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It was a full day for the Igen Weyrlings. First they took to the skies for Betweening for the first time, and then...
Near Linneth, Eosith cruises through the Igen airspace yet again as Kyli takes shuddering breath after breath. She nods in thanks to Siara and signals Eosith to drop in altitude, back to Ranth's level. Near Linneth, Linneth emerges from *between* and J'on releases a breath he didn't know he'd held. "WAAAHHHOOOO!!!!!" he yells, quite uncharacteristically. Then he blushes scarlet. Linneth> I bespoke Kineth with << My rider doesn't believe we actually did it right the first time. Are ALL riders this silly? >> Dragon> Linneth senses that Kineth noddles. <> Linneth> Kineth senses Linneth wonders impishly < > >> IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Idrelth strokes his wings, carrying him to the level for going between. A short circle is made. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Idrelth disappears into Between. Near Linneth, Idrelth has arrived. Near Linneth, Idrelth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! You furl your wings slightly to glide lower into the Bowl. Midway up in the Igen Weyr Bowl Contents: Cyrath Ranth(#14457Jaes) Eosith Obvious exits: Visitors' Weyr Weyrs Down Up IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Linneth furls her wings slightly. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Linneth glides down lower into the Bowl. You say "Linneth! I was kidding!" Near Linneth, Cyrath waits till after Idrelth has gone and then flicks her wings. Okay... Near Linneth, Cyrath disappears into Between. Near Linneth, Cyrath has left. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Cyrath emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! Dragon> Linneth bespoke Igen Weyrling Wing with << My rider doesn't believe we did it right the first time. Kineth says I may show him again. >> The image in her mind is clear and loud as she tries it again. << See? >> >> Near Linneth, Linneth disappears into Between. Between Black... Blacker... Blackest! IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Linneth disappears into Between. You suddenly emerge... High above Igen Weyr Contents: Cyrath Idrelth Kineth Obvious exits: Upper Sky Down Rim Near Linneth, Linneth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! J'on hollers "LINNETH!!" but he's grinning. Near Linneth, Astride Kineth, Elen loosk about, counting heads as it were. "Oh my....I thought, wlel," Her face is a little white. J'on swats his green, who is rumbling with amusement at herself. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Eosith disappears into Between. Near Linneth, Eosith has arrived. Near Linneth, Eosith emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! Near Linneth, Seated atop Cyrath, Sarai looks at the bowl and then Cyrath, and then leans forward to squueze the ichor out of her gold. She's silent, but grinning. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Ranth disappears into Between. Near Linneth, Ranth has arrived. Near Linneth, Ranth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! Near Linneth, Mounted atop Kineth, Elen sighs. "All ok? No one tired ....where is that Siara!" Near Linneth, On Eosith's back, Kyliven's face is dead white as she and Eosith re-emerge, and she swallows hard -- the sound almost loud enough to carry across to the other riders. Eosith bugles triumphantly, turning on one wing to glide smugly towards Kineth. Near Linneth, From high between Kineth's neckridges, Elen smiles as the blue joins them. "Right, now we are flyimg straigght down, as we both have things to discuss and dragons to check." Near Linneth, Seated atop Cyrath, Sarai bubbels and comments, "This Siara?" waving a hand to the blue. Sarai grins and looks ready to bounce up and down. Near Linneth, From atop Ranth, Siara waves and turns to count weyrlings, "One, two, three...." she counts slowly. "Uh oh! Where's Elimelech and Malkath?" she asks, missing them in the formation, though they're plain as day. Near Linneth, Linneth waits for the weyrlingmaster to go first, her eyes whirling quickly with amusement. Near Linneth, Mounted atop Kineth, Elen chuckles a little. "I know, I am the boring ne, but its down, I have to see we are all ok." She points. "There dear Siara." Near Linneth, Kineth furls his wings slightly. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Kineth glides down lower into the Bowl. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Kineth glides down cautiously. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Kineth glides over to the training field. You furl your wings slightly to glide lower into the Bowl. Midway up in the Igen Weyr Bowl Obvious exits: Visitors' Weyr Weyrs Down Up IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Linneth glides down lower into the Bowl. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Eosith bugles again, sideslipping towards Linneth and her rider. Kyli turns still-pale face towards the other rider, giving him a weak forced-cheerful wave. Or something. Near Linneth, Eosith glides down lower into the Bowl. Near Linneth, Eosith wings lower into the Bowl. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Eosith glides down cautiously. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Cyrath siiighs and flips her wings back. Well if she has to go down, sh'll do it FAST. Near Linneth, Cyrath glides down lower into the Bowl. You carefully wing lower into the Bowl. Over the Ground in the Igen Weyr Bowl(#769RLae) Contents: Eosith Obvious exits: Hatching Grounds Weyrs Up Near Linneth, Cyrath glides down cautiously. Near Linneth, Cyrath glides over to the training field. You glide over to land in the training field. Weyrling Training Field Contents: Cyrath Kineth Fahloran The Fish Hatcheries Obvious exits: Stables Igen Weyr Pass Weyrling Barracks Hatching Grounds Center of Bowl West South IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Linneth glides over to the training field. Near Linneth, Linneth circles and lands neatly. Near Linneth, Just overhead, Eosith glides over to the training field. Near Linneth, Eosith backwings to land neatly. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Idrelth furls his wings slightly. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Idrelth glides down lower into the Bowl. Near Linneth, Just overhead, Idrelth glides down cautiously. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Idrelth wings lower into the Bowl. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Idrelth glides down cautiously. Near Linneth, Cyrath flips her wings back, furling them just so to do a nice fast landing. Well.... You said /down/. Near Linneth, Elen slides with ease down from her place between her lifemate's neckridges. As she reaches the ground, Kineth croons happily. Near Linneth, Just overhead, Idrelth glides over to the training field. Near Linneth, Idrelth backwings to land neatly. You dismount Linneth, who crouches to minimize the drop. Weyrling Training Field The long shadows cast by the tall spires above are matched in this area of the Bowl by a few long scars in the floor of the Bowl - a silent testimony to a few miscalculated landings. Overhead, the dragons seem to fly with increased awareness, perhaps because one never knows when a weyrling will try a new trick in this area of the Bowl. Enough groundspace for two full wings of dragons stretches from the walls of the Bowl, making this a perfect area for practice or drills. To the north, the walls of the Bowl part to make way for the Igen Weyr Pass, whereas to the west a glint of water betrays the lake's position. An opening into the bowl walls to the northeast fairly hums with the murmurs of young riders in training. Straight east a large opening seems to almost glow, and the hushed atmosphere surrounding it indicates it is the entrance to the Weyr's Hatching Grounds. A flurry of activity to the south points one to the main entrance into the inner Weyr. The center of the Bowl lies to the southwest. Contents: Idrelth Elen Eosith Linneth(#13222aeqs) Cyrath Kineth The Fish Hatcheries Obvious exits: Stables Igen Weyr Pass Weyrling Barracks Hatching Grounds Center of Bowl West South Eosith lands near the barracks entrance, Kyli gripping her straps tightly enough to whiten her knuckles. J'on unstraps himself, gets down, and swats Linneth again. "Big green brat." His tone is affectionate. Elen wlaks from her blue and about the weylings. "All ok, relaly ok?" Her worry is plain. "That was not bad, not at all abd." Kyliven lovingly thumps Eosith's neck, swings her leg over the blue and slides to the ground. Sarai leaps off with delight and spring in her step. The grin is plastered on her face, but the youth is vocally as quiet as ...lately. A nod, and Sarai peals her helmate off. "Oh wow..." she says. That's about it. Elen smiles to Sarai. "You can stay and bath your gold, the others, I need ot inside, well after you have checked your lifemates." Elen strides into the Weyrlings Barracks. Kyliven slips from Eosith's side, reluctant to lose physical contact with the small blue. She stands just behind his left leg, nodding towards Elen. "We're fine." Sarai noddels at Elen and pulls jacket and sweater off, "C'mone you, bath time..." Now she speaks. Skipping down the lake way, Sarai heads off. Freedome from THIS lecture too. Sarai heads towards the lake to the west. Cyrath heads towards the lake to the west. J'on quickly checks his straps again, the new one much more secure than the old was. Linneth warbles happily. Only then does J'on loosen riding gear. Kyliven sends a flip of a wave after Sarai, only then turning to check Eosith's wings. "Not hurt, lovey? Good." She loosens, then removes his straps. Kyli removes Eosith's flight straps, causing the little blue to wriggle and stretch in delight. Atop Idrelth, Laurene unbuckles Idrelth's straps, releasing her to dismount. J'on swats Linneth again. "Take a nap, you. I'm going to go apologize for your conduct to Elen." But he pauses, waiting to see if Siara's coming inside too. Kyliven sighs as Eosith galumphs away. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Ranth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Ranth furls his wings slightly. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Ranth glides down lower into the Bowl. Kyliven shivers once as Eosith galumphs off, then heads inside, resolutely ignoring the other weyrlings and dragons. You stride into the Weyrling Barracks. Weyrling Barracks(#1745RAJLa) This massive cavern is connected to the main bowl of the Weyr by a short, yet large tunnel. Some weyrlings might complain that the tunnel lets in too much sand and wind, but never in the presence of the Weyrlingmaster! The walls of the cavern are patterned with the swirled sandstone that's unique to this region, and although the cavern provides some respite from the heat of the desert, the warm yellow and red colours seem sometimes to enhance the weather. Couches, worn smooth by the hides of many young dragons, line the eastern wall of the cavern, each accompanied by a cot. In the eastern corner a study area has been set up, with scrolls, a few long tables, and benches. The tunnel leading out opens at the southwestern end of the cavern. Contents: Kyliven(#5003PJcem$) Elen Fironth(#9810Vabeps) Jinx Iago Firelizard Perch(#6952Jae) Obvious exits: Bowl You say "Ky! Hey, KY!" J'on jogs after Kyliven. Linneth> I bespoke Eosith with << Is your rider well? My rider is concerned. >> Elen is sat down on a spare couch. "You may not be too keen on my next words, but well, its truth" Linneth> Just overhead, Ranth glides down cautiously. Linneth> Ranth backwings to land neatly. Linneth> Siara slips down lightly from Ranth's back, pausing to caress him affectionately as he croons to her. Linneth> Siara strides into the Weyrlings Barracks. Siara strides in from the Bowl. Kyliven turns, her arms full of Eosith's straps. "What, J'on? Shh, Elen's gonna say something." Nice evasion, that is. She plops down onto her cot, straps across her lap. Linneth> Laurene strides into the Weyrlings Barracks. Laurene strides in from the Bowl. Elen looks to Siara. "Siara here is going to lead ytou through what a flight is like for you and your dragon." J'on stops as Elen starts to speak, and sits on the floor. Then he looks up at Siara. SHE'S going to talk about flights? This is going to be fun. He restrains a grin. Siara blinks and finds an empty cot to sit on. "Huh?" she asks, having taken her time coming in. "I'm gonna what?" Kyliven blinks, then looks incredulously out into the Bowl. "Eosith, don't say that!" she protests, before clapping a hand over her mouth and turning her attention back to Siara and Elen. "Flights?" Maybe that'll distract her. Laurene settles down in a seat, more tense about what's coming up than she was about going Between. Elen folds her arms. "Siara, flights? you know your favourite time, you have to tell these all about it..please?" Linneth> Linneth settles down, resting her chin on the ground and eyeing the male dragons in response to something going on in the barracks. Siara smiles, "Oh, flights! Why didn't you say so? Is that lecture today? I thought next sevenday, but the calendar was sort of blurry from that oil I had on my hand and....oh!" She pulls her attention back to the weyrlings and grins. "Flights. Well, they're about the best part of being a rider, other than having your lifemate of course. What do you know about them so far, just from being around here?" Laurene shudders. Clearly, what she knows, she doesn't like. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Asperth emerges from Between with a blast of cold air! IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Asperth furls her wings slightly. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Asperth glides down cautiously. J'on keeps his mouth shut. Let some of the craft and holdbred answer this one. Linneth> Just overhead, Asperth glides over to the training field. Linneth> Asperth backwings to land neatly. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Asperth glides over to the training field. Linneth> Shayne climbs down from Asperth's back, giving her a loving pat as she sets her feet on the ground. Kyliven raises a hand. "Well, there's usually at least one green a day who rises... Eosith's beginning to watch them." Linneth> Linneth warbles a greeting to Asperth and Shayne. J'on chuckles softly. "I think Tivuketh is watching Linneth, too," he murmurs to himself. Laurene darts a sudden, almost panicked look at J'on. No no. Surely not. They're ages and ages away, aren't they? Shards and shells. Siara nods to Kyliven, "That's about right. Sometimes more, sometimes less. And your dragons will notice more and more - the males anyway. For the females it's a little different." She frowns a little at what J'on says. "So is Ranth," she mutters. Linneth> Shayne strides into the Weyrlings Barracks. Shayne strides in from the Bowl. Linneth> Asperth replies with a pleasant enough rumble, albeit a rather short one. Shayne, meanwhile, is shaking her head at her dragon while waving to Linneth, heading inside. Linneth> Idrelth shifts where he lays, wings moving with agitation. Whirling eyes consider Linneth's form. Siara waves to Shayne and grins at her. "Of course, Asperth is a whole lesson by herself when it comes to flights." Elen sits back, hoping she can trust the rider with this. Shayne tries to come in quietly and unnoticed, but ends up drawing attention anyways by being pointed out by Siara. She lifts a hand in a quick wave to everyone then slinks to the back of the gathering. Kyliven waves to Shayne, settling back on her cot and adjusting Eosith's straps on her lap. Defense mechanism, anyone? "Mum didn't explain too much to me 'bout Flights, except to tell me kinda what happened so I could be careful." Siara looks around at the weyrlings and tries to gather her thoughts, checking the copious notes she pulls from her pocket, "Let's see...well ...first thing is, you'll /know/ when a green is