The following is a log of roleplay from PernMUSH . The World of Pern(tm)' and 'The Dragonriders of Pern(r)' are copyright to Anne McCaffrey (c) l967. This is a recorded online session, by permission of the author but generated on pernMUSH for the benefit of people unable to attend.

10/22/02



Weyrling Barracks

This immense cavern is the home for weyrling pairs. A huge opening is the entrance, leading to the ground level bowl. The floor is not quite smooth, being gauged with numerous scratches and cracks, from the clumsy undergrown claws on equally clumsy dragonets. The indentations on the floor, made by millennial pressure of the growing dragons, are quite suggestive of their purpose. Most of them have furs in one corner of them, as the new riders sleep as near their lifemates as they can. A particular odour lingers in the air here, not quite pleasant.

The normal ruckus of the barracks is almost constant.

Contents:

DRAGONS: Alyonth Ciryath Irenyath

PLAYERS: Saeliena Shawnah Cheni

Obvious Exits:

Hatching Sands Bowl

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith flickers an idle question, edged in iridescent gold. << Have you caught the wind yet? It stopped blowing, and I thought perhaps you had captured it. >>

Irenyath> Saulith senses that Irenyath fuzzily murmurs. << Who? Wha? Oh Saulith! >> As she awakens more fully, her voice vibrates. << Not yet. I have to learn to fly first, the wind lives up there in the sky but only comes down to play with me, My beloved says it will return to play another time. >>

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith apologizes in a flurry of silver-grey. << Didn't mean to wake you. Yes, the wind always comes back to play. Dragons are the only ones who can play properly with it. >>

Shawnah moves through the opening to the west, heading toward the bowl.

Irenyath> Saulith senses that Irenyath croons mildly as she stretches. << I was awake but was dreaming with my lifemate. And the wind will come. Maybe we can fly together. But for now my lifemate says I have other things to learn. Learning, it's so easy. >>

You move through the opening to the west, heading into the bowl.

Central Bowl

A stony field is the center of this great caldera, the size of which is unmatched at any other Weyr--for the whole complement of all the wings at Telgar could rest comfortably within its towering cliffs. Shaped in a perfect oval, the rock walls seem ideal for keeping the usual chill winds stirring about. The ground is mostly made of pebbles and rocks, some hued the milky shades of old quartz, though there are patches where softer dirt and even trees sprout up from the ground. To the south, the bowl opens onto the living caverns and the Weyrleaders' quarters; the immense entrance to the Hatching Grounds lies to the northwest. Heading southwest will lead one back out into the rocky mountain ranges around Telgar's protective walls. Dragons may be seen, relaxing or fresh from feeding, to the north, as well as the soft lapping sounds of Telgar's lake touching the sandy shore. The Weyrling Barracks, always aflutter with activity, are to the direct west. If you're looking for the 'dutypair' to take you to an outweyr destination, they can be found here. The meadow near the lake is strewn with wild flowers, like little stars of pink, yellow, and white. The ground by the barracks is quite muddy.

Contents:

Irenyath

Ursa

Shawnah

Spineth

Dulath

Kimbrith

Ursa dismounts quickly, but lingers by her dragon's side a long moment, her hand on his soft brown hide. After a moment, just her and her dragon, she steps away, heading towards the barracks. She pauses, though, to greet those leaving the barracks.

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith lets the silver blow about in a small blizzard, amused. << What are you learning that is so easy? >>

Irenyath> Saulith senses that Irenyath watches the colors spin around her with open delight, her eyes whirling blue and purple. << Well everything. I just seem to do it and know it. My lifemate is confused though, she finds everything hard to do. >>

Shawnah wanders out of the barracks, wiping oily hands off on her pants. She stands there a moment, idly looking up at the stars, seeming lost in thought - or perhaps someone /else's/ thought - until something catches the corner of her eye, and she's suddenly at attention, snapping off a salute. "Evening, Weyrlingmaster, Ursa ma'am!" she calls, and gives a sidelong grin to Cheni as she and her lifemate come out as well.

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith intones sagely, << Practice. You and yours will do everything over and over and over, and then it will get easy. My Kich says it is very boring, but worth it. >>

Cheni walks along behind Shawnah, blinking a little as her eyes adjust to different lighting conditions. As Irenyath nudges her playfully, she chuckles. "Alright, alright." At Shawnah's greeting, she too snaps to attention and gives a salute. "Weyrlingmaster, Good evening."

