A/n: I still don't own DoP or Sonnette's Dawn, or the Weyrleader of Threads End Weyr. To quote the wonderful Goblin King, Jareth, 'Such a pity.' I do, however, own all the original characters and the still unnamed and unwinged dragon. I'm also changing the name of R'ahvin's Weyr from Paradise Weyr to something else.
Weyrling Training
Over the next few weeks, K'dra and Terranth learned how to live together. Some might say that was a pretty droll statement to say about a dragonrider and her dragon but in such a case as Impression, it changes your entire world.
For one thing, everyday K'dra had to wake up and oil Terranth thoroughly. As the little dragon was in the growing stage, she often outgrew her hide and it itched abominably as she molted the old skin. If the dragon hide wasn't oiled daily, it could cause the dragon problems when they were taught to fly between. And there was more of the little dragon everyday. Then after the oiling, the dragon needed to have a bath and scrubbed until the weyrlingmaster K'nast deemed them satisfactorily clean.
All the weyrlings were taught not to let their dragons gorge, for this was the biggest taboo on Pern. If a dragon was gorged, it couldn't fly. And if it couldn't fly, it couldn't fight Thread or rise to mate.
K'dra learned all these things as fast as she could and for the moment just enjoyed working with Terranth, taking pleasure in learning how to make riding straps properly and to be just the right size for Terranth's ever changing girth.
That was another thing. Terranth was the smallest green dragon in the weyr, so she was the smallest dragon in the Weyr period. The other dragons teased her, and their riders teased K'dra, but the pair paid no heed most of the time.
Why do they always make fun of how small we are?
K'dra and Terranth were out by the lake with some other weyrlings, the riders giving their dragon friends baths.
K'dra stopped scrubbing Terranth's hide to think about her answer. Terranth's tone had been disgusted and impatient.
"I think it's because there's no one else to pick on and since we are the smallest, it makes them feel good to down us because they don't expect the smaller creatures to fight back." K'dra scrubbed harder to get some rebellious dirt off the emerald hide.
That's not true. The blues are as small as I.
Her many faceted eyes swirled with annoyance and K'dra smiled.
"Actually, they're bigger, but if you notice, they also get picked on as well."
Terranth gave a loud snort in answer to that and K'dra just kept on scrubbing, trying to ignore the heat of the day, which already promised to be a scorcher.
It's not fair. Just because the browns and bronzes are most likely to fly the queen doesn't mean they can pick on the smaller ones.
"I agree. But most creatures are like that. Even my own family teases me about how small I am compared to them. It's just a natural part of life."
Just wait. When K'nast and Tampath teach us to fly I'll be the fastest dragon and show those bronzes a lesson.
"Don't forget the browns," K'dra added, giving one last scrub to get the molted skin off and then backed off, admiring her work. "Okay, go rinse off."
Terranth surged ahead into the deeper water to rinse. She dove under the water and then bounced up, spraying water out of her mouth and drenching K'dra.
"Thank you, Terranth; I really appreciate it a lot."
You will dry quickly.
Terranth rolled on her back, exposing her sea green underbelly to the mid-afternoon sun, her thoughts and actions totally relaxed and indolent.
"I see you have a way with your dragon," an amused voice reached her ears. K'dra wheeled around to see A'dlar, the Weyrleader of Thread's End Weyr.
"A'dlar!" Quickly, K'dra dashed out of the water and gave a proper bow to her leader. "My duty to you, Weyrleader."
"And the same to you, weyrling," A'dlar gave her a bow as well. K'dra caught sight of A'dlar's bronze Salarnath moving toward the bathing lake.
"Shall I have Terranth move out so Salarnath can have a better position?"
I really don't want to move.
Hush, Terranth. He is the Weyrleader. And you are clean enough.
"That's all right, K'dra. We were just checking on all the new weyrlings to see how they are doing. You and Terranth seem to be doing just fine."
"Oh. Thank you sir."
After that smart comment, K'dra didn't know what to say. She was saved when A'dlar and Salarnath moved on down the line to some other weyrlings.
