Whipping them Into Shape (All Candidates)

[Spirithawk]

Rhia rang the bell set in front of the Candidate Barracks, using the peal she had set for the Candidate sequence. They didn't know that sequence yet, and she was pretty sure she'd probably get some weyrlings coming to see what was going on but their lesson came later. It was the crack of dawn, the day after Kaith's clutching, and she was behind in her lessons, very behind.

She prodded her dragon's mind with her own, feeling him stir sleepily. Her twins were curled up with their canine in the pup's basket. The brownrider had finally given in and gotten a bigger basket and let the kids sleep with the canine.

Mneith, can you wake up for a moment to call the Candidates?

All Candidates, report to the weyrbowl. He boomed in the heads of the weyrfolk. He didn't know all the candidates yet to speak to them individually and he didn't really care if everyone was miffed with him for waking them up. They could go back to sleep like he was doing. The huge brown almost felt sorry for the students. He would be flying down to join his rider later, but wouldn't actually be needed until the next sevenday when they had a lesson on dragon anatomy.

There was a month before the hatching, and the Candidates had much to learn.

[D'vraid]

D'vraid and Baneth circled the weyr early in the morning seeing what it looked like during the day. He smiled softly as he felt a dragon penetrate his mind and speak loudly to him, 'All Candidates, report to the weyrbowl.' If he wasn't already up and awake D'vraid would have probably found that very annoying but it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would.

He chuckled as Baneth told him that the time for scouting was over and that he needed to get down there to help out Rhia. D'vraid chuckled as Baneth landed on the ground and allowed him off. Stepping down onto the ground his boots pushing aside the grass. He then started walking toward the location of Rhia not really knowing what she had planned today but he would help either way.

As he arrived at Rhia's location his bowed his head lightly looking into her eyes with respect," Rider Rhia. My name is D'vraid and I am here to help you with your candidates if you need my help. If not I hope you don't mind me watching so as that one day I can take up the position of Candidate master." D'vraid was being very calm, thoughtful, and regal. It goes to say he was thought how to be nice to a lady by his father and by watching other riders around ladies.

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Report to the weyrbowl? Why? Well ... nevermind that. Orena hopped on one foot for a moment as she tried to get into her pants. Having decided against a skirt today, she was donning something a bit different. Which wasn't all that unusual for the tailor. Clothes she liked, and randomly changing them out was something she also liked. Tying them securely at the top, she grabbed at a shirt to pull over her head. The bowl wasn't a bad place ... rather clean, actually. With that knowledge in mind, she forewent any shoes at all, wiggling her toes happily in the freedom.

Bouncing forward, she dived for the door. "Nemisis!" She called, slamming through the door and sprinting across the open way to the bowl. Behind her, the copper flit dropped off of her perch and sailed after her, chirping loudly in indignation. It was too early to already be getting into things!!

It did not take Orena long, to reach the spot right next to where Rhia was, and bounce lightly on her toes with a big grin plastered on her face. "Reporting!" She practically cheered. Nemisis fluttered, and landed delicately on her pet's shoulder, before striking an imperious air, snout lifted a bit. At the moment, she was feeling rather self-important, and everyone had better notice.

[Minajerie]

A booming voice woke Andilay from her slumber. It made her a little miffed, but over all, she was used to getting up early. Ah, well, looked like her plans for sleeping in this day had been nipped in the bud.

She stretched and covered a yawn as she got out of the bed that wasn't her own. She had been sleeping in G'han's weyr off and on. She like being with him for the few moments when he wasn't busy. Sure they weren't exactly in a 'relationship'. In fact, she didn't know just what exactly they were to each other... but she felt it was just a tad bit more that friends with benefits. Too bad G'han was so grumpy lately. She missed her playful bronzerider. The one she seduced a day after the last hatching feast.

Andilay dragged on her leathers. Her usual clothing and made sure her wicked knife was secure in it's sheath at the small of her back. She had gotten used to it being there instead of in her boot. She had moved it when she had stopped wearing her sword everywhere. If she wasn't going far, or just about the weyr, her wicked knife was enough for basic defense. Sliding the blade out a bit to make sure it was clear, she replaced it and turned to run a brush through her hair. She waggled her fingers at her flitter, Mistress, whom was comfortably curled up in a basket containing one of Andilay's ruined shirts. At her chosen's gesture, the little one perked up and flew to Andilay's shoulder. Andilay nabbed a piece of fruit from a bowl by the door and took a bite, breaking off a piece for Mistress as well. She grabbed two more pieces and stuck them in her pockets and then she was out the door.

