Weyrling Training 1 (Practical and Assignment)

[Ayla]

Tagged: New Weyrlings
Subject of Lesson: Oiling, Rules, and Introductions
Time and Weather: about an hour after the Hatching, mostly sunny and warm

F'ral already had everything he needed for the first lesson set up before the Hatching even began. It had been there for at least a sevenday, under a waterproof sheet. Oil didn't do well when wet. Vorith had insisted that the eggs would hatch on time, but F'ral had seen too many clutches to take his dragon's word for it.

As luck would have it, Vorith was right. F'ral attended the Hatching and insisted on every new weyrling pair's names be written down. He knew the queenriders and most of the bronzeriders, as well as a few of the weyrborn ones who he knew.

When the weyrlings were finished with their first meal, F'ral instructed an older bluerider to direct them to the lake for their first lesson. It was a bit of a rude awakening for some who thought they would be flying and fighting immediately, but F'ral couldn't help that their education was shoddy. He himself had been asked to teach a few classes in lieu of the missing Candidatemaster.

They are coming, Vorith informed him.

F'ral jumped to his feet and brushed the sand off his pants. As the first few weyrlings arrived, he jumped to a low rock and raised his hands for silence.

"Congratulations, current weyrlings and future defenders of Pern!" he said, breaking into a hearty applause. The new riders joined him, and they clapped and cheered for a good minute. F'ral raised his hands again, and eventually, they fell silent. "I'm sure you are all very excited. However, before you scurry off to the Hatching Feast or wherever you go, we have some things to cover." A groan from some rebels in the back. "This lesson's easy, though. At least for you with the smaller dragons; golds and bronzes have a hard time of it. We're going to bathe and oil our dragons."

F'ral paused for breath. Vorith glared at some of the boys in the back who were goofing off. "The purpose of this is to keep their hide nice and supple. You see, young dragons grow very, very quickly. If you don't oil them, their hide is stretched too much and cracks. If their hide cracks... well, first they'll be in a world of pain. If their hide is cracked when we start between, you will both die. I am not lying."

"Let's begin by sending our dragons into the water. It's warm this time of year, so you can roll your pants up and wade if you want," F'ral instructed. Vorith kept a close eye on the new pair, especially the ones he deemed needed attention.

"Tell them to go underwater. We need them really, truly soaked for this," F'ral called out over the group.

Mine, how are you going to deal with the new colors? Vorith asked.

I don't teach by color. Never have, never will. You should know that by now, F'ral replied.

"Everyone come get some sweetsand, now. Before we can oil, we need to get the dead skin off," he said, hauling back the tarp to reveal a few large sacks of sweetsand. "No more than a few handfuls. It might not look like enough, but I promise, it is."

"Now go scrub everywhere on your dragon. Behind their elbows and wings, in the folds of skin, everywhere. If he or she tells you that somewhere itches, scrub extra hard. Pay attention if Yours says it hurts, though."

F'ral walked through the pairs. They seemed to all be doing a good job, or at least as well as could be expected. He reminded a few to get under wing joints, and a few more to scrub, not just put the sand on and rinse.

"Everybody out of the water. The dragons need to dry before we oil them. In the meantime, I'll introduce myself. I am Weyrlingmaster F'ral, of Brown Vorith. We have in this position for over twenty years. This means that if you are the child of a dragonrider younger than forty who trained here, I was most likely their Weyrlingmaster. I have a few permanent assistants who come and help out once in a while, and I often ask other riders to speak to you."

"Your dragons should be mostly dry by now. Hide dries very quickly, especially with a breeze like this. Come get and oil pot and return to your lifemates. Now, those of you who have worked with leather at any point in time, this oil is similar to that used in leather care. In a pinch, you could use this to care for riding straps. This is a little thinner and has a bit of aloe in it to heal small scrapes. To oil your dragonet, dunk your rag in the pot and start rubbing it on his or her hide. It's very simple."

F'ral paused to walk among the weyrlings and supervise them. Spreading the oil too thinly was a problem, as was missing places. Putting too much oil on was just wasteful. Once he was satisfied, he returned to the rock and waited for most of the weyrlings to be finished.

