Studying and Daydreaming

Writers: Francesca, Heather
Date Posted: 21st January 2024

Characters: Chalzie, Maveux
Description: The two apprentices study for their upcoming Journeyman test.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 11

Chalzie sat on her bed, her notes sprawled around her. She and Maveux
were getting some studying done before the evening meal. They were
both on track to walk the tables at Turns End but some final cramming
couldn't hurt. And, maybe some complaining as well.

"Cartography is the worst" she muttered, half-jokingly. "I'm not good
at being so precise."

"Cartography I can handle," Maveux said, pushing his book away. "The
thing that gets me is all the weather patterns." He made a face. "My
mind just wanders whenever I'm trying to study them."

"Those are tough too," Chalzie agreed. "I wish I could spend all my
time in the water helping people, not staring at hides. I can't wait
to be able to go visit other dolphin pods. What are you looking
forward to once you're a journeyman?"

"Honestly?" Maveux knew it was going to sound cliche. "I'm just hoping
to find a dolphin partner. I know not everyone finds a dolphin to work
with, so it's not like not Impressing a dragon or something but... I
just think that partnership would be really neat."

"Yeah, that would be great." She lowered her voice. "Have you been
working with any dolphins more than the others?" Apprentices weren't
supposed to favor one dolphin over another, but it was impossible to
ignore that each dolphin had its own personality.

"No, not really. I feel like every time I'm in the water it's usually
one of the dolphins that's already paired to someone that's out
there." Many of their practical lessons involved a journeyman or
master dolphineer who already had a dolphin partner. "What about you?
Have you made friends with any that aren't already paired?"

"No dolphin in particular. I'm hoping to be able to work a bit with a
few of them, just to see what it's like." Chalzie shrugged. "It's
their decision as much as ours though, so who knows." She knew they
were supposed to be reviewing notes, but she was finding it hard to
concentrate. They were so close to walking the tables and, while there
was a chance it wouldn't happen at Turns End, she kept thinking about
life as a journeyman.

"I've been dreaming so long about leaving the apprentice quarters. It
will be really strange sleeping in another bed though." Chalzie looked
around the room she had lived in for over six Turns.

“Journeyman quarters,” Maveux exhaled dreamily. “Having your own
bedroom that you don’t have to share? Can you imagine?” The journeymen
suites had been the talk of the apprentices for a while.

"I've never had my own room before. Do you think it will be hard to
fall asleep?" She was used to hearing the sounds of the other
apprentices.

“Maybe you’ll get a seaside window and then you can lay there at night
and listen to the ocean.” That was probably every dolphineer’s dream.

"That would be nice. And, we can decorate! Get a nice wall hanging,
some figurines, a rug." Chalzie tried to imagine what her room would
look like. "Think the Headwoman would let us take a peek in the
storage room to see what's there?"

"Sure, I don't see why not." Maveux didn't really care as much about
what particular things would go in his room. He only hoped that the
four-room suite he shared with the other journeymen would be with
three bearable roommates.

"Still, though, I guess there's no point in thinking about a room
until I figure all these weather patterns out," he sighed, pulling his
notes back toward him.

"You're right," Chalzie replied, a little embarrassed at getting so
carried away. She returned to studying cartography and hoped the next
few sevendays went smoothly. Daydreaming could wait until later.

A half candlemark passed before Maveux spoke again. “You know what
would help us study? Snacks.”

Maveux's comment broke Chalzie's concentration, but she welcomed the
distraction. She took a moment to mark where she had arrived in her
notes; a list of key features needed in a map. "Food always helps.
Well, food or a swim. Want to head to the kitchens to see what's
there? Or do you have some snacks hidden away?"

"The kitchens," Maveux decided. "A walk will help get our blood flowing."

When they arrived in the Dining Hall people were already milling about
for early dinner. The smells coming from the service line were
mouth-watering and it made Maveux realize how hungry he'd actually
been. "So Chalzie, you grew up at the Weyr right?" Maveux asked as
they joined the line for food.

Chalzie tried to look ahead to see what the meal options were, but
they were too far back in the line to see well. "Yes. I came over to
the Hall at 13. I'm glad it's nearby, so I can always pop over for a
visit. Have you spent any time there?"

"I've been to one Hatching. It seems like a fantastic place to live,"
Maveux said wistfully. "What made you decide to pick the Hall over the
Weyr?"

"Hatchings are always exciting. I always try to make it when there is
one." At his question, she gave a small shrug. "I was a Candidate for
about a Turn, because when you're at the Weyr that's just what you do.
But, I loved swimming, and thought the dolphins were great. And then
there was a hurricane and I saw how much the dolphineers and dolphins
could help save lives. It made me realize dragonriders weren't the
only ones who could help others."

Chalzie took a plate and put some tubers and fish with a red sauce on
it. "You know, I remember the Master of Apprentices interviewing me
when I arrived. He was skeptical about me actually staying at the
Hall. I think he thought I'd leave as soon as there was another clutch
on the Sands. Did you ever think about doing something else?"

"Not really," Maveux said as they finally reached the plates. "My
parents are both dolphineers, so it was sort of expected that I would
do the same. I sought out the Dolphin Hall here though because I
wanted to be close to the Weyr. Being here is kind of the best of both
worlds, isn't it? You can enjoy the sun, the water, and the dolphins,
but then go have a good time at the Weyr, too."

"It is nice. I don't know if I would have apprenticed if the Hall had
been somewhere else." Chalzie paused to think. "No, I think I would
have eventually. Not at 13 though." She looked around the room for an
open table. "Well, I'm glad things are the way they are." She smiled.
"This Turns End, though, I think our celebrations will be exciting
enough to draw many from the Weyr here."

“The dolphin water show! It’s going to be amazing. I wish I could be
in it but I’ve been assigned to help those in the shows in and out of
their costume changes.” Maveux set his tray on the table with a sigh.

"I'm sure that means you'll be in it next time around," Chalzie said
reassuringly, even though she had no idea if that was true. She
decided not to share how fun the practice sessions for the show were,
or how it was allowing her to work closely with a number of the dolphins.
"Well, I say we eat, then get a little more studying in. I also want
to go for a quick swim before bed. And, let's hope we get to take a
bit of a break at the beginning of next Turn."

Maveux raised his cup of fruit juice. "Cheers to that!"

Last updated on the February 7th 2024

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Studying and Daydreaming