Day To Night {Freedomfighters}

[Admin]

But trying to be genuine.
Was harder than it seemed.
And somehow I got,
Caught up in between.

It was noon. Rukbat was high in the sky, bathing everything in an even light to make shadows few and far between. The perfect time that they needed. Kerath rose from where he watched on the rim of the bowl and launched himself up into the air. Perched on his back was the form of W'al, tiny against the long body and wide wings of the purple. As he swept his wings down, the purple let out a triumphant ring. Lesson time, Freedomfighters! Have your riders dress warmly, and meet us up on the rim by the waterfall; he called to his seven pupils. Then he hit a high point, and swooped down. He dipped low into the bowl, skimming down near the ground. Then he rose up again, all the way across on the other side. Spray sprinkled across him, then he rose past the rim. W'al basked in the sweeping ride, stretching his hands over his head.

The ground near the waterfall was solid and flat, enough space for his small class to assemble in a way where they could hear him. Kerath settled near the edge with his back turned, so they would have to land farther away from the drop, to be extra safe. His claws dug into loose dirt and at sheer rock underneath, giving him a comfortable grip. Without dismounting, W'al gave him a pat. Then the weyrlingmaster simply swung one leg over his back and sat like that, as if the purple was a seat, to wait. He looked relaxed, a happy smile across his face, but the lesson they were teaching was important. The first turn of the young dragons had passed, and they were becoming well grown. It was finally time for the most important lesson of their training. Between. Danger. He had lost a classmate in training into it. He had felt weyrlings be lost to it.

Not giving a sign of concern, as he was not the worrying sort, he waited patiently for all of them to show up. He smiled at most of them, even D'lios, who, while not the most grumpy of the set, was the least likely to draw a smile from him. The one he gave N'tal was extra encouraging, and he managed to keep Kerath from making a snorting rumbling noise that would have been something close to a draconic snicker. As if that would help. The blue weyrling was so moody. C'elin got a beam and a wave, which could mostly be taken to him being an idiot. When it came to being a conveniently weylingmaster, W'al could only do so much. Of course, he was quite fond of the greenrider in particular. The boy was a sweetheart, which went a long way in his little class of oddballs. He was fond of all of them, of course. Even D'lios. Ew. C'elin was much better.

Once they were all assembled, he stopped his fidgetting and swept his eyes over them for a moment. "You see that, over there?" He pointed across the bowl, to the lower wall across the bowl, with an exuberance that seemed ridiculous. They had probably all seen it, if not been there since they had started flying."We're going there today. You're going to learn how to between today;" he explained to them. He let it sink in so that the weight of what he was saying would be made clear. Then he gave his dragon a slight touch, passing him the torch of talking.

Kerath picked up from him, and he sent a clear picture of the far side of the bowl, from slightly above, exactly as it was. You will need to picture where you want to go clearly, and then will yourself there. This is natural for us. A dragon is meant to go between. However, you must focus; Kerath carefully explained to the dragons. The process wasn't hard, but it was something that needed to be carefully detailed despite all of its simplicity. Share that picture with your riders, and then send it back to me; he ordered them, while he let W'al continue on with the spiel of instructions.

"You have to focus only on the image when you want to make the jump, with your dragon. Do not think about anything else. Think about everything, the wind, what you're doing, where you want to go, why, how, when, all of that, before, so you do it right, and then think only about the image when you jump;" he told them with a careful, cool sternness. He spoke to them with an equality. He knew he wasn't their senior. He was simply their weyrlingmaster, and he didn't care that much for that. All he had was that he knew he was more experience than them. He and Kerath had flown through thick and thin, and he wanted them to see that. The words he spoke weren't said with an eloquence. They were the dead honesty, which seemed better to him than making threatens and trying to detail the gruesome truth. He wanted some hope and joy.

Both of you. Together; Kerath emphasized. For once, there was clear cut authority in his voice, the draw of a dragon of some rank. He was a purple. All of them except Perbiath would be below him in simple rank of color even when they graduated, and he was their weyrlingmaster until then. He had the ability to command when it was needed, and he didn't want any of them to forget what they were saying. Both of them knew the harsh reality of losing a friend to a mistake, and they weren't going to let it happen to one of the seven they were in charge of keeping safe. They didn't even dare to think too much on what had happened to other weyrlings. The one memory from their own training was enough. Their weyrlings would do that lesson right. They could be crazy and insane the rest of the time. That day was going to go off sanely!

