Zodiac Weyrlings (Lesson Two)

[weaving]

Well, the first lesson had gone well, minus a few pranksters who had failed to impress and had thought it rather amusing to dress up and crash the lesson. He’d let them off with a stern warning, but if they tried it again, he’d be speaking with Emoyan this evening and he doubted that they would appreciate that. After all, he simply couldn’t have them disrupting his class like that. Weyrling lessons were extremely important; if they weren’t paying complete attention to his teachings, then it would be all-too-easy to foresee a fatal accident occurring in the coming months. He didn’t know any of his students that well yet, but that wouldn’t make it any less of a tragedy if something happened to them.

Morendoth had already called the weyrlings for lessons, directing their riders indoors while the hatchlings were to meet him out on their field. While their riders would be going over dragoncare, Morendoth would be teaching the weyrlings some basic wing strengthening stretches, for this afternoon would be the start of wing exercises for the next several months. Underdeveloped wing muscles did no one any good, and would most likely lead to future injuries.

“Good morning everyone,” he greeted after making a mental note regarding who had shown up and who had not. The first lesson had had full attendance. Hopefully every lesson would be the same. They’d had problems in the past with weyrlings failing to attend, but this bunch seemed to be an eager lot. “The first thing we’ll be doing are several bond strengthening exercises. I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that sharing your mind is an experience completely unlike anything else. You’ve probably realized that hiding anything from your bonded is extremely difficult and that often their own thoughts and feelings leak through that emotional connection, affecting you. If your dragon is hungry, it might feel as though suddenly you are starving. I’ll be giving you some exercises that I want you to practice outside of the classroom in order to strengthen your bond and also to help filter what goes through the link you share.”

“So, the first thing I’d like you to do is imagine as clearly as you can, an image of the Selenitas waterfall. Once you have that image firmly in her mind, I want you to send it to your bonded. They in turn will send it to Morendoth, who will be checking for clarity and detail. This will be especially important when we begin discussions about /betweening/, as a faulty image may get you lost forever. Ready? Begin.”

He waited patiently for each student to send the required information and for Morendoth to verify that each one was passable before continuing on with the lesson.

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

[Ember]

A nagging hunger in her stomach woke Nephele before Nuoth could. I am sorry to make you feel hungry too, Nephelemine, the green told her, all contrite as she walked to Hers and nudged her gently. We do not have time to feed me just yet. Morendoth has called us for lessons again. Nephele gave Nuoth a reassuring rub and pulled herself out of bed. "We'll go and be back in no time, my love. Then we'll both get fed," the girl told Nuoth with an amused wink. The dragonet's eyes whirled a happy blue-green flecked with red that Nephele was learning to recognize as hunger.

The greenweyrling pair left their shared room together. They looked good together; Nephele's hand tentatively on Nuoth's head, Nuoth gracefully curved neck pushing her head into the hand. They were clearly loathe to leave each other when Nephele reached the room for the human half of the pair. "See you after Nuoth. Don't keep Morendoth waiting for you." Nephele let her hand slide off Nuoth's head as she entered the lesson room. The dragonet lingered a moment longer before turning and heading out to the training field. So hungry! Both females hoped for a quick lesson.

Nephele greeted the weyrlingmaster with a courteous nod but didn't say anything. She was both surprised and amused to be the first for this lesson. She wondered if that strange candidate pair would come again. Somehow she doubted it. Oh, I'fael was talking. She turned her attention back to the actual lesson and a small grin touched her face. Bonding excercises! That should be interesting. She didn't need to hear him talking about how the bond felt like. She had already felt those things and discovered some things of her own. It was a wonderful link and she wondered how normal people lived without it.

Nuoth? We have our first task today, Nephele told the green through their connection. Nuoth had reached the training field by then and, after greeting Morendoth, listened to what Hers said. I am ready when you are. Nephele closed her eyes to concentrate on what she remembered of the waterfall. It was kind of hard to forget, really. After she figured she had the clearest, most life-like image in her mind she sent it over to Nuoth who crooned and forwarded it to Morendoth. Both of the pair hoped it was a good image. Lost in between would be bad.

