Yyth teaches how to float a 'phin with the help of good Ol' Ironsides...
Lane's End Beach
The yawning maw of the very insides to the Ista Sea Hall opens many dragon lengths wide and tall, its rock polished smooth by the ocean's timeless caress. A crescent of ebony sand forms the slightly hidden beach, widening from its northernmost tip at the edge of the lane. Beyond the craggy lip the hall's quay is nearly visible behind a forest of masts. Almost completely hidden in shadow is a path to a dragon's weyr, well-worn by time. It is a common sight to see both human and dragon footprints in the sand and the waters see frequent traffic of ship and dolphin alike.
It is an autumn midmorning.
Hovering over the sand are Lupulin and Sweets.
You see Nemo here.
Yythara is here.
Obvious exits:
Hall Waters Courtyard
Tolemur blinks in from ::between::!
Jessa skips onto the beach, wet from the waters. She spots the former appy, now senior appy, Thara and grins. "Hey 'Thara! How ya doing?"
Webandy walks in from the Ista Sea Hold Courtyard.
Yythara drops Ol' Ironside.
A small and timid looking apprentice, obviously one of the newer ones who is still under the impression that most 'Phincrafters are completely insane and hasn't yet been assimilated into the crazy mass of them. The small girl is dressed in rather nice clothes. Either she hasn't been warned about the content of the lesson, or she doesn't care. The young 'un peeks at the group. "Hello?" she says softly, and shyly.
Yythara lifts a hand in friendly wave to Jessa, though her attentions remain intent on the object she continues to circle like a brooding Queen. It's Dolphin-like in shape and size, though the hulking metal thing is so dented in some places that it's lost most of the former similarity to the aquatic mammals that it once had. The smaller Apprentice is noted next, and Yythara grins - most reassuringly - toeing the iron 'phin. "'Ello, t'you, too. Y'busy this afternoon?"
Jessa beams at Thara and looks at the dented and deformed metal 'phin, if you could call it a 'phin anymore. "So, you'll be giving us our lesson?" She beams at this. Lessons from friends and peers are the best. Because, senior appies are just not as scary as jmen. Although the dolphin jmen aren't all that scary. Well, with the exception of one or two of them. But for the most part, they're nice and non-threatening.
The timid apprentice shies back. Someone talked to her! Oh no! And ... the person outranks her. A senior appy! And she's but a mere apprentice. The horrors of outrankers. "Uh, n-no," she says softly and timidly, because 'phincrafters are just /so/ scary, y'know.
Webandy walks along the beach, searching for shells, he recognises two girls he knows and wonders over to them. "hello Yythara, Jessa" he surveys the situation, takeing carefull note of the bracelets. "congrats on the promotion, sorry I missed it" he says to Yythara, and then finnaly paying attention to the big metal thing they are hovering over coments "you know, I don't think you'll be able to get towed very far by this ole phin here" he says with a smirk. Yea, so he's kinda laid back, but thats Web for ya.
Yythara hides a smirk at the shy girl's reaction, simultaneously nodding to Jessa's query. "Yep, if one or two more 'Prentices decide to show up. Oh- and meet Ol' Ironside." She gestures to the metal 'Phin, who has been placed a few yards from the surf, "nose" towards the shore. "'Ey Webandy!" is called. She grins at his comment about dragging and nods a thanks to his congratulations before she continues, "Any of you ever learned how to float a beached dolphin 'fore?"
Jessa grins and nods to the deformed hunk of metal 'phin. "Nice t'meet ya, Ol' Ironsides. I'm Jessa." Beam. So she's silly, that's just typical Jess. To 'Thara she shakes her head. "Nope!" Which is why they're gathered here to learn, right?
The shy and young apprentice peeks forward at the metal 'phin, and then does a double-take at the red-haired apprentice. Did she just talk to the lump of metal? These people are scary! And odd! At Thara's question she shakes her head slightly, and shies back a bit more. Scary.
Webandy looks at the phin, "you sure it'll float? it looks too heavy?"
Yythara's grin turns bemused - though one can never be sure which of the Appy's antics drew it from her. Mysterious. She addresses Webandy's question first, feet scraping at the sand around Ol' Ironside. "Well, it /may/ lack some of the bouyancy of a real dolphin.. But, believe it or not, Ironside 'ere's the same weight as an adult Dolphin - around six-hundred kilograms." Arms clasping her narrow hips, she faces all three present Apprentices, "So, who can tell me the /first/ thing y'should do if you stumble upon a beached dolphin alone?"
