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Post by kia on Apr 17, 2011 22:07:05 GMT -5
Risk was watching Ausk from where she laid, her body baring anyone from seeing her eggs. She was protecting her eggs with annoyance. She had refused to move from her spot should her eggs be in danger from that Red that she already disliked. She never once put her back to the Red. Always keeping an eye on the Red, Risk watched with orange always swirling in her eyes. She rumbled deeply as she laid her head back down on the sands, her tail curling around backwards close to one of the eggs that she had been protecting for a while. They would hatch soon. And they would be wonder Whers. But she just had to keep waiting and protecting them. Nobody would come close to them. She would not allow it.
All Ridan could do was watch Risk and Ausk from the Hatching Stands, night in and night out, as he sat on the stone seats and stared blankly at the light brown and tan color sands below him. After the first night when Ridan had gone in to examine the eggs to make sure they looked healthy enough at the time, he had not stepped back in. Risk would be unable to protect him AND the eggs should the demonic Red think about attacking them. But Ridan was fine sitting up in the stands and waiting and watching. At least he was near his beloved Wher even though some distance separated them. But he would be there should she need him, such as if Risk needed some food. But it had been a couple of nights since she had requested him to bring her food.
Ridan leaned forward and put his head on his hands that were being supported by the weight of his arms and elbows on his legs. The hate he was wearing slide forward slightly. He was still wearing Khemres` hat from that night a while back. Well, he knew he would have to return it soon. He had assured Khemres that he would. Well, the next time he would probably see Khemres would be during the Hatching. He would probably return it then. More than likely. Especially… Well, Ridan was not going to dwell on that thought for now. He took a deep breath in and out, his eyes focusing on Risk`s golden hide. His mind could wander and he would never see anything as long as his could focus on Risk`s lovely hide.
Risk, how are they, love? he mentally asked, closing his eyes and letting his mind wandered to hers.
Risk lifted her head again, turning slightly toward where Ridan sat, but not far enough for her not to see Ausk in the corners of her eyes. They fine. Safe. Hardening, she spoke, her eyes taking on a strange mixture of green and orange as she spoke to him. With Ridan there, she felt slightly more at ease knowing that he was watching too, but she was still on edge. She would not feel safe again until the eggs had Hatched and she was back in her room with Ridan. At least he was there.
The thought of her eggs made her want to check them and move them slightly, to make sure they were hardening properly. She stood up, and low growl emitting from her throat, as she turned toward the eggs. She walked around them carefully, making sure to watch her step, especially with the ones that had been placed a little further from the middle of the Clutch. She touched one of them with her nose, the dark egg that turned deep purple toward the bottom, before making her move toward the sandy egg. As she moved carefully, something caught her eye. Movement. Turning her head toward it, thinking it was the Red, she let out a fierce growl that any brooding mother would give to warn her enemies that she was a force to be reckoned with.
But it was not Ausk. The movement was much closer to home. Risk turned her head and almost gave it a tilt. It was still red, but not Ausk. It was the red egg that was in the Clutch. It was starting to move and wiggle. And the Ocean Bay egg in the back was starting to show signs of cracking. Risk`s eyes turned blue and orange at the sight of the movement. Her eggs were Hatching! They were Hatching! She gave a bugle, announcing the little Whers eminent presence to the world before they set foot on the Sands. As soon as she gave her call, a deep hum began to echo from her throat. She moved out of her little cave, but stayed close to the entrance. She would protect them until they had found their Handlers. Candidates! Eggs Hatching! Bring knives! Blood bond needed! she called to the Candidates nearby. Once she had, she glanced over at Ausk and seemed to give the Red a warning look.
Ridan knew what had to be done. The eggs were Hatching and they would need to have food. Once Risk had bugled, Ridan quickly jumped up and began to run to the kitchens. Every second wasted meant that a Wher was getting closer to Hatching and bonding without food nearby. He needed to bring them food or else when the Whers made their blood bond they could drain the blood of their Handler. Almost like Risk had done to him the night he had Impressed her. He found the late night kitchen workers busy with preparing food for the next morning. But with Ridan`s frantic appearance, they knew that the eggs were Hatching. “Food! Now!” Ridan shouted, and the drudges quickly set to work to filling buckets. Grabbing two buckets, and two drudges following him with two buckets each, they came to the entrance of the Sands.
The drudges refused to go further. The sight of the vicious Red and the angry Gold made them leave the buckets at the Sands and leave. Ridan rolled his eyes, and dropped his two buckets off in the middle of the Sands. He made two more trips to grab the other four buckets before heaving a sigh. Now Muddy brown egg and the dark rusted orange egg were starting to move. The Ocean Bay egg had more cracks in it, still threatening to break from the inside out. Risk was humming deeply and a little louder, her hums seemed to be in sync with her eggs movement. The eggs would break soon, and little Whers would be running around looking for their Handlers. He hoped the Candidates would arrive soon as he tipped Khemres` hat and waited for their arrival.
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Post by matsi on Apr 17, 2011 22:23:10 GMT -5
Nikan was dancing around his room, not even bothering to notice if his roommate was in there or not. He hummed loudly, and often ran into something, or knocked an object to the floor. He let our a few chuckles, or yelps of being startled, but would soon be dancing again. There was an echo in the background, and at first, Nikan didn’t notice what it was, and just thought it was part of his own little tune. Then, he fell silent, and heard it for real. He blinked, confused, then it clicked. OH SHARDS! Nikan fell into a panic, a panic that was mixed with excitement, and threw on a cleaner shirt, grabbed his knife, and bolted out of the barracks. He practically ran down the hall, and even slid into one turn and ended up smacking into the wall with a thud. ”SHARDS!” He yelped, but he kept running. He wouldn’t worry about his bruised elbow yet. After all, THERE WERE WHERS HATCHING! The thought made his legs move faster, and he was soon pushed out of his run, and into a full out sprint that blew his shaggy brown hair back and exposed his fair face that was grinning and his eyes that were wild with emotions.
