Sidus Wing Drills

[britalia]

K’var stood alone in the blazing midmorning sun, the hot Southern weather already beading small drips of sweat on his forehead. Kedenth rested not far above, having spent the last candlemark watching his rider practice with his curved sword. The dragon thought it was rather silly, really, to spend so much time slicing the air with that tiny scimitar when he, Kedenth, could just as easily gore whatever it was his beloved wanted dead with one quick swipe of a claw. He had only said so once, however, and had earned one of the man’s famous scowls, and was afterward promptly ignored. Therefore, he thought it best to keep that small bit of wisdom to himself, though bronzes were hardly known for their subtlety. He thought it was foolish, and his expression clearly said so, as did the great, exasperated sighs he let out occasionally as the Weyrleader whirled and dipped, sword in hand and flashing in the sun’s luster rays. He had received a fair few irritated glances as he did, but the bronze did not pay much heed to those flashing emerald eyes. After all, the gypsy often thought him foolish as well, such as when he decided greens were too annoying to keep for company, or when he wanted to eat wild wherry instead of the usual feast of domesticated Weyr herd. Couldn’t a dragon ever want a little sport with his meal?

And greens were silly. His rider just didn’t understand.

What are you thinking, you bronze sack of hide? A deep voice suddenly resounded, lightly flavored with a gypsy flair and ‘R’s expertly rolled. One large eye swiveled to stare down at the blonde below, and Kedenth allowed the draconic equivalent of a grin to show his massive, gleaming teeth. How very inviting the lovely golds look in the morning light, and how very irate you seem for a man who is about to torture his Wing in this heat. Just as planned, that put a scowl across the Wingleader’s face.

It’s not torture, Ked, it’s drills. A fighting Wing of dragons and riders need to be trained daily in order to stay in top physical condition for Threadfall when it comes. Just look at you, you lazy mass of bones, would you ever exercise if I did not force you to? K’var asked, though his scowl soon smoothed into a smirk. They both knew the bronze was just as driven as his rider, perhaps even more. Dragon and Weyrleader both felt the pull of battle inside their hearts, the call of the Red Star as it pulsed in the sky with an enigmatic aura that neither understood, but merely agreed was a danger. Too long it had been that Thread had fallen, and none truly knew the devastating pain or destruction it could so easily cause. They did not know just what they would face in the times ahead, but they were determined to be ready. And so, Sidus Wing would be pushed and molded, forced to become a fluid wing of fighting men and beasts that were flawless in their execution and precise in their movements.

It would be difficult, but it would be done.

My rider, your words are most flattering. Shall I call the others?

Yes. Do.

Yes…..it would be done.

[britalia]

F’lor groaned to himself as he readied Ardeth in his fighting straps, already sweating through his light clothing in that blasted Southern heat. Ah, at least K’var wasn’t making them run in full flight gear this time. His mind going back to that day, the dark-haired man scowled deeply and pulled a wherhide strap tightly across his brown’s chest. Hey!! Your harnessing a dragon, not choking a herdbeast. The dragon grumbled unhappily, rolling one whirling eye back to gaze balefully at his rider. It’s not my fault Barduth’s rider got you all punished. Grimacing, the Wingsecond patted his neck affectionately. Sorry, Ardeth, I’m just dreading today’s drills. Who knows what kind of trouble that wherry-headed idiot is going to cause today?Pausing beside his helmet and goggles, F’lor finally decided it would be best to be prepared for anything and bring them along. K’var didn’t specify full riding gear….but neither did he say that there wouldn’t be firestone, and with a man like him, it was in one’s interest to be ready. Even IF you were his friend. I don’t fancy another run along the beach in full gear.

Securing his helmet and goggles to his dragon’s harness, F’lor put one foot on the brown’s extended foreleg and swung easily up between the stout neckridges. One hand unconsciously going to his waist to check the position of his long dagger, the Wingsecond was satisfied with their inventory and gave his bonded the signal to leap. Launching from their weyr, Ardeth circled tightly to the plain, landing a respectful distance from the Wingleader so as not to show him with dirt or grass. Once his rider was settled, he then settled on a low cliff to await what instructions he would receive from Kedenth. Speaking of, by the way…. Mornin’ Ked. What does your rider have planned for today? The brown asked, at ease with the dragon even as his rider was with the bronze’s.

Swiveling one massive head to stare at his brother, the Wingleader’s mount snorted and stretched his wings. As always, his broody highness down there deems such information his alone. Kedenth said sarcastically, sharing a mental chuckle with the brown.

“Mornin’, K’var.” F’lor greeted as he neared the Wingleader, imitating his dragon’s words to the bronze. He clasped forearms with the gypsy as he came before the blonde, then grinned and slapped his shoulderblade. “Another fun day planned for us, I suppose?”

