Post by Taxx on Nov 23, 2019 23:58:26 GMT -5
It was nice, watching Lepsuth fly. As hesitant as she'd been that first time- and the few times after- K'zar had wondered if she'd get used to it. She seemed to have by now. Her two-toned green hide breezed by overhead, her mind content against his. She circled back to where he was standing, pulled up and landed in front of him, shaking out her wings before folding them as she padded the last few feet to him. Am I good? she asked, wide eyes with a hint of yellow whirling through the blue; K'zar reached out to stroke his hands along her cheeks, her head dipping lower to press the top to his chest, her headknobs resting against his shoulders.
The best. Two simple words spoken with conviction eased the hint of worry that he might be displeased- as if he could be. Lepsuth worried about everything, but she also seemed to trust him enough to accept his assurances or praise with ease. A gentle hint about this one itchy spot under her chin came, not in words but in a vague thought, and K'zar reached to scratch it, the thrum of happy pleasure starting as he did so.
"Ah, K'zar! There you are!" The voice interrupted the moment and Lepsuth flinched, reeling back with startled fear. K'zar stumbled forward, unbalanced by the abrupt loss of the green's head against his chest, one hand reaching to brace himself against his dragon's body. He spun to eye D'rew, who looked immediately apologetic. "Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, Lepsuth. I just wanted to see how you felt about taking your flight together? Lepsuth's already got her straps on, I see, so you can go right ahead now."
As he'd spoken, the green had ducked her head again, eyes squeezing shut and nose pressing into her rider's shoulder; her posture, previously relaxed, had taken on a hunched appearance as if she were trying to make herself smaller; with the most obvious sideways shuffle, she put K'zar between herself and D'rew. As if she were as small as she'd been newly hatched and were unable to be seen past her rider's body. Now her head was tucked against his back, her breath stirring his trousers. K'zar gave a shrug before speaking. "Maybe. If she agrees."
"I can wait," D'rew nodded. K'zar didn't reply, just turned. He reached again to scratch the spot she'd told him about, but there was barely a reaction this time, her panic over the thought swamping all other feelings.
We can do it. He knew she was afraid, and calmly K'zar addressed each worry she thought up: most of them about one of them getting hurt, somehow. She worried about her ability to do it, about his safety, about trying something new with the dread it would go poorly. We'll be okay. Gently he coaxed her to her feet, gave D'rew a nod to show they were willing, and then pulled himself onto Lepsuth's back. He felt awkward, his legs hanging to her shoulders; he was taller than average and Lepsuth was quite small, even now. Still, he strapped himself in and waited for the Weyrlingmaster to check. When the bluerider gave his approval, K'zar leaned forward. Now, Mine. It's just a small flight.
Her moss-green wings spread, her mind so present in his that he could swear his nose was picking up odors rather strongly- his eyes seeing double. A breath and he tried to keep himself calm as possible; that was the best thing he could do for Lepsuth. But, as she made the first jump skyward, her wings beating to give them lift, his own fear kicked in. His stomach dropped as the ground rushed away from him, his hands clenching on Lepsuth's neck, and the green gave a brief, high-pitched squeal as she crashed back to the ground, her body suddenly trembling. You're scared! she cried, head arching around to stare at K'zar.
He couldn't deny it, not with his heart still racing, and he was barely aware of D'rew's concerned question over the green's frightened voice. This is a bad idea, I knew it! I don't want to, it's not safe! Mine, she whimpered, curling herself tightly as possible with her chin on his knee.
He couldn't really deny that he had been afraid, reaching out to gently rub her nose. It's okay. I'm okay. It's just... heights. We're together. Everything will be fine.
She didn't feel exactly convinced, but she did open her eyes to stare up at him, a deep yellow telling him what she felt even without words. I'm scared.
Then we'll be scared together. And get past it together.
For a moment longer, Lepsuth didn't move. She huddled tighter on the ground, claws raking through the grass, before slowly, stiffly, she began to uncoil. K'zar gave D'rew a nod, and the older rider was on Sabanth's back quickly. Lepsuth rose to her paws, stretched her wings out again; she froze for a heartbeat, as if remembering K'zar's fear, but at his steady comfort she sprang again. It was impossible to completely squash the fear as they went airborne, and he knew Lepsuth felt it by the way her wings fluttered, but this time she didn't fall and K'zar tried to bury it as much as possible, not under comfort but simply a neutral blankness- the best he could manage.
K'zar knew the drill, guiding Lepsuth to circle the lake. It was honestly taking them less time to actually fly than it had to convince her, and he had to admit it wasn't exactly enjoyable; the green's body jolted, dipped and fell with each eddy of air and beat of her wings. There was pride in Lepsuth for doing it, despite her fear, and K'zar closed his eyes, layering calm each time the green's fear flickered up again. Through her, he saw them near the plateau again, waiting until he felt her slow, backwinging as she swept closer before landing, back feet first and then front paws- a bit heavily, K'zar jarred by the rough landing but held in place by the straps, and then he sat straighter.
"Well done!" D'rew called, Sabanth hovering close by. "Go and rest now, you both deserve it." Then the two were gone, and Lepsuth was looking back at him.
I would like to rest. I'm very tired, Mine.
Okay. That sounds pretty good right now. As he agreed, K'zar was sliding down, deftly loosening buckles and tugging the straps from the green's body. You go ahead, I'll catch up? And when she hesitated, he gave a brief smile. Or you can walk with me.
