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Previous Offscreen Lessons

Lesson One: Basic knowledge on being a new Weyrling (no drinking, no sex, etc.), outline of a dragon growth cycle / lifespan, how to properly bathe and oil dragons, instructions on how to feed your dragon.

Lesson Two: Learning the basics of being a rider (fighting thread, acting honorable, etc.), learning or refreshing basic reading and writing skills.

Current Lesson

Lesson Three: Refreshing previous lessons, Weyr history lessons, physical work out for the riders, "teamwork lessons", Knowing Your Fellow Rider.

Timeline and Climate

Dragons are now: Three sevendays (weeks) old.

The location is: On the otherwise empty hatching grounds.

The time is: Early afternoon. The riders have just recently been informed of their lesson (Dorath has sent word to each dragon to get a move on) and are starting to arrive.

The weather is: Unusually pleasant; warmer than normal.


Notes

Weyrleader D'astel is still filling in for Weyrlingmaster R'o. Information on R'o's current whereabouts, condition and reason for the leave were never made available.

Blue Jounoth is kept restrained during lessons and Janga is the Weyrleader's "assistant" in lessons. Blue Jounoth has been dubbed unfit to act in a wing or as a searchrider at any age.

Gold Sharath has attended lessons this far. However, this will be her last one with the group. Future lessons will be between her and the Weyrwoman in one-on-one sessions.

If you can not make it OOC, it will just be assumed your rider is present IC.

Try to keep at least somewhat of a posting order, but if someone doesn't post for a fair amount of time they will be skipped to keep the lesson going and actually complete it.

Lesson time? Great! J'lin always looked forward to these. They weren't as tedious as his lessons as an apprentice, and he didn't have to worry about one of his fellow peers trying to cause a minor "accident" and give J'lin the wrong kind of attention. It was also a time when Deprith didn't nag or argue as much with him. She seemed... proud of the fact that he was quiet and behaving.

Even if she did have to give a lecture on actually focusing and paying attention a couple times after the lesson. Now that bit was unavoidable. Rather than get a chance to relax, Deprith immediately went over the lesson with him again, making him think and recall things or face getting cuffed by her wing.

J'lin and Deprith entered the hatching grounds, one wincing at the head of the sand and the other shooting a look of disapproval. Come now, she chided, The sand isn't that hot! Remember to pay attention, stand up straight, and LISTEN this time J'lin! I don't want you staring at any of the other riders.

"Why? Feeling a little jealous?" He asked, grinning down at her as he shifted from foot to foot.

Deprith growled. This isn't a game, young man! These lessons are important! The others will still be here when the lesson is over. The words spoken, however, will NOT.

"Well, can't I just listen and stare at the same time?"

And show disrespect? Unlikely! You shall watch whomever is speaking and don't interrupt them!

J'lin rolled his eyes, earning another disapproving glare from Deprith. He shrugged it off, giving a respectful bow to the Weyrleader and Janga, followed by a wave to the others waiting for the lesson to begin.

Deprith gave the teachers a nod of acknowledgment before settling down next to J'lin, ready to assist in keeping J'lin's attention focused on the lesson.

Hurry, K'han!

"I'm coming, I'm coming! You make it sound like the world's about to end if we're not first there, honestly..."

Roheth shot K'han a mildly reproachful look over his shoulder. This is important! How will we ever become strong together and protect Pern, if we do not learn everything the Weyrleader has to teach us? Dorath is counting on us!

K'han laughed, quickly pulling on his shoes and following after his bronze, who was already halfway out the door. "Okay, point taken." To someone else, perhaps, Roheth's eternal heroic enthusiasm might grow grating after a while. The dragonet was only three sevendays out of the shell, and already dead set on protecting everyone he'd ever laid eyes on and becoming the best dragon-rider team on Pern. And Faranth help anyone who tried to suggest he slack off. Roheth had Priorities. With a capital P, and possibly underlined several times. K'han, on the other hand, had spent most of his Candidacy trying to avoid chores and have as many adventures as possible; he was surprised to find that he did care about Weyrling lessons, and wanted to learn.

Perhaps because it wasn't just about getting work done to please someone in charge. It was about the health and happiness of his dragon, his partner. Roheth would never let him down, and K'han intended to return the favor in kind. It didn't hurt that learning to bathe and feed a dragon was a lot more interesting than peeling tubers, anyway!

It took them hardly any time to make it down to the hatching grounds, where Roheth happily took a place front and center before flopping down on his haunches. K'han waved and grinned to those assembled, bowed politely to the Weyrleader and Janga, then took his place next to his dragonet.

