NRPG:  Since John's post has the newly joined riders already flying on their
dragons, and since I didn't see it anywhere, I thought I'd write a post
about the first "flight" that the riders take -- and introduce Sharees.  I
assume this takes place between the riderless flight and the trial, probably
before the rape?

*****
Sharees moved out into the cold morning air, enjoying the swirls her breath
made as she breathed.  Most mornings she would have been sleeping still, but
this morning was special.  Finally her childhood dream would be coming to
pass -- a dream that she had dismissed quite a few years, and too many
hatchings, ago.

Today she was going to ride on her very own dragon.  Chamelle was as excited
as her soul-mate.  While she'd enjoyed the solo flights, the sapphire dragon
had really wanted her rider to be with her.

Though it only felt like yesterday that the young dragon had hatched,
Sharees was amazed at how large she'd already gotten.

<*Won't be long before you'll be getting your real saddle*>  Sharees smiled
as she patted her dragon's shoulder. <*I'll just give you a quick oiling and
we'll head over to the training fields.*>

Sharees had been busy since the eggs were laid.  She always worked on making
the new saddles, one for each of the eggs, as soon as the count was known,
because she knew the newly joined riders would want to have them as soon as
their dragons had reached their full size.  And this time she'd be
decorating one for Chamelle!


But between training, dragon care, and saddle making, she hadn't had much
time for socializing.  She hadn't moved into the hatching barracks with the
other newly joined riders, as her own apartment near the leather shop was
already as close to the training fields as the barracks were.

Now with Chamelle growing so big, she'd probably need to look for a new
apartment -- one with a proper dragon ledge!

And now with the saddles done except for the decorations, she actually had
some free time.

Oiling done, Sharees fed her dragon, washed up, and headed to the dining
hall to grab something light to eat before flight training.  She saw T'rell
getting a cup of coffee and smiled -- that man and his coffee!  He was
sitting with the very pretty, young junior queen rider.  The two of them
looked good together.

Then her eyes caught sight of some of the other newly-joined and headed over
there with her breakfast tray.  The other riders were equally excited and
Allora was practically bubbling -- well as much as the girl could bubble --
about how she could hardly wait for a chance to take flight!

Sharees joined them and they all commented on the weather, wondering if the
light snow that had fallen the day before would affect their flights.  All
of a sudden J'son seemed to be there -- now where had he come from, or had
he been there all along and Sharees just didn't notice him?

Soon T'rell was calling them out.  As they walked across the green, Allora
mentioned that she had heard Sharees was working on the riding saddles.

"I was just wondering if you'd want my help?  That's a skill I'd love to
have."

Sharees smiled at the woman -- seems they had a lot in common, and she would
welcome the help.  "And I've heard that you are very skilled in making
clothing?  Maybe we could work on some riding gear for this crew?"

The two women talked amiably about leather, dies, and tools.  Sharees was
happy to hear the Allora had brought her own tools with her to the warren.

T'rell and Mari were standing together when Sharees, Allora, J'son, Kayla,
Norin and the other trainees arrived.  They lined up smartly, as they'd been
trained to do -- it was becoming second nature now.

They young dragons standing in a semi circle behind their riders.

T'rell stepped forward and loudly announced what they had all been
anticipated.  "Today you will fly on your own dragons!"

The loud cheer was drowned out only by louder roar from their soul-mates a
second later.

"Everyone go over to the post and get your training saddle -- remember how
to fasten them on -- and I'll be checking you!"  T'rell commanded, but there
was laughter in his eyes as the trainees hopped to it, getting in each
other's way in the rush to get their saddles.

Saddle fastening was second nature to Sharees, and she found herself done
before many of the other newer riders.  She wondered if she should offer to
help... but saw T'rell going down the line giving pointers, and checking
straps for tightness.  He only smiled after checking Chamelle's saddle
straps and moved on.

****
NRPG:  Anyone want to fly?
****
After waiting a few minutes for their own turn, Sharees mounted up, and felt
Chamelle's strong muscles moving beneath her as they lumbered up to the take
off spot at the top of the gentle slope.  And much as she'd done on her
previous riderless flights, Chamelle easily launched into the air, swooping
gracefully towards the lower field.

