Lesson 12: Seniors

[Tashe]

Jumping between. It was finally time for his Seniors to make their first all important jump through the freezing other dimension, and it is on this particular day that the Weyrlingmaster gets the most nervous. Looking to the side as the Weyrlings began to file in, F'rah quietly drummed his fingers on the top of his desk, trying to take out at least some of the jitters. He, in the past, had lost some of his students to the first jump... loosing a student was always a twist of luck, a horrible horrible twist of luck. Sitting up straighter in his chair as he finally noticed that most of his students had settled into their seats, the Brownrider jerked up onto his feet before clearing his throat. "Today class. Today is the starting of a big stepping stone in your life as a Dragonrider. For today we will take your first jump Between." Moving around to the front of the desk, F'rah cracked his knuckles before beginning again. "Jumping Between is a serious matter, and I will not tolerate anything less than perfect attention today. All of you should know by now what will happen if you fail to do exactly what I tell you and what Styth tells your Dragons."

Glancing at the door as it opened, the Weyrlingmaster sighed as he bridge of his nose. "Glad you decided to join us Mr. E'rro." Placing his hand back onto the surface of the desk, F'rah redirected his attention back to the main body of his class. "This reminds me. You will be having some new faces in your class starting today, please treat them as you would treat anyone else." Pausing for a moment to make eye contact with a few particular students, the weyrlingmaster then continued on. "Jumping Between. A vital and very important act for any Dragonriding team to learn how to do. Dragons as a breed have the innate sense of how to enter this void, and it was in the beginning that our ancestors learned that Humans can survive this jump." Picking up a model dragon, F'rah placed the small silver statue in his palm. "If the dragon does not have a clear picture of its destination in mind, it is dangerous for both the dragon and its passengers. The pair might become permanently lost... resulting in a fate that we can only describe as death." Tipping his hand so that the silver dragon fell to the floor with a clatter, the Werylingmaster waited until the statue grew quiet.

"Deliberately going Between without a destination in mind, is how a dragon pair commits suicide. A dragon usually betweens when his or her rider dies of illness or injury, it will also between if the dragon itself is mortally injured with no hope of ever recovering. Pregnant women should not Between because it will either cause childbirth problems or the untimely death of their child." Picking up the dragon model off of the floor, F'rah put it back onto his desk before making his way through the isles of the desks. "The Between itself can be described as having a temperature below zero... that is the only thing you humans will feel after entering the between. The Between will deprive your senses of any other feeling, which may cause you to become disoriented." Weaving his way back to the front of his desk, the Wingsecond quietly reseated himself on the edge of his desk. "Although the Between isn't something that just creates problems, it is the most effective way of getting somewhere fast... as long as you know exactly where you are going to go. The extreme cold of the Between is also a method that Dragons use to kill thread if it falls onto their body during thread fall."

"So now..." Waving his hand slightly to gesture at the back table, F'rah continued to speak. "... we will all venture outside to the launching rise. Your leathers should be with you or you have put them on your dragon already, since it was homework for last night. Call your dragons and tell them to meet us at the rise, there I will guide you one by one through your jump."

---

Bronze Weyrlings:
K'ran of Elazrith (III)
C'lryns of Minoath (I)

Brown Weyrlings:
Sk'ler of Triniath (III)
R'lor of Yiminth
E'rro of Ismaroth
APC D'ton of Xenorath

Blue Weyrlings:
Saraina of Hokth (I)
Beka of Thoth
APC S'ylon of Milipsith
APC M'ly of Karath
APC M'meer of Firianth

Green Weyrlings:
Gina of Dasmonth (I)
Rielana of Jeminorth (I)
Religna of Ith (I)
K'lir of Calistoth (III)
Cezine of Brennath (I)
Aliad of Aorath
APC L'ar of Snowquith

[Tashe]

