Lesson Three{Attention to Detail, Teamwork is Key}

[Amejisuto]

Meagen stood at the lake - it was not even sunrise yet and the air was slightly calming to the brownrider. Her eyes closed as a sad look overpassed the woman for a moment. Soon there would be other dragons and riders - and there would be a day long work session ahead of the candidates. This was their first real taste of interacting with all of the dragon colors.

She'd allow the candidates to pick which dragon they wanted to work on, and her hoarde of flits - as well as the rest of the Weyr flits she had trained - would be the helpers for all the candidates. There was clothes and scrubbing brushes, different kinds of oils for after the dragons dried off in the sun that would soon be around.

The candidates would get their first real taste of extra hard work - and their aching muscles at the end of the day would be a harbringer to what their Weyrlinghood might be like. Endless days of aching hunger and tiredness - before the final relief of the dragons gaining control of themselves.

She smiled rather lightly as the thoughts came to mind. Yes - this would be fun indeed.


OOC:

This is a required lesson, there are dragon volunteers that candidates will pick to help clean. Anyone with flits they want to volunteer to be lorded over by Hope (Or work beside her) and her fair, please do so. They will be helping with the cleaning of the dragons.

Dragons and Riders Present:
Kora and Gold Nayarath
D'mas and Bronze Kayth
B'can and Tan Apolloth
Meagan and Brown Toath
Salise and Barred Artemisth
Earisa and Green Maideneth
Gwen and White Tyrth

[ShadowReine]

Karisna made her way across to the lake. She had been warned that there would be hard work involved in today's lesson. She wore patched trousers, instead of the skirts she preferred and an old blouse. Her dark, curly hair...her pride...was wrapped up under a piece of cloth that came from a shirt that was even older, originally.

The lake. Hard work and the lake. She supposed that dragon bathing and oiling was the topic, then. Something they had to know how to do for their own dragons, and something only some of them had the opportunity to get involved with as part of the chores.

She approached Meagen, glancing around, hesitating before finding a place not far from the sometimes intimidating Candidatemaster. Had they chosen somebody that strict to make them want to Impress more? Did how much you wanted to Impress affect dragon choices?

--

As Kari approached Meagan, she might feel the breeze of dragon wings. Apolloth had insisted on volunteering. Jorindath could manage without him for a little while and then he could tell her what the Candidates were like. B'can slipped from his dragon's back, patting the cream-tan shoulder. Although not quite as big as the average bronze, he certainly reached the size of a smaller one, albeit with slightly different proportions.

There were not many tans, but Apolloth was a fine example. With luck he would sire another much like himself.

There is only one of me, Apolloth reminded his rider But my children will all be fine dragons

B'can smiled at his dragon, then glanced at the Candidatemaster. For right now, he was under her orders...albeit only until the lesson ended.

--

Tyrth circled once, then, before Gwenduinne could stop him, the white dragon buzzed the gathering Candidates, turned on his wingtip and landed on the beach.

"You sharding showoff!" the attractive girl informed her dragon.

They are here to see what each color of dragon can do

Not that it seemed likely any of these gathered young people would Impress a white. Only two had ever been recorded in the history of Pern, and the first one had been centuries ago. But Meagan had asked for volunteers of ALL dragon colors.

That, realistically, had to include Gwen, thoughts about lightning and same place aside. Besides. Tyrth would no doubt enjoy the attention.

[Sparrow]

Nayarath had high hopes of arriving "fashionably late" (or just sleep in a bit past sunrise), but Kora wasn't about to let the Senior Queen set an example for being late, especially not in front of a bunch of Candidates. The queen, therefore, wasn't immensely happy as she landed near the lake and glowered at every arrival thus far, Apolloth especially since he was a troublemaker anyways. The sight of Tyrth was a slight improvement, but all in all... Nayarath would have been much happier coming in the afternoon. Why should she have to jump into a cold lake on a chilly morning?

Kora ignored Nayarath's complaints, warned her not to look too scary in front of the Candidates, and dismounted. "Morning everyone."

--
I can't believe he was invited.

It would be hard to say that Artemisth was enormously happy either, though that was more because of a certain other dragon attending the lesson than the timing. The Barred settled at the side of the gathering furthest from Apolloth and didn't move further, although her gaze wandered curiously over the Candidates.

Salise hung back next to her dragon, Scout on her shoulder, and waited for instructions from Meagan.

