Weyrling

“What would you do If I were to say that we were to start betweening today?” C’fre asked his dragon. I would ask if you were sure. The weyrling trainer said that we would start betweening after the sixth month in our weyrling year. This is only our fifth. C’fre nodded and said, “You have a good argument Tahirth, but unfortunately it’s wrong. I have just spoken with Y’tro and he thinks that we are ready. I guess we have all progressed fast enough to start now.”

C’fre took his riding jacket from the peg on the wall and put it on, putting the clasps together and then placing his riding helmet on his head. He took the lightweight saddle from its stand

and walked to Tahirth, who had already kneeled down so that his rider could place the saddle on his back. He tightened the straps and then climbed up. Tahirth stood up, stretched his front legs and then walked to the outside ledge. They were about to take off when C’fre’s cream colored firelizard Jonerat flew up, chittering excitedly and landed on his shoulder. “No you can’t come Jonerat. We’ll be too busy today and I won’t have time to look after you.” The firelizard chirped disappointedly but flew from his rider’s shoulder. C’fre sighed and gave Tahirth the signal to take off. The bronze took off lightly and started to glide down to the hunting grounds.

They landed in the Weyr bowl and C’fre dismounted, walking towards weyrlingmaster Y’tro and saluting him. “Good morning C’fre, I see you’re doing well. How is Tahirth?” C’fre shrugged and said. “As good as any dragon who’s about to learn how to between.” Y’tro laughed and said, “Well then I will assume he is doing extremely well. Are you ready to mount up? I’m only waiting for a few more.” C’fre nodded and Y’tro said, “Well then get back to Tahirth and strap in. It shouldn’t be much longer considering the other weyrlings are as anxious to get in the air as you are.”

Y’tro mounted and then lifted his arm into the air about ten minutes later, signaling them to take off. Tahirth took off after brown Vrenth did and they flew high above the Weyr. Vrenth says that we must always be above the height we are currently at and to picture the place in our minds that we are going before we jump. C’fre nodded. “That makes sense. What else does Vrenth say?” Tahirth was silent for a moment and then he said, He says that we should stop asking him questions and listen to Y’tro, who will begin to lecture soon. C’fre laughed and strained to hear what the weyrlingmaster would say.

“Today will hold one of the most important lessons you will learn in your entire weyrling, and possibly, adult lives. It is not easy to transfer between and some dragons will be better at it then others, being able to transfer farther and for longer periods of time. You shall not worry about this today however. Today you will learn the basic concepts of betweening and if I think you are ready by the end of the lesson period I may let you transfer to a place just a ways off, like to the coast. This may not seem very far but for your first time it will be like transferring halfway around Pern. Now there are too many of you to go all at once so you will be put into groups. Those who are not with me at the moment will practice drills. Does everyone understand?” The weyrlings nodded and Y’tro said, “Well then let me put you into groups

so that we my be started.”

Y’tro put C’fre into the first group and then instructed them to picture the star stones atop the Weyr. “Those stones will be the image you will use when you wish to return home. Do not, I repeat not, picture them from an altitude any lower then this. Don’t ask me why, just know that you would not like to see what would happen if you did. Now that you have the stones in your mind let’s fly around to find some other landmarks we can use.” Y’tro and Vrenth led the way across the hunting grounds and over the think forest that was on the outskirts of the Weyr. They stopped when they reached the large, smooth rock known as Bald man’s. “This is good landmark considering there probably isn’t another one like it on all of Pern. Picture this as well and we’ll transfer from here back to the Weyr.” C’fre took in every detail and then closed his eyes, picturing it again. When he felt he had the image pictured perfectly he opened his eyes and looked to Y’tro. He nodded and said, “C’fre tells me he is ready so he will be the first to go.” C’fre swallowed the nervousness that was beginning to creep up and then closed his eyes again, picturing the star stones on top of the Weyr. He sent the image to Tahirth who thought about it a moment and then made the jump between.

The coldness of between shocked him and took in a quick breath. Do not worry C’fre, I am here. C’fre relaxed a little and before he knew it they were out again, this time over the star stones on the Weyr. C’fre thrust his arm into the air and cried out in his victory. Tahirth bugled and said, Vrenth wishes us to come back now. C’fre nodded and pictured the smooth rock. When he passed it to Tahirth he barely waited an instant before going between again. The cold still shocked C’fre a bit but he knew where he was now that that it wouldn’t last very long. In fact, as soon as those thoughts were in the open they were out again, hovering slightly above the rest of the group. Y’tro clapped and said, “Good job C’fre and you as well Tahirth. You are the first to make a jump between out of your clutch mates. You may leave if you wish now. I give you permission to transfer back in you wish.” C’fre nodded, saluted and then pictured the star stones again. He passed the image to Tahirth and then they went between again. When they were above the stones Tahirth bugled a good bye and then started gliding down to the hunting grounds.