Lesson 1 :: Red Star Rising

[Lady Smara]

((All Candidates Required to post at least twice in this thread to receive credit. Keep in mind that lesson threads will be used to help determine the color you may (or may not) impress in the future. So take your time to write well, check your spelling, and above all else, have fun developing your character! Only Rule with this thread (and I'll check to see if your paying attention) is that you start IN the barracks -- nobody has snuck off to breakfast yet. S'nuo has planned it this way and has been watching.))

S’nuo ran a hand over his head again, his hair cut so short that it was more like a rough stubble beneath his calloused hand as he moved to scratch the back of his neck. The mug of Klah in his hand was hot and in the cool pre-dawn hair the steam rising from it was clearly visible. He was dressed today, not in his usual riding leathers that most of the candidates have thus far seen him in, between drills with his wing, but instead in a comfortable pair of soft slacks and a large, loose tunic with long sleeves to help keep the chill of the morning off his skin. Even his riding boots were pulled on, but not tied tightly. He was comfortable and while they had class today, it was clearly his rest day from drills and he was going to take full advantage of it.

Well, wake them up for me, the Star won’t be in the sky for long. He sent even as he lifted the hot mug of klah to his lips, wincing as he burned his tongue before sipping it more slowly. The blue next to him stretched and ruffled his wings, resettling them upon his back before walking toward the candidate barracks door that led into the common room. While no grown dragon would fit through the single door that lead into the stone there, Malith was small enough that he could fit in his head if he twisted it just right.

And so it was, with Malith’s head fit nicely inside the stone hallow that was the candidate’s common room, he let out a loud bugle, trumpeting with glee as he listened to the candidates jump from their beds in surprise. Pulling his head back out, S’nuo shouted in, though he didn’t bother actually stepping inside.

“Class time! Get up! Get dressed! And get outside! Bring your boots!” Turning to look at his blue, he grinned back at the blue’s obvious happiness at being able to help.

[HG]

The jungle was quiet. She felt the warm slight breeze rustle the leaves as she lay on a familiar boulder. Then a loud noise burst forth from the trees and she was up. Running before she knew what was happening. She ran as fast as she could looking over her shoulder to see a mob of faceless men and women following her. Finding herself able to keep less and less distance between them she was nearly caught when a loud noise woke her. Covered in a cold sweat she sat up as the voice of the Candidate Master came booming in.

She stood shakily at first and then gaining her balance she was able to dress in a pair of loose fitting pants that were given to her when she arrived at the Weyr and a well fitted tan shirt which matched in color. Her boots were at the foot of her cot. Sitting down would take more time than putting them on standing up. Hopping a little as she put first her left then her right boot on her feet, she wondered exactly what time it was. The dream she was having stuck in her mind but she dismissed it for what it was. A dream. Nothing more and nothing less than that.

Moving to the head of her cot she took the brush out from under her pillow. The bristles went through the knots quickly as she tied it up in a ponytail. Walking out to the common room she was met with the sight of other Candidates leaving the Barracks. Most of them looked like they had simply rolled out of bed and grabbed their boots. She had not taken any longer because she had promptly gotten out of bed.

When she arrived outside, she took a place standing in front of most of the other Candidates. She couldn’t see over the tall people that inhabited the Weyr. Laure looked around to find the people she knew better. Hopefully Nayza, Therion, Trelia and Raelan would be here soon too. She would like to see a friendly face after her dream and rude awakening. What were they doing up this early anyway, the sky was not yet light. Absently she moved her left hand to rub the sleep out of her eyes. Some klah might be a good idea right about now.

[wolflover1458]

It had been hard for Therion to get any sleep at all recently. The attack, and Lyndel's subsequent death had shaken her. Not that she had liked the girl much, certainly not, but she had never wanted her dead. Unable to attend the next hatching with a Gold in it, certainly, but not because she had died. Killed because of an attack by the Holdless. She'd been having all sorts of nightmares before the attack, about shining dragons who looked at her before turning away and disappearing. She was still having those dreams now, but the dragon was covered in blood now, and when it turned away she heard the screams of someone dying in the distance. With everything that had been going on, Therion had been finding it very difficult indeed to enjoy her nights, and the days weren't much better. Filled with chores, lessons, and the fact that she was second-best. Even less than that, really. She was nothing. She was just a Candidate. Slave labor. Not anyone even remotely important to the Weyr. She couldn't stand it. She wanted the dragon she deserved, and she wanted it now. But instead, she got nightmares. Nightmares with the dragon she had used to dream about, who was now covered in blood and turning away from her. Abandoning her back to this life of drudgery.

