Tidal Lesson 2

[reqqy]

((Everyone is asked to post three times in lessons over the next two weeks...until the next lesson starts. Just as a reminder!))

Lesson 2:
Training Field: Bonding Exercises – Tag!; Firestone Familiarization (Riders); Chain & Toss Empty Bags (Riders); Endurance, Strength & Wind Exercises (Dragonets)

You are ready, LaurieMine? Now! Reysalth barely had time to wake the hatchlings before the Weyrlingmaster’s morning ritual of crashing through the weyrling barracks like a tinker cart careening out of control down a mountainside assaulted any ears within fifty yards of the barracks.

“Out! Out! To the training field today! Out!” Lauranna skittered through the barracks, poking her head into any rooms that weren’t spitting out their occupants fast enough – and a couple of empty rooms, too, before the greenrider realized her memory of where everyone was quartered wasn’t as good as she’d first though. “Training field!” She called after a few weyrlings, who looked like they’d paused to linger in the common room. The woman bounced out into the yard that the little hatchlings were currently using as their training ground, trailing quite a few colorful scarves. Reysalth was curled at the far edge, crooning to the occasional hatchling and picking at her claws with her teeth.

“We’re not running first thing this morning like we have been. Today, the run is scheduled for this evening. Those of you with other duties are excused, of course, and I know who those people are, so don’t think you can fool me!” Dumping the scarves to the ground, she beckoned over the closest weyrling. Laurie scampered around behind and quickly folded over the scarf, tying it around their eyes. She tossed the scarves to a few of the older weyrlings. “Everyone gets a blindfold! Now, listen carefully:

“We’ve been talking about your bonds off and on, playing picture games and working on mindspeech. Now we’re going to take it a little further; riders, your dragons are going to be your eyes. Hatchlings, try to open your minds to your riders, to ‘help’ them see what you see – and riders, try to sink into your dragon’s mind. Don’t worry if it doesn’t work very well at first. That’s normal. It’s different for everyone, and some of you may only be able to take direction from your dragon.”

Glancing around, she tied off the last blindfold, satisfied that all the young riders now had to rely on their dragons for sight. “All right. We’re going to make this a little more interesting. R’wign is ‘it,’ and he’ll be trying to make someone else ‘it’ with Checkoth’s help. It’s a game of tag! No running in this game, though – your hatchling won’t be able to keep up and you will only get hurt. Okay. Go!”

Little ones, Checkoth’s is ‘it’! You don’t want the ‘it’ person to touch your mindmate, so try to direct Yours away from him. Silly LaurieMine. Not all the hatchlings would know what tag was! You want to try to show Yours where everyone is, Checkoth, so he can make someone else ‘it.’

-Behruth and M'ta-

One more time. Just one more morning of that obnoxious racket, and M'ta swore to himself that he would slit her throat. Fortunately, Behruth wasn't yet awake enough to pick up on that thought, or the boy likely would have been in for a good scolding from the brown. Cursing and rubbing at his elbow, M'ta scrambled up. This time he'd been at the edge of Behruth's couch when Laurie startled him awake, resulting in an ungainly crash to the very, very hard floor. Behruth yawned lazily. He hadn't taken a tumble, after all.

Good morning, Mine, the brown commented in a sleepily cheerful tone. He slid to the floor almost bonelessly, where he lay on his stomach and stretched each of his limbs as if they had all the time they could ever want. M'ta just glared at him and threw on the shirt he'd laid out the night before. "Will you hurry up? I don't want that Laurie woman poking her head in here. What are you doing anyway?" If I stretch like the Jabber in the morning, everything is nice and warm. The boy just blinked at him. "What?" Nice and warm inside. You should try it. "Maybe some other time. Come on!"

In such a hurry, Behruth commented, rolling to his feet and shaking himself out like a canine. All right then. I'm ready. But you'd be much less grumpy if you did Jabber stretches, he concluded. The brown walked out into the hall with M'ta falling in beside him. "Could you walk any slower?" Checkoth and His aren't even out yet. We aren't late. The boy fell silent, casting nervous glances in the direction of the Weyrlingmaster's ongoing racket.

