Fort Weyr - Living Caverns(#10592RJ$)
This cavern, having been created by bubbles in the volcanic flow of this extinct volcano, has a breathtaking ceiling — a vast dome that arches high above the heads of the weyrfolk that scurry around beneath it. A hollow echo can be heard from loud enough noises, and the chatterings of various firelizards are consequently multiplied into a chaotic babble. All in all, the living cavern is a loud place.
Tables are scattered around the room, apparently in no particular order. Over to one side near the kitchens, two medium sized serving tables are constantly spread with snacks, klah, and other goodies. The tables look worn, yet perfectly fitted to the atmosphere of the caverns. In the 'corners' of the cavern, smaller two and four place tables are set up for more private talks or just a less chaotic atmosphere in which to eat.
People: Kessa Navi Arkoss R'lin
Everyone has to eat at some point, at that point is about three in the afternoon for R'lin it seems. The boy is covered in dust from his boots to his discheveled hair, a nice fine tan coating. Doesn't seem to bother him one bit though apparently he washed his hands, one would hope at least. Stew is just getting shoveled in at an alarming rate.
It's almost hard to identify the dust covered lump that's shoveling down food in a rather crude fashion. As she's walking through the caverns, which is a central hub after all and thus an area of high traffic, Navi does, in fact, have to do a double take to see that it's both a weyrling, and one she knows at that.
Kessa is at the hearth, managing to get a hot fresh mug of klah while she's at it. Wearing work clothes, she too seems to have had her fair share of duty for the better part of the day, and while she's better off than R'lin, she doesn't look as if she's been preening herself either.
Well, it's been dry and landings bring up a good deal of dust. One would except someone to clean themselves before a meal, but it's already midafternoon so likely his stomach was impatient, right? Anyhow, R'lin isn't only concentrating on the food. Eyes idly wander around a bit as well as he *gasp* chews. Navi gets a little bit of a nod and maybe even a grin for that matter. Kessa gets a brighter grin as she's a fellow weyrling.
Kessa turns at what some can consider coincidential timing and others just by luck, either way as she slurps carefully on the edge of her mug against the steaming klah - she spots that smile fluttering her by. It seems it catches her eyes, the familiar grin of the other weyrling, enough that she too pauses in her own sweeping glance of heads and faces. In return she offers a flick of her hand away from the mug in a wave, a slight motion that should R'lin move his eyes too quickly, he'll likely miss.
Luck or unluck (that works, really), it's debatable. But the timing works well the other direction as well it seems as R'lin catches the wave and offers a little one with his spoon. Who knows if they'll get past the motions across the caverns, apparently he's still too interested in his food to move over and bug his classmate. At least just yet.
A drink secured and a classmate sighted across the way, Kessa finds her way toward the table of eats, needing some nibblets herself just incase she doesn't have any other moment to snag something. Some time later she reappears systematically closer to R'lin with a plate of food. A smile evens out her tired eyes, "Hey," she at first greets, sliding into a chair across from him with a bob of her head to the others at the table - if any. Toward R'lin she murmurs, "Looks good. I had to get some when I saw you chowing down." She indicates her own bowl of stew with a swing of a spoon.
R'lin had a table to himself, well an end of it. The tables are big so really he's mainly eating alone before Kessa arrives. Not a crowded time at the caverns. "Hey." He may look a little tired but there's a bright and perky grin as he replies. "Stews always good, even better in the winter."
Not many could be over a hundred people depending the given population, so at least there's a few others in whom Kessa politely acknowledges at the table or perhaps at the one opposite it. Either way, a bob of ahead is undertaken before joining R'lin. She considers the stew and without hesitation has to dip a spoon in to taste test. With a tongue rolling over the last of the first bite, she agrees, "Oh this is good. Good enough to warm cold bones in winter." A beat, "So how's everything going for you lately?"
It seems that her instincts were right. Her spoon is put down and she heaves a sigh. Her eyes cross over R'lin and then behind him, toward one of the exits. She flicks her gaze back toward her classmate and holds up a finger, "Hold that thought for later. I'm being called out to get Choth ready for a lesson." She's behind in her classes, but only because the gold was growing at a much slower rate than the others. Maturing later than most, they say. In either case, Kessa is up from the table before R'lin has a moment to speak. She takes her bowl of stew with her and her mug of klah, leaving the rest to be discarded as necessary as she waddles out.
