Post by Zen on Oct 14, 2013 21:43:24 GMT -5
K’ton had called the youngest weyrlings, though his Bronze Sorth, to meet him down in the hotsprings caves for their first real lesson. It was the day after the Hatching, the weyrlings all should have had breakfast by now, and though they had been provided with meat to feed their ravenous new lifemates throughout today, tomorrow would begin the meat butchering lesson so they could feed their own bottomless pits rather than relying on someone else to do so. However, today they needed to learn how to properly bathe and oil the little beasts, so the butchering lesson would have to be put off a day. Only THEY could bathe and oil their hatchlings, they were too young to want anyone else touching them really, but anyone could chop up meat.
After the whole of the small class of twelve had arrived, K’ton got right into it, not wanting to waste any time. The older weyrlings were preparing for their first manned flights and he wanted to get back to them. The first few month’s lessons were horribly tedious. He would leave this class with Amaril after he had given initial instructions and seen them get started. “All right! Listen up because I don’t repeat myself. I am NOT that fool, S’bol, the sooner you learn that the better!” He paused, giving them all a hard stare. Their easy days of candidacy with their ever smiling dimglow candidatemaster were over. “I’m sure you learned this in candidate lessons, but you’ll see it for yourselves soon enough. Hatchlings grow constantly and they grow FAST. They need constant attention to their hides to prevent cracking and infection. That includes plenty of bathing and oiling. Starting out, you will feed your dragon every morning and after they have finished you will bring them down here for a bath in the hotsprings. They will get too big to come down here eventually, as some of the older weyrlings already have, and you will take them to the lake for bathing instead when that happens.”
He was gracious enough to pause ever so briefly, though whether it was to give them a break to absorb information or simply because he need a breath was questionable, “After you have thoroughly bathed them and dried them off, you will oil them, generously. It will keep their hides supple and soft, keeping it from cracking as they grow. If you think you are oiling them too much, you are not. If you think you are oiling them too little, you probably are, so oil them more until their hide shines like a metallic. All the supplies you need for bathing and oiling them are located in the supply cavern to your right, beside the entrance to the hotsprings.” He jerked his head in that general direction. The weyrlings had all passed it coming in so they should have seen it, and if they didn’t have the wherewithal to notice a gaping hole in the side of the cavern then Faranth help them in Threadfall.
“Go get a soft brush and a pail full of sweetsand each and start bathing your dragons. When you’ve scrubbed every bit of them you may move on to drying them with a soft towel and then start oiling. There are tubs of oil in the supply room. Use your sweetsand pails and fill them with oil instead. Slop it on and rub it into your dragon’s hide. You are NOT to use gloves. It’s best for you to feel just how much oil you’re using and how your dragon’s hide feels when it has differing amounts rubbed in. When you’re finished your dragon should have a smooth, soft hide. If they have developed rough patches, which they will but probably haven’t yet, you will focus on those areas and add even more oil, rub it in firmly but gently, until it starts to become smoother. It won’t go away in a day. It will need multiple treatments and you will apply oil to these spots throughout the day until they are gone, rather than just after bathing. Any questions? If not, hurry up and get started.” He surveyed the class, hands clasped behind his back and a seemingly permanent scowl upon his face. He clearly wasn’t expecting there to be any questions.
OOC: Lessons aren't required here, they just offer some common ground for interactions with others in your weyrling class. Post or don't, it will be assumed your character is here and participating whether you do or not.