When things finally started getting underway outside, M'ta couldn't quite hide the scowl that threatened when it became clear she'd cancelled their morning run. The boy really liked his schedules, and he'd been running every morning - barring the time his foot was broken - for turns. You will run later. Oh! Can I run with you? Not when everyone else is...maybe you shouldn't. You might trip. You won't let me, Behruth returned confidently. You're kinda big for me to catch, ya-

Reysalth's wants you, Behruth interrupted. M'ta looked up. Great. She did. He twitched as she skirted around behind him, the scarf settling over his eyes, and it took all his self-control not to grab her by the arm and throw her over his shoulder. The brown pressed close to his side. M'ta relaxed a little - though he'd very much like the use of his eyes! - when it became clear what they were doing. Let me see for you! How's that? Can you see it? Can you? Sorta... More like impressions of things - very vague impressions. Like a bad nightmare with fog everywhere where you couldn't make out anything more than five feet in front of your face. He reached out tentatively toward the nearest weyrling, his fingers brushing along their arm.

Who? It's Uminth's. Isn't that exciting? We're going to play tag! What is tag? A pause. Ohhhhhhhhhh. No, no, no, not that way. Can't you see that's the wrong way? Not really. Mine is not so very good at seeing, Checkoth, Behruth commented to his clutchbrother, still quite cheerful. Is it fun to be 'it?'

Aberath, rider Ki'ner - Absent
Behruth, rider M'ta
Checkoth, rider R'wign
Kloth, rider F'neth - Excused
Imprith, rider Raila
Qualuth, rider K'iel
Glenth, rider V'neti (APC)
Wymeth, rider Vashti - Absent
Oquith, rider Tr'esn
Uminth, rider Kalina

Posted once
Posted twice
[shadow=black,left,300]Posted at least three times[/shadow]

[Avu]

Hum. Yes. Sleep. Half conscious, Tr'esn lacked the energy to disentangle himself from Oquith - the green had wriggled onto his cot, and, lacking the space to not squash him, had done promptly that, her full weight settling around the Weyrling's torso and her wings and tail tangled around his furs, her head plopped directly into the warm crevice created by his neck. Long eyelashes fluttered against his cheek as he pushed himself wearily to wakefulness - and that was done, naturally, for him in an assortment of clashes, banging, and an amazing number of other sounds that reverberated shockingly. Gray eyes jolted open to an extraordinary size as Tr'esn physically twitched in alarm, wrapping his arms instinctively around Oquith with a slight groan of disapproval. Did she have to be so - exuberant?

Why the loud noises? Oquith complained sleepily, nuzzling her head deeper against Tr'esn. I don't think your cot is very comfortable, Tr'esnmine, she added, blinking as she disentangled herself from Hers. I like the couch much better. Tr'esn raised one hand to rub his eyes groggily, shaking his head. "You're not supposed to sleep on my bed," he pointed out, stifling a yawn as he flicked a slightly wary glance at his roommate. Ki'ner and Aberath, to be precise, and Tr'esn lacked the courage to wake them himself if the noise hadn't - not to mention he lacked the heart to make Oquith wake them. The bronze - scared Tr'esn. And the alleged attack of one of the Brownweyrlings during the Hatching had done nothing to soothe that fear. His roommate would have to get up without Tr'esn's help.

The green dragon hopped down lithely from the bed, flaring her wings for balance, the rainbow of greens vividly displayed before she folded her wings neatly again. Come on, then, Tr'esnmine. Lessons! We'll get to see Wymeth and Qualuth's, she added more cheerfully. Do you think Qualuth is going to wear his shiny? "Maybe. I don't know." Tr'esn blinked again, running his hand through his curls and shaking his head wearily as he followed Oquith outside, one brow rising in slight confusion at the Weyrlingmaster's appearance. What was with all those scarves? No running? That was just fine with Tr'esn, who found running wearying anyways - overall not particularly enjoyable, especially since with his physical build, it was horribly obvious that he was nowhere near as strong as some of the other boys. Or even the girls, for that matter. Embarrassing indeed.

