Endurance Test (1/2)

Writers: Avery, Francesca, Halyonix, Heather, Hunter
Date Posted: 6th June 2025

Characters: Tolna, Thayde, Cidra, Oriene, Serisa, Noreia, Tolnira, Shonjir, Ceivarre
Description: The junior apprentices take a diagnostic swimming test.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 8, day 6 of Turn 12

Tolna

Tolna smiled at the assembled apprentices. They were seated in a loose
semi-circle on the beach while Tolna stood in front of them. Everyone,
including her, was wearing a bathing suit. They were permitted to use
goggles, but no fins or snorkels could be used for today’s activities.

“Today we’ll be doing something a bit different,” she said. “In
swimming classes you’ve been practicing different strokes, treading
water, holding your breath… Today is a more formal chance to see how
you’re doing. This isn’t a test you can pass or fail. It’s just a way
to note your strengths and any areas you need to spend more time on.”
She scanned the apprentices, making note of those who looked eager,
nervous, or stoic. While it was true that no one would fail the test,
a particularly bad performance could prompt a conversation with her
about whether the craft was right for them.

“You’re going to swim to the first buoy, tread water for a minute,
swim to the second buoy, hold your breath underwater for 30 seconds,
swim back to the first buoy and tread water again, then come back to
shore.” She paused a moment to let the information sink in. “Don’t
worry. A dolphineer will be at each buoy reminding you of what you
need to do. And, a few dolphins have agreed to be nearby in case
anyone needs any help. Any questions before we get started?”

Cidra’s lips remained pressed firmly together. Outwardly, she looked
the picture of confidence. Chin strong, jaw firm, eyes steely… but
inwardly, there _was_ a slight trickle of apprehension. She’d gotten
the sense when she’d been interviewed by Hallmaster Thayde that he
didn’t think she would be able to keep up with the training. Maybe he
thought in a month she’d go home crying to her father. Well, she would
show him. She’d spent her entire life swimming in the aquamarine
waters of Ivory Bay.

Noreia was fairly certain she could do this test. She had been
practicing on her stamina for months now, pushing herself a little
further every sevenday. With Luck perched on her shoulder, she looked
at the challenge ahead with a growing certainty that she would pass.
If she didn’t mess up in some other way.

Oriene, however, was not as certain. Her time at the Weyr had changed
her muscles. She no longer had a swimmer’s finesse. But she held her
head high, emanating the same sunny confidence as always, and didn’t
let anyone know otherwise. “No questions,” she answered easily.

Tolnira was confident in her own abilities. Some of the other
apprentices hadn’t grown up around dolphineers, but she had a pretty
good idea of what she needed to do. She was going to try to push
herself a bit. Maybe she would be the fastest.

In contrast, Serisa’s stomach felt like it was full of somersaulting
vtols. She was a good swimmer, but stamina was her biggest weakness.
She should have spent more time swimming for a bit and then holding
her breath.

Ceivarre had no fear about this challenge. She’d been swimming as long
as she could remember. She was the daughter of the Leeward Lagoon
divemaster. She was going to be a female diver. She could hold her
breath forever and tread water for candlemarks. Let the others fail,
but she would not.

Shonjir gave a small sigh, watching the sun glint off the water like
scattered coins, the sand warm beneath his feet and gaze fixed on the
first buoy. The test wasn’t hard - not for him. He’d been swimming
since before he could properly write his own name, diving off rocks
while herdbeasts lowed in the background of his childhood. His father
had said the sea might straighten him out. More likely, it just gave
him room to drift

“Ok, let’s get going,” Tolna said. “Who wants to go first?”

Oriene slid into the water first. She thought she spotted Tib,
Pershal’s partner swimming some lengths ahead of her and that made her
smile. When she got the go ahead to begin, she set out, the rhythm of
the strokes coming back to her with ease. Treading water at the first
buoy felt easy as well but Oriene’s confidence began to falter when
she had to hold her breath at the second buoy. With her heartrate up,
those thirty seconds took forever and her muscles ached from both
deprivation and exertion.

“Oriiiii go!” Tib squeed from somewhere nearby. His encouragement did
little to actually boost her confidence but at least Oriene could lean
into dogged determination as she swam towards the third buoy.

By the time she got back to shore, she felt weaker than she thought
she would and had to be helped back onto the sand because her legs
were trembling so much. “That was harder than I thought it would be!”
she said breathlessly, trying to smile.

“You did well,” Thayde said, patting Oriene on the back. The
Hallmaster stood on the beach, observing.

Cidra was glad to not go first, but watching Oriene and waiting made
her nervousness worse. When it was time for the next person to go, she
stepped in front of Ceivarre. “I’ll go,” she proclaimed.

Exhaling a slow breath, Cidra jogged into the water, then dove
smoothly between the breakers. Breaking the surface, with her
adrenaline pounding in her ears, she made the swim to the first buoy
quickly - too quickly - and found herself more out of breath than
she’d anticipated.

Ignoring her body’s complaints, she swam to the second buoy. Now she
had to tread water for a minute.

A minute had sounded like a short time. An _easy_ time, but since
she’d already overexerted herself in the first swim, the minute felt
like an eternity. Her lungs were burning by the time she dunked
underwater for the breath-holding part.

As she submerged herself, she blew out bubbles through her nose and
mouth, remembering that it was supposed to ease the discomfort her
lungs were feeling. **It’s not helping,** her mind cried, feeling
slightly panicky.

Her head burst above the water in a great gasp, but she didn’t grab
the buoy and she didn’t call for help. Instead, she switched to a
backstroke to give her lungs a break. While on her back, she gulped in
mouthfuls of fresh air as she swam back to the first buoy and then
once again treaded water.

The water treading was a relief and something she’d done plenty of
back home. The final swim to shore, however, proved difficult against
the outgoing tide and made the distance longer than it seemed
possible.

By the time she got to the breakers, one crashed over her head,
swallowed her down, and then spat her up on the sand unceremoniously.

She lay on her back, panting, but she’d made it. The water here had
been very different than back home.

“You okay?”

Cracking open one eye, the blurry figure of the Hallmaster loomed over her.

“Yes,” she panted.

“You gave it too much in that initial swim. Next time, pace yourself.
Smart thinking, though, going into that backstroke to catch your
breath.”

Cidra lifted her hand and gave Thayde a thumbs up. It was all the
energy she had left.

Last updated on the June 13th 2025

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Endurance Test (1/2)