Even with his running, It took Nikan a few moments to get to the hatching sands. He slowed at the entrance, inhaled deeply, then walked into the sands and towards the golden wher that sat not far from her wiggling eggs. His heart was still pounding, and it made a beat in his ears. Even with the echoing of his heart, Nikan lowered himself into a deep, excited bow to the gold. The song that Nikan had been humming earlier in his room, was picked up again softly as he held his bow for a moment, then rose and smiled to the gold. He was so excited, and was thankful that this gold had clutched, giving him a chance at meeting a Wher of his own. He then twisted on his heels, and lowered to the red. His second bow did not last as long, for he was growing too excited. He rose swiftly and inhale. Slowly, still trying to regain his breath and to slow his rapid heart, he moved towards the right place he was to stand. He still hummed softly, trying to relax more, but was soon distracted from his hum by the rocking eggs. His brown eyes widened and his smile stretched from ear to ear and exposed almost all of his pearly whites. The excitement made his bladder tighten, and he felt the massive urge to pee, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t leave the hatching just so he could pee! What if he lost his chance? NO. There was a better chance of him peeing his pants and wetting the hot sands below, than of him running off to relieve himself. He just hoped that he wouldn’t be under any more pressure, or excitement. The thought of peeing himself in public, and at the age of 18, just wasn’t that thrilling.
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Sakoru
Drudge
THE FEARSOME FIERY BEAST
Posts: 11
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Post by Sakoru on Apr 17, 2011 22:47:54 GMT -5
Khemres wasn't doing anything really special. In fact, all he was doing was walking - a short circuit, just towards the dining hall. He was hungry, and when people were hungry they ate. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't going to be getting any food: Risk's voice burst into his head just as it had on that night three Turns ago. For a moment, the albino stood stock still, the firelizard on his shoulder chittering wonderingly.
But he couldn't stay here! "Zetri, get my knife for me!" the candidate exclaimed, and the flit vanished between, reappearing a few moments later with the belt knife in his claws. Faranth, the black was useful sometimes. Khemres caught the knife as his pet dropped it, and then was off like a shot. At least he'd bathed just before leaving the candidate barracks, and his clothes were pretty clean since he hadn't tripped or anything yet. Amazing, that. All the same, it wouldn't be amazing to be late.
Zetri, wait for me in our room. If I Impress, I'll call you. But I don't want you getting hurt, he hastily instructed the flitter. His black, knowing how afraid His was of losing him, chirped once and popped back into the room Khemres shared with Delgar, there to plop down and wait on the bed. Khemres, swerving a corner to get to the Sands on time, skidded to a halt and then continued in a walk, breathing hard. At least he wasn't wearing a hat (for once) - but that was mostly because Ridan had stolen it from him a while ago. And he just hadn't wanted to put on his other one, so for the first time since he'd gotten to the Weyr, the candidate was wandering around with no hat on.
As soon as he'd made it onto the sands, the wher candidate dropped into a low bow. "Risk," he murmured softly, but went no closer. Ausk, too, received a bow - because the albino had no desire whatsoever to be torn to shreds by a rampaging red wher. And then his attention was on the quivering eggs, especially the ones with cracks already forming in them. Would one of those babies pick him this time? Would he finally, after three Turns, Impress?
Sprawled on his bed, Sagaral really couldn't claim to be doing much of anything. One arm was thrown over his eyes, hiding the fading marks D'ix had left on his face. The other, the broken one, rested lightly across his scrawny chest. He'd had way too much of adventuring and getting into trouble recently: first, his fight with D'ix a couple of sevendays ago, and then the cave-in with the same cyanrider not all that long after that. Shards. All he wanted to do now was rest, let his injuries heal up, and then get back to causing trouble. If it meant another fight, fine - just not right now.
Right now? Right now the eggs were Hatching! The announcement made Sagaral flip himself right off the bed, staggering as soon as his feet hit the floor. Where was his knife? He rarely carried it around with him (maybe he should, after making enemies with D'ix), so he wasn't sure where he'd put it. Wait, there! There, in his trunk!
Snatching up the weapon, the candidate belted it on and then raced through the door. If his roommate was there, he didn't know and didn't care. All that mattered was getting to the Sands, and getting a wher if he could. If they wanted him. Even thinking about whers made Sagaral remember Isk - mostly because there was a red who had clutched, as well as the resident gold. Joy. That was a memory he really wanted to remember. Not.
Memories or not, the wher candidate made it to the Sands without incident. Upon reaching them, he bowed as the others had - first to the gold, then to the red - and then took his place at a spot he figured would end up being the edge of the group. He wasn't in the mood to associate with people, so he didn't say a single word. Instead, he watched the cracks form in the Ocean Bay egg, staring at it intently. Would it hatch a wher for him? Would any of them? No way to tell until he Impressed, or until he was left standing. For now, his thoughts were mainly on Impression - that, and not being attacked by either of the mothers for doing something stupid. Standing still was probably a safe bet... so that was what he did, standing still as stone. Sagaral could be patient for things he really wanted.[/center]
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Chek
Weyrlingmaster
chekct[M:-15]
I'm so magical I vomit rainbows
Posts: 1,091
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Post by Chek on Apr 17, 2011 22:58:35 GMT -5
Candidates! Eggs Hatching! Bring knives! Blood bond needed!
Those words, echoing through her head, dragged a short scream of excitement out of Damali before she managed to cover her mouth. Her brother, in front of her and examining her re-re-re-re-re-broken arm flinched at the shrill sound, reaching up to rub his ears and giving her an accusing stare.