Ursa nods to each, her dark eyes looking over both the weyrlings and the dragonets. "Good evening, weyrlings," she says. "How are you this evening?" her nod indicates that she's inquiring about both weyrlings and dragonets.

Irenyath> Saulith senses that Irenyath voice tinkles with fond amusement. << It is fun to see her quake when she is around the Weyrlingmaster. She gets so nervous. >>

Irenyath croons serenely in response to Ursa and Cheni nods in unison, answering verbally. "She is fine, Weyrlingmaster. Doing her exercises as ordered, and so have I."

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith projects an image of Ursa looking rather meek and mild. << Spineth's rider is not scary. My Kich likes her. She cried the whole time Cariath and Spineth's clutch Hatched. Now, Tierth's rider-- >> An image of Maylia, scowling and glowering and in general looking ominous. There's even a suggestion of knives and whips. << She made my Kich be quiet and listen, even during the boring parts. >>

Shawnah grins. "We're good," she says, "We - Alyonth and I - were just practicing some visualizations, since Yashira noticed we seem to need to work on not getting so, um, distracted." she glances behind her then, and Alyonth wanders out as well, gleaming in fresh-oiled sleekness in the double moonlight.

Alyonth comes out of the weyrling barracks.

Irenyath> Saulith senses that Irenyath sends an image of Ursa and Yashira both dressed in black, with arms crossed and sour looks upon their faces, carrying heavy sacks. << My lifemate feels heavy around them. I try to keep her light but it is not easy. >>

Yashira walks here from the south.

Dragon> Irenyath senses that Saulith lets the snow fall, soft silver. << It is not that they don't like her. There is a lot for you to learn, and they want to make sure everyone learns it well. >>

Ursa visually inspects both the green dragons, one, then the other. A nod acknowledges Cheni's information, and she inquires, "And how about the physical exercises, Shawnah?"

Irenyath croons agreeably as the Weyrlingmaster inspects her and Cheni's anxious expression fades somewhat, as the green whuffles her. She says quietly. "I know." Then her attention returns to Ursa.

Yashira strides along from the southern bowl, munching on a meatroll and clutching another two in a cloth napkin.

Shawnah grins sheepishly, giving Cheni another sidelong glance before shrugging. "Well.. that's been going well, too. Kinda.. too well, maybe? I seem to be having a hard time convincing Aly she has limits.. Forget sometimes, even, and today we both kinda over did it before either of us noticed." honesty is the best policy and all that. Yashira is spotted walking along then, and another salute is given.

Yashira grunts, saluting Shawnah in turn and veering toward the trio.

Alyonth warble-chuckles, giving Shawnah's arm a little nudge. "Though we feel good and refreshed now." Shawnah is quick to add, sending a grin back to the green.

Cheni salutes snappily just as Shawnah does. "Assistant Weyrlingmaster!" She returns to watching in silence, standing ready for further instructions.

Ursa's glance slides to her assistant, and she grins in greeting to the fellow brownrider. "Shawnah says you've been having them address distraction," she says, and the slight note of approval is apparent in her tone. Then she turns back to the weyrlings. "Have you had a chance to practice riding, yet?"

Yashira returns Cheni's salute, forehead wrinkling in Ursa's direction briefly. "Still need to show a lot of them how to make straps, I think."

Cheni shakes her head in agreement with Yashira, wincing slightly as she speaks mildly, Irenyath coming close again to reassure her lifemate, as Cheni admits. "I am still trying to get the hang out of making straps, ma'am."

Ursa nods. "They'll definitely need strapmaking soon," she agrees. "But they can practice riding without them, they're not leaving the ground."

Shawnah blinks, clearing her throat. "Practicing riding, already?" she eyes Alyonth as if she's grown another meter or so since that afternoon, and then seems to size up Irenyath as well. Shaking her head in a perplexed manner, the glances back to Yashira. "I've been kinda practicing based on what some of the other Weyrlings've showed me, but, yeah."

"Yes'm," Yashira says, having another bite of her meatroll.

"Certainly not without supervision," the weyrlingmaster drawls. Ursa continues to size up the young greens. "But I'll want you on their backs quite soon," she adds.

Cheni smiles as she looks up at Irenyath. "She says that's where I am supposed to be, that's why she and I are one." Sighing ruefully, she admits again. "She also says that she should be up there in the sky but we've had the discussion that now is not the right time." She accepts Irenyath's apology as the green gently nudges her back..

