Logs:Flying Fallout
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| RL Date: 24 April, 2013 |
| Who: D'kan, G'mli |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Vignette |
| What: G'mli takes D'kan up for his first flight with Kazavoth. Then things go to hell in a handbasket. |
| Where: Star Stones, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 6, Month 8, Turn 31 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: Warm sunshine and cloudless skies make for a beautiful day and pleasantly warm evening. A breeze tempers the heat with no humidity lingering in the air. |
| Mentions: Sabella/Mentions, J'tor/Mentions |
| OOC Notes: Vignette takes place parallel to Logs:A_Few_Seconds. |
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| Ever since receiving wingleading duty for the month, D'kan had been working with his mentor, G'mli. For the first several days, riding straps were constructed, fixed, reexamined, fixed, and tested, all while G'mli and his brown Durinth filled in D'kan and Kazavoth on all the ins and outs of flying (as they saw it). Then the day finally came to truly test. In a different part of the bowl, Sabella and Ghislaith were in the middle of their own preparations for their first flight together, but D'kan had asked G'mli to handle his own first. Once they got past the first few annoyances a couple months back, the stocky rider had proven to be an insightful instructor, which was something D'kan both respected and appreciated, so it was a very quiet affair as the two browns crouched down to await their riders. Kazavoth may have been half Durinth's size, but it still took D'kan twice as long to get situated on his brown's shoulders, though G'mli well played the part of the patient mentor, pretending to need extra time to get his straps and riding belt just right. Finally, though, they were ready. They hoped. Dull, hollow darkness echoed along the link before Durinth's low voice emerged, fine gravel cascading over the coarse. « Do not think. Just fly. Just like before. » The instructions were simple, as all Durinth's instructions have been, his voice holding as much substance as wind through tunnels, as much weight as all the coal in Crom. (To Kazavoth from Durinth) G'mli gave the signal, then his brown leapt into the air, dusty wings taking them every upward. Kazavoth needed a little more of a running start, still-growing wings still lacking the power for a dead lift-off. Soon enough, though, he was also airborne and announcing his rider's thrilling thoughts to all nearby with draconic ears to hear. Sparks of light exploded along every link within easy reach, an involuntary reaction to his rider's sudden elation. « We fly! » Kazavoth announced to Durinth, to D'kan, to Faranth knows who. Simply announced to the world at large. The interruption quickly faded, however, as the young brown was mercifully distracted by the rest of the task at hand. (To nearby dragons from Kazavoth) Rising in a lazy zigzag in the wake of the larger brown, Kazavoth did not rush. Speed was all well and good, but flight itself was the real thrill, only heightened by the emotions coming from his rider. D'kan was all smiles. That is to say, more than usual. He was also holding on for dear life, though more from the sensations of such a big "first" than any real fear or need. Finally, the two joined G'mli and Durinth at the decided landing spot on the Star Stones. While Kazavoth needlessly filled in a far less enthusiastic Durinth, D'kan made his way down from his brown's shoulders only to get clapped hard on the shoulder by the other rider. Good thing he apparently lacked a fear of heights. "See, lad?" G'mli was saying while D'kan kept his balance, "nothin' to it. As natural as sleeping. Just more dangerous." This did not seem to bother the older rider in the least. D'kan had little to say to that just yet, in part because he was still catching his breath. The physical exertion was one thing. The adrenaline was another altogether. So he went on smiling, resting a hand on Kazavoth as he took in the view which felt like some sort of reward for the past several months. He was about to say as much to his mentor when screams both along the link and down in the bowl ripped the reverie to shreds. While details were still hazy, the two riders were already mounting their dragons again. The careful double-checks were foregone, replaced by the instinct that came with their repeated exercises over the past seven. D'kan clipped back into Kazavoth's riding straps, and with barely a nod to G'mli, the two dragons dove from the heights to begin a tight spiral down to the ground. Kazavoth's landing was not as tidy as it had been, solo, but that could have been a side effect from the torrent of thought coming from Ghislaith and the other dragons nearby. D'kan tried to slide