Feeding Lesson(Weyrling Lesson 1)

[Jovia]

((OOC: Note this is just after the hatching, so you come straight here after pretty much to learn how to feed your Dragons, Mind you B'man showed up just after the gold and white impressed so those of you who left the hatching beforehand would have had someone from the weyr here to teach you.))

Rows of tables with chunks of meat and some simple knives spread across it are located right outside of the Hatching grounds. There to use for the Candidates who just impress as they lead their Dragonet's off in search of food. B'man who was watching the Hatching with avid interest didn't show up at first so there were a few people who didn't mind the slightly far away area to watch the hatching from were here to help.

B'man however hurried to the area now pretty much after several Dragons had already impressed, the Gold just hatched and impressed too along with a white one to his own sister. His brown Biaznth was close by too, eyes looking within the sands with a soft humming that rumbled deep within him. B'man however turned towards the Weyrlings with their dragon's already there, and hoped that the other's would show up.

"Okay everyone, some of you already impressed and got here to get helped by one of these fine outstanding people. But they are now heading to watch the rest of the Hatching from a closer perspective." He gave a nod as he looked around, he would have to repeat himself every time someone shows up but he didn't mind. A broad smile went over his face as he walked over to the meat.

"Okay first thing is first, this is your first Weyrling lesson. Though you might have been over it in your candidate lessons. You need to learn how to feed your new charges, your life mates. They cannot chew, tear, or anything except swallow right now since hatching can take a lot out of them. And depending on their strength fully rested depends on if they can chew or not.

"Now what type of size do you think is best for them? I will give it to you simply. Gold's, Bronze's, and the larger side of the Browns will be able to swallow a fist sized portion of meat. Smaller brown's and Blues will be able to take two thirds of that size. While the smaller ones take half of your fist. Your's might be able to take a larger chunk though but I wouldn't risk it until they are older. Now it is up to you to start carving up the pieces of meat yourself and started to feed them."

B'man gestured towards the table with the hunks of meat and knives, enough meat to feed every egg if they were the size of a large gold or bronze even. "Okay after they eat they will be tired, Let them rest over there on the furs I have set up against the wall of the Weyrbowl right here for them to rest so we can get to some basics of the rest of the lesson."

((OOC: Okay post here saying your feeding them, go ahead and just rp that as you show up B'man tells you what to do if you want. You can ask him questions though, talk amongst yourself, etc. Once most of them are fed and asleep I will be posting the second half of the lesson))

[Spiffy]

Ok, maybe I do need food... but then you must teach me to fly!

K'mir shook his head, still in a slight state of shock. He can't fly yet, he's too young, he thought absently. His attention was attracted by a snort from his dragonet, followed by a distinct feeling of annoyance. He realised with a start that Astaath had heard his thoughts. Sorry Astaath, I'll have to get used to that, he said, making his way through the gap the crowd had cleared between the sands and the tables of meat on the far side of the cavern, thankfully off of the burning hot sands.

Reaching the tables he grabbed a chunk of meat and a knife. He sawed off a piece then, looking doubtfully at it, cut it in half. He looked back down to Astaath to find the brown sitting in the sand looking expectantly up at him, tail whipping the sand around him like an excited canine. He sighed, depositing the two chunks of food in his mouth and going back for more.

He still had a few chunks of meat left to go (how much was one supposed to feed a dragon?) when B'man appeared. K'mir looked at him in confusion, belatedly remembering that this brownrider - who'd only arrived not even a sevenday ago - was the new Weyrlingmaster. Ah, so now K'mir had to listen to him?

When B'man began talking about the correct size of meat to be feeding the dragonets K'mir looked down at his dragon critically. He glanced from Astaath to one of the greens, for the first time noticing the size of his dragonet compared to the others. By Faranth, he'd Impressed a mini-brown! He looked dubiously at the chunks of meat he'd been about to feed Astaath. They were all only slightly smaller than his fist. He sighed. Great. He'd almost killed his dragonet already.