Do I still have to get out? K'dra swiveled around to look at her dragon, and then threw her head back to laugh.
"Well, come on over here so I can look at you."
K'dra inspected every inch of Terranth and found her satisfactorily cleaned off. Terranth grumbled as they strolled away from the lake toward the weyrling barracks, a trail of water following as the soppy pair made their way.
"Oh, do be quiet. I'll let you sun yourself outside the barracks, if you promise not to get any dirt on that glossy hide of yours. I just gave you a bath and I really don't want to have to give you another one after a lecture from K'nast."
Terranth griped about K'dra being a 'spoilsport' and went on to say how the dirt contained sand and rocks pleasing to relieving itches as she settled down for her nap. K'dra just rolled her eyes and adjusted the knot on her shoulder so it would stay in position.
As a junior weyrling, her knot was two colors in a single loop: the red for Thread's End Weyr and the green for the color of her dragon. She was very proud of that secondary color, for it told those in Pern's social structure that she was forever placed in the ranks of the dragonriders.
Up ahead, K'dra could see Tilanth sunning himself by the barracks, Et'an beside him, sewing a new neck strap for Tilanth, who was outgrowing all his equipment very fast to Et'an's pride and dismay.
"Hey, Et'an, Tilanth."
"Hey, K'dra. Terranth you are looking remarkably clean today."
Terranth rumbled something about not feeling clean enough to which Tilanth answered with the dragon equivalent of a laugh. The grin that tugged Et'an's mouth indicated he was aware of Terranth's complaining as well.
K'dra plopped down by Et'an, glad to get off her feet, and leaned up against him, closing her eyes to the sun. She was a little wet but Et'an didn't mind. It felt good in the heat of the day.
"Tiring day? Already?"
"You can laugh and be amused all you want, but I spent most of the morning oiling Terranth, found out that the oil was gone about halfway through, and was told that the next shipment of oil was going to come around the noon watch. And when the shipment finally came in we saw that it was the baby oil for one of T'vel's fosterling daughters."
Et'an chuckled and just continued sewing the thick leather hide into the shape of a neck strap to fit Tilanth, knowing the best thing to do was just listen. He paused to place the new strap on Tilanth to check the fitting and then sat back down to readjust a couple of buckles.
"And then you gave Terranth a bath, who returned the favor right?" he joked, smiling as she gave him a good-natured jab with her elbow.
"That's right. It wasn't so bad considering the heat."
They sat for a few minutes together in peace, Tilanth and Terranth soaking up the sun, the water already evaporating off Terranth's back, and K'dra relaxed against Et'an. Then she reluctantly left Et'an's side with a sigh.
"Going so soon?"
"Only to get Terranth's harness and straps. They need to be oiled, and I want to get to them before K'nast or Candy can find something else for me to do."
"Idle hands…" Et'an began as K'dra ducked out into the barracks, blinking against the sudden dimness from the outside.
It was also a lot cooler but K'dra just jogged over to the section assigned to her and Terranth, grabbing the various harnesses and straps, a handy bucket of oil and a rubbing cloth. Then she rejoined Et'an outside.
"You do know that inside the barracks are almost thirty degrees cooler."
"Yes, but if you don't sweat, you don't really work now do you?"
"You are…" K'dra trailed off, a little flustered.
"I'm what?" Et'an challenged.
I'm hungry, Tilanth whimpered, moving his head up from off his forelegs to look at Et'an, his eyes whirling to beseech his rider.
"Sorry, Tilanth, but you just ate yesterday, and you're not supposed to eat again until next week."
"Dragonmen avoid excess / Greed will bring the Weyr distress," K'dra quoted, rubbing hard at the aft neck strap, her arm already aching protests from the rubbing she previously did earlier.
The big aft neck strap went behind the neck ridge where the rider sat, and helped hold the fore neck strap in place, giving the rider some stability. It was one of the more important pieces of a dragon's equipment, and K'dra was studious in taking care of the straps that could very well save her life, and she mused, Terranth's. The last thing K'dra wanted was to fall off at 600 feet in the air and have Terranth suicide between.
