"Right now you are all beginners, and all of you except Arve don't have dragons... Yet. Though I imagine you all have an idea," Astrid said aloud. All the children began to grow excited with anticipation."Now we will let you all choose your dragons." Astrid began to open the cages of dragons and out of each cage walked out a pair of each basic dragon. The trainees rushed toward the dragons they wanted while Knife and Arve remained behind. Arve who already had his dragon looked up at his older sister.
"Hey Knife aren't you going to go get a dragon?" Arve asked as he petted Thorn.
"What's the point I already know which dragon mom is going to shove me on," Knife answered him, pointing to the Blue Nadder they called Tornado. He was wild and unruly so far any new trainees have been unable to tame him. Only the students of the advanced class were able to get him under control. Though Astrid believes with her whole heart that Knife has the potential to do so, sadly Knife did not believe in herself at all.
"Come on Knife, might as well give it a try right?"Arve insisted. Knife shook her head and let out a sad sigh.
"Do I really have a choice?" She asked him.
"Uh...no I don't think so."
"Well sure, when you put it that way. How could I possibly refuse."
She took a deep breath and with her eyes unwavering she walked up to the wild Nadder. Everyone was now paired with a dragon except Roan.
"What's the problem Roan?" Astrid asked her.
"Ran and Randolf want to ride a Zippleback which means I'm the odd one out," Roan answered glaring at her other thirds.
"Ah, now I see... Well. Roan we have an extra Nadder and Gronkle so your choice."
"Um... I'll take the Red Nadder." Roan walked over to the bright Red Nadder.
"Alright then everyone here has chosen their dragons. Though the real question is does the dragon choose you? Today we will find out, everyone mount your dragons!"Astrid commanded. Everyone immediately mounted their dragons. All right, your time to shine Knife. Let's just try not to embarrass ourselves. Knife hesitated for a moment, then climbed on the Nadder. The Nadder showed no signs of caring. So far so good though. Now lets just take it easy Tornado.
Astrid climbed on Storm fly, then ordered,"Alright everyone follow me." Storm fly took off and one by one each student followed close behind.
Everyone flew on their dragons and so far everything seemed well. Astrid had started with flying closer to the ground, than on open water just to stay on the safe side but it appeared these riders were good. Alright, let's try an exercise to see if these pairing can work together. Astrid led the students to a gig they all perched on one side.
"Ok, now everyone is going to take part in an exercise to test how well you can communicate with your dragons. This is only an exercise so its ok if you don't get it right the first time around. You must all get across this gorge without flying," She explained, waving her hand to the pillars that spread out across the gorge. The pillars were all large enough to carry a dragon across though not all were stable. "Arve since you and your dragon work well with each other you will go first. Have your dragon hop across this gorge to the other side."
"Ok," Arve said cheerily," Let's go Thorn!" He tapped on the Nadders side with his foot and signaled a hopping motion with two fingers. The Nadder shook its head and tucked in its wings and landed on the first pillar with ease. Eventually Arve reached the end safely and waved back to us.
"Tch, that's easy,"Stinklout uttered.
"Is that so Stinklout well you can go next then," Astrid ordered. Keeping his façade he leads his Monstrous Nightmare across, though half way through the gorge one of the pillars he landed on broke, but he was quick to hop on to the next pillar. When he finished Astrid told the rest of the group to go, staying a pillar or two behind the next person. This was the order of the dragons: Shrieklout went after her brother with Roan behind her, behind Roan was Ran and Randolf, than Crushnutt and Rika, than Fish meat and lastly Knife. Midway through Fishmeat's turn his Gronkle had landed on a pillar which caused it to shake awhile. After a few seconds it stopped and Fish meat crossed onto the next pillar. Though now Knife knows to not to land on the pillar Fishmeat did. Alright Tornado we need to land on the pillar right next to it so we don't fall.
"Alright Tornado, buddy, you need to land on the one to the right not the one ahead of us, ok?" Knife questioned the dragon, Tornado gave no sign of understanding. Alright then, here goes. Knife gave him a signal to hop to the pillar, but Tornado disobeyed landing roughly on the pillar ahead of them. The pillar began to shake wildly and Tornado became frightened and began to buck.
"Calm down Tornado, or I'll fall off!," she shouted, though Tornado was in a state of panic and continued to buck, the pillar began to collapse underneath them. Then Tornado took off leaving, Knife was falling into the gorge screaming.