All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright © Anne McCaffrey 1967,2000, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by Anne McCaffrey, used here with permission. Use or reproduction without a license is strictly prohibited. For more information, visit the Worlds of Anne McCaffrey.

23-06-01: Exercise
Kyla is awake. Honest and who cares that it's before dawn, that's when all good riders wake up. Really.. "Ok,...

Kyla is awake. Honest and who cares that it's before dawn, that's when all good riders wake up. Really.. "Ok, everyone, out to the grounds for morning exercises."

Kyla walks out to the Training Grounds.

You leave the huge cavern to go out into the bowl.

Caeruleth emerges from the weyrling barracks.

Kr'lin emerges from the weyrling barracks.

D'las emerges from the weyrling barracks.

Rojoth emerges from the weyrling barracks.

Kr'lin walks over to Kyla and pokes her in the side, all respectful like, "Hey, thought you said I was going to run this one?"

D'las looks at Kr'lin for the remark he made before going on out into the bowl, he walks besides Rojoth but doesn't comment on it.

Hanneke chugs more than walks out of the barracks--too early, no brain activity--as Caeruleth slides behind her, seeking shadows in the early, pre-dawn air. She's nonetheless chipper, Hanneke, that is, and beams brilliantly at her fellow weyrlings.

Kyla turns and looks down at the finger, then up at it's owner. "You weren't moving fast enough. But they are all yours now." She slips over to her lifemate and perches on her forelimbs.

Kr'lin eyes the Weyrlingmaster all accusingly like, "I was waiting for them to assemble." A quick hmph! and he turns to face the weyrlings, "Okay, glad to see everyone is up bright and early." Like they have a choice, "It's time for your morning excercises!" He starts to slip into his overexcited fitness video instructor voice, "Now, is everyone ready?"

Ready! And I--well, Hanneke just nods, beaming, but says nothing; vocal chords aren't quite warmed up; the noise comes later.

D'las looks from Rojoth back to Kr'lin then back to Rojoth,"Um...I guess so..." He says not sure of what exactly to expect and having noticed the goings on between Kyla and Kr'lin isn't sure he wants to cause any waves either way. Rojoth on the other hand bugles entheusiastically.

Blu tumbles out of the barracks, breathless. "Come /on/, Danubith.." she urges her lifemate. "We gotta line up." Finally the blue lumbers out and yawns, peering around at the assembly. So /early/.

D'las watches as Rojoth stretches his wings and emits a nice sounding groan of pleasure as he does so, holding it the required time and then relaxing exhaling a small cyclone of air towards D'las nearly knocking him over.

Kr'lin points at Blu, "Nice of you to join us, Weyrling! Guess what! You get to come up front here with me and be my demonstration model!" A contemplated double thumbs up is negated, "Okay. First things first. We have to stretch those little wings." Little being relative, of course. "Just like Kyla showed you in class the other day. Extend the wings as far up as is comfortable." It is interesting to note, Kr'lin is being his own demonstration model, "Hold it for 5." A slow exhale, "And relax."

Blu blinks and stammers, "Um..yes sir." while proceeding to salute her hand into her eye. "Ouch!" Somehow the two make to Kr'lin in one piece. "Ok. Stretch." The girl holds her arms out to her side, "Like this Danubith.." arms are raised over her head, while the blue cocks his head and watches her. "Come on..do it." Finally his wings unfurl with a rustle and he lifts them up, letting the lower to horizontal. "That's it." Whew.

"Caeerrullleeeth," whines Hanneke, the green slowly making her passage from the shadows into the pre-dawn, which is hardly less of a shadow at any rate. The green is correspondingly slow in her exercises, holding for more like ten, and then relaxing slow, slower, slowest.

Kr'lin strolls over to Hanneke and Caeruleth, "How about picking up the pace a bit? Hold it too long and your dragon might strain a muscle. We wouldn't want that, now would we?" And then, to put it in terms the weyrling and dragon can hopefully understand, "It would probably put her a couple of weeks behind the others, very difficult to catch up. Very." Then, he pops up front again, "Okay! Now! Everyone!" He's yelling every word, "Repeat! Wings up!" His arms go up, "Hold for One! Two! Three! And! Relax..." Ahhhhhhh.

Hanneke jumps, and gives Kr'lin a petrified stare. "Oh! Caer!" The nickname earns a slow rumble from Caeruleth, who nudges her head towards Hanneke, but nonetheless moves perhaps a fraction faster in the exercise's repetition.

