Surfing the Sky Waves
A Morning's Song
A restrained yet loud roaring yawn bellows out into the wilderness as Dexter carefully nudges open the door to his secluded forest cabin, exposing himself to a morning atmosphere energized with awakening life. His morning roar much less dramatic than usual, trying to not disturb these natural realms nor his traveling partner Kaida; who'd also occupied the cozy cabin the previous night, and was just finishing her preparations for the day. Despite Dexter's efforts to tame himself, that very moment a flurry of flapping, movement, and color erupts from the cabin's front yard garden. Frightened bird's who'd just been searching for breakfast now scattering towards the forest boundary at the sudden disturbance. Dexter's ears flattened, clenching his teeth tightly. "Whoops, sorry!" He said in a remorseful tone that carried a slight hint of frustration at himself. Only able to watch helplessly while a few more lagging birds flew away, along with a few straggling rabbits and squirrels darting towards the tree line. A few seconds of tense silence passing before Dexter's ears perk up at a familiar giggle, Kaida strolling up behind him then nudging him from the entrance to make her way out into the warm morning. Passing by she gives him a smirk, "I thought you cats were supposed to be smooth and subtle." Dexter rolls his eyes in a playful manner, acknowledging his mistake. He was just about to offer up some excuse but Kaida beat him to it. "Dex, just because we’re not out on a mission, doesn’t mean you can’t use a little tact,” Kaida said, taking a few steps down the stone path that lead from the cabin before looking out towards the vacated colorful garden. For a quick second she thinks, then slips a hand into her side pocket to search for something. “Hey I toned down the usual morning Rawr, that’s gotta count for something right?” Dex replied, embarrassed, rubbing a hand through his mane while he shuts the door behind him. "Besides..." Dexter said in a softer tone, taking the few steps to reach about where Kaida was before holding his hands out, slightly upwards in a presenting fashion towards the forest, "...just listen to them!"
By now the silence he caused had washed away, brushed aside by the morning symphony of birds singing all around. Clearly a delight to Dexter, whose ears fluttered and twitched ever so slightly focusing on their song. "Rrriiighht, THEY..." Kaida emphasized in a teasing accusatory manner, "...are out there, not right here where they were a minute ago. Not to worry though, I have just the thing." Kaida said with a warm smile, pulling her hand from her pocket cupped around something. She then reaches up with her other hand to grab one of Dexter's, tugging it down before placing her cupped hand right over his palm. "Now hold these," she said releasing her grip, revealing a collection of seeds that fell into Dexter's hand. No words were spoken, but Kaida could already tell by Dexter's brightening face that he was just about to ask how she intended to get the gentle forest creatures to return; a lion overjoyed by the prospects. She remained silent, still bearing that warm smile as she held up a finger to Dexter. A signal for him to just wait and see before she turned towards the garden again, taking a few more steps until she stood right at its edge.
Kaida lifted her head ever so slightly, beginning to sing a soft tune as she let her eyes drift shut to embrace the morning's peaceful ambiance. Her golden notes meshing so perfectly with the warming sunshine. Dexter's ears flattened, this time more relaxed from those comforting notes that instantly wrap him up in a calming sensation. The soothed feline's eyes began to drift shut too, slowly being pulled away into a daydream. But before he could truly drift away, his eyes flashed back open with his smile growing a little more. A wave of happiness sparking within as he notices a few birds emerging from the forest's green blanket of a canopy, flying towards them with even more following. Even a few rabbits poking their heads from some nearby bushes before strolling towards them, seemingly tuned to Kaida's song. Dexter didn't even realize he was purring while he gazed at the sight, admiring her gem of a voice. Nor did he realize he'd taken the few steps to join Kaida at her side until he found himself standing at the garden's edge; his tail swaying gently behind him. For a moment he continued to just listen, swimming in an ocean of calmness and beauty before he glanced up. The glorious late morning skies holding his gaze while he contemplated whether he'd go forward with today's plans, or enjoy this beautiful singing for much longer given the chance. He even considered singing himself as his eyes tracked the gentle clouds rushing across the brightening blue, moving unusually fast. "Perhaps another time," Dexter thought to himself, just as Kaida concluded her song then gracefully lowered herself to kneel. Resting one hand on a rabbit's head with a gentle pat, she gestures Dexter to kneel before the diverse group of birds, rabbits, and squirrels; along with a few others exploring the repopulated garden, to which he did.
"Welcome back," Kaida said in a soft tone towards the returning morning crowd, reaching into her pocket again to grab more seeds for the birds and herbs for the rabbits; then presenting them as a nice breakfast. Dexter did the same, holding out his hand full of seeds then giving a quick shake to purposefully let some fall to the ground. Not one of them hesitated, eagerly approaching the pair to partake in their generous gift, something Dexter noticed. Of course giving tremendous if not all credit to Kaida's singing, but he couldn't help wondering if this kind gesture towards them earned their forgiveness. Or he hoped at least. "That was incredible Kaida! Your singing is an absolute gem! Not only soothing, it really brings out the true magic, peace, and beauty of this morning." A slight giggle accompanied Dexter's compliment to Kaida as a bird hopped up to his hand to peck at the seeds. "Why thank you Dex. Hmmmmm actually..." She responded, a thought crossing her mind. "Oh right, this is the first time you've heard my singing, isn't it? Well I'm glad you like it so much, I'll have to show you more. Maybe later or another day though. Today you said you'd show me that 'thing' you've been so eager to show me for weeks now, and I'm very much intrigued. Or maybe I can.. haha!" Kaida suddenly let out a chuckle, amused when another bird landed right in Dexter's mane above his head. "And from the looks of it, your new little friend is intrigued too." Dexter reached up with his free hand to carefully give a few pets to the bird with a finger. "It's funny you mention that because I'm faaaaiiiirly certain most if not all of these birds have seen this 'thing'. But you'll see for yourself here really soon!" Dexter said with an obvious spark of excitement, reaching over to rub the silky smooth fur of a nearby rabbit. "In fact, I probably should go ahead and check on our expert aviator. We're absolutely going to need him." Dexter's smile faded a bit knowing he'd have to leave behind these forest creatures, but only until they returned.
