The Care and Teaching of Weyrlings

Writers: Clancey, Patrick
Date Posted: 27th September 2006

Characters: Cortana, Dysali
Description: Cortana meets Dysali after her first jump /between/ and discuss things.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 16 of Turn 3

Cortana

Cortana felt elated, she and Anath had just returned
from their first trip /between/. What a way to
travel. She'd been on her brothers dragon before, but
the sense of freedom ones own dragon gives, it was
amazing. The entire Weyrling class was mulling about
the Bowl, refusing to remove their flight gear, giving congenial slaps on the back. Cortana was so excited about her first flight she didn't notice the shorter girl behind her.

Dysali had watched over all their jumps, Lillyth
listening in as well. Her green was getting very good
at listening to things around her, and could
communicate it all especially well to her rider.

She was congratulating each one, and making sure they
felt fine, her next target being another greenrider.

Dysali's soft voice drew attention, and she smiled.
"Cortana, how are you feeling hmm? First flight
/between/!" She knew them all, and they knew her,
since she was on the Weyrling staff, but she had few
classes with this group as of yet.

Cortana turned to face Dysali. "Dysali, oh it was
amazing. I mean I've been /between/ before, but it
was never like _that_! I can't wait to do it
unsupervised, the freedom I'll have! Was it the same
way for you your first time?"

Dysali laughed at the taller woman's enthusiasm. "Of
course it has never been like that for you before,
Cortana. You were flying on Anath!" Her
smile was fond as she remembered her own first flight /between/.

"It was like that for Lillyth and I too." Her smile
became more serious. "Be careful, though, weyrling.
You have much practicing to do before that freedom is
yours, hmm?"

"I suppose..." Cortana's eyes were full of mischief,
her mind running through imaginary scenes of
returning home /between/ on Anath's glowing hide,
showing her father up for all those years of
ignorance. She patted Anath's green hide absently,
thinking of all her new freedom.

Dysali narrowed her eyes a bit, the smile faded, as
she recognized that look from her memories of herself,
after she and Lillyth flew. "Cortana, listen
carefully. One Weyrling in the class before mine went
/between/ and never came back. Weyrlings and young
riders _die_ from not knowing where they are going as
clearly as possible." Her voice was quiet, serious,
and as stern as a 15 turn old young woman could sound.
"You must practice under supervision of the
Weyrlingstaff. You _must_. "

Cortana felt slightly silly being reprimanded by
someone not only four turns younger than herself, but
at least a half a head shorter.

"I know, I know. I can wait Dysali, I assure you."
Cortana waved her hands in a placating gesture,
smiling her best smile. She hadn't truly meant it,
but one look at her dragon, and the thought of her not
there sent shivers down her spine. "I promise I won't
go /between/ unsupervised until I'm told I can." She
smiled reassuringly.

"But lets get off this depressing topic. What about
the flights!" Cortana couldn't keep her mind off the
topic for long, it was all she had talked about in the Barracks, and it now seemed to come up in every conversation she had. "Anath's must be coming soon right? Have you experienced one yet?" She didn't want to pry, she just wanted the most accurate information she could get. And asking fellow greenriders seemed to be the best way to get first hand information.

One thing being on the Weyrlingstaff had taught her
was how to stare down Weyrlings that were almost all
older than her, and many taller.

Dysali waited a moment, then, satisfied by Cortana's
answer, she grinned happily at her next question.
"Lillyth has Risen twice since I graduated! She took
longer to Rise because I was a bit young. But it was
wonderful and amazing both times! The second even
better than the first, since Menanth caught her
then..." She trailed off blissfully remembering.

Blushing bright red, she came back to Cortana.
"Anath won't Rise until you're
last month of training or shortly after... she needs
to grow just a bit more. But now that you're a Senior Weyrling..." She paused meaningfully. "..you can experiment and get ready for the Flight. I highly recommend prior experience if you don't already have it. Makes things _much_ easier."

Cortana noticed the blush and decided not to pry.
"Don't worry Dysali," she said confidently "I've been
waiting for this chance almost as long as I've been
waiting for Anath's flight." She smiled, her smile
showing just how much she'd been waiting for this.

"Cortana!" someone called from the crowd of weyrlings
behind them.

"I guess I should go." She said to Dysali. "It was
great seeing you Dysali. I hope we can talk again
soon." Cortana turned back to her fellow weyrlings,
ready to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Dysali nodded with a smile, waving as she rejoined the
other staff members. She smiled to herself, feeling surprisingly older than Cortana, despite being a few turns younger, as she watched the enthusiasm of the Weyrlings. She fondly remembered her own day with Lillyth; she had been just as excited as they all were. A look up in the direction of her weyr, toward
her own lifemate, made her sigh with happiness. What
a difference a dragon made!

Last updated on the October 3rd 2006

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The Care and Teaching of Weyrlings