“I'm sorry! I've got to gogogogo! Now! Brother, please!” She wriggled in his grasp, trying to hop off the table; she had to find a clean tunic! She had to find a knife! SHE HAD TO GET TO THE HATCHING SANDS.
Lokien frowned at her, “Sit still, Damali. You'll be there in plenty of time.” He did, though, begin wrapping her arm back up, and rather quickly at that, “You're going in a clean wrap, at the very least, you hear me? Do you want to offend the Gold or a hatching with foul bandages? Or the Red?” His sister stilled, and Lokien knew he'd found the magic words. The girl wouldn't risk offending Risk or Ausk!
Damali was compliant, but distressed. She couldn't offend the whers, but she had to find clean clothes! That meant a run to the Barracks, and then to the Sands, and than meant a lot of time she didn't have. And...she had to find Delgar too! No, Delgar could meet her there, what was she thinking. Shirt! She needed a shirt! Damali, unable to help herself, began wiggling again.
Lokien was prepared, though. One of them had to be. He snagged the strap of his emergency kit with his toe, dragging the satchel close to him, and then leaned down to pull out a bundle of dark blue fabric. There was something hard in the middle, Damali discovered when he dumped it in her lap. She unwrapped it; revealing a knife in a forearm sheath; plain but high quality. The cloth was a tunic, long enough to look like a short dress, with a fabric belt and matching trim in black and purple. There was a lot of cafeully mended rents in the fabric, and a few darker, faded stains that could have been blood on the chest and sleeves.
“Mother Impressed Solisk in that tunic, with that knife, as did our brother and aunts. Amolkin sent it to me when he heard you were Standing.” Damali looked stunned, twisting her fingers in the soft wool and gaping at her brother.
“He really did?”
“Yes. Now,” Lokien patted her fully re-splinted arm, “Get changed. You have a Hatching to get to.” He turned away, taking up his satchel and checking to make sure he had everything he could possibly need for a wher Hatching. He ignored Damali's soiled shirt flying past his head and impacting the wall; yes, he could probably deal with anything short of straight out dismemberment or death. He let himself be pulled along when Damali caught his hand and dragged him from the Infirmary, dressed in dark blue, and with her knife tucked into her splint.
They reached the Hatching Sands in record time, Damali finally letting go of her brother when he pulled away and headed towards the stands to watch. Damali herself proceeded forward, pausing only to give a respectful bow to Ridan as she headed towards the protective Gold and the angry Red, with as much dignity as she could muster. Which wasn't much; it was the most she could do not to bounce wildly.
She bowed, deeply, neck bared to Risk first, “Thank you for the privilege and honor of Standing for your clutch, Queen Risk,” and then turned to Ausk, bowing again, “And thank you, Red Ausk.” With that, she backed up to stand with the other Candidates who she was only now noticing, trembling with excitement, and feeling her brother's eyes on her back.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Apr 17, 2011 23:00:47 GMT -5
Kire was sitting around playing with her little Pink Flitt. As anyone did in these situations. There was little to be done with the eggs hardening everyday. She continued her chores, as per normal, but there was little else she could really do... They all needed to listen for the call, when they would be able to enter the sands and bond with a Wher of their own at the discretion of the Cluth mothers. In all honesty, every time she thought of the hatching her heart fluttered with excitement and a hint of nervousness but she knew that when the time came she'd know exactly what to do. She smiled as Vesta kept running about grabbing and attempting to drag clothes back into their correct places but, being so small, only failed.
Kire was seated on her bed, keeping her eyes wide awake knowing that with every passing day she got closer to her dream so would need to keep herself awake. She would not sleep through a hatching. Ever. She thought that Camea would wake her if there was a hatching but she was too excited to sleep anyway. Each day had been tougher and tougher to sleep through. She kept waking almost every moment. Kire stopped when she heard something. She looked over at Vesta with a confused expression. Something was making a noise and it wasn't the little tiny Pink. She kept looking about the room with growing confusion until she realised something.
"Oh!" She half shouted and then jumped to her feet. She tripped over her trunk making quite a noise and then clambered to her feet with excitement. She dug about in the trunk and searched for the knife, tossing things here there and everywhere. She ignored the indignant screeches from her Flitt who was positively livid with the fact that all her cleaning had been for naught. At least it would keep the creature busy for hours... Kire left some meat nearby for the Lizard and then darted out into the hall only to return a moment later to grab the knife once again.
"Stay here Vesta, if all goes well we'll have a new friend soon!!" She half shouted, "Eggs, Whers are hatching!" She wasn't sure whether Camea knew or not but she would find the other Candidate if something went wrong... Vesta could find her. She sent an image to the Flitt who promptly betweened to wherever Camea was, chirrupped at the girl and then disappeared back to her cleaning. Cleaning was the most important thing after all.
Kire sprinted to the sands, holding her knife point down and eventually reached the sands. She spotted a couple of boys there already and bustled over to the Whers, breathless. She almost folded completely over in half as she bowed to the two, first the Gold then the Red, nose almost touching her legs. She then bowed in the direction of both the handlers and stepped back to stand by the small cluster of boys already on the sands too excited to say anything.
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Tedaon stood in the infirmary admiring his handiwork. He had not thought it possible but he had actually managed to combine sweet and spicerolls to make the mother of all snacks! He took a bite of the food and then turned to Neras. "Pretty decent if I say so myself..." He told the Flitt.
Yes, this was what Healers did in their spare time. They combined food to make superfoods. He passed some of the treat to Neras with a smile as the black gobbled it up. He would have to try something else next time. Perhaps soup made not with water but wine. That would be amazing. He stopped, food halfway to his mouth to listen to something. He tilted his head to one side as the humming became apparent.