He stiffened, torn between surprise and a slight wariness, as the Weyrlingmaster began to blindfold Weyrlings. The scarves are pretty! Do you think we can keep one? Oquith sounded pleased as Tr'esn allowed himself to be blindfolded, blinking against the dark fabric as he reached out blankly for Oquith and bruised his knuckles on something that felt very much like a wall. Who was that?! That wasn't anybody. That was a wall. Oh. So he'd been right about that. Tr'esn squinted against the fabric, although he resigned himself to listen, hands still outstretched until Oquith butted his legs and he dropped his hands to her head, as the Weyrlingmaster explained their mission. Waitwaitwait, what's - oh. /Oh/. Okay. Huh? I didn't know what tag was. Reysalth explained it. She's very nice.

"Umm, right..." Tr'esn spoke aloud as he shuffled forward in the opposite direction of the wall. Can you see? Oquith asked, bounding along at his heels. Kind of... And indeed, it was 'kind of'. A blurry, grainy, bouncing vision of what he recognized as the training yard enlarged in the Greenweyrling's mind, sharpening when Oquith huffed her exertion. Better? Stop jumping around, please? Oops! How's that? Go that way. No, Tr'esnmine, that's not the right /way/! The /other/ way. Tr'esn swiveled on his heel and stumbled over a rock, sprawling in an undignified heap. "Ouch!" he blurted as Oquith gave a mewl of alarm, flaring out her wings as she defended her fallen Bonded. Don't step here! Fallen Weyrling here! she exclaimed to the dragonets, carefully excluding Checkoth in the exchange as she anxiously eyed Hers. Whoops.

[archenstone]

Kalina got up from bed just as the clanging began. Over time she had gotten used to the schedule and sometimes she woke up on time. Wincing as the obnoxious racket moved through the hall she began to get dressed. "Good morning Uminth. ...Uminth?" She turned around as she pulled her head through the shirt. The couch was empty. Uminth! Anxiety spurred her into full wakefulness as she left her room, not even knowing if Vashti was awake yet.

Don't worry so KaliMine. She got the impression of being outside. Where are you? She asked as she followed people outside.

Outside of course...its easier to sleep out here. Kalina wasn't sure if that was even allowed. Maybe she would ask some one about later. She met Uminth outside and rubbed one of favorite spots. "Good morning, I hope you got lots of rest then." They walked over to the others and received a blind fold. I don't like being blind she commented to Uminth as she tied the sash around her face.

Don't worry! I'll help! Kalina tried to sink further into their connection. Whats that smell? She winkled her nose in distaste. Thats feet KaliMine. Don't you know what humans feet smell like? Kalina pulled back a little. I don't think I want your sense of smell Uminth...I need to see!

She felt a hand touch her arm and froze. Who is that? She hadn't directed the thought but Uminth heard anyways. Thats Behruth's. He can't see either. Kalina tried again to see with Uminth. A vague image up looking up at M'ta. You're shorter than I thought Uminth.... look around, Where's R'wign and Chekhoth? The sense of turning around to look but standing still almost out did her the first time. It was a completely unexpected sensation.

Mine just realized how bad feet smell Uminth commented cheerfully to Behruth.

[glamourie]

IhatemorningsIhatemorningsIhatemornings.
Why, R'wignmine?
Huh? - Thinking to myself, not you, sorry!
But why? Mornings are when we get to be the bestests!