[Avu]

He wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about this lesson as he’d been the first. It’d almost undoubtedly be a disappointment; he didn’t think Anz and Nautic would show up again. R’ahre stretched under his furs, curling his body loosely around a pillow that he’d maneuvered to a more comfortable position sometime during the night. One arm rose and rubbed at his eye, a yawn growing in his throat. “Mmmphfffnggg, lemme sleep!” The elegant remark, directed at Ahth, who was eyeing him and poking at him mentally very insistently, was accompanied by his fingers swatting at the blue’s muzzle. The gesture earned a snort of disapproval, Ahth jerking away from his fingers, and then the blue moved swiftly to his feet, grabbing his covers, and jerking. The resulting crash was not at all graceful, and R’ahre swore very loudly, but Ahth was already gone, slipping out of the room with barely a glance towards M’kai and Futh. He’d slept in K’lir and Baoth’s room. Again. Fortunately for Futh, he wasn’t being treated badly so much as simply ignored, in those rare instances that the two were in proximity of each other.

Sitting upright, R’ahre glared after the dark blue, who tilted his head silently from the doorway, expectantly, and then rolled to his feet. “I know I’m a little on the late side today, but honestly, Ahth – ” We have /lessons/, MineR’ahre. Do go quickly, or we shan’t be on time. The blue dragon’s gaze was swirling darkly, the emotions barely recognizable as a kind of distasteful acceptance. Mph. Was that normal, the darkness…? R’ahre pushed his hair out of his eyes, wetting his lips before he pulled himself to his feet and wandered over to his trunk and his few belongings. Getting dressed when half-asleep was not quite as simple as it sounded, the blueweyrling realized after he’d accidentally grabbed Sylph instead of his belt (earning himself a displeased hiss) and spent a few awkward seconds figuring out which arm went where in his shirt.

MineR’ahre. You look ridiculous, was Ahth’s helpful comment from the door, before the blue glanced over His once and then padded out without waiting. Sending one last envious glance at Sylph, who had gone back to sleep, R’ahre flicked an incredibly helpful “Weyrling Lessons again, they’ll probably be really boring this time” at M’kai before he followed Ahth, blinking himself into wakefulness and conducting a last-minute check to make sure he hadn’t managed to put his shirt on inside-out or some such. Not that it’d matter, given that it was a simple white shirt, but…still, it’d be awkward. As it was, he hadn’t (he realized with some pride).

As soon as he’d flopped into his seat and stretched his legs out underneath it, R’ahre flicked a glance around the classroom curiously before he stifled a yawn again and then fixed a lidded gaze upon I’fael. Guh…the sooner this was over with, the better. Honestly, if they were going to have lessons, oughtn’t they arrange them sometime when everyone wasn’t half asleep and struggling to keep from yawning through the entire lesson? Not, he noted dryly, that he’d actually complain out loud, because usually he got up this early or earlier anyway – but just because he got up early didn’t mean he was excessively cheerful in the mornings. Nope. Not a bit. Well – as I’fael started speaking – at least it wasn’t going to be useless. Information on their Bond wasn’t necessary but…the image. Image of the waterfall. Right. The lack of specifications, though, made him tilt his head curiously to one side before he shrugged mentally and turned his head towards the training field.

Ahth.
Well? ‘Ahth’ is not an image, you know.
Yes – I /know/. Are you /ready/?
As always.

R’ahre exhaled in a mixture of affection and exasperation before he formulated an image. It was midday, since I’fael hadn’t told them a specific time to have it set to, or even an angle, and the view was from the rock jutting out over it: A sheer wall of glittering, leaping water falling down and away, and continuing its flow far below, with the canyon face and the weyrs along the sides; the sky was blue and the sun shining. A cheerful image, to be sure. Not that it entirely matched his mood, but still. He held it at the front of his mind and then touched Ahth’s mind, offering it to the blue dragon, who seemed to consider it briefly before he gave a mental sniff, and then a wave of approval, before he passed it on to Morendoth. Good HisR’ahre; better to get it right the first time and get it over with than to have to do it again…and again…and again. Whether or not it was between-worthy, R’ahre honestly didn’t know; he’d never had to give the image to between to before – but it was realistic enough. If not suited to that present early-morning setting.