With that, Dexter rests his hand holding the seeds closer to the ground, allowing the bird still pecking at the seeds to hop off before he placed the rest in front of them. He then reaches up to ever so carefully and gently cup his hands around the bird in his mane, then places the delicate avian in the soft grass near him. He smiled at his feathery friend who looked up at him. Dexter was just about to rub its head gently, when his head jerks to the right, alarmed by a deep growl and a sudden commotion erupting from a collection of tall, dense brush deeper in the forest. Numerous birds scattered from around that area almost immediately, a few heavy thumps shaking the ground. "What the?" Dexter bore a look of confusion, that turned to relief looking back to see the garden's birds and animals didn't seem bothered. But that same look of confusion returned glancing back to the brush, where more pronounced rustling occurred with a few more heavy thumps. Suddenly Dexter's confused expression transformed to a relieved look of recognition. "Ahhh good, you're awake too! I was just thinking about ya!" Kaida, also noticing the scattering birds over there quickly chimed in with a laugh, "hey it looks like you two have something in common!" Embarrassed, Dexter gave her a sheepish smile, rubbing a hand through his mane again, "you're not going to let that go are you?" He replied getting to his feet. Kaida just laughed, reaching to his back where she gave him a push towards the disturbances, "haha not a chance Dex!"
The Master Aviator
"What on earth are you doing?" Dexter asks with a laugh, rounding the tall, dense mass of forest brush where he came to a stop. Placing his hands on his hips, he tries to project at least some aura of authority and sternness as he looks up to meet the gaze of two large amber eyes. There looking right back down at him was a large Wyvern, the very same who'd flown both him and Kaida out here the day before. He didn't seem bothered at all by the lion's sudden appearance, nor his attempts to lightly intimidate him; rather seeming annoyed as if Dexter interrupted something important. He clearly outsized Dexter by a significant margin, some of his true height hidden in a somewhat crouched stance, trying to avoid tangling his head in the low-hanging canopy that his horns were already brushing against. The canopy had to have been around sixteen feet, Dexter estimated, but he knew if the Wyvern were to stand straight up he'd reach a solid twenty-two feet. Give or take a few inches.
The Wyvern tilted his head with a slight hrmmppff, ejecting a gust of air through his large nostrils as if waiting for Dexter to hurry up and do something so that he could get back to whatever he was doing. "I'm glad to see you're awake! Even more so that you haven't flown off." Dexter said, relieved to see their aviator hadn't left them. Not that they expected him to, rather the prospects of having to trek a few days to the nearest town on foot didn't seem particularly appealing. "But... you do realize you're causing quite the commotion out here right?" The Wyvern instantly tilted his head in the other direction, cocking his head back with a sharp, somewhat accusatory look. Dexter in turn tilted his head with a roll of his eyes, "Ok ok fine, not like I can really talk. BUT you are a heck of a lot bigger and louder than me! Messier from the looks of it too." Dexter mentioned, noticing he'd knocked over a few smaller trees and scattered debris all around the area. He pointed this out, but the Wyvern simply snorted dismissively. A few large thuds rang out, and again more rustling of the trees as he took a few steps to maneuver his massive frame around. All the way until his back was turned to Dexter, seeming to return to what occupied him before. Dexter just shook his head with a sigh, walking around the large avian to get a better view of whatever he was doing. Walking around, he couldn't help but admire his impressive frame. Body lined with rugged armor that appeared thick, yet bearing a few scars that gave Dexter the impression he was a resilient, experienced traveler. "Heh, at least you've got your powerful wings tucked away there big guy. Else I'm sure every tree over here would've been flattened by now," he commented, still making his way around.
Dexter certainly didn't expect what he found once he made it far enough around to see what he was up to. In fact, Dexter expecting to find some sort of mess or trouble, only found himself smiling again at an unexpectedly heartwarming sight. The Wyvern had the very edge of his armored nose gently pressed to a bird's nest, moving in such a slight way as if to nuzzle the bird home that rested on a branch at about his head's height. The nest's occupants, a sizable family of feathery avians, surprisingly gave no mind to the massive size difference. Nor the loud noises or his heavy movements, rather enjoying his presence it seemed. Dexter's ears fluttered to the sound of a few chick's delighted chirps, clearly happy to see the friendly giant. Meanwhile, the two parents stood just outside of the nest, occasionally hopping from the branch to his horns and back playfully. At one point, one of the parents leapt from the branch to his horns, then dove off to glide towards the ground. The smaller avian soaring just above the forest floor for a good distance before climbing right back up into another tree. Dexter wasn't sure if the bird intended for the Wyvern to follow but he did, noticeable thumping rattling the forest as he took steps with his large feet. "I can't deny this is incredibly cute," Dexter giggled, following the much larger scaled avian. Reaching the bird's new branch, he stopped again, to which the bird continued to hop to his horns, even flying around his head energetically.
