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"Oh! I can see it now," Malina said, weak with relief. It was more that she could feel it, rather than see it. Fortunately, Ofelia had given her something physical to focus on. It helped. It was a small task, but small was better. It seemed that she needed to break the larger task down into smaller chunks, and the smaller the better. That way, she could master that dratted shaking, and work in spite of it. There, do you see? Do you feel how it must feel? Bonth asked Malina, lending her supportive voice to the others. They would almost assuredly be chided for this, but far better to have a rider who knew what she was doing than one who continually erred.

And just like that, the riding straps were falling into place where they ought to be. She'd learned this in class, but the problem was, Bonth had been so much smaller when they had discussed the concept. Or else, she'd seemed smaller. ... Or Malina hadn't been nearly as excited. Of course, she was going to entrust her life to these straps, so maybe that was why. "Got it, thanks." And thanks were indeed in order. She gave both of her 'rescuers' a grateful, sweet smile, and then finished up the straps right and proper. The sigh of relief she gave was almost inaudible, but cathartic all the same.

It seemed time had passed in a busy whirl--and there had been so much preparation for this lesson! Manned flight! It seemed like only yesterday she'd arrived at the weyr, expecting to go home shortly, and now here she was with her green dragon at her side, almost ready to take to the skies. She'd never been one much to dream of flying as a child, but in the past few sevendays as preparations for this became paramount, she had begun to indulge herself with such daydreams. What exactly would it feel like--oh, how the former Harpergirl'd tried to imagine it!

Reluctantly she drew herself back to reality (Sleeth's gentle nudging helped as well) as O'rer set the weyrlings their task. It was straightforward enough--and they'd certainly been lectured on it more than enough times. Akaya's nimble fingers attended to the task with precision, though Sleeth's wiggling proved the most difficult part of the task. Stand still, please, it's just a bit longer, Akaya reassured her dragon as she worked to finish quickly while she had Sleeth's compliance on the matter.

Done yet? Sleeth asked hopefully. Akaya stifled a chuckle.

Does it feel right? she asked instead. The green dragon moved experimentally, and Akaya's brow furrowed as she reached to correct a few straps' tightness. How about now?

Just right! Sleeth said happily, casting her whirling eyes about and spotting her very favorite draconic friend. Lifth! Are you done too? Isn't this exciting?

Even if he had sighed, she wouldn't have noticed the slight. Well, that's what I meant, the green said agreeably. And it is exciting! she insisted. This is where it all starts, Akayamine says. We fly with Ours and then we get to flame and go between! We are almost big enough that they can't tell us to wait until we are older anymore! Though because of draconic memory Sleeth never quite knew exactly how many times she'd heard that line, she was sure it had been a lot.

Akaya was likewise tuning the draconic conversation out--though dearly she loved her dragon, Sleeth did have a tendency to repeat herself. She usually got the feeling that between Sleeth and Lifth she was missing the substantial part of the conversation, being able to hear only Sleeth's thoughts.

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, the powerfully built rider took several paces back from his lifemate to get a better look at the twisted harness. After a few moments he spotted the issues; he'd muddled the straps across her chest, crissed where he should have crossed or something. Giving a quiet grunt of satisfaction, K'ro moved in to fix his mistake, and before long the straps lay smoothly against Viridith's pale hide.

"Comfortable?" K'ro asked, running a hand over the patch on her shoulder that had been so rough this morning; it seemed to be alright now.

"Yes," the skinny green hissed softly and shuffled her wings, the first hint of movement from her since the harness had touched her back. "We are ready," she said to any dragon nearby who cared to listen, before adding privately to K'ro; "Next time we shall have the straps right first time. Remember how you did this."

"I will," K'ro assured his lifemate with a slight smile, "I'm good at remembering where rigging goes, this isn't really all that different." Well, it was, but it was the same kind of skill; practical, requiring visual memory. "Next time I'll have you ship shape in no time at all."

"...I am not a ship, Mine."

"I know, but you know what I mean."

"Yes... Just don't start referring to my tail as a stern."

"Your tail's not a stern, more like a rudder."

"Very funny."

As his dragon snorted and him, K'ro gave an uncharacteristic broad grin. Flying! They were going to fly, just like the gulls, no, better than the gulls. Though he was usually a man of endless calm and patience, now that they were so very close he was almost bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement.

If there were one thing S'kagi had definitely been doing with vigor... it was paying attention to lessons with Luvith, and he was just as focused putting on his leathers as he had been in class. Or mostly anyway. The dark haired boy broke out a ghost of a smile once or twice at others and the chatter with their dragons.

Of course with Luvith's tendency to rapidly change size (He occasionally accused her of literally growing in bounds over night, which made her preen), there was a certain need to have the leather down to a rote, if possible, and he adjusted it, if not as quickly as some, certainly accurately, going back to make an adjustment here or there.

Yes that feels right. Luvith sounded pleased, turning her head to watch S'kagi and then surveying the others. Isn't this exciting? Finally we can start to fly together.

I'm a little nervous I admit. S'kagi added, flashing her a crooked smile. Most of his smiles were at least a little crooked. Humans aren't born with wings after all, this is new to me.

Well. That's what dragons are for isn't it? F'ren is coming, by the way.

Now? Uh oh. I hope they don't notice he's late. He'll be in some hot water.

D'lin thought he'd had this whole leather's thing down pat - or at least he'd gone over and over again in his head how they should be put on...but Plexith was practically quivering with excitement and his eagerness to be off leaked into D'lin's focus and made him rush. Rushing, as with anything, almost always led to mistakes and when it became clear something was off D'lin sighed.

Plexith of course was not pleased with the delay and his eyes whirled with fleck of orange at his agitation."We are going to be fussed at mine!" The dragon worried and D'lin glanced at the no longer small head as it reprimanded him "We have time to fix it" He assured Plexith attempting to block out the dragons agitation so that he could focus better. Allowing Plexith's agitation to bleed through and affect him would just make him screw up worse and so he just calmly went about trying to alter his mistakes.

F'ren fumbled again, he'd moved the straps and buckles Toulonth had mentioned but it still didn't feel right, "Shards why can't i focus" he muttered noticing the creases in his shirt beneath the leathers, "Shards" he said loudly, then glanced around, hoping no one had heard his curse.

He tried to get it right, getting more and more frustrated with himself that he wasn't getting it right "Mine, calm and think, close your eyes and remenber how it goes, do not worry about the creases, once your leathers are on properly the others will not see beneath"

F'ren jumped, he hadn't noticed K'ro come up, "Oh! The saddle!" he exclaimed, "i'm sorry Toulonth you should have reminded me" he told her, while grabbing her harness "Thanks K'ro, i'd forgotten about that, Zevra hid my flying jacket" he explained to the other Greenrider, "Sharding leather it's so confusing" he mumbled to himself as he rushed to get his Dragon geared up for riding, "ok this strap here" he muttered, talking out loud as he went "that one goes under here i think, ...hmmm .. this buckles under there?" He tried so hard to get the straps around Toulonth in the right order, he's been practising, but it seemed not enough.