[dragonkat34]

Miri glanced up quickly as she heard the whhurr sound of dragonwings.
The white dragon- Tyrth- dipped his wingtip towards them as he passed over, and she wanted to go closer to him when she saw the White dragon and his rider land on the beach.
She tried to pay attention to what meagan was saying, but her attention continued to slip as first Natarath, and then Artemisth landed as well. They were so... beautiful, and the white was so handsome a dragon. She hadnt been this close to a dragon since the Search rider had dropped her off oh-so long ago (not really that long ago ^_^). she couldnt wait till they could begin to bathe the dragons, though she didnt look forwards to the hard work.

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

Steven, unlike at the last lesson, had no traces of dirt on him, though he guessed they soon would, if they were going to be bathing dragons.
Steven looked incredulous as he saw Gold Nayarath land too- did meagan expect them to wash the Gold? the white and barred there already were simpler, but there was a tan, he saw him, and the bigger dragons were much harder.
Then again, one of his group of candidates, might end up with a larger color, so maybe learning on them now was good practice...

[Amejisuto]

It was a sound not unlike a younger dragon coming from between. The pop and burst of air was rather huge - as Meagen's firelizards appeared. In the formation she had been getting Hope to instill in their mind. She grinned as they glided down - spreading out around her and on Toath. Hope on one shoulder - Guardian on the other. Hope rather egg heavy - a big obviousness to the way her belly protruded. "Also - to let all you candidate's know. I'll be getting an assessment of all the candidates. From the riders they work with - as well as the dragons they work with. Whoever is proven to have worked the hardest - and proven to have done the best work at teamwork and attention to detail - will get their choice of Hope's upcoming clutch. Since the hatching isn't for another month or so - your firelizard will help prepare you for your possible dragon companion."

"Now you will each go to the dragon you most wish to assist in cleaning. When you get to the dragon and Rider - be respectful. Introduce yourselves to them." She said lightly - she knew all the Riders and they knew her. "Also - children. These are my firelizards. The one on this shoulder is Hope, the other is Guardian. I also have the other Bronze - his name is Jareth. Then there is the brown who is Fellan, and his mate Green Dancer. Then there are the brothers that are Blue - Dip and Skip. They will be helping - all but hope - with the cleaning. As well as any other firelizard here - you'll have to charm them to come help you or they will come on their own."

With that she looked at all the candidates "Have fun" She exclaimed.
~~~


Angelischiel listened patiently the whole time - and then turned her attention to the dragons. Upon their release she was the first to move forward. Straight towards Nayarath. She stopped before Rider and dragon - bowing low and in a definite Harper manner. "It is a great honor to meet you - Weyrwoman Kora, as well as you Great Golden Queen Nayarath." She said as politely as she could. She straightened up - standing with perfect at attention posture. Her eyes focused on the woman.

She didnt' want to do this for any particular reason - with the exception that she wanted to make a good first impression. She also wanted to help out in the way she felt was best - she needed to figure out what it was like to be under the thumb of a great golden queen. Plus she'd be working hard all day - with this one. "I'm called Angelischiel - I'm a Journeyman Harper or I was before I become a candidate.."

[Inkith]

Transiit actually really wanted to bathe the brown Toath. But she was worried what the candidate master might think, it wasn't as if Transiit was aspiring to become like the female brown rider. Was it?

Transiit eventually swallowed her pride and walked over to the candidate master and her dragon. She had seen Angelischiel walk over to the queen dragon and bow low, but Transiit didn't think she could pull off the definate harper-like bow. She also didn't know what she should do as the Brownrider already knew who she was.

"Er, as you know already, I am Transiit and well I was wondering whether you would let me bathe your dragon....." Her sentence kind of trailed off at the end........
____________________________________________________

Jekel had no idea who he was going to go to. No blues or greens had come yet. But he knew that wasn't really the type of dragon he wanted to see. He wan't to bathe the tan that had arrived...... Apolloth... He headed over to the tan, plucking up his courage....

"Hi, I am Jekel, and you must be B'can and Apolloth. I believe we have met before. At the kitchen area one time. With Rayne and Iindi too I think...."

Well this isn't actually going too badly.....

[Jenth]

D'mas had actually been schedualed to help Lord Teval scout out terrain for a suitable new cothold. After the last few Turns and the increasing population of dragons many were feeling safer and ready to spread out once again across the Southern continent. L'han had at the last minute volenteered to take some of the younger riders out on the sweep, the experience would do them good. So the Weyrleader was now free to inspect the candidates, but Kayth was more focused on being with Nayarath and keeping Apolloth in line. The tan had been a close rival and had an eye for queens and leadership, Kayth would not let his authority be over looked.

The bronze landed near Nayarath, crooning his welcome and his sympathies. The turning of the seasons was beginning and the warmth all dragons enjoyed was slowly slipping away. Indeed these candidates should feel awed and humbled by your beauty and presence, dear Nayarath. It is not everyday the Senior queen should feel a need to give up her own time on their behalf, it is most generous

D'mas greeted Kora in turn, "I hope the presence of both Weyrleaders doesnt intimidate them too much." Memory and Eron flittered up with Meagan's fair, the little barred looking much slimmer after laying her clutch of 9 eggs which were left the harden by the hearth.

