Russty's Flying School Book 6 - Chapter 6

Character drawing of Sturalke, a Dragon Taur

Russty's Flying School Book 6 "The Littlest Aeronauts"

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“There is no way to talk around this...everyone here is in some danger right now. This airport was bombed by air vehicles belonging to one of several human-supremist movements this morning.” I began.

“A few hours ago, a group of supremists were removed from an observation post a half mile from the runway you have just arrived on,” I continued.

“Many steps are being taken for your safety, but ultimately- the danger posed is why you are here to begin with. Danger from crowded skies flying in varied weather conditions are why the aeronautics parts of the course are here. The danger from hate groups and individuals or rogue dragons are also a part of your daily reality, so are now also in the course plans. Your safety is ultimately your responsibility, but we will also show how to improve your odds with proven techniques plus teamwork.” I concluded, motioning to DM to begin his part.

“As I read off your names, note those in your group by sight, as we have broken the class into three groups.” he began.

“We have parents with children or teens, you are: Lisbon-Virgo with Xyn, Tyxamous with Ignis, finally we have Vokunkronah with Krilzeymah and Fenbriinah. You seven will be in one group that will train together,” he began. Two of the big quadrapeds just huffed- acted like they were annoyed with the whole thing. Looks like our first challenge would be with our feral students....you have to prove yourself to them first, then maybe they will listen. Note to self, ask the Doc for some ScaleBalm pain cream, bruises expected.

“The next group will be all teenagers without guardians here, you are : Negadrake, Bryce Dragonbac, Crazikc, Sturalke, Aria, as well as Zorath with Abria- brother and sister, Welcome, you will be the next group and will train together,” We had trained older teens under the former program...no sweat. I noted Sturalke, who was a Dragon-Taur, our first student of this species.

“Our last group will be all individual children here without adults, You are: Daniel, Gagatron’ , Lisa, Daniello, Xsyd, Storm50’ , and Bart. Welcome, you are the final group, so will train together. When not in training class times, you will be supervised by Arakhod and Shylah.” he concluded. Here was the challenge, fortunately no hatchlings, just those who had yet to fly. But we would actually have to teach them more than that. Could Terry and I show them how to fight?

Terry had handed to me a note, which was a text that had arrived.

I stood again and announced “If any of the students were counting, that makes exactly seven in each group. In order to instruct each as thoroughly as we can, a sixth teacher was required and I have just been given word that we can expect him tomorrow as we begin. Each group will now have two instructors, also we will rotate so no one group gets only one instructed area of expertise.” Was surprised how easily my request was approved, usually getting extra staff was like pulling fangs.

Arakod noted on a site photo the 3 shelters in case of air raid, also the siren pattern.

“Dining room is open, class begins tomorrow at 8:00, breakfast at 7:00, construction noise at 6:00.” Shylah said.

Over the dinner table, there was always the talk of the new class group getting to know each other, as always, talk of the transformation day with the times before and after. One had been driving in an open top convertible when there was a sharp stinging pain behind his ear. It turns out that a Hierarchy member had hit him with a transformation object using a high power slingshot. The pain grew as soon he was loosing coordination but safely drove off the road. He was glad as he had just earned his learners permit with use of a family car. Lying at the roadside, he was soon joined by a small crowd, then a motorcycle officer. At first a few tries at CPR, but it became obvious this was no coronary problem soon enough.

As the new scales arrived then the reforming of joints began, a few guessed as to what it was. All stayed with him although the officer had his pistol in hand the whole time. The new dragon asked for someone to drive him home as he was not coordinated enough yet to feel safe. When he arrived home, he was stripped of car, room, family as he was accused of “weird drug experimentation plus addiction” before being told to leave. Time in and out of feral clans, or halfway houses had been his life since.

I had heard that hierarchy along with larger clans were making transformations of humans who belonged to judgemental families as well as human-supremist or dragonslayer faction members. Either of those in dragon form as spurned or rejected were subject to recruitment by them. To take such a great gift then pervert it to their tactics made me border on rage sometimes.

Others at our table had more pleasant accounts of their transforming’s followed by reactions to it.

The next morning it was a few minutes to class start time as I wondered where Vokunkronah and Tyxamous were, asking around the table. Terry noted that they were not interested in soft beds or processed food so had secured a cave nearby so now were hunting. Arakhod asked if we should confront them over absence from this. I noted that as long as they attended class- what they did on off hours was their own. Besides , I had the feeling there would be enough lock-horns coming over the class material itself.

A little later, we met out on the dragon landing pad to begin with all three teams. Pass out Dravicoms and safety goggles then we were off for a flight over the nearby parts of our course. Winding down through the valleys then up over some of the mountains, the landmarks, where the best thermals rise.

I looked over to see Tyxamous flying with Ignis alonside, very good- looks well versed. The next view was Vokunkronah with Krilzeymah riding atop his head, ok- one to train here, Fenbriinah was alongside him, although by end of our tour, she was riding too. No problem there, whelps gain endurance quickly as long as its made fun to do. The individual kids were either riding Arakhod and Shylah or trailing them closely. Then I noticed Bart flying alongside, giving me a big smile. He had picked up on it all by reading and trying. Must have just flown out of the backpack seat when he felt ready to start. I gave him a thumbs up and a nod.

