13-20-2756 to 1-19-2757
November 5 to 18
This is the getting-to-know-you period, the time when you and your dragon will (hopefully) learn how to work together. Your morning lessons will focus on this, on strengthening the bond and learning how to share information, and also how to block your dragon out when necessary, as well as starting with basic calisthenics for both you and your dragon. And, for you, running, because you're going to need that stamina later.
The rest of your time is apt to be spent on dragon care. They need feeding at least three times a day now, and some of them will require more, carefully metered so as to prevent choking or constipation. Then, oiling. Because of the chill and the fact that they're still small, water will be brought into the cavern for bathing them, every other day or so. The first few days, the caverns staff will be helping out; after that, you guys are the ones who'll be butchering the delivered beasts (with a little guidance), cutting them up for your charges, and doing all of the cleanup. They're growing at speeds you'd hardly believe, and that means you have to be very careful with that oil, to make sure that their hide doesn't develop painful cracks. Dragon hide doesn't stretch like human skin does.
Those of you who had things you used to do? Tough. All crafts and trades are set aside, for now. Hopefully your former peers or supervisors will understand.
1-20-2757 to 2-19-2757
November 19 to December 2
You're totally old hands at this dragonrider thing by now, right? The slow introduction into the life of the Weyr ends in the second month, when calisthenics will move to before breakfast, and the mornings will be spent on starting the very basics of ground drills: Lining up. Walking in straight lines while staying in line with your fellows. Turning while staying in line with your fellows. These things are a bit harder than they sound.
You'll spend most afternoons with the Harpers. While an awful lot of the kids from the further Holds can barely read, even those who are proficient will be studying the history and the structure of the Weyr, and starting to get an introduction into Threadfall—what those funny charts mean, what kills it, all of that. Those who are better at it are very likely to get assigned to help those who are struggling. Life in a wing: You're all going to sink or swim together.
Your dragon will still be present for most of the day, and dragon care will take up much of your evening and early mornings, but they're getting more independent, and now only need to be fed about once a day, as growth slows down considerably. Oiling is still important, but missed spots are likely to just be uncomfortable, rather than painful. The dragons are now encouraged to eat straight from the herdbeast carcass, but doing their own hunting will have to wait; they are not creatures meant to attack from the ground.
2-20-2757 to 3-19-2757
December 3 to December 16
Ground drills continue in your mornings, but your dragons will also be practicing a new skill: Gliding. Wing exercises dominate the calisthenics early in the month before the first attempts, which are generally just running up a low ramp and jumping. Not high enough for anybody to get too hurt, but the first days may involve a fair number of bruises as wings learn to hold steady enough to keep them airborne for a few yards. No rushing into flying, but you'll also have your first opportunities to get those straps fitted and ride your dragon through the ground drills together.
The Harper lessons taper off a bit this month, replaced on many days by lessons in other useful skills. Strap repair is a big one. Self-defense is another. Those who seem to have a particular talent for all of these lessons may find that this month, they get extra books handed to them to read up on other subjects. It's a compliment, but Threadfall charts are dense stuff.
3-20-2757 to 4-19-2757
December 17 to December 30
Flying! Gliding is nothing compared to this. The first week or so, your dragons will take to the air without you, ensuring that their takeoffs and landings are sound before you join them. Your drills continue on the ground, however, as your dragons learn on their own how to maneuver and get comfortable with moving that way before we start inviting collisions.
Lessons continue, but through less of the afternoon than before. By the end of the month, you'll be spending several afternoons a week helping to shuttle people and cargo up to various weyrs—'elevator duty', they call it, which can be a great way to meet people, but also a pain. Your dragons, at least, are now learning how to properly hunt themselves from the less-able members of the herd, and only hungry once every other day or so. Your evenings can finally be said to be free to do what you want with them. If only you had any privacy.
4-20-2757 to 5-19-2757
December 31 to January 13
At this point, your dragons will be about three quarters of their final size, and flying comfortably with you, so it's time to get them out of the increasingly cramped barracks and into their own quarters. Your new weyrs may be lovely. Or not. You'll work with the Steward's staff to get yours outfitted with whatever it happens to be missing. If you can get it. You didn't actually want to sleep on a bed, did you?
