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WHO: Kain and ANYONE
WHAT: Just one prompt this time. The next stage in the griffon-riding training: actual flyiiiing!!
WHEN: Now, anytime in the month of Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold, in the air, wherever they land (leaving that part open and up to the responders!)
NOTES: No warnings!

This is it. Kain has been taking all of Maja's advice to heart, when it comes to preparing for griffon-riding. He's been coming by daily to feed and groom Potato and just spend time bonding with her in general. Between him and Inessa, this is becoming one spoiled griffon. He's gotten a lot of trust from Potato over the past few weeks, and learned to trust her in return. Now it's time to start training in the air.

Kain mounts Potato with ease, getting comfortably settled on her. He feels much like a Warden of old when upon her like this, and he straightens with a touch of pride in his posture.

"All right, Potato... let's go!"

Up and away they fly! This is strictly for training purposes, of course, the same as he would do with any mount. But whenever he ascends skyward, Kain breaks out into a rare grin. Yes, this... this is where he belongs. Where he's always wanted to be all along, soaring through the air, wind in his face, with the ground so far below. Anyone observing from the ground will notice them circling through the air, practicing various maneuvers. After a while, they come back down to take a break somewhere in the area surrounding Skyhold... (or maybe even occasionally to perch on one of the taller towers).

Where will she land? Anywhere a griffon can go! Sometimes, it's a bit of a surprise landing, coming down right next to someone very suddenly. Sometimes, Potato catches a small animal on the run, swooping in to snatch it with her talons. Maybe she even comes in to slash at an enemy of some kind, helping someone in a fight. Anything is possible!

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Inessa is heading up the path to Skyhold alone, intent on some alone-time while Garahel hangs out with Ciri. She just needs a book and some tea to recharge, hopefully returning to a dog that hasn't decided to roll around in something awful. At least, that's the plan but hearing a griffon screech immediately gets her attention and she shades her eyes while glancing up. Is that...Potato?

Kain is still reveling in the sensation of being off the ground, wheeling through the air. They can't help but show off a little before Potato suddenly gets excited about something and just as fast, she's switching course. Down they go, descending rapidly toward someone below...

"Inessa!" He calls out to her, just as Potato screeches in excitement. "No laps," Kain adds hastily, knowing well her little habit, but at least she seems to understand that plowing over a friend from above is probably not the best idea. Together, Potato and Kain come in for a landing. Potato, of course, rubs her head gently against Inessa. "We were just practicing... did you see us up there? It... it's incredible..."

Kain breaks out into a brief smile. His hair is all windblown, and he looks to be in brighter spirits than ever before.

Aw, Potato. Inessa happily rubs that head back, a little surprised when Potato doesn't try to claim her lap right then and there, but not ungrateful. She'd rather not be squished into the snow, after all. Looking over at Kain, Inessa pauses to notice the the effect flight has had on him. Seeing the normally solemn Reaver in such high spirits is infectious and she smiles back at him warmly.

"I did see, at least after that screech. Thank you for alerting me, Potato." They so need to nail down an actual dignified name for her, but that's a discussion that can wait. "Might I join you for said practicing? There's nothing I was planning that cannot wait."

Potato screeches happily, lifting her head in the air with excitement. She definitely seems to be eager to get back up there and spread her wings again, as she eyes her two companions closely. As for Kain, he also nods. It's purely a practical reason, of course, absolutely, they need to train to get a feeling for what it'll be like if they're in the air together. So he tells himself. He's also just really excited to have her up there with him.

"I'd love that. We would. Come on up, there's plenty of room. It's amazing how intuitive it becomes after a while... flying together... and how incredible. It's incredible. Ah, I guess I already said that." He's rambling, he's just in such high spirits, and eager to share his source of excitement with Inessa.

That uncharaceristic rambling prompts a soft laugh from Inessa. "You sounded just like Your Trainer for a moment there. 'It is incredible.' But I won't just take your word for it; I want to experience this for myself. If I could have a hand up, please?"

With Potato as excited as she is, Inessa's not going to trust her to remain as still as a very slight elf will need in order to climb aboard.