D'las watches Rojoth who seems to be overly excited about this, more so than he is anyways, the blue is following Kr'lin like he was the guru of dragon fitness, D'las does the excercise with Rojoth just to be doing something besides standing around.

Danubith cranes his head around to watch Caeruleth, letting his own wings, dip into the training ground sand. "Up! Up!" Blu urges, her own arms flapping. "Yes, she is dark. Now don't you want to fly? You've got to do these." With a rumble sounding very much like a sigh, the blue turns back and goes through the motions.

Caeruleth is, indeed, dark: and she returns Danubith's glance towards her with one of her own, eyes whirling rapidly as she rumbles towards the blue. Staring is rude, after all.

Kr'lin pops over in front of Danubith, "Come on, Danubith! You've gotta streeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch those wings!" Then, in a more serious voice, "Or else you won't be able to continue the rest of the excercises." Now, back to the rest of the class, "Okay! One more time! Extend the wings! Hold!" And a five count later, "And relax." Over to another blue, "Very good, D'las. Err.. Rojoth." Well, they both are stretching, he got confused.

Danubith rumbles as Kr'lin walks off. He can stretch, really. It's just there is so many more exciting things going on. Blu does her best to get his attention and hold it. "Ok one more." Wings extend and stretch up and lower slowly. "Good one!" Did anyone see? Did they? He did it right!

D'las smiles at Kr'lin and says,"Thanks...er..I think." Then he smiles at Rojoth who seems to like the compliment as well. He rumbles something towards D'las who only shrugs and continues to work out till Kr'lin stops them.

Hanneke stands by Caeruleth, peering up at her green lifemate with some consternation; "Stretch, Caer, c'mon!" Which is what the green is doing--if still fairly slowly. She bounces from one foot to the other, turning her gaze about to her fellow weyrlings. "Go D'las! An' Blu!"

Kr'lin sees /everything/, except for Danubith's perfect stretch, oh well. Such is life. "Okay, now the wings should be nice and limber. It's time for the legs!" Kr'lin drops to all fours, trying to look dragony, "Okay, you are going to continue the wing stretches while you do this, so I hope everyone is awake! The first move is to lower yourself to the ground." Down goes Kr'lin, "While lowering yourself, unfurl your wings, but don't extend them yet." Kr'lin is, unfortunately, definitely lacking wings. "Then, push yourself up!" Up goes Kr'lin, "On your little tippie toes!" Kr'lin's up on his fingertips and toes, "And while you are going up, extend your wings as far as you can comfortably go. Hold for 5, then relax."

Rojoth looks from Kr'lin to D'las,"Yes if Kr'lin says you have to do that then you have to do that," Then in a slight whisper he says,"Don't say that too loud Rojoth, I know it looks silly but you have to at least try it, go on." He encourages the reluctant blue,"Its what will help you get to fly," He says in a normal tone. That does it for Rojoth, he attempts the excercise.

Rojoth looks from Kr'lin to D'las,"Yes if Kr'lin says you have to do that then you have to do that," Then in a slight whisper he says,"Don't say that too loud Rojoth, I know it looks silly but you have to at least try it, go on." He encourages the reluctant blue,"Its what will help you get to fly," He says in a normal tone. That does it for Rojoth, he attempts the excercise.

Caeruleth, if she could, would probably yawn: the exercise is completed without trial, and she emits a low rumble, alto dark and throaty. "Caeruleth!" Hanneke all but stamps her foot, but positively beams as Caeruleth moves to nudge her. Easily forgiven. "This is fun, isn't it!"

Danubith again has to watch this, head swiveling around bobbing up and down along with Kr'lin's hind end. Blu can't help but giggle, "I know we don't have tails, Danu. Come on. Now bounces like that." Again the blue gives it a distracted shot, up on the front two, then the hind, and finally all four.

Kr'lin is up on his hind legs.. Err.. His legs and walking around now, "Okay, Caeruleth, since this is so easy for you. Why don't you try moving your wings and your body in opposite directions. When you are lowering yourself to the ground, extend your wings up. When you are pushing yourself off the ground, lower your wings." He strolls over to Danubith as he continues his little spiel, "If anyone else feels the excercise is too easy, you may try the same. Except for you Danubith.. Try to get both sets of leg working at the same time."

