Tidal Weyrlings (Lesson 9)

[Rei]

Lesson 9:
Classroom: Final Flying Leathers Inspection
Training Field: Using Air Currents; Weather Problems and Solutions; Communication Drills; Flight in Formation Theory (On Ground)

Sel’n stretched and leaned against Kaaoloth’s single foreleg. “Ready Kaaoloth?” Yes mine. We will have a bigger class today yes? The brown rider nodded and stared off into the horizon. “Yes if wing drills are anything to go by we should have more student’s than Tr’esn and Oquith today.” Good. I am most pleased at that. Sel’n chuckled and shook his head at the brown’s enthusiasm. “Alright Kaao call them in and make sure they are dressed for flight.”

Attention Tidal weyrlings. You are to report to the training field for lessons. Make sure you are dressed for flight. The brown snorted and raised his head to appraise the near cloudless sky. At least the weather was cooperating…for now.


Roll Call Tidal
Ki’ner of Bronze Aberath
M’ta of Brown Behruth
R’wign of Brown Checkoth
F’neth of Blue Kloth
Raila of Blue Imprith
K’iel of Blue Qualuth
V’neti of Blue Glenth (APC)
Vashti of Green Wymeth
Tr’esn of Green Oquith
Kalina of Green Uminth

One post
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[Avu]

The green nearly faceplanted as she streaked into the training field, Tr'esn's face distinctly pale as the green slid across the muddy field. It had rained the day previous, or perhaps the day previous to that. Whichever it was, the small green had trouble landing perfectly, and therefore, trying to backwing while still going far too fast in her excitement to do so properly, she'd lost her footing and, in a seated position, wings flared wildly as she tried to stop herself, eyes whirling in rapid shades of embarrassment and surprise as she finally brought her tail down, her momentum slowed as wind caught her wings. Finally upright and seated, she sprang to her feet, apologetically crooning at both Kaaoloth and Tr'esnHers, the latter of which she sent a wave of anxiety and love to make sure he was all right.

Said greenweyrling passed a hand over his eyes, taking a breath before he trusted himself enough to unglue the fingers of his other hand from the straps and kick off the stirrups. "That. Was. Horrible. Never. Again," he said, each word coming jerkily as he straightened the wherhide tunic. As per Kaaoloth's orders, the greenweyrling had come prepared for flight -- even if said flight wasn't nearly as nice as he'd been hoping it would be -- and he dropped from the small green's neck. Crooning apologetically, Oquith flared her wings once more and then shook to displace the mud that clung to her emerald green hide. I'm sorry, she said contritely to both Tr'esn and Kaaoloth, ducking her head as her eyes took on more apologetic colors and butting Tr'esnHers lightly in the back.

I didn't mean to. It was just too slippery and I came down too fast because I didn't want to be late...

Her excuse faded as excitement took over, and the green butted Tr'esn more energetically, offering her neck for him to latch onto before he fell. Oops. What'll we be doing today, Kaaoloth? Oquith asked, crooning at the big brown. She liked the Weyrlingmaster's dragon, she did -- if only because he was ever so kind to her and so helpful. The Wing Drills were lovely, she added happily, Will we be doing them often? Mine liked them and so did I, even if I'm not so good at turning yet. The last was admitted in a slightly shy tone as Oquith turned aside, embarrassed by her disability to turn as swiftly as most greens, and she pressed her cheek against Tr'esn back affectionately, her tongue darting out to touch his shoulder.

Lessons were always happy, fun times.

((It's horrible, but it's up.))

[Requiem]

M'taMine. "Dunwanna." M'taaaaaMiiiiine. "Go 'way." He batted a hand at the annoyance and curled up into an even tighter ball. Wake up, wake up. The young man only groaned louder and tugged at Behruth's tail to try to block some of the sunlight. After awaking at dawn to traipse through the jungles, foraging, and chasing after the brown who was even more obsessed with shinies than usual this morning, M'ta was exhausted. He needed the rest, and it had been less than a candlemark since he and his dragon had curled up together on Behruth's couch. But weyrling lessons weren't about to wait on them.

And neither was Behruth.