He feels so excited, so elated like never before... he's still up in the clouds. Right now all that matters is sharing his happiest moment with her. Potato has picked up on his enthusiasm for sure, and there's nothing more she'd love than taking her favorite people back up there together.

"It's something that must be experienced... come on." Kain moves to offer her that hand, ready to pull her up to join him on the griffon's back. Potato lazily flitters her wings, like an impatient child waiting to return to playing.

At least Inessa is rather light, so it doesn't take much effort to hoist her up. She strokes Potato immediately afterward, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, I won't keep you from the skies. We need this as much as you do."

They need the practice, after all. Then she nods to Kain after settling in, holding onto him firmly. "I'm ready. Let us not keep her waiting!"

"Hold on tight. It's a little... surprising, the first time it happens. But you get used to it." He grins again, unable to stop himself. "You never get used to being up there, the ground so far below, and... Here, let's try it. You'll see. My words can't do this justice."

So he adjusts, makes sure Inessa seems to be securely settled in, then all his focus is on Potato. "All right, Potato... we're ready... let's go!"

She doesn't need any more prompting than that. Waving her wings, she gives a loud screech, then lifts off from the ground. Powerful wingstrokes carry them up, up, far into the air... Kain feels that same thrill as always whenever he ascends, his blond hair whipping back in the wind.

For a moment, all Inessa can see is that stream of blond hair just above her. Perhaps she'll get him to tie it back for next time, but at least she's just short enough so that it's not right in her face. That's good enough for now, leaving her to focus on the unfamiliar feeling of flight.

Oddly enough, seeing how small everything is from above doesn't trigger that sense of dread as much as the initial take-off did. Her stomach dropped, and she suspects that if Kain wasn't wearing armor, she'd have left marks from holding him so tight. But once Potato levels out and soars with the wind, Inessa's nerves begin to calm and she can relax enough to enjoy the view of the landscape below them.

The sensation of flight never gets old, and he suspects it never will. Riding griffons is a serious task that he takes with the utmost sense of duty, and yet... and yet he's incredibly giddy to be back up here. Eager and excited in a way he never is on the ground. He grins widely, watching the ground fly past, so far below.

"Incredible, isn't it!? The people below are like nothing but ants... The perspective this provides!"

He's always loved a view from a high mountain or cliff, but this is marvelous beyond even that.

Inessa nods, smiling as she can hear the grin in his voice even if she can't see it. He's certainly not wrong, this is an extraordinary view, and one that perhaps they'll never tire of having.

"It makes all our strife below seem so fleeting, doesn't it? It's so peaceful up here...." They can't avoid it, of course, but just for that moment, it's nice to indulge in the fantasy that it's possible.

The wind is cold but refreshing, and the scenery below is beautiful, even as it rushes by quite swiftly. From here, there's no threat from anything down there... from here, they could travel much farther than on any other mount. He loves the sense of freedom it affords them. He loves everything about this.

"So peaceful... and so freeing!" He's always sure to keep his voice loud enough to be heard over the rushing winds. "Nothing can compare to this... I love this... I love her..." He means Potato of course, who seems to be enjoying this just as much as them. "Want to practice some maneuvers?" They're both only learning, of course, and Kain plans to spend more time researching moves from old Warden writings. But there's some fun circling around they can do...

Inessa nods happily in agreement to all of that, glad to see Kain finding something that really works for him in addition to being able to share in it. They're unbelievably lucky for having access to what generations of Wardens lacked, and it's never something they can take for granted. Snapping back to the present, she nods.

"Of course. There's no time like the present to begin practice. Something simple, to start?" Whatever Kain has in mind, Inessa will try to nudge him to begin small. They're still new to this.

"Right, of course!"

He's taking full advantage of all of this. Griffon riding is nothing like what was written about in the books. No, it's far, far better than words could ever convey. Still, he's gotten ideas, things to try out. He leans close to direct Potato. "Ready... Attack below!"

The griffon cries out enthusiastically as she swoops downward, descending rapidly from the sky. There's nothing there, really, and Kain gives the command to return skyward just as her talons start to snap at the ground below. She's incredibly fast, and her coordination makes it all the more impressive.