Sharees exalted in the flight -- but it ended much too soon for both of
them.  It had been so different than the times she'd flown as a girl with
her parents.  Shalane and Re'ves had often taken her with them -- a lump
caught in her throat as she thought of her father.  It had been 3 years, but
the pain of losing him still was strong.  But now she had her own dragon --
and she and Chamelle would battle those wraiths!  She'd kill every one of
them -- for her father....

The landing was smooth and the two returned to the group of trainees and
dragons.

T'rell was beaming at them -- today's was a good training session.  "Your
dragons are getting stronger and bigger. Within a few days you'll be ready
to teleport and learn to flame!  But for now, we'll practice a few more
straight flights.  And tomorrow we might try circling the warren, and
landing on the green.  Keep up the good work!"

After a few more take offs and landings, the young dragons were tired, and
many of the new riders were feeling a bit sore on the bottom.

As they walked back up the hill for a much needed break -- and lunch -- they
riders talked among themselves.

"Sure hope the real saddles aren't that hard," Norin noted, while rubbing
her sore bottom.

"I'll make yours with extra soft padding for your delicate behind," Sharees
teased and the other riders laughed.

Norin glared at the older woman, and sauntered off.

After an afternoon of instruction about wind currents and what to do in a
thunderstorm, T'rell called it quits.  The riders were exhausted and Sharees
made an early night of it.

****
The following day, Sharees was surprised to hear that training had been
canceled.

<Flerrion says that there is some urgent business to which he and the warren
lady need to attend> Chamelle informed her rider.

<*Great -- more time for me to get in some work in the shop!*>  Sharees
happily responded.

****
NRPG I assume this was during the first snow fight?  Anyone want to place a
saddle order?

****
The afternoon, however was full of many of the same lectures and a few hours
of riding.  Chamelle and Sharees felt so connected -- she knew how Chamelle
would turn, she could anticipate when she would lift -- much of the
queasiness that she'd felt as a girl while airborne was just not there when
riding her own dragon!  The feeling was wonderful.  And that afternoon the
trainees were also allowed to fly up to the higher apartments to pick out
their own.  Sharees found one that was perfect -- above the leather shops,
but with a spacious dragon ledge, yet still was low enough that the climb,
if she needed to climb, wouldn't be too taxing.

<You would never need to climb, my heart!  I will always be here to
transport you!>  Chamelle stated smugly.

<*Oh, of course you would, my dear.*> Sharees smiled and patted her dragon
affectionately.  <*but I wouldn't always want to bother you -- you might be
cuddling somewhere with some young dragon...*>  Sharees grinned as that
thought entered Chamelle's head for the first time -- cuddling did seem like
something she might want to try -- she'd seen Flerrion cuddling with Troy...
and it looked rather -- nice!

****
The following day started off similarly to the day before -- T'rell informed
the riders that he had urgent business with the warren lady, and Sharees
spent the morning in the shop.  Some new hides had been brought in and she
had set it to soaking to beginning the curing process.  Dragon piss was one
of the best soaking agents -- and now she had a ready supply!  At first
Chamelle was a little put off having to pee over the collection grill, but
she would do anything for her rider if it made her happy.

But her revere was soon broken by the alarmed call from Chamelle --
something awful had happened to Regenta's rider!  Sharees joined a search
team immediately, but the horrible man was caught by her friends Allora and
J'son.

****
The trial that followed was as horrible as the crime, and though she
certainly might have considering taking Alexis' punishment into her own
hands, she had lived under warren law too long to have followed through like
Allora and J'son had done -- and now she was a dragonrider.

A dragonrider -- just saying it still felt unreal.  After almost 5 years of
standing for hatchings... and never being chosen... it was like living a
dream, having Chamelle finally call to her.  She still could remember how it
felt, as she brought the meat out to the newly joining riders -- to finally
hear a voice calling to her -- and how much she loved that little sapphire
dragonette.

She sighed, in contentment as she came out onto the training field again.
Today was windy and cold, and though she'd looked forward to some more
flight time today -- she knew it was unlikely.