Mostly. After all the serious talk, W'al grinned nice and wide. He clapped his hands together. "Now, you will all go one by one and wait your turns, like good little weyrlings! Each of you will take off, and fly there. You will take a nice good look at that wall over there and clarify the picture Kerath gave you. Then you will come back and we will check your image. After all of that, you will between. Then you will fly back;" he explained to them carefully. Kerath rumbled pleasantly. It sounded perfectly enjoyable to him, even if it did mean all of them would have to wait a bit for each other. He felt the twist that went on in his rider's gut. He knew it was nerves, but he had more confidence. W'al took something from that. It was all going to be fine. He smiled around at that, meeting their eyes. "Now, who wants to go first?" It was going to be a volunteer exercise, to start.

Between my pride,
And my promise,
Between my lies and how,
The truth gets in the way.

[arratra]

"I'll start," A'tra said, sounding unusually determined. Avartiath relayed the image to his rider, careful to make sure that every detail was there. A'tra focussed on the image, fixing it in his mind.
Then Avartiath took the picture from the mind of His, and relayed it back to Kerath.

Avartiath, with His on his back, took them over to the desired destination straight, and both of them carefully studied the wall, then flew back.

"Here we go," A'tra murmured, putting everything but the destination out of his mind. Avartiath, still airborne, along with his rider, vanished from view from the weyrlings.
Blackness. Nothing. No sound, no light. Only the dragon beneath him and the image still fixed firmly in his mind.

And then they were there. A'tra gasped, blinking rapidly, losing the image. But they had done it.
We... we did it! We did it!! A'tra pumped the air with his fist bubbling with excitement.
That we did! Avartiath confirmed, winging back towards the group, bugling, You know that this means we will soon be able to leave the Weyr, if you so desire.
A'tra shook his head. No, Avartiath. You may be the progeny of renegades, but you are mine, and I am yours. We stay here.
Then we are in agreement.

Avartiath set down carefully, as His jumped off, grinning. "I lost the image only after we emerged," he told W'al, "I was expecting the chill and loss of senses. It was the shock of returning that I wasn't expecting, and it drove the image out of my mind."

[kia]

N`tal had eventually calmed down, though he still hated W`al for choosing V`lin over him. With the rate of Gulath growth added with the way Gulath ate when he was hungry, it was easy to see that Gulath was going to be a very large Blue, even if tended to have a large belly after the day he ate. But Gulath had eaten several days ago, and the Blue would not eat again for another several days, so N`tal took the time to train with the Blue, flying with him in the weyrbowl and improving the strength and performance of his wings. Even his gang of Fire Lizards were helping, cheering him on, though Ian much preferred to stay around N`tal`s neck, in the cover of the jacket, were he observed everything. Ian and N`tal were two of a kind, though N`tal had grown less harsh around all his Fire Lizards. One could almost consider it loving because of how N`tal mostly acted. Even though he gave no words of endearment or love, if one caught him, which no one rarely did, he could be seen applying oil to their hides, making sure he got every spot carefully. He did the same with Gulath. There was no words but a mute knowing and understanding.

Today had been one of those days, this time he had been working on oiling Asu, who had finally managed to calm down long enough for N`tal to oil her small body. The Pink crooned happily and lovingly, enjoying this quiet moment and getting her itches relieved. The others were laying on N`tal`s bed, silently watching as N`tal checked to make sure he had gotten all her spot. Onal was naturally asleep, Ri leaning against, occasionally chirping to Ian who had was laying a few inches away from the Blue and Green. He still was not that social with the others and had learned to deal with them all. If N`tal had not given the others the attention he did, Ian might have tried to chase the others off. But N`tal`s accepting mood had rubbed off on the Black to accept the others in this group.