Ah yes, the hatching... He looked at Neras for a moment as the Flitt stared at him and sent him an image. An image of angry, slightly comical whers with mad eyes swirling and laughing as they charged people down. Tedaon coughed to hide the fact that he thought the image a hilarious exaggeration. He got to his feet though and scooped the black up, grabbing a bag and slinging it over his shoulder. In all seriousness he doubted anything bad would happen but then again... It was Ausk...
He walked out of the infirmary, informing one of the healers that he was going to watch the Hatching then continued walking. Neras was seated on his shoulder. He would have sent the Flitt away but he may need the creature to between back to the infirmary later. He'd be in the stands the whole time anyway. To be safe he sent an image to the Flitt to let it know to remain in the stands if something happened.
As they walked out onto the sands Tedaon noticed that there were already a few candidates standing there. He walked onto the sands and approached the Alphahandler. He bowed to the two Whers not particularly wanting to be eaten alive while Neras waited back at the stands. "Healer Tedaon. I'll just be on standby... Just in case." He told the other man with a nod of respect, "I'm sure everything will go smoothly though. Good Luck."
He nodded back at the Whers and walked back to the stands, Neras landing lightly on his shoulder. He folded his arms and watched the moving eggs with a little bit of interest. He had not attended a hatching in some time... A Wher hatching would certainly be interesting... And perhaps a little bloody... [/blockquote]
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Lan
Weyrlingmaster
lanct[M:-1025]
Nomming ALL the kidpets!
Posts: 1,266
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Post by Lan on Apr 18, 2011 1:56:13 GMT -5
Darryl was on the top bunk, reclining as he tried to remain perfectly silent and still. His roommate, Nikan, seemed to be doing... well, the young man wasn't quite sure what he was doing. But apparently he appeared to not notice he had an audience, and Darryl didn't really have the heart to let him know he did. So he was still, blinking up at the ceiling as he took each breath slowly and cautiously. Every once in a while, though, Nikan would bump into the bed and a raised eyebrow would color his expression. His roommate was, for lack of a better word, interesting. Not exactly the sane sort of fellow, Darryl thought. However, there was quickly something to occupy his thoughts that didn't concern his happy-go-lucky roommate.
There was a sound. It was far away at first, but it grew. Strong and forceful, something rumbling into the night. However, he didn't quite place it until his roommate gave a short whelp and sprang into action. Forgetting his plan to stay hidden from Nikan, Darryl too jumped from his bed and grabbed a knife and a clean shirt. The gold's strong mental presence could only mean one thing: wher hatching. The eggs were hardened and shaking on the sands. A couple steps behind Nikan, Darryl was out too like a bolt of lightening, although he wasn't nearly as fast as his roommate. Still, he made it there in a timely fashion and bowed deeply to both the gold and the red. His heart pounded intensely in his chest as he made his way toward where candidates were supposed to stand. He swore he caught a glimpse of one egg rocking, and his breath caught in his through.
Tesla, too, heard the call of Risk and instantly began to panic. The call was both exciting and terrifying as well. Knives? Blood bond? Candidates had been told about this before but now that it was actually happening the girl couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach. It seemed so... insanitary. Cutting into one's skin and letting a thing lap up the blood; couldn't you get a disease from that? She was sure that it couldn't be healthy. Not one bit. Still, as she heard the hustle and bustle of wher candidates outside her door she warily lifted herself up on her feet and made her way over to her chest.
Her shirt was already clean, so there was no need for a new one. That would buy her some time so that she wouldn't be late. However, upon trying to pick up her knife her brush and other bobbles from her home were shifted about. The girl flinched, setting the knife down perfectly parallel to the wall before she began to rearrange the items. Oh dear... this was not good at all. She would be late! But she couldn't leave something in this state of disarray. It took some doing to get everything perfect again. Then, she picked up her knife and looked about the room. Something else was missing... something that was probably important...
Her bedsheets! There were totally disheveled! With a soft squeak she moved to fix them, smoothing wrinkles out and pulling the furs taught over the cot. Silence now was in the halls and she bit her lip from the anxiety. She was late! Her room was a mess and she was late! Trembling hands forced the bedcovers smooth multiple times before it was finally to her liking, then she took a step back to observe her handiwork. Yes. It seemed fine. But what else was missing? Red marks formed on her non-dominate arm where she had taken up a nervous itch that she compulsively scratched. What was wrong? What was missing? Oh, she was going to be late! Figure it out, Tesla... Think... Think! She blinked forcefully and glanced over at her roommate's side of the room... it was only then that she realized what was wrong.
"Damali!" She squealed and glanced out into the corridor. She hadn't seen the accident-prone girl in a long time. Was she okay? Probably in the infirmary. Yes. That's where she was, if Tesla knew her roommate at all. Was everything clean? Yes. Excellent. She should go. Now! Go! Tesla's legs took off before her mind could follow and she desperately slid around corners to try to make it to the sands before she would be noticed as missing. Faster. Faster. She had to make it! This was her chance for a better life!
Myth squealed as Vesta appeared, annoying Camea to no end as she walked down the hallways. At first she had thought that having a firelizard would preoccupy Kire so that she wouldn't be so insistent on bugging her all the time, but it seemed to just be a further means for possible vexation. Well, at least Myth liked the company. The green chattered on with the pink incessantly, which gave Camea some time to deal with her own new bundle of joy. Her newest friend was curled in her arms, asleep.
"What do you want?" She growled at the pink, swatting at Myth as the green dive-bombed into her hair. Her newest firelizard awoke from its slumber, taking flight as well. Just when she thought this would be a terrible disaster, though, Risk's mental voice weaseled its way into her head. The eggs were hatching. Well, at least now the pink's presence made sense. "Away with you!" Camea screamed at the flits, taking off at a run to the hatching sands. She already had a knife on her. Since she first became a candidate she never let it leave her side. One could never be too careful. And, it seemed her caution was paying off.
