But It's Too Cold to Swim - All Weyrlings

[stolenhart]

I am bored Jasderth intruded on his rider's thoughts just as Ph'in turned back to the board to discuss a wing technique. "That's why greens and blues are held back in reserve during a skirmish", he continued on with what was, no doubt, a most boring lecture. He was sure half the Weyrlings were barely listening to him. I am bored. Did you hear me that time?, Jasderth asked, his bellow echoing through the halls of the Weyrling Caverns. The chalk in Ph'in's hand broke as he controlled his temper.

Fine. Call the older Weyrlings to the lake, we can have them toss firestone while Aphelion swims, Ph'in ordered his brown who was only tooooo happy to comply. "Class five minutes to gather cold weather gear, scrub clothes and oil and meet at the lake for swimming lessons", he told the Aphelion wing before leaving the classroom himself. He wouldn't be swimming, Jasderth didn't need to be scrubbbed at the moment, but he'd stoke the braziers in the cavern so at least the Weyrlings would have some warmth to come back too. "Move it", he heard himself holler as he knelt down to fill a brazier.

*** Ten Minutes Later ***
Ph'in had just finished instructing the older weyrlings to toss firestone between themselves for the duration of the lesson. "And if you drop a bag on my head you'll wish you were still holderbrats", he admonished them before turning back to the younger weyrlings.

"So today is swimming lessons. Inform the dragonets they are to swim as much as possible with their wings. They can go out as far as they feel comfortable since between Jasderth and the older dragonets we have enough to keep them from drowning", he fixed the few troublemakers in the class with a cold eye. "Please keep the splashing about to a minimum. It' cold enough out here without anyone getting unnessecarily wet".

[virenn]

It would be rude if he didn’t concentrate, R’ker knew, and so he kept his attention locked on Ph’in and the not-so wonderful lesson that had been set for the day. Green and Blue reserve dragons, he reminded himself, trying to take in as much of the lesson as humanly possible. At least he was trying, which was probably more than what could be said for some people in the class. When Ph’in broke the chalk he held, R’ker could only imagine what the Weyrlingmaster was thinking. It was probably due to their inability to pay attention to the lesson. But, apparently not… When Ph’in announced that they were to meet at the lake for swimming lessons, R’ker wanted to groan. Swimming? In this weather?

Well, there was really nothing he could do about it, and the dragonets did need to learn how to swim… Onith, get ready to go swimming, R’ker told his bronze as the Weyrlings were dismissed.

Once R’ker and Onith reached the lake, the dragonet waited patiently for the Weyrlingmaster’s instructions, though once they were given, he began to waddle out into the lake. Come on, mine. I really want to go swimming with you. Once the dragonet had reached the water, he added an excited, The water feels great!

Well, of course he would think the water felt great—dragons were designed for very specific purposes… one of them being the cold of between. Still, not wanting to disappoint the dragonet, who looked over at him with his never-ending whirling eyes as he patiently awaited for His to join him, he followed. Keep in mind, Onith, that humans are a bit different than dragons.

Really? Is it because you don’t have a hide like a dragon’s? Onith asked. If it is, it’s okay, Mine. I have enough dragon-hide for the both of us.

It wasn’t as though they could share it though, and R’ker would have pointed that out, but he was suddenly worried about his dragon as Onith was completely in the water, his wings holding him up. Never before had R’ker worried about the bronze’s seemingly small wingspan, but with him depending on it to hold him up, R’ker was automatically at the dragon’s side, despite the cold water. “Be careful, Onith.”

Aren’t I always careful?

[saidaltam]

T'van's attention spiked at the word "swimming", as, before that he had been very nearly dozing off. Ok, fine, Ghalyth was reserve. He understood. Could they move on, now? Please?

However, water, in this cold, was not what he'd had in mind, and he narrowly avoided groaning as he scrambled to go fetch cold weather gear. "C'mon, Ghalyth. Swimming," he muttered irritably.

:Swimming? You won't swim too far away from me, will you, mine?:[/color] the blue queried, following close on T'van's heels as they headed for the lake.

