[Big Cat Lesson] Black, Blacker, Blackest: Open

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 3
Memorization/Visualization Level: 3
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 4

Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold - Success
2. Solace Hold - Failure 1/3
3. Black Sand Hold - Failure
4. White Cliff Weyrhold - Success!
5. Western Weyr - Success!

One last jump. They could certainly do that, couldn't they? One last pass Between, and they would be back at Western. The thought of it made them ache, desiring nothing more than to be in the sky of their home, and safe to return to studies. Clearly they had some making up to do after such abysmal attempts.

But... They were learning, and weren't dead. That was some good mark... right?

The image of Western Weyr was more familiar, recalling their home as they prepared for the last jump of their route ...

Quote:

7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

1 - 2 - 3;
The sights and sounds of Western Weyr were a welcome sight, putting the stress and woe of their mistakes was balmed as the ground was rapidly approaching as Negoncath readied herself to land. They had some studying to do, for bad coordinates to put their beloved Negoncath in danger... No, certainly not.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

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

Sevenday 2 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If you have a 4 in Anxiety/Confidence, you learn a healthy dose of fear as it takes you a bit longer to appear Between. You make it (somehow) but even your dragon is spooked. You know that you almost got lost there, but somehow managed to make it through. For the rest of your rolls on this grid, your Anxiety/Confidence score is down TWO points.

Another day, another sevenday Between lesson. After the success of their first, with only a couple of shakes here or there, X'ael and Cucuaranath were rather relaxed, almost completely so. It was all a matter of having the correct coordinates and focusing on the visualization after all. Even the pair of them could do that, they had been trained rather well in fact.

That was a mistake.

On the very first jump to the Courtesan Hall, Between nearly took them. Six heartbeats it took to appear and even Cucuaranath's normal easy going calm was shattered into the winds. In fact it was so bad that he didn't want to make the next jump back, responding to the blooming anxiety coming from his rider and wishing simply to fly back the long way shaff it all.

We can't. We can't fly back the long way and ignore the lesson. Just take a few breaths and we'll relax here until the time comes. The blue didn't even bother responding, X'ael could feel the tension and fear, how much he wanted to run away from this moment and protect them both. All he could offer was an attempt at calm feelings after the long trip and nothing more.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4 - 1 = 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4 - 2 = 2
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 2 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If this is your second or third roll, if your Exhaustion Level of 3 or higher is going to be reduced by one for the rest of your rolls. i.e. If you had them down as a 5, they are now feeling like a 4. All future rolls will be based on this number until you finish the game. If you had them as a 4, they are now down to a 3, and if you had them as a 3 they are now down to a 2. You are feeling mentally exhausted!

The second jump at least was a little better, they hopped Between and back out with no issues whatsoever, but the toll from the very first had been all it really took. They were beginning to feel the first nigglings of exhaustion settle over both of them.

We still have this, it'll be okay. We can make it back. Cucuaranath's voice even sounded shaken and worn, it hadn't even been more than a few minutes that they'd been out and he sounded as if it had been a full day. While it took everything that X'ael had in him, the man offered a level of calm to his blue, the same that he'd felt wash over him the very moment they'd Impressed.

Nothing was going to help though.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4 - 1 = 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4 - 2 = 2
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 2 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If you have a a 3 or lower in Anxiety/Confidence levels, perhaps you needed more fear of Between because something goes wrong and you fail to return and are lost forever... unless you get your coordinates checked.

Paradise Falls sounded lovely, in fact he'd been looking forward to seeing it, even if some of it had been playful goading on Cucuaranath's part. But something told him that there was an issue. Something biting at the back of his slightly worn out mind. It was worth the second check, his dragon was already jittery and half panicked.

Lucky for them both. With the coordinates reaffirmed and correct this time, the two popped Between and above the Hold just as easily as they had times before.

