Zodiac Lesson Seven

[Sheari]

They want me to fly, Mine.[/color]

The slight panic in the green's "voice" was clearly evident. She fidgeted in place and Anusha tried her best to keep calm under the wave of nerves threatening to wash over her. Her concentration was torn and she was feeling more and more flustered. She adjusted and re-adjusted the straps she had made, hoping to whatever powers that be that they were good enough. Oh she had worked at them. The first hadn't come out straight, the second came out all different lengths and she didn't even want to remember the third set. The set before the ones on the green now had been too small but decent otherwise. She was just happy now to be done with it.

You will be fine, love, they just want you to glide.[/b]
It's still flying! What if I drop you, what if I'm not strong enough, what if I fall and get tangled up and crush you or Akos? What if...[/color]

A look from Her's silenced the weyrling dragon and the white Salamandyr scrambled up to the top of Anusha's head. He flared his wings; see? He couldn't really fly and he was perfectly fine! An image of the beach was sent to Minth. Just pretend we're on the beach and no one is here and you will be fine.[/i] Minth still fidgeted. Her breathing picked up and she kept shuffling her feet and twitching her tail in agitation. Her eyes were tinted yellow and whirled faster than normal, her head turned this way and that as she tried to calm down. Hepaticath was here, and so was Salenth and what if she failed?

Soon enough, it was their turn. Minth rose hesitantly, prodded mentally by Her's, until they all stopped and stared. S'rei was now missing the back part of his trousers and Baoth had that part in her mouth. Anusha stifled a giggle and kept walking to the hill. She climbed into the straps as any new rider would, without much grace, and fastened herself in. She gripped with her calves like she were riding a runner and held on with her hands.Minth jumped and opened her wings, like they were on the beach and no one was there except for them. The air felt cool beneath her wings and it felt good to not have to worry about her feet, until the landing. They neared the ground and she put her feet out in front of her to catch herself. Minth's concentration broke and she stumbled. In a futile attempt to save herself she quickly began trying to get her feet in the right place, her tail held out as it tried to wrap itself around her hind left leg.

MINE![/i]

The mental cry was met with a harsh landing. Minth's front feet splayed out before her and one back foot was tucked uncomfortably under her belly while the other stretched out behind her. One wing was pinched under her while the other had been snapped close to her body and her tail was tanged up somewhere, poking out from under her chest. If dragons could blush she'd be scarlet. Anusha rushed to unbuckle herself and get off so Minth could sort herself out. The green began to shift and she eventually stood, favouring her left back leg with a small tear in her right wing. She limped back to her place, head low. Her glide had been fine, her landing laughable. Anusha was proud despite that. They had flown!...or at least gotten off the ground. That was progress in itself.

~*~

Oh it was priceless! No amount of marks could be made out to watch a weyrling pants the weyrleader and then glide off with him standing there now partially naked. Though R'men wasn't particularly fond of seeing the hind end of S'rei, he could help but chuckle and try to keep from all out rolling around laughing. He wouldn't have dared done it himself but he was not involved in the act so he was exempt from scorn. Despite the humor of the beginning of the lesson, the falling of Minth wasn't so funny. She looked physically hurt and rather embarrassed as she limped back to her place next to him and Weith. R'men looked at Anusha and she mouthed "she'll be fine" and nothing more. He made a note to ask his sister later.

Then it was his turn.

Weith rose in one fluid motion. Oh, he would fly no problem. He and R'men being night and day from Minth and Her's and he walked with as regal as step as he could. He moved swiftly, wings itching, the sunlight flashing off of his hide. When he reached the top of the hill he waited for R'men to catch up and strap himself in. The bronzerider scrambled into the straps and then proceeded the hold on for dear life. True, he'd ridden runners before, even specially ornery and ill-tempered runners before. His issues was runners couldn't fly, and Weith could. A fall from a runner might hurt a little, or a lot, a fall from Weith could kill him.

