Lesson 6 (Desert Weyrlings)

[Requiem]

Lesson 6 (11 Jun 11 - 8 Jul 11)

Desert Weyrlings

Gold Nitrath ::: Impressed to Caden - 100/85/75/55/75/0 - 65
Bronze Epifayrmuth ::: Impressed to Mo'rya - 100/85/95/75/65/0 - 70
Brown Tenloceth ::: Impressed to M'ze - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45
Blue Lketh ::: Impressed to Er'ani - 100/95/85/75/75/0 - 71.7
Green Sprith ::: Impressed to Ashlyn (Current Absence Thread) - 100/75 /75/75/75/75- 79.2
Green Katearath ::: Impressed to Leilani - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45

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]

A most unusual two months since the weyrlings were given their map to fill in all the holds and smaller cotholds that fell under Selenitas Weyr jurisdiction. H'nes had indeed given his permission for overnight rangings, and they'd taken five such trips, ranging from one day to the week-long tour of the entirety of the holds they'd just gotten back from. It was such a success that M'ta had given them the last two days off. He and Behruth had taken the trip without Terilyn or T'san, just the weyrlingmaster pair and the weyrlings. The endurance of the weyrlings had increased drastically...as had Behruth's. At least in simple straight flight there wasn't a single pair who couldn't last the length of a Fall without a break. Of course, Threadfall was a much different beast, but M'ta was pleased. Very pleased.

Yes. Even pleased enough to also waive the morning run this morning and start lessons a couple candlemarks after the dawning for once. Of course, M'ta had been up as early as ever, for preliminary drills to see just how prepared C'zan's old weyrling class was for the duty assigned to them. A quick return to the weyr to wipe himself down - no need to arrive to lessons lathered - to change his clothes and to coax the lazy T'san out of his furs, and he set off for the usual training grounds of the weyrlings on foot. Behruth was already there to greet any who arrived early. It was the first time T'san had come in perhaps a month; after Behruth's endurance increased enough to handle most of the flights, M'ta hadn't wanted to impose on the wingleader more than necessary.

The reason was twofold. First, today was the day the weyrlings would Between. (M'ta hadn't told them the exact day, just that it would be sometime this sevenday.) Secondly, part of the bet the younger of the brownriders had lost was that T'san had to be there to see it. Clad in the loose white shirt and tighter leather vest that was his wont, there the familiar ended. A second, silver tassle had been added to the gold one in the double loop. It seemed H'nes was ascribing to the 'give him enough rope to hang himself' rule of thumb, and M'ta now had a wing as well as a class to occupy his copious amount of free time. The most obvious thing...was the skirt.

A peasant skirt, ankle-length and died a vibrant pink. (The drudges had delighted at his request, naturally.) M'ta wore the thigh-high leather boots beneath so as not to show any leg by accident, and a double span of belts around waist and hips as another measure. (He wasn't sure how women could wear something like this, but a bet was a bet. And what better day than when some of the seriousness needed to be taken out of everything. No one liked Betweening day.) The brownrider met the various expressions of his weyrlings with a touch of defiance, his lips turning up in a slight half-smile. "Laugh now. Get it out of your systems." His dark eyes narrowed. "Then turn in your maps."

That last comment held just enough warning behind it to make it clear that they'd best have remembered and completed the assignment, even if he hadn't reminded them at all since the first day. Behruth stretched languidly, but the observant might have noticed he was a touch more tense today in the slightly quicker swirl of his eyes. How was your rest, younglings? he questioned of the dragons, some of which were no longer smaller than he.

[Ember]

A person bugging him. A vague sense of mistrust and borderline panic. Ah, Nevroti. He pushed the feelings away and groaned unintelligably at the nuisance shaking him and - cold! Did they...? Yes, they did. Damn them for taking his furs. It may be the south but the almost-winter morning air made faint goosebumps rise on his arms and he curled slightly more around the ball of fur under his left arm. The ball of fur shifted and tickled T'san's nose. Two against one wasn't fair! Two became three as the disturbed firelizard zipped down and landed on the brownrider's bare shoulder.

