Trial by Fire (Lightning Strikes!)

[Lark]

It was time. Ara looked out the window and wiped her eyes slightly, She needed to get a grip and move on already. Kierah was gone, Inali had been at Southern for a sevenday now. Some of the riders at Trelis were getting antsy, but word had been sent that she had somehow gotten food poisoning. They'd give her a few more days, that was it. The greenrider sighed and pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

Well, they needed another lesson. Not just any lesson though, the second most important lesson in a trio of ones that could kill a Weyrling. Already a few hadn't survived the betweening lesson. Now they'd be learning to flame. The next wouldn't come for another few months, before they graduated actually, but that was betweening through times. Something Avirith and she didn't even do that often because it could be so dangerous.

Getting up, she made her way to the Weyrling area and called Avirith. The green landed down gently, crooning to her rider. On her back were a few bags of firestone. They'd been going over the basics of how it was made, where it was found, and how a dragon turned it into flame. They had even practiced some maneuvers in the air for how to flame properly once they actually chewed it.

Now, it was time to actually test it. Call them love. Avirith crooned again and reached out for her charges. Time to come again little ones. You're going to learn to flame. Even the Sub-Queens. Thanks to the Obsidian from Ista, we know this is possible now.

[Akira]

N'ck sighed as he walked aimlessly through the Weyr. He ran a single hand through his shaggy brown hair and looked up at his dragon. Kicheth had been strangely quiet, and obedient, since the storm, and he didn't like the new change in his dragon. Do not worry N'ckMine. I am alright. Kicheth looked down at his rider, and snorted as he spoke to him. I know Kich, but I can't help but worry. He wasn't the sort to worry so much, but with the way things were going, he couldn't help it.

Come, it is time for another lesson. That will take your mind off your worrying. Kicheth left out the part about actually flaming, he needed to give his rider something to think about, instead of worrying. That's just not fare you over-grown wherry!!! Tell me what we're doing! N'ck playfully slapped the white's muscled neck as he climbed up onto his back. He glared at his dragon when al he did was rumble with laughter.

After the short flight to the training grounds, Kicheth gently landed near their instructor. N'ck climbed down from his dragon's back, and walked up to Ara. Good day Ara and Avirith. He smiled politely as he greeted the woman and her dragon. Kicheth crooned respectfully to the green and her rider, and sat down beside his own human, and waited for the lesson to begin, but first, he had to wait for his siblings to arrive, and he wasn't even sure how many of them would actually show.

[Zero]

For R’xth it felt like his head was constantly spining. With all the tension going on with the Weyr, from the absence of their Weyrwoman and some bronze and brown riders he couldn’t keep it all together. It was all so stressful really. So, for the most part, he did what most people did and simply tried to ignore the odd on-goings and concentrate on keeping his little ‘family’ healthy and happy. Oh but was it tough going.

Mideth rumbled from where he had spent the morning sunning himself on his ledge as he passed a quick array of images to his Rider. Ry, with a curious and concerned look on his face, glanced up from the parchment he had been reading when the images of fire and brimstone flooded his minds eye. True his dark blue friend had grown a little pesismistic with everything going on but it was very unusual for the young dragon to be so dark. R’xthMine, our teachers are calling us. I feel that there may be some scorching done this day. Ah, so that explained it. “So we’re chewing firestone today then?” Giddy and as excited as usual when faced with the prospect of learning something new with his Mideth, Ry quickly set down his parchment and went to work fastening the riding harnesses on his fullgrown blue.

The task was done faster then one might have imagined, but R’xth was quick when it came to gearing up as the two went out flying every chance they got. After a quick double check and one adjustment the duo were set to go. Aurora chittered from her spot on his pillow and quickly hopped to take her spot on Ry’s shoulder. This was to be an adventure afterall and she didn’t plan on missing out. The young gold nuzzled the blue weyrlings cheek and chirped as if to say ‘Lets go!’. I’ll meet you in the Bowl. Don’t get distracted this time. Mideth crooned before walking off his ledge and covering the short distance to the sand below with a lazy glide.

As soon as his blue departed, R’xth quickly set off down the corridor and without paying attention to a single distraction found his way back to Mideth’s side. When we are finished I would like to be oiled, R’xthMine. The young Rider unconsciously scratched at his neck as they walked, a result from the slew of emotions and feelings filtering through their bond. “Of course.” He affectionately slapped the dark hide as they walked. Eventually they reached the spot where their mentors stood and the two boys each extended their greetings to their WeyrlingMaster and her dragon. They weren’t the first to arrive however, N’ck and Kicheth had beaten them to it. So, naturally R’xth offered the whiteweyrling a small wave while Mideth rumbled his own greeting to his white brother. Aurora, on the other hand, zipped from Ry’s shoulder to land where the sacks of firestone were sitting. She wasn’t interested in the stone though. No, she was quite content to chitter to herself as she examined the material of the old, dusty sacks. Quite possibly an odd sight to others, who else had a gold flitter who would do such a thing, but to Ry it was just a common everyday event.