She braided her hair in the halls. Her long legs eating up the distance between herself and the weyrbowl. She was an older candidate, but her first lesson had literally been interrupted by the hatching. Not something likely to happen this time because the clutch had just been laid. She hoped to learn more this time. Of course, Rayn had been passing on knowledge that she had been receiving from her weyrling lessons, Andilay felt that they would mean more once she had a dragon.

Luckily she got no bad feelings this time around when she stepped into the weyrbowl. There was no futility in her actions. Her intuition was a perturbing thing- and sometimes it confused her... but it always came through for her in tight spots, and had saved her life on more than one occasion.

As she neared Rhia, the Candidate Master, Andilay spotted another candidate like herself and nodded a greeting.. Mistress noticed her clutch-sister and gave a small squeak of recognition.

"Andilay present, Master Rhia."

[Akki]

Faine was already awake when Mneith’s voice rumbled in her head but she was facing a dilemma.

She had finished making her cot twice now and was about to do it a third time when the dragon interrupted. She could either be late or ditch the cot and have it bother her all day long ‘Your cot is unmade Faine! You only did it twice! You’re a slob, a mess!’. She chewed on her lip violently, trying to make up her mind. She closed her eyes and let hr hands meld into a flurry of action, furs being arranged properly.

Soon as the cot was done, she bolted. When she arrived at the Weyrbowl, she was five minutes late. “Sorry!” She gasped, coming to a sudden stop beside Andilay. “I was having some issues.” She laughed quietly before lifting her hand to her forehead and gave a small salute, “Faine is present!”

She rested her hands on her knees and peered around, nodding to Orena and Andilay before lifting her eyes to the man there. She pointed a finger at D’vraid, with no rude intentions behind it, “Excuse me sir, but you’re not a candidate right?”

Too old to be one!

[Kandarra]

Jerodyn awoke suddenly to the unfamiliar sound of a voice booming-- but not really booming, as it was in her head, that was confusing-- for all Candidates to report to the Weyr Bowl. She calmly swung her legs out of bed and dressed, her back to the others in the barracks. Making sure her clothes looked tidy and presentable, she found what looked to be the most promising portal to the outdoors and went through it.

Sure enough, she walked out into the Weyr Bowl, where she could see several people gathered. As she made her way over, she noticed several others as young or younger than herself, and then two older riders, both brown. But that was a woman! She shook her head, wondering for a moment if she'd mixed up the knots in her head. But she couldn't have. The woman was unmistakably a brownrider. How interesting, she thought. I didn't even know that was possible.

Not knowing which was the one she was to report to, or if it was both, she simply walked up to both of them and said formally, "Sir, Ma'am, Candidate Jerodyn reporting."

[Spirithawk]

Rhia watched as people began to approach her. She had heard about the arrival of the brownrider who hoped to one day become a Candidate Master. She was more than happy to train him for the position. Christae had told her about him, but she hadn't had the chance to meet him. She had been too busy trying to figure out if Christae's plan to bring the weyrlings to wing status quickly would work. Few knew about the plan. It was dangerous, and had to be planned carefully. The strain showed in the brownrider's face.

"It is a pleasure to meet you D'vraid." Technically her title was Canidate Master Rhia, but she was that only to her pupils. "Please, we will be working closely together." Once she left with the weyrlings there would need to be someone to handle the incoming Candidates. If D'vraid was ready, then he would take over. She wasn't sure yet if Akki and Ebbeth were part of the planned excursion in time, but if not, then Akki would help him.

Rhia didn't know the rather bouncy girl who arrived first. "I am Candidate Master Rhia, your name please Candidate?" The rider took in the girl's garb and frowned at the lack of shoes. "I'm afraid I will have to ask you to return to your room and come back when you have proper footgear on. We will be exercising and exploring today and there are stones that will not be pleasant to your feet, and dangerous to boot. Hurry though, or you'll be late." The Candidate Master's voice was firm, but not unkind.

When Andilay arrived, Rhia nodded. "I'm glad to see that you stayed. That wound healed up well?" She asked, remembering the Candidate's injuries. "I look forward to seeing what you Impress, and you too Faine." She said as the other girl arrived. "You are not late. It seems some of your fellows are even slower than you are. That shall be fixed." Again, her tone was matter of fact rather than mean. She expected to be obeyed without question, though that did not always happen.