~~~~~

A burst of air and a streak of green heralded the arrival of Maideneth, a little late but it couldn't of been helped. With her dragon in a fit of excited jitters Earisa was afraid of accidently hurting one of the candidates and that would not make them popular at all. With the pressence of Nayarath and Kayth however the lively green would no doubt behave, at least to the best of her ability. Wouldn't expect a miricle but at least a smaller and openly friendly dragon might prove more comfortable with the candidates then the towering gold and bronze. Indeed, many of the girls here would expect to impress to green and wish to know more from which she was happy to answer any questions.

~~~~~

Without her dragon many might not have noticed Inolyn as she slipped in amoung the riders to B'can and Apolloth. With Jorindath dedicating all her time to the eggs, more compulives then protected, that didnt mean her rider was sentenced to wait out the hatching too. It wasnt very far away though, not at all. However in the meantime she had to occupy her time somehow, and how else better then to sit in on Candidate lessons?

"Meagan sure is being strict, I dont think I was treated this rough as a candidate." Inolyn whispered to B'can

[Sparrow]

She greeted you first. Nayarath was really hunting for things to be offended by if the Candidate speaking to the rider standing ahead of her dragon first was a problem.

She called you great. Despite her irritated reply to the dragon, Kora smiled weakly at the Candidate. "It's very nice to meet you." She was a brave one, coming straight to Nayarath. Once they were started though, the Gold was sure to cheer up. "Nayarath's pleased too- or will be... she always appreciates a bath, anyways."

That doesn't make up for- Kayth's arrival was a pleasant change; Nayarath stopped to listen to her mate's greeting and edged (though it was hardly discreet, considering her size) closer to the Bronze. I do believe I have them well enough intimidated. She rumbled, always a dragon easily cheered by the right person flattering her.

Kora laughed. "I'm sure our dragons are far more intimidating than us, but Nayarath's already got a taker." Maybe Lilac and Soot would show up and help Angelischiel out... she would probably need all the assistance she could find. Kora wasn't sure if she was allowed to help out in washing.

((Should we have some NPC Candidates here too, just to kind of bulk up groups? o.O))

[Amejisuto]

(( NPC Candidates are fine, if people wanna play them. I had it set up that there was at least like 50 NPC's in the First class? Like they would in a normal Weyr XD ))

[ShadowReine]

B'can flickered Inolyn an easy grin. "Don't leave Jorindath alone too long. I saw her herding the Candidates like a canine at the touching...is she nervous?"

Then one of the candidates approached him. "Okay. Well. Have you bathed a dragon before?"

He was rather hoping the answer would be yes and he would not have to instruct on the basics. Apolloth lowered his head to regard the Candidate. This was a good opportunity to assess those who thought themselves worthy of his children. This one seemed polite and respectful enough. Yes. He would definitely be permitted to help make the tan's hide shine...and it could shine, for all that it lacked the metallic tint of a bronze.

--

Karisna hesitated. Which way...and then she made her decision. Had she been given the honor and opportunity to choose, she thought she would want to Impress a barred.

So, she made her way towards Artemisth, studying the silver and violet dragon. "Might I offer you my assistance? I'm Karisna."

The dragon was gorgeous, this close up, and even though scrubbing dragon hide was hard work, it was work she needed practice at...and it was better, surely, to practice on a full grown dragon than a more fragile hatchling.

Definitely an attractive dragon. The green intrigued her as well...as did the white. The only white, and his rider one of the most attractive women she had seen.

Almost a shame whites never caught...ahem. She told herself to stop thinking like that and focus all of her attention on Salise and the lovely Artemisth.

Of course...she might well bond green. Or that new, larger female color...sky. Or even blue. She could live with blue, she thought.

[dragonkat34]

Miri sighed. she didnt havea firelizard, and Ava, her feline, would only irritate the dragons.
Miri stepped forwards, and pouted when she saw karisna head towards Artemisthe, the barred dragon, and selise. She didn't know if she could work on the same dragon as another candidate, so she turned and headed over to rider Earisa and the Green Maideneth.
She knew she couldn't pull off a harper bow like some could, and did, so she dipped from the waist slightly and dipped her head when she approached the greenrider and dragon.
