Dragon Rider Play

Pat's dragon churred at her. What was wrong? Maybe she wanted the dragon to lead her rider? The little dragon carefully climbed down and confidently scampered across the bridge like it was no problem. She ran back to get Pat.

Blade was behind Pat, and patiently waited for her to go. "Come on, Pat. We shouldn't be late on our first day."

"I..." Pat stared at her dragon, heart pounding. She moved forward a step, her fingers white on the ropes. She kept her eyes on her little dragon, feeling it's complete confidence. She expected the same from her rider.

Pat's dragon scampered in a circle in front of Pat before bounded forward a few steps. She then looked back and chirped at her rider.

Step by painful step, Pat forced her way across the bridge. Right foot, left hand. Left hand, right foot. One move at a time. Then her foot hit the solid ground. Falling to her knees, she gathered her dragon to her and hugged her. "Thank you," she whispered.

Tithenor held out his hand to her. "Blade is right. We need to go."

Blade started to sprint to the arena. No way he was going to be late!

Mark waited with Pat and Tithenor. He was clearly anxious to go too.

Pat's dragon crooned and licked her rider's cheek. She was glad to help.

Blade's dragon squeaked, clearly not liking this running thing as she tightened her grip with her wings.

Pat accepted the hand up, her knees still a bit wobbly. "Sorry, you should go ahead."
"It's fine," Tithenor assured her. "Let's go." He turned and moved off, scratching Mellon's chin gently as he walked.
Mark's dragon looked up at him and chirped. Why so anxious?

Alterrion looked up as the last three made it on time with mere seconds to spare. "All right, we shall begin. You four that just showed up; I would highly recommend not cutting it that close in the future. Class! Get into your assigned groups!" The angelic being barked. He watched as some of the boys scrambled to get into the groups.

Blade came back over to Pat, Tithenor, and Mark. "This guy isn't joking around, huh?"

Mark scratched his dragon's chin. He was less anxious now that they were there.

"Indeed," Tithenor agreed, touching Pat's arm and arranging her without thinking. He was discovering it was in his nature to boss people around for their benefit. Curious. He hadn't done that in a long time and thought it was restricted to only one. He stood at attention, his posture perfect.

Blade playfully rolled his eyes at Tithenor's fussing. Oh, he would tease the elf later for that.

Pat's dragon sat at her feet, at attention and looking like a proper lady dragon.

Alterrion started to assign a few individuals weapons they wanted them to try. He got to our main group. He pointed at Blade. "Knives." And to Mark. "Chain scythes." And lastly to Tithenor and Pat. "Bows." He went back to the front. "If I have assigned you a weapon, go and start practicing. i will be around to observe how you do. If I have not told you anything, come see me now."

Mark curiously asked Blade about chain scythes, having not heard of them before. Blade was all too happy to school the bigger guy on the subject.

"Chain scythes, that will be interesting," Tithenor sighed, leading Pat to the bows. "Keep yourself out of reach of anyone until you figure them out. Even if they are just dull practice weapons." He chose a weapon for himself, wishing he had his personal weapon. He helped Pat chose a weapon that suited the smaller "boy," eyeing his shaking hands and nerves with a feeling of resignation.

Mark's dragon followed at his heels, curious about all this. He tried to chew on the edge of an ax then spat disdainfully. Yucky! The handle was better. Wood made a good chew toy.

Blade's dragon hung on his back, content to watch for now. She had a good view, and there was nothing interesting to borrow, yet.

Mellon sniffed an arrow he found on the ground. The feathers tickled the little dragon's nose and he sneezed, covering the small area in front of him in frost.

Pat's dragon sat obediently beside her rider, watching her. Was her hands shaking because she was nervous? No, that couldn't be it. Her rider was perfect in everything she tried!

Blade outfitted Mark in a set of chain scythes, and showed Mark a few basic tricks with the weapon.

Mark nudged his dragon. "We are not going to chew on the weapons here because they aren't ours. I will make you a few toys later, okay?"

Tithenor glanced down. "/Find a toy?/" he asked his dragon, surprised and pleased by the frost. "/You may play with that one./"

Pat looked down at her dragon. How could the little one put so much trust in her? Sighing, she resolved to live up to her hatchling. She fussed with the bow, trying to figure out how to hold it.

Mark's dragon sighed but dropped the ax and sat down to watch his rider play. He wanted to play! Or was it play?