Letting down on our way back into Belton, a Lear Bizjet passed us in the air to touch down. As we watched, it turned then taxiied to our side of the field, hmmm maybe this is our sixth instructor - or a bunch of Supremist commando’s here to torch the school then collect some of our scaly hides. As they approached the school. Buster walked out onto the txiway instructing them to stop there. He and Enerin went aboard to check it out as we landed but kept our distance. Soon, the two emerged giving us a thumbs up.

At the door to the jet, a light blue lung appeared, with blond hair, mane , scutes etc. Shinkou had joined us. He came over and began shaking claws then getting the hug from Bart with “Uncle Shinkou”.

“Glad you could make it so soon! “ I said.

“No problem, they said just start as soon as possible so my folks gave me a ride.” Shinkou said.

While we had introduced, the stairway had retracted, the door closed while the jet was taxiing back to take off again!

“Shin’, we would have liked to meet them,” Said Terry.

“I know, but they are rushed for time, I’m sure they’ll visit again to say hello before long,” Shinkou replied.

We were heading to the dining room with our feral block heading to the hills with Elk, Deer or Javelina on their menu. I was feral for a time, so knew how it went... Sun rise, sun high, or Sun down, all were times of the hunt.

Afternoon would start flying basics for the childrens group plus our quadrapeds group, with a air traffic zone navigation exercise for the teens group.

I had Shinkou with me, he would shadow and assist each of the five instructors for a day or two each to learn their styles, methods or techniques.

Immediately there was a problem as I noticed a growling going on from Vokunkronah toward his son who was very unhappy as his daughter watched. We were ready to start basic flying but I could see that Tyxamous with Ignis were beyond this. “Raaaaaaarrrgh!” as Vokun bellowed at Krilzeymah again, making him begin crying.

“What is wrong here!?” I demanded.

“He is what’s wrong here, he’s AFRAID to FLY! ...WEAK! my offspring. It’s why I cannot lead a clan or even stay in one, with the others laughing at us...because of him!!!!! Vokun turned then trudged into the tall grass and trees, snarling at all the world.

I turned to Shinkou asking him to take Tyxamous and Ignis over by the Teens as Ignis was flying at that level anyway, then return (Shinkou) quickly. Stepping up to Kril’ and Fenbah’ to sit by them as she nuzzled him a bit to calm him. I asked “Krilzaymah, may we call you Kril’ for short,” he nodded with his head still hung low in shame. I asked the same of Fenbriinah to call her by a shorter name, to which she smiled and nodded. Asking Kril to sit, my next request of him was why was he so afraid to fly. He tried to say a few times but gagged. From way over behind the hangars a thunderous voice, Vokun’s roared “He’s unwilling because he is afraid of heights! Yes, that’s right a DRAGON, afraid of heights!!” then a nerve jarring stomp.

I was taken aback while Shinkou was flabbergasted. Kril with his sister was a hatchling, versus the rest of us that were converted humans, but acrophobia could still be present. I decided to try methods used before for humans but to do so, would have to let out an awful secret to them first. I knew the methods of coping so very well, because... had used them myself. I was once very afraid of heights. Shin’ Kril and Fenbah all were surprised, but I assured them it was true.

“Rex, there are two of the children’s class with this trouble as well, Lisa and Gagatron’ , maybe I should bring them here as they could use this too?” Shinkou suggested to which I nodded yes, an excellent idea.

We had our four learners soon together so we could begin. “This is nothing to be ashamed of, soon you can put it aside. It never goes away fully , but enough to let you do everything that you need.” I began, adding “What we want to do is get you accustomed to what it feels like to be in the air, to understand it fully and completely. If you can control yourself in the air, a lot of your fear will be gone. I did this while human by gliding, first in a hang glider, then a sail-plane. Later powered airplanes, finally jets. We can do this even easier as dragons- we’ll show you how. It will be all about fun, because it is fun, the most you can have. By the next few days, the worst thing you will fear is being left on the ground.”

“Lets start small with a game” as I placed a long plank on the ground with a metal bar salvaged from the hangar attack under them. “You will sit at one end of the plank, I’ll jump on the other end, it will throw you into the air. We want you to flap your wings to slow your way back down again. We’ll repeat this a lot, when flapping, remember to use the wings not to beat the air (I did a silly looking flapping like from cartoons, getting a laugh or two) but to ‘scoop the air” to dig into it, then throw it behind you and downwards. Scoop and throw, Scoop and throw, Row Row Row!”

They all practised it until some were lifting off a bit then plopped down when they saw they were rising, scaring themselves. So the teeter board was throwing them up next they were descending, I was taking turns with Shinkou, one stomping them into the air, the other ready to catch in case they did something odd like turn over or flip and scare themselves. As we went along, more laughter and less squeals. And some were even taking a long time getting down many hovering briefly.