Gulath had been lying down, eyes turned toward the Weyrbowl, resting, even sleeping for a bit. N`tal knew when the Blue slept. The Blue had a habit of breathing slightly heavier than normal when sleep covered his mind. Of course, most people breathed heavily when they slept. But N`tal was a light sleeper, always in survival mode, always making sure that no one was going to come for him. Gulath did not understand everything, but the Blue understood some things. N`tal was paranoid half the time thanks to his past, always thinking that other were out to get him or they would send him back there to pay the consequences. But no one in the Weyr should know who he is or was. He never had disclosed any information about him. He was simply N`tal, Rider of Blue Gulath, a man who disliked Dalibor Weyr greatly. That was all they knew of him. Nothing more, nothing less.

Gulath began to twitch in sleep before lifting his head. Mine, he spoke, Kerath is calling us. He says that you need to dress warmly and too meet him by the waterfall. The Blue stood up to stretch out, his movement causing Asu and Ri to fly toward the dragon and hang themselves on him. Onal chirped quietly, not liking his nap being interrupted, but submitting to the fact that it happened normally. Ian just watched in silence, obviously not caring very much. N`tal stood up from where he had been oiling Asu and moved to take his jacket. About time we got to this lesson, N`tal replied mentally, picking Onal up and laying the Blue inside the neck lining of the jacket.

This movement of action caused Ian to chirp angrily. Onal was in his spot! He should be the one chosen to curl up against their Mine`s neck, not Onal. N`tal looked at Ian and sighed. “Today, just let him accompany me. You know that I mostly let you join me in flights.” The comment had not help Ian to relax, but he was not going to argue. He stood up and moved to N`tal`s pillow, just refusing to join N`tal today in lessons. N`tal sighed. Crazy buggers. He walked over to Gulath and fixed Gulath`s riding straps. Does this mean we are leaving soon, N`tal? Gulath asked. N`tal shook his head. I have a plan, and this plan will decide if we are leaving sooner or later. Gulath had not even heard of this plan, But he would ask later when lessons were not on their minds.

The pair flew down to the waterfalls, landing with the others but N`tal refused to get off of Gulath`s back. W`al was giving them each a smile. N`tal glared at W`al. He still hated the man. Hated him for picking V`lin over him. Hating that W`al did not see his potential. Hating that W`al seemed so cocky in attitude that N`tal despised it to the utmost degree. No one knew who he was. They never would. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That was what W`al should have done. And now N`tal could only wait for the day he could seek revenge on the wherry-brained WeyrlingMaster.

He listened as W`al explained the lesson. They were leaning how to between just like N`tal had thought. He looked at where W`al had pointed to and then continued to listen. It would not be hard. Memorizing was something N`tal was decently good at. N`tal had memorized the shapes, density, and lengths of many swords and other things made of metals. Remembering the wall would be easy enough for him. He looked at Gulath, trading the image with him, having the Blue send the image back to N`tal, and then waiting till A`tra was finished trying his luck. Since N`tal had never gotten off Gulath`s back, they were ready to go all ready.

We are ready, Kerath, Gulath said, rising into the air. He sent the image to Kerath of where they were going. Then, with a final check of the image in his and N`tal`s mind, Gulath made the jump between. N`tal felt darkness, coldness envelope him for a few seconds as he kept his eyes closed, holding onto that image, has Gulath beat his wings once. Suddenly, the coldness was gone. It was replaced by the feel of wind on his face and hands. N`tal opened his eyes and smirked. His image had been the wall, just in front of it, flying in the air. Gulath turned to face his fellow dragons and bugled happily that he had done it.

Good job, Gulath, N`tal said, reaching up to feel for Onal. The little Blue was still wrapped around his neck. A little frightened at the unexpected flight to between, but overall just fine. Take us back to the waterfall now, N`tal said quickly, which Gulath was happy to comply. He resent the image to Kerath, waited till approval, and jumped between again, coming out just as quickly as he had done before. Gulath was proud of himself, and N`tal was smirking. Yes, if his plan did not work, then this was a step taken to being closer to leaving Dalibor finally.