As Ph'in gave his instructions, T'van ignored Ghalyth's chatter, then sighed. "You hear that, Ghalyth? Gowan. How far can you swim? Show me? Please?"

:...Aren't you going to come with me, mine?:[/color] Ghalyth asked timidly.

"It's too cold for me to swim," T'van explained. "I don't have dragonhide to keep me warm."

:Then I don't want to swim, either.:[/color]

"Ghalyth, you need to. I'll be right here, I promise. Look, Onith is swimming. Show me if you can catch him!" T'van urged.

Ghalyth's reply was to curl around T'van's leg and whimper.

T'van sighed. "Alright. If you show me how good a swimmer you are, after that, I'll come out and swim a little bit with you, okay? But you have to show me how good you are, first."

Ghalyth looked up at him for a long moment, then finally nodded and slithered into the water to swim after Onith.

((Will post Kirnin later!))

[virenn]

As Onith began his swimming somewhat clumsily, he slowly got into speed, as if he could finally understand how he should be moving in the water. R’ker followed him out into the lake, holding back a shiver as he waded in after his Bronze, since Onith just had to have His follow and talk to him the entire time.

R'ker, how come you don't have a dragon-hide? he asked, noticing that His was somewhat reluctant to follow him as he went deeper and deeper.

"Because I'm not a dragon like you are, of course," he replied.

Onith considered this for a few seconds, and was about to answer when something caught his eye. R’ker was almost relieved when he heard Onith’s very excited, Look, R’ker! It’s Ghalyth! He turned around, looking back and automatically spotting the blue swimming towards the two of them.

Onith’s automatic reaction was to call out to him, Ghalyth! Come and swim with me. I and Mine will be swimming in this area and you can join us and have fun.

Well, as long as Ghalyth was going to be getting into the water with Onith, R’ker didn’t have to go out any further with the dragonet, which left him waist-deep in the cold water. At the very least, he was (slowly) adjusting to the temperature, though he knew that it was going to be very cold when he finally got out.

[Femisis]

Though she knew she should have been listening, Crescentia felt her eyelids becoming heavier and heavier as she listened to Ph'in drone on about wing tacticts. She was here more for form's sake than anything and, while it was useful to know, most of it didn't apply to her at all. She was almost asleep when the breaking of the chalk brought her back to awareness and the promise of a bit of fun. Swimming? In this weather? She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. She knew better than to talk back to the Weyrling Master. Besides, it would be good to get out for a bit and spend some time with Basteth even if she couldn't come in the water.

Must we?[/i] Basteth grumbled as she ambled out toward the lake after Hers. She had to admit that Hers looked rather comical bundled up like that even if this silly lesson had disturbed her nap. Will you be coming with me?[/i] She queried as she slid gracefully into the water, glancing over her shoulder to watch Cresce on the shore.

Not today. Cresce replied ruefully. It's way too cold for me to be swimming. She hated it, too, because she would have loved to join Basteth in the water. She greatly enjoyed swimming, but not if she would freeze to death. Look, there's Onith and Ghalyth, why don't you swim with them?

Because they're not you, Mine.[/i] Basteth replied primly, though she swam out to join the Blue and Bronze anyway.

[kusuri]

As soon as the older weyrling heard the call,he rushed to put away the hide.He had been studying his duties as a blue rider and battle strategies for fifteen minutes and his head had started to nod. Glad for an excuse to put it away,he woke his dragon.Orelth blinked his eyes and groaned,stretching his sky-blue hide.

A scratch if you please? Before we're so tired I can hardly flap my wings?

M'kal obliged, hand scritching the base of the wing,the dragon thrumming.Once his itching was relieved,the dragon bumped his rider hard.

Time to go Mine,be fore Ph'in has a hissy fit.

M'kal chuckled and strode out the door, once reaching a less crowded area,he broke into a run, the pastel blue galloping beside him,wings carefully folded as to not accidentally whack his rider.At a flight of stairs, the blue leapt into the air,gliding down and then taking another jump.Orelth had just gotten strong enough to glide and fly short distances.Everytime the dragon flew,M'kal felt his pulse race.Soon,he would rule the air as well!

