Wherlings... awake! {wherling lesson!}

[Kaemi]

As per usual when Toven was anticipating something, he awoke candlemarks before it was necessary. Thankfully, from sheer exhaustion, he was able to go to sleep again... but Rukbat had yet to kiss the horizon when he was awake, alert, clothed, fed, and watered. So he went over his lesson plans a few times more, making sure everything was to his liking. He refused to have missed anything, or let anything which he deemed 'important' slip through the cracks. Being Toven of brown Tovsk, he deemed a lot of little details which no one else really cared about as 'important'. That was just Tov for you.

Surprisingly, his wher was punctual today. He, too, was eager for the lesson today, in a way that he and his handler had never been for their own wherling lessons. Who could blame them, though- not only did this allow Toven the chance to be in charge, it also let Tovsk gaze upon his very own children and bill and coo as fathers do. As soon as dusk fell, the brown was up and ready to go. And, thus, Toven sent him to rouse the wherlings.

Tovsk chose to do this by going up to rooms he knew very well were those of his children (the possessive little bugger) and their new handlers and loudly creeling. Just as an insurance measure, to be sure that they wouldn't be late to their very first lesson! Sure, they still had a candlemark, but in that time they had to feed themselves, their whers, and then clean themselves up. It would take quick work if they wanted to get it all done, and they would probably be unresponsive during the lesson, which was unacceptable. So he and Tovsk both felt that, just this first morning, sending out a wakeup call wouldn't be totally out of line.

Even if it woke up the other wherhandlers, who were focusing on their sleep.

Having fed and bathed his brown, and eaten, himself, Toven went with his papers to the meeting place assigned- a large alcove, in the hall of the Apartments. Unlike the Weyrling Barracks, they didn't have a common room, considering it wasn't especially designed for young whers... however, this alcove was serviceable, and it would work for the time being. Eventually, of course, they'd have to move outside. Right now, though, that was a moot point.

Toven had wished to request a table and a chair, but had never gotten around to it, with all of his other prep work. So today all that he had was a large wall which to lean against. The wherlings would all have chairs- they were set out, about twelve, so that no one would feel uncomfortably close to someone else. In the next couple of lessons, the excess chairs would be removed... but right now, he wanted everyone to have at least a modicum of comfort. Not but a minute later, Tovsk came trotting in from a second round around the apartments, having been making sure that everyone was up and servicing their hatchling. Not long of a wait, now- they only had a quarter of a candlemark to arrive.

--

Wherlings attended:
Dastan, Mira, Meta, Naosk, NPC1, NPC2

((Attended, Absent, Tardy, Unknown))

[Rouxy]

She was already awake. In fact, she'd hardly slept since the night before when everything in her life had suddenly and unexpectedly changed. How had it happened? She'd flipped and flopped between happy and not, glad she'd made it to the hatching and utterly horrified that she'd done so. Luckily, Naosk was particularly sensitive for a bonded creature, and he could tell that deep below all the churning emotions that sometimes even wished he'd go away, he could feel her love for him. She needed him in ways she couldn't exactly explain or understand, but Naosk knew. He understood and he rode through the negative and the positive with the same gentle positive influence.

Things were settling into a new place within the astronomer, and she hadn't realized just how much of a hole Lavith left until Naosk filled it again with his bright presence. As if reacting to her pitched emotions, the blue began to stir just moments before a creeling sounded outside their door, which shocked an already distraught Naoko so much that she actually jumped from her bed. A soothing calmness emanated from Naosk though, the blue awake now that his father had called. The woman sank back down on the bed, and the blue made his way to her with that peculiar slithery stride he'd exhibited during the hatching. She looked at him for a moment before bending over and picking the wher up and settling him into her lap.

"I'm sorry... I was... confused before." She spoke slowly, then gave the blue a hug as the creature sent calming waves of happiness at her. Naoko abruptly let herself go, and the release was nearly instant as the blue's emotions swirled within her own. He really was hers. They were meant for each other, no matter the past.

