B'non looks up, and with a noise, jumps up and belatedly salutes the weyrleaders.
J'rell sits next to Shandra.
Ginevra sits down on the floor and gazes up at Jerissa with wide eyes.
Shandra returns B'non's salute.
J'rell raises his hand in a ghost of a salute to various weyrlings.
B'non walks over and slumps down next to Ginevra. "Hey," he nudges her. "Deloth says hi." He smiles broadly.
Ginevra beams at B'non. "Hi!" she says enthusiastically, then glances at Jerissa and quietens down. "Tell him I said hi too. This is my first ever official lecture."
B'non looks over his shoulder at the barely-waking Deloth. "It's ours, too. I'm very excited."
R'val takes a seat near the bowl entrance and watches the room curiously, examining the unfamiliar barracks.
Shandra says "He's certainly growing well, B'non."
Alyssa strides in from the Bowl.
Ginevra grins at B'non. "really? Neat. I'm excited too." She pats the scrolls she carries. "I stayed up last night studying."
B'non nods to the Weyrwoman, "Thank you. He is, isn't he?" He get a farr-off look for a sec, then turns to face Jerissa.
Alyssa nods respectfully to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman, then smiles quietly at the other riders and takes a seat near the back.
Jerissa finds an old oil vat and upturns it, jumping up and swinging her legs. She looks around the room for a moment before coughing rather loudly. "Can I have your attention please?"
R'val looks up at Jerissa, and listens intently.
Celie settles down on a nearby couch to listen.
B'non smiles and looks at Jerissa expectantly.
Ginevra peeks over at Deloth and her eyes widen. "oooh, he has gotten bigger."
T'vor walks through the tunnel and out to the Bowl.
Celie says "Comes from all that eating and sleeping he does."
Jerissa nods, satisfied as silence drops, a few hushed tones from weyrlings at the back barely audible. "Your WeyrlingMasters have asked me to talk to you about basic dragon anatomy and how to take care of your lifemate."
On Deloth's Couch, Deloth rumbles quietly, scanning the room and all the people. He sets his head on a forearm, intently watching the goings on.
Sayra climbs off of Vilyath's couch.
B'non smiles to Sayra and invites her to sit with im and Ginevra. "YOu're late, " he whispers.
Gwirith steps down from Gwirith's Couch.
Sayra tries to inconspicuously make her way to B'non and sit down.
Alyssa listens intently, though her eyes stray every so often to the weyrlings ringed around them; she cannot help smiling at them.
Shandra sips quietly at her wine, surveying the room more than she watches Jerissa. Now and then she makes a short note.
Ginevra smiles over at Deloth.
Alea makes snuggles up next to Gwirith, pulling out a scroll, she prepares to take notes.
Jerissa frowns at the late Weyrlings and continues, "I just want to add a few things before we continue about Dragonhealing. In this weyr, I am the Senior Dragonhealer. That means that I'm responsible for the training of all the dragonhealers here and also carrying out several other duties. If you want to become a dragonhealer, come talk to me about it. However, you cannor persue it until you have graduated or until Irina or Celie says so."
B'non hmms, considering. "Maybe I'll become a dragonhealer, after weyrlingship," he whispers to Ginevra.
Jerissa smiles as she looks around, eyes resting on those already studying down that path. "The other thing is, please free to ask me questions, but try and leave the bulk of them until the end."
Alyssa smiles quietly at B'non, then settles a little more with her tablet and stylus.
Ginevra smiles warmly at B'non. "It's really neat, but lots and lots of work."
Jerissa rubs her hands together as she pauses to catch her train of thought. "We're going to discuss the range of colours first and their respective sizes. Golds range in colour from pale yellows to dark, antique golds. They can grow to forty-two metres. Which is _large_! But they can also be as small as thirty-eight metres."
You say "Alea, can you remember how large bronzes grow to? Don't be afraid to admit you don't know. You're here to learn."
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lemarath thinks thirty nine and a half metres is the best length.
Dragon> Amrieth bespoke Igen dragons with << I think twenty-six is an ideal size. >>
B'non snickers slightly, but does a fair job of masking it while appearing to be attentive.
