Presented by Helene Schappell

Constipation

Dragon's tails are forked, almost arrowhead in nature, and where their sphincters are located.  Excreta may be stored for several days, before being expelled between by adult dragons. Weyrlings are not able to go between  and need to have their rider muck out their couch. Additionally, a dragon's genitalia are concealed behind pouch-like flaps of hide under the junction of tail and body. these are only revealed during mating.

If a dragon is allowed to overeat repeatedly, he or she will become constipated, complaining about their stomach being in pain, and occasionally even complaining about their genitals being in pain.  The most visible sign will be a thickening of their tail, as the excerta is stored, and begins to compact. This is a common complaint in weyrling dragons.

Assessment:

Has the dragon been overeating?

Detemination:

Is the tail thickened with stored excreta?

Treatment:

Recovery:

The dragon may bee a day or two to recover.  Riders should clean up after their lifemate. This generally serves as a reminder to watch what their dragon eats

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Muscle Injuries

Dragon muscles are, on the whole, silvery-grey in color, though where the ichor supply is rich, for example in the wings or legs, then the grey darkens and may even be tinted green from the ichor. They are heavily muscled, particularly in regards to their back legs; this allows them to leap far off the ground when they take off.

Injuries that seem to affect the muscles may also include the tendons and ligaments. Sprains happen when ligaments at, or near to, a joint are stretched, or damaged. A strain is a partial tearing of the muscle, often near the junction where the muscle and tendons anchor to the bones.  Muscle may also be ruptured, where there is complete tearing of the muscle; this may occur in the fleshy part of the muscle, or in the tendon.  Finally, there is always the association of deep bruising that can be extensive in large bulky muscles.  Sprains, strains, and deep brusing are very common and may occur from a wrenching, a sudden or violent movement that tears at surrounding tissues, or from overstretching muscle groups.

Injuries of this nature can occur in wings, forelimbs, hindlimbs, neck and even tails. (From mating flights!) In young dragons it can be prevented through the use of muscle exercises, especially utilizing the water to develop groups before they can be used as the water will cushion any deleterious effects.

Assessment:

If the dragon is in pain, then ask a gold to dampen that and still the movement.  Involve the rider in this, and ask them for details of the injury.  If this is the result of a mating flight, then the Dragonhealer needs to make sure that they start handing the rider skins of wine. Take control of the situation, but never forget to ask a rider first for permission to approach their lifemate: big dragon, in pain, a dangerous combination.

Determination:

Is the dragon favoring one limb/wing, etc over another?
Is there any swelling?
Local pain in the area, eased on elevation?

Treatment:

Recovery:

Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury.  This could be anything from a day or two, to several sevendays.  Muscle injuries often benefit from immersion in salt water, and gentle exercise in the water.  Both rider and dragon should be cautioned about returning to duty to soon as the area may remain prone to similar injuries for some time.

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Skin Complaints

Dragonhide is soft to the touch and hairless.  It is not metallic in nature and doesn't have scales.  It is extremely resilient to most abrasive injuries and provides, like human skin, a barrier to infection.  Absorption of topical substances such as numbweed and oil is possible, though it can take somet imes to penetrate the thick epidermis to reach the germative layer.

Dragon hide should show no fluctuation in coloration unless there is a problem that has not been treated.  Some may deepen with age, or turn grey at the muzzle, but on the whole they do not deviate from their base color.  If their hide appears dull, patchy. or grey, then a Dragonhealer is needed.

There are three main areas of neglect that will affect a dragon's hide.  The first problem lies in the fact that a dragon's hide needs to be oiled regularly.  If it is not, then first dry patches, then cracks will appear, which can be fatal when going between.  This can be a particular problem in young dragons that grow so rapidly, but older dragons are not exempt.  In weyrling dragons, oiling daily in a necessity. Riders benefit from this by having incredibly soft hands.  The second is the problem of ill-fitting straps.  Straps that are not flexible, or that are cracked or damaged, can chafe a dragon's hide.  These area can become hypersensitive and crack leading to problems when going between.  The third, and final problem is that of dull, lackluster, and grey hide.  If this is the diagnosis then the immediate thought should be dehydration, followed by investigation of some injury that has not been treated correctly.