Dexter stopped just behind the Wyvern who was focused on the playful bird, still admiring the two when an idea crossed his mind. His ears perked up, reaching out to gently place a hand on his large legs that shifted ever so slightly from his movements. "Ya know, Kaida's got some seeds we can feed these... WHOA EASY!!!" A startled Dexter shouted! Before he could even make contact, Dexter's sharp feline reactions kicked in, leaping back with as much effort as he could manage without even thinking. At that split second, the Wyvern unexpectedly whipped his entire body around to playfully nip at the bird who circled his head. A cute interaction for them, but for Dex, a near painful experience. Narrowly avoiding his powerful tail whipping towards him at blinding speeds from the sudden rapid twirl, that could have easily sent him flying through the nearby trees. Dexter landed a sizable distance back, with enough momentum to keep his paws skidding along the forest floor for a few feet until he finally came to a stop. "That... was entirely too close!" He said through clenched teeth, trying to pat himself down to confirm he'd made his narrow escape unscathed, but found it difficult with his body tensing up. After a few seconds, he fell to his knees, resting his hands in the cool dirt once he saw and felt that nothing was off. A slight laugh wanting to escape his maw, but stifled by a deep, dramatic sigh of relief, realizing he'd been holding his breath the entire time. Naturally, he began to take steady breaths, attempting to settle himself after the sudden burst of adrenaline. But soon, another realization hit him. He slowly lifted his gaze from the forest floor to the Wyvern, noticing he was no longer playing with the bird that rested on a branch nearby, rather staring right at him. His tilted head bearing a confused, baffled expression, wondering why Dex was in such a tense state.
"Heheh oh don't you give me that look you overgrown flying lizard," a slight chuckle finally managing to force its way out of Dexter's maw while he slowly pushed himself up to stand. It was clear the Wyvern was oblivious to his big tail nearly scoring a direct on him. Of course Dexter bore no anger, beginning to walk towards him again, only noting to himself to be more careful as he wasn't even aware of how agile the big aviator was in such confined spaces. Deep down despite the near accident, he was happy for him. Happy he's able to experience his own joys on this glorious morning and offering some right back to some of this area's residents; evident by the chicks chirping happily when he was near them moments ago. Reaching the Wyvern, Dexter places his hands firmly on his scaled belly, giving deep rubs that caused him to shove a relaxed stream of air through his nostrils in a comforted manner. Dexter looks up to meet his gaze, offering a friendly smile while completely dismissing how much the Wyvern dwarfed him.
"Today's only just starting and it's already proving to be pretty exciting doncha think?" The Wyvern sat back, his massive frame pressing to a thick sturdy trunk as his chest rumbled out of relaxation from Dexter's belly rubs. "Not to mention we haven't even started OUR adventure yet!" Dexter said with a smirk. That very instant, the Wyvern propped himself back up with a noticeable flurry of enthusiasm, energy, and anticipation flowing through him. "Haha that's what I like to see!" Dexter said with an inspired tone that carried its own flavor of anticipation, rubbing his belly at a faster pace. "Trust me, I can barely contain my excitement for this too! Been having to fight hard to not spoil the surprise to Kaida for weeks now, but finally we get to show her. Heck, I can't even wait to fly over that incredible place again! But... Let's try to keep the flying as relaxed as possible ey? So she can take in the amazing view. If things get bumpy, I'll do my best to guide us and smooth out the ride, or even..." A rhythmic series of deep rumbles vibrates the Wyvern's chest like laughter with a gruff flavor to it, giving Dexter a slight nudge with his feet as if to remind him he knew full well how to handle the skies. He was a natural-born aviator after all. Realizing he was getting ahead of himself, Dexter let off another laugh of his own. "Heh well I can't argue with experience, the skies are your realms so I'm more than confident your skill and majestic wings will guide us through." The Wyvern couldn't help feeling a sense of pride with Dex acknowledging his natural abilities, looking up towards the skies through a break in the canopy with an aura of confidence and motivation. Dexter took a deep inhale, then released a relaxed exhale, giving his leg a slight bump. "How's about we get this adventure going ey ace?" With that Dexter turned to head back towards Kaida, giving a 'follow-me' hand gesture. He didn't even hesitate, following right behind with the surrounding forest thumping to each of his big steps.
Grand Entrance Into the Realm of Dragons
Back at the garden, Kaida was still sitting, enjoying the garden's livelier atmosphere with even more forest residents joining her. She'd become so occupied tending to the fuzzy little crowd, she'd forgotten about Dex, at least until slight vibrations began to pulse through the ground again. She glances up just in time to see Dexter emerging from the dense brush with a calm flow to his step. Mere seconds later, the thick mess of trees dramatically thrust aside by the Wyvern stepping out into the open, easily towering over Dex. Thankfully despite these new disturbances, most of the garden's occupants stayed in place, likely still calmed by Kaida's song. She called out, "Is everything ok? Took you quite a while." Dexter shouted back, "Oh the big lizard was just getting friendly with a family of birds, quite cute actually!" His delighted expression transformed with a noticeably nervous smile, "...and I might've almost become REALLY friendly with his tail." Kaida gave him a confused look, "What do you mean by that?" "Ohhhh I'll tell ya later heh," Dexter replied, giving his mane a familiar rubbing. "BUT for now, the skies await us!" He said just reaching Kaida, striking a pose to point towards the sky confidently right when the Wyvern planted his big self right beside him, causing Dexter to stumble. Kaida glanced over to his large tail, still thinking about what Dex said. But seeing nothing out of the ordinary, with it just resting in the grass, she shrugged her shoulders. She then reaches into her pocket to gather the remaining food, then tosses it all towards the garden; much to the joy of the many forest critters. "We'll be back sometime later, but for now you all enjoy your breakfast and the garden." She said in a soft motherly tone, rising to her feet with a few stretching motions.
