It’d been a fine few days after meeting Carja- pointedly, it was good to have a giant ass dragon living with them. While Attikias had yet to create their feast yet (pointedly, he was waiting until after the confrontation), they were still having what he’d consider to be a grand time, working together and having more active bodies about the place.

There were a few expansions to his pathways, though. Pointedly, the one to the nearby river- the trees there had been utterly destroyed at this point, but there wasn’t much he could do to change that.

He had better things to do. First order of business- he’d finally finished Carja’s saddle, even with the dragon breathing down his neck the whole time. It wasn’t their first attempt- and he’d had a lot of different tries- but he had a good feeling about this one. It had wooden slats this time that he could replace to go along her scales instead of leather that could be destroyed by them, and an old buckle he’d fashioned from an even older, decayed garment.

Or, he assumed it was a garment. Whatever it was, it had found new use in the main attachment point of the saddle, with the longer portion designed to wrap further down her tail and another for her neck.

Then, there was the issue of it all actually connecting together. He doubted he could even keep her still enough for that- she certainly wasn’t for the first few times, where saddles just got ripped apart or were too tight or whatever before even taking off.

He shouldn’t’ve said that he thought that this one would work, this time. Carja was still there, still staring, and he huffed out with a smile as he geared himself up to show her the finished product.

”Alright, here we go.” He stepped back away from the logs that held it, holding a hand out as if she couldn’t already see over the top of his head. ”What do you think?”

It was basic and practical, with twin wooden grip-points atop the pommel. It was longer than a typical horse’s, developed for him to potentially lay down, with enough straps to tie down any effects she’d want to carry other than him.

Attikias let out a huff with his warm expression in an attempt to be humble. "I try," he spoke, giving a half-shrug.

But, he appreciated it. He appreciated even more as Carja let out her energy, grinning as he ducked beneath her in her laps. A quick "woh!" was let out as her tail whipped dangerously close- but, she'd grown much more careful over the few days, and she certainly was making sure not to break anything. Man, he really needed to clear out the clearing a bit more, huh?

He stood back up when she slid in front of him, coming right close. "Me too!" Even as he was trying to stay calm, he couldn't stop his tail from wagging, a dumb grin glued to his face. "Here, bend down," but she already was, and Attikias was already grabbing the large saddle.

It should stay this time, and it shouldn't tear up, right? They just had to try. The wood, though, he could easily replace it, and keep the leather- yeah, this would work. The elf got around to buckling the straps together, clicking them or tying them in place over various limbs and parts.

"Comfy?" He was making his way to her tail and tugged the line down. "Stay still," he requested as he looped the strap around her. That may be a challenge. Nonetheless, he'd managed to get it all together, and pulled back from Carja. "You wanna lift off by yourself, or try it with me?"

He had a feeling that she would want him on her back, but he was worried, somewhat about the straps splitting and him flying off or... Something.

It should be fine, right? It'd be worth the risk for being able to feel the wind again. And now, he hoped that she wanted him on the saddle for the first flight.

Attikias took a single step back as Carja flexed. It was staying on this time. That was good. "On your back," he breathed out- right. He'd be okay, then! Nodding and smiling, Attikias approached Carja to get on, but the next request stopped him in his tracks.

Bow and arrow? He rumbled for a moment. "I'm still kinda worried about your wings," but he was already reaching for the weapons, jogging with a spring in his steps from point A to B. "Doesn't hurt to try, though!" He strapped the weapon and quiver over his back, tugging it on night and snug and making sure the arrows wouldn't jostle out until he needed them.

"Right. I think I'm ready." He came up to Carja again and clambered on, inelegant and untrained, hooking his knee into a strap before pulling himself up. It was all arm and leg for him, and it definitely took some jostling (to which he muttered a soft "shit, sorry") but he'd made it up. He was sitting on Carja. On a dragon. Again!

He grinned.

Right. "Lemme get the straps," he was quick to say, leaning down to hook his legs up into the right place and finagle with the buckles until they worked. "Alright- yep, aaand- ready."

His hand gripped one of the handles of her saddle, just in case she decided to take off then and there.

Attikias held on during the walk- the saddle seemed fine as she moved, which was good. Idle mental checks ran through his mind as he checked the streaps, felt the distance between her and the strap about her neck, reached back to see how it was holding up on her tail- so far? Good.

He leaned down as Carja set off for the air, squinting into the wind. It was a lot in his ears, and he ducked just slightly at each wingbeat, slowly attempting to sit up. "All good!" Attikias yelled back to her, sitting up fully now that she had her momentum. "Saddle's comfortable?"

He adjusted in place, hand lilting over to his bow. "I wanna test its limits first! Make sure you can fly soundly with it, before we try anything with the bow!" He was certain it'd hold up, but it didn't hurt to make sure. What's a little fall between friends, after all?