You are fine, R'menmine. I will not stumble and fall like Minth did.[/color]
I know, Weith.[/b] came the nervous reply.
And stop squeezing me so, you will not fall with the straps you made.[/color]
But what if I do?[/b]
They would have sliced them like they did Lith's.[/color]

A small, barely audible whimper escaped R'men in response to Weith. The second he released his leg grip, the bronzeweyrling leapt from the summit of the hill, wings snapping wide to catch the air. It felt so real, so right! Against the wishes of his instructors, Weith flapped once to gain altitude and to prolong the length of the glide. He wanted to remain in the air now that he had tasted just what it felt like to not be grounded. R'men relaxed on Weith's back when he realized just how close to the ground they actually were and how secure his legs were to the bronze's shoulders. Hmm, maybe he really wouldn't fall, after all.

Weith neared the ground as was gravity's wont and he landed. Without letting R'men get off, he walked back to his place and then let the man off of his back. In his mind he had topped Baoth's challenge; he didn't need to eat the pants of Salenth's to be good, he just was! He saluted her though, it had been funny. When R'men slid down and resumed his place on the ground Weith sat down and curled his tail around his feet, holding his head up. Beat that!

[Avu]

What was Baoth doing – ?

A look that was a mix of horror and embarrassment spread across the gold weyrlingrider’s face as the green took off with a piece of the Weyrleader’s pants. Meira blinked twice, red rising to her cheeks, before she looked away from S’rei automatically, up at Jingth instead, to spare him the indignity of being stared at by a class of Weyrlings (and laughed at by many of them; she could hear the chuckles). How embarrassing for him – Meira actively squirmed, sliding her hand through the straps that laced across Jingth’s shoulders and chest and pressing her cheek against the gold’s hide, turning to focus intently on Baoth’s glide. Probably the best first glide ever – if it was a first glide. The idea that she could have actually taught Jingth had crossed her mind, but in the end whers and dragons weren’t the same, even if Meisk had been able to glide, too; safer to just let the Weyrlingmaster do it. Off went Nuoth, then Ahth, then Chaoth again, and Taith’s second try, and Minth –

/She/ certainly will have to practice, Jingth commented idly, glancing at Weith. Wasn’t he going to go?! How annoying he was, taking such a long time. Minth’s slip-up didn’t linger in her mind consciously for long, though the gold did make a note of it. Clumsy greensister, that one. Stay away. But Hers and Weith’s were clutchsiblings as well, were they not? Well, perhaps clumsiness was contagious. Hopefully it was…oh, and there he went. Finally. Jingth’s eyes narrowed intently, watching the bronze’s progress and glide, and she gave a little condescending huff. She had to beat that, did she? How very simple it would be. Our turn, Minelove, the gold informed Meira, crooning quietly and turning to watch Hers mount and fumble at the straps, already planning. Of course she wouldn’t actually flap her wings like Weith had – that wasn’t what was asked of them, after all – but it wouldn’t be hard to just leap higher, would it?

Ready. Meira swallowed, resisting the urge to squirm as she wove her fingers around the straps. Jingth flipped her tail once before she started up the hill, bursting into a gallop halfway up to gain momentum. Each pace was carefully spaced; wouldn’t do to go shooting over, after all. She left that to those like Minth and Kunth. Not something she would ever, ever be caught doing. Especially not in front of Weith! The gold’s emotions made Meira blink before Jingth leapt from the top of the hill and she fell slightly forward. Like Meisk’s glide…but so much larger, so much more powerful…that one leap carried Jingth forward a good distance, before her wings spread wide: Long golden appendages that twisted deftly, angled as Meira almost unconsciously instructed. Larger wings than Meisk’s, better for gliding, but the basics were the same…

And the feeling of being in the air was fantastic and painful at the same time. Meisk hadn’t flown that much, but he still had and she remembered it, but this wasn’t the wher anymore and this wasn’t the night. So different, too much the same. The gold’s wings fluttered slightly before she landed as delicately as she could manage, forelegs first and wings flapping once to allow her hind legs to come down gently as not to jar Hers. Not the right landing position for a dragon, given that backwinging was much more common and desired, but it worked just the same for such a simple glide. But hadn’t she been lovely? Jingth’s eyes whirled faster before she flipped her wings back and slid proudly back over to her clutchsiblings, stepping past Weith without so much as looking at him. She had won, as far as she was concerned; his opinion did not matter in the least to her.