It must have been the collective silliness of the appies that amused 'Thara. One appy is silly, more are just even more so. Jess gives the metal 'phin a prod with her toe, just to make sure it's not really alive. A living metal dolphin. That'd be downright freaky. "Send a 'lizard to get help?" she offers, not quite sure. Hey, it sounds good. Doesn't it?
The shy apprentice blinks and looks around. She's surrounded. There's no escape. And her mentor said she -had- to attend this lesson. The girl tries to make herself look smaller. Maybe she can just will herself to disappear, maybe they won't notice her.
Webandy takes a guess, literaly, he dosn't rember to well but its what he would do in a situation like this. "perhaps calm it down before it hurts it's self?" he ventures. though the fire lizard is a good idea also.
Another Apprentice makes his appearance on Lane's Beach; It's Viefur - tall, dark, and not very handsome - clad in nothing but a bathing suit. He joins silently with the class.
The shy apprentice jumps at the appearance of another apprentice. Oh no. Tall. Scary. Dark. Scarier. Eek.
"Exactly," Yythara points to Jessa following her answer, circling around their dolphin model as she goes into a speech, "Your idea was good, Webandy, but the priority is to get help, and to get help fast. It's nearly impossible for one person to move a beached Dolphin on their own, and the longer the 'phin is out of the water, the higher the chance of serious damage is." She pauses, letting the four absorb this information. "Dehydration and overheating are the largest dangers. What d'you think can be done to help that?" She looms over the small, timid girl, though eyes rove over the rest of the Appies.
Jessa gives the metal 'phin another prod with her toe. "Yeah, that thing looks heavy. Don't think I could lift it." Nor could anyone else Jess knows. Too heavy and all.
The shy apprentice shies back from the looming 'Thara. Scary folks. "Pour water on it?" she squeaks softly.
Viefur folds his arms over his chest, remaining silent. Internally, he bets /he/ could lift a dolphin on his own. Smugness.
Webandy wipes the sweat off his brow "is shade a possibility" he asks. Wondering if they could get out of this hot sun?
Yythara bobs her chin, nodding to both answers, "The best things to use are sun-protective or moisturizing salves - though anything cooling is better than nothing. Shade is also helpful." She claps her hands together in a punctuating manner as she re-iterates, "So! You find a beached dolphin. You call for help as quick as possible, though firelizard, bystander, or even other 'phins. You keep the dolphin calm, cool, and moisturized." The slender girl passes a glance over her students once more, "Now we're going to talk about what to do once the help arrives. Your goal is to get the Dolphin back into the water as quickly and with as little stress as possible. There are three ways to do this - who can name one?"
Jessa blinks at the question. Ooh, hard one. "Well, isn't it a bit heavy to pick up?" Because, picking up a 'phin would be hard, and just no fun. And hey, do 'phins even /like/ to be picked up? Hm.
The timid apprentice squeaks a bit and shies back from the ground. She's learning, really she is. She's just new. And she's not the brightest pebble on the beach.
Viefur tilts his head, scratching at it in a lethargic manner. "Uuuh. Y'think you could, like, drag it back into the water?" He glances from Ironside to the lapping surf, as if mentally calculating the process.
Webandy mumbles a little to himself a bit about how he ment getting himself out of the sun, not the phin, but since it was interpreted in a good way he keeps his mumbling quiet. He is about to suggest something but notices Viefur sizing up the phin and reads his mind "ok, you girls just step aside, we'll take care of this" he says as he positions himself on the other side of the phin from Viefur.
"Hold it right there, fella," Yythara motions for Webandy to stop. "Yes, carrying and dragging are two of the ways. The third is only usable if the tide is coming in; Dig a trench around and under the phin, let water fill it up, and gently float the dolphin out." She folds her arms over her chest, eyeing all present appies, "But, since we have some eager fellows wanting to try this, we'll focus on dragging, first. But do NOT just try and drag the dolphin back by his tail - you could break or cause serious damage to his fins. You two!" She points to Viefur and Webandy. "Dig those trenches. Once they're done, both of you and Jessa will /very/ /carefully/ attempt to drag the 'phin out to the water while you," she points to the shy Apprentice, not knowing her name, "Will comfort and talk to the dolphin, telling him what you're doing the whole time." She pauses thoughtfully, "That last part is important; The dolphin will be distressed and afraid."
Jessa snickers slightly. Heh. Males. Think they're so tough and all. Jess is pretty tough herself. Keroon girls kick wherry butt. *cough* Yeah. Jess nods to the wonderful senior appy 'Thara's instructions, because things like this are important and all. The red haired apprentice nods to 'Thara. Her job is clear. So now she just has to wait for the guys to dig the trenches.
