Eight Paces to the Left?

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th June 2006

Characters: R'mer, D'ren
Description: R'mer gets a little help from a more experienced bronzerider
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 4 of Turn 3

**All right... So we start out in the line. Ten yards and then the bronzes break to the left while the greens and blues move to the fore...** R'mer stood alone on the first marked line and carefully paced off the ten yards. **Shards, how far to the left...** He was too lost in trying to discifer the written instructions in front of him to hear the bronzerider approach.

"Marching drills, huh?" D'ren asked.

"Oh," R'mer turned to look at the speaker over his shoulder. He blushed slightly and lowered his head. "Yeah. I need to practice them again."

"Did you make mistakes in class today?"

"Yes. The instructor said if it had been Threadfall I would have killed someone," he answered, still bruning with shame from the barrating he had recieved, not to mention the thought that if it had been for real...

"Ah, don't worry about it," D'ren smiled at the junoir weyrling.
"Everyone makes mistakes at first. You've got lots of time to practice."

"But D'rye was so mad," R'mer sighed, shaking his head. "I should have studied the sheet better. But I won't make that mistake again. I'll get this down right so I can do it in my sleep."

"I could help, if you'd like," D'ren offered.

R'mer looked down at the sheet in front of him, at all the words that just seemed to take forever to make out. "Could you... Could you just hold this and tell me when I make a mistake? I think I have it"
memorized, but just in case, you can tell me what I'm doing wrong?"

"Sure." D'ren held his hand out for the hide. R'mer smiled gratefully when he handed him the hide. "Now here it's...
eight paces to the left?"

"Nine," D'ren corrected, reading the instructions.

"Ah, only nine?" That could have been the start of his problems. R'mer carefully listed off each step he took as D'ren checked by the sheet. Finally he turned to the bronzerider and sighed. "Well, that's it. Pretty bad, wasn't it."

"No. Don't be so hard on yourself. You just need more practice, that's all," D'ren encouraged. "Maybe we should try it one more time? "Are all drills this hard?" R'mer asked, thoroughly frustrated with himself.

D'ren gave him an apologetic look. "Most of them are harder."

**Well, shards...** "I don't even know why Hanunth chose me. I'm so stupid about things like this."

}:You're not stupid! You can read!:{ Hanunth reassured him.

**It isn't about reading this time,** R'mer sighed.

}:You're still smart. You're perfect.:{ "Don't say that, R'mer. You're not stupid," D'ren told him. "Just because it takes you longer to learn something doesn't mean you're stupid."

"It just seems everyone understands this stuff just a little faster than I do." The weyrling kicked at a stone on the ground. "Give me something to do with my hands and I can do it, but ask me to think and I'm lost."

"I think you're problem is doubt, not learning," D'ren said. "So what if it takes you longer? Take your time, and you'll get it. And if you make a mistake, don't keep kicking yourself over it and telling yourself you're stupid."

Shards, if it was only _a_ mistake!... "I'll try," R'mer finally mumbled.

"Good!" D'ren gave him an encouraging smile. "So, should we try it again?"

"All right," he nodded. "From the beginning?"

Last updated on the June 6th 2006

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Eight Paces to the Left?