from his brown's shoulders and discovered he'd only half unclipped himself. Fighting frustration and a brand new dose of adrenaline, he finally dropped to the ground in a flat-footed stumble, but by then he could only watch the scene in progress. Eyes wide, D'kan saw Sabella on the ground and almost tentatively reached out to Kazavoth. Reluctance ebbs and flows in minuscule amounts, faint background noise to the thought that comes foremost from rider to dragon. « Is it bad? » (D'kan to Kazavoth) G'mli and Durinth were nearby, but being associated with the weyrlings only by way of mentoring D'kan and Kazavoth, it was time for them to go. The Snowdrift rider clasped a hand hard on D'kan's shoulder and gave it a shake, likely meant to be comforting in his own rough way. "Don't worry about today, lad," he said, voice gruffer than usual. "We'll try again, first thing tomorrow morning." He paused, then released the shoulder. Unable to do or say more, the older pair retreated while Kazavoth hunkered down, wings folded tightly to his back. The reluctance is batted easily to the side as Kazavoth reaches back to his rider, concerned warmth flooding their link. For once, the brown did not bombard those nearby with his thoughts and words. He merely observed. Quietly. « She lives, » he answered, low and simple. Other thoughts echoed in the far distance, but they were hazy and kept largely private as the brown turned rather introspective. « This is not good. » It has the tone of carrying further meaning, but the brown is not quite willing to share it. (Kazavoth to D'kan) D'kan took a deep breath, then turned to begin unlatching Kazavoth's riding straps. "This is probably enough for one day," he murmurs, loud enough for only the brown. Lengths of leather are gathered and looped over his shoulder, then the weyrling gives Kaz a quick rub along his neck. By then, Sabella was being carefully moved, which D'kan watched in silence. Mostly. That trailing void is filled by D'kan as he reaches for the rest of that meaning. « It changes things, but not all things. » A shimmer ran along their link, the unspoken agreement between lifemates. (D'kan to Kazavoth) D'kan left Kazavoth to watch the rest of the scene while the weyrling quickly moved to the barracks so he could stow his riding gear. Minutes later, the Healers would find him waiting patiently in the infirmary, awaiting a chance to visit the injured wingsecond. His injured wingsecond, by whatever fates or schemes had deemed them such. It was turning into a very early lesson in just what all that meant, and the lesson was far from over.
The day of Sabella's accident was meant to be an exciting one. The current Flurry Wing's first two members were going to take the skies, given a sevenday's head start so they might be better able to lead their wing for the month. Unfortunately, Sabella took to the ground shortly after, fracturing her arm in the process. What does this mean for Flurry? Hours after Sabella's accident, she and D'kan had a closed-doors discussion, the details of which have been kept fairly quiet. What isn't quiet is that the next day before drills, D'kan announced that while Sabella would not be able to perform aerial wingsecond duties later in the month due to her injury, she would still handle all other wingseconding duties. She's still helping make sure everyone's up and at 'em in the morning and making sure the weyrlings are presentable, still helping out with morning drills and strengthening exercises, and making sure the barracks don't start to degrade in orderliness and cleanliness! However, as the rest of the weyrling wing prepares for their own first trips into the air with their dragons, D'kan needed to choose a backup wingsecond to help with the airborne exercises once they reach that point, and for that he has chosen J'tor, fellow brownrider to birch-brown Adrovanth. J'tor is a little on the young side, but a local (and notably lacking a silver thread), while Adrovanth is calm and methodical, and a fairly safe choice for this tumultuous month. Dispelling rumors that the rest of the weyrlings' first flying trips will be postponed in response to the greenrider's accident, the response of this month's wing leadership is the same: stuff happens, we move on. As for rumors that those riding straps will be scrutinized more heavily? Yeah, that one's true. Expect some extra leather-working tasks, but do not fear; in just a few more days, everyone will get to try their hands (and arms) at flying. |
Comments
Azaylia (Dragonshy (talk)) left a comment on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:40:08 GMT.
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Augh. The balance of happiness and tragedy~ Or something. Mostly, I just think you write them words gewd. :B
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