Wyvern Rider (A story in the Ravenglass Universe) - V

An orphan girl and an orphaned wyvern find shared a destiny...

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Irina arrived at the clearing, Nim cradled in her arms. Birdsong and buzzing insects surrounded her. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the canopy, dappling the ground with shifting patterns.

Ksenia was already waiting, her dark cloak blending with the shadows of the trees. She stood with her back straight, her hands clasped before her. “Good morning, Irina. I trust you slept well?”

“I did, thank you.” She glanced around the clearing. “Is this where we’ll be training?”

“It is.” Ksenia gestured to the space around them. “This place offers a multitude of challenges and opportunities for growth, both for you and for Nim.”

At the sound of his name, Nim chirped, wriggling in Irina’s arms.

Ksenia’s smile widened. “Let him down. Allow him to explore.”

Gently, Irina lowered Nim to the ground.

The wyvern scampered off, his claws digging into the soft loam. He sniffed at the base of a tree, his tail twitching. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he leapt onto the trunk, his wings flapping as he clambered upward.

He reached a low-hanging branch and perched there, his head swivelling as he surveyed his surroundings. His gaze fixated on a spot near the roots of the tree. He launched himself from the branch, wings spread wide.

His underdeveloped wings failed to catch the air, and he tumbled to the ground in a flurry of leaves and twigs.

As Irina began to move, Ksenia raised a hand and shook her head. “Watch. Don’t interfere.”

Nim scrabbled to his feet and pounced. His claws dug into the soft earth, and he emerged with a wriggling worm clutched in his jaws, and gulped it down before searching for more.

“He’s a natural hunter,” Ksenia said. “Even at this young age, his instincts guide him.”

Nim continued his foraging, sniffing at the ground. He unearthed beetles, grubs, and more worms, devouring them all.

Every so often, he would attempt to take flight again, leaping into the air and flapping his wings.

Each time, he would manage to gain a little height before tumbling back to the ground.

“His wings are still developing. It will be some time before he’s able to fly properly. But these early attempts are crucial. They help to strengthen his muscles and teach him the mechanics of flight.”

Irina nodded, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched.

“A growing wyvern needs a lot of food. His body is working hard, developing the strength and structures he’ll need as an adult.”

Nim walked around the clearing, in gradually increasing circles, sniffing the ground, and gazing up at the trees.

He continued this for a long time and Irina found herself getting restless.

“Is this...is this really training?”

Ksenia chuckled, her eyes never leaving Nim’s small form. “It may not seem like it, but yes. Watch him closely, Irina. See how he moves, how he interacts with his environment.”

Irina continued to watch, taking in Nim’s movements, the way he looked under ferns and sniffed around roots. “It’s like he’s exploring.”

“Exactly. Wyverns are intensely curious creatures, always seeking to understand and control their domain. But there’s more to it than that.” She pointed to Nim, who had now climbed to a higher branch. The wyvern arched his neck, his small chest puffing out as he surveyed the clearing below. “See how he holds himself? That posture, the way he’s claiming the space…it’s a display of dominance, of ownership.”

Irina nodded, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “But he’s so young. Surely he doesn’t understand such things yet?”

Ksenia shook her head. “You must understand that wyverns are inherently amoral. Their drives, their desires—they often mirror our own, for good and for ill.”

“So, Nim’s neither good nor bad?”

“Not yet.” As if sensing her discomfort, Ksenia laid a gentle hand on Irina’s shoulder. “It is a heavy truth, I know. But it is one you must bear if you are to be a true rider.” Her eyes met Irina’s. “Wyverns are capable of great things. But they are also capable of terrible ones.”

Irina swallowed, her mouth turning dry. “What do you mean?”

Ksenia sighed, her gaze distant. “Some wyverns possess abilities beyond the physical. They can alter thoughts, impress images, manipulate emotions.” She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Some can even control minds.”

Irina’s eyes widened. “How is that possible?”

“Through a substance known as ravenglass. It’s a rare and potent material, one that can amplify a wyvern’s natural psychic abilities to terrifying levels.”

Irina looked back at Nim, still perched on his branch. The wyvern seemed so small, so innocent. The thought that he could one day wield such awful power was chilling.

Ksenia squeezed her shoulder. “But we are getting ahead of ourselves. For now, your focus must be on understanding Nim, on learning to communicate with him on a fundamental level.”

Nim launched himself from the branch, his wings spread wide. He plummeted to the forest floor, landing with a thump, and began to root around in the fallen leaves, his tail held high.

“What’s he doing now?”

“He’s marking his territory. Claiming this space as his own.”

Irina watched as Nim scraped at the ground, his claws leaving shallow furrows in the dirt. “How can you tell?”

“Look at the way he’s holding his tail, the deliberate nature of his movements. These are all signs, Irina. Indications of his thoughts, his feelings.”

Irina nodded, trying to absorb the lesson. She had always thought of Nim’s actions as random, instinctive. But now she was beginning to see the intentionality behind them.

The lesson continued, Ksenia pointing out nuance after nuance in Nim’s behaviour. The way he cocked his head when curious, the subtle arch of his spine when feeling threatened. Each cue was a piece of a larger puzzle, a window into the wyvern’s mind.

She turned to Ksenia. “If what you say is true, about the extent of a wyvern’s powers, how can we ever truly trust them? How can we know they won’t use those abilities against us?”

“It’s a valid concern, Irina. And it’s one that every rider must grapple with.” She paused, seeming to weigh her words. “The bond between rider and wyvern is a sacred thing, built on mutual respect and understanding. But it is also a fragile thing, easily broken by fear or mistrust.”

“I don’t know if I could ever fully open my mind to Nim, or to any wyvern. The risk is too great.”

“And that is precisely why you are suited to this path.”

“How so?”

“A rider who does not understand the gravity of the bond, who does not approach it with caution and respect… Why, that is a rider doomed to failure. Your fears, your reservations...they are not weaknesses. They are strengths, tools to help you navigate the complex relationship between human and wyvern.”

“So, what do I do now?”

“Now? Now you learn. You grow. You build your bond with Nim, day by day, moment by moment. It will not be easy. There will be trials, moments where you doubt yourself and your path.”

Irina swallowed, her throat tight. “But?”

“But you will also know joy, and wonder, and a connection so profound it defies description. To be a rider, Irina…it is to touch the very essence of life itself. To dance on the edge of the impossible.”

Nim came bounding back to Irina, his scales shimmering. He chirped, nuzzling against her hand, and Irina felt the now-familiar surge of warmth and affection through their bond.

She turned and met Ksenia’s gaze. “I can do this.”

Ksenia smiled. “I know you can.”