Tonight, however, had been quite dreamless for her. And being awakened by a loud bugle made her snap awake immediately. Were they under attack again? But then S'nuo's voice rang through. No, they just had a lesson. Was he serious? Who had a lesson at this time of day, really? There had better be a really good reason for this. If it was just because he wanted to annoy them, watch them stumble out of bed way to early in the morning...

Of course, there probably wasn't a lesson in existence that would qualify as a 'really good reason' for Therion at that moment. She was tired, and annoyed. And that was definitely a bad combination for having her around. She stumbled out of bed, finding it hard to see in the dim light, and knocked into a few things in her haste to try and get somewhere before her eyes really adjusted. Then she stopped, changed her clothes into something a bit more suitable for this, and then looked around for her boots. Shard it, where were they? Therion hadn't bothered to keep much track of them. She hated wearing boots. Some girls could look really, really pretty in boots. She, however, could not. And if she didn't look pretty she felt as though she had lost something. Like there was some favor she could have gained that now she would not.

So she had simply thrown her boots somewhere the last time she had worn them, and she didn't quite remember where. Unfortunately, she only had a limited time to find them. And really, what did it matter? If she wore some other shoes, it was her own problem, wasn't it? She was the only one that was going to be possibly hurt be that kind of decision, right? So why did S'nuo have to put this insistent kind of feel on them wearing a specific thing, when not doing so would only hurt themselves? In fact, why did every Candidate Master do that? Did they think it would set a bad example? Or did they just like terrorizing Candidates, as though the chores and lessons weren't enough? She was just getting to the point where she decided that she was too tired and grumpy to care if she got in trouble for not having them when she caught sight of part of one, and slipped across the room to grab it. Soon she had swiftly gotten both boots onto her feet. Then she got back up, moving her toes around to get used to the feel, and looked around.

She could hear the sounds of the other Candidates moving out to see S'nuo. Therion folded her arms and looked out at the direction of the sound. She didn't want to go outside. She was tired. She'd finally been sleeping without any dreaming. She wanted to fall back into bed and just let everything she was worried about seep into peaceful nothingness. And above all else, she wanted to get past these silly dragon-nightmares. But the only way she could think of that to happen would be for her to finally Impress. And she'd failed at that. Who knew when she would get another chance? The next clutch might not even contain a Gold, and even if it did... Elynth had passed her by. What if the next one did as well? What if she didn't Impress?

This was silly. It was way to early for a lesson of any kind, and she was too tired to attend one. But there was no getting around it. Ignore the summonings and Malith would probably start bugling again, and he'd get closer next time. So she shook her head, yawned, rubbed her eyes, and started to head towards the common room. Some of the other Candidates were headed outside already. All looking rather groggy, of course, but Therion had the feeling she felt far worse than any of them. It just wasn't fair. Life hated her. It was that simple.

Laure was among those already gathered. Therion glanced at the other girl but did not greet her. She had come to realize that, upon the hatching day, Laure would be a threat. Every girl would be a threat. Elynth had proved that even a Gold hatchling could mess up, go to the wrong person. Since that was possible, every girl there was someone who could potentially be mistaken for Therion (not that she understood just how that could happen, but apparently it could). No, she was not going to go over and socialize with a girl that might one day walk off with her dragon. Just like Marlaey had. Instead, she stood a little off from the group. She felt apart from the crowd. She was tired, and she felt miserable. There was nothing going through her head that she really wanted to think about. And really early in the morning was not a good time for thinking in general.

If that sharding dragon had just gone to her, she wouldn't be doing this. She could up and comfortably asleep, her future in the Weyr already secured. But no, instead she was out here, while another girl rose to the heights that Therion had been destined for. Someone else was going to do what had been meant for her. And she was going to stay down here and get up before the even the sun because the Candidate Master thought it amusing to wake them up this early. And not only wake them, but jolt them awake. She was down here, and her chances for getting any higher seemed very slim indeed. And until she did, she would be having nightmares.

Life just wasn't fair. And it really seemed to have something against her.

