A World Between [Worlds Apart Betweening Lessons]

[Zen]

10th Pass, 6th Turn, 10th Month
Turn 2761, Autumn

K'ton

Sorth had called the class to the base of the plateau, as the weyrlings had about outgrown the ability to all gather atop the plateau as they had in the past. Today they would see who truly had it in them be a dragonrider, and if there were any in the class that fell short. The first time a rider betweened with their dragon was always a risk. Being the one in control was too much for some, and they panicked, unable to hold their return image, and then they never returned. K’ton had grown rather used to losing at least one from every class to betweening lessons. Back in Mirran losing one or two from each class was normal, so he considered his own losses as Weyrlingmaster to be acceptable, particularly when they were largely blue and green riders. His gaze narrowed first on Mizao and then on Karo. And sometimes they were abominations that shouldn’t have existed in the first place. In Mirran hatchlings had the sense to choose proper riders, though the odd woman on a blue popped up now and then. Not like here, where some girl bonded a blue nearly every clutch it seemed. And now browns. It was like some sort of blasphemy.

Realizing he’d been staring at the two girls for some time now, he turned away from them to address the class at large, “I hope you’ve all been taking your visualization practices seriously, because today is your test, and if you find yourself unprepared you won’t have much time to lament your lack of preparation.” He clasped his hands behind his back as he glanced over them all. Which one might be lost today? With any luck, one or both of the abominations in the class. Girls were not meant to ride browns. “You will each take a turn traveling between with me. You have been practicing visualizations of the Little Island, and that is where we will be going. You will form the image and then give it to your dragon. Your dragon will then give it to Sorth and Sorth will share it with me. If I do not find the image acceptable, I will correct it and Sorth will give it back to your dragon, who will give it back to you. Once you have an approved image focused in your mind, I will give you the signal to between. We will between to the Little Island, and then we will between back here using the image you’ve been practicing of the plateau. Once you have taken your turn, you will wait with the rest of the class until everyone has gone and then you will be dismissed for the day. You are not allowed to between without supervision until I tell you otherwise. Now then, are there any volunteers to go first, or am I picking the lucky first go?”

When Cirene indicated her intent to go first, K’ton frowned at her before turning to mount Sorth, “Mount your dragon then, and follow me to a safe betweening height!” He did not wait for Cirene to be ready before he had Sorth lifting into the air.

OOC: tovaana volunteered Cirene and Imperath to go first, so while everyone else is free to post being at the lesson, no one should be posting about their character betweening until Muze has gone. After she has taken her turn, the next person to post can jump in and take their turn if they want. You may control K’ton when it’s your character’s turn to go between, as he will be betweening with you and approving your coordinates.

[tovaana]

Weyrling Cirene :: Blue Imperath

‘Imperath?’ The blue ignored his rider as they walked side by side as the group gathered. ‘Do I need to remind you of our earlier conversation?’ Cirene pressed. She had seen the way he had glanced at his brown and bronze siblings – contempt emanating from his thoughts. She also sensed the annoyance and snark toward his uncomely blue brother. I haven’t said anything yet, have I? ‘Yet? Ever. Not while I’m around.’ After the conversation with A’zael she had realized that as amusing as Imperath’s barbed comments sometimes were, they worked against her newly revised plan of becoming a team player.

She smiled at others in her group, but she couldn’t bring herself to comfort any of them when she saw fear or worry in their eyes. She had to admit that she had her own fears, but the key to fear was to combat it with courage and even more especially – not to show that fear. If one entertained fear too much in their thoughts, it could take over – and especially for this lesson… The classmates who showed fear, she couldn’t trust them to not act according to their fear. What if during threadfall they spook at large wave of thread? And she faces the consequences? No, she could not entertain them as team players worthy of her company or comfort.

The sinister feelings that K’ton felt toward the female brown riders was no secret. They often got called on first – as if that were a punishment. Why, if that had been her, she’d revel in being called out first to show off her practice. She respected K’ton and his principles of hard work and praising the strong, but his view of women was petty. Which is why she raised her hand, “we will go,” when he asked for a volunteer. Perhaps he supposed that this lesson would frighten them into silence, so that he could pick on the women brown riders. She wouldn’t let it be so. Also, she had practiced numerous times, she had even found a rider to take her between multiple times so she could get used to the chill while thinking of her image. Unfortunately, she came to the conclusion that it wasn’t possible to get used to between…but she had been able to practice thinking of her image while in the nothingness of between.

K’ton mounted and lifted quickly and she wondered with a small smile if he was trying to make her feel hurried. It was a despicable thing to accuse the Weyrlingmaster of not rooting for his charges, but even if she wasn’t a brownrider, she rode a blue. The best blue. Imperath echoed smugly, as Cirene mounted in a calm and smooth manner, checking her attachments before lifting after Sorth who was already high in the sky. The passing of her image went smoothly, and she wondered if her getting it right the first time got under K’ton’s skin at all. She hoped it had, but she pushed aside her pride for the moment in order to focus at the task at hand.