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Dry or Cracked Hide

Assessment:

Ask the rider when they last oiled/bathed their lifemate.

Determination:

Is the skin itchy?
Do there appear to be dry areas?
Is one part of the hide paler than the other?
Is the hide flaking?

Treatment:

Recovery:

Dragon should not between when there is a risk of the dry hide cracking.  Once treated, the problem should clear up in a day or two.  Riders should be instructed to pay closer attention to their lifemates and in particular to that region.

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Chafed Hide

Assessment:

Are there patches that appear discolored, as if rubbed raw? Dry Areas? Hide flaking?

Determination:

Are the straps ill-fitting?
Are the straps broken, twisted?
Are the straps not flexible?
Does the problem develop when the straps are put on?
Does it develop when they are laying on their couch?
Is it more painful than itchy?

Treatment:

Recovery:

Dragon should not between when there is a risk of the dry hide cracking.  Once treated, the problem should clear up in a day or two.  Riders should be instructed to pay closer attention to their lifemates and their straps.  Straps should be inspected daily for wear and tear.  If this continues to be a problem, then the rider should think about padding out parts of the straps with strips of suede.

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Stomach Complaints

Dragons have two stomachs, one is for food, and the digestion of such, and the other is for firestone and the complex reaction that is necessary in order to generate flame.  Early on dragons learn to concentrate on their second stomach when chewing firestone.  However, accidents do happen during this important phase of learning, and often chunks of firestone end up in the food stomach.  Ingestion of firestone and passage into the correct stomach leads to the chemical reaction, catalyzed by an acid of some sort.  The exact nature of this substance is unknown, but reports from dragons during Weyrling training complaining of a burning feeling in their esophagus lead us to surmise that it is an acid of some kind.  Once the chemical reaction has been completed in this second stomach, then a number of flammable gases are produced which when belched forth, ignite on contact with air.  Flames can be sustained for well over a minute in an experienced dragon, and the range can be altered from around 2 to 6 meters.

There is no secondary digestive tract for the second stomach, unlike the first, which passes to the tail.  The firestone, which has been masticated and subsequently digested inside the second stomach to an odorous ash, is not excreted but disgorged.  As weyrlings, dragons regurgitate in ashpits near the weyrling barracks, but once between training is underway, dragons will disgorge the contents of their second stomach while between.

Golds do not ingest firestone.  Their riders use flamethrowers in threadfall, which have as much variation in range as a dragon.  However, it is an old aunties tale to believe that not ingesting firestone is the reason golds are fertile, unlike their gren counterparts. Since gold firelizards ingest firestone, flame and still bear live clutches, it is believed there is something in the genetic makeup of a green dragon that makes her sterile, and not in the firestone.  Considering the frequency at which greens rise, this is somewhat of a relief to any weyr.  Additionally, no sane weyrwoman would risk the fertility of her gold when there are plenty of fighting dragons in the weyr.

Because dragons have two stomachs it is important to determine the cause of the discomfort. Overeating generally only happens in weyrling dragons.  It can, and will, lead to constipation if left unchecked.  Additionally, flying with an overfull stomach can lead to sprains and strains.  Since dragons eat freshly killed meat, they do not encounter problems that some humans can have with bad meat.  The only other problem they may have is regurgitated acid from the second stomach. This burning feeling will be fleeting and often will pass after a swallow or two. When dragons begin to chew firestone, a stomach ache may result from chewing firestone that is a poor grade.  Bad firestone can be  recognized by an uneven color, holes that vary widely in diameter, as well as tunnels that may go straight through the rock.  This is why it is imperative that Weyrlings are taught to sort firestone early on, so that when feeding their lifemates it becomes second nature to give them the right sized chunks, but also of sufficient quality to produce and sustain a good flame.  However, in the case of bad firestone, the Weyrleaders need to be informed immediately so that the stores can be checked, and the Minecraft notified.