After a few minutes, the moment passed and the bluepair parted, clearly more at ease now. Naoko dressed and got ready, slipping on sandals and her leather vest over her lightly bound stomach wounds. They stung only a little after healing for a day. The pair walked out of their apartments to get Naosk fed, and something for Naoko. A half candlemark later saw the pair well fed from the kitchens, and heading back towards the Apartments. She'd been told where the lessons were taking place, but she'd not gone to see for herself. That in and of itself gave her something to be disgruntled about though. She'd already been through weyrling lessons. She was... or she used to be a rider fully graduated! This would take some getting used to, but she hoped Toven would understand.

Finally finding the correct room shortly before the appointed time, she slid inside, Naosk at her heels, and took a seat around the center of the available seating. The blue walked to the fore of her chair and sat so that his back pressed against her legs. Naoko resisted the urge to wave, and instead nodded at Toven with a mixed smile. "Wherling Master." She greeted formally.

[Kaemi]

((So... seeing that only Rouxy with Naoko has replied, thus far, and I want to get this thing moving, any wherling that doesn't reply by Friday will officially be LATE IC. This comes with IC consequences, as decided by our resident Wherling Master. If you fail to respond at all with your character, then your character will be ABSENT IC, with even bigger consequences. I know, I know, no one really likes lessons. But let's suffer through them together and see if we can make them a little more interesting. XD Let's get this crackalackin!))

[Kira]

((Slave driver! XD *takes a break from attempting to write flitters to write this instead* Omai. :P))



Mira had meant to be up. Honestly. But she had forgotten that it took someone shaking her to wake her up. Her prior tendencies to just grab sleep when she could get it inbetween performances had left her with the ability to sleep through just about any noise. Usually one of her fellows would come nudge her, or her current bunkmate would wake her and tell her she needed to leave.

As such, she snoozed on through Tovsk (would-be) helpful creeling. Thankfully for her, Misk didn't. Waking easily, the little green let out a biiiiiiig yawn as she completed a stretch. She was hungry! She and Mira had curled up on Mira's bed all cuddled up - Hers has seemed to like the affection, and Misk liked it too. Nosing Hers, she tried to tell her that she wanted food. When Mira didn't stir, she set her little paws on Mira's side and chirped, nudging her again. When there was still no reply...well, she took it as a game. Crawling all over Hers, poking and nosing here and there, she finally managed to wake her.

Mira woke to the sensation of being tickled. As soon as her brain was able to process it, she began to squirm and (sleepily) laugh. Peeking one eye open, she smiled at her beautiful little bonded, visible even in the relative dark of their apartment. Sitting up and giving a yawn and a stretch of her own, she then set about smothering the stripey green in hugs and kisses. Who needed dreams when you had this to wake up to every evening from here on? "Good morning, lovey. Or evening. ...Afternoon? ...Rather, I wonder what time it is," she said with a laugh, honestly confused. Shaking her head, she quirked an eyebrow at Misk. "And what, pray tell, am I being woken for?" A small grin played across her face, amusement evident.

Misk let Hers know in no uncertain terms that she was hungry. Oh, and her sire had called. Why did her sire call them? Did he want to play? She liked that she had made herMira smile and laugh. Did herMira want to play? Oh, but she was hungry, too.

Chuckling at the still somewhat odd onslaught of thoughts, Mira relented. Reluctantly moving the green off of her, she got out of bed and quickly gave herself a quick basin-wash and dressed. She'd probably have time for a real bath later, but not right now. She grinned and gave her curious wher a small wipe-down as well. She would have to be oiled later, if Mira remembered correctly, but she wasn't sure how to go about that just yet. So going to lessons first would probably be best. Tying her hair up in a few mid-size braids - as Misk seemed to like playing with them - she finished their morning ritual by tying one of her hair ribbons around Misk's neck too. It was cute.

Picking up the wher (whom she was rather loathe to let go of at all), she carried her to the kitchens and got some food for them both. When both were full and happy, they wandered back to the apartments. Mira was really going to need to figure out how to tell time around here... When she was traveling, they had gone by the sun's position. When she was performing, she judged it by when other performances began and finished. Here...she had no idea, since she'd be awake mostly at night.

As such, they might have been a little tardy in getting to lessons...once they found the area. Her bare feet padded into the area with a soft tap to announce her presence but not necessarily draw attention. Both her and Misk were excited for lessons - the little wher drawing off of Mira. She hadn't had lessons since she left Harper Hall, and she had always loved them. And these ones would help her take care of her precious bonded, so they were very important.

