[Magic Clutch] Black, Blacker, Blackest... [Weyrling Lesson]

[Hattaki]

R'iz & Bossuth

Grid: Moderate Grid

1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr

Stats:

Distraction/Intensity: 5
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 5
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4

---

Today was the first chance that they had to leap Between all alone, R'iz had been preparing for the solo flight today by studying and studying like he always did. Bossuth, to his credit, wasn't feeling much other than a slight level of concern. That at least was normal.

It was the very first leap that it all fell apart though.

Even when they popped above the Weavercraft Hall they both could tell something was wrong from above. They'd timed it unintentionally! Bossuth's hearts started to pound, panic settled in as his eyes turned white with fear and even R'iz started to feel some concern. He didn't know what time they were, though he knew that the image was correct for what he was seeing, but he knew it wasn't 'his' time and that was horrifying. With an effort to calm down he sent his bronze an image of High Reaches again and they lept for it instantly.

With a quiet pop they were there but the little bronze landed without a word, his sides heaving. "We're gonna have to go back bud." To the next spot, this time he would do better, he promised, but that wasn't what Bossuth was reacting for.

Keens rose....  

[Hattaki]

R'iz & Bossuth

Grid: Moderate Grid

1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr

Stats:

Distraction/Intensity: 5
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 5
Anxiety/Confidence: 1
Slacker/Studious: 4

---

Two had been lost, that just made both of their anxiety worse as they steeled themselves for the next leap Between. Bossuth's wings pumped hard as he circled back above the Bowl to try again. To go to the next place, none of his previous calm even remotely present. R'iz himself wasn't feeling extremely confident and he reached out to one of the assistants to check the coordinates again. Just to be sure.

It paid off certainly since he'd either been wrong or was just so anxious in that moment that he had foolishly forgotten. They bluntly responded with the correct ones and sent him out to Radharc.

Bossuth was still keening when they appeared above the Hold and his color had faded until he hardly resembled himself. An amorphous blob of gray with a misty goggled rider that was holding their crumbling psyche together. They'd gotten there though, that was all that mattered. Neither of them could join them yet...  

[Hattaki]

R'iz & Bossuth

Grid: Moderate Grid

1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr

Stats:

Distraction/Intensity: 5
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 5
Anxiety/Confidence: 1
Slacker/Studious: 4

---

They hadn't had to go back to High Reaches this time at least and R'iz, still crying, simply took a moment to gather his thoughts and ascertain the next leap coordinates. He knew that he had them memorized but everything seemed to be falling apart around him.

Just in your mind right now. Even Bossuth's voice was gray as he cried inwardly and screamed at the void of Between for his brothers. When they popped above Keogh Hold he took a breath and sent warmth and love to his rider, sensing the pain there.  

[Hattaki]

R'iz & Bossuth

Grid: Moderate Grid

1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr

Stats:

Distraction/Intensity: 5
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 5
Anxiety/Confidence: 1
Slacker/Studious: 4

---

There was no more room for doubt, he knew the coordinates in his heart but Bossuth was questioning everything that they did at this point and it had R'iz following suit. The assistant that he reached out to wasn't thrilled but at least they responded.

It was going to be remedial lessons for them.  

[Hattaki]

R'iz & Bossuth

Grid: Moderate Grid

1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr

Stats:

Distraction/Intensity: 5
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 5
Anxiety/Confidence: 1
Slacker/Studious: 4

---

It took everything that the pair of them had to get back to High Reaches, doubting themselves, wavering Between. They shook, they thought that they'd been getting better but it turned out that this entire time they had been getting worse. At least now they knew that, but the shake to their confidence tore into what Bossuth already lacked and R'iz didn't have the energy or spirit to even help the little bronze in that moment.

For his failures he knew there would be repercussions but he... he was alive. They had both made it because they'd questioned everything, because they'd doubted. He rolled off his bronze's back and buried his face against the soft skin of his shoulder.

Grief swallowed him as memories of a sister he'd only just regained swarmed over him. From Telgar, from the day on the sands where she'd met her partner.

Cavera.... Aviforth............ <******** their remedial lessons, they would worry about those later.  

[Tsunake]

Iathe and Green Skerath

To High Reaches Hold, now. Skerath...shuddered for a moment in midair, making a soft sound that Iathe had never heard before. Grief clawed at her heart as she placed the sound, realizing that one of the browns had been lost Between. Neither dragon or rider had been close, but the loss was still devastating. Still, they had a job to do, and Iathe visibly steeled herself before sending the coordinates to her green.