~*~*~

MeiraLove, Morendoth has called us for lessons, Jingth said softly. The queen was sprawled across her couch, her head draped over her forepaws, wings folded loosely across her back. Seven months, Hers was. Seven. Only two more until she clutched, and by that point she’d be – she’d be three months old. The youngest queen to ever, ever have a clutch. The hatchling’s enthusiasm made her croon low in her throat, tilting her head to glance over at Hers. Meira was awake, but she hadn’t gotten out of the bed yet; she was half-curled under the furs, eyes open and focused on Jingth with a mixture of curiosity, adoration, and anxiety. She wasn’t nearly as pleased as Jingth was at the thought of the ‘clutch’, and she’d tried to figure out some way she could reassure Jingth when the time did come (assuming the gold did panic; it was probable that she did, after all), and she had…failed.

Lovely. And very worrying.

Squirming out of the bed awkwardly, Meira nodded gratefully at Jingth before kneeling down near the trunk in order to change as the hatchling rose to her feet and trotted gracefully behind her, nudging her affectionately on the shoulder before she crooned, low, again, waiting patiently for Hers to finish changing before she turned, offering her tail to help Meira rise. The goldpair’s procession out of the room and towards the Lessons room was not entirely dignified, but nonetheless they got there and Jingth left her side at the door with a nuzzle to go to Morendoth after Meira entered the classroom, offering a silent nod of greeting to I’fael before she glanced around the room (lacking, this time, in Candidates dressed as green dragons; whether or not this was fortunate, she didn’t quite know, given that it had definitely been amusing) before moving to sit in one of the unoccupied desks.

Jingth padded into the training field, crooning politely at all present (which consisted of Morendoth, Nuoth, and Ahth, the last of which made no move to acknowledge her) before she flopped onto the ground again. Informal, but this time her head stayed up. The last time, Shith had licked her full on the face, and while she didn’t mind it, at least this time he wouldn’t surprise her like that; she’d at least see him coming. Yes. That would work very nicely. Her tail flicked, idly coming to circle her haunches and rest there, and the gold half-lidded her eyes against the early-morning sun. Content, for the moment, she was, focused primarily on what was going on inside the classroom as opposed to out. Much more interesting, for time being…

The talk of Bond…Meira bowed her head slightly, aware of Jingth curiously ‘eavesdropping’. Sharing one’s mind with a dragon was…so different from a wher. Much closer – more intimate; Jingth knew almost everything. She’d known how to close Meisk out, but it was harder with Jingth – fortunately the queen didn’t pry, or it’d be impossible. Still, it was an advantage over those who hadn’t tried before – as was the forming of an image. Admittedly, that was different, too, since whers focused primarily on heat sources and dragons…did not, as far as she knew, but it wasn’t too difficult. Weyrlings learned recognition points – and so did Wherlings, and the waterfall was one of the easiest. Her eyes closed in concentration, and the image was duly transferred to Jingth – of the waterfall from the Weyrling Barracks, the sky still with the purple tinge of dawn.

Should it not be an image from the sky? Jingth inquired.
I – well, I guess, but I don’t know what it looks like, exactly, from the sky…
I don’t expect many do. It shouldn’t be a problem. When I can fly we can go up and look so you do know. The gold’s reassurance was emphasized by a low croon, before she passed the image to Morendoth after one more check to make sure it had not gotten…blurred…in the transaction. There; that ought to do~

[Rowana]

Merridan yawned and rolled out of bed. Another day of chores, lessons, and Chaoth. She couldn't believe she had ever thought being a candidate was boring. Weyrlings barely got time to eat, let alone be bored. Auran tugged at her short hair, reminding her that he was hungry as always. Though it was nothing compared to the rumble coming from Chaoth, who sat patiently next to her cot. Time for lessons, he informed her calmly. HIs eyes spark with determination. He knew he and his were one of the best, and it wouldn't do for them to be late.

