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"Very good, very good," J'ev replied, nodding his head along with T'rus's answer. "Oiling is just as important as feeding, if not more so as they get older. Cracks in the hide can do all kinds of damage when ye start goin' between, and I won't have any of ye making that kind of mistake with yer dragons. It's not something yer dragon should have to put up with, and it's just sheer negligence." It was perhaps the first time the Weyrlingmaster's face became serious as he fixed the class with a rather grim look. The message was fairly clear: dragon negligence would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

"Nobody else? Well, we'll see if we can change that once we get the dragons all fed up!" Moving to the buckets, the old man began partitioning out the food. A few pieces had to be corrected for size, but for the most part he seemed very pleased with the bronzerider's work. "Good job lads! So… let's see here. If ye would just pass that along to Y'ul please, thank ye." The bucket was passed to the nearest rider with the instruction to keep going until it reached its destination. Buckets continued to be passed around until everyone received one.

Once everyone was settled, J'ev moved to grab an additional knife and handed it to Cass. "Yer dragon's got a bit of a little mouth, so give a few of these a try, but if she's having trouble just cut 'em smaller. She'll grow into everything in due time." Resuming his seat the front, he continued his lecture. "Now, feed them at an even speed and make them finish what they have in their mouth before they continue. It isn't a race to finish, but ye don't need to make them do tricks for it. If yer dragon is still hungry when the bucket's empty and ye think they could use a little more we'll see what we can do."

Letting the feeding begin, the Weyrlingmaster began setting up the pots of oil and rags for the next part of their lessons.

If T'rus felt the impulse to preen at the praise, he didn't let it show, doing no more than inclining his head slightly at the compliment. The important thing wasn't being right, really. The important thing was to be heard being right by the people that mattered. At the moment, J'ev mattered. Praise was all well and good but the hope was respect. He wasn't there yet, but he'd get there.

Akerth, for his part, was quiet as the buckets were passed around. T'rus could feel the sharp spike in the dragon's hunger as the opportunity to eat grew closer, but despite having a bucket of their own, Akerth continued to wait, sending a firm refusal when T'rus held out a piece of meat for him. Only when all the buckets had arrived at their destinations with his siblings appearing to manage not to choke themselves did he begin his own meal.

I still feel that we should have been fed before the lesson. The dragon commented, more thoughtful than critical.

When you are Weyrlingmaster, Akerth. T'rus replied, with the dry amusement that only the brown got to hear. Pity that the dragon didn't have the sense of humor to appreciate it.

Indeed, his response was quite serious. There will be other responsibilities, but it is a thought. There is much to be said for molding the young into something useful. A very useful position.

Cass passed bucket after bucket down the line until it was her turn to take one, Vespereth's eyes following each bucket as it passed out of her hands and into someone elses. The blond girl took the knife offered by the weyrling master and smiled.

"Thank you sir." she said and began the process of feeding her green. Most of the pieces were the right size, but she did take a moment to cut the larger pieces in two, just to be safe as she took them and gave them to Vespereth. "Make sure you chew, dear heart." Cass said, bemused.

'Why? they are small pieces and I am hungry!' Vespereth said, eyes whirling red with hunger as Cass deposited another piece in her waiting maw.

"Because if you don't chew, you might choke, and then where will I be?" she asked archly, holding back the next piece and making vespereth whine.

'Very well, Cassmine, I will chew! Just feed me!'

Cass smiled and continued the procedure, and sure enough, Vespereth was careful to chew before swallowing each piece. Finally, Vespereth's belly was full, just as the girl reached the bottom of the bucket, though there were still a few pieces left.
'You done?' she asked, surprised.

'Yes, mine, I think I might pop if I eat any more.' Vespereth said with a yawn, content to curl up by her rider's feet, her sleepiness weighing heavily on Cass' mind through their bond.

The young woman shook herself and turned to Va'en and offered him the bucket "Does Morgath need anymore? Vespereth say's she'll pop if she eats anymore." the girl said with a quiet laugh.