He stood and stretched, wings outspread, as M'ta rolled onto the floor and cracked his elbow against the ground. Cursing, he rubbed at his elbow and glared blearily up at Behruth. "Tryna kill me or somethin?" he growled, voice still thick with sleep. He cleared the silt from his eyes with a frown. "Lessons and chores and foraging. Can't even get any sleep around here. And you're no help, either," M'ta grumbled, still in a mood. He really didn't like waking up before he was ready.

Fortunately, Behruth was rather calm this afternoon and he didn't end up having to do a 'shiny' hunt so they wouldn't 'go splat.' M'ta was very, very grateful for that. He also was careful not to mention it in case the brown decided they needed one after all. Because of course Behruth wasn't okay with just any shiny. It was always something particular, and the stones and sticks all looked the same to M'ta. They took to the air not long thereafter, the new straps the weyrling had cured and fashioned for Behruth himself in place, gleaming with oil and snug against the brown's rich mahogany hide.

And, as usual, the landing didn't do so hot. Behruth scrambled, his clawed hinds digging into the ground, M'ta hanging on for dear life. The brownweyrling saw it coming and just barely managed to spring clear, rolling lightly to his feet beside the fallen Behruth. On his side, the brown heaved a breath and scrambled to right himself. Owowow. That hurt! We've got to work on that sometime, Ruth. M'ta tried to help, which was rather funny given there was no possible way he could budge Behruth, until the two were leaning against each other and panting, both sprawled in the grass. The boy tugged off his helmet and ran a hand through his curls.

"Okay. That wasn't too terrible, anyway."

[glamourie]

We need to go to Lessons, R'wignmine! Hurry it up.

"I wish he didn't make these lessons in the afternoon," R'wign complained irritably as he tied his boots as tightly as he could. "I've only got two candlemarks before another infirmary shift, and I was hoping for a nap." Maybe it would do well if he switched his own schedule around? ... Nah. Though he complained, R'wign really was fine with having his day interrupted. Since Kali had decided the infirmary was her territory, he also wasn't worried about being a little bit late. She could cover for him. He really was tempted to drop his craft. To be totally honest, he was overwhelmed: he felt like everything bad happened all at once, and of course, when he finally knew something about what was going on (he was an herbalist), no one but Kali seemed to care. He felt... worthless. In her shadow, to some degree, and he was quickly growing tired of it. The more time he spent in the infirmary, the more it felt like no one really acknowledged him. He was just a body there. Saving lives should have meant something, but in the wake of so much death, he just wanted to get away from it all. Those six hours could have been spent with Checkoth... who did like him.

The brown squirmed and nosed about the water's edge. They'd been lounging by the river comfortably, R'wign suntanning as best he could without stripping for all to see. It lasted about fifteen minutes before Kaaolath's call came, and though he was sure it was petty, he felt certain that it was done that way on purpose to inconvenience him. Checkoth nudged at a rock, causing the fish beneath the surface to rapidly swim away in fear. R'wign gazed at the glassy water of the river and sighed.

"I think we should skip."

WHAT?!

"We can learn anything he can teach us from K'lir and Calistoth. I don't want to go," R'wign said stubbornly. However, his words earned a positively horrified look from Checkoth that made him roll his eyes in exasperation. "Oh, fine. We'll go. I don't want to, but since it means that much to you, we'll go."

We'd be in trouble if we skipped! Checkoth proclaimed with a flail of his wings. R'wignmine, I know you are upset but please do not punish us over it! We can make you feel better. Later, we will go swimming and I will catch you a lot of shinies, we will have more even than Behruth and His, and then you can show off. And after we will go to the infirmary and you will be the bestest healer there is, and no one will question it because if they do I will sit on them. R'wignmine is the best, there is no one better. I'll sit on them if they disagree, I will.

Boundless bundle of enthusiasm, he was. R'wign rolled his eyes and climbed onto Checkoth's back, the brown crooning in utter, unfathomable affection. The devotion he felt for R'wign was unwavering. He'd defend him no matter what -- even if he was wrong. R'wign could do no wrong in Checkoth's eyes. The brownpair bounded (On the ground. Where it was safe.) across the grounds toward the training field. While on the way there, R'wign pulled his riding coat on and snapped it securely. The extra layers of clothes were a pain in his opinion, but Checkoth was graceful enough on the ground that he managed to pull most of it on without trouble. The dragonpair trundled onto the training field gracelessly, and then Checkoth flopped right next to Behruth before crooning in affection. R'wign nodded toward M'ta, jumped off of Checkoth's back, and offered Sel'n a salute that may or may not have been flippant.

