Far from perfect ((Tag Insta-weyrlings + anyone))

[Spiffy]

(( I thought I'd start something up for the few Weyrlings that Warden's already has. I looked up their age in the info section and I guess that they'll have been flying for a month or two now, but at 7 months (read: now) they'll be expected to hunt for themselves. I'm assuming they've had at least one lesson the subject but, of course, practise makes perfect ))


Kitath sat at the edge of the feeding pens, watching the herdbeasts within wandering around in panic.

"You'll have to take one eventually, Kit, or you'll starve."

She glanced down at her rider, then back up at the beasts. They feared her. She did not want them to fear her. She didn't want to hurt them. But they were food.

You do it. I liked having my meals from a bucket, she retorted, eyes not leaving the animals, the yellow tinges not leaving her eyes.

"You know I'm not supposed to do that any more. L'vey said so." The pair liked L'vey, Kitath especially so. She liked him because he was quiet and soft spoken, and to Kitath that means that he needed protecting, even if he was her teacher. Because Kitath liked people that needed protecting. She wasn't so keen on Faeth, though. The Weyrlingmaster's green could get irritating for the weyrling green. Sh'lon liked them both, because... well, Sh'lon liked everyone. It's what he does. It's a rule. Neither of them really wanted to let him down.

"Look, that one there's got a limp, you could take her. She'll probably not live all that long anyway, predators nearly always go for the weaker prey. That way the stronger ones will survive and breed and the species will be the better for it." Sh'lon was good like that. He knew stuff about animals, and Kitath loved him, and she knew it was true too. So she sighed, nuzzling her rider with her nose. She was almost taller than him now, and still growing fast. Sh'lon hugged her tight, wrapping his arms around her neck, before pulling her away and giving her leg an affectionate push toward the pens.

"Now go on, you big worry-wherry. Make it quick," Sh'lon said, the beastcrafter in him understanding his dragon's hesitation only too well. When he'd first been told to kill an animal himself he'd been horrified and had nearly passed out, twice. Especially at the blood. But his Masters had been kind and considerate and had helped him through, and now, though he still never enjoyed the experience, he at least knew how to do it with minimal pain to the creature. And that was how he was intending to handle it with Kitath. She too cared for the herdbeats, and found the thought of killing them unpleasant. Her first kill hadn't been fun for her, but Sh'lon was determined to make it easier for his dragon.bShe was, after all a predator, and he was sure that she'd soon learn to take some pleasure in it, as many of the other dragons did.

[S'yal]

Rikath didn't have the same issue that his green sister did. Rather, the giant blue was beyond relieved that he could now hunt for himself. He'd despised the look of horror on R'vis's face every time his dear rider had cut up a herdbeast for him. It had made the Blue feel extremely guilty, especially the first time when R'vis had ended up throwing up everywhere because of the smell. Yes, his beloved rider was a bit... sensitive to death and blood. He'd still strived against it to feed his Rikath, however. Something the Blue was undoubtedly grateful for.

Currently the Blue was hunched over a calf, having severed it's head from it's neck and gently put it to the side. Empress was currently perched on this head, ripping off the tender meat from the face. Only for Empress and R'vis would Rikath share his meals! Rikath dug into the calf with a croon of appreciation... he enjoyed calves and other young animals the most. R'vis often complained of this, but Rikath was just too partial to the fatty and tender youngsters to give it up. He managed to reassure R'vis by picking out only those calves that were suffering from some illness of defect, though. Otherwise he ate the older herdbeasts, much as he hated it. They were so... tough!