Hanneke positively beams at Kr'lin's instructions, turning to Caeruleth. "Did you hear, did you hear? We get to try something harder! You're so perfect, Caeruleth, so very, very perfect! C'mon, let's try it!" If anyone hoped that her babbling had been cured by Caeruleth, they're quite, quite wrong. The green, with another low rumble, attempts the newest exercise with some hesitance, and little speed. Up, and down, down and up. Hanneke positively beams--still.

Blu lightly bops Danubith on the shoulder, "Come on." she hisses. "You can do it." Obviously she adds something only he can hear because he finally decides to pay attention. "Yes both wings." Be..bop..be..lu..bop. And he's off. Up, down, turn yourself around. Wings this way, body that and feet all together.

Kr'lin nods towards Blu, "Very good, Blu. It is your duty to keep your dragon focussed one the situation at hand. If your dragon becomes distracted at any point, the consequences can be quite devastating." A shake of the head accompanies a quick series of tsks. "Okay, is anyone ready for the next series of excercises? And this one includes the riders!" Woohoo!

D'las turns his attention to Kr'lin as does Rojoth,"This one will include the riders?" He asks almost shocked or at least perplexed. Rojoths eyes whirl in the blue greens of happiness he seems to think this a good idea.

Hanneke stands up straighter, and straighter still. "Oooh, ooh, us, us!" Caeruleth, far less enthusiastic, simply shifts her wings about her, waiting with perhaps overexagerated patience.

Blu beams at Kr'lin, "I try.." The rest of his words cause her to bounce right along with Danubith. "Really?"

Kr'lin isn't exactly sure they will be so excited once he's told them what their part is.. But, oh well, "Okay, Weyrlings, stand in front of your dragons." He gets a somewhat mischevious look on his face, "Dragons, you get to stand up on your hind legs, facing your lifemates. If you have to, you may prop yourself up with your tails, just don't put too much weight on them." He waits patiently for the pairs to get in position, "Okay, now dragons, try to make your riders take a step back, or fall over, by blowing them over with the force of your wingbeats." And just to make sure the humans don't make it easy for the dragons, "And riders, for every step back that you take, you owe me 20 pushups. If you are knocked over, you owe me 50." His next comment is aimed at the pair, "And, do NOT over strain yourselves. Riders, make sure your dragons do not over do themselves."

Jaspyth has arrived.

Blu looks from Kr'lin to Danubith with wide eyes. Someone finally got his complete attention. With a little bugle, he props himself up, wings wide at his side. And all at once the windstorm starts. Whump whump whump. Blu squeals as she throws her arms in front of her face. "Danubith!" Ah but the blue is enjoying himself and continues, knocking his lifemate back a half a step.

Hanneke's vacuous expression indicates that she's not quite sure what Kr'lin has asked for, but she moves in front of Caeruleth, and simply stands there, as still as she can be--notably, not all that still. "Er..." Caeruleth takes to this game without hesitation: the force of her blow of air sending Hanneke toppling right away. "Hey! That's not fair!"

Rojoth gets up on his hind haunches, he likes the knock over type games, and always wanted to try the one D'nic and D'las were playing so now he finally gets a chance at one. He starts flapping his wings which makes D'las look like he is in one of Fort regions blizzards but D'las manages to lean into the wind and not get moved back...yet.

Jaspyth spirals down, and nearly gets knocked over from the crossbreeze that these little ones are producing. With the equivalent of a draconic honk/laugh, Jaspyth compensates, and lands, letting T'paz down to the ground. The bronzerider shields his eyes against the wind and moves closer to where Kyla and Kr'lin are standing.

Kr'lin makes sure that he is a safe distance from the young dragons, it wouldn't do for the Assistant Weyrlingmaster to be knocked over. He starts calling out totals, "Okay, Blue! That's twenty." Half step what? Sorry, everything is rounded up. "Hanneke! Back on your feet! And you owe me fifty so far. Way to go Caeruleth." The green gets a thumbs up. "And keep at it, Rojoth! You'll get him stepping back shortly."

Kyla is curled up on Niabeth's front limbs, face tucked into her jacket. "Hey T'paz.." she greets. See? Having a big green spy helps. "Careful of the dirt. Kr'lin's putting them through their paces."

Blu glances at Kr'lin. Now? she wonders, and drops to start her punishment. Danubith thinks this is great, he continues his wing flapping, causing the girl to cough as she inhales some dust. "Kr'lin.." she whines.

