Dragon rider

Sam looked up at the dragon seated before him, its deep purple scales encasing its bright red eyes as it stared down at him. He could feel his knees wanting to pop out of place from how hard his legs were shaking. "A-are you s-sure this is a g-good idea?" he asked shakily.

Aran chuckled and patter the dragon's hide. It was outfitted with a harness meant for a rider. It was Sam's fifteenth birthday, which meant it was time for him to learn to fly. "Yes, Sam, I'm sure," Aran assured him. "It's tradition. Besides, Eragoth here is my old faithful. He won't let you down."

Eragoth snorted in agreement. Sam had watched the two riding tofether ever since he was a child, so it wasn't as if he didn't trust Eragoth. He was just scared. The thought of being suspended so high in the air was as terrifying as it was exciting, and Sam had never been one with a sense of grace. He was about as unlucky as they came, and frequently tripped over his own feet. 

He tugged nervously at the collar of his leather riding suit. It made him itch in places he didn't want to talk about. With a deep breath, and a helping hand from Aran, he mounted the dragon. 

Eragoth's scales were warm under Sam's body, smooth and tough. He was glad he would be sitting in a harness, rather than directly on the scales as some riders did. He didn't think he would even get through take off before he slid right off. He got himself into place and latched his feet into their stirrups, gripping the reigns as though his life depended on it.

Before he knew it, Eragoth's wings were unfolding and slamming down against the air hard, generating a massive wind force that launched them from the ground and into the air. Sam's breath rushed from his lungs as they ascended, quicker than he had ever moved before, until they broke through the clouds. They hung for a moment there, Eragoth's wings fully extended lazily gliding through the air, just long enough for Sam to regain his breath before the wings folded in once more and they were diving down. 

Sam watched the water approaching at an alarming rate, and visions of the frigid cold envelopping his body filled his mind. An instant before they would have made contact, Eragoth's wings exploded out, catching the wind and curling them back up and away from the water.

As they curved through the sky, Eragoth rolled inwhat was for him a lazy manner. For Sam, however, the grip he held on his reigns was a matter of life and death. As they turned upside down, he felt as though his brain was pushing against the inside of his skull, ready to fall out at any moment.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, they were landed. In the blink of an eye Aran was there, unstrapping Sam from the harness and helping him to the ground. Sam could only let Aran take control, his entire body feeling limp. 

"Well, Sam?" Aran asked. "As bad as you feared?"

And Sam vomitted on Aran's shoes.