Galactic Weyrling Lesson 13

[Requiem]

In the same slaughter that had reduced the list he now crumpled in his fist, bluerider Meri had died. The Weyrleader scowled around at the empty room. For awhile, they'd suspended the lessons, but now even the most injured of the weyrlings would be merely sore. They couldn't put it off any longer. Truly, putting it off this long might have been a lapse in judgment. It left the young people alone to their thoughts and memories.

You worry too much. Better to have all the survivors together, in one room. Perhaps you're right. Of course. The unspoken truth was simple enough. Doubtless, those who had sustained the most grievous injuries were likely looked up to. To not have them at the first lesson since the attack? S'rei sighed. Today was going to be a bit strange. The greens were old enough now to begin rising soon. He wasn't looking forward to that particular lecture. The Weyrleader had nearly gotten his sister to come give it, but it fell through at the last minute, so it fell to him. Not so easy for a bronzerider to explain what it felt like to have your dragon rise...but he'd seen it happen enough that he could guess, and it couldn't be too much different than the feeling that came over him when a gold rose within the weyr.

He figured they'd be thoroughly attentive by the end of that discussion. Which was conducive to the next order of business: betweening. It had to begin today. Two more months, and the weyrlings would be joining the Queens' wing before Wingleaders picked them up to enter the wings. Normally they would have had more time than that to prepare. Things weren't going very normal. On the other hand, one of the reasons they usually spent more time on it was getting all the weyrlings to 'between' in formation, which would be much simpler now. Perhaps the only upside he could think of regarding that whole fiasco.

No, S'rei wasn't about to let anyone else - even F'rah - direct this particular lesson. He had absolutely no intention of losing any more senior weyrlings. Perched upon the desk, one leg crossed over another, he leaned back to regard the ceiling pensively. Now. Come, weyrlings. Lessons resume. No one is excused, Salenth called, his tone firm, but not without sensitivity.

***

By now, she knew. Her stint as a HAD was officially over. In fact, even should a dragon other than Phremath wish to speak to her, Kalierre was incapable of hearing them. She had corresponded with Ninian, who suggested the fever was the source. The man said she should just be happy she was alive. He had a point.

Phremath shifted near her at Salenth's words, nudging Hers mentally. They'd left Lust behind in the weyr earlier, asleep. Soon enough he'd awaken and throw a fit. Kalierre and Phremath were getting used to the salamandyr's fits. He'd already taken over their weyr. The greenpair had spent the better part of the morning circling around the canyon, having already been told that weyrling lessons would start up again today. They had to have early warning, seeing as how Phremath couldn't fly up to the weyrling barracks unless there happened to be a nice thermal within gliding distance of her weyrledge. Strangely, what had happened with the weyrlings seemed to have landed the green with acceptance regarding her wings, though she was still determined to try her best to overcome her handicap.

Phremath had proved herself quite well during the crisis. Phremath and Adith both. Kalierre calmly walked into the barracks, flashing a slight smile at the man who perched upon the desk, though she was certain he didn't see it. Phremath stretched her wings outside the barracks, dropping the harness she'd carried through the trees. The green's head swiveled, looking for her clutchmates. Ah. There was one. Jessereth, the brown who hardly had spoken more than a few words to her over the past turn. He settled near her sharply, his rider sliding to the ground and shooting a wave at Phremath. The green liked Jessereth's, even if the dragon himself was rather surly.

Hello, she greeted cheerily.

***

"Good morning, Phremath." The man stretched his back, taking his time, seeing as how only Kalierre had arrived. They couldn't very well yell at him for being late when he was one of the first, now could they? He blew a hank of hair from his eyes, glancing at the brown, who even now stared off toward the hatching grounds and the golden Millieth who'd captured his attention for tendays now. Z'hin had rather hoped it would wear off after the flight. If anything, Jessereth's worship of the queen had gotten worse. In his mind, he'd Flown her, because she had chosen him...even if some renegade Benden bronze had usurped that role. Now the brown's adoration was mixing with a possessiveness that his rider knew all too well. After all, Z'hin was usually on the other end of it.