Hanneke's face falls. Fifty! Caeruleth preens, emitting a triumphant rumble of delight, which resounds rather more than it should. "Caer," grumbles the weyrling, carefully, meticulously, attempting to brush the dirt off of her otherwise, amazingly, spotless uniform. "No fair!" So sue Caeruleth: she does it again.

From Jaspyth's neck, T'paz grins as he greets his fellow Phoenix. "No problem. Jaspyth made a point of doing these particular exercises forever. He's enjoying the breeze, and want permission to wing back at the kids, to show them how it's done." As if to emphasize. the great form of hot cinnamon bronze turns into the breeze, eyes whirling a playful green.

Rojoth looks a bit miffed that he didn't accomplish his goal and with D'las chuckling at him in his mind that really gets him going, he puts forth a greater effort. D'las was in front of him, but now he is rolled head over heels back away from Rojoth, a good tumble. D'las gets up and struggles back to his position in front of Rojoths windy position.

T'paz swings down from his lifemate Jaspyth's neck.

Kr'lin yells back to Blu, "Not now, Blu! Once this is over!" He really hopes she can hear him, but oh well, such is the way. Then over goes D'las, tumbling, "Careful Rojoth. You don't want to hurt yourself.." And then, as if an afterthough, "Or your lifemate." Then there is Caeruleth, "Hanneke. You make great sacrifices for your dragon. That's one hundred!"

Hanneke flushes, although her attention is caught by T'paz's arrival, and she waves enthusiastically, whilst pulling herself rather inelegantly to her feet. Again brushing her clothes off, she gives Caeruleth a lengthy stare. "Mean Caeruleth!" Planting her feet rather close together, which is bound to be her downfall, she crosses her arms, waiting. Guess what? Yes, it happens again. "Caeruleth!"

Blu apparently can't hear him and Danubith sure isn't going to stop this fun game. The girl struggles to get a few push ups down and then gives up with disgust. "Later.." she grumbles, honestly. The blue stops long enough for her to get up onto her feet, before starting up again. This time the girl takes a lesson from D'las and leans into the wind. "Ah-ha.." she says triumphantly.

Kr'lin starts to take sympathy on certain weyrlings, "Okay, one more good wingbeat dragons! If you knock your rider over, they have to do double the pushups they have to do now. So, Hanneke, that means you'd have to do three hundred." He winces at the mere though, "And weyrlings! If you stay on your feet, the number you have to do is cut in half. D'las, that means you'd get 25."

If Hanneke was pale before, she is moreso now. Tinkerbeth's rider leans over to whisper something to her, and she hesitates, before slowly -- very slowly -- nodding her head. Her feet are spread apart slightly more than before, and she leans, ever so slightly. Caeruleth's burst of air, however, is resisted no more than ever. Hanneke drops, like a stone, thankfully keeping all arms and legs out of the windows--er, way. "Ow." 300. Joy.

D'las does his best to stay on his feet but then when Rojoth tires of the flapping and stops suddenly D'las falls forward instead of backward. Does that count against him? He doesn't know but he gets up and checks on Rojoth,"

T'paz grins again, then laughs outright. He turns to Kyla and whispers "Oh, boy. Jas is in fine form tonight." Then he turns to the Asst. WLM, and calls out: "Hey Kr'lin, what do the dragons have to do if Jaspyth can knock THEM over?"

Kyla isn't getting involved in this, nope. Kr'lin's running the show, and it's proving to be fairly entertaining.

Danubith pounds his wings one more time, but Blu manages to stay on her feet, even catching herself before planting her face on the ground. "Doesn't count! You stopped, you didn't knock me over." Nope, she teetered all herself.

>> (Caeruleth and Rojoth) Jaspyth grin/rumbles across the link and says playfully. >>Little ones, do you want to see who can blow the hardest, since you are practicing anyways?<< <<

Kr'lin just shakes his head at T'paz, "That just wouldn't be fair." Amusing, but not fair at all. Not that Kr'lin's little activity was fun. As for the falling forward, Kr'lin decides to go for a second opinion, so he asks the non-weyrlings, "So, what do you think? Should falling forward count as being knocked over?" He wiggles his eyebrows, ever so mischevious is Kr'lin, "I'm leaning towards it counting."