R'vis, hating the smell of blood and the sight of his dragon feasting, was also at the edge of the pen. He'd of course noticed his fellow weyrling and his green, but the shy teenager preferred to stay at the edge of the pen and strictly avoid looking at him. Rikath noticed this and stopped his eating to focus a red tinged eye on R'vis. R'vismine, you should go talk to Sh'lon. He will not bite you. R'vis squeaked, shaking his head furiously. No way! He didn't want to bother Sh'lon! Mine! Go talk to Sh'lon! You can't just stay in a corner all your life! R'vis didn't see why not, as corners were very nice. Still, the big blue sauntered over and began roughly pushing R'vis over using his head and nose. He ended up getting the weyrling all the way over to Sh'lon before nudging his snout underneath R'vis's hand so it was lifted in a pseudo wave. Now say hi, mine.[/color]

"Um... hi..." R'vis felt humiliated, his face bright red as he shot Rikath a glare. Rikath! The blue obviously did not feel remorse, as he set to grooming himself. Empress at least took pity on her shy owner, flitting over to him to rest herself on his shoulder and eye Sh'lon with obvious suspicion. Hmph, that Greenie better not get any ideas! Unlike Rikath, Empress would be perfectly happy if R'vis didn't socialize. He was her slave, not anyone elses! Except Rikath. She'd share with the blue... he caught food for her!

Rikath honestly worried for his delicate rider. R'vis could not live his life friendless with the exception of himself and Empress, it just wasn't healthy. Besides... Rikath wanted to talk to Kitath. So he sneaked over to her, after grooming all the blood off of himself, and set himself right down next to her. Hello, Kitath. I see yours is doing well. Why are you not hunting? I can catch you something, if you like.[/color] His mindvoice had a charming edge, and thankfully Rikath wasn't old enough to flirt yet. L'vey says we are to hunt for ourselves, but what he doesn't know won't hurt us! The big blue chuckled to himself. Even as he spoke to Kitath he reached out a paw to pull R'vis over, nearly knocking down the frail teenager. So he could force R'vis over to talk to Sh'lon, but he still needed to make sure Sh'lon wasn't -too- close.

[Spiffy]

I know mine. You told me that yesterday, she responded indignantly, but not harshly, to her rider, standing up and swishing her tail unconsciously in irritation and worry. Why did she have to go through this, she didn't want to. She didn't enjoy it. But it was necessary. She nudged her rider affectionately on the shoulder from where he'd moved to lean against the fence railing, Sh'lon reaching up to rub her eye ridge.

It was, of course, Kitath who first noticed Rikath and His approaching. She eyed them as Rikath pushed his quietly protesting rider toward them, then softened as she recognised R'vis as the quiet one in the class. She rumbled quietly in amusement at Rikath's attempt at making his rider wave.

SheaMine, we have visitors, she said gently to Hers, calmed a little by the distraction from her worries. Maybe if she got Hers talking with this R'vis he'd forget all about this feeding malarkey. But she was hungry...

"Hmm?" responded Sh'lon, looking around and jumping slightly as he noticed the bright blue and his rider. "Oh hi there, R'vis! You hunting too? I -- I mean Rikath, of course, it's not our job any more is it? I almost forgot." Kitath scowled briefly. Shells, it'd almost worked. He looked at Rikath, preening himself. "Looks like you're having a bit more success than we are," he said, smiling at his classmate.

Greetings Rikath, the green replied politely. Mine is fine, thank you. She scowled at what the blue said next, eyes beginning to swirl yellow. I know what L'vel said, and I will catch one when I want to. I do not need your help, but thank you for offering, she replied brusquely. She drew her neck up proudly.

[S'yal]

R'vis nodded, looking a bit green at the blood that still remained on his dragon. "Um, yes... he... he's gotten very good at it." R'vis hesitated, his voice quavering slightly. He didn't stammer much around his classmates, except the scary Yari, but he didn't exactly speak confidently or loudly around them either. He poked his fingers together, blushing just slightly at the greenweyrling. "He started hunting a bit early, so he's had more... practice..." He admitted sheepishly "I didn't have much of a stomach for killing them."

