Drakonis

Training

"Okay, let's try this again, Loran," Nymara softly spoke as I mounted another dragon.

"Just be calm and gentle. These dragons let anyone ride them, so it shouldn't be too difficult," she spoke lightly as I nodded.

I got on the dragon again and prepared myself to fly. Following all the directions, I gripped the reins and felt the creature begin to stand up to fly. However, once it got off the ground, it pushed me off its back, flying away.

I punched the floor, not understanding why I couldn't master this. Uhroh had already been flying perfectly, and even Olympia and Elia had made better progress.

"This is stupid," I mumbled under my breath.

Nymara knelt beside me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Everyone has their struggles. It doesn't mean you're not capable."

I shook my head, frustration boiling over. "Uhroh, Olympia, Eli—they're all doing great. Why can't I get it? What's wrong with me?"

Nymara sighed, her gaze distant for a moment. "You know, I haven't always been successful. When I was younger I couldn't bond with any of the dragons. I failed, repeatedly. I felt like you do now—angry, frustrated, ready to give up."

I looked up at her, surprised. "But you're so good at it now."

"Only because I didn't give up," she replied with a gentle smile. "I learned from each failure, adjusted my approach, and kept trying. Sometimes, our biggest breakthroughs come right after our hardest falls."

"The only reason I bonded with Orinth is because we understood each other. It took time but we came to each at the perfect time. Patience is key for dragon riders" she smiled

I took a deep breath, trying to absorb her words. "I just... I just don't want to be the only one who can't do it."

"You won't be," Nymara reassured me. "Just be patient with yourself."

I nodded slowly, determination creeping back in. "Okay. Let's try again."

Nymara smiled warmly. "That's the spirit. Now, remember, calm and gentle."

As I mounted the dragon once more, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.

I got back on, determination blazing within me. Gripping the reins firmly, I prepared for takeoff. The dragon's powerful wings beat steadily as we lifted off the ground. I was finally soaring through the air, a triumphant smile spreading across my face as Nymara cheered from below.

"I'm flying!" I shouted, exhilarated.

Nymara quickly mounted Orinth and caught up with us, her eyes alight with excitement. "You're doing it!" she shouted, her voice filled with encouragement.

For a moment, everything felt perfect. The dragon beneath me seemed calm and steady, allowing me to enjoy the flight. But then, without warning, the dragon's demeanor shifted. It began to accelerate, its powerful muscles tensing beneath me. I felt an unexpected jolt as the dragon veered sharply towards the edge of the forbidden mountain.

"Wait, what's happening?" I cried out, struggling to maintain control.

Before I could react, the dragon made a sudden, violent twist. The force of its movement threw me off its back, and I tumbled through the air, my heart racing in panic. I flailed, trying to grab the reins, but they slipped from my grasp.

Nymara's eyes widened in horror as she maneuvered Orinth closer. "Loran!" she shouted, her voice filled with alarm.

I fell towards the edge of the mountain, desperately trying to right myself. Nymara expertly guided Orinth to catch me, but the dragon I had ridden was already retreating, disappearing into the distance.

With a sharp thud, I landed heavily on a grassy outcrop, the wind knocked out of me. Nymara was immediately by my side, helping me to my feet.

"Are you alright?" she asked urgently, her concern evident.

I nodded, still catching my breath. "Yeah, I'm okay. I didn't expect it to... throw me like that."

Nymara took a deep breath, her gaze shifting towards the off-limit mountain. "Sometimes dragons have their own plans. I'm just glad you didn't fall into the river."

I looked back at the mountain, a mix of relief and frustration swirling inside me. As I began to take in my surroundings, my thoughts drifted to the mountain's history. That was the mountain where the dragons used to nest...

While Nymara examined my body for any injuries, my ears caught a low, rumbling sound. It was as if a great beast was stirring, but that would be impossible. The sound was faint yet unmistakable, a deep, throaty vibration that seemed to resonate through the ground.

"Do you hear that?" I whispered, glancing around with unease.

Nymara looked at me, puzzled. "No, do you hear something?"

I strained my ears, trying to pinpoint the source. I could have sworn it sounded like a dragon somewhere up that mountain. But how could she not hear it?

"No, probably just took a hard fall," I brushed off, trying to dismiss my growing concern.

Nymara nodded, though a hint of worry remained in her eyes. "Maybe we should end the riding lessons for today. You've had enough excitement."

She laughed softly, attempting to lighten the mood, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As we made our way back, I glanced one last time at the imposing mountain, its shadow stretching long and ominous. The rumble echoed faintly in the back of my mind, leaving me with a sense of foreboding.

"Let's head back," I said, more firmly now.

Nymara agreed, though she kept glancing back towards the mountain. As we walked away, the rumbling sound faded, but the unease lingered, gnawing at me. I couldn't ignore the feeling that something on that mountain was watching, waiting.

"Hold on to me," Nymara instructed as we both mounted Orinth. The dragon took off with powerful beats of its wings, quickly gaining altitude. The wind rushed past us, and the landscape blurred as we flew back to the kingdom.

As we landed swiftly on the grounds of the kingdom, I felt a pang of gratitude for Nymara's support. "Thanks for the lessons," I said, dismounting and giving her a grateful smile.

She studied me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were sensing something unusual. "Are you sure you're alright? You seemed a bit... off after the fall."

I brushed off her concern with a casual nod. "I'm fine."

I checked the time and realized I was late for the wall-building project. "I'll catch you later," I shouted, already sprinting toward the construction site.

Nymara watched me go, a thoughtful expression on her face.

As I approached the wall-building site, I tried to push aside the lingering worry. The project was already in full swing, and my friends were hard at work. I jumped into the fray, determined to focus on the task at hand and not let my earlier experiences cloud my mind. Yet, as the day wore on, I couldn't help but glance back at the distant mountain, a nagging feeling of curiosity settling over me.