Gulath landed and quickly looked over toward Irath. His eyes were whirling in shades of greens that could remind one of emeralds and jades. He walked over to her, N`tal still on his back. Irath! I did it! Mine and I wish you luck when you try, the Blue said. His comment earned a look from N`tal of slight annoyance, but N`tal did something rather amazing. He did not bite back with a comment or corrected the Blue. He simply remained silent and looked at Tesla. Since that day at their first flying lesson, N`tal had become slightly nervous around Tesla. The girl was not a threat to him and should not cause him any concern, but N`tal had become nervous around her, not entirely sure what to say to her. And what could he say? Every time they had met or seen each other, he had been… rather harsh. And now, he could not bring himself to say something mean to her. It seemed that he… did not want to say anything mean to her at all.

[arratra]

Avartiath shifted slightly on his legs as Gulath returned to the waterfall.
"I do believe W'al only told us to go between onces," A'tra said mildly up at N'tal, arms crossed behind his back.

A'tra didn't wait for a reply, and walked over to examine Avartiath. The black dragon had grown tremendously, more than A'tra had expected for a dragon who had been so scrawny at birth, and was lithe and agile, not ungainly like he had been. His wings were, of course, larger than average, but only seemed to add to his majesty.

"You've grown well," A'tra said proudly, rubbing Avartiath on the eye ridge, "You're a credit to this weyr, no matter who sired you."
Avartiath lidded his eyes, humming. A good rider makes a good dragon, he said, moving his head to better allow A'tra to rub him, You are a credit to the Weyrs of Pern, and to your family. Your parents will be proud when they hear.
A'tra's pride suddenly vanished when he was reminded of the continued lack of news concerning his parents.
"I hope they're safe," he said aloud, absently touching the sheath of his belt knife. The blade wasn't fancy; it was a workable knife of middling length, and a plain hilt. However, set into the end of the handle was a deep blue gem; a blue ruby.
It had been a gift from his father.

Don't be sad, Avartiath said, breaking him out of his reverie, I'm sure they're safe, and you'll hear from them soon.
Thanks, Av, A'tra said, an unwilling smile quirking his lips.

[Kila]

Own, Kerath says to report to the waterfall side of the rim and to dress warm, Perbiath reported crisply. And so they did.

D’lios slid off of Perbiath’s back when he touched down by Kerath on the rim. He was clad in his fine riding gear and Perbiath in meticulously perfect straps he had crafted and fitted with his own hands. W’al gave him a cheerful smile when he arrived that he returned with a friendly nod. The man was not completely incompetent since he was teaching them all, but he did not seem like he always had it all together. Nevertheless, he was a nice enough man and D’lios did not mind working with him.

When the class was assembled (Perbiath chattering friendly hellos to all of his clutchsiblings as they arrived) D’lios listened attentively to W’al as he spoke. When the Riders pointed across the Bowl D’lios, turned his head so that his could cast his gaze in the indicated direction. It was merely the cliffs on the other side of the Bowl, but D’lios had an idea of what was coming next. We’re learning to go between today, Mine! Perbiath trumpeted, livid with excitement. Between meant freedom and power and the ability to go when and wherever you wanted. But it was dangerous too. The news of the Wavewalkers fatal lesson had spread throughout the continent like wildfire. D’lios knew that learning to between was an important step to his gaining all the power he desired, but he knew it was dangerous too. It had never occurred to him that anything would be put before him or get in the way of his plans, but Perbiath’s safety perched clearly at the top of all of his lists and calculations. Perbiath was a part of him of course, which justified it in a selfish way, but he was also very much his own creature and D’lios refused to think what it would be like without him. All his work over the turns would be for naught, and he’d be…. well, lonely without him.

Perbiath cocked his head and listened closely to what Kerath had to say. He could feel pressure and anxiety about the whole event from His and both of the Weyrlingmasters. Pay close attention to what Kerath tells you, D’lios warned, not removing his gaze from the cliffs across the Bowl. For some reason he didn’t want to appear concerned, but Perbiath saw right through his crossed arms and tight lips. I am, Perbaith retorted, narrowly keeping the smugness out of his voice.

