When I walked outside, my jaw dropped at the sight of four three story tall dragons shuffling their wings and shifting their weight as our little group of Freshies gathered around them, ready to board. I could feel the skin on my forearm tingle with my Spidey powers, warning me that Mardu was stalking nearby. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him laying down lazily, paws folded like a cat as he watched us.

Great. Extra pressure on me.

As soon as the gym teacher saw us she frantically waved for us to get our butts over to her. "Justin, you get in group three, Merman you get over the two. Brandon! You're four."

"Don't fall off," Merman called before he walked over to the dragon that looked like some big Viking had hammered it from an iceburg. It's whole form was choppy and jutting with vicious spikes, big clawed feet like a polar bear's, and ungainly wings that dragged on the ground.

I shivered at the thought of falling before turning my gaze to the dragon I would be riding on. It was a big conifer green dragon. He had huge, mossy antlers sticking out from his blunt skull and deep, swirling brown eyes. His mouth was crocodilian in the sense that jagged teeth jutted out of its closed mouth. Mossy strands swayed from its jaw as it swung its big head to look at all.

My eyes trailed down its thick neck to the muscular chest and slightly splayed limbs. The beast's feet were wide and the talons thick and blunt. A few were broken. And ....a toe was missing?

I frowned at the sight before my eyes widened at the sight of little deer ears perking up behind one of those massive toes. Then purple eyes, crosseyed as they peeked over the scaly ridges.

I quickly looked at my shoulder before glaring at my little buddy. "Oy!" I said, trotting over to him and grabbing his fat little belly, pulling him backwards. "You could get stepped on and he wouldn't even know!" I hissed at him as he meeped sadly and lowered those adorable little ears.

"Don't give me that look," I sighed heavily before...

"-Justin can you tell me where the rear central strap is?" I heard a man say. I turned around to find my instructor, a middle-aged man with a scar racing down his neck and twisting lips. His eyes swirled a muddy brown just like the dragon's as they evaluated me.

I was about to snap that ' how could I know when you didn't even tell us?' but I realized our small group was standing around him, patiently waiting for my answer. Rihannna snickered. I shrugged, trying to look like I didn't care. "Dunno."

"Because you weren't listening." The man said with a raised brow. "For that you will sit in the front. Please listen when I'm talking, Justin."

I shrugged and walked over to the group. What was so bad about sitting in the front? I could probably get the best view of anyone... Caedmon patted my cheek, reminding me to concentrate.

I blinked a few times before staring at the Dragon Rider safety harness. It was a pretty cool gadget and seemed to be made entirely of mountain climbing harnesses and there was even a seatbelt he told us would help strap us onto the saddle. He explained that all of our saddles for our dragons would be different because our dragons would be different. I could tell Rihanna's little dragon was one day going to be a honking big ugly like this dragon standing in front of us. But me? I was pretty sure Caedmon wouldn't get that big. Just can't imagine that.

At a clicking sound from the Rider, the big dragon slowly crouched and held out a foreleg so everyone could clamber up. I raised a brow as I some girls tackle the challenge, their fingers curling around the scales as they heaved themselves up. The dragon was about four stories high so it was sort of like rock climbing!

Finally it was my turn and I set a combat boot on the surface of the dragon's paw. The leader held out a hand to help me out but I avoided it. I could do this myself. As Caedmon held tight to my shoulder like a hawk, I grabbed a knobby looking protrusion in the dragon's armor. It was smooth and dry, like it was just a rock that he had laid on centuries ago and never bothered to shake off. Using the crook of his elbow as leverage, I slowly heaved myself upwards. I'd done this before. Scaling walls is part of the job being a highly wanted criminal. But climbing a dragon is a bit different.

For one, they are breathing. Which means they expand a bit every thirty seconds or so. And it feels like he is trying to push me off. When I grabbed a broken spike, he shivered and I almost slipped backwards.

"You sure you don't want help?" the instructor said.

"Sure," I grunted between grit teeth as I took another step and clung onto another bony protrustion. Was spikes like these a dragon's warts? Because they were definitely not flattering. But at least they helped somewhat.

With a final grunt, I heaved myself on board and found the others all in this derpy saddle. It was like a horse saddle limosine. Saddle after saddle lined up and everyone was basically straddling the person in front. Well actually a small saddle horn separated everyone, probably to hold onto when you're trying not to fall to your death. Everyone's dragon looked eager on the Rider's shoulders. One even crapped on a poor girl's uniform. She started crying, distracting the leader enough for me to make it to the saddle in front without him staring at me with those intense eyes.

Once I sat down I did just what he told me. I found the clip behind me and snapped it onto the ring on the back of my harness. Then I snapped on the clip attached to the horn of the saddle to the ring over my belt buckle. Then I strapped myself in with the seat buckle. A rush of excitement sent a chill worming down my spine as I looked up to find the dragon slowly spreading his wings. Merman's group with the glacier dragon was just taking off. I watched as the two legged creature started to awkwardly run a short ways before spreading enormous wings and giving a powerful downthrust, sending them hurtling into the sky. A few girly screams met my ears, making me grin.

This is it! I'm going to be riding on an actualy.. dragon! What kid gets to do that? This was going to be amazing. And one day I would be able to fly whenever I wanted with my own little buddy. I smiled at Caedmon who grinned right back before a small brace was shoved on him by my leader.

"Hey!" Caedmon peeped.

"Hey yourself. We don't want him opening his wings and trying to fly," the trainer said, attaching Caedmon's harness to mine. "He does that and the force of the wind is going to break his little wings and send him hurtling into space."

I was a bit stunned by his words so I just stared as he stood in front of us all. "Listen up everyone!" He clapped his hands, twice. The sound was impressively loud, making us all want to cover our ears. Caedmon's ears perked forewards like he wanted to take in every word.

"When riding a dragon it is important to think of your stance," the instructor said. "Think of yourself as a jockey and the dragon as the racehorse. To win, you need a fast horse and..." He trailed off, looking at us for an answer.

"To not be fat," Rihanna spoke up.

"That and..." the instructor drawled.

Everyone looked at each other. "Drugs?" A smart mouth said behind me.

"No. Definitely not drugs." The trainer sighed, realizing this was going to be a long day. "How about a racecar then. What does a race car need other than a fast engine?"

"Wheels?" the same guy said behind me.

The trainer glared at him before looking at the others. "What kind of shape should the racecar have?"

"A sleek body?" I ventured, surprising myself by speaking up.

"Bingo," he pointed at me. "And why is that?"

I felt my face get flushed, not used to answering any sort of teacher. "Aero.."

Before I could finish he repeated, "Aerodynamics! That's right! The less air resistance the better! That's what you need to be. Some points I want your nose touching his scales. You have to try to become one with your dragon, not some flapping sack of rotten peaches on his back. Believe it or not it helps him to fly when you have your heart in it also." He patted his dragon's thick neck. "At one point you won't even think about it and you'll be able to link with him, knowing his every twist and turn before he makes it. But for now let's establish a few rules." He paced in front of us, his brown eyes swirling madly as he counted off his fingers. "Number one rule. Do NOT, I repeat, do not sit up when we are going full speed. My dragon may not be one of the fastest, but he can dive at over a hundred fifty miles an hour. Sitting up could pull you right off his back if it weren't for your straps. This isn't like how to train your dragon, kids."

He pointed to the smart mouth behind me. "Like you, Hunter with your venom dragon. Speeds of three hundred miles an hour. And Jessica, a Sun Dragon Rider." He whistled when he saw the small golden dragon perched on her shoulder. "Your dragon will one day ride jet streams high above the earth, going as fast as an airplane. I suggest you two especially heed my warning."

My jaw dropped and I turned my head to look at the quiet girl who was blushing at the sudden attention. Her golden dragon had a small crest growing that looked like a Mohawk and brilliant yellow eyes that stared at us with chilling intelligence. That thing was going to fly as fast as an airplane? I turned my head to look back at the instructor who was smirking at us. "I'm telling the truth. Only the Ventus Rex could fly faster than a sun dragon."

"What about mine?" Rihanna spoke up. Oh Rihanna. Always had to be the center of attention.

"Yours?" The trainer said in a sarcastic voice. "A common North American Forest dragon. I'd be surprised if the bumbling creature reached seventy miles an hour."

That shut her up quick.

Before I could ask the same question, the teacher cleared his throat, realizing all the other kids were now wanting to ask how fast their dragons could go. "Rule number two, don't mess with anyone's straps, including your own. You will be severely punished for that. I shouldn't even have to say that one. And rule three, follow every direction I give you, okay?" He walked down his dragon's massive spine to the girl at the very back and directed her on how to sit correctly like he was one of those bored guys who worked roller coasters. I looked back so he wouldn't have to mentor me every step of the way. Back curved, hands on the horn, legs gripping the saddle... this wasn't so hard.

When he got to me, I was expecting a good job. Instead I got a pat on the back and a, "Stop sticking your butt in the air, kid." Which of course, made everyone else laugh. Caedmon hissed at them, snaking his head around to give them each a personal glare. I sat my butt down.

"Ready for takeoff?" the leader yelled at us as the big creature slowly extended mossy wings.

"Aye aye!" I said dryly along with the other kids, who gave out cheery "Yes sir!"s.

"You're going to feel a dip, then a lift as he crouches then jumps. Don't worry it's natural!" His voice steadily increased as the dragon started to lope, each dip of the imbalance of his weight making my nose almost bonk on the scale in front of me.

"Hang on!" he yelled, crawling up the dragon's neck and planting his feet on a spike, leaning forwards to latch his hangs on the same spike.

I couldn't help but feel a flash of fear as we rocked back and forth at each lumbering footfall. It felt like we were on that pirate ship ride at the fair. Except that his was a real, live dragon and it was... jumping!

I felt the air whoosh out my lungs and for a second I could feel thousands of pounds of pure muscle gather underneath me before jerking high into the sky. My stomach twisted and I fought the urge to close my eyes, instead looking around slowly as if I was scared the wind would peel my head from my shoulders.

On either side of me, giant wings shot up in a upstroke before slamming back down with a burst of raw power. I watched as the veined wings swelled with air with each stroke as we ascended higher and higher. I found I was holding my breath and inhaled shakily. How far up were we? What if we crashed! I was regretting that hamburger....

I looked back to the leader with narrowed eyes against the wind. He was smirking at us, sitting casually on the dragon's neck like he was watching TV. "Good job no one-" he started to yell.

Suddenly I heard a revolting hacking noise behind me before someone ralphed... right into someone else's chest.

"Threw up," he finished dryly.

I wanted to turn around to look at the scene but the sounds of a girl retching in response gave me reason enough not to.

The leader leaned forwards. "Oh come on, you don't have to barf too! Swooper!" He yelled, seemingly to the sky before he unstrapped both barfer and barfed-on out of their saddles. The girls screamed as the wind peeled them off the dragon's back.

We all looked at him shocked as he walked back to the dragon's neck. He shrugged at our glances. "Survival of the fittest." He said as suddenly the lurching feeling of the dragon stopped and his dragon leveled out his wings, coasting.

If I weren't freaked out and clenching the horn of my saddle until my knuckles looked like the bone underneath, I would have thought this was the coolest thing that had ever happened to me. Wind ruffling my hair, sun in my face, soaring above the sky in a living airplane. But no.. this was a suicide plane!

He laughed at our expressions. "The girls are fine. Don't worry. Now.. here is where you can sit up a little. We're going to do some tilting so don't freak out on me. The dragon isn't going to fall. If you don't like heights, you picked the wrong business."

I've never been in an actual plane before so this was all new to me. What did the world look like from so high up? Of course I'd seen pictures but pitures and your own two eyes are a whole different story. I wiggled in my seat like an excited two year old. Caedmon was stoic on my shoulder, ears up like Batman and purple eyes narrowed, all business. As the dragon started to tilt, making me lean from one buttcheek to the other, Caedmon bent one knee as if it were him that was tilting.

I laughed mentally, realizing that Caedmon was fantasizing that he himself was flying. I decided not to pop his bubble and looked away.

I gasped at what I saw.

There was a patchwork blanket far below us. Patches of all hues of green, golden, and brown were all squared away. I could see patches of white from snow which hadn't quite melted. Veins of either blue or black forked through the fluffy dark jade forests like seams. Tall cities, once proud and tall, now dwindled under my gaze. This.. this was my world?

The dragon tilted more and more and I gripped the saddle with my toned thighs of thunder to keep from slipping off. Behind me, I could hear Hunter's labored breathing. I inhaled sharply, just staring at the world below, wanting to memorize this moment. I could see the earth's subtle curve in the distance, the twinkling of the city, the large highways now only the size of a spaghetti strand. It was.. incredible.

Slowly, the dragon tilted back to even out and lazily started to turn back.

"Well that's it for the day." The leader announced. "My hour is almost over."

Hour? This felt like.. like minutes! I frowned, not wanting this to end. Caedmon made a grumpy meep.

And that's when he yelled. "FREEFALL!!"

And that's just what happened.

I felt suddenly weightless for a moment. Like I was just floating there as some weird genie with combat boots.

Then there was a tug to my harness, pulling me down with the dragon.

I could hear screaming. I'm not sure if it was my own. The dragon pulled in his wings and dove. I could see that patchwork blanket getting larger and larger. I realized now why it was a punishment to be in front. I was the wind breaker. The wind battered me and pushed at my face and when I opened my mouth to let out a breathless whoop, I'm pretty sure I had dimples the size of craters. "YEAAHH-HAH!" I forgot everything he told me in that moment and just put my hands in the air, feeling the wind try to pry me off the saddle but the straps held fast.

I felt weightless.

Free.

I could count the cars now, even see a person biking on the side of the road before there was a snap of wings spreading and I could see the great dragon's muscle shake trying to stop its descent. I'm pretty sure my stomach was still floating a thousand feet up, leaving a hollow, euphoric blast sizzling in my gut. I let out another whoop as the dragon leveled out finally and shot so fast over the treetops that it sent leaves whisking about us, almost flattening the trees themselves. I grinned against the wind, wanting to go faster, only faster. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Caedmon, eyes narrowed, serious concentration written on his features. Oh yeah, he was the pilot of this plane.

With two huge flaps, the dragon slowed down before reaching out with his hind legs for the ground, making us lurch backwards, then bonk forwards as he settled on all fours.

As soon as he crouched, Scarneck was unbuckling me from my saddle. "Slide down," he instructed.

I felt kind of grumpy at him. Here I was, breathless and excited, grinning look a doofus. Then he ruins the moment by slapping me back into the cruel reality that this ride was over.

I grumble as I slowly get up, before scrambling down the dragon's side just like I had scrambled down sheer walls in so many government break-ins before. Caedmon shook out his wings and flapped them really hard, sending wind in my face, making me close my eyes. "I get it buddy.. but I don't think you can carry me just yet." I chuckled lightly.

I looked around, finding that the four other dragons were landing about the same time. I stepped back, eyes wide as the gym teacher's glacier dragon swooped in extremely fast. BAM! With a horrible noise, she touched down and I could see five foot talons digging deep into the ground to keep her from lurching forwards. It also made me fall flat on my butt.

A sleeker blue dragon landed much gentler next to the glacier, slender wings sweeping gracefully before curling back to her side. She knelt down to let her Riders off just as a humongous wyvern slowly swept his wings down and gripped the ground with his wings, bending his whole body to let the kids slide down his side.

I just watched them. Wow, these dragons were incredible. All that raw power.... How come I never knew they existed?

I could feel a familiar burn on my cheek as a weathered, meaty hand settled on my shoulder. "Didn't Mrs. Geier tell you to meet me to check up on your dragon?" he asked.

"Y-yeah uh.. I-"

"Forgot," General Wolverine grunted. "Well, I don't have much time. Come along." He patted my back before turning around, heading back to the main hall.