Rhia didn't miss the confused look the girl gave her. She was used to it. "Welcome Candidate Jerodyn. I am Candidate Master Rhia, rider of brown Mneith. This is our new Assistant Candidate Master, D'vraid of brown Baneth."

She cast her grey eyes about the Bowl, looking for more Candidates. She hoped she didn't have to find them and dump them out of their beds, but she would do it if need be. She knew there were more candidates than this. The brownrider turned to her new assisstant. "We may have to dig them out of their beds."

[Marnark’tranarprol]

Orena bounced once on her toes, before settling to her heels to listen to Rhia with a sober expression. Then she lit up again, nodded quickly, and took off running back the way she'd come, Nemisis in all a flutter after her. Speeding back to her room, she scrounged around until she managed to find her shoes and put them on. "Shoes, shoes. Everyone is so stuck on shoes." She muttered, though not darkly. Jumping back to her feet once they were on, she bounced twice to settle them on her feet before pelting back out the door again and back into the yard where Rhia and the others were waiting. When she got there, she wrapped Jerodyn in a hug. "Goodmorning!" She greeted, with a big grin on her face.

[mc16neo]

Kegin woke to the loud noise in his head. He was used to waking at dawn so it wasn't much of a problem. He stood and quickly dressed. His mind already racing to find out why the call. He wasn't in trouble. The call was for all candidates. So it wasn't that bad. He went to where all the others were waiting. He saw Orena but decided to keep away from her. He still felt a bit ripped by her running from him. He sighed and stood ready for instruction.

His mind began to see what was going on. Maybe it was to get ready for the hatching. So many things to do. He never thought it would be this hard to be a candidate. the chores he could do no problem. But when it came down to these random things he couldn't help but think things were rough. Kegin looked at the one in charge.

Then he began to look down the line. he saw many people. Most he didn't know. Actually other then Orena there was none he knew. Maybe he should get to know them better. After all he would spend many turns with any or all of them. Who knew? (So what is going to happen? Are we going to be yelled at? The dragon sounded like we might. I almost went deaf if that were possible that way.) He thought.

[Drgnwlf71]

Kalaht groaned. Report to the weyrbowl. Humpf! For what reason. He sighed inwardly. What time was it? He looked outside and moaned. Ohhh, its dawn. The sun was barely kissing daylight. He wasn't used to getting up -this- early. He slowly got up and then his feet touched the stone floor. He yelped. That floor was cold! That was enough to wake his lazy arse up!

Kalaht got dressed rather quickly and shot out the door, almost tripping on the way out. He ran toward the other and almost bumped into Kegin. "I'm sorry, sir. Just excited." Breathless, he dusted his pants off. Luckly there wasn't a rip in the boy's trousers. He stood as he waited for further orders.

[Minajerie]

The medium sized blue popped out of between, just in time to hear part of the message. His rider turned to his passenger- a rather buxom red head- and relayed the message. "Apparently you have arrived in time for a lesson. We'll land inside the weyrbowl- close enough to the lesson that you don't have to run a great distance, but far enough away so Eberith here doesn't blow them away."

The blue rumbled under him as he snatched another look at his passenger. Why wouldn't she stay at Ista? They would have a clutch soon as well... she was such a comely lass.

But apparently she had family here she didn't want to be apart from. The bluerider shrugged as his dragon lazily swirled in for a landing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was here! Her brother's weyr! Oh, it looked wonderful. She felt a sense of home at the sight of it. Her brother was here. Her sisters had been sad to see her go... their father had been rather stubborn. But she wanted to stand again and test her luck for a hatchling- so she had been stubborn too- all for those little jem like darlings that sparkled in the sky.

She rubbed an arm as the rider that bore her here said something about a lesson. Oh, goody! She got to join a Candidate lesson right off the bat! Sure, she had been to quite a few at Ista, but that was there, not here. Here she would be visiting with new people... people who may become clutch mates!

She couldn't wait to see the look on R'khol's face when he saw her here, a candidate for his first clutch as a Weyrleader!! She was so proud of him. Sure, it was all due to Kegrith's stamina in the air... but R'khol would make a good leader. He was kind and fair. Compassionate in all the right ways!! And yes... she may be a tad biased... but what little sister wasn't?

There was a slight jostling as the blue landed, which brought Blissy out of her thoughts bordering on revery. The rider hopped down and offered her a helping hand.