Rounding a corner, though, she ran smack into another girl who seemed to also be heading for the hatching sands. With another growl, Camea spun around and braced herself against the wall. A couple of tendrils of her hair came undone from her ponytail and fell into her eyes as she glared at the intruder. The other girl was younger than her, and seemed rather skittish. Well, this would have been fun if she wasn't trying to be somewhere! "Get out of my way!" She took off running again, shoving the girl into the opposite wall in the process.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Tesla shouted, hands in front of her face. As her back collided with the opposite wall she let out a sharp cry. For a moment she was still, refusing to open her eyes as she expected more retribution. However, when it didn't come she lowered her hands and stared blinking out into the empty hall. Well, whoever it was, they were gone now. Her hand reached up to scratch the same raw spot on her arm. What was she doing again? Right! Eggs! She took off at a less strenuous pace toward the hatching sands.
Camea entered and gave curt, respectful bows to the two queens, not embellishing the action but not speeding by rudely. Not too much and not too little... that's what the aristocracy of holdlife had taught her. As she took her place on the sands she watched as the girl she bumped into came in and gave her shaking, timid bows to both of the clutchmothers as well. Stupid girl. She wasn't strong enough to stand for whers. She should go back to whatever between-land she came from and leave the real candidates to stand for hatchings!
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Post by purnip on Apr 18, 2011 11:27:13 GMT -5
Artemis was already awake, as many cats preferred night over day for the peek of their activity. She was fine simply roaming the corridors of the Weyrling's Barracks like a ghost, hunting down creatures smaller than herself and enjoying the silence. Human were so noisy! Not that she had a problem with her's; her's was her pet--her plaything. Her favorite. But every now and then Artemis wanted to be a wild animal, lead by instinct, hunger, and curious sounds and smells. Ears raised at full height, she kept her senses peeled for scattering feet or tentative squeaks. Tonight she would surely come away with a struggling, wriggling prize.
But what a coward she was! A bugle echoed down the corridor, causing her not only to freeze, but to bolt back down the hall and leap back into her quarters. She knew that sound! An Uglies sound! Artemis hopped on to the bed, landing square on her human's belly and causing her pet to stir. The cat stood upon the soft perch as she mewed down at Pan, complaining in her own way. The Ugly scared me! she repeated, in a way only cats could say. Over and over until her humanpet's eyes began to blink away the sleep. Even the Big Wings was waking up, which made Artemis slide down to her human's side opposite the dragon to crouch and hide.
Pananarie knew it was the middle of the night, judging by the darkness and the fact that she was still quite sleepy. But she wasn't woken up by Artemis. She was actually drifting out of sleep just minutes before the call, as if she were anticipating it. The Weyrling was, actually. She told everyone she could how she wanted to see it. Pan loved Hatchings. She loved Demeth's and she loved any which one she could see. Missing the last two flitter hatchings already put her spirits down, but she knew if she attended, she wouldn't be able to leave without asking for one. She had to focus on raising Demeth right now until she was fully grown. Pan didn't want to make a single mistake.
She turned her head to see the Tan's head rise, as the young dragon stared at her with tired eyes. The wherlets are hatching, she announced, just before yawning a great yawn.
"I know. You should stay here. You need all the sleep you can get," Pan whispered. There were other people in the barracks as well, so she tried to mind the volume of her voice. "I won't be long. I don't know if I'll stay for the whole thing." She already knew she wouldn't be able to resist staying until the very last egg hatched, but she needed to reassure Demeth somehow.
The Tan didn't need it though. She understood, or she was too sleepy to think on it. Very well. Be safe, minelove. She lowered her head onto her claws and allowed the desire for sleep to get a hold of her.
When Pan got up to get dressed into something a little less casual, Artemis leapt off the bed and followed her at her heels, swiping idly at the hem of her human's clothes and dodging Pan's steps as if she were improvising some kind of new game. Her humanpet was so amusing. She was happy to see her awake when she was for a change. As long as her pet didn't ruin her hunting game, she wouldn't mind spending some time with her. She followed Pan until they reached the end of the hall, smelling that awful Ugly smell. There, Artemis went her separate ways. She loved her pet, but she was frightened of the Uglies. They all wanted to crunch up her bones, she bet. She was so glad her human had a Big Wings and not an Ugly.
It was like deja-vu, following the Candidates towards the Sands. Last time she was leading, wasn't she? But she wasn't going to stand where they were standing. She couldn't Impress to a wher with a dragon on her side. She simply wanted to watch. So she took a slightly different route that would lead her more directly towards the stands. It felt kind of lonely without Demeth or Artemis around, but she knew whers were a little more territorial than dragons. With two mommy whers sharing the Sands with one another--much to their outcries for space--it would be like rubbing salt in a wound to bring other creatures there. Ausk might eat Arty. Risk might jump Demeth. But Pan wasn't afraid for herself. Whers were nice. People wouldn't Impress to them if they were as wild as dragonriders tend to say.
Once she arrived, she kept herself far from the whers and close to the edge until she was able to ascend to the stands. She spotted Ridan, the Gold wher's bonded and gave a wave. She wanted to join him and ask him all sorts of questions, but she bet he was busy trying to keep Risk calm as the Candidates were entering. But it didn't stop Pan from trying to sit closer while keeping a distance. She ascended a couple rows and neared Ridan's column, taking a seat on the most comfortable spot she could find. There were bound to be more spectators, right? She knew it was the middle of the night, but who could resist a Hatching? She sure couldn't. Pananarie leaned forward to try and get a look at the eggs--they were so small from up here! But she could tell one of them was moving about. It was a red egg, while a blue-green one looked like it might be moving as well. She couldn't see the cracks from here, but she knew there was life in it yet.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Apr 18, 2011 12:43:23 GMT -5
The door to his room had been left ajar, so that even in sleep Qosis could detect the eager pattering of feet in the hall outside. The strategy also eviscerated the heat from his room, so when he woke he felt as if he had gone to bed naked in the middle of the lake. The trader reached out of his bedfur nest to grope at the sleeve of the jacket on his bedside table. Then he shucked off the furs and stumbled to the door, poking his head out into the corridor. Licking his dry lips and blinking watery eyes, Qosis listened to see if this was the moment-- or another false alarm.
