Wherling Lesson Four

[nightingale]

It was just after sunset when Danisk called his handler’s new wherling class was to assemble. The woman had made herself comfortable in the very center of the weyrling training field, now abandoned as the landscape slowly faded to shades of blue and grey. It was a clear night, but the grass was still damp following the afternoon’s heavy rainfall. That was where the blankets came in –five of them arranged in a loose semi-circle, with a sixth placed roughly central and several meters back from the rest. Oddly enough, Danisk was nowhere to be seen.

The central blanket was occupied by Danica alone as she toyed with the remains of her bread and cheese breakfast. The woman had found both eating and sleeping difficult since being appointed Wherlingmaster. She had a vague idea that the job had been given to her because she was one of the most senior wherhandlers at Selenitas -Translation: She’s old, so she has to know something- but that was about where her qualifications ended. Taking Whinny’s place was going to be tough…but somebody had to teach these kids which side of a wher spits.

She finished the last of her bread and cheese just as the first of her wherlings began to filter through the trees.

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Rozen of gold Rozsk
Roivao of bronze Roisk
Venus of blue Venusk
Malara of blue Mask
Cadil of green Cadisk

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[glamourie]

[ Even though it's out on the training fields, I put this in the Wherhandler Apartments to make it easier to locate for our Wherlings. Also, lol, I removed the global announcement for it XD ]

[Rei]

Malara and Mask came out of the gloom the blue’s nostril’s flaring, his eyes fixed on Danica with distrust. She was not Whinny and so she had yet to prove herself. The beast growled low in his throat but quieted as his handler laid a calming hand on him. Easy my love. In actuality Malara was a bit ticked. The wherling lessons where late in starting. They had taken their sweet time choosing another teacher. Again the whers where thought of last. Some of them had learned to between without being taught and their whers where fast maturing, especially Mask’s gold clutch sister.

Biting her lip against speaking out Malara settled on the blanket while Mask stood tensed behind her, his yellow eyes scanning the landscape for any perceived threat and finally coming to rest on Danica. The blonde offered no words as she awaited her classmates. There was nothing she wanted to say.

[hseru]

They had a new Wherlingmaster, finally. Who she was, and whether or not she'd be able to fill the spot Whinny had vacated were yet to be seen. Rozen didn't want to immediately throw a net of mistrust over the new woman, but she had her doubts. Figuring that the woman would call them well after dark, Rozen was able to assist Rozsk with her gliding practice several times, as the pair woke about an hour before sunset. The gold was getting better all the time, but continued to push herself and strive for that which whers were not meant -flight. She'd taken a dunking today, trying to bank into an updraft and instead getting thrown downwards by a tricky twist in the wind that had her splashing grandly into the river and barking in frustration when she resurfaced. Only after she'd successfully made it to the other side of the river in one go did she finally relent and let her bonded rub her down with sweetsand and oil, a ritual that had readily become a pleasure for the goldpair.

Both of them were bathed, refreshed, and ready for the night, when Rozsk perked her head up at the new wher's call. It was that time. She lightly nudged her bonded, and Rozen walked with her to the weyrledge, opting to walk rather than ride as Rozsk took the opportunity for a last glide out of the weyr, her wings rather tired and achy from the exercise. Rozen would never be comfortable with flight, or any of its facsimiles. Rozsk snorted in reply that she never would if she didn't try. Shaking her head ruefully, and forgoing a reply, Rozen climbed the steps, and the gold caught up with her shortly. The pair walked side by side to the training field, a place which was a bit far removed from their temporary quarters. Watching the woman already seated, and dodging Mask and Malara, Rozen and Rozsk took a blanket a few spots down from the bluepair, settling lightly to the ground. Rozsk peered around, looking for the wher which had summoned them.

[topaz]

Venus fed her blue early that night, and was now with him in the river washing away any dry flakes that may have accumulated. Venusk rubbed his head against his bonded all the while, completely indulged by her caresses. His was so lovely. She always took the best care of him. Feeling the affection radiating off of her blue, Venus smiled gently and kissed her wher on the head.

Suddenly a splash nearby sent both of their heads upwards, training their eyes on the offender of their morning silence. As the glimmering form lifted itself out of the river Venusk butted His in the arm as a signal to please continue washing, while simultaneously sending her a vivid, sparkling image of his clutchsister Rozsk flying. She was flying? Venus questioned the image but her blue continued to nudge her until she gave up and continued to wash him.

As she did, she looked over her darling wher. His thin, sinuous body, long neck . . and enormous wings. To the casual observer Venusk would seem almost certainly capable of flight, even exceptionally good at it for a wher. Unfortunately, those beautiful wings were only for show, and Venus knew this. Her delicate blue barely even stretched the gigantic things, much less flap them around. No. He probably wouldn't even be able to get into the air without straining himself immensely. Quickly chastising herself for thinking so long on the subject, Venus sent a wave of gentle affection over the link between herself and her wher, and the blue nuzzled her jaw in turn.