Assessment:

Ask the rider if the dragon has eaten recently, or if they have digested firestone.
Have they regurgitated Ash?

Determination:

Is the dragon complaining of an ache in their first or second stomach?
If the first stomach, does their stomach look distended?
If the second, is their flame unsustainable and blue?

Treatment:

FIRESTONE: Once eaten, the only remedy for the consumption of bad firestone is letting the dragon cough up the ash.  Dragons should not be allowed to head into Threadfall after consuming bad firestone.

OVEREATING: The dragon's eating habits need to be controlled better by their lifemates, especially since overeating can lead to constipation.  Dragons should not be allowed to fly, after overeating, in case they strain themselves.

Recovery:

FIRESTONE: The problem should clear once the firestone ash has been regurgitated.

OVEREATING: Full recovery within a day

Talon Loss

Dragon talons are similar in nautre to canine claws, and even our own fingernails.  They are made of keratin, and grow out from a talon bed, which is situated in the foot pad.  Thus, the talon itself has no nerves associated with it, and therefore no feeling until it reaches the point where it grows from the talon bed.  There it is nourished with ichor and nerves.  However, that's not to the say they cannot feel by association through their taloins, though it is more correct to say that they feel the connection through the talon to the talon bed. 

Talon loss becomes quite common when young dragons are learning to fly.  However, it remains a risk throughout life, especially in those dragons that are injured or sick, or otherwise impaired.  It is then that takeoff and landings can cause a talon to break of, either fully or partially, particularly on hard surfaces such as rock and compacted dirt.

Though not so common, talon loss can also occur in mating flights, whereby talons are lost by fighting males.  hunting may also result in the loss of a talon, particularly when the captured beast is of a sufficient weight that a wrong move will wrench the talon from the bed of the foot.

Assessment:

If the dragon is in pain, then ask a gold dragon to "dampen" the pain.  Its likely that the pain will be fleeting, with the wrenching occasionally accompanied by nausea, which will then lessen to a throb.The Dragonhealer should ask the rider for details of the injury.  If its a mating flight injury, the rider should be given a skin of wine unless the Dragonhealer wants their affctions comeing their way (Not advised until *after* you've dealt with the dragon).  Otherwise the rider should only be afected a little, with an uncomfortable feeling predominating.

Determination:

Is there any talon left?
Is the talon hanging at an awkward angle?
Is there dirt associated with the remaining/lost talon?
Is there ichor pooling around the talon bed?

Treatment:

Recovery:

The talon should eventually grow back, taking between four and eight sevendays to do so.  Any injury site will close within a day or two.  Occasionally a talon may not grow back if the talon bed is sufficiently damaged.  However, this will not impair the dragon in any way, as they will quickly learn to compensate for the missing talon.

Threadscore

Thread is the whole reason dragons were created.  It is a parasitic organism somewhat similar to Terran mycorrhiza, carbon-based and omnivorous.  Although its exact origins are unknown, it is believed to hail from the Red Star, as the approach of the erratic wandering planet in the sky heralds a Pass of Thread.  As it passes through Pern's atmosphere, Thread unfolds into its threatening form:  a tangled mass of greyish-silver filaments that devours anything organic in its path. thread can only be killed by flame, extreme cold, or water.

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Dragon Sex

Dragon sex. It is one of the most fascinating aspects of Anne's dragons, and one of the most often debated. What exactly goes on? How does it work? How does it affect the rider?

First, gold dragons only mate for procreation. Green dragons are very amenable to being caught by whichever dragon catches them, but golds must have only the best. The pull of a gold dragon flight is overwhelming and powerful, and flights which pass over Holds have been known to cause sudden rises in birthrates, and many children with the same birthdays. :) Its actually a good thing that greens aren't so powerful...with sometimes two or three rising DAILY, Pern wouldn't get much done other than orgies.

Dragons will NEVER rise during fall. The day before, or the day after, certainly, but never the day of.