[freya]

Trelia had been resting comfortable in her bed and after a previous day of hard chores was having a wonderful dream of her family when she heard a noise. She ended up landing in the floor and hitting her back as she looked around in the darkness. The noise sounded like a dragon's bugle as she heard a voice then said whispering in a voice, "I don't believe this,". The young candidate was not a fan of being woke up without warning and heard others getting up. It seemed that they wouldn't even have time for breakfast as she begrudgingly got up and rubbed her back. When she went to her chest pulling out a pair of pants and a peasant white shirt then got dressed. While she all the others already getting dressed and hurrying out it seemed Trelia took more time then the others. She had been good at obeying all rules yet she would not be rushed when it was not a emergency and would look halfway decently.

The young woman took the time to braid her till it was neatly put into place. She smiled at least then the young woman would look as if she put some real effort into her appearance and not simply rolled out of the bed. Trelia got her boots on then walked out as she rubbed her eyes and almost with a no care in the world didn't care that she was late. If they expected her to get up then they should make it worth her while and then stood behind the others for the lessons. A good surprise would have been some hot klah waiting for them and just watched the others. They'd been through a lot all ready after the attack and she had become good friends with the others. It seemed that they'd become joined even before impression of dragons and they'd be stronger for it.

She didn't like the fact that they'd have to endure months of more chores and hope that the next queen would rise soon. The queen seemed to be a lot like her mother and took the time to rise. Trelia was no impressed by this fact and was saddened to think that it could well be another turn or two before another clutch was laid. When she saw that the dragon and just admired the lovely coloring of the dragon. A small thing had happened to the young woman that she had started to admire the blue dragons for their stark colorings and the clever way they had about them.

It seemed that a lot of people didn't want to come join them and she knew that if they didn't show up then they might be forbidden from standing. She felt a chill run up her spine at the idea of not being able to stand on the sands and would come to these lessons. Trelia had a strong dislike for chores yet did them for the sake of standing at the next hatching. The young woman would not be kicked out over something so trivial as a not doing chores. While she waited with her arms folded and bored it was obvious that Trelia had a bad attitude this morning.

[Lady Smara]

Having only brief interviews with each candidate and a second meeting with several of them, this was the first class they would have together and it was the first time the Candidate Master would have a chance to study and experience them interacting with eachother. He was already prepared to get an even deeper understanding of each person’s personality and who they really were. It would be an eye opening experience and he could only hope that it was the case for them as well and that he hopefully would not be repeating things that the other candidate master had already beaten to a pulp. No, with Thread falling it was time for more active learning. This was a new generation, it was time for a new view that embraced the old beliefs but in a fresh new way.

Lifting his Klah to his lips once more, he eyed the candidates as they slowly began to filter out of the barracks before himself and his little blue. He made a mental note of those who showed up first and those who came stumbling out toward the end. Of course, there was also a mental note of those who did not show up at all. Thankfully, it seemed at the moment that just about everyone was in attendance. Good.

He was pleased to see three of the gold candidates coming out to stand around in various postures and poses. None looked absolutely thrilled to be there. In fact all three of the very different girls looked like they were perfectly ready to go back to their beds and perhaps in a few hours time wake up more gracefully to a cup of Klah. Needless to say, S’nuo’s eyes only sparkled at the thought of toughening them up a bit. A gold rider was privliaged, yes, but they would still need to make it through Weyrling training and that was IF the young queen provided them with a golden egg.

Dumping the last of his Klah, he set his mug down near the door to pick up later before walking through the group that was in a rough line before Malith and himself. He noticed how some had their eyes keenly on the little blue. He also noticed how some glared at him as he passed. Well, it seemed he would need to lift their spirits a little bit.

“Yes, it’s before dawn. Get use to it! I do not run classes every day, in fact our classes will be more likely held once a sevenday. So I do not expect you to wake up this early on a regular basis, but I expect you all bright eyed and ready when I do call for class!” he shouted as he walked away from them toward Malith. Pulling off his own tunic, he hooked it into the blue’s harness that he had strapped on in case of emergency. His chest and back were both well tanned and held a chizzled look of a full dragonrider who worked out daily.

Turning back to them, he jerked his head toward the trail that would wind them slowly around the bowl of the Weyr and up to the Weyr heights. It was not an easy walk, by any means; uphill and rough with its thin path that would let two walk abreast with enough room to spare not to fall over the edge. It was, however, at least three miles in length by the time it wrapped the length of the bowl in its accent – maybe a little closer to four. He had no expectations that everyone would make it at his pace, but he did expect them to try.

