Lesson Five Part 2: Simourvalous (Alpha Winglets!)

[zeis]

It had been a almost a month since the Alpha Winglets had started their horse-back training. The Wingletmaster as was his style of teaching, had worked them mercilessly, with an eye for something akin to perfection. Finally, he had looked over their hard work and progress with satisfaction and praise. He had told them yesterday that they were ready for simourv, and had brought with him to the lesson a number of leather-workers to get measurements for the simourv chicks first harnesses. Instruction would begin tomorrow.

Today was that day. K'huna had each of the harnesses laid out in preparation in one of the larger garden areas, laid out and organized into neat well spaced rows on the early spring grass. The area was spacious enough for all the Winglets to practice, and with a pliant enough ground to soften any falls, even if it killed a few wildflowers. It was only a few hours before noon, and the Eyrie was warming up nicely. A good day for work. He stepped from one to the other down the rows, testing the strength and sturdiness of the craftsmen's efforts. The constructions of thick leather hide and gleaming buckles had been in the works for a few weeks previous, but were now tailored now to fit their current size, and to be able to be easily modified for estimated future growth. They looked quite nice, easily on par with the harnesses the elder rider's used, with a few flourishes theirs didn't have.

Prominently on one of the larger straps was a small decorative plate of iron, finely crafted and designed to look like a glittering silver feather. Emblazoned with elegant script down the center of the feather was the name of each particular simourv, marking that harness as their own. When worn, the feather would be placed prominently across their chest like a necklace or a badge of honor. The harnesses been funded with some of the diasks collected by the highly controversial date auction, but the Wingletmaster had funded the nameplates from his own pocket. His metalsmith brother Kail had been happy to craft the twenty-five feathers, and K'huna now looked over his sibling's handiwork with admiration. The Winglet's deserved something nice for all their hard work.

So, when are you going to buy me one of those? Canph snorted a tad jealously from where he sat nearby, with his tail swaying boredly in the soft young grasses. When you start behaving. K'huna smirked, and strode away from the harnesses toward his bonded, reaching out to affectionately pad the red's great scaled leg. You can start getting on my good side by calling the Alphas. The red simourv flicked his ears back slightly at this, but complied in earnest, calling out across the eyrie to the minds of all their students. Today is the day, Alphas! Report to the gardens. We have a present for you! The enthusiasm in his voice, despite his efforts, sounded slightly artificial. Canph was the type of person who enjoyed receiving rather than giving.

~~~~~~~~

When the Winglets arrived they would find their Wingletmaster standing patiently by Canph's side, waiting for each pair to reach the meeting spot. Canph, striving to look relaxed, but with a faint ruffle to his crimson and pink feathers that bespoke some underlying annoyance. He sat beside his rider like a monstrous miffed cat, struggling to look like he doesn't care about something. K'huna, dressed in light riding gear and with his hair pulled back, looked more relaxed then usual. Not just relaxed, he looked genuinely happy. He nodded to each of his students as they arrived, and once all were assembled, started speaking. "You've all been workin' hard, and if you've survived to this point with all the hell we've put you through, then you can survive to the end. Keep it up." He finished encouragingly, and then gestured at the harnesses.

"First order of business, these are yours now. There's one for each of you, and they should all fit. If they don't right away, adjust it until your simourv is comfortable. Easy. You should be able to figure it out on your own." He nodded, and stepped forward to heft one of the harnesses up to display it. If his students couldn't figure out how to work buckles and straps, then simourv help them when they got their first taste of koxi. He went over a brief review of which strap should be placed where, looped around what leg, and how to lock the adjustable areas in place so there would be no slippage. That done, he gently tossed the leather harness back to the grass. "Start getting those on, take your time. Make sure everything fits and sits right."

K'huna jogged back to Canph, and launched himself up the reds side. The red was not in harness himself, and the red-rider used his feathers to climb into position at the simourvs back. "You won't always need a harness to ride, but since you're all new at this, and your simourv are still molting their down feathers, its better to be safe than break something. Ask I'dou if you don't believe me." He said with a slight shake of his head, thinking of the young gray pair and the incident that had left her injured. The man leaned forward on Canph's neck and waited patiently while the Winglets aided their simourv in donning the new harnesses. "Now use the straps to haul yourself up, don't worry about your simourv. They're big and strong enough to hold your weight now. If you start to slip, catch yourself on the straps. If you cant do that, remember how we fell with the horses. Once you're up, go for a walk together, and I mean a walk. If I see any of you showing off and getting yourselves in danger, you'll be off your simourv and back on a horse before you can say Xymokoxi."