After one last friendly wave to the garden, Dexter turns to Kaida with excitement clearly coursing through his veins, "Ready to take to the sky realms!?" She returned a determined nod, experiencing a spark from his elation at what was to come, "Always ready!" With that, she turns to grab hold of the Wyvern to hoist herself up. Dexter managed to just lift himself off of the ground, clinging to his scaly frame when he stopped, a thought crossing his mind. "Gimme just one second", he says to Kaida before rushing to the Wyvern's front, gesturing for him to lower his head. With a swift motion, he grabs the set of reins latched to his back, then gives them to the Wyvern who clamps down on them firmly with his maw. Dexter's anticipation of the flight ahead was obvious from his slight jitters, yet even through his excitement, he paused. Calming himself for a moment to gaze into those large amber gems of eyes that stared right back at him, his golden fur brushed by the steady calm breaths flowing through his nostrils. Dexter places both hands on the Wyvern's cheeks, holding his head with a negligible grip while he bumps his forehead to the Wyvern's nose. He then whispers, "Alrighty ace, master of the realms above. Grant us land-dwellers access to the blue sky's infinite beauty with your majestic wings. A cherished opportunity to traverse the magnificent, legendary domain of dragons, that I shall never take for granted." The large aviator's chest rumbled much louder momentarily before he shoved a powerful exhale that knocked Dexter back. He stumbled briefly, but once he regained his balance he looked back to the Wyvern, who lifted his head towards the skies with an aura of determination stronger than before. Dexter gave him a nod then headed back to his side where he climbed on, getting himself comfortable sitting at the base of his neck. Without hesitation, the Wyvern rose, just as Dexter grabbed a hold of the reins. "And so the adventure begins!" Kaida shouted. With that, he began a slow walk to the other side of the cabin, where the open field would give him enough space to get airborne.
Both Kaida's and Dexter's hearts raced as he made his way to a suitable spot for takeoff. One heavy step after another with the seconds ticking away, bringing the bunch closer to the start of an exhilarating journey. Finally reaching the cabin's back, which had considerably more room before the forest's edge, the Wyvern fully extended his wings. He gave a flap, light, yet still had enough force to kick up dirt, rocks, and loose grass. Dexter glanced back to Kaida with a smile, who returned one right back at him. Dexter then stared down the open space ahead, slightly nudging the Wyvern's body with his feet to signal go. "Ok let's get this started, niiiice and easy..." he sang, gripping the reins with an expectation of immediate acceleration but... nothing happened. The Wyvern just stood still, seconds passing by but no movement, or even acknowledgment that Dexter could discern. "I gave him the signal but... does he not want to fly? I thought he was ready to go." Dex said, concerned something might be wrong.
With more seconds ticking by, both riders began to look back and around, inspecting the Wyvern's frame. Dexter gives another nudge with his feet, but still nothing. At least until Kaida tensed up, starting to detect vibrations from within him that only grew in intensity. Oblivious to the two, the Wyvern's eyes were shut, as below his tough exterior an eruption of adrenaline filled his bloodstream. Something Kaida was just becoming aware of, along with the tension building while he gathered considerable strength. Instinctively she gripped onto his frame tight, warning Dexter, "Uhmmm Dex, you might want to hang on tight... like right now!" Without hesitating he did, giving a tight grip of his own, but not without asking, "Hold on for wh..." That very instant, the Wyvern's eyes flashed open, a sudden rush overcoming the two as his powerful legs released a tremendous amount of energy, launching himself forward with an impressive burst of acceleration! Both the rider's arms strained to hold on while his feet tore into the firm dirt one at a time, releasing with mighty pushes that propelled him further and faster! It only took a brief yet exhilarating ten steps before the Wyvern gave one final push-off, his fully extended wings flexing upwards before a powerful flap down that sent him a few feet above the ground. A series of forceful flaps continuing, giving him even more speed after tucking those powerful legs against his frame. With the forest boundary closing in quickly, he pulls up slightly for a short climb, just high enough to soar above the forest canopy before leveling off. Exerting all of his energy to the rapid acceleration.
Once the flurry of acceleration eased off, both Kaida and Dexter released enough of their grips to prop themselves up to a sitting position. At first checking on each other before looking around, thrilled by such an exhilarating launch that had them darting above the trees. Dexter calls out with a teasing nudge to the Wyvern's neck, "Haha so much for nice and easy!" The Wyvern replied with a hrrmmpfff, focusing more on avoiding the occasional taller tree poking above the canopy while he zoomed along.
Dexter soon lets out a relaxed sigh with the wind whipping through his mane, happy to be in the skies again let alone with such lovely company. "Gotta love takeoffs," Dexter thought aloud. "A quick yet intense burst of acceleration that grants access to the skies. I surely hope that wasn't too intense for you," he teased, glancing back to Kaida with a smirk that quickly faded seeing she wasn't bothered in the slightest; rather smirking right back at him. "Oh as if. I won't deny the excitement but we both know I have miles more flying experience than you do. And that's not even including my feral form. Trust me it's nothing I can't handle." "Well you definitely have me there..." Dexter's response cut off by the Wyvern making an abrupt bank to the right, dodging a tall tree that stood much higher above the surrounding green blanket of a canopy. Once he leveled off again, Dexter continued, "...but for this ride, all I want you to do is relax and enjoy the view because what I'm about to show you is nothing short of spectacular. Scenery in its own league of beauty and grandeur compared to most others! To top it all off, since the day is still relatively young we've got tons of time to explore it too!" Dexter boasted, even adding in, "And from here on out, it'll be smoooooth sailing." Kaida laughed, giving him a light teasing jab, "I'll hold you to it, but... kinda hard to get an epic view so close to the ground like this doncha think?" "Oh my thoughts exactly, now hold on tight while we take this journey skywards!" Dexter shouted, glancing up to see numerous puffy clouds drifting so peacefully above, with gentle streaks of wispy cirrus clouds painted across the skies at much higher altitudes. "What do you say we join those clouds up there ey ace?" Speaking to the Wyvern, who lets off another hrrmmpfff. Dexter held on tight before he gave a slight tug on the reins, which was all the Wyvern needed. For a brief second holding those majestic wings out wide and steady, gliding while he gathered more energy. Then with an explosive release, he flapped down with a tremendous amount of force that pushed them into a near-vertical climb.
