Learning to Fly Again
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 11th November 2020
Characters: R'axe, T'kev
Description: T'kev helps R'axe learn to fly again.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 10 of Turn 10
"I see you are making progress with Ward," T'kev said, watching as R'axe successfully navigated his way back into his weyr without bumping into anything.
A hint of a smile played on R'axe's lips. "I'm at least not afraid of falling into the Weyrlake anymore. Ward hates water as much as I do now."
T'kev watched as Ward drew up in front of the couch and bumped his nose into R'axe's leg, signaling that he could sit. The bluerider did so, crossing one leg over the other as he would have before he lost his sight.
"Are you ready to try something new today?" T'kev asked.
"Something new?" R'axe asked, voice filled with skepticism. Whenever T'kev wanted him to try something it was typically always a task that was outside of his comfort zone.
T'kev felt a little trace of pity hearing the uncertainty in R'axe's tone. "How long has it been since you've ridden Jayth?"
A lump developed in R'axe's throat, so hard he couldn't swallow, and had he been able, tears would have been in his eyes, but lacking the necessary parts to do that, the emotions had nowhere to go but to remain trapped in his throat.
The last time R'axe had ridden Jayth had been the day they flew 'fall, the day he had lost his eyes, the day he had ceased to be a dragonrider.
"I can't," he whispered brokenly.
"Why not?" T'kev asked.
The corners of his mouth trembled as Jayth's feelings of disappointment flooded their link. }:Why not? I will not let you fall. I want us to fly together. We are meant to be together.:{
**Flying will just remind me of everything that I have lost. My life is on the ground now.** R'axe told his lifemate resolutely.
Jayth's eyes whirled an anxious orange. }:Please, rider. You have learned to dress yourself, you have learned to walk around the Weyr again without help. When we fly, I will be your eyes. You can learn to fly again.:{
"Jayth is right, you know." T'kev said, interrupting.
"He talked to you?" R'axe asked.
"Yes. I had Jeminath ask him about flying with you again a few days ago, just to make sure it's something that he would want as well." And of course it had been something the blue wanted-dragons were made to fly.
R'axe stroked Ward's head repeatedly, the action calming his nerves a bit.
}:Please.:{ Jayth asked once more.
"Fine, I'll try it." R'axe bit out, unable to deny the other half of his heart what it wanted.
"I'll go get the straps ready," T'kev said, leaving R'axe to gather himself while he prepped Jayth.
In a matter of moments, too soon for R'axe's liking, he was standing on Jayth's ledge, his riding jacket, helmet, and goggles on for the first time in months. He had almost forgotten the security of a riding jacket, the way his fit him like a glove and still smelled faintly of wind, leather, and ashes. The smells brought a rush of memories back, memories of all the times he'd flown with Jayth. In the past putting on his riding jacket had been something that he hadn't even thought about, he hadn't appreciated then such a simple thing.
R'axe let out a steadying breath.
"You don't need eyes to get to Jayth's neckridge. Just let your muscles do what they've done for Turns." T'kev coached.
R'axe thought about all of the times he'd idly jumped up to his dragon's neckridge without a care. "How much distance is between us?" he asked.
"Two long strides and you'll run right into him."
**You can do this. You've been mounting a dragon for nineteen Turns.** R'axe coached himself. **Just do it, no thinking.** Lunging forward, he made the same strides that he'd always made. One hand reached out to grab the straps as he gave them a hard yank and used his momentum to vault himself up onto Jayth's neckridge.
Before R'axe knew it, he was seated astride his lifemate's neckridge, feet snuggly hooked into the stirrups. "I... did it." There was wonder, and no small amount of pride, in his voice.
T'kev whooped. "Yeah, you did!"
A grin covered R'axe's face as his hands made quick work of securing his belt to the riding straps. A flicker of hope flamed to life inside him. He was going to fly again!
"Come with me?" he asked T'kev. His confidence had been boosted, but there was still a fear inside of him at being in the air without someone to anchor him.
T'kev hadn't said it, but he'd had no intention of letting R'axe go alone. The healer bluerider leaped up onto Jayth's neckridge behind R'axe, settling in close behind the other man. "Okay, I'm here if you need me, but otherwise, this is your show."
T'kev's breath tickled his ear slightly, and R'axe felt his body react to having the other man pressed so closely against his back. It had been a long time since he'd flown, in more ways than one.
}:Let's go!:{ Jayth said impatiently.
"Okay, here we go." R'axe said out loud, although he was holding his breath.
Jayth sprang upward, snapping them forward with a flick of his wings. R'axe felt his stomach drop to his knees. Flying without sight was a much different feeling than it had been when he could see.
}:Look through my eyes.:{ Jayth encouraged.
Reaching into his mental link with Jayth, a gasp escaped R'axe as he looked through his dragon's eyes, seeing with clarity the ground as it fell away beneath them. Then the vivid blue skies as Jayth flew towards the sunlit horizon.
}:See? I told you we could do this.:{ Jayth said as they flew across Dragonsfall's territory.
For the first time since he'd lost his vision, R'axe felt like himself again, as if a missing part of him had been put back into place. He was R'axe, rider of Blue Jayth, and he was a dragonrider of Pern!
Last updated on the November 22nd 2020