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

[faesinger]

Dsharmira of Green Zhaoruith


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

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

Dsharmira and Zhaoruith were both eager and cautious as they waited. There was a lot that could go wrong. But a lot that could go right as well. Dsharmira had studied and practiced and Zhaoruith was confident in her rider. When it became time to go Dsharmira carefully, if a bit slowly, visualized Western Hold and gave the coordinates to Zhaoruith. The dragon was patient and did not question the time it took.

One...two...three...and they were there. Smiling Dsharmira patted her dragon and consulted where they were headed next.  

[faesinger]

Dsharmira of Green Zhaoruith


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

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

Solace Hold was next and again Dsharmira took her time visualizing. She was not risking anything. Building tops and landscape materialized in her mental vision. Giving them to Zhaoruith the dragon leapt between. Again they arrived safely without mishap.  

[faesinger]

Dsharmira of Green Zhaoruith


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

Sevenday One: Grid 1
1. Western Hold - success!
2. Solace Hold - success!
3. Black Sand Hold - double check coordinates
4. White Cliff Weyrhold
5. Western Weyr

Maybe it was the couple of jumps that had her less comfortable worried that something would happen. Sure something was wrong with her coordinates Dsharmira flagged down an assistant and had him double check them. No risks. Once they were confirmed she gave them to Zhaoruith. They successfully made the hop and Dsharmira relaxed slightly.  

[faesinger]

Dsharmira of Green Zhaoruith


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

Sevenday One: Grid 1
1. Western Hold - success!
2. Solace Hold - success!
3. Black Sand Hold - double check coordinates
4. White Cliff Weyrhold - success!
5. Western Weyr

Calmed down from her brief bout of nerves, Dsharmira once more took her time and gave Zhaoruith the coordinates. Quick as could be, they were in White Cliff Weyrhold.  

[faesinger]

Dsharmira of Green Zhaoruith


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

Sevenday One: Grid 1
1. Western Hold - success!
2. Solace Hold - success!
3. Black Sand Hold - double check coordinates
4. White Cliff Weyrhold - success!
5. Western Weyr - success!

Finally back over Western Weyr, Dharmira thought that she would have been chagrinned if she had had to ask for help for that jump.  

[SilverLutz]

Kat'eel of Bronze Biralath

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

Boons: 0/2 used

Sevenday 4 - Grid 3
1. Waters Edge Cothold (Cothold beholden to Black Sands Hold)
2. Oasis Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Rivercrest Hold)
3. Stoney Tower Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Redoubt Hold)
4. Green Plains Cothold (Cothold beholden to White Cliff Weyrhold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

3: Everyone else succeeds!

Kat'eel let out a slow breath as he mounted Biralath again for their final circuit. They'd done this route on their last training session and had done pretty well but he knew they couldn't rest on their laurels. He'd studied the coordinates just as hard as if it was their first time, knowing that confidence was good but cockiness would see them killed.

Once they gained some height and Kat'eel had a moment to focus, they jumped Between and reappeared a few moments later above Water's Edge Cothold successfully. Good. A successful first jump hopefully boded well for the rest of the exercise.  

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 2
Memorization/Visualization Level: 4
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 5

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

Boons Remaining: 1

Once more, back into the void of Between.

To say that Nonami was even more nervous was.. truthful. They were wary of returning back to the lessons that could easily kill them. After their rough scrapes with the week prior, Nonami was truthfully terrified to go back to it. But these lessons were necessary, so after that initial fear, they had thrown themself into studying overtime on coordinates with any family member who would give them a moment. They came from a family of dragonriders who had all done this before. Certainly they could follow those same footprints as well. ...right?

Nervously, they climbed up into Negoncath’s straps, settling in with a minor fidget. The first stop along this new route was Courtesan Hall -- their mother’s own Hall she had studied in before impressing. To see it for their own eyes could certainly be a treat, and they focused on the positives instead as Negoncath, with her silent typhoon of love and affection across their bond, rose into the air. The smallest nudge after a deep breath to send them both between...

Quote:

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

1 - 2 - 3 ....

The chatter of the Hall below them had Nonami realizing they has screwed their eyes shut for the trip, cracking them open before peering down at Courtesan Hall below with wonder.

Negoncath, however, gave a triumphant cry, unable to help herself in celebrating Hers' success. I knew you could do it, beloved! Your hard work paid off. Look at how lovely this Hold is -- Oh, hello! The chattery green's eyes burned bright with love and happiness, curling about so Nonami could get a nicer view.

Nonami just laughed, trying to hide the small grin on their face -- tired but pleased. One down.  

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 2
Memorization/Visualization Level: 4
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 5

Week 2: Grid 2 - Moderate Difficulty Level
1. Courtesan Hall -- Success!
2. Redoubt Hold
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Boons Remaining: 1

Where to next, my beloved? With a small trill, Negoncath rose to get a bit more distance above the Hall. She preferred to have clearance, just in case. Legs tucked, wide wings catching the breeze to rise up and hover before peering back.

"Redoubt Hold." Nonami's voice wavered, though they did their best to say it firmly, confidently. They drew up the coordinates, ones that had gone over again and again. The success of the first jump having perked their mood up, Nonami prepared for the next jump between, before giving Negoncath the go-ahead....

Quote:

5-6: Mostly Success!

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.

There's a heavy pause as Negoncath peered back at their rider slowly, a thread of doubt slipping into their bond. B.. beloved? That doesn't look entirely like what we were reviewing. Are you certain?

At once, what little confidence Nonami had gained by their correct jump had deflated instantly. "It.. It isn't?" Perhaps their details were off.. Had they not studied enough? "Could.. could you ask Orioth to correct us?"