Not so easy though. They'd have been lost if they'd used the original ones. Two more leaps and they'd be home at least.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4 - 1 = 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4 - 2 = 2
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 2 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

If this is your fourth or fifth roll, and you happen to have a Distraction/Intensity level of 5, your certainty of the coordinates winds up being your downfall. You didn't account for the placement of the sun and you wind up lost Between. If you have an exhaustion level of 1 or 2, you botch your coordinates due to the drain. If your Memorization/Visualization skills are 3 or less, you botch remembering the exact placement and wind up lost--unless you check your coordinates.

Check them again.... was all Cucuaranath stated, his great head shaking just a bit from side to side as if to clear his thoughts. This was nothing like the first Between lessons. This was in fact far worse.

Much worse than what either of them expected. The blue didn't even have the chance to check with his siblings to make sure they were all okay, he was too focused on trying to keep them both in the air and not lost between in the frigid cold forever. For his part, X'ael was in much the same state but anxiousness had crept into him and it made his thoughts jumbled and his body just as tired as his brain.

Okay, these are the right ones. It'll be okay. This is the last one and then we can go home. Somehow his voice cracked even in his own head and the straightened out coordinates took them straight to the next Hold. This time they'd take a few moments to breathe and calm both of them down before they tried any of that again. Western Weyr was simply one jump away.  

[Hattaki]

Using the Week 2 re-roll boon! Cuz F.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

Distraction/Intensity: 3
Exhaustion/Alertness: 4 - 1 = 3
Memorization/Visualization: 3
Anxiety/Confidence: 4 - 2 = 2
Slacker/Studious: 3

Sevenday 2 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

8-12: Success! You manage to make the leap without any trouble! Good job! Breathe easy!

Western Weyr warmed them from the inside out, it always did and it did so more than normal today of all days when the pair popped out of Between above the Bowl. It was the best place after all, the one set of coordinates they couldn't possibly mess up, for how could they mess up 'home'? Cucuaranath seemed to balk just a bit at the thought of landing and mingling with the others who had succeeded and made it. Rather, he had one spot in mind and tried very hard to pull them both there.

X'ael closed his eyes, nearly a puddle within the straps, and simply let it happen. He was man enough to admit the stress had him in tears, but he hid it behind the mask he wore.  

[Tsunake]

Phryana and Gold Kleoth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

They lingered perhaps longer than they should have, for Kleoth wanted to wait for her siblings. Several appeared and went, and she sent her love and how proud she was to each and every one of them. Phryana eventually gave her a gentle touch, for it was time to go.

She carefully held the coordinates for Solace Hold in her mind, and they vanished Between.

Quote:

Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

Another few breaths in that bone-chilling darkness... and they were back in the light and warmth! They weren't alone either, and Kleoth gave a short bugle of greeting. She had no doubt that Yaguareth would do well! Her own twin had gone on ahead it seemed, as did her other siblings. Phryana raised an arm in greeting to Aryale as well, knowing it would only strain her throat to try and shout.

demon_pachabel

o hello

 

[demon_pachabel]

Aryale of Green Yaguareth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr


Almost home! Aryale thought gratefully, her nerves all but soothed by the so far successful jumps. But first we must finish showing the way, Yaguareth informed, sending a wave of love to any siblings who were also above Black Sand Hold - then making the next jump when Aryale pressed it.

Quote:

Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

It was another clean jump, and Aryale took in the view once again. Weren't they lucky to have a view like that?  

[demon_pachabel]

Aryale of Green Yaguareth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1 - Easy Difficulty Level
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Home!

Aryale didn't doubt her coordinates for Western Weyr in the slightest - she'd flown above it on the back of her parents' dragons since she was a wee thing and she knew the entire place by heart.

As long as we jump above it and not straight into your family weyr, Yaguareth mused, reminding Aryale where her coordinates were meant to be. Aryale threw her head back in laughter, cleared her head of all her close familiarity of home and focused only on the safest point above the Weyr.

Then they jumped.

Quote:

Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

Yaguareth bugled triumphantly as they cleared Between to appear above home, sweet home. To all of her siblings she'd offer a wave of victorious affection before settling into the bowl to await the rest - and she had full confidence in their return.  

