Reality of the Moment (new weyrlings)

[neopanther]

At the new weyrwoman's comment the little blue pranced about, turning in a circle before plonking himself back down, Ez'ki laughed, "Hi. No, no green for me, Xyruth's enough." He laughed, "and you!" He hugged her tight, "A Gold? Sheeesh, Faranth gave me a gift." He said, as she casually twirled his hand and examined his cuticles rather arrogantly. He laughed, pulling out of his false impressions,

"Congratulations Sassie... I hate to say it, but I told you so." He beamed at her, his grin showing pride, happiness, and a tiny piece of satisfaction, okay a large piece of it.
I'm Xyruth,[/i] His voice sharp, exictement giving a shocking edge to his tone, electric almost. He aimed his greeting at the miniature gold, You are awful shiny[/i][/color] Remarking upon her hide colour, in way of awe. The blue fanned his wings a little, tail still twitching, but he stood now, feeling rather dimninutive i n staturei n comparison to the mighty gold before him. Ez looked at the pair, she was broad, well muscled already, stocky even, a predators grace. He, on the other hand, was small, lithe, and elegant, he smirked, it was like the two dragons had switched atypical features to their genders! Ez said nothing, Xyruth shot him a quick quizical thought, but it was soon lost as his attention to this new whatchling overwhelmed his mind once more.

"So how is to have achieved?" He smiled gently, knowing that this was her dream. He took two and a half steps to the other side of her queen, taking a good look at the young queen as she did so, it was primarily to let Salina continue satiating her queens needs, it was meerly an added bonus he got to view wthe queen so perfectly.

[Xinnai]

Salina smiled and laughed, nodding. "He seems like it." Breath left in a whoosh as he caught her up in a hug and she laughed, still giddy at the very thought of it. She snickered as she watched him and nodded. "A blue for Ezi and a gold for Sassie. Who'da thunk? Yeah, you did," she said in reference to his comment. "You did at that."

Deoneth blinked once as Xyruth spoke with her, head tilted slightly to the side much like her rider did on occassion. I'm Deoneth. I'm shiny because I'm a gold.[/color] She inched closer, curious, to look upon her Mine's friend's dragon. You're pretty...[/color]

Salina glanced down, cheeks going slightly pink. "Oh Ez, I don't even know how to explain it. It feels so surreal almost." She kneeled down, wetting her towel once more and began her attack upon the mess of her gold once more. She glanced up at Ez'ki, smile beautific. "It's so surreal but also just...amazing, you know?"

Deoneth noted her rider's attentions absently, still watching Xyruth curiously. He was very pretty...And so different from the ingrained knowledge she had of what blues were most often like...

[neopanther]

Ez'ki looked down at Xyr, "Yep, yes, you know that nickname you were looking for? Perhaps it shall be 'Ez'ki the all knowing' mmm too long." He pondered, "I'll settle for god." He laughed. She was in good spirits, despite the pressure this brought. He looked at Xyr, a curiously gentle smile affecting him.

Xyruth sat back again, feeling a lot less intimidated now, the queen was just as curious as he it seemed, snaking his long serpentine neck out, his head reached towards hers. His nose almost touching to hers now, his eyes whirring with intense curiousity.

I think so, but you're really really bright! His enthusiasm showed as he flared his wings competely muscles flexing roughly as he did so, you look powerful too. I know I am less strong... the little blue sounded a little down at that acceptance, but it was true, the blue would make no false statements of himself, or anyone. He was still bubbling with enthusiasm, curbing it only because Ez'ki was keeping a tough mental watch on him, forcing courtesy on the little hatchling and respect, it would not do to go angering the small gold, for she was still a deal larger than he.

Ez'ki tried to deny the smiles now, he felt he should be perhaps a little more serious, "I do, actually, I understand completely, though obviously, on my behalf, I'm not quite as grand or showy as yours." He laughed, "What's her name? She's going to be a strong lady. A beautiful and strong lady, just like her bonded." He said as he crouched, so he didn't tower over his friend. He smiled as he casually examined her, she was pristene, her wings oddly tattered for one so newly hatched, but it gave her charm.

