Learning, learning
Kira was still annoyed that she wasn't a part of the
new trios. Cyvarel had tried to remonstrate with her,
saying that Kira was getting something that the other
Zephyrs Delight weyrlings weren't and vice versa, so
it should all equal out, but that cut no ice with
Kira, not in the frame of mind she was in.
So anyway, she was practicing. They *both* were. And
as they'd recently found out, a short shallow gliding
flight in the middle of the bowl where there was lots
of room was one thing, a brief hop from the ground to
their weyr on the second level was quite another.
Somnolenth had no problem *falling* off the edge of
her ledge and gliding gently to the ground, though she
still wavered a bit in the process. But getting back
up was more difficult, and she often chose the
familiar old route from the bowl up along the external
path that led to the queens' weyrs.
Kira had decided that a longer run would be better,
until Somnolenth learnt to fine tune her motor skills.
The trouble with a really short flight was that you
were no sooner in the air than you had to land, and
direction was another difficulty. They'd already had
several tries this morning, but neither of them were
ready to give in.
Kira grasped the straps firmly, bracing herself for
the anticipated leap.
>>Let's go!<<
~~Going.~~
Somnolenth spread her wings and sprang into the air,
only jerking Kira's neck slightly this time. Once she
was aloft she flapped her wings downwards strongly,
angling them so that she continued to rise steeply, as
close to the perpendicular as she could.
>>You're doing fine!<< And she was too. There was a
marginal wobble, but Kira knew that B'ren would
approve of this particular ascent.
Somnolenth tilted her wings at just the right angle to
maintain her chosen flight path, coming up and over
the rim to land on the edge of the crater near the
watchpoint.
>>Well done! That was perfect.<<
~~I know.~~ There was a shade of satisfaction and
surprise in the matter of fact reply.
Kira was proud of her dragonet, and loked forward to
conveying their next passenger in a more professional
manner than they usually managed.
>>Now, down?<<
~~Down.~~
And it was more than 'falling off' - Somnolenth leapt
into the air before plummeting down towards the ground
until it seemed that they would nosedive into the
middle of the bowl. Kira screamed, but there was no
sound but the air rushing in her ears, and her breath
was cut off suddenly as the golden dragonet swooped
upwards slightly and backwinged to land.
~~Just where I wanted.~~
>>What, my stomach?<< Kira's reply was pure acid.
>>And to think that I gave you every encouragement. I
hope Resanth reprimands you.<< Actually, she hoped
not, for then Alea would certainly chastise Kira for
not maintaining that firm control over Somnolenth that
she'd been talking about lately. >>Now let me check
to make sure you haven't stretched a tendon or pulled
a muscle.<<
There was no apparent injury, aside from Kira's poise,
and she decided that that was enough practice for one
day. Somnolenth concurred, and they both returned to
the Weyr on foot.
~~Tomorrow?~~
>>Tomorrow.<< Kira agreed, rolling her eyes.
Home
Kira