That was /very/ simple, she commented pleasantly to Hers. No wonder even /Weith/ could do it.

[subtlemystery]

Kalia was completely content to stand towards the back of the group, she wasn't worried. Not really... Okay, maybe a little bit, but Huath's assurance was quickly making her feel alot calmer than she would have with an excitable green. She didn't have to worry that Huath would do something stupid or impulsive, the green wasn't prone to acts like that, but that didn't mean Kalia couldn't worry that she would let her green down. Lightly tugging on the strap again to check it as she listened, Kalia would rather not be one of the first to go, just incase. He hadn't said they needed to mount though, and others seemed willing.

It looks exceptionally easy. I do not see why you will not allow me to go first. If anything, Huath sounded mildly annoyed at her rider's reluctance, tail swishing slightly even as she watched Chaoth with approval, and then slight dissaproval and Kunth. She could hurt herself with all that jumping about and not warning her rider or waiting to check and see if Chaoth had moved before she tried to fly, and Huath didn't want to see any of her siblings hurt.
That was very nice, Chaoth. Your practice has paid off.

Rolling her eyes slightly, Kalia was almost startled whent he weyrlingmaster said to mount. Huath hadn't tried to fly on her own yet, though that was her own fault for drifting off into her own little world... And all the others were doing it flawlessly, well, almost. K'lir it was expected, he'd been a rider... What if she couldn't-? A slight nudge to her shoulder distracted her, and Kalia blinked as Huath crooned softly,
We shall be fine. I'm looking forward to flying, I would prefer it with you. Well then, the longer you stand staring at me, the more nervous you will get, mount and we shall fly.

Kalia didn't stop to think after that, watching her other classmates to see how they did it, then thanked Faranth that Huath was the smallest of the class, lightly resting her foot on Huath's bent foreleg, Kalia pulled herself up onto the green's neck, fastening the straps with more calm than she'd shown before. Worrying about it wouldn't stop Huath having to fly, and she did want to fly with her green, so naturally, she just had to stop worrying.
Watch the others, see how Baoth did it? She's a beautiful flier. You'll have to find your own way of doing it, but-
Yes, Mine. I shall be fine. Pure confidence radiated in the green's voice as she waited for the space to be cleared before taking a good run at the hill.

For a brief moment, before the green took off, Kalia was sure they were going to fall, Huath wouldn't glide, she'd miss her step and then-
You are so silly. Was all she said before leaping and aiming to copy her siblings. It wasn't hard, just as Huath had thought and Kalia found herself smiling without even realising it as the green landed with only the smallest of wobbles and a neat flick of her wings.
Told you.

[Requiem]

Jingth, rider Meira - glide
Weith, rider R'men - glide
Taith, rider V'rael - glide
Chaoth, rider Merridan - glide
Shith, rider T'lor
Ahth, rider R'ahre - glide
Futh, rider M'kai
Lith, rider L'ka
Nuoth, rider Nephele - glide
Huath, rider Kalia - glide
Kunth, rider Mina
Baoth, rider K'lir - glide
Minth, rider Anusha - glide

F'ur flashed a smile at V'rael's prickly response (tight formality made that kind of obvious after all) not at all perturbed by giant man-children. Late was late, and out of control was out of control. If the kid didn't like being lectured, he'd have to correct himself. All the weyrlings were going to have to develop a thick skin, actually. This was F'ur at his mildest - with metallic guests. Yippee. "See that you do," he responded quietly. He wondered how many more egos lingered around - this should be fun.

Speaking of fun...a chorus of giggles and snickers drew his attention away from V'rael in time to see...his hand came before his mouth, hiding the twitch of lips that was his own response. Any moment now...no. S'rei seemed to be less excitable than the average bronzerider. A shame, really. "You seem to be missing something, Weyrleader," F'ur called to him, leaving V'rael and heading over in that direction.

The bronzerider was, at this moment, doffing his jacket and tying it around his waist, the movements anything but hurried. He glanced over at the perfect glide, a wry half-smile and narrowed eyes making up his expression. "Seems so. Now I'll have to buy a new pair." Mostly cause these were old and he needed new ones anyway, but that was beside the point. He maintained the level of volume F'ur had set. No sense in being uptight...that would just encourage similar behavior in the future. "Or maybe I should have the greenrider do it?"