“We are going for a run this morning to the heights. Our lesson is up there. I don’t expect everyone to run the full length – but I do expect everyone to be up there before the sun clears the horizon. If you do not then next lesson I will need to wake you earlier so we arrive on time!” He shouted again so everyone would hear him clearly in the crisp morning air.

With that he motioned for the longer legged boys to take the lead, figuring those with shorter legs would be slower. He wanted them all to give it an attempt – but he also didn’t want those in less shape to slow down those who might excel. S’nuo himself would take up in the middle of the pack where he would be able to keep a better eye on everyone.

[wolflover1458]

While Therion had certainly spent a while trying to find her boots, she still found herself waiting for some time before the last few stragglers arrived. Therion had to wonder if S'nuo was waiting for everyone to show up; she half expected most of them to just stay in bed and ignore him, except for the fact that they would all get in trouble if they did so. At this rate, though, they would be waiting until the sun was up before they got started on whatever it was he wanted, and Therion just wanted to get it over with. She was not enjoying this. Not one bit.

Finally, however, S'nuo began to speak. The moment he did, however, Therion began to wish he'd kept his mouth shut. They would have to do this every sevenday? No way. That was ridiculous. Surely he understood just how tired they all were, especially this early in the morning? Therion could not believe this misfortune. Not only had she failed to Impress, but now they were torturing her with this fact. Did the entire Weyr want to make her suffer, as though she already wasn't suffering enough from the results of the hatching? Just how much pain did they want to put her through.

She couldn't believe this. They hadn't done this before. Marlaey hadn't had to do this. She wasn't going to have to do this. Because that stupid dragon had gone to her. And was anyone ever going to make her get up this early? No, of course not. She was special and important. She had everything Therion should have gotten, and she was still fast asleep. And when she woke up, she would have the most glorious creature on all of Pern there beside her. And what would Therion have? Only nightmares of that creature, covered in blood and turning away from her.

But did anyone care? Of course not. All the Candidates had suffered enough from being left Standing. Why punish them even farther? Was this really supposed to help? Or was S'nuo just being sadistic?

Therion was fuming. There was no better way to describe it. She could not believe this. It wasn't fair. How could anyone christen this kind of thing? And after the Holdless attack too. With everything that had been going on, all of their lives had been going downhill. And now it was that much worse. She couldn't believe S'nuo had the gall to do this to them. She was practically ready to just leave right them. Announce that she was done, and going back home, where she could sleep in until a decent time every day and where at least a few people could appreciate her and not try to make her feel even worse than she already did.

But she couldn't do that. If she did, she would lose and chance she had at ever Impressing that golden Queen she was vying for. Her chances seemed slim, but at least she had them. But if there wasn't a Gold egg at the next clutch, she didn't know what she was going to do. What if there wasn't one the whole time she was a Candidate? All of her time here would have been wasted, and would a single person care? No, because she was nothing. She was nothing until she Impressed, and the chances of her Impression were none right now. She had no chances, not until that egg was actually laid. And when it was, there would be ten other girls there for the Gold to confuse Therion with. And if she was passed over again she probably wouldn't get a third chance.

Yes, Therion was fuming. She couldn't recall ever being this angrily upset. Sorrowfully upset, certainly, but not this angry. She could do nothing, however, but stand there with her arms folded and an extremely unpleasant look on her face as she followed the others up the path S'nuo was leading them down. Then he turned and talked to them again.

Great. Not only did they have to get up this early, they had to run. And if they didn't, he would punish them even further. The Weyr really could be sadistic. Would they be sadistic to Marlaey? Nooo... But Therion? Oh sure. She didn't get the Gold, after all, so what did she matter? She was nothing but someone to be tortured and messed with. And if that prevented her from ever Impressing, so what? At least the Weyr got to have fun with her.

At least, that was how it felt. And Therion certainly did not want to run like a fool. She was at the point where she didn't even care if she was late enough that everyone had to get up early. She just wanted to go back to bed, and then go somewhere where she could be appreciated in the morning. She had come to the Weyr for appreciation, but this place was turning out to be worse than that in-the-middle-of-nowhere cothold she'd grown up at her whole life. Why was the world so darn against her?