Neither Dexter nor Kaida could hold back their elation, shouting thrilled laughter as they darted higher and higher. Only able to catch brief glimpses of the distancing land during the intense climb before disappearing, swallowed up by the delicate structure of a puffy cloud drifting along without a care in the world.
Hidden Dangers in the Realm of Beauty
A thunderous roar tears through the peaceful skies as the riders erupt from the large cloud's top, bursting from the blinding white of its delicate form back out into the bright blue. Only a few more flaps propel the Wyvern higher before he eases out of the climb, settling into a momentary glide with his wings out wide for a brief rest after his explosive release of energy. But a short breather was all he needed, as seconds later, his wings were pushing them forward again in a much more graceful fashion.
Needing some relief of their own after holding on so tightly, both Kaida and Dexter soften their grips again, maneuvering into a more comfortable seated position to settle in for the flight. Kaida called out, "how far do we have to go Dex?" Dexter leaned forward to rub gently at the Wyvern's neck as he scanned the horizon, replying, "With how fast we're going now, I doubt more than a half-hour." He then propped himself up again, turning back to her with a mischievous grin. "Although I can see if he'll go much MUCH faster if you really want." Kaida responded with a light playful punch to his shoulder, "If you're trying to unnerve me that was a pretty weak attempt. Besides, I would actually encourage it, but for now, I'd prefer to take things nice and easy. Plus you did say we had a ton of time." Dexter nodded, then carefully scooted himself back closer to Kaida. The traveling pair beginning to chat and laugh together, enthralled by the stunning terrain passing below. Every so often pointing out different sights or even intriguing cloud formations during their excursion through the skies.
A solid twenty or so minutes later, that felt much shorter with how much fun they were having, Dexter gasps pointing ahead towards the horizon. "There it is!" he exclaimed, spotting a familiar lake that dominated the distant wide-opened plains. Even Kaida gasped in awe, as the lands appeared to glow from the sunlight reflecting off the lake's surface in such a spectacular fashion. Seeing her expression, Dexter spoke up, "Oh and this is just the beginning! I know you've seen hundreds if not thousands of lakes, but this one... heck it's big enough to be a small ocean," Dexter slightly exaggerated. "But that lake is only a small part of what I have to show ya," he said pointing towards the distant mountains. Then slowly, he traced the path of what looked like at least eight mighty rivers snaking their way across the land, splitting into dozens of smaller rivers and other lakes before rejoining; only to empty into the big lake's main body. He didn't even take time to point out its unique features, his finger continuing past its imposing glowing form, leading towards four more massive rivers that split off in the same general direction. Their currents carrying immense amounts of water along until... Kaida chirped up astonished, "What... is that?!" From their perspective, it looked so unusual, like the land just... ended. Or they were looking at the very edge of the continent.
"A waterfall!!" She shouted delightfully. Dexter smiled, his heart racing in anticipation as if this was a completely new treasure, despite him seeing the sight a few times before. "Waterfall-'S'!" Putting particular emphasis on their plural nature to prepare her for the grand sight ahead. "And if ya think those waterfalls are the apex of this trip, just wait until you see what's beyond," he said facing her with a beaming expression. That only lasted about three seconds, his excitement stifled by an abrupt strong jolt, followed by a short burst of strong vibrations that rocked the Wyvern's body. Alarmed, Dexter immediately slid forward to sit at the base of the Wyverns neck again, grabbing his reins as a few lighter bumps rattled him. Dexter cautiously looked back to inspect the Wyvern's frame, along with Kaida, both relieved to see nothing appeared to be wrong, yet they both remained silent. For a short moment at least, until Dexter spoke to the Wyvern with a caring tone. "You ok there big guy?" He responded with a hrrmmpfff that carried a dismissive tone. Dexter sighed, "I'll just take that as a yes," before turning back to Kaida. "I'm not sure what that was but it seems to be over." Kaida smirked at him, "I thought the smooth cat said it'd be smooth sailing from here on out." Dexter couldn't hold back a sheepish toothy smile, rubbing his hand through his mane. "Ok ok, from here... ON... OUT... it WILL be smooth sailing!"
Not even a second later, a sudden strong gust slams into the Wyvern's side, forcing him into a steep left bank. Dexter shouted back to Kaida, "I guess not, hang on!" Tugging hard back to the right, he manages to level them off, then gives a slight squeeze to the Wyvern's neck to get him to dive; avoiding a cloud ahead as he didn't want to lose sight of the ground and become disoriented. After the quick dive, getting low enough to pass below the cloud, Dexter found himself tugging left and right on the reins, doing his best to counter the flurry of bumps, jolts, and abrupt shifts that battered the Wyvern's flight path. As if he'd encountered a monstrous wave on the coast, the Wyvern suddenly began to climb rapidly against a powerful updraft, that none of his rein manipulations could counter. Kaida shouted a wave of joyous laughter, clearly enjoying the ride's sudden change of pace. This at least offered him some relief, knowing that she wasn't put off by the wildness. Her laughter even made him smile some, sparking the determination within him to get things back under control. "I got this, I got this!" He said, yanking the reins to the right, causing the Wyvern to deflect his wings in a manner that forced him over sideways. A series of powerful flaps followed, giving them enough push to eject them from the updraft. Dexter let off a slight sigh of relief, guiding the Wyvern into a soft descent realizing how high the strong updraft carried them.
