Swimming Lessons

[stolenhart]

The dragonets were almost a month old when Ph'in decided it was time to introduce them to swimming. The muscles they used in flying were the same they would use in swimming. The only thing was the dragonets needed a larger dragon to watch them while they swam otherwise they'd get out to far and possibly drown or panic into between. So Ph'in decided that once the dragonets woke up for their afternoon feeding, but before they actually got fed, they would go swimming.

Mine they are beginning to wake up, Jasderth nudged him from the lakeside. Thank you, I am dismissing them now. "You are dismissed to the lake side for swimming lessons today", he announced, "Jasderth will tell your dragonets what to do and they will relay the instructions to you. Watch the dragons Weyrlings and pay attention to Jasderth", he ordered them, stacking his teaching hides on top of each other. "He'll dismiss you for afternoon feeding", he added.

Lakeside Jasderth stretched loudly, yawning and roaring as he woke up from his mid-morning nap. He had only to watch the Hatchlings and he could do that with one eye open. It had been his feeding day today so he was gory and a bit nastier looking than usual but since he would be in the water with them he hadn't worried overmuch. Wake up little dragons, we are going swimming today, he announced, slowly wading into the water while he awaited the arrival of the class.

[kusuri]

The blue lump nestled in the soil twitched.A leathery wing tip fluttered,as if to drive away an unwanted presence. But when his finely shaped nostrils flared,the blue dragon slowly lifted his head.He saw his boy preparing meat and became awake almost immediately.It was time for the afternoon meal! Grunting with pleasure,he strode over to His,the tallest and oldest boy.When he tried to dart his nose in the bucket,the bloody meal was jerked away.Blue eyes, almost the shade of his pale hide, were scolding.
Didn't you get the message? Dragonets are to go swimming! When Masters Jasderth and Ph'in decide you can eat,you may.
Of course I heard, but Jesderth never said we couldn't eat before we went.
The burly little dragon widened his many faceted eyes and tilted his head.He could often get what he wanted when he assumed this pose,but not today.Fingers still bloody and eyes focused on the carcass in his hands,M'kal said firmly
No,yo u will cramp up if you eat before swimming,now be off with you! I'll be there in a little bit,I want finish this.
Grumbling,the little dragon dragged his claws in the dirt.His gait was odd,thick legs swinging outward around his barrel-like chest.The pastel blue soon arrived and hesitated before the water,seeing his brown instructor already wading.The little blue just looked around,not spacing out,but observing his surroundings.His body oozed a calm and laid back demeanor as he shifted from leg,as if dancing to an internal rhythm.He stopped when M'kal dashed to his side,panting and exuding a feeling of panic.
You're not late Mine,the others have yet to show.
The amused dragonet then spoke to his teacher.
Orelth is here and ready to go!

[dragonfire]

Tafelth yawned hugely, the lids of his eyes sliding up one by one to reveal faceted green orbs. The brown nuzzled his rider. I'm hungry. Is there food?[/color]

Today you have to swim before you eat, K'sor told his dragon, scratching the brown's eye ridges affectionately. Come on, let's go. Tafelth followed his rider down to the lake, trying not to be disappointed about having to wait to eat.

Hello Jasderth! I'm ready to swim![/color] Tafelth told his teacher cheerfully. Jasderth could be grumpy, but Tafelth wasn't afraid of him.

[kat]

Though Weyrling lessons took up the better part of his time, T'yir still enjoyed the periods of time when they didn't. Sleeping was one such time period, and T'yir still had yet to get used to being woken up by a dragonet, even one who did so as politely as Biroth, his precocious and pudgy brown, did.

Mine, excuse me, but Jasderth has summoned us to the lake to learn how to swim, came the dragonet's voice, into a mind still half asleep. T'yir stirred, and then sat up slowly, stretching and yawning widely, the back of his hand used to conceal the agape mouth. "Mrm...swimming? Not the usual, but whatever," he said, feeling a tad disagreeable at having been woken. Then, Biroth spoke again.

Mine? I do not want to go swimming. Can I stay here and eat something instead? The tone was plaintive, borderline nervous. T'yir turned from slipping on his shirt over his head, and raised an inquiring eyebrow at the brown, who was sitting there staring at him hopefully. "No, you can't stay here and eat, Bi. Why wouldn't you want to learn to swim? Don't all you dragons love to swim? Something about holding your breath for ten minutes and all that?" He pulled on his swimming trunks and then his trousers over them-just in case-and crossed his arms, waiting for Biroth's reply.

I don't. What if I do not swim, but sink?

The question caught T'yir off guard, and he grinned lopsidedly at the dragon, who seemed almost embarrassed. "Biro, just because you're a bit bulkier (and he used this word at all times, avoiding fat, pudgy, plump or the like) doesn't mean you'll sink. You've probably got more buoyancy than the rest of them. C'mon, we have to go. Ph'in and Jasderth will have our hides if we're late, as I don't have to tell you."

Biroth hung his head, though T'yir hadn't missed that surge of hope that ran through the brown at his mention of having more chance of floating than his clutchmates. It was true, too...but no need to get into the hows and whys of it. Biroth followed along behind, still with that sort of waddling gait that came of not having grown out of the pudge and into the bulk of himself. It looked adorable now, but by the time he was about a a turn old, he needed to be undoubtedly bulked and not notably pudgy. Probably in six months it could be done, really. With the training Ph'in was putting them through? Most definitely a good chance of it.