"Alright, alright...I'm up," came the tiredly disgruntled words from the man. Ah but the sheets were still warm and his bed was oh so comfortable...A sigh and the man withdrew his arm from around the feline and set the blue to fluttering around his head. His movements were slow and one eye squinted open to view the person who'd woken him up (with the added help of a too-furry feline and a neurotic firelizard). "Well if it isn-" A jaw-cracking yawn before, "-isn't M'ta." One moment. Two. T'san's shoulders began shaking and he lightly bit the inside of his upper lip to suppress laughter.

It didn't work. "N-nice...skirt!" He managed to bite out before his laughter completely consumed him. He spent perhaps a couple minutes straight just laughing at the site of his friend in that delightfully pink number before his mirth took the form of chuckles. T'san mumbled, "You can go ahead, I'll be there soon." Faranth knew if he spent anymore time in the same room as the Weyrlingmaster in that get up he'd be far too distracted to get ready for the day - and not distracted in the good way either, sadly.

A dressed and feline toting T'san arrived at the lesson spot with Dsoleth as the first of the weyrlings began arriving. His laughter was renewed once again upon seeing his friend's outfit but he didn't comment. He merely set Spice on the ground, notably pointed towards M'ta, as a devious grin spread across his face. Now, normally the brownrider didn't try and bring pets along to Serious Business but he had a good cause this time. Sort of. Seeing M'ta potentially squirm as a very playful kitty all but attacked the pink skirt was a fairly high priority and not at all a good cause for anyone but T'san.

His hazel gaze was neutral when it flicked over to the duckling-students. A cute ball of fur might come in handy for distraught classmates if anything bad happened during the lesson. Between lessons were not the happiest affairs. T'san blinked at the sudden rush of soothing feelings. Heh, the blue firelizard had done it again. Nevroti never failed to amaze the brownrider with his unearthly skill of squirreling away in his riding gear. Perhaps they'd get lucky and Spice's main purpose would be to annoy M'ta and not comfort upset weyrlings.

[Kisha-Ra]

Mo’rya was filled with dread. The last time they’d been let off the morning run was when they’d had a classroom lesson (the only classroom lesson to date) about mating Flights, an uncomfortable topic indeed, for most at least, so what was going to happen today was bound to be worse since they’d had two days off. At least he’d been working on his map and weapons practice for some of his free time so Mo’rya wasn’t likely to be chewed up and spat out for either of those.

Today, for no reason he could fathom, Mo’rya was not only accompanied by the ever present Wit, currently tucked into a pocket, and sleeping, but also Ghost, perched on his shoulder and trying to hide under his braided hair, and even Evil, who was dangling by his tail from Epifayrmuth’s headknob. This though, not even Mo’rya could read any prediction of doom into. Ghost was a sometime visitor to lessons anyway, and Evil had been hanging over Epifayrmuth’s eye, making the bronze look rather rakish but driving him mad at the same time, since Mo’rya woke up.

Of course as soon as M’ta arrived Mo’rya’s conviction of imepending doom was driven out of his mind by the weyrlingmaster’s appearance. From the head to the waist everything about the brownrider was quite normal, then, for no apparent reason, M’ta was wearing a vivid pink skirt. For a moment Mo’rya wondered if the man had lost his mind (overwork could do that right?), pink with that shade of brown? Ignoring the inviation to go ahead and laugh Mo’rya tipped his head to one side and considered the image. ‘Pink isn’t really your colour. In fact I’m not certain that bright a shade really suits anyone.’ The boy finally commented, proffering his map as he did so.

Epifayrmuth shook his slightly overlarge head until Evil hissed furiously and moved grudgingly up to the top of his head. I enjoyed it, Mo’rya expects an especially hard lesson to make up for it. The young dragon replied with a touch of humour in his tone.

