Hope in Deep Waters (an AtE story) Ch 20

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How to Ride a Dragon

Morning came early, and the company awoke to the sound of the dragons stretching their wings for a quick flight to the nearest water source to catch fish. The humans ate a breakfast of sugarberries, which Leeli and Artham found growing at the edge of the forest. 

“Strange to see sugarberries this early,” remarked Artham. “The Maker has provided a special breakfast for us indeed.”

Leeli and Janner exchanged a knowing look.

After washing the sugarberry juice off of their faces per Nia’s request, it was time to set out. 

“Janner!” exclaimed Leeli, running up to him and pulling him by the hand toward the green dragon, “You are going to get to ride a dragon today! Aren’t you excited?”

“Um,” said Janner, looking up at the dragon’s back hesitantly, “Yeah. But how do you do it exactly?”

Leeli turned around. “Sara!” she called.

“Huh?” her brother asked, confusion written plainly on his face. 

“What is it, Leeli?” inquired Sara, walking over with her bedroll slung across her back.

“Show Janner how to ride a dragon! He hasn’t done it before. I can load your bedroll.” Leeli took it out of Sara’s hands and skipped off without waiting for a response.

Sara and Janner watched her go. 

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to-” began Janner.

“No! I would love to! It isn’t too hard, and it’s a lot of fun.”

“Uh, ok, what do I do first?”

“Want me to show you?”

“Sure.”

Sara patted the dragon’s side. “Can I climb on?” she asked. He crouched down, and Sara climbed up the rough scales on his leg like a stony cliff wall. She stood up on the dragon’s back and gracefully walked up towards his head until she came to a good-sized spike. She stopped and sat down, straddling the dragon’s neck, and wrapped her arms around the spike. “Nia had the idea to use a rope or a leather strap to tie ourselves to the spike when we fly a long distance,” she explained. “Now do you want to try?”

Janner nodded. He walked up to the dragon and patted his side. “..Hi… Can I get on?” 

Sure, the dragon rumbled in his head.

Janner realized that he only knew Hulwen and Yurgen by name. “What’s your name?” he asked.

I am called Lachlan. Nice to be carrying you alive this time.

Janner climbed up Lachlan’s leg, and then tried to stand up. He wobbled and decided to switch to all fours.  After crawling a few feet, Janner felt himself slipping to the left on the dragon’s smooth scales. He flung his weight to the right and started sliding that way instead. Janner wrapped his arms and legs tightly around the dragon like a gunkee in a tree to try to steady himself. Instead, he pivoted completely upside down and plunked to the ground in a heap.

Lachlan’s chuckle rumbled in Janner’s head as Sara covered a laugh. “You’ve almost got it! Just keep trying,” she encouraged.

Janner brushed dirt off of his shirt and spat out a blade of grass. Then he set his jaw and scurried up the dragon’s leg again, swung himself onto Lachlan’s back… and slipped off the left side. 

“Oof.” Janner picked himself back up. If Sara could ride the dragon, so could he. 

Again and again he tried to mount Lachlan, and more and more dirt smudged his shirt, but he had to admit he was having fun. Lachlan offered to pick him up and set him on his back. Janner thanked him, but said he wanted to see if he could do it himself. Each time, he got a little bit farther up the dragon’s back, and was learning where to place his feet and hands. When it was time for his fifth try, he could feel his whole family watching him out of the corners of their eyes. 

“Fifth time’s the charm?” said Sara. 

Janner locked his eyes on hers. “Fifth time’s the charm!”

He ran towards Lachlan, scrambled up his leg, and was amazed to find himself standing on the dragon’s back. He took a deep breath and continued with his arms out for balance. When he reached a good spike, he grabbed it and sat down quickly. He was on the dragon! 

“Way to go, Janner!” cheered Sara, clapping her hands. 

Janner beamed and waved at Leeli, who sat on Hulwen with Nia. Everyone, Janner realized, had now mounted dragons and all of their belongings were tied on. With a jolt and a blast of wind, Lachlan lifted into the sky.