The Name Game [Nightnamers First Lesson]

[RavenSong]

{desc=Woot for Rules! }((OOC: Full rules are here, there's information in there detailing the full day of a Weyrling and statements regarding rest days. This is also for the full class, though if anyone's still in the infirmary the day after the Hatching you're getting a private rule list from K'var.))

Good morning my little Nightnamers! Argotath broadcast into the Barracks, touching human and dragon alike. It was the crack of dawn and Argotath was ready to teach. Come outside, let's start our day! Who's hungry? We have a mix of fish and meat right now.

K'var stood by with a ball in hand and enough meat and fish to feed twenty-six hungry dragonets. As the Weyrlings filtered out of the Barracks, he started tossing the ball in the air. His green firelizards were sitting on top of Argotath's headknobs, watching the Weyrlings approach. Argotath was right next to the meat in all his blue glory, watching all his new babies come outside. He was happy.

Once everyone was assembled, K'var waved cheerfully.

"Hello, everyone! As you may or may not have picked up yesterday during the Hatching, I'm K'var of Blue Argotath, your Weyrlingmaster. Today I'm going to go over the rules, and we'll then go around the class introducing ourselves. Once that's done, it's on to bathing and oiling, because that's very important. Get yourselves some food for your dragonets, they can eat while you riders listen. This herdbeast we have avaiable for the babies doesn't have any of that antidote. These beasts were quarantined, so don't worry about your dragonet dealing with any lethargy resultant of the Weyrleader's antidote." He paused to allow the Nightnamers to get their food sorted, then grinned.

"Everyone ready? Okay. Let's get the boring part over with.

"As you know, your dragonets are pretty big. They're newborns, too. They're going to grow, poo, complain about itching, eat, complain to be fed, and require a lot of bathing and oiling for the next season or so. It might be annoying. It might be hilarious. Who knows? But it's now a fact of your life. If any issues arise, your dragons can bespeak me directly, or bespeak Argotath, or you can show up in my weyr, or you can talk to the other Weyrlingmasters. Or even other riders. -Riders-, though, not other Weyrlings, unless they're in the Rainracer class. Rainracers are the Senior Weyrlings and will be graduating soon. Argotath, be a dear and show the babies where our weyr is."

Argotath looked, then showed the class where their weyr was. It overlooked the barracks from the east wall of the Weyr.

"As you can see, I'll probably be able to see you kids getting up to shenanigans. Bip and Bit, my greens up there, are also my partners when it comes to foiling shenanigans. I don't mind if you kids play around, or anything like that, but this leads into the next rule.

"If there is ANY emergency whatsoever, you get your butts to the barracks immediately. Healers too. Until you graduate weyrlinghood, you cannot help out unless specifically ordered to by me or one of the Weyrwomen. I'll do a head count with Argotath, Bip, and Bit. If I don't see you where you're supposed to be, you're going to be mucking out the Barracks for a season." He looked around to make sure the Weyrlings grasped that he was serious. Nodding, he proceeded.

"You're not to leave the Weyr for any reason save maybe Gathers, depending on the class' behavior, for the next three seasons. It's a safety thing. We've had a dragonet die in the past after leaving the Weyr. He was killed by a wild wher. On a separate occasion, a Cyan nearly got herself killed by trying to prove something to her rider. So don't get any wherrybrained ideas, dragonets. If you feel you have something to prove, do it in lessons. Do not leave the Weyr. Argotath and I will be quite cross with you.

"Weyrlings are not allowed to flirt, engage in romantic conduct, or engage in sexual contact. This is the most important rule. Until you graduate, you are absolutely celibate. If you had any boyfriends or girlfriends, and I know you did because I was a Candidatemaster once, you are strongly recommended to stay away from them. The most important thing in your life right now is the bond between you and your dragonet. Why, you ask? Why is romance forbidden? Because your dragonet can easily become confused and between. Your dragonet may think you don't love them anymore because you love someone else. Your dragonet may be scared by the feelings of arousal and between. If it makes it easier, envision your dragonet as a five-Turn-old who's constantly in your business. You wouldn't do anything with a five-Turn-old in the room, right? Right.

"If I catch you drinking or doing fellis or anything like that without notice from a Healer and a good reason for having the Healer prescribe it, like some of you currently have for fellis, you and I are going to have a nice, long chat. It won't be pleasant. Those activities are as welcome as sex while you're a Weyrling.

"Stay on your side of the barracks. Girls on one side, boys on the other. Mingle in the supervised common areas. You have dragonets now, you can call to your friend that way and mingle in the common areas.

"During Threadfall, you'll mostly be preparing firestone bags. Once we've drilled you in first aid, you might be assisting healers.

"And now the great part, chain of command. If a Weyrwoman or a Weyrleader tells you to do something, you do it. They are the only ones whose word supercedes mine. If a rider tells you to do some chore or another, you should politely decline unless they have a Weyrlingmaster's knots. F'reki of Blue Girieth and A'bar of Green Ablath are the other Weyrlingmasters. If you're assigned to chores in a place such as the infirmary, you listen to whomever's in charge while you're there. Ultimately, though, you listen to me. I'm not going to ask you to do anything you can't do or that is against the rules.

"Now then. With all that out of the way, we'll start with introductions. If you have questions, ask them when you introduce yourself, I'll answer then." He smiled warmly and tossed the leather ball in the air a few times, thinking.

"Okay. I'm K'var. Before I Impressed, my name was Kanivar. I'm from Ista Weyr, like F'reki, my halfbrother K'shan who's still there, and my son V'kyr, and my father was a rider like his father before him and his father before -him-. I enjoy food and wine, I don't like people being mean to women, and I spoil my firelizards because I can."