"I know, I'm coming," Mer mumbled. She pulled on her clothes and ran a few fingers through her hair. That was one of the advantages of keeping it so short. A few combs and she was done. She wouldn't win any beauty prizes, but beauty was overrated in her opinion anyway. Mer splashed a little water on her face from a jug on her table and shook herself awake. In moments she was bright and cheerful as ever. "Let's go!"

Mer waved to Chaoth as he trotted outside. "Have fun." Of course, Chaoth bounded to the others with a flap of his wings. Good morning! he called, taking a spot next to Nuoth. He wasn't particularly picky about who he associated with and gave the green a welcome croon. Mer watched him go for a second, a little nervous to be separated, but it wasn't like she couldn't talk to him. Morendoth would never let anything happen to any of them either.

Mer waved morning greetings to the others before taking a seat next to Nephele. She listened closely to the lesson and frowned. She had never had much imagination, so she wasn't sure she would be good at this. At least she didn't have to make up the image and she had seen the waterfall plenty of times by now. Frowning in concintration, she closed her eyes and started to piece together the image. It took her several minutes to be sure before she sent it to Chaoth.

What do you think? she asked. Chaoth paused while he fixed the image in his mind. It looks alright to me. he said finally. Mer sighed with relief, though the real test was yet to come. Good. Send it to Morendoth, would you? Will do! He sent the carefully formed imaged to his instructed. Is it good? he asked politely with a curious cock of his head.

9B454D

[ace]

MinaMine, you must get up for lessons! Morendoth calls for us. Mina stirred feebly, but kept her eyes shut tightly. Kunth butted her head against Mina's hand that was hanging off of her barrack bunk. Mina got up grudgingly- she had been having a very nice dream. She pulled on her clothes and, with a hand on her green's flank, walked toward the classroom in which they were to attend their lessons for the day.

They sepperated with a slightly regretful feeling, but not before Mina caressed her dragon's eye ridge lovingly. "Be good Kunth." The green crooned in response, and marched off in her odd gate to go and join Chaoth. Mina turned and left to follow the other weyrling riders.

Mina nodded in greeting to her weyrling lesson, and listened quietly for the instructions that he issued. Closing her eyes, she imagined he waterfall, every little aspect of it that she could recall from her memory. She sent the mental picture to Kunth, who sent it to the great brown. How is this? she asked with curiousity.

(musles post )

[archenstone]

V'rael stirred to a wet, sloppy lick on his hand. You really should wash your hands after that. Taith said as he shook his head. V'rael rolled out of bed. "I bet you don't lick my hand anytime soon then." He felt the taste on his tongue and made a face. "Go drink something Taith....get the taste off both our tongues." As he went to the wash basin to rinse his hands he thought, He seems to think its a game of who wakes up first.... He noticed that it was half an hour earlier than his usual time. Didn't he get up too early for the weyr already?

It was a relief when Taith found something to drink and the taste left his tongue. That's so strange...that you taste something and pass it on.He thought...trying the mind speak with his energetically inclined bonded. For once, he wasn't assaulted with the whirl of emotions that typically plagued him when reaching across their bond. He turned to look at Taith, who was curled into a tight ball. See? I can be calm when I want to.

V'rael walked towards the bed and looked at Taith. Really? Why don't you stay calm more often? Its a lot easier to do this when you don't have fifteen different things you're trying to focus on. He felt tentative when opening himself up to Taith. Oddly Taith reminded him of the ocean. The growing dragon could be calm as open water or chaotic like sixty foot swells in a typhoon; often staying somewhere in between! His thoughts were interrupted when Taith spoke again.