rising, if you've got a male dragon, because they'll tell you. Over and over. Fromthe first little bit of shine, you won't hear the end of it. They'll refuse to leave the weyr for any reason even a sevenday before, if it's a green they really like. So you have to be strong about that." Kyliven glances outside again. "I don't think Eosith -has- a green he really likes," she mutters. Elen nods to Shayne as she enters. "Speaking of green riders, thsi one will tell about flights form her side too, if we ask nicely." Elen looks a little ill at the thought of thsi pair in charge o fthis part of training. Shayne's face scrunches up a little. What wonderful timing she has. She gives Elen a 'do I have to?' look, already knowing the answer. Elen just smiles sweetly at Shayne. J'on is still manfully keeping back his laughter. Siara grins at Elen, "You couldnt' ask anyone better than Shayne." She leans over to whisper to the blue and brownriders near her, "You have /never/ experienced /anything/ like Asperth." She sits back up and continues, "So...anyway, the green gets all glowing and proddy and the riders areusually impossible, and the dragons are ill tempered, but finally she starts blooding. Dont' worry about missing it, Your dragon will /know/., All you have to do is follow him, and then go into the guest weyr when everyone else does. Oh, and be /sure/ to go to the necessary first, no matter how much your lifemate fusses. You can be in there a long time," she says, sighing as she thinks of bitter experience. Kyliven is uncharacteristicly sober, keeping her full attention on Siara. Her brow wrinkles as Siara adds the bit about the necessary. "I thought green flights were pretty short? That's what Mum always said, anyway." J'on speaks up at that. "From what I understand, short is a relative term." Shayne slaps her hand over her face, shaking her head at what Siara said about her and her green. "Why didn't I go to the Smiths like I was plannin' to?" she mumbles to herself. Elen goans a litlte. "No need ot be too graphic!" Laurene hugs her arms around herself. It's cold. Cold?! This is Igen, it's never cold in Igen! Siara blinks, "I'm not!" she says defensively to Elen. "If I were being graphic I'd talk about all the moaning and rolling around on the floor of the guest weyr!" She turns back to the weyrlings and smiles happily, "It's not easy, but if you can keep your thoughts clear, you can help your lifemate to win by keeping him from getting too excited to fly sensibly. Greens have lots of tricks, and once he learns them, he'll do better." She looks at Shayne ruefully. J'on glances out toward the bowl, then back to the lecturers. "Siara, you're cheating. Maybe some of us want to learn some of those tricks." He grins. Kyliven frowns slightly. "So you're saying Eosith won't win any of his first flights?" Elen holds her head in her hands. "Tell me when its over, I am staying here." Siara grins at J'on, "Well, if I give it /all/ away, it won't be as much fun." She shakes her head to Kyliven, "Oh, he might. You never know, if one of the greens takes a liking to him, or he's lucky that day. Let's see...what else...well, if you lose, you just leave the guest weyr and you've got to do something to help your dragon, cause he'll be miserable. The best thing is to find a partner and go to bed. That always helps. Sometimes you need more than one, depending on how worked up your dragon is," she notes thoughtfully, "Or how strong the first partner is. Some people drink a lot or take off their cloths in the living cavern," she winks at Elen. J'on studies the cracks in the ceiling. Hey, there aren't as many as in the living cavern. Kyliven's face screws up. "None of that ever happened to Mum..." she protests, glibly ignoring the fact that her Mum was a greenrider -- of -course- it never happened to her. Shayne is chuckling and shaking her head at the rambling Siara. "Elen, couldn't ya find anyone else available for thi lecture? The poor kids'll be terrified now?" she whispers to the bluerider. If Laurene's eyes got any wider, they'd be the size of plates. More than one? Choke. Siara pushes back her hair, frowning as she glances at her notes, "Now, if you /win/ , well, that's just an amazing thing. But you do need to be careful in the morning. Some greenriders can be very nasty in the morning, no matter how good your dragon was." J'on can't help it. That makes him burst out laughing. Elen blushes bright red. "Only people under duress Siara...great duress." Kyliven swallows hard and scooches back on her cot again, eyes wide and focused on Siara, absorbing every word. Laurene grimaces. Things are looking worse and worse by the minute. Doomed if you do and doomed if you don't! Maybe she and Idrelth can run off to be hermits in the desert. Siarasets aside her notes and looks up at the group and sighs a little. "I was scared too," she says at last, "But you really don't need to be. You want to know what the bad part really is?" J'on mutters "I'd start to take offense at you all. You'd think none of you liked me." Shayne mutters real quietly, grinning, "Morning breath?" Laurene turns frightened eyes upon J'on. "It's not you," she whispers, shakey. Kyliven shifts around until she's sitting weaver-fashion. "I still like you, J'on. And so does Eosith," she adds after an indignant blat from outside. J'on shakes his head, but lets Siara finish. Siara waits to be sure she has their attention and then leans forward, "The hard part," she says softly, "Is that when your dragon loves someone, so do you. And in the begining, just like you couldnt' tell who was hungry, with the first flights - you get mixed up. But the greenrider might not be new, and might not even really want to talk to you again. That's what's hard, when you care so much all of a sudden." Shayne nods in agreement with Siara, for once, her arms crossing over her chest. Kyliven rubs her face. "How long will that last? Eosith loving that green, I mean? 