Day 4
Early Morning
Just outside the queenrider apartments

Soucivi couldn't believe what he had just done! Eth'n was going to have
his head on a plate! He felt sick! The horror stories that he had heard
from K'rvey about training just seemed to make a lot of sense suddenly.

"Sure, it starts out easy enough at first," he had said, "They give you
these nice little drills about communicating with your dragon. Simple
stuff, like telling your dragon how to move in a wing and such. Things,
you would have figured out by yourself anyway. But after the first week
or so, when you've become used to having your dragon... oh boy! You'll
be in hell!"

"What do you mean?" Soucivi had asked continuing his breakfast, not
believing a word.

"First it starts with the kid the trainer likes the least. He singles
him out for every single event. At first it's no biggie and the kid
eventually gets used to it. Then he'll become the official scapegoat.
He'll be blamed for every act of incompetence done by any of the
trainees. If someone sneezes on the trainer's face he'll get the blame
for it." K'rvey had pulled himself a chair opposite of Soucivi, "Right
after that, the trainer will start turning the rest of the trainees
against him! He'll make everyone work like dogs, make them feel like
killing themselves after while, and he'll always somehow manage to put
the blame on the scapegoat.

"Now, usually the rest of the trainees don't blame him at first,
thinking that the trainer is just picking on him. But eventually, it
gets so bad that the poor kid has no choice but to hide for the rest of
the training from his fellows. Everyone gets so completely miserable
that they easily accept him as the reason of their woes! Believe me,
what ever you do, don't get on your trainer's bad side on the first week."

"Uh huh." Soucivi had said calmly, between sips from his coffee.

Now as he walked back to the barracks, miserable and with no time to go
and get breakfast, he tried desperately to remember all the mean jokes
that K'rvey had played on him before and how more often than not he was
wrong about anything he talked about.

******
Minutes later
The Green

"YOU!, Soucivi! Front and center! You're one of the wing leaders for
the first task!"

"Oh crap!" Soucivi thought as he tried to act unimpressed by shrugging.

"Your job is to tell Dargen to take half of the 'wing' over to the coal
bins. Only you will know which dragons are in your wing."

Soucivi grinned, that seemed easy enough. Maybe Eth'n wasn't starting to
single him out at all.

"BUT..." Eth'n continued, "each dragon has to have a bag to put the coal
in first... and those are at the quarter master's... Only one dragon can
go to the quartermaster for the bags -- one bag at a time. That dragon
has to pass the bags off to the next dragon who must pass that bag off
to the next dragon... until all the dragons of your wing have a bag."

Soucivi's grin faded a bit. K'rvey's voice seemed to echo in his head,

/At first it's no biggie... /

"When all dragons have a bag, they are to proceed to the coal bins.
Where their riders will be waiting. Their riders must fill the bags
with coal, strap them on the dragon and return with your wing to the field.

Eth'n then turned his attention from Soucivi and began scanning the
trainees again.

<*I'm going to die...*> Soucivi thought as he tuned out Eth'n as he
pulled out another unfortunate soul to lead the second wing.

< Don't worry my rider! This will be easy! I'm sure that Airsight's
rider will mess up before you. > Dargen said happily as he wagged his
tail in anticipation.

<* What? *>

<Really rider, > Dargen said trying to sound mature, < pay more attention. >

Soucivi quickly focused back on Eth'n, catching the last words of his
instructions.

"... you'll be standing right here with me and Soucivi."

"The first wing that completes their tasks correctly and returns to the
field will be the winner. And the losing team will be responsible for
all barrack duties for the next two days."

<* Gah! *> Soucivi yelped in Dargen's head.

"All right Soucivi, listen up!" Eth'n barked, " Since I doubt you've
taken the time to memorize your trainees names," he whispered so that no
one could overhear him, " your wing will be composed of every dragon
that is spotted or is either red or blue." He smiled maliciously and
then said, "I'd recommend you learn all of your fellow trainees names by
tomorrow. You'll probably need it."

/Scapegoat... Every sneeze... /

Eth'n turned from him and began giving Fal'k his wing members.

Taking the opportunity handed to him, Soucivi already began giving
instructions to Dargen, <* Dargen, contact every single one of your
hatch mates that have spots on them or are either red or blue. Tell them
to tell their riders to run to the coal bins as soon as Eth'n says go. *>

< Oh, ok. > came the reply.

Soucivi waited anxiously for Eth'n to turn around and say go.

"Alright Soucivi, the dragon who'll be responsible for getting the bags
from the quarter master will be...that little pretty there." He said
pointing to none other then Pepper.

"Pepper! You can't be serious!" Soucivi stated not believing his bad luck.

"Do you have a problem with my instructions, trainee." Eth'n said acidly
as he turned to stare at Soucivi through the slits of his eyes.

Soucivi swallowed and said, "No sir."