You will not fall off and I will not go between Terranth reassured her, effectively diverting K'dra's thoughts from that depressing subject. So K'dra relaxed, leaned back to back with Et'an, and started going over the Teaching Ballads, gradually rubbing in rhythm with the songs.
Honor those the dragons heed
In thought and favor, word and deed.
Worlds are lost or worlds are saved
From those dangers dragon-braved.
Dragonmen avoid excess
Greed will bring the Weyr distress: To the ancient law adhere,
Prospers thus the Dragonweyr.
K'dra paused to wipe the sweat from her brow before continuing on with the neck plate.
The neck plate was a large padded shield of leather that can come in various designs and shapes; the neck straps are run through it, sometimes criss-crossing. The plate holds them in place.
She took up another tune, one she had heard from Half-Circle Sea Hold from her days traveling with her merchant family.
My nightly craft is winged in white
A dragon of night-dark sea.
Swiftborn, dreambound and rudderless
Her captain and crew are me.
I sail a hundred sleeping tides
Where no seaman's ever been
And only my white-winged craft and I
Know the marvels we have seen.
Then she jumped into another sea song:
The fickle wind's my foe
with tide his keen ally
They're jealous of my sea's love
And rouse her with their lie.
Oh sweet sea, oh dear sea,
Heed not their stormy wileBut bear me safely to my hold
And from their watery trial.
And her new personal favorite since Impressing:
Dragonman, Dragonman,
Between thee and thine,
Share me that glimpse of love
Greater than mine.
K'dra stopped to examine her work, the leather soft from the scrubbing and gleaming in the sunlight, and was surprised to find she had an audience. Tilanth and Terranth had their faces turned toward her, the inner lids of their eyes dropped in contentment, and a few of the other weyrlings and their dragons, each oiling their equipment.
"Don't stop now, K'dra," Et'an spoke softly, his arm moving about his leather straps at a slow pace, the muscles in his back rippling with the effort. Terranth and Tilanth voiced their encouragement, as well as the other weyrlings. Sudden embarrassment at having so many listen to her sing came upon her and K'dra didn't know what to do.
"Sing about the Weyr," Et'an encouraged and K'dra found her voice as well as the next piece of equipment to oil. She chose the fore neck strap and set to work.
Oh, Tongue, give sound to joy and sing,
Of hope and promise on dragonwing."
Then K'dra started on "Moreta's Ride" and Et'an joined in, the other weyrlings following their lead. K'dra eventually had to stop singing, her mouth was so parched, and found water suddenly pressed into her hands. Surprised she looked up to S'na's smiling face.
"You need this," she encouraged and K'dra gratefully drank deep.
"Oh, thank you," she said when she was done.
"Don't worry about it. Are you about done?"
"With her equipment or leading the weyrlings in Ballad?" Et'an asked.
"Et'an," K'dra groaned.
S'na rolled her eyes.
"C'mon, K'dra. You're going to scrub your arms off. Let's get some dinner."
"Is it dinner time already?"
K'dra tossed her head up to check the sun and sure enough, it was already moving low on the horizon.
"While you were serenading the Weyr, others have been busy preparing food for hungry riders and weyrfolk alike," S'na answered crisply, her dimples showing as she smiled at her friend to take the sting out of her words.
"So put that equipment up and let's get some food."
K'dra moved from her position at Et'an's back and picked up her equipment, carefully folding them, and putting them in their proper places by her sleeping couch.
"My hand is soft," K'dra commented as the threesome left the barracks and their sleepy dragons to head across the Bowl to the kitchens. Sure enough, all the oil had made her one hand soft and smooth. "It feels funny."
Et'an was in the middle of the three, K'dra on his left and S'na on his right as they walked.
"Mine is too," Et'an commented, examining his own, and both girls giggled at the sudden thought that hit them at the same time. "What?"
"Your hand is soft," and S'na's voice made the last word seem like a caress.