'Cause what if he catches..." she searches for a name before finally coming up with, "Catches Tantrumth? 'Cause I don't really like T'mper at all." Elen slips into her office, knowing that she may just squirm too much here. Elen enters the Weyrlingmaster's office. Siara sighs, "It just lasts - a while. You know how they forget. Does anyone have any questions?" Dragon> Igen Weyrling Wing sense that Linneth says uneasily << My rider is not happy. >> Dragon> Igen Weyrling Wing sense that Cyrath lazily asks, << Why not? >> Kyliven sticks her hand up again. "When will Eosith start chasing?" Dragon> Igen Weyrling Wing sense that Linneth isn't sure. His thoughts are red and purple, sort of. Dragon> Igen Weyrling Wing sense that Cyrath thinks about that, thoughts more leaning towards the nice sun on her hide. << My rider was not happy last night... >> Dragon> Asperth bespoke Igen Weyrling Wing with << My rider is almost /never/ happy. Humans are like that. >> Siara considers, "I don't know. Soon probably. You could ask Fahloran next time he examines him. " Dragon> Ranth bespoke Linneth with << My rider thinks your rider is upset and she wants to know why. >> Linneth> I bespoke Ranth with << My rider is upset. >> Her tone is very uneasy. << His thoughts are all red and black and purple. >> Linneth> Idrelth shifts his head, eyeing Asperth curiously. Hmm. They're awfully interesting today. Laurene flicks a haunted -- hunted? -- look towards the bowl. Shards. Figures. Dragon> Ranth bespoke Linneth with << That is not good. My rider is afraid it is something she did or said or did not say or did not do. >> Kyliven makes a face, but nods, repeating Laurene's look outside. Siara looks around and sighs again at the gloomy looks, "Really, it's /fun/!" she insists. "There's nothing like it - you're flying with your dragon - it's incredible." She sighs again, "If there aren't anymore questions, I guess it's shayne's turn to talk." Linneth> Ranth senses that Linneth says even more uneasily < > Dragon> Ranth bespoke Linneth with << They are young and silly! They will grow up and learn how to behave! >> Shayne reluctantly heads up to where Siara is giving the lecture, pointedly keeping her eyes from meeting the bluerider's. "Okay. Now for the greenrider's side," she says in a businesslike tone. "Like was said, your lifemate will get glowy just before she's about ta rise and sometimes ya act a little... proddy. Some more than others. Not much ya can do about it, so don't worry about it. And after a while you'll get used ta all the inconsiderate dimglows asking ya if your lifemate is about ta rise everytime you're in a bad mood." You say "That's when you toss people on the floor if they fall asleep in the living cavern?" Shayne chuckles at J'on. "Well, maybe. Some riders get silly, some irritable, some quiet. Ya never know." Kyliven half-grins. "People used to ask Mum that all the time," she remembers. "She just ignored them." Shayne grins at the well informed Kyliven. "That's a good idea." Siara nods, interupting. "Trea built a fling, Remember?" Linneth> Idrelth settles back, puffing out his chest a bit. Doesn't hurt to look good for the ladies. Shayne is scratching underneath her chin while continuing. "So then comes the time she's gonna actually rise. Asperth likes ta spring it on me without warning, but ya sure do know instantly what's goin' on. She'll tackle some beast in the field and will want ta devour the whole shardin' thing, and you'll want ta let her, but ya /have/ ta maintain control over her and force her ta blood the creature." Kyliven has a question, just a simple one, really. "Why?" Shayne grins. "'Cause if she eats, she's too heavy and slow and is only gonna rise about as far as a couple wingpumps before gettin' caught. There is /no/ satisfaction in that and it's really not good for them ta mate on a full stomach like that." J'on listens, gnawing on his lower lip. Dragon> Panth bespoke Igen dragons with << What's going on? >> Kyliven cocks her head to one side. "So then the males blood so they can keep up with the green, right?" Siara makes a face, "No fun at all," she agrees. "Now a good long flight..." she sighs happily, her gaze wandering from Shayne to J'on. Shayne nods to Kyliven. "You got it." She too looks at J'on, asking, "Ya got any questions before I go on?" J'on shakes his head. His eyes are dark and sparking, though, in what might be suppressed anger. Kyliven has another question -- again her hand lifts cautiously. "How do the males know when a green is about to go up? And how come blues never try for golds?" Golds. Eek. Browns chase golds. Laurene shoots a very wary look towards Sarai. Siara looks over at Shayne, politely waiting a moment, before she interupts. "Golds are just so big and - well, just big. And they go too fast