I'm Argotath, and I'm a Blue. I like to fly and teach, and a Red bit off my toe when I hatched. He held up his right foreclaw so everyone could see that the 'pinky' toe was gone. I like to Search, too. If any of you want to learn to Search someday, I can teach you. I taught Enciath already. I like to sit in the sun a lot, too. When we're not in lessons I'll probably sit outside the Barracks and relax in the sun. If you want to climb on me, you're allowed. I don't mind. K'varMine says I'm lazy. He's probably right.

Once Argotath was done speaking, K'var tossed the ball into the class.

"Once you introduce yourself, toss it into the air!" he called out to whomever caught it.

---

Davalla was dead asleep, curled up on her bed with Refugiath, when Argotath's contact came. She jolted awake, startled by the contact. Refugiath stretched languidly and got up in a ladylike fashion. Davalla jumped up and started getting ready, moving with haste. Refugiath sighed at her as Mavven started barking. Refugiath nosed the canine, which startled him and sent him scurrying under the bed.

My dear Davalla, she said pointedly, surely we should arrive first? Before those commoners, so we may ensure we take our proper place. Davalla shrugged.

"Sometimes it's better to show up fashionably late," she said. "But I'm almost ready."

You need better clothing. We should take care of that at some point. If we're going to attain the goals we desire, you need to look the part as much as I already do. Davalla laughed.

"Okay," she said, planting a kiss on Refugiath's forehead, right between her eye ridges. "But not now. Right now, we go to the lesson. Come on, race you out there!" And she ran, pausing only to close her door so Mavven didn't get out. She and Refugiath ran as best they could out to the outdoors, dodging people and other dragonets. They took a place close to the front after getting food. Refugiath realized she was quite famished and gratefully accepted the food. The pair listened to K'var give a rundown of the rules, nodding. It all seemed like common sense to Davalla. The loss of freedom somewhat rankled, but she could easily see why it was needed. They were the future of the Weyr, after all, and needed to be protected.

Then he introduced himself and tossed a ball. A ball she happened to catch first. She looked at Refugiath and pushed her curly golden hair out of her face.

You go first, Refugiath said privately.

"I am Davalla," she said. "As many of you know, I was Holdless until recently. My mother was from Bitra before she fell in with my father, who was an idiot. I have a sister, Idra, and a cousin, K'ian. I also have a canine I rescued as a puppy, his name is Mavven. He barks for no reason sometimes, but I try to keep him quiet. He's a good canine. I try to stay out of direct sunlight because of how pale I am, and I was Searched by White Zuccheroth. I... I really don't know what to say beyond that, I'm sorry."

I am Refugiath, Refugiath said regally. Davalla and I will be the best this class has. I challenge any of you to prove me wrong. And with that simple statement, Refugiath went back to her meal. She had nothing more to say to the commoners. Her goals were nebulous at best at that point in time, anyhow. Blushing brightly, Davalla tossed the ball high in the air, wondering who would catch it.

[Reky]

Waking up was a chore in itself. Falling asleep had taken forever in the first place; it had been nearly impossible to find a position that was even mildly comfortable, and Risny wasn't even sure if she had found one at all. She had eventually been so exhausted that she didn't care. There was also a good, heavy dose of mental discomfort to echo her body. Gabrith's mind against hers was halfway between entirely foreign, and having been there for longer than she knew. Fat and full, he'd fallen asleep far before her. She was left to fret about the strangeness of being a brand new weyrling.

When she woke up, her whole body was stiff and sore. A dark, blotchy bruise stretched over her ribs; dried numbweed flaked off of the myriad of scratches. Stupid whers, she thought venemously, grimacing at the purple bruise on her jaw. Her mouth still tasted a little like blood.

She was limping and sullen when she came out to stand before K'var. Gabrith, in contast, was well-rested and carried himself haughtily. His class needed him - he knew that. Who else was going to help them find the right path? Who else would get them to repent? To be redeemed? Some of them were alright, but others, like Risny, would need him. Risny was mildly embarrassed to have the cocky burgundy trotting beside her, but Gabrith felt bad for her. She just didn't know how important he was.

She listened as diligently as she could, but it was hard to stand for so long and she had to keep shifting her weight. She was so sore. Gabrith brushed his sleek head under her hand to comfort her. Risny pursed her lips into a frown. He was only doing that because he thought the pain was good for her. What a brat, she thought.

Once K'var was done, and Davalla, Risny caught the ball mostly by accident. She winced as it came to her and she fumbled with it, her bruises smarting. She didn't really know what to say.

I am Gabrith, said the young dragon. I am here to help you all. Have no fear. I can see all of your mistakes, your faults. And this is Risny--

She wasn't letting him introduce her. He'd insult her, somehow, she knew it. "I'm Risny," she sniffed, cutting him off. "I grew up near Tillek and then Western Hold. I have an older brother, an older sister, and four younger sisters, and they're alright I guess but I haven't seen them since I got Searched. I have two dumb firelizards named Ildn and Lagha, and a dumb dragon who needs to keep his nose out of other peoples' business." She threw the ball into the crowd, glad to be rid of it.

Oh, RisnyLove, but that's all you do, Gabrith clucked. Nosy, gossipy, terrible.

Shut up, Gabrith.

[/blockquote]

[mopsy93]

It was an early start for Carissa and the other Nightnamers, no surprise there really since that was the things would go for the next few months as the young Dragonets grew. It took some prodding on Carissa’s part for Janvia to get up and off of Junonth where she had spent the night sleeping. Despite how soon it had been since the hatching by the looks of things the cheery little Green flit had already grown accustomed to Junonth’s presence. Quickly getting ready she joined the other Nightnamer Weyrlings near K’var and Argotath with Janvia now settled on Carissa’s shoulder. After a brief rundown of the rules and introducing himself (followed by Argotath) he started passing a leather ball around. When the leather ball was passed to her after a brief pause Carissa started talking, “I’m Carissa. I was born in a minor farming hold in Tillek, I have several siblings including my older sister Talena who is a wherling at High Reaches Weyr. I came as a transfer from Igen Weyr where I stood as a wher Candidate and before that a wher Candidate at High Reaches, becoming a Dual Candidate when I came here. The Green flit on my shoulder is Janvia and for the most part I do like seeing and experiencing new things as long as it doesn’t get me into trouble of course.”