He caught himself in the middle of his stern tirade, and sighed. Easy, this was supposed to be an important day, a day they would remember. He shrugged his worries away, and ended with a small smile. "Enjoy yourself, and practice hard."

[Bre]

She looks to the west coast . . .

M'rion eyed the straps with a certain air of disdain. She did find worldly things pretty on occasion, but the straps seemed superfluous in her mind. They were a safety device. A sign of war. She preferred Romaph's downy green feathers to the leather and metal of the riding gear. She liked the way they felt when she perched on the green's legs, leaning against her shoulder. Despite her rider's misgivings about the gift they were receiving, Romaph was quite enamored with the straps. From her rider's thoughts, she knew that the silver leaf on hers had her name on it. Why that was necessary was unknown to the green, but it sure was pretty! The only issue came was when M'rion picked up theirs and tried to put it on. She couldn't hold still and the process dragged on over the course of countless minutes. The straps felt so very odd on her!

Eventually, the straps were on and adjusted correctly. With a tired, lopsided grin, M'rion hopped and hauled herself up on Romaph's feathered back. She was not afraid. She knew what had happened to I'dou, but she grinned in the face of danger and certainly at thoughts of the grayrider's foolishness, not that she meant the other girl any harm or ill will. "Let's go, Rom! Walk to victory!" Chuckling at her words, grin lopsided and wide, she nearly fell off from lack of balance and concentration the moment that Romaph started forward. The green paused, then started again when her rider resettled herself. Unfortunately, riding her simourv did not get easier for M'rion. The young green had a bouncy stride, her weight going all over the place. It wasn't in her nature to go slow, so even her walk was quick at best, sending M'rion lurching with each stride.

SMACK! The young greenrider slapped the ground as she was unseated from her fledgeling's shoulders. She rolled out of the fall, feeling a faint pang in her knee. In the morning, she would doubtlessly be black and blue, but she picked herself back up and returned to the waiting Romaph. She was on the green's shoulders in one fluid motion, muscle memory kicking in as adrenaline pounded through her veins. Are you alright, M'rion? The concern in Rom's voice was dreamy and distant, as if impossible and unconsidered. The response was one liquid thought, an emotion and a conviction. Yes, she was. She wasn't going to be beaten by this. If she was to be a rider, she had to learn to ride again, if her experience with riding horses wasn't enough. Romaph strode forward once more. As K'huna had ordered, they would practice hard.

. . . as a place to call her home.

[Kat]

Ri’ley had never warmed up to the horseback riding. Although his horse, was a sweet and caring creature, despite being the largest of the group by a few hands, Ri’ley had never come to terms with his almost bare flesh—covered in nothing but pants, touching the wiry fur. At first, when Canph’s voice cut into his slumber like it always did, Ri’ley was unhappy. He did not want to get up and have to ride the horse again. He rolled out of bed regardless of his hesitations, and slipped on a pair of pants and a wrinkled shirt. It was as he was buttoning up his shirt, one that in this state he could not believe he was wearing, that Ri’ley was struck with a wonderful epiphany which made him forget how inappropriately messy he looked. K’huna had told them yesterday that they were going to ride their simourvs, which meant that Ri’ley could not only spend all day with Dionyph, but that he could also never ride the horse again! It was going to be a beautiful day. Ri’ley practically bounced through the rest of his menial morning tasks, before he finally walked over to Dionyph and touched the black on his flank.

Dionyph had forgotten that he would be ridden today. It was not that he thought the occasion was unimportant, but rather that he had not been around for the announcement, and that he had slipped into the routine of being unwanted in the mornings. After the first two lessons on horseback, Dionyph had decided that he did not need to support Ri’ley any longer, and that his presence could be more useful elsewhere. He usually tried to spend time with his siblings, so that Ri’ley, or anyone else, could not fault Dionyph for laziness. The black simourv felt Ri’ley’s touch, and he slowly pulled his eyes open so that he peeled the lid back and viewed Ri’ley from sleep-glazed, white eyes. Ri’ley was in an incredible mood, Dionyph realized, as he opened himself up to his rider, and the result was that Dionyph was flooded with the excitement and the information. He was going to be ridden today!