But now was not the time.He skidded to a stop near his instructor,surprised to see he was the first of his class there.He grabbed a bag and waited for a classmate to arrive.He couldn't play toss by himself,could he?

[stolenhart]

Jasderth waddled out of nowhere, sliding into the lake like a giant tunnelsnake, careful to not swamp the younger dragonets. Use your wings, he nudged Ghalyth, bobbing him under the water like a piece of wood. You as well Onith, how else will you learn to fly?, the brown admonished them, sinking under the water and scuttling away with his wings in great whooshes. Within moments he was out in the deep black part of the lake, a darker blob just under the surface.

A'ril, the oldest rider of the older wing wandered up to M'kal nervously, his arm over Cintaxth's neck. "Need a partner? Cintaxth and I will toss", he offered. it was quite easy to see why such an older young man would be on a green, there was something weak about A'ril even though he had muscles. A certian lack of some character strength somewhere in his physical make-up. "Come on guys, get in the air", Ph'in hollered at his older Weyrlings, before turning back to the younger. "Aphelion, send your dragonets underwater. Tell them to hold their breathes", he ordered.

[saidaltam]

Ghalyth cast his head imploringly back toward the shore, and, sighing, T'van gave up. He wasn't staying dry, today. That much was obvious. Tugging off his shoes -- no point in getting them wet -- he trudged into the water, stopping at waist level. "There, see, Ghalyth? I'm here. Swimming. Now gowan. Jasderth told you how to do it. Or are you going to just be a silly canine and paddle with your feet?"

Ghalyth blinked at the challenge, then spread his wings. :I am no canine, Mine!:[/color] he protested, wheeling around to prove the point by launching into the water, wings beating furiously.

They didn't carry him nearly as far as they'd carried the much larger brown, of course, but compared to his dog-paddling earlier, it was an impressive display of swimming. :I'm doing it, mine! I'm doing it!:[/color]

---

Kirnin did not like swimming. She very much preferred their lecture. It had, after all, been about her part, thanks to Similath, and that made it very important indeed.

It seemed, however, that she had been the only one, Weyrlingmaster included, who had been enjoying it, and so, into the water they all went. Bundled up in excessive layers of fabric and walking along beside the small, cheerful green, Kirnin was swift to arrive at the lake, sighing. However, as soon as Onith and Ghalyth entered the water, she urged Similath into the water, too. It was just a good thing for her that Similath was such an indulgent, cheerful creature, or she might have wound up in the water beside R'ker and T'van.

:Should I use my wings, too?:[/color] she asked Kirnin, sporting gleefully in the chilly water.

'Yes, Similath. Show me how well you can swim.'

:Alright!:[/color] Flicking her tail, the awkward green submerged herself, and then, the beauty of her elongated form came through, for once she'd done so, she became grace in motion. Built as she was, she was highly aerodynamic, and it made her extraordinarily swift.

Now if only her wings weren't getting so tired... This was fun!

[virenn]

When Onith dipped into the water, R’ker encouraged him onward, though the dragonet did not need it. “You’re doing great,” he said, “just don’t forget to hold your breath. We don’t need you trying to swallow water in a weird attempt to morph into a dolphin.”

But if I were a dolphin, I would be unable to fly. Onith told His, confused as to why a dragon would even consider being a dolphin. As a dragon, I can walk on land, take to the sky and swim. A dolphin can’t, right, R’ker?

“That’s right, Onith.” R’ker said as he watched Onith mimic Jasderth, using his wings to swim deeper.

Are you sure that you don’t want to swim? Onith asked. You’re just standing there, and standing in water doesn’t seem like fun.

Trust me, R’ker said, I’m having fun watching.

If you say so, Mine. Onith replied.

[kusuri]

M'kal smiled at his elder and nodded.He didn't know the lad that well,but he seemed nice,if a little timid.And Orelth seemed to have taken a fancy to the green today.He was prancing,nostrils flared as his rider mounted.Once settled,the weyrling pair took to the skies.

