Jr. Fledgling

”I’m hungry W’van. Can we go down to the pens so that I can feed?” W’van smiled and said, “No I’m afraid not Swarajik. Once you are a senior fledgling you may go down to the pens. I’m afraid I’ll have to go down the cavern stewardess and ask for some.” The junior fledgling snorted and said, "All right. Please hurry back though. If you take too long I may feel the urge to eat Arbol or Solluz,” he said as he looked over at the two alis gryphs, fast asleep on one of the shelves on the far wall. W’van shook his head, smiling. “No I don’t think they would be too happy with you Swarajik. I think I’ll just take them with me.” Swarajik sighed and said, "If you must."

W’van picked up Arbol and placed him on his shoulder, where he promptly curled up and fell asleep again. When he picked up Solluz however, she hissed and swiped at his hand, sitting up and backing away. W’van shrugged and said, “Fine stay here and be eaten, see if I care.” Solluz cocked her head to one side in question and then fluttered to his other shoulder. “That’s better,” he said as the small orange curled up as well. He said good bye to Swarajik and then walked from the caerlet, heading for the cavern stewardess, hoping she was there.

As he walked down the stairs Arbol woke up and squawked in confusion, not realizing where he was. W’van stroked his small green head and said, “It’s alright Arbol, we’re just going down to get some meat for Swarajik.” He warbled a response and then curled back up. W’van sighed and walked down the rest of the stairs, knocking on the cavern stewardess’s door when he reached it. She opened it almost immediately and looked him over. “What are you looking for? Meat for your two gryphs?” He shook his head but smiled. “No I need some for my bottomless pit, who is waiting for me back in the caerlet. I’m sure these two wouldn’t mind some small scraps though.” She nodded and let him enter.

As she prepared the meat she asked, “You bonded yours from green Palisoryt and blue Alvarik’s clutch?” W’van nodded and said, “Yes, I bonded brown Swarajik.” She continued to cut the meat and asked, “So he’s about six month’s old now?” He shrugged, almost causing Solluz to lose her grip on his shoulder. She warbled irritably but then curled up, gripping to his shirt a little tighter. “No, he’s about seven and a half I believe. All I know or care about is that we only have about five months till senior fledgling training. I can’t wait to start considering how much more exciting it will be compared to junior weyrling training.”

The cavern stewardess nodded and looked up at him as she grabbed another slice of meat. “More exciting maybe but much more work for sure. I think you will miss the days of boring junior fledgling classes when you are halfway through the rigors of the senior training sessions.” W’van nodded as he stroked Arbol’s neck and said, “Yeah you’re right, but flying to and from places will be much less time consuming than walking from point A to point B.” The cavern stewardess shrugged and said, “You may even be able to go faster than flying, depending on your dragons’ T-power. If he is strong then you could transfer from your point A and you’d reach point B almost an instant later. However, if he is weak, you will most likely be flying and no more.”

W’van nodded, taking in what the cavern stewardess was saying. “Were his parents both string when it came to their T-power?” She shrugged and said, “I really don’t know. You can almost always train them up though. I wouldn’t let it bother you too much.” He nodded and took the basket of meat that she handed him. “Wow this is heavier than I thought it would be.” She nodded and said, “I put some extra in. Since he’s the age he is he’s going to require more from now on.” He nodded and turned around, opening the door with his foot and walking out. He thanked her and then made his way slowly back to his caerlet, where his hungry fledgling was waiting.