Ready For Classes

Writers: Ames, Miriah
Date Posted: 24th July 2014

Characters: H'vack, Lanniya
Description: H'vack meets the newest Candidate
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 9 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Y'gel, D'arvn

Lanniya

They had decided to stay! As Lanniya skipped her way towards where she
had been told the barracks were, she paused and greeted several
dragons, some voices she recognized and some she didn't. The whole
situation was making her buzz with excitement. She would be able to
stay at the Weyr and best of all, they thought she could be paired
with a dragon!

She hurried into the barracks, found the office and bouncing on her
feet, knocked on the door.

"Enter," H'vack called out.

Opening the door, she stepped inside, a wide smile on her face.
"Hello!" She held out the token that D'arvn had given her. "D'arvn
gave this to me because Falzeth thinks I would be good for a dragon.
My name is Lanniya."

H'vack looked up at the young woman who entered. His gaze settled on
the token she carried before taking it into his hand.

"Have a seat," H'vack gestured towards the chair in front of his desk.
"It appears we need to get to know each other if Falzeth and D'arvn
have given you this. I am H'vack, Weyrlingmaster here. Tell my
Lanniya, how did you meet D'arvn and Falzeth?" He knew she wasn't from
the Weyr and wanted to hear more of her story.

Lanniya slid over to the seat and sat, near quivering with excitement
and her smile never left her face. "I arrived with the trader caravan
yesterday and while my grandparents were getting all settled, I saw
Aughashyth and went to say hello. I was talking to him and Falzeth
came over to meet me. He said I could be bonded with a dragon." She
paused to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. "Y'gel showed up and
then D'arvn came and gave me the token."

"It seems you've met quite a slew of riders and their dragons already.
Have you been around dragons much before you arrived here?" H'vack
asked, curious as to her boldness at approaching a bronze like
Aughashyth so easily. So many of those who were not raised in the Weyr
seemed hesitate when they first arrived. Not this girl.

"Oh no." She shook her head. "I never actually met one before
yesterday. I just listened to them when they were over head." She
paused. "They're much bigger in person."

Her words left him pause. His eyes scanning her to see if she realized
what she had just said. "What do you mean, you _listened_ to them when
they were overhead? You could hear the dragons?" He wanted to make
doubly sure he had heard right before he continued. It wasn't often
that one with such a talent came around.

She nodded. "Yes. Sometimes they got hurt and I hated hearing that
part, but they always made me feel safe. Y'gel and D'arvn said it was
pretty special that I could do that, but I've been able to since I can
remember."

H'vack restrained his smile. It would be _very_ interesting to get to
train this young lady. He hadn't had the pleasure of training anyone
with the ability to hear all dragons during his time on the weyrling
staff.

"Well, Lanniya, I must agree with them. It _is_ pretty special to be
able to hear all dragons. Tis a rare gift to be given and not one to
be taken lightly amongst dragonriders. It seems that the dragons have
chosen well. Do you fully accept the token to become a candidate? Do
you understand what it will mean if you do?"

Her brow furrowed for an instant as she considered it. "Well, I know I
have a lot to learn, but you know...I think anything I have to learn
will be worth it." Her frown disappeared to a sunny smile. "Just being
here is amazing, especially now that my grandparents don't think I'm
crazy. They did, you know."

"I can only imagine," H'vack said with a hint of a grin twitching the
side of his lips. "You will have much to learn, Lanniya, and some of
that will entail some very unique private lessons with myself and the
other weyrlingstaff. Your gift is special but you also must learn to
control it so it does not control you. Unlike where you were before,
you are now _surrounded_ by dragons. The sheer amount of them can
overwhelm someone with your gift." He paused and then began to explain
to her the basics of being a candidate. He needed to make sure she
understood exactly what she was agreeing to. He knew he would need to
begin her lessons soon in order to make sure she didn't become
overwhelmed.

Her bubbly demeanor never faltered. "You mean pushing them all to the
back of my mind when they get too loud?" She nearly bounced in her
seat, glad to be discussing her ability openly. "I had to do that
during Thread when they got hurt. I hated hearing it and so, I just
pushed it away..." She shrugged. "I can hear them now and I just kinda
filter them out unless they're really loud. Its harder to think then.
Like..." her eyes closed as her head tilted.

Her eyes sprang open immediately and she flushed bright red.

"Uhm...they didn't do _that_ during Fall." Her voice squeaked. "They
sound um...very busy right now."

H'vack was pleased by her words. The girl was definitely gifted for
sure. And the fact that she'd learned on her own to push their
thoughts to the back of her mind showed just how talented she truly
was.

Her next words left H'vack trying hard to conceal a grin. There still
was much the girl had to learn.

"I'm afraid that's part of life in the Weyr on a _very_ regular basis.
Once you get used to it you should be able to filter it out better."

She cleared her throat and fanned herself, her flush remaining. "Yes,
well..uhm...perhaps I do need help filtering a bit better. I don't
think that's something my grandparents would want me listening in on.
There's somethings I'm just not..uhm...ready for just yet."

"Focus on something totally unrelated to the dragons. A memory of your
own that does not involve them. As you do that, try and push aside the
thoughts and feelings you are getting now. It might take alot of
concentration for now because the dragon emotions are strong and new
to you, but this is a strategy that _will_ help you separate from
their thoughts and keep them at bay. You must, however, concentrate
hard on the other thought until it becomes easier for you with
practice." H'vack instructed, knowing he had to help the girl through
this now for she would experience _much_ more of it now that she was
at the Weyr. Flights were almost a daily occurrence at times.

She nodded slowly. "Okay. I can do that. But they're not new to me. I
used to listen to them over head all the time during Thread. They are
stronger here, though. And not as serious."

"Yes, they will be stronger here. They are closer and there are _many_
more dragons," H'vack responded. He had to admit he was impressed by
the girl's confidence and skill already. She looked to make a great
candidate and weyrling for sure.

"I think, my dear, that you are ready to begin your training as a
candidate. Unless you have any more questions or concerns for me, I'll
direct you to the candidate barracks and you can get settled in."

"Oh, I thought I was supposed to stay with my grandparents." Lanniya
frowned a little. "They're older and they kind of need my help."

H'vack frowned a bit at her words. He preferred the candidates to stay
in the candidate barracks, but there were many times where exceptions
were made.

"Well, I think we can allow that." Then he added, "Until the eggs are
on the Sands, that is. Once the eggs are laid, however, unless your
grandparents cannot be left alone, we'll expect you to move into the
candidate barracks from then until the Hatching. Does that sound
doable?"

Lanniya quickly nodded. "Oh yes. I can do that."

"Alright, that sounds fair then. We've been working on some early
classes with the candidates already. Once you get settled, you can
join us for class." H'vack shuffled some hides and finding one handed
it to her.

"Here is the list of classes for the next two sevendays. The sooner
you can join us the better. I would expect you no later than the start
of the next sevenday, but sooner if you can."

"I'll start right away." She flashed an eager smile as she took the
hides, nearly bouncing in her chair. Learning about dragons; it was
like a dream come true for her. "Thank you, Weyrlingmaster."

"You're welcome. Work hard lass for you have great potential here,"
With that H'vack turned his attention back to the task he'd been doing
when she'd arrived.

Last updated on the July 29th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Ready For Classes