"Alright. Most of you are done, so I'll move on to the rules of weyrlinghood. Yes, there are rules, greenrider with the blonde hair. First rule: no intimate relationships. Don't even try to question that rule. Nothing good comes of relationships during weyrlinghood. Nothing. Second rule: No riding your dragon, flying, betweening, or chewing firestone before you're taught. The consequences are usually not my problem; if you fall off, don't visualize properly, or chew firestone wrong, you are either dead or injured. You are also delayed from graduation for a Turn.

Third: Whenever I am speaking, your full attention is to be on me. Not on your neighbor, not on the kitchens, not on the time. I do not tolerate subordination. Fourth: Every color is treated the same way during weyrling training. You don't have titles besides 'weyrling' yet; you can't claim that. You could say that I'm colorblind.

Those are the rules. We are finished with the lesson; please escort yourselves to the Barracks and put your lifemates to sleep. Then, if you can bear to tear yourself away from them, you may attend the Hatching Feast."

F'ral stepped off his rock into the crowd and picked his way to the back. The ground was littered with already asleep dragonets, and he had a spot of trouble finding bare patches to place his feet. In hindsight, it might have been better to walk around, but he was eager to get to the Feast himself.

Assignment: Write about your life before the Weyr. Or, if you were born here, write about a particularly interesting day you had here.

Student Listing
Vittoria of Gold Ellyenth
A'era of Bronze Benreth
R'rin of Bronze Gyrunth
Rioe of Bronze Kienth
Aoide of Silver Illeth
J'rston of Amber Loyanth
Dorian of Amber Welith
Lilith of Red Sureth
T'lane of Black Momith
S'rin of Black Norlith
Ranea of Purple Aorath

Italic - Post done
Strike - Homework Done

[Elfie]

Both Gyrunth and Norlith had been fully fed, and while they did complain about a few itches, both were content and projecting very sleepy thoughts. It was about then that they were directed toward the lake, with the four fire lizards of their fair whirling above and chirping comments about their newest comrades. Emeren's were the least kind, as was to be expected. R'rin and S'rin took a spot closer to the back with their bronze and black respectively, one arm looped about each other's waist, with their free hand dangling over their weyrmate's neck. It was a good day.

They both listened attentively, and when F'ral mentioned golds and bronzes as having the harder time, R'rin looked at his brother beseechingly, and his twin could only smile and nod that he would indeed help after he had finished taking care of Norlith. At the mention of the water, the black glanced at His, then back to the liquid. Do I have to go? Can't I stay here with you and be scratched, dear-mine? Tone was wistful, even as his bronze clutch brother lumbered forward and splashed awkwardly into the lake. "Yes, you have to go, silly. Now get! That bronze giant is besting you." S'rin remarked with a goofy grin, making a shooing motion with his hands, before bending to roll up his pants. Beside him, R'rin was going the same, as Vera settled on his shoulder, the red, blue, and green all joining into the commotion of hatchlings in the lake with gusto.

The twins knelt beside their new lifemates after they'd gathered sand, diligently scratching as hard as they could in the troublesome spots. The pair were lucky, for three of the flits decided to help out as well, using their small claws to get extremely itchy spots. The only one who did not was Vera, busy keeping Emeren and Ivin from squabbling. I like them, Mine, they scratch good. But they missed just.../there/... Plaintive thoughts soon turned relieved as R'rin shifted to accommodate Gyrunth, reaching up under his wing to get the offensive spot.

The entire process was nothing new to S'rin and R'rin, who had just been attending their fair of flits moments before the Hatching. They knew precisely how much oil to use, and were soon finished, with S'rin helping finish Gyrunth's tail. The bronze didn't mind in the least, and Norlith was becoming so sleepy he too, did not mind the missing attentions of His.

Moments later, they focused upon F'ral and his lesson points, taking it in, though perhaps not giving the man the full attention he might be due. At the mention of relationships, though, the pair simply glanced at each with a wide grin and a wink from each, before glancing back at the Weyrlingmaster. Each wondered what he considered intimate. They were sure somebody was going to get busted on it before the end of their lessons. And then they were free! "Come on you two, up!" Two voices chorused at once, tones in sync as they prodded the bodies of the bronze and black hides threatening to stay sprawled out on the bank. It took a moment, but between them, with Vera and Crin chirping encouragement, they managed to get both Gyrunth and Norlith to their beds. They left them there with fond smiles and a lingering glance before heading toward the feast, hand in hand.