"I apologize if we are tardy, Wherling Master," she said politely, inclining her head just a little as she went to take a seat. "I'm not certain, exactly, what time it is." The others were spread out a bit, and she was tempted to go sit riiiiiiight next to one of them and invade their space. But then she didn't know what all they'd be doing this lesson, and she didn't want the other whers to trip over her own and hurt them. So she went for the biggest gap and situated herself right in the middle of it. She smiled at her fellow Wherlings in greeting, then set about playing with Misk in her lap with one of her braids.

[Thorney]

Despite having been training himself to adjust to the sleeping pattern of a wherhandler, Dastan had not been resting very long when the shrill creeling of Tovsk woke him with a start. Cursing, the boy nearly fell out of bed in surprise, grumbling angrily as he scrubbed his hand over his face. Shards and shells, he hadn’t even gotten three candlemarks of sleep! However, it was not the odd schedule that lent the boy his insomnia, but rather the excitement of bonding that still rushed through his body. Even after spending candlemarks just scratching and stroking his blue wher, Das couldn’t get enough of just touching the creature. So it was that he spent most of his day watching Dassk sleep peacefully, finally closing his own eyes when his body was too exhausted to stay awake any longer. And now, here was the brown waking him up just when his dream had gotten good! Ugh. Fall, fog, and fire!

Still grumbling as he stood and stretched, the former holder’s grey-blue eyes wandered over his wher, and all thoughts of exhaustion banished. That’s right, he didn’t have time to sleep, he had a whole night to spend with Dassk! Stretching mightily and yawning, having also been awakened by his father’s creeling, the blue stood and curled his long body around his bonded’s legs, crooning lowly in pleasure. Grinning, feel a surge of love and warmth from his wher, Dastan leaned down to wrap his arm’s arms around Dassk’s neck. “Good morning.” The boy said with a smile, pulling back to just stare at the blue. Faranth, he was so beautiful, perfect in every single way, and the most amazing creature Das had ever met. Whistling, Dassk butted his head against Hisbonded playfully, rather agreeing. He was pretty amazing, he had to admit.

Laughing, Dastan shook his head, straightening with another yawn. “I guess we had better go and get both of us fed, huh?” The boy asked, grinning when his blue sent a very hungry affirmation in reply. They padded down to the kitchens quickly, keeping a close eye on the time. It wouldn’t do to be late on their first day of lessons, after all. After both boy and wher had eaten their fill, the wherlings then returned to the handler’s apartments, both rather cheerful and excited. Das was completely in love with his blue, having finally fulfilled his dream of being a wherhandler, and Dassk loved him dearly.

Approaching the alcove where the wherling master and several other wherlings were, the bluepair entered quickly, Dastan eyeing the available seats. Hmm, everyone seemed so spread out, but that was no fun. Turning towards the brownhandler, the boy inclined his head to Toven. “Good morning, Wherling master, Tovsk.” He said, Dassk barking out a quick greeting as well. Then, they turned towards the chairs once more. Acquiring a rather mischievous glint in his eye, the former holder glanced down at his wher, almost laughing at the amusement that coursed through the blue. Well, he wanted a seat where his blue could stay very close, and so the boy moved past a few others and that cute juggler girl. Sitting one chair away from her – Mira, wasn’t it? – Dastan tilted his head towards her and slipped the greenhandler a wink before turning his attention back upon Dassk. The blue padded easily through the chairs, careful in his movements, and sat in front of his bonded, leaning against the boy’s legs comfortably.

[Mango]

((Lo siento!!!!))

Meta slowly began to wake up as she heard a loud creeling at her door. Oh Faranth, Metask was at it again. "Hush you," she muttered, nudging the brown, and plopping her face down into her furs. But the brown just made a confused sort of chirp and looked up at her, obviously sure he didn't make the noise.

Meta slowly rose and blinked, confused as to what was going on. She looked at her brown, wondering if maybe he had the answers. He informed her that they had to go. He was hungry. And sire was making such wonderful noises. He wanted to learn more form his sire! And from everyone! Maybe his clutchbrothers would make fun noises too! But his sisters probably would only be annoying. Ugh.