When they reached the lakeside, Biroth was still looking miserable. Hello Jasderth, he sent, tone full of melancholy, and then, do I really have to go in the water? Can I not I learn to swim outside of it?

T'yir snorted, trying not to laugh, but didn't interfere. Jasderth was okay, so far as dragons went, even if Ph'in did put them through their paces, and then some. Maybe it was better to let the bronze calm Biroth's fears. Hearing it from another dragon would likely help out.

~~~~~~

Jasderth wants us by the lake, Amayliamine. Kynoath informed Amaylia, who was already up but still resting nonetheless. Amaylia sighed and got out of bed, getting ready while her green looked on. ~Did he say why? We usually do lessons in the assigned area,~ the black haired Weyrling asked, not bothering to look over her shoulder while she brushed her hair.

Swimming lessons, came the short reply, as the green waited, looking on. Amaylia finished with her brush, and then headed to wash her face and brush her teeth. Telepathy was so convenient. She never had to open her mouth to speak to Kynoath, and that suited her fine. She didn't much like talking when she was busy anyhow. Or when she didn't feel like it.

~I see. Well, then, let's be going. I'm wearing swimwear beneath this just in case, and it's not exactly warm outside, so I hope there is no in case.~ She didn't even know why on Pern Ph'in would hold swimming lessons in winter. Mid winter, of all things, not even closer to fall or spring. Still, dragon hides were thick and maybe her green wouldn't really feel that cold? Or so she hoped. Faranth forbid Ph'in expect them to enter that water, though!

When they got there, they were on time but nonetheless there were a couple others before them. She regarded them each in turn, standing beside her green and watching and waiting. Ph'in would tell them what they'd be doing as soon as everyone was there. Shardit to the people who were late, they'd be in for it.

Unlike many of the dragons, Kynoath was not that talkative. She said what needed to be said, paid respects to her elders and betters, but still, she had this queenly air about her and would not bespeak other people's riders, finding the idea abhorrent, and when she asked a question she fully expected a prompt answer.

[stolenhart]

Please come into the water. Spread your wings they will help you float, Jasderth explained to the few dragonets who had already shown up. He demonstrated in the greater depths of the water, spreading his wings across the top of the water and bobbing around like a cork. Come on Biroth, get your plump behind in here. If you sink I will help you back up, Jasderth called to his fellow brown dragon. The older beast didn't care about self-esteem or any of that rot. He had a job to do and he would do it, if he had to cajole or force the dragonets to do their tasks.

Come on the water is fun fun. You learn to float then I will teach you to swim and then I will show you how to fly, the brown promised the four dragonets that had already shown up. And flying is way fun fun, he assured them.

[kusuri]

At the mention of flying,the little blue uncurled his talons and pranced into the water.Splashing as much as he could he bounded until he was standing on his claw tips.Then,hesitantly,he lowered his wings to the top of the water.The sensitive pastel membrane's twitched at the sudden change in temperature,but other than that,Orelth made no protest.He continued to move outward into deeper water,his little heart racing when he couldn't feel the earth between his talons.He flailed a little bit,as he started to give into panic,the water sloshing onto his lower jaw.

[kat]

T'yir hid a smirk as Jasderth addressed Biroth. From the dragonet's expression, his query had gotten him nowhere. He'd still have to go into the water-as T'yir had known full well. As soon as he saw the blue dragonet go into the water, however, he immediately cringed and put his paws over his head, shaking from end to end. T'yir sighed, and walked over to the quivering brown.

"He's not going to sink, Bi. Just watch..." he knelt down next to his bonded, and pointed to the blue in the water. Worst case scenario? The blue took a few seconds to get paddling-or Jasderth intervened. Biroth peeked out from under his paw, watching, but still quivering. The brown obviously didn't believe it would be all right-he was convinced that his clutchsibling was going to drown! His eyes whirred shades of orange and yellow, as he watched on in abject terror. T'yir didn't bother trying to overtly comfort him. He knew that all dragonets went through this-the blue would be just fine.

~~~~~~

Kynoath listened to Jasderth's instructions, giving the pudgy brown who belonged to his-not-hers a contemptuous look. He was being a coward-she would show him how it was done! The queenly green strode down to the water's edge, placing one paw in, and then the next, and so on, until she put out one paw and that paw couldn't feel the bottom. Then, she pushed off and into the lake, keeping her nose tilted up, and opening her wings wide. It was true-she floated just fine! Of course, she had tried to not panic when her talons touched nothing but water. However, she was taking pride in herself that she had not panicked. She was feeling quite smug, as Amaylia sent, ~good work, Kynoath. Now, paddle using your legs-like you're trying to walk or run in the water!~

Amaylia liked how her dragon had the sense to not panic. She was quite a green, right down to the flirtations and temper, but she still wasn't as dull in the head as some could be. She watched as her bonded dragonet did as she was told, and began to move forwards in the water. With each stroke, the green grew more confident, and actually began to seem to enjoy the activity. Amaylia smirked, also feeling smugness at her dragonet's success. ~Use your tail like a rudder, Kynoath. Use it to change directions and steer yourself. If you feel brave enough, use your wings to help propel you forwards faster-just don't tuck them in entirely, or it will be harder to float.~ Once again, the green obeyed, giving a small bugle when it proved that she was able to not only turn but go faster when she 'flew in the water' with her wings. She was careful, however, to make it only halfway flapping motions. She was still wary, even if she was doing well.

[kusuri]

((Who goes next? Can we continue this? Orelth is kind of drowning and needs rescuing ^^ ))