Dragon Rider Play

"Good luck, honeg," Tithnor said, watching as Erika thrashed her tail angrily, sulking as she followed her rider.

Jeremiah went to the blacksmiths and called out to Krudd. "Professor! Professor Krudd?! May I please talk to you for a few moments?!"

There was a crash in the back and a torrent of Dwarvish.  "I'm in the back!"

Jeremiah ran back to where Krudd was. "Sorry. Anything I can help with first?" He asked.

"Yeah, help me put this shelf back up," Krudd grumbled, picking up several metal odds and ends. "What's got you all tied in a knot?"

Jeremiah explained for the second time what happened in the rookery while he helped Krudd. "...And I was hoping you might have some advice on what I should do." He finished his story by saying.

"She's a teenager," Krudd grunted as if that would explain everything, adjusting his things on his shelves.

"Okay. So what should I do?" Jeremiah asked. "She tried to kill Nightshade!"

"Right now she's all raging hormones and yer goin' ta see a major growth spurt here in a bit," Krudd told him.  "Dragon hatchlings are really just children with claws.  She's just now entering puberty, like the others will soon.  She didn't mean to hurt Nightshade, but she doesn't have no control, neither.  Ye'll be learning how to control yer dragons and help them survive this time in Blackwater's class, and the Headmaster will be watchin' over ye the whole time with his dragon to make sure things go smoothly."

Jeremiah nodded. "Okay. So what about this time? Should I try and talk to her and guide her?"

"I'm guessing you already told her to apologize and be nice to her clanmates?" Krudd asked.

Jeremiah nodded. "Yes, I did."

"That'll do for now.  Keep a close eye on her and help her find ways to deal and express her anger properly, like any kid," Krudd told him.

Jeremiah nodded. "All right. Thank you, Krudd." he said genuinely. He flinched when he saw what time it was. "Ah, Alterrion will kill me for being late..."

"Hang on."  Krudd tore off a scrap of paper and scribbled a note on it before folding it and handing it to Jeremiah.  "Give him this."

Jeremiah nodded some. "Thanks again. I'll see you later for class?" He asked as he went to look for his dragon.

"You'd better," Krudd grumbled. 

Erika was hiding under a table in the main room.

Jeremiah found his dragon. "Come on." He said gently. Let's get to Alterrion's class. Maybe you can find something shiny on the ground there."

Erika dragged herself out from under the table and keened softly.  Okay.  She'd go.  But only because she didn't feel like fighting not to.

Jeremiah picked her up this time, holding her like he usually did. He started to walk to Alterrion's class, calling back one last thanks to Krudd as he left.

Erika hung limp in Jeremiah's arms, offering neither help nor protest.

Pat was already at class, but there wasn't much she could do without her team, so she focused on Nightshade and helping her.

Jeremiah walked to class and handed Alterrion Krudd's note. The angel nodded and instructed to help Pat practice before he went to make sure another student didn't kill themselves trying out a new weapon.

Erika slunk along behind Jeremiah, "hiding" from Nightshade.  She was ashamed of facing her clanmate.

Pat smiled up at Jeremiah.  "Is everything okay now?"

Jeremiah nodded. "I think so. I wound up going to talk to Krudd, and he said they're basically teenagers right now."

Pat winced and looked down at Nightshade.  "Oh boy.  That's not going to be much fun for us."