Inessa's chuckle at Potato's enthusiasm is lost to the rush of air as they descend. Despite being prepared for it, her stomach drops and she automatically holds Kain tighter as a result. Only as they begin to ascend once more does that tension ease; lacking Kain's affinity, she just needs more practice.

"Impressive, Potato! She's so wonderfully graceful in the air, isn't she?"

Kain is grinning the whole time, loving the way it feels as they swoop downward. He can just imagine this when there's an enemy below... "She really is. She's a natural... one of the best I've seen. Her control is extraordinary..." He may be just a little biased, of course, since all of the griffons show quite a lot of prowess, overall. But she does seem really talented in this area.

"Watch this... Potato! Try out that loop we practiced!"

This is something much newer, but he wants to show off. They move into position, then with a joyful screech, Potato goes into action, looping around in the air.

If Kain is biased, Inessa's not about to set him straight on that as she's rather partial to Potato and her agility as well. Potato's happy screech is met with a light laugh as she holds on tighter...just to ensure safety, of course. Thanks to the rush of wind, anything she says will be drowned out, so she'll just wait until Potato is done before attempting to speak. It would help to regain some air in her lungs, too.

They continue looping around, and Kain realizes after a moment that Potato is totally trying to show off, to impress them. They'd only started practicing this move, but she really does seem to be taking pride in showing how well she can manage it so far. She finally takes a bit of a breather after a bunch of soaring around, righting herself and taking an easier pace.

"Just think what else we'll be capable of with more practice! She's adapted well to two riders..." That's good to see in itself, good knowing they could both ride when the time comes to go into battle.

"Steady, Potato! Enjoy this moment as well." Poor Potato, she doesn't need to try so hard to impress. As far as Inessa's concerned, she's already succeeded. "I wasn't sure she would, at first. If there were issues, I was prepared to switch griffons. However, she's proven herself very capable. I have no doubts now she will manage with us both."

Edited 2017-03-31 17:01 (UTC)

At least Potato seems to have having fun showing off, making more excited griffon noises as she wheels around in the air. She clearly enjoys this, and being with her favorite people seems to be making it all the better. "She's made her choice, so there'd be no chance of ever switching now. She's already proving herself capable... just think where we'll be after we've practiced more."

"It will be a sight to behold, I'm sure." Inessa responds with a light squeeze, leaning to the side a little more to see beyond Kain to the skyscape beyond. "We could range further along the mountains, see how well Potato's sense of direction holds!" And it's an excuse to fly some more and enjoy the view and time together, so why not?

"I'm sure it will be. Imagine once all the griffons are trained... when we all ride together into battle, our enemies will cower before us." Maybe even Corypheus, who could stand to be intimidated more. But just in general, anything that adds to the Grey Wardens' power is worth it. "I like that idea... let's see what she can do. Potato? Does that sound good to you?"

As he shouts the question to her, she screeches back in the affirmative as she starts flying onward. Kain shouts out more, letting her know of the exact direction to take. She responds in kind.

"Even without a battle in sight, it would be impressive!" Trusting Potato completely (outside of when she's attempting to be a lap-griffon), Inessa smiles and holds on as best she can manage. She tilts her head up to the wind, knowing that she'll be fussing over the mess it made of her hair later on but for the time being she can ignore her dedication to neatness and order. This is a moment to savor, and she knows it.

"It certainly would..." It's a total dream come true for Kain, who loves every moment that he's airborne. To have a couple of his favorite people beside him, both elf and griffon, makes it all the better. The only of his favorites missing is Garahel, who, of course, belongs on the land. He grins more as Potato keeps a steady, comfortable pace. "This is even better than I'd hoped for."

"Agreed. Thank you, Kain. And Potato, of course." Inessa smiles as the griffon screeches happily, and turns her attention to the mountain peaks below. Everything seems easier to manage up here, less significant. She can certainly see the appeal of being airborne now.

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in_death_sacrifice - 2017-04-15 06:28 (UTC) - Expand

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