"Good, then after this is done, I want you to take a few laps around the
green. Three should do."

Soucivi sighted and stared at the suddenly immense looking field.

/Work like dogs.../

"Alright that does it!" he thought to himself, " It's bad enough that
Dargen's voice is in my head all the time now. I don't need _*you *_to
remind me how incredibly screwed I am.

/Sorry.../

Soucivi smiled at the lame little joke.

"Well if you feel three isn't enough," Eth'n said noticing Soucivi's
little grin, "Make it six."

"But..."

Eth'n looked at him, daring him to say anything.

"Yes, sir." he submitted.

"Good, now if you're ready, GO!"

Immediately around half of the trainees began running towards the coal
bins while their dragons stayed behind awaiting instructions. The other
half ran with their partners to the feeding pens. A few here and there
became confused and ran in circles unsure of where to go.

<* Dargen tell that guy to get to the coal bins already! *> Soucivi
yelled as he noticed a chubby little boy with a brown dragon spotted
with yellow. <* And tell that girl that she does NOT belong in my wing! *>

Dargen replied by saying, "The male human says that Airsight's rider is
telling him to go to the feeding pens instead. The female is now going
to Airsight's team.

<* I don't care what Falak is telling him to do! His dragon has spots!
He needs to get to the coal bins right now! *>

Finally, the boy began running behind the rest of Soucivi's wing, with
his dragon in tow.

Soucivi could feel his temples pulsate slightly, <* Dargen, > he
sighted, <* tell his dragon that he needs to be here with the rest. *>

Finally when, all of the young dragons had assembled and all of the
correct riders were running towards the coal bins, Soucivi began
instructing the dragons through Dargen, <* Okay Dargen, tell them to run
behind you in a straight line towards the quarter masters. Make sure
they stay in a straight line when you reach there ok? *>

To Soucivi's relief, the little armada of hatchlings began their march
behind Dargen. Unfortunately, one sat still with a stubborn look on her
face.

"PEPPER! MOVE!" Soucivi screamed at her.

She hissed and turned her back to him.

"You damn stupid little..." Soucivi fumed as he witnessed the dragon lie
on the floor and try to go to sleep.

A rather strong urge to kick the little monster came over Soucivi as he
stared at her back. Luckily he remembered she wasn't as little as a few
days ago.

<* Dargen, have you reached the quartermaster's yet? *> Soucivi asked
trying to make sure they were at least half way on track.

< Almost there. Okay, now what? >

<* Tell this horrid little beast's rider to get her to move! *> he
growled as he walked behind the red dragon and began pushing her.
Immediately, Pepper's tail came swinging around and knocked Soucivi to
the ground.

"Oof..." he said as he felt the air escape his lungs.

< Pepper says she won't move until you ask her nicely to do it and her
rider said she doesn't appreciate you calling her dragon a 'horrid
little beast' >

Soucivi groaned as he stood up and tried to catch his breath, <* You...
you weren't suppose to tell her that. *> he managed to say as he felt
his head spin in place.

< Oh... sorry then. >

<* Never mind that now, *> Soucivi said feeling a little guilty, <* Tell
Pepper that I'm asking her in the nicest possible way to please get up
and run to the quartermaster's *>

Pepper stood, after a few minutes, stretched and began jogging to join
her hatch mates.

<* Gods, this will take forever at the pace she's going. *> he sighted,
<* Dargen, please remind her that if she doesn't hurry her rider will
probably be very upset at her for making our team lose. *>

That seemed to have the desired effect because Pepper began running at a
good speed towards the quartermasters, and reached it in good time.

< Okay, everyone is here, now what? > Dargen asked from across the field.

<* All right, is everyone still lined up? I want you to ask Pepper to go
and get the bags and I want you to lead the line to the very entrance of
the building ok? Tell Pepper when she comes back to pass the bags, one
by one, to you. I then want you to pass the bag down the line and tell
your hatch mates to pass the bags along to the last dragon in the line.
Also tell them that when a dragon doesn't have anyone to pass the bag
down to, they are to get out of the line and wait further instruction.
When everyone has a bag have them run to their riders ok? Got it? *>

< Umm... > Dargen thought about it for a bit, < Okay, I got it. >

Soucivi exhaled in relief, it looked like things were going to go
smoothly from then on. He watched as the little dragons actually passed
the bags down the line like he told them to do and then, one by one,
walk from the line and wait. Soon every dragon had a bag and they began
running towards their awaiting riders.

Meanwhile, the human half of the wing had thought ahead and had begun
placing coal on their shirts to make it easier to load it into the bags.
Soucivi smiled and thought that his team might just win after all. Upon
reaching the coal bins, the hatchlings' bags were soon filled and
strapped to their backs. To Soucivi's relief, they arrived back at the
field before Falak's team.