It took the blue a second to get up with his load,and M'kal could just not imagine a green getting into the air with such a burden.The hard work turned Orelth into quite the handsome beast.His muscled chest was now cut and bulging and the blue was very prideful of this new found beauty.M'kal waited for the nervous boy to make eye contact and threw the heavy sack.His aim was a bit off though....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nyboka rushed out onto the waters after her class.Granted,it had taken her awhile to scramble out of the class and too the quarters,but her creature was slothful in its rapid growth.The green had taken a lot of prodding,but with the coax that she would play with her siblings,Rianth and leapt to her feet.

Gasping and panting,the small girl lessened the conspicuousness of her body.She was used to playing the drudge and hoped she wasn't caught and punished for her tardiness.The green felt her rider's unease and slipped silently into the water.She knew Jasderth would sense her arrival,so she didn't bother warning her rider.She plunged right in without a second thought.Jade hide gleaming,she snorted in pleasant surprise at this freedom and paddled near T'van's blue.She was too timid to bespeak the bronze directly yet.

Hello Ghalyth and Onith! The water feels good,doesn't it?

She crooned,punctuating her pleasure at the refreshing waters.She flapped her wings in the water to create little waves and monstrous splashes.Nyboka,standing a bit away from the rest of the weyrlings yelled at her beast.

"Rianth! It's cold you wherry-brain! By the first Egg! Stop!"

A fine spray carried in the air,chilling the nearby green rider.

[kat]

T'yir couldn't help but note that Biroth was growing at a rapid pace. Besides the bronzes, the young brown was notably the largest of his clutch--and not just in size, but in girth, as well!

Forced to train just as hard as the rest of their weyrling class, Biroth had made notable changes to his appearance. For the first couple of months he 'waddled' notably, he was unusually pudgy and he still had a penchant for eating like the food would disappear if he didn't gobble it all up. Still, that fat had begun to disappear. Fat could do one of two things--be lost through exercising, or turn to hardened muscle. He had lost some of it, reasonably, but the rest remained and was hardening into the most bulky muscle T'yir had ever seen on a dragon. His chest was wide and square, his hind legs thick and powerful. Even his tail appeared more thick and muscular than the other dragons. He wasn't the fastest of them, that was for certain. Moving all that bulk around took a lot of energy. However, his stamina was unrivaled and the hits he would be able to take would put him at the forefront of the fighting dragons. He was turning out to be an odd but spectacular specimen of a dragon.

So perhaps it was a bit of a foresight. Half of what Biroth had was still the dragonet fat it had been. At six months old it wasn't completely gone, only half. T'yir could see what he would be in another few months, and he still waddled though it was turning into more of a powerful 'strut'. He rubbed his forehead and kept the image of 'powerful and muscled Biroth' in his mind, and the young dragon turned to look at him.