The trick is to find the weak ones. Rikath added, nodding. So I went after the calves or sick herdbeasts once I got old enough. R'vis got very sick, and I don't like it when he's sick. An embarrassed flush covered R'vis's normally pale face. Woops, sorry R'vis. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It's nothing to be ashamed of. It just means you have a good heart. Rikath assured, nudging against R'vis.

Rikath blinked, realizing he had offended the green. He bowed his head quickly, taking on a submissive pose that was obviously meant to charm the female into forgiving him. Apologies, Kitath. I meant no offense. He began to wonder if the female was like R'vis, having no heart to hurt the herdbeasts. I'm sure you are a very good hunter. I just wanted to be polite. After all, if he befriended the green then R'vis would befriend her rider. He roughly bumped R'vis with his snout, almost making the blueweyrling stumble.

"R-Rikath! I'm gonna fall!" R'vis squeaked quite loudly, grabbing onto the blue to save himself. Rikath rumbled in a pleased manner, nearly laughing at the poor weyrling. "So... how have you been doing in lessons?" R'vis asked quietly, his eyes cast to the ground after a bit of mental prodding from Rikath to be sociable.

[Spiffy]

Sh'lon nodded along sympathetically when R'vis talked, not interrupting. See, I'm not the only one who feels for the beasts, Kitath interjected to her rider, as if Sh'lon didn't feel for them himself. Which of course he did, and Kitath knew that. She was just procrastinating.

Sh'lon jumped again as a voice not Kitath's bubbled into his mind, surprised that the blue was deigning to talk to him. Not many dragons did, except his Kitath of course. And he talked quite a lot, Sh'lon giggling despite himself when the blue apologised put loud to his rider.

"Rikath's right, R'vis, absolutely nothing to be ashamed of! I used to be exactly the same when I first started my apprenticeship with the beast hall. Went in thinking it would be all happy families and making animals better and babies and all the good stuff, but boy I was wrong! Nearly fainted when they asked me to kill my first animal, I did. It wasn't nice, not at all! Kitath's the same," he said, giving his green an affectionate pat on the shoulder and ignoring the yellow-tinged scowl she directed at him, "she's not all that keen on this killing malarkey. Still getting used to it. Rikath's getting the right idea, going after the sick ones, but you'd probably want to avoid taking too many of the calves," he said, turning his attention to the blue and smiling, "of you may upset the breeders." Mine, you're ranting again. "I am? Oh I'm sorry, I'm talking too much again," he apologised to the quiet lad. He did that a lot, especially when talking about animals.

Kitath eyes the blue as he realised his mistake and apologised. As he should, but he did look quite cute. Kitath, fortunately, had a bit of a soft spot for cuteness and the blue at that moment, not even being much bigger than her, pretty much fit that. She considered. Apology accepted. You're forgiven she said, eyes returning to a happy blue. I shall feed soon, when I'm ready.

She drew back a little as Rikath pushed R'vis toward the two of them, Sh'lon staying just where he was and smiling jovially - really, when did he do anything else, apart from talking? Besides, he liked this pair. Rikath seemed pretty awesome and fun, in person and around lessons, and R'vis was, well, exceptionally cute. Sh'lon was unfortunately one of those who made it their mission to bring a shy person out of their shell, and R'vis was no exception. In fact, he'd just been added to the mission list - now he'd likely never get rid of the greenrider. And did I mention he's cute?

"You won't fall, we'll catch you. Right Rikath?" he said, winking at the blue.

"Lessons? So-so, some are much better than others," he replied, wobbling his hand in the air as if to illustrate his indecision. Team building lessons are a blast, but drills? Notsomuch." he said, shrugging, then noticing that R'vis wasn't looking at him. Rolling his eyes, he leaned down so that he could look up at R'vis, grinning. "Hi," he said again, probably earning him an equally strange look from the blue weyrling. "Has anyone told you you have beautiful eyes?" It was a serious question, now that Sh'lon got a good look at them. They were blue and brown!