Precious Stones Lesson 13

[reqqy]

This, and that, and this, and...I will eat you this time, truly, if you don't stop that. I'm just trying to find everything. Rah's papers are all over the place. He's got his own organization that to everyone else is like a hurricane and tornado strike combined. You're making me dizzy. We're going to be late, Laurie responded, not really listening, as she continued to bustle about with little success.

Can't Dasmonth's... Not around, the greenrider responded curtly, before throwing her hands up and fixing the stacks of loose papers that covered nearly half the floor with a woeful gaze. Oh, forget it! As it is, we're already going to be walking in after most of the weyrlings do. We'll be lucky if they're still there. You called them, right? Styth's told them yesterday. Laurie sighed. Call them, Reysalth. You can't expect a bunch of kids to remember from one day to the next.

The small green lifted her head from the weyrledge and yawned widely, in no hurry to comply. What did weyrlings have to do, anyway, aside from attend lessons, practice, and do chores? No need to rush. Lauranna, impatient, gave Reysalth a mental nudge. She shot Hers a glare. Fine. Pushy. Climbing to her feet, Reysalth stretched luxuriously. Senior weyrlings. You have a lesson this morning. Rise and shine and all that fun stuff. Laurie rolled her eyes. That was lovely, Reysalth. I called them, didn't I? the green responded testily.

That you did. Now wing me over. That is, if it's not too much of a hassle? The dragon snorted at the sarcasm.

They arrived rather loudly, Lauranna descending from her dragon's back in a clatter of half-cinched harness straps. A great example to the weyrlings. Oh well. Reysalth was a veteran. Laurie was a veteran. It was less than a two-minute ride by air. She would ignore that for now. She wasn't going to bring harness straps at all until she realized that probably wasn't a good idea.

The small woman darted into the hall, using the desk F'rah usually stood at to halt her run. She glanced back over her shoulder with a very, very childlike grin. Now what? Some were here, but not all. Her eyes crinkled nearly shut in the wake of her grin. "Hi!" she warbled cheerfully. Most would probably recognize her as the Weyrlingmaster's weyrmate, but if they didn't - it was no big deal. She was the cute, little boss of these children today, and they'd jump for her, yes they would.

Bronze Weyrlings:
K'ran of Elazrith
C'lryns of Minoath

Brown Weyrlings:
Sk'ler of Triniath
R'lor of Yiminth
E'rro of Ismaroth
APC D'ton of Xenorath

Blue Weyrlings:
Saraina of Hokth
Beka of Thoth
APC S'ylon of Milipsith
APC M'ly of Karath
APC M'meer of Firianth

Green Weyrlings:
Gina of Dasmonth
Rielana of Jeminorth
Religna of Ith
K'lir of Calistoth
Cezine of Brennath
Aliad of Aorath
L'ar of Snowquith

[boober]

“Bite!”

“Topaz, stop it!”

There was already a commotion in the classroom, and it wasn’t over their temp Weyrlingmaster being late. A certain green salamandyr was sitting on a vacant desk, her frill extended as far as it could possibly go and her mouth wide open to emit a loud hiss. Hovering over her was a rather furious brown firelizard. He screeched at the green, his eyes whirling blood red. Both of them ignored their bondeds, Bite leaping to snap at Topaz, the brown dodging just in time to avoid having his face bitten off. But the enraged firelizard shrieked bloody murder at the green, causing her to immediately retaliate with Dunghead! Big dunghead! BITE! Bite dunghead!

Oh, that was it! Insulted, his dignity in shreds, Topaz screeched and started to dive at that infuriating green menace, only to have a blur of gold appear before him. When it was gone, so was the salamandyr. They were gone! What had happened?! Spitting his rage, the brown vanished between, determined to find them and shred them with teeth and talons. That little green nuisance would pay for insulting him!

The two weyrlings that the creatures looked to were sufficiently ashamed, both of them blushing furiously with embarrassment at the scene their pets had caused. Cezine looked down, her cheeks all but glowing red and her hands clenched in her lap. Blue Sky was hiding, or at least trying to, draped around her neck but not quite hidden with his bonded’s new short haircut. The blue hated confrontations, and always hid when one exploded anywhere within earshot of him.

C’lryn actually had his face buried in his hands, his eyes squeezed shut behind them. Shells, what had he been thinking letting Bite come with him for this lesson?! Anyone who took even a mild interest would note that the bronze weyrling’s ears were burning red with his humiliation. All his attempts to train and temper his little green ‘mandyr’s antics had been in vain, and this had been one of the more painful reminders. Shard it, he needed to do something about her, but he was completely at a loss. Well, it was just fortunate that the fray had ended before Lauranna walked… or rather, ran in. Both weyrlings immediately sat up straight, lifting their heads to show their attentiveness… even though both of them were still blushing furiously.

