Weyrling Lesson 2

[paryal]

"Wake up grubs!" If F'rah had been bellowing, then only Faranth knew what Meri was doing. Screaming at the top of her lungs until she was hoarse, the assistant Weyrlingmaster knocked on the doors on those unfortunates still sleeping, making sure that they were properly awake in time for their second lesson. "You have ten minutes! No more, no less. I expect to see you in the room in ten minutes, or you will NOT be allowed to come to the lesson. Instead, you get a private one. With me." Grinning like a shark that has just spotted its favorite prey, the rather sadistic bluerider turned on one booted heel and began to walk out to the main classrooms, eagerly awaiting the confused straggle of Weyrlings that would follow in her wake. Lenorath, wake the dragons. Oh, Lenorath rather liked this. The feeling of power he got was immense. Even the Queen had to listen to him in these matters. She was young, and had no power in his domain.

Wake up, you lazy whers. Wake your riders and get to the lesson. Pleased with himself, the blue continued to relax on his own Weyr ledge, taking in the early morning sun. And it was early- the sun had just crested the horizon, and it was still weak. There was even the faintest shadow of the moon still visible above the canyon wall. Why should he have to rouse himself to look over them? Meri could manage that perfectly fine. When he felt like it, he would fly down and perch, likely scaring all the foolish newly Hatched dragons who didn't know what was coming to them. For now though, he was going to sun himself, and maybe go back to sleep.

Once the last of the Weyrlings had straggled in, Meri stood in the front of the room, balled fists resting on her hips. Behind her, on the desk, lay a large basket of several different colored threads. The Weyr colors were evident, as was a small pile of gold strands, a slightly larger pile of bronze strands, an even larger pile of brown, a twice as large again of blue, and finally the largest, which was, of course, green. It should have been fairly obvious what they were doing this lesson, but Meri enjoyed treating the class like they had the brains of a wherry. "I know this may confuse some of you, but we're making your knots today." She held up an example made during her days as a Weyrling- a simple, circular knot with the Weyr colors and the color of the dragon they rode in between. "Just knot the threads in and out, like you're braiding something, and measure it to fit your shoulder. You will be wearing these knots at all times, so that people can know you for your rank." The emphasis Meri placed on the word 'rank' suggested that it wasn't a very high one, at that. "When you have finished your knots, turn them into me for inspection." Not likely she would approve of anyone's knots the first time around.

"In addition, I believe there has been some unpleasantness to deal with after Aslath's Flight. We will be discussing making the dragon and rider bond stronger, as well as controlling your dragon through the numerous emotions they feel, and you feel." Oh boy. Discussing feelings. What a wonderful way to start Meri's day.

This Lesson Will Cover:
*Weyrling Knots
*Making the dragon/rider bond stronger
*Controlling emotions

Who's Here: (If the name is in red, they've shown up)
Goldriders
Paryal of Gold Aezanth (Psh, I don't have time to make another post. But they're here. )

Bronzeriders
W'liam of Bronze Rinth
T'ren of Bronze Kasraith

Brownriders
Z'hin of Brown Jessereth
V'nus of Brown Vemorath

Blueriders
U'un of Blue Adith
A'en of Blue Ayisseth
E'nor of Blue Clestioth

Greenriders
N'vis of Green Reenith
P'tol of Green Llath
Alene of Green Liamorth
Q'ell of Green
Kalierre of Green
Ciara of Green Toryth

NOTE:
A after your name indicates you have not done a dragon profile for that character, and that your character still has a Candidate profile. You should fix this. :3

[thialyn]

Once again, it was Kasraith who was excited for the Lesson. He pushed T'ren out of bed and onto the floor. It was comfortable, right? But it also served its purpose in rousing the drowsy bronzerider. Come on 'Mine! The Lesson is starting! came the voice of the excited dragonet as he sat legless on the bed. T'ren thought that ten minutes was more than enough time to get ready. But then, this coming from a guy who prefered to bath at night instead of the morning and you've got a prep time of about 6 minutes in the morning. But that was without strapping wooden legs onto a squirming and excited Weyrling.

"Hold still Kas," he said, trying to get the braces in the right place. The bronze immediately stilled, and T'ren was able to strap the worn things on. Perhaps he should take up Paryal's idea and get a smith to fashion a pair of metal ones. But now was not the time, for as soon as Kas had his legs on, he was pushing T'ren out the door. And T'ren let himself be pushed, the pair meeting the Weyrlingmaster in front of the table.

Making knots were they? What are knots? came the voice of Kas, along with excitedly whirling green eyes. They show our rank as bronze Weyrlings in the Weyr. The bronzeling nodded his head sagely before halting in mid bob. He looked up to T'ren again, another question lighting his eyes. What's rank? T'ren smiled and rubbed the bronze's head. I'll explain later. Kas nodded and turned back to the table with the funny cords. He didn't know what they meant, but he did spot a pile of them that looked like his color.

((Can we prtend Alene and Lia showed up with T'ren and Kas? My muse just totally died.))

[Requiem]

Kalierre half-opened her eyes, wondering if she really needed to be at these lessons, anyway. The first one had been rather pointless. And, if she were honest, she was becoming concerned about her own performance on so little rest; it could well end up killing one of her patients in the infirmary. The fact that some of those patients were dragonriders and dragons made that a double-weight on her shoulders. Initially she'd thought maybe, once the master returned, she could arrange to take leave from the infirmary save for emergencies. Which was kind of how it was working now...except Trenlor was the only other acknowledged dragonhealer at the weyr. I'ir could manage some of the same duties. I'ir was better than Trenlor, but neither man had the best bedside manner, and that was needed when it came to the dragonless currently flooding into Selenitas.

Phremath was upon her in an instant, apparently none the worst for wear given their two hours of rest. Up! Up! Up! She tugged at Kalierre's hand, breaking the skin a little in her exuberance. We could learn to fly today! It's too early for that, sweetheart. Gently removing her hand from the hatchling's mouth, she arose, throwing on a set of clothes that she thought just might be clean. Kalierre glanced at her reflection and grimaced. The eyes were dull, shrouded in dark shadow, and there was a gauntness now to her face that hadn't been there before. She couldn't remember the last time she'd bathed...truly bathed, not just the quick clean-up she always did before starting a shift at the infirmary. The woman hastily braided her hair, figuring she might as well be on time, given she was now up. Kalierre wasn't an idiot. She was going to make herself sick like this. With any luck, that would happen before she ended up killing someone.

Arriving with Phremath, Kalierre took one look at the pile of cords and very nearly turned on a heel and stormed out of the room. What is it, Mine? Phremath asked, curiosity and mild distress at the emotions she was getting from her rider tainting her mind-voice. Kali was most definitely in one of her rare foul moods. It wasn't so much that it was a weyrling lesson as the fact that, should she make a fatal mistake at the infirmary, it would be because they'd roused her from her much-needed rest to tie knots that she wouldn't even wear. Firstly, she well knew how to make rank cords. And secondly, no dragonhealer was going to wear a weyrling's rank; the green had already been braided into her double cord and two tassles. It wasn't a matter of pride, so much as necessity. Healers had to be known for their ranks. It expedited the process and saved lives.

Part of the lesson will be tying knots. So people will know that we are bonded, Phremath. Like the ones on your shoulder? Kalierre smiled wryly. No, Phremath wasn't slow. Yes. Like that. The dragonhealer was fine with staying here, so long as she could believe this wouldn't be the entirety of the lesson. But there was not an ounce of anticipation as she settled into a desk. Waiting for the other weyrlings to arrive, the woman actually nodded off, something she never would have done under normal circumstances. Everything was beginning to wear her very thin...

***

After the last dawn rousing, Z'hin and Jessereth had taken to rising with the sun and sleeping as darkness fell. It was more than natural for the hatchling as it was, and, until recently, this had been the pattern for the brownweyrling as well. Thus they were awake when the strident woman's voice pierced the silence. Z'hin finished shaving his face - he couldn't get away with leaving it for a day, or he'd look like he was just letting himself go - while Jessereth digested the meat from his breakfast.

"Early. As expected." Z'hin's brown eyes twinkled with amusement. It was boring last time. Jessereth stretched. "You got to eat, didn't you?" Boring, the brown hatchling repeated, stubbornly. The two took their time leaving their quarters, knowing that many would just be waking. Z'hin took one look at his boots in the corner and decided that, after the first lesson, he didn't care to wear them again. He'd never liked boots. They felt strange. So, barefoot and wide awake, the two made their way to where the weyrling lessons were being held.

Despite their sedate pace, they were still the fifth dragonpair to arrive. These others must be really slow. Z'hin spared a brief glance at Paryal, before his eyes drifted away. She'd managed to hurt the solid brownrider's feelings, a tremendous feat, by how removed she'd been ever since her Impression of Aezanth, as if he were no longer good enough to be around now that he'd Impressed a brown. Z'hin was careful to mask that thought from Jessereth; he didn't want the hatchling to feel bad for something that wasn't his fault, or to get angry. This was something for the man to deal with on his own. Z'hin hoped they wouldn't be writing today. He still hadn't told anyone he couldn't read or write. It was just too embarrassing for him, to admit that he'd never learned the basics that everyone knew, to add yet another oddity to the strange boy that no one really knew had been one of the despised holdless until just recently.

The brownweyrling frowned at the sight of Kalierre. She looked so - rumpled. Stretched thin. Even Jessereth who, despite his problems with the annoying Phremath, rather liked the dragonhealer was disturbed. Is Phremath's all right? Z'hin moved closer to the greenpair. I don't know. I hope so. He looked up as the bluerider began her lesson, hoping she hadn't noticed that one of her 'pupils' was asleep.

[neeuqtar]

Adith and Uu'n had worked out a schedule that worked for the both of them. Uu'n slept from early afternoon to evening, and woke in time to still catch some "dinner." Six hours had always been enough for him, so sleeping from about two to nine was no problem for the weyrling. The photophobe blue seemed to like the schedule, though of course he took a nap when Uu'n was doing something that didn't interest him much, usually about three to five in the morning. And then, of course, by the time that lessons would be called, the duo had been awake for about ten hours and were quite awake, well-fed, and ready for Fall or fire, thank you very much.

And Adith even had some new blindfolds, carefully sewn by Uu'n who had discovered that a mastery of rope, knots, and stone somehow managed to transfer into a semblance of skill with awl and leather. So while the assistant Weyrlingmaster Meri was busy hollering her voice hoarse at the other weyrlings, and the werylings were being woken from a pleasant sleep, Uu'n and Adith were ambling over, the blue as eager as a young puppy, nose to the ground very much like a puppy, though the blue dragon was just getting a feel for the lay of the land, rather than following the trail of some creature.

Uu'nmine, am I a whers? the dragon asked, trying to process what Lenorath had said. What is a whers? The photophobe tripped over a rock, but caught himself, his wings spread open for balance as usual. The blue was going to have strong wings, for sure, as he was always holding them open or flapping for balance. Perhaps this business of blindfolding wasn't so bad. Whoso called yahs "wher" is pretty, Uu'n responded scornfully, using the term "pretty" to mean something more along the lines of idiotic, foolish, or stupid. Wher's a beast of dark, as yahs, but naught mind, he informed Adith, resting a hand companionably on the blue's back. Adith snuffled in response, head snapping to the side to catch a baby hopper he'd startled from the nest, jaws snapping shut with the soft crunch of the creature's body, and swallowing it whole happily. Uu'n smiled fondly. What a beast, his Adith...

The weyrling-pair got to the room shortly after Z'hin and Jessereth, and Uu'n sat next to Z'hin, feeling some nebulous companionship after the battle the duo had shared the night of the Hatching. That had certainly be something... Uu'n still wore both dirk and dagger, but no longer hidden. Though both were sheathed on the left, Uu'n was ambidextrous, and it had often been to his advantage when he found that not everyone could wield two weapons with equal dexterity.

Uu'n didn't say anything, just touched two knuckles to his forehead, the greeting in the mines, where speaking was kept to a minimum, lest one inhale more of the stonedust than necessary. Neither blacklung nor lungburn were nice ways to die--and Uu'n had worked in coalmine and firestone-mine alike. He had dressed fairly casually, and lounged in his seat as if daring the Assistant Weyrlingmaster to mention anything. A dark-dyed shirt of indistinguishable color fit him well enough to show off his muscles, sleeveless, though it appeared the sleeves had been cut or ripped off. Uu'n's customary wherhide jacket was missing, though he wore black pants of some thick material, and dark-stained leather boots. His shoulder-scars, legacy of years of rope-burn from hauling in the mines, peeked from the edges of his sleeves, and as usual, his fingernails were painted black. His pale-blond hair was growing out, and rippled, hints of the wave it held.

Adith snuggled against his, humming softly, a habit Uu'n found endearing. The dragon had heard someone singing, and kept trying to hum, though he couldn't sing words like a human, except perhaps mentally. He had dreadful tune and absolutely no rhythm, but Uu'n didn't mind. His dragon sang beautifully, to his ears, and Uu'n loved Adith fiercely. He would never let anyone hurt the blue, ever. But none of that was apparent as the weyrling's amber eyes flicked across the room, sizing up everyone and wondering what the best tricks would be to play on each. Meri would be fun to play with... so long as he didn't get caught. A challenge. Uu'n bared his teeth in the semblance of a grin at the other bluerider, locking eyes. She would be fun...

For Uu'n was nothing if not a playful (if rather cruel) feline, and the world was his mouse...

[covera]

V’nus jumped up at the sound of the screaming. He stood on top of the bed with his fist clenched, ready to take the screamer (who V’nus assumed was an attacker in his sleepy state) on. But unfortunately for V’nus, he was still groggy from sleep so down he fell, flailing his arms wildly until he landed with a loud thud on the floor.

V’nus groaned at his own stupidity while lying on his back on the floor. He lay still there for quite some time, fighting the urge to lie there on the floor until the end of time. Finally though the patient Vemorath grew slightly impatient. V'nusMine, do you want to be late again? The other one will not take it as kindly if you come late as Styth did, Vemorath said regretfully, a hint of fear of the unknown dragon in his voice.

V’nus sighed, Vemorath was right. He did not think that arriving late on the second day would earn him any bonus points, especially not with the high-pitched screamer. With another sigh, V’nus clambered up and quickly changed clothes, he had wasted enough time already, lying there on the floor.

When V’nus arrived he saw that he hadn’t needed to hurry so much, the big weyrling had taken big and quick steps all the way to the classroom, with the brown dragon trailing behind him. Only seven had arrived, six were still missing. V’nus breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to Z’hin and the boy sitting beside him, which he didn’t recognize.

He sat down near were Z’hin, Kalierre and Uu’n but not quite beside anyone of them and waited for more people to arrive and the lesson to begin.

((Sigh, I wish my other post hadn’t got deleted, it was MUCH better than this one. Sigh.))

[lokath]

A'en woke up to the screaming woman, a little groggy, then shot out of bed as soon as he actually heard what she was saying. He was a deep sleeper, and had entirely missed the first early morning lesson. He pulled his pants and a shirt on, and went running down the hallway to the Weyrlings' classroom, reciting a litany of 'Ohshardsohshardsohshards' over and over in his head. He wasn't normally one for cursing, but he knew he already had a bad punishment, and he didn't want another one. Ayisseth lumbered behind him quickly, wondering exactly what 'Ohshards' meant.

A'en and Ayisseth entered the room together, one of the last pairs. As soon as A'en entered, he realized what they were doing. Hmm, knots Is that like 'ohshards', mine? A'en's eyes widened as he realized that the blue heard him Uh, no... Shards is something you say when you are... really, really angry. Knots basically show your rank. That's kind of like, how important you are. He smiled at Ayisseth. Do I get 'knots', mine? No, silly, everyone knows what your rank is. What's my rank, mine? A'en sighed. Baby dragon. And how important is that, mine? Very. Now, let's find somewhere to sit. He thought this with an air of finality, and Ayisseth finally decided to be quiet.

He didn't really know any of the other Weyrlings, and anyone he tried to sit next to would probably just wonder at the Weyrling who looked like he was ten. No, it was better to sit off by himself. He went over and sat in a spot away from the others, but not as far away as he could get. Then it would look like he was avoiding them, and the teacher would make him go move to sit next to someone. Probably more than one someone. No, he was good at tricking grownups. You just never go to extremes. So, he ended up sitting, not far away from anyone, but not close either. He was good at this.

((And, I do have a dragon profile now!!))

[paryal]

Meri was dissapointed by all the Weyrlings that had showed up, thus far. How could she expect to teach such a motley lot? None of them were worth the dragon they rode, and the assistant Weyrlingmaster was determined they should know this. May as well make her own observations and notes on them as they arrived. That way she could be constantly reminded of the poor quality she was dealing with. And if they saw the notes she wrote on them... So what? They were probably all cocky from Impressing, and needed to be taken down a few notches anyway.

First off was the new Queenrider, Paryal. Too short, too much of a figure. She was a blonde too. Probably wasn't very smart then. Blonde, a nice figure... Yes, she was just the sort to have bronzeriders crawling all over her, with no regard as to who got her pregnant. Was this really the best the new Queen could do? Meri thought not, but what did she know? Turns ago, the Queen had thought there was better than her on the sands. Faranth only knew what went on in the minds of gold dragons. Not much, if Paryal was any sort of clue.

Next the greenrider, P'tol. He was handsome, in a feminine way. He didn't look very bright either, with his blonde hair and tanned skin. Pretty, but there was nothing to him. At least his dragon wasn't one of those horrid mutants. Not that she could see, anyhow. Maybe when his dragon finally rose, Lenorath would chase her, and she could taste the worth of the lad in bed.

T'ren, one of the two bronzeriders from the last clutch, was next. Meri had an inborn hate for bronzeriders, and it was expressed clearly with the sneer on her face as she looked him over. His dragon lacked proper front legs. It would probably die by the end of the month with a disability like that. A boy that young couldn't possibly know how to care for a dragon with that kind of disability. No one would know how.

A greenrider, again. A young woman, but too stringy for Meri's tastes. There was nothing inherently wrong about her dragon, but in Meri's personal beliefs, all the dragons in the clutch had something wrong with them. They were probably stupid as well.

Another one of those horrid mutated dragons had come. The green with no wings this time, her rider looking far too tired. Didn't she know she had a lesson? She was probably up all night sleeping with Faranth only knew how many riders. She was a greenrider, after all. With a vindictive smile on her face, Meri noticed that the girl had fallen asleep. Never mind that according to her list, Kalierre was a Turn older than herself. She was just a girl to Meri. In a minute, she would address that little sleeping problem.

Z'hin and his brown. How boring. Brown dragons were always boring, as were their riders. What else was there to say on him? As a brownrider, he had no personality. Meri was sure of that.

The first bluerider had finally arrived. Blue dragons were the only dragons worth their salt in the Weyr, but this one had to be one of those with disabilities. He couldn't see in the bright light, apparently. Adith was hardly worth his position as a bluerider, and Meri was ashamed to share the rank with him. And his rider... The way he looked at her made Meri's anger only grow. Did he expect that he would get the best of her? Fool.

Another brownrider. Sigh. There was nothing to say about him, except that he looked as if he might cause trouble in the future. Meri took note of that, before looking at one of the last to arrive.

The last to arrive was a bluerider. A'aen... Or something like that. He would just be another formless Weyrling to Meri, and she hoped he didn't expect anything more.

"Would someone be so kind as to wake up yon sleeping greenrider? I know that her life is terribly busy, sleeping with men and what not, but she needs to wake up." Tone excessively dry, Meri gestured to Kalierre. "And no one has finished their knots yet? I suppose I'll just have to lecture you as you work then. Expect to have a quiz on this at the end of class."
***

Paryal's hackles rose at the woman's words. Kalierre was no whore. She was a Healer. How could this stupid woman not know this? "Take that back! Kalierre was working all night, not sleeping with men." Standing up, the young Queen Weyrling knew the inherent stupidity of her words, but how could she let this lie? Today seemed to be going terrible. First Z'hin had looked at her with such heart, and Paryal realized... Well, she had let Impressing the Queen get to her head. How could she? That wasn't like her one bit, but it had happened none the less. After this, she would have to apologize to him. But for now, she was going to stand up for the greenrider. That's what she should do as a Queenrider, right?

[Requiem]

Directing a solemn nod to Uu'n, Jessereth curled at his bare feet and clearly disinterested in the entire proceedings, Z'hin fiddled with his hands. He wondered if F'rah had noticed yet that his paper had been blank...and hoped he hadn't, because it seemed that this woman was not above publically bringing it to everyone's attention. And why should they think it was anything but Z'hin being rebellious? Maybe he should talk to the Weyrlingmaster...Ah, but authority types always scared him just a little. They were so in the middle of everything. He didn't understand how they could manage a life like that, and naturally assumed they must possess some fundamental quality that he was lacking.

When V'nus and Vemorath settled not far away, Z'hin allowed a smile to settle upon his face for the first time since he entered the room. He'd always liked Covera's brother. Now they were both brownweyrlings, and that should make their relationship even better, he thought happily. Though the young man was friendly with most everyone, he was very choosy when it came to making friends. His essentially loyal nature demanded that. Kalierre, V'nus, Mutasim...maybe Covera if he ever saw any more of her. A few others had potential, but he wasn't the sort to be premature. Uu'n held some promise, too. Though he didn't seem like the sort to really need much company.

His eyes came up as Meri spoke. For a moment he just sat there, stunned at her words, but then Paryal's angry retort broke through his momentary frozen state. A cold, unsettling rage balled up in his stomach. It was one thing to publically humiliate the healer by pointing out she'd fallen asleep, but to insult Kalierre - while she could hardly defend herself, no less - with an insult that was so crass and false was enough to make him very seriously want to...Jessereth's head had come up. Mine? His eyes whirled an alarmed orange at the unfamiliar emotions coming from Z'hin. The brownweyrling took a moment to comfort Jessereth, reassuring him that it was all right. He was just upset at the stupid bluerider. The hatchling looked at her curiously. She must be really stupid to upset Z'hin, musn't she? Yes. Very stupid.

Unlike Paryal, he didn't stand. Nor did he raise his voice above its usual level. It was more the angry scorn in his gaze and the utter humorlessness in his voice, the absolute stillness of his body that was similar to that of a feline gearing up for a pounce, that communicated just how enraged he was. The flash in his eyes gave off an undeniable dangerous edge. No one messed with a friend of Z'hin's. No one. "Maybe you should learn your own lesson," the brownweyrling sneered, voice low and controlled. He gestured to the knots on the woman's shoulder - Kalierre obviously knew how to read and make rank cords. "She's one of the two dragonhealers here." Paryal had done a fine job, such as it was, but Z'hin felt the need to point out the obvious. He said nothing more, though, afraid he would lose control of himself.

***

As soon as Meri's eyes fell on Kalierre, Phremath began tugging at the woman's trousers, but hers was just too exhausted to rouse that way. No, the dragonhealer instead found herself awakening to the raised tones of Paryal. Blinking, she was awake instantly, the result of spending many turns on call at the infirmary. It took her only a second to realize that she had fallen asleep and that the bluerider had called her on it...but what was this about being a sleeper? She said you were busy sleeping with other men. But we were alone. I don't understand. Kalierre stared at Meri for a minute, drawing herself up in her chair, even as she caught Z'hin's angry words. It's an insult, Phremath. She's trying to say that I am doing what I shouldn't. That was the most Kalierre could tell her, as going into more detail would just be confusing and disturbing to the hatchling.

With two already stirred up on her behalf, Kalierre didn't bother to grace Meri's faux pas with a comment. Instead, she merely folded her hands on the desk before her and drilled the younger woman with an emotionless stare that seemed to ask if the assistant weyrlingmaster was done making a fool of herself just yet. Kalierre shouldn't have fallen asleep. Frankly, though, she would much rather have done so here than in the middle of working with a patient. The healer was seriously considering skipping the next few weyrling lessons entirely. This was just ridiculous.

Phremath fidgeted anxiously, wanting to attack Meri for saying anything mean about hers. Kalierre always did what she was supposed to! But the greenrider's command came strong in her mind, arresting Phremath's thoughts. No, sweetheart.

[neeuqtar]

Well, the new assistant was just as much of a 'snake (and a fool) as he had thought, it seemed. So far, not one of the leaders of the Weyr had impressed Uu'n, or Adith for that matter. Of course, Adith didn't seem to like anyone besides Uu'n, which was fine as far as the weyrling was concerned. Though Z'hin was an interesting sort of person. Aren't I good enough? Adith demanded as Uu'n reached down into his belt-pouch. Of course you are. I just like playing with the pretties. Like our beloved, Meri. The blue puzzled through this as Uu'n held up his fist, the gleam of a knot-pin shining from his knuckles.

He opened his hand, palm out, to allow a properly made weyrling-knot fall, dangling from the knot-pin held between his index and middle fingers. It hadn't been all that difficult, really, to get into the Weyrlingmaster's and Assistant Weyrlingmaster's offices, not once every living creature but tunnelsnakes, Uu'n, Adith, and wher-pairs were asleep. And no wher-pairs patrolled in the Weyr, for Faranth's sake! And so Uu'n had spent the better part of an hour mastering the basic knots, making his weyrling-knots, senior-weyrling knots, and the basic dragonrider knot, as well as the knot that marked him as a journeyman minercrafter, though he was nothing of the sort. He'd certainly pass any tests that could be put forth about it, though. And he had plans to make all the combination knots as well, but no need to display those yet.

We love Meri because she's pretty? I think she's ugly like a rock, Adith said bitterly, his mindvoice unhappy and his croon turning into a soft growl. Uu'n banished the smile that threatened to replace his smirk, before pinning on his weyrling knots and returning to watching Meri, as if undressing her, though he was just testing her reactions at this point. Clearly wanting more than she had--a hungry spirit, as his mother would have said, and spitefully happy to take her hunger out on the "inferior weyrlings." Too bad he clearly was more intelligent than she. No, when I say "pretty," I mean an idiot, someone who's not very clever. Other people might say "dimglow" or "deadglow", but dim glows mean death in mines. And beloved... mentally, he bared a vicious grin Well, perhaps one day I'll love someone besides you. No, a beloved is one who you long to destroy or to... well, sex with. Adith made a noise of assent at that and lay his blue head on Uu'n's feet.

What's a sex? What's a rape? If Uu'n hadn't been better trained through hardship to control his every expression, he might have gotten a look of intense surprise that Adith had managed to pluck from his mind a word he was carefully not thinking of. Sex is what two people do when they are very much in love. Dragons call it Flying. Rape... well, it's when one person tries to have sex with another and the other person doesn't want it, he explained lamely, not sure what to say. I love you. Are we going to Fly with each other? the dragon asked innocently, not understanding a bit of what Uu'n was saying. It sounded like playing, which he loved to do! Well, we'll fly together, but Flying is something only dragons do, the weyrling replied cheerfully, eyes never leaving Meri, expression hardly changing. Adith huffed. I don't understand! he said plaintively, and Uu'n let his smile widen a bit more. Meri could only misconstrue it, of course. Oh, she was going to be fun! You will one day, Di.

He didn't do anything about her ridiculous accusation of Kalierre. Sure, the greenweyrling had fallen asleep, but her knots were clearly made and pinned. Meri was only making herself easier to read, and oh, would she fall for it. Over and over and over again, until all that was left was what Uu'n wanted to be left. Cruel? Perhaps. But Uu'n had dealt with enough stuck-up, self-centered, so-called "leaders" to be willing to, and enjoy, pulling them down to size and then grinding them into the dust with his heel. And Adith seemed to feel the same way. She is a shame to all blueriders, he said softly, dropping the subject of these so-interesting sexs. Or whatever. But why is sleeping so disgraceful? I sleep with a man. It's an insult, saying that she is doing something that would hurt her dragon. It's especially bad to say to a dragonhealer like Phremath's, he informed his blue silently, voice silkily angry. A pretty indeed, of a kind he had thought to leave behind in the dark of the mines.

[missa]

MINE! Get UP... Please. We are going to be late, if not miss the lesson entirely... I don't want to miss it. Rinth sounded almost amused as he nudged His one last time before deciding His was too firmly wrapped in the furs. Taking a corner in his mouth he tugged, hard enough to send his sprawling onto the floor. Amusement whirling in his eyes even as he shifted uncomfortably about being late. What if they told His to go back? Or tried to take him away from His? Rinth hadn't been late yet...

W'liam had yelped as he found himself on the floor, only to find some rather colourful curses as he dressed. Hair was a mess by the time he'd finished, but since he had a tunic on and breeches, and his hair really didn't look all that bad, he left it. Stopping only to check Willow was okay before leaving. Of course the Green assured him she would be fine. He'd better hurry though.

Rinth trotted beside his as they came into the room, W'liam entering on the inpleasent Weyrling Assistant's jab at one of the others. Instantly, Rinth was defensive, glaring at the woman with all the anger that His held in his features.
Mine! She said before something about a private lesson, she's going to try and seperate us! Of course it was completely out of the question, but Rinth was only a Hatchling, and didn't quite know that yet. A low hiss was directed at the woman, before W'liam could cut him off.
You will not take Mine from me, and you will leave Phremath's alone!
"Rinth, hush." W'liam's voice held none of the warmth it usually did, his face shuttered off even as the Bronze trotted off to see if Phremath was alright, after that coming back to His. Two people had already stood up for her, yet...
"Don't worry about it Kalierre, I think she was just trying to diguise why she's in such a bad mood. Up all night with your own men were you Weyrling Assistant? My place to say or not, I think it would be best if you kept your opinions about our friends to yourself. We don't appreciate it, and I suggest that you leave the DragonHealer alone, she's can heal, has healed, it's more than you've done, thing is, I don't see Kalierre making up outrageous stories to hold herself a little higher. Tell me, do you enjoy standing on other people's heads to boost yourself up?"

Well, E'nor decided he'd definately walked in at the wrong time. Though his eyes went wide at the words W'liam was throwing at the woman, it wasn't the words that shocked him. He'd lived in the Weyr all his life, he'd heard worse, no... He hadn't actually been aware that W'laim had a temper. INstead of making a scene upone his enterance, E'nor instead moved over to the others, while Clestioth siddled over to Phremath. Spreading a blue wing over her in a reassuring guesture.

Are you alright PhremathSister? You do not look happy, not at all, Mine says Rinth's is angry at our teacher, did she say something nasty to you? It will be alright, we are all your friends and will stand up for you. Quite proud of his little speech, Clestioth settled, his wing still half spread over Phremath, it was obvious he was not moving from that position.

Thus, E'nor had to go to him. He stood silently, watching the others with a quite dazed expression on his face. What had the woman done to make at least three Weyrlings step out to correct her, even W'liam had raised his voice. Not to the point of yelling, but the tone was rather commanding... So different to the normal calm, charming, sweet tones he was used to.
He sounds like Rinth.

(Gah, so sorry Missa late... Sick.)

[evendar]

N'vis knew he was late, again. Reenith had been difficult to wake this morning, like most mornings since the flight. The little green plagued with dreams in which her rider was trapped and couldn't escape. N'vis would reassure her and try to get her calm before their appearance at the lesson. He tried his best to sneak in quietly and remain unnoticed. Failing amiably at it though.

The little green was doing wonderfully with a specially balanced diet and special therapy sessions in the river. The green could make the trip from the Barracks to the River on her own now, which was great because she was getting to big to carry. She couldn't fly yet, but her wing muscles looked stronger everyday, and N'vis had to be happy for that.

((Gross short post, but I dun know what else to DOOOOOOOOO!))

[paryal]

Meri was amused by the reaction of the Queenrider. Typical gold arrogance. Just because she now rode a Queen, she thought that everyone in the Weyr had to listen to her. How silly. Paryal was a mere grub under Meri's boot heel, waiting to be crushed when the assistant Weyrlingmaster decided it was time. How presumptuous of the girl. At least Paryal would serve as an example now to the rest of the class. "You have a problem with my method of teaching? You think there's a better way for me to do it?" Voice gone soft and deadly, the two locked gazes, neither flinching or looking away. "I think you shouldn't bully someone if you don't understand where they've come from." The Weyrling's voice was equally soft and dangerous, though Meri had a good three inches on the girl, and far more muscle.

Before she could reply in an increasingly angry retort to Paryal, Meri was interrupted by one of the brown Weyrlings, Z'hin. Ah, so he was going to be a trouble maker. So was the Queenrider. In fact, all of them looked as if they could use a good beating, but Meri knew that she would be stretching her limited power too far by doing that. Having never been hit as a child, she imagined the pain was only slight in comparison to the humiliation they faced with their britches down and buttocks publicly facing the room. "You stupid boy. I know she's a dragonhealer." In fact, Meri had not known, but any weakness she showed would be picked up, and her tenuous hold over the group would be lost in an instant. "But that cannot possibly take up all her time. It is a well known fact that greenriders are promiscuous. This is an older woman. She sleeps around. It's logic. Do you want to dispute that as well?" Clearly Paryal did, Aezanth sitting at her side with eyes whirling red, but the light colored Queen stopped her rider, surprisingly enough. No, she has to stand up for herself. All eyes seemed to turn to Kalierre, waiting to see if she even responded to the taunt.

And the answer was... No. Meri's grin seemed to stretch even broader, if that was possible. Without the girl defending herself... It looked like she had found a new target, someone to consistently pick on until eventually she grew bored, and moved on to some other hapless target. Maybe it was going to be kicking puppies next. "See what happens when you try to defend your friend? She doesn't even listen. She doesn't care. She knows the truth." In walked a bronzerider then. Meri's grin transformed into a sneer. "You're five minutes late, and you dare to presume to correct my method of teaching? Sit down Weyrling, and start on your knots." The lad looked soft, not the type to normally stand up for people. Oh, this was going to be an interesting group indeed. "I can see the anger reflected in all your dragons. Look at how their eyes whirl red. That is not acceptable. That is foolish. Do you want everyone to publicly know how you feel? Over the next several sevendays, you will spend time talking to your dragon. You will speak about showing emotions, and about how it is bad. I think you whers can manage that, but I'm not sure." The woman spoke without pause, giving no one else the time to jump in. "Once you show me your knots, you may leave." The lesson had certainly been eventful enough, and now Meri tired of teaching.

[Requiem]

Three so far had spoken up for the greenrider, but, strangely enough, Kalierre herself didn't seem inclined to respond. He wondered vaguely at that. Did she just not care? Or was she still half-asleep? Though he certainly didn't appreciate being called stupid when it was obviously Meri who was well behind the learning curve here. The woman's 'logic' caused him to roll his eyes. What's pro - pro - promi - Promiscuous? Yes. It means too friendly. Z'hin could tell that didn't really help, but he wasn't of the mind to explain all the details. Shouldn't the assistant weyrlingmaster know better than to bring up the topic of sex during a weyrling lesson? What is sex? Oh dear.

It's...well, ummm...it's something that is done...oh, shards. He had never been too good at explaining that sort of thing. He ran a hand through his hair and tried again. When people get close to each other, sometimes they have sex. It's supposed to be special. So when someone has sex with a lot of other people, they say it's bad. How many is bad? Why? Now he really wanted to throttle Meri. Umm...It depends, I guess. Jessereth had gotten bored with the explanation, letting his eyes close again. It was far too vague for him. People are confusing. A bit relieved that the brown had finally let it go, Z'hin replied, Yes. Yes, we are.

The brownweyrling was not at all impressed with the assistant weyrlingmaster's 'logic.' "That's called a stereotype," he interjected. Then, because it was unlikely that the dimglow even knew what a stereotype was, "That means it's a trend that only fools apply to everyone who falls in that category." His tone was greatly patronizing.

Kalierre had waited until Meri's spiel wound down, her fingers flying through the knots by memory. As soon as the bluerider stopped speaking, she arose, her dark eyes unyielding as she regarded the daft woman. The greenweyrling let the knots fall at the assistant weyrlingmaster's feet so that the woman would have to bend to pick them up. "Everyone here knows the truth, Meri." Kalierre didn't bother to give the younger woman any respect that she didn't deserve. "I feel no need to defend my reputation when it isn't in danger of being sullied. This must be hard for someone like you to understand. Do try, though."

Phremath had risen, too, still angry at the bluerider, even though hers wasn't very upset. Only her rider's wishes kept her from sinking her sharp baby teeth into Meri's leg. "Oh," the dragonhealer added, as she paused at the door to the room. "And I've decided to spend my time constructively; please inform the Weyrlingmaster that Phremath's rider will not be attending any lessons that you preside over. If he asks, the reason is simple: my time can better be spent at the infirmary than listening to the ramblings of a novice." Perhaps the most aggravating aspect of her short speech was the fact that Kali never once showed any emotion aside from boredom and vague disdain.

Z'hin, who didn't care about knots anyway, didn't even bother to finish the lesson. He nudged Jessereth with a foot, and the dragonpair left on the greenpair's heels. It was probably best. Now, Meri, who obviously thought that all hatchlings would reflect their riders' moods, must think him calm given Jessereth's gaze. In reality the brown simply found these proceedings strange, while Z'hin felt he'd physically harm the annoying woman if they stayed any longer.

[covera]

((What has V'nus done to deserve being labeled as a troublemaker?))

V'nus had made knots before of course, he had been an apprentice in the Weaver Hall and he liked practising to make Weaver Journeyman knots. Of course things had changed and he was no longer in the Weaver Hall, and of course the knots that marked him as a Weyrling was different from the Journeyman knots, but the basic thing was the same. So the brown weyrling had no trouble in making his knots. He didn't turn them in at first though, he didn't want to be drawn into the fight with the Weyrlingmaster. Or the assistant Weyrlingmaster, it didn't matter to V'nus. At last he decided to leave his knots on the desk before leaving, nearly forgetting Vemorath who had been watching the interaction between several weyrlings and Meri.

When they were out of the classroom, Vemorath finally spoke to V'nus in confusion. Why were they angry at each other?
The woman was rude.
Which woman? Vemorath asked, even more confused.
The woman that was teaching us.
Why was she rude?
She accused the greenrider of doing something that she didn't do.
Why would she do that if the greenrider didn't do it? V'nus's explanation was doing nothing to help Vemorath understand.
Because she's mean, V'nus said tiredly, he had been patient with Vemorath, but he really wasn't in a mood to explain things to Vemorath.
Why is she mean...

[lokath]

A'en sighed. He was glad he didn't have to jump to support the Weyrhealer like everyone else had; he didn't even know her. Ayisseth was pretty silent, as he had been focusing on exactly what these 'knots' were, while still wondering if they had any relation to these 'shards'. He was one of the few dragons in the room who seemed to be paying no attention to the argument whatsoever. This was mostly because his rider wasn't, and if it wasn't important to his rider, why should it be important to him? A'en wasn't doing very well on the knots, however. Despite knowing whose were whose all the way from Headwoman, to Weyrwoman, to Weyrharper, he had never had any practical experience with braiding, or weaving. Well, at least they looked right... sort of. He'd practice more with some string when he had a chance, and then when he had to make his next pair, they'd be just fine.

He silently got up and approached the front of the room. "Weyrlingmistress, I've finished my knots. May I leave?" He was over to one side of her, and of course, below her, so the voice might have come as a bit of a surprise.