My name is Junonth and I’m a Green, said the young Dragonet a little shy about talking to the others in the Weyrling class. With that Carissa tossed the leather ball to the next person.

[Kiran]

Imber heard the call and got up as expected. It was tough - she was rather exhausted from the night before, and sleeping had been rather tough since her little Hikkikoth demanded she sleep with him - but she managed to get dressed in a decent amount of time. The next hard part was getting her dragonet to follow her outside.

"It's a lesson. We have to go." The explanation and truth of the situation was as simple as that.
Don't y-you dar-re! You're leav-vin-ng me! We can't go, it's jus-s-st us! The stutter was strong, but the words clear regardless. The black wrapped himself around her feet, trying to trip her up and keep her from leaving. He didn't want to go anywhere, he was scared and angry and he didn't want to deal with anyone else. After all, Imber was his only friend.
"We have to go." She frowned, trying to figure out how she could convince him. The last thing Imber wanted was to cause trouble by being late! But there seemed to be no way to make the black budge without lifting him physically. She and her Bonded had a face off, her gaze staring into his swirling orange eyes. They stayed like that for a few minutes, right until his stomach growled. Imber's face broke into a small smile. "Come on. Let's get something to eat."

The black didn't want to follow, but Imber was out the door and heading down the hallway before he could voice another protest. He growled but reluctantly followed her, keeping close on her heels. They made their way to the outside, where their weyrlingmaster was awaiting with his blue. Imber's eyes fell on the meat, and she got some for Hikkikoth, who silently ate. The black was sulking, refusing to talk to her for bringing him out here with all the people that didn't like him and would just make fun of him, and he just wanted to be back in his room!

But there was no way they were going back. Imber was determined about that. She listened as the rules were rattled off, then saw the ball passed along to a few of her classmates. She caught the ball next. "Imber." Her voice was quiet, barely audible. "I've been a candidate since I was twelve turns, a dual candidate when I was old enough. I have a pink pillie I named Lovely, but I don't know where she is right now."

Her dragonet knew that he was supposed to at something, but froze, staring at everyone with a mixture of hate and fear swirling in his eyes, a slight shake to his frame. Imber couldn't let him be so distressed. "And this is Hikkikoth, my black. He's a little shy. Please forgive his silence." The words were just as quiet as the ones introducing herself.

The ball went to Kira next. She had an interesting time getting her blue up. He took his sweet time once they had been called, declaring that they didn't need to rush. It wasn't good to do that, there was plenty of time for them to get to class. Thankfully, they had made it in time!

She held it, looking around at her classmates with a bright smile on her face. "I'm Kira. I'm originally from up North, have been here for one and a half Turns. I'm an Apprentice Healer, and have four flits, a pink, a black, a blue, and a green, named Starfire, Nightwing, Spindrift, and Flirt. And I think it would be fun to be trained to Search." It was a spur of the moment decision, but she hoped that Tauth wouldn't mind.

Her dragonet shuffled a bit, then settled before introducing himself. I am blue Tauth. I would also like being trained to Search, but we do it need to start now, do we? I don't think that there is any rush. I will learn how in time. If being trained to Search would make Kira happy, then it would also make him happy. He nuzzled her hand, and Kira reached down to scratch his eye ridges, smiling. Then she tossed the ball to the next weyrling.

[lee]

Braele had been awake already when the call came. She was not yet used to her adjusted schedule, having spent just shy of a turn straddling the schedules of wherhandlers and dragonriders as a dual candidate. But she was awake, and ready, though in no rush. She exited the barracks with a hand gently on Kundalith's back, her long strides matching his. He didn't seem to mind the contact, though he gave no indication that it was welcome either, which Braele took to mean he didn't mind one way or the other. She had come to learn, in their brief time together, that Kundalith had no qualms about making his opinion known when he had one, and when he did have one, it was firm indeed, and more than made up for his silence on things he did not care about.

She listened to Argotath's words and then lowered her glance to the burgundy at her side to ask quietly, "Meat or fish?" Kundalith gave her a look that clearly seemed to suggest the question was silly and not worthy of answering, and Braele's lips twitched into a hint of a smile, because indeed she did already know the answer, and had asked only as a formality. "Meat, then." She answered herself, to Kundalith's unamused snort. She fetched him some, and he ate with gusto. Perhaps he ate more than his smaller siblings, and nearly as much as some of the larger, but Braele, remembering muscle-bound apprentices from her mining days (goodness it was odd to think they were, truly, well and over) had expected as much, given the burgundy's bulk. She settled herself next to him as he ate with the impressive precision he did everything with, listening quietly.
She almost smiled at shenanigans, shaking her head slightly. Braele had never been up to a shenanigan in her life, and she doubted she would any time soon, but then, she was a bit older. Nevertheless, she memorized the appearance of K'var's green flits, just in case. Her eyes slid to Kundalith though at the next, and he, sensing her thoughts, snorted. I do not need to prove myself to any fool without the sense to understand, Braele merely raised an eyebrow and responded, "Of course."

The ball abruptly came her way, and instinctively, Braele caught it. She was quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say, and couldn't really think of anything about herself that was anyone's business but her own, and so she at last offered, "Braele." She lowered the ball to Kundalith, who looked at it with mild disdain, declining to put a claw on it as Braele had intended and, in an equally verbose introduction, provided, Kundalith.

That done, Braele tossed the ball on.