True, weyrs are exceedingly overpopulated. Well, they're big so they're just very well populated. "Mmhmm.. wouldn't have lived through winter here. I'd have frozen without it." He's not a person who deals with cold rather well. Blink> And she's retreating. "Aw… well, have fun if it's the manned one. That's what I've been up to, Nia can't get enough." There's another wave of the spoon with a grin. Least the boy's in a good mood.
Fort Weyr - Lake Shore
This lake shares many features common to mountain lakes — a brilliant blue jewel nestled amongst the rocks. The waters are crystal clear, and the north shore slopes gently before abruptly falling away into the depths. The water itself is usually chilly — invigorating is the term the residents use.
This lake does have one significant differentiating feature, however. The south shore of the lake is a tumbled mass of rubble, rock and earth of an ancient rockslide smoothed only by the elements in the intervening years. This rubble, as well as the rather sheer east and west faces, makes for the north shore to be the only one easily accessible.
People: Kessa A'ven
A'ven and Glyith are here, along with a small group of the other Weyrlings. Class looks like it's about to start.
Slink. Shuffle. Plop. Repeat. It seems to be the way that Choth moves to enable herself to a seat where she can watch over the heads of her clutch siblings at the same time as ensuring she's not getting in anyone's way. Kessa for her part, is trying to squirm her fingers into working gloves, wriggling them as she works her way into the human portion of the crowd - can't very well see over dragons after all.
Glyith warbles a pleasant greeting to Choth as A'ven begins without further delay. "Welcome Kessa!" "most of you already know who I am but I might as well go through it just the same.. My dragon Glyith and I lead Eastern Weyr's Zephyr wing. Zephyr flies deliveries of people and materials for the entire Weyr, every hour of the day - every day of the week, in every sort of wind and weather!" "As a result, my dragon and I probably have more hours in the air than most riders twice our age. Because of this, Fort Weyr thought me adequately qualified to help you today with your first flights aboard your lifemates. I would like to thank Fort Weyr and her queens for the very kind invitation to be here with you today. After today, if things go well, you will truly be, dragonriders." The young man adds a wide smile, "I am glad to be able to help you on your way."
Kessa's eyes snap up at the familiar voice - about to forget formalities in that split second and run over to hug her friend hello, but she's quickly stayed by a mental tap from her lifemate. Her feet however had walked a few steps forward before she caught herself in the movement. Pushing hair behind her ears, what hair has escaped her braid, she listens to the other's words, not without smiling at him however. Choth just stays put, no sound, no noise, just… observation, gravitating though toward the green weyrling amongst the group.
A'ven catches Kessa's eye and smiles in return, just enough to let her know he sees her and is pleased. He continues on jauntily, "I am a professional flyer - and so are you. Our true home is in the air. It is a far more dangerous and demanding teacher than I could ever be. I will not waste our time together yelling and making examples of you. I'm NOT going to go out of my way to embarrass you so that you 'learn your lesson.' That, is not my style. Nothing I say to you is intended to hurt you, or make you feel inadequate. I have the upmost respect for your dragons and your developing skill. I expect the same. I will simply tell you - once - what I feel needs to be corrected. I expect you to correct it to the best of your ability. If you do not, you'll only end up hurting yourselves or your dragons in the long run." His eyes go soft, "I don't want to see that happen any more than you do.", the young man continues quietly. "Are there any questions or comments so far?"
Glyith chooses this moment to clean his left talon.
Respectfully as one would assume a weyrling should be, Kessa has her hands clasped in front of her as she stands at attention, listening as a student would to a teacher. She along with many others of the small group, gives her head a shake when the last of A'ven's words include her. Of course, right now, Kessa is fidgetting as she steals a glance back at the gold who towers over the other dragons. Wing spars are looked at too, as Choth makes a demonstration for the healer that moves through the group to give dragons and riders health checks to ensure they are good to go on this flight. The healer himself says not a word but delivers a list once he's done. Everyone but a blue pair can go. The blue has some odd dry patches underneath the wing that could get worse if up in the cold air during flight. Kessa shuffles her feet again as she takes a deep breath. Choth has made it passed this time - she looks strong enough, at least.