Skerath burst above the hold with a scream of fury and anguish. Gone! He was gone! Aviforth! She shrieked, her head whipping from side to side in denial, lashing out at the air as though to make it bleed. How dare he?! How dare he do this to her?! All his confident charm, and now he was gone, forever! Iathe sobbed against her, crushed by their mirrored sorrow. Aviforth... Cavera..

With real effort, she forced herself to sit upright, hitting Skerath as hard as she could on the neck. The dragon barely felt it, but the intention snapped her back. She would never rage at Iathe... but the girl could feel it teeming, just barely roiling underneath the surface.

"We have to keep going," She rasped, and though her hearts felt as though they'd been punctured, Skerath agreed.

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Easy Grid:
1. Fishcraft Hall 
2. High Reaches Hold
3. Nabol Hold
4. Tillek Hold
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

Iathe and Green Skerath

Nabol. They barely saw it, still reeling from the loss. Iathe forced herself to focus. They wouldn't make a mistake, not now. Not after the deaths of four young lives.

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Easy Grid:
1. Fishcraft Hall 
2. High Reaches Hold
3. Nabol Hold
4. Tillek Hold
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

Iathe and Green Skerath

Tillek now. Another careful visualization, another easy hop Between. Why?! Skerath raged, and Iathe couldn't answer. They would never know what had happened.

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Easy Grid:
1. Fishcraft Hall 
2. High Reaches Hold
3. Nabol Hold
4. Tillek Hold
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

Iathe and Green Skerath

Home. The green folded her wings and dove, her landing rougher than usual. Iathe slid from her back, her arms roughly trying to fold around Skerath's head as she pressed against her rider in a display that was reserved only when they were in private. The fierce, unapologetic creature keened inaudibly over and over, and flashes of memories couldn't be suppressed. Of Aviforth when they were barely hatched, trying to dance all through the night only to find himself bitten when she had finally gotten fed up. Of Aviforth still approaching her, never once afraid or upset when she would lash out in temper. Of the pair of them rampaging down the barracks, a dead tunnelsnake streaming behind them like a banner while Aviforth had danced and twirled with the prize. Aviforth, who had accepted her fully. Aviforth, who she'd taken for granted.

Aviforth, who was dead.

Distraction/Intensity: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness: 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 3
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Easy Grid:
1. Fishcraft Hall 
2. High Reaches Hold
3. Nabol Hold
4. Tillek Hold
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

Rolling for grid!  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

Two members of his family were gone, and they hadn't even started. Slidrianth was keening his hearts out, and he was frightened. This wasn't how this had been supposed to go, not at all! Even D'zrak didn't have a snide comment for once, his mouth set in a grim line. Well. Best to start now and get it over with, even if Slidrianth mentally balked. No, no, no, they could try this later, after much more practice! He had no intention of dying, thank you!

It took him a minute to settle the bronze down and coax him, but they soon made the jump.... and emerged safely from Between. See? Nothing to it.

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Moderate Grid:
1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

Distraught as he was, it was easier to focus on the task at hand... and as D'zrak sent another clear picture, Slidrianth darted Between once more. Another successful trip! Despite himself, the little bronze's confident surged... but oh, poor Eshkarath.... poor Aviforth. They were all supposed to be together, at least until first Threadfall...

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Moderate Grid:
1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

They successfully appeared over Keogh Hold, but shards, he was getting tired. The redhead shook himself brorfly--and soothed his bronze as Slidrianth's anxiety spiked once more. They were fine. Just two more jumps.

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Moderate Grid:
1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

Mine, you are exhausted. Please, please let us go back. Slidrianth begged, his eyes tinged with white. D'zrak frowned. Slidrianth never begged, prideful little beast that he was. He patted that soft neck. "We're headed back anyway, don't fret.

Now, he just had to picture High Reaches... and...

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Moderate Grid:
1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr  

[Tsunake]

D'zrak and Bronze Slidrianth

And they were back where they started, easy as that. It wasn't until they began to descend that D'zrak realized Slidrianth was trembling. He was terrified. Frowning, the young man rubbed vigorously at the dragon's neck, wrapping him in all the love and comfort he could muster. They were fine. They'd done just fine.

Did Slidrianth really think they might have failed, too?

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 2
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 5
Slacker/Studious: 4 

The Moderate Grid:
1. Weavercraft Hall (Southern Boll Hold)
2. Radharc Hold (Minor Hold in Tillek)
3. Keogh Hold (Minor Hold in Nabol)
4. Balen Hold (Minor Hold in High Reaches)
5. High Reaches Weyr