Welcoming the candidates {Lesson 1}

[riki]

Nervousness tingled up the woman's spine as she examined the room, adjusting a chair here and there as she went. She wanted everything to be perfect for her first lesson with a brand new bunch of candidates, and she found herself wondering what kind of personalities she would be teaching in the next few weeks. Already she could tell that these candidates would make for quite an interesting class, and she wondered what kind of things she could learn form them ... young adolescents always saw the world in quite the interesting way, and she found that she had to change her lessons for every clutch just to keep up with them. Slipping another chair into the semi-circle she worried over the lay out of the common room, then stepped back to count the seats to make sure that she had enough set out for all the candidates.

Yes, there where more then enough seats plus a few extra just in case the searchriders had brought any new people in since the last arrival. Taking a deep breath she figured that now was as good a time as ever as she reached out to Xerith 'Would you be a dear and summon the candidates to their first lesson' she only had to wait a moment as she felt the green stirring from her rest, and then felt the green shake her muscular form as she broadcast her mental tones to all those in the barracks 'Attention candidates, you have been summoned to the common area for your first lesson' her mental tone was gentle for a dragon of her bulk, and yet despite that it was clear that she expected the candidates to heed her order and arrive at the large room in due order. Zanira couldn't help but smile to herself at the sound of her green ... yes she was definitely a mother, a mother that expected her 'children' to obey her if they wanted to earn her praise.

Linking her arms behind her back the candidatemaster watched with an unreadable expression as each of the candidates walked in, took a seat, and watched her expectantly as if waiting for an explanation. Those whom where prompt would have to wait as she was clearly waiting for all the candidates to arrive before clearing her throat to gain the attention of her students. "Hello, First off let me welcome you all to the candidate barracks. I am Zanira bonded to green Xerith, and we will both be guiding you through your hectic life as a Candidate. Before we get down to introductions we have the all important rules of candidacy ... Firstly there will be no bullying or name calling, if you are being bullied or see bullying then I encourage you all to come and see me in my office" Zanira gave each candidate a firm look as she said this, then walked down the line as she moved on in her lecture.

"Secondly I don't want to hear that you have been skipping out on chores, yes I know they are not the most exciting thing to do, but each chore can teach you skills that may come in useful in your life as a dragonrider." She smiled kindly as she realized that some candidates might not believe her, after all she herself had scoffed at the thought that chores where useful lessons. "I also would like to see you in all my lessons, I have much to teach you about the upcoming hatching and your life as a weyrling when your dragon finds you" pausing for effect she walked the line once more, then retrieved a chair for herself so that she could sit in the middle of the semi-circle, her lips pursed as she waited for any complaints from the candidates.

Hearing none so far she continued "Lastly I'm sure you are all aware that we have a clutch on the sands, and while I am sure you are all curious about this I want you all to keep away from the sands. The only time you should be on the sands is when the clutching mother invites you there personally for the touching or the hatching, and if you are stupid enough to ignore this rule then you earned the mauling the mother will give you." She paused for effect as she said this, and let the candidates know that she meant what she said! Zanira knew that clutching mothers, even greens, could be somewhat protective of their eggs when they where on the sands. This was one rule that you couldn't break without bodily injury and she didn't want to find out just how protective the greens could be of their clutches.

After a few minutes she decided that the rules had settled in enough. A soft smile brightened her face as she leaned forward in her chair, hands extending forward to wave down the line of candidates "With that out of the way we can get down to introductions. I would like you all to start with your name, and then a little bit about what you did before you where searched as a candidate." Her hand stopped at a random candidate, her eyes alight with curiosity and excitement "Why don't you get us started."

[Akira]

Akira almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a dragon's voice inside her head. I don't think I'll ever get used to that. Her words were nothing more than a whisper for her own ears to hear. She sighed as she made her way to the common room for her first lesson. She looked around the room, and wished she could just disappear. She listened intently as the candidate master spoke, and laid out the ground rules for them. When the lady asked them to introduce themselves, and tell everyone a little about them, Akira really did want to run and hide. She hated speaking in front of a large group of people. Akira felt as though she could die when the lady pointed to her, and asked her to start.

After swallowing a large lump that had formed in her throat, she started speaking, first quietly, then slowly growing a little louder. My name is Akira, I lived at Torrel Hold for most of my life. My mother was a drudge, and I never knew my father. Akira wasn't sure if she had said enough, but she sincerely hopped that she had said enough to appease the candidate master. She felt as though every eye in the room was on her, borring holes through her entire body. She closed her eyes, and turned her head to the floor, hoping that everyone would just ignore her.

[Kitsuneko]

Berengar was well-used to the routine by now, and he was one of the first candidates to arrive in the barracks at the appointed time. Normally, candidate lessons tended to bore him even when Zanira did shake things up a bit, but he'd noticed a lot of new candidates lately, and fortunately for him, most of them were cute girls. For that matter, Zanira wasn't too bad to look at herself, so Berengar was one happy man today.

He zoned out for a bit as the Candidatemaster went over the rules; that was nothing Berengar hadn't heard before. He started paying attention again when it came to introductions. He let one or two other candidates go first, but he didn't hesitate when it came to his turn. "Hi, all, my name is Berengar, and if you've been at the Weyr for any length of time, you've probably seen me around. I've been here for the last seven turns, but I was born in Southern Hold. And," he added with a leering grin at the nearest girl, "I am very single."

