Betweening

[Spirithawk]

((none of your characters attended a single lesson...so yeah they will not graduate...they will be graduating a few months before the Jr. W'lings become Sr. W'lings...you will have to go through and reply to every lesson we have in the archives and reply to this one last...thats how it will be for everyone))

[nike]

Nike nodded. The Healer put on her helmet, closed her jacket, put her gloves on, then checked her straps.
You ready? She asked Ruanth as they walked over to Rhia and Kia.
I have been since they day you flew me. Nike grinned, then stepped on the foreleg that was offered to her.
Through her goggles, she spotted the other rider's doing the same, but with much more diffucality.
The Healer laughed, then swugn her leg over the side, then strapped herself in.

Holding onto the riding strap, Nike turned to Rhia and grinned.
"Ready when you are, Wingsecond," She said saluting the brown rider.

[Spirithawk]

Rhia nodded and placed her own helmet on her head. She had snapped up her jacket while the W'lings were reading their assignments. She nodded to the greenrider that would be helping her and then stepped onto the forarm that the large brown offered to help her mount. She checked to make sure her straps were set and then looked up the Weyrleaders.

"So today is the big day huh? I am glad that you get to fly between today Nike. Kia, ready?"

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

Christae mounted Kaith. The golden Queen raised herself so that she could see all of the dragons waiting in the courtyard. "W'lings, V-formation. Wingleaders and Wingseconds, inspect their formation." Kaith leapt skyward with a powerful bound. She watched as the nearly full-grown Weyrlings rose into the sky, followed by the Wingleaders and Wingseconds to check their formation.

Every lesson started with an inspection. The older riders would make certain that the Weyrlings remembered their previous lessons. Satisfied that everything was in order, Christae told the W'lings to fly to where their assigned teachers hovered on their dragons, waiting.

"You will take your image from the dragon of your teacher. You MUST visualize your destination EVERY time you go between. If you do not give a clear destination, you will remain between. We cannot afford to lose you." Christae had Kaith give the message to the dragons as well so that her orders were reinforced. No dragon dared to disobey their Weyr Queen.

"Be certain that you visualize yourself rising in the air OVER your destination. There have been instances of Weyrling pairs winding up entombed in solid rock. Your first trips will be in places that you have been before. The Star Stones will be the destination you will return to every time. EVERY time. Don't get smart and try to appear above the Weyr Bowl or anywhere else. If you go to the wrong place, return immediately to the Star Stones."

"Remember the position of the sun when you are jumping. That and the Red Star will be your guide. NEVER fail to visualize. Do not go between until your mentor tells you. One of your teachers will remain here. The other will make the jump with you."

[nike]

((Should Nike dissappear the first time? Or later?))

Nike nodded, and grinned.
She turned her eyes to Chriaste. One then order of rising was given, Ruanth spread her wings a shot into the air.
Nike held on tight as she watched her formation. Looking to her left, Nike spotted Kia. A smile was on her lips as the white hovered, waiting for the next orders.
The two listened carefully to their Weyrwoman's orders. Nike already knew all this. Shaking her head, she was getting ready.

-------------

Sh'iron was already in the air, watching the dragons rise.
His eyes were keen on all the Weyrlings, but mainly Nike and Ruanth.
The two seemed good. Very good. He thought as he watched the white fly over to Rhia and the green rider.
He scanned each dragon's skills and flight patteren. All seems to be very good filers. The Weyrleader nodded as every so often a dragon faltered in flight, but caught himself quickly.

[Miki]

Kylath listened to the instructions carefully. Kia sipped up her jacket and patted Kylath's leg so she put it out. At first Kylath refused but her want to go between came over. She extended her leg and Kia stepped up. She jumped a bit to reach up and the stumbled up to her dragon's broad back.

She strapped herself up and Kylath stepped around a bit. "Get on with it," kia said loudly so her dragon heard her. Kylath gave a bit of a growl and bent her legs. She jumped into the air with her wings flapping wildly. She managed to cath the air below her wings and soared off.

Kia guided Kylath over to the left of Rhia. She looked to her right to see the little white and her rider.