The bronze rider smirked at his Wingsecond, then nodded at the other dragons from Sidus that could be seen gracing the skies. “For them, yes, for us? Of course not. We have to keep the order.” The emerald gaze of the dark man followed the bronzes, browns, blues, and greens as they now glided carefully to the plain, the rider’s expressions varying from disgust to delight. Some men enjoyed the thrill of drills, and others….well, seemed to have a tiny authority problem. Guess who they were.

[Dizzy]

Tristrath backwinged stirring up the grass of the bowl, making it bend and sway to the point of almost up rooting before he was safely down his wings folded at his back.. The new comer bugled to the bronze and brown that had already taken up postion.

A tall dark haired man swung down from his spot between the neckridges and landed in a crouch wherhide boots stirring up a small cloud of dust. He looked up, his eyes shielded by a well tanned hand, an took note of those following close behind the pair... it was a bright morning and the sun had yet reached its zenith... the blues and greens almost looked like jewels against the backdrop of a new sky. 'That's what should be seen over all Pern...'

I agree...Came a fluid velvet reply from the coppery bronze... wither the reply was asked for or not.

That's a change. The dark haired man laughed and slapped Tristrath's shoulder affectionatly before heading toward his Wingleader and friend at a slow jog.

"Not late am I?" D'lyn came to a stop a few feet away from G'llahar and F'lor, his piercing green eyes sparkling. He was in a good mood... for now.

[britalia]

K’var felt a grin spread across his features as D’lyn and Tristrath landed in the bowl, the Wingsecond exchanging a short farewell with his dragon before making his way to the pair. Clasping forearms with him as well, as was tradition, the Wingleader shook his head and gestured towards the wingriders now beginning to land. “Not yet, Dlyn…..for once. No friendly women came up last night?” The gypsy said slyly, his eyes glinting with the insinuation. It was a well-known fact that though hardly late, the bronze rider was never exactly early either, and it was usually because he had something back in bed he didn’t want to leave.

One dark hand going to the swordbelt at his waist, the temporary Weyrleader checked that his curved blade was secured against his hip as his emerald gaze found the one bronze dragon he never wanted to see. It wasn’t the dragon he disliked, though, it was the rider. ‘J’daer…’ Turning to his two Wingseconds, the blonde frowned slightly and jerked his thumb at the arriving riders. “I want no trouble from our resident dimglow today, boys, so if he starts, give him a sevenday of latrine duty. If that doesn’t stop him, a sevenday more. If not even that, well….we have other ways of convincing him we are right, yes?” K’var asked lowly, the tone of his voice and chill in his words leaving nothing that needed to be elaborated on. Smirking, he turned and faced the wingriders settling down on the grassy plain. He noted very few had been cautious or intelligent enough to bring their helmets and goggles, his Wingseconds being a member of those few. Arms crossed, the Wingleader addressed his riders with a voice not too loud, but carried enough weight to be heard from one end of the bowl to the other.

“Sidus Wing, today you will be working on mounted flight patterns, and unmounted reflex exercises. This will be a different type of drill than what you are used to, but it is important nevertheless.” He could hear mutters throughout the ranks, some curious and others angry, but whether they liked it or not was unimportant. The result justified any means. “First, I will tell you that Sidus is going to break tradition by separating our wing into both two and four independent working groups instead of the usual two. I know most drills call for at least six dragons each, but that leaves no room for flexibility. If one dragon is injured, I want you all to know how to break into more groups. In other words, this will allow you to move more fluidly, and more importantly, be able to react to the wider range of situations with such a flexible pattern. First, all riders break into your usual drill groups, F’lor’s and D’lyn’s., then your Wingsecond will break each of you into two more groups according to their own judgment.”

Turning, their Wingleader addressed his two Wingseconds, a grim but determined look upon his face. “I know it’s strange…but I feel this will help us fight Thread. D’lyn, you have an even twelve riders, but F’lor, you must break your eleven riders into one group of four and one of five. Put those who work best together in the group of five, so those in the group of four will have one less person to argue with.” Here K’var grinned slightly, but the expression was soon gone. “I trust you both with your judgment, naturally, so use your own discretion in the riders.” Nodding to them as both a gesture of dismissal and trust, he awaited the first groans and whines of the day.

~~~~~~~~~

Ryia gathered with the other riders of Sidus to await their instructions for the day, grinning as she saw A’mir casually make it to her side. “Hey Ry, you look pretty this morning.” The blue rider said softly, shy as always but still flirtatious. The dark woman smirked to herself, but offered Ligeth’s rider a genuine smile as she replied. “You always think I do, hun. But thanks.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, but both quieted as their Wingleader spoke. Neither was in the mood for a punishment.

When the blonde dismissed his Wingseconds to begin separating the groups, the green rider and A’mir strode off to F’lor’s side, grouping with those they worked with every day. She thought this new exercise might be difficult to master, but she wouldn’t question K’var’s judgment. He had been right too many times for her to loose faith now.

[didster7]

Kathrein landed with the last group to arrive. After she dismounted, Tath moved to join the other dragons. Her frown alone told the other riders that her mood would be dark and her tongue sharp. Holding her riding gloves in her right hand she slapped them repeatedly across her left palm as she listened to G'llahar line out the drill they would be doing. When G'llahar had finished she headed over to D'lyns group to see how they would be divided.

[Dizzy]

D'lyn grined darkly "Oh... she had to be in the kitchens early this mornin'" .

Listening carefully to the day's orders the bronze rider's expression darkened more.. it would be his pleasure to asign J'daer to his new duties when he charred the drill today. "F'lor... I say we split J'daer and S'vel up... keep them away from each other. I have a mark... heads I get S'vel... Tales you get J'daer." The tall man stretched sleep cold muscles, his back straining against his sleeveless tunic. 'Some people are gonna get chilly.' The Wingsecond took a glancing look at his Halfwing... 'Just cuz it is warm down here don't mean it is gonna be that way over the Barrier Range.' He chuckled to himself... it was mainly those just fresh outta Weyrling training. 'They'll learn..'

"You heard our Wingleader..." It took only a moment for the green eyed rider to number out his group. "Kath... any objections to leading a few of these Smokeless Weyrlings?"