Yes, she agreed, eyes suddenly brighter and whirling blue. I will do that.
C'mon then, he replied, gathering the straps into his arms and setting off. Lepsuth followed close behind, most definitely looking forward to the quiet of their room and the lack of anyone else to intrude on them- the best thing, in her opinion, time alone with K'zar. They couldn't get there soon enough.
The best. Two simple words spoken with conviction eased the hint of worry that he might be displeased- as if he could be. Lepsuth worried about everything, but she also seemed to trust him enough to accept his assurances or praise with ease. A gentle hint about this one itchy spot under her chin came, not in words but in a vague thought, and K'zar reached to scratch it, the thrum of happy pleasure starting as he did so.
"Ah, K'zar! There you are!" The voice interrupted the moment and Lepsuth flinched, reeling back with startled fear. K'zar stumbled forward, unbalanced by the abrupt loss of the green's head against his chest, one hand reaching to brace himself against his dragon's body. He spun to eye D'rew, who looked immediately apologetic. "Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, Lepsuth. I just wanted to see how you felt about taking your flight together? Lepsuth's already got her straps on, I see, so you can go right ahead now."
As he'd spoken, the green had ducked her head again, eyes squeezing shut and nose pressing into her rider's shoulder; her posture, previously relaxed, had taken on a hunched appearance as if she were trying to make herself smaller; with the most obvious sideways shuffle, she put K'zar between herself and D'rew. As if she were as small as she'd been newly hatched and were unable to be seen past her rider's body. Now her head was tucked against his back, her breath stirring his trousers. K'zar gave a shrug before speaking. "Maybe. If she agrees."
"I can wait," D'rew nodded. K'zar didn't reply, just turned. He reached again to scratch the spot she'd told him about, but there was barely a reaction this time, her panic over the thought swamping all other feelings.
We can do it. He knew she was afraid, and calmly K'zar addressed each worry she thought up: most of them about one of them getting hurt, somehow. She worried about her ability to do it, about his safety, about trying something new with the dread it would go poorly. We'll be okay. Gently he coaxed her to her feet, gave D'rew a nod to show they were willing, and then pulled himself onto Lepsuth's back. He felt awkward, his legs hanging to her shoulders; he was taller than average and Lepsuth was quite small, even now. Still, he strapped himself in and waited for the Weyrlingmaster to check. When the bluerider gave his approval, K'zar leaned forward. Now, Mine. It's just a small flight.
Her moss-green wings spread, her mind so present in his that he could swear his nose was picking up odors rather strongly- his eyes seeing double. A breath and he tried to keep himself calm as possible; that was the best thing he could do for Lepsuth. But, as she made the first jump skyward, her wings beating to give them lift, his own fear kicked in. His stomach dropped as the ground rushed away from him, his hands clenching on Lepsuth's neck, and the green gave a brief, high-pitched squeal as she crashed back to the ground, her body suddenly trembling. You're scared! she cried, head arching around to stare at K'zar.
He couldn't deny it, not with his heart still racing, and he was barely aware of D'rew's concerned question over the green's frightened voice. This is a bad idea, I knew it! I don't want to, it's not safe! Mine, she whimpered, curling herself tightly as possible with her chin on his knee.
He couldn't really deny that he had been afraid, reaching out to gently rub her nose. It's okay. I'm okay. It's just... heights. We're together. Everything will be fine.
She didn't feel exactly convinced, but she did open her eyes to stare up at him, a deep yellow telling him what she felt even without words. I'm scared.
Then we'll be scared together. And get past it together.
For a moment longer, Lepsuth didn't move. She huddled tighter on the ground, claws raking through the grass, before slowly, stiffly, she began to uncoil. K'zar gave D'rew a nod, and the older rider was on Sabanth's back quickly. Lepsuth rose to her paws, stretched her wings out again; she froze for a heartbeat, as if remembering K'zar's fear, but at his steady comfort she sprang again. It was impossible to completely squash the fear as they went airborne, and he knew Lepsuth felt it by the way her wings fluttered, but this time she didn't fall and K'zar tried to bury it as much as possible, not under comfort but simply a neutral blankness- the best he could manage.
K'zar knew the drill, guiding Lepsuth to circle the lake. It was honestly taking them less time to actually fly than it had to convince her, and he had to admit it wasn't exactly enjoyable; the green's body jolted, dipped and fell with each eddy of air and beat of her wings. There was pride in Lepsuth for doing it, despite her fear, and K'zar closed his eyes, layering calm each time the green's fear flickered up again. Through her, he saw them near the plateau again, waiting until he felt her slow, backwinging as she swept closer before landing, back feet first and then front paws- a bit heavily, K'zar jarred by the rough landing but held in place by the straps, and then he sat straighter.
"Well done!" D'rew called, Sabanth hovering close by. "Go and rest now, you both deserve it." Then the two were gone, and Lepsuth was looking back at him.
I would like to rest. I'm very tired, Mine.
Okay. That sounds pretty good right now. As he agreed, K'zar was sliding down, deftly loosening buckles and tugging the straps from the green's body. You go ahead, I'll catch up? And when she hesitated, he gave a brief smile. Or you can walk with me.
Yes, she agreed, eyes suddenly brighter and whirling blue. I will do that.
C'mon then, he replied, gathering the straps into his arms and setting off. Lepsuth followed close behind, most definitely looking forward to the quiet of their room and the lack of anyone else to intrude on them- the best thing, in her opinion, time alone with K'zar. They couldn't get there soon enough.