"If you say so," R'wign muttered as he rolled up and managed to dress. It took some doing. He'd only been asleep about a candlemark, and while he knew it was ridiculous to nap for such a short period of time, he couldn't stop himself. It was hard to get himself on a routine. Before, he'd slept the day away and stayed up all night. Lately, he felt like he was napping whenever Checkoth did, which was... quite often. The brown also had turned into an overgrown pillow, whether he liked it or not (but he seemed to like the affection quite a bit). R'wign yawned and stretched, cracking his back in several places. His stitches were out, and it felt good to have full mobility back. He turned on his heel and slinked off to the training field. To say he looked disorganized was an understatement.

Even as Lauranna launched into explanations, R'wign picked different pieces of sleep out of his eye. He yawned and stretched, standing on his tippy-toes, though he was listening - sort of. Something about blindfolds. He was very tempted to ask Lauranna if there was something she needed to discuss, but kept it to himself for fear of public reprimand and due to being utterly exhausted. Only when he heard his name was he suddenly jolted to reality and he gaped, looking down at the scarf he held. Carefully, he handed the extras out around him, then lifted the fabric to tie around his eyes. They were playing invisible tag? He was so going to end up spraining an ankle. He just knew it. He'd end up in the infirmary probably being scolded by Kalierre for messing his legs up. All because of blindfolds. Baaaah.

Despite R'wign's agitation, Checkoth was excited and he crooned loudly to show it. I can do that! Mine will make them all Itses, he will! the little brown proclaimed, for Reysalth and all the other dragons to hear. You will see, when we are through you will all be Itses and then we'll be the only NonItses left! You'll see!

Sink into his dragon's mind. R'wign half-expected to see posies and firelizards. He reached down to brace himself, one hand resting on Checkoth's back, and nodded as the game began. The brown crooned to him and he squinted, though all he saw was inky black, thanks to the scarf. He was listening to the sounds of shuffling, and his mind reeled with the list of Weyrlings from his class. Who to pick first? His immediate mental reaction was Kishawhateverhisnamewas, but only because R'wign felt mildly vindictive. It would have been childish to deliberately try to humiliate Aberath, though, so he settled for someone else. Talking mind-to-mind to Checkoth was still an odd experience for him but he managed okay, reaching out with an image of one of the tall female greenriders he remembered as having Impressed. Hopefully Checkoth would understand who he meant.

We're getting Uminth's? This way, this way, Checkoth said, unaware that he was speaking for all the other dragons to hear. It didn't matter, as he immediately grasped R'wign by the sleeve and tugged him in Kalina's general direction. This way, come on, before she moves and we can't make her an Itses!

[Ruby]

This week, Raila had resolved to be put together for lessons, even though they generally started with running and were at a ridiculous hour. Imprith had risen with her, grumbling all the way. He didn't understand why she needed so much time to do her hair- You are beautiful, mine, like me! No matter what the silly stuff on your head does, was Imprith's input.

Quiet, love, we'll wake Roshya. I'm not sure if she has lessons or not, but no one in their right mind would be up now unless they had to, Raila replied, pinning a final lock in place. She was dressed already, ready for whatever athletic nonsense they'd be doing today- CRASH. Maybe not so ready. The Weyrlingmaster's usual morning routine had made her jump so bad she'd pulled out about half of her hair, and it stuck oddly out of one side of her head. She shoved pins in with a sigh, hurrying now despite all her preperation. She was beginning to hate Lauranna, a little bit.

They reached the field along with the others, however, and recieved a blindfold. Imprith was thrilled that it was greyish- it matched his silver, he said, and made them even prettier together. Raila just laughed, putting a comfortable hand on Imprith's head. Blindness wasn't something that bothered Raila at all- they'd do it together, that she knew. Imprith wouldn't let anything at all happen to her, and Raila trusted that with her whole being. She opened her mind and her eyes, straining a little to see through the bond.

The picture she was left with was very disorienting- Imprith was facing her now, looking up at her face. Is that really what I look like from below? Remind me to watch what sweets I'm eating from now on, she commented. Imprith tilted his head, almost throwing Raila off her feet- good thing he had a hand on the Blue's shoulder now, or she would have gone over for sure. This was harder than it seemed. Why, Railamine? You are beautiful from every angle.