and too far." She makes a face, "No offense," she says to Sarai. "And for the other..." her smile warms, "Same way you just /know/ when someone your with wants to kiss you. They just do." Shayne stops from saying what she was about to to answer Kyliven. "I don't know exactly /how/ the males know, but they do. They'll be in the feeding grounds before she even gets there most of the time." She nods to Siara's explanation, feeling that's enough of one. Kyliven grins as another indignant bugle comes from outside. "Eosith says he's /lots/ faster than any ol' gold," she whispers over to Laurene. Shayne is smiling as she speaks now, mostly to J'on. "After blooding, she's rise up and ya won't believe the /rush/ that is in your head. It's like you're both totally free and invincible, sorta hard ta explain. The chase is /so/ much fun, all those male dragons proclaiming their love for your green in attempts ta sway her attention thier way..." Laurene gives a somewhat sickly smile. "He can have Idrelth's share of chases." Judging by Idrelth's indignant bugle, he doesn't agree with his rider. Siara shivers as Shayne talks and sidles closer to her. J'on is at least listening to Shayne. That is, until Laurene's comment. Then he bursts out "With that attitude, he'll never catch. You'll inhibit him. Shards, you'd think you were a scared child instead of a rider." His eyes flash again angrily. Shayne is blissfully unaware of Siara beside her. "Hey, enough of that. Pay attention, you two. Now, where was I? Oh yeah... so you and your mate will be flyin' fast and doin' some amazing maneuvers, tricking all those silly males. Eventually she'll begin ta tire and the males she once thought of as inferior start lookin' pretty good." Linneth> Linneth sits up and bugles unhappily. Siara blinks and looks at J'on in surprise. "Linneth can't be proddy already!" she whispers to Shayne. Dragon> Linneth senses that Ranth's mindvoice is soothing. Please don't be upset. My rider says she will sit with your rider later and cheer him up! Shayne gives Siara a frown. "Of course not. Can't a greenrider have an emotional reaction without that bein' thought every time?" she whispers heatedly back. Laurene flinches at the outburst and blinks at J'on, almost liked she'd just been slapped. "I... I..." She doesn't seem to know what to say. Maybe there isn't anything /to/ say. Finally, in a soft voice, she says, "I am scared. But I'm not a child. And these aren't childish things," and again, "I'm scared, J'on. I'm sorry if you think that it makes me less of a person or whatever, but I can't just snap my fingers and change who I am. Don't you think I've tried?" You say "She's not proddy, she doesn't care what color is what yet. My point is that you're a dragonhealer, Laurene. You knew very well this was going to happen. You love Idrelth. Like it or no, he's going to chase. Like it or no, he'll one day catch. Chew it raw and swallow, but don't deny him who he is because of your fears. Nerves is one thing. Scared is something else. You've lived in the weyr too long for this." Kyliven chimes in defensively, "I was scared when Eosith went *between*, but that doesn't make /me/ not a rider, or a bad rider, either, J'on. Just 'cause you and your Linneth aren't scared of any of this doesn't mean that none of the rest of us aren't." Siara nods to Laurene, "Like I said, I was scared too . Especially of the rider being another girl. But once it starts, it's really, really okay. More than okay." She looks at J'on, "Not everyone grew up here," she reminds him, "And when I was scared back then, you were really nice to me. Rmember?" Shayne has her own emotional outburst. "Hey! It's not a good idea ta interrupt a Wingleader and if you two speak again you /will/ regret it. But since ya brought it up, I'll talk about it a second. No, ya /can't/ change anything when it comes ta flights. You will learn to accept things that happen during them as bein' natural... eventually. Above all, you have your lifemate with you through it all." J'on starts "It's like none of you seem to realize that GOOD things can come out of this. Why shouldn't I be upset? I mean, come on! I was born because of a flight!" He shuts up then, eyes still sparking dangerously, but knowing better than to interrupt Shayne again when she's in Wingleader Mode. Laurene is silent, not respond to anyone. Emotion drains from her face and she remains still, gaze turned towards Shayne, back stiff. Shayne has her eyes narrowed on both of the weyrlings, and for a little thing she can look intimidating when she wants to. "Ya can certainly talk more about feelin's and such later. But I would like ta finish alright?" Kyliven's nostrils flare at J'on and she nearly replies, but at Shayne's words, she stiffly turns back to the lecturers, face set. J'on may be biting his lip, but he's silent. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Panth wings up from Panth's ledge. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Panth flies higher with a beat of his wings. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Panth soars higher and higher into the sky, far above the Igen desert. Siara winces and nods warningly to the weyrlings, and then murmurs, "Asperth proddy /again/," but she winks at Shayne this time, joking. Shayne speaks in a much calmer voice now. "So your green is rising, then she gets caught. At first, ya might not like it, but suddenly a wave of wonderful and tender emotions sweep through ya and you realize that all will be just fine. Who the rider is of the dragon that caught yours doesn't matter. All four of ya are sharing a very special moment, one filled with sensations ya probably never experienced and it /will/ be something you won't regret." J'on takes a long, slow breath and nods. Shayne grins faintly. "Ya might wish passionately the rider was someone else in the morning, but since your dragon is so pleased with the outcome, you'll get over it because of the love ya hold for your lifemate." Siara nods slowly as Shayne speaks and murmurs to her admiringly, "That's exactly it." Shayne jerks a thumb over at Siara. "For example, sleepin' with this one was /not/ something I would choose ta do on my own, but I would never deny Asperth anything." Kyliven grins at Shayne's words, then at Siara. Siara gives Shayne another smile, more adoring than the last, "But it was wonderful, wasn't it," she says wistfully. J'on manages a chuckle at that. Shayne frowns, showing her irritation even though she probably shouldn't. "Whatever. Doesn't mean it'll happen again." Speaking up she asks, in a hope to change the topic "Any questions?" Bright red. There might not be emotion, but Laurene can't stop that sign of embarassment. J'on shakes his head. Siara sighs, gazing at Shayne and then looks down, waiting for questions. Shayne nods, glancing about the room. "So, in conclusion, even though it's disconcerting not ta be in control of your dragon, all that happens during a flight is natural and nothing ta be embarassed or ashamed of. Embrace it and let yourself enjoy it. It really is special." Kyliven the ever-curious has another question. "What J'on said -- about influencing your dragon. Mum always told me she couldn't influence Siavath's preferences at all. So which is it? Can we, or can't we?" Shayne squirms a little at that. "Well, not /exactly/ can ya choose, but sometimes it feels like Asperth is leaning towards my choice. Sometimes ya aren't given the chance ta lean her towards another, seein' as the males can be sneaky and catch her when she isn't paying attention for just a brief moment." Kyliven scratches one arm. "But what about Eosith? Will he chase every green that goes up? Or can I stop him from chasing, if I'm paying attention?" Shayne grins. "I seriously doubt ya can stop him if he wants ta chase. You'd have ta take him elsewhere. And no, not every single green will he chase. Generally just those that interest him a little ta begin with. Which is good, seein as there are so many greenflights going on around here." Siara nods, "It's almost impossible to get them not to chase,. unless you leave early enough. But Ranth pretty much chases any green he can, if he's not too tired." Kyliven nods slowly. Shayne assumes she is done, so sits down in a chair off to the side, close enough to answer questions if she's needed. J'on shakes himself. "If you'll all excuse me, I'm going to tend to Linneth." He almost says more, then thinks better of it and walks out. Linneth> Tivuketh senses that Linneth 's rider is upset! Her clutchmates' riders upset him. Come curl up? Dragon> Linneth senses that Tivuketh croons. << But of course. My rider will be happy to cheer yours up. >> IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Tivuketh drops easily off Tivuketh's Ledge, spreading his wings to catch the wind. Linneth> Just overhead, Tivuketh glides over to the training field. Linneth> Tivuketh backwings to land neatly. Linneth> Tivuketh has arrived. IgenW-Bowl> Just overhead, Tivuketh glides over to the training field. Linneth> Linneth is sitting up, eyes whirling unhappily. Linneth> Tivuketh hops close to Linneth, crooning to her appealingly and also soothingly. Linneth> Idrelth shifts, agitatedly. He sidles away from Tivuketh as the brown lands. Linneth> Linneth settles into more of a crouch. Her tail lashes across the dry sand and rock. Linneth> Tivuketh takes a brief look at the young brown but then focuses all attention on Linneth. Linneth> I bespoke Tivuketh with << He says it is not me that upset him, but it has to do with me somehow. I can feel it. >> Linneth> Macami shakes her head, sighing. "I can't stand with you in the sun here, Tivu, it's too hot, and I'm tired. I'll be in the Living Cavern, I need shade." She leans against her lifemate briefly then slowly walks off. Linneth> Macami heads south to the main entrance. Dragon> Linneth senses that Tivuketh continues his soothing croons. << What happened? >> Linneth> I bespoke Tivuketh with << I do not know. Ranth's rider was speaking to them, and Asperth's, and then he was angry. >> Dragon> Linneth senses that Tivuketh hesitates then continues his crooning. << Ah, it's got something to do with flights, my rider says. Nothing to worry about. You'll be doing wonderfully, as will your rider. >> Linneth> Tivuketh senses that Linneth only cares about learning *between.