Dragon Rider Play

Jeremiah picked up on what he missed quickly enough, but had trouble helping Luke. Luke could tell Jeremiah and Krudd all the steps already, but could barely lift half of the tools.

Krudd shook his head disparagingly at Luke.  "Yer gonna have to spend extra time with Alterrion, boy.  Even little Pat there can do you better!  Alright, everyone, clean up yer stations and git going with you.  Except you, Jeremiah.  You stay behind."

Jeremiah shifted on his feet, but did as the dwarf asked.

Luke nodded determinedly at Krudd before he left. Once he learned it was free period, he ran as fast as he could to the library to see Lucius.

(Dinner first, then Dragon Training, THEN free period.  Yes, I looked it up. XD)

Krudd crossed his massive arms and watched the class shuffle out, Pat included.  Erika stayed with Jeremiah, clinging to his leg.  "You got talent, kid," Krudd said bluntly once everyone was gone.

(Sorry XD Luke ran to get Warrior dinner then)

"Um, thanks." Jeremiah said. He knew Krudd didn't praise lightly, but also wasn't sure why this was reason enough to keep him after class yet.

"In every team, each member finds a niche to fill.  The other kid, the new one, he's got the vision, but you got the talent.  You gotta learn to work together to make the magic happen.  If you two clash, your team falls apart and you're all vulnerable," Krudd explained.  "Tithenor's your leader.  He's the purity of your team to keep you straight and true.  You're the darker side, the one who gets things done when the law hinders you.  You balance each other out.  Pat's the soft side.  He'll make a good medic, the one who'll keep you all patched up, but he'll be your weak spot, too.  Luke... I've yet to see the extent of Luke's skills, but my guess is once you get him toughened up, he'll be the one who comes up with the 'clever ideas.'  You get where I'm going with this?"

Jeremiah nodded. "Luke's an inventor. He will need parts to make his inventions to help us out, but I can make them."

"Good boy," Krudd nodded.  "Keep that in mind.  A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, but ya still need links to make a chain.  Now git with you."

Jeremiah nodded. "All right. Thanks, Krudd." He said before he left. He wanted to catch up with Pat and Luke so he could get dinner and eat with Tithenor.

Pat was in the rookery watching Nightshade eat while she waited patiently for Jeremiah to catch up.

Warrior had already finished eating and was one his back squirming in the straw and getting all the itches scratched.

Jeremiah caught up and got some of the deer Nightshade caught earlier. "Dead enough, Erika?" He asked his dragon.

Erika purred and dug in.  Yes, good enough. 

"What did Krudd want?" Pat asked curiously.

Jeremiah smiled. "He wanted to talk too me about how to make our team stay strong." He said. "He mentioned how each part of our team could work now with Luke, and how in the forge, I would probably be making the parts he needs for his visions."

Luke scampered over at the mention of his name. "Eh?"

Pat nodded.  "That makes sense."  She glanced at Luke.  "We were talking about if you make the cut to stay in the team."  She was only teasing, but delivered it with a deadpanned expression.

Luke swallowed. "I'm trying my hardest! I swear!" He said desperately. "If you want, I'll try to get to making heaters for the stalls!"

Pat laughed and gave Luke a quick, one-armed hug.  "It's okay, Luke.  I was teasing.  As long as you listen to Tithenor and pay attention in class, you'll do fine. Krudd was right, though.  It's just not right hat you're weaker than even me."  She gave his bicep a gentle pinch.

"Ow!" Luke complained. "I'm sorry I've always been scrawny, and probably not as useful as Mark, but I'll try to be useful in my own way."

Pat smiled faintly.  "That's better than me.  I'm not useful at all except to play mother hen and get hurt."

Luke shook his head. "But that's the most important job. Looking after everyone and making sure all is well is one of the things that is most needed out of any group. It's almost as important as a leader, in my opinion."

Pat stared at him, surprised.  "I... Thank you."

Luke smiled brightly at Pat. "No problem! So, um, what class is next?"

"Dinner." Jeremiah answered. "Which I fully intend of spending with Tithenor so he isn't completely bored out of his mind."

"I'm going to eat in the mess hall this time," Pat told him.  "You can come with me if you want, Luke."  She gave Nightshade a final pat and headed for the Mess Hall.

Luke nodded and followed Pat. Jeremiah followed them as well. He would wait through the line with them before he went to see Tithenor.

Pat smiled shyly at the cooks as she got a good portion of ham and all the trappings that went with it before going to sit in her old spot.  She missed sitting here.  Before parting ways with Jeremiah, she told him, "Good luck with Miss Ezra!"

Jeremiah got his and Tithenor's plates before he went back to the Med Ward. "Hey Tithenor? I have a really weird and out of the blue question to ask you..."