But the notice that there were dragon beds at the side too seemed to fall on deaf dragon ears as Astaath, once full, curled up immediately on K'mir's feet. The Weyrling looked down at him, barely concealing a smile with a sigh. So much for the dragon who wanted to fly, he thought. Chuckling, he reached down and picked up the tiny dragonet, enfolding Astaath in his arms as he made his way over to the furs. Gently he lowered his dragonet onto one of the middle furs, pausing as he did so. He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingers against the brown's hide as if he expected them to meet nothing, then with more assurance he stroked his brown.

He'd finally done it. He'd really Impressed. Fleetingly his thoughts returned to the past. His family, adopted or not, would be proud of him. J'thir would be proud of him... right?

[klinneah]

Swifth followed the smell of the meat out to the Weyrbowl, where a group of newly Impressed were gathering. A brown rider was lecturing them on the importance of giving the dragonet small enough pieces so they didn't choke. Sounded simple enough. She moved to one of the tables, keeping an eye on Swifth as she went, for the green was insatiably curious and even now was weaving her way between legs and claws, greeting everyone she came across with infectious enthusiasm.

((Yo, just pretend I'm here. I'll be gone after this post.))

[Vasille]

The pair arrived one politely following the other one and L'rak was beside himself as to how to feed him. Just hope you can tolerate my ignorance just a little today my friend. You are just as new to me as I am to you. Without hesitation Ioth chirped a little and spoke to him through their bond, Don't worry I am peasant just like you are and will wait till you are sure you won't kill me but rather feed me my first meal.[/i] He scratched his head lightly with his hand before listening to B'man's instructions on how to feed him. If you could call him practically half out of it and only focusing in on the parts that matter listening at all. Nodding he got some meat and lead Ioth off to a quite place in the area and started to try and feed him.

Ioth was more than happy to wait for his L'rak to get the meat ready and ate quickly the pieces that were smaller than normal for his eating. Eventually though L'rak had to pace his chunks out more as Ioth was getting the correct size that would let him eat but challenge his mind at the same time. Ioth seemed to appreciate those pieces more so that's what L'rak did till Ioth was curling around him and settling down to take a nap. If you could call making a nest in his lap curling. L'rak was ready for a nap too but didn't drift instead contently sat there on the floor and watched his young friend slowly give into his body's need to sleep.

Don't worry my friend I'll still be with you when you wake. He didn't know how true that would be as he was sure there was more to the lesson then how to feed Ioth for him, but he made the comment more to sooth both of their nerves as the other was just as fearful to not be liked. Sighing he felt the dragon rest on his heart as if to listen to it and commit it to his memory he smiled a bit as the little one was wearing on him. He mused to himself he guess he could take care of a dragon after all even though he wasn't sure exactly how. But the lessons should help with that.

[WhiteAngel28]

Rheath hurried along, thoughts of her still hatching siblings forgotten as the smell of meat reached her nose. Though she was faintly aware of Skadith insulting those she may choose before choosing the one Hers called 'Kiara', she hardly payed attention, trying to keep pace with Hers. Of course she had to slow herself down to keep pace so great was her hunger. She was nearly faint! But she must eat she must...

"Well," Rheath heard Hers sigh, "Least she didn't Impress you Rheath. I hope she appreciates the dragonet she got." Rheath assumed Hers was talking about Kiara and her insterest peeked as they reached the food just after B'man got there.

"Kiara ruling the Weyr..." Hers shook her head a bit, grabbing a bucket of meat and handing a fist sized portion to Rheath. After gulping down a few pieces, Rheath understood what Hers was talking about, actually she understood it because she could hear her thoughts as well. She was just a bit too hungry to answer at the time, it's better now though.

Actually Mine... Rheath began, swallowing another piece of meat more slowly, Skadith is a queen as well.[/color]

Caro stared at her lifemate with unbelieving eyes. Well, seems as though she and Kiara would be working together from now on. Shards.

OOC;; Bleh this is so fail from what I had originally planned. ;___; -shot- Dinner got in the way, sorry guys. D:[/size]

[Jovia]

B'man glanced about as he watched more and more of the new riders and newly hatched Dragonets started to show up and get some of the food, even his own sister was there with her little white careful as she sliced up the meat for the weak little thing.