And you, of course, would know, Raila replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Imprith, however, didn't quite get it, and simply turned his attention to Reysalth rather than try to get an explaination. His was confusing sometimes. Tag, however, sounded straightforward, although Imprith wasn't sure he'd like it. As Checkoth announced his intended target to the masses, Imprith began heading off the other direction, Raila following the faint image overlaid on the blackness of the blindfold without incident.

[wirevix]

K'iel was enjoying being able to sleep quietly, curled up in a little ball under his furs. Qualuth was on his couch, one leg and his tail dangling off the side, looking like a perfected lump of contently slumbering Blue. He had one of his forepaws curled over his snout, and occasionally snorted when his toes shifted.

And then, of course, the Weyrlingmaster saw fit to wake them up quite startlingly, and Qualuth rolled off his couch and landed in a lump, eyes whirling in startlement. K'iel wasn't much better off, straightening out rapidly and thrashing around in his furs, getting himself tangled up.

Qualuth calmed before His did, pattering over and tugging at the furs carefully, biting hold and pulling them off of the boy, freeing His from the warm and cuddly confinement. The Blue nuzzled K'iel a little, calming the boy down.

"Okay, okay, I'm up," he said, patting the Blue and putting a hand on his nose, pushing his head back gently so he could stand up. He grumbled faintly, running a hand over his hair and making it stick out ridiculously, not noticing what he'd done to it. He just changed his clothes quickly, hurrying at stripping off his shirt and exchanging it, then the pants--he didn't want to spend any longer than he had to undressed near his roommate. He just didn't like that.

Come on, Mine, we will be late if you do not come now, Qualuth said calmly, heading for the door. K'iel followed along, trailing after his dragon, picking up his tail idly and toying with it some as he followed the dragon to the training grounds.

He frowned steadily as the Weyrlingmaster described the day's activity. He didn't mind relying on Qualuth for something, he relied on him pretty much constantly by now, but he still didn't like the thought of being blindfolded. He didn't struggle against it, however, allowing his vision to be totally obscured.

Do not worry, Mine, Qualuth said calmly, leaning against K'iel's side and causing the boy to tip over a little before he caught his balance. Qualuth was just getting heavier every day, after all. Pretty soon he would be able to knock K'iel right off. I will show you where everything is. Can you see?

K'iel tried to focus, biting his lower lip and frowning. How was he supposed to get into Qualuth's head that way? He disliked the thought of losing touch of his own sensations. He was nervous, didn't want to do that. But... well... he had to try, right? Otherwise he would just trip on something and wind up on his face.

He tried to see. He tried to get deep enough out of his own head and into his dragon's that he could see the world as Qualuth saw it, but everything just stayed black.

[archenstone]

As Uminth turned her head to look for Checkoth she heard him. Time to get moving! She said cheerfully to Kalina as she trotted off away from Checkoth and his partner.

Uminth wait! Kalina shuffled forward, depending more on sound than what she sensed from Uminth. The first few steps where okay but people had begun to move and she could hear the scuffling of their movements. Distracted she stubbed a toe, grimacing.

Uminth looked towards her, once again the sensation of moving a different direction than she was heading was disorienting. She paused again. Uminth...if you walk beside me and look where I need to walk you'd help me out alot.

Uminth saw Checkoth again and moved right next to Kalina. I'm here Mine and you need to move... they're going to make us It's and I don't want to be an It... and neither do you! She hesitated a moment longer... trying to see clearer through Uminth's eyes. You see alot more blue than I do...

So? Stop stalling! SHe walked forward a couple steps.

Not wanting Uminth to leave her Kalina started to walk forward. To her, the image she received from Uminth was like blurred painting.