Dragon> Lemarath bespoke Igen dragons with << But one dragonlength is good, whatever the dragon's length. >>
Alea looks up. "Bronzes? the range about 35 to 38 meteres."
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Gwirith rumblequestions.<<Are we all not the size we should be...or will be? I am not quite done growing.>>
Jerissa's gaze flickers over to B'non, before nodding at Alea. "Thats right, colour generally has some green in it, though the hide can be as dark as browns. Browns are next largest, being around thirty to thirty-five metres and display colours from tan to chocolate. Greens" she casts a glance to her lifemate, "and blues show the entire range of those colours. Blue's are.." she pauses, "R'val? Know how large they are? And Alyssa, maybe you'd like to tell me about greens?"
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lemarath projects, << You are perfect at one Gwirithdragonlength long. Well almost perfect. >> She flicks her tail in a gesture of egomaniacal self-adoration.
R'val cocks his head at Jerissa, "Up to around twenty-seven meters, if I recall correctly"
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lunarth admires Lemarath accordingly.
Jerissa smiles, "Almost, blues can grow to thirty from around twenty-five."
B'non stiffles a laugh once again, but this time it seems less purposeful and is far less noticable.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Gwirith projects, <<I am a Gwirithdragon length!>>
R'val nods to Jerissa with a slight smile.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lemarath croons to Lunarth.
Celie throws B'non a look.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Mileketh croons admiringly to Lemarath.
Alyssa waits for Jerissa to finish, musing, "Greens are twenty-two or so to twenty-eight?"
Sayra peers at B'non curiously, turns to look at a sleeping Vilyath, and shrugs.
Dragon> Mileketh bespoke Igen dragons with << Pay attention, younglings. Keeping Lemarath happy is an important task for all dragons here at the Weyr. >>
B'non whispers to Sayra, "Deloth says he is neither tan /nor/ chocolate."
Jerissa shakes her head from side to side, "Sort of Alyssa. I've seen greens between nineteen and twenty six." Amrieth warbles to Jerissa, who looks up and smiles, "Yes dear, I know."
Sayra claps a hand over her mouth to stifle a chuckle.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lunarth nodnods. << A bronze is right, for once ;). >>
Alyssa nods and makes a note on her tablet, then glances up to look at the healer again.
Jerissa quirks an eyebrow at Sayra, "Have you something you'd like to share with us all? I'm sure the weyrleaders and your weyrlingmaster, as would I, be fascinated!"
Ginevra grins at B'non. "What colour does he say he is then?"
Sayra clears her throat and casts a glare at B'non. "It seems that some of the dragons, at least, are a little unclear about what a colour range is, exactly."
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Lemarath has a grumpy note to her comment, << You make it sound like that is difficult. Oh - I have told Shandra your words of wisdom and she says not to make my head grow... but it is the weyrlings that are growing. >>
Dragon> Mileketh bespoke Igen dragons with << I didn't say it was difficult. Just important to remember. >>
Jerissa nods to Sayra, "I did say they display the full range. We can discuss this late after the lecture is finished if you want" she says tersely.
B'non speaks up, "It's just that... uhh... Deloth was, um, a little, unsatisfid with your brown color decription." He glances around, nervously awaiting reactions.
Dragon> Lemarath bespoke Igen dragons with << Yes! You and Vilyath have started the hunting learning extremely well, Gwirith. >>
Sayra nods and studiously examines her notes.
Celie clears her throat. "Excuse me...isn't Jerissa giving this lecture?"
R'val glances over his notes, then back up at Jerissa.
B'non nods and decides he'd be better off silent.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Gwirith is extremely pleased by Lemarath's praise.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Vilyath sleepily remarks <<Hunting is fun.>>
Jerissa continues, not waiting for further comments, "Now, you're lifemates are approaching a turn, so are around eighty percent fully grown now." She nods to Celie, a small smirk evident before turning back to her 'students'. "The wing tip to wing tip wingspan is around a full one and two thirds the length of your lifemate." She smiles, listening to her lifemate, "Oh yes, a dragonlength is the equal of the average length of the greens and greens are by far the most predominant colour on Pern, equalling all the blues, browns, bronzes and golds put together in numbers!"
