Sun, Moon and Star, a tale of ....

Effort!

It came as no surprise to any of the trio that they'd be working hard here at Falas, to make sure that their dragons grew properly and they learned how to ride with ease. Star wasn't all that comfortable with the speed at which Wicapith could fly, but the small blued-green dragonet assured her that in no way would she ever allow her rider to fall! Not even speeding downwards toward the flight training field for their last "landing" lessons!

Sun already knew he belonged on the dragon he'd bonded, he knew how to move with the elegant brown's every switch, he hardly had to even hang on. Once he'd gotten back into a saddle - even one as strangely shaped as the ones they rode here - Sun knew that he'd only been punishing himself for not having continued to ride after the death of his uncle. Donomath was strong, if not incredibly fast.

Then there was Moon and Tainith. If ever there was a pair destined for great things, it was them - the way that the dark-skinned man and equally darkened brown dragon held themselves during inspections, and moreover their performance in every flight exercise, gave them high marks. Of the three, it would be this pair that would eagerly join in fighting Thread when it came. They actually participated if briefly, in one Fall. It was dangerous, it was something that his partners all agreed would be something they'd dread if it had to happen on a really regular basis.

But outside of Pern, Thread didn't fall. And Lethe was able to remind them that once their training was finished, it was up to them where they wound up.

They would have to see some sights first. Once their dragons were big enough to teleport and reliably get back to where they were needed, it could be 'stars' the limit...

***

While they were celebrating the first year of their dragons' lives, it coincided with a holiday celebration that they didn't think they'd be seeing around Pern - Halloween. Each of the trio went out and found themselves a little giftie to give to the others - flitter eggs!

"How about you get this one," Moon said to Sun, "it goes with your dragon, mostly."

Sun laughed and named the Pumpkin colored flitter. "Flicker," he announced. "Like a candle in a jack-o-lantern. Yours next, Star," he handed her an egg.

It was a lovely ghostwinged green, which she allowed to rush over her shoulders and nibble at her meat roll - "Gobbler!" She exclaimed, "you should save some for later! And hey - that's mine!" With that, she handed her egg off to Moon.

A flit as dark as the night-ended side of his dragon emerged from the shell, and stuck himself onto Moon's shoulder just like his spidery-webby markings implied. "Sticker," Moon chuckled, "that's his name. Now we have to remember to train these guys, they're not dumb pets."

"They're fantastic," Star giggled, as Gobbler ran back and forth over her shoulders and hid under her hair.

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