"No objections on this end."

You've been practicing, Inocenth commented to Baoth coldly. There was no suggestion of criticism - or approval - in his voice. The small blue coiled tightly, almost snakelike, and continued to watch the glides. Most were decent. He made brief comments, the adjustment of a wing angle here or there, that sort of thing. Until Minth's epic failure of a landing, that was. That was pathetic. You will have to try again. Next time, legs go underneath you. A pause. Mine wants Hepaticath's to look at you first, though. Hurry it up. No one can go until you get it half right.

F'ur had, indeed, bounded almost lazily for the gold, though he wasn't concerned enough about what appeared to be light injuries to ignore the young bluerider who had shown up. He brushed past him 'accidentally', flicking at the papers with the tip of the knife he'd lifted off the ex-Bendenite. A wink accompanied the smirk before he was past and coming up on Savitri. "Commandeering the goldie, Hepaticath. Promise I'll bring her back in almost as good condition..." His tone was clearly teasing, even as he took Savitri by the wrist and tugged her back toward Anusha and Minth. "Make sure they're all right, yes?"

Meanwhile, S'rei walked up to Baoth, flicking at the bit of material in her mouth. "Nice. Didn't see it coming." He glanced briefly up at K'lir. "Tell your rider that, though I know how much he loves my gorgeous ass, he's going to have to save it for a more appropriate place. Sadly. An excellent glide, by the way. You should teach your less graceful siblings in your spare time..." He waved to get F'ur's attention, the man bobbing over in a moment. "You'll have to watch and make sure this one does his chores, Weyrlingmaster." S'rei flashed another sweet smile at K'lir. Oh, he was keeping track. K'lir was, in a way, his, even if he was no longer a wingmember...and though he hadn't cared to say anything earlier on account of the difficulty of Impressing another green, clearly the greenrider wasn't having that much trouble adjusting. (Baoth hadn't likely gotten the idea purely on her lonesome.)

If you're going to land on one set of legs first, make those the hind legs, Inocenth told Jingth briskly, the comment broadcasted to all the weyrlings so they would know not to make the same mistake. Do it again.

[rii]

Another fold. The paper began to take shape between his hands. It worked dexterity, and F'lix made it a point to keep his hands busy more often than not to never lose the precise mobility of his fingers. His more noteworthy skills revolved around their use. Truth be told, he had picked up the paper folding as a nervous habit, concentrating on the design and attempting to make each fold perfect helped to keep his mind from resorting to it's usual dark brooding.

The sounding laughter shifted F'lix gaze from F'ur, and occasional weyrling glide, to the weyrleader–as all the lines of sight from others were turned that direction. Hands twitched at the sight and a pensive frown crossed his features. The humor wasn't lost on the bluerider, but still. That was the Weyrleader, and his Wingleader to boot–sure the man seemed very even tempered–still. If someone had done that to C'leon, well.. no one would dare to start with, so the thought was pointless. So unruly, F'lix clucked his tongue with a faint shake of his head.

F'lix attention curiously went back to F'ur, wondering how the ex-Fortian was dealing with it all (studying his smiles to the various words of the students had been proving interesting enough–what? As if F'lix cared to watch the weyrlings or their 'first' glides. They were none of his concern or interest). A nervous flutter of pulse assaulted F'lix cool demeanor upon seeing F'ur coming a bit too much in his direction. The younger bluerider was northern and he knew how things were to be–knew that he shouldn't even be there; but a mix a curiosity and fondness drew him there. Voiced enough by the way F'lix didn't move away as the man brush by, but he was quick to snag the wrist holding the dagger–not to grab, just stall it long enough to squint at.. yes, that was his dagger. The touch slipped aside, the youth returning the smirk with a well narrowed gaze. So that was why F'ur had invited him out here; playing some sort of game. Hn. When had he taken it? F'lix shook the thoughts from his head, no matter, not like he could (or rather, would) do anything about that at the moment..