A figure sprinting past with a knife at its belt told him the truth of the matter. He turned around and lurched toward the finery he had laid out some time ago, slipping on the embroidered cerulean tunic and dusky brown trousers that met his wool-lined boots at the knee. Over that he slipped his wherhide, and a belt with a gold buckle.
He headed out to the commons, basking for a moment in the excitement flowing from the Wher Candidates' quarters to the Hatching Sands. Then he picked up a piece of slate and found a piece of cloth to throw over the edge. Qosis returned to the men's side of the barracks, where many of the other Dragon Candidates were still sleeping. Sleep! Ha! It really would not do, when there was a perfectly good preview of their own Hatching to attend. And it was not as if any of them were getting much sleep anyway, were they? Not with all those firelizard juveniles about. He certainly had not been getting his appropriate candlemarks, and he did not even have one of the beasts in his room. No, he might as well be one of their adorable flits, squeaking for food at midnight. This was a celebration; everyone should have the privilege of attending.
The slate banged off the first closed door. Then another. And another. The cloth on the end kept it from damaging the door, and vice versa.
"GOOD MORNING BOYS!" Qosis bellowed at the top of his impressive lungs. Really, it was no different from rapping on the doors of wagons to wake the sleeping traders inside. He turned around and marched back to the commons. There he peered down the women's hall. He tapped the slate on his free hand thoughtfully. He glanced over each shoulder, checking the commons around him, then sprinted into the forbidden territory. Rather than smacking his slate against each individual door, he sort of bounced it off the wall, accompanying the thuds with another shout: "GOOD MORNING LADIES!" Then he darted back for the commons and dumped the evidence on one of the sorry couches there.
He returned his posture to its most respectable, straightened the collar of his jacket, then headed out to the stands. Once there he planted himself in a seat beside Lokien. "Journeyman," he greeted. "I see your ah-- your-- Damali is here." Then his attention, all of it, went to the eggs and their magnificent mothers. He really paid no consideration to the Candidates at all.
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Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
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Post by Gray on Apr 18, 2011 12:53:58 GMT -5
The moment Lyr heard people stirring, she woke up. She had always been a rather light sleeper, and the commotion in the barracks was enough to make her. Brushing a bit of hair from her face, she peered out into the hallway. What was happening now? Slowly, she got out of bed and peered into the hallway. It took her a few moment for her sleepy brain to figure out what was happening, but when she did, it hit her all at once. A hatching! Not a dragon hatching, but one just as important to her. Clumsily, she dug through her clothing to find something nice to wear. She wanted to be there to support Shailen!
Carefully, she picked through her outfits, finally settling on something simple but nice looking. From their little hidey holes, Lyr's flitters looked up to her with sleepy eyes. “Shh shh you two, go back to sleep. It's al right, I'm just going to see the Wher hatching.” Soft smile was given to the flitters, who in turn burrowed back under their stolen cloth and yarn. Fumbling around, Lyr dressed, and rand a brush through her hair a few times before darting out the door. Taking a moment, she leaned into Corian's and Ezekiel's room and hissed at the younger candidate. “Ezekiel, wake up, Wher hatching going on.” The two had planned to go together, but she didn't want to wake up Corian.
– The his seemed to be enough to wake up the blond, though it took him a bit. He tossed and turned a few times under his furs before muzzily peeking out of them at Lyr. “Wha-?” It was obvious that it hadn't hit him yet. Still, Lyr wanted something and out of respect for her, he truged out of bed. Oversized shirt hung off one shoulder, and sleeves fully covered his hands. He looked adorable, even with sleep mussed hair.
“What is itttt?” He whined, frowning just a bit. Lyr sighed, and once again informed him of the Wher hatching. That changed his tune instantly. Blue eyes lit up at the word and he hastily turned to get dressed. Digging through the trunk at the foot of his bed, he pulled out some gather clothes and tossed them on. Hand rand through his hair, trying to tame the messy strands before he ran out to join Lyr. Like a child, he took her hand and ran, pulling her along with him. The pair surely ran into a few candidates or other people on their way to the sands.
Eagerly, he dragged Lyr to the seats at the side of the Sands and sat down, looking to Lyr as if he were a puppy. “Do you think Obelir will be here? And his wher? And do you think this will be fun? I've never been to a hatching before!!” – The other two had been lucky enough to get out before Qosis began banging about. Loud sound of slate banging on doors and walls woke up Prince, who squeaked in slight fear. It also awoke something much worse. Someone angrier than a red in flight. Someone who knew that voice anywhere. Tasia listed her head some, eyes obscured by her hair. “Qosis.” It was all she could manage to hiss before purple flitter flew into her face and landed on her shoulder, making soft mewling sounds of concern. Hand lifted to soothe the young flitter, but the anger radiating off her didn't help matters. Standing, Tasia grabbed her glasses and stalked out of her room. She didn't bother changing from her sleep clothes, no in fact she wouldn't have stopped to change even if she slept naked. Someone was going to pay for waking her up. Hand ran through thick red hair, though it did little. Unbrushed, her hair was like a fluffy cloud of fire, it complimented her mood rather well in fact.