>> I bespoke Jaspyth and Rojoth with Caeruleth is clueful to this game, and returns in darkest hues of red: patterning into midnight with the scent of cloves and incense hinted deep within, << I am sure you believe it is you, and I hardly see why that would not be true: you are, of course, much bigger. >> <<<

>> (Caeruleth and Jaspyth) Rojoth bespoke us with >> Please do try I think it would be extremely fun! <<

Kyla peeks over the edge of her jacket now that the wind has died down. "I didn't see, so I can't vote." Nope. Make Kr'lin the evil one this time.

Hanneke brushes herself off -- again -- and glares at Caeruleth, "That's not fair! Now I have to do all those--things." Sit ups, push ups, whatever they are.

>> (Caeruleth and Rojoth) Jaspyth sends warm cinnamon and hot desert breezes across the link. >>In this kind of play, size really doesn't matter. What matters is the exercise of the wings, and the fun that can result.<< <<

T'paz turns to his lifemate. "Jas, at least wait till Kr'lin is done with them."

>> (Caeruleth and Jaspyth) Rojoth bespoke us with >> Please, please show us how or at least try to knock us over if you can. <<

>> I bespoke Rojoth and Jaspyth with Caeruleth snorts, her mindtouch rippling with layered darkness. << Demonstrate, if you really feel the desire. >> <<<

Kr'lin hmms and not hearing any dissenting votes, "Okay! The count it does!" He gives the dragons a good grinning, "Very good job, Dragons. Now, it is your turn to watch your lifemates work." The Weyrlings get a devilish chuckle and grin, "Blu, you owe me forty." He wasn't counting the first ones she was doing, so they don't count, "D'las, that's one hundred." Then comes the lightfooted one, "Hanneke.. What did I tell you about making sure you got plenty to eat?" A slow, almost pained shaking of the heads, "You have three hundred pushups."

Jaspyth bugles into the air, and moves his wings back. He takes a few hop steps back, and starts to gently push the air towards the dragonlings. He begins to move his wings a little faster, a little harder. He tries to aim his gusts at the dragons and not the humans, but a little lateral breeze is sure to happen. Funny thing, the wings are still getting accelerating, gradually, with no signs of stopping, only a little effort showing.

Three hundred pushups. Impressive. Hanneke opens her mouth to make what is likely to be a plaintative comment, then shuts it again. Jaspyth's efforts are pretty much ignored: this weyrling, unlike her lifemate, is concerned with more this torture than anything. "I ate *heaps*! Lots, and lots, and lots!" And the tubbiness about her middle is clue enough to this. Sighing, she moves into position, attempting to begin her pushups--with some difficulty.

Rojoth puts his wings out in the breeze letting the wind catch them as he leans into the wind as D'las did. Only thing is his wings don't just help him keep his balance they catch the wind lifting him up two feet before he sqawks and folds his wings in, the result is him tumbling back in the wind created by the big bronze. D'las has laid prone to begin doing his pushups so he doesn't notice whats just transpired.

T'paz blinks, and says to Kyla "The dragons are begining to play, Kyla m'dear. I think we might want to find shelter here.."

D'las looks up as he gets a mental squawk from his lifemate, suprise is all no injuries still it causes him to stand back up,"What do you mean you flew? No I didn't see you fly and you had better not be attempting to yet." He says then pauses as he gets a mental image from his dragon."Well then see your not as ready as you thought you were now are you." He tells the blue with a chuckle.

Kr'lin notes the increased breeze and the location from behind him. He turns his attention to T'paz, and doesn't look very pleased, not at all, "T'paz. I told you that I didn't want your dragon to do that. Your dragon could have injured one of our dragonets. You may stay and watch, but if you are unable to control your dragon, then leave." He puts his hands on his hips and stares the bronzerider down, "If you do leave, I will take it to mean you are unable to control your dragon and I will personally request that D'san confine you to the Weyrling Barracks until you are able to."

Hanneke is easily distracted, and after a failed attempt at a push up that ends up with her on the ground, she half-supports herself with her arms, and simply peers towards Kr'lin and T'paz. Shhh--she's working, really!

>> [lings] Rojoth bespoke all >> I'm not injured Jaspyth was only playing with us he didn't intend harm. <<

Kyla slips from Niabeth's forelimbs and frowns at T'paz as well. "Enough. Jaspyth, you will stop /now/." She nods at Kr'lin's words. "It can be done, T'paz." Seems like Kr'lin's got this in control, "I need to work on a hide for D'san." Kr'lin's threat reminded her. "Let me know if you need me." And she's..going going gone.