Ginevra stiffles a giggle at B'non's reaction.
Alyssa blinks, murmuring, "I didn't realize that..." as she writes hurriedly.
R'val looks unsurprised at this revelation, listening intently to Jerissa.
B'non nods far too comprehendingly.
Jerissa coughs, whether clearing her throat or trying to stop some of the noiser weyrlings is unclear. "The sphincter is hidden in the spade-shape end of the tail, pressed close by the fork end. Adult dragons go to the toilet whilst *between* and only when ill, or like yours too young, to go *between*. The genitalia are concealed under pouchlike flaps and are only revealed during mating!"
Shandra comments dryly, "Not that anyone's managed to look at them then, midair."
R'val grins at the weyrwoman.
Jerissa nods to Shandra, "Could be rather dangerous."
Jerissa chuckles and winks at one of the weyrlings as he blushes. "Now, surely there's someone here that knows how to tell what emotions a dragon is feeling?" She glances around, eyes resting on B'non. "You seem to have a lot to say, maybe you'd like to tell me?"
Ginevra peers curiously over at Deloth's tail.
B'non nods, raising his voice, "All the dragons I've met betray their emotions by the color and motion in their eyes."
Stealth swoops in from the Bowl.
Jerissa nods, "Correct. Do you happen to know any of the colours.." she looks, "Sayra?"
Sayra looks up with a slightly guilty expression. "Colours, eyes... Blue, green, red... yellow, um..."
Ginevra smiles at B'non then glances down at her notes.
Gwirith turns her slowly swirling blue eyees towards B'non and Deloth.
Jerissa nods at Sayra, "Yes, but do you know what they mean?"
Dragon> Deloth bespoke Igen dragons with << Has B'non angered them? >>
Alea holds up her hand.
Sayra peers over at Vilyath, whose eyes remain closed. "Red is angry, blue, happy... Green, content... ? I think."
Celie chuckles. "Green is always content, yes," she murmurs.
Sayra smiles.
On Deloth's Couch, Deloth croons in return, but returns to watching the lecture, flecks of an almost worried crimson in his eyes.
Dragon> Lemarath bespoke Igen dragons with << Shandra is not angry. She is tired and still sad but not angry. >>
Jerissa notices Alea's hand and smiles before looking at Sayra. She nods. "Red can be pain too, Sayra. Thats an important one. There are three other moods, Alea, can you answer?"
Jerissa frowns at herself, "Four actually. Alea?"
Alea clears her throat. "I thought blue was contented, Orange is hunger or mating?"
B'non bites that comment off nice and early this time, swallowing determinedly.
Alyssa opens her mouth to comment, then closes it.
Ginevra giggles and says softly, "Purple is lust...or love."
You say "Orange is hunger, red tinges it sometimes. Mating is purple or violet. When Amrieth has purple eyes - move! Thats my advice." She chuckles before continuing, "There's yellow too and orange can also be worry or pain." She glances at Alyssa, "Whats yellow for then?""
Alyssa smiles at Ginervra, then says promptly, "Alarm...."
Alyssa sighs, adding, "I've seen that a bit too much for my liking."
R'val smiles at Alyssa at that.
Alea takes notes.
B'non infers, "And the speed of the whirling pertains to the strength of th emotion?"
Jerissa smiles and nods, chuckling at Ginevra. "Yes, yellow is alarm. Now the other thing about dragons is that dragons have multiple eyelids. Three in fact and they usually don't all close at once. Their sight is much sharper than ours, but their hearing is terrible. The primary communication being telepathic." She glances over at B'non and smiles, "Yes. Faster is more intense, but if you look they don't really whirl. You can look later, study your lifemate more closer."
Ginevra sits up a bit and tries to peek at Deloth's eyes.
B'non asks, "THen what do they do? As opposed to whirling?"
Sayra opens her mouth and closes it again.
