Night Drills
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Avery, Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 13th December 2015
Characters: A'kades, Lanniya, A'dryn, R'kehr, Fadira, W'korl
Description: The night drill has a few bumps
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 10 of Turn 8
Night drills meant a change in scheduling for everyone involved.
A'kades had to admit that the chance to sleep in was something that
agreed with him, though staying up into the late candlemarks felt like
something for younger men to do. He wondered what the weyrlings were
thinking of the change in schedule.
**Volaith, let them know it's time,**
The bronze dragon lifted his head from his weyrledge and bugled, it
echoing around the rocks. }:Time to fly!:{ he told the dragonets of
Orlaith's class.
**Well, that should wake people up.** The Weyrlingmaster's Second
pulled on his flying jacket and walked down to meet the class in the
weyrbowl.
}: It is time for sleeping. :{ Anaeryth's irritated tone was
unmistakable. Normally easy going, the gold did not enjoy having her
evening rest interrupted. }: Go back to sleep. :{
Nalarith nudged her clutchmate. }:We fly at night! Get up!:{ This was
new and therefore exciting.
"I'm fine now but I have a feeling this will be rough in a candlemark
or two," A'dryn said as reached for his flight gear.
}:It is time for flying at night,:{ Volaith told the young gold. }:You
will find this important, and also enjoyable.:{
A'kades waited and watched as weyrlings filed in. R'kehr looked alert
and eager, while Fadira was yawning.
The gold grumbled sleepily, but was soon with the others, eyes
half-lidded with annoyed sleepiness.
Lanniya joined the others, her hair in a disarray from sleep. She
yawned, glanced around and rubbed her eyes. "Did Volaith have to be so
loud?"
"Did he shout as well as bugle?" A'dryn asked.
"I think he shouted to the dragons. He's a bit enthusiastic about the
night drilling, I'm afraid," A'kades answered, casting a reproving
look at his dragon. It was late enough that he was more relaxed around
the students than usual.
"He did." Lanniya agreed.
Once everyone was assembled, he cleared his throat and continued.
"This is our first night drill, so we won't be flaming ropes. Instead
the focus will be on flying in wing formations, switching formations,
swapping riders, and responding to unexpected changes. This is to get
you used to flying in the dark, where it's confusing. I won't be
nearly as harsh on the grading, either," he promised.
Once the speech was over, he mounted Volaith and watched through the
gloom as the others mounted. Then he sent them aloft, and last he
winged up to join them.
"We'll start easy. Standard V-forward formation. Then switch to
inverted V, then stagger the levels." That was a sequence they should
know by heart.
}: I can see perfectly well in the dark. :{ Anaeryth replied as
Lanniya strapped in, still yawning. }:You missed one. :{
Lanniya grabbed the buckle and scolded herself silently for being
careless. **Got it** When Anaeryth was up in the air, Lanniya sighed
as they got in formation. She knew it by heart, but Faranth, all she
wanted to do was go back to sleep.
}:Oh this is exciting.:{ Nalarith took her position.
A'dryn thumped her neck. **You'll have to help me see, love, so focus.**
As they made the first switch it was clear that not everyone was
having an easy time of it.
G'reni was dangerously out of position. His green Utirath had
anticipated the plan and made the switch too fast, getting into the
way of W'korl's blue Calorth. The dragons collided with each other,
the green smacking into the blue's wing and knocking him downwards.
Utirath blinked /between/, and Calorth began to fall downwards.
}:Get out the way!:{ bronze Thadath shouted as he dove down towards
the falling blue.
}: Wait! We have them! :{ Anaeryth got there first, bugling as she
spread her wings to catch the faltering blue. Lanniya turned in her
straps, her face pale as she checked on him. **Where are you hurt,
Calorth?**
A'kades' heart pounded when he saw two dragons collide and one begin
to fall. But Lanniya and Anaeryth were there to catch that pair.
}:Good job,:{ Volaith told Anaeryth. }:Bring him down to the ground so
a dragonhealer can inspect him.:{
Thadath pulled up short to get out of the gold's way, privately hoping
she'd noticed his dive, as he was beginning to notice more and more
about her.
}:My wing!:{ Calorth cried. Utirath's claws had caught on the sail and torn it.
}:Utirath, land immediately,:{ Volaith ordered when the green that had
caused the problem blinked back into the air. }:The rest of you, form
back into a V and stay there.:{
A'dryn let out a breath when the gold caught their falling clutchmate.
**We'll take Calorth's place. Have Thadath take Anaeryth's place.**
Nalarith relayed her rider's words. }:Everyone tighten up.:{
Thadath slipped into the central place where the gold had been and
grumbled slightly to himself. He'd wanted to impress the gold. He'd
been noticing her more and more. But maybe he could talk with her
about it later.
Anaeryth had been far too involved in attempting to calm Calorth to
notice Thadath. For the first time, she exerted her will over another
dragon, but it was light and delicate, meant to soothe rather than
overpower. }: We will help you. It will be better. The Healers will
help you.:{
Without having to be asked, Anaeryth carefully landed, trying not to
jostle the smaller dragon overly much. She crouched even as Lanniya
unbuckled to climb to get to W'korl. "W'korl? Are you hurt? We need to
get down so the Healers can look at you and the Dragonhealers can look
at Calorth." She looked up. **Volaith, tell Yours that I'm going to
help him to the Healers and I'll be back as soon as I get him looked
at. Okay?**
"I'm not hurt but Calorth is echoing," W'korl said, tears in his eyes
at his dragon's pain.
}:Anaeryth is taking Calorth to the dragonhealers. I will have
Xenderayth's meet them there,:{ Volaith said.
"Let's try that again without any collisions," A'kades called. "Don't
worry, your clutchmates will be treated. And let's space out an extra
dragon length for this practice…"
Last updated on the December 14th 2015