"uhm, Hello Rider Earisa, I'm Miri, and i... can i bathe you, Green Maideneth?" Miri was nervous- it was kind of awkward to ask to bathe someone. especially to that person. Hopefully, she remembered how to bathe and oil from when she used to help do those things for Meril, her brother's brown.

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

Steven smiled at Miri as she pouted. she should have chosen more quickly than that. 'speaking of which...' he thought as he saw jekel walk to Apollothand his rider, B'can.
Well, there were no blues... so, the choice was between Brown Toath, and White Tyrth. He liked the dragons well enough, but the riders... one he was nervous in front of, and the other... well...
Steven made a quick decision and strode on his long legs over towards toath, but Transiit was already there, and he had no wish to share a job with the surely Transiit.
**sigh** He straightened his shoulders, breathed deeply, and walked a bit slower over to Gwenduinne and Tyrth. The White was very handsome.

[Jenth]

Inolyn dismissed those thoughts with a wave. "Jorindath will be fine, she would tell me should she something or anything happened." She knew B'can and especially Apolloth worried for the clutch. Actually the tan might have gloated over the eggs more then his mate, who tended them every day with love and care. They would have to see if there would be a next time though.

"And Jori didnt like that the candidates were so nervous they would bearly touch the eggs. At least they should all feel a little safer when hatching comes." Inolyn gave a playful smile at the candidate and then laughed. "Isnt that right Jakel? Big bad violet was going to eat you!" Her dragon had told her his thoughts but the both of them liked the boy. He would do well, not only at the hatching but as a rider.

Picking up a brush, not wanting to be idol, began cleaning around Apolloth's talon. Jorindath wasnt a picky dragon, but claws dug into dirt, mud and flesh of herdbeasts. Remember Apolloth, Jori likes clean claws. you do what to impress her, dont you?

[kandykat]

I don't want to do this. R'lyr clenched his fists as Easath flew towards the lake. Easath had been the one to volunteer them for this. R'lyr never would have gotten involved. I don't need help. I've managed all this time without stupid candidates touching my dragon, he continued to rant at the Blue.

We aren't the only ones getting help. Nayarath and Kayth are there too,[/color] Easath said soothingly. He knew that his rider hated having to admit that he needed help with some things, but this was more for the candidates than it was for the riders. Maybe his rider would make some new friends. He touched down beside the other dragons, trilling a greeting. Hello Toath, we are sorry we are late. My rider needed convincing,[/color] he told the candidate master's dragon.

R'lyr scowled and stepped down to the ground. Easath lowered his head, looking at the candidates. Were there any left?

***

Esskin just couldn't decide what dragon to go to. The Barred and Green were both so pretty, and the White was handsome. The Bronze and Gold were very impressive, too. The smaller dragons probably wouldn't need as many people working with them, so he decided to go to one of the bigger ones. Well...might as well go the whole nine yards, he thought to himself.

Stepping up to the Weyrwoman, he gave a quick bow. "Is it all right if I help with Nayarath?" he asked. "I don't think Angel can handle it all on her own," he added with a grin.

[Sparrow]

Disagreeistance?

I have no clue. It was kind of intimidating, being greeted with a great big word that neither Salise or her dragon knew. Best she just didn't mention on it out loud.

But I'd like to know. Artemisth's tone took on a slight, irritated whine. Salise replied that if it was going to be such a bother to Artemisth, she could ask Karisna herself and tried to focus on the Candidate instead of her Barred's grumblings.

"Um, I'm Salise, and that's Artemisth, although I guess you might... already know." She wasn't sure. Had Meagan told the Candidates who was coming? Or did they just... keep track of that? She had somewhat. "Will this be your first time bathing a dragon, or have you already had to help out some with chores?"

They got a lesson in bathing dragons right after Impressing as well. This felt kind of pointless.

You don't bathe me near enough; I don't mind this. Artemisth rumbled. Scout shifted on Salise's shoulder, wondering when they were going to get started.

---

Kora nodded to the second Candidate to approach her and Nayarath. "I'm sure she'll appreciate the assistance. What was your name?" Best she got that over with at the start of the conversation, rather than waiting halfway through.

