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Glancing at Aerith and then back to her own straps a time or two Hekate began to work all the while carefully watched by her own dragon. Perhaps the riding gear was a bit plain, but she'd be shot between before it came out looking second hand. The very idea of her dragon wearing anything, but the best left Hekate twitching in anger. Putting her full concentration in her work she carefully began to fit and buckle the pieces together.

Slowly, a bit too slowly for Hekate's taste the pieces of leather actually began to resemble riding gear. A buckle here, a hook there and little by little her work began to come together until finally with a shout of triumph Hekate held up her finished piece

There in her hands was a perfectly put together riding harness that she held out for Devith's inspection as she got to her feet. Lifting his head Devith nudged it letting out a wuff of air as he nodded his approval their bond swelling with pride.

Perhaps Mine should look into tanning. Devith crooned spreading his wings for balance as he rose elegantly from his seat ready to be fitted with his new gear.

Laughing Hekate shook her head, but the grin never left her face. First time and perfect! Come on let's see about fitting you with this thing and getting out of here! Dizzian and Courath can catch up.

Courath shot a look at Devith though she spoke in her usual warm and calm manner. ~ Aerith is right brothermine. I am strong enough on my own. You needn't worry about me.~ Her customary caress of the silver was brief as his own rider quieted him. Further discussion was halted as Mercy explained their task and the silver pair flew into action without a second thought. The green shook her head and returned to her rider's side. Privately as her eyeridges were scratched she crooned to Dizzian. ~ She IS right Mine. I sense that worry in your mind. We will have no problems once the proper steps have been taken. I look forward to flying with you. ~

Even if Courath was enthusiastic about it Dizzian was relieved that she wouldn't be expected to fly this very day. ~ And I you Courath. I've just been afraid...~ She turned and hugged the ever larger green head to her chest.

~ I know Mine. I know... Come now. We have work to do.~ Courath nudged Dizzian towards the boxes and Aerith. Really, until Dizzian had fitted the straps together Courath had little to do herself. She sat on her haunches and watched as the two young women worked. ~ Aerith... You were very passionate in defending me against my clutchbrother. Have you had similar experiences? ~ Courath didn't feel she had needed the defense personally but it was unnecessary to say so. Aerith didn't know them or how Devith was. Courath knew he did it out of his fondness for her and if she were to ask anything of him he'd give it freely. Devith for all his posturing and growling was quite a noble dragon.

Dizzian in the meantime gave Aerith's straps a quick look over. She didn't go right up to the white her curiosity making her shy for fear of appearing 'nosy'. It was hard to see the numbers on her straps though. Dizzian still wouldn't admit her eyesight was not the clearest.

In the end she picked up once piece from each box then sat down, arranging them like squares for a quilt, figuring out where each went before she began trying to put them together.

Wait...wait...ok one buckle was OBVIOUSLY not going to be enough. Rolling her eyes at herself she grabbed a handful more. If she had too many... well she didn't need to use them all.

At least she knew which way the straps went on. Dizzian chewed the inside of her cheek as she focused on getting everything in place. She was frusterated with the task by now. It had been a pain to put them together and for all her turns of lessons and living in the weyr Hekate had slipped in with no knowledge and done everything perfectly. She and Devith had thrived in the mess Trine had become and even with little to no teaching she'd managed to do everything practically perfect her first try.

SHE'D fought in the revolution to save Trine. Dizzian had nearly gotten herself killed and couldn't even claim she'd at least taken one down with her.

Luck seemed to just pour down on Hekate and Dizzian was left struggling in her wake. The girl was starting to feel bitter as she hitched the straps tight around Courath's chest. Her eyes glared at the leather and buckles as if they were the source of all of her drama. It just wasn't fair! "Courath how does that feel?"

~ Tighter on the one up front I think mine. ~ Courath shook herself vigorously, she could feel the strap around her neck sliding with the movement. Courath didn't comment on her rider's inner thoughts. She knew Dizzian didn't actually mean any of it. She was upset at one thing which made her upset with everything else at the same time. Once she was on Courath's back she'd cheer up.

