Dragon Rider Play

"Indeed it is.  Are you nervous?" Tithenor asked, looking out over the clouds.

Erika arched her neck and purred, her tail flicking in appreciation.  He looked very shiny, himself.

Jeremiah smiled and looked out too. "Yeah, a bit. Seems like a huge step, huh? You nervous?"

Mellon dipped his head in thanks. His rider might be the human clan leader, but he thought either Erika or Nightshade was more the dragon clan leader.

"I am eager," Tithenor answered.  "And nervous.  I look forward to seeing what my ancestors did when they rode dragons."

Erika head butted him gently then slithered over to nibble on Tithenor's hair.

Melloraumo started to lick his rider again affectionately.

Jeremiah laughed. "I wonder if your ancestors had dragons like ours."

"I rather hope not.  Otherwise, I can't imagine any of them having hair," Tithenor grumbled, unamused by the pair of dragons messing with his hair.

Jeremiah laughed. "I don't know. Some women like the messy hair look, I've been told." He teased.

"I am an elf!  I do not have messy hair," Tithenor protested, trying in vain to smooth his hair even as the dragons messed it.  A horn sounded and he froze.  "And now it is time to gather."

Jeremiah laughed. "Right, it's not messy, just purposely disorderly." He teased. "Let's get going. I for once don't want to be late to something not concerning food."

"That is a miracle in of itself," Tithenor said dryly, pulling away from the dragons and trying to put his hair in some semblance of order.

Right before they got there, Melloraumo licked the back of Tithenor's head, making the hair in the back stick up right before they joined up with everyone.

Tithenor gave up.  What else was there to do?  He stood straight and pretended like nothing was wrong.

Pat giggled when she saw Tithenor.  "You found him!" She cheered to Jeremiah.

Mellon nuzzled his rider affectionately.

Jeremiah grinned. "He was being broody in the woods."

Alterrion circled overhead, watching the dragons and riders gather. He would help them in the air, while Blackwater helped them mount and take off.

"I was not brooding," Tithenor said calmly.  "Merely thinking."
"Humans call that brooding," Pat smirked.

Krudd grumbled dourly like usual as he usually did as he stalked toward the flying grounds.  The Headmaster kept his distance, watching with his dragon.

Blackwater rode his dragon over, although Loam was walking on the ground rather than flying. He patiently waited for all of the students to gather up. There were still a couple of stragglers.

"Blackwater is coming!" Pat hissed to the others excitedly.  
Tithenor raised an eyebrow at her.  "So he is.  Such news."
Erika lowered her head respectfully to Loam, but Warrior just bobbed excitedly.

Mellon stamped the ground excitedly with his front paws, while Nightshade merely sat just behind Pat, proper and preened to perfection. Her species always picked slight riders, since they were smaller dragons. It would be a lot easier to carry a smaller rider than a heftier one regardless, but her species especially were built to be fast and lean, and that would not be possible with a big rider.

Blackwater guided Loam to a stop and looked out over the dragons and riders. "Students." He said calmly. "Today marks one of, if not the, biggest and most life changing day of your lives. You will move from merely being bound to a dragon to becoming dragon riders in the full sense of the word. But before that first flight can begin, you must of course saddle up your dragons. I don't want to be filing paperwork because someone tried to ride bareback and slid right off and got seriously hurt." He paused. "It happens more often than you think."

A student raised his hand. "Sir?  What about those of us who's dragons are too small to ride?"
Lucius stepped forward.  "Those of you who have the small breeds of dragons shall come with me for other training once Professor Blackwater has completed his introductory speech."

Blackwater nodded a thanks to Lucius. "All you today are about to fulfill the destiny and hope that your individual dragons saw and chose for you. If you look around, each of you started from all kinds of different walks of life, and now, through one sole common factor, all are standing here today as one big unit, one big team. You have faced long hours training, and prevailed. No matter what happens from here, you all should take pride in that fact." Blackwater paused a moment. "If your dragon is of a small enough breed not to ride, please go with Lucius now. Those with larger dragons, saddle up and gear up."

Lucius led the other students off to the other side to speak to them about their dragons.  Just because you didn't fly didn't mean you couldn't hold a very important position.

Pat watched the others go then placed her hand on Nightshade's shoulder, the physical touch helping her to remain calm.  She was so nervous!  She could cross the bridges now, but it still wasn't fun.  What was it going to be like a mile or more above the ground?  She turned and began saddling her dragon, her hands shaking.  She fumbled the straps, getting them twisted and in the wrong buckled, whispering apology after apology to Nightshade.  She'd done this a hundred times, but she was so nervous!

Tithenor calmly and quickly slid the saddle into place on Mellon's back, indicating for the dragon to kneel as he did so.  Otherwise, he'd never be able to reach.  His heart thundered in his chest, but nothing showed on his expression.

Nightshade was understanding and forgiving as ever, the dragon helping her rider gently where she could. Nightshade tried to lick and groom Pat in an attempt to calm her beloved companion.

Melloraumo was excited, but tried to stay still for Tithenor to saddle him. Once saddled, Mellon ran around in circles and blew cool air at Tithenor.

Jeremiah saddled Erika with his leather and metal saddle he had worked on for several months, to make sure each piece was exact and precise. It was a lovely saddle, and the sweat and tears put into it seemed to have paid off. The metal bands laid smoothly against Erika and worked around the sharp spines harmlessly, and the leather parts of the straps made it easier to put on and secure. He smiled once it was on, admiring his handiwork.