Jessereth stolidly ignored the glance of His.

Surely you can greet your clutchsister. I doubt it would kill you. The brown didn't move at all. After a long moment, he asked, When are you going to remove this harness? It's annoying me. Z'hin sighed. "Okay, okay." He began clumsily working at the buckles, trying to ignore the fact that, even after this long, his left arm was still next to useless. It would never be what it was. Never. The weyrling shot a sheepish smile at the green with her stunted wings. "Don't mind this grumpy lout. He's just incapable of more than one train of thought at once. Rather dense, you see." Jessereth wasn't even in the mood to nip at Z'hin for such a comment.

Bronze Rinth and rider W'liam
Brown Jessereth and rider Z'hin
Blue Adith and rider Uu'n
Blue Clestioth and rider E'nor
Green Llath and rider P'tol
Green Toryth and rider Ciara
Green Phremath and rider Kalierre

[missa]

"Kellris will you get off me?" Strange how such a request didn't sound annoyed, more like a tired request as hand worked absently at the small tolons digging into his shoulder. The question was met with a rather stubborn hiss, and a tail curling about his neck in a tight hold. Plainly stating the brown flitter was not going anywhere.
I want to come too. A slight whine from Clestioth had a soft smile spreading across his face as he moved so he could cuddle his dragon.
You can be close. Just outside if you like? A heaving sigh from his dragon, and a feeling of reluctance as Clestioth shifted away from E'nor.

Hello Phremath, Jessereth. Spoken softly, Clestioth moved no closer to the other dragons than he had to, merely wishing he was the same size as Kel, then he could stay with His the whole time, not have to worry everytime E'nor was out of his sight. Crooning as E'nor petted his nose gently before heading inside, Clestioth settled, closing his eyes slowly.

Firstly, E'nor wasn't sure he wanted to go back to the lessons, knowing that the others wouldn't be there, that there would be those missing. People he might not have known well, but had grown to like and accepted they were there. There was no escaping it though, as he spotted Kali. Where he might have greeted her before, he merely found a place to sit, glancing at S'rei almost absently before fousing on scratching Kel's eyeridges.

~*~

"That is very uncomforatble Willow." Despite the fact that her tail was rather annoying brushign against his stomach like that, W'liam didn't sound annoyed, more amused as the green hooked her claws around teh nekline of his shirt and peeped out over it. Crooning as she rubbed her head along his neck as she refused to move. For an independant flitt, Willow wasn't about to leave Hers. He got into all sorts of trouble when she wasn't there to scold him.
"You gonna be okay Rinth?" Stroking the bronze's nose gently, W'liam leant against him briefly as Rinth rumbled.

Of course I will be. Jessereth and Phremath are here. Clestioth is too, though I don't think he wants to talk. You go. Have fun. I'll be fine. Besides, Willow is with you. Sounding surprisingly cheerful as he turned to nudge Phremath and greet her happily, Rinth left His no other option than to get to the lesson.
Hello Phremath! Hello Jessereth, how are you and Yours? It is good that Ours are all together isn't it?

Glancing at Ruinth once more, W'liam headed into the lessons, frowning as Willow's tail swished against his stomach again.
"You're doing that delibrately. Stop it." He told her, poking the green gently as she trilled happily. It was rather nice being carried around like this, she should do it more often.
"Hello Kali... Sir."

[ravenmane]

Ciara-Mine, Salenth says lessons are resuming. No one is excused from this lesson too.

A hand strayed to her chest, fingering the familiar scar from the massacre. Memories flooded her, reminding her of what had almost occurred when this wound was inflicted on her body. The pain, terror, and cruelty she had seen that Threadfall would stay with her for a lifetime. Seeing the violent deaths of her classmates, riders of Toryth’s siblings, had scarred the Weyrling emotionally and physically. She did not want to see the faces of the other six. Only seven out of the original fifteen had lived. Sixteen lives had been lost that day. Ciara felt that she could not see the faces of the survivors. She didn’t want to be reminded of how they had also suffered.