It always seemed odd to her how much they fussed over Ruanth. Sure, they should give her a bit more attention but there had been a White before and he turned out alright. On the other hand, Kylath was a new color. Oh well, what was she to do? She would have to care enough for Kylath to be how much she felt everyone should. If anything went wrong she would do all she could.

[Tenma]

Reinath flew up and went into the practiced V-formation. Her wings beat powerfully as she rose up into the air. Miya held on tightly, the thrill of flying rushing through her veins. The wind lashed at her face, cooling off beads of sweat from standing around in the heavy clothing. The wind hit her hair, causing the strands to alter inside her helmet, and the loose locks danced in the air, whipping at her face.

Reinath too felt the excitement, and only Miya's strong hold kept her from trying to flip around and do aerial tricks, though they both new better.

Reinath took the image from Kaith and handed it off to Miya. The two studied the picture carefully, both equally afraid of what could happen.

~We are strong and we shall succeed.~ Miya said boldly.

Nothing can stop us. Not now. Reinath finished.

The two waited nervously for the command to go between but would not falter. They were there for each other.

[Spirithawk]

((later...about the third jump...there will be a series of jumps...*settles down to wait for the rest* Remember when you post that they have to go into V-formation before they go to their mentors...W'ling Queens fly under the V-formation))

[Dragon]

G'han hopped on Gerenanth and the two were in the air and watched as the two blues under their watch flew into v formation. Hydrath being the smaller blue struggled a bit but straightened out. They will get the hang of it mine do not worry. Remember how were were when we just learned how to fly. G'han nodded at the bronze but said nothing.

.................................

K'dan and Hydrath flew into v formation, when done they flew to G'han and Gerenanth. They recieved the image of where they would go and awaited the order to go between.

[Spirithawk]

"Do you have your coordinates?" Kaith made certain that the image was imprinted on the younger gold's mind. If the Weyr lost the Junior Queen so soon it would be disaster, even though Kaith was there. The weyr needed the two Queens to populate it.

Everyone is ready love. Once again, Kaith reinforced the rules in every dragon's mind. No one would dare to disobey her. "On my mark." Christae prepared to jump between with her charges. There were riders that would be waiting for the class's return jumps. Christae raised her hand in a Wingleader's salute and gave them the signal to go between

Black, Blacker, Blackest... Christae and Kaith emerged from the cold nothingness above the Star Stones, the first jump destination. Next they would go over to the large volcanic caldera that stood near their weyr. Every Weyrling knew that sight. She waited for them to emerge. They did not all emerge at the same time, which was to be expected. Dragons did not gain the ability to go between simultaneously and in formation the first time they went into the black void.

[nike]

Nike gripped the strap in front of her.
You ready? She asked the white below her.
It was odd. Sitting up here. Yes, she had flown a dragon many times before. Many, many times.
Tirith was one of the smaller dragons. Not that small, but still small. But she was big compared to Ruanth.

Unlike the white, Tirith had a larger neck, causing Nike's legs to be closer to the top. Barely hanging along the sides of the green's neck. But Ruanth. Her neck was small. The Healer's legs hung down along to sides, and danlged passed Ruanth's neck in their sturrips. It was also strange because she could feel Ruanth's breath and pulse even strong under her.
The mucles were closer, and Nike could sense when her white was faltering, or getting tired.

Closing her eyes, Nike gave the Star Stones visual, and gave the order to go /between./
Going /between/ on her own dragon for the first time in over a Turn.

[Tenma]

On my mark. Miya held tightly to the riding straps and bent over low so that her head was close so Reinath's golden scales. As Christae's hand went up Miya took a deep breath to prepare herself for the transfer, but she knew she wasn't really ready.

Reinath saw the hand go up and immediantly went between, not wanting to falter. She said she would do it and she would not wait.

Miya felt the shock of between like she ran into a wall. She held her breath and began to panic. She couldn't feel Reinath below her or the straps which she held onto. She no longer saw Reinath's golden scales by her head, in fact, she couldn't see anything. The air was cold, yet it felt like there was no air at all.

Reinath only concentrated on the picture, ignoring everything else. She jammed the picture into her rider's mind, whether her mine was willing to accept it or not. She sensed Miya's fear but she concentrated on the picture.