Perbiath received and held onto the picture that Kerath sent him, turning it over in his mind and examining it diligently as the Purple continued to speak. He wanted to do this right not only to show everyone how clever he was, but also to assuage His. If he could get D’lios to praise him that was better than all the rest combined. He was so engrossed in the picture and the strategy that he missed the opportunity to go first. He watched rather sullenly as Avartiath and Gulath went before him but jumped eagerly to the edge of the cliff when the Blue had returned, making it quite clear that he was ready to go next.

Me next! Come one, Mine, he ordered. D’lios nodded and pulled himself up onto Perbiath’s back. When he had grabbed the correct straps, Perbiath took off and flew to the cliffs that he had just been picturing in his mind. As per orders, he verified that they were the same (Are you sure? Yes.) and flew back, sharing his double-checked image with Kerath. Once he had finally gotten approval, he turned with determination to the edge of the cliff. Focus, and be careful, D’lios warned. Perbiath bobbed his head in agreement and took off. He focused on the picture, as did His, and they flew slowly towards open air.

Now.

Quicker than the blink of the eye, they were out of sight. Out of the sunshine, out of the wind, all that the pair felt was vicious cold. D’lios recalled that you were supposed to be out of the eerie void between their world and all the others before counting to some number, but he could not think of the number. He say Perbiath’s handsome brown wings slice in slow-motion through the inky darkness out of the corner of his eye. How long had they been between? A shiver crept down his spine and his mouth went dry. It felt like too long. Perbiath was transfixed by the darkness. Perbiath! Get us out NOW! The Brown’s eye snapped open wide and before the shout had finished flying from D’lios’s mind they were in the sunshine again. Everything looked as it had before. D’lios’s heart hammered against his chest and he clung to the straps, trying to breathe slowly and deeply. No one seemed to be in a panic on the cliff, so they had probably only been between for a moment or two longer than expected. Perbiath crooned to him and angled back towards the cliff. His was not pleased because they had been in the cold and dark for too long. He was disappointed with himself. It’s ok, Perbaith. That was very good, D’lios said kindly, leaning forward and rubbing his neck. It’s just like everything else- we will practice.

[kyrillion]

Come on, Irath!
Only if you leave those things here. The green returned with a flick of her tail and obvious disdain. Tesla, who had promptly grabbed her coat and a pair of riding straps after her green had relayed Kerath's summons, now sat astride that same very same green and could not get her to budge. Irath, who was perched perfectly contentedly on their ledge, refused to take another step until a certain pair of pink firelizards were sent away.

Aww, come on, Irath! Why can't they come along? The girl kicked her legs in frustration, hand clinging to the riding straps despite the fact that they were currently about as useful as the jacket. The firelizards, themselves, were perched on her shoulders, a bit haphazardly because they were both trying to twine their necks and tails possessively around her neck. Tesla was sure they'd have themselves tied in a knot pretty soon, which could make the whole breathing process a bit more complicated. Feeling a bit flustered, herself, she tossed her head indignantly and fixed her dragon with a rare glare. Irath, quite unperturbed, gave an almost mocking toss of the head of her own.

We learn to between today, TeslanaMine. I will not tolerate them. They are distracting.[/color] Angling her head back, she fixed the pair of firelizards with an angry crimson glower. She had never liked them, anyway. They were nuisances. Arc, the less stable of the two, let loose a little squeak of fright, her tail coiling more tightly around Tesla's neck. More reasonable Coil, worried that their human would be strangled, began chattering a frantic reprimand, waving her wings expressively and then managing to foul them with Arc's. Tesla, attention torn between her argument with Irath and her two flailing firelizards, only managed to stutter and scowl more pronouncedly before Irath, electing to resolve the situation herself, opened her jaws wide and let loose a roar.

Coil and Arc, at last to pulling their wings free, were between in an instant, presumably off to find someone sympathetic to who they could complain. Tesla, mouth open in shock (the roar had been rather loud, and a mere inch or two from her face), sat stunned for a moment, before the satisfaction she could feel rolling off her dragon in waves snapped her out of the stupor. That was entirely uncalled for. She was still managing to maintain that scowl, but Irath's mindvoice echoed with laughter.