[twitchie]

M'yn was tired. He was stiff and sore and while he only suffered a scrape and some bruising to his leg, he still felt the pain. He didn't sleep well either, Michiath had been too excited to go to sleep and perhaps the nap the black had taken earlier the previous day wasn't helpful either. M'yn's dreams had been restless, he'd woken up sweaty and unable to do more than lie awake and look at the ceiling. He was awake when the Blue touched his mind too, and he clambered out of bed. It took him a moment to get dressed, simply in a tunic and boots. His red hair was mussed and while it wasn't neat, it was clean and out if his eyes for the most part. M'ynMineMine! Cheer up! Think how much fun we're gonna have! I bet we get to play a gaaaame! Maybe we will do something totally awesome like sword fight! [/color] Michiath bounded forward, jaws gaping open in a good humored dragon grin. Sword fighting? Oh boy, here we go....

****

When Michiath saw the ball he gave a loud bellow of delight. Then he charged like a black bull and whacked the ball toward His (even though it was already rolling to M'yn feet). "Ooomf!" The leather ball thudded into the boy's stomach, and it took him a moment to catch his breath. Ball in hand, M'yn gave a flushed smile to the gathered class. "M-my name is M'yn... I was form..formally Mleynn. I was raised in a Trader caravan with m' sister Emeliynn.... We just recently came to Dalibor..... And uh.... I don't.. Like bullies.... um..?" M'yn shifted shyly, running out of ideas. And my name's Michiath! I am pretty cool! I like... Fun stuff! All's good in fun and laughter and jokes are the best! Fun is mandatory, ok? Lame is for wherries, am I right? Michiath looked smug, especially when he pawed the ball from M'yn's hands and head butted it into the crowd again.

[Raining]

Ri'card was already awake oiling his new purple hatchling. He had spent the rest of the hatching, and the downtime after the hatching to get used to this.... bond. There were moments where he tried to push it away, and out. He had almost panicked... but ironically enough when he tried to grasp onto something real, something to ground him, to help him -- Mountebath and this bond was right there for him.

The realization that he was finally not alone was a kick in the stomach, it staggered him and he did hug Mountebath thanking some old gold gold queen that his had found him. Mountebath was there, chattering lightheartedly into his head and for once Ri'card didn't mind the obnoxiousness of it. The purple was ridiculous and silly, but Mountebath was his... so there must be a reason why they connected.

When they were summoned he had just finished up and Mountabath rose to his feet. Oh good they'll have food, i'm starving! "You're always hungry, and this is accurate since you've complained about it most of the night." I think its your seriousness. Did I ever tell you you're too serious? "Every chance you get..." Oh good, because you are. Though have no fear! Your Mountebath will save you from your eternal pit of boring-- I can feel your eyes rolling by the way. It echoes through this bond you decided not to hate.

"Stop talking, and keep moving,"
Mountebath just laughed, out loud and in his head So perfect, you prove my point everytime, Mine. Unlike you though, I have the co-ordination to walk and talk.

They arrived and settled with a feeding bucket, and Mountebath finally shut his mindvoice so he could eat. Ri'card listened with mild interest, he knew all of these rules and he could probably list them by heart. He was no fellis addict, he didn't have a love interest... and he wasn't fond of any shenanigan rule breaking. If you were any more boring, you'd be dead! Then i'd have to between or something silly.... very traumatic for those with no sense of humor. Ri'card's gaze snapped to his dragon... though not even his glare could silence his draconic cackle.

A knowing look came to his dragons eyes, Heads up Miiiiine. was his only warning before he saw a ball coming his way. Ri'card fumbled it earning a bout of mental laughter from his dragon, which he did his best to ignore as he composed himself (though you could clearly see it). The purple weyrling spoke in a clear smooth voice, "I'm Ri'card, formally Riocard. I grew up in Tillek before I ended up moving to Western Hold. I enjoy teaching to an extent, so I may take that route if its open to me." Short and simple. He doesn't like talking about himself, but these were superficial details and over all meaningless. I'm Mountebath! If you can't tell what color I am, you most definitely need your eyes checked! he laughed, I like to have fun, and I'm here to make sure Mine doesn't bore you all to tears! No promises though! Ri'card resisted the urge to facepalm and tossed the ball back into the crowd.

---

Al'dr was absolutely exhausted, he had gotten back from Kai's last night and washed both he and Fortath up. He was completely doting on Fortath the entire time, and when they finally made it back to their new room... everything just sort of overwhelmed him at once. He was feeling exhausted, giddy, stressed, nervous... but right now he was just overwhelmingly happy and relieved. He had practically dropped to his knees and just threw his arms around Fortath and his dragon close. "I finally found you..." he'd say, but the little blue nuzzled himself close, Sorry Love, but it was me who found you!.

Al'dr was awoken by Argotath and he had to force himself away from the warmth of the blankets. Fortath watched this all, pretty amused by his chosen rider. You're going to be doing this everytime, aren't you. he'd say rising to tug on Al'dr's shirt to assist His out of bed. "Why are you so awaaake? We were up late, you should be as tired as I am." You're just lazy, "Its early!" aaand you're lazy.

He snorted and got dressed, "you're lucky you get food, looks like I will have to wait," I will let you know how yummy my breakfast tastes, "You're too kind..." I thought so too..

They arrived and Al'dr situated himself with Fortath in front of the food. He let Fortath pick what he wanted to eat, helping him if need be... attempting to will himself more awake -- though it was failing. He listened to K'var's speech with relative interested.... but soon felt super uncomfortable at the mention of lovers. Guilt settled heavily in his stomach, but Fortath was going to have none of that. Al'drLove its okay! He was broken and you fixed him. He's important to you, I can see that... You're important to me too. I should have thought that through a little better. I'm really sorry. I told you i'm fine, Love. I know you love me too, I can feel so.

Al'dr smiled a bit, and the guilt eased... he will have to be in more control. Fortath seemed very aware to ever shift in his emotions.

The ball was in his court now, and he caught it with ease. "Uh, I'm Al'dr... Aleksandr before I impressed. I was born in Fort Hold, and I was searched there. I... haven't thought about what I wanted to do specifically, but being a search rider seems neat. Um I play guitar, and I can sing too I suppose." Fortath. I agree with Al'dr, I think we'd make a good search team once I teach Al'drLove how to properly use that charming smile of his. Fortath chuckled when Al'dr rolled his eyes some and the ball was tossed back to the group.

