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.

@Carja

Carja had barely blinked, barely breathed, the scales along her neck lifted with excitement. With Attikias' legs healed from their first flight, she didn't have to worry about hurting him, or hurting him again if she shed anymore.

Her head shot back as he turned around, as if caught, her eyes wide and her feet already tapping on the ground, though she'd finally learned to keep her tail tucked in so she didn't break anything. She bumped her nose against the saddle, breath hot as it blew over the leather.

”It's beautiful,” she said, and she meant it.

Excitement filled her chest and she ran away, doing a few laps around the clearing, tossing her head and jumping over urns, landing softly so as to not disturb them. She skid to a halt in front of Attikias and hurriedly filled in the ruts she'd left before looking up, the tip of her tail wagging.

”I have a good feeling!”, she said, turning and crouching down, moving her wings out of the way, her legs spread apart for the chest straps.

Carja was so excited she could sing, the leather strong, the wood supports steady... now all they needed to know was if it would hold up to flight. It would, she knew somehow.

@Attikias

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.

@Carja

Carja managed to keep herself still long enough for the saddle to be put on and secured, quickly looking back at it and wiggling, stretching and bouncing up and down to test it out. Her head whipped to face Attikias as she rolled her shoulders, her tail raising and her wings lifting.

”I want you on my back,” she said, ”I'll catch you if you fall."

She lay on her belly, head forward and her legs bunched up in anticipation. Everything was perfect. The saddle was stable and fit on her like a glove, resting above her spines, allowing her and Attikias comfort whilst flying.

”Oh! Go get your bow and arrows!”, she said, ”We'll test out shooting from the air while we're at it!”

She was so confident that she was willing to turn this into a two-in-one. A test ride in the new saddle and a chance to train with weapons. Even she was excited to try it out, to learn Attikias' movements and to figure out how he moved in order to adjust herself to make it easier for him to do what he needed.

@Attikias

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.

(on god i lost the ping for this) @Carja

Carja slowly stood up once Attikias was ready, making her way towards the river to take off there. She shook her head out and spread her wings, flapping once, twice, and then breaking into a run. She launched herself into the air easily and flapped, the saddle creaking as she took to the air. She looked around to Attikias to ensure he was still okay before going up higher, just above the trees.

”Does it feel okay?”, she called out over the wind, circling above the river in case Attikias fell.

The leather over her scales felt smooth and soft, and didn't itch like some of the others. It was comfortable for both her and rider, and was secure on her back, ensuring Attkias was stable too.

She did lazy circles, not wanting to break out the crazy maneuvers until the elf atop her back was comfortable and it was confirmed that the new saddle wan't going to break.

@Attikias

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?

@Carja

Carja nodded once and slowly banked, flying over the green canopy below, the entire cave stretching beneath them. She rose up, angled down, and even hovered for a moment, the saddle holding.

”It's holding up,” she said, ”And it's comfortable.”

She turned her head as they remained in place, facing Attikias, ”Shall we keep going? A tug on the saddle to slow or stop, and a nudge with your legs to go? I doubt we'll be able to communicate over the wind going that fast, so we ought to figure out a way for you to tell me things”

She thought for a moment, eyes staring at the ceiling, before humming, ”If you press with your right leg, I'll go right. If you press with your left, I'll go left. And if you lean back, I go up, and if you lean forward I go down. Does that sounds okay? I'll follow your lead so that you remain comfortable, and we can work out stuff later.”

@Attikias