Dexter's relief didn't last long however, glancing towards the waterfalls to see they still had a fair distance to go. He knew the skies would offer them no smooth passage with how wild the ride was already, but he wasn't deterred. He likened the situation to taking on wild waves at the beach, but unlike those waves, the energetic sky's hazards were completely invisible to him. Only a few clues offered by the scattered clouds bending and twisting in the strong winds.
Dexter took a deep breath, bracing himself to face the challenges ahead. He then turned back to Kaida, whose thrilled look of enjoyment told him everything he needed to know, but he chose to ask anyways. "I was not expecting the skies to be... anywhere near this energetic heh." Any and all sense of relaxation was long gone between the three, now replaced by an adrenaline-induced sense of thrill. He motioned to a particular set of clouds, just a few of the bunch forming all around. "From the looks of those towering clouds growing rather fast, I'd imagine the skies ahead are going to keep being difficult, if not more. I'm up for continuing, only as long as you are. Unless THIS is too much for you." She laughed, "Not in the slightest Dex, it takes a heck of a lot more to shake me. Nowhere else but forward so let's press on!" She even threw in a compliment, "I'll even say you're handling these jittery skies pretty well so far." This perked Dexter up, oblivious to the Wyvern giving off an annoyed hrrmmpfff.
To Dexter's credit, he was handling some of the chaotic ride rather well through all the difficulty. Managing to keep them going despite the formidable sky current rushing across the infinite blue that stirred up so much energy in the atmosphere. But some of his handling also annoyed the Wyvern, not quite handling the hazards as he wanted. Dexter continued to confidently guide them along, countering as many of the sky's attempts to throw them in all sorts of directions to the best of his abilities, until they reached a particularly chaotic area of turbulence. Dexter was just giving some side pressure to keep the Wyvern level, when a strong powerful gale struck them, putting the Wyvern into a steep left bank near instantaneously. Both riders shouted, grips tightening. Just like he did many times before, Dexter tugged in the opposite direction. But much to his surprise nothing happened, the Wyvern continued along holding that sharp bank. Confused, Dexter looked down to the reins before he tugged again to get them leveled. But still, nothing happened, except more jostles that made this riding position all the more treacherous. "I don't understand," he said with a noticeable tone of urgency, giving more tugs and even nudges with his feet but still nothing happened. "You gonna fix this Dex?" Kaida called out. "I'm trying but... he won't respond. I guess he just likes flying like this." Dexter gave another tug, but the Wyvern remained in the same flying position, clearly ignoring his commands. Except this time, he gave a forceful tug back. Noticing this, Kaida spoke up. "I think... I think he wants you to drop the reins and let him handle this." She said with a bit of curiosity. That very moment, the Wyvern finally rolled his body until they were leveled again.
"You've got this doncha?" Dexter says with a flavor of calmness despite the skies jostling all three of them. That very moment the Wyvern turned his head back, just enough to look them both in the eyes as if to acknowledge. Dexter nodded with a confident smile, letting go of the reins then holding onto the expert aviator's scaled frame. Kaida called out to him, "Show us what ya got ace!"
The Sky Surfer’s Aerial Dance
The Wyvern bore a look of determination as his majestic frame pierced the turbulent skies, adjusting and maneuvering his wings with surgical precision to smooth out the ride far better than Dexter could ever manage. Every so often he'd take a barrage of powerful shots, sharp and ferocious shifts in the fierce wind that rocked his fame. But each time he'd counter them near perfectly, lessening the effects on his riders considerably. While Dexter and Kaida experienced a far more exhilarating ride than they'd ever expected, if not slightly nerve-wracking with so many invisible hazards; the Wyvern experienced immense joy below his tough exterior, sparked by a sense of unparalleled freedom. For him, this was nothing more than what land-dwellers referred to as "a walk in the park," maybe with a dash of spice thrown in. Nowhere near his limits nor pushing the bounds of danger. These were his kind's realms after all. One that would occasionally get stirred up by the atmosphere's natural phenomena, sometimes more ferocious than others. But all the Wyvern encountered numerous times before and learned how to thrive among them. He chuckled within, thinking to himself that he may have had a destination to reach, but he might as well give his riders one heck of a ride to remember along the way. And with a glance over to a certain structure, he knew just how to begin.
A few miles stood between them and a towering pillar of a cloud that was rapidly growing, yet the Wyvern could sense the invisible rush of air spiraling up and around its form. He banked towards it with eager flaps, propelling them ever closer. Dexter and Kaida noticed the abrupt course deviation but just chose to let him do his thing while they enjoyed the ride, wherever it took them. A brief few seconds of unexpectedly smooth soaring passed as they approached the cloud's tall, intimidating structure, before the riders were hit with an intense burst of acceleration from below. The Wyvern simply held his wings out wide to catch the rapidly rising spiral of air that thrusts them higher, with more shouts of joy and laughter from Kaida and Dexter having the time of their lives. The quick thrilling ascent ending as they reached the top, peeling away from the cloud to present them with a stunning view of the lands far below. They all marveled at the massive lake, still shining brightly from the beams of sunlight bouncing off its surface. Or at least they were able to enjoy the view for a few seconds, before another rush overcame them, accelerating rapidly again as the climb pushed them right into the powerful grasp of the stronger high altitude currents. The Wyvern fought to orient himself quickly, to ride with the potent winds aloft rather than trying to fly against them, knowing full well these were too strong. But while most land-dwelling aviators would refer to this as a lashing, the expert aviator took it more as an opportunity for relief. Once he properly oriented himself, he just held his wings out wide, allowing them to rest while the wind pushed them farther and faster, only needing a few minor corrections to smooth out the ride.