Jerissa swings her legs, hitting them against the drum before stilling them abruptly. To B'non she says, "They're jewelled facets if you look closely you'll see that they move, but don't _whirl_ as such. Now, they're warm blooded and haven't got blood as we know it. Does anyone know what they have?"
B'non raises a hand immediately.
Jerissa nods to B'non, "Yes?"
Alea blurts out, "Ichor, its green." She blushes.
Sayra nods.
B'non says, "Ichor," just as Alea says it. He gives her a slight glare.
Alea bends her head down studying her notes intently.
Celie gives a slight cough.
Ginevra smiles. "They don't whirl." she mutters, and takes out her stylus and writes that down.
R'val listens intently, but writes down little.
Jerissa chuckles, "Yes to both." She grins as she looks around, "Dragon have very sharp teeth and their breath depends on what they are doing. For example, chewing firestone produces a very"wrinkle of her nose" distinct aroma."
Alea holds her hand up /this/ time.
Alyssa smiles at Jerissa's comment.
You say "Alea?"
Alea says "I was wondering if the light reflecting off their eyes makes them appear to Whirl?""
Stealth slips through the air and silently vanishes *between*.
Jerissa smiles. "Yes, thats why I said if you look closely you'll see. I spent a long time gazing into Amy's eyes, watching. It can be fun."
Celie says "Hypnotizing, too."
Jerissa nods to Celie, "Shards yes!"
Alea nods, taking notes. She peers up into Gwirith's eyes intently.
Alyssa sighs and murmurs, "A dragon that looks at me with those whirling blue or green eyes can get me to do almost anything..."
Ginevra awwws. "That's sweet."
Celie chuckles. "That's why they have them, I think."
B'non smiling; he's gonna have to try that.
Jerissa pauses, looking around for something to wet her throat. She clears it instead. "Dragonhide is soft, smooth, hairless as well you've likely found out after oiling them. When a dragon is sick, the hide goes grey and dull. When a female dragon is near to rising her hide changes in colour. Gets much brighter. However, I'm sure Irina or Celie will be telling you _all_ about those joys!"
Gwirith blinks one of her eyelids. Alea shakes her head, turning her attention back to Jerissa.
Celie clears her throat. "Soon than you might think, actually."
Jerissa chuckles and nods looking at Amrieth, "Yeah, she's getting close to being due too."
Celie sighs. "Funny how these things work."
B'non smiles slightly, catching Gwirith from the corner of his eye and winking at Alea.
Alea says "I suppose Celie or Irina will tell us when to expect that from our greens?""
Ginevra raises her hand.
Celie says "Well, I could. Irina is a brownrider."
Shandra clears her throat, "Actually, I will. After you've learned *between* and a few other things."
Jerissa smiles, "Well we're nearly finished on the anatomy parts and then I want to briefly talk about injuries." She giggles at Celie, "I'm glad mating lectures are your responsiblity! Ginnie?"
Celie hooks a thumb at Shandra. "I'm leaving it to Shandra."
Jerissa grins. "Coward!"
Alyssa shifts a little in her seat, glancing to her right to ensure F'nar and Alnar are all right.
Celie nods. "Definately!"
Alea sighs and nods. She looks over at Sayra shrugging her shoulders.
R'val watches Jerissa as he listens.
Sayra quirks an eyebrow and ahrugs back at Alea.
Alea says "Do we really have to get our greens away from the weyr when another green rises or is it only when /our/ greens our near to rising themselves?""
Alyssa opens her mouth to address Alea's question, then she turns toward Jerissa to see what the rider says.
Celie shakes her head. "Shandra will tell you all about that when you're ready. Let's let Jerissa finish."
Shandra nods, "That's a question better saved for when we discuss mating. You can't learn everything tonight."
Jerissa continues whilst Ginevra gathers her thoughts, "Dragons memories are rather short. Amrieth is around 3 days, which means she tends to forgot fall easily and I generally have to remind her when to eat. Generally, if she can't remember its time to feed."
Ginevra sighs. "What colour is that?"
B'non nods, but doesn't say a thing at Celie's recommendation.
You say "Colour as in her hide, Ginnie?"