The shy apprentice is too shy to have said her name. And no one asked her anyway. As 'Thara addresses her, she shrinks back. She nods her head nervously and swallows. Comfort the 'phin..? When she herself is all panicked and nervous? Well... she can definitely try.
Viefur cringes at Yythara's order, but obediently begins digging a fin-sized trench under Ol' Ironside's metal appendages. Once the trench makes it to the water, he positions himself at Ironside's tail, ready to lift and pull.
Yythara raises an arm as the Apprentices place themselves, "Careful, now! Dolphin skin is very slick and hard to grasp! Now gently take hold of the tail and drag him out - slowly! Make sure his fins don't catch on anything, and you're not dragging him over rocks or hard objects!" She continues coaching thusly as the Apprentices succeed in dragging Ol' Ironside to the water, splashing in the shallows. "Good job! Now... we'll practice another of the ways to un-beach a dolphin.. Two Apprentices on each side, we're going to try and lift and carry him. Normally, you'd be carrying him /out/ to sea and gently easing him into the water, but this is just to give you the general idea of what it takes to lift an adult Dolphin."
Jessa happily follows instructions, having made sure that the fins don't get caught and there are no rocks or anything. Luckily the beach here is smooth. But, mental note, not all beaches are so nice. The apprentice nods to 'Thara and takes her place alongside the 'phin, getting ready to lift once all are in place and ready.
The shy apprentice is turning slightly red. Because it's embarrasing talking to a lump of metal. But the girl does manage to get a few words in, and pats the 'phin a bit on the head. 'Thara is given a somewhat blank look. -Lift- the 'phin? Does the senior apprentice know how heavy that thing is? And she expects them to lift it? Crazy.
Yythara moves down into the shallows to help the Apprentices, kneeling down to carefully snake her arms under the body of the metal 'phin. Owwie. "Okay, this method is only used if you have enough people, and there are no other options. It is extremely stressful to the dolphin, and, once he's lifted, he should be moved as quickly as possible." She waits as the Apprentices all prepare themselves. "Okay, now... one, two, three, lift!" And she puts all of her power into raising that hunk of metal and helping carry it up the shore. A rather backwards way of doing things, but good practice. They needed him back on the sand for the next exercise, anyways...
Viefur, sir manly-man, grunts as he strains to help lift Ol' Ironside. "Hea-..vy.." he moans, carrying it with quick, shuffling steps.
Jessa contributes to the efforts. Heavy. But hey, with all five of them, they surely can move Ol' Ironsides. Right? Jess struggles as well to lift it. So heavy.
Even the timid li'l apprentice helps out. Not that she has much strength to contribute anyway...
Yythara demonstrates soothing talk during their joint effort to move the model, "Doing great, Ironside! Don't worry, it'll be allllright. We're getting you back into the water as quick as we can - won't be long now! Just stay calm - WATCH YOUR FEET!" she yelps as they let Ironside down a bit more heavily than they.. should have. He hits the sand with an unceremonious "WHUMP". Yth cringes, "Okay, never drop the real dolphin that hard." Ahem. "Almost done, now! The tide looks like it's on it's way in, so this'll be perfect. What we need to do is dig a large trench under the whole dolphin and allow it to fill with water. She crouches and begins to demonstrate, digging around Ironside with great scoops of her hands.
Jessa blinks. Whoops. Splatted 'phin. Good thing it wasn't a real one. Well, learn from your mistakes, right? And besides, there's probably more incentive -not- to drop it if it's a real 'phin. And if you're not heading away from the water. Jess crouches down and begins to help with the trench digging.
The shy apprentice jumps back and falls over on her bottom in surprise. Oh no! It was ... dropped! She's failed. Completely and utterly. The timid girl then pulls herself to her feet and brushes the sand off her bottom. Well, she ought to dig a trench as well...
Webandy shakes his hands "dang, forgot that they weighted that much, in the water they don't seem to heavy." he coments in between huffs, He'd barley missed getting his foot squished and breaths a sigh of relief.
Yythara grins - a bit sheepish - at the Apprentices, continuing to dig a trench under Ironside. "Remember to keep soothing the Dolphin, and be as careful as possible when digging. Dolphins are a lot worse out of their element than humans are." Digging, digging, digging, a shallow hole has formed under the metal lump. She begins continuing it out to the incoming waves.