Dragon genatalia is located at the base of the tail. A common myth has arisen that they are located in the neck...and absurd thought if I'd ever heard one. Dragons twine necks as an affection thing - they aren't mating with their necks. The warmth of the sun is the impetus for flight, so mating flights just won't happen at night. The bronzes, being smaller than their queen, must win the flight either by trickery, or by simply outlasting her. She may be larger, with more stamina, but bronzes are slightly more maneuverable, and are also in slightly better shape from more active threadfighting. If you recall, M'hall's bronze caught Torene's queen by hiding behind a cloud, so the fastest bronze isn't always the winner.

Dragons mate much like eagles. When a male catches a female, he digs his talons into her shoulders to hold her. She will fold her wings, and he does the flying for the two of them. This is one of the reasons its so important that a gold flies as high as possible before being caught...they are falling, and if they don't separate before they reach the ground - *splat*. The longer they have to fall, the longer the dragon has to impregnate her, and the better the clutch will be.When the act is done, they separate.

Greens

A green rises to mate 3 or 4 times a turn. Green flights usually last approximately 10 - 30 minutes. She doesn't need to blood, unless its been a while since she's eaten. There is no need for her to fly far and fast like the gold. She's just mating for the pleasure of it. Green mating flights are generally fast and furious, and when its done, its done. The dragons don't usually form a lasting attachment, although it is not unheard of (Zaranth/Golanth from Skies of Pern). Male dragons don't have leftover emotions if they don't win the flight. They just go on about their business, although they'll probably need to rest. :)

Golds

Golds rise to mate only once or twice a year. Gold flights are longer, more spectacular, and have a greater pull than green flights. They last anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes, and the higher and longer the flight lasts, the larger the clutch will be. It also has an effect on the quality of the clutch. A short flight isn't long enough to produce a gold egg. Golds will blood 1 or 2 herdbeasts, maybe three if its been a while since they've eaten. This is to provide them with the fast energy to maintain a long flight. It is important that they don't eat the herdbeasts they kill, because this can weigh them down and shorten the flight. It was also discussed during this panel that a gold dragon who cannot fly would most likely be infertile, but this is only conjecture. Though the pull of the gold flight is strong, males aren't forced to chase. It is a personal choice. During gold flights, weyrlings are sent to the depths of the weyr where they won't be affected by the flight and create complicated situations.

Humans

Now, there is the human aspect of the mating flight. When a dragon rises to mate, the rider becomes one with her dragon, and the act of mating is so all encompassing that often women have no idea who has won the flight of their dragon until after the fact. It is the opinion of the author (not discussed at the panel) that standins aren't feasible. The flight-lust is too encompassing for the rider to even care who they are with.

While the flight is occuring, the men usually gather around the rider of the female dragon that is rising to mate, usually in a circle. That rider is usually unaware of who is around, though they may take a moment to check, once the flight has truly begun, they are riding with their dragon, and aren't paying attention to who is around.

There are no ill consequences of mating flights, other than the obvious emotional ones. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) don't exist on Pern, and so aren't an issue. Weyrbrats, the products of mating flights, are not stigmatized, and the riders not thought of as "loose." Mating flight sex is part of weyr life, an unavoidable one, and the riders must make concessions to their dragons. Mating flight sex is casual. Half an hour, maybe some resting time, and that's it. Weyrmating because of mating flights is not common (well, not on Anne's Pern, but we seem to have an epidemic) and riders understand that it just happens.

Greenriders rarely get pregnant, after riding fighting dragons for so long. Flying between so often disrupts their menstrual cycle, and makes it very difficult to get pregnant. Young riders have a better chance than older ones, simply because the exposure isn't as prolonged.

In the event a child IS born of a flight, the child stays with its mother for approximately two months, so she can nurse him, but among riders, the child is ALWAYS fostered after that time. That doesn't mean the rider's contact ends, its just that caring for a dragon and fulfilling dragonrider responsibilities takes up all of a rider's time, and there just isn't the time left over to care for a child. The fostering system was created so that children would always be loved, and never neglected because of a to-busy parent. Goldriders especially must foster, because of all the riders, they have the least amount of spare time.