R'ysan grumbled just a little when he heard that it was time for lessons. He didn't mind so much the lesson but...some individuals and dragons rubbed him the wrong way. Well, wait...taking that back...some lessons did just annoy the crap out of him - such as 'acting honorably'. He really would have liked to have told the Weyrleader that was only for those with enough marks to pay the other man off. There was little honor among thieves and while he wouldn't explain that to anyone here, he surely knew that the true code of the world usually fell into the 'haves' and 'have nots'. The 'haves' could afford to act honorably while stepping on the 'have nots'.

However, the bathing lesson and oiling lesson was actually adorable while Regedth was small. He could only imagine that in the future the cleaning process would feel a bit more like work in addition to all the other work. But luckily, she was a green! He didn't envy the bronze, browns, or golds in the arena of cleaning. He was a thorough boy in regards to the process because his work ethics could rival most workaholics. Even so, he preferred every opportunity to be efficient.

As he and Reg entered the hatching ground he spied J'lin, who he bunked closer too and his dragon....Deprith. She was a dragon that thank the shards had not been his! He could only guess some of the conversations J'lin must be having with the sharding beast. Fortunately, Reg had kept him busy most of the time; interrupting his train of thoughts on the matter at first.

Regedth waddled along on the sands not minding the heat then stretched out waiting for R'ysan to sit down with her. R'ysan watched the rest of the group that was gathering and slowly surveyed the other dragons with them.

R'ysan, let's go exploring. I really find these lessons boring.

Yeah...well, boring as they are, I've got to learn how to take care of you and you've got to learn to take care of me. So focus just a little today on the lessons for me, Reg.

She sighed and pulled her wings over here head as if she was trying to find out some way to make this more interesting for her. But I'd rather go find some adventure.

I would too, Reg but this is our work right now so I can't just shrug it off. Why don't we go wandering after this ok?

O....K....meh. She dragged her head out from under her wings like a spoiled child and sat up on her haunches rather disenchanted by the whole affair.

Dorath says we have lessons, Sakneth reported, interrupting B'shir as he bathed. He continued to train with A'ram and Rath even though Sakneth hated it and it meant he barely had any time to himself. At least Sakneth was getting an idea of what would be required of him when he was eventually assigned to a wing.

All right, B'shir replied. Half the time he spoke to his dragon aloud, and the other half he communicated mentally. He had plenty of practice with mental communication, thanks again to Rath's tutelage, and it came far more easily with Sakneth, but he wasn't entirely comfortable with the prolonged physical silence constant mental communication tended to produce.

He began to towel himself dry and then dressed as quickly as he was able. There was nothing to be done about his hair. It was wet, and therefore it would be curly. At least he knew they wouldn't be flying today, so there was no danger of his hair freezing. He knew from experience that was not a pleasant occurance. Sakneth, following his bond's thoughts, harrumphed. He didn't like to be reminded that B'shir had a history with another dragon. A chromatic dragon.

The lesson's in the hatching ground. I don't see why we have to go anyway. You know everything there is to know about dragons anyway, Sakneth informed his bondmate. Do you think Dorath will be there?

"I suspect she will. But I'm not sure. I've never attended weyrling lessons before. We'll find out when we get there."

Or I could ask.

"You will not bother a senior queen for that," B'shir said firmly.

They arrived at the enormous cavern and Sakneth projected smugness: Dorath was, indeed, there. As was Sharath. The only two females that held any interest for him at all. After B'shir had carefully explained to him the importance of the golds' riders as well as the golds themselves, Sakneth had reluctantly accepted that they were worthy recipients of his best manners.

Good afternoon, gold Dorath, Sharath, Sakneth greeted the two ladies as he trotted onto the sand. A warning look from B'shir prevented him from adding anything more than, My day is doubly improved for seeing the pair of you.

It was a miracle Ayi and Ptoth arrived at what one could say as barely on time, given that Ayishia was in the middle of a bath after feeding Ptoth a particularly messy meal. The blue felt sluggish and somewhat disdainful about having to leave the comfort of his bed, but he realized the importance of lessons...that and Ayi's panic over how long it was taking them to get to the hatching grounds inspired him to trot faster. He hated seeing her worry.

The pair arrived in a haste, Ayishia tying her hair back into a messy wet mass and Ptoth still licking his chops, and gave D'astel a quick bow in unison.

"Was bathing," she muttered in explanation in mid-bow. "Sorry for my tardiness."