You are upset, TeslanaMine, because it worked. And you were annoyed with them, too.[/color]
I was not! Not until you got them all frazzled, anyway. Poor lovelies... Can we go to the lesson, now? Irath, still greatly amused that Hers was acting huffy (she was hardly ever huffy, just as Irath was hardly ever the one in better spirits), deigned not to respond; instead, she stood languidly and stretched, before launching herself into the air, all muscle and momentum and strength with very little delicacy. By the time the pair arrived at the rim where most of the others were already gathered, however, they had reversed roles and were mostly back to their normal selves. Tesla was nearly always happy to socialize; Irath, irritated by others, much preferred being with Hers. Alone.

Tesla, now smiling (flying always made her a bit giddy, even if she was still rather frightened of heights), waved cheerfully at her classmates as Irath winged above them. The green, for her part, snarled at anyone who caught her eye, eyes boiling crimson and lips pulled back in a snarl. These insolent clutchsiblings of hers were no better than those rotten firelizards! The blue was the only one she could stand, really, and when she landed beside him it was with her characteristic lack of grace. She impacted with a jarring 'thud', but the motion was nevertheless stable; there was no staggering, no skipping a few steps forward to burn off momentum. She merely flared her wings and dug her claws into the ground and stuck the landing. Tesla had a feeling it was something that wasn't likely to change; the green enjoyed it, and generally did it with obvious attitude.

Irath did not greet Gulath, but rather pointedly ignored him. The impending, potentially dangerous task, had provoked her temper. She would never admit to any fear, but between nevertheless had her on-edge. This perceived weakness - for what else could fear be, to one such as herself? - provoked her anger, and she sulked thoroughly as Kerath and W'al explained the details of the lesson. Almost absently, she accepted the image Kerath sent her and passed it on to Tesla. She returned it to him a moment later in perfect condition - save for some new, brighter colors, as though Tesla had taken the exact same picture with a different filter (one, apparently, that translated the color blue into electric green).

Finally, it came time for the weyrlings to give it a try. I am no good with images, TeslanaMine![/color] The green spat, as if it were her rider's fault. Half the time I cannot keep the pictures in your head out of mine![/color] Tesla's over-active imagination was always painting stories in the sky and in the scenery, and Irath was still taken off-guard every now and then by a flower springing suddenly to life beside her, or a neon-colored bug the size of a wherry careening by. At times she could even taste the food Hers would contemplate when she was hungry. Filthy, disgusting human food. As if on cue, Gulath's navy blue hide suddenly appeared bright yellow.

Huffing in annoyance, the green pointedly looked in the other direction. Tesla, all previous anger at her dragon forgotten at her obvious distress (I am not distressed[/color]), leaned forward to give her a reassuring pat. Don't you worry one bit, my dear. Pictures are my specialty, you know. Staying focused, on the other hand... Well, that's where you come in. If you think you can handle it... Irath snorted in derision - the answer was obvious, of course! Of course I can handle it! Let's go![/color]

Taking wing as soon as Perbiath was on his way back, she soared past Kerath and W'al. Next![/color] She declared curtly, all lack of confidence pushed firmly to the side. This was what dragons did; she did not need her human to comfort her. She would be doing all the real work, after all. She did not need Gulath's wishes of good luck, either - although she did acknowledge them, at least, with a nearly imperceptible nod of the head. Backwinging, she hovered long enough for Tesla to paint a very precise picture of where she wanted them to go, constructing each and every detail she could see, and this time making an effort to keep the colors the same (and mostly succeeding). When it was complete, she made sure they both had a firm grasp on it. And then they were nowhere.

Enshrouded by cold and blackness, Tesla couldn't help the gasp that escaped her, frozen air chilling her to the bone. Almost instinctually, an old rhyme began playing through her head: Black, blacker, blackest... And in the seconds that she was neither here nor there, it was so crisp and clear and real that she imagined that the music wasn't coming from her at all, but was being sung by someone nearby. Someone with a very pleasant voice, though it was touched with a haunted sadness and a numb resignation. Like someone who had been lost between and was still stuck in this nothingness after turns and turns and turns, trapped even as life continued on without them forever...

