Lesson 5 (Desert Weyrlings)

[Requiem]

Lesson 5 (14 Apr 11 - 11 Jun 11)

Desert Weyrlings

Gold Nitrath ::: Impressed to Caden - 100/85/75/55/65 - 76
Bronze Epifayrmuth ::: Impressed to Mo'rya - 100/85/95/75/65 - 84
Brown Tenloceth ::: Impressed to M'ze - 100/85/85/0/0 - 54
Blue Lketh ::: Impressed to Er'ani - 100/95/85/75/65 - 84
Green Sprith ::: Impressed to Ashlyn (Current Absence Thread) - 100/75 /75/75/75- 80
Green Katearath ::: Impressed to Leilani - 100/85/85/0/0 - 54

How Grades Work:
0 posts - 0
1 post - 45
2 posts - 55
3 posts - 65
4 posts - 75
5 posts - 85
6 posts - 95
7+ posts - 100[/size]

He didn't wait a particularly long time. Kids should be hopping to by now. And, as usual, M'ta ignored the extra that Er'ani had to do; if the boy couldn't keep up with the healthy dragons he'd be screwed and the weyrlingmaster was no coddler. A glance was spared T'san to be sure the other adult dragonpair was set before nudging mentally at Behruth.

The brown dragon exploded upwards in a series of banks and twists that was pure habit - even if it was modified slightly to accomodate the limitations of his wings. A carryover from their time on Ka'rys' wing. It wasn't something they'd specifically taught the weyrlings, but neither would be surprised to see the young ones attempting to mimic it. Much like little ducklings they were, especially with things that looked 'fun' or 'cool.'

Teri was already giggling. Again, again Ruthy! He accomodated her by rolling neatly to his side and circling tightly above to watch the ascent of the young dragons, even if he didn't need to; they'd accomplished the basics. M'ta wouldn't have cleared the move from barracks to weyrs if it was otherwise. We're going to Selenitas Hold. It is closest.

He curled upwards into a draft of warm air and let it buoy his wings, soaring high. We're going to Selenitas Hold. It is closest. Keep the rising suns forty-five degrees to the left of your snouts. They'd flown quite a bit but always in the airspace directly around Selenitas Weyr. No formation drills yet. Both rider and dragon were curious to see how the young ones would weather unfamiliar airspace. Adjust to the air currents, the thermals, the terrain.

(Behruth didn't plan on giving any hints. Sometimes the best way to learn was by doing.)

Since we're not doing anything too difficult, let's practice our dives as we go. One at a time. Behruth arced, nose pointed earthward, wings whipping back as he plunged and Teri squealed her delight. He arced his back and flared wings briefly, snapping first one, then the other in to throw himself into a horizontal twist that ate momentum and sent him at an almost 90 degree direction change before he flared his wings again and climbed leisurely back up to a high altitude.

The twist cuts momentum and takes strain off your wings from a sudden stop. If you don't feel comfortable with it yet just stop normally. Remember, one at a time, he stressed again.

[Ember]

T'san didn't take long getting Dsoleth ready for flight. He'd been at it for...oh Faranth, ten turns! The brownrider didn't care much for age but that was nearly half his life he'd been with the big brute. He nodded to M'ta when the man glanced over and had his brown take off after the weyrlings had gone up. Dsoleth was not trained the way Behruth was; a simply ascent suited the rather bulky brown just fine.

T'san noted that the weyrlings were just fine with take offs. As they should be, considering they had their own weyrs at this point. Since Behruth could handle the beginning part on his own, the man had his dragon practicing some basic maneouvers. Straight flight was far too easy for a dragon of Dsoleth's endurance. Not that either one of them had a problem with a leisurely flight but they'd chosen to help M'ta and Behruth out at the expense of their own private training. Given the opportunity to get a little in, why not? T'san was lazy but it wasn't really him doing the work when it came to flying.

Dsoleth rose well above the weyrlings, his shadow passing over them as he darted ahead of their easy pace. When he knew there'd be plenty of time for his own stunts he let T'san direct him into a spinning dive. It looked more like a fall than a controlled dive but as the brown approached the treeline he spread one wing to twist him to the side before spreading the other one to fully break his fall almost dangerously close to hitting the tops of the trees. Almost got that one down now, huh?