[Tsunake]

Phryana and Gold Kleoth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Both dragon and rider were content with the returned greeting before turning their minds firmly back to the task at hand. Now, to Black Sand Hold. Phryana visualized it as clearly as she was able to Kleoth, directing her to jump Between.

Quote:

3-6: Mostly success! Some potential failure.
3rd roll, stats are high enough that nothing happens, if I'm reading it correctly!

Yet again, they emerged successfully from Between! One more Hold to visit, and then home. Phryana affectionately patted her dragon's neck, unabashedly proud of them both. Still... she intended to study even more fiercely than she had before. She hadn't felt quite as comfortable with those coordinates as she thought she should have.  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

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

Sevenday 3 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

8-12: Success! You manage to make the leap without any trouble! Good job! Breathe easy!

After nearly dying three times in the last Between lesson, X'ael and Cucuaranath were looking less forward to this one, which might have been the reason the pair opted to follow the same path as the time before. Out of sheer stubbornness or fear. Or a combination of both.

However this time at least, hopping over the Courtesan Hall with the coordinates went much smoother. Were they safe on the ground the rider might have puddled onto his blue from relief. They were safe this time around. There were yet more jumps but they were safe so far.

Betweening seemed like such an easy and lazy way to get from place to place in theory, but it's not at all. Cucuaranath offered, his eyes yellow as he readied himself for the next leap. Unlike the very first cycle he paid no attention to where his siblings were or what was around him. There was so little to enjoy anymore in this.  

[Tsunake]

Phryana and Gold Kleoth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

White Cliff Weyrhold... Were the cliffs truly white? She mused. If so, it sounded breathtaking, though would always pale compared to her Kleoth. "Ready?" She murmured, taking a moment to admire the view. Here, in the skies, with her dragon.... who could ever think of anything more perfect?

It is perfect because you are here with me. The gold replied, taking Phry's breath away with her love. I am ready. Let us go.

She fixed the coordinates in her mind and yet again let her beloved queen jump back into the icy cold of Between.

Quote:

7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

Another successful jump! Now there was only one left...  

[Hattaki]

X'ael & Blue Cucuaranath

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

Sevenday 3 - Grid 2
1. Courtesan Hall
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

8-12: Success! You manage to make the leap without any trouble! Good job! Breathe easy!

Visualized, a cold trip, then warmth over his hide once more and some of the tension and unease within him unraveled just a bit. At least this time they were in sync enough that it was going much smoother. His had the correct coordinates once more and Redoubt Hold was before them.

Still it wasn't enough to shake the shadow of fear that lingered within him from the last sevenday and he knew just by lightly prodding that X'ael was in much the same state.

Practice makes perfect right? Nervous and anxious laughter came with that statement, they were both winding each other up and would need to get over it and recover if they were to survive the next three jumps.  

[Tsunake]

Phryana and Gold Kleoth

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

Sevenday 1: Grid 1
1. Western Hold
2. Solace Hold
3. Black Sand Hold
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

So far, the lesson had gone without a hitch, and Phryana was grateful. Now it was time to go home, and she could feel Kleoth eagerly anticipating it. She needed to make certain all her siblings had fared well--and so far, they all had!

Phryana pictured Western Weyr with ease, and with a gentle mental touch, Kleoth vanished Between.

Quote:

7-20: Success! You made it through with flying colors! This is easy-peasy and nothing is going to stop you now! You're a wizard dragonrider, Harry!

Kleoth trumpeted with delight as they appeared exactly where they wanted, her massive wings beating as she gently lowered herself to the ground. Phryana freed herself from her straps, her teeth bared in a fierce, exultant grin before she composed herself. She couldn't be more satisfied, knowing their hard work had paid odd.off

Once Hers was safely dismounted, Kleoth immediately swung her head around to investigate her smaller sibling, sensing something amiss. I'm delighted to see that you and Yours returned safely. But are you alright? She all but radiated with concern and warmth alike, however, perhaps sensing her sweet sister's distress.

Prism Shine