[Chimera]

It was the aching, left-over pain that woke L'nor up. What remained of the sting from the slashes on his hip, despite the numbweed, made him think for the next half-candlemark he was still in one of the temporary huts he and his family made in their Holdless days as they traveled through Pern. He stretched his arms up, and one arm reached out to touch - a snout. Mattoth placed a paw on L'nor's hand, the hatchling's best attempt at a high-five.

"What?"

L'nor was not expecting to have anything in his room, much less a dragonet.

What?

"What?"

It's time to wake up.

"What, I - how the livin' ell d'I got a dragon."

What? Mattoth tilted his head, before stretching out, giving his large wings an experimental, careful move. He felt each muscle in his newly-hatched body flex and tense under his brown hide. What he did not feel from his Weyrling was how exactly he learned of those words, and what they even meant.

"What? What d'ye think it is? Well shards, Nori - Ranthian, no, R'hia - Joshu - me - all of us. I knew somethin' like this'd happen. Knew it. Dammit. Sorry y'had ta listen t'that."

It's alright. For further reference, you're a Weyrling, L'nor. And I'm brown Mattoth. Oh, and...

"Don't y'say it."

I itch.

"Dammit, ye said it."

Mattoth was taunting him with that stoic look, those blue-green swirling eyes.

I'm not taunting you, just stating that I itch.

With a melodramatic groan, L'nor pushed himself off of his cot and got ready for the day - if the room hadn't been big enough for a growing subking, he would've bumped into the walls of it a few more times than the one time he actually did. He oiled Mattoth surprisingly quickly, and then it was lesson time.

Well, so much for wherhandling.

***

The weyrling class was pretty huge, now that they were all in order - the ones that weren't in the infirmary, at least. Nori was harmed significantly, and L'nor would check up on her as soon as he could. R'hia had been hurt as well, but at least it looked as if he could attend the class and get out of the infirmary.

As he got a bucket of meat for Mattoth and fed him, L'nor listened carefully to the breakdown of the Weyrling rules.

Pfft. L'nor would be sticking to the rules even if K'var didn't tell them. Romance? L'nor would be scaring away any silly suitors of Nori, or even of his other two brothers. Nightnamers, though...L'nor didn't quite understand what it exactly meant, but it didn't matter that much. It still bugged him for the moment, however.

And then the ball passed to him. The weyrling tossed it between two hands as he thought of an answer.

"I'm L'nor." He was about as wordy as Braele.

And I am brown Mattoth. He rumbled a greeting to his siblings. Well, rumbled as much as a baby could. He looked at Mountebath, then to Sekaith. And lastly, to Argotath at his mention of Searching lessons.

Maybe I'll learn to Search.

Oh, do you really have to learn? Fine, we can do that too.

Luckily L'nor had learned restraint, else he'd probably throw the ball too hard and hurt someone. He carefully aimed it a little away from any direct person, and hurled it on back to the others.

[Zephyr]

This was not good, not at all.

The healers had decided to keep R’hia overnight “for observation” because he’d lost so much blood. Honestly, he’d been in a half delirious state the entire time with an iron grip around Nori that he only let go when he had been promised a bed next to her. He hadn’t noticed that they’d bandaged him up or even that he’d lost two fingers until he’d awoken the next morning, looked at his hand.

Would you look at that. In a completely calm and detached tone of voice. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered since Nori was alive. Except for Sekaith maybe.

And that was something completely new. The blue was curled up on the flour, watching him with wide, blue eyes. You’re awake, RhiaMine! Are you happy this morning? R’hia grumbled something unintelligible and snorted. “Hard to sleep when there’s a fat blue dragon in my head.” The hatchling just beamed. I know you don’t mean… “Not you, Sekaith.” Oh.

Unfortunately, the healers didn’t think he was quite ill enough come morning to miss the asinine lesson that the weyrlingmaster had planned. R’hia fought his hardest to be allowed to stay at his sister’s side, because while he knew that she wasn’t in any danger – and Noirath insulting him at every turn – he was irrational and felt guilty for not protecting her during the attack. Surely his family blamed him. The lack of respect that they had for his feelings, Norilana’s feelings and the fate of his family was boggling, but in the end, he ended up going after he’d taken care of Sekaith minus two fingers.

Oh, you’re upset, R’hia. The pudgy blue wrapped around his feet when they made it to the weyrling gathering, and nuzzled his calf happily. I know how to help! No. A hug will not help this time. He was perhaps a little too firm and the hatchling hummed lightly, settling down at his feet, not going near the meat. The boy wasn’t surprised…it’d taken him forever to get the life loving little blue to eat in the first place.

R’hia had hoped to stay near the back. Maybe if no one saw him, this stupid meeting will go by painlessly. Of course not though, he soon found himself with a ball in his hand and nothing to say to anyone. Rolling his eyes, he tossed the ball away without uttering a word, but not before his dragon piped up. I’m Sekaith! I’m blue and I love hugs! I don’t want any of that meat though. It doesn’t seem nice to eat other living creatures. R’hia glared at K’var once before looking away. Why couldn’t he have gotten a surly dragon who didn’t make starving himself a real possibility?

[RhiaBlack]

It was too early. Lili heard the others moving, as well as Argotath's summons outside. Peranzath's sing-song, dreamy voice resonated like a cannon in her head, and she pulled her pillow over it to try and drown out the noise.

The Weyrlingmaster summons us, MineLove.
Yeah, I know.
You are not moving.
Yeah, I know.

The sensation she was being stared at, before she pulled the pillow upwards to find Peranzath's whirling green and blue eyes peering out of her very pink face. Staaaaaaaaaaare.

Fiiiine, I'm up, I'm up. Shard it.
Are there naps after chores, MineLiliLove?
Yeah, I guess.
We should take one. I am hungry, though.
Come on, then.

