Christmas Weyrlings (Lesson 4)

[Rei]

Lesson 4:
Classroom: Dragonet and Rider Nutrition; Making of First Fighting Straps; Leather Maintenance
Training Field: Chain & Toss During Ground Drill (Riders); Wing and Leg Strengthening Exercises (Dragonets); Linking to Dragonets During Ground Drill (Both)

Sel’n grumbled completely unhappy with his current predicament. These poisonings better quit soon. Everyone was getting sick and as a result he had both weyrling classes now. He needed a raise. Kaaoloth’s amused chuckle filtered through his thoughts. What would you do if you got one? You never buy anything anyway. Doesn’t matter it’s the principal of the thing. Ah I see. Perhaps Morendoth’s owes you for getting your lazy butt in gear and helping out the weyr. Shut up and call the weyrlings Kaao.

The big brown snorted good naturally and complied. Attention Christmas weyrlings. Lessons will begin shortly. Riders report to the class rooms, dragons to me. I will NOT tolerate any fighting amongst any of you. If you have a problem with one of your clutch siblings or classmates you best not bring it to class. Kaaoloth had heard of the fight between green Ebolath and bronze Jaymith and wanted to make it clear that that sort of thing was not tolerated in his presence.

---

Ebolath flinched as the message was relayed and her eyes took on a yellow tinge. Mine we are to report to lessons you to the classrooms and I to the training field with Kaaoloth. Raylin raised her head from the necklace she had been braiding. "Ok darling." Catching her dragon’s worried tone she stroked Ebolath's head affectionately. “Do not worry Love. Like I said before you don’t have to talk to him or even acknowledge him. Pretend he doesn’t exist if you want. I am sure Kaaoloth will be keeping you busy.”

The green nodded and nuzzled her bonded before they walked outside and separated. Raylin towards the classrooms Ebolath towards the big brown in the distance. As she approached Ebolath gave a nervous croon in greeting and sat before the large brown. Kaaoloth rumbled back. Good morning Ebolath. I trust you will behave today? The green nodded and watched with whirling green eyes as the first of her clutch siblings approached.

Raylin entered the classroom and murmured a polite hello to Sel’n before dropping into and empty desk close to the door. Sel’n nodded back and began rummaging through a large cloth sack sitting on his desk. The green weyrling watched him curiously. Anytime Sel’n was the instructor things ended up, for lack of a better word, challenging at best.


Christmas Weyrlings
Ke’rin of Bronze Jaymith
C’oar of Brown Frosstyth
A’fyr of Brown Rudolth
N’lai of Blue Kyssith
C’vin of Blue Mallowth
Saeo of Blue Cherilith
T’ke of Blue Garaeth
Za’x of Green Irylth
Raylin of Green Ebolath
Farryl of Green Peppeth
T’rea of Green Rioth(APC)
Morea of Green Heith(APC)

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[topaz]

The blueweyrling pair had been walking along the river bank that morning, after the two had both eaten. Mallowth was sloshing along in the ankle deep sections, his whirling eyes following the little schools of fish that darted away from him. He had begun to try and surprise one and catch it under his paw, but to no avail. They just always seemed to know he was coming!

Kaaoloth's call rang out. Lessons, Mine. We...they're separating us this time. The blue sounded concerned, but C'vin quickly scratched his eye ridges and sent calming feelings to the dragon. Don't worry Mal. Kaaoloth will take good care of you, I'm sure. Mallowth seemed placated by that thought, and hurried off towards the big brown in the distance. C'vin smiled after his dragon and walked quickly back to the barracks.

Entering the classroom, C'vin threw Raylin a smile, and wondered for a moment why she was all the way in the back of the classroom. He finally guessed that she had been reprimanded for her and Ebolath's little fight with Ke'rin and Jaymith. But that was no reason to sit away from everyone, was it? Oh well. As long as they didn't fight like that every time they saw each other.. "Goodmorning sir." C'vin said with a pleasant expression on his face, as he sat down in the second row of chairs.