Shawnah grins. "Her too, huh? Aly says she's feels all.. confined and itchy and stuff, like she knows she's supposed to be up there." she shakes her head again, "/I/ think she's growing way too fast for me to keep up with, she thinks she can't grow fast enough." she grins back to Ursa, "Though I can't wait until I'm able to get on her back."

Yashira finishes her meatroll and starts in on the next. "Huh. Really? They're that enthused? They say things like that?"

Shawnah laughs, crossing her arms and sending her lifemate a fond look. "Well, I blame Lysseth. First thing Alyonth saw when she came out of the barracks was Lysseth blooding and then flying. She doesn't even /remember/ it now, but she's been obsessed ever since."

The spring air is cold.

Cheni nods to Yashira. "I try to dampen her enthusiasm but it's somewhat like trying to keep a ball under water. It just keeps on popping out."

Above, Brimath leaps from Brimath's Ledge and flies into the air.

Brimath backwings for a landing.

Yashira's head bobs. "Ahh, yes. I recall that day. Heh. Dragons with enthusiasm." She's standing by Ursa; the Weyrlingmaster and Assistant are speaking to Shawnah and Cheni.

Ursa nods crisply towards M'ndor, and then P'tod. She grins, a slow, lazy grin. "We've got a good batch of young greens here," she drawls. "Come see," she invites the newly arrived riders. She turns back to look at the greens, considering.

M'ndor smiles and leans against Brimath's shoulder, watching the new dragons and riders. "You don't say Ursa, glad to hear it."

Cheni salutes to P'tod. "Assistant weyrlingmaster!" Then a salute goes to M'ndor next. "Rider, sir!" And her attention goes back to Ursa, still standing, as she awaits orders. Irenyath attempts to lighten her up with a playful nudge which only earns a wide-eyed look back over Cheni's shoulder and a shhhhh.

P'tod was walking across the bowl with his nose buried in a hide. He looks up, trying to work out what's going on.

Shawnah clears her throat again, grins, and just salutes in general.

Yashira inclines her head to M'ndor and P’tod in turn, finishing her second meatroll. One more to go. "Fine lot of blues, too."

"Yeah," P'tod agrees. "A good bunch of blues."

Ursa makes a decision, and nods with finality, "I think I want you two on their backs, since they're confident about it, and the exercises are going well."

M'ndor smiles and watches closely, a grin on his face.

Brimath warbles encouragement.

Ursa grins right back at M'ndor, "Hey, bronzerider. Wanna give a mounting demonstration? Even the weyrbred, who've seen a dragon mounted more times than they've used the necessary, still haven't watched closely how it's done." She adds, "Nothing fancy, just mount your dragon and then return."

Cheni shakes her head and looks up at Irenyath who seems utterly placid with the whole concept. She, herself is not so sure but looks to Ursa for further instruction.

M'ndor smiles, "Sure Weyrlingmaster...I'd be delighted."

Shawnah blinks again, jaw dropping. "/Now/?" but Alyonth warbles gleefully, giving Shawnah's arm an enthusiastic nudge. The young woman chuckles lightly, getting that perplexed, slightly lost look again, though she silently turns to watch M'ndor.

Ursa adds, "Do make sure your lifemates watch, too. They'll know what to expect."

M'ndor smiles up at Brimath who bends his foreleg gracefully for use as a step. M'ndor reaches up to grab the riding straps and using the bent leg, he steps up Brimath's shoulder.

M'ndor vaults up onto Brimath's back and into the saddle.

From Brimath's back, M'ndor adjusts the straps so that they are properly tightened and waves from above.

Ursa shrugs. "Of course, he used his riding straps, but then, you've got a lot less of a height to climb. The help of the foreleg is the important part. Grab the neck ridges..." she turns to look more closely at the dragons, to be sure the riders still could reach the ridges...

Cheni places a hand on Irenyath's hide, for mutual reassurance as the pair study both the rider and the dragon's moves. She looks up, way up and whistles. "Good thing you're a green, dearheart." As Ursa confirms, she looks at the ridges as well. "I think I can climb up there, ma'am. Tree climbing as a child was a worth while sport no matter what my mother said, it seems."

From Brimath's back, M'ndor undoes the straps and swings his leg over the neck ridges and holds onto the saddle and slips down the shoulder and lightly landing on his feet.