Lili pulled on her clothes, and joined the rest of the line with Peranzath lined up beside her. The ball was tossed their way, and Lili flinched as it smacked Peranzath in the neck. A frown, before she picked it up and turned it in her hands.

What are we supposed to do with this?
.....

Lili turned her attention to her Pink, who had collectively zoned out and was staring awkwardly at Tauth. She was nudged with an elbow.

Hey. Wherrybrain. What's the ball for?
What, oh-- that's to introduce ourselves, MineLove.

She sighed, and shook her head.

"Lilianai, Apprentice Harper from Tillek. I have no firelizards, no pets, unless you count her." Lili thumbed towards her Pink, who had promptly zoned back out again. Lili nudged her again, and Peranzath seemed startled before she grinned.

I am Pink Peranzath. Hello!

Lili made sure people were paying attention, and then tossed the ball at one of them. Hopefully someone who hadn't spoken already. She was certainly not a morning person at all.

[Maggie]

Oh IdraMine there's another party and we're invited! I do hope there's more than just the people who were there at the last one, though, they were so dull. I mean some of them were. Some of them weren't. But I so want to meet new people, seeing the same people all the time is so... samey and boooooring! Idra opened an eye to track her Copath's progress as she bounced through the room. I saw a blue the other day wearing a scarf. Do you think I should wear a scarf? Would it look nice? I do like looking nice. Oh IdraMine, do hurry, we'll be late for the party and I'm so, so itchy!

"It's not a party, it's a lesson," Idra told her dragon as she dressed, hiding a little smile of amusement. She had been able to get her hands on some better clothes, handmedowns still, but she was certain she could use her newfound status and the very legitimate excuse of not having time to make clothes herself to get one of the former weavers to make her something new and decent. "And that blue is known for being strange. His whole clutch was strange."

Can we meet them? I do want to meet strange and original people, it will be so fun! Think of the lively conversation! Idra hadn't known that dragons could giggle.

"Come, love, we'll be late for the lesson and WeyrlingMaster K'var will scold us."

She caught the ball easily as Lili tossed it, having listened silently to the others, trying not to laught at Copath's running commentary about the food and how delicious and novel it was. She had been in the middle of promising her that she would get totaste wherry next when she had to introduce herself. "My name is Idra, I was searched at the same time as my sister Davalla of cyan Refugiath," she said, giving Davalla a quiet nod. "We were holdless after our parents foolishly left Bitra and we were very lucky to be found and brought here where we found our cousin and our dragons."

Have any of you ever tried wherry before? IdraMine says I can try wherry soon! I'm Copath, I'm obviously a green and I love parties and meeting new people and trying new things. I'm really, really excited to be here and I want to learn all the new things I possibly can! Copath exclaimed, her eyes whirring green with delight.

Idra deliberately tossed the ball towards K'ian. Her cousin caught it, his eyes wide. He had been trying to hide in the corner, covered in flitts and behind Kamikith. Ostensibly, if anyone asked, he was making sure the pieces were the right size so that Kamikith didn't choke. Truthfully, though, he was terrified. He knew these people and Kamikith was here to protect him, but still, it was a lot to deal with at once in the morning without having to do public speaking. He braced himself, thinking about how he had managed to talk to Yuri, then focused on Argotath. He was talking to Argotath. The blue was his WeyrlingMaster, it was simple. "Um, my name is Kay--- K'ian," he started slowly. "I'm from Bitra. I was a drudge and I didn't think I'd ever be anything else until the nice dragon came and told me I should Stand. Um, these are my flitties: Pretty is the oldest and she's kind of like my fair's queen, then this is Flare, who's smarter than I am, I think, and finally this is Precious, the baby." He patted each of his flitts in turn. Pretty and Precious were perched on his shoulders, but Flare was snoozing on Kamikith's back.

That's really good, K'ian, Kamikith told his rider privately. Well my K'ian didn't know he was going to be a rider but I did and I know that he's going to be the best rider there is! Kamikith told the others happily. He's a little shy, but we're working on that and we're going to work real, real hard in this class, just like all of you. Our hatching might have been scary, but we're really special and strong to have gone through that and still be here today, so we have to remember that. We're going to be the best class Pern has ever seen, I just know it! He looked up from his food, trying to make eye contact with everyone.

K'ian just blushed, tossing the ball away quickly as if it burned his hands to touch.

[Serah]

It hadn't been long since her Impression, and Aelynn was still getting used to the extra voice in her head. But she loved that part the most about her Impression. The part where she was never truly alone. She was also kind of glad that Eicheleth had come when he had come. She may have been badly hurt if he hadn't been so early. But the Hatching wasn't all that bad in her mind. Just a little bit more interesting than others.

Aelynn had been thinking of the Hatching when her thoughts were interrupted by a dragon's voice. It wasn't Eicheleth, she was sure of that. Then she realized what the dragon was saying. She hurried to get herself ready for the day. "Come on Eicheleth, we have a lesson today." She said, pulling on the last shoe and heading for the door. Eicheleth followed his rider silently. Adue and Eyon stayed on the bed, Eyon probably listening to one of Adue's newest schemes. Rose was just asleep on the end of the bed.

Aelynn and Eicheleth weren't the first to get to where the lesson was being held. She knew that there would be some held in the infirmary, so they wouldn't be making this lesson. She got some food for Eicheleth, some fish to save the meat for other people. She listened quietly to the rules, making a mental note of each. Though she probably wouldn't have much trouble following them, the rules were always important to know.

The introductions followed the listing of the rules, and as much as Aelynn didn't want to talk in front of all of these people, she knew she would have to soon enough. She didn't expect to be speaking as soon as she did though. When K'ian tossed the ball, it had come near her, and she caught it. She stared at the ball a moment. How would she start? Would she make hers short, or would it go into a little detail? She had to speak soon, she had caught the ball! Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.