[Rei]

Er’ani stood with the rest of the class Lketh ranged somewhere behind him already tacked and ready. Of course that was assuming they would be in the air but they rarely weren’t these days. As he waited for M’ta the albinoweyrling stood beside his classmates chatting to a few of them before falling quiet as the man approached. Dark eyes widened to perhaps a near comical size as he got a first real good look at his teacher. Who was dressed in the most absurd article of clothing perhaps ever. Really? A skirt? And a vibrant pink one at that. At first shock and surprise registered on his face. Then the teen couldn’t help the short laugh that bubbled up from his chest. Shame Er’ani seemed like he was the only one willing to laugh. Well T’san was too but Mo’rya only made the whole thing better by actually giving fashion advice. Maybe the other thought they’d get stabbed or something. Who really knew.

Yeah. No matter that this lesson was going to be about it was going to be great. Composing himself Er’ani got his map from one of the leather bags strapped to Lketh and made his way over to M’ta. Holding out the map to his teacher he gave a wide grin. “Here you go princess.” With a mock bow the weyrling turned to let the next of his classmates turn in their maps. He was assuming that T’san was the reason for the brown rider being in a skirt. Hmm. Would have to try and get that story later. Taking his place back with the rest of the students Er’ani waited to see just what exactly they were going to be doing. Formation flying perhaps? They had the endurance thing down pretty good by now.

Lketh watched the humans interact with quiet interest until Behruth bespoke them. There was something about the older brown’s demeanor that spoke of tenseness. In his normal calm tone the albino replied. It was good to have some time to relax. I feel quite rested.

[Requiem]

Lesson 6 (11 Jun 11 - 8 Jul 11)

Desert Weyrlings

Gold Nitrath ::: Impressed to Caden - 100/85/75/55/75/0 - 65
Bronze Epifayrmuth ::: Impressed to Mo'rya - 100/85/95/75/65/45 - 77.5
Brown Tenloceth ::: Impressed to M'ze - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45
Blue Lketh ::: Impressed to Er'ani - 100/95/85/75/75/45 - 79.2
Green Sprith ::: Impressed to Ashlyn (Current Absence Thread) - 100/75 /75/75/75/75- 79.2
Green Katearath ::: Impressed to Leilani - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45

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]

Well, one person was certainly laughing, at least, and the glance back toward T'san through narrowed eyes prevented M'ta's seeing who else might be (while the brownrider drowned them out). Smoothing out the skirt, he returned his attention to the weyrlings, accepting the maps as they were proferred and raising a brow at Mor'ya's comment. "I shall have to remember to go for the light blue next time," he commented with a quirk of lips and a nod of satisfaction after briefly glancing over the work.

In the end it was only two who did not have theirs prepared. The same two who were always lagging behind, forgetting things, and otherwise making far too many mistakes. It only cemented an already growing conviction that had been plaguing him as this lesson drew closer. M'ta's eyes narrowed. "If you can't be trusted with something so simple, you can't be trusted with anything. Get your sorry asses out of my class. The drudges will find you work to do."

Apparently he wasn't being clear enough, at least for M'ze. As Leilani was already moving hesitantly away, M'ta picked up a stick and whipped it at the brownweyrling. Hitting him square in the chest. "Get the fuck out!" That seemed to lend motivation to both Leilani and M'ze, who disappeared with their dragons soon thereafter.

M'ta turned to face the remaining four weyrlings...then twitched. He glanced down at the cat and made a rather valiant attempt to kill the creature where it stood with a glare only. Then, lifting the edge of his skirt, he shook it. Then more vigorously. But the cat clung just the same, and even hopping about couldn't dislodge him. With a sigh, the short man ran a hand through his hair and resigned himself to a cat attachment. "So who wants to volunteer?"

It should be just a short one today, actually. Mine has something of a small celebration planned for later. The brown did not yet mention the reason why. We have been placed in charge of the wing most of you will join after graduation, so lessons in general will not be as long as you are used to, he added, addressing all the weyrlings.

