Testing Times
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Estelle, Heather, KC, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th February 2026
Characters: Y'gel, R'fal, K'don, K'daen, I'mrei
Description: The junior apprentice dragonhealers take an exam for promotion
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 5 of Turn 13
Y'gel strode into the Infirmary and toward his office. "All those of you who feel you're ready to test for promotion, please come into my office." He smiled to himself once his back was turned. He remembered his own master saying something similar to the group he'd been in. Of course with his Healer Hall background he'd felt ready but his friend hadn't and it had taken time for him to feel like he could prove his worth.
K'don looked like a herdbeast caught in goldsights. He looked around (not so) furtively to see who else might go in. At last, he caught I'mrei's eye and then pointed to himself as if to ask, should I go?
I'mrei lifted his eyebrows at K'don as if to say 'obviously!' Then the greenrider followed behind the Weyrdragonhealer into his office.
K'don scurried after him, unable to contain his excitement.
Kaedin took a deep breath and joined the growing group of apprentices eager to test their skills and knowledge for advancement.
Ever since he'd heard that there would be the opportunity for promotion, R'fal had been agonizing over what to do. He'd been a junior apprentice long enough to cover all the necessary classes, but was he good enough? Wouldn't it be presumptuous to think he was ready?
On the other hand, if he did go, the worst that could happen would be that he'd fail, and then at least he'd know what to expect the next time and where he needed to improve. Before he could think too hard about it, he jumped to his feet and hurried after the others, just squeezing in before the office door closed.
Y'gel held a clipboard in his hands and wrote down the names of each of the apprentices who'd elected to give it a try. "First of all, I'm proud of you," he smiled. "Second, each of you has been contributing to our great record of keeping our dragons healthy and healing those who are injured. This last class of weyrlings has been particularly challenging, but you've helped greatly getting the riders and dragonets to recognize their limitations."
K'don bounced on the balls of his feet and then turned to give a quick smile of encouragement to each of the others who had joined them. It _had_ been a trying time, but they had gotten through it together.
The look on Kaedin's face was somewhere between determination and desperation. He realized that while he could not control what happened on the Sands but he could control _this_. And if he failed at advancing in the Dragonhealing craft, what use to the Weyr could he really be? Slowly he turned his head to the left until a series of slight pops could be heard, and then he did it to the right. A nervous habit he had picked up some time ago, the bones cracking releasing some of the built of tension he was feeling, but not much.
R'fal returned his old classmate's smile, glad for the distraction from his anxious thoughts. At least the Weyrdragonhealer hadn't immediately sent him back to the class in shame, and his words sparked a small flame of ambition in the young brownrider. They'd worked hard, but if he could advance, he'd be able to do more.
"Alright everyone," Y'gel said. "Take out your notebooks and turn to the last page. I'll want you to write down your answers to the questions on the handouts you'll receive." He nodded to the Senior Journeyman on the side of the room who began passing out the test.
Kaedin did as required quietly, his body fighting between moments of rigid determination and intentional relaxation, a war of emotions that was currently building tension behind his eyes and birthing a headache that would grow into a migraine if it wasn't checked soon.
R'fal nodded politely as the journeyman handed him a paper, but he felt as though he'd swallowed a basket of tunnelsnakes and was beginning to question his decision. In his mind were those early, disastrous weyrling assignments when as a newly arrived cothold boy he'd barely been able to write. **If I'd stayed, I could be out in the sun with Marlath now.** But it was too late to back out now.
~~~
As the time ticked on and their implements scratched the pages, Y'gel walked the room keeping an eye on how the younger healers kept their eyes firmly focused on their own books. He was very satisfied with the progress he'd been seeing and he called out. "Five minutes, please wrap up."
I'mrei closed his test and laid his stylus down, feeling confident that he had done the best he could. He glanced around to see how Kaedin and K'don were doing.
Kaedin gave the test another look, checking his answers as he mentally recited lessons drilled into him from the beginning of his apprenticeship. It wasn't so much to check his accuracy, as it was a tool used to calm his nerves. Advancing in his Craft was, right now at least, Kaedin's penultimate goal. If he never Impressed at least he could be of use to the Weyr as a dragonhealer. Of course having a dragon that could help calm a wounded dragon would make healing the winged protectors of Pern all the easier. Still, even without a dragon he could still be of use, if he learned everything there was to learn and showed his competence.
He was about to put the materials down to indicate his competition, but hesitated, going through his answers and his lessons mentally once again. Times like these he really wished that he had his small bag of Hatching sands on him, squeezing it was a great stress relief.
K'don was unfazed, but he was always slow to finish writing. It was more of a struggled to keep from biting his nails than it was to remember the answers to the questions. He glanced at Im'rei just in time to notice him watching and was suddenly glad he had _not_ had his fingers in his mouth this time. That would not be a cool look. He smiled and then set down his stylus.
R'fal looked up from his work as their time came to an end, his eyes glazed from concentration. The time seemed to have gone by in an instant, but at least he'd attempted to answer everything and hadn't fainted or spilled ink all over his notebook; all those tests on formations and weather patterns as a weyrling had been useful practice, it turned out. The others all seemed calm and confident, so he did his best to pretend to be the same and set down his pen.
Y'gel smiled "Time," he said and nodded to S'ten who began gathering the notebooks. "You'll receive a fresh notebook and this one back when we have the 'walking the tables' ceremony next rest day." it was only a few days away and he had work to do to get ready for the celebration for those who advanced. "Dismissed," he said with a nod.
Last updated on the February 21st 2026