The sweet green trilled her ascent, getting the proper placement before they winked between to Redoubt Hold.  

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 2
Memorization/Visualization Level: 4
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 5

Week 2: Grid 2 - Moderate Difficulty Level
1. Courtesan Hall -- Success!
2. Redoubt Hold -- Failure (Checked Coords)
3. Paradise Falls Hold
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Boons Remaining: 1

Getting our coordinates checked once isn't bad, darling. We can do this. Negoncath's quiet affirmation was a headbutt of love against Nonami's frail confidence, and they could only sigh and stroke their neck.

'Next is... Paradise Falls Hold.' Voice failing them, they drew up the image of Paradise Falls Hold. It was a place that sounded wonderful, and only had the softest itch to possibly visit the hold after graduation. It could be fun, maybe. There's the gentlest nudge for Negoncath to go, nervously holding their breath...

Quote:

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

1 - 2 - 3 -----

The Hold came into view as the inky blackness of between was gone in an instant. Paradise Falls Hold was indeed a paradise to Nonami's eyes and confidence, smiling down before unable to quite help the bubble of laughter from the young weyrling. Perhaps a touch on the needing-sleep side, almost hysterical. Yet they could only beam. Doing better than they had the week prior, at least!  

[SilverLutz]

Kat'eel of Bronze Biralath

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

Boons: 0/2 used

Sevenday 4 - Grid 3
1. Waters Edge Cothold (Cothold beholden to Black Sands Hold)
2. Oasis Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Rivercrest Hold)
3. Stoney Tower Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Redoubt Hold)
4. Green Plains Cothold (Cothold beholden to White Cliff Weyrhold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

6: Success! You passed with flying colors! There was nothing to that jump and you're feeling great! Gain one Anxiety/Confidence level!

They took their usual break over Water's Edge Cothold so Kat'eel could gather his thoughts and focus, but he did feel like the time he took was a little less than normal. Perhaps it was because he'd done this route before or maybe it was the fact that he'd studied up extra hard over this route, but he felt incredibly confident in himself and his knowledge of the jump.

With a deep breath Kat'eel pushed Bira to go Between. One, two, three, four-

They reappeared again over Oasis Hold and confidence filled both rider and dragon. They could do this!  

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 2
Memorization/Visualization Level: 4
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 5

Week 2: Grid 2 - Moderate Difficulty Level
1. Courtesan Hall -- Success!
2. Redoubt Hold -- Failure (Checked Coords)
3. Paradise Falls Hold -- Success!
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold)
5. Western Weyr

Boons Remaining: 1

With half of their route done, Nonami took a deeper breath to center themself. Doing better than last week was certainly improvement, but they couldn't get carried away now. It would still only take one slip, and...

Don't focus on that, darling. Next stop is...? The little nudge from Negoncath kept them from falling down the tunnelsnake burrow, snapping back to the moment.

'Sand's End Hold. Last Hold before home.' Straightening up in their riding straps, Nonami called to mind the image of the minor hold, taking a deep breath before giving the gentle nudge to go...

Quote:

2-4: Success & Failure!

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.

Once more, Negoncath paused, slowly turning to glance at Nonami over her shoulder. Nonami deflated instantly, rubbing a hand over their partially exposed face before sighing. Failure stung as they gently asked to have their coordinates checked once more, before following through. Exhaustion was nipping at Nonami's heels, and all they craved once they were home was bed.  

[Prism Shine]

(Taking the reroll! )  

[SilverLutz]

Kat'eel of Bronze Biralath

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

Boons: 2/2 used: Re-roll 1: 1 Re-roll 2: 6

Sevenday 4 - Grid 3
1. Waters Edge Cothold (Cothold beholden to Black Sands Hold)
2. Oasis Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Rivercrest Hold)
3. Stoney Tower Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Redoubt Hold)
4. Green Plains Cothold (Cothold beholden to White Cliff Weyrhold)
5. Western Weyr

Quote:

6: Success! You passed with flying colors! There was nothing to that jump and you're feeling great! Gain one Anxiety/Confidence level!

Oasis Hold was beautiful but Kat'eel wanted to push on. He was feeling confident and wanted to ride that high while he could just in case something happened. Each successful jump would build on that confidence and one false move could bring it crashing down. Focusing on the next jump, Kat'eel closed his eyes and welcomed the chill and silence of Between.

When he opened his eyes they were above Stoney Tower Hold once more, the jump flawless and a complete success. They were getting close to the end of the route, but Kat'eel was focused. They had to finish strong.  

[Prism Shine]

Nonami & Green Negoncath

Distraction/Intensity Level: 4
Exhaustion/Alertness Level: 2
Memorization/Visualization Level: 4
Anxiety/Confidence Level: 2
Slacker/Studiousness Level: 5

Week 2: Grid 2 - Moderate Difficulty Level
1. Courtesan Hall -- Success!
2. Redoubt Hold -- Failure (Checked Coords)
3. Paradise Falls Hold -- Success!
4. Sand's End Hold (Minor Hold beholden to Western Hold) -- Failure (Checked Coords)
5. Western Weyr

Boons Remaining: 1 0

This was a jump they could make, certainly. Home had been home for fifteen turns, where Nonami had been born and raised. The image of Western Weyr was natural to them as any, yet as they called it up, eager to go home, they gave Negoncath the gentle mental nudge in the direction of home...

Quote:

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

A welcome sight after three breath's time, and though Nonami was exhausted and eager to be on the ground once more (and, preferably, a bed between them and the ground...) they could only smile. Two times needing to check coordinates, however they certainly felt more grounded and sure after the previous week. Perhaps practice and repetition certainly helped.  

[SilverLutz]

Re-roll 1