[Rei]

Er’ani watched the glares and the turning in of the maps with a smile on his face. A smile that quickly fell when M’ta narrowed his eyes and addressed Leilani and M’ze. The albinorider quite visibly twitched at the words that were offered his classmates and his eyes narrowed not on them but on M’ta. Lketh’s calm presence in his mind was the only thing that prevented him from jumping to their defense until the Weyrlingmaster flung the stick. Then all bets were off although he at least had the courtesy to wait until the other two had left until he spoke. The teenager decided he would catch up with the two ‘rejected’ later and see if there wasn’t anything he could help with. Er’ani understood struggling and although he didn’t know much about M’ze. Leilani at least was a nice girl. A bit down on herself but nice. Seeing her treated like that only served to piss the weyrling off. A lot. Which in a sense was perhaps ironic. But then Leilani belonged to him in a way.

“Don’t know why the hell you have a right to be so pissed off.” Er’ani shot angrily at M’ta. “You’re the teacher. It’s not their fault they failed.” With that the albinorider looked away before he did something he’d regret. Instead fisting his hands at his sides and struggling to keep a handle on his slipping temper. A temper that had only increased with the past months. Not fair. Those were his friends, his buddies, his comrades. They did not deserve to be treated like that. They had helped M’ta keep his class just as much as everyone else had. And they got treated like that in return? Ermine. Relax. You are far too worked up. Shut up. The weyrling spat mentally at the his dragon, half turning to keep his face hidden from the rest of them. They didn’t deserve those words. Not like that.

When M’ta asked for volunteers Er’ani merely raised a hand and refused to look at his teacher. Placing the other hand on Lketh’s neck, resolved to stay silent. The albino in turn listened to his teacher with his head half tilted and then passed the information along to his rider. Yeah well I don’t want a stupid celebration. I want class to end now so I can go shoot something. The young male dragon regarded his with something like curiosity but didn’t offer further words. Just a prevailing sense of calm to try and soothe his bonded’s fire.

[Ruby]

M'ta might have cancelled the morning run, but Caden did not. She might not exactly like running - she certainly never loved it like some people seemed to - but it was her duty, and like or dislike never went in to it. Nitrath had joined her every time Behruth had not asked them to report for lessons, coasting along above her Rider and performing the kind of dips and turns and rolls that were such a challenge for the gold. She'd started huge and she'd stayed huge - just a foot shorter than her mother already, she wasn't done growing, and that meant agility was not her strong point. It certainly never would be, either, but Nitrath wasn't about to let that stop her.

So when Caden and Nitrath arrived for lessons, both were breathing somewhat harder than was necessary, and Caden at least had a slight sheen of sweat. T'san's presence was a surprise, but Caden hardly had time to notice, what with staring at M'ta's wardrobe choice for the day. Was this some sort of Southern tradition she hadn't heard of? Shards, was she expected to wear something like that? Faranth, she hoped not.

Luckily, it looked like she would be spared. She did not take M'ta up on his invitation to laugh, but she did pull her eyes away from the vibrant swath to pull out her map and hand it in along with the others. Some of the others. As usual, Leilani and M'ze hadn't completed the assignment, and neither had asked for help. Caden's mouth set in a line - unlike Er'ani, apparently, Caden thought the pair had gotten what they deserved. Enemy wings did not make exceptions for those who did not complete their studies, and dead was dead. Better for M'ze and Leilani to spend a turn or so contemplating their failures and growing up a bit than pushing them into a Wing too fast. She could tell Er'ani that later, though; M'ta hardly needed Caden to stand up for him. She did put a hand on Er'ani's arm, though, shaking her head slightly. Not now.

And having him go first at whatever they were doing wasn't a good idea, either; Caden was a team player first and foremost, and the thing about being a team player was that you had to know your team's weaknesses, even if they didn't. Er'ani let his feelings take over and that made him screw up (even when he thought he should be proving himself), and today was not the day for that, not with two people already kicked out for screwing up one too many times. So instead of silently raising her hand, the Goldweyrling said, "Seems sensible that I'll start whatever it is. Being... oldest, and all." Yeah. Oldest. It certainly wasn't because she'd done this (whatever this was) before. Something told her it was serious, and if it was serious at just over a turn, it was between. Serious indeed.

What is this... rest you speak of? Nitrath asked, gentleness and humor taking any sort of sarcasm out of her question. My girl is not exactly one to rest, she clarified, But it does not bother me. I am ready for more, and we are happy to go first, if you and Yours wish for it.