"Are you sure? I don't want to choke you." Dizzian tightened the buckle on the neck strap a couple of notches, sticking her fingers between it and Courath's hide to check. "Or chafe...how are the other ones?

~ A little tighter still... There. The other is fine. It doesn't hurt. ~ She flexed her wings, thankfully most of her scarring was at the base of her membrane, where the straps rested against her shoulders there were few scars. She might accept some padding if it made hers happy and wouldn't interfere with her flight.

Dizzian's check of the straps was interupted by a whoop and a loud bugle. She looked over the curve of Courath's neck to see Hekate and Devith charging off to Faranth know's where. "HEKATE!" She shrieked in fear. "Courath what are they doing they're going to get hurt!" Weren't they supposed to strap themselves to their dragon? Mercy hadn't given them leave to mount! What if Hekate hadn't got the straps on right?! Oh this was bad.

Courath dug her claws into the earth, nerves alive and eyes spinning at dizzying speeds. ~ Mine! Up! Let's go!~ She held out her front leg as she'd seen the older dragons do.

"Courath we can't! Mercy hasn't said we can yet. what if we're not ready?" Dizzian was starting to hyperventilate in her excitement. Unspoken was the worry more that Courath wasn't ready yet. She was still so small and her wings...

Courath's eyes flashed orange. She'd caught the hidden thoughts. ~ We are ready. If I have to scoop you up myself I will Mine! It's time for us to ride together!~

"Courath No! We will I promise but not until Mercy says so!" She turned to the weyrlingmaster hoping she could catch the woman even as Hekate and Devith disappeared. "Mercy! Help!" Courath was trying her damnedest to do exactly as she'd said she would and knock Dizzian up over her neck. "I can't stop her!"

"Of course" Mercy replied as Morgaine brought up what it was she had wanted to talk about - she supposed it was a suitable worry since none of Palooth's clutch had yet been assigned to wings and flying in wings was an entirely different experience then the few exercises they had managed to get to before the revolution had broken out.

"Well you recall the practices we did on the ground as Weyrlings..there is really not to much difference, whatever Wingleader you are assigned to will of course come up with his or her own formations for you to follow.." She started off before going on to outline several of the more common formations. It was while she was in the midst of this that Hekate and Devith pulled their little stunt.

Mercy was...dumbfounded to be honest and for a few moments she just stared slack jawed at the rampaging pair before her sense took hold of her Again. "Aerith! Calm the green and call that silver back now!" She ordered the white.

'Calm yourself, shoving your rider about like that will do no one any good!' Aerith stated firmly, rising to her feet and staring the green down confidently despite her small size before her attention turned to Devith. ' You will return to the teaching area IMMEDIATELY!' The white barked at the wayward silver 'And at a respectable pace!' It added in a frosty tone.

"Stay put, no one is riding anyone until things calm down! Move over towards Aerith if you can't make her stop trying to push you around" Mercy ordered Dizzan, relieved that she at least was attempting to listen - even if her dragon seemed to have the upper hand in their relationship at the moment - she'd have to call Dizzan in for a talking to about that, letting the dragon rule things could spell disaster later on, but for the moment she was more concerned about making Hekate and Devith return.

Hekate waved at Z'fer until they circled around out of sight. It didn't take a genius to tell they were being ordered back even as she felt Devith bunch and their connection sour with annoyance as the words came to him.

Aerith and Mercy request we return to the teaching area Mine. Shall we oblige them? Devith asked his tone dark with amusement and anger as he spoke as if the white had asked rather then ordered them to return. As far as Devith cared all orders were simply requests he chose whether or not to deem to comply too. He had no intention of returning should his wish to continue their wild ride. This was the most fun either of them had had and he was loathe to cut their time together like this short at the prospect of returning for punishment. Still. . .Courath and Dizzian would be worried and it was perhaps for the best he let them know they were perfectly fine. Better then fine really.

I do suppose we'd best comply. Hekate replied with a mental shrug stroking her dragons neck lovingly a soft smile gracing her lips even as the wind whipped by the pair as they turned and began their rapid pace. Once they had picked up enough speed to once more elegantly clear the fence Devith fell back into a more relaxed trot slinking along like a large silver cat as he moved.