Dropping her satchel onto the top of the desk with a loud clink, the Blueweyrling scooted back her chair before letting herself down into it. Shifting over her pack with the tip of her boot, Saraina took up the other half of her desk as she propped up her feet. F'rah had been acting strangely the last few days, stranger than usual at least, but today he seemed even more tense. Shrugging slightly as the Weyrlingmaster snapped to, the young woman cocked an eyebrow as the man began his lecture. Jumping? Today? Had it really been that long since she had met Hokth on the sands? /Betweening today? I'm ready... it might serve you well to actually listen today./ I actually agree with you. Removing her feet from the desk when F'rah actually spoke out about not paying attention, Saraina placed her elbow on the desk instead. Tilting her head to the side as an unexpected entrance broke the serious pause between the Weyrlingmaster's words, the Blueweyrling was slightly surprised at who it was. The boy had been on the sands during the fighting, and Sara knew that the boy had been part of the Children's Wing from Benden. But now wasn't the time to focus on the new addition to their class, she didn't want to mess up in this particular lesson. Fortunately, along with Gina, she had put her dragon in his leathers early this morning. Standing as the Weyrlingmaster asked them to go to the Launching rise, the Blueweryling nudged her friend before cracking her neck. "Gung ho." Lets go Blue one, to the launching rise. /Righty./

---

Unlike her rowdy counterpart, Gina carefully placed her bag next her desk before taking her seat. The greenweyrling furrowed her brows as the Weyrlingmaster began to speak about what the day held in store. Betweening really was an important step in their learning, an important and possibly deadly step. Glancing toward Saraina, Gina was glad to see that today of all days her friend was actually listening to their teacher. /Jumping between. Hmph. Piece of cake for a Queen... I shall show them all./ Sure Hun sure. Looking up as the boy entered the room and disrupted the class, the Greenweyrling also tilted her head to the side as she remembered the fight on the sand. If he was here... than the girl she had saved should be in the class too. Smiling slightly before getting lost in F'rah's lecture, Gina quietly but intently listened to his words. Standing up as the Weyrlingmaster pretty much dismissed the class to the Launching rise, Gina told her Green to go there first.

--

/Go now./ No. /Do it./ No. /Farnath help me Mine, I will force you to go./ Growling slightly as the young man began his daily stare off with his dragon, E'rro spit on the ground in annoyance before responding. I'd like to see you try you overgrown firelizard. /Thats it! Thats the last straw!/ Grunting as the Brown grabbed his arm in his jaws, the Weyrling struggled against the powerful force dragging him forward. STOP. Stop this foolish behavior right now. Just because you are making me stay here it doesn't mean I will participate in the Enemy's curriculum! /Shut up and be quiet mine. You and I are far a head of these Seniors but it wont hurt to relearn. This isn't pledging your loyalty, this is simply taking advantage of their facilities./ Seething quietly to himself as Ismaroth continued to drag him to the Weyrling Barracks, E'rro unhappily stumbled into the entrance of the housing. All of the Weyrlings where currently in class, though there were a few stragglers that had woken up late or had gotten dressed to slow. The Weyrlings here had no idea of what it had been like in /his/ weyrling class, the children here wouldn't survive a day there.

Tensing slightly as he gave a feral glance at his Dragon who was walking parallel with him (though on the outside), the Brownweyrling made his way to the room marked Seniors. Pushing the door open with his foot, E'rro gave a despising glance around the room before slinking to the back, not even bothering to acknowledge the Weyrlingmaster as he spoke. It was that man who had knocked him out, if it wasn't for the bulky man he wouldn't be at this wretched Weyr. Glaring at a few of the students as they cast their innocent gazes back at him, the Weyrling flashed a snarl in response. Letting his mind flow to everything but the instructor, the young Benden Weyrling only heard a few snatches of what was being said. /So. They are just learning how to between... I bet you half the class dies./ More than half Ismaroth. If not, then luck is the only reason. Rolling his eyes as the Selenitas Weyrlingmaster droned on about the Between, E'rro almost began to drift off, but the scrapping of chairs brought him back to reality. /Follow the others. I'll meet you at the "Launching rise", I've picked a Weyrlingdragon to follow./

[missa]

You need not worry, you know I would not lose us between. Thoth reassured her quietly, but Beka was only mildly reassured, it wasn't Thoth she was concerned about, it was her own confidence. What if she didn't do it right, what if it was her that made it all worse? It was a scary prospect, but she didn't want to dwell on it.
You will be fine, stop worrying, I think it will be interesting.

Of course he would think it interesting, it was something new to learn, he always loved learning. Fiddling with her hands in front of her as she listened, Beka found the talk no more comforting than she'd thought it would be. Lost between, death, this was just boosting her confidence.
Relax mine, you are making me uneasy.
Sorry, you have to go to the launching rise now.

*

Betweening sounds exciting. Rielana was half leant forward in her seat, listening to the weyrling master's every word. Flying was one thing, but betweening was a whole other thing, they'd blink from one place to another in a moment, assuming she did it right. Which she would, she'd try anyway, she'd never endanger Jeminorth.
Listen Mine, it can be dangerous too. Have to listen. The scolding was gentle and teasing, but it worked, drawing Rielana's thoughts from her mind to the situation before her.