[Kisha-Ra]

Well that was something at least, Mo’rya thought, blue really would go much better with the brown than that dreadful pink. Of course the question of why M’ta, of all people, was wearing a skirt had now occurred to him but it was something he was going to have to keep wondering. The expression on the brownrider’s face as Leilani and M’ze handed in their work cemented that conviction.

The outburst was something Mo’rya had expected, the content was not, and he stared along with the suddenly dismissed pair, not quite able to comprehend what had just happened. The bronzeweyrling twitched his head slightly as Er’ani burst out with his opinion, and, not for the first time, wondered if the older boy needed his mouth sewn up. Mo’rya himself was in two minds, maybe they did need extra help but it was up to them to ask if they needed it, and practice if they needed to do that. They’d had the exact same lessons as everyone else, so maybe they did deserve some punishment. Nevertheless something in him rebelled, though he wasn’t as close to Leilani and M’ze as he was to some of the others.

Unsure of himself Mo’rya reached out to touch his dragon’s mind rather than immediately volunteering as Er’ani and Caden both did. The bronze seemed perfectly calm, though regretful about the situation. I will miss Tenloceth and Katearath but I would not like them hurt for the folly of their riders. Perhaps they will work harder and be able to rejoin us.[/color] Mo’rya shrugged to himself, Epifayrmuth was probably right in the first part, though probably not in the second.

No doubt whatever I tell him Mo’rya will expect hard lessons this day. Epifayrmuth commented idly to Behruth, deliberately not commenting on the departure of his siblings. I suppose we’ll go after Lketh and Nitrath, whichever way around they go. Mo’rya needs no time to fret himself silly.[/color]

[Requiem]

Lesson 6 (11 Jun 11 - 8 Jul 11)

Desert Weyrlings

Gold Nitrath ::: Impressed to Caden - 100/85/75/55/75/45 - 72.5
Bronze Epifayrmuth ::: Impressed to Mo'rya - 100/85/95/75/65/55 - 79.2
Brown Tenloceth ::: Impressed to M'ze - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45
Blue Lketh ::: Impressed to Er'ani - 100/95/85/75/75/55 - 80.8
Green Sprith ::: Impressed to Ashlyn (Current Absence Thread) - 100/75 /75/75/75/75- 79.2
Green Katearath ::: Impressed to Leilani - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45

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]

M'ta regarded Er'ani with a rather flat expression that stated very clearly if nothing else did that he didn't much care what the albinorider's opinion on the subject was. In the end it was not Er'ani who would have to answer for the class - or deal with the product on the wing they'd no doubt be assigned to. Nor did he feel the need to explain himself to a child, so he allowed Caden to take care of it. Er'ani would likely listen to her more right now, anyway. Teenagers.

"It's fitting for the goldrider to lead off," M'ta agreed, perhaps a bit more formally than was his wont. His eyes flicked to Mor'ya. "In that vein, you'll follow. We Between this morning." The words were stated flippantly as the man tugged on gloves and helmet and tucked the hem of his skirt into his waistband, turning to mount Behruth in a fluid motion.

The brownrider was perhaps the only one at the Weyr currently who knew Caden was a repeat Impression. She was the least risky, and one success should stabilize the nerves of the rest. Er'ani certainly didn't need to be Betweening right away. Emotions and Betweening...not the best of mixes. Now that M'ze and Leilani were gone they should get through the lesson without any accidents. Such was M'ta's hope, anyway.

We'll jump together, Nitrath. Just from here to the rock over there. Images just like we practiced; I'll pass you one and you'll pass it back for a double-check, then we'll make the jump. Ready? Behruth twisted into the air and hovered, completing the oft-practiced procedure plus one crucial step: the actual jump.

From one to the next, hopefully without any mishaps...

