Not as Hard as He Thought

Writers: Eimi, Rebecca
Date Posted: 15th February 2006

Characters: M'tias, D'cal
Description: M'tais tries to give advice to a much older Weyrling
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 3

"Bluerider D'cal? The weyring master asked me to meet with you about your training." "Yes, sir?" D'cal asked, rather surprised at the brownrider's sudden appearance.

M'tias suddenly felt very strange, this weyrling was older than he was.
"Bloodings coming up and he wanted some of staff whose been through it to meet with our senior weyrlings." he explained.

"Ah, yes. I suppose that is rather soon," the weyrling nodded. It said it as if he had forgotten, but in truth it was all he could think about... Well, that and other troubles.

"I've never meet a weyrling who wasn't concerned if not outright scared to death, myself included." the brownrider said with a smile. "I suspect your blue feels better about it than you do."

"I think he feels better about _everything_ than I do," D'cal chuckled.
"He's a pretty cheerful fellow."

"Glad to hear it, things can get gloomy if both haves are too serious."

"Well, Aosorath can be rather reflective," D'cal acknowledged, "but he's also a pretty optimistic and confident little fellow."

"I know you've had a hard time with J'darin, but I wanted to let you know, that the rest of us ahve noticed that you are a good pair."

The praise was sudden and unexpected. "Uh... Thank you. We are trying our best."

"I just thought you'd like to know. I know it's hard to hear the oppisite all the time."

"How was your first Blooding?" D'cal asked finally, happy to divert the subject away from the harder times of his training. J'darin was gone now. No reason to dwell on it.

"I was scared to death. We made it through. Woenth swore there wouldn't be a problem and he was right. I have to tell you though, we lost two of my cluchmates that day."

**Shards...** "Well, we've listened to all the Weyrlingmaster had to say. I guess we ust have to put our faith in our training."

"Thats all anyone can do." "Do you lose people... _every_ time?"

"Unfortanly we do lose weyrlings nearly every blooding. It's not nessacerly somthing they did or didn't do. Some go between and just don't come out agian."

A cold shiver ran down D'cal's spine. It wasn't just for him. It was for D'ren, and Kisdra, and the others. "I'm sure we'll be fine," D'cal said to reassure himself as much as anything.

"I hope so. I really do, but you need to be aware of the possabilties."

They weyrling nodded solemly. "I understand."

"Good" M'tais shook his head for a moment. "It's odd isn't? Your much older than I am."

D'cal shrugged. "I seem to be a lot older than most weyrlings and a lot of the staff. Even quite a few riders. I guess I'm used to being the old man."

M'tais laughed. "At least you'll be joining the wings when this is over."

"Yes, that will be something," D'cal nodded. Of course, he had already learned that he had been slated to join the Weyrleader's wing. Though that in itself was a great honor, it meant working with J'darin everyday...

"If you want to talk about anything, let me know. I may be young but it's part of my job to help the weyrlings so..."

"When will you join the wings?" the weyrling asked curiously.

"Two more turns. I'm only fourteen."

"Are you tired of working with the weyrlings yet?"

"No but I think some of them are sick of me. I like watching the dragons grow up. Reminds me of when Woenth was small."

There was one thing D'cal was wondering about lately... "Has Woenth started chasing yet?"

"No, I asked around and was assured that it was because I'm too young.
Just as I'm not supossed to do anything as a weyriling that might have hurt him, he won't chase until I'm older."

"I suppose Aosorath will start chasing pretty soon. A few of the greens have already risen." D'cal knew it would be a while before his blue actually _caught_ a green, but the powerful feelings would be there. The thought both intriged and repulsed him.

"He should. Have your spoken to any blueriders with older dragons? They should be able to explain thimgs that I'm clueless about."

"Perhaps I should." The new Weyrlingmaster's Second, L'pin, he seemed pretty open to talking about things. It might not be a bad iea. "Well, either way, it won't be long now."

"No it won't. Might be a while before he catches a green but he'll chase."

D'cal nodded. Aosorath was young yet. But someday he would catch a green. He had been told that whether it was a male or a female rider it wouldn't matter in the heat of the moment. Even more surprising, D'cal was starting to wonder if it mattered outside the flight as well. After all, he didn't seem to have too much with the ladies... "Well, thank you for checking on me. I think we'll be fine."

"If you need to talk, just let me know. Have a good day D'cal." M'tias smiled, it hadn't been as hard as e thought it would be.

Last updated on the February 15th 2006

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Not as Hard as He Thought