M'ndor leaps to the ground from Brimath's back.

Yashira shoves the last of her meatroll in her mouth, crossing her arms over her stomach and glancing curiously at P'tod's hides. "Whassat?"

Ursa accepts Cheni's reassurances and turns to inspect Shawnah and her lifemate. "Tomorrow we'll start the strap making lessons," she drawls. "Doesn't look too far. Think you can?"

P'tod tucks the hide into his pocket. "Just a note from Salek," he says. "My son."

Alyonth again nudges Shawnah's arm, and then leans down, though she's only about a quarter of the height of the huge bronze. Shawnah glances back, and giggles, "Oh yeah.. that should be fairly easy, if I can get on a full grown green's back, anyway."

Ursa gestures to the greens. "Okay, then, give it a try," she encourages.

M'ndor pats Brimath's shoulder affectionately.

Yashira nods again, swallowing her mouthful. "Gotcha." She turns her attention to the weyrling dragons with a neutral expression. Watching. Evaluating?

Shawnah nods, glances back to Cheni and Irenyath, and then reaches up to put a hand on one neckridge, and the other on another farther back, like mounting a runner. A several meters tall runner, but...

P'tod glances at the weyrlings, then suddenly blinks, as if remembering something. "Excuse me," he says.

P'tod walks through the entrance into the Weyrling Barracks.

Cheni nods, looking over her shoulder for the all clear by Ursa. She visibly withers as Yashira looks as well but with an inner reassurance and a low croon melodic croon by Irenyath, she gingerly tries puts a foot up on the green's foreleg. Way too gingerly, it seems, and her foot slips right off, nearly sending her on her rear. "I don't want to hurt her ma'am."

Ursa shakes her head. "Ask her if you're going to hurt her," Ursa counters. "Good!" she tells Shawnah.

Astride Alyonth, Shawnah does a few hops and misses before she finally manages to swing up... and Alyonth did /not/ give her a half toss-up with that foreleg, nope. When she's suddenly settled between two ridges, albeit with half the back ridge poking her in a not so comfy way, she blinks.

Brimath warbles encouragement to the reluctant greenrider.

Cheni looks up at Irenyath and takes a deep breath, trying again. "Alright, but if this -hurts- even a bit, you tell me." With that, she hefts herself up on the foreleg then scrambles up to reach the neckridge, hopping on one foot to get her balance and a lift, and she's up.

Irenyath

Irenyath's well-oiled back sparkles like river rocks as sunlight reflects against them. Trim, yet strong, there is not much spare flesh for padding on her, but she is nimble and able to carry her load with confidence and grace.

You climb onto Irenyath's back.

>> Ursa claps her hands, a lazy, but pleased gesture. "Great. Do hang on.." she adds. "Now, they've been walking all this time, so remind them to just walk as normal. Just a few slow steps to start with."

>> "Pinchy, isn't it?" Yashira says conversationally.

Dragon> Telgar Weyrlings sense that Alyonth's mind bubbles across her awake siblings' and superiors', wordless excitement. A brief, reckless idea suddenly springs up - the image of a hop and attempt at flight appearing before she's 'silent' again as she concentrates on walking with a counterweight.

Cheni shifts in between Irenyath's ridges, trying to find a comfortable position. The smaller neck of the still growing green makes that uncomfortable and she pinkens as she adjusts her trousers and coughs. "It's alright, dear." Wide-eyed, the realization she is sitting on her lifemate dawns on her and her face cracks into a genuine ear to ear grin. "Shells!" At the mention of walking, that smile fades as she controls her panic. Her voice cracks. "Walk?" And Irenyath does indeed take a step forward, causing her to lurch forward with a wince.

Dragon> Telgar Weyrlings sense that Irenyath rumbles with amusement at her lifemate. << I told her I could do it and it's not my fault I'm not bigger. Even with the weight she lost, she's tight in place. She won't fall off me. >> The idea of flying is tempting, however. << The wind is up there. We can catch it now? >>

>> Astride Alyonth, Shawnah mutters something under her breath, scootching forward a bit. A *look* is sent to Yashira, before she's thrown off-balance. "Wooah!" she exclaims, leaning forward to grab another neckridge.

>> Yashira clasps her hands behind her back, looking vaguely gleeful. "It'll get better once they're a little bigger and those neck ridges are farther apart! And you're lucky, because Thread falls for hours on end!"