Tasia's steps were slow, but with purpose. Glare would be sent to anyone looking her way. She was to tired to put up with people right now. Quickly though, Tasia would reach the sands and pick out Qosis from the gaggle of others loitering about. Quickly, she would sweep up behind him. “Qosis, I think you owe someone an apology.” Prince peeked out from under her hair, his eyes whirling in confusion.
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Post by larkwing on Apr 18, 2011 15:25:01 GMT -5
Rin had been working on his knot tying again when he heard Risk's voice in his head. Immediately the boy shot up off of his bunk and grabbed for its edge. "What in Faranth's name?" Running his hands through his strawberry blond hair, the candidate looked around. What was that? And then all at once it hit Rin.
THE HATCHING!!! Scrambling up, Rin stood and looked around trying to find the supplies he'd need. "Knife, knife..here knife." Rin cooed as he searched for the sharp blade. Pulling up the blanket from the floor, Rin finally found what he was looking for. "There." Holding it up triumphantly, the boy ran out of the room.
Thankfully Rin was fast, very fast, and he got to the hatching sands withing moments. Holding the blade against his side so the mother's wouldn't turn protective suddenly, Rin turned to Risk. "Thank you Risk for allowing me to participate in the hatching." Remembering that Ausk was there as well, the candidate turned to the red wher. Gulping, Rin bowed even lower to the sub-queen. "Thank you Ausk...for letting me stand for your eggs."
Done with his formalities, Rin straightened and looked around. Where were the other boys....ah! Seeing a few on the sands, Rin did an odd sort of shuffle over. The sands were burning hot beneath his feet, and he half hopped, half walked to the other candidates. Dipping his head, he smiled to them and then looked up into the stands. Would Nitan be here?
The eggs had begun to rock, and Rin decided to turn his attention to them. After all, it was one of them that Rin had hoped to impress. They were all so beautiful, he didn't care that some were misshaped from what he could see. That fact just gave them more personality. Closing his stormy grey, blue eyes, Rin took a deep breath. You can do this Mavrin. _________________________________________ K'leb had stayed close by Harlequinth since the flight. The wing seemed to be healing well for now, and the blue was getting more like himself with each passing day. Not able to sleep though because of the pain that leached through the mental bond, K'leb was pacing around next to the teal colored blue. The wher eggs are hatching Mine.
The blue rider stopped and looked at the blue as if he'd grown an extra head. And why would I need to know this? Snorting, the blue glanced at his rider. Because K'leb, you are annoying me with your pacing. Laughing, the blue rider went over to his dragon and rubbed him behind his headknobs. Alright then, I could use a distraction anyway. With that the rider moved away and headed for the hatching sands. ___________________________________ Larka heard the wher candidates getting up. Honestly how could anyone not hear all of that commotion? Yawning, the auburn haired girl stood up in her bunk. Beside her Tris crooned and shuffled in his sleep. The dragon candidate smiled down at the little black. "Why not?" Larka whispered the question softly and slowly crept out of her bed.
Since Ausk and Risk wouldn't like a fire lizard to be present probably, Larka left Tris in the bed among the covers and pillows. Flipping her hair behind her head, the candidate snuck out and silently closed the door. Looking first left, then right, Larka breathed a sigh of relief. No one was around yet. She wasn't sure if Dalibor allowed dragon candidates to see the Wher hatchings, but Faranth she'd go anyway.
On quite, or as quite as she could get, footsteps, Larka moved off to the hatching sands. Once inside, she saw some of the wher candidates bowing to Risk and Ausk and the girl smiled. That might be me soon. Looking toward the stands, Larka found an empty seat and sat down in it. Maybe someone I know will come?
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Apr 18, 2011 17:59:57 GMT -5
The past few weeks were not on Ausk's list of favourites. She disliked company at the best of times, but this set of sandmates outright drove her mad. She could tolerate Risk, but Ridan's constant presence angered her above and beyond the existence of the gold. Largely, it was because she didn't understand. Why did he even need to be there? Audren never stayed near the sands. But Ridan was always there, sitting, watching from afar with his spindly arms and legs. Did Risk really need a babysitter? Really? Ausk scoffed at the idea. Risk probably did. Some good babysitter he was, though - she could snap his silly human bones in an instant. For once, though, she was more concerned about something's safety than about acting out her violent urges. Her eggs were her number one priority.
Fairly soon, she forewent hostility and opted for the cold shoulder approach. She was acutely aware of Risk's periodic glares, but offered no reaction. Ausk just made sure that Risk and Ridan stayed on their side of the sands with a brief brush of her mind whenever she felt like it. Other than that, she assured herself that she was better than Risk's petty glares. Mostly, she slept, but when she wasn't sleeping, she nudged her hardening eggs around or stretched her limbs one by one. Sometimes, she would occupy herself with eating, but she ate hastily and never left her eggs for longer than a few minutes. If anything, this temporarily quiet lifestyle just meant that all the usual anger was building up inside her.
This, of course, was promptly released when Risk wrongly growled at her. Ausk growled back with a ferocity to rival the gold's, but then she noticed what was going on. The twitching of Risk's egg only made her more upset, and she wailed in protest of what was about to happen. The candidates would come! They would behave or she would kill them! Even if they did behave, she really had no guarantees. She didn't want anyone to touch her eggs. She didn't want anyone to see them. It was too early! She didn't want to let them go! But she reached out with her mind and sensed her little dark tan egg shifting and screamed at the incoming candidates. NO! She didn't want them there!
Hester was, as usual, quite frazzled. The gold's voice entered his mind - he recognized it, thank Faranth - and he knew what was going on, but that didn't help. He was in such a rush to get to the Sands that he forgot a knife the first time and had to run back to get it. Topsy, Manny, Brin and Wol awoke in a flurry if little leathery wings, flapping all about in a way that compromised the safety of Hester's eyes. "Shard it! Shard it, rats with wings, go away! Ow! You can't come with me! No!" He batted them off furiously, unsure of how to get them to calm down. He first thought of slamming the door on them, but the had this nasty ability to hop between... Maybe if he just told them loud enough to stay? He really had no idea how to deal with them right now. His mind was all over the place. He waved his arms about and suddenly heard a loud, pained yelp. The knife he held had sliced Wol's wing. Immediately the four blacks settled down on his bed, hissing at him for his offence.
