Flaming Weyrlings

Writers: Len, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th August 2011

Characters: E'naer, G'wen, S'vin, K'ale, F'tarn
Description: The weyrlings learn to chew firestone
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 6

K'ale

"So you're not going to tell me_anything_about what happened
yesterday?" S'vin eyed his rather smug looking friend, who shook his
head and tried not to grin. "Fine, shorty, be that way. But
I_did_notice you were walking pretty funny this morning." He sighed,
desperate to know what had happened over at Dolphin's Cove yesterday.

At that G'wen punched the taller boy on the arm. "Don't be rude, or
I'll tell Neath to flame you!"

They both glanced over at their dragons who, for some reason, were
inspecting each other's tongues. They eyed one another before G'wen
said, "maybe they want to remember what their tongues look like before
firestone eating today?"

They'd been through all of this in class but K'ale was still going
over it in his mind just to make sure they didn't make any mistakes.
The incident with Rama still hadn't faded much and he just wanted to
be on his toes.

The boys nodded to him and S'vin muttered, "too bad he's on brown..."

"That F'tarn too," G'wen added, before the two looked at one another
and burst into laughter. They were certainly in silly mode today.

E'naer came in with a ovine carcass and a sharp pointed pole. He stuck
the pole to the ground and impaled the carcass to it's sharp head, so
it was as high as average man. H clapped his hands together. "Can I
have your attention please!", he called.

"As if just doing_that_didn't get our attention," S'vin muttered to
K'ale and G'wen, who looked distintly green when the Weyrlingmaster
3rd did that.

"This demonstration is to make sure you know the importance of safety
precautions," E'naer said and fed Eillispeth small amount of
firestone. He moved so that he was standing next to her front leg.
Eillispeth's jaws moved when she worked the firestone and you could
hear the rummble from her belly when the chemical processes started.
You normally didn't notice it, not in a hectic Fall.

**Flame it,** E'naer instructed her.

She took a deep breath in, opened her jaws and flamed. The flame hit
the ovine carcass and soon the smell of buring ovine filled the air.
Her flame was long and steady and seemed to go on and on.
** Show off!** E'naer commented fondly when Eillie's flame finaly
dwindled and died away, all firestone used up.
She coughed up a slimy, grey pile of what was left of the stones.

E'naer walked over to the now charred ovine. Piece of charred flesh
broke off and slid to the ground.

"This is what happens to you if you stand too close to a flaming
dragon! Always remember these precations: One, make sure there is
empty space at the direction of your dragon will be flaming and always
be aware where your lifemate is aming his or her flame Two, do not
stand too close to your dragon's head. Three, make sure she or he does
not swallow firestone to the food belly. Four, make sure that he or
she expells the firestone-remains. A dragon can die of phosphorine
poisoning. And riders and dragons have died in accidental flamings.
Coming out of /between/ flaming is dangerous, because you can't be
sure what's in your way...or who." E'naer eyed the weyrlings. If this
demonstration didn't drive in the point, nothing would.

At that--and with the smell--G'wen really did think he was going to
either pass out or throw up. Looking up at the sky for a moment, he
took a few breaths through his mouth and tried to take in what E'naer
was saying.

K'ale chuckled at the sick faces around him. He'd lived in the Weyr
all his life and seen this exercise before. Now that he had Imalkyth
the lesson hit home. He didn't want to lose or jeopardize his or
anyone else's lifemate.

G'wen caught the smug look and lightly punched K'ale on the arm. He
gave the brown weyrling a dirty look and mock shook his head before
turning back to E'naer.

"Okay, boys and girls. Pick up your firestone sacks and take your
positions. Let's practise flaming," E'naer instructed.

Swallowing his bile, G'wen turned to Neath. "Okay, get that tongue
back in your head and eat this stone."

}:He's no fun,:{ Kadeth complained to his lifemate.

"Hey careful there," said F'tarn as the big brown maw of his lifemate
opened up and came toward him. He tossed stone in like he seen E'naer
do with Eillispeth.

A long flame belched from Imalkyth to char the pole in front of them.
"Woooh" cheered K'ale. Then he clapped and whooped for the others as
their life mates chewed stone and flamed.

Last updated on the August 26th 2011

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