Out of Formation

Writers: Devin, Sia, Steel
Date Posted: 27th January 2025

Characters: V'tian, O'rosin, R'lor, Saedyna
Description: A trio of weyrlings practices rope drills.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 9 of Turn 12

O'rosin

R'lor

"Today we're going to start with trios, and I'm going to change the
groups. You need to get used to changes in who you're flying with and
be able to adapt." R'lor consulted his notes. Ah, yes. The lad who'd
dreamed of being Weyrleader. Time to see how he handled leadership.

"V'tian, you're group leader, with O'rosin and Saedyna following."

He was _what_?

V'tian snapped to attention, even as Indith did as well, straightening
and folding her wings just so, doing her best to look Important.

"Yes _sir_." He responded, and then turned to the other two. "Alright-
form up. O'rosin, do you want left or right of me?"

O'rosin looked up from where Aeoluth was excitedly dancing away.
"Don't much matter, V'tian. You're in charge. Where do you want us?"

Saedyna groaned. O'rosin, great. This was probably going to be a disaster.

V'tian hesitated only a moment more, then seemed to come to a
decision. "Right, then you can... You can go on the left, O'rosin.
Saedyna, take right, and I'll take lead wing. Form up." He made the
signal gesture they'd been learning.

O'rosin's glanced briefly over at Saedyna, frowning slightly, before
he turned his attention back to Aeoluth. **Here, now.** He stressed,
just like they'd practiced. It didn't quell Aeoluth's excitement to be
doing _something_, but the brown happily sidled back and crouched for
his rider to climb up. He still wasn't close to graceful, but he swung
on to the brown's neck without much issue. **Follow Indith, just like
we practiced.**

}: Yes. :{ Aeoluth looked towards the other greens, ready.

What was _that_ look for? Saedyna mounted her dragon and strapped in.
She didn't know what to think of V'tian. Sometimes he did well, and
sometimes he was almost as bad as O'rosin. Well, she guessed she'd
find out how he did at this leadership thing.

V’tian looked at the other two Weyrlings and then back to Indith,
moving to her and climbing up, resting a hand on the green when she
quivered a little. **Be _calm_** he ordered.

One beat, two, and then Indith was spreading her wings, starting to
flap to take off. }:Follow me!:{ she called to the other two dragons.

Aeoluth leapt after her, strong wingbeats gaining them altitude
quickly. O'rosin's stomach flipped as the ground fell away, and he
held on tightly to the straps that kept him in place. For all this
excitement to get going, the brown kept a good distance behind his
leader and away from Avarith.

Saedyna started to instruct her green but Avarith said mildly, }:I
know what I'm doing,:{ as she took up the right position. Saedyna
smiled and patted her neck. What a smart, wonderful dragon she had.

V'tian glanced back over his shoulder, checking that both dragons had
followed them up and into the right positions. Hmm...

**Indith, tell Aeoluth that I think he needs to be a little closer in.**

}:Aeoluth, you must be in a little closer to mine and I.:{ Indith
obeyed immediately, then added, }: Your position is good, Avarith-- we
will do well!:{

Aeoluth dipped a wing down and corrected sharply, righting himself
into the designated place. O'rosin's breath caught in his throat. }:
Indith asked. :{ Aeoluth supplied.

**Gotta warn me first.** O'rosin said.

Saedyna glanced over. Aeoluth had been a little out of position, but
no disaster so far, which is better than she expected.

"Get ready!" R'lor called, and Kularth echoed his commands. "Rope
team, begin dropping in three . . . two . . . one!"

Dyed rope started fluttering down and Saedyna tensed with
anticipation. Avarith took a breath and prepared to flame.

}: Mine says we rise together! The formation we practiced!:{ Indith
called, and took a deep breath of her own, accepting the firestone
before opening her mouth and flaming the closest tangle to her.

O'rosin gripped the straps in front of him tightly as he felt
Aeoluth's first inhale, then the brown turned tightly in the air to
flame a tangle that fell further away from them. His stomach launched
into his throat when the brown dipped down to flame another. He
pictured the formation and Aeoluth skipped /between/, reappearing
almost in formation again.

Avarith flamed a few ropes as Saedyna enjoyed the sense of power.
Feeling the solid mass of her green, the bunch of her muscles as she
moved, the satisfaction of watching the dyed rope turn to char. She
glanced over at the other two and saw Aeoluth slightly out of
position. Well, at least it wasn't _terrible_.

V'tian ignored the slightly out of position Aeoluth when Indith
pointed it out. **Let's see if he figures it out.** he told her, with
a pat to the green's neck. **You can scold him next round.**

}:Here it comes! Rise together!:{ Indith called when more 'Thread'
fluttered down.

Did V'tian really not notice? He was supposed to be the leader.
Saedyna shook her head and Avarith snorted. }:Let Aeoluth worry about
himself. We flame!:{

O’rosin gritted his teeth as Aeoluth banked a little too sharply,
throwing him slightly off balance. He tightened his grip on the straps
and muttered under his breath, “Easy, big guy. You’re making me look
worse than usual.”

Aeoluth rumbled apologetically, his enthusiasm undimmed. }: I am doing
what we practiced! :{

**Not exactly, though, are you?** O’rosin thought, keeping his tone as
calm as he could manage. Aeoluth was a solid brown, larger than most
of the greens, but with all the coordination of a herdbeast in water.
Still, O’rosin couldn’t fault his effort. His dragon’s joy at being
part of the exercise thrummed through their bond, a contagious energy
that made it hard to stay frustrated.

V'tian spotted Aeoluth as Indith banked, and frowned. That didn't seem
_quite_ right. **Indith tell Aeoluth-**

}:On it.:{ the green assured. }:Aeoluth! Mine asks do you _want_
Thread to get through? You are not staying in proper formation!:{

}:See? Indith is handling it,:{ Avarith said as she moved to burn another rope.

Aeoluth huffed audibly, a sound halfway between indignation and
determination. }: I am flaming well! I will adjust! :{ he replied, his
wings angling as he worked to correct his position. His broad strokes
carried him smoothly closer to Indith, but the slight overcorrection
meant he drifted just a touch too close. O'rosin pulled at the straps
instinctively, though he knew Aeoluth felt the mental instruction more
than the physical one.

**Careful! Don't crowd her.** He was trying not to bark the command,
but his heart was pounding at the thought of a collision.

}:I am trying!:{ Aeoluth’s mental tone was tinged with frustration,
but he steadied himself, pulling back just enough to keep the
formation intact. He flamed another tangle of simulated Thread with a
burst of satisfaction.

Indith felt more than saw Aeoluth drift back into formation just
enough that she contented herself with a lash of her tail and
continued flying. }:I cannot watch you AND the Thread rope. Fly
_better_.:{

"All right, weyrlings!" R'lor called as Kularth sent the same message
to all the young dragons. "Take a short break, and then we'll switch."
While they were resting, R'lor was going to check in with the group
leaders and see how things went.

Last updated on the February 11th 2025

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Out of Formation