You greatly like this ocean that you...sailed? Sailed on...and yet you mostly seem to get aggravated at me. How can I remind you of something you love and admire when I seem to draw opposite feelings? V'rael was surprised at the feelings that came across their link and realized something. Even with minds linked, two beings didn't necessarily understand each other. He formed a memory of ocean in high swells far on the open sea. He thought back to his feelings of determination, his worry for his crew, and yes...anger at the ocean for its unpredictable nature. I have been angry at the ocean as well. Just because I am often frustrated doesn't mean I lack love or liking of you. Bonding with you has changed my life. It has taught me that even a sea captain can get lost in unknown waters...per-say. I do love you, I don't necessarily understand you though. He tried to pass the memories along, sharing them in hopes of Taith's understanding. It pained him to know that Taith thought him truly unhappy. Taith uncurled himself from his couch and walked over to V'rael. That sat like that, Taith's head on his lap as his hands rubbed against eye ridges as dawn grew in the sky.

They both heard Morendoth's call to class when the barracks filled with early morning light. They got up, both feeling better with each other. V'rael finished getting ready as Taith stood by the door, urging him to hurry. It wasn't long before they went to class. Taith outside, V'rael inside. When class started V'rael listened attentively as Taith caught bugs. The pungent smell of one such bug made his nose winkle in disgust. It was a little difficult to focus when Taith was catching bugs and flicking them towards Nuoth.

This ought to be interesting. Taith...can you pause for a moment as I send this to you? He sensed Taith pause, confused, You weren't even listening! I'm going to send you a picture and you need to relay it to Morendoth. He concentrated on the waterfall. It was one of the first places he visited when he first came here and the memory of that early morning was still strong in his mind. Confident that he would send a good image he passed it to Taith. Taith passed it to Morendoth...but he ended up including a picture of the bug he had just found and an image of Nuoth, whom he was about to fling it on.

[Sheari]

The morning was now a ritual. Wake up early, feed Weith, wash up and then nap until the kitchens were serving the morning meal. After breakfast was eaten he would do his chores and then the rest of the day was his. This morning...not so much. Mine, R'menMine. Wake up, Morendoth has called us to class. We need to go.[/i] The words could be summed up to a mental whisper and the bronzeweyrling turned over on his bed, mumbling something along the lines of "I'm sleeping, to bother Shith or someone". I WILL DRAG ALL THE WAY THERE IF YOU DO NOT GET UP RIGHT NOW!![/i] R'men opened his eyes and promptly screamed, jumping back and away from the whirling eyes at the edge of his bed.

The man looked up from the bronze head to the other side of the room, gladdened that V'rael and Taith had already gone. "How long ago did Morendoth call us?" The question was asked when R'men had finally caught his breath. There came no answer. R'men quickly dressed in brown pants and a white shirt, threw on his boots and walked out of his room to the classroom.

A picture of the waterfall? R'men felt sheepish. In truth he hadn't actually visited the icon but he'd seen it when he'd been Searched, as that was where he and that woman (what was her name) had arrived at when he'd been brought to the Weyr. He shuffled through his mind as he began to piece together what it had looked like from dragonback. He tried to remember the sound it had made to complete the effect before sending the image on to Weith. The little bronze received the image and was sort of awed by the view. He sent the image to the brown in charge. When you bathe me we will walk to the waterfall. I would like to see it.[/i]

~*~

"Your coordination is getting better," Anusha commented as she and Minth walked to answer Morendoth's call. It is, it is, AnuMine.[/i] The enthusiastic green was rather pleased with herself. Her wings were loosely held at her sides, ready to open for balance if need be, and her tail was straight so not to impede her.

The pair had made a habit of walking the trail to the beaches when they could. Minth liked to practice running out of the view of others and would sometimes play games with Akos by running into the waves. This often resulted in the green tumbling through the salty waters, spread eagle and flailing until she washed up on shore. She would then act "dead" (much to the dismay of Her's), the white 'mandyr either "reviving" her or "slaying" her. A rather morbid game to play, especially for a hatchling so young. Anusha couldn't deny though, the fact that Minth was, slowly but surely, learning to swim as well.

Good Morning, Morn'doth.[/i] Minth took her place next to Weith and watched the brown, waiting for instruction from either him or Her's. Shortly she received and image of the Selenitas waterfall. The view was from the bottom of the waterfall looking up, the white waters spilling over the edge and crashing onto the rocks below before flowing out of sight into calmer waters. It made the green feel small. There was a little confusion as to what to do with the image until she received the part about sending it to the big brown. The top of the waterfall got blurred but the images was sent mostly intact, she hoped.