"Maybe I ought to call Lilac and Soot over as well." Of course she knew that washing Nayarath was a big job- Kora was just a little worried how her smaller queen would act in Hope's presence. Lilac was as bossy as they came.

[ShadowReine]

OOC: disagreeistance? assistance. Sparrow. Can you please adjust the board censor? I think its messing up on partial words. And if we can't use any word with those three letters in, that's going to be a problem.

Karisna smiled. "No, I didn't. Artemisth, you are a very pretty dragon indeed."

She decided that IF she could choose...which, of course, she could not...she would want a barred. But the green was definitely not unattractive.

Only the three new colors from the last tan-violet clutch were absent, presumably because the candidatemaster had wanted full grown dragons for this, not weyrlings.

"I've helped out some," she added. She knew, at least, that dragons actually liked to be scrubbed surprisingly hard. Perhaps because their hides were thick to protect them from Between.

--

Gwen smiled at Steven as he approached. "Don't be shy. I will warn you, though...while Tyrth is the smallest dragon here, he's often the hardest to bathe. He shows every speck of dirt and he's vain."

Tyrth rumbled.

"Not that that's a totally bad thing. Or a trait I entirely lack myself. But Tyrth has high expectations of his cleanliness." She'd even, before now, raided some of the special soapsand the older drudges used to make white hair clean to deal with particularly stubborn stains on Tyrth's ivory hide.

[Amejisuto]

Meagen watched the arrival of the candidates and the other dragons. Some where a little late, then she watched as some wandered to their chosen dragons. She whistled to her fair and they took off. Each picking a dragon to hang out with. (You can pick which firelizard picked your dragon) The only one that stayed with her was Hope. She turned her attention to Transiit who was asking her to bath Toath - a grin playing across her features then.

"Not a problem, Toath direct her to the lake and what you enjoy." She called out to the dragon. Her eyes sparkling as she watched him stretch out lazily. His tail darting out to tease the girls legs lightly. Let us go, I like being scrubbed down rough - and then buffed with oil and a soft cloth. he said in a rumbling tone.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Angelischiel beamed faintly at the Weyrwoman and looked towards her fellow candidate as he approached. "I have no problems with having a teammate - as this is supposed to be about teamwork." She said in a cheerful voice - with that she looked up at the great gold. "What would she like?" She asked of the Weyrwoman her eyes widening a little.

[Inkith]

"Well then, one rough scrub down and then a buff with oil and a soft cloth coming up..."

Transiit then set to work in srubbing the dragon down. She was lucky Toath wanted it rough because Transiit isn't gentle enough to do it soft...

"Well this is more fun than I thought. Normally I dont like cleaning, but on a dragon it's okay... It's probably because I get to scrub the best dragon"

A bit of flattering couldn't hurt and Transiit liked Toath.
____________________________________________________

"Sorry B'can I really have no experience in washing a dragon although I dont think you will have to teach me much. Apolloth could teach me on the spot..."

Jekel stood regarding the dragon. It was a beautiful hide and he would make it shine!

[ShadowReine]

B'can nodded. "The most common mistake people make is not to scrub hard enough. Use the sweetsand. Think of it as...have you ever brushed a runner?"

He scooped up some sand, ready to demonstrate. "If so, you know if you brush them too lightly, they'll get ticklish. We don't want to tickle Apolloth."

The tan rumbled laughter at that. "Also, he'll tell us where the really itchy spots are. That will be easier with your own, of course. They need to be bathed a lot more often as hatchlings, much less as adults, but of course, there's more to bathe at one time."

He moved to the tan's shoulder, demonstrating how to scrub the dragon's hide. "One of the reasons dragonriders are so clean is because you get pretty clean bathing a dragon. Many of us wash our hair and stuff at the same time."

[Inkith]

"Yeah, I have brushed a runnerbeast before and I know what you are talking about, although we had a weird runner that liked being tickled, but with all the others I do know what you are talking about. I don't think Apolloth is the type of dragon to like being ticked..."

Jekel watched how the dragon rider did the scrubbing and then took some sweetsand and started doing it himself. With his muscles he could scrub hard on the dragon....