The two erupted by the star stones, but next to it instead of above. Reinath swerved to the side to evade the impact, then dropped down from the shock of coming from between. She let out her wings and caught the air quickly regaining her composure. She flew closer to Kaith.

Miya breathed heavily as the two left the nothingness of between. Her eyes were wide with shock, only to see the star stones right ahead. She clung on tightly, her head bent down in fear.

It is ok mine. We are safe now. Reinath reported though her voice held hint of fear as well.

The two took a minute to relax, glad that Kaith and Christae were the only two there. We are good. Reinath reported to Kaith. Luckily, fear no longer echoed in her voice.

[Spirithawk]

Miya panics. Kaith reported. Christae gripped the ridge in front of her, her face paling. They could not lose the gold pair. As much as Miya frustrated her, Christae had grown to appreciate the girl's stubbornness. In Threadfall, that stubbornness could be channeled to keep a rider from passing and sending his dragon between.

Christae watched the sky frantically, preparing to go between after the pair if she needed too. She heard the rush of wings and a heavy body in flight and looked to the side. She gave a cheer of relief. "You did it Miya. Good Reinath. Next time, though make certain the image is fixed in your mind. Please don't scare me like that again. I don't want to have to send Kaith between to find you guys."

Christae had Kaith relay the message to Reinath so that she was certain that Miya got the message. Christae remembered her first time between. He had been scared as well but she hadn't lost track of her destination. Another weyrling had, and he had nearly been lost in the cold nothingness.

((dragons dont have scales they have hide))

[Dragon]

K'dan gripped the straps and told Hydrath he was ready. The pair went between. K'dan felt nothing but the coldness. He was deprived of all his senses it seemed but the feeling of the cold. Do not panic mine. K'dan was reassured by his dragon and kept the image fixated in his head. The two emerged from between over the star stones. K'dan had his eyes closed and gave a shiver. His first time between and he made it, he was relieved at that thought and the fear dissolved a bit. Besides he would have to learn how to go between because of the plans he made with Nike and he would not let her down by giving in to the fear of such an unknown thing to him. K'dan shook his head and opened his eyes to see they were indeed in the right place. I told you we would make it mine.

[Tenma]

((Sorry. I keep putting scales because I read a lot of different books about dragons and the more recent ones I have read, like Eldest, The Fire Within, and Icefire, all say scales.))

The two nodded in unison and took a moment to catch their breath. Then K'dan and Hydrath appeared from between. They flew smoothly. Reinath snorted and Miya glared as they realized that the blue and rider had done better.

~We just started. Once we practice a bit we will be just as good, if not better.~ Miya stated. Her eyes wandered to the open air, looking for other to come from between.

[nike]

The cold of /between/ was a slight shock to Nike, but quickly came back to her.
The feeling of nothingness. She couldn't feel anything. Her hands, her legs, and most of all, Ruanth.
Painful memories came back to her as she and her dragons were suspened in the darkness.

Tirith. Tirith going away to the coldness. Feeling like she was always stuck in /between./
These thoughts seemed to drag on, but only lasted a heartbeat.

Green eyes opened as she and Ruanth exploded from /between./ The sudden shock of cold ot warmth made shivers go up and down Nike's spine. She was breathless with this.
She had only gone /between/ twice since Tirith's death. Once to go to the Healer Hall, and once to go back. Each time, it got harder, and felt that Nike was forever going to be stuck there. But coming out on Ruanth, made pride fill in her heart.
She had done it. She no longer had the fear that dwelled in the back of her mind.
A fear that she didn't take too much notice to until right before going /between./
They had done it.

I'm so very proud of you! Nike told Ruanth, giving a pat on the white's neck.
Ruanth had come out of /between/ a little higher, and futher away from the rest of the group, and had glided down to the rest.
Thank you. I knew that I could do it. I was worried about you. You had fear in you. BUt now it is gone. I am proud.
Thank you.

[Miki]

Kia held tight to her dragon. Kylath seemed relaxed. She obviously believed in herself, perhaps a bit too much. She listened to the instruction and nodded. She had no intention of breaking them. She recieved the image and gave it to her Mine.[shadow=red,left,300]Ready?[/shadow]Yes. Not at all. [shadow=red,left,300]Sure?[/shadow]Yes. Not at all.