It took Et'an a few moments to get that, while the girls went into another round of giggles at his expense.
"Girls," Et'an complained in an exasperated sigh, which only set them laughing harder.
K'dra looped her arm through Et'an's and smiled up at him. S'na did the same to his other arm and they entered the kitchen that way, Et'an finally able to laugh at the joke he had made on himself.
A couple of the older riders shook their heads as they walked past, toward the big kettle full of stew.
"It's not right that one guy so young has two girls hanging on his arm," one, a bronze rider, commented as he eyed the girls attached to either side of Et'an.
"You sound like you don't enjoy enough company as it is," the other, a brown rider, replied. He too, eyed the trio. "They're pretty enough, but they're just friends from what I understand and unattached at the moment."
"Friends right now, yes, until his dragon rises."
The bronze rider wasn't from this Weyr, and a little put off that one weyrling, a brown weyrling at that, had two pretty lasses when he was currently without any female company for the night, having become bored with the selection women from the Lower Caverns.
"Oh, the blond and the guy are weyrbred."
The brown rider turned his attention back on his meal, swallowing the last of his Benden wine and refilling his goblet. "And the dark-haired one won't mind, either. Both girls Impressed greens so it shouldn't matter." He resumed eating his stew.
"The girls are dragonriders? How old are they, do you think?" the bronzed rider asked aloud thoughtfully, his interest piqued as he thought about two girls who were green dragonriders.
"Et'an, the guy, is almost eighteen Turns and the blond, S'na, is one of H'jas and Mari's offspring of Southern Boll. She was fostered here, you know, and almost eighteen. The dark-haired one is K'dra, Nikkos Ulric the merchant's daughter. She just turned seventeen a few months back, I believe. Could be wrong though."
The brown rider didn't care. As far as he was concerned, the girls were too young for his tastes. He had a weyrmate of his own and didn't have any interest in them. Besides that, rumor had it that Et'an's brown Tilanth would fly one of the two girl's greens and bets were being taken as to which dragon would be flown.
He didn't care one way or another but they were of his Weyr and both were innocents, to his knowledge. He felt a certain obligation to protect them. At least warn R'ahvin of that fact so he'd be careful in dealing with them. If R'ahvin hadn't Impressed his bronze Xenith . . . never mind that thought.
"Look, R'ahvin, they're only weyrlings. Weyrlings. And green ones at that, both dragon-wise and men wise."
"You mean both are innocent?"
With those two knockouts running around? R'ahvin couldn't believe it.
"Yes." Something in the brown rider's voice caused R'ahvin to look at his old friend. He considered the brown rider for a moment.
"You don't want me to talk to them, C'ran?"
C'ran gave a frustrated sigh.
"I don't mind if you talk to them, I'm just saying to be careful. They're not experienced in these things."
C'ran paused to think on his next words.
"And if you had to take one to your bed, take S'na. She's weyrbred and understands this type of thing better than K'dra."
R'ahvin took his friend's words to heart, promising to be careful. But that dark-haired girl, K'dra, she was nice to look at, but craft bred and an innocent to boot. Something about him being warned off her was a surprising turn on
Both riders turned to watch as the friends sat at a table together and had a good time, laughing at some joke to which Et'an was the butt of. R'ahvin got up from his seat and approached them. He could hear the laughter and smiled at the blond, S'na was her name.
"Hello," he greeted them.
He grinned in mischief when he saw their eyes opened wide in surprise as they recognized the rank on his arm knot.
"Oh, greetings, bronze rider." That came from Et'an, and the girls both greeted him with the appropriate respect.
"Do you mind if I join you?" He motioned to an empty seat beside them.
"No, of course not," K'dra was quick to assure him, after a quick glance for her companion's approval.
She then turned and gave him a welcoming smile.
"Please, have a seat."
K'dra could feel the beginnings of a blush at the proximity of such an attractive man, but was careful to keep it hidden and told herself to calm down.
"Thank you. I am R'ahvin, bronze Xenith's rider. And you are…?"