[felina]

You know, he really needed to stop waking up after his roommate. It rather irked him, seeing the other boy up and dressed before he even managed to get Aberath to stir. The bronze was not at all happy about being woken up at all for that matter, but then again, Ki'ner wasn't particularly pleased with the situation either. If they make us do some silly thing, I will eat that Greenrider, the dragon declared suddenly, bowling Ki'ner over as he butted against him with his rather large head.

I don't think we really have a whole lot of choice in the matter. Not that reasoning with Abe ever really worked. The silly bronze was so set in his ways sometimes. However, the weyrling did drag his feet a bit as he headed for the lessons, not really wanting to deal with Aberath acting up. Again. Once had been enough for him, and quite honestly, he was a bit surprised to still be alive.

They did manage to catch the Weyrlingmaster's explanation of the game, however, as well as a blindfold. Ki'ner looked at it dubiously before tying it around his eyes- he wouldn't put it past that hyperactive Greenrider to have put something nasty on his just so that he'd spend the next few days with burning eyes. Aberath's attitude seemed to have changed as well. Though during the explanation he was constantly grumbling about having to do silly things with no purpose, a minute later he was happily crowing about how they would be the best of them all and nobody would be able to make them an it. I will show you what I see and you will stay away from that silly brown and his boy. Or else. But it doesn't matter, because they can't get us anyway!

[Avu]

"Ouch..." Tr'esn scowled as he rolled onto his stomach, pushing himself off the ground. Take off your shoes, Tr'esnmine. They always make you trip. That's no fun. Obediently, the Greenweyrling kicked them off, hoping that nobody else tripped over them, and groped for Oquith mentally. I need the images again, Qui. Oh! Oh, right! Hang on. Ummmm.... A pause as both Tr'esn and Oquith struggled to cooperate, and then Tr'esn relaxed - and felt like he was falling headlong into Oquith's mind. Much simpler than he'd expected it to be, really, he thought absently, disconcerted by the odd angle. The fact that Oquith was watching the other Weyrlings, too, her head whipping around as she butted at Tr'esn's legs - it was - odd. Tr'esn nearly fell again; as it was, he staggered, lurched, and then Oquith's warm hide under his fingers steadied him.

Ooh! Checkoth's is going for Uminth's. We're fine for now, Oquith commented cheerfully. Can you see well, mine? Tr'esn sighed as he tried to slip away from himself, found it - difficult. He was scared of loosing touch with himself, scared of not knowing. Scared of blindness. I will not let you not see, Tr'esn. I love you, trust me? I do... the Greenweyrling protested, exhaling softly again and resisting the urge to physically sink down towards Oquith. A blurry image - Tr'esn concentrated on breathing. Lack of movement definitely helped - clarified. Sharpened. Okay. Okay. Got it. Go forwards?

A soft huff from Oquith as the green hopped a step, her wings unfurling in her excitement; Tr'esn teetered on the edge of balance as the image blurred again, the shapes of the others becoming indistinct - and then was nearly thrown onto the ground again, sandals or no, when Oquith spun to watch his progress. What's wrong? I see perfectly, Oquith protested, and Tr'esn couldn't repress a yelp of protest. Don't look at me! It's - it's weird. Look - look at - at - Checkoth. Where are they? He rubbed his temples wearily with one hand as Oquith's head whipped around again, the image whirling nauseatingly. This. Is. Painful. The mental speech was a mutter as Tr'esn squeezed his eyes shut. They're over there. Let's go over h - Qualuth! Let's go see Qualuth and His!

"Qui - " Tr'esn protested, blanching as the green trotted, her pace surprisingly smooth after her bouncing, towards her blue brother, crooning excitedly at him. This is fun, isn't it, clutchbrothermine? How is Yours doing? Mine is having trouble balancing, she admitted cheerfully, nuzzling his shoulder lightly as Tr'esn wobbled unsteadily towards her. Qui help me! No rocks. Just go straight. Straight...here I am! As Tr'esn neared her, the green raised her head, butting it gently against the boy's hand. Guess who this is? Qualuth. And K'iel. I know that much. Good! See, not hard.

"...right."