Kia gripped tighter and put the image in her head. The copper did the same. At the signal Kia stalled her dragon. Everyone disappeared and Kia began to panic. [shadow=red,left,300]Mine! Calm yourself![/shadow]Kia took a deep breath and a few seconds after everyone else they were gone.

Black...Blacker...Blackest...

Between was impossible to describe. It was freezing for lack of heat. It was dark for lack of light. Kia shivered in her loads of clothing. She tried to breath but there was no air. She coughed but there was nothing. Kylath sensed her bonded's worry but she refused to stray far from the image. Kia heard nothing from her dragon. Where was Kyalth? It was so dark- she couldn't see her. She couldn't see her hand in front of her. Nothing... nothing.

Kylath bursted from between with Kia coughing on her back. She struggled for breath and her eyes were wide, her pupils huge. They ended up beside the stone and Kylath was almost touching the ground. She had gotten to off track. She wasn't thinking hard enough. Kylath landed and allowed Kia to catch her breath. [shadow=red,left,300]Mine, are you okay?[/shadow] Kia wheezed a yes and her Copper jumped into the air. She got into her position and awaited there next command. Kia regained her composure and looked at the Weyrwoman.

[nike]

Nike turned to Christae, waiting for the next directions. Her heart was pounding her her chest.
From pride, and so many other feelings. Swallowing, the Healer glanced quickly around to see who else had come out with her.
Miya, Kia, and K'dan. Where were the others.
That was when the thought came to her. What had happened to all the other riders from Ruanth's Clutch.
They had all seemed to dissappear some how. That had happened the same way with Tirith's clutch.

Shaking her head of these odd thoughts, Nike and Ruanth turned back to look at Chrisate.
Waiting.

[Spirithawk]

Christae noted with relief that all of the young Weyrlings had made it safely back. Kaith bugled encouragement to her children, her voice containing pride. I told you they would all make it. ~So you did love.~

Christae raised her hand to silence everyone who was talking. "Good. Very good. Now you are ready for your second jump. This time you will go from here to the caldera that is on the top of the volcano that makes up DMW. You have all been there at one point or another so you should all have an idea of where you are going. Take your images from your mentor's dragon and be ready when I give the singal"

The great gold's large wings fanned the air as she transmitted the images to all of the dragons. The Weyrlings were supposed to double check with their mentor dragons just to make sure they knew where they were going. When they had all given sign that they were ready Christae ordered them between. She emerged and waited for her charges to come out as well.

[Dragon]

K'dan nodded and looked to G'han. Once he doubled checked with the bronze rider he went between. The feeling was same as before, devoid of all senses but the feeling of the peircing cold. K'dan soon emerged from between and gave another shudder. His hands gripped the straps tightly, he shook his head violently and soon stopped and opened his eyes. "I don't ever think I will get use to that feeling", he said and patted his dragon. Do not worry mine, you will get use to it soon and no longer be afraid. K'dan glared at his dragon but said nothing. He looked around before finding G'han and Christae. He seemed to get it right, atleast he was doing that much but the bitter between still struck fear in K'dan. He would have to face it though and this was the best way to do it, with everyone else. He exhaled and took in a deep breath before his breathing returned to normal. He soon regained his composure and straightened his jacket out a bit as he awaited for the others to emerge from between.

[Tenma]

Reinath received the image and gave it to Miya. The gold then double checked with her clutch-mother just to make sure. The two were as ready as they would ever be, but still worried.

Do not worry mine. We made it last time and we will make it again. Reinath said bravely though she didn't feal as sure as she made her rider believe.

Miya nodded. If Reinath wasn't scared then she wouldn't be. She took a deep breath. "Let's go." She said sharply.

The moment Miya finished her command Reinath pushed herself between.

The same empty feeling filled every nerve and she shivered involuntarily. The goldrider held on tight, but she couldn't feel what she was holding onto or even her hand, so it made her uncomfortable.

Reinath appeared from between right in the place directed. SHe bugled proudly to all already there. Are you all right mine? The gold asked still proud.

Miya burst into excitment when she realized they made it. ~All right? I am shocked, amazed. You did it. You did it you lovely lump of gold hide!~ She shouted in her mind. She leaned over to hug her bonded with excitment.