A'ven grins, nodding to the Dragonhealer in attendance as she delivers the list. "You may think you're all ready to go… but there are some habits we need to develop first, in spite of our professional Healer's attendance today. He raises an eyebrow, "We will begin today's lesson with an inspection. First, we will inspect our dragons. You will be looking for any abnormalities in their skin, legs, wings, their mental state, eyes, breathing, muscle tone, and posture." "Nothing that might affect their ability to fly can be overlooked." "You should perform a detailed inspection every day - and a more cursory one before each flight." "Your dragons can /tell/ you a great many things about what might be bothering them, but you can't rely on that alone." "You may begin now I will be here to assist." There are several growns from the younger pairs, "Didn't the Dragonhealer just do that…?" one whines. A'ven counters with, "I said we were developing habits here… and they might one day save your life. You are the rider. You are responsible for your dragon's life and your own. Do not get in the habit of taking other people's word for how healthy your dragon might be." He nods to the Dragonhealer again, "All due respect of course…", he says to her.
One of the older boys pipes up, daringly, "Just how old are you anyway…. sir..", he drawls out the 'sir…' a bit contemptuously.
The dragonhealer is mainly there to ensure no one is lost - and because one man doesn't have the time to inspect the dragons by himself with the astute awareness the healer has. In any case, with the report done up, the healer bobs her head and makes to leave for other pressing duties. Kessa for her part, considers Choth after A'ven's words. With a sigh herself, she makes her way over toward the giant beastie - compaired to the others of course. This was going to take a while. And so she starts with the front foot, feeling, prodding, asking Choth to lift and wiggle — that sort of thing until she moves onto the second limb and so forth.
A'ven answers his detractor matter-of-factly. "I will be 18 in six days." He adds quietly, "… and you'd better leave your attitude on the ground or you might not live to see my Turnday.", he says flatly, not as a threat, but just to point out the reality of the danger. He waits for the others to complete their inspection, fully expecting Kessa to be last just because she's got the biggest dragon here.
Blues finish just ahead of the green inspects, browns though beaten by one arrogant bronzer, generally finish before her. Indeed. By the time everyone's ready to go, their eyes are turning toward her - as if wondering what's taking so long. By the time she's inspected wings and legs and all over, sweat is beading down her forehead and she looks worn out. She's still doesn't hold the stamina an athletic person would, so has to slump against Choth's extended foreleg to catch her breath. After all, climbing up and over the dragon to ensure that everything is inspected takes a great deal of effort. More surface area too. A few look sour at her slowness, but she does eventually murmur her readiness.
A'ven nods in approval to Kessa. "Well done, it's important not to rush it — no matter how much pressure you may feel." "Next we will inspect ourselves as riders. Are you ready to fly? Have you gotten enough sleep?" Are you mentally alert and emotionally stable?" "Are you being distracted by other thoughts?" "Have you been drinking in the last day?" "While you are flying, I expect you to have your mind on flying and only flying." "Take a few deep breaths and prepare yourselves. I will give you a few moments with your own thoughts."
Glyith glances sidelong at A'ven's detractor wondering if he's tasty, no doubt.
"It would certainly take good habits to do this every time," she admits to A'ven in his passing, regarding him for a fleeting moment as she wipes her brow. And soon, she has her eyes closed, trying to free her mind so that she can concentrate on flying. Not weaving. Not men. Not the future. Not dresses or hats. Not Choth's remarks about the others. Not anything but what it felt like to be in the sky. Abruptly she's fill with a sense of excitement. Choth, her own, would carry her into the sky for the first time. Her own dragon. Her love for her lifemate hardened the determination and concentration. She would do it. And at that point, her eyes flash open with her jaws set ready, plopping her riding helmet on as she waits for the others to find a clear head.
A'ven clarifies, "You need only perform a detailed physical inspection once a day. Beyond that, just clear your mind and check your equipment before each flight. That is, unless you've been swimming, you'll want to make sure you're dry too… both of you." He nods. "That brings us to our equipment. First, look over the equipment you are wearing. Your flight gear should be in good repair with neither holes nor rips in jacket or gloves. Your riding helmet should be in good order and tightly fastened." "After you are satisfied with your equipment, check the equipment on your dragon - Riding straps should be clean and well kept. They should be properly fastened so they do not rub or chafe your dragon in any way. They should be replaced as your dragon grows and be properly sized. They should be buckled on securely." He raises his eyebrows. "I'll say that again - they should be buckled on securely!"
-FTB Due To RL-
