Weyrling Lesson 5: Juniors

[ryanne]

((I figured I'd change it up a bit and start at the end so we actually can say that we completed a lesson! And yes, I'm early. *is shot* I'm still new at this whole schedule thing*))

I'mny looked at his class with disappointment in his eyes. Already they were performing poorly. The ground drills had gone miserably and the nutrition lesson hadn't improved beforehand. He was not comfortable with the lack of progress they all seemed to be displaying. Sure, most of the dragons were trying their best and keeping up nicely, but a lot of the new riders weren't putting any effort into the lesson. He thought that he had them properly scared, but apparently not. He was just going to have to try harder to keep them in line and terrified.

His scapegoat for the lesson was one of his favorites. "Janisi, do you have no idea how to mount?" he asked, rounding her dragon to stare her down. She probably wasn't the worst in the lesson today, but I'mny needed someone to yell at. "Try it again. Continue mounting and dismounting until I tell you to stop." He stared at her for a moment, "Hop to it! What are you waiting for?" Shaking his head, he continued down the line, glaring at all his subordinates. He had ordered them in a straight line, stretching through the Weyrbowl. "Your drills were miserable. I insist that you try harder, you pathetic excuses for weyrlings. You all better mount perfectly if you want to escape this lesson with only minimal punishment chores." He shook his head again, turning around and heading back the other way.

He looked back, seeing them all still on the ground. "Did you miss the mounting idea or do I have to spoon feed it to you?" he asked, a cutting edge to his voice. "Okay, this is how it works. I tell you what to do and you do it...immediately! No delay. Get your sharding backsides on your dragons and do it properly. I don't want to see any fumbling or clumsiness. It's not that hard. You just swing up. Big dragons, ooh, what a challenge. Surely you've figured out how to use your dragon's body to get on! Even your dragons should know by now to extend their forelegs. Go. Mount. Now. And do it properly!" His voice was gradually gaining in volume. Towards the end, though, it dropped back down as he strolled back towards Janisi, watching her intently. "Mount."

Attendance
T'nmor of bronze Jedirth
S'adi of bronze Sitieth
Q'in of brown Russeth
N'tian of brown Elleoth
A'viar of blue Benath
L'ron of blue Fortith
T'ra of blue Gartoth
D'niel of blue Zorith
Devai of green Sendreth
Janisi of green Storith
Sikowy of green Linoth
Fiona of green Raiyth

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[kysseh]

I think the weyrlingmaster is in a very bad mood.Raiyth told her rider matter-of-factly as Fiona surveyed the distance between the ground and her dragons neck. The green was not massive by any means, not even fully grown. But the space still looked daunting enough, and thus far, Fiona had not been able to pull it off without having to struggle a bit. Even using Raiyth's foreleg as a step was not helpful. The young woman still got confused somewhere between the leg and the neck. At least he's not picking on us.Raiyth added helpfully, turning her shapely head to look back at her minorly perplexed bonded.

Fiona's eyes were narrowed, and her brain was ticking, matching. She knew how to ride runners. Left foot in the stirrup or on the block, right leg swings over. It came to her then that the same principle applied with mounting a dragon, though one must be able to mount from either side. She could have smacked herself for her idiocy. Instead she merely shook her dark-curled head and moved to Raiyth's left side. I should've thought of this earlier. Stand still. Fiona told the cheerful green. Raiyth did so and extended her foreleg. Left foot on the foreleg, left hand on the neck. Swing up! Fiona chanted to herself as she performed the actions. It wasn't a flawless mount by any means, but it was her best so far. She sat astride Raiyth for a moment, delighted with herself, and then told Raiyth to let her dismount.

Other side this time. she told the dragon when Raiyth moved to extend her left foreleg. We need to practice the other side too. The green was confused by obediently switched legs, eliciting a rumble of happiness when Fiona managed to get off the right side without losing her balance. Heartened by this small measure of improvement, Raiyth left her foreleg out for Fiona's use, and Fiona made an attempt at mounting again, this time from the right. It was not smooth, but it was better. That alone cheered both weyrlings.

We are not a complete loss! Do it again! My leg does not hurt, and we need practice. If we practice hard, maybe we can learn to fly sooner! Raiyth said enthusiastically as Fiona dismounted off her left side and then moved to remount. In the mind of the green, this logic was flawless: work hard and practice, perfect it, move on to the next step. It barely occurred to her that the weyrlingmaster would find fault with anything, and she largely discarded that concept. She just wanted to fly.

[irbre]

[Psh. I'm finally back. Better hop to it, eh?]

"He's certainly in a bad mood today," T'nmor muttered under his breath to Jedirth. The bronze didn't reply, merely continuing to stand still, rooted to the spot, waiting for T'nmor to clamber up onto his back. Casting a quick glance around, the bronzeweyrling moved closer to Jedirth's side. He was certainly not the epitome of grace, as Jedirth often pointed out, and while he certainly had long enough limbs, his lack of coordination countered what little advantage he had there. Still, he at least attempted to mount properly, unlike some, apparently. In all truth, T'nmor had paid hardly any attention at all to those around him, instead focusing on the task at hand.

Be careful, Mine, Jedirth warned, not just speaking of mounting, either. T'nmor attempted another mount with even less success than the last, falling firmly onto his buttocks with a soft 'oof.' Jedirth was watching the others, his tail twitching slowly on the ground behind him. Keep doing that, Mine, he stated, observing I'mny singling out the greenweyrling Janisi. He should not focus on the faults of only one rider. Continue failing, Mine, the bronze stated, casting a cursory glance at T'nmor. T'nmor obeyed, failing repeatedly with louder exclamations and a good deal more bruises.

--------------------------

We must obey, Q'inMine, Russeth stated, prancing slightly on the spot. The tiny brown held his head high, as serious as ever. Q'in nodded and picked himself up yet again. They couldn't fail. No, he couldn't fail Russeth. The brown was his life and he'd do anything for him, even if it meant following the rules of their cranky Weyrlingmaster. He straightened up, brushing himself off once again before looking up at Russeth. Despite the fact that his brown was undoubtedly the smallest of his color out there, his size was still daunting to the short weyrling. Shrugging off his momentary concerns, Q'in tensed himself to try once again.

Russeth remained perfectly still, a statue of diligent perfection as Q'in tried once again to mount. This time he was successful, for a crow of triumph echoed from the brown's back. Congratulations, Mine, Russeth complimented, twisting his head slightly to look back at Q'in. Despite your stature, you succeeded quite splendidly. Q'in blinked and frowned, attempting to find out if the brown was poking fun at him or merely complimenting him. He gave up seconds later, casting a cursory glance around to see how the others were doing. Not too well, apparently.

[Kisha-Ra]

Janisi felt sure her legs were going to give out the next time she slid to the ground, she had been sure the last time too, and the time before that, and many times before that, yet somehow she managed to land every time with nothing worse than ungainly stagger. When had Storith gotten so tall? This was much harder work than mounting a runner, and she wasn’t generally expected to mount and dismount any beast for what seemed like forever.

Somehow I’mny had appeared from behind Storith, how the weyrlingmaster could shout and sneak up on her was a mystery to Janisi. She scowled at Storith’s shoulder as I’mny berated her, knowing that any answer to question would be counted as insubordnate, and picked up her drill again as the weyrlingmaster strode off, hopefully to yell at other people.

I do not see the point of this.[/color] Storith complained although she did her best to hold her foreleg steady for her chosen. As long as you can mount does it matter how we look?[/color] The green thought and spoke as a child might, with no consideration for the future. Storith couldn’t see how practice now would save time and trouble as she grew, she only knew she was bored of this.

It matters to I’mny was the only reply Janisi could come up with as she slithered down Storith’s striped side again. As if her thought had summoned him, I’mny marched back toward Janisi and Storith, still yelling, like a particularly unpleasant curse. Janisi seriously wished she wasn’t still on the ground; she had no idea why she could only successfully mount about half the time, the other half she slipped or mounted badly and gained a few more bruises for her trouble.

Obediently Janisi turned back to her dragon, feeling the terrible gaze of the weyrlingmaster on her back. She knew with certainty that he was waiting for her to mess it up. So don’t mess it up then.[/color] Storith advised as she extended her fore leg again. I know you can do it, just pretend he isn’t there.[/color]. Easy for you to say. Janisi groused as she put her foot on her green’s leg and tensed. He isn’t looking at you, he thinks dragons are the best thing since him, it’s weyrling riders he hates. Janisi finished her complaint as she landed squarely on Storith’s neck.

You know what? You did it, you’re where you’re supposed to be![/color] Storith crowed into her rider’s mind, prancing a little to show off the position of her rider between her neck ridges. Janisi smiled broadly, infected by Storith’s merry mood.

[randi]

L'ron was sore and listening to their beloved Weyrlingmaster yell at them certainly put a damper on his spirits. The only reason he was sore, of course, rest in Fortith's amazing ability to, at times, let him drop while dismounting. Luckily, he was not the focus of the insecure idiot's attention. Poor greenrider. For a few moments, he actually felt pity, which made Fortith emit a rumble of amusement.

For the moment he had them all lined up, he wondered if he was fed up with, once again, assuming that they knew as much as he, but no, I'mny insisted on being stubborn. L'ron knew what to do, but only by Fortith's instructions. The blue was smart, not like he couldn't have figure it out for himself. His hair was falling out of its 'tail, clinging to his neck as if trying to make him feel all the more miserable.

When the other blurerider gave his signal, L'ron turned the Fortith who was peering at his clutchmates, particularly interested in no one. Using the dragon's forearm, he stepped up, mounting with a small bit of difficulty, his hair finally giving up on the staying back part and flying out of its tie.

Fortith gave another rumble, I was unaware I had bonded to a male. L'ron kicked him, not bothering to pull it. The dragon would only taunt him for "going easy" on him, there was no point in keeping the step between hits in place.

Dismount, Fortith ordered, ignoring what he considered affection from his rider. He swung down, once again finding the his step was mysteriously missing, causing him to have to drop, making his arms pull hard, making him grit his teeth and the blue rumble again. Maybe the Weyrlingmaster wasn't completely useless in the making amusement department.

[midnight]

Sikowy clenched her hand into a fist, grinding her teeth in frustration as I'mny expressed his displeasure with them once again. What did they have to do to put him in a good mood? She shook her head as the Weyrlingmaster yelled first at Janisi, then at the class as a whole. She knew that they had to learn this stuff, but did I'mny have to be such a complete wherrybrain about it.

What did he say, mine? You seem very angry,[/color] Linoth asked. She could tell that I'mny had been upset by his movements, but she hadn't heard his words. Sikowy shook her head, sighing.

He told us we're dimglows, basically, and told us to get going, she answered. Linoth extended her foreleg. Then do so, mine, and do not make him even more mad.[/color] Sikowy nodded and put her foot on Linoth's foreleg, tightening her hand around one of her neck ridges. She was short, so mounting was harder for her in some ways, but it was also easier to haul her lighter wait over Linoth's back. She pushed up with her foot and swung her leg in between Linoth's neck ridges, then sat down a little too hard. Oof. She winced, surreptitiously rubbing her backside. Well, that would stop with more practice, and at least she was up here.

--------

N'tian liked to consider himself a strong young man, but I'mny's relentless drills had exhausted him. He leaned against his dragon, groaning inwardly as the Weyrlingmaster lectured them. He had come to expect I'mny's disapproval, but that didn't make it any more pleasant to hear.

At least it's only for a few months, and then we graduate, He thought to himself, standing up straight as I'mny walked towards Janisi. Hopefully our wingleader won't be this bad, right, Elleoth?

Certainly not, mine,[/color] Elleoth answered, calmly extending his forearm. N'tian swung up onto his dragon rather gracefully. He had been mounting and riding runnerbeasts for years, and mounting a dragon was just on a bigger scale. Once on his dragon, he shot I'mny a defiant look, daring him to point out any flaws in his performance.

[ryanne]

I'mny watched Janisi with disapproval in his eyes. The greenrider needed to use her arms just a bit more. She couldn't just vault her way up there. She needed to be balanced and secure or else she was going to make a fool out of herself by finding herself falling off the other side of the dragon when she happened to overestimate the distance onto her dragon's back. "More arms, less legs," he instructed sharply before turning to move on down the line.

When he reached L'ron, he halted, watching the blue weyrling as he literally dangled from his dragon. "Pitiful," he spat out. That was no way to dismount. "You need to use your dragon and not expect to be able to do it yourself. Tell him to put out his leg so that you have something to support your flailing body." This was so disappointing. Surely he'd taught these pitiful creatures better than this. How many times had they gone over these procedures?

"Dragon's leg out, your foot on. Grab the neck ridge, balance yourself. Push off with your legs and guide with your arms. Swing your right leg over and then secure yourself in your seat. Swing your right leg to meet your left, hold onto the neck ridge. Lower yourself to your dragon's extended leg and then drop to the ground. Come on. Is it really that difficult?" He barked, keeping his voice steady but loud. He wasn't necessarily yelling, but the entire class could definitely hear him. "Answer me!"

[adair]

S'adi's eyes had fallen half closed as even Sitieth rumbled in annoyance. Can I eat him now? I do not like this lesson whatsoever and he is annoying me. Who does he think he is, ordering us around like that? Came the dark fire voice, S'adi stroking a hand down the bronze's side to calm him. "Hush now and let us just continue doing what we are doing." With that said, the male boosted himself up once again, swinging his leg around into a near perfect mount, though his toe did lightly kick his dragon, gaining him a snarl.

Or perhaps I should eat you and be done with it, I do not appreciate getting hit... At all. Sitieth swung his head around and his rider barely missed getting his leg bit by the cold dragon. Now, get off once more. We shall be the very best at this, I will have nothing less than perfection from you. Those words were accompanied by a shrug of rapidly growing massive shoulders until S'adi stumbled off once more, shooting a glare through dark bangs before his face fell once more into its accustomed mask.

--

"This isn't so bad, I think..." Of course not mine, you are putting enough effort into it. Just raise yourself up a bit and use my neck ridge a little more and we shall be fine. Sendreth crouched down a little more so her short rider could get a good leg up, though Devai's arms were getting more than a little tired by now. Their weyrlingmaster was always acting as if he had sat on his dragon's headknobs and today was no better, though both dragon and her human had to admit that they were learning quite a bit.

The achy feeling in Devai's arms was what caused her next mishap, and nearly had her sliding over the entirely other side of Sendreth's body, though the green was quick to turn her head and give her rider a slight boost, also shifting her body down on one side so Devai stayed on her back instead of in the dirt. "Please tell me he didn't see that... Oh please please pleaaaase tell me he didn't see that" The young woman murmered into Sendreth's back, her dragon jumping a little as she tried to croon though, as always, it was soundless. Do not worry mine... I shall protect you from the big bad weyrlingmaster. Now OFF so we can try this again.