(OOC: Yeah, just jump em heh...or it'll take too long and bore the shit out of everyone. ^^)

[Rei]

Er’ani merely glanced at Caden when she put a hand on his arm and then quickly looked away. Not her fault. Shouldn’t be mad at her. He offered the goldweyrling no words, merely continued to concentrate on the feel of Lketh’s hide under his hand. The calm waves washing over him from the albino did little to quell the burning anger in him. Didn’t really care what anyone else thought. Nobody else. Whatever rebellious feeling that had taken hold of the albinorider was apparently still running strong. When M’ta announced that Caden was going to go first, then Mo’rya the rebellious feeling only grew. To hell they were. Dark eyes flicked to the brownrider as he turned and announced what they were doing betweening.

In one sudden fluid move the albinorider mounted Lketh. The pale dragon beneath him shifted his weight, eyes whirling just a bit faster as Behruth twisted into the air. He said for Nitrath to go first. I don’t care. We already know how. We are not supposed to know. I thought you said it needed to be secret? Who cares. I don’t. Your images are amazing and we’ve never had one hiccup. I’m sick of having to pretend. I’m sick of having to listen. Lets make our own rules. Besides you are not a recognized color so color ranking doesn't really extend towards you does it? In the end Er’ani was glad that Lketh was unemotional. Logic dictated the albino eighty percent of the time, but if the teenager could twist that logic he found that Lketh would listen.

So in the end the albino dragon exploded into the air just a few breaths behind Behruth and before he had even gone a dragon length upwards blinked between reappearing higher in the sky just above the watch point with a bugle before his wings folded and he plummeted towards the ground pulling up and twisting to the left before blinking between again to reappear hovering high above his other classmates. He will be mad that we practiced before now. Came a calm and near emotionless statement. Er’ani just grinned. Oh I know.

[Ruby]

Caden could have killed Er'ani. If the Goldweyrling hadn't been mounting up herself (distinctly more challenging for Caden than for Er'ani, given that her dragon was quite a bit taller) she might have grabbed him and pulled him back down or something, but as it was he was up and gone before she could even voice her half-confused "Wha?" Nitrath wasn't as slow on the uptake as her Rider, and surged into the air after Lketh, not sure what she was going to do about her brother's disobedience besides maybe get in the way. It didn't matter, though; before they even got close, Lketh and Er'ani were gone.

Caden didn't think. She'd done this a million times before, and her connection to Nitrath was even stronger than her connection to Smath had been. Directing Nitrath's mind the way you had to do in Threadfall, to catch other's coordinates so you didn't come out of Between in the same place, she had Nitrath 'borrow' Lketh's coordinates - another bonus of a gold, apparently, they seemed to have some sort of extra access to other dragons' minds - and shoot the image to Behruth before moving into blackness.

They'd gone between for the first time without even thinking about it, and it felt like the most natural thing ever. Caden forgot how it made your heart fall through the bottom of your stomach, even when you'd done it a million times before.

They flickered into existance, Caden guiding Nitrath's mind again, working entirely by instinct and past knowledge. Lketh had already moved on, and although Caden was fairly confident that Nitrath could follow his coordinates again if she asked, she stopped there, winging around to the front side of Behruth. I am sorry, Behruth, we should not have done that,[/i] she said, eyes flushing pink. Mine just... went.[/i]

[Kisha-Ra]

Mo’rya sighed heavily, he’d rather have let Er’ani go before him, he’d rather have let the whole Weyr go ahead of him. He’d just known that something dreadful was going to happen this lesson, every time M’ta let them off the morning run (all two times) it was a horrible lesson. Before Mo’rya could get too far into his mental tirade of teenage self pity he had a dragon to sort out because Epifayrmuth just presented himself silently and expectantly, and Mo’rya acted accordingly without really thinking.

Ah, there will soon be trouble.[/color] The bronze warned as Lketh took off, Mo’rya, with Nitrath and Epifayrmuth between him and the albino, hadn’t even noticed Er’ani mounting up. The boy ducked under Epifayrmuth’s neck to look, and shrank back again as first Lketh, then Nitrath vanished from the sky to reappear in other locations. Okay. When I thought about ways to get out of doing this, that was not at the top of the list. What’s wrong with Er’ani lately anyway? It seems like he never thinks anymore. Maybe it would be better for all of us if I did sew his mouth shut one day.