* All other flights are unimporant right now. Linneth> Sarai heads over from the beach. Linneth> Cyrath heads over from the beach. Linneth> Sarai heads south to the main entrance. Dragon> Linneth senses that Tivuketh chuckles softly, though even that sounds rumbling in his mindvoice. << The other flights are important too. You might even like them. *Between*, that's easy. You just need to be able to visualize. Your mind is vivid, you will know how to do that in a blink. >> Linneth> Linneth calms slightly. Linneth> Tivuketh senses that Linneth did it today. Twice. Linneth> Cyrath watches her rider wander off and then lies back down in the sun, promptly closing her eyes. Linneth> Tivuketh looks briefly up from his study of Linneth, calling to Cyrath, before he continues trying to calm down the agitated green. Linneth> Tivuketh senses that Linneth is calming slowly. Dragon> Linneth senses that Tivuketh sounds impressed. << Betweening? Good, you'll be flying in a wing very soon. Hopefully mine, I'd like to have you by my side. >> Linneth> Tivuketh senses that Linneth needs to master flame first. You walk through the tunnel and out to the Bowl. Weyrling Training Field The long shadows cast by the tall spires above are matched in this area of the Bowl by a few long scars in the floor of the Bowl - a silent testimony to a few miscalculated landings. Overhead, the dragons seem to fly with increased awareness, perhaps because one never knows when a weyrling will try a new trick in this area of the Bowl. Enough groundspace for two full wings of dragons stretches from the walls of the Bowl, making this a perfect area for practice or drills. To the north, the walls of the Bowl part to make way for the Igen Weyr Pass, whereas to the west a glint of water betrays the lake's position. An opening into the bowl walls to the northeast fairly hums with the murmurs of young riders in training. Straight east a large opening seems to almost glow, and the hushed atmosphere surrounding it indicates it is the entrance to the Weyr's Hatching Grounds. A flurry of activity to the south points one to the main entrance into the inner Weyr. The center of the Bowl lies to the southwest. Contents: Shayne Cyrath Tivuketh(#14851Japs) Asperth Idrelth Linneth(#13222apqs) The Fish Hatcheries Obvious exits: Stables Igen Weyr Pass Weyrling Barracks Hatching Grounds Center of Bowl West South Shayne uses Asperth's daintily extended forelimb to climb up and settle on the green's back. A gentle rumble is heard from Asperth. Laurene walks out from the Weyrling Barracks. J'on jogs out and throws his arms around Linneth's neck, tightly embracing the green. She croons soothingly, but her eyes whirl with worry. Laurene moves to Idrelth's side, silent still, holding everything in. She presses her forehead briefly to the brown's hide, then pulls herself onto his back. The pair throw themselves into the air. Idrelth glances upwards, then springs into the air. Just overhead, Idrelth rises up from the training field. Tivuketh removes himself a bit from Linneth, so that he's not in J'on's way. Just overhead, Idrelth beats his wings powerfully. IgenW-Bowl> Midway up in the Bowl, Idrelth swoops higher up into the Bowl. Cyrath opens one eye to regard the sceane quietly. Kyliven walks out from the Weyrling Barracks. Kyliven heads south to the main entrance. IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Idrelth flies higher with a beat of his wings. J'on whispers "You're perfect, Linneth, perfect and fast and they aren't worth you if they're afraid of you. And me." IgenW-Bowl> High in the Bowl, Idrelth wings carefully to land on the eastern rim. Tivuketh gently butts his head against J'on's back. Dragon> Linneth senses that Cyrath wonders, << Is your rider worried about the same things mine is? >> Linneth> I bespoke Cyrath with << Nnnoooo...he is angry. >> Dragon> Cyrath bespoke Linneth with << He should not be! You are fast, and none of /them/ >> The boys, << will ever catch you. >> J'on turns around. "Oh! Tivu. Heya." He scritches the brown's muzzle reflexively. Linneth> Cyrath senses that Linneth thinks puzzledly that he is angry becuase of the riders, not the dragons. Tivuketh closes the lids of his eyes and hums, then reopens his eyes. Dragon> Linneth senses that Cyrath thinks about that for a while. << Becuase they will chase him around the weyr? >> Linneth> I bespoke Cyrath with << No..because they don't want to? >> J'on leans into Linneth and closes his own eyes. "See? Perfect. I've known you are, from the moment I touched your shell." Dragon> Cyrath bespoke Linneth with << They should. Your rider is very attractive. As humans go. >> Linneth> I bespoke Cyrath with << He thinks they have insulted me and him. >> Dragon> Cyrath bespoke Linneth with << Weeelll. I know my rider does not want to have other riders after her, but I think she will get over it. She's just scared of mating. >> Linneth> Cyrath senses that Linneth doesn't really care one way or the other, but her rider does. Dragon> Linneth senses that Cyrath understands, but riders and their eccentricities must be tolerated Linneth> Cyrath senses that Linneth knows, but when his thoughts get black and rud and purple it's a little unnerving. Raina wanders in from the center of the bowl. Raina strides towards the center of the Bowl. J'on pats Linneth again and pushes off of her. "I'm going to go get some juice. It's hot in this sun. Don't let me fret you, lovely." Dragon> Linneth senses that Cyrath would remind him you love him, and chase the ugly purple/black away. Linneth shoves J'on gently toward the cavern and curls up with Tivuketh. Tivuketh happily curls up with the young green, one of his wings unfolded to cover her fondly.
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