[Ruby]

Nitrath followed Dsoleth's example, rather than Behruth's. Banks and turns were not (and would never be) her forte, she would leave that to the smaller dragons. Actually she was quite interested to see what Epifayrmuth and Lketh pulled off, so as she took to the air, the Gold curved her neck back, looking over her shoulder. Eyes front, Nitrath, Caden said, the order completely ruined by the undeniable affection in the weyrling's tone. Don't want you crashing in to one of our teachers 'cause you're not paying attention.

Once they'd reached cruising altitude, Nitrath glanced back again. Selenitas Hold was a long way away; Lketh shouldn't be out in the sun that long. But where could they get shade so high up? When Dsoleth's shadow passed over her, Nitrath realized how silly that question was - their wings provided plenty of shade, and hers provided more than most. Reaching back to touch Lketh's mind, Nitrath spoke privately. If the suns become too much, you are welcome to fly in my shadow, brother. It's certainly big enough for both of us.

Behruth immediately threw a wrench in that plan, but Nitrath could dive and return to altitude while Lketh went, then he could find her shadow once again. It would be difficult for the Albino, but it was possible. We'll go first, Nitrath offered, touching Lketh's mind with a promise that she'd be back as soon as possible. Tucking her wings and pointing her nose at the ground, Nitrath dropped like a stone, Caden flattening herself against her dragon's neck out of habit (as if her own wind resistance would affect huge Nitrath's dive like it did Smath's. The gold was already quite a bit longer than the blue had ever been). If they hadn't fallen so fast, the other Weyrlings might have heard Caden's whoop of delight.

Long before they approached the ground, Caden gave Nitrath a mental nudge, and the Gold flared one wing like Behruth had. It didn't work quite the same - she was bigger and built for stamina, not agility, after all - but it turned her dive into a wide bank that did something similar, if slower. As soon as she'd lost enough momentum that she wouldn't strain her wings, the Gold started flapping, gaining altitude as fast as she could. Had to get back to her brother, after all...

[Rei]

Lketh watched Behruth’s ascent carefully and once Dsoleth and his golden sister Nitrath had gotten themselves stably into the sky he brushed a warning against his bonded’s mind. Hold on tight. With that the albino sprang with force into the sky, twisting completely sideways before snapping his pale wings open and rising in a series of loops and twirls that had Er’ani’s face paling and his stomach in knots. With a sudden audible snap Lketh made a hairpin turn and ended up somewhere just slightly above Nitrath. Complete calm radiated from the dragon as the weyrling upon his back tried to find his stomach again. Sheesh buddy. I warned you. Came the easy and calm reply before the albino simply dipped towards Nitrath and rolled to the side of her great golden form before leveling out beneath her. My dearest sister has decided to lend us her considerable shadow. As he spoke to his bonded the male brushed loving gratitude against his large golden clutchsister’s mind. Lketh was not the overly emotional sort but if he adored anything it was his siblings and his bonded.

Er’ani looked up at Nitrath as they leveled out beneath her and smiled. That’s sweet of them. Awesome. I’ll have to thank Caden later. Attention was taken from the goldpair as Behruth announced diving lessons and Er’ani again went pale. Oh shit. He was still getting used to Lketh’s flying. Breakneck speed, insane turning, and precision that was almost scary at times. You would think that that meant that the albino enjoyed flying but in truth he did it all with a eerie calm that was just this side of unsettling. No fear, no enjoyment, just simply did it. The weyrling swallowed and gripped the straps tighter as Lketh informed him that Nitrath would go first. The albino immediately followed her announcement with the one that he would perform after her.

As the gold started to gain her altitude Lketh arched his back and flipped backwards, snapping his wings shut as he plummeted towards the ground a blur of white. Lean forward against me. Close as you can. You’re creating resistance. He said simply to his and as he felt his bonded comply he brushed approval against the boy’s mind. Arching his back the albino snapped one wing and then the other open to mimic Behruth’s maneuver with complete confidence. With the dive complete the male caressed his bonded in a soothing wave and began to climb upwards. As Er’ani struggled to catch the breath he had been holding he finally opened his eyes. Damn it. You must not fear Ermine. I will let no harm befall you. Let go of your restraints and trust me. You hold us back. Simple words. No scolding, even an underlying encouragement as the young dragon slipped into his sisters shadow and crooned up at her. Face still pale the weyrling nodded. Got it.