#ridocweek2026

Ridoc stares at the offending items, eyes narrowed threateningly, his entire body drawn tight as a bowstring. The rider's flight jacket lays there, strewn carelessly over the side of the bed, at risk of falling off. A new patch, the Iron Squad patch, still in it's plastic wrap sat on his desk next to rider-grade thread, and a needle. Unassuming to anyone else, but he knew the truth. How it was maliciously staring back at him, daring him to try, and waiting to laugh as he did.

"Sewing," he said to the empty room.

"My worst enemy"

------

The squad stands in the flight field next to their respective dragons, each of them have their new patch sewn proudly onto their flight jackets. Violet walks on last, looking upset, so naturally, Ridoc goes to cheer her up.

He slings an arm around her shoulders, "Iron squad, all together! You guys we're unstoppable!" Ridoc gasps loudly as an idea pops into his head. Unable to keep the inside thoughts inside, he says it immediately, "We should make a theme song!"

Professor Kaori jumps in before any of the others can, "Unfortunately Cadet Gamlyn, you'll all have to do that on your own time."

He uses that as a Segway to start the lesson, explaining the maneuver they'd be learning today. After the brief explanation, everyone mounts their dragons.

'We're gonna ace this'

'If you can hold on that is,' Aotrom counters teasingly.

'Is that a challenge?'

'More a requirement for you to stay alive'

'It's a challenge'

Aotrom lifts off with one great wing beat. Ridoc feels the air rush around him, how the force pushes him down into the scales. It's great feeling. He loves flying, loves being a rider, and most importantly, he loves his squad — the iron squad.

Ridoc glances down at his jacket to where the patch is. Pride fills him when he looks at it.

'Unstoppable'

The dragons all dip and dive in near perfect formation following Smachd's lead. It's been good so far, Tairn has gotten used to not leading, and ever since Riorson got that saddle for Violet, she hasn't fallen off once.

'Alright, we can do this'

Ridoc presses his body against Aotrom's neck, squeezing his thighs together as his dragon climbs higher preparing to be upside down.

Aotrom arcs his body, and Ridoc becomes weightless for a split-second. For that moment, he feels the most free he ever has before, then they complete the loop, executing it perfectly.

"Fuck yeah!" Ridoc turns to see if the others were okay, but is distracted when something flaps about in front of him. He quickly realises that the thing is his Iron Squad patch holding on by a single thread. It comes loose before he can grab it.

"My patch!" He doesn't think, thrusting his arm forward, but he's too late. Unfortunately, it throws off his balance completely, and he loses his seat, plummeting to the ground below.

Aotrom, ever faithful, nose-dives after his rider. Ridoc's training kicks in like second-nature, spreading his body out to increase surface area, slowing his descent. The brown swordtail swoops under his rider, and brings them back into formation safely.

The lesson ends without further incident, but his friends check on him nevertheless.

Sawyer reaches him first, "Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah, what happened up there? You did the maneuver fine and then just… fell off. Did you not sleep enough?" Rhiannon adds.

"I'm fine. Wait, no I'm not; I lost my fucking patch!"

"Really?" she says unimpressed, "You risked your life over the stupid patch?"

Ridoc's about to retort, but Violet speaks up, "You can get another one from Professor Devera if you want. They always make spares"

"Thanks, Vi"

He stomps away, muttering to himself about having to sew again.