Jeminorth was in her straps already, like he'd told them too, wasn't that good. Or well, he'd told them to either bring them or put them on their dragons, and she'd chosen the latter due to the fuss of dragging them about. She'd be bound to drop them and that was never good. Practically bouncing to her feet as he told them to go to the rise, Rielana's grin was nothing short of ecstatic,
To the launching rise my lovely Jemmy!
...Right.

*

Religna watched the silver dragon fall with a sinking heart, she wasn't sure she could do this, Ith might believe in her completely, but it was herself she doubted. She wouldn't show that though, just gaze at F'rah with an expressionless face, that was the best way to make him believe that she was calm. Could she visualize properly? Ith wouldn't have chosen her if she couldn't, and it might just take practice. Maybe, but this was not the lesson to be making mistakes in, one minor mistake and she was a goner.

Stop that, you'll be fine. Ith spoke calmyly, firmly, cutting across her thoughts easily. It wouldn't be hard, she at least was born to between, nothing bad would happen. Simple. She just had to relax. Relax yes.
Thanks.. Ith launching rise please.
Yes Mine.

[boober]

Mine hurry! Today we go between! Brennath was excited, rushing Hers along to the lesson in a manner that made Cezine laugh. She assured her dragon that she knew what the lesson plan was for the day and she was indeed hurrying along. The green weyrling was seated in time to hear the weyrling master’s lecture. C’lryn came in shortly afterward, looking as if he’d run all the way to the lesson. He offered a sheepish grin toward several of his fellow weyrlings before flopping into his desk and leaning back. Needless to say, the bronze weyrling didn’t pay quite as much attention to F’rah after the first couple of minutes. Even Cezine had a hard time following, but she did her best not to fidget and listen. Brennath’s excitement was running over, spilling into her own mind and making it harder than usual to concentrate.

As soon as the lecture was finished and they were ordered outside, C’lryn jumped to his feet and wasted no time walking over and wrapping a casual arm around Rielana’s shoulders. “Hey! How ‘bout it, we get to go between today! You ready?” Silently, he called on Minoath, who had been perched on his ledge just waiting for the call. He pushed off and sailed down toward the rise as graceful as he could possibly manage. Yes, the bronze was showing off, just a little. Truthfully, he was every bit as excited as some of the others, but, Minoath being Minoath, it didn’t show nearly as much. He landed precisely, folding his wings and curling his tail about his haunches as he waited.

I am here, Mine.

Good deal.

Cezine followed the others out, brushing an errant lock of her long dark red hair from her face. Her eyes were slightly wider than usual, shining brightly in her golden-tanned face. It was the only indication of her excitement as she called to her green. Come darling, time to go.

I am already here came the reply. Brennath was waiting at the rise, and Cezine lifted a hand to stifle her urge to laugh at her green’s impatience. I could not wait any longer she explained, shifting slightly to one side as Minoath landed by her. She eyed the bronze in an almost warning fashion which he ignored. Fortunately, she was in too good a mood to start brooding over the presence of males. They would go between today!

[ryanne]

R'lor wandered in, wholy disapproving of the idea of a lesson. It was wonderful outside and he just wanted to find a rock out there and lay out, leaning against his dragon. Between chores and lessons, he knew he wouldn't get a chance. Lessons are bad. We get to learn.[/i] Wow, what a suck-up, R'lor thought fondly. His brown waddled next to him, his bulk making him quite the sight on the ground. Yiminth liked flying and everything, but something about being closer to his bonded was much more appealing even if it stuck him on the ground still. R'lor didn't mind. He loved his dragon despite his odd desire to stay at his side at all times.

Taking a seat towards the back, R'lor watched the Weyrlingmaster with a bored expression on his face. Yes, he would actually pay attention and absorb the information, but he wasn't going to pretend to be excited about it. A few jokes popped into his mind as F'rah spoke, even though the matter was quite serious. Thankfully, he bit his tongue, reminding himself to share them with Yiminth later. Chances were that the brown wouldn't understand them (they were very human) but he would laugh or rumble anyway because he knew it made His happy. R'lor enjoyed having an attentive audience whenever he wanted it no matter how dumb his jokes were.