Blade's dragon was a good little backpack until Blade was at a critical moment. Then she nipped his ear playfully.

Mellon picked up the arrow by the shaft and proudly trotted around with it. He had a toy!

Pat's dragon looked up at her and purred. She lightly nudged one of Pat's hands where she saw other people holding the bow.

Mark had some trouble with aiming the chain scythes, but Blade had also helped whenever and wherever Mark needed it.

Tithenor smiled at Mellon and turned his attention to Pat. "Close.". He nodded to the dragon. She was on the right track! He stepped up, directing her aim. His hands gently brushed hers.

Pat's breath caught in her throat and all calm went out the proverbial window. She swallowed hard, trying not to focus on the hard body behind her.

Mark's dragon watched carefully then went to the tools. Carefully he pulled one of the short swords out and started swinging it. Of course the heavy weapon overbalanced him and he tumbled over. He picked himself up and tried again.

Pat's dragon noticed and lightly nipped her rider's leg. Not enough to really hurt, but just to try and get her to focus back at the matter at hand.

Mellon trotted over to Mark's dragon and showed off his new toy. He used the feathers to tickle the Frillback across the face.

Pat thanked the dragon mentally as she focused on trying to get the bow to behave. Tithenor stepped away and let her shoot the arrow, coaxing her through it. Pat did her best to xdo everything he said, but she jumped when she released with the twang. Her arrow spun out of control, narrowly missing the teacher. "Oops," she whispered while the elf just sighed.

Mark's dragon tried to hold it back, but he ended sneezing so hard he spit out his sword and sat down hard.

Alterrion dodged the arrow and frowned. He walked over to Pat. "Lad, have you ever shot a bow before?"

Mellon put his arrow down and nudged the other dragon. He wanted to make sure his friend was okay.

Mark looked over and saw his little dragon. "You okay, little guy?"

"N-no, sir, sorry, sir," she mumbled, her eyes glued to his feet.
"I apologize, sir, I should have walked her through again," Tithenor said s smoothly.

Mark's dragon sneezed again, tiny wafts of smoke curling from his hostile. That tickled! He wasn't hurt, but now he couldn't stop sneezing. His annoyance was clear, even through the connection with his rider. Stop sneezing!

Alterrion looked over the elf with a piercing gaze that could belittle all but the most hardened warriors. "Keep tutoring him for now. If Pat shows no improvement by the end of class, I will be giving him private lessons after dinner." He moved on to the next person.

Mark crouched next to his dragon. "Try breathing through your mouth instead of your nose. The smoke is nice though. Soon you will learn to breath and control fire."

Tithenor met his gaze evenly, not through any strength on his part, from birth elven males of his clan were taught to show no weakness or bending before anyone, not even authorities. Especially not authorities. "Understood, Sir."

Mark's dragon stuck his tongue out, panting as he tried to breath out his mouth. His sneezes stopped and he purred happily, hiding Mellon. He was fine.

Mark smiled and went back to practicing. Mellon squealed happily and play tackled Mark's dragon.

Mark's dragon chirped as he fell over and began happily wrestling with his friend. This was so much fun!

At the end of classtime, Alterrion barked for everyone to be front and center. A few boys were slow to stand to attention, as they had been tired from the intense training the asmar put them through. Once everyone was collected, Alterrion spoke. "Your next class is Wilderness training with Professor Blackwater. Take the weapons you were using with you, as they will be yours until you can make your own. If they become damaged, it is your responsibility alone to repair or replace them. Krudd will show you what to do if you ask him nicely enough and not waste his time. You have plenty enough time to reach the first wild island and rest until Blackwater is ready for you."

Tithenor was standing at ease, not even winded by the training. Pat could barely stand, and her arms were shaking so hard they visibly trembled from the strain. She still hadn't hit the target, but at least she was getting closer and not almost hitting teachers.

Blade's dragon had grown bored of the training and wandered off, looking for shiny things. She had found several and stashed them away in a little hole under a box until she could take them back to her other treasures. She slept now in a tight curl at the entrance of her temporary stash.
Mark's dragon wasn't far from Blade's, snoring lightly as he dozed, waiting for his rider.

Once they were dismissed, Mark and Blade started to look for their dragons.

Mellon had managed to get on top of a spear weapon rack, and teetered on the edge of it. He flapped his wings to keep balance, and a few spears fell because of it.

Pat's dragon obediently walked beside her rider. She felt happy, and was curious to wwhat lay ahead for their adventures.