He glanced over towards the rest of them as they started to filter more and more in. At least now most of them were here and either finished or close to finish with the food and the Dragons were asleep. Giving a slight cough he raised his hand to try to call attention to himself as Biaznth regarded the cute little dragonets.

"Okay everyone time to pay attention, don't stop feeding them if you are still working on that but it is time for our next segment then its off towards the Weyrling Barracks for you guys." Yes that was a good start, and now he could feel eyes upon him as he started to speak with his projected voice.

"Now First thing is first, I WILL be treating each and every one of you equally no matter blood ties or the color or rank of your dragons. The only time the color or rank will be of concern is what sleeping area you get and if you get firestone or flamethrower training. If any of you don't do the lessons, routines, or make trouble you will get just as much punishment as someone else. If you don't like it well shove it, life is not fair just be greatful and if you want to complain how I am punishing you for you doing something wrong with your Dragons go whine to a Dragonless." Yeah he didn't really need to go there, but he was not about to loose his group and maybe this will get them to listen to him.

"First off, Your sleeping arrangements aren't as private as the Weyrs though slightly more private then the Candidate Barracks. There is an alcove, no doors, just curtains drawn in front because lets face it your Dragons will grow and they cannot fit through doors. You get a cot while they get a large stone couch. The Bigger alcoves are meant for the bigger growing colors while smaller for the smaller. I will show you where your's is concerning your color, and for those odd colors that aren't normal I will be comparing them to the Dragonets of the colors we know born of equal size or base them off of that."

"But before you go sleep there is a few things you need to know, like your schedule for the next sevenday. Your dragons will most likely Eat, Sleep, and Poop and that is it for the next sevenday. They need to regain their energy from hatching and become very nourished. For those who do get energy and want to do more There is always walking then jogging around the weyrbowl with your Dragonet, just don't push them to exhaustion. We will not learn to fly until they strengthen their muscles so as they run have them move their wings, try to flap them so they gain muscle to carry the Dragonet."

"Also during this time the Dragonets will need feeding several times a day. As they grow older the feeding will grow less and less to even a sevenday. You will get very little sleep so I suggest you sleep when you can. Eventually you will get used to it, you will have chores to do so you can't sleep all the time. Since they cannot Between they will go to the bathroom inside your sleeping quarters. You need to clean it out YOURSELF once a day, Also you need a good exercise routine because Flamethrower or Firestone sacks are heavy and I doubt any of you could hold either one for a full thread fall."

"I expect a written Report every day about every single thing that happens since the last report you brought to me. If I find out you lie, get someone else to do your chores, or try to pull rank or boss others around you will get punished. I will not let you graduate and you will be stuck as a Weyrling and no rank. Also there will be NO relationships, hugging and holding hands is okay but kissing or anything intimate is not allowed for the sole fact it WILL kill your Dragon. You and your dragon, no matter how much you think you are the best of the best will feel what the other is feeling. They will get confused and try to between to get to you, There is only a possibility in one out of thousands of dragons that this might happen that they will not die. If I find out, which I will mind you, that there has been intimacy you will be a weyrling for seven turns and I will let the Weyrleaders punish you as they see fit as well."

Quickly B'man went over to the table to pick up a jug of warm klah to slowly put down his throat. All this talking was causing his voice to go hoarse and he still had plenty more to talk about oh dear... "Okay onto the next part now, Bathing and Oiling. After your Dragonets are fast asleep come over here by Biaznth. You use Soapsand and water on their delicate hides first to wash off all the dirt. After you have to either let them dry out in the sun or wipe off the water before you oil their hides. You need to bathe and oil them at least once a day because Growing Dragons hides get itchy, dry, flaky, and once fully grown and not well taken care of it can be deadly. One Weyrling I knew personally did not take good care of their Dragon's hide. First time they went between, the dragon died because it got into a crack in his hide and the rider was lost in between as well. Show me what you can do on Biaznth no worries he won't hurt you."

((OOC: Okay guys, we won't be rping him helping you find the barracks just pretend he did, you can rp out training and taking care of them, also within a sevenday from this lesson another will start in character.))