How do we know Deoneth's Mine?
"Ah," Ez'ki paused, looking towards his Xyruth, feeling as though he should give some long backstory of how they met as children, but there was no such story. "We were candidates together. Now, we are weyrlings together, soon to be riders Xyr," Xyr's mind awashed with confusion, the little dragon was, too, uncertaing as to how his bonded felt so strong for this girl when they barely had met. Don't worry about it Xyr, its just something that happened is all. Xyruth grurmbled a response, he was to involved with looking at his queen. He lifted one of his forefeet tentatively, not knowing exactly what he would achieve by it, flexing his arm towards her before bulling it back.

[Invisible]

If K’mar knew that everyone was already blaming what went wrong on him he’d likely just shrug it off. Since he did not he was able to focus on the situation at hand. It was not, as so many suspected, his fault at all. No, it was Volsteath that had decided to stake out his territory for the moment. Poor K’mar would be doing all he could, of course, to resolve this situation. K’mar? Who is that one speaking?[/color]

Him? He’s the Weyrlingmaster. He is in charge of this? [/color]Yes, we answer to him until we graduate. Oh, then I had better move.[/color] Volsteath lifted his head and slow whirling eyes regarded I’dalyn a moment before he heaved himself up. His feet barely lifted off the floor and his tail dragged as he hauled himself away. Really. People expect a just hatched dragon to be able to do more than that? It was all he could do not to drag his distended belly on the ground. “Sorry, sir,” K’mar told the Weyrlingmaster without giving the other weyrlings a second of his attention. “Guess it’ll take some getting used to getting him to listen to me. He’s so tired right now.” There, you see? It was nothing he did wrong. K’mar is just suffering the same as any new weyrling who is not used to the bond between himself and his lifemate.

Very good, K’mar. Never let those in charge know what we are up to.[/color] Umm. What are we up to? Power, K’mar. And it can be easily gained quietly. As quietly as I can sleep.[/color] K’mar moved to stand next to Volsteath and absently rubbed the large head that now laid on brown feet. No trouble here at all. Nope.

[Selvagem]

(OOC note to everyone: Be warned that I'm leaving for vacation on Tuesday, so if anyone interacts with my charries they may not get a reply in a while.)


H'tio
They are no doubt sweet, just a tad on the stale side, I expect they have been here for a while, while we were hatching...

H'tio listened to his dragonet's voice with an intense fascination that, if anything, served to further fuel the brown's rhetoric. It was remarkable how much a simple remark on the condition of the meat could elicit from Runimeth. He would never again doubt the verbal abilities of dragons, no matter how old they were. The new brown-weyrling fed his dragonet patiently with small clumps of meat the size of his fist as the Weyrlingmaster had reminded, over and over, with each bunch of hatchlings coming in. It was not so much the brown’s words as the intonation, the rhythm and the cadence, the lengthy descriptions and explanations that Runimeth used as he expounded on the taste and smell of the meat, that made H’tio listen with such rapt attention. He reminded the gray-eyed boy of his former mentor, the old Master Healer Rotar, with his scholarly manner.

A rousing cheer went up from the Sands beyond the cavern, and H'tio raised his head, momentarily distracted. That had to be the last of the Hatchlings Impressing: the only other event that could have drawn such an uproar was the gold's Impression. Runimeth turned to look back over one wing-joint at the uproar, his jaws never ceasing to chew, and his mind continuing its speech without a hitch.

...which is likely why I am feeling less empty already, the brown turned content blue eyes toward the cluster of dragonets around the bathing area, H’tio, lad, I believe it is time for a soak. My stomach is well-filled, and I begin to deplore deeply the state of my hide. Kindly bring a basin as the gentleman suggests, and begin the cleansing my pelt.

H’tio snickered at the thought of calling I’dalyn a gentleman, but he nonetheless compiled with a slight bow to match his dragonet’s eloquence. He strolled around the cluster of boys around the pool, noting the heated tempers fraying but not bothering to get involved. Let others find out, if they didn’t already know, about K’mar’s temperament. On the other side of the group he could see Jh’na with his green: he was so clearly smitten by her that he saw little else in the entire room of weyrlings. With a wry smile, H’tio picked up rag and basin, and drifted past J’sen with his bronze to draw water.