Kyla heads into the Weyrling Barracks.

T'paz blinks once, looking over at Kr'lin, then nods. "Understood." And with a mental comment Jaspyth, he says. "There, no harm done." The bronze releases the ground, and with only a slight push, launches into the air like a bronze rocket. He circles 'round once, and displays his weeks of aerobatic practice by landing with only a gentle fwhoosh behind T'paz. The bronze stands there in his sentry-I-am-in-control pose, watching for cues from his rider.

>> [lings] Saironth hints at the fire that causes the smokey scent of his mind voice. >> Silence, little one. It may have come to not this time. But you are fragile at this point. An injury now may ground you for life. << <<

D'las says,"Rojoth said he begged Jaspyth to play with him..."The attempt to keep T'paz out of trouble is started,"I mean Rojoth is just as much to blame if not more so for what happened."He tries to explain because his lifemate is getting very nervous and protective of Jaspyth.

>> (Caeruleth and Rojoth) Jaspyth shrugs once, mentally. >>We will play this game some other time, then.<< <<

Rojoth eyes whirl in the yellowish orange of nervouseness and anxiety, he gives a slight rumble towards Saironth as he hears and understands but still feels upset.

>> (Caeruleth and Jaspyth) Rojoth bespoke us with >> I do hope so but I do not wish to get you in trouble. <<

>> (Caeruleth and Rojoth) Jaspyth chuckles. >>We have been in worse trouble, for less, Rojoth. I am not concerned. My human is embarrased but not bothered, is all. <<

Hanneke, seeing as though no one is watching, lifts herself onto her feet, leaning by Caeruleth, who is evidently forgiven, panting. Yes, she did a total of one push-up.

Kr'lin nods to T'paz, calming a little. Kyla gets a quick wave, before his attention is returned to the situation at hand, "Thank you, T'paz. We are responsible for the development of these dragonets. They are at a sensitive point in their development. If they are injured now, they may be harmed for life." D'las really should have kept quiet, really. "D'las, then you need to learn how to better control your dragon. You and your dragon are going to have double the chores for the next sevenday. Perhaps this will give you time to consider your dragon's actions."

D'las nods at Kr'lins statement and punishment is accepted,"I know Kr'lin and I understand what your saying, I will work harder on doing just that, I think I should take him and try to calm him down a bit now." He says looking at Rojoth who seems to be even more upset now that his lifemate has extra duties. D'las sends a mental reasurance to his lifemate and waits for Kr'lin to say yah or nay about him leaving.

Kr'lin hmms and nods towards D'las, "Very well, D'las. Your dragon isn't mature yet. He doesn't always know what is best, you need to provide him with guidance." With that, he moves over to Hanneke, giving her a quick look over, "You look mighty rested for doing three hundred push ups, Hanneke."

Hanneke flushes, and hops around on her feet. "Er--I can't." Do three hundred pushups? Well, that's obvious.

T'paz shows his embarrassement with only a flush of the cheek. "Jas...let's let the Weyrlings get a little bigger before we play." With that, he hops up onto the bronze's neck. Walking away quietly on the sand, Jaspyth leaps into the air, and glides across Bowl.

T'paz swings up to Jaspyth's neck, settling between two neckridges, and smiles down to his lifemate.

Jaspyth pauses a moment and then leaps quickly into the air.

Kr'lin notes the departure of the trouble makers with a slight sigh, "Then consider this to be an opportunity to challenge yourself, Hanneke." A moment of sensitivity sets in, "You don't have to do all of them now, so as many as you can now, then throughout the rest of the day, do the rest. Okay?"

Caeruleth, some support, disappears into the shadows, the early morning light making her dark repose less opulent. Hanneke nods dumbly, and moves back to the ground, lifting herself with some obvious difficulty into another, single pushup. "I can't do it," she insists again, glaring at Kr'lin. "It's not fair!"

Kr'lin crouches down in front of Hanneke and gets his best Weyrlingmaster voice, "Leave t he drama for your momma and push!" But, alas, Kr'lin makes himself laugh with that one, "Sorry, I always wanted to say that. But, really, Hanneke, you are going to do all three hundred of those pushups before the end of the day. You might as well get as many of them out of the way now, while you are fresh."

Hanneke had managed to prop herself up slightly, but Kr'lin's momma comment causes a wiggle that eventually ends in collapse. She stares abjecting towards the Assistant Weyrlingmaster, and simply nods--petrified. The laughter, for once, is not shared. "But--" But nothing.