Ginevra nods. "And do I gotta know abuot flights?" she asks quietly.
Jerissa smiles, "Its, in Amy's case, very very bright green. And maybe some knowledge but not a lot. We'll do that separately from the Weyrlings" she answers to Ginevra. "Now. injuries. Anyone think of what can happen?"
Ginevra looks vastly relieved. "Okay."
Meadow wakes up with a rather startled chirple.
Celie holds a finger to her lips as she glances at the green fire lizard.
Alyssa blinks, not certain she understands the question.
Alea says "Threadscore, cuts, pulled muscles..."
Shandra slips out - quietly, but quickly.
Shandra walks through the tunnel and out to the Bowl.
Ginevra says softly, "um, biting the tongue."
Alea checks Gwirith's tail," and constipation."
Alyssa mutters, "Wing tears. Shells, I hate wing tears..."
Sayra mutters something about skinned noses.
R'val glances at Alyssa and smiles faintly.
Alea smiles at Sayra.
B'non looks around more and more forlornly as people take answers from right out of his mouth.
Jerissa nods, "Yes. If your lifemate is injured you should always get a dragonhealer to look at the injury, even if you are a dragonhealer. Thats an important consideration. Wounds can be stitched back together and may or not affect flight. That is up to the treating dragonhealer."
Alea says "So we shouldn't try to take care of injuries to our own dragons?"
B'non asks, "Do riderhealers ever treat their own dragons?"
Celie shakes her head. "You probably won't be able to, anyway."
Alyssa shakes her head as well, silently agreeing with Celie.
Jerissa nods. "Biting the tongue is another. This happens when your lifemates learn how to chew firestone. Only treatment is for them to be more careful." She nods to Celie and Alea. "Yeah, small cuts you can numb but others get a healer to check."
Jerissa considers something, a frown over her face as she thinks, "Well there's also broken bones as someone said, joints can also be dislocated. If you're trying to land an injured dragon with one of those ask for assistance. Igen's Queens are well trained in such things as landing injured dragons."
Ginevra furrows her brow as she listens.
J'rell slips out quietly.
J'rell walks through the tunnel and out to the Bowl.
Cordelia lands with a soft trill.
Celie glances over at the fire lizard. "I've often wondered what we have more of in the barracks - dragonets or fire lizards."
From Cirdanth's couch, Cirdanth sets his head on his forefeet and listens attentively.
From Cirdanth's couch, Kershala says "Fire lizards.""
Jerissa smiles as she casts a glance at the weyrlings, "Now, weyrlings develop two problems rather commonly. Overflying and stretching the wing and shoulder muscles and constipation."
Cordelia cocks her head and preens a bit as though she knows that she's being discussed.
Celie chuckles softly. "Fire lizards by a long margin, yes.,"
From Cirdanth's couch, Kershala's fair trills from their perches all along Cirdanth's back.
Meadow manages to look innocent.
Alea turns to look at Celie, "Why wouldn't we be able to."
Celie says "Because you'll probably be as upset, or more so, than your dragon is."
Jerissa chuckles at the firelizard and continues, "Overstretching is why the weyrlingmasters ask you to develop flying slowly. Build up the muscles. You should always examine your lifemates when they've been flying until those muscles are built up. If they overstretch you'll be grounded for rest."
Jerissa adds, "So be careful and don't let them push themseleves too much."
Ginevra scribbles down some notes, and glances at the weyrlings from time to time.
You say "Anyone know the signs for constipation?"
Dragon> Gwirith bespoke Igen dragons with << "I have been careful, I have not overstreched my wings. >>
B'non seems more interested in the 'flying' parts of the lecture than everyting else put together.
Dragon> Urieth bespoke Igen dragons with << See that you don't. >>
Gwirith looks at her tail.
Dragon> Amrieth bespoke Igen dragons with << You have been good little one. >>
B'non answers Rissa, "Tail thickness?"
Celie chuckles.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Penath rumbles from his ledge
Alea giggles at Gwirith. "Thick tail?"
Alyssa nods in agreement with B'non.^
R'val nods with the others.