The taller boys were the first to head out. Therion watched them go, in absolutely no mood to go out herself. She waited until everyone else around her was moving before starting out at a slow walk, only breaking into a grudging trot when she found herself at the back. Therion found herself uncaring if she was last. She didn't care if she wasn't there until noon. She just didn't want to follow S'nuo's orders, and run with everyone else this sharding early in the morning. She should be in bed, peacefully asleep, without her nightmares for a change.

No, that wasn't right. She should be in bed, peacefully asleep, with a Gold dragon by her side.

[freya]

Ralean cursed himself for not getting out of the bed quicker as he heard the bugle of a dragon and had rolled back over. He had fallen back asleep even as more people went past his door then sighed. The young man had heard the candidate master's voice and knew that he needed to get himself up as he stumbled to get dressed. While he got on a old tan shirt and a pair of black pants then got on his boots. His ragged breath from having to run to catch up with the others outside and barely caught the little speech of the candidate master.

He started to run because it would wake him up and his long legs helped him pass the others. Ralean realized that he was one of a few male candidates because many had tied in the attack. The young man thought back to what he'd heard that in the old days it was unusual for so many girls to be chosen to stand unless a gold egg was on the sands because they were needed to have children. If no gold egg was laid at the next clutch and it was unlikely because most queens their first time did not have gold eggs the first time around. The girls would be very disappointed yet he didn't care because he couldn't stand for a gold egg anyway.

His competitive side started to come out as he started to push himself despite just waking up and having not ate anything. Raelan kept pushing himself as he easily ran past the girls and then a few short legged boys. The young man kept going up the hill and was thankful that he had done a lot of exercise because he was ready for this hill. While he was not in the lead it was apparent that he was at least in second place and just kept pacing himself. If anything Raelan was very competitive and no one was going to beat him especially those girls.

[Lady Smara]

S’nuo could not help but feel a swell of pride as many of the men put themselves willingly to the task of the run. That was one thing that the blue rider had always argued over with his fellow searchriders. The young boys and young men – they always excelled within the physical demands of being a dragonrider, before and after impression. They were willing to put aside pride and replace it with hard work. In fact, often times the boys would turn it into a competition and end up pushing eachother toward excellence.

The girls… the women, however, while competitive among themselves, rarely seemed to put themselves to the same standards that the men did. For some reason they just seemed like they didn’t have to. As if they were a different class, a different breed all together. There were times that S’nuo toyed with the thought of training the males separately from the females if for nothing else than to take away the knowledge of where the others are. Perhaps it would raise the competition between the women. Putting that thought to the back of his mind, he kept a steady pace with the middle of the pack, glancing behind him every now and then to make sure nobody stumbled.

Malith, his little blue, soon took flight, to glide lazy circles above them, also helping to keep track of their charges. Therion is in the back. The little blue reported. But she is well? There was a pause before the little blue answered again. She seems to be. Perhaps a little out of mood or maybe just tired, but her movements are not awkward. Taking that as a good sign, the candidate master nodded his head as he continued up the long path.

It was just over a candlemark before the first of the group began to top the rise for a view over the ocean and jungle below them. Nodding to each there, he took a moment to check on each as they caught their breath before turning to wait for those slightly further behind. Complimenting each one for a job well done. While he would it was not quite the performance he would have liked, he couldn’t blame them – he didn’t keep them in daily exercises as he didn’t have time himself to round them up and guide them before his own wingdrills every day.

Once everyone was there, he took a moment to glance at the sky. While it was quickly growing lighter and already the stars within the sky were gone, there was one that stood against the growing light like an evil eye glowering down upon the world and its color was unmistakable.

“Look. There stands your lesson this day. Look at it carefully and remember its face well, for the Red Star brings the tidings of thread.” Pointing, he followed the directions himself before letting out a snort and nodding as the little blue landed nearby. Turning to the group, he folded his bare arms across his chest and studied now his students. “Who knows the warning signs of a Pass?”

[HG]

He was kidding right? She thought to her before wiping the sleep out of her eyes some more. Up early for lessons and running and they were supposed to get used to it? No one seemed happy about this, least of all Therion. For once she didn’t think the other girl’s attitude was unwarranted.

Laure was generally good about following instruction here at the Weyr because she felt she was lucky to be there. However running was not her forte and even if she was recovered from her injuries she was going to have a hard time keeping up. No good complaining about it seeing as nothing would come of complaining.