Between didn't sound very amusing to him or very practical. It seemed very dangerous, which almost added enough edge to catch R'lor's attention. However, the information was coming from an adult's mouth so he really wasn't too intrigued. He knew that it would become an everyday idea to him soon enough. He was just going to learn to do it properly and get it over with, even if that included devoting some attention to the older male. Yes, paying attention is good,[/i] Yiminth reminded him as his bonded's attention began to drift a little. The brown had found a spot not too far away from the lesson's room. He didn't like being too far away and he found it amusing to listen in on the lessons.

Fine, R'lor replied, refocusing as F'rah finished up his speech. He'd taken in most of the information, though not much of it was new to him. Come on, he called back to Yiminth, Meet me by the rise and make sure that you don't mess with the leathers. He had actually remembered to do his homework for once. He'd secured the leathers on Yiminth in the morning a few candlemarks before lesson time. The brown wasn't too fond of the confining material, but he'd wear anything for R'lor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Zylia was informed of the lessons yesterday. She was thankful for the warning, it gave her a little time to prepare to venture out into the weyr. Thus far, she'd kept to her quarters, not really sure how her reception into the weyr would proceed. She knew that Benden riders hated Selenitas with a passion. Every male at the weyr would do anything to get at her new home and even some of the women harbored a disdain for the place. Zylia, on the other hand, viewed it as a sanctuary. She was finally going to be able to walk the halls without having to fear for her well-being. I'mny, in his caustic ways, had managed to convince her that the weyr was safer. She was very happy to hear that, but she only nodded and smiled a bit as he spoke.

And now it was time for this lesson. She remembered how it was at Benden. She was shamed for being a female greenrider. Fighting dragons were for men and it wasn't taken well when a female was Chosen. She was barely put up with and only because her beautiful Viviath had such a potential in the air. She looked at her sleeping dragon fondly. The riding straps were put on her perfectly, fitted as much as possible. They were a little small because they were for a normal-sized green, but Viviath wasn't too big for them. She'd probably need a set reserved for blues once she grew a bit more. Judging by her previous growth, the young green still had a bit left to go.

With a small pat to the slumbering dragon, Zylia left the barracks. I'mny'd given her good directions and it only took her a few minutes to find the proper room and her seat. She was nervous, but she just smiled when the weyrling master referenced her, catching her eye for a moment. She didn't like being pointed out much, but she supposed it was better than being ignored. F'rah seemed nice enough, but Zylia was still going to make sure to be on her best behavior around him. She listened intently even though she'd already completed this lesson at Benden. They liked to move faster there, wanting to get the dragons in the air and fluent as soon as possible. The more time spent on lessons, the less time they were given to prepare for Thread. But still, she knew it would be disrespectful and punishable to mention that.

When it came time to leave, Zylia waited a few moments to rise. She didn't want to be in the front of the pack because she didn't know where she was going. You're going to need to join me at the rise, she called out to her dragon, nudging the green out of her slumber. After a few moments and some mental prodding, the green was awake and on her way. Since neither of them knew the exact destination, Viviath found a place to circle before following the other dragons to the rise.[/size]

[randi]

Hiding in her weyr had been a habit that she had adopted a long time ago. Hiding, in general, was an addiction that she couldn't shake, didn't want to. She had pleaded since the incident, begged her dragon not to make her stay. However, Aorath had remained firm, unrelenting. Alaid was terrified. She knew the score at Benden, and shards it was the worst thing imaginable, but here... here there was the torture of mystery.

They are having a weyrling lesson. You should go. It would be good for you. Aorath informed her, glancing at her bonded. The girl was distraught, curled up on the floor, staring ahead. Thoughts flew like a flurry, all ones the green had heard before. Crooning to her, the young dragon urged her to stand, watching as she did with complete confliction.

Trust me. I'll be right there with you. You'll be safe. It had taken coaxing for almost every step, but, eventually, the girl had put on clean clothes and headed to the other Weyrlings. Her hair was still in disarray, but she at least looked slightly less like a hunted animal and more like a human.

Alaid had arrived at the lesson as the Weyrlingmaster explained how dragons suicided. Among the Weyrlings, she spotted the girl, Gina, who had aided Aorath in keeping her captive here. Though she was afraid, she could only focus on the girl. She would be safe if she followed her to wherever she went. She didn't know where the landing rise was. She delivered the message to her partner.

Betweening? Easy enough. Aorath said, following another of the dragons headed towards their destination. Diverting her eyes from everyone else, she focused on the moving, trusting the crowd that contained Gina.