[missa]

Lessons, lessons, lessons. We has lessons!

Yes, I figured that out. Rielana responded to her dragon with a rather bored note, watching the confrontation between brown and green 'mander with amusement. Bite really was rather aggressive wasn't she? Almost like Pride and his belief that every thing could be solved by violence. Luckily, she'd managed to leave everyone else, aside from Fiel, in the weyr. Fiel perched on her shoulder, looking at Bite with a bored expression. Such a silly female.

Where was the Weyrling Master? Jeminorth had mentioned that it had been a green calling, not the usual- There she was. She didn't just walk in either, she sort of ran in, and used teh desk to stop herself. It was the sort of enterance Rielana would have made, not the sort she imagined a respected dragonrider would have made. Swinging her legs above the ground, Rielana couldn't help but grin back at her. This was the sort of rider she could deal with.
"Awfully bright isn't she?" This was muttered to C'lryn, trying to distract him from the scene Bite had caused only moment before.

Really, it hadn't been that bad. Amusing, for anyone not involved, but she at least had come to expect that sort of behaviour from both Bite and Pride. Pride was hers too, so it was sort of an every day occurance now.

*

Thoth, I hate you. I really do. Beka growled at the blue, Thoth, in his turn, completely ignored his rider. He was getting used to this daily abuse, even though he knew his rider didn't mean it. She had to go to lessons, whether she liked it or not. He might have felt just slightly guilty, His was tired, beyond tired and there was nothing he could do about it.
You had to come. Was the only response, which Beka decided to ignore. She was well aware she had to come, that didn't mean she wanted to.

Glancing at Cezine's red face out of the corner of her eye, Beka nearly snickered. Served her right for bringing a flitter that didn't behave to the lessons, Anai was an angel in lessons. Or she was now, reched on Beka's shoulder and nuzzling her ear gently. It didn't make her feel any better though, what would make her feel better would be if Thoth actually let her go between. A quick jump would solve the nausea and the tiredness. It would also solve the problem of wearing looser clothing, Beka didn't have that many articles of clothing to begin with.

Glancing up at Lauranna as she entered, Beka attempted to look a little less bored/annoyede, and a little more attentive. Hard work when she was concentrating on keeping her stomach settled. Stupid lessons.

*

Shouldn't you sit a little closer to the front? Ith spoke softly to Religna, who was quite happy sitting as far back from everyone else as she could possibly get. Back here, no one noticed her and she could pay attention without being distracted by conversation. Here, she could observe her feelow classmates. Like watching Cezine's cheeks go rapidly pink, or C'lryn's ears go red. Or the way Rielana couldn't sit still for even a moment. Beka... Beka was hard. She looked tire,d but when didn't the blue weyrling look tired?

No, I'm fine here Ith. Thank you. The green didn't push the matter, instead falling silent as Religna covered a yawn with her hand, only sitting up straight when Lauranna came running into the room. It wasn't like a weyrling master to be late, F'rah never was.

[ryanne]

Senior weyrlings. You have a lesson this morning. Rise and shine and all that fun stuff. [/b]

Oh like they didn't already know. Yiminth had urged him out of bed a while ago, going on and on about how His couldn't be late for lessons. Well, shard it, he was here, waiting for their teacher. Oh wait...he wasn't here! The voice in his mind, though, wasn't the usual one that called him down. It was Reysalth's,[/i] his brown informed him briskly from his dragoncouch. He was still moping a bit about not being able to come. It was R'lor's fault that he didn't fit in the classroom anymore. How did you know that? he asked, wondering how dragon's could know the dragon's name even if they didn't meet. I don't know,[/i] he responded before R'lor's attention was drawn away.

Wow. Those little ones were making a mess. It was an all out war in the weyrling classroom. He grinned a bit, looking for Tick in his mind. He urged him to join, sending him a picture of the melee. Tick just sent him a condescending feeling back before flashing him a picture of warm furs. R'lor laughed, shaking his head at the little one's utter lack of energy. "That was loud," he commented, noticing how embarrassed they both were. Sure, his comment was probably going to make it worse, but that was kinda funny in it of itself.

Finally a woman strode through the door, interrupting the embarrassment that R'lor was going to continue to dole out. He couldn't very well do it in front of their temporary weyrling master, now could he? At her happy hello, R'lor just shook his head. This was going to be a long lesson. [/size]

[reqqy]

Only ten? Was everyone running late today? Turning around to face the class of weyrlings – only half of which had shown up so far – her smile turned ironic. “I’d wait for the others, but they’re obviously in no hurry, so –“ She shrugged mildly. “As you can probably tell, I’m not F’rah. He’s indisposed at the moment. Last minute changes and whatnot. So y’all are going to be mature little dears for Lauranna and not give me any trouble, yes?” The woman certainly didn’t seem interested about waiting on any answers. “Remember to continue working on those obstacle courses so you can run them next month,” the greenrider said cheerily. “F’rah planned on letting you work a little in class, but it’s a nice day outside and I just don’t have the patience. Out you go. Shoo.”

