OOC: this is getting quite a bit longer than I intended, but hopefully I'll be able to finish it today, or by tomorrow at least. The Bonding will start as soon as that has been done.

IC.
In the centuries which had passed since its founding, after the attack on the winterdragon Grey One's first home in Sjirra, Tekaini Kiak had changed considerably. The impressive three-peaked mountain still looked as it always had, but the area around it..
Where only a small landing field had been before, the land around Tekaini Kiak had been shaped by magic to create a plain stretching nearly a mile in all directions around the mountain. A small village had been set on the south-western part to provide a home for those who didn't particulary care for living in the mountain itself. There was pastures for the flocks of beasts, goats and sheep which provided the residents with such things as meat, milk and wool, these was mostly cared for by those living in the village.
Others had created extensive gardens where a wide variety of trees could be found, alongside flowers and various types of edible plants, which was also quite decorative due to the efforts of the gardeners.
Set in the north-western section was a large grove of oaks containing a number of small temples, where the religious residents could tend to their faith in peace.

However, what dominated the plain was the huge training arena, a vast area surrounded by a impressively decorated wall of golden-brown stone. In some places ivy and other climbing plants grew over the wall, and in others it was adorned with detailed images etched into the stone-- some little more than intricate patterns and some scenes from Sjirra's history.
Set at regular intervals as a part of the wall, was low, but massive towers-- these being used as storage areas, by spectators watching the training sessions and also as parts of the lessons sometimes. And of-course, also they added to the impressive appearance of the wall.
Once, creating such a place would not even have been considered, but times changed-- as they had a tendency to do.
More and more younglings chose to leave Sjirra to experience the rest of the Multiverse, and they had to be prepared for the dangers that they were likely to face out there. Lessons about history, politics and the different factions and worlds in the Multiverse was taught elsewhere, but they also had to learn how to defend themselves with magic and through more physical means.
If anything, the fighting training helped keep them fit and improved on their reactions.

Admiring the detailed images at the wall of the training arena, the winter dragon Shimmer smiled as she spiraled down towards it from the point she had appeared after teleporting. Then she angled her wings to level out into a glide along the edge of the plain, taking a look at the terasses lining the sheer cliff-face below.
Most served as places to grow rice, vegetables and various other foods for the residents and animals at Tekaini Kiak, but some had also been adapted for people to live on. However, the majority of those who chose to do that came from more 'primitive' societies in Sjirra and elsewhere.
Some of their small huts was quite charming though-- ranging from simple wooden huts to huts made of burned clay, which was then polished and painted with jewel colors.
A shift of her wings, and she veered, stretching out her legs to land on tops of one of the towers lining the wall of the arena. Muscles rippled under her black, opal-tinged skin as she caught her balance and settled into a comfortable position, and then she turned her head to watch the group of younglings currently in this part of the arena.

To the left was a group of ten young owlpanthers and dajelans, all wearing light armor, and so did their riders-- sitting at the ground in front of them. And to the right was a group of seven young rockdragons, these being in the company of five humanoid riders.
And between the two groups stood their trainer, a large brown griffin.
While the trainees of this group were certainly young, they were still a bit too old to be considered children-- although there was probably years left of their training, they weren't beginners.
That was made clear by the fact that they wore armor and the protective shields that had been put on all of them to protect from serious injuries during the practice lesson. Ending up with bruises and broken bones was still a likely possibility, but the shields would protect them from truly serious or mortal injuries.
After all, while the training had to prepare them for what they could experience out in the Multiverse, it wasn't supposed to kill them.

Aknowledging Shimmer with a slight inclination of his head, griffinwarrior Aerekel got the attention of his trainees with a sharp whistle.
"Black/white troop to the tower, your mission is to protect it at all cost. Metallic troop will be your opponents, their task is to take it and the 'prisoners' inside" Aerekel said, "as usual, no rules".
With no hesitation, the riders checked their weapons swiftly-- these being mostly lances and spears, and then they turned to mount their assigned companions among the dajelans, owlpanthers and rockdragons. And as the dajelans and their riders moved to stand by the only entrance to the tower, Shimmer spread her wings and glided down to the ground.
Taking a few steps forwards, she stopped by Aerekel and turned slightly to stand beside him. As the tower she had landed on would serve as the target of this lesson, remaining on top of it would have been quite unwise.
Dust swirling in the backdraft of their wings, the owlpanthers and rockdragons winged upwards-- both groups fighting for the advantage of a higher altitude. But soon, the rockdragons emmerged as the winners-- the owlpanthers might be agile and swift over shorter distances, but their wings were simply not designed for such speed in open air.