[siobhan]

T'nan's face was full of shock and wonder as he made his way from the Hatching Grounds to the place he'd been directed to in order to feed his new soulmate. A few short candlemarks ago, he'd been nothing more than a beastcrafter's apprentice and a Candidate, the lowest on the rung. With a newly-hatched dragon, he still was in no position to order anyone about, but it gave him an all new sense of importance. It was almost frightening! Why are you scared? Zephyrth is not scared, so neither should T'nan![/color] He had to smile down lovingly at her, but soon the voice of the Weyrlingmaster sounded, instructing them on the feeding of their dragonets.

T'nan was very careful to pay attention, fretting all the while that he was going to do something stupid and maim or possibly kill Zephyrth. Her energetic reassurances weren't doing much to help, but he was ever so careful to cut the smallest chunks he could manage, barely the size of his finger. The green was also doing her best to remain still and patient, but it was getting harder and harder to resist her stomach-burning hunger. T'naaaaaaaaan,[/color] she whined. Do you see the other dragons eating such small pieces? I won't choke, I promise![/color] Reluctantly, he began to cut gradually larger pieces, watching her closely. It turned out his worries were unfounded, for she indeed ate without choking.

T'nan lifted his head abruptly as he heard the Weyrlingmaster clear his throat, eyes seeking out the man's face as he began to speak again. He had just finished giving the green her final piece of meat, so he could devote his full attention to B'man. He was glad to hear the Weyrlingmaster was a fair man and gracious to know that he would not be treated any differently for his lack of rank or Holder's blood. Doing chores would not be an issue for him, as he was always a diligent worker, too worried about what people would think of him if he didn't. No one wanted to be thought of as the lazy one.

Nor was the beastcrafter concerned much with the sleeping arrangements. Sure, a more private room would have been nice, but he'd gotten used to sharing his personal space as a Candidate. And he'd spent a few nights in the stables, where almost anyone could walk in and catch him sleeping and vulnerable. He didn't need a lot of space, either, to be happy. He was already more happy than he'd ever been and his life with Zephyrth had barely begun. The schedule, too, was not much different than what he was used to. Being a beastcrafter meant that he was busy as can be, cleaning tack, turning out runners, bringing herdbeasts in from pasture, and feeding the animals at the Weyr. He was up at or before dawn every morning and sometimes up at odd hours of the night to check on an ill beast or a pregnant mare. He supposed taking care of a baby dragon would not be that much different than caring for the beasts.

Now the exercise routine might take a little getting used to. T'nan liked to think he was relatively in shape, but B'man's blanket assessment told him he could use more training. He would hate to be left out in Fall without any weapon because he was too weak to carry a firestone sack...he gulped hard. Oh T'nan! Don't be so silly! You worry too much. I would never let you drop a firestone sack in Threadfall![/color] There was a long pause where T'nan could sense that Zephyrth had something more to say but didn't quite want to say it. ....T'nan? What is Threadfall? And firestone?[/color] You will find out later. Now, I need to listen to the Weyrlingmaster.

Zephyrth was a little put off, but she quieted, accepting the fact that he would not listen to her until B'man was done talking. She sighed softly and did her best not to squirm and distract him. T'nan was a little embarrassed by the open discussion of physical relationships. He didn't have a whole lot of experience in that area and it surely showed in the uncomfortable look on his face. But even though he had absolutely no intention of starting any kind of a relationship with anyone, B'man's sternness frightened him so much he silently prayed to never get involved with anyone throughout his entire life. He thought he might even have nightmares about it later, what would happen if he were to somehow slip up, as he always thought he would.

[Dragon Song]

Ther was still no way in Faranth's name that Kiara was going to accept what had happened to her. HER! That sharding queen should've come to her, not walked right on by as if she were nothing. She hadn't even stopped! She hadn't even considered Kiara. And now she was stuck with some stupid-coloured thing that was determined it was about to get its own way. Well! She'd just have to see about that!
Stop being ao stuck up Kiara! Skadith snapped back, looking over her shoulder to eye her rider. I fail to see why you'd want Rheath over me. I'm just as much a queen as she is, she informed the new weyrling haughtily.
"You're no queen. Queens are Gold!" Kiara hissed back, as she strode a little faster to catch up to the thing. Skadith merely snorted. Colour-blind are we? Maybe I picked wrong, Skadith jibbed as she walked along, beelining for the food. She'd sort this rider of hers out, even if it took all day! Honestly, not a queen? Stupid girl, Skadith was just going to have to correct that way of thinking now wasn't she?