He was just on his way back to Runimeth when the last boy to Impress entered the room with his bronze. Sparing the pair only the barest of glances, H’tio settled the basin beside his brown and began, with long, gentle strokes, to wash him clean of sand and egg goo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Th'dis
The last of the hatchlings entered the feeding area with his head held regally above an arched serpentine neck, his every stride made with quiet, powerful dignity as he glanced from side to side, exploring the room with his eyes. Guiyath’s heavily-built frame dwarfed the smaller boy by his side, yet those who did notice him would also notice the change in the way Th’dis moved and held himself. The change was subtle, noticeable yet not at all obvious: he was no longer ambling, as he usually did. No, there was a strength in his pace and a set to his shoulders that might have caused pause in anyone accustomed to the casual gait that Thordis had always adopted. Almost as if merely walking in the shadow of a bronze had already done something to him.

The pair marched straight up to the table of meat buckets, and at his lifemate’s prompt Th’dis nodded to the rider who had charge of it, “That one please, sir.”

He indicated the largest bucket available, and promptly received it. It was a struggle for the boy to wrestle it a suitable distance away to allow space for the bronze to eat. Guiyath let his weyrling work things out, his eyes subtle but whirling with obvious curiosity as he glanced at the other dragonets all around him. He let his mind wander almost carelessly, the drifting attention of one new to the world, and listened casually to what was spoken both verbally and mentally. By the time Th’dis had the first ball of meat ready, the bronze had already gained an initial idea of the personalities and mindsets of his weyrling-mates, and was impatient for his first bite of food.

You’re so curious about everything. Chew before you swallow.

Th’dis provided a mental image of chewing to guide his dragonet, remembering what other weyrlings had commented to him about teaching dragonets to chew. Guiyath contemplated him with coolly whirling eyes as he obeyed, not wishing to choke. The weyring with the dark chestnut hair and the easy lounging stance watched him, marveling at the feel the bronze exerted on his mind. It was pressure, heavy and cloudy, like a thick shroud hung over his head. The boy felt it roll off him in waves, tickling and penetrating. He endured the examination quietly, staring back into Guiyath’s mind in return. Fear prickled at him like warning, but he ignored it. Why would he fear his own dragon? The bronze swallowed and took the second piece from Th’dis, whirling pale orange eyes still watching him.

Th’dis. You have more strength than most would assume.

The weyrling nodded, cool eyes gray as mist as he smiled, feeling the pressure easing off his mind, I do. I always knew that I’m stubborn. I learn what I want to learn. But I never…well, I never thought of it that way before.

I will show you how, the bronze gulped the meat and took his third mouthful, his voice guttural, powerful, I will show you ways you have not seen, not even dreamed of. You will take me to the top. We will do this.

Th’dis nodded, still wondering at the way his dragonet’s ambition flooded him, illuminating parts of his mind, his soul, that he had never realized before, Together, aye. We will do this together: as partners, as friends.

Guiyath's mind withdraw into a brooding thoughtfulness not unlike an ominious cloud, though the dragonet continued to crunch flesh and sinew. Th'dis waited.

Together, the bronze chewed on the idea as he chewed on meat, Partner. Friend. Yes. That is not a bad thing. There is strength in that. Purpose. Yes, we shall do this. Together.

[flamewolf]

S'yu glanced behind him to see I'dalyn standing there, leaning against the wall, watching them with careful eyes. He turned back again to see Wujinth peering at the man curiously, his anger suddenly gone as his attention was diverted. Who is he to tell us what to do? the brown demanding in a long, drawn out hiss.

He's the Weyrlingmastser. Our teacher. The person who is in control of us until we pass weyrlinghood into riderhood. The Weyrling added on to the explanation to get his point across to the brown, who regarded said man a moment longer before turning back. He lifted his head in surprise to see an empty space there, waiting for him. He tested the water with a claw before sliding in.