He was also trying very hard to hide a suspicious lump in his riding jacket. Ellie hated being away from him for very long.

[Rei]

Sel’n nodded politely to each arrival saving a small smile for Oquith’s arrival. Kaaoloth watched each weyrling pair arrive and land. After their crash landing the brown poked Behruth gently. Are you and your’s quite alright? After assuring himself that the brown pair were ok he turned his attention to Oquith. It is alright young one. It is very hard to get used to landing then you are lacking something. He flipped his tail into the empty space where his leg used to be. You will learn, in time, to compensate and be a better flier for it. Perhaps hover a bit before you land, if you can manage it. As for wing drills, yes we will be doing them often.

Sel’n walked to Kaaoloth’s lowered head and patted his eye ridge gently. “Today we will be learning how to effectively manage different air currents. We will also be talking about the different problems weather creates and how to manage it effectively in flight. While we are in the air we will also pair up and perform some communication drills.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “Now before we actually get into the air I want each of you to give me a weather condition and it’s possible effects on dragon flight.” The brown rider evaluated the three and pointed to M’ta. “You first lad, followed by Tr’esn and then R’wign.”

[Requiem]

The brown huffed in mild surprise at being addressed by the older dragon, head swiveling to regard Kaaolath directly. Do not worry. We are fine. I mean, it hurt a little bit but, you see, the ground and I have a war and it's just being pesky because Checkoth and I defeated it. Now we shall defeat it again by squishing it! No need to worry. Though I think that it is not so good an idea to fly without a shiny. I told Mine that we shouldn't fly without a shiny, or we'd go splat, but he didn't believe me. Behruth directed a croon at Oquith, as a matter of greeting, but she seemed preoccupied and he didn't mind just lying there with His, who seemed quite content to give his midday nap another try right here in the grass.

That was when Checkoth and His came running up, the young brown delighting in the sight of his favorite clutchbrother. A good afternoon, CheckBrother, Behruth responded to the croon, rolling to drape himself partly on top of the other, larger brown. You look much better out here than when the doorway's trying to eat you. Did you see how bad I just flew? I fell right over! It almost sounded as if he thought that flying bad was a great achievement, so enthusiastic were his words.

M'ta, who was trying very hard to both appear and to actually be asleep, flicked his fingers at R'wign in silent acknowledgment and hoped no one else would notice. He snuggled closer to Behruth, only half-listening to the weyrlingmaster as he wondered why they were starting with so few present. The boy suppressed a yawn. Really, there had to be better times for lessons. There was a long, glaring pause there, and Behruth nudged him with a foot. What now? Kaaolath's asked you a question, M'taMine. Bother.

Cracking open his eyes, he regarded the weyrlingmaster from beneath his eyelashes, wondering if Sel'n would just give up on him if he waited in silence long enough. Weather, Mine. He wants you to tell him how a type of weather could effect flying. Really? That's pretty boring. Just do it, the brown insisted. Then he will leave you alone, at least for a little bit. Isn't that what you want? What I want is to go back to sleep, the boy responded petulantly, but he propped himself up on one elbow just the same and turned his mind to the mundane task.

"Rain. Soaks the wings, makes everything heavier. The dragon has to work harder, and it can also limit visibility, particularly if the clouds are covering the sun or there's wind, too." There. He'd been a good little weyrling and participated. Could he go to sleep now?

[Avu]

Oh! Oquith sprang aside instinctively as Behruth made a crash landing nearly, grabbing Tr'esn neatly by the collar to take the greenweyrling along for the ride lest the brown dragon somehow hit Hers. Tr'esn choked, hands instinctively going towards his collar, as Oquith pulled it tight. Though it had happened many a time, Tr'esn simply would not get used to being dragged by the throat somewhere, but he did know enough not to fight, simply dangling like a ridiculous, oversized rag doll from Oquith's mouth as she deposited him safely on her other side, and peered anxiously at Behruth as Kaaoloth attended to said brown. Oh, Tr'esnmine, that looked like it /hurt/, the green commented sympathetically. Rubbing his neck and swallowing, Tr'esn nodded and shrugged, wetting his lips as he made a slight noise in his throat. Mind not throttling me again, Qui? he asked, not unkindly. Oh? What? Yes...I mean, no, of course I won't.