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Healer Hall

Healers

We all know about Healers. You see them running here and there, caring for this person, helping that one. But just what do they DO?  How do they know what's wrong? Its obviously not easy, or all fun and games. And they don't have the advanced medical techniques and equipment that you'll find in modern day Earth. 

Microscopes do exist on Pern, but they are expensive, hard to make, and not nearly as accurate as some Earth microscopes. Sorry, no electron microscopes. They aren't found in smaller Holds, or minor ones, but most major Holds would be able to afford one. Healer Hall itself would of course have them, but everyday Apprentices and Journeymen probably won't be able to have easy access to them.  They aren't going to be in every room.

Two of the most valuable tools available to Pernese Healers are good old fashioned observations and palpation. Palpation is essentially poking around for things that don't feel normal.  Its amazing what you can tell from just looking at someone. Assessing color, checking for fever, and feeling around for sensitive and painful places can tell an experienced Healer a great deal.  If someone's green, they aren't feeling well. Get the idea?  Healers can look into eyes, test skin elasticity, reflexes, all the basic tests that have been done in the medical profession for centuries here on Earth.

When someone breaks a bone on Pern, its not the same as it is on Earth. Bones aren't always able to heal well, and nothing more advanced than a simple plaster cast or splint exists for mending broken bones. To assess the type of break, the healer is going to have to poke around and feel for bones that are out of place.  Breaks heal improperly, and joint breaks are almost invariably crippling, unless the injured person is very, very lucky.

The Glascow Coma Scale is a useful tool for healers to assess a patient's level of consciousness.  A patient is asked to do different things, and the Healer can use this to determine the level off consciousness, and to a degree, the severity of a head injury or neurological disorder.

A type of stethoscope does exist. It is usually a plain tube used to listen to internal sounds.

Another good indicator of someone's general health is a urine sample.  These tests aren't very accurate, but can generally indicate a problem. The color of urine is of interest; some with dark orange urine is usually dehydrated an in need of fluids, red indicates blood (not a good thing) and extraneous particles (sediment, cloudy urine) can be indicitave of infection.

Hygiene

Pernese don't have electric washing machines, synthetic toothbrushes, fancy toothpaste, and Sure deodorant...so what do they do?  Do they do anything? Is the Pern population a generally smelly bunch?

Actually, no. Healers have forgotten the source of their knowledge, but cleanliness is important, and while they can't exactly reach the level of our perfumed, coifed, and carefully washed society, they are certainly not dirty barbarians. 

Teeth are important to survive. Without them, it is hard to eat, and obviously, you need to eat to live. Pernese may use greenstick toothbrushes, which are essentially plants that have been split and frayed at one end. Perhaps runnerhair brushes have been made.  Sorry, no fancy clear plastic in an array of colors.  Toothpaste is more interesting.  Among the things that have been used in less advanced Earth societies are wine, clay, and even salt.  White clay (kaolin) paste does a good job of scouring teeth.  Alchohol itself is excellent at finishing up the job.  A little raw cane alcohol freshened with a bit of mint makes a great mouthwash to wash the dirt out of your teeth and give you that minty-fresh feeling.

Deodorant is a trickier matter.  As an agrarian society that works hard and doesn't have air conditioning, Pernese sweat.  Sweat stinks. If you live in a cave, this is bad.  There is hope. There are several methods that would work. Dried herb, powdered, would absorb the moisture and mask the smell.  Maybe the more well to do could use flowers. Even crystals can be rubbed across sweaty areas to help absorb moisture.  There are also a number of herbs that reduce perspiration when ingested, which will help to reduce the problem.

Bathing is the one thing we have some concrete facts about. One very famous scene is Lessa's Benden bath when she is Searched in DF.  Menolly is also shown bathing with her flit in DS. 

There are such things as hot baths. Being a very geologically active planet, Pern has thermal pockets of water that rise to the surface when breached. The ingenuity of the Ancients and the smithcrafthall have brought this volcanically heated water to the bathing pools.  Most bathing pools in the weyr are communal, with the exception of the Weyrleaders.  Private baths are rare, but not unheard of. 