Looking at the two with the way Hekate was beaming and smiling and Devith strolling along as if he had not a care in the world one would hardly think they were a pair heading back for likely punishment.

I do not see what all the fuss is about. You made our riding straps perfectly, fitted them to me without so much as a hitch then strapped yourself in with hardly a problem Mine. I do believe we more then met the requirements to ride together. Devith crooned to his rider eyes sparkling with dark mischief.

She's probably upset at how you bolted love! Not that I am, but some are not quite as daring as the pair of us. Hekate replied with a laugh the two clearing the small hill to trot down to the beach and spotting the rest of their lesson group.

Lifting a hand uncaring Hekate waved to her friends. In that moment her hair was windswept and wild, her cheeks red from the cool breeze and laughter and her gold eyes seemed to glitter brighter then any Queen's hide with pure joy as she practically beamed at the three other riders. However short of a time their romp had been to feel his rider's sheer euphoria had been enough to satisfy Devith and he held his head high coming to a stop beside Courath his wings half mantled, hide glowing with a light healthy sheen of sweat and looking positively pleased with himself.

Hekate stared down at Mercy, no amount of ire from the other rider would dampen her mood as it stood. Instead she merely sat and listened to the Weyrlingmaster's words patiently waiting for her to finish before speaking herself.

"Of course I didn't think to double check my straps. I did double check my straps. I double checked all my work against Aerith's harness to make sure I did it correctly. I wasn't going to risk a strap coming loose and snagging one of Devith's legs." Hekate replied her tone sharp and professional even as she patted her dragon's neck lovingly her eyes softening when it came to her life mate.

"As to Devith taking it easy. He chose to run. I simply signaled I was ready and he set the pace. Besides had he been straining himself I'd have told him to stop, but he was suitably stretched from the walk down here so there was little risk of him pulling something. Specially since we were only going to go for one lap then come back and wait for Dizzian and Courath to join us." She explained, but at being called a careless child her eyes narrowed her once chipper attitude kicked into the flames of anger.

Mine is telling the truth. She double checked all her work as you suggest and it was I who chose the pace. I could have easily chosen a trot or a walk, but I felt a run would be more enjoyable for the both of us. Devith added with a snort staunchly backing up his rider and making no move to lower so she could dismount. He liked her exactly where she was.

"I was not acting the careless child. I did exactly as you asked of us and had you told us not to run I'm sure we would have taken an easier pace, but you made no such specifications. I double checked all my work, put my harness on properly, did up my straps properly and saw to the care and safety of myself and my dragon." Hekate spoke her tone sharp as she turned to her dragon. "Devith let me down." She snapped though her anger was far from directed as him as the silver obediently lowered allowing Hekate to easily undo her straps and step from her dragon's back to stand by his side arms crossed and frowning

I told you these lessons were a bad idea Mine. We're better off on our own. These other rider's make no sense. We do as they ask and still get into trouble. Devith rumbled in Hekate's mind his eyes whirling bright red with anger, but he submitted to his rider's ministrations as she gently stroked his hide.

"Well it's good to know that you've declared yourself an expert on your very first attempt, but regardless of you and your dragons feelings on the matter lessons are carried out in a specific manner for a reason and such reasons often include your safety. If I can't trust you to listen and behave responsibly then I certainly can't trust you to fly. So ..your grounded, you will attend the next lesson but it will be theoretical only, you will not be flying and any attempts to circumnavigate your punishment and sneak off to try it anyways will only get you grounded longer." Mercy stated in a stern tone, arm's crossed as she looked at the angry rider and dragon.

It was not a punishment she wanted to hand out - Mercy knew well the desire to fly and she also knew first hand the disappointment that came with watching others in your class fly before you did. But she also knew the importance of listening - even if the rules didn't make sense, even if you were completely sure that things were fine...it was important to listen, to be a team player. When you fought thread a rider with no discipline was a rider who was a danger to everyone and Mercy simply couldn't let such habits continue. They might hate her for it...but she'd take solace from the fact that it might just save their lives. Still she felt the need to offer the girl a chance and Aerith rumbled her approval as the idea formed.