She took a controlled breath as they entered between, her eyes closed and focused on the practiced image. It was a strange feeling to be in control – and even though she had practiced simply being a passenger. She hated that when she breathed that it felt like nothing was entering her lungs. The cold was bitter, but it was the nothing that was the thing she had to ignore in order to focus on her image. 

Once on the other side successfully, light filled their world once more and she felt her heart rate tremble in her chest at the success. We did it. ‘We cannot celebrate quite yet, we need to get back.’ She didn’t revel in the feeling long. She prepared the image and the next trip went as smoothly as the first – it not better, because Cirene now new what to expect. They landed and Cirene didn’t even give K’ton a second look. She offered a smile of encouragement to the next volunteer. Hope you do as well as we did. Her lips pursed and she sighed. He was tiptoeing a fine line. 'We need to work on your words of encouragement.'

[kevna]

Tak'ril - Bronze Agureyth

He wore his thicker riding gear, prepared for the coldness of between. The last time he had felt that deathly chill had been when he had gone to the gather a few months ago. He didn’t look forward to the feeling, but he did look forward to completing the transfer triumphantly. They flew to the base of the platou, something that Tak’ril was increasingly enjoying each time. They had practiced their flights often, but not as much as they had their visuals to eachother. The anticipation was high. This was a more dangerous lesson. He recalled Joia’s reaction to him informing her of this lesson, and to say she was less than enthusiastic would be an understatement.

She is just concerned for us.
I know.
I am sure she is excited for us.
I know.
Soon it will all be over.
Are you nervous?
Not as nervous as Joia is.
Well you know why she is, she can’t help but be nervous because of her first experience.
Her first experience?

It had been a while since Joia had informed them of her mishap, so Tak’ril envisioned the conversation they had had on the beach.Well, now we have to one up her. We can’t let her have all the fun. Tak'ril chuckled, giving a small smile. They were ready for this, teasing aside, they would do just fine. They landed on the outskirts of the group, and then moved in closer to the throng of nervous and excited weyrlings. They remained slightly on the outside, one: for Tak’ril’s comfort, he still didn’t enjoy large groups, no matter how many lessons they had, and two: also due to Aggy’s sheer size.

Tak’ril still didn’t know many in his group, but he smiled and waved to a few random passersby. When K’ton began his lecture, Tak’ril and Aggy refocused.
Okay, we should go first. That’s what a leader would do.
No, a leader allows others to take initiative.
Tak’ril narrowed his eyes, giving his bronze a reproachful look.
You are just stalling.
Tell you what, we can go second.
Really?
Yes. Now pay attention, we don’t want this to go over your head.
Tak’ril punched his large bronze, taking the initiative to make sure that the hide was clear of any dry spots.
You have checked me six times, I do not grow with every blink.
Sure feels like you do. Tak’ril grumbled teasingly. They watched Cirene disappear, not too surprised of her initiative. She was quite the go-getter. He blushed still thinking of the awkward encounter with her at the lake. He hadn’t told Joia about it. But nothing happened, right? Plus, he didn’t even know where they stood…

You are not paying attention. Tak’ril blinked, feeling guilty. There’s not much to pay attention to right now. Except the nothingness in the air.At that moment, Cirene and Imperath reappeared, and Agureyth started moving along the edge to the front. You were saying? Tak’ril ignored his dragon, and waved to K’ton, making their intention clear. He got a nod of approval. Agureyth tensed underneath him, and shot a bold and heated remark to Imperath.
I don’t see how that will be a problem. Tak’ril raised his eyebrows, and sent soothing thoughts. Imperath seemed to get on the bronzes nerves a lot. Agureyth ignored him, launching into the air. Sorth has informed us, he would like our image.
Tak’ril nodded, and envisioned the corner of the little island where he and Agureyth had gone for some relaxed fishing. Agureyth soaked up the visualization, and relayed it.

Sorth says K’ton is satisfied, we may jump. Ready?
Ready.

The cold of between was instantaneous and biting. He held his breath, eyes closed, focused on the visualization. When they reappeared over their fishing spot, the cool autumn air felt warm and inviting.
We did it.
Yes, we truly did. Joia will be happy we have not traveled-the dragon’s speech was interrupted, as he listened to Sorth.
Sorth says we did as well as a bronze could... I think that's good. Shall we return mine? Put Joia’s worry to rest and let everyone know we can do this.

Let’s do this. He visualized the platou, easier, as it was more often seen. The relay was quicker between Aggy and Sorth, and then they were back, as if nothing had happened except take off. They landed, and as feet touched ground Agureyth informed him that Sorth believed they had done a fine job.
Well, how could we not, with you at the ready?
They moved out of the way, but Tak’ril made sure to give a smile and nod to the next weyrling and dragon. Agureyth’s considerate, It’s like second nature, to the next up dragon made Tak’ril smile.

You are such a softy.
Well, not as soft as you are.

tovaana