Something Marvelous (Gliding Lessons)

Monaco Bay Weyr - Exercise Yard
Sheltered from the direct heat of the day and the storms of the season by the rocky walls of the weyr, this exercise yard holds a thick layer of lush grass. The yard offers room enough for the entire class of weyrlings to stretch, romp, and practice behind a tall wooden palisade meant to keep the pre-flight dragons from wandering off too far. To the west, just against the palisade, a small coral of ovines and caprines has been erected for convenience. A freshwater pump is installed to the north, against the wall of the caverns, to provide just enough water flow to clean a weyrling dragon after a meal. When the palisade gate is open, there is a clear, stone-lined path leading towards the paradise river and the designated weyrling beach.


It is a pleasant afternoon and there are few clouds in the sky. Perhaps most importantly, given the topic of this lesson, there is a minimal amount of wind. The werylingmaster staff has gathered the available weyrlings and led them outside, for what is sure to be an interesting lesson. Marzoth and S'dny are in the yard waiting for the arrival of the weyrlings.

S'yu is leading Bhal out, who really does love being outside. Being cooped up indoors is't really his thing, so as soon as the big brown gets enough space he flares his wings and flutters them, «Ah, glorious heat.» he drawls. S'yu gives a little pat to the dragon's neck, "Just don't get lazy about it, we're working today…" the brown's big body looks a little more like it fits his legs and tail. Walking is smoother, and the rippling wings fold back as he walks with his rider, «What will we do today?» "I don't know, somthing interesting I imagine!" «You say that every time. And then I just run around a lot» "Not true! One time you swam a lot didn't you?" The brown gives a little snort and nudges S'yu in the back, «This is true…»

Arriving a few minutes late, Typriaeth backswings to a landing and Anique slides down quickly. "Sorry, sorry I'm late!" she is saying as she strides quickly towards where S'dny is.

M'aj and Sebraith exit not far behind S'yu and Bhaltairth, and for once the weyrling pair actually looks rested. Clean and put together, Mack no longer looks like something the cat drug in, and like his brown sibling, Seb looks like he might actually become a full-sized dragon someday, instead of a middling, scrawny dragonet. « Marzoth, Bhaltairth, how do you do on this fine day?, » the bronze says with a croon peering over at Typriaeth as the green comes to a landing. « And you as well, Typriaeth. As lovely as ever. » M'aj snorts for his dragon's smug, accented words, pushing at the bronze's shoulder, though that no longer has quite the same effect. "No worries," is said with a wave towards Anique before blue eyes focus over on S'dny, bright with interest for learning something new.

Marzoth doesn't deign to greet the arriving green, though his attention is on the weyrling brown and bronze, « Things are acceptable. » he says in response to Seb's question, though he doesn't really wait for the social niceties, « Today we will be having a very important lesson, and it is expected that you will all listen carefully and do as you are told. » Syd offers a wave of his hand and a smile to Anique, "We are just getting started. No worries. You haven't missed a thing." he then turns his attention to M'aj and S'yu, "Today we will be gliding for the first time. It's a challenging lesson, but well worth it."

S'yu looks over to the two Weyrlingleaders and he bows politely and respectfully. Bhal repeats the motion with his own head, picking up habits from his rider. S'yu turns back to see M'aj come out, "Well you're looking…good, you're look good M'aj!" he encourages, smiling, "you two Sebraith." Bhal of course gives his brother a tilt of his head, «I am in the sun and the heat. And all is well with the world…» he offers again in that slow drawl. «I greet you too. Marzoth…Typriaeth…» he flicks his wings out, «I hope we are doing somthing other then running or swimming» the Brown immeditly perks up, and his wings snap out. The fluttering, scarred looking wings stretch their fullest, «We wil fly…» he says with confidence, and suddnely he does sound a little excited.

« Don't we always, Marzoth?, » Sebraith asks, feigning injury over the bronze's tone. « We've always done what you've asked… more or less. » Zhimbarceth likely casts a shade of doubt over them all with her antics, but shh. "Shells, gliding?" Mack and Seb perk together in an uncannily similar way, energy flowing up through their spines to stand straighter. « Excellent, » Sebraith murmurs, lightning flickering with interest before his head tilts, eyes rolling over towards Bhaltairth. « He said gliding, not flying. Don't get us in trouble. » There is amusement under the dragon's words, softening their harshness with a roll of laughter-like thunder. Mack, meanwhile, chuckles for S'yu's praise, one hand raising to scritch awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Ah, thanks," he says, "Miracle what actually sleeping through the night will do, right?" Snicker.