Soucivi released a whoop and turned to Eth'n grinning.

"Looks like we won!" he said smiling like a goof.

"Oh? Do you think so?" Eth'n glared evilly.

"What?" Soucivi said scanning the assembled wing, "Is someone missing?"

"Yep, just one though, so you don't have to worry too much."

"Who?" Soucivi turned expecting to see someone, probably the kid with
the brown dragon, come out of the bins.

"Turn around." Eth'n said calmly.

Soucivi turned to see Eth'n pointing straight at him.

"If I remember correctly, the wing leader is also part of a wing," he
smiled, "If you still want to win, I'd recommend you and Dargen get going."

Soucivi stood totally perplexed before he began running like the hounds
of hell were on his heels.

< Rider? What's the matter? > Dargen said as he ran after him.

<* Dargen, please tell me you have a bag! *> Soucivi cried as he heard
his wing cheer him on.

< I did, but I left it in the bins since you weren't there to fill it up. >

<* Great! We may still have a chance!*> Soucivi then saw his dragon
easily catch up to him and began slowing down to run next to him, <*
Dargen, if you can run faster than me do it! *>

<Hang on! I got an idea! > Dargen said as he slowed down even further
and began running behind Soucivi.

<* What are you doing? *> "WHOAH!" Soucivi yelped as he felt his dragon
sticking his nose between his legs and lift him into the air. Grasping
at Dargen's head, Soucivi flipped in the air and landed roughly on the
dragon's back. It was a tight fit, with his legs flailing behind him as
he clung for dear life, but it was definitely faster.

<* Warn me before you do that! *> Soucivi cried as he wrapped his arms
around the beast's neck.

<What? And miss the opportunity to have some fun with you? > Dargen
laughed as they reached the bins.

Soucivi, upon finding the deserted bag, desperately began filling it. He
quickly tied the half filled bag shut and strapped it to Dargen's back.

<* Can you run with me on your back and the bag? *> Soucivi asked as he
finishing tying the last strap.

< Sure, the bag is not that heavy. >

Soucivi scrambled on top of his small dragon and found that the straps
actually provided a nice way to hang on. As Soucivi finally found a
comfortable way to hang on properly, a roar echoed across their ears.

< Ooohh... Sounds like a female is ready to mate! > Dargen said suddenly
distracted.

<* Yeah, but don't lose focus. You won't have to worry about that for a
while yet. *>

The two eventually made it back to their fellows and Soucivi jumped off
Dargen's back screaming, " Did we win? Did we win?"

After a few seconds of confused silence someone said, "We don't know..."

"What do you mean?" Soucivi said turning to the mass of bodies of his
fellow trainees.

"Eth'n ran off... I think his dragon went after that queen who rose just
now. So we don't know if this race counts now..."

Soucivi dropped his mouth open in disbelief, "You mean... all this work?
For nothing?"

"Hey, think of the bright side." Fal'k said stepping away from the group
to stand before Soucivi, "At least we probably don't have to split the
barrack duties now."

*******
Later
Somewhere on the edge of the Green somewhere.

Soucivi panted as he rounded the med center for the fourth time, feeling
his lungs burn.

< So tell me again why you're running those laps, even though Eth'n ran
off and he has no way to say that you didn't? > Dargen asked.

Soucivi gasped for breath as he felt consciousness begin slipping away,
<* Lets just say... that in case he asks me if I did them... it's better
safe than sorry is all... *>

*******
Soucivi gasped as he finally collapsed on the grass, completely and
fully exhausted. He breathed in the sweet scent of the grass, feeling
the ache on his sides and the numbness in his legs subside. He would
have gladly fallen asleep right there if it hadn't been for the roar of
yet another queen interrupting him.

<* What is it now? *> Soucivi asked as he plugged his ears shut.

<New dragons! Wake up rider! New hatchlings!> Dargen cheered in his
rider's head.

Soucivi groaned as he watched the mass of the warren run to the hatching
sands.

He then looked towards the Dining Hall. His stomach growled, empty
throughout the entire morning. That place would be packed as soon as the
hatching was over, he thought. He would never get any food by then.

Soucivi stood and began dragging his miserable, tired, and especially
hungry body towards the Dining Hall. He was sure he could find something
to eat, even though the place would probably be deserted

<Aren't you going to go see? > Dargen asked.

<* Not unless, I'm to eat those eggs! *> Soucivi snapped as he felt his
stomach tighten into a knot.

Submitted by:
Andre Oliveira
Aka
Soucivi and Dargen

NRPG: This last part was just to let everyone know why Soucivi was so
tired and hungry in the Dining Hall. Also explains why he didn't seem to
show up at the hatching too.

From:  Andre Oliveira <oliveand@bellsouth.net> Date:  Sun Jun 9, 2002  6:53 pm Subject:  [DL-T] Gentleman, start your dragons!