[Zara]

Banallii jumped out of her skin at the sound of a dragon's voice in her head. She took a deep breath to calm her heart and laughed. My oh my. Seemed there were things she might never get used to. Of course, she hadn't been there that long yet. She quickly ran to the common room and quickly found a seat, sitting down and listening intently as the Candidatemaster spoke. She was charismatic and dynamic. Banalii didn't understand why anyone would not listen to her when she spoke. She seemed both incredibly kind... But at hte same time very stern and capable of commanding those she had been put in charge of.

Banalii listed to the introductions going on. She held back the urge to giggle at Berengar's words only to find that it was her turn shortly after. She swallowed and put on her most beautiful smile.

"My name is Banalii. My adoptive parents are both Healers. My dad is a Master Healer. I, naturally, was taught as a Healer and walked the tables when I was 18 Turns. I was at Torrel Hold when I was searched very recently." She wasn't quite sure what else to say. She didn't really think it was too much information, but was it enough? What else was she supposed to say? That she was now 19 Turns?

She wasn't really too worried about it and simply let it go and listened as they moved on.

[Night]

Freya laughed at the boy's comment. Being the nearest girl, she assumed it was meant for her. With a quick look at Tai who was beside her, the candidate winked back as a reply. Her brother and she were no strangers to all this either. In fact they had been here their whole lives. Opening her mouth to say so, Freya glanced at Tai to check that it was okay for her to speak first. "I'm Freya and this is my brother Taikin....though we're not actually related." of course most wouldn't be able to tell. Though they had different colored eyes, Freya with greenish gray and Tai with dark brown, the rest of the two candidates looked exact. It was probable that they were related too to be honest, and Freya launched Ito that part next.

"We're weyrbrats here so that's why we weren't exactly searched out. My mother was a green rider, that's all any of my siblings and I know of our parents." Tai glanced away nervously. It wasn't something he was happy about. To not know ones parents wasn't uncommon in a Weyr, but most brats at least had an idea. It wasn't needed to say that this wasn't their first time standing either. With Freya at 19 and Tai at 17 turns, they were in the older portion of the candidates. Freya for one worried that shed age out before she found her bonded. At least Tai still had about four turns left. She only had about two.

Above, Thor trilled and landed on His shoulder. The bronze flexed his dark wings for the candidates and muzzled Freya's neck. Reaching up, the girl rubbed the flits eye ridges. She wondered where Tai's firelizard was, but no doubt it wasn't too far off now.

[riki]

Seana wasn't used to hearing the sound of a dragon in her head, so when Xerith summoned her she all but jumped out of her skin. Poor girl wasn't having a good start to the day at all, but she wasn't about to ignore the summons just because she wasn't happy. So she brushed down her clothing, stepped out of the room that she had been assigned, and made her way toward the common area. Once there she took in the sight of the semi-circle of candidates and took a moment to decide what seat to take, and in the end she picked the seat on the right side of Berengar. Once seated she listened to each of the introductions, nodding her head polietly to each candidate before realizing that she was next in the line to introduce herself.

"My name is Seana, I grew up in Torrel Hold and became a harper when I was old enough to take on a craft" The girl didn't see fit to note that her mother had died when she was young, and nor did she mention that her father had forced her onto the crafting hall as soon as he could do so. She didn't want to be ostracized from the rest of the group because of her less then perfect childhood, and she found herself flushing as she caught sight of Berengar as he winked in her direction. She didn't know if it was directed toward her but it flustered her never the less, and she looked away while she tried to gain better control of her emotions.

She was here to learn, not to discover the opposite sex and their charms.

[Akira]

Akira turned her head, and listened to the other candidates. She was extremely glad that she was no where near the candidate called Berengar when he spoke about himself being single. There was no way in the world that she would tell anyone about her relationship status, especially in front of a group of strangers. She listened intently to the rest of the candidates, and wondered if the two siblings were actually twins. She hadn't really seen many twins, but from what she could see, the two of them seemed to look exactly alike.

Akira turned her eyes away from them when she saw a bronze firelizard land on the female siblings shoulder. She looked over at the candidate master, and wondered what they would have to do next. She crossed her figures and started wising that they wouldn't have to do something that involved speaking in front of everyone again. That wasn't something she was looking forward to, neither was the rest of her candidacy. She turned her mind from the upcoming events of candidacy, and started thinking about the eggs, and what would possibly come from them.

[Zara]

Banalii looked at the Candidatemaster with curiosity. What was it that would be next. She didn't look at any one Candidate for too long, but rather, let her eyes wander around the entirety of what seemed to be a small group and, yet, large enough, to say the least, for the clutch now hardening on the sands. They all seemed to be very interesting. everyone was unique, special in their own way.

She didn't think much of any comments that were made. There would be plenty of time, she was sure, to get to know know more of them in time. She looked forward to it, that was for sure. She shifted slightly, not uncomfortable, but a bit restless. She always found it hard to sit still for any real length of time. It was part of who she was.

She looked over at the Bronze flit. She loved flits. They were interesting creatures, but she had never been given even the opportunity to have one herself at this point. The girl was very lucky to have one, that was her opinion, at least. They were all here to have the chacne to Impress dragons. But even the small pets were good companions, though nothing compare to the beautiful dragons. She wasn't really paying her fullest attention at that point, being rather easily distracted.