It is about time, he said, mainly to himself. S'yu rolled his eyes and followed him in, then started on washing the dragon. Slowly, the touch of the brown's mind relaxed and seemed to unwind. It was still heavy and no mistaking it's presence, but the brown relaxed under the water. His eyelids dropped one by one, and soon he seemed to be asleep. S'yu continued to wash the dragon, idly wondering if he actually was asleep, or if he was just waiting. Waiting for...who knows what.

[Xinnai]

Salina shook her head, eyes rolling once more as she continued to scrub diligently at Deoneth, her humor apparent though she was focused intently on the task before her. She wasn't going to let her gold do anything but shine. After all, they would be seen and she wanted Deo to look her absolute best. "Oh yes, god. That does seem to suit rather well. Though, personally, you'll always be Cutie to me." She winked.

The little gold was startled as her clutchmate stretched out blue nose, almost touching hers. She shrank back a little before sinuous neck was stretching out, regarding Xyruth much as he regarded her. You're still pretty. And I'm only stronger because I'm gold and you're blue. There's nothing we can do about it. The logic was infallible, delivered in that slightly metallic voice as Deoneth continued watching Xyruth. I'd be happy if I were so prettily colored, even though I do shine...

"Yes, you would, wouldn't you, after Impressing your-" Salina floundered, realizing she didn't know the blue's name but was smiling again, stroking her gold's head tenderly at her friend's question. "Deoneth. Her name is Deoneth." A slight blush tinged her cheeks at his flattery as he crouched to look over her beauty. She rubbed at a particularly stubborn spot, the question casual. "What is his name? He's so beautifully colored, Ez. It reminds me of lightning, just like you."

Deoneth was getting drowsy now under the attentions of her rider. The soothing motion of the scrubbing was calming and sleep-inducing. Slowly, one by one, the inner lids within her opalescent eyes drew closed. Drowsily, she asked one last question.
We are friends with Xyruth and his Mine?[/i]
Yes, very good friends.
But Deoneth didn't reply, having slid into sleep, at peace and restful now. Salina smiled, scratching at her soft eyeridge gently before looking up at Ez'ki, her smile tender as she stroked the head of her gold once more.

[neopanther]

"Lightning?" He repeated, he'd never thought of it like that, the erratic streaks were rather reminiscent of it. He viewed his own dragon momentarily before turning back to Salina. He looked soft again, caring, something he wasn't perhaps too fond of showing to a great number of people.

"Mmm." He began to smile, "I guess he does kind of remind me of lightning too. He's pretty unique for a blue, probably just right. Xyruth, his name is Xyruth." He added, having almost forgotten at the distraction she provided him with. Well curses to Faranth but that beast's mind was already affecting his, his own attention span was waning.

"Deoneth, wow, very regal, I wouldn't have expected something less, but, Xyruth's name is rather cutting on the tongue. Deoneth is strong, yet regal, probably to match how she feels." He looked at the gold again, she did carry that air of magnificence, power, prowess, she was like a carnal beast that was confined to a perfectly elegant (but in an odd way) shell.
Mine, she says she is stronger than I because she is a gold, I'm not certain of that...
Well why else you it be Xyr? He questioned the creature, just to check his logic out. He figured he'd never understand it completely but there was no harm in trying.
Well, I wondered if it was something to do with something else, like, maybe, just how we are born. Looking at the others, I feel... rangy looking in comparison, the others are taught, strong, I'm rather... lanky. [/I] The blue's tone was beginning to waiver. Tiredness, maybe at last taking its grip upon the hatchling. Tucking back his wings, and curling that long tail about himself, he rested down upon his legs, almost in a perfectly tight ball. His eyes still gleaming as they looked out, over his tail, watching and absorbing the events going on about him.

[anhydrous]

I’dalyn noted K’mar’s apology with a slight tilt of his head, watching silently from his position on the wall as the young queen entered the cavern. The little dragon was eye-catching, that was for sure. He chewed the inside of his lip as he studied the hatchling’s choice, trying to tie a name to the face. Salina, was it?

