Roads Weyrlings Lesson 1

[Rowana]

N'rik started to move forward, but Ke'von had already been tagged to be next. He shifted a little impatiently. He wasn't used to having to wait for others and much preferred doing things himself. This game reminded him of the 'capture the flags' game during Candidate Lessons, except there was more waiting. At least Roselle had gotten the right color, according to Ophiuchusth. If they could keep that up, N'rik was sure they would be done in record time. If there was a record, that is.

At least Ophiuchusth was having a good time. The little blue seemed to enjoy any activity he got to do with his siblings, even not very active ones. It was just as well they weren't the ones running, N'rik thought with a touch of worry. Ophiuchusth probably wouldn't be able to see the flags very well. It is harder this time, the blue noted, pondering his next question. Why? N'rik asked in confusion. How hard could 'guess the color' get? We must not repeat questions. What if we run out? N'rik rolled his eyes. Of all the silly problems. How should I know? Maybe just ask if it's the color of the trees or something. N'rikMine is so smart! Almost as smart as Ontehth! What do you mean almost?! N'rik started, but Ophiuchusth was already happily asking his question. He wasn't sure what Ontehth meant by the rainbow, but it must be a good question if he'd thought of it. Surly it wouldn't hurt to ask one more. Is it the color of the moon?

[dragon]

Lemons are yellow most of the time. Aikelyth mused to Isori, who only nodded. Since you included the modifier 'commonly', I believe you can consider that a fairly sound assumption. Isori answered, even as Aikelyth informed her of the new rule.

Blast, new rules on the fly. As the second runner stepped out, Isori brainstormed with her dragon to try and come up with another question that would definitely garner a useful answer. But it was harder to do when the most obvious and easiest question she had already used. Aikelyth really didn't think much of some of the other questions that were being asked. For the answers to them were solidly open for interpretation. Like ... happy? Different individuals found different colors happy. She personally would not have found yellow a happy color, more associating it with distress in the dragon's eye. It was only after Isori pointed out that a lot of people associated it with the sun or flowers did she start to see that side of the paradigm.

Finally, she found a way to ask a different question that was aimed the same way as the first. Not that all the questions being asked by all weren't just the same. Different questions aimed at finding the truth of a selected color. So she didn't feel at all underhanded in stating her new question. To what item can this new color be attributed to most often?

Isori covered her face with a palm for a moment, stifling a groan. That was going to get them in trouble, she was sure of it!! Changing the words didn't mean changing the questions necessarily!! Pulling on her upper lip as her brows crawled together on her face, she watched as the second weyrling moved.

Do try to come up with something more inventive next time please?

[crispypeanut]

As discretely as dragonly possible, Keqesith burst from the foliage and pranced with labored grace toward her siblings, head held high. My apologies for being late, Kaaoloth, the green started as she joined her fellows, R'lyehmine is dreadfully slow. She absorbed the information as to the task at hand from Kaaoloth and waited impatiently for Hers to arrive.

And arrive he did, no more than five (arbitrary Pern units of minute-length time) later. Tentatively the last of the trainees to arrive, tired from his extended run, and having put up with the endless prattling of his Green and ceaseless cackling of his Razorclaw, R'lyeh was not in the greatest of moods. He glared accusingly at his dragon, taking care to place Biyakhi gently into the grass, before advancing shakily toward his weyrmates. Any unfortunate enough to make eye-contact with him were gifted a venomous stare and a disturbing grimace.

"You left me behind," R'lyeh snarled at her mentally, trembling with both exhaustion and rage as he made his way to his comrades.

I went on ahead to tell them you were coming. She retorted. After all, is it not better that they know so that we are not punished? Silence was the only reply she received.

"My most humble apologies, Sir," R'lyeh addressed Sel'n with as much respect as he could summon through the red haze clouding his vision, "my tardiness... has no excuse. It shall not happen again." With that, he listened halfheartedly to the words spewing from his instructor's mouth. Had he been thinking with a level-head, R'lyeh might have offered that he had come as quickly as he could. That he had been too far away to arrive on time. As it was, however, there was only one thing on R'lyeh's mind... As he glared daggers at his dragon, who seemed happy enough to engage in socialization with her clutch-mates, he contemplated the best revenge he could reap upon her...