Despite the slight detours, the adventurers were finding themselves closer and closer to the waterfalls they sought. Closer, but with enough distance for the Wyvern to keep having fun, something the riders encouraged. At one point the Wyvern glanced back, sending off a soft roar towards Dexter and Kaida like a signal to brace, which they did. Their already tight grips tightening even more, just as the ace aviator tucks his wings to his body, allowing himself to start falling. At first, the descent was slow with the rushing winds nudging him along, but once he passed through its lower bounds, he felt the sudden lack of a pushing force immediately. Keeping his wings tucked tight to himself, he began to fall towards the ground like a dart, picking up speed quickly. Smashing into the puffy tops of smaller clouds, only to burst out mere seconds later. Only allowing his wings to extend again sensing a wall of choppy rising air just ahead. He gave a few flaps to pull out of his rapid dive, then flapped hard to propel himself near vertically with only his belly making contact with this invisible wall of air surging upwards; riding along like skimming the surface of water. A much-preferred method that gave him a slight boost, rather than flying straight through another feisty turbulent zone. The intense climb only lasted a short while, before the Wyvern gave a flap strong enough to push them off the wall of air rushing skywards. Not wanting to be carried too high and become caught in the high altitude winds again. Instead, he settled into another steady cruise, aiming for a nearby cloud while shaking off the occasional bumps and abrupt jolts. His precision flying positioned himself just right to pass beneath the cloud, close enough for Kaida and Dexter to reach up and with a finger, trace its underside as they zipped by. Only a moment of relaxed grace before he pulled a sharp turn, resuming his aerial dance through the majestic domain of dragons.
Dexter wore a relaxed smile during the brief moments between the Wyvern's intense theatrics and maneuvers. Both him and Kaida admiring the aviator's expert handling of the turbulent skies, putting on a show and an experience like no other; all the while making their way closer to the falls. In some cases dodging the rough sky's powerful twists and gusts, in others riding along with them. Neither of the two able to see these invisible obstacles or energetic features of the wild sky, but getting enough of a feel as the Wyvern soared among them. Surfing them with incredible skills, rather than fighting them like Dexter was trying to do before he took over. Another ten or so minutes pass by, filled with a range of high-G spirals, sudden fast-paced climbs, or tilting over into quick dives. Even stunts around and through numerous clouds, among other maneuvers during his performance.
The Aviator's Graceful Final Act
The two were so enthralled in their thrilling ride, they almost forgot their purpose for being up here. At least until Dexter's overjoyed laughs stopped, stifled by pure astonishment and a look of awe gazing down below. Kaida did the same, a stunned gasp escaping her at the incredible sight. "We've... we've arri..." Dexter couldn't even finish, so captivated by the moment. "I can't even begin to think of words to describe this," Kaida said. Both struck by the sheer size, the striking beauty, and the unparalleled grandeur of the series of waterfalls below them; sending tremendous amounts of water towards the thick dense jungles below the massive cliffs. The tall cliffs impressive in their own right, rising up to such immense heights it was difficult to truly make out the jungle's features, aside from the rivers originating from the falls that snaked their way towards horizons unknown. Even another series of clouds drifting well below the cliff's tops where the waterfalls began. Dexter tried estimating its height, how many thousands of feet covered in a thick layer of diverse fauna along the vertical cliff face, outside of a few massive rocks jutting out into the open. As if all of this wasn't enough, the grand structure of a castle sat on a small island between two wide falls, its beauty enhanced by its precarious spot. The Wyvern who was preparing for another dive, picked up on their fascination, holding off and shifting his focus back to smoothing out the ride again. Kaida figured Dexter had no association with the castle but asked him about it anyways. "That castle down there, that wouldn't happen to be yours would it?" She said in a skeptical tone. Dexter gave a playful brush with his tuft of tail-fur across her face. "In my dreams haha. No, I'm not even sure who it belongs to in all honesty. But perhaps we can explore it later. First I want to get a closer look at that jungle. I mean can you imagine the vast wealth of hidden secrets it must have?" Kaida replied, "Only one way to find out, right? Lead the way."
Dexter tapped the Wyvern gently on the neck to get his attention, then pointed down towards the vast jungle. The Wyvern nodded before looking left and right, searching for something. He knew he could just descend from his current spot to reach the jungle, but he wanted to give the two one last thrilling experience before settling off. After only a few seconds it hit him, letting his right wing rise high above as he rolled into a left bank, heading off towards a tall intimidating pillar of a cloud over the lake that reached high up into the atmosphere. Kaida noticing this calls out, "Does he not want to go down there?" Dexter replied, "I'm sure he does, but I'm guessing he wants to do something before that. Heh by now I'm just resolved to letting our expert aviator handle everything as he sees fit." Kaida shrugged in agreement, just settling back to keep enjoying the ride.