[Ruby]

M'kai had been legitimately asleep, despite Futh's pokes, until R'ahre spoke aloud. Then he meerly groaned and turned over, pulling the pillow over his face. He felt like he'd been caught out in Fall and somehow managed to live to tell of it. Every part of his body hurt like he'd been beaten up, his head seemed swollen beyond recognition, his nose was running, he felt like he was trying to sweat through his sheets, and cough his throat hurt, too. Even turning over made it feel like last night's dinner might come up any moment. Futh's eyeridges pulled together, his eyes whirling deep orange in worry.

Slinking off his couch, Futh came to lay his head gently on M'kai's side. Are you... alright, MineLove? the blue asked tentatively. M'kai just groaned in response, trying feebly to send Futh soothing thoughts. It was just the stomach flu or something, right? Maybe some extension of the cold he'd gotten in the winter. M'kai rarely got sick, but when he did, it tended to be bad... right? Honestly, before this winter, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been sick. So what on Pern was this? The kitchens never made bad food, and if they had, other Weyrlings would be sick too, and Morendoth would know. But he called us, Futh put in in response.

M'kai rolled upright, immediately dropping his head to his hands to stop the room from spinning. He did NOT feel well, and whatever the Weyrlingmaster wanted, he certainly didn't want a Weyrling spewing chunks in class. "Futh, can you tell Morendoth I'm sick?" he asked weakly. "You can go to class, but... I don't think it's a good idea for me to go," he added, starting to get back into bed. "I'll just sleep for an hour or two, and see if it passes. You can fill me in later, or I'll repeat if I need too, I guess...." He trailed off, readjusting the blankets up to his chin. What had he been thinking about, sweating? He was freezing! Settling back into his pillows, M'kai drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Futh, very worried about his bondmate, nonetheless headed to class. Morendoth had told him to come, and so had M'kai, so he was going to go no matter what. Once he was out on the field, he sent a mental link in Morendoth's direction, limiting it from the rest of the class. MorendothMaster, M'kaiMineLove is very, very sick. He hurts everywhere, and so do I, and his stomach feels... very bad. He said I should go to class but he cannot even get up. And I cannot get an image from him if he is sleeping!

[subtlemystery]

I honestly doubt it matters whether your hair is done neatly, Mine. As always, Huath's voice was calm, though this time held a hint of amusement as Kalia attempted to swipe all the unruly strands out of her face. It wasn't that she was overly fussed about her appearance, that would be something that needed to be noted. Rather, it was the fact that if the strands impaired her vision, or became irritating, it would hamper her ability to work. Not only annoying, but counter-productive too.

Finally giving up, she merely turned to go to the lessons. She wasn't worried about being late, she knew the weyr better now, and no matter what, she was determined to pass the lessons. And do her chores, it could never be said that Kalia didn't do her absolute best in everything, since she did. Then again, she was often impulsive, and she needed to work on that. Like Huath, she needed to be calm, and think things through. Funny how it never worked out like that, she always tended to make a swift decision and leap with it.

She barely nodded a greeting to the others, noting Huath did the same. Inclining her head in a greeting, but not speaking as she was sure the weyrling master would be doing so soon. Bond strengthening exercises... To Kalia, she couldn't imagine how the bond could go any deeper, Huath knew what she was thinking about often before she did, and it was a wonderful concept. She'd wanted to be a rider, a green rider like her mother, but she hadn't expected so many joys came with the honour.

Images, that was fairly simple. Kalia liked things like that, it was logical and made sense, and it was also an image that all the weyrlings would have seen, unless they remained indoors for the entire candidate process. Forming the image in her mind, Kalia thought hard about details that she could remember, she could remember the intimidating roar the water had, but also the stunning beauty. Holding it firmly, she then wondered how to show the image to Huath, perhaps she should just think about showing her? Huath's calm patience helped here, as she waited for Kalia to first get the image and then recieving it happily, nodding her head to her rider before sending it on.
I like the image, it was clear to me.