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Weyrlinghood: Month 1
Bonding & Orientation - March 9 - 17
Overview
This first month is all about your dragon: bonding, learning how to care for them, and understanding your new role as a weyrling and a dragonrider. There are no additional chores at this time, besides those involved in caring for your lifemate. You will be taught how to butcher and carve food for your dragon, learn how to properly bathe and oil them, as well as given a quick course in the warning signs of common problems: over eating, dry hide, over tired/stressed.
The routine at this time is very lax, with lessons and lectures given whenever the dragons are willing (usually when they are asleep and the weyrlings not too exhausted to do the same). You will be introduced to, and reminded often of, the new rules. These haven't changed much from candidacy, though they now have more weight behind them as they are for the safety and comfort of your dragon. Lessons revolve around the dragon-weyrling bond, and you will learn how to differentiate yourself from your lifemate, be able to tell your wants and needs from theirs, as well as learn how to put your foot down on any beginning disagreements. Thankfully, the dragons are young enough that most disagreements, if any, will be on how much is "enough" dinner, and where the proper places to sleep are.
WLM/AWLM
During this month, the job of the WLM team is to make sure the weyrlings are coping with their new life. Care is taken to make sure the adjustment is as comfortable and natural as a life-changing adjustment can be. Teaching the weyrlings how to butcher livestock for their beasts, making sure they are not over-feeding or under-bathing/oiling. Since the dragons are so young at this point, they will be under the eye of the WLM team whenever they are awake and outside of the barracks. Special care is given to ensure that the weyrlings are comfortable differentiating with their lifemates and that a proper relationship is being established between dragon and rider.
Rules
- No drinking - impaired judgment is not good for the weyrlings, or their dragons.
- No romantic interaction - the dragons are simply not old enough to understand or tolerate it.
- No leaving the Weyr - you need to be able to get to them when they wake up, and do so quickly, in case they panic. Leaving the Weyr, even with a dragonrider, is simply too far for your baby to be comfortable.
There is no 'curfew', but staying out late is highly frowned upon. Weyrlings are expected to be up at a decent hour, and at least in the beginning, they will be woken up by hungry lifemates wanting to be fed, bathed, and lavished with attention. Getting proper amounts of sleep is important, and if the WLM team notices any weyrlings looking a bit too exhausted, they will be given additional restrictions (for the health and comfort of their dragons, as well as their own safety).
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