Homework
Hey, remember that time in the kitchens? Of course I do, you nearly got us extra chores for a month! Not me, that overly helpful green flit you have is what almost got us caught. Whatever. You think we can use that for the assignment? Why not? I don't think we can get in trouble for it now... I hope. I hope this assignment makes sense, with the two of us writing it. I don't want chores for a bad job done. Quit worrying, it'll be fine. Now where to start...?

We must have been eight, on kitchen duty that day. It was getting very boring toward evening as he were collecting ingredients for the rolls and dessert. S'rin was getting the honey and other things, I don't know what they were, and I supposed to get the sugar. I grabbed salt instead. It was an accident on purpose for a prank. We both know it. I went along with R'rin, eager to see the result after dinner when the dessert was passed out. Of course, the rolls during dinner were going to be perfect and untouched. I made sure of that. We replaced all the sugar elsewhere with the salt when the Headwoman wasn't looking, and poured klah into the stew while it was simmering. The result was going to be horrid, so we made sure that we ate plenty before messing with the preparations. Then, while everything was being fouled as it was made, we left to go change the glows. It was next on our list a good way to escape being any where near the kitchens after dinner while they were searching for the prankster. We had a good laugh about it for a sevenday, and made sure to be on good behaviour no worse than normal so we stayed out of the line of fire. Now weyrbrats are trying to copy the prank, but keep getting caught. Apparently they aren't smart enough to get away with it. <---R'rin wrote that, not me.
S'rin, R'rin

[Reakeda]

Loyanth had finished eating and then lulled into a peaceful sleep while they waited for the rest of the hatching to finish. When directed to come to the lake, J'rston gently prodded the sleeping dragon awake and they made their way down there with the rest of the group, content to find a place near the back to sit. Let the master judge him after he'd seen him work, not before. He listened attentively as F'ral spoke, his eyes flickering to the orange hide of his dragon. It would be ashamed for it to crack... He would never let it happen.

J'rston sat and rolled up he pants legs and then pulled himself back to his feet. "You heard him. All the way in. " He got his sweet sand and then moved in next to Loyanth, crutch sinking into the muck at the bottom. It stuck, but that was of little concern because at this point he was scrubbing at the dragon's hide. The Amber's body kept him from losing balance and toppling over as he worked off the dead skin. He was grateful that Spark decided to help with some of the harder to reach places, but double checked the firelizard's work none the less.

It itches there mine.. a little harder. Please... Oh that feels good. Loyanth crooned, his eyes whirring with satisfaction by the time Jerston finished. The boy reached for his stuck crutch and worked it free, a loud sucking noise issuing after it's release, and then moved back as Loyanth rinsed himself..

His attention was again riveted to the Weyrling Master the moment they were out of the water, and among the last they had been. He found the oiling to be a bit more difficult. He knew the amount to use from caring for spark, but reaching some spots on a dragonet when you had only one foot proved difficult. He worked it out after some trial and error, but it was again that he was among the last finished. He listened to the first of the rules while he was finishing the last bit of oiling. His full attention turned to the rider at the third rule given and he blushed slightly, but it wasn't his fault that he had started speaking before he'd been finished with the previous part of the lesson.

The other rules he was sure he wouldn't have any issues with. J'rston gently guided Loyanth, who hadn't had a chance to fall asleep really, towards the barracks once they were directed.. unsure yet if he were going to attend the feast.

Assignment

Prior to being searched I lived in Healer Hall. Like any aspect of my life, my apprenticeship there was not simple and was often frowned upon. Many of the healers attempted to give me light work they thought even a child could do, but there was one that thought differently and gave me the chance to show them what I could do. Because of that one I was soon treated like any other apprentice and taught the art of healing.

I walked the table to become a Journeyman the day before the search dragon brought me here and I hope my talents will become of use after I've completed my training as a rider.