Epifayrmuth turned his head to regard Mo’rya with eyes that still showed soft green blue shade, the bronze wasn’t worried, because it wasn’t his trouble that would be coming home to roost. I think Lketh would object, besides it wouldn’t stop him doing things, only saying them.[/color] He pointed out quite logically. I guess I’ll keep that idea in reserve then. Mo’rya replied morosely. He was used to Er’ani doing and saying stupid things by now, even if he didn’t seem like the same person who’d gathered them together and stated their case and their options for keeping M’ta as their teacher so logically. Caden however… well maybe she was supposed to go then, she was supposed to be going first, but… it just didn’t seem like it somehow.

[Requiem]

Lesson 6 (11 Jun 11 - 8 Jul 11)

Desert Weyrlings

Gold Nitrath ::: Impressed to Caden - 100/85/75/55/75/55 - 74.2
Bronze Epifayrmuth ::: Impressed to Mo'rya - 100/85/95/75/65/65 - 80.8
Brown Tenloceth ::: Impressed to M'ze - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45
Blue Lketh ::: Impressed to Er'ani - 100/95/85/75/75/65 - 82.5
Green Sprith ::: Impressed to Ashlyn (Current Absence Thread) - 100/75 /75/75/75/75- 79.2

[/s]
Green Katearath ::: Impressed to Leilani - 100/85/85/0/0/0 - 45[/center]

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]

Lketh! Hold! A rather foolish thing, in retrospect. Behruth was no gold to command dragons by force of mindvoice alone, and clearly he was too nice. Clearly. Because Lketh proceeded anyway, disregarding both instructions and orders and earning a hiss of irritation from M'ta. Fool of a weyrling. Or was that M'ta's thought regarding Er'ani? The two were in accord on this, and Nitrath's projection caught them off-guard. What was sh-?

Sharding...and so too went the goldpair. That second jump earned less concern from the brownpair in that they both knew Nitrath wasn't Caden's first dragon and this wasn't her first jump, but it made it no less irritating. Thankfully Epifayrmuth and Sprith were still grounded. What were you two doing? 'Ruth demanded, for once sounding genuinely angry.

Whatever more he had to say (no doubt inspired by an angry brownrider) was cut short by Sprith's ascent. No, no. This was spiraling out of control and that never went well. Nevermind that. Command her, Ni- Already it was too late, however, the greenpair following the lead of albino and gold and winking Between. Misunderstanding, or was she merely emboldened? Either way M'ta was going to have the hide of the whole class...

Three heartbeats passed. Four. Six. Ten. Behruth's keen was not terribly loud, but no less visceral for all that, the brown's color paling almost instantly as he returned to earth. There was silence for a moment after it faded, then, Come down. Weary was the sound of the brown's mindvoice. The Weyrlingmaster slid from the brown's neck, tearing the helmet from his head and leveling a glare at Er'ani and Caden.

In the end, though, the man had no words. He'd been prepared for the possibility. Steeled himself for it, even after sending away the two most likely to be lost Between, but it was so unnecessary. So preventable. If the children could simply follow simple instructions, Sprith might still have been lost, but at least then there was no question. His anger at the two weyrlings faded swift, though, replaced by an anger at himself. Ultimately it was his fault if the fool children would disobey at such a crucial time.

"Two candlemarks," he grated, yanking off his gloves. "Be back here then." The man's eyes flicked to Mo'rya. "You ten minutes early." Then he spun on a heel and disappeared into the foliage, leaving 'Ruth and the weyrlings and T'san. What was so difficult of what I asked of you? Behruth asked the younglings sadly. Unlike his rider, though, he moved toward them. Inviting them to join him wordlessly.

[Rei]

If Lketh had heard Behruth’s command he made no response, nor even faltered in a wing beat. The albino already had his orders and the image from Er'ani and to break movement now could hold dire consequences for both his rider and himself. So the pale dragon merely pushed aside the older brown’s mind and made each of the jumps in the order and timing that was expected of him. He had noticed that his massive gold sister had also sprang into the air and made her first jump with precision.