Kr'lin just shakes his head, "No buts, Hanneke. The more you sit there and complain, the harder it is going to be later." It appears that he isn't going to let the young greenrider escape from this little punishment, "Hanneke, being a dragonrider is physically draining. We have been easy on you up until now, but it is going to get a lot worse for you."

Hanneke only sticks her tongue out a little bit; the action is cut off as she lifts herself once more, with some effort, attempting to make a proper attempt at a push up. "Fine." It's still not fair. Actual push ups do follow, but sloppily. To the extreme.

Kr'lin hmms and nods slowly, "Very good, Hanneke. Keep at it. Give yourself a goal and don't stop until you get there." He's trying to be a good motivator, but really.. Kr'lin isn't entirely sure if he can do three hundred pushups, mere thought of it makes him start to sweat. "And don't set your goal low, try for something you don't think you can reach."

Hanneke points out, perhaps with some truth, "I don't think I can do any more!" There goes the goal idea. "Why don't you do it with me? Then you can, er, motivate me!"

From the sky above, Tajiath flies in from the east.

Tajiath wings downward, bringing a blast of frost-chilled air along with her as she lands gracefully on the bowl floor. A cloud of hazy air gathers about her muzzle as hot breath meets the morning cold. Prancing a bit, she digs her talons into the ground, only stilling long enough for Katarra to carefully dismount.

Katarra swings down from her lifemate Tajiath's neck.

Kr'lin is saved by the arrival of the Weyrwoman, "Katarra! Good timing, you arrived just in time to watch Hanneke do three hundred push ups!" Then it is back to the Weyrling, "Okay. Give yourself a little rest, then go at it again. It will get easier, really."

Hanneke is on the ground: ostensibly doing pushups, although all efforts collapse as Kr'lin gives her leave for a rest. Panting, the weyrling raises her head, peering towards the boots and shoes of those at liberty to stand. "er--" Straining her neck, she attempts to glance upwards, actually managing to define the new arrival. "Good morning, Weyrwoman." Excuse the lack of enthusiasm.

Katarra marches up to weyrling and trainer, her gaze swinging from side to side in imitation of the golden head behind her. "Good morning," she replies somewhat unconvincingly. "Tajiath insisted on dropping in to take a look at the young dragons." Pale brows rise as she takes in the scene. Three hundred? Oh my! "What are you doing, Kr'lin? Trying to wear them to bits before they can even graduate?"

Kr'lin gives the Weyrwoman a helpless shrug, "We were excercising their dragons this earlier. In their last excercise, I had them try and blow their lifemates off their feet." A few chuckles are emitted as he recalls the tumbling, "In order to make sure that the weyrlings made their dragon work to get them off their feet, I gave them incentive not to be. 20 pushups for taking a step back, 50 for getting blown off their feet..." he trails off, giving Hanneke and sorrowful look.

Hanneke's face gains a glimmer of a smile at Katarra's reaction, the young weyrling taking the initiative to try and prop herself up into a slightly more comfortable position; the bowl floor was not, it could be agreed upon, made for the comfort of somewhat pudgy weyrling bodies. Caeruleth takes this moment to slink out from the shadows, lurking nearby to her weyrling with a silent looming motion: Hanneke makes a good target, in this position. "He's mean," opines Hanneke, a pout in her voice, if not entirely visible upon her face.

Katarra tilts her head, giving Hanneke another appraising gaze. "Well, you must've gone head over heals several times then, hm, Hanneke?" Tone is serious, but a smile plays about the corners of her lips. "Mean?" she echoes, sounding surprised. "Kr'lin? Surely not!" A wide-eyed glance is cast toward the bluerider. Never would such a rumor be believed!

Kr'lin is all innocent in appearance, "Very true, Katarra. Very true. You are wise beyond your years." Then, to Hanneke, possibly to prove just how correct the Weyrling is, "You should be rested. Try to get ten more. Okay?" He might have added the Okay?, but he isn't really asking for her consent.

"Caeruleth knocked me over a few times," admits Hanneke dismally, her position making any translation of expressions impossible, "But it's not fair that he makes me do it, and he won't do it himself!" Logic escapes her, although that is hardly unusual. "Yes! Very mean!" Her gaze returns towards Kr'lin -- well, his shoes -- and she adds, "Ten. That's *heaps*." Nonetheless, she struggles to push her way up once more, her arms shaking as they attempt to support her.

