Boundaries

Writers: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 25th November 2006

Characters: K'reyel, Jh'slaen, K'sedel
Description: K'reyel speaks to Jh'slaen after drills.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 4

K'reyel

K'sedel

The drill had run long, longer than normal, but both the Weyrleader and his 'second had thought an endurance drill was in order for Rapids Wing.

As K'sedel signalled the end of the drill, K'reyel had Erdenth relay it mentally to the rest of the wing. The bronze was sure he picked up more than a few mental sighs of relief from some of the smaller dragons.

}:They are glad it is over,:{ Erdenth told his rider.

**We all are,** replied K'reyel. **Can you pass that on to Nikornath please?**

}:Will do.:{ Nikornath received the message.

**I thought as much,** was the Weyrleader's comment, **Ask Erdenth's to check on the greens, I'll speak to the blue riders.**

Saradath's landing flare was all style and flourish, an effect that was ruined by her stumble as her forelegs touched down. Jh'slaen winced at the jolt that was both physical as his own body was thrown against the straps and mental as his dragon was shocked by her own failure.

That shock allowed her tiredness to impinge on her mind and she visibly drooped. Sitting high on her neck, Jh'slaen sighed and began to unfasten his riding straps. Saradath's wonderful response to the challenge of Thread - even to the challenge of drills - was to give her all not even noticing that she was exhausting herself. It was his role in her life to notice that, but even he could get caught up in the moment.

Placing a hand on her hide he slid down her shoulder and landed on the ground beside her forefoot and walked around to where her muzzle hovered above the ground.

"Is she all right?" asked the Wingsecond. It didn't take much to see an exhausted man and dragon in front of him.

"She's just tired, sir. I'll get her to exercise her wings but I don't think there's any real problem." The greenrider reached out toward an eyeridge and Saradath lower her head to accept that caress. "She just doesn't know when to stop." That wasn't only a failing of greens. All dragons did their best even at the expense of their well-being.

**Can you sit up and extend your wings? Let Erdenth's rider see that you haven't strained anything?** Perhaps the mental wording wasn't wise, since she would now prove that she hadn't, but he would be watching and listening carefully.

The green moved her head away from his hand and did as he asked, flapping her wings gently. Certainly there was no visible problem but it was obvious she was tired.

"She seems very tired. Is she reporting any pain at all?" K'reyel made a mental note to ask M'van to keep an eye out for any injuries reported in to the dragonhealers. It would be worth following that one up in a day or so.

"No. No pain." Saradath stopped her flapping and brought her head back down to their level. Jh'slaen smiled at her comment. "She says she has sleep in her wings, not pain." He looked around at the wingsecond.
"Perhaps we need to work more on stamina - or pacing, but she's always so enthusiastic that the concept of holding anything back is incomprehensible to her."

"Well, the point of these drills is to find out what the boundaries are for both dragons and riders, so we know not to cross them during fall."
K'reyel was sure that the greenrider knew that, but sometimes it never hurt to reiterate the point. "Everyone is free for the rest of the day, I suggest you give her a good bath, then let her sun and sleep. She deserves it, you two did well out there."

Jh'slaen knew that Saradath understood the compliment but it wasn't only her pride that he felt. Although he always strove to do the best he could it was gratifying to hear somebody say that his - their - best was enough to make the grade. "Thank you, sir. No doubt she'll sleep the afternoon away."

"I'm sure many of the others will be following suit."

Last updated on the December 1st 2006

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