The small greenrider bustled ahead, not seeming to care if they were following her or not, the woman practically skipping toward the hill where the weyrlings had first glided so the dragons could learn to fly. A shadow fell over the procession. Reysalth banked, the equally small green landing lightly not far from the gathering weyrlings. Your riders need you, weyrlings. Hop to.

While they waited for the dragons to join them, Lauranna flashed her grin and began to pace, tossing her mane of golden curls and affecting what just had to be a mock-out of what she thought weyrlingmasters must be like. There was no possible way that this stance of bending forward, her hands behind her back, was a normal position for her. “More Between jumps. I’m going to assume that since all of you are still alive, you understand the basics. We’ll be jumping in groups of twelve, while the rest of you work with these bags of practice firestone.” The greenrider nodded to the sacks neatly stacked just behind them.

“Once we get that under our belt a little, we’ll be flying those formations everyone has been studying.” The greenrider paused, fixing everyone with a baleful eye. “Which you have been doing, right? Well, we’ll certainly find out. Now where are those younglings?” She cast about for the dragons who hadn’t yet shown up. Reysalth chose that moment to issue forth another great yawn. How boring. Hopefully once the weyrling dragons arrived, she’d have more to do.

[ravenmane]

Wake up. Lesson Time. Sk'ler scowled as his Brown spoke. The boy was tired from a restless night sleep, and the idea of lessons was not well received. Come on, Mine. I'm coming, Trin! The Weyrling had to shift the three bodies curled up around him and listen as Joolree and Bolli voiced their irritation of the early morning wake up. "Shut up, you two. It's not my fault." He scowled again and quickly changed out of his night clothes.

"Come one, Trin. Time for lessons." Sk'ler mounted his Brown, and Triniath launched himself into the sky. The trip was quick, but Sk'ler ended up being a tad bit late. He quicly dismounted and gave a respective bow to the temporary WeyrlingMaster, Lauranna. "I'm sorry I'm late." He glanced at everyone as he joined the group, and a small blush tinged his cheeks as he caught sight of R'lor. It seemed everywhere he went, Sk'ler saw either Fiona or R'lor. It could be so frustrating and embrrassing, but the Brownweyrling forced himself not to think about it.

[randi]

Late, late, late, late. Oh, what had she been doing that had caused her to be distracted and forget about lessons moments after they'd been called? It hadn't even been that important, just arguing with Aorath... She couldn't even remember what about, the thoughts had all but vanished at the idea of her being late, any color that might have been present in her skin draining instantly. Why didn't you remind me? Normally, she would not have been so happy about getting outside, indeed, she didn't like it one bit. It felt too open, and there were too many of them out there for her liking, but being late would be bad...

Spotting the small herd of the weyrlings she had been stuck with, Alaid arrived to hear the replacement weyrlingmaster's plan. More between and then firestone? You're lucky I'm not in trouble. Alaid shot at Aorath lamely. As though she would do anything. The pale girl's head was tilted down, hoping to discourage anyone from coming near her. She didn't like them.

You are being silly again, Mine. Aorath told her unhappily. For a moment, she hadn't been afraid, but here she was again. The green was among the first to land near the weyrlings, despite Hers being later.

It's not silly, the girl answered stiffly, casting the occasional glance up to make sure no one was getting nearer her. Aorath was close enough for her to feel mildly safe, compared to her usual attitude.

Aorath refused to answer the statement. Just listen to the lesson. We'll be fine.

[boober]

“Mm” was C’lryn’s only response to Rielana’s comment. Most of his embarrassment had faded along with his blushes after Lauranna had sufficiently distracted him with her entrance. Well, Rielana was right, and watching their temporary Weyrlingmaster made C’lryn feel old and tired, though he was Lauranna’s junior by ten Turns and some change. The bronze weyrling was just NOT a morning person! Even though he was well awake by now, he was nowhere near his best. Perhaps he would have been better suited to bond to a wher….

As soon as he thought it, he felt his bronze’s derisiveness through their bond, and couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Minoath was not as haughty as most bronzes could be, but he certainly felt himself above a wher! You think so as well, Mine came the dragon’s voice within his mind. The chuckling ceased, though the young man continued to smile, though not at anything in the room.

Of course I do… not even other bronzes can compare to you.

Pay attention to your lesson. I am coming down. Despite Minoath’s words, it was obvious to His that the bronze was pleased. Flashing a grin at Rielana as their Weyrlingmaster began to usher them outside, he got to his feet and strolled off in the general direction everyone else was headed in.

Unlike C’lryn, however, once Cezine’s embarrassment faded, so did her overall feeling of general well-being. She had not wanted to get up that morning, forcing Brennath to literally drag her out of her furs. She was just so tired, had been tired for days it seemed. She slept more than she used to, that’s for sure, and wasn’t nearly as productive as she once was. She even napped with the twins now, instead of taking the time to clean or mend or any of the other numerous tasks she’d undertake while they slept. Now she couldn’t wait for naptime, because it meant that she too could lie down and catch some much-needed (she felt) sleep.

But now that she was awake, the green weyrling felt awful. Usually she woke early enough to get breakfast before lessons… but not only had she not woken early enough today, the thought of food turned her stomach. Even now, she rested her arms in her lap, lightly wrapped around her stomach as she hunched slightly in her seat. Sky crooned to her, concern coloring his voice as well as his eyes. He was ignored as Cezine closed her eyes, letting her shoulders drop. She’d just relax here a few minutes, maybe her stomach would settle….

Or not. Lauranna began to lead them all outside and with a miserable sigh, Cezine stood to follow. But the motion had her suddenly grabbing the back of her seat as a wave of dizziness swept over her. In turn, this made the nausea worse, and it suddenly flashed through her mind that she was going to be sick. Without so much as a word, the young woman bolted out of the room, slipping past some of her fellow weyrlings with hardly a missed beat. Naturally, Brennath was alarmed. She didn’t like it that Hers was feeling unwell, and the sudden sensation of Cezine’s stomach heaving up its contents certainly did not please the green. Mine, what ails you? Receiving no answer from Hers, the green took matters into her own claws. Reysalth, Mine is ill. She will go to the healer as soon as she has finished emptying her belly. The younger dragon’s voice was calm and matter-of-fact, not at all panicked or alarmed as many dragons might have been.

Once Cezine’s belly was well and truly empty, Brennath didn’t even have to make a demand. The weyrling trudged in the direction of the infirmary without being directed.

[missa]

"Oh don't tell me you're sleepy too?" Rielana honestly sounded dismayed, here she thought there would be someone to talk to and she got a one syllable answer.
"What kept you up so late that you're tired today?" It was strange for someone who was always bouncing to see someone so... Tired. Lauranna was a breath of fresh air really, everyone seemed so tired and Rielana just couldn't understand it.
Not everyone can survive on one hour of sleep RieMine. You're supposed to be going outside.

Was she? Blinking to clear her thoughts, Rielana was on her feet in seconds. She'd known that they were leaving, known it all along of course. She'd just been waiting for others to leave, that was all she'd been doing sitting down. Watching Cezine suddenly rush out of the room, Rielana blinked slowly, before shaking he head. She didn't think betweening was that bad.
"Wonder what's wrong." She murmured to C'lryn, walking beside him.
I'm coming before you call. Jeminorth cut across just as Rielana had been about to ask her lovely green to come down to the lesson.

Beka couldn't help it, as Cezine stood, and then bolted, she snickered. It was good to know that someone else was feeling as rotten as she was these days. Though she at least had the chance to settle her stomach before standing slowly. Wait, hadn't Lauranna said betweening? Thoth wouldn't just come out and disobey, so maybe she'd finally win this sharding argument. Thank Faranth.
Coming down Thoth? Beka asked softly, barely masking teh smugness in her tone. There was nothing Thoth could do, he'd have to obey, at least Cezine had run from the lesson. It wouldn't be good to between if she wasn't well.
Fine. I'm coming.

He wasn't going to give in there though, giving his bonded a long silence in reply to her question as to what he was doing, the darkly coloured blue nodded politely at Reysalth.
I'm sorry, but I don't wish to take Mine between this lesson. Please tell Yours, BekaMine is not well enough I think. That said, he turned back to Beka, who was glaring at him. Those sweet words might have worked with F'rah, but Reysalth and Lauranna were female, what other reason could Thoth have for not betweening with her other than the one she was avoiding? Sighing, Beka almost wished she'd taken Cezine's way out.

Religna honestly couldn't see the big deal, so far, one student had bolted from the room. Poor thing obviously wasn't feeling well, and now if Ith was telling the truth, another was refusing. Personally, Relinga wanted all the practice she could get with between before she was graduated and stuck in a wing. She was going to be nervous enough without not being confident in her ability to pass herself and her bonded between safely.
I'm sure there are reasons Mine. Ith spoke patiently, nodding her head ever so slightly to Reysalth.

Maybe. Was all the response Religna gave, unwilling to say more. She didn't know the reasons, but wouldn't it have been better to just tell Lauranna outright rather than bolt or get the dragon to say something? Dragons were notorious gossips, if ever Religna wanted something quiet, she would never tell Ith to pass it on. She'd tell Ith and tell her to keep it quiet, but that was very, very different.
Yes, but you are a different person. You were raised differently LiMine. Some are not accoustemed to keeping secrets.