"Oh, thank you so much!" She smiled and accepted his help, batting her lashes at him a bit flirtatiously. What? He was cute! And such a sweetie. She smiled again as she noticed the riders faint blush. Very cute.

"I'll see you to the Candidate Master. I believe her name is Rhia- make sure you show her the proper respect. Follow me, I'll introduce you."

A master was a master, correct? She would show this person the proper respect as her mother and sisters had taught her. She was no daft woman to be sassing those with authority. Well.... okay. Maybe only when they deserved it. But she hadn't met many who had. Those she had met with that kind of power had earned it, so deserved every ounce of respect she could muster. As a Master of her brother's weyr, she would give her no less.

And as they neared the group, Blissy scanned the growing group. So far it was mostly females around her own age. This was good! She had had few girlfriends at the hold, being surrounded by children. She would say she talked more with their mother's than with girls her own age. This would be good for her.

When the rider made it to the Master, he made true to his word and introduced her. "This is Candidate Blissy, Candidate Master Rhia. She wished to transfer to be closer to a family member at this weyr."

Blissy stepped up beside the rider and gave a respectful bow to the master. "Hello, Blissy is reporting for this lesson. Should I leave my things here, or take them with me?" She gestured to the duffel-like bag she had hanging behind her rear, the strap being thrown diagonally across her body and making her ample bosom even more prominent. She also had a backpack, but that she carried.

[D'vraid]

D'vraid watched all of the slower candidates arrive and chuckled. He knew that this definitely was not all the candidates that they had in Dark Moon Weyr. He then spoke to Baneth laughing to himself,'You remember the day I told you that I was late for a candidate lesson and my candidate master tipped over the bed? Looks like I'll be doing that here today as well.'

Baneth chuckled lightly at this as he responded to his beloved rider still flying about in the air,'By the egg D'vraid you better watch yourself some of your candidates seem a bit irritated to be woken up so early from thier slumber.' David laughed at this as he looked at Candidate Master Rhia.

"Seems my dragon is concerned about some of these candidates of ours." He chuckled looking at everyone; his eyes searching theirs, then finally coming to rest back to Rhia as he smiled.

[Kino]

While some of the other candidates might have started to stir when the bell had begun ringing, Naret had stayed sound asleep in his bunk in the temporary barracks, completely oblivious. It wasn't until the voice boomed out into the minds of everyone living in the Weyr that he was startled awake. The words in his mind had been in a voice that was very distinctly not any that he had ever thought in, and for a moment Naret just stared at the ceiling in a bit of shock. He couldn't figure out what he was hearing...especially since he wasn't able to hear anything, and so he wasn't entirely sure if he'd just imagined it or not.

Naret pushed himself up on his bunk a bit and looked around the room, noticing the others in the barracks starting to move and get ready to go somewhere. He was still a bit confused at having heard someone else's voice, but considering the message and the movement of the other candidates he figured he could hazard a guess that it had been from a dragon - presumably the candidate master's. Naret swung his legs over the edge of his bed, got to his feet, and quickly began to dress.

Within a few moments he had his clothes on. He slipped his feet into his boots, quickly laced and tied them, and then made his way after the other candidates who had already begun to file out and towards the area he'd been told would be where the candidate lessons would be gathering. He also knew there was supposed to be some sort of bell to call the candidates to lessons, and he had no idea how much time had passed between the bell ringing and the call from the dragon that he had actually heard, so on his way to the lessons he scribbled down a note for greeting. When he got to where the candidate master was with the other candidates, Naret walked over to the candidate master and offered a smile, handing the note over as he did so.

Hello Candidate Master, Naret reporting in.
Apologies if late, couldn't hear bell.

[seneth]

Predawn found Bicran in the one place he felt at home, the runner stalls. With its familiar setting, sounds and smells, he’d gone to check up on his borrowed runner. The poor beast wasn’t as used to dragons as the owner had claimed, so after a brief discussion with the stablemaster he’d set it out for an early run. Dragons where creatures of the day, or so the stablemaster had said. As Bicran settled into the routine of cleaning, putting out fresh bedding and food. Whilst his young canine did anything in its power to distract him.

By the time the bell tolled, Bicran was brushing the dust off his clothes and sharing a quick Klah with the stablemaster. His canine lay curled and exhausted in an empty stall. With thoughts of changing out of his sturdy hide clothing and boots, he blinked at the summoning. He had other things to do, not to mention collecting the runner before the dragons started flying about. Also there was the young canine to watch over... Still debating on what to do, he found himself nudged in the direction of the Weyrbowl.