"Um, my name is Aelynn. I am from Keroon, I was Searched for Dalibor right before Mith and Unath's Hatching. I was Searched by Blue Hephaeth. I have a Pink fire lizard name Rose. I have two pillies, one Pink and one Black. The Pink is Adue and the Black is Eyon. Uh, I think that pretty much covers it for me." Aelynn looked at Eicheleth, gesturing for him to introduce himself.

I am Eicheleth. It was fate that brought myself and my treasure together, and together we will do great things. The Black said to those gathered for the lesson. Aelynn blushed a little, tossing the ball in the air for someone else to catch. She hoped it didn't hit anyone.

[Digitalis]

Eveth woke up before Phaenna, but it didn't stay that way for long. Not only was she hungry, the pink was also excited, and fully of energy. Her eyes whirled happily as Eveth loomed over her rider's bed. PhaennaMine! It's time for our lesson! Did you hear that? There's food there, be quick, please.

"Oh, yes, of course, Eveth," Phaenna replied a good deal more sedately as she stifled a yawn. She was used to being woken abruptly, though, and she wasted no time in getting dressed and joining the rest of the weyrling class, wanting to make a good impression on their Weyrlingmaster. Eveth honed in on the food laid out for the dragons, and as she ate, Phaenna tried to listen carefully to the explanation of the rules.

Most of them seemed to be common sense, more or less, and Phaenna had little reason to want to break any of them, anyway. She had no wish to leave the Weyr, and romance was entirely out of the question--she had enough trouble making friends with or without benefits--and she'd never been particularly fond of either fellis or alcohol. She didn't exactly relish the introduction she'd be forced to do sooner or later, but Eveth at least seemed excited.

Every so often as the ball went from one weyrling to another, Eveth would lift her head from her breakfast and track the ball's flight, her tail and claws twitching as though she longed to snatch it out of the air. It was never close enough to her, though, and Phaenna, having no desire to speak up herself, would not attempt to catch it when it did come her way, allowing other weyrlings to introduce themselves instead. At last, though, the leather ball came sailing over near where Eveth sat, and unable to resist any longer, the pink went chasing after it. I'll catch it! She pounced, and ball and dragonet both rolled to a stop at Phaenna's feet. The girl's face turned pink as she took the ball from her over exuberant dragon's claws. Well, there was no more procrastination now.

"Umm, I-I'm Phaenna. I come from a small cothold here on the Western Continent. There's nothing particularly special about me...I do have a black fire lizard named Valen, I guess. And this is--"

My name's Eveth! The pink's mental voice was surprisingly loud. I love making friends. I think I will become friends with all of you! Their introductions finished, Phaenna hurriedly tossed the ball back into the air, so the crowd's attention would turn to somebody else. Eveth watched it leave her weyrling's hands with a sad sigh; then she was distracted by a rumble in her belly and returned to her breakfast.

[birdi]

K’var was talking, but Inanna was finding it difficult to pay much attention.

Obscurath sniffed the herdbeast meat derisively, and then turned his head from it. Inanna glanced sideways at him. Don’t worry, Obscurath, they’ve checked it. It doesn’t have any antidote. She wasn’t sure if he knew what had gone on before, though he might be able to figure that out from his connection with her—Inanna still wasn’t sure if she got this whole mind-melding business.

They say. Obscurath’s tone was clipped. Alone, his sentences had flowed a little better, but it appeared as though he was back to the choppiness… He looked down at the food as if it would attack him.

It said a lot that she was already unsurprised by that response. Obscurath, seriously, don’t do this to me now. Just eat like a normal dragon, okay? Aren’t you hungry?

Not now. He twitched, glancing nervously over his shoulder, before cowering slightly against the ground. His stomach grumbled, belying him.

Inanna stood awkwardly for a moment, realizing that everyone else’s dragons were carrying on normally, and there she was, having a silent stand-off with her partner and his foolishness. Letting out a heavy breath, she placed her hands on her hips and looked down at her partner. Will you eat the fish, at least? Fish are good. I like fish.

No fish. Obsurath was adamant.

Still tired, mentally and physically, from the hatching, Inanna felt her irritation rise at that. She crossed her arms.

I know you’re hungry, mister. I will force open your jaws and make you eat, don’t you think I won’t.

The burgundy’s head jerked up, nervous and guilty in equal measure. Sorry…

Inanna frowned, and took a breath. Really, she’d been in the wrong for snapping at him so suddenly, but it was obvious that Obscurath didn’t want to defend himself, which forced her to take a step back and calm down. No, I’m sorry, she admitted, gruffly; I’m just… tired. She sighed, brought her fingers up to pinch the bridge of her nose. That’s still a ‘no I won’t', isn’t it?

No answer from the dragon, which was all the confirmation she needed.

Kneeling down, she took her dragon’s head in her hands and forced him to look at her. Fine, there were more ways than one to skin a feline. Obscurath, I think you’re looking at this wrong. If you don’t eat the herdbeast then you will grow weak. If you grow weak, then 'they' she managed to add just the right vocal inflection in her mind, as if she was using her fingers to quote something, will be able to take advantage of you. So you have to eat, and become strong, so that won't happen.

It made her feel really like a grade-A tunnelsnake, but whatever, results were results. Obscurath now looked thoughtfully at the food, instead of death-glaring it…

Hopefully this was some kind of side-effect of having suffered through a violent hatching, and not a long-term issue… Inanna had no idea what to do if Obscurath kept making every tiny issue into a big one. This wasn’t exactly her specialty. Was there something wrong with him? Was it a new-color thing? She’d have to ask the others if they were also having troubles like this…

Wait.

Introductions already?

Shards. Inanna hadn’t been able to pay attention at all to K’var’s speech. She cursed under her breath, got to her feet, and brushed dirt off her knees while he gave his introduction/example. Then he passed the ball to the next person.