With a sigh of dejection, the Greenrider raised herself to her feet. Chatti peeked out of her pouch, chirping curiously. The little Salamandyr stared up at her Own, her voice rambling on as usual. Hearing the salamandyr’s curious inquiries, Eryn raised her head from her forelegs and hissed viciously. Since Impressing Chatti, the fire-lizard had been ignoring everyone except Toryth. Chatti hissed back, her frill flaring to glow like a dark emerald halo. Shushing the small salamandyr, Ciara scratched Eryn’s eyes ridges before trotting out the door. The girl walked towards the classroom, comforted by the presence of her multicolored, always happy Green.

When she arrived, the Sr Weyrling ignored the presence of the other four already there. Finding a secluded seat, Ciara settled down to wait. She glanced at the other Weyrlings from the corner of her eyes, never making direct eye contact. Kalierre, Z’hin, E’nor, and W’liam were the only other Senior Weyrlings present. That left Uu’n and P’tol to arrive, and then the lesson could begin. Chatti peeked from her carrier, glancing at the other people nearby. Satisfied that no one was going to harm her Own, the small salamandyr raced up Ciara’s arm in twisting patterns. Arriving on the girl’s shoulder, Chatti settled down into a soft stream-like tone. The familiar way her tiny companion chattered nonstop comforted Ciara, helping her feel more at ease.

[neeuqtar]

The command came to Uu'n and Adith. The duo made their way down, Uu'n feeling especially sore and uncomfortable. A twinge in his shoulder reminded him that he wasn't yet healed, and wouldn't be for a while. The blueweyrling leaned against a nearby object, dark eyes dull with pain. He wasn't healing right, somehow... possibly he should have obeyed the healers and stayed abed, but he was far too restless for that...

Llath hadn't strayed far from P'tol since the attack, and that wasn't about to change. The childish green carried the young man all the way to the class, only letting him out of touching range when he went to stand next to E'nor. "Hey," he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. Talking had become almost impossible for the shy boy, but he somehow felt a bit more comfortable around E'nor and Ciara. But this lesson... greenflights... was one he was not looking forward to, at all!

[Requiem]

S'rei nodded to W'liam, even as Kalierre acknowledged the bronzeweyrling with an easy smile. Soon enough, all of the weyrlings had arrived. All seven of them. The Weyrleader's gaze swept the room. It was a decidedly sober group. His eyes lighted on Uu'n for a couple extra seconds. Perfect. He made a mental note, and launched immediately into what he intended to say.

"You're here, now, because of the sacrifices of all those who Impressed in the Galactic Clutch. Some are here. Some aren't. But the truth of the matter is that these sacrifices have been made, and you owe everyone who gave of themselves. You owe them every breath you breathe now, and the only way to repay that debt is to make the most of your life. That is why you're here.

"In a few minutes, you will begin to make your first jumps Between. Your mind has to be clear for this. Salenth and I will jump with you, to help with the visualization. If your mind isn't clear, you will be lost Between. And the sacrifices that everyone has made? They will be purposeless. So, if you feel you can't concentrate well enough to bring you and your bonded safely through Between -" his eyes skipped from weyrling to weyrling, lingering a little longer on a few of them that showed a measure of uncertainty "-I suggest you inform me.

"First, though...your dragons are all maturing. Some have already engaged in their first chase. Those of you with greens...they will be rising within the next six months. You may notice that they're becoming more flirtatious and irritable. Most greenriders don't, though. Greens don't start glowing until right before the Flight. In fact, a lot of seasoned greenriders find that their dragons' Rises consistently sneak up on them. Other riders like to swear that they can tell when a greenrider's green is approaching Flight, but, again, most of the time this simply isn't true. I've known many greenriders. Some, like my sister, always seem to know, and everyone around them does, too. But my first weyrmate was always caught off-guard. It just depends on the dragonpair.