The pair dashed down to the gardens, Ri’ley having to sprint to keep pace with Dionyph. The black was bounding to the lesson with excitement. Once he arrived, though, he straightened his position and held himself with a calm composure. Ri’ley smiled at the alteration, before he started listening to K’huna. Dionyph stared at the harnesses. It was clear to Ri’ley that the black thought they were beautiful, even if he did not express his outward approval. The black’s eyes remained fixed on the iron feather with his name.
Mine, you never buy me pretty things. Why does it take Canph’s to buy me things?”
Dionyph questioned. As soon as he heard the comment, Ri’ley sighed, as the argument was an on-going one. Ri’ley did not believe in frills or adornments, and he refused to purchase any such items for Dionyph. Some of the other winglets had bought little jewelry pieces, cuffs, bracelets, and other such pieces, and Dionyph felt he deserved such gifts as well. But Ri’ley would have no part of it, and he refused to pacify his black partner. And so, Ri’ley did not reply. Instead, he walked over to the harness and grabbed it with a small grunt.

Dionyph had to lean down, dropping his dark feathered body to the ground, so that Ri’ley could strap him into the harness. It was tight, but Ri’ley was sure it was supposed to be. His large hands, usually steady and still, shook with anticipation. As Ri’ley fastened the straps on Dionyph, the images from I’dou’s accident fluttered back into his mind, unwanted and undesired. He knew that falling was a dangerous risk, and Ri’ley, even though he was excited about riding Dionyph, was a bit scared.

Ri’ley pulled himself on Dionyph’s back with the straps. It was difficult, as Dionyph was huge, and besides Laraph, who was not attending due to her rider’s injury, he was the largest of the simourv chicks. Ri’ley knew that Dionyph’s size placed him in a more dangerous position than the other winglets. After three attempts, where Ri’ley slipped off of Dionyph and fell onto the ground, Ri’ley finally got himself seated on Dionyph’s back. From his perch, Ri’ley saw M’rion fall, and had he been in a different situation, he would have gone to her and assured she was fine, but Ri’ley was honestly not sure he could get off of Dionyph, which limited his action.
”M’rion, are you alright?”
Ri’ley called. Dionyph, however, wanted nothing to do with his rider’s almost obsessive worry, and the black fledgling lurched forwards without warning, pacing slowly in a small circle. Ri’ley was surprised by his simourv’s sudden movement, and he gasped, and grabbed the leather straps of the harness frantically, his fingers grasping black and gray feathers and soft leather. But Ri’ley, luckily, did not fall, even though he began to slip down Dionyph’s back. With a small gasp, Ri’ley hoisted himself back into place.

[Kilnarak]

Othokenph was more than happy to see the harnesses, having been looking forward to this day nearly since the riding lessons started. When the young blue caught sight of them, he bounded over to the laid out leather and iron plates and began to nose through them, chirping excitedly. His would be able to ride him now! Now he could carry her, like he had wanted nearly from hatching; they could move as one creature and not two separate entities! Of course, there was one problem here... Mine! Which... which one is my name? Othokenph chattered softly to himself, putting his ears back as he regarded the inscribed nameplates, entirely unsure which scrawl translated into his own name. He had peered at the text in T'gan's books, but the words were so small, even when the girl tried to teach him characters he could not read them. And these words, they were slanted and strange, they nearly looked like another language entirely.

T'gan had hung back a bit, listening to K'huna even while Othokenph in his excitement rushed to their gifts. One of them should pay attention to their task for the day, even if it seemed simple enough - practice riding an actual simourv instead of a horse. T'gan had had a bit of trouble with horseback riding - she had never ridden before the lessons, and had initially found keeping her balance upon a moving creature's back somewhat difficult. Of course, she - like the others - had eventually gotten the hang of it and was at least passable at riding even if she wasn't entirely sure she enjoyed it or not. She was much more comfortable with something solid beneath her feet, even if that something shifted and bucked, rather than clinging astride the back of an unknown animal - she would rather rely upon herself than an unknown element.

After K'huna had finished his lecture, the girl made her way over to Oth, smiling softly and glancing from one harness to the next, mentally reading off their names as she went. Othokenph paid attention to this, trying to place each elegant scrawl to the simourv it belonged to as His read them off. When she arrived at his own name, Othokenph gave an excited trill and nosed at the silvered feather - it was one of the longer scrawls, although not quite as long as some of the others. He wondered if the length of the mark had something to do with color, with one's place in the grand scheme of things - but T'gan didn't know and he couldn't figure out on his own how that ordering might work.