On the up side: Freedom! Most of your restrictions are lifted, now. On the down side, you'll still be starting work on drilling and lessons early most mornings. Now that your dragon is comfortable in the air, it's time for those ground drills you've practiced to move into three dimensions. Drilling will now last solidly from breakfast to lunch almost every single day, but aside from those couple days of elevator duty, your afternoons are now quite free. Those who had previously practiced crafts or trades may start looking into them again… although, remember, the Pass is coming.
5-20-2757 to 6-19-2757
January 14 to January 27
Drills get more complex as you gain more comfort with your dragon. You'll be flying in larger groups, now, sometimes even the entire Weyrling Wing at once. Add to your elevator duty at least one day a week of firestone-packing, and a lot of tossing exercises, gradually extending to actually practicing throwing the sacks mid-air. You're going to be pretty buff when all this is over.
Now that your dragons are flying so comfortably, there will be a few extended flights to some of the nearby Holds—mostly by night, so as to avoid heat problems as the weather gets toasty again. You'll get the opportunity to meet new people and represent the Weyr on minor matters. Putting a good face on things as the Pass approaches, trying to gain the confidence of people with serious trust issues. It'll surely go fine.
6-20-2757 to 7-19-2757
January 28 to February 10
All that firestone-handling finally turns into practical activities: This month, you start playing with fire. Most of you will start working with your dragons to learn how to produce flame—and then, afterwards, to control it. All of you will practice with flamethrowers enough to become basically proficient in their use. Fire isn't coming anywhere near your drilling yet, though. There's going to have to be a lot of practicing this month, first, lest you all end up scorching each other's tails.
As your dragons rapidly approach full grown, some of the males are already starting to be inclined to chase, although it's not too hard to keep them grounded this month; next month may be another story. The lecture on mating flights is doubtless going to be full of a lot of nervous tittering, but everybody will get the same advice: You'd better get started now getting used to the idea that it might be anybody—old or young, man or woman. And it's best not to leave your first time up to your dragon. No pressure.
7-20-2757 to 8-19-2757
February 11 to February 24
Your dragons are finally about full-grown, and finally flaming well enough to add dropped tangles of rope to the drills. Later in the month, the rope will be soaked in bright paint, first, so that everybody will be able to see who's been marked. It's a sobering reminder. You don't have a lot of time left. You'll start getting lessons this month in practicing visualizations for between, but nobody's doing that until the Weyrlingmaster is satisfied that you're ready, which won't be for a bit yet.
A few days a week are now devoted to shadowing some of the wings. You'll observe their drills, go out on sweeps with somebody who's covering a nearby area, generally get to know the different attitudes. And they'll be getting to know you, too, no doubt making lists for graduation.
8-20-2757 to 9-19-2757
February 25 to March 9
Between! Your first trip will be only a few yards, alongside one of the weyrlingmasters. Gradually, you'll go further, and visit any number of far-off places, learning their landmarks, including all of the notable Holdings in Igen's coverage area. Despite the supervision, this remains one of the most dangerous aspects of training. Some people do go in, only not to come back, in these early trips.
But the most dangerous part? That would be when betweening gets added to drills. In the heat of the moment, you had better be able to remember where your designated 'safe' spot is, or else you'll hesitate and get hit, or else jump before you're really ready. This added danger is a bit of a catch-22—a lot of people will get anxious and be inclined to turn to alcohol or other such ways to relax, but being drunk or hung over is a very quick route to harm's way.
9-20-2757 to 10-19-2757
March 10 to March 23
Graduation is coming, and you're probably well ready for it now, waiting for life as a Real Rider. On the other hand, things now are pretty cushy. After busy mornings, your afternoons and evenings are largely free for your own projects and studies (or, okay, other thing) and you're now comfortable enough with betweening not to worry about whether you're going to live through it on a daily basis. And your drills are now looking pretty good. It's not like the occasional hit means you'd really have been injured in Fall, or anything.
You're allowed to go places on your own, now, and lots of people will take advantage of this to spend a lot of time in this last month on the beaches of Ista or somewhere else exotic and relaxing. When you're away, though, you're also now expected to really behave like you're representing Igen Weyr, no matter what. Even if you aren't the cause, trouble happening abroad is likely to make the Weyrleaders very cranky with you.