No noise left him nor did he bespeak Nitrath only gently brought Er’ani’s attention to the fact. The young man cursed softly under his breath when he became aware that Caden had followed. Though she was supposed to have gone first right? So what was the problem? Really all the albinorider could think of at the moment was that he really hoped the woman wasn’t too mad at him.

Lketh hovered in place for a few moments, red eyes whirling slowly. The picture of calm even as Behruth addressed him and he replied in a logical and flat tone. We were betweening. Behruth had seen that hadn’t he? So why the question and why was he angry about it? Dragons betweened. It was something they all had the capacity to do. It was simple even. Passing on the question to Er’ani he kept his place in the sky. The albinoweyrling stayed silent even as he fought down a small tendril of amusement at Lketh’s answer to his teacher. Of course the albino didn’t understand that they had done anything wrong. Because Er’ani had never explained why it was wrong, only that they had to keep the fact that they did it on their own a secret.

Er’ani’s amusement was short-lived however as Sprith rose into the air as well and blinked between. There was quite a long moment between her jump and then Lketh’s following death keen. Er’ani paled visibly as his dragon’s keen resonated through his bones. She did it wrong and she paid the price for it. Came an emotionless and seemingly unconcerned remark from Lketh when his rider mentally murmured, what happened? The lack of upset from the albino beneath him only served to unsettle the teenager further. Ashlyn….not Ashlyn. When Behruth asked them to come down the albino male simply banked and then circled into a glide to the ground. He touched down and flicked his wings calmly along his back before turning his head to regard his bonded with a feeling faint curiosity.

Er’ani simply stayed where he was upon Lketh’s back and tried not to flinch at M’ta’s glare. In all actuality he felt mostly shock, disbelief, and a bit numb. Was she really never coming back? His eyes fell from his teacher then to fix on Caden when he heard M’ta’s words. Two candlemarks and then they were to return. Hands tightened on his riding straps and he squeezed his eyes shut. Had she gone because he and Caden had? Was this their fault? Lketh sent along wordless reassurances to his bonded before regarding Behruth silently. He wasn’t all that sure that his teacher actually wanted an answer to that question.

In the end Lketh offered a simple answer anyway. You asked something of Nitrath. Not I. I did what my rider commanded of me. With that the pale dragon nudged at his bonded’s leg in silent wordless question. Were they going to stand here the whole time they were waiting? If so he needed to move to the shade.

[Kisha-Ra]

Mo’rya squinted at the sky, Nitrath was easy to see up there, being as huge and shiny as she was, Lketh, not so much, he could practically disguise himself as a dragon shaped cloud. A murmur of wings on his other side made Mo’rya look at Ashlyn and Spirth as they, too, took to the air and disappeared. Are you sure we aren’t supposed to just go? the weyrling asked his dragon, he’d always thought travelling between would require more instruction, there were certainly enough cautionary tales of people being lost on their first trip to keep Mo’rya from trying it on his own.

As if the thought was curse Mo’rya was suddenly hit by waves of distress as Epifayrmuth lifted his voice in a soft keen for his lost greensister, Ghost voiced a scream that sounded almost human and Wit crawled inside his shirt muttering Gone. over and over, all the salamandyr’s usual eloquence seemed to have deserted him. Even Evil seemed distressed, though he wouldn’t lower himself to going to his bonded for comfort, instead the blue firelizard collapsed miserably between Epifayrmuth’s headknobs with his wings crumpling around him.

Though his hands his moved automatically to touch each of his mindmates and offer them comfort Mo’rya’s body suddenly felt terribly cold and far away, but not as cold and far away as Ashlyn and Spirth would now be. It was hard to believe they were gone.

Two candlemarks. Mo’rya shuddered at the thought that he’d be expected to arrive early. What was he going to do? It was already far too late to run away to sea. The irrelevant thought slipped through his mind as Epifayrmuth, now grey-bronze rather than golden-bronze, moved off slowly to stand by Lketh, deliberately casting his shadow over his albino sibling. Mo’rya sighed, he wished he could understand his classmates as well as Epifayrmuth apparently could, then maybe he’d be able to act something like a bronzerider was supposed to, and avert disaster, not stand around and watch it.