Ivory soap doesn't exist.  Pernese use cleansing sand to clean their clothes and scour out the dirt.  Lessa is shown washing her clothes when she bathed.  Sweet sand is a foaming cleanser that's a little to foamy for cleaning clothes, but works perfectly for bathing bodies.  Sweet soap is also made.  Animal fat-based soap may exist as well.  Clothes are generally washed while bathing, but in large holds and some weyrs, large laundry rooms separate from the bathing area may be set up. With thermally heated water rising from the earth, there is always fresh, clean water, and the old dirty water is swept away.

Early colonists had no need to shave--they took inhibitors before they embarked on their journey.  After the inhibitors wore off, razors were probably made of wood and bone, with metal heads, although they are not nearly as sharp as the razors you can buy on Earth.  Shaving requires talent, and I imagine that a lot of Pernese men have nicks and cuts. Leg hair is probably just ignored, especially in the nothern climes.  Its just too much trouble, and Pernese ladies don't generally show their legs much anyway.

Okay, you're clean, you smell nice, now you have to visit the privy. Hmm.  No Charmin, no Sears catalog. 

Here's just a few of the methods that are possibly used on Pern:  soaked corn cobs, moss, shells to scrape with.  In one primitive earth society, linen and wool sheets cut approximately the size of modern toilet paper.  This may be the most commonly used method on Pern.  Probably scraps of old clothes, ruined linens.  These would probably be dropped into a basket to be washed and reused for cleaning or...more toilet paper.

Close your eyes, guys, women stuff ahead. ;o)  Dragonrider women have it easier than the general population.  Going between interrupts human menstrual cycles, and so dragonriders don't have to worry about it as much.  It helps make it hard for them to get pregnant, and relieves them of their monthly curse. 

Holder women, however, have no dragons to make their lives simpler.  The most common method of containment is probably just plain old rags tied to their undergarments.  Another contraption would be to use two cloths, with a wad of wool in the center, tied with string. 

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Renewable Airforce

Green Dragons

Green dragons are the smallest of the dragons, but by far not the least important. They are flighty, and have poor memories, don't have much in the way of stamina, but they outnumber ALL the other colors put together, and are so agile that they can quite literally spin on a wingtip in the air.  Wingleaders can never have enough greens in their wing. Many a larger, slower dragon has been saved from severe scorings by the timely accuracy and maneuverability of a green dragon.  Every new green dragon that is shelled brings a sigh of relief to the Weyrleader's heart.

Blue Dragons

Blue dragons are the glue that holds the wing together. They are arguably the most versatile color, and can be as flighty as greens, or as stoic and sturdy as a brown.  Some blue can even be made wingseconds, depending on the size of the dragon and the maturity and responsibility of their rider. They are what their riders make of them.  They are the most accurate and sensitive on Search. 

Brown Dragons

Brown dragons are the workhorse dragon.  they are powerful, sturdy, and talented. They are the Jacks of all Trades.  They aren't necessarily exceptional at anything, but they are the light bombers, good stamina, and can last an entire Fall (unlike the smaller colors).  Their flame isn't as long as the bronzes, or as accurate as a greens.  They outnumber the bronzes, however, and are a valuable addition to any wing.  Some are trained as wingseconds, and in the case of bronze shortages, they may become wingleaders.

Search

Blues and greens usually go in pairs when on Search.  Others colors usually aren't sensitive enough to Search, but there have been cases of browns having the talent. (F'nor's brown Canth)

Size

Todd McCaffrey - 4th Pass approximation (we do not use these sizes)

Gold 75 ft long/150 ft wingspan
Bronze 70 ft long/140 ft wingspan
Brown 65 ft long/120 ft wingspan
Blue 55 ft long/100 ft wingspan
Green 20 ft long/85 ft wingspan

Hatchlings - Gold dragonet stands to a grown woman's shoulder (average height)

Dragons are bathed evert couple of days, always after a threadfall. Must be oiled daily.
Oil for dragons comes from fishercrafthall (fish oil), some petroleum, but mostly fish oil.  Menolly put crushed herbs in it to make it smell better.