- - -

When the call went out the pair was resting by the river bank, looking up at the increasingly bright stars, but they quickly hurried over to answer the call. Venus was skeptical, yet relieved, about their new wherlingmaster. It had been ages since their last lesson, however Venus had gotten so comfortable with Whinny's sharp, stern manner and her unusual accent, it would be hard to start all over again with someone new. Venusk's optimism about the new handler overrode his bonded's trepidation however. The blue did not have, nor want, qualms with any living thing, and he was sure that these new instructors would be just fine.

As the pair reached the blankets spread out in the field, Venus took a seat, cross-legged, on Rozen and Rozsk's left. It was not so completely dark that Venus needed to use her wher's eyesight yet, and she could quite clearly make out her new mater's face. A brownhandler if she remembered correctly. But where was her wher? She passed the question onto her blue, but the wher only wrapped himself around her from behind, resting his head gently on her shoulder.

[Rowana]

Roivao's face was solemn as he and Roisk came out from the trees. He had know lessons would resume eventually and under a new teacher, but the reality just made Whinny's death more real. It reminded him of all the good friends he had lost over the years. And it reminded him of Iloth. He sighed. Everything reminded him of Iloth, especially now. Roisk stood strong beside him, radiating confidence. Roi laid a hand on his side in thanks. He knew he could count on his him now.

The bronze pair nodded to Danica and took a sit next to Mask. Roisk did not fear the violent blue and someone had to keep an eye on him. Especially since the only other person who had yet to come was Cadil, who's green was the smallest among them. Roi was almost rigid where he sat. He had found it hard to relax since the attack, though he doubted either Northern Weyr would make a move so soon. Roisk laid out next to him, alert and watching for any signs of danger. He would let no one harm any of those he considered under his protection.

[ladybug]

Cadil finished the last few bites of bubbly pie, which he had left over from the Gather. Wonderfully nutritious breakfast, right? At least it would give him energy for the lesson. He wasn't really looking forward to this, the first lesson taught by a new handler. Danica seemed like a really nice woman, but he missed Whinny. Cadil had gained a lot of respect for the old brownhandler during training, and it was going to be hard to having a new Wherlingmaster. It didn't help that Whinny had died right before his eyes. If only he could have done something...

Cadisk nudged his hand, whining in protest. He smiled and nodded, rubbing the top of her head. She was right; things had happened the way they did, and there was no use having regrets. The best he could do was be more prepared in case another attack came, which hopefully it never would.

Together the green and her Handler walked to the training field. They sat down on the last blanket, next to Roivao and Roisk. Cadil was glad the bronzehandler had taken the seat next to Mask, the aggressive blue. He waited for the lesson to be, wondering how Danica's teaching style would differ from Whinny's.

[nightingale]

Danica wore a neutral expression as her class began to arrive, watching them quietly. The brownhandlerhadn’t come totally unprepared. She had listened to quite a few stories about this particular class form Whinny, and the weyrleader had been good enough to provide her with a list of names to memorize.

She let her eyes drift over Malara and Mask as they entered the field, noting the blue’s less than amiable growl. That was probably the one with the attitude problem –she made a note to watch them closely. The young queen and her handler arrived shortly after that. Rozen and Rozsk, she prompted herself. They were another pair who hadn’t managed to earn their names from Whinny. The second blue and his handler came next. Venus, she noted with a mixture of vague amusement and pity, had impressed either the ugliest or the most stunning wher ever clutched. Roivao and Roisk came after that –the good ones, she remembered with a small smile. He was the only one in class who had earned his name. Cadisk and her greenhandler came last, but still on time. Danica smile at the perfect attendance. Fantastic! She wouldn’t have to bash any heads in after all.

“Evening handlers.” She greeted the wherlings, carefully lifting herself her feet. Her leg was healing well from being char-broiled during the apartment fires, but it was still difficult to move it comfortably. She stood with her thumbs hooked onto back pockets of her hide slacks and offered a cooked, but sincere smile to her audience. “My name’s Danica .” She enunciated the syllables clearly so that there would be no embarrassing mix-ups later. “The pretty girls can call me Dani and the boys can call me Sir -but if none of those catch yer fancy Wherlingmaster’ll do just fine. Danisk isn’t gonna to be joining us tonight. He got a little bashed up during the siege and he’s still feeling tender.”

She paused a moment to give her class a good looking over, dutifully noting eye-colours and postures. “I think that you all should know that Whinny was a good friend of mine. She was a good woman, and she was very proud of you bunch. Cadil, Malara, Rozen and Venus,” She fixed each of the wherlings with a pointed look as she called their name. “You’ve done more than enough to earn your names back. Wear them well. Now guys, things are gonna be a little different now that I’m your master, and I know that it’s going to be a tough transition. If there’s anything anyone wants to ask or get off their chest, now is a good time to do it.”

She paused, waiting to see if anyone would step forward with something to say.

[Rowana]

Roivao shook his head slightly. He really didn't have anything to say. Whinny had been a strong woman and a good teacher. But they would never get anywhere by dwelling on the past. He, of all people knew that much. He glanced around briefly to the others. They were all much younger than he was, a fact he was constantly aware of. It was possible some of them had something to say. Danica was right to bring this up now at least. It was better to voice thoughts than let them develop into problems.