T'rell approached the cluster of young dragons and riders with a man that
Sharees had never seen before.

>>
     "This is M'naten, rider of Graimor," T'rell told the trainees.  "He's
new at Daere, and will be joining Gamma wing."  He then proceeded to
introduce the others to the newcomer.  "This is Allora, and Jason, and
Sharees.  And these are their dragons, of course.
Starfire...Chamelle...Fluffy - er, Thornguard."
<<

"Glad to meet you," Sharees offered her hand, and smiled appreciatively at
the strong hand shake M'naten gave her.  "If you need any work on your
riding gear -- I'm the one to see."

M'naten's eyes were warm and Sharees felt her cheeks burn slightly with a
blush, as she suddenly realized she'd not let go of his hand...

>>Just then they heard the sound of dragon wings, and Regenta landed next
to the barracks.  "Ah," said T'rell, smiling as he went over to help her
dismount.  "And this is Marialla, the rider of our new queen, Regenta."<<

Sharees nodded as she watched M'naten and Marialla exchanged introductions.

The wind suddenly picked up -- and T'rell and Mari started discussing
whether or not they should let the dragons fly with the unpredictable gusts.

"Starfire's been wanting to practice flaming," J'son put in.

But everyone agreed that flaming with a wind would probably not be a good
idea.

>>T'rell shrugged.  "Well, I'm sure we'll think of something." <<

But before that decision could be made, Norin shouted out "Wraith!!!"

Sharees' heart stopped.  Her terror and rage coming through as she shouted
"Wraith!!" along with several other trainees.

<Wraiths??> Chamelle asked, feeling Sharees' fear and anger.

>>     (I don't think that's a wraith....) said Regenta.

     (Well, what else could it be?) Starfire asked.  (It's the right
shape...)

     (And the right color...) Thornguard put in.  (Get it!!)

     *Hey, wait a minute!!* T'rell mindshouted as several of the trainee
dragons leaped skyward.  *You forgot your riders!*  <<

Chamelle needed no urging as she leapt into the air.  She would do anything
to protect her soul-mate from that horror!  She instinctively felt the need
to flame -- as she chased the filmy gray item that blew across the bowl of
the warren.

>>     "What's going on?" asked M'naten, squinting to see the shape more
clearly.

     "Damn bedsheet!" T'rell snarled, glaring skyward.

     "That's what he calls wraiths," Sharees explained to M'naten.

      "Not this time," said T'rell.  "That's not a wraith...its a damned
bedsheet!"

     "Hadn't we better call them back?" Mari asked uncertainly, keeping a
hold on Regenta's wingtip lest the queen decide to join in the chase.

     T'rell sighed.  "Naw, let them go....it'll be good practice for them."
<<

Sharees laughed with the sudden release of tension.  It really WAS a
bedsheet and not one of those disgusting creatures!  She felt her knees
buckle slightly, and she swayed a bit.  She sure hoped no one had noticed
that!

The young dragons returned, happily chattering and very impressed by the
heroic efforts of Flerrion.

Sharees just laughed at the foolish young dragons.  The wind seemed to have
died down again, and after reorganizing, T'rell decided to put the dragons
through some drills.  Flying in tight formation was always important in
fighting wraiths, and T'rell wasn't going to let this example of a
disorganized attack go by without using it for a chance to teach the young
dragons something!

The rest of training went very smoothly, and Sharees was busy cleaning up
when Chamelle announce "visitors" to the warren.  A large group of landbound
Nobles had entered the warren, as announced by the watch dragons.  Sharees
only had a mild curiosity -- now if it had been a trading caravan -- or
maybe some traveling bards... but not Nobles -- they were only here for
business, and usually only wanted to talk about tithing and protection.

She was bone tired, and decided to take a nap...

****
NRPG:  Well, here they are... Sharees and Chamelle.  Anyone want to come for
a visit?

Respectfully submitted by:
Arlene Jacobs
<chrysthal@hotmail.com>
AKA Sharees, rider of Chamelle of Daere warren.


The rest of training was more uneventful.