[ORP] Practising Hares and Graces

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

If K'lir had thought keeping Ostarath on the ground had been hard for the month she had been flying solo, it was virtually impossible to keep her down now. The green lived in a a seemingly constant cycle; wake, fly, sleep, repeat. It was hard to get her to focus on anything else. Ostarath either wanted to be flying or she was sleeping off her latest burst of energy. So far his only way of getting her to do anything was to promise to go flying with her after. That was the only thing Ostarath liked more the flying, flying with K'lir.

That was how he had found himself in this situation. Walking out of the barracks, barely awake, as Ostarath bound off ahead of him. Getting her not to fly in the dark had required promising to fly when the sun came up. Technically the sun hadn't risen over the horizon, but it was light enough for Ostarath to push it. He wondered, as Ostarath called out to the Weyrlingmaster's dragon, if they were sick of her declaring she was flying yet. Really they were lucky, Ostarath was large, but she was still slender. The risk of overworking her was real and K'lir worked hard to ensure that she wasn't pushing herself too hard.

K'lir rubbed his eyes and looked across the dew-damp ground at his now prancing green. Throwing her head back Ostarath looked at her rider, her eyes glowing in the morning light. She had already gotten K'lir to put on her straps, so she was ready to go when he was. Skipping back to her rider she eagerly nuzzled his side. The green was much taller than him now, and had to lean down to do it, her head taking up most of his torso as she pushed at him. K'lir wasn't ticklish, but her nuzzling shoves drew a laugh out of him anyway. Finally he hauled himself up into her straps, being careful to check all the buckles and safety straps several times. K'lir knew he was tired, but he wasn't going to be careless.  

[Earisa]

Lianly had always been an early riser, an old habit she wasn't too eager to be rid of but unless she wanted to head to the dinning hall early she generally just sat quietly so not to disturb the other Weyrlings. It will be nice once she gets a weyr of her own, she could open a glowbasket and do... something. She would need to get a hobby or two to keep her busy when there was too much free time. Falxath wasn't always awake to keep her company in the pre dawn twilight, but today she was. Apparently Ostarath was figgiting enough to wake her, but instead of telling her sister off for the interruption Falxath kept silent. There was no point being upset for something so little, it wasn't that early after all.

Looks like they are going flying, we should join them It wasn't a question and Lainly learned long ago that there was no point in fighting it. Falxath didn't argue, but if you didn't have a good excuse not to do something then it was obvious that you must. They had both been working to improve from a lack luster first flight, but progress always came slowly. At least Ostarath and K'lir wouldn't judge them, unlike a certain other pair...

The young girl had barely time to shrug on her jacket before noticing her dragon was already halfway out of the barracks. We are coming too! Falxath announced as Lianly jogged out with the riding straps. "You could have just asked them to wait instead of making me run!" Exercise is good for you too! The comment was meant in good spirits as a joke, after all the green was going to be doing all the work flying. It didn't take long before the straps were fastened and rider was buckled in place and dragon was flexing her wings in warm up.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

The pair had been almost ready to take off. Ostarath noticed Falxath before K'lir. Ostarath was very quick to notice things, mainly movement. The green only needed a flicker of movement to have her head whipping around, and that was exactly what she did once Falxath exited the barracks into the early dawn light. Her eyes whirled a happy and bright blue at the sight of her sister. Ostarath was more than happy to have more company for this mornings flight. K'lir lifted his head, having finished his last check of the straps. He saw the approaching weyrling pair and smiled, lifting his hand up in a greeting.

They waited for Lianly and Falxath to get ready to go. While the human half was happy to wait, Ostarath shuffled from foot to foot, her wings stretching out, mantling, stretching out again. The only downside of more company were the precious seconds that were slipping away with her still standing on the ground. As Falxath began her warm-ups the green looked at her intently, her anticipation building to the point that she radiated it so strongly it was practically a physical entity in its own right. Finally she couldn't take it any longer, Ostarath didn't talk much, but the feeling of challenge she sent to Falxath was clear enough without it. An image of the star stones flashed between their minds and like that she was off. Darting across the damp ground to push herself, explosively, up into the air. All the while K'lir clung on with practised determination.  

[Earisa]

Lianly couldn't reply to K'lir's greeting with her hands full of leather, the distance between them a bit too far for her voice to carry without yelling. It would be best not to possibly wake anyone and have them be grumpy with her later for being loud so early in the morning. Besides, Ostarath would only stay still for so long before leaving them behind so the weyrling had to work fast. Hurry! Falxath urged as the other green charged off with no warning. With a final confirming tug to check the buckles secured to her belt, Lainly pulled down her goggles and slapped her dragon's neck. Go!

The green surged forwards in a running take off, rider braced again the jerking motion, heading for the star stones. As urgent as Falxath was to catch up with her sister green, Lianly warned to hold back. Ostarath was too eager and would tire herself out before long, just stay on her tail and cut the corners and they should be able to out pace her. This made sense to Falaxth, let them lead the way and think they were chasing after. The star stones was not too far, there would be more to come after.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

The straight dash to the star stones was a good warm-up. It had Ostarath spending enough energy to not need to race off in another direction the moment she reached it. Ostarath idly looped and turned in the air for the short time it took Falxath to make it to their destination. The green knew for a fact that her sister could move faster than that. Perhaps it was too early for her challenge and Falxath and needed the warm-up before she was willing to pit herself against Ostarath.

Had K'lir not been listening to her thoughts, Ostarath likely would have just flung an image to Falxath and shot off again. Gently, however, K'lir reminded his dragon to be polite. Maybe Falxath could choose their next destination. It wasn't really fair if one of them just declared destinations and set off, it gave an unfair advantage. With only a touch of resistance, Ostarath agreed. Circling the star stones she reached out to Falxath. The sense of challenge still for front, but this time more questioning. Where to next?  

[Earisa]

Falxath was unfazed that her sister might be annoyed with their slower pace. They had flown together enough by know to have a good judge on each others abilities, easy enough to tell Falxath flew at maybe three quarters of her full speed. Reaching Ostarath above the Star Stones the darker green joined the circling, their wheeling shadowing on the opposite of the arc, surprised that they were waiting. With how impatient she was to go it was like she had wanted to race.

Hmmm.... so they could choose where to go next? Lianly and Falxath quickly passed suggestions back and forth, hoping for a good idea that might please Ostarath. It might be a bit far to suggest a place like Fort Hold, even if it was only at the base of the mountain. They were still rather young and shouldn't drift too far away from the Weyr without permission or supervision. The lake wasn't a bad idea, all the way on the other side of the bowl. Falxath however wanted to fly higher, so why not do both?

Falxath broke the circle and turned up, sending her sister an image of a point high over the lake with mischievous glee as she dashed on ahead. Now she would have to decided whether to race or follow.