By this point, the Firestone had managed to lead her unwilling accomplice to the feeding tables, where she primly sat herself down and started to lick herself clean somewhat whilst waiting for Kiara to drag herself over here, despite the fact that she'd only fallen a short way behind. The hatchling continued to lick her dark hide clean whilst Kiara half-listened to what it was that B'man was saying.

She was going to have to what? Cut up the meat! For that thing. There was no way, absolutely no way that Kiara was about to have to perform such a task for that creature.
You'd have had to cut it up if I were Rheath, Skadith stated, not even looking up as she continued to clean herself off. Stay out of my head you! Kiara growled back mentally, knowing that she'd be heard. I wasn't in your mind, you're in mine. Still are. Now will you get a move on, or I really will expire! With the final sentence the Firestone raised her head up to look Kiara in the eye. It was a battle of wills, one versus another. Neither wished to back down, for that would mean submitting to the other. something neither dragon nor human wished to do at that moment in time.

It only took a short amount of time for the battle to be won - even if only for a short amount of time. Skadith sat smugly, cleaning the gold markings on her wings whilst Kiara made stupid faces at the meat in front of her, grimacing that she was having to touch it. This was disgusting! This was below her! This... this! Gah! What had she done to deserve something like this?!
Do you want me to answer that one? Skadith asked with dark amusement as she snatched up the first bit of meat she was offered, gulping it down quickly. You're far too slow. Hurry up, she ordered. Her rider was also going to have to learn that she really wouldn't tolerate this waiting, especially not when she was so hungry. Whilst her rider sat about cutting yet more strips of meat, she twisted her head around to see about her, soon spotting the Weyrlingmaster's brown not far off. She considered for a moment prodding him mentally to entertain herself whilst she waited on her food, but then there were another few pieces of meat for her to swallow, occupying her enough for her to not bother pestering the big brown.

This continued for a while, though each time it was someone else that she considered annoying whilst she waited for Kiara to get over herself and cut her some more meat. Sometimes she ended up tossing a few comments at some of her fellow brothers and sisters - getting a haughty gaze from Chillith when she annoyed him, wing ruffles and quiet hisses from Cirruth and a blink or two from Soleth. She was totally ignored by Cometh until he'd finished his mouthful, by which point he thought he'd toss a flirty comment or two back at her. From that point on she ignored the dark blue. The rest she didn't get a chance to annoy because she was interrupted by food, and after that she was happily full. Hunger sated the firestone settled down on the ground and curled up to snooze a little, not fully sleeping for she always had her eye, or mind, or both, on her rider.

Her rider who seemed very unaccepting of everything she was being told. Kiara did not like the sound of anything that was coming out of B'man's mouth. Even the barracks - because he didn't know how big Skadith would be, he would assign a bed based on her size now. Skadith was a largish dragon, being smaller only than Ganymeth, Rheath and Ioth, but that didn't solve anything. She'd still only get second best, which was not what she deserved1 Not at ALL! This day was turning from bad to worse! Get your nose out of your tailfork Kiara. A sleepy sounding Skadith broke into her rider's outraged thoughts. Kiara fumed silently, scowling darkly. Careful, your face will stick like that. Go help oil Biaznth, because I refuse to be left unwashed for much longer. You refuse to be unclean. If you get to be clean so do I. Kiara was not impressed. Not only did she have some bossy freak colour dragonet telling her what to do, she was actually going to have to get her hands even dirtier! That rider, he just wanted his dragon washed for free!

She did however, have more sense than to say any of this, and managed to conceal most of her contempt. Well, if Skadith really was a queen as she so easily claimed she was, Of course I'm a queen. What do you think I am, a bronze? What else could I be Kiara, you dimglow. then they'd be able to work around this. So far that little dragonet seemed to have somewhat of a queen's authority, so when she was older, she could play that to her advantage. Maybe this was about to turn into a waiting game...