"We get to fly today!" Kareenie thought as she clambered out of bed that moring. Excitement filled her till she thought she would burst. Alimath shared her joy. The green had been quite sure that her wings for ready to carry her rider for some time, and now the Weyrlingmaster had said the weyrlings would learn to fly. 
   Technically, Alimath had allready flown, and a good deal, from weyr to feeding grounds and back again. But today, as a true dragonrider Kareenie would ride her dragon! 
   She dressed in the riding gear she had made durring their first months of training in a hurry while Alimath rushed her on.
   Flight Kareenie, imagine the possibilities! Do hurry, rider mine. 
   "I'm coming!" Forgeting breakfast, Kareenie raced out of her weyr, Alimath close on her heels. They found themselves the first to arrive at the weyrbowl. 
   It seemed like forever till the other weyrlings had arrived, but arrive they did, at last. It seemed like another eternity before the weyrlingmaster finished his speech and they were allowed to try out their wings. 
  It was quite simple really. All dragons seemed strong enough now to carry their riders, and so they were taught how. Kareenie climbed onto the neck of Alimath, full of excitement. Alimath spread her wings, and they were aloft. 
   "You may find that your dragon has more grace than you realise." The weyrlingmaster had said, and this proved true. Alimath soared and glided with ease and precision. But it wasn't grace that rider nor dragon were interested in. It was speed.
    Let's see if you really can beat a runner. Kareenie teased Alimath, recalling a boast her dragon had made one day.
    Rider mine, I could leave a runner hours behind. Hold on tight! Kareenie did as Alimath begain to pick up speed. Across the air above the weyrbowl she raced, then turned and back the other way. Kareenie recalled racing the green feilds on Apache, now housed in the weyr stables. It was like the runner racing that she loved, and it was different from it. It was much more glorious.
   How can you even compare a runner to this! Alimath called. It is glorious, flying with my rider as a dragon ought! We will sear thread from the sky, you and I, and we will be the fastest pair in the wings!