« Perhaps… » is the dark bronzes only response to Seb's statement. Though he he quickly shifts gears, « Yes. We will be /gliding/ today. » he says putting special emphasis on the word gliding, « Anyone who is caught attemtping to do more will be dealt with severely and be grounded for the near future until they show a maturity that would allow them to continue flying lessons. » While Marzoth always speaks with a certain amount of gravitas, he is being particularly serious here, « Weyrling dragons have been known to hurt themselves severely if they attempt to fly before they are ready. We will be having none of that here. Other more undisciplined weyrs perhaps, but not here. » Syd glances between S'yu and M'aj, "Lets begin simply with a few wing stretches. You need to make sure that your lifemate is well stretched and limber for this first attempt."

S'yu nods a bit and he pats Bhal, "Hear that, gliding…." of course Bhal gives a snort «Gliding is just flying without flapping your wings. It's trying hard not to fall…» he grumbles some but slowly nods. «Just fall slowly» he will curl down, setting his forepaws down and stretch his wings. his tail, his limbs, stretching everything. S'yu moves over, and he moves over to the left wing joint and he speaks to Bhal, "Up. Left…right, Fold…" he feels the joint, feeling for any scale patch, making sure that everything is limber. It's a good routine they've gotten in. Bhal loves to stretch his wings, so they make sure the joints are good. He moves over to does the right one. "Don't do anything rash. I know you want to fly. But doing too much means you won't do it at all…got it…" he huffs at his dragon.

« Maturity, ha! Good luck with that, » Sebraith drawls, but he leans forwards, then back, stretching his legs just enough to get them limber before focusing on his wings as directed. « Other weyrs have allowed their dragons to fly before they are ready? Heathens. » Wry judgment courses through the littler bronze's mind, swirled wings lifting and stretching, showing off the golden lightningbolt on his right wing. "It certainly doesn't seem wise," M'aj mutters right back, blue eyes dancing as he circles Sebraith, observing his stretches as he, too, pulls his shoulder muscles loose, pulling one arm across his chest, then the other, out of habit more than anything else. « Sloppy, one might say. » Mack 'mmhmm's sassily, but doesn't comment further, minding himself and his dragon before peering back at S'dny for further instruction.

Marzoth continues to keep his eyes fixed on the dragons that are stretching their wings. He doesn't comment on any of the chatter though, instead he begins to move acrosst he yard, stopping once he got a sufficent distance down the way, "Excellent." Syd says to the weyrling pairs, "Now please draw your attention to Marzoth. He is going to show you what is expected of you today. He will begin by taking a few running steps and then will open his wings and glid down the yard stopping where you see. You will be trying this momentarily." Marzoth does as Syd has said. He takes a few running steps before unfurling his wings and gliding just above the ground. He hangs in the air until he lowers his claws back to the ground coming to a graceful landing, « That is what you will be doing. It is simple. There is no flapping, only gliding. If you find yourself out of control simply reach down and touch the ground. Do not attempt to do anything fancy. »

Silent for now, Typriaeth and Anique both simply watch and let Syd and the grumpy mean bronze lead.

S'yu Siyu watches and nods, "It seems fairly self explanitory…." he looks at Bhal, "That's all you're going to do right…" he gives him a warning sound. Bhal for his part just snorts and bobs his head, «Rather do this then not do it…» is his grumble. So he flds his wings, and walks over to the starting line and takes his waiting spot. His wings flickign some again. The color catching in the sunlight. The veins of color starting to glow in his wings. He wants this very badly.

« Yes, yes, » Sebraith says, wings twitching as he follows S'yu and Bhaltairth over to where Marzoth began his demonstration. « No flapping, only gliding, otherwise we'll crash and burn and die horribly. » His words are glib, but surely the bronze has been around Seb long enough to notie he has his Serious Face on, pinions spreading as wide as Marzoth had spread his, concentration on his features as he visualizes the leap. "Don't overthink," M'aj cautions his lifemate, shifting in front of him to tilt his wings down and back a little more, the better to streamline them and keep them from catching air and dumping him on his butt. "Marzoth kept his nice and straight…" Moving out of his way, M'aj turns and nods towards S'dny and Anique, indicating readiness.

S'dny watches as the weyrlings as they begin to move into position, "Alright. Bhal will go first. Remember. Very simple and straightforward." Syd calls out to the students. Marzoth sits near the 'finish line'. Keeping a very close eye on the dragons, keen to keep them from making any major errors in judgement.