[Ayla]

Vittoria was slow getting to F'ral's lesson. Part of it was Ellyenth's fault. She was sleepy after Hatching and eating, and it was difficult to get the gold to move it. A slightly larger portion of the blame fell on Vittoria's shoulders. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to go to the lesson. This moment just seemed too perfect to ruin with some cranky old Weyrlingmaster yelling at them. And the chances of being yelled at grew ever larger the longer she delayed.

When the pair arrived, the Weyrlingmaster was already standing on a rock. He really didn't look as old and grumpy as Vittoria had expected, but she had known plenty of people who were just deceiving. I itch, Ellyenth complained. Vittoria, who was concentrating on F'ral, shushed Hers. A few seated around her looked indignant; they were being perfectly silent! You don't have to speak aloud. I can hear you perfectly fine if you just think, dearmine. Vittoria, although this didn't totally stun her, found it difficult to transfer to mental speech. Really? Not so loud.

Alright, into the water with you! Vittoria told Ellyenth. The gold gladly stepped into the water. Vittoria hiked up her skirt, although it was terribly unladylike, slipped off her sandals, and stepped into the water. Her feet sunk a little into the fine sand; it had been so long since she had gone swimming. Duck under, please, Vittoria said upon hearing F'ral's command. Ellyenth performed a graceful little turn and went underwater. She stayed for longer than Vittoria thought was possible, but Ellyenth did not convey any sign of distress, so she stayed out of the deeper water.

When the gold resurfaced, her hide was darker and had a wet satiny sheen. Vittoria beckoned her from the lake while she went to get a few handfuls of sweetsand. Ohh, mine, right... there! Ellyenth directed while Vittoria scrubbed. Her hands protested the coarse grain. I'm going to have callouses... shardit! she thought, unaware that Ellyenth was listening. Worry less about the callouses and more about me! You've scrubbed all over, go get oil. Vittoria was shocked, but got over it quickly and fetched oil from F'ral.

She began by applying far too much oil to the rag, which caused Ellyenth to drip. Vittoria tried to fix this by rubbing the excess further, but it ended up all over her arms. You don't need to be oiled... Ellyenth commented when she saw this. The cloth does not need to drip, just be wet. Vittoria pursed her lips. A dragonet, not more than two candlemarks old, knew more about oiling than she did. However, Ellyenth's advice was worth listening to, and the gold ended up with just a little thicker coat than normal.

The gold pair was back at the main lesson area soon. Ellyenth curled up next to Vittoria, who was sitting on the sand. Although neither gold and girl wanted to get covered in sand, they were both tired and standing was not an option. The first three rules were simple; many Vittoria had followed from her birth. The fourth, however, Ellyenth protested. But I'm a gold! I outrank the others! He can't just treat me like some silly green! Vittoria turned to Hers. I think he just doesn't want us bossing everyone around. As long as we don't do that... we're good, Vittoria said. Ellyenth seemed to be placated.

Come, Mine, let's get you to sleep, Vittoria said. Aren't you coming to bed too? the gold asked, confused. I'm exhausted and I would love to, but if I didn't show up to the Hatching Feast, someone would decide that they're the best and then where would we be? Vittoria explained. They were nearly to their room now; apparently, future junior weyrwomen needed to walk all the way to the back. The bed and couch were already made up, and it didn't take much prodding to get Ellyenth to bed and asleep. When Vittoria was sure Hers would stay asleep, she headed off to the Feast, yawning widely.

Homework
Before I came to Oresia, I lived in Cove Hold. I have a brother and a sister, R'tor and Tilele. R'tor rides Blue Echirth; I'm not sure if you remember him, but he tells stories of Weyrling training with you. Tilele is an apprentice miner. She is the first of my immediate family to go into a craft. My father, Toriel, manages our family's finances and works to help out other people with money. My mother, Rialyn, stays home and tends the house, along with my paternal grandmother Elliet.

I was often with friends during the day and dancing at night. I was high on the social ladder, below only the children of highly-ranked parents and those who had bought their way to the top. I knew the daughters and son of the Lord and Lady Holder, albeit not well. If I had not Impressed, I would have gone back and married, like my mother.