Month 8: Flight Formations (attn: Bright Hope Weyrlings)

Ashrah had Hesriath give the Bright Hope weyrling's dragons the visual coordinates to the location in the empty countryside, it's identifying feature being a slab of jet rock that jutted up out of the ground like a great tooth. Hesriath waited with Ashrah, mentally going through the lesson ahead.

Hesriath, darling, direct them into position. Ashrah said. Hesriath reached out to the entire class and addressed them.

Please form into these three groups. First group, Nicaeth, Tevannith, Emanoth, Gideath and Lizzoth. Second group, Finnedath, Micaeth, Sanovith, and Ceronith. Third group, Aliseth, Eniseth, Azareth and Tynnith.


"By now, Hesriath has assembled you into your Wings, Weyrlings. Breklynn, you are Wingleader. Antonia, you are Wingsecond. Moving on to group two. M'drist, you are Wingleader. Revel you are Wingsecond. Group Three! E'zen you are Wingleader, Teagan you are Wingsecond. The rest of you are Wingriders for the purpose of this exercise. Hesriath and I will be your acting Weyrleader." Ashrah said, moving to her own dragon to jump to her forearm and saddle up.

"Today's lesson is Wing Formations. We will be practicing sweep maneuvers today. Hesriath and I have dropped colored banners for ten miles in both directions from this spot. Each red banner represents a sighting valued by the Weyr. The Wing with the most sighting banners will be the winners of this training exercise. The prize for the most red banners is a sevenday free of chores. " she let her voice hang with that prospect.

"Are there any questions before we begin?" Ashrah asked them.

OOC: I will be rolling dice for the winner of this challenge. Have fun.

M'dian shot his brother a grin and then looked over at Breklynn. It made sense that the cobaltrider would be named a wingleader, but M'dian found himself curious as to how she'd lead them. He walked over and gave her a casual salute.

"Well, wingleader, wingsecond," he said, adding Antonia in on the greeting. "What should we do first?"

E'zen shifted, waiting for his classmates to gather. It was a weird place - graduated, technically, and out of practice from time on the sands, and yet still in need of training.

Aliseth's patience for bending back to classes and drills varied, but the time with Eniseth was always a draw for her, so.

***
Vianne moved over to M'drist, smiling her usual wicked half-grin. "I follow your lead, wingleader. Where shall we go?"

***

Abry waited by Lizzoth, interested to see how Breklynn stepped up. She'd been impressed by her former canyon-mate and now-classmate over time, and found herself curious by this new reminder of the rank the other girl could - or would - be destined for.

M'drist looked from Vianne back to his own Finnedath and a small smile rose to the corner of his mouth. Turning, he mounted his brown with strength and confidence, settling deep in the neck saddle.

"Revel and Sanovith, to my right wing. Vianne and Ceronith, I want you on my left. All right, were doing this in diamond formation. Micaeth and her rider will bring up the rear. Let's fly people!" his voice was quick, decisive and Finnedath rose powerfully into the air.
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Asteriel mounted her own Emanoth and looked to Breklynn to guidance.
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Ashrah watched on and Hesriath hummed approvingly.

Revel grinned and gave M'drist a smart salute.  "Yes, sir!"  A moment later, she was mounted on Sanovith's neck and following her 'Leader into the air.

Which direction will we take? Sanovith asked as they formed up to Finnedath's right.  We do not want to go the same as all the others.  The smoke eyed the other groups, wanting to wait a moment to see which way they went before his group headed off.  Just so they could choose the less-traveled path.  The decision wasn't his, though, and so he waited for orders.

The corner of Revel's mouth kicked up at her dragon's usual craftiness.  They both knew a real sweepride wouldn't be a competition, but making it such as weyrlings was half the fun.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Jemma smiled brightly at E'zen and Teagan and climbed to Azareth's neck while she waited for instructions.  Being part of this little mini queen's wing was exciting, and she rather thought they'd easily find the most banners, if for no other reason than Aliseth wouldn't let any other group win.

Aliseth pictured a distinctive rock formation just outside the northern side of the Weyr canyon, and sent it with each of them in proper position (Eniseth to her left, Tynnith to her right, and Azareth behind and a bit higher, to stagger.

And then, once they were all airborne, the wordless command that said clearly, 'Now.'

Aliseth's attention, clearly, had been caught by this exercise. .