The weyrlingmaster watched her greet Ez’ki kindly, his mood lifting considerably at the treatment of the bluerider. She seemed sweet enough, not too concerned with rank, and that was a relief. There was nothing worse than a cocky weyrling. I’dalyn’s own class had contained quite a few, and he had watched his father painfully break their spirits that first night with threats and frightening statistics. He didn’t plan to go down that road, but nothing frustrated him more than a youngling that didn’t know their place.

After a few hectic moments the dragons became satisfied, their eyes slowing from the frantic whirl of the first feeding and beginning to settle into fatigue. As the bathing station became empty, I’dalyn cleared his throat, cutting through the gentle hum of conversation leading many pairs of eyes to turn and regard him curiously.

“Congratulations, weyrlings,” He began genially, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “For those of you that don’t already know, I’m I’dalyn, your weyrlingmaster. I’m sure that your dragons are probably tired and you’re likely itching to get to the feast, but first there are a few things that need to be gone over.” His bright eyes traveled the group as he spoke, noting who had bonded to who and just how many of each color had hatched out. “The rules here are important to your survival. They aren’t just to keep the peace, but also to ensure that you and your dragon live to adulthood.”

“First, you must obey me as well as the other weyrling staff,” he paused, eyes narrowing. “It’s true that I’m not much older than you are, but I’ve already been through this and know more than you can imagine. When given an order, you had better follow it.” I’dalyn absently cracked his knuckles against the back of his neck, searching for the next rule with a squint to his features. “I expect no fighting within this group,” he said clearly, perhaps too a little too loud. “The weyrling class is a family. You’re all stuck together for almost two turns, so you’d better get used to each other. Those who are having difficulties will be assigned the worst chores, and they’ll be doing them together. So, if you don’t like someone, keep it to yourself, or you’ll be stuck with them all day, every day. ” I’dalyn’s gaze lingered on those who had been having issues near the bathing pool, eyebrows quirked as if to say ‘deal with it.’

“The weyrling barracks are your homes. Each of you will have a cot with a couch for your dragon. You’ll all be staying there together, but if I hear about any fooling around you’ll be sleeping out in the bowl by yourself. Sexual relations are not allowed.” The last sentence was uttered with a sort of pain that probably wouldn’t be caught by the weyrlings receiving the speech. “You can do serious damage to your dragons’ minds at this stage in their life.” I’dalyn’s thoughts lingered for just a moment on Daisulyth, his stubborn consciousness keeping a careful distance. The weyrlingmaster sighed inwardly. “The only people with free access to the barracks are the weyrleader, the weyrwoman, the headwoman, and myself. If you want a visitor, they’ll have to check in with me first.”

“For the next few weeks your dragon is your only priority. When it is awake, you’d better be next to it. You need to get used to having another presence in your mind, and your dragon will need your constant help and reassurance in virtually every aspect of its life. Your day will revolve around your dragon’s sleeping schedule. When it wakes, it will be hungry. After feeding, it will need to be oiled. Ever other day, it needs a bath. Hygiene is of the utmost importance in keeping their hides healthy and free of cracks. Cracks cause infection, infection can cause death, so I beg you, oil your dragons.”

I’dalyn paused to take a breath, mentally ticking things off the list. “You must clean up after your dragon and yourself. If your dragons makes a mess, it’s you’re your responsibility to clean it up. They can’t go between to relieve themselves, so there’s a large pile out behind the barracks.” Scratching absently at his jaw, the brownrider continued to outline the weyrlings’ duties. “When your dragon is asleep, there are plenty of chores required of you. There’s a list posted in the barracks.”

“If you hadn’t already realized it,” he said by way of a conclusion, “Weyrlinghood is not going to be easy. Tonight is the hatching feast. As long as your dragon is sleeping soundly, you are more than welcome to go.” With a small smile, I’dalyn clasped his hands together and took one last long look at his weyrlings. “This is your last night of freedom. Enjoy yourself, but make wise choices. Remember that you’ve got to get up early tomorrow.”