One day I will be like that? he queried, eyes bright as he half-waddled on over to be loaded up with firestone. T'yir grinned, and then replied, "you're already halfway there, Bi. In another few months, I'm thinking you'll look exactly like that," he admitted, beginning to load the young dragon up. He always tried to push Biroth to his limits. If he hadn't, the young dragon would still be three quarters fat, instead of half fat. The young dragon never complained, and always did his best--T'yir liked that. He wasn't noting the greens the way some of the others were at this point, and never showed off for any dragon. T'yir loved that Biroth didn't believe he had to impress anyone, just strove to do as much as he could. He finished loading the bulky and pudgy brown, and then instructed him to take to the air.

~~~~~~

Amaylia tried to have Kynoath do at least as much as the blues in her Weyrling class did. For all her size, the green managed to do so, though it was obviously hard work. She still behaved like she was a gold and no green, and had a habit of ordering about the blues and even some of the browns. Faranth knew she tried with the bronzes and disdained the golds as they were higher than she in rank. If she'd been a queen, she would have been a force to be reckoned with that no one could question. However, as it was, she was a fighting green to the core, with the personality of a gold. Amaylia preferred it that way, in truth. Kynoath commanded respect from others, not by rank or color, but by earning it and proving she deserved it. Already she was a flirtatious thing, well aware of herself and her capacities, always sly and cunning. Her moods were often fast changing and her temper was something everyone would want to stay clear of--yes, a green to the core.

Load on more. Orelth has more than this! the dark, forest and mud colored green demanded. Amaylia glanced over at M'kal's blue, and grimaced a little. It was true that she pushed Kynoath to do as much as the blues, but that load was quite large. "Are you certain you want that much, Ky, love? You dont' want to strain yourself," she chided gently. Kynoath shot her an unimpressed look, and snorted hot air from her nostrils. Of course I am sure, load me with more, Amayliamine. I will be fine, she said more softly, nudging hers lightly with her nose.

Amaylia looked over the green's build, and admitted that it was likely she would. Lithe and graceful though as muscled as any blue and even some very small browns, Kynoath wasn't your typical green. She would never be underestimated as a carrier green, or as anything but a true fighter. The muscles rippled already under her smooth, dark green hide, notable to any and all. She glanced again at Orelth, snorting derisively as she noted he wasn't paying attention to her, but some other green. "Focus, Kynoath. I'm putting the last of it on," Amaylia informed her, doing just that. For a moment the green shifted her weight, and Amaylia wondered if she shouldn't remove some of it. However, before she could even suggest it, the green took to the air, struggling slightly but still maintaining an upward rise. Amaylia sighed--there was no holding back a dragon of Kynoath's determination and nature. So long as she wouldn't harm herself then there was no reason to reprimand her.

[Femisis]

Snorting, Basteth slid easily through the water, using her wings to push her along and her tail as a rudder. This was rather fun, but it would be better if Hers would come out and swim. The water was just FINE. Won't you please come in, Mine?[/i][/b] The dragon asked in her sweetest, nicest voice. She knew Hers wouldn't be able to resist it. She'd feel bad and come running right into the water with her and that would be that.

Sharding dragon, poking at her soft spot... Would you rather I freeze trying to swim with you or stay out here and be warm? Cresce countered, trying to justify staying on shore and out of the water. It was just too cold and despite coming from Telgar, she HATED the cold. It was bad enough that she was cold when in the warm confines of the Weyr let alone outside bundled up.

You're no fun, Mine.[/b] Basteth replied sourly as she swam off, looking for someone to have fun with. Ghalyth caught her eye, not for his swimming ability, rather for his lack of said swimming ability. He was wasting energy floundering around like that, silly Blue. Don't flap like that! Do it like this.[/i][/b] She told the Blue, demonstrating with her own long, sweeping wingstrokes. She was starting to tire, though, and a nap was looking MIGHTY fine at the moment...

[stolenhart]

Jasderth's head rose out of the water and he blinked solemnly at the floundering weyrlings. Swim to me littles ones then return to the beach to rest, he ordered the younger weyrlings warmly, blowing bubbles in the surface of the water as he watched them. And swim under the water with your wings, I don't want to see any little heads, he admonished them, eyeing Ghalyth particularly. "Riders out of the water!", Ph'in ordered, crossing his arms over his chest. The dragonets had to learn some things on their own, and in the relative safety of swimming under Jasderth's eyes, they could gain some confidence in themselves.

