OPERATION: RAINMAKER

Chapter Six: First Flight

The next two weeks were the most physically exhausting Reign had ever experienced. Who knew the little black and white dragons, which she was fast outgrowing, had so much stamina? Every morning they rose at the crack of dawn, the captain and one of the soldiers would make a perimeter check, signaling if the coast was clear. Then everyone ran three laps around the island with wings either up or flapping. Next the Chipperguins would fish- and since the little Wardenrain couldn't swim she was always the lookout. After breakfast they were back to training until the tide went out just before dusk.

Poseidon was always somewhere nearby. Once he kept them at bay all day and they were forced to hunt in the shallows. What they brought back made Reign gag; a still wriggling, writhing octopus. But she was too hungry to stick her nose in the air.

Captain Velklædd was nothing if not creative. Each day he came up with something new for the little silver dragon to do. Day two it was weightlifting with her wings, one Chipperguin on each wing, and swimming in the shallows, doggy-paddle style. The next he had her spin her tail like a top for a full hour and made her swim again but only with her wings. On day four, she had to weightlift with two Chipperguins on each wing while raising her tail up and down with each beat. Day five he took her to the tallest outcropping, and had her hold onto the rock with her claws while the wind whipped her open wings every which-way.

On day six, a particularly wild and gusty day, Reign was making a lap around the island with the others when she got caught in a gust, rising twenty feet off the ground and gliding back twice that far. The captain stopped and watched as she kept her head and tilted her wings. It was rocky at best but she managed to regain the ground lost by the time she touched down.

She hurried up to him, beaming.

"Not bad, soldier." He said, looking pleased. "Not bad at all. In fact I think we can take the rest of the day off."

"Really?" She said excitedly.

He grinned. "Boys what do you think?"

There was no answer.

"Boys?"

They were halfway down the beach.

Encouraged by her success Reign rose bright and early the next day.

"Gentlemen... and Wardenrain, we have graduated to Phase two: climb that hill."

The Captain pointed to a gentle incline into the center of the island.

"Seems easy enough," Quinnley said, paws crossed. "What's the catch?"

"You'll see."

After all that running in the sand the walk up the hill was a breeze. They came to the other side of the island where the hill came to an abrupt end; a sheer cliff looming over a beach. The wind was tame on this side, blowing at a steady ten miles an hour.

"What next captain?" Asked Ensign.

"Next we find a tree. With low branches and really close to the cliff."

They found just the tree. A gnarly old thing that stood perhaps thirty feet from the ledge with an enormous trunk. Strong branches hung low enough for Reign to reach them, if she stood on her hind legs.

They gathered beneath it.

"Everybody pile up on Rain's back. It's time to fly."

"Fly??" She repeated in alarm. "Off the cliff?? But it's so high. And there's not enough wind. I haven't trained enough. I- I don't think I'm ready."

She started to back away.

"The wind is a tool for flying, sister, but you're the one that has to get up in the air. Personally I'm more the jump off the cliff and figure it out on the way down kinda dragon, but I think we'd better try a different tactic with you."