Hard To Say No

Writers: Devin, Chelle
Date Posted: 19th March 2015

Characters: D'lorn, A'dryn
Description: A'dryn has a problem with controlling his dragon.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 7

A'dryn covered his mouth, trying to hide a smile. A whole group of
bouncing hatchlings was quite a sight.

}:I like this!:{ Nalarith jumped in place, wings slightly extended for balance.

The order came for them to stop, but she kept jumping. **Time to stop, love.**

}:But this is fun.:{ Nalarith's eyes whirled happily.

"A'dryn, please control your dragonet!" D'lorn yelled from where he
was in front of them. He was glad of the green's exuberance but she could overexert
herself and get injured. After the recent /between/ accident, they weren't taking chances.

**The Weyrlingmaster Third is asking everyone to stop. You can jump
more later, dear heart.** It was a shame, because she was having such
a good time.

}:Not later! Now!:{ she said playfully.

He had given the lad a chance. Walking forward until he was in front of
Nalarith, he stopped. "Nalarith!" From behind him where she was sitting
on her haunches, Villith bugled her own noise to underscore the point.

It startled the green and she stumbled, almost falling. A'dryn jerked
in surprise and then hurried forward to comfort her. }:I was only
having fun,:{ she pouted.

D'lorn didn't hear what she said so he just said what needed to be said.
"During lessons when we give orders, they are meant to be obeyed. We tell
you to do things or not to do things for your safety and that of your rider."
He turned to the greenrider. "A'dryn, you have to make her listen. She is your
responsibility. If you cannot control her now, you won't be able to when she is
larger. And if you cannot, you will be punished."

It was clear the latest incident had changed something in D'lorn. The greenrider
was still dealing with it and he knew the Blooding was coming. He knew the juniors
knew what had happened. Maybe they should think twice about it.

A'dryn stared at the ground. He was _not_ going to cry like a girl in
front of everyone. "I'm sorry sir. I did ask her to stop."

"Right, but you can't just ask. She's a dragonet-she's a baby. You
don't ask babies. You tell them. Right now you are the adult in this
relationship. It is your job to take care of her and teach her, along
with us. Because if you don't, she can easily get herself hurt. And
then you'll wish you had." He looked down to the ground and realized
what he was doing and then looked away to Villith before rubbing his face.

"I know. But she was happy..." Of course if she _did_ get hurt, A'dryn
would never forgive himself.

}:Do not feel bad. I should have listened.:{ The small green nuzzled her rider.

"Right, she could have been happy right up until the moment when she sprained
a muscle. You have to do what is best for her, regardless. She loves you
and when she is older she will understand." **Don't let this be another one.**

A'dryn swallowed heavily. "Yes, sir. It's just hard to say no." He
didn't want to upset her, or have her think he was being mean.

Thinking about it, D'lorn decided it was better to go at this from the
better angle. "Nalarith, do you trust your rider?"

}:Yes. He loves me.:{

"She says yes," A'dryn told him.

"When you chose him, did you know that he would do what was needed to
take care of you?" It was interesting sometimes the answers received from
young dragonets but for some they were usually the same.

Nalarith tilted her head. }:I knew he was the right one for me.:{ She
hadn't specifically thought about being taken care of. All that
mattered was that A'dryn fit right inside her head.

"She just says she knew I was the right one. I think it's all the same
to her." A'dryn rubbed at her headknob, trying not to think about the
whole class watching them.

"The point is, A'dryn, that your dragon trusts you and loves you no matter
what. So you don't have to worry about her getting angry at you. She will
appreciate all that you do for her and it will make you a stronger dragonpair
in the end." He remembered how the boy's parents had acted at the Hatching
and D'lorn wondered if perhaps the boy needed to build some confidence.

"Yes, sir." There wasn't anything else to say and he'd already made a
spectacle of himself.

}:I love you very much and I will listen,:{ the little green said.

Striding back to his place in front of the bunch of weyrlings, D'lorn signaled
for them to start walking in the ground drill formation they had been studying
earlier that morning.

Last updated on the April 8th 2015

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Hard To Say No