* * *

Oh! A guessing game! This sounds fun! Keqesith listened intently to her siblings' questions. She turned her head to R'lyeh. What question should I ask?

Silence.

R'lyeh?

Unsettling silence.

R'lyehmine?

Unnerving, unsettling silence.

Um...okay, Keqesith turned back to Kaaoloth, a bit perturbed by the lack of a response and struggling to think of a question on her own. Is it...hmm... is it the color (out) of space?

[Rei]

Kaaoloth watched the little ones with pride. They were honestly doing quite well with the questions for such little ones. Jingth would have been proud. The large brown craned his neck to watch the human parts of the bond run to collect the flags before he rumbled in amusement at Ontehth and began answering the questions. It falls between yellow and blue. That was a very good question. Almost a shame that the others had wasted questions as well. They needed to share with each other so that they did not waste. Yes some of you are indeed this color. He replied happily to Tserieth before turning his gaze to Ophiuchusth. No it is not. A rumble of amusement was given to Aikelyth. Clever little one but that is the same question you asked me before only worded differently so I am afraid I have no answer for you. As Keqesith charged up to them Kaaoloth crooned a greeting before reassuring her. No worries little one. All that matters is that you are now here. Her question caused the male to tilt his head as he considered it. Odd question to ask. I do not believe that it is. He finally replied.

Confident that the color was successfully found the brown moved on to the next. They had quite a few left to go after all.

Sel’n smiled as Ke’von took the initiative and sprinted off next. Good. Really they were all working well together so far. Information seemed to be passing from the dragons to the riders rather quickly and effectively. When R’lyeh showed up he nodded to the boy. “I’m sure it won’t. Thank you for making the obvious effort to get here in time.” Clapping the lad on the shoulder he turned just as Ke’von came back with the green flag and the next weyrling sprinted off.

Finally the last flag had been ‘captured’ and the game was over. Sel’n actually smiled at them all. “That was actually not too bad. I expected you all to be much slower then that.” Allowing for slow climbers and hang ups in questioning it had taken them just over a candlemark and a half to complete the exercise. “You all work pretty well together. Now what I want you to take from this is that teamwork in both class and, when you eventually graduate, your wing is the key to success. You all must stay in communication not only with your own dragon but with each other. You all did well today.”

Moving down the line he motioned for them all to follow. “To the river now. Lets end on a good note with a short group swim. Kaaoloth and I will be joining you.” The large brown rumbled and rose to his feet before hopping off in his odd three legged gait and glancing back at the young dragons. Eyes whirling in cheerful blues he playfully offered the babies a challenge. Race you.

[dragon]

Aikelyth deflated at the news that her question wasn't good enough to earn an answer, grumbling to herself about it as she listened to the other dragons talking. She didn't bother to tell Isori about it because she knew it would only earn her a told-you-so answer. She didn't repeat the attempt, instead trying to come up with questions that were half as good as that first one had been for supplying useful information to relay. But when it was Isori's turn to go climb a tree, questions and answered were completely forgotten.

Fretting and worrying, Aikelyth watched Hers intently, afraid that Isori was going to fall out of the tree to her death. Hers wasn't meant to fly, after all! She was, even if she yet couldn't. Not having the capability to execute a rescue if things went wrong didn't help her fretting either.

Isori only laughed at her, though not unkindly. This isn't my first tree climbing stint, love. She assured the dragon as she clambered from limb to limb.

Well I don't like it. You shouldn't be climbing trees! Aikelyth answered, earning a snort from Isori.

You sound like my mother.

After the lesson was over, the young green was quite relieved to have all the humans back on solid ground and not dangling from limbs like deranged flitters. At the call for a swim and Kaaoloth's challenge to a race, she eagerly leapt into a bounding run, using every bit of her speed to lead the charge toward the river. Or at least give it her best shot! Challenge accepted!

"Where are you going so fast without me?!" Isori protested, before breaking into another tired run to chase after her dragon. She really didn't want to be the first one there ... shards, she didn't want to be running, after having sprinted so far just to get here! But ... neither could she let her dragon run off into the river unsupervised.

Aikelyth never slowed down when she reached the river, instead leaping off the bank to land with a huge splash in the water. Weeeeeee!

Isori was a tad more graceful about it, stopping on the bank long enough to remove her clothing, all but her undergarments. Only then did she leap out into the water, diving straight under the surface into a deep spot to resurface near the middle of the flowing water.

[Ivy]

Roselle watched as the others completed the challenge, one by one. Finally they had completed the lesson and Sel'n praised them - as he should have. Tserieth had shared most of the questions the others had been asking with her bonded between asking her own. Some of them were better than others, obviously. Roselle felt her Green did an excellent job and she beamed with pride - of course she was a bit biased. When Sel'n announced they'd end on a 'fun' note and they'd be swimming, Roselle frowned slightly. Who said swimming was fun for everyone? She couldn't help but recall swimming when they were all Candidates - it seemed like it was just yesterday and then she was on the Sands and got her Green.

Swim? Tserieth asked her rider, even as she started towards the water. She didn't really care if Hers wanted to swim or not - she was going to follow Kaaoloth. Looking up at the large Brown she murred softly and bounded after him. Her gait was awkward of course, a bit wobbly as she waddled and ran.

Roselle's dark eyes took on an amused under-light to them as she watched her little Green. I am not little.[/color] Chuckling she made her way towards the water as well. In no real hurry since she knew Kaaoloth wouldn't allow anything to happen to the younger dragons, and she trusted her Green wouldn't do anything too stupid. As she walked her eyes glanced towards the Weyrlingmaster - Sel'n. For an older man he was rather good looking, she thought to herself. His age didn't bother her much, especially since she wasn't being forced to join with him or anything - a shudder came as she thought of the man her father had wanted her to wed. It wasn't like she had a crush or anything either, was just admiring him.

Kaaoloth, Mine thinks Yours is fetching. Tserieth piped up, mostly just so she could see Roselle's reaction - she'd made sure her bonded would hear her telling the older Brown. As the young Green stopped to glance back at Hers by the water's edge, Roselle had stopped walking and her face was flushed - though it was mostly hidden behind her dark veil of hair. Glaring at the Green, the little Green - I am not little! - she took a moment to compose herself and continued walking. Nothing had happened. Nothing would happen, Tserieth wouldn't get the satisfaction of a real rise from the woman. The Green may enjoy making a hobby out of observing others and making sideline commentary on their lives, but Roselle was not going to be a part of the social experiments Tserieth had in mind.

[Sebz]

Swimming. Ontehth could Swim. Nevermind he had never actually attempted it before, the brown was sure it couldn't be that difficult. Because nothing was to difficult for the brown dragon. Ke'von rolled his eyes, though he was grinning with pride as he watched his dragon scamper off towards the river, desperate not to lose the race with the older brown. Ontehth had done well asking questions for the guessing color game, and had worked well with his rider.

Really, lessons could have been a lot worse, Ke'von thought shoving his hands in his pockets. He enjoyed the company of his classmates, even if he wasn't quick to socialize. Ontehth could socialize enough for the both of them. But they were all genuinlly pleasent, if not a bit quirky at times, and they all cared about their dragons and learning all that was necassary to learn to care for them. Well, everybody but T'ri, Ke'von actually haven't seen the bluerider anywhere since the hatching besides quick glances in the barracks.

Come on Ke'von! The water is wonderful! Ontehth trumpted as he splashed into the water gleefully, soaking all those around him as he flailed happily, amused by the splashing that he created by whipping his tail around. Ke'von grinned and ran forward into the water after stripping down to his boxers and wading out to Ontehth. The brown, somehow mistaking the practiced strokes the weyrling was making in the water for the actions of somebody drowning, announced for all to hear I WILL SAVE YOU! before splashing forward and using his neck to gather up his rider. Hold on and you will live.

"Thanks Ontehth," Ke'von said, voice biting with sarcasm. Giving the brown an affactionate thump on the hide, he dove under the water, Ontehth in tow. The brown would not let Ke'von go into the water, unprotected! He could accidently inhale and drown! Stupid Ke'von.