Meta laughed and slowly got out of bed, understanding that they must have a lesson. She could hear the other brown creeling at another door now. Metask looked at her curiously, as if he was trying to concentrate and made a couple of higher-pitched almsot wheezing grunts.

Merta looked at him curiously as she got dressed. What was he doing? He seemed to be frustrated and concentrating very hard on getting whatever he was doing right. He tried again and looked a little more satisfied. Meta laughed again at his efforts and he instantly looked up at her. Oh! He was trying to laugh!

"You silly thing! Come on. Let's get you food and stuff!" she hurried to get him some blood and oats and then got food for herself. She quickly scrubbed the brown, but didn't pay much attention to herself. She'd bathe later....

"Hello!" she called as she entered, followed by the brown who made a sort of chirp in greeting. She gave a nod to Toven and picked a chair near the middle. She sat down, legs spread nice and open and sligthly slouched. It was how she was most comfortable. She grinned at her brown as he came and settled in between her legs, cuddled against the non-injured one.

[Kaemi]

He had a list of names, thankfully. So as each person came in, he was able to mark off their attendance. It wasn't as though there were many to keep track of, but it was helpful for him to make notations. Toven nodded and returned Naoko's smile as she and her wher entered, checking her name off the list. "Congratulations, wherling." He didn't have time to question her research, however, as a Then there came Mira (the one that Impressed to the striped green hatchling), who made some comment about being late.

“You're not late,” he assured her, “we're just about to start.” Shaking his head briefly, another wherling walked in. This was their new male blue handler, Dastan of Dassk. “Good morning,” he returned. They almost had everyone, then... only missing two- there, the last green handler walked in, followed soon after by their brown wherling, Meta. He greeted them both, despite his slight cringe at the latter's boisterous greeting. He was much more comfortable with women who acted more feminine, but he had lived in a Weyr for all of his life. He'd survive.

“Greetings, and congratulations, all new Wherlings. As the majority of you know, I am Toven of brown Tovsk, your Wherling Master. As a unit, there are a very small number of you, and thus I suspect you'll get to know one another very well. That being said, fighting between one another is strictly prohibited. You will all, ideally, join the Night Guard in a Turn and a half. To do that, you must be a solid unit, working and living together. Put all disagreements aside and, if necessary, come to me.” Toven's brows lowered briefly, before he reasserted, “Me. Your Wherling Master. I am the only one with true rank in our little unit here, remember that. Among the seven of us, only I have a higher rank than 'wherling'. Remember, too, that 'brown wherling' means no more than 'green wherling' or 'bronze wherling'. Not right now.

“This is because, right now, you are utterly unimportant. The most important thing about you for the next Turn and a half is your hatchling. They will always, not always, be put before you. They eat first, are bathed first, and are given your complete attention until they no longer need it. Right now, your wher is a newborn babe. Sure, they walk and communicate, but they cannot eat independently, nor can they be left alone for a measurable amount of time whilst they are awake. You all brought them, which is fine... for today. After today, though, it is best that they be left to sleep. Once you feed them, they will likely be ready to sleep- let them. As they grow, they will be more attentive, at which point they will be included in the lessons. For now, however, it is you that needs to learn.”

Toven fixed every single last one of them with an icy stare, from Meta, who was in her mid-teens, to Naoko, in her early-thirties. “One of the first things you learn is about how you affect your wher, and your wher affects you. You are connected mentally at, currently, a very honest level. As you continue coming to classes, and your wher learns a little more independence, you may learn to censor. However, right now, your wher feels every emotion you feel. Sometimes, even when they are sleeping, your moods can affect their slumber. Thus, activities that could alter your state of mind considerably are also prohibited. This involves both alcohol and sex. When you whers reach an age of maturity at which they no longer constantly need your presence, and begin entering their age independence, I will give you the 'okay' at which point you can start up these activities again- gradually, mind you. Forging ahead without my permission could negatively impact your hatchling in a serious kind of way... not to mention, you could forfeit your handler-status for another Turn if I found out.

With that, he smiled distantly at the people in front of him. “Alright, then, any questions?”

[Kaemi]

((RAWR. Lesson ended. (: ))