Dragon> Telgar Weyrlings sense that Spineth responds with encouragement. << This is a good beginning. >> The glimmer of unauthorized flight from the young dragonets doesn't get a verbal response, but an image of many young dragons flying, and the two greens grounded, watching their clutchmates from below.

Dragon> Telgar Weyrlings sense that Irenyath sees the point loud and clear and with only a faint chord of rebellion, settles into compliance.

>> Ursa can't help a grin as they lurch into action. "Nice!" she calls. "Great start! You're doing great, have them walk about the bowl a little."

Cheni murmurs. "We'll last as long as we can up there, won't we Irenyath." Shifting again as the green walks a few more steps, she sighs in relief as she finds a more comfortable position. She reassures the green with a loving stroke to her ridge. "No, dear, you don't hurt." But as the green makes a slight turn, she holds on for dear life, swallowing to keep her inner control.

Dragon> Telgar Weyrlings sense that Alyonth blushes, if a dragon can do so with its mind. << I didn't know I had projected that far! >> she apologizes, her alto voice more shrill than usual.

>> The spring air is cold. The breeze picks up, sending a few leaves skittering across the bowl floor.

>> Ursa watches the walking for a bit. Then she calls the greens closer. "You can practice this now, as much as you need to, in the bowl, so long as your lifemate's say they're not hurting at all."

>> Alyonth does a little stumble, lurching Shawnah forward again. "Erp!" Shawnah exclaims, and reaches out to give her lifemate a reassuring pat. "Aaw.. don't worry about it." she says, lips quirking up in what could be amusement. The dragon creels softly, glancing shyly toward her clutch sister and then her draconic Weyrlingmasters, before she starts walking again, steps a bit more confident, though Shawnah stay leaning forward, holding on tightly.

You say "Hold on, slow and easy, that's right." She looks down at Ursa momentarily but her focus returns to looking directly in front of her. As Irenyath doesn't stumble or falter, it seems, at anything, it's only Cheni who has to get used to the gait of riding a dragon as she walks. "Yes'm. -She- seems alright.""

>> "Looks fine to me. Remember to ask your dragons if they're hurting at all - and also remember that they can and will lie if they want to keep going. So, like visualization, try to sense if they're at all hurt, too," Yashira says.

>> Ursa watches longer. "You guys are doing great. Why don't you finish up, though, cause you'll have discovered some new muscles in the morning."

Cheni nods, chewing her lower lip, as Yashira speaks. "Yes'm." She looks worriedly to Irenyath. "You are -alright- right?" She stops to do a mental check. "She's alright but I seem to be chaffing, if I have permission, may I sew some extra padding along the inner thigh of my trousers? Unless you prefer calluses to form?" She shuts her mouth, quickly, fear of going to far, creeping into her expression.

>> Yashira shrugs, glancing sidelong at Ursa.

>> Ursa considers this. "If you want to be padding your trousers for the rest of your life, you go right ahead," she concludes.

>> "Would that make ya walk funny?" Yashira muses.

Cheni shakes her head. "She'll probably grow more, ma'am." She winces painfully but carefully schools her face into what she considers the required 'riders don't count, dragons' do.' look. She patiently waits for the orders to dismount and sits upon Irenyath who appears more interested in a rock on the ground, forgetting her lifemate is on her back. As Cheni slides forward against the hard ridge, she winces again. "Shells, I did have calluses built up from riding runners but I need new ones."

>> Ursa gives the dismounting orders brusquely. "Well done, time for a rest, weyrlings."

Cheni shakily dismounts, with not a shard of grace as she half stumbles, half falls, and by sheer luck makes it off her lifemate, standing.

You dismount Irenyath.

Yashira runs a hand through her hair. "Strap lessons. Hoo boy. Took me ages to get those right - I've half a mind to try to borrow U'yn for a bit."

Ursa doesn't even crack a smile at the dismount--she dismounted like that once, too. "Not a bad idea," she tells Yashira, now she does crack a smile. "Dismissed, weyrling. Rest well."

"He can talk about the thingie of the leather. Something about yanking it. He used a funny word," Yashira muses. She pauses a moment. "It makes sense, really."

M'ndor chuckles softly.

Cheni looks to Irenyath then to the weyrlingstaff and riders " She itches." With that simple statement, she wobbly follows Irenyath into the barracks, pulling at the butt of her own trous as she does.









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