"Et'an, brown Tilanth's rider, and my companions are S'na, green Shrith's rider and K'dra, green Terranth's rider."
Et'an never took his gaze from that of the bronze riders.
"What brings you to the table of three weyrlings, R'ahvin?" S'na asked, after pouring R'ahvin some wine from the unused flask on the table.
None of the three weyrlings drank any wine, preferring instead the klah though they were certainly old enough to be allowed to drink wine.
"Oh, I was just visiting my friend C'ran, when I noticed you three come in together. Not every day a rider is seen with two girls hanging on to him." R'ahvin gave Et'an a nod and a lazy grin, his eyes sparkling. "So I came over to see how a brown weyrling could possibly get so many girls when C'ran told me you two had both Impressed greens and my curiosity was piqued. At my Weyr, there are not many female dragonriders outside the queen's wing."
"C'ran is brown Firth's rider is he not?" K'dra asked thoughtfully. R'ahvin nodded in her direction.
"That he is."
"He is helping K'nast and Tampath teach us weyrlings to chew firestone," she continued, her eyes upon R'ahvin.
Which wasn't so hard or displeasing a task. As with many bronze riders, R'ahvin was quite appealing. He had hair the color of bleached bone and the most amazing green eyes, almost the color of Terranth's underbelly.
In the norm of most riders, he was tanned from the sun and wind while flying, and it was a nice golden bronze. Not too dark and not too light either. He wasn't very tall, maybe seven or eight inches taller than K'dra, and he wasn't very broad in the chest. He was actually quite lithesome, and lean, no trace of fat or spare flesh upon his body. Yes, he was certainly appealing.
"Do you need any help?" The question was addressed to all in general, but his attention was on K'dra, his eyes taking in her short-cropped hair and the way the top fell over in her face. A finely sculpted eyebrow rose and her lips twitched in suppressed amusement.
"I think K'nast and C'ran are giving enough help already, thank you."
Ouch.
The deep voice of his dragon cut into R'ahvin's mind and he suppressed his annoyance, as well as surprise, at his dragon's sarcastic intervention.
I thought you were asleep, he thought back irritably.
"Suit yourself."
To cover any embarrassment, he took a drink of wine, savoring it while considering his next move. He noticed S'na and Et'an swapping glances and knew that they knew what he was trying to do, and they were amused! Somehow, that bothered R'ahvin, especially when Et'an turned his gaze upon him.
He is very protective of the girls, Xenith informed him.
The great bronze was on a ledge by the kitchen, trying to soak up as much sun as remained. Apparently, he wasn't lazy enough to stay out of R'ahvin's business.
I don't think even he knows how protective he is of them.
"So, R'ahvin, what are you doing at Thread's End Weyr?" S'na asked, sipping her klah, and eyeing him, as if appraising him. Yep, she was definitely weyrbred and more knowledgeable about things than any gave her credit for.
She is also very protective of her friend. Unusual for weyrlings, Xenith mused.
Thanks, Xenith.
"I am here as part of the rider exchange movement. I've already been here a seven-day and I'm going to go back to my own Weyr in a few months after your weyrling group finishes training."
"Why's that?" Et'an asked.
"When you complete your training, some of you will be coming back to Halcyon Weyr with me while weyrlings from my Weyr come here. That way it keeps the Weyrs from becoming autononimous and keeps the Blood from becoming too inbred."
The three friends exchanged surprised looks. Any thoughts of trying to seduce K'dra went out of his head. Obviously they didn't know about this part of their training and R'ahvin felt a little sorry for them when he realized these close friends might be separated. But it was very similar to fostering, and they got to go back to their home Weyr after one Turn if they desired, or they could stay or go on to another Weyr.
"How soon after we complete our training will we be assigned?" K'dra wanted to know, her pale blue eyes a little troubled.
"I'd say, probably after you fought your first Thread fall, and no sooner."
Once again, the trio exchanged glances. But then Et'an shrugged and the tension seemed to drain out of the two girls.
"So tell us of Halcyon Weyr."
And so he did, even when the sun was long out of the sky.