"Here, let me have that, Oth," T'gan laughed, reaching down to heft up the straps. She grunted under their weight - heavier than they looked and there were a lot of them. Without having to ask, however, Othokenph carefully took up a portion of the harness in his beak, holding it helpfully. "We just have ta get these on you, an' then we can start." Of course, that was easier said than done - it took a bit of trial and error before the blue-pair managed to get the straps on in the right places.

Still, once it was done, Othokenph had to prance a small circle about His, making soft pleased noises and the occasional querulous coo. It feels strange! Is this how Canph does it, too? His brown gaze turned up to the massive unharnessed red, questioningly. Perhaps it was just to start, or perhaps one grew used to it. He couldn't complain too much, however, and rather immediately shifted gears to encouraging His to climb aboard. T'gan grinned at her energetic blue, and climbed carefully up onto his back with little enough trouble - it wasn't so difficult, using the straps as hand-holds, and it wasn't so different from climbing about her father's boat.

Once His was upon his back, Othokenph began to pad sedately about, walking a slow winding path amidst and about his siblings. He paid close attention to His, trying to make certain that T'gan was all right, that she wasn't slipping. The girl kept her balance easily enough - it was much different than riding a horse. Aside from the obvious aspects - that Othokenph was decidedly larger than a horse, and also that he was wearing riding gear - there was also the fact that they were of a shared mind; the constant mental contact between the pair made it a much more comfortable experience for T'gan. At least, more comfortable until Othokenph's excitement overcame him again - the blue spotted Akaturiaph and gave a warbling call, prancing toward his green sister and setting T'gan to yelping and clinging to the harness. Ah! Sorry, Mine! Akaturiaph! Akaturiaph! Look! We're riding! He bounced to a stop beside the green and butted his head affectionately against her shoulder, trilling happily.

[zeis]

K'ii stood beside Akaturiaph as the Wingletmaster spoke, paying only half attention to his words. The red headed boy was quiet, uneasy, and tired looking, and next to him Akaturiaph sat hunched watching K'huna with distracted disdain. What are you asking? She asked acidly, her avocado colored feathers puffing up around her. The green, as usual, was angry, but beneath that anger there lurked greed, suspicion, and hurt. The chick tried to keep it restrained from her rider, who was struggling to pay attention to the lesson, but every now and then the feelings crashed against the mental barrier she had erected and spilled into his consciousness.

Don't be upset. I love you, Aka. K'ii reassured her distractedly, turning his attention from the lecture to reach out and wrap his arms awkwardly around her neck. She was bigger now, much bigger than she had been on the day they had met. He stroked the feathers on her neck, and for a while that seemed to calm her slightly. The gift of the harness and the iron feather was lost on the both of them, and the green-rider was only awkwardly going through motion as he dragged the harness over and awkwardly fitted it onto Akaturiaph. The green allowed this, though her claws kneaded and tore at the grass, and her tail switched back and forth behind her.

K'ii climbed awkwardly up the straps onto her back, and the weight of him there made her feel a little better. It was nice to have her rider so close, so safe, and so willing to let her direct where they would go and what they should do. She felt in control, and that was important. For a while, neither of them spoke actual words as she padded silently around, K'ii clinging awkwardly but earnestly to the harness. The boy relaxed a little as the silence stretched, feeling more at ease now that his simourv's upset had calmed. He built up his courage, and asked again, more tentative this time.

Aka, I miss my brother. We just want to go hang out with each other for a little while. I'll let you watch the whole time, I promise. K'ii stressed, taking one hand off the straps to stroke the feathers on her neck as they walked. Underneath him, he felt her muscles tense, and her fluid steps became more like stomps. Before she could reply, a voice cut into her mind, eager and insufferably happy. Her head whirled to face Othokenph as he pranced over and head butted her in the shoulder, causing her to rock a little on her feet in surprise. The blue had gotten to be bigger than she was, a fact that didn't help her mood. You...

"Hi, T'gan." K'ii greeted the other Winglet, a little flustered. His acquaintance with the blue-rider had been on and off since the hatching. He couldn't exactly say she was a friend, but at the moment she seemed a lot friendlier than his bonded. He fumbled for something to say, and settled for at last. "No more horses."