But A'ril and Cintaxth were skilled and caught the bag. Coming above you Orelth, Cintaxth told her clutchmate as the green swung upwards and above the blue. With a nod from her rider, the firestone bag went tumbling off her neck falling through the air like the bag of rocks it was.

[saidaltam]

Similath, already half way out to the big brown, cheerfully continued on her merry way, ignoring the growing weariness in her wings for the pure sport of it. A bubbling giggle rolled through Kirnin's mind as the young green spun herself happily around Jasderth's neck, sending cool waves of water to lap against his hide as she swung back around to head for shore. It was only then that she began to notice that the shoreline was very, very far away, and the longer she swam, the more tired she was becoming.

Kirnin, sensing her dragon's growing weariness, straightened. 'It's alright, Similath. You're getting closer. It's not much farther, and then you'll be able to rest, I promise,' she urged, watching the faint blur under the water anxiously.

---

Ghalyth had been about to whimper over the whole affair, but T'van finally sighed. 'Ghalyth. They are right. I'm getting out of the water, and you are going to go UNDER and swim WITH YOUR WINGS out to Jasderth. This isn't optional, Ghalyth. You NEED to strengthen your wing muscles, or you'll never fly.'

That was enough to catch Ghalyth's attention, and as T'van walked quickly out of the water, Ghalyth (who HAD been using his wings, at this point, by the way. See my last post!) submerged himself, following after the other dragons and making his way as swiftly as he could toward Jasderth. He had a bit of a late start, but he was, after all, a blue, and he was quickish, considering.

[virenn]

As soon as Ph'in ordered the riders out of the water, R'ker moved towards shore, and was about to apologize to Onith for not being able to stay out with him, but the dragonet spoke first. You need to go on shore and get warm, R’ker. Aren’t you cold? I really don’t see why, since the water is really nice. R’ker watched Onith dip back under the water and, with smooth and powerful strokes of his wings, swam towards the larger brown. Swimming is fun, though I bet that flying will be even better.

As R’ker moved out of the water and back on shore, he fought back a shiver. Shards, he got too used to the water. He was going to freeze by the time he and Onith got back into the Weyr. Ignoring this, he told Onith, Of course flying will be better. You belong in the air, after all.

I do, don’t I? At this point, Onith reached Jasderth, and made a quick turn as to swim back to shore. Will we be able to go swimming again, Mine? This really is fun.

I’ll try to take you swimming again. Maybe next time it’ll be warmer. R’ker told the bronze.

[kusuri]

Nyboka smiled as her little green paddled confidently through the water.Nothing phased her Rianth as she splashed and caroused in the clear waters.Nyboka noted some Weyrlings had joined their bondeds in the water and cringed for them when Ph'in admonished them..Two walked back out,but seemed fine about the orders.She drifted towards Kirnin,who was the least intimidating of the group.She was rather lonely and she had seen the other glance at her a few times.Maybe the girl would be interested in becoming friends.They were both green riders after all!

"Hello.I believe I haven't had the chance to introduce myself yet. I'm Nyboka of green Rianth. Mighty fine little dragonet you have there.Swims like a master."

Nyboka's brown face was warmed by a soft smile as she watched the hatchlings play.Such joy there is in youth! Let them enjoy it now, before they were sent off to battle...Her face fell a little at the thought and she brought her small arms to her body to stave off the chill.

Rianth was steadily losing her energy by the time Jesdarth gave his orders.She looked back at the shore and sighed.Hers had encouraged her to socialize with the other dragonets and so far they hadn't responded to her.Her sluggishly turning eyes caught a glimpse of her rider sidling up to another girl to start talking.Slightly envious and jealous,anger powered the young one's wings as she ducked her head violently under water and struck out.She easily circled the near the brown and began swimming back toward shore,wing lagging and breath ragged
-------------------------------------

M'kal was impressed by the muscular youth's skill and grinned.Blue eyes twinkling, He nodded at Orelth's message and looked up.Even though both had made eye contact,he was still a bit startled at how fast the sack seemed to hurtle at his head...

Mine! Stretch out your arms! Do something or I will have to fly out of the way!

M'kal reacted quicker than he thought possible.His arms shot out and the heavy bag hit them full force.Even though his limbs gave to the weight of the bag, his arms would probably be bruised by tomorrow...Leaning heavily over the side of the saddle,the brunette gave a tremendous heave and a grunt to bring the sack to rest before him.The boy gave a glance in his instructor's direction and hoped that the man hadn't seen him freeze up....He patted the blue neck before him in thanks before having Orelth relay a message to the green.

We are going to pass the bag to you as I fly past.

Waiting for Cintaxth and her rider's acknowledgment,the pair flew diagonally up and past the dragoness.Waiting for eye contact, M'kal carefully threw the heavy firestone sack.