Within moments, the Wyvern reaches the cloud at about mid-height, letting off a spirited roar realizing he'd arrived at the perfect time. Not too early to face its strong developing updrafts, but not too late to take on its fierce destructive downdrafts, that were bound to happen any moment with the cloud just passing the apex of its growth. Evident by the countless raindrops that began to fall from the cloud's base, within their own loose column towards the sparkling water below. He gave one more flap to properly orient himself, then held his wings out wide as he began a relaxed spiraling descent around the cloud. A beautiful sight and experience while they rounded the tall puffy structure, just close enough for his wing tip to trace its delicate form on the way down. Passing its base, the mystical experience continued as the Wyvern readjusted his wings with expert precision so that their descent matched the falling rain perfectly. Both Dexter and Kaida were filled with a soothing mixture of awe, peace, and amazement; never experiencing rain quite like this with each individual drop appearing to float just beside them. Many glowing like bright crystals as they reflected the sunlight. Carefully the Wyvern continued making precise adjustments, managing just the right rate of descent while shrugging off the occasional turbulent shove, and keeping them just close enough to the rain pillar for Kaida and Dexter to reach out and grab individual raindrops. A feat not at all lost on Dexter, contemplating the skill required to handle flight like this so well. Not just this maneuver, but the entire flying experience. Looking back to Kaida, "We have to do something to repay him for this breathtaking experience." She nodded in agreement, just as the Wyvern peeled away from the rain column, allowing himself to descend the remaining distance until he was just above the water's surface. He then began to flap his wings again with tremendous effort, rapidly accelerating towards the waterfall at the cliff's edge.
Setting Course to Lands Unknown
It's an incredible sight, the aviator's majestic frame zooming just above the water at high speeds. No longer flapping his wings vigorously, nor having to contend with the energetic jolts and twists of the sky higher up. Rather just cruising along, only needing the occasional flap to keep them going. With the distance between them and the waterfalls closing, the Wyvern extends his feet, letting them drop ever closer to the glistening waters. Holding himself at just the perfect height so that his sharp claws could gently kiss the water's surface, leaving behind a lengthy streak in trail. Some of the water spraying back up at him soaking his under section, producing a relaxing cooling sensation that made him rumble softly. Approaching the great falls and the coming end to this wild ride, both Kaida and Dexter held their arms out wide like their own pair of wings. The edge came quick, both giving a brief glance to the grand castle that stood so proudly between the falls, before looking ahead with that same lively anticipation they had when this whole journey began. With a burst of water kicked up by the Wyvern's feet and a short yet loud roar from Dexter, the Wyvern soars over the edge in spectacular fashion.
Despite being sent back out into the open sky, well above the jungle's thick canopy far below, that splash and rawr made it feel like they'd passed through some barrier. Transitioning from the exhilarating side of this adventure to the more relaxed, exploratory side. A stark contrast to the flying he'd just been engaged in. The Wyvern held his wings out wide, angling up for a moment to bleed off his speed before he settles into a very slow, relaxed glide towards the lands below. He then looks back to his two riders with an expression of curiosity and amusement, tilting his head as if to ask "Had enough?” Both Kaida's and Dexter's expressions say it all, releasing their tight grips with deep relaxed exhales, checking themselves and each other. Thankfully finding nothing off or lost, except for a noticeable soreness from within. An expected side effect of holding on so tight for so long. They both shared a brief hug, moving into a more comfortable seated position while the master aviator continued his steady descent. His sights set on an open patch of grass where he could land and enjoy a much-deserved break.
The unexpectedly thrilling ride may be drawing to a close for Kaida and Dexter, but like any exploration through unknown lands, the surprises and discoveries never stop. Something they knew all too well. All they'd need is a short break of their own, adjusting after such a wild ride. Of course, Dexter couldn't help but pipe up with a confident smirk to Kaida, "Now I can say it officially! From here on out... it WILL be smooth sai..." Kaida laughed, cutting him off with a light punch to his shoulder, "DEX! Don't you dare haha!" The two sharing more laughter as they descended towards the jungle, where further adventure and incredible discoveries await them...
Ok this... ended up... faaaaaar longer than I intended or expected x) Honestly a good 2 to 3 times longer. It def took quite a while to get all of this together and admittedly this was pretty darned challenging to write. BUT I did have quite a bit of fun with it too. And I really hope anyone who's read this enjoyed it. Even those who didn’t quite make it to the end which is 1000% understandable because as said before it’s pretty long. DISCLAIMER, I know there are some logic and physics flaws with how the atmosphere works and its phenomena in here. I just didn't want to get too technical for the sake of the story so I flexed some things. I’m not an expert on weather by any means.
A tremendous thanks to Shamerli for the incredible artwork. Took me a long while to figure out how to approach it story-wise, as an epic piece like this is far too great to just toss out some simple description. As I was writing this I felt myself becoming more in tuned with the depicted environment. Like what it must feel like, sound like, what the lands beyond the distant mountains must be like as well as the vast landscape that might exist beyond the huge cliff. Truly amazing on all ends and speaks to her talents. Something you'll absolutely see in their gallery that's filled with incredible artwork. Absolutely encourage you to give them a watch over here or a follow over [@ShamerliArt] Original artist post here: [Riders' dragon] A million thanks to you Shamerli <3
Featuring the lovely Kaida who belongs to LadonXE also at [@Ladon_KAI]
Dexter belongs to me DexterLion also at [@DexChillViber] This accompanying writing too
Category Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Lion
Gender Multiple characters
Size 1280 x 628px
That's awesome looking! But do you have a license to fly dragons? 🤔
Dang that art is awesome and dang you wrote a book! Is this, double win?! :P
What a beautiful piece of art to accompany such a delightful reading from the Mighty Dex! Gotta say it feels like the beginning of a beautiful series of stories ^^
This is QUITE epic... and I'm sorry I don't have the time/patience to read the story you clearly put a lot of time into ;; I'm sure it's lovely though!
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