S'yu nods and pats his dragon, "You can do it!" he offers, Bhal gives another snort, and then looks, raising his head, watching the curves of the land. Finally he launches himself, wings snapping out. His big heavy body is sinking fast, but his wings don't even flutter. The scar like patterns are taut, but the hunting brown manages to glide without a sound, as far as he could, until his claws touch the grond, and he gives a running hop, run run run, and then he's fully out of his momentum. Looking back at the others and folding his wings back. «Well that was somthing.»

Sebraith's tail lashes, keen eyes observing Bhaltairth's glide. « I do think, with a bit more height, I could get farther, » the bronze murmurs, earning himself a shoulder-knock from his lifemate. "Marzoth clearly said, don't get fancy." « I'm not!, » Seb replies, voice all saccharine protest again. « I merely think that there might be a better way for it to be done. » Circling once, wings outstretched, the lightning-struck bronze thinks it over before heading back to that starting line. Taking a few running steps, he leaps for the air, timing it so wings only stretch out at the jump's apex. He wobbles at the sudden, strange feeling of wings supporting his weight in the air, toes stretching as though he'll drop to a landing as directed should he falter, but he manages to keep it together for another few feet. The weyrling hits the ground hard at the end, not quite managing Bhal's graceful dispersal of forward momentum, but he's pleased and eager to try again, better this time, all the same. « Something marvelous! »

Anique looks pleased. "Very good first attempts! Everything will be smoother the more you guys practice!"

Both Marzoth and Syd keep watch as first Bhal and then Seb make their runs. At the end of Bhal's run Marzoth speaks up, « This is a good run. » He never has been one to dole out unwarrented praise, « In time you will do well if you continue to practice and apply yourself to your studies. » He then falls silent eager to watch the bronze try his run. « Seb remember that you have forward motion at the end and take it into account on landing. Trust your wings. » he says after he lands, « I expect better after you have practiced a few times. » he says making good on his promise to expect much from the bronzes in particular. Syd's face shows that he is pleased with both runs, "Yes indeed. Very fine first runs. It gets easier. It really does. Keep in mind dragons that soon enough your will have your lifemate on your back. It won't be just you up there. Landings are really important. Also you can see how important all that work on straps is."

S'yu blinks and acks, and he puts his hands over his eyes. Bhal of course will stip off to the side when Seb comes crashing down with a quizzical tilt to his head, «Brother, you will not be able to sneak up on any prey like that…» he says with the slow and low drawl. «You must be like the wind! As swift and clean as an…» he thinks «A bolt from a crossbow. Fly straight and true» he looks up at the others, back to the bigger bronze «Can we do this now. Running, swimming, and gliding, can we do this now?» he asks and seems eager

« I did notice that, » Sebraith hums as he trots back into line, head tipping towards Marzoth with a nod. « It's different, though, having your wings be part of the motion. We've been focusing so hard on not using them that it was almost distracting to have to factor them in, » he says, and it's not an excuse - merely an observation as he takes it all in, learns from it. « That and breezes. Wing angles. I wonder what would happen if I sneezed whilst gliding. » M'aj rolls his eyes, but smoothes his hands over Sebraith's hide when the dragon comes back to him, lips quirked up as his dragon turns to peer over at Bhaltairth. « I do believe I've made my opinions on hunting quite clear, brother mine. » He still, and likely forever will, prefer to be fed than to hunt. « Still, it would not do to be perfect on my very first run. Your poor ego would suffer. » Laughter crackles with a flicker of lightning before his attention returns to the assistant weyrlingmasters. « I will practice, though, and improve. Might we go again? »

S'dny considers the requests of the dragons to make another run of it, "Ok. Here's how this is going to work. From now on you will be able to run in the yard without weyrlingstaff present if you have some free time. You will also be able to conduct the exercises we have been working on. We want someone from weyrlingstaff to be present if you are going to try gliding for the present moment." Marzoth adds his own thoughts to this, « Yes you may try again. We will have one more run this afternoon before we call it good for the day.»

S'yu nods his head, and Bhal comes trotting back a bit «I like this I wish to do it more yes…» he nods to the big bronze and looking back over towards his brother and nods, «Let us try again…» the hunting brown decides to get a head start. He digs in, and takes gets a little speed, and snaps his wings open, and glides again! Yes this is what he wants! And siyu can feel the joy through the bond.

"Sounds good," M'aj murmurs, giving Sebraith a gentle push to get back in line and continue practicing. "It'll be good to run for exercise again. Seems to confuse him, when I do it, but he can't," the bronze weyrling drawls, lips quirking up. He nods to show understanding that weyrlingstaff should be present for gliding, though. "Of course." Sebraith is excited by the prospect of being able to practice now, however. « Alright. I'll try dispersing my momentum this time… » And who knows, eventually he might get it right, but for now he's content to try, try again until the lesson draws to an end.


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