Threadfall/Flight

Wings don't fly on an even plane. Some dragons will be higher, some lower. There is enough distance between each dragon that riders can't see each other's faces.  They must maintain a certain distance between each other, or accidents will happen.  Think "personal space". This is one of the reasons the "firestone toss" requires so much strength...there are considerable distances that must be crossed.

Bronzes and browns are high level, "lesser" colors stay lower.  Bronzes can actually physically fly higher than other colors can.  They can get more air under their wings.

Dragons have a good sense of place and sense of where other dragons are in relation to them.

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Weyrling Training

One person cannot possibly train all the weyrlings. The Weyrlingmaster is more of an administrator. Assistants are sometimes promoted weyrlings, and can be any color at all.

Its handled like a military organization. Weyrling no rank, and are a little higher than drudges, but are the absolute lowest on the dragonrider totem pole. The training is very physical...you can't be a weakling. Chores serve dual purposes...to keep weyrlings busy, and to build strength and stamina.

There are two levels of weyrlings...junior and senior. Senior weyrlings are old enough to fly and go between on their own, while juniors cannot. Senior riders are sometimes posted to holds as go-betweens. Juniors sort and bag firestone, and also help the healers and other crafters.

Firestone must be understood at an instinctual level..a weyrling muse be able to grade a piece of firestone by simply looking at it. They will learn to sort, weigh, and bag it, and prepare it for Fall. The "firestone toss" is an exercise they will practice until they can do it in their sleep. During Fall, stone refills must be tossed between dragons, which is a great distance, and requires much strength to accomplish.

Dragons are still animals. Must be cared for. Dragons get to hunt, and the messier the first hunt, the more fun they have. Weyrlings are inexperiences, and naturally can't kill cleanly. Finesse comes with age.

All colors receive basic diplomacy training. All riders are ambassadors for their weyr when they leave it, and all eyes are upon them. All riders need to understand basic diplomacy, tact, and politics, but metallic riders tend to get more training in it. Basic ettiquette is an absolute must. Dragonriders aren't pigs, even if their dragons are. :oD

Young dragons don't just lie around waiting for their weyrlings to get out of class. They need to play and exercise, and build up strength themselves. They are predators. Think of a pride of lions. They will wrestle, play, flap their wings, and run about, strengthening wings, shoulders, and their entire bodies. They could injure each other accidentally, but never on purpose. They are large, and do have teeth and claws. Bonds between dragons will form, just like with human friends. They are young, though, and will do stupid things in the way of all young things. They most certainly could hurt themselves.

Weyrling training is very repetitive..dragons don't have any memory, and must be conditioned to do their tasks..a dragon doesn't remember how to flame, but is conditioned from an early age. A lot of the training is simply reinforcing instincts. Some, the dragons will pull from their riders' minds, so the better their riders know, the better they will know.

People don't really use dragons for transportation around the weyr. While some of the weyrlings' duties are ferrying about the weyr, but they aren't going to be available all the time. They just don't have time.

Most candidates have never been between, and the only time they have ever gone was when they came to the weyr. It is very rare not to lose at least one weyrling the first time they go between. 1/4 to 1/3 of a given class won't ever make it to graduation.

Weyrlings must be taught how to handle a mating flight. Undoubtedly they have heard a lot of myths and rumors which must be disspelled. Absolutely NO sexual contact is permitted before a dragon rises for the first time, and they aren't permitted to have any alchohol either. In the event a weyrling DOES have sexual contact, the dragon may rise early. Dragons will broadcast loudly, and can't handle confusing and overwhelming emotions. The same principle as not having sex in the room with a five year old. They just don't understand.

Until they are old enough to fly thread, weyrlings serve as ground crews. They can use agenothree tanks to help the ground crews. When they are old enough to fly, they can ferry firestone to riders fighting Thread. Many weyrlings are blooded during this phase, and it is not uncommon to lose them to Thread. It is their first real exposure to this age-old menace.

Exceptional browns are often singled out for the same training that bronzes receive.

Timing it is very dangerous, and absolutely NOT taught. Most riders probably figure it out, but any rider caught doing so will expect severe punishment for their efforts.

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