Mallowth trotted up to Kaaoloth and Ebolath and sat down nearby his green sister, warbling a hello. Morning Ebolath, Kaaoloth. He wrapped his tail around his haunches and looked up at the big brown dragon. What will we be doing today Kaaoloth? And why did we have to leave Ours? The blue asked curiously, tail tip twitching at is feet.

[dragon]

Frosstyth heaved a weary sigh, and lifted his head at the call from Kaaoloth. Mine, lesson time again. he mentioned. At the silence that followed suit, the burly brown looked over at his, parked on the ground against his side.

C'oar was sound asleep, and apparently hadn't heard him even at a subconcious level. Frosstyth considered that for a moment, and then rumbled. Getting to his feet, he lett C'oar's top half drop to the ground with a meaty thud.

C'oar groaned, and rolled over. "What was that for??" He demanded, rather alert for having just been asleep in the sun.

Frosstyth nudged him with his snout, knocking the lad over into the leaves again, before repeating himself. Lessons. We have to go. You are to go to the classroom. I won't be with you. I am needed with Kaaoloth. He added, for good measure.

C'oar sat up again, and rubbed his face. "Oh. Okay. Well ... you could have just said so, you know. Instead of banging my head off the ground."

I did.

"Whatever, you brute. Get moving. No need to be late." C'oar got to his feet, and trotted off toward the classroom, dusting his hands over his hair to rid it of any clinging leaves, and then over his sleeveless tunic and trousers to knock off any dirt that was there.

Shortly, C'oar arrived in the classroom, and Frosstyth where Ebolath and Mallowth were with Kaaoloth. Greetings. He remarked, to all three, before taking up a position next to his clutchsiblings.

[Rei]

Sel’n grumbled and ran his hand through his graying hair. “Well it seems as though we have some students deciding to skip. If they are sick they have a good excuse if not they will pay for being tardy. If they fail to show up at all they will not graduate. You three can pass that bit of info along.” The brown rider rose from his desk and began passing out strips of leather.

“Today you will be learning how to make riding straps. Our first step is to find leather suitable to work with. I am going to hand you four leather strips. I want you to examine them and let me know if you think they are suitable for working with. If they are not you will have to tell me what you think is wrong with them.” After he was sure all the weyrlings had their strips he returned to his desk. “When you are ready, or if you have any questions, raise your hand and I will get to you shortly.” Sel’n sat back at his desk and started writing on a piece of parchment. Yet another class with poor attendance. What was with the youth in this weyr?

Kaaoloth rumbled greetings to each arriving dragon. Welcome class today we will be taking a 5 mile run. You will need to stay close to me and also keep your clutch mates from lagging behind. This will strengthen your leg muscles. You need strong leg muscles to spring aloft for flight. It seems we will have a small group today. Frosstyth I am placing you in charge. I will wait for any late arrivals. Please run down the river edge. When you see a red flag that is your cue to turn and start back here. Keep your clutch siblings moving and do not allow them to walk. He gestured with a wing to the small dragons. You may begin.

---

Raylin watched as Sel’n passed out the leather. She took her strips politely and stared at them. Riding straps? Already? It seemed like Ebolath had just hatched yesterday. There was no denying her little green was growing however. She smiled and spread the strips of leather out before her examining each closely. She had made reins for runners before but flight straps were something different. The leather was definitely thicker and flight straps did not need to be braided. The weyrling placed two of the strips on the left and the remaining one she kept with her. Satisfied Raylin raised her hand.

Ebolath groaned as Kaaoloth reveled today’s lesson. They had to run. As if the exercise hers forced her to do wasn’t enough she had to run during lessons too? Well she couldn’t very well argue with Kaaoloth. The green gave an unhappy snort as she began to trot after Frosstyth. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. At least she had two of her clutch siblings to keep her company. Ebolath kept pace with Mallowth trotting alongside him. I must admit I do hate to run clutchbrothermine. Don’t you? Mine says I must though or I will be too fat. The green cast an appraising eye over her own body and grudgingly had to admit that she had lost a fair bit of her baby fat. That didn’t mean she liked to exercise though.

[nightingale]

All at once it seemed, the hallway outside of the classroom was filled with the sound of human voices and dragon claws clicking against the floor.

“So sorry we're late Weyrlingmaster Sel'n!"

Saeo gasped apologetically, holding tightly to Farryl’s wrist as she shoved her way into the classroom ahead of her grumbling classmates. The girl made no move to explain their tardiness, but the scattered murmurings of the other weyrlings hinted that perhaps a certain bronzeweyrling was to blame.

Choosing a place next to Raylin where both she and her captive would have room to sit down, the girl settled herself down and set about brushing the wrinkles from her pale blue skirt. Kei hung near the back of the classroom, sitting near one of the far corners and waiting for the inevitable reprimand he was to receive for keeping two thirds of their class from getting downstairs.

He should have known better than to try arguing with Jaymith -even torn open at the seems, the little bronze was not about to be told that he could not attend class if he so wished. Trying to keep him from getting downstairs had been a hopeless task, and his attempts to reason with the bronze had only served to lengthen their already laborious trek to the main floor. It would have been an unpleasant situation under normal circumstances, but when there were a half dozen angry weyrlings on the stairs behind you...well, it would be quite accurate to say that the boy was feeling embarrassed enough to make up for Jaymith’s complete oblivion to the trouble they had caused.

Cherilith and his bronze clutchbrother arrived on the riverbank just after the rest of the weyrlings had vanished from sight. Jaymith had been slowed by the injury to his back leg, and not wanting to leave him behind, the little blue had trotted patiently beside him. We are sorry Kaaoloth! The smaller of the two dragons crooned apologetically as they came to a stop near the brown. We did not mean to come late to class, but my Saeo says that it is dangerous to walk in the jungle alone, and Jaymith was going very slowly. Have we missed anything very important? I was not going -very- slowly. The bronze snorted indignantly, obviously pained not only by his wounds, but by the fact that he was no longer the fastest runner among his clutchsiblings.

[topaz]

Five miles? Isn't that a lot? Mallowth peered down towards the river bank, trying to spot the red flag. No sign of it. Yeah. It was a lot.

But the blue was pulled out of his subtle sulking as he saw Frosstyth and Ebolath beginning to trot. Well, if they had to run, he might as well make it a game. And his clutchsiblings would not beat him! Bounding over beside Ebolath, Mallowth gave the green a toothy grin, shwishing his tail behind him in amusement. I don't mind running as long as it is not for too long. But five miles? It seems a lot, I think. Mallowth snorted. I don't think Mine would care if I was fat. We just want to be able to fly! And with that exclamation, the blue jumped a foot or two into the air and flapped his wings vigorously, in a clumsy attempt to become airborne. Coming down quickly, as he could not truly fly, Mallowth stumbled slightly, but recovered with some grace, as if he had just continued running. He rumbled with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment, pulling his wings back close to his body.

Back at the starting point, now a few dragonlengths away, Mallowth could hear another of his clutchsiblings, and slowed a bit to turn his head. Cherilith and Jaymith had just arrived, which reminded Mallowth; they all had to stay together and not leave anyone behind. Wasn't that what Kaaoloth had said? Cherilith and Jaymith have arrived. Mallowth said to both the green and the brown ahead. We have to wait for them, yes? Slowing to a tentative walk, Mallowth turned his head back to the late comers again, then finally stopped and turned back to Frosstyth in particular. Kaaoloth had put him in charge, the blue remembered, so it would be up to him what they were to do.

- - -

C'vin quickly surveyed the strips of leather he was handed, scrutinizing the material. There was one that was just too thin to be very useful for making riding gear. That one he put into his lap, which left three. Picking another up, C'vin saw nothing obviously wrong with it at first, so he took it by the ends and tugged firmly. One edge stretched a little more then the other, the Weyrling noticed, and upon further inspection C'vin found that the other side of the strap had some discoloration; possibly from some sort of dye or bleach, or simply a natural deformity in the leather. That strip was set in his lap with the other reject.

The next strip C'vin tested in the same way and it passed nicely. It was thick, but flexible and resilient. No discolorations or deformities either. He suspected he had found a usable piece of leather, and put it to one side. The last strip was of a good thickness, but as C'vin handled it, it felt very stiff. In an attempt to bend and twist the material, there was little give; not something he'd want rubbing against Mallowth's hide, or his own rump for that matter! No that one was a reject as well. Laying out all of the strips once more on his desk, C'vin raised his hand, and waited for Sel'n to get to him.

[Rowana]

Farryl barely had time to speak as Saeo rushed them into class. Late again. It was always one thing or another that seemed to prevent her from getting to class on time most days. At least this time it wasn't her fault exactly. She hide a groan when she saw Sel'n in charge though and by the river too! The last time he had run class, she had ended up blindfolded on a boat in the middle of the river. She had had nightmares about that trip for a week!

Peppeth bounced happily to the river, heedless of the fact that they were in a little trouble and only vaguely aware of Farryl's concerns. Jaymith is getting so big! she announced joyfully to everyone. Soon he will not fit on the stairs! The tiny green clearly thought this was a grand feat that something that everyone should be proud of. Tille chirp her agreement as she spiraled around group with excitement.

~

T'ke was looking moody and sour this morning, which was not exactly abnormal for him, but today was caused by his roommate blocking the way to class. Not that T'ke really blamed them in the least. He blamed fate. It was always against him, stalking him, and finding ways to prevent him from getting to class on time. He was sure the Weryling Master thought he was a lazy drudge by now.

"Sorry," he mumbled when he arrived. Garaeth, like Peppeth, was not at all concerned about being late. Good morning! he told everyone brightly. After a scan around the bank, he spotting Mallowth already some ways up the river. Garaeth hadn't really had the chance to speak with his fellow blue much before and today seemed a good day to start! He had to hurry to catch up to him and was still behind when he called out. Hello Mallowth. What are we learning today?

[dragon]

Frosstyth puffed up slightly when he learned he was seen as big enough and resposible enough to be placed in charge. Holding his head a little higher than the normal quiet level, Frosstyth started out quickly down the river in the indicated direction, trotting out with long strides. Yes! He was in charge! He prodded C'oar to make sure his knew that, too. See! he was doing good!!

Frosstyth led the way down the river, eyes peeled for a red flag. He had no idea how far five miles was, but it couldn't be too far. Kaao wouldn't give them something he thought they couldn't do! Challenge, maybe, but impossible? Nonsense! He also stayed aware of his two clutchmates. It would do no good to leave them behind. He would make sure they all stayed together ... even if eventually it meant he had to fall to the back to drive them onward at a trot.

No, we won't go back or wait. He replied, to Mallowth. Our orders are to go on, and get to the waypoint. Kaaoloth said he'd take care of late comers: they are late. We must follow our orders! he replied, logically, hoping upon hope he was making the right descision. Surely that was what Kaao had meant??

~~~

C'oar accepted his strips of leather, and proceeded to inspect them. He had a little experience with leather, though not a lot. He inspected each peice minutely, not wanting to fail the class from simply inobservance to his class material. One peice was cracked, so naturally he set it aside in a reject pile. A second peice seemed to be too thin to him, but was otherwise seemed just fine. Not knowing how thick harnesses were supposed to be, he was unsure what to do with it. So he set it in a second position. The third one seemed fine, too. It was thicker than the second one, but also seemed just fine. It went into a third position. The last peice, C'oar inspected minutely. He could see nothing wrong with it. Even stretching it some didn't clue him in. But something was nagging at the back of his mind. There was something wrong with it, and it wasn't safe to use. But why ... he coudn't even begin to guess. Maybe the grain was the wrong direction? He had no way of determining something like that. He wasn't a tanner. He'd have to ask Saeo.

Shards ... Saeo. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her just yet ... after the way she'd been snappish of late. Was it worth it? Was it even allowable to talk to another weyrling during class? C'oar had no idea. Finally, deciding that he didn't like that peice, whatever the reason, he placed it firmly in the reject pile. But even with that, he had three piles. He scratched his head for a moment, looking at them.

Now what? He felt rather inadequate... he'd missed something somewhere. And a whole lot of his operations was running off of gut instinct. How did he explain that to the weyrling master??