Everyday More of the Same

Writers: Ames, Devin
Date Posted: 27th July 2013

Characters: J'kri, R'del
Description: The two junior weyrlings commiserate about their daily tasks
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 7

"Ugh. I swear the days are getting longer." J'kri flopped down on his cot.

R'del snorted, but heaved a tired sigh as well. "They _are_," he
replied, then gave a half-hearted chuckled. "I mean think about it. We
hardly sleep at night and we work non-stop all day. Our waking time
_is_ actually longer than it was. Eputh is growing like a weed, too. I
swear he needs oiled all the time. My arms are tired!" R'del stretched
on his own cot near J'kri's. He needed to work out the kinks in his
muscles.

"Mine, too. Oiling, bathing ... and Rademerth eats so much I'm
surprised he doesn't explode." J'kri couldn't wait for the blue to
start hunting his own food.

}:I can explode?:{ Rademerth asked.

**It's a metaphor.**

}:Oh.:{ J'kri had already explained what a metaphor was to his dragon.

R'del, who'd risen to remove his slacks, chuckled at J'kri's
expression as well.

"Let's hope they don't go eating so much they can't move, eh?" He
pushed his slacks off to prepare for bed for the evening.

"Eputh wants to eat all the time as well. I know it's normal. I've
been around long enough to have watched the other weyrling classes."
He sank back onto his cot, glancing over at his own blue dragon who
was fast asleep.

"It's still hard to believe that after watching so many others have
their turn that it was finally time for me," R'del added, a smile on
his face as he turned back from Eputh to look at J'kri.

"I feel a bit guilty, Impressing so soon. But Rademerth was there for
me, and I was there for him. The dragons know, like they say." J'kri
glanced over to where his large blue settled on his couch.

"Aye, that they do, J'kri." R'del said, smiling at the dragons. "Don't
ever be guilty or ashamed that you were chosen. It's an honor no
matter how long we have to wait. I'm just glad I got my chance before
it was too late for me." R'del knew he still had a Turn or so he could
have Stood still, and he would have. R'del was glad that he didn't
have to wait that much longer and worry that he would lose his chance
for good.

"Yes. And my two best friends are in the same clutch." Although D'ret
had been distant lately. The weyrling restrictions were hard on him.
J'kri forced a smile before he could become gloomy. "And other good
friends, like you of course."

R'del looked at J'kri and smiled, "It's good to have friends. We're
going to need them throughout these months of training and then beyond
that. I've watched how bonds from weyrlinghood last through the Turns
for so many of the riders here. I think going through this challenging
time together connects them in ways they might not otherwise."

J'kri nodded. "It's natural for humans to bond in highly stressful
situations. And shared experience deepens those bonds. Weyrlinghood is
perfectly designed to prepare us for fighting Thread, even without the
specific training." He shifted to strip off his boots.

"I swear sometimes, fighting Thread has to be easier than what we go
through in Weyrlinghood. It's only been a short time and already I'm
exhausted by all the tasks we have to handle. I know that the riders
have lots of jobs, but I also see them out and about enjoying their
freedom. _We_ don't seem to have any anymore!" R'del flopped onto his
cot with a frustrated sigh. "It doesn't help that I could use a
release, but then there are _rules_ about such things."

Reflexively, J'kri looked at his dragon. The blue's eyes were
drooping. "Yeah, I know." That was the hardest part of weyrlinghood,
at least to him.

"I guess we better catch some shut eye before we need to be up again,"
R'del said, stretching his arms out over his head on the cot. "It will
be another busy day tomorrow."

"And the day after that, and the day after that." J'kri gave him a tired smile.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2013

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Everyday More of the Same