"However, I'm a fair person and I like to give people the chance to make up for their mistakes..so if between now and the next lesson you can find a way to prove that you are a responsible rider whose willing to be a team player and not endanger your wingmates with self gratifying actions then I will lift the grounding and allow you to partake in the next lesson." She finished before turning to Dizzian and her green, calling over her shoulder as she walked off. "Take your straps off and leave them by Aerith."

"Dizzian, Courath" She greet the other pair as she reached them "Did the straps rub anywhere?"

"How am I expected to know the reasons or specific manners for a lesson to be carried out if you never teach or tell them to me?" Hekate asked her voice a borderline growl mingling wit the low rumble from her silver, but she kept her control. Devith however was a ticking time bomb on a very short fuse as his eyes whirled a murderous dark red. His wasn't responsible enough!? When she put her needs so often before the others and worked tirelessly for a Weyr that constantly beat them both down and housed his rider's dreaded enemies! His had every right to leave or be angry or refuse to help! Instead she did double her needed load to help the injured and had even shouldered Dizzian's chores without asking when the other weyrling had been injured!

It was only Hekate's steadying hand that kept him from trying to tear the harness off in his anger. Not so much because Hekate was concerned for the harness as she was that Devith might injure himself in his fury. Mercy's offer that if his rider proved herself though only did more to insight his anger and resentment. However Hekate merely turned away never even bothering to respond to Mery as she undid the straps on Devith. However while his rider may have been willing to suffer this yet another injustice in silence Devith was not. Pulling from his rider's memories Devith snarled.

Is it not enough that she saved all of my clutch that had gone to Benden and that would have been left stranded and helpless in the aftermath of the Dragonlights had she not had me call out and had not refused to leave until she saw all of us safely away? Is it not enough that during the battle for Trine she searched the outskirts looking for those hatchlings or candidates who might have escaped and been injured in the process who could be hidden there?! The silver snarled roaring at the two as he bristled even as Hekate tried to calm him.

Shhh Devith it's not worth it. It doesn't matter! We're used to this! She argued, but the silver's hand would not be stayed. You could insult and attack him, but you didn't you DID NOT go after his rider. Especially not for a mistake that had been his! After all Hekate had been the one to bring them back. Courath had tried to take off too and had ignored Dizzian, but she was left unpunished. Not that he wanted his sibling to be punished, but the furious silver smelled favoritism and he despised it.

Is it not enough that when Courath and her rider lay dying it was I and Mine who went out to search for her and braved the possibility of getting rent in two same as them to find and lead a rescue team to them! Is it not enough that Mine labored in the firestone pit unasked and lead the candidates to their places when she was unsure anyone would be there to do so during threadfall! Is it not enough she tended and helped clean the weyrs and feed the flits and tend to the chores of those who were injured! Is it not enough that even now she pulls double shifts doing salvage work to better see the Weyr repaired and you punish her for one brief moment of freedom and happiness that was of my devising! Devith roared and as soon as Hekate undid the straps he reared startling his rider and reaching a paw up to rip the harness from his hide and throw it to the ground.

"Devith!" Hekate snapped out loud unsure whether to be angry or proud of her dragon in that moment as he towered over them all his rage clear upon his face even as he turned to Courath speaking plainly to both her and Mercy and anyone else who wished to listen.

No sister. While your offer of help is appreciated Mine has done more then enough to prove to all doubters that we are worthy. Mine already pushes herself harder then anyone else in this thrice betweened Weyr and I will not stand for her to push herself any harder. If the price of flight is my rider's happiness and health then I will gladly live my life on the ground. He finished even as Hekate picked up the harness and tried to talk him around.

"Devith I don't mind the extra work. I can~" But before she could even finish Devith whirled his tone deadly quiet. You will not argue with me on this Mine. You are already over worked, stressed, and taxed. We are leaving and I will not be back. Devith rumbled turning and stalking off even as Hekate dropped her harness off and jogged to catch up with him laying a hand against her silver's hide as the two headed back home, the two turning a corner and were gone from sight.