Hissing, the owlpanthers exchanged a few quick comments with their riders, then the group of five spread out, circling as they waited for the rockdragons to make their move. Had this lesson included magic, their tactic would have been different--but as things were now, they would not waste strenght.
Let their opponents come to them.
Gathering in a wedge-shape, with a large metallic green and blue-grey female in the lead, the dragons waited till their riders had gotten their lances into position, and then they dove. Eyes gleaming, they aimed for the nearest of the owlpanthers, a slender male carrying a human at his back.

A shout from his companions, and the owlpanther slipped to the side, turning himself in midair to kick at the wingtip of a rockdragon as it thundered past. Faltering, the young dragon nearly lost his balance, but with some effort-- he managed to catch himself before he veered into the path of any of his companions.
Then the real combat began.

Soaring, diving and veering, the two troops did their best to outmaneover each other-- their smaller size and agility giving the owlpanthers an obvious advantage, but the speed and strenght of the rockdragons did not make them easy opponents.
But suddenly the two riderless rockdragons broke away from the rest of the group, making for the ground at a speed that would not have been possible with anyone riding at their necks.
Their objetive was obviously to engage the defenders of the tower and take it if possible, but as soon became evident-- the dajelans and their riders were not easy targets. After all, despite the many equine traits to their appearance, dajelans were related to giantcats, and while not quite as agile-- they came close to being a match for their feline relatives.

Despite being considerably smaller than the attacking rockdragons, they weren't the least daunted by that, and neither were their riders.

Thundering a challenge, three dajelans charged forwards to meet their 'enemy'.
Discarding their spears and lances, the riders had instead chosen metal clubs and strong ropes equiped with metal weights at their ends. Not weapons suited for killing perhaps, but it was a good choice if you wanted to take a captive or two.
Their riders sitting straight in the saddles, the dajelans deftly avoided the first charges of the rockdragons-- then a strange hum filled the air as two of the riders made use of their ropes.
Given strenght and speed by the metal weights, the ropes darted through the air to wrap around the neck of a silver rockdragon. Startling slightly, she started to lift a foreleg to remove the rope, but this happened a bit too slowly.
For before the dragon had gotten time to balance herself, the dajelans swirled around and pulled hard-- using their full weights. And with a shriek, the rockdragon felt herself being pulled backwards, for a moment she balanced at her haunches-- then she fell.

A flailing wing hit her companion across the head, causing him to jump backwards and loose his concentration before he could finish his charge or come to the aid of his fallen companion. Then, as the other rockdragon recovered, the dajelans and their riders moved in to 'kill' their opponents using clubs, lances and claws.
::You owe me a drink later for that, my poor wings..:: the 'dead' rockdragon muttered, finding a less uncomfortable position before closing her eyes and acted properly dead.
Mindspeaking a few teasing comments, dajelans and riders turned their attention to the second rockdragon, doing their best to 'kill off' him as well even as the aerial fight still raged above.

"They are doing quite well, although not all of them are as well partnered as they could be" Aerekel said, "take Jenekla and Torial for example, they are not working well together as a team. Just watch".
Shimmer looked up at the dark owlpanther that Aerekel had pointed out for her, and watching-- she did not have to make much of an effort to notice the signs. While the pair hadn't been 'killed' yet, Jenekla's flight and movements weren't as smooth as the others, and she seemed distracted-- perhaps due to a mindspoken argument between her and her rider.
"Ah, I can see that. Have you thought about a replacement yet?" Shimmer asked, "and have you found any potential partners for Chandrea and Wenikreth yet?"
Shifting her head slightly, Shimmer watched the dead rock dragon and the other one-- who was still fighting the dajelans, a bit more successfully than his companions. Already one dajelan and her rider was done, and another was held hostage by Wenikreth.

Aerekel smiled, "that was just what I wanted to talk with you about. If you haven't send out the invitation for the Bonding yet, is there any chance that you could add a notice about that we need young people interesting in becoming companions to some of the younglings in this group?"
Wings shifting, the griffinwarrior looked over at Shimmer, "you are after all in charge of such matters here, so I thought that I should ask you. Unfortunatly there are few truly suitable candidates for such training here at Tekaini Kiak".
As she understood the griffinwarriors reasons, Shimmer nodded, "I'll make sure to add it to the invitations. There's certainly young people eager for such a chance out there, but to really catch their interest-- what about having a demonstration before or after the Bonding?"
"That's..certainly a possibility" Aerekel agreed, the look on his face making it obvious that we was already making the plans.