Dragon> Igen dragons sense that Deloth gets stronger every day.
Jerissa nods to B'non. "Ayup. Thick tail! If you notice that contact your weyrlingmaster or a dragonhealer. We'll adminster a purge and then you get to clean up the mess!" she chuckles evily.
Alyssa wrinkles her nose.
Meadow fires off a barrage of chitter gossip to Cordelia.
Alea checks Gwirith's tail. It appears to be fine.
R'val shudders in rememberance.
Ginevra ewws and scrunches up her face.
Celie shudders and sighs. "So much for the smelly herbs..."
Cordelia listens with interest.
Jerissa giggles, "Dragon poo! J'ren used to enjoy that if I remember!"
Sayra frowns slightly. "Could we administer the purge... outside ?"
B'non ughs slightly, turning to check Deloth as they speak.
Jerissa nods to Sayra, "Sure. You still gotta clean up though!"
Celie says "Administer it wherever you like."
Celie says "Just make sure I don't step in the mess."
Alea looks over at Vilyath's tail. It looks fine to her.
Alyssa murmurs, "As far away from the infirmary as you can, too..."
Sayra makes a face and looks over at Vilyath. "What can cause it ?"
Jerissa chuckles and nods to Alyssa, "Yeah, that too." To Sayra, "Overeating. Thats why you need to watch them. Especially as they begin to learn how to hunt. Its sometimes difficult for them not to get carried away in the thrill!"
Sayra nods vigorously.
Ginevra peers catiously over at Deloth's tail and frowns a bit.
Jerissa smiles, "Any more questions?"
Ginevra smiles. "Not from me, m'am."
On Deloth's Couch, Deloth snorts; he would /never/ overeat.
Alea says "Did I miss anything? Last I saw was Sayra asking about what caused constipation."
Jerissa drops OOC. "OK. Basically any TP's on dragonhealer stuff should be cleared through the capable healer responsible or me. I would still like to know about it cos I'm nosy! And thats really it." To Alea, "Not really :)"
Alyssa says "Jerissa, can I add something there, please?"
You say "Sure Alyssa. :)"
Cordelia thinks, OOCishly, all injuries have to be cleared with the WLs/WLM or Wingleaders too, so that the whole Weyr doesn't end up in the infirmary and so that you know what the IC consequences are in advance as well, so it's not a surprise that you can't, say, be in your SOs mating flight the day after ripping your wing open. :)
Alyssa wows, what a smart FL. :)
Ginevra grins.
Jerissa nodnods to Cordelia. Which is why all capables have mail telling them to do just that and I wrote the rules so... :)
Cordelia thinks you're just talented for knowing her thoughts. :-)
Celie says "Smartest FL in the weyr."
Alyssa says "The reasons we need advance warning are that a) We want to be sure we have time to give to proper DHL RP and b) You never know if you might catch us in the middle of RP."
Ginevra ooohs. "My training must be good to read FL minds." :)
Alyssa says "Dragonhealers always need good RP...we'd just like advanced notice so we don't miss it. :)"
B'non says "adds that Weyrlings need good RP, too. ;)"
Jerissa smiles to Alyssa. "Sure thing. I've always done NPC's here - PC's at Reaches, Benden and Ista :)"
Ginevra grins at Alyssa.
You say "And all three almost grabbed me from RP"
Celie nods. "But remember that some injuries could technically prevent you from ever becoming a full-fledged rider."
Alyssa nodsnods. "But when we get to abuse a PC, we want to, Rissa. ;)
B'non *must go, regrettebly. Seey'all.
B'non climbs onto Deloth's Couch to curl up with his favorite dragon.
Jerissa nods to Celie. "Yep. Which is why if you ask one of the dragonhealers they will tell you the IC consequences. Like how many days I'll confine you to a ground weyr or whatever."
Jerissa hees at Alyssa.
Celie nods. "And how loud your WLM will yell at you after you heal :)"
You say "OK. Is that it? You can always +mail me or page me or wahtever with other stuff/Q etc"
Alea nods.
Jerissa goes for coffee then :)