Please don't worry, mine. We are here now. I'm excited to learn more so we can practice at home. It's good to have stuff to do! He tilted his head as he examined his peers, giving the female dragons all pleasant acknowledgments, though the gold got more of a bow than a vocal noise. More respectful.

Ayishia dropped with a huff into the sand after joining the mass of young riders, caring little if she got dirty as her bath wasn't completed and she'd likely need another anyway after this lesson, if it involved more oiling or anything physical.

Two of the pillars occupied by adult dragons during the hatching were making use of their position once again. None other than the senior gold herself sat atop one, and beside her, the Weyrleader's bronze. Given the nature of this clutch, she felt her presence required. Not because of her status, but because of the power her word would hold.

Sakneth, she greeted the youngest bronze among them admirably. You're not to lay one claw on Teharth this entire time. Do not even glare at him. That was an order, one she would have personally enforced had the laws of a dragon's nature not made him have to follow it. Teharth, you will follow those orders as well. There will be no squabbling between you two this lesson. They were ridiculous youth, especially Teharth. So calm any other time, yet near as mindless as Jounoth around his eternal rival. Speaking of...

Jounoth, Dorath spoke more firmly now; he needed to be handled this way. You are not to snap at anyone for this lesson.

Taken care of, Mine, Kentoth informed his rider.

"Good," D'astel mumbled. Kentoth, tell Dorath to keep Luci up to date on what her goldrider does for this lesson.

I have told her.

"You're all fine. Just sit down for now." He tried to ignore Ayi's excuse for where she had been. Clearly, many of these women did not understand there was a reason he'd never been Weyrlingmaster before. R'o had more Man Mental Restraint than D'astel. The eldest of the female 'lookers', ironically, got looked at the least. That was the easiest way for him to stay 'proper' doing this job.

"So, we've got a lot planned for today. Including a work out for you riders and some team building workshops. But before that, we're going to discuss the history. We've already been over what we know of Pern and dragons as a whole, but today we'll focus on High Reaches Weyr in specific. Anyone have any questions?"

Sharath perked as her name was called and the name followed by a compliment, lifting her head into a proud arch, she glanced over to Sakneth with an appreciative smile though she offered nothing in return. He was always to honey-dripping sweet when around and made the gold wonder if she should soak in that charm or find it entirely too much. As of yet undecided in her opinion, she treated him with respect so long as he was respectful.

As for Jounoth’s feral tendencies, she simply ignored them completely. He was a beastly blue and she held mixed feelings for him as well – sentiments that echoed Amelia’s – though she agreed with the decision to deem him unfit for a wing.

Her gaze flicked to the pillars surrounding the Sands then, sliding past the bronze to settle on Dorath. So… she was here? That meant she was probably being judged. Snorting, she turned her attention back to the Weyrlingmaster, making sure to stand more proudly and strongly then before. Let them watch and judge, she was no failure, no lesser being.

Sensing the shift in her dragonet’s thoughts, Amelia glanced down to Sharath in time to catch her look up and found Dorath as well. Oh… She pursed her lips slightly as she looked back to Sharath. The little gold seemed to have a deep running complex as far as the other gold went and it was confusing to the Weyrling. Sharath got along fine with the other colours (thank goodness) but Dorath seemed to garner ire on principle. Sharath… what’s wrong? Setting a steadying hand on her bondmate, she tilted her head slightly.

Sharath tossed her head at that, We are being judged – she is watching, she and Hers.

Amelia glanced again to Dorath and sighed, “And if we are? There’s nothing to worry about, Sharath. They’ll hardly find us lacking.”

The gold shook her head, unconcerned about that. I hardly care if they think us lacking. I know we are not, Mine, I know we are worthy. That they judge at all… She rumbled unhappily at that.

Thankfully, D’astel chose that moment to speak and both rider and dragon settled onto the sands – Amelia leaning against Sharath and Sharath curling tail about her rider’s legs. At the question, Amelia shook her head. No, no questions… but then, she expected the Weyrleader to start from the beginning. She was no history expert, even if she could tell you where the oldest passages in the Weyr were.

Starting then, she remembered the folded wad of paper she always kept with her, and the piece of charcoal she kept wrapped in an oiled handkerchief. “I almost forgot about this…” Mumbling to herself, she carefully unfolded the coarse paper and set it against her knee.

Sharath glanced over when Amelia rustled around and shook her head when she saw the other produce her writing implements, amused. It was a habit her rider was likely to always have – charcoal and chalk worked wonderfully to mark rocks or write notes and Amelia nearly always had a stick of each on her.