Through the Black

Writers: Chelle, Heather
Date Posted: 19th December 2015

Characters: R'gelen, D'kere
Description: The junior weyrling graduates to senior weyrling.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Corofel, J'darin

It was the big day. He'd taken his time after getting up. R'gelen had
enjoyed his klah, taken a hot bath, and had dressed carefully. Today could
be his last day on Pern. Not everyone made it. And he was just the scrawny
youngling of the class. He had written notes for his mother and father, just
in case. He had even wondered what Corofel might be doing. Once this was
over, he'd be able to visit him whenever he wanted.

That was one of the thoughts that kept him going as he strapped up his
bronze and got ready to head down to the practice yard. **Riding is in my
blood. I can do this. I've practiced. It'll be okay.**

}:We will complete this task. Do not worry.:{ Iroth didn't seem to be
concerned at all. That lack of fear went a long way to soothing his rider's
thoughts. R'gelen trusted him more than anyone else.

They reached the yard and went through inspection. No hiccups or problems
there. Now it was time. They weren't slated to go first so that only meant
more time to overanalyze the upcoming task. He barely heard his name called
when he looked up and realized the weyrlingmaster was waiting on him.

D'kere raised his eyebrows as he studied R'gelen. **So young.** The little
bronzerider was certainly the youngest in their current weyrling class.

"Before you begin, tell me each step of what you will do as you prepare to
go /between/." he requested. D'kere had never understood before why J'darin
got so worked up about the weyrlings /betweening/ but as he looked at young
R'gelen and the fine bronze dragon he had Impressed, a spring of worry
welled up inside him.

"Oh umm....we're supposed to visualize where we're going and hold the image
in our heads. Once Iroth has the image, he'll go when you give the order. We
go with you." That was the simple version as her understood it. Like most
young people, he didn't really understand the true danger he was about to
put himself and his dragon into. He just saw it as a rite of passage.

"Alright. Prepare for flight." D'kere turned and leapt to Kenirath's waiting
neckridge where he strapped himself in.

}:We will wait for your visualization.:{ Kenirath told Iroth.

Surprised, R'gelen realized he was being allowed to pick where they were
going. He didn't want to do a far jump for his first time so the young rider
tried to call up the details he had been memorizing of Amber Hills Hold. He
knew that place best except for home and it was where Corofel was. Maybe
they could see Corofel and tell him they were okay. When he thought he had
it right, he told Iroth.

Iroth dutifully offered the image up to Kenirath for inspection. His former
vintner rider didn't have much imagination so it wasn't exactly in vivid
color, but the details were there.

Kenirath showed the visualization to D'kere for approval, and then the
Weyrlingmaster's Second gave the nod. The bronze then spoke. }:You are clear
to go /between/. We will meet you there.:{

}:They say we can go:{ Iroth told R'gelen who took a deep breath. It was now
or never. And there was nothing else to do but to do it. Grabbing the
straps, he nodded. **Go to the Star Stones first.**
Iroth launched himself into the air in a slow, graceful movement despite his
now serious size. The young weyrling took a few wing sweeps and before long
they had arrived at the Star Stones. Then, with one last look behind him at
Kenirath, he turned towards the stones. R'gelen closed his eyes and thought
of nothing but that picture of Amber Hills. **Take us here. Here. Here.**

And then Iroth went /between/. It was cold, colder than anything he had ever
imagined. He had been through it once, when he had been Searched, but that
had been different. Now, he knew Iroth was there, with him. He could feel
the bronze's reassuring thoughts against his own, pressing against his mind
like a solid bulwark that would keep him from becoming afraid. He counted.
**One....two...three....** And then they were out.

The sky above Amber Hills was sunny despite the low temperature. It was nice
weather, though, for the territory and R'gelen found the cold of /between/
slipping away fast. He looked down at the Hold and then he looked around him
at the sky, searching for Kenirath. **We did it! We did it!
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!**

}:Of course we did it. I told you it would be fine. I wouldn't lie:{ Iroth's
tone was a little miffed but his rider's excitement was catching and the
bronze gave a small snort.

Kenirath and D'kere arrived a moment behind Iroth and R'gelen. Relief
blossomed in D'kere's chest to see the young bronze pair safe and sound. It
was hard to know whether someone R'gelen's age really understood the
seriousness of the ability that they had.

}:Excellent. Now back to the Weyr.:{ Kenirath instructed.

}:Mine wanted to see Corofel:{ Iroth passed on, figuring it didn't hurt to
ask. After all, it might be some time before they got the chance again.
R'gelen hadn't seen his friend in a long time and it would be some time yet
before he could go between on his own.

}:We are in the middle of a lesson, this is not the time for a social visit.
Report back to the Weyr.:{ Kenirath commanded.

}:Kenirath says we can't go. We must go back:{ Iroth told R'gelen who
visibly deflated at that news. Forgetting the huge accomplishment they had
just managed, he began to dwell on the fact that he missed Corofel. The
small weyrling realized that Iroth was waiting on him, though. They needed
to go back and he had to give the image to do that. Closing his eyes, he saw
the Star Stones and the mountains of Dragonsfall. The Weyr walls loomed up.
He fixed the moons in his mind as well as Rukbat. It took a long time, but
he did think to have the bronze send the image to Kenirath before they took
off.

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Through the Black