Simper. Did not. Understand. The dark blue twirled restlessly on F'lix shoulder, crooning pleasantly when Savior came close. He responded uninhibitedly to F'lix feelings toward the older man, leaping to glide over and land on F'ur. No hesitation as he darted straight up into F'ur's hair to search for his nervous clutchbrother. Simper didn't understand why Lixhis – (really Lixhers but she wasn't here at the moment so he got to claim Lix in the meantime, just so no other mandyrs thought they could stake any claim. Lilitu would be mad if that happened) – couldn't be with Savior. No, instead Lixhis wanted to leave. It didn't make any sense at all. Rubbing affectionately against F'ur's scalp, Simper peeked around the dark curls for Terror. Saveyou~ saveyou~

Grimacing apologetically, F'lix watched as F'ur bounded away with the goldrider in tow. Noticing too late that Simper had hijacked onto the weyrling master. Doubtless the younger bluerider would have left then if Simper had not decided to socialize. While he trusted the blue mandyr to F'ur, he didn't think the man would realize to keep Simper.. from trying to go make friends with all the dragons–by darting under their feet in some bizarre game. Simper was accident prone. F'lix shifted his weight over to one foot, hip angling as he glanced at what was left nearby for company.. a gold dragon. Awkward.

.. with little else to do, F'lix pulled on his craft project.. tugging gently on the head and tail of the dragon-like design to make the paper flap it's wings. Fly, fly little weyrlings..

[glamourie]

Have I? There was nothing to suggest disagreement or defiance in Baoth’s tone; in fact, there was also nothing to indicate she had any feelings on the comment whatsoever. She tended to mimic the personalities of those around her and the more guarded Inocenth’s statements were, the more likely she was to guard her own responses. Not that she felt any inclination to explain herself, apologize, or attempt to justify what she thought was intelligent behavior – Hers knew how to fly, so it only made sense for them to practice in their free time and it saved time in lessons; she would not require mollycoddling as some of her clutchmates would. If the fact that it was dangerous occurred to her, the green gave no indication. She had utter and complete trust in K’lir: he would not allow harm to come to her, ever. She did not believe, as a result, that their practicing was anything short of perfectly safe. She could also full-fledged fly; showing that would be showing off, but she had no problem reaching air. It wasn’t as though K’lir weighed anything.

He didn’t comment on the implication that he should replace the pants. If he actually made any kind of marks he’d consider doing it – but as it was, he didn’t. Weyrlings were barely above candidates in terms of rank and their pay was alarmingly bad; what little he made was dedicated to keeping Kahrelir in decent clothes and he really didn’t care if S’rei had a missing pair of pants or not. He hadn’t told Baoth to do it (just implied strongly that it would amuse him). Therefore he wasn’t taking any responsibility for her actions.

S’rei’s approach made Baoth actually spit the piece of fabric at him, before she twitched her wings and fixed him with an intent stare. Her eyes never even whirled, staying one solid blue-green of amusement, but the intensity of her gaze was measuring: she was trying to decide exactly what she thought of this man who upset Hers. He spoke to her as if he was someone she should pay attention to. Technically he was Weyrleader, but did Weyrleaders last for very long? Was Millieth likely to pick the same dragon over and over again? She wasn’t sure she thought so – hm. Still, making enemies of a potential superior (in rank if not intelligence) wasn’t the best of ideas. The serpentine green curled her head back to look at K’lir before bespeaking S’rei – and Salenth, out of politeness more than anything else – directly, Tell him yourself, Weyrleader; he hears fine. Her wings fluttered and she eyed the tall man further before turning her head to look back at her classmates.

They were pathetic. Embarrassingly bad, in fact, and she was ashamed to be related to them. Flaring her wings, she stretched, waiting; was that all the lesson would compose of…?

“I’fael asked us if we’d teach them in our spare time. My answer to you is the same as my answer to him was, S’rei: What spare time? I have a three turn old and chores –” K’lir made the last word sound like an affliction on purpose, “- so I don’t exactly have a plethora of time to spend with those… less intelligent than we are.” He cast a glance toward Anusha, leaving no doubt as to who he meant by the statement. Pathetic. “As you just said, I have a lot of things to fill my time. Helping my classmates is not a priority. Clearly the kitchen floors need swept and by Faranth, if I don’t do it, they’ll just roll up and leave us. Who knew.”