[Saren]

Basic Training #1;;

Kaia's mouth was dry.
The Bernikesaurus was only metres away, nearly close enough for her to touch. Its head was low and it was drinking from the stream that ran through the clearing. This must be where it sleeps, she thought, taking note of the flattened grass by the trees.
It hadn't noticed her.
Yet.
Swallowing, Kaia reached out to her left and gently rustled a branch or two. The beast's head shot up, and within a split second the two were face to face. Kaia's position on the sturdiest branch of this tree seemed suddenly precarious.
"Hey there," she said softly, in a low voice. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to--"
She was cut off midsentence as the dinosaur shoved its- his, she noticed- head in through the branches. Her throat went instantly dry again, and she remembered all those stories she'd been told as a child- about how Bernikesaurus could devour a human whole, so nothing was left but the feet in the boots; about brave soldiers killed by the creatures; about the dinos who went insane and trampled whole villages, back in the first days of life and memory.
She didn't realise her eyes were squeezed tightly shut until she felt warm, snuffling breath on her face. Slowly, slowly, she opened her palm. The creature's attention turned from her to the cubes of dried meat in her hand, and before too long every cube was gone.
Slowly, oh so slowly, she reached out.
The dinosaur's forehead was smooth and cool to the touch.

[Saren]

Basic Training #2;;

Kasei'lun's nostrils flared in indignation as Kaia walked towards him, leather bridle slung over one shoulder. Holding out her hand, she gently patted his nose, and fished in her pocket for some treats. He had, she'd discovered, a certain weakness for dried, salted meats, and as such she now held cubes of dried deer meat in her palm. As his lips grazed softly at her hand, she slid the bridle off of her shoulder, and--
Kasei'lun raised his head sharply, knocking Kaia's hand and scattering cubes of salted meat over the grass. He snorted and shook himself, sniffing at the bridle.
Inspiration seized Kaia, and she took another handful of deer meat, rubbing it over the bit: the part that would go in Kasei'lun's mouth. The taste and smell remained even as she replaced the meat in her pocket, and she held out the bit. Seilun was cynical, but he sniffed at the metal bar kand soon began to lick it. Quickly, Kaia pulled the bridle over his head and fastened it under his chin. His head shot up, but he was too late: the bridle was on.

[Saren]

Basic Training #3;;

The saddle and bridle were in place, fastened tightly- but not too tightly, mind- and secured with various straps and buckles that had taken Kaia a long time to get the hang of. Kasei'lun, too, had only just become used to the feeling of weight on his back and restraint around his head; at first, she'd had to trick him with meat, whereas now Kaia could slip on his bridle without too much fuss.
She'd clambered partway up a tree and was standing precariously on the sturdiest limb. Her fingers were entwined with Seilun's reins, and her right hand was planted firmly on his shoulder. Kasei regarded her quizzically as she tightened the straps once more, then tilted his head as she slowly, carefully, placed one foot in the stirrup.
Kasei'lun shied away, and Kaia nearly fell to the ground. She tightened her grasp on one of his back spines, however, and managed to hold on. Better luck next time, Sani'ven, she thought grimly.

[Saren]

Advanced Training #1;;

The two were on the soft green grass, in the clearing where they'd first made contact. Kasey'lun was lying out on his stomach, tail curled around Kaia and head raised proudly, watching her. She sat with her back against his warm belly, humming to herself and making a daisy chain. Beams of sunlight broke through the canopy above and cast dappled shadows on the ground. The sweet smell of grass and flowers and pollen hung in the air, catching in Kaia's nose and making her sneeze every few minutes. Each time this happened, Seilun snorted quietly and shifted slightly.
"Sorry, Kasei," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before standing and hanging the daisy chain across Kasei'lun's back.

[Saren]

Advanced Training #2;;

"Mat'iri! Danger from the Mat'larun border. Move out!"
Kaia was startled from her half-wakeful state by the cry. Instantly awake, she rushed to pull on her armour and saddle Kasei'lun. He stood patiently while she fumbled with the straps and buckles, but when other riders started to thunder past them he began to get nervous and jumpy. "It's okay, Seilun," Kaia reassured him softly.
Soon she was finished, and she pulled herself on to his back, shouldering her quiver and gripping her bow tightly. Taking up the reins, she pressed her legs gently into his sides, and he leapt forwards eagerly. She bent low and narrowed her eyes, following the others at a gallop through the trees. One rider came up behind her and made to overtake, but, grinning, Kaia urged Seilun to speed up. He did so, and they drew away from the rider and passed one or two others.
Before long they were nearly at the head of the charge. She pulled up, and Kasei slowed, sides heaving. The riders fanned out and walked slowly along the river, half to each side. Kaia and Kasei'lun took the left route, alert and watchful.
Kaia's palm was sweaty on the bow.

[Saren]

Advanced Training #3;;
**Warning: There is more blood etc. in this one than in the other five.**

The only sound that could be heard was the tread of Berkinesaurs on soft undergrowth. The river flowed between the two tribes, separating them from each other; not that they really needed separation. Both of them were peaceful, good at negotiation. Neither would have any inclination to attack the other.
So what was the danger?
As if in answer, there was a thundering noise from the other side of the river. Kaia and the riders to either side o her stopped and readied their weapons. Kaia's mouth was dry.
Directly opposite her, a wild dinosaur broke out of the sparse trees on the other side of the river. It was smaller than a Berkinesaurus, but looked to be fiercer, by a long way. Its eyes rolled in its head and bloodstained froth dribbled from its jaws. It stopped to catch its breath, then bent its head to the river. The water washed away the froth from its mouth as it drank.
Only when it had had its fill did it seem to notice the riders opposite. It made an odd, guttural sound and charged across the river, water pooling round it and revealing many wounds on its flanks as it pulled blood from the beast. The riders began to fire.
Kaia's first shot fell clear. The second hit its mark, but the dinosaur did not stop.
Its eyes, she thought. Taking aim once more, she sighted along the arrow aligned it with the eye, and...
The dinosaur fell dead on the Mat'iri bank, Kaia's arrow lodged firmly in its right eye.