[Zirin]

U'wa shuddered unintentionally as they arrived at the meeting place. Flaming. Today was flaming. The thought kept repeating over and over in his mind. It wasn't as terrifying as going between had been, but the idea of his Peniath spraying fire all over the place was a bit unnerving. I'll do fine right? I want to do as good as everyone else! I will right? You'll help me? If you don't I'll be very sad. He slid from the green's back and greeted the Weyrlingmaster.

---

They had done wonderfully during maneuvers, the theory was set. All that was left to do was actually chew the stone. Kayath, however, seemed to be treating the entire ordeal like it was her last day on Pern. I will NOT. She said stubbornly as they flew towards the meeting place. I am a sub-queen. I do not need to chew and I won't. Mother said I could choose, and I choose no. You can't make me! They touched down, Kayath immediately shuffling as far back from the horrid bags of firestone as she could without leaving the circle.

J'dol gave a lazy wave to Ara before looking back worried at Kayath. He had never seen her put up such a fight towards something before. He only hoped she would get over it before the end of the lesson. Bit, his green firelizard, had accompanied him today, pleased at the idea of flaming. Since she was being well-behaved, he saw no reason to shoo her away. It won't be that bad princess, you'll see. He thought calmly. Nope. Not doing it.

[kitsuneko]

Flaming, Flaming, we're finally going to flame today! The loud bugle that accompanied Ferrth's excited announcement was heard far and wide, and Hirion winced. Hopefully they wouldn't get into too much trouble for annoying everyone with that. At least neither she or Ferrth were overly worried what might happen today. To Hirion's mind, the first flights and going between were the most dangerous parts of weyrling training. Firestone training was just...exciting. They got to breathe fire! How awesome was that?

Ferrth stopped running in circles in their weyr when he heard Avirith announcement calling them to the training ground. Leave it to Ferrth to not even wait until the flaming lesson was officially announced to drive his rider crazy with anticipation. Hirion, did you hear that? It's time to go. I wanna flame!

The blue settled down slightly once they actually arrived in the training ground where a handful of other weyrlings were already gathered. Hirion could still see his tail twitching back and forth, though, as he settled down and tried to behave for the Weyrlingmaster.

I give him five minutes before the dimglow scorches himself, Kaith said privately to R'hard as the brown stared at the blue. The two of them had only just arrived, though neither was particularly concerned about being late.

R'hard bit back a laugh as he mingled with the other weyrling riders. I thought you liked Ferrth. You know, compared to most dragons.

I do. That, sadly, doesn't stop him from acting stupid, Kaith snorted.

[Lark]

Alyara nodded to each of the weyrling in turn, happy to see them all here...or mostly all here. Looking around for Talath and Aela the greenrider sighed. Call them again Love? Avirith nodded. Talath, you and Yours are late! She nudged Hers to tell the girl she was done. "Okay, so I bet you all know what you're here for. Now, you might not be thrilled when you get to it though. First we're going to start by handling the stone. Come here and grab a piece and feed it to the dragon. Then, step away and make sure that the front end isn't pointing anything worth while."

She demonstrated for the weyrlings, giving a piece of stone to Avirith who chewed it on her back molars before turning her head upward and belching the gas that lit the stone. A steady stream of fire came from her opened mouth and she cut it off quickly. It's easier than it looks.

(Sorry for the short post, now that the majority of you guys have posted to the lessons I'm going to be going back and posting. Yay for liquid time!)

[shinska]

Talath and Aela were indeed late and being called out wasn't fun and made Aela blush. There was no excuse good enough for being late and Aela knew that. "Well. I can't say that we overslept can I?"

Talath laughed. Hers saw the best in situations and this was one of them.

The two arrived, but did not draw attention to themselves. Being late was no excuse especially when a lesson of this much importance was being conducted. Flaming. Aela ducked her head and bit her lip. She didn't want Talath to flame, but Aela had no choice at the moment and so she took some Firestone and fed some to Talath.

The Obsidian turned in a direction and flamed. She knew Aela's dislike of her flaming, but it was important and Talath had to do as she was told.