Shrugging when other people looked at her she stretched her legs a little before S’nuo had them start. If they had to do it to stay Candidates then they had better get to it. Taking up the back of the pack being a small woman and unable to keep pace with the taller men and women. She did her best to keep up but her breathing became ragged quickly and she found herself gasping for air.

Slowing her pace a little she found herself lagging in back with Therion. Where Therion was not trying, Laure was and failing. Story of her life really, working hard never seemed to get her any closer to being good at things. Somehow she ended up looking like a slacker no matter how hard she tried.

When she made it to the top she had to sit down. Her chest burned. The saliva in her mouth was growing at a fast rate and tasted like blood so she spit a wad of it at the ground. Better that than to vomit. She needed someone to help her start with small training sessions cause she was not prepared for any kind of running.

Laure looked up at the Candidate Master when he began to talk about the Red Star. She didn’t know much about Threadfall at all so this lesson would be interesting to her. She did not know the signs of a Pass. Her knowledge was limited in many ways. Her breath was caught up now so she stood up and dusted off her butt. Next time she would do better, she promised herself.

[freya]

Raelan arrived with the rest of a very tired group and couldn't realize how out of shape that he'd become. He put his hands on his knees as he caught his breath and had to smile as the red star came overhead. The girls arrived last of course because they we're physically inferior to their male counterparts and he just looked away. His opinion of girls we're that they should only be candidates when there was a gold egg on the sands and not any other time. It was the men that could handle thread fall not the women and he just looked at the candidate master. He admired the man that was doing two jobs once as candidate master and a wing rider. If he ever impressed then a desire to be something more then just a wing rider was in him.

He looked at all the other waiting for one of them to speak up at the question. Raelan knew the answer because he'd been here the longest as he'd stood for two clutches and had not impressed at either. The young man hoped that the new gold would rise soon and would produce eggs perhaps his life mate. When he couldn't stand it any longer the young man said, "The weather tends to become more unpredictable and clutch sizes increase,". One thing was for sure the clutch sizes of late had not increased to what he thought would happen during thread and just waited to see what the candidate master made of his answer. Raelan was not one to show off yet he'd been here through countless lessons and knew the answers why wait on others that didn't know the answers. A pitiful lot the other candidates we're with him and knew that they'd all have to toughen up in order to make it.

[wolflover1458]

The climb was dreadfully dull. And tiring. And dull. Perhaps due to her own mood, but then, Therion could hardly be held responsible for her mood, now could she? It was S'nuo's fault. He was the one who thought it amusing to make them get up this early. That was why she was so upset. It wasn't her fault. He just didn't need to wake them at this obscene time of day, if it could indeed qualify as day at all. It still felt suspiciously like night.

It was some time before Therion could look ahead and see that some of the people in front of her had stopped running. Clearly they were reaching their destination. She'd been grudgingly running the whole way, and still found herself ridiculously tired when they stopped, nearly ready to collapse, but she held firm anyways. Weyrwomen did no such thing, and so she would not be doing so. No, she was going to stand straight no matter how hard her chest might be burning right now. And her head still felt as though it was lying sideways on her bed, just to add to that.

S'nuo wasn't done yet. No, it wasn't enough to ask them to come out here at this time and then make them run all the way up here. Now he wanted to ask them questions. What were the warning signs of a Pass? Well, that was obvious, and on any normal day, Therion would have answered just to show off how much she knew, even though she'd been born at a cothold where you didn't learn too much. It was too early in the morning... no, it didn't even qualify as morning. It was simply too early for her to care about that, and she wasn't going to answer any sort of question this early. Instead she left a very grumpy expression on her face and folded her arms, waiting for some other Candidate to answer the question.

It was a bit of time before one did, and when he did, Therion had to wonder if he was tired or confused or something, because there were definitely more than two signs. The red star in the sky was kind of a big giveaway, the north apparently got dust storms in the colder regions (although she could not prove this), clutches not only got bigger but more frequent, and Queen eggs became a bit more common as well. And, wonder of wonders, all of those things seemed to be happening right now. Maybe... just maybe, was S'nuo trying to tell them that they were quickly approaching a Pass? Nooooo.... It couldn't be.... (([/sarcasm]))

But seriously. Everyone knew they were approaching a Pass right now. And why did they know that? Because everyone knew the warning signs. Thus, this entire question was woefully irrelevant. Definitely not something even worth getting an answer, since everyone who was anyone would know the answer. And if they didn't, then they ought to be learning quick. Right before a Pass was a bad time to learn what the warning signs were. Best to learn them before they cropped up so you could prepare for them. Hopefully, though, everyone here knew what they were. And if not, at least Therion did, so if S'nuo went around and quizzed them all, she could give some good answers. Not that she wanted to be quizzed. She almost preferred being ignored to this. Of course, having her dragon would be better, but since that had failed to happen, being ignored would be better than being stuck outside at this time. She wasn't sure if she could readily express just how ticked off she was at being here. But she did know that she was extremely annoyed.