"So what does that mean? You won't be able to prepare. The lust will likely come upon you suddenly, and believe me, you won't care who your partner is, so long as you can find one. Most riders don't recall what happens in Flight at all. They realize their dragon is rising, one minute, and then the next they wake up to someone in their furs, and a soreness that will become all too familiar over the turns. If you're a virgin, I seriously recommend that you change that before the Flight. Your partner will not be caring. This is simply lust, after all. If you're a male greenrider with a heterosexual bent, you should explore the homosexual realm before the Flight because, again, your partner will not be gentle. You don't want to be broken in under those circumstances.

"For male greenriders in particular, it's common that there might be some minor injuries associated with this coupling. Go to the infirmary. Don't let your embarrassment get the better of you. This is common, and isn't serious unless you ignore it. Also, Flightlust demands that the lust be sated. It doesn't mean that you necessarily have to end up partnering with the one who flew your dragon. If you wish, you may seclude yourself with a chosen partner, and it will proceed naturally. Weyrmates often do this, if they've had jealousy issues in the past, or if they simply don't trust someone else."

S'rei finally took a breath. "Did anyone have any questions about the flights? You may see me or F'rah after class if you don't want to ask publically." He nodded to the dragonhealer. "Kalierre, also, can answer your questions if needed and that's more comfortable for you." She pulled a face at him, though he ignored it, recognizing the amusement in her eyes for what it was.

Z'hin's mind had wandered throughout the information. This was mostly for greenriders, after all, and he knew what it felt like to be involved in a Flight. It was kind of frightening and exhilarating all at once, and yes, it had been somewhat disorienting when he finally shed the geas, but Z'hin hadn't been virginal at the time. It wasn't life-changing. True, if Jessereth had won the flight, it might have been. He blinked, trying to get his mind back on the matter at hand.

[missa]

E'nor nearly fell over in shock as P'tol spoke to him, the weyrling had become even more withdrawn since the massacre. Speaking rarely to even W'liam, who he was closest to, E'nor seemed to have withdrawn into a space where only his dragon and his flitt were allowed. Now, P'tol was talking and he raised startled eyes to P'tol.
"Um, hello." The words were whispered, Kellris sounding an encouragement in his ear as E'nor faltered, glancing up at P'tol with a shaky smile.
"H-how are you?" Well that was a bit more... S'rei was speaking, oh thank Faranth. No more talking, good.

However, S'rei's first words had E'nor's blood running cold, and thee blue weyrling bit down on his lip unhappily. Sacrifices, people gave their lives and he lived.He didn't deserve it, it had merely been a factor of luck. He could have been chosen first, he could have died along side the others. Only luck had saved him, and E'nor didn't want anything to with anyone anymore... Between? Why? Uncertaincy was the first feeling that went through his mind, and he couldn't shake it, Clestioth might be confident, but he wasn't.
We can do this Mine. Of course we can, we can do anything, I will keep you safe. I would never let anything happen to you Mine, I am Yours, I will always, always keep you safe.
Maybe... What? Flights? I hate this lesson!

~*~

Why did he have to start with that note? Sacrifices, reminding them that people had died for them. It wasn't easy to live with that knowledge, and S'rei had made it worse by mentioning it. Willow crooned from where she clung in his shirt. Between, the lesson he'd longed for now suddenly seemed threatening and scary. If he couldn't clear his mind enough, Rinth wouldn't get a clear picture and they'd be lost, in the cold darkness of nothing, forever. That would be -

Frightfully dull. I think it would be awfully boring. Same thing, over and over and over. Very boring. You would not last long either Mine you need to breathe. So do I come to think of it. What do you suppose will happen when you run out? Rinth interuppted cheerfully, bringing a smile to his rider's face, which had been the aim all along but never mind that.
We'd probably die. Came the amued reply, W'liam listening with half a mind to S'rei about the flights. Rinth had risen already, after a gold no less, no he still hadn't gotten over it. Blooming bronze was too young in his opinion. But of course, never mind that.