Katarra nods slowly, the smile disappearing as she assumes a long-suffering mask. It's a tough job being all-knowing and wise, but someone's gotta do it. "Yes, I know," she replies bluntly. Her expression changes a bit upon noting Hanneke's shaky efforts, brows furrowing with a touch of worry. "Be careful or you'll go and ruin all that hard work we did firming her up with food earlier," she cautions Kr'lin.

Kr'lin ahhs as Katarra brings up a good point, "I don't know, though.. I think she might have gone a little far in her weight gaining." He slides over to Hanneke's side and gives her belly a squeeze *tickle*, "We can reach a happy median, though. We need to increase her muscle mass and keep her body fat low. Increase her weight that way, perhaps?" Isn't it fun when people talk about you as if you aren't even there?

Hanneke evidently does not do well with tickles, and collapses with a giggle that cannot be captured. "Ow!" She complains, a murderous glance sent towards Kr'lin's feet. Oh, she's having fun. Lots of fun. With a struggle, she pulls herself up into another push, holding it for a single moment before collapsing again. "My tummy hurts." No wonder, if she's hitting it each time she comes down.

Katarra gives in as well to a soft chuckle or two. "Fine idea. Fine idea," she grins. "But I wouldn't go pointing fingers so quickly were I you. I have a feeling by time they graduate these weyrlings will have worked a few pounds off of you as well." Uh oh. "Oh, now look what you've done," she says, tsking at Kr'lin.

Kr'lin hmms and has to grab his own tummy now, "I could use it, actually. All that lazing around the living cavern has been horrible on my physique." Hanneke just gets a sorrowful look, "Awww, come on, Hanneke, ten more? You can do ten more? Can't you? You've almost done twenty. You can't stop now." He might look at her sorrowfully, but he sure doesn't feel much sympathy, does he. "Speaking of which, how are you doing after spending so much time on the Sands, Katarra? Well hydrated again?"

Hanneke sticks her tongue out again in a single act of rebellion, and shifts herself, tubby tummy beneath, into another push up. "You're not talking very nice," she notes, while diligently attempting to gain the energy to complete her task. "I don't like you. And my tummy *still* hurts." At least she hasn't had breakfast yet.

Katarra's shoulders rise in a through sigh of relief. "Working on it," she replies, and releasing her shawl for a moment, spreads her fingers for a quick inspection. "All that dry air really did a number on my skin. Fortunately the healer hall had a special lotion that seems to be doing the trick." Waggling fingers reclaim the shawl, after which she takes a quick look over her shoulder. Beyond the trio, Tajiath tips her head to the side, wings beginning to russle. "Speaking of which," Katarra concludes, "I think we'll be off now. I hear a mug of tea calling my name." With a wave and a grin, she's off.

Hanneke manages -- although Faranth knows how -- to call out, without hesitance, "Good bye, Weyrwoman! Have a lovely day!" She stares at Kr'lin's boots. "Can I go, now?"

Kr'lin waves to the Weyrwoman, "Have a good day, Katarra." Hanneke doesn't get a wave, not at all, "I don't know. You've barely done twenty of your three hundred. Are you sure you want to take a break now? Just imagine how it is going to be once you have completed your morning chores."

Katarra swings up to Tajiath's neck, settling between two neckridges, and smiles down to her lifemate.

Katarra waves from Tajiath's back, and with a sudden whoosh of chilled air, the pair rise into the skies above the bowl.

Tajiath pauses a moment and then leaps quickly into the air.

Is she sure? "Yes!" You bet she's sure. The reprecussions evidently haven't crossed her mind as of yet, because she struggles to her feet, wrapping her arms about her middle, which obviously *does* hurt, as she does so.

Kr'lin hmms and nods, "Okay, very well then, just be back here doing pushups once you have finished your morning chores." And then, because he's in a giving mood, "Hanneke, cut down on your food consumption a little, okay? Also, starting tomorrow morning, I'm going to start you on an extra excercise regimine, okay? We need to build up your body strength."

Hanneke nods her head with an almost sullen expression upon her face. "Yes." A dull frown follows, as she adds, "I'll--try. You said that--oh, never mind." She's too tired to argue. "More exercises? But--" Again, she shuts up, head shaking. "I'm going, now." Meanie.

You decide to go into the Weyrling Barracks.