~~~~
Raquel moved toward Lasath, taking only a moment to swing back astride... she was more than happy that she had been grouped with Kathrein... at least she knew her business...

~~~~
L'dar took a moment to adjust his straps before awaiting F'lor's orders.

[britalia]

((I’m pretty sure during the drills on the old LW board, D’lyn had both J’daer and his lacky and his group…..I think, so I am going to play it that way unless you say diff, Dizz. Ugh, unlucky him.))

F’lor snorted at his fellow Wingsecond, a spark of humor igniting in his eyes. “I would hardly call that a fair game.” He remarked dryly, his stormy gray eyes wandering over the two downheads. It was D’lyn’s misfortune to have them both in his Halfwing, as well as a few men that he wouldn’t call riders, but more like fledgelings. Somehow, Sidus played home to some of the younger riders that were just graduating their weyrling classes and coming into their own, which made the dark-haired sailor wonder just what his Wingleader played at. Couldn’t he have pawned them off on some other Wing except theirs? Shaking his head, the brown rider made his way over to his own Halfwing, most of the riders looking more curious than agitated, which was a good sign. He made quick work of creating his two groups, and appointed Z’vin of brown Evrenth and K’rian of brown Argoth as their leaders. “L’dar, Ryia, A’mir, Morli, you four with K’rian, and the rest of you with Z’vin. Move. Now.” The sailor was pleased to see his Halfwing moving quickly to obey his orders, even though a few grumbled about his attitude. Once all dragons were mounted and grouped with their respective new flights, F’lor swung up on Ardeth and told his brown to relay their success to Kedenth.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chalyth snorted and curled her sinuous neck towards the brown that would be her leader, watching sharply as Argoth arched his neck proudly to have been chosen. Annoyed at his attitude, she sought the mind of her beloved and told her so. Ryia was amused at her green’s irritation, and slapped the suede hide of her should affectionately. Easy now, my dear, you know you would be proud too. To that, the dragon replied she certainly would not, and them promptly dropped the entire subject. While waiting on the signal to rise, the dark-haired woman allowed her eyes to wander over those of her new Quarterwing, her obsidian gaze pleased with what she saw. A’mir she absolutely adored, and L’dar was certainly a charming weyrsinger. Morli she only knew some of, but it was enough to tell she would like the older woman. And finally, there was her new leader, K’rian, who would prove himself in time.

~~~~~~~~~~

With both Wingseconds now busy appointing positions, K’var had time to look over the twenty-three riders he called his own. A few in both Halfwings were naught but weyrlings still wet behind the ears, but a fair few were also good, seasoned riders. He could tell that F’lor and D’lyn had been slightly upset when the gypsy had agreed to take on so many inexperienced ‘fledgelings’, but there was more to the decision than they saw. They might have been young and inexperienced, but they showed high potential, and would, with time and training, be excellent wingriders. He paused slightly when he observed J’daer and S’vel being separated….they, too, were of his own choice. He could have had them transferred if he wished, but he wouldn’t have pushed them off on another Wingleader for anything. They were a pair of wherry-headed dimglows, and no other in his Weyr should have to deal with them. Besides, that bronze rider needed the blonde’s own special care, i.e., having someone who could handle himself present at every drill to make sure he didn’t fly off on another rider. That would not be tolerated.

The Weyrleader approved of the selections his Wingseconds made, and as the dragons were slowly paired up in new quarters, K’var began to make a mental note in his head which groups should practice what. Keeping a tally of the new Quarterwings, the gypsy called upon his own massive dragon and settled himself quickly between the stout bronze’s neckridges, waiting patiently for both men to finish their tasks. Ardeth says that his rider has created his new Quarterwings, and they are ready for flight. Kedenth relayed, and dark emerald swept to the side to observe F’lor’s Halfwing mounted and ready for the sky. The gypsy nodded to the brown rider, who responded with a raised hand, and finally focused his attention on D’lyn, ready for drills to begin.