Landing came with less of a crash and clatter, this time. Only a mild scuff of hooves on the hard rock, the scratch of talons as bodyweight shifted into a short canter to let inertia bleed into stillness. The huge orange and black hippogryph's outstretched wings flexed and beat twice before furling. Beside hir the dark, white-spotted hippogryph's landing came with more grace. The pointy corvid beak tipped and clicked, regarding hir companion. "That one was really good! Think you've got it now, Niko?"

"I think so," came the concentrating tone from the other's aquiline beak, testing hir muscles. It was clearly nearing evening but visibility was still great for both. "The thermals were with me that time! I might make a glider yet." Hir cheeks lifted hir beak-corners in a wry avian grin. "I'll close in on you before long. You may've been a hippogryph longer, Taross, but I'm a quick study."

Another click, and a wry toss of tail as the spotted draft birf clopped forward, shi mused, "Maybe I haven't taught you everything yet." Emerald eye glancing over hir furled wing, the distinct patterning of a magpie lending hir hybrid body to stark contrast dappled with a muted irridescent green in hir black plumage and hair, shi added, "And you still need to worry about that dive speed. You're heavier than me and need more read of the winds."

A fluted huff came from Niko's nares, though hir eyes frequently drifted along hir companion's figure. "Not as much as you think. Taking th' form of a hippogryph's not the most difficult thing I've done in recent memory, after I get all my limbs moving! Care t'lead another leap? I really do have it this time." Those keen raptor eyes twitched lower again when hir confidence was met by another flick of hir denmate's tail.

Sure enough Taross knew where hir eyes went, and Niko didn't bother to hide it. As prim and proud animals, both carried little in concealment, and all was free to roam. Niko also knew Taross had been flauntingly leading on to keep hir attention focused. Well, it worked...

"I don't mind leading. Doni tells me enough how you like a chase, and if you do well enough, a treat will await you." A bright laugh followed as the expansive sails of Taross's wings spread before the cliff ledge. Then with a pump of powerful equine haunch and a clatter of hooves on stone, shi leapt, sank from view for three heartbeats..and was already soaring off, angling upwards and curving westward as best the winds allowed.

Niko snorted through hir nares, spread hir wings. Taross was gone and shi could let some of the original trepidation show when not being watched. Another deep breath and decree not to look down until shi had the wind, and shi bucked forth, clawed foretalons scraping off stone. A bare hint of hesitancy almost ruined hir momentum, but as open space replaced solid earth and hir almost clumsy drop turned appropriately, the great sails of hir glider's wings caught the wind and shi pulled hir keel up into the caress of its flow. A short, piercing squawk came from hir, before shi beat hir wings once and angled westward as well, feeling the stabilizing of air currents. Shi'd done it again! Speed rocketed hir forward on Taross's trajectory and before long shi was on hir flightmate's flank, hir larger bulk buoyed by the high altitude's drafts!

Across the face of the setting sun both soared, feathers rippling. Their greater masses precluded any extensive flying, so controlled gliding from high altitude was the name of the game. Niko's head tilted into the wind, pride filling hir. Below and to hir left, Taross's head tipped up, grinning. "And now I've one less thing to hold over you! I did promise a reward for good work: If you're not too bushed when we reach the aerie, you just might get it!"

Niko's great wings beat once, body bobbing and lifting as shi regarded hir denmate. "You're trying to get me t'drag, that's cheating!"

"Consider it a test of your focus!"

Glancing down at the passage of treetops some long distance below, Niko laughed. "Fine! Test me here, I'll test you later..."

The winds hid the anticipatory ripple of feathers along Taross's withers as shi dove, Niko in pursuit, confidence grown by the moment. The larger bird could feel the anticipation of hir own, briefly curious whether it was hir directly 'above-surface', or the more deeply-rooted, instinctual responses associated with this new form.

Mmm..well..plenty of night to come and figure out what's what... Hir sharp beak clicked as shi entered a swooping pursuit!

------------------------------------------------------------

A lovely piece of work made by k_dromka/RyanneilleN commissioned by Niko. I am very delighted and honoured to have been included in this lovely little slice of life between denmates, one showing the other the ropes of flight. I love the clear differences between the argentavis/percheron and magpie/vanner combinations between ourselves. It is hard to tell whether the playful teasing is just ribbing between denmates or a little bit of mischievous corvid peeking through...
Do give a peek and a favourite at Niko's original submission, where I took the accompanying story from as well: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53275567/

-------------------------------------------------------------

Niko Tawner belongs to :iconnikkyvix:
Taross belongs to me.
Artwork by :iconk_dromka:
Artists submission: TBA