Food, Now!

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 9th March 2016

Characters: F'dal, D'lorn
Description: The bronze weyrling's first morning.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 8

F'dal was up at the first crack of dawn. As a seacrafter, he was used to irregular hours and being short of sleep, so being woken up by hungry dragonet demanding food was no problem for him. Barefooted, he led him outside and took a meat cleaver. Butchering wasn't anything new to him either, although most of the time he cut fishes. "At least the stink's better," he murmured and tossed first piece to the waiting maw. "Chew it."

D'lorn was standing nearby, in the half dark. The greenrider was watching, marking the new ones' progress. Today would likely be a long day for them, with many firsts. The greenrider found it easier to deal with the younger dragonets than with the older ones at the moment. These young ones were full of promise and quite amusing. Besides, A'kades was still likely dealing with Lenala. She hadn't looked well the day before. Thankfully all the eggs had hatched properly and everyone had Impressed, including a few surprises. "Smaller pieces or he might have problems choking."

"Smaller pieces, oo-kay," F'dal replied, while Velaith whined impatiently and thumped his tail against the ground. "But he's sooo hungry and can't wait until I can cut them to smaller pieces," F'dal continued.

"First lesson, weyrling. You need to control your young dragonet. Right now you know more than he does. And if you don't cut smaller pieces, he may choke. And that won't feel good at all to either of you." D'lorn found himself amused by the speech he had given over a hundred times.

"Yes, sir-ree," F'dal said. "Did ya hear that? You just had to wait till I cut it," he told Velaith who let out a dissatisfied growl. "And no growling at me either. If you do that, you won't eat all," F'dal continued, addressing his dragonet. He didn't take bullying from no one, not even from a dragon.

}: But then I starve! :{ Velaith whined.

"Not if you behave," F'dal replied. "Sheesh, just like a little kid," he grinned at the Weyrlingmaster's third. "Everything must happen _now_."

Indeed they were like children in many respects and it was good that the weyrling recognized that. D'lorn kept his eye on the bronzepair as he waited for some of the others to wake up. Always good to see more dragons to train to fill out the Weyr's ranks later. And sometimes he could spot the problem ones early on with keen observation. "Good job!"

"Thanks!" F'dal said. He continued with the meat cutting, with Velaith fidgeting restlessly between mouthfuls.

Once everyone had been fed, D'lorn sighed and ordered them back into the barracks for cleanup. Inspection would be in a few candlemarks, then breakfast, and then they would have their first lesson. It was going to be an interesting day indeed. "Move it, hustle. We've got a lot to learn today."

~*~

"Seriously, Velaith, do you have problems standing still?" F'dal asked. He had gotten the dragonet bathed and was now trying to oil him. "How I'm going to oil your head when it swings from side to side?" he sounded exasperated. He was also forgetting that he himself had troubles standing perfectly still longer than few seconds. Even now the weyrling's foot was tapping the ground impatiently.

Smiling to himself, D'lorn was watching the lot of them oiling their dragons for the first time. This was going to be a rather frequent chore in the coming months since that was when they would be growing rapidly. The greenrider felt Villith's presence in the back of his mind and he remembered when she had been small. She had been demanding even then. "Do it as quick as you can because their attention spans are not very long right now."

"What attention span? He doesn't have one," F'dal murmured somewhat sarcastically.

}: I'm looking around, :{ Velaith said with reasonable tone.

"Well, look straight ahead for a minute, so I can get your head done," F'dal asked.

"You have to get his attention long enough and keep it. Try distractions like stories, shiny things to look at, or music. Whatever works." Each dragonet was different but the young ones had to learn the habits quickly or they'd forever be hopeless. It was also part of seeing how the pair would function in the future.

"Right," F'dal said and pondered his options. He tried to try the way his former Captain would have done it. "All the men on the deck! Straighten up! Attention!" For his small size, he had amazingly loud bellow. "That means you, Velaith," he added with normal speaking voice. It did work though, sheer surprise made Velaith freeze on the spot. F'dal attacked him with the oiling rag right away. Few other dragonets stopped dead still too.

**This is going to be a great class for sure.** The Weyrlingmaster Third made some mental notes. The boy had definite experience in being loud. Reminded of his former wingleaders on inspection days, he saw a glimpse of the possible future.

"Whatever works," F'dal muttered and finished oiling his dragonet. "Dotcha look handsome," he admired the way sun shone from recently oiled bronze hide.

"Once everyone is oiled-and I mean there better not be one patch that isn't or it will itch them forever-you can head on into the classroom. First one on the left." D'lorn hoped most of them would be done soon. After all the small dragonets didn't have so much to oil just then. He did want them to be thorough though. "And make sure there's enough oil. A thin layer is not going to cover it. Work it into the hide."

"Are you itching?" F'dal asked from Velaith while checking the hide himself. He certainly didn't want to do a poor job.

}: No, but I'm getting hungry, :{ Velaith replied.

"But you just ate?!"

Hearing the shout, the greenrider let another smile slip. "Lesson two-young dragonets are always growing so they are hungry quite often."

"Oh, bother," F'dal sighed. "Come along, then, you bottomless belly."

Last updated on the March 13th 2016

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Food, Now!