Hester stuttered. He had no idea what to do. He wiped the green ichor off on the sheets, and tried to pick Wol up. The black screamed and kicked and protested, so Hester panicked. Topsy, Manny and Brin sheltered their youngest member defensively. Hester felt terrible. They hated him. Oh, Faranth, they actually hated him... for an accident! But he didn't have any time. With and blurted apology and promise to help later, he ran from the room with his knife, cursing the entire way. He popped out onto the dark sands considerably after a few others, but bowed deeply to make up for it.
Oh, Faranth, he felt so guilty. It was all his fault. Wol hated him... but he forced himself to think of something else. He looked around and saw many familiar faces. Sagaral, his roommate, had beat him there. See, Sagaral didn't have four evil firelizards. He was evil enough himself. Hester also spotted Damali, though, which was a comparatively friendlier face. He peered, instead, at the eggs that were beginning to move, and wondered multiple things. First, Risk and Ausk were frightening, and would he get out of this alive? Also, was this the right thing to be doing? Was he really going to be a wherhandler? He was really doubting himself. He guessed, if this didn't work out, he still had back-up plans...
Back with her eggs, the great red wher bellowed at the candidates. She screamed her lungs out at them in warning. They would behave. She would make them behave. Audren had rushed in to stand at the ready in case things got out of hand. Part of her was excited, because after all, she was going to be an aunt now - Ausk's children were hatching - but most of her was worried. Ausk was unpredictable when she was in a good situation. This situation was a very, very bad one. She knew she could handle it, though, because she had to. She didn't have a choice.
Now two of Ausk's four eggs were rocking. The two brown ones clacked together, eventually the lighter one getting so fed up with the sound that it rolled away. It was shaking with surprising vigor, like the hatchling inside was spasming. Cracks began to appear and, in record time, the spiderweb of lines spread and the egg burst open. In the dark, the contents of the egg were difficult to see. There was a brief moment of stillness as the hatchling was stunned by decimating its prison, and then it promptly flailed its limbs to get the sticky egg goop off. Rolling over, done with being upside-done on its back, the tiny wher finally became obvious. Standing there, immensely excited and vibrating because of it, was a little black. He practically radiated a single, proud word: First! [/blockquote]
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Post by blue on Apr 18, 2011 18:33:52 GMT -5
Delgar was actually sleeping when the call from Risk slammed into his mind, but he didn't waste any time springing to his feet and rushing into his clothing, a knife clenched tight in his hand. Tonight was the night! He wouldn't be a future where handler anymore, he'd be a wherling! At least, he hoped he would. Of course he would. How would a wher not want to choose someone so ready for Adventures as he was? And it was night, so he and his handsome—or beautiful—new lifemate could even take a look out into the bowl before he or she needed to sleep, and Delgar could tell him or her all about the Adventures he had already had and all the ones they'd have in the future. And then he could write a letter home, telling all his family that he had Impressed, and didn't they feel silly for worrying so much?
He hurried out of the room after Khemres, just missing having a slate slmmed into him by a boy going up to every door and shouting for people to wake up. Delgar blinked at him for a second. How strange. But Impressing in front of an audience was sure to be even better than Impressing in front of hardly anyone, so he shrugged and hurried on towards the Hatching Grounds.
He bowed deeply, first to Risk and then to Ausk. "Thank you for permitting me to Stand," he said, managing to sound solemn and just barely resisting the urge to squirm with excitement. He flashed Damali a grin. "This is it!" he whispered.
Delgar glanced up into the Stands. No Maly yet, but he was sure she'd be there. She'd promised, and Maly kept her promises. Besides, Rissa wouldn't let her miss an event like this.
He turned his attention back to the eggs as a clicking started, and saw two of Ausk's eggs tapping against each other. They were Hatching! It was really happening! One rolled away from the other and shattered, revealing a smug looking black. Delgar's breath caught in his throat. The first hatchling! Was it the one for him? What would his wher choose to call itself? Delgask?
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Sakoru
Drudge
THE FEARSOME FIERY BEAST
Posts: 11
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Post by Sakoru on Apr 18, 2011 19:05:00 GMT -5
Khemres had forgotten just how exciting it was to Stand for a Hatching. With luck, this would be his last. Without it... well, he'd come back for Risk's next clutch. And the next, and the next. But none of that mattered, because the same adrenaline that had rushed through him at the gold's first clutch was back. None of the hatchlings had even emerged yet, and his heart was already pounding, his purple eyes fixed intently on the rocking eggs. His gaze darted occasionally to Ausk's eggs, too, although he was careful to stay a very long way from those. Considering the way the red was screaming at the candidates, it was a wonder the albino wasn't jumping out of his skin by now.
Still, even with his skin still firmly attached, Khemres' heart was slamming against his ribs like a sledgehammer. Neither of the mother whers were to be taken lightly, but it was one thing to be glared at and another to have one of them roaring at you. Subtly, the candidate shifted sideways, placing another small step between himself and Ausk's clutch. He was no closer to Risk, though - he knew that she knew who he was, but that didn't mean she wouldn't take a bite out of him if he was disrespectful.
Standing totally motionless, the candidate allowed himself to glance briefly around the Sands while the eggs kept rocking. He'd noticed Audren and Ridan before but-- hey, was that his hat? Squinting in Ridan's direction, Khemres cocked his head. It was his hat. So the goldhandler really did still have it... even thinking about that made him blush bