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Thank you! The young queen answered to Lina before Hers could say anything. Narisa was only mildly surprised that her bonded chose to speak to Lina herself. Hadn't someone said before that the dragons tended to only speak to their riders? It is our choice. And I choose to speak to them myself! Saves some trouble, doesn't it, Narisamine? Cepheith crooned softly and rubbed against Hers. Narisa had to admit Cepheith had a point. "As Cepheith said, thank you. Your Galith is quite lovely as well. The speckled looking markings almost make it look like she shines." She gave the green dragonet a smile as she spoke.

The pair turned towards Polarith and Lilias. "We are great, thanks. Glad to hear you two are doing well also." Her smile was warm as the gold queen stretched her neck out a little to give both Polarith and Galith a nuzzle.

Once again, her brown sibling drew her attention as did the green wiggling around under him. Cepheith chirped, eyes full of amusement. "I think you only encouraged him, Golden love." Narisa remarked, gently scratching along her bondeds eyeridges. He does quite well encouraging himself. I only helped a little. Only a little. Riiiight. The auburn haired girl snorted softly. "Just try not to help out anymore, even if it's a little? I don't think his rider is quite prepared for such attention." He'll have to learn. Asoth will always be the stage hog. Cepheith tilted her head up towards Hers to blink a wide eye at her. I could always be like him. Even the playing field of embarrassed weyrlings?

"I'll pass. You are fine just as you are." She affectionately rubbed Cepheith's snout before something dark caught her eye. Glancing over towards the door, Narisa stared at the black dragon and his rider. She had not seen the two black dragonets yet. Oh he was a lovely thing! Narisa felt the rumble against her side as the gold one peered towards her sibling. She offered the boy a bright smile of welcome and congrats on his Impression.

<I didn't know that there were any of those atypical hatchlings!> She admitted to the young queen. <I think he is the first I've really seen.> They hatched last, I believe. We were not on the sands. That made sense. To which she was informed that the gold one always made sense. So far, this had been proven to be true also.

'Asoth says we should all be happy, I agree it is much more fun out here then it was in our shells' Velath shared with Eliza before turning her attention back to Halith when she bumped her nose, huffing back at the other green playfully. 'It is good' She agreed with Asoth crooning happily and nudging the large spotted brown 'I think everyone should know how good it is, it is good to be happy' Certainly the little green couldn't find anything not to be happy about in life so far. 'Asoth is right..its always good to be happy' Eliza responded to her green

Eliza couldn't do anything but chuckle at Ceta's exasperated grin - she was sure that the pair would work themselves out in time, they were meant for each other right so how could they not but Eliza wasn't sure that Ceta had fully expected a dragon quite as active as Halith. Maybe it would be good for her - her friend was always so reserved. The poor new brown rider looked equally as harried, Eliza herself was still riding on the excitement of impressing...she'd probably crash not to long after the feast was concluded if not before but things were just far to exciting at the moment for a little thing like being tired to slow her down. "I'm Eliza" She introduced herself to the brown rider "Or maybe E'za...or E'li..I haven't really decided yet and this is Velath" She introduced her green.

"You better go get your shoulder knots" She told Ceta " I think Halith barreled right past them on you" She added with another amused grin.

Abigail smiled to each of the Candidates as they arrived, laughed when the exuberant brown complimented her scent and scratched his eye ridges, not unconvinced this was a bronze in brown's clothing. She ushered the ones that lagged behind in and stepped round to the table for the ranking members of the Weyr.

L'ton spotted Cetalese returning, his tray having one green knot left and approached with a smile, holding it out to her, "You might want this." He gave her a charming wink then tucked the tray to his side and followed after Abigail.

She'd chosen a place at the front of the table and was currently banging a spoon against the metal goblet, voice raised over the sound of excitement, "Everyone! Take your seats, take your seats, there's some business to attend to before I turn you loose!"

Waiting a moment, the Weyrwoman let the Weyrlings and their comrades find places to sit before she cleared her throat, "Alright. Firstly, congratulations to all of our new riders! Welcome into the fold. Your journeys are just beginning, take pride in that excitement and wonder, it will serve you well in the future. I'm sure this doesn't need to be said but I'll do so anyway, your dragons are your life partners, loyal beyond death to you and you alone. It's a wondrous thing, a special bond that I want each of you to explore in the coming days. No one will know you better and you will know no one better then your lifemate. To that end, there's a few rules I need to lay down..." she trailed off, letting her words sink in and knew they would resonate true with every single rider in the room. It was something only the dragonriders could fully comprehend despite the Harpers' countless songs of their bonds.

"Rule number one: No sex until otherwise allowed. Rule number two: No alcoholic drinks until otherwise allowed." She spoke these loudly, wanting to emphasize their importance, "Your bonds are new and your dragons impressionable - despite what they may say to the contrary. Sex and drink addle your mind and will confuse them. We've lost Weyrlings Between when their riders were too stupid to heed our warnings... you could lose your dragon and there are no salves in this world to ease that pain. Be as loyal to Yours and Yours are to you."

"Rule number three: Do not go Between or Between Times without supervision or training. I highly doubt appearing in a wall or another rider will extend your life. Don't be a fool - each of you will be shown how to do this when you and your dragons are ready... which brings me to rule number four: Do not attempt to fly until give the okay. Doing so will damage your dragon's flight muscles and may permanently ground them. Flapping wings, exercising them are alright... but be careful, especially those of you with Atypical dragons - their endurance is poor for a while after hatching, you must work harder then the rest to help them develop their muscles." Abigail counted the rules on her hand then nodded, "and last one: don't chew firestone yet. You'll be taught the use of flamethrowers and fire stone when the time comes. For now, enjoy your dragon, your bunkmates, and your chores. If you ever need help, ask. Don't let pride hurt you or Yours, it's not worth it."

She paused again then smiled and swept a hand out to the feast, "This is a time of new beginnings and celebration. Congratulations Junior Weyrlings! Follow these rules and your growth will be safer. Now eat and be merry." Abigail watched the party spring back to life and went to sit down with L'ton and the others, sipping her wine with pleasure.

Optheli didn't have to wander long before a hail came out from the soft murmurings of the crowd. She turned and grinned with a wave to show she'd heard. Seeing as the new pair was heading toward her, Optheli stayed where she was in the swirl of bodies.

"Lina! Congrats on your Impression! What a lovely green you have. What's her name?" She said as soon as the girl was close enough to hear her easily. Her arms reached around to give the new rider a hug. "How is everything going with her?" She took a moment to admire the young green.

It wasn't long before Abigail stepped up to make her speech. Optheli listened politely as this was important for the new riders to hear.

Lina embraced the other rider, a tad awkward at first, then deciding it didn't matter - the joy of the occasion was more than enough to get her over the awkwardness of physical contact with anyone. Her name's Galith, and she seems to be doing well. Thinks me organizing my stuff in the weyrling barracks is a waste of time, but she's pretty patient with me Lina gushed, still so excited. Galith looked up at the green rider and sent out a vague feeling of a greeting, still mainly distracted by everything going on around her, though she stayed close to Lina's side. The green's head swung around to the head table as Abigail began to speak, catching Lina's attention.

Well, the no sex wouldn't be a problem, and neither would the drinking. Actually...nothing on the list would be a problem. However, it did give Lina pause to think about some things. She was now the rider of a green dragon, a dragon that would probably rise in two Turns or so. She didn't even know if she had a preference, and she certainly had no experience in that area. She'd better figure something out though, but she had a while to do it. Maybe Optheli would have some words of wisdom? To awkward to ask her now, of course, when Lina didn't even know what gender she'd have a preference for. And.....there'd have to be lessons on what to expect from flights, right? Suddenly shifting in her seat and acting nervous, Galith rubbed up against her rider in silent support. If it is so worrysome, why not go see which you like better? Galith asked simply, causing Lina to blanch a bit. It........doesn't quite work like that, love, and we shouldn't even be having this conversation Lina responded, desperate for a change in topic. She turned to Optheli, a smile reaching her face but not her eyes.

Will the Weyrling Master let us know exactly how much activity is healthy? I don't want to over or under work her she asked, picking up towards the end of the weyrwoman's speech. She was rather out of her element with the entire dragon situation, and felt rather lost and in need of guidance. Most of the other candidates had probably known more about dragons than she had. There was only one thing she knew well, and that was her craft.

"I think so, too," Cetalese agreed with Eliza. "Excuse me."

With Halith finally successfully out from under Asoth-- Without touching him at all!, she insisted excitedly-- Cetalese began making her way all the way back across the room. The rider holding the tray stepped forward and offered the knots to her with a smile that Ceta imagined held some amusement to it. She smiled in a slightly rueful way, embarrassed but unable to find fault with Halith for that. It wasn't until he winked at her that she realized the person who had handed her her knots was the Weyrleader himself, and her expression fell to surprise as he walked away to take his place next to Abigail. She had run right by the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman without any acknowledgement what-so-over. Though her expression carried only slight visible consternation, she was mortified. What kind of a rider would they think she was, to miss something so obvious? Ceta knew she often exceeded most people with her spot-on observations, and the thought that her first encounter with her Weyrwoman was so poor-- or rather, non-existant entirely-- was... mortifying. Mortifying. She couldn't remember ever having felt so embarrassed, so that must be what this was. Despite that, her face was mostly clear and, in a few moments, her logic won out over the panic when Halith called Ceta back to herself by prancing forward a few steps and then wiggling in place with her eyes on her Chosen.

Come, Cetalese! Before Velath sits with someone else!

No time to greet the Weyrwoman now that she's calling for us to sit, Ceta reflected, so she instead backtracked to Eliza and moved with her friend to one of the tables so that they could find seats near each other.

Halith sat behind Cetalese with her rider's hand resting on her shoulder. She had wanted to squeeze under the table, but despite the way that would have kept her from running anywhere else, Ceta decided she would likely get into more trouble there than she would on the outside side of the benches. The hand would also, hopefully, lend Ceta some extra ability to restrain her. Much calmer and more her usual self despite that lingering embarrassment, Cetalese listened to the Weyrwoman's speech. The rules didn't much affect her-- not being partial to drinking and having nothing to do with sex what-so-ever-- but she was interested in the ones regarding her hatchling. Some were common sense, but others confused her. Between... times? As the Weyrwoman finished, Ceta clapped with everyone else and as soon as people started rising to get food, she looked to Eliza, vague confusion written in the slight knitting of her brows. "Between times? I thought between moved people between places."

Optheli finally released the other green rider with a laugh. "Organization isn't a waste of time. It pays to keep things nice and tidy. I think she's just fine." She turned to the little green. Surprised that the dragonet would greet her personally, even if wordlessly. "A pleasure to meet you too, Galith." She was quiet as Lina listened.

When the speech was finished, Optheli turned her attention back to Lina. She patted Lina's shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sure you can ask him for advise if you're worried. That's what he's there for. If he's busy, you have Galith talk to Dynith and I'll come." She nodded. "I don't think you'll have to worry much for the first several sevendays. They eat four to five times a day, and sleep. You'll have to oil her several times a day to be sure her sensitive skin doesn't split with all that growing." Optheli smiled at rider and dragon. "Galith will let you know if she needs anything."