The morbid notion chilled her more thoroughly than the physical cold, and when the pair blinked back into existence, Tesla's thoughts were filled with images of ghosts and the dead and unfinished business and stories that never got to be told. Adventures never had, love that never blossomed, tales forever left unraveled... So many futures obliterated in an instant. In the blink of an eye.

Thoroughly chilled by the experience, she was oblivious to Irath's elation at their victory - as far as the green was concerned, everything was fine! Better than fine, even. That had been easy. What ever had she been worried about? So obstinate was the green about their success, that she mostly ignored her rider's unease, though she could feel it quite clearly. It must have just been the cold; her human was puny and easily susceptible to such things. She would be fine after some time in the sun, surely. Turning sharply around, a pump of her wings had them barreling back towards the group, Irath wearing a smug expression on her face. She made sure to give their purple weyrlingmaster a pointed look as careened past, one that on the surface seemed gloating. But, considering the green, she was not typically boisterous or eager to share her successes (or anything, for that matter, with others). Perhaps she was seeking approval or praise from the purple, but didn't know how to go about getting it? It was tough to say, but the fact that she had given Kerath more than passing attention (that didn't involve an attack) was certainly noteworthy. Tesla, however, did not seem to notice; her expression was distant, her skin paler than usual and her eyes wide and strangely blank. Perhaps an over-zealous imagination wasn't always a good thing.[/size]

[kia]

N`tal shot A`tra a glance when the boy spoke to him. He would not be corrected or chastised by a another person, especially not another Weyrling. He glared at the boy as he returned to his dragon, debating whether or no to add him to the list for back-talking to him. He decided against it. That Black was the son of the Orange Queen, and he would let Alizadehth deal with them where she saw pleased. For now, that boy, who was obviously younger than him, was of no concern. Why should he care what some boy thought of him. He did not care what anyone thought of him, especially W`al. That man, that PurpleRider, he would kill him when he had the chance. W`al was his enemy and only he would have the chance to kill.

He turned his head to watch Tesla take her turn among the group to attempt going between. A small bit of pain seemed to hit him slightly as he watched Tesla rise in the air with Irath. He watched her carefully, patiently, as she quickly made her way between. N`tal counted the seconds in his head, a little quickly without realizing, and his face seemed to screw as the seconds drew longer. Where was she? What if they had betweened and not made it? N`tal`s mind was already making out scenes in his head. Who would keep Gulath company when he was not around? Was he actually getting use to the persistent annoyance that Tesla seem to exude whenever she was around? Well, the last several times he had not seen her as annoying, but still! Where was she? She could not have been been lost between.

A audible, still very silent, sigh escaped from N`tal`s lips. The girl had made it. She was fine, and so was Irath. Irath was the only one to realize that they had made it safely and easily as she glided past the Purple, giving an attitude that this was too easy. N`tal smirked at the thought, he mind making out mental sentences the Green was probably telling herself. Well, Tesla had made it. And his only friend, which he had decided she was after all, was safe. But she would never hear it from him, the words that said that he had finally accepted her as his friend. But Gulath looked at him, the expression that spoke more. N`tal rolled his eyes. "You wish," he said to the inaudible and mental words that Gulath had said.

[arratra]

A'tra had felt an ominous threat at his back when N'tal had glared at him, and he gripped his knife, ready to pull it out at any further sign of threat.
It didn't come, and A'tra relaxed somewhat. Recently, all interactions between himself and N'tal had almost hummed with tension. Although Gulath was looking to grow larger than Avartiath, Avartiath was able to fly circles around him straight, mostly due to his outsize wings.

And then there was Avartiath's habit of collecting things, although thankfully it seemed to be the knowledge that A'tra had collected through the years at the moment, rather than any tangible object.

"I was merely concerned for your safety," A'tra said, his tone still mild, not betraying how shaken he was, then he frowned. "Teslana?" he asked, moving towards Irath as she landed, "Tesla, you look like you've seen a ghost. What happened?"
He was genuinely concerned for his fellow weyrling, and she was, indeed, very pale.
Irath, Avartiath said, his eyes whirling a concerned yellow, Yours does not look good. Perhaps you should take her back to your weyr.