sized claw sat on its large wing knuckle. It was also much stockier and thicker bodied than Enigma.
Enigma growled again, spitting a ball of fire at the other dragon. It dodged easily and only growled back. It was staring at them. Its stare made her blood run cold. For all she knew it was deciding how to attack Enigma to eat her.
An arrow flew past the other dragon, narrowly missing its face. It jerked back with a snarl. Iris dared to look down and saw Dagur aiming another arrow at the other dragon. His face was dark with rage. For some reason seeing him lifted her spirits.
"Land Enigma," Iris said urgently. The dragon growled. "Please. I'll fall and hurt myself at this height. Plus I don't have anything to fight with."
Without breaking eye contact with the other dragon, Enigma slowly descended, still growling and snarling at the intruder. It copied her silently. Enigma perched herself on the fence which forced the other dragon to land outside it on the ground. She spat another fireball at it, which it leaped to the side to avoid, and quickly jumped back to land inside the fence. The other dragon roared and leaped on the fence only to be met with a rifle barrel aimed directly at it. Wisely it froze, watching Jon intently.
"Iris," Dagur said as he ran over. "Are you okay?"
"Just terrified," she joked. Her hands trembled as she crawled off Enigma. The moment she was off the dragon moved forward to stand next to Jon and growl at the unmoving dragon. "That was terrifying. Flying was fun, seeing that was not."
"I don't blame you." His arms surrounded her in a tight hug. "Get inside. Jon and I will handle this one."
"But-" He shushed her.
"I've hunted dragon longer than I've befriended them. Go. If I don't have to worry about you I can focus better. Your dad can fend for himself."
"Hey," Jon drawled.
"Okay but if you get hurt I swear I'll do something," Iris threatened.
Slowly she backed away once Dagur let go. He turned to face the dragon, a serious look taking over his face. Iris was surprised to see it. Normally he was just cheerful with occasional grumpiness. She never saw such a serious dangerous look on his face before. Even she could tell he meant business.