Jessa continues to dig the trench with 'Thara. Hm, perhaps they have the benefit here of practicing on a metal 'phin. It's probably quieter than a panicking and unhappy 'phin. Not to mention, what kind of 'phin would subject itself to such an experience? Being carried around and pushed around by apprentices. Poor dolphins, no wonder they have a metal 'phin for this purpose.
Not wanting to get too dirty with the sand, the shy apprentice decides to resume the role of comforting Old Ironsides. Which makes her blush. Imagine that, she's talking to a lump of metal. Oh how her friend back home would laugh at her. No wonder everyone thinks the 'phincrafters are crazy. They talk to such things.
Viefur is a digging /machine/, man. He scoops out handful after handful of sand as the sea slowly makes its way up the growing trench.
Webandy gets on the task of keeping the phin wet while the trenches are being dug. its no good floating a dry dolphin in his opionion, not that anyone cares about his opionion anyway. He begins to wish he was prepared for this kinda thing and had the proper equipment with him to make things alot easyer and faster. but of course, does anyone do anything the way he wishes, no no no.
The trench becomes deeper and deeper as the tide begins flowing further and further in. At last, it reaches halfway up Ironside's.. sides. And he's being such a good phin, isn't he? So calm for a hunk of metal! Yythara notes this, and proceeds with further instruction, "Okay then, a real dolphin would probably be floating a bit right now, but we may have to help this fella out. Take hold of him and gently guide him back out of the trench and into the waters.." She helps with this task.
And of course a real 'phin would probably float in water. Not sink like Ol' Ironsides. Jess nods, and takes hold of the metal 'phin. She'd be more gentle if it were a real dolphin that was slightly more malleable. But with Ironsides you need to muscle it around. Metal is like that. Flesh is not.
The timid apprentice continues to try and soothe the metal hunk, still blushing, because this is downright embarrassing! She gives a half-hearted shove, but she has no strength, so it doesn't make much of a difference.
Less grunting is emitted this time around as Viefur assists in the delicate process of guiding Ironside back out into the water.
"Good! Well done," Yythara beams all about as the job is finished, Ironside now mostly submerged and free to... kind of sit there. "It's a difficult thing to do, but the up-side is that dolphins rarely beach themselves. I'll go over the process once more:" She starts out, counting the steps on her fingers while staring each Apprentice in the eye, "First, if you're alone, send for help. Second, keep the dolphin calm, cool, and moisturized. When help arrives, you all need to stay calm and work together to get the 'phin back into the water. You can carry, drag, or, if the tide's on it's way in, dig a trench and let it fill up, like we just did. Lastly, keep the dolphin calmed and informed. Do all these things and, with any luck, there should be minimal damage to the dolphin and yourselves." Her _expression breaks into a smile, "I'll get some lazy men from the hall to carry Ol' Ironside back up. Any questions?"
Jessa grins and nods, only semi-absorbing the information. She'll remember it because she did it, not because she heard it. Which is good enough for her, and it ought to be good enough for others. Poor Ironsides, doomed to always sink. Sad that is. "Thanks 'Thara." Jess beams, and then spins in the sand. Wheee.
Viefur shakes his head. No questions. In fact, he hasn't said a word(besides grunting) throughout the entire class. Nodding, he begins to make his way back to the Hall.
The timid apprentice shies from 'Thara's gaze. Avoid eye contact, eye contact is bad. Maybe if I don't look them in the eye, they won't see me. She shyly nods, indicating the information spouted by the senior apprentice was heard. Done? So now she can go back into hiding? Joy.
Yythara relaxes a bit, relieved that her part in the lesson is over. Yay! "My pleasure, Jessa." Grin. "Now you all know the basics and not-so-basics of unbeaching a beached 'phin. Class dismissed!" A finger-flickering wave.
Jessa twirls once more and then plunks down in the sand. "So, 'Thara, how are things going?" Ever the active and social one she is. Ayup. Good that way too.
The timid and shy apprentice slinks off. You didn't see her. She wasn't here. Well, she was. She attended a lesson. Yeah.
Yythara flexes her arms one at a time, relieving the tension brought on by helping lift that dolphin-esque hunk of metal. "Things are going!" she replies brightly, if vaguely. "And how've you been?" She applies herself to brushing sand off her legs while she awaits a reply.
Jessa spins around in the sand, while sitting. Spinning is fun. So is twirling. And hopping, and skipping. And don't forget scuttling. Basically any sort of motion is grand. She nods and shrugs, "Pretty good." She weasled her way out of some sort of map repair the other day. Yay for her.
All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are © Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2000, all rights
reserved, and used by permission of the author.
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