“Wouldn’t be good to be too late for your first lesson,” The stablemaster had chuckled, reassuring the lad he’d take care of his beasts.

With a wave and a grin, Bicran's long legs carried him easily into the Weyrbowl and towards the gathering group of Candidates. Pale blue eyes running along the unfamiliar faces, as he offered a hasty introduction. “Bicran…Candidate Bicran, sorry fer bein‘ late…”

[catilena1890]

Daelan nervously entered the weyrbowl after Relina explained the booming voice of the dragon Mneith, ridden by the Candidate Master Rhia. She led him quietly to the bowl and said nothing as she walked away, leaving him there. Now Daelan entered the place quietly and stood a good distance next to Bicran.

"C-candidate Daelan here, uh..." He looked back and forth from the dragon to it`s rider, unsure of who to address, for this was his first Candidate Lesson and his first time actually being in close proximity with a dragon and it`s rider. He was very unsure of himself and made every attempt to hide it, to little avail, as everyone who saw him could see him shaking ever so slightly.

[Kandarra]

Jerodyn was normally a very observant person, but it was early morning and she happened to be looking in quite the opposite direction when she suddenly felt someone squeezing her. Startled, she whipped her head around to see Orena, the girl she'd met the day before, hugging her.

Doing her best to disentangle herself from the hug without offending the other girl, she said, "Good morning." She looked around. "Aren't there more candidates than this?" she asked, gesturing to show that only a few others were there. "I would think they would be excited to take the first step towards being a dragonrider And there was that horrible bell going off." She sniffed a bit haughtily at the knowledge that she was being one of the responsible ones.

[Akki]

Faine had to admit that she was a little bit surprised by the amount of candidates. There were so many new faces! Why had she not seen so many of them before?

Maybe because she was too busy trying to make sure her cot was in perfect order.

She stared at one boy, a jumpy little feller. He had entered a bit later and seemed to be pausing when greeting the CandidateMaster. Faine smiled at Daelan and supplied, “Master Rhia and Mneith.” She lowered her voice slightly, “I dunno who the man is though.” She had mistaken his pause as him forgetting the names and not Daelan just not being sure of which one to greet.

Faine looked away and more or less zoned out, waiting for the lesson to start. People were coming in late and it was too early in the morning for her to pay attention to nothing. She sort of wanted to sit down on the ground but knew that that probably wouldn’t be such a good idea. So instead she let her eyes wander and did what she thought was fun.

Count how many candidates there were.

One…two…three…

[mc16neo]

Kegin was beginning to get anxious. He didn't like to not know what was going on. It was partially a good thing that the Candidate master wasn't paying any attention to him. To that is completely a good thing. He didn't mind the Candidate master, but was still nervous as she looked over them. He couldn't help it any longer. He looked at the other candidates and wanted to see their faces. What where they thinking was going on? What were they waiting for?"

Kegin wanted to ask what was this for but he knew better. He would need to wait patiently. Maybe thinking of it as waiting for the next attack of his brother might help. Always ready, waiting to protect himself and strike as much as he could. On the other hand that might not be a good idea. Someone surprise him he might strike out. He took a deep breath to calm down. He was the odd man out. He was getting surprisingly bored. He began to wonder if there was something fun to do while standing in line. He looked around once more and began to think. What could he do? Maybe the Candidate master will tell them they are doing training. Kegin enjoyed training. Thought it fun. Maybe it was hand to hand combat. That would be wonderful. Kegin began to smile and decided it wasn't so bad to wait.

[catilena1890]

Soon after Daelan entered Catilena made her way into the room, crashing into Faine while attempting to stop herself.

"Oomph! Sorry! Candidate Catilena here! Sorry if I`m late, my sister Relina just now told me where this place was." She babbled, staring at everyone around her and then turning her attention back to Faine.

"Sorry about that hun, Relina says I need to slow down, heh, what`s your name?" She asked excitedly, holding her hand out to Faine to help her back up.

[Spirithawk]

OOC: Kitty hun, Relina wouldn't have been near Daelan to lead him to the Weyr Bowl. She's a weyrling, and he's a Candidate. They would be staying in different places, and I did say that Mneith called out while everyone was asleep. If he needs directions to the bowl, then he's a lost cause . If you had read my first post, they are meeting in the Bowl, and it is pretty easy to see where Rhia is. Thank you.