Gene was really starting to get the hang of this. Granted, it was a bit like riding an avalanche - a patronizing avalanche - but it began to fall into a pattern he recognized. He'd ridden horses before, a little; this was similar, only much bigger and with wings.
His attack struck home when they swung close, slicing one of the remaining blobs to ribbons and wounding another before they began their ascent.
Maybe it was the fact that Temeraire had banked to bring them back around for another pass, and maybe it was the fact that the second attack had made the guan dao drag a little bit on the ascent, and maybe it was the fact that Gene hadn't been able to secure himself to the harness properly, but either way, the tortured bit of leather Gene had been using to stay on the dragon's back finally gave way. It snapped, and gravity took hold as Gene cried out and fell.
He had options. To use the rings, or not? For a moment, as he fell, Gene considered just hitting the ground at terminal velocity and keeping his secret intact. But no...no, he'd come too far to give up now. And death was something he'd prefer to avoid, despite being in its realm.
I really have to apologize to Tony when I get back, he thought with eerie calm as the wind whipped past him and in his eyes the dragon and his remaining rider briefly became the halves of a shattered Gulfstream falling from the sky. This isn't fun.
He closed his eyes, and was engulfed in a ball of blinding light.
BACKTHREAD THIS TIL THE END OF TIME Y/Y (also 1/2)
His attack struck home when they swung close, slicing one of the remaining blobs to ribbons and wounding another before they began their ascent.
Maybe it was the fact that Temeraire had banked to bring them back around for another pass, and maybe it was the fact that the second attack had made the guan dao drag a little bit on the ascent, and maybe it was the fact that Gene hadn't been able to secure himself to the harness properly, but either way, the tortured bit of leather Gene had been using to stay on the dragon's back finally gave way. It snapped, and gravity took hold as Gene cried out and fell.
He had options. To use the rings, or not? For a moment, as he fell, Gene considered just hitting the ground at terminal velocity and keeping his secret intact. But no...no, he'd come too far to give up now. And death was something he'd prefer to avoid, despite being in its realm.
I really have to apologize to Tony when I get back, he thought with eerie calm as the wind whipped past him and in his eyes the dragon and his remaining rider briefly became the halves of a shattered Gulfstream falling from the sky. This isn't fun.
He closed his eyes, and was engulfed in a ball of blinding light.