[freya]

Trelia finally reached the top of the hill and was out of breath as she looked to see all the others had already arrived. The young woman blamed it on the fact that she had been one of the last to start yet took notice that she at least looked better in comparison of the others. A glance at the other girls told her that most of them had just rolled out of bed and hadn't put a brush through their hair. She sighed as she heard questions already being asked and before she could even give a response one of the guys had answered the questions. The young woman looked around then up at the sky to see the red star and knew this had to be what this lesson had to be all about. It was of course what this lesson was about and she was starting to develop a better attitude now now that they we're up that hill. While the answer given by the guy was not the best it was missing some of the other signs of red star. She started to mess with her hair as she looked around and realized that there was only six of them here at the top.

She figured that this was result of candidates killed during the hold less attack and others just leaving. Trelia had saw a few women leave the other day as if they'd given up already. The young woman wasn't going to give up her chance of gold dragon and was certain that it would be born one day. If she gave up now then all of this would have been for nothing and it was no way that the young woman was going to risk that happening. When she had straightened up and regained her usual composure she realized that better view of everything would be in front of everyone else. She didn't really push them away she simply walked around them because she wanted the best view and that was of course up front.

The view was defiantly best up front and she wanted to get the attention of the candidate master. She folded both arms and got ready for any more questions that might be asked. Trelia was very competitive and this way the young woman would have a good chance of answering the question first. If she had to prove herself to beat out the other girls then she would. A few of the other girls had looked as if they we're about to fall over and that gave the wrong impression that they didn't have what it took to stand on the sands.

[Lady Smara]

“Those are two very good signs, Raelan. And as we are located in the south, they are the two easiest signs for us to look for. Clutch sizes have already increased and what is an even better sign is that the golden queen Aeriath has laid a new queen egg in both of her last two clutches. It is disturbing that she has not begun to rise more often yet, but hopefully that will come sooner rather than later, and her golden daughters will help when they begin to rise.”

Looking around at the candidates and watching Trelia as she moved to the front of the group, S’nuo could not help but smile at the young lady. Turning back to take in the whole group, he tackled the second sign.

“Weather patterns that change can vary greatly and because of that they are a little harder to spot if one forgets to keep track of them. But the number of tropical storms are growing and there has been reports from the further cotholds here in the south of ground tremors being felt. Small, they are still a sign as they are so rare.”

“Lost to us are the star stones, as they were left in the Northern Weyrs and even if we moved them we would have no way to align them properly until the Pass has begun. Even then, it would give little warning compared to the other signs.”

“And how long does a Pass last? How long will we be fighting thread before the red star moves out of morning sight once more?”

[HG]

She was taking in as much information as possible but felt like she was out of her league with the rest of them. Laure had been raised to know as little about dragons as possible. It is easier to fear and hate something you know next to nothing about. All that had done for her was make her curious as to why people would hate something they knew nothing about. Dragons had always sounded so interesting to her from the tidbits of information she had gathered.

The others seemed to know what S’nuo was talking about. She wondered about the changes in weather, like the torrential rain fall on her way to the Weyr. Thread was already falling in some places. The south had one thing that was pointed out to all Holdless in helping them to understand they were safe without the dragons. The South had grubs. More Gold dragons meant more clutches and more clutches meant Threadfall. It seemed the dragons were keeping Pern from having to support a large population when it wasn’t necessary. Fighting thread meant that many would die and therefore they needed more dragons.

Laure understood the concepts but the small woman who was feeling insignificant at the moment was a bit embarrassed that she could not answer a single question. She knew nothing about Threadfall only that she would never have to worry about dragons or no. Someone else like Realan would know the answer. Therion probably knew all the answers but the young woman was notoriously in a bad mood. She didn’t like to cooperate much. The other girl was intelligent and thoughtful once one got past her more cantankerous nature.