The young burgundy did not like the ball. He kept a cautious eye on it, always, as if he was worried it would explode or sprout spikes or… honestly, Inanna had no clue, he was an inventive little dragon. It’d almost be admirable, if it wasn’t used so poorly. She tried to force his concerns out of her head, and focus on everyone’s little introductions. Having just gotten here shortly before the hatching, she was still rather new—she barely knew anyone here.

Ball! Obscurath warned.

She caught it reflexively, and with no trouble. “Hey! I’m Inanna.” She said, idly tossing the ball back and forth in her hands. “I’m not from anywhere special, just Western Hold, not too far from here really. I used to be a seacrafter like my folks, and their folks before them—I guess I’m a dragonrider now,” she barked out a laugh, as if this was the first time this had really hit her, and shook her head. “I ‘guess’, right… Ah. Let’s see, I don’t have any pets or nothing, but I had two younger siblings, an’ that kind of counts. Little beasts that they were.” She grinned, to show she was teasing.

…

Inanna looked back at Obscurath , when he did not immediately add on his own thoughts.

The burgundy said nothing, hunched in, and staring pointedly at the fish he had just tentively started eating. She could feel through him the terror at being judged, and the nervousness that he would say something wrong. For a long, drawn out pause, the seacrafter girl waited… but it didn’t seem like it was going to happen, not today at least.

Inanna shook her head, and turned back to the group. “That’s Obsucrath,” she said, dryly, “you’ll have to forgive him, he’s… shy.”

She tossed the ball to someone else.

Bad and mean, her dragon explained, darkly.

[Boo]

Like many of the others, S’idon was prepared for the lesson and there pretty much as soon as it started. Unlike many of the others, perhaps, he had already been up very early performing his exercises and whatever chores he could. Silvianith had continued to sleep wherever he was and he wouldn’t have that any other way. It was better if she got her rest so she could grow even stronger. Even though he was among the first to arrive, he made sure not to be at the front as K’var began talking.

These rules were not so dissimilar to the rules of candidacy and it still felt like a dream that he was even here to listen. In some ways, he just kept looking down at Silvianith expecting her to disappear.
Kamikith! Silvianith called to the yellow as soon as she saw him and then pranced over to stand beside him. S’idon was forced to follow as he fed Silvianith scraps.

He said nothing to K’ian, unsure of what he should say but still listening to K’var’s words. When the ball started being passed around the group, he mostly tried to ignore it, trying to avoid the attention he might be given over it. He honestly could think of nothing worse than having to introduce himself to people. He’d spent so long distancing himself from these very same people over the past few turns.

Then, Silvianith snatched the ball out of the air very lightly with her jaws, flaring her wings to steady herself.
Silvianith! Just pass it onto someone else.
But we haven’t said anything yet! We need to tell them how many names you have.
No! I mean, I don’t want them to know all my names, just the one we use together.
Silvianith thought for a moment and then nodded happily before turning around to speak to the rest of the group.
I am Silvianith! Mine travelled all across Pern for me and waited a very long time. She then spoke privately to K’var, Might I be able to keep this when we’re done?

S’idon had his arms folded but at this point, moved to extricate the ball from his dragon. She reluctantly allowed him to take the object but seemed a little displeased with the development, still hoping K’var might let her keep it once they were finished with it.
“S’idon, Inland.” the Weyrling introduced himself vaguely and then threw the ball onto someone else.

[/blockquote]

[Tigersilk]

Kahnasunita awoke, disoriented at first by the unfamilar surroundings. It took her a moment to remember that she was no longer at her hellish home Hold by Fort, but at Dalibor Weyr, literally a world away from her old life. Less thank a week ago she and her younger sisters had left home, all of them deciding that being Holdless and eaten by wild wherries was far a preferable fate to being abused by their parents, with the situation willfully ignored by the other Holders. Today, though, she was a new Weyrling, partner to cyan Ibith, who was still sleeping next to her. Sunita was still adjusting to to all the newness around her, given that she'd never really been anyplace outside of her home Hold before in her life. Besides the rare Gather at Fort Hold, anyway. It was a lot of changes to absorb at once for the reserved girl, that's for sure.

Ibith awoke while Sunita was still dressing. Good morning, Sunita! Can we go play now? And eat? And see the others too, and play? the little dragon said, bumping Sunita towards the door with her head, eager to see all the new things in the world now that she was no longer confined to her shell. "Let me get dressed first, baby, and get you oiled first, then we'll see about breakfast, 'kay?" Sunita had no wish to go outside half naked, after all.

------

After getting her rambunctious partner settled down enough to finish her oiling, the pair got the order from Argotath to assemble outside for their first lesson. Sunita choose a place towards the back, where she could watch the other Weyrlings easily enough without their noticing her, she hoped. She didn't really know any of them yet, having only arrived at the Weyr a couple of days ago. She hadn't been very forthcoming with the whole 'making friends' thing, but now it looked like she was going to have to start doing it.

Sunita listened to K'var spelling out the new rules they all had to follow for the next several months. She never had the chance back home to even try things like fellis for the fun of it, and the boys there she never trusted enough to get involved with like that. And she - or her sisters - had any desire to leave a place where they had perhaps finally found safety, and a chance for a real future for them all.

When the ball came towards them, Ibith reared up and caught it in midair, thinking it a new game to play. While her dragon played 'pounce' with her new toy, Sunita gave her prepared intro to the group. "Uhm, hi, my name's Kahnasunita, Sunita for short. I came from a small hold by Fort. My two sisters and I were Searched by a Blue from Fort Weyr four days ago, and his rider sent us here two-three days ago. Time lag kinda messes with my day count there, sorry. I'm still learning the Weyr customs. Ibith? Introduce yourself, baby." the last spoken to her Cyan.

Ibith looked up from her game. Hi, I'm Ibith. Anyone want to play after we eat? she said happily, tossing the ball up again and catching it in her mouth. The dragonet was disapointed when her rider took the ball and tossed it towards the other Weyrlings, forbidding Ibith from chasing after it. It was someone else's turn to speak now.