Oh, and here was Checkoth and His. Oquith gave a slight whistle of confusion: Why weren't they flying? Didn't they like to fly? -- but before she could gather the courage to ask, lest she be repelled, Kaaoloth was addressing her and she gave a solemn nod at the brown. Hover a bit before she landed. Okay. You'll help me remember, won't you, Tr'esnmine? the green asked hopefully, and was reassured by an almost imperceptible nod from the boy, who curled one arm possessively around the green's neck, though with a wry grin he commented, Anything to prevent more landings like that one. The green didn't normally land as thus: Indeed, she'd gotten quite a good grip on landing. But the ground was so slippery and it was so hard to grab onto things when one had no talons.

--Wait! Oquith's wings flared abruptly in slight agitation as Sel'n began to speak. Weren't -- weren't they going to wait for -- for Qualuth, for Wymeth? Her clutchsiblings?! Tr'esn's touch turned restrictive, and a stream of soothing thoughts from the weyrling calmed the dragon, who fretted slightly before she paid full attention to what the Weyrlingmaster wanted of them. Weather -- wait, what? Weather? Tr'esn cocked his head slightly towards M'ta, waiting for the boy to answer. The silence drew on, and Tr'esn grinned nervously as he realized the brownweyrling seemed to be asleep. Asleep? During Lessons? Fortunately, he seemed to wake up soon enough to answer the question -- rain. Ah, Tr'esn had started thinking about rain: It was the only thing on his mind now that the drought had given way.

As soon as M'ta finished, Oquith lowered her head to nuzzle Hers affectionately. Your turn! I know...I know. Tr'esn bit his lip uneasily, considering. The second condition that popped into mind was Threadfall, due to the Wing Drills, but no -- that was far too obvious and Tr'esn didn't think that the Weyrlingmaster wanted to hear that anyway. "Umm...well, if there aren't any clouds or wind, it's harder to see 'cause of the sun, and dragons need to work more to gain altitude, but there won't be wind to blow them off course..." That's so pessimistic, Oquith commented, I mean -- there are /good/ things about clear, windless days -- it's lovely to sun then, isn't it? And -- well. I guess that doesn't involve flying...oh.

[archenstone]

Kalina patted Uminth gently as she sent encouraging thoughts to her. Poor Uminth could finally see the training field. She was high up though. Tilting her wings, she began to drift down, the right wing felt painfully restrictive so she simply glided. As she drew nearer she tilted her wings up some. The added resistance against the air slowed her down. Even so she wasn't as slow as she should be. Watch out! She broadcasted.

Kalina pressed her thighs against Uminth's hide. Her face was unusually pale as she held on. Uminth tilted her wings further as they neared the ground. She maximized the air's resistance as much as possible with out back winging. She had to run when she landed. As soon as she could slow down she plopped down and curled her wings up. Her eyes whirled in anxiety and pain.

Kalina quickly hopped down and walked to her dragon's right wing. "What part hurts Uminth? Try to relax it and let me see." She pressed her lips together from the flow of feelings. Tentavily Uminth eased her wing out. It's tight and sore Mine. It don't want to relax! Uminth turned her neck towards the others with a light croon. I'm sorry every one! Mine thinks I stressed my wing or strained or cramped or something like that. We didn't didn't mean to be late again! Her eyes slowed and took on a bit of embarrassment too.

Meanwhile all Kalina cared about was Uminth's wing. She managed to figure out what part hurt and there was no visible damage. If she where to guess by how it felt to her it was just a bad cramp. Kalina gently felt the area and could feel the contracted muscles.

[glamourie]

Checkoth squirmed in blatant delight and flopped himself against Behruth as best he could given their awkward position. It was obvious he was fond of the other brown. He made no effort to hide it (none was needed!) and he was very, very affectionate in general. The only creature he was more adoring to than his clutchbrother was R'wign, who was thoughtfully leaning against him and actually stumbled slightly as he moved. Yet the brownrider did not appear swayed, going so far as to lean more effectively against Checkoth once his dragon got situation. The weyrling's eyes swirled pleasant shades of blue and he crooned to all present, his form of a greeting; there was no need to be individual when there were so many! So many! And he was very excited about lessons, yes he was - so excited that he did not let his tired and agitated rider skip lessons just to sleep. He could sleep other times, instead of going to the smelly place.

You flew amazing! the brown replied happily, before blurting out, But but! I ran better. Know why? Because I have a shiny. R'wignmine has it right now, but we have a shiny. It is one of the shiny fliers. We will show you when Kaaolath's is not paying attention, because R'wignmine thinks bringing the shiny will get us into trouble here. I'm so excited! He calls her Ellie.

Oblivious to his dragon's behavior, R'wign glanced to M'ta and Tr'esn as they spoke before turning his attention to Sel'n. Wasn't he supposed to be the one teaching? Snorting, the brown weyrlingrider brushed one rogue curl from his face before indicating the sky. "Can't fly at night." Yes, that was his answer. "Dragons don't see well in the dark." Were they getting graded on effort? He sure hoped not. How was he supposed to know how weather conditions effected a normal dragon's flight? Checkoth's wings were slightly different from other dragons, but most prominently straying from the mold were his two tails. Normal wind conditions messed up Checkoth's flying because he became easily unbalanced, but R'wign had no intentions of admitting his shortcomings in front of anyone else -- and he blamed himself. It wasn't Checkoth's fault he hadn't figured out a way around it yet. The brown tried very hard, after all.

The sudden and chaotic arrival of another dragonpair had R'wign's attention, though, and he moved with instinct rather than reason - half-dashing over toward Uminth and Kalina. His eyes flicked to the green's wing before he turned to Kalina as Elegance - also called Ellie - flew out of his bag and gave a curious chirp. The little gold lighted onto his shoulder and flapped her wings before twittering a soft greeting to the green. Her tail snaked around R'wign's neck possessively, and the brown weyrlingrider turned to his classmate. "I'm a healer - Kali's taught me some things about dragonhealing. If you want, I wouldn't mind taking a look at her wing -- that is, if the Weyrlingmaster would permit it?" The green's movements told him a lot about what was wrong. While he wasn't qualified to deal with major injuries yet, he had no problem with what was probably a pulled muscle. Probably.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth nodded at Behruth’s explanation and his eyes turned towards his bonded who was currently scowling. What is wrong Selmine? Look at that lazy lout Kaaoloth, and he thinks himself a brown rider! Selenitas weyr’s youth is pathetic. I fear for the future of this weyr. Mine relax. He will get better. We’ll see.

The brown rider glared pointedly at M’ta. “You explanation is adequate but if you think this lesson is beneath you I can always fail you. Then you can go back to doing nothing with your time. I am not going to waste my breath on failures.”

The weyrling master then turned from the brown pair and focused his attention on the only green pair in attendance. Sel’n nodded at Tr’esn’s contribution and his attention was torn from the last weyrling by the entrance of Uminth and Kalina. The green's distressed tone was an obvious indication of pain. Sel'n frowned.

Kaaoloth crooned reassuringly to the young green dragon as he bounded over to her. Young one do not move your wing so much. Mine is coming. His eyes whirled in worried yellows but he pressed reassurance on the younger dragon. Mine should I call a dragonhealer?

Wait a second Kaaoloth. One of our students is a healer. Sel’n walked to the scene and laid a hand on Kaaoloth’s single foreleg, the touch intended to reassure. He looked at the gold flitter but did not comment, at least for the moment. “You have permission to look at her R’wign.” He said solemnly catching the brown weyrling’s eyes. “If you need a second opinion I will call a dragon healer.”

Kaaoloth crooned reassuringly to Uminth again as Sel’n walked back to the other weyrlings. “It seems Uminth has strained her wing. She will probably be grounded for this lesson. Once she is tended to we will get into the air. While you wait, think about what you know about wind currents and their different effects on flight. Kaaoloth will be testing you once we get into the air.”

[Avu]

The lecture that Sel'n awarded M'ta for his semi-asleep state drew a slight cringe from Tr'esn, though the Greenweyrling chose not to comment. It was fair, he supposed, that the brownweyrling's lack of focus on the lesson be punished, but as a weyrling himself, he had a natural bias towards those in his weyrling class; it was easier to side with them and feel accepted than to side with the Weyrlingmaster -- even if he agreed with Sel'n, he doubted he'd be able to support him. Threatening to fail him, though? That was a bit harsh, to Tr'esn; M'ta, unlike some of the other Weyrlings (he winced as he realized those 'other Weyrlings' included K'iel and Vashti) had at least showed up -- Sel'n couldn't ignore that entirely, could he? (Actually, he probably could; he was Weyrlingmaster and therefore had absolute power over them.) Oquith pranced slightly in her spot, an anxious croon emerging from the small green as she touched his shoulder with her nose lovingly, eyes whirling anxiously at Sel'n's displeasure, though it wasn't the brownrider's displeasure so much as her Rider's distress that made the green nervous.

He received a nod, which made him bite his lip and then return the nod, acknowledging that he had seen it, as he pressed more tightly against Oquith's side, arm tightening around her neck in a mixture of possessiveness and nervousness. As the green weyrling huffed quietly, eyes whirling pleasantly now that Hers had been appeased (somehow) by Sel'n's nod (why she didn't understand, but he was fine and that was good). That the other two weyrlings seemed to be so friendly with each other made the green dragon nervous about the idea of approaching them, afraid that they would repel her, and so Oquith settled for merely twining her body lovingly around Tr'esn's and crooning sweetly to him.

-- and then came Uminth, and the green's broadcast elicited two separate reactions from the pair. Tr'esn froze, eyes widening in shock as the green dragon dropped abruptly towards them, uncertain how to react. Oquith, on the other hand, instinctively grabbed Tr'esn by the collar of his shirt -- again, even though he'd asked her not to -- and jumped away from Uminth's flight course, wings flaring in agitation and nearly lifting her off the ground as Tr'esn clutched at the green's neck, choking against the tight collar of his shirt and trying to ease the pressure on his windpipe. "Can't breathe," he gasped, eyes widening even more (which seemed an impossible feat, as they'd already been quite wide to begin with). Oquith dropped him as she wound her body around him again, peering anxiously at him and then at Uminth. The other green's apology made her warble anxiously as she inched forward, her eyes whirling in rapid shades of alarm. Hurt?! Uminth was hurt?

Uminth, won't you be able to fly? she asked anxiously, as Tr'esn rubbed his throat for the second time in as many minutes and then gulped before he came around to Oquith's side again, one hand resting on the green's flank as he blinked at Kalina. First anxiety for the greenpair fluttered within him, and then a bit of ire at Kalina. Shouldn't she have known not to push Uminth that hard? (He didn't know much about healing, other than what had been taught in Weyrling Lessons, but he was fairly certain dragons didn't just decide to hurt their wings, or whatever Uminth had done.) And then she'd decided to fly to Weyrling Lessons, on a wing that was hurt? Even if it had been pulled halfway here, it was -- was safer, that they come down immediately rather than risk worsening the injury. He was fairly certain that was right.

Nevertheless, R'wign had darted immediately to Uminth's side, and he was a Healer (and a gold firelizard owner, too. Where had she come from?), so Uminth would be taken care of, at least. Oquith crooned anxiously again, and Tr'esn hugged her neck closer as the dragon's wing curled protectively around him, as if shielding him from the injury. Tr'esnmine, Tr'esnmine...does it hurt her? she asked nervously. Is it con -- cun -- catching? "No," he answered aloud, thoughtlessly, promising himself that he'd never let Oquith get hurt if he could do something about it. "It's not...she'll be okay."

[Requiem]

Behruth was, fortunately or perhaps unfortunately, mostly distracted by Checkoth's words and so didn't catch the annoyance of Kaaolath's at His right away. It helped that M'ta's only emotional reaction was a form of vague amusement, something the brown was more than used to; M'ta was often either vaguely annoyed or vaguely amused. He truly seemed to feel little else, with the occasional exception of mild unease. A shiny flutterbye? Behruth questioned Checkoth, excitement tainting his mindvoice. A flutterbye like Jabber, only shiny? You must show me, Checkbrother! She is very pretty?

M'ta gazed up at Sel'n, his half-closed eyes opening a little more. Oh yes, the weyrlingmaster was certainly going to fail him over this. He almost laughed. The brownweyrling was doing as asked, after all, and the brownrider had said nothing whatsoever about standing and looking lively, or what have you. He asked a question and M'ta answered it. Silly man. Of course, part of the attitude was, frankly, that being near Sel'n wasn't pleasant for M'ta. He wasn't much of a fan of bigger men in general. R'wign, of course, didn't qualify. He was...well...more like a weyrbrat than a man. But it had always served M'ta well to keep these men at a distance, making it clear they didn't bother him, and it was really, really hard to overcome turns of habit. In this case, the boy didn't even care to try. He was convinced Sel'n's threat was mostly empty, anyway, and M'ta knew that both he and Behruth were hardly failures, so it didn't matter what the weyrlingmaster thought.

He couldn't resist opening his mouth. "Oh? By all means, go ahead and waste your breath on someone else," M'ta replied, his tone full of false politeness.

This, however, Behruth understood, and the brown actually lashed out at His, catching the boy's shin with his foot in a glancing blow. M'taMine! That is not very nice to say to Kaaolath's! And I don't want to f- He broke off mid-sentence, head lifting as he caught sight of Uminth. Behruth was up on his feet in an instant. This wasn't good! His eyes whirled orange with barely contained anxiety, though he couldn't decide whether to move toward her as she slid haphazardly across the ground or to make sure to get out of her way.

M'ta had risen up on one elbow, more than just a little amused that he was in trouble rather than R'wign, but also concerned for Uminth and Kalina. Which held most of his attention now. Unlike the others, however, he knew there wasn't much he could do so he didn't rush over. He couldn't stop a crash landing if that had happened, just gotten in the way, and he knew absolutely nothing other than what little they'd been taught when it came to healing.

Behruth felt no such reservations and was making his ungainly way toward Uminth, crooning sympathetically, when a flash of lovely gold caught his eye. Pretty shiny! M'ta was rolling to his feet in an instant, going from a standstill to a dead sprint so swiftly it was nearly impossible. "Behruth! Don't!" Too late. The brown, without thinking, sprung forward, a loving croon directed at Ellie. Pretty, pretty gold shiny. How are you, little flutterbye? He brought his snout up close to her, ignoring the fact that he'd knocked R'wign clear off his feet in his haste. M'ta was there in a flash, pushing on Behruth even as he bent to offer R'wign a hand up. "Sorry. Shards, I'm sorry. He's a complete spaz. Behruth!" M'ta's voice came sharp, finally capturing the brown's attention. "This is Checkoth's. You almost smushed him."

This caused Behruth to wriggle in new distress. Oh no! He nudged at R'wign anxiously. Checkoth, I'm sorry. Tell Yours I didn't mean to. He isn't hurt, is he? The brown's normally brilliant hide had turned several shades paler in his distress. He'd never want to hurt Checkoth's!

[archenstone]

Kalina looked over at R'wign as he walked up to Uminth. "I don't mind, please look." She had a distracted look in her eyes as she was more focused on Uminth than herself. Now that the muscle was not in use the pain was slowly easing. The muscle was still tight. It was slowly beginning to relax. Kalina could feel how Uminth was comforted as Kaooloth crooned.

Uminth shifted the wing to a more comfortable position. Please don't worry Oquith. I think I'll be all right. My wing got mad at me for rolling and seized up. It's...starting to relax now. Mine calls it a cramp but she's not sure if I hurt it more.

Mean while Kalina's eyes widened as Behruth came bounding over and nearly squashed R'wign trying to get to a 'shiny'. Kalina eyed the gold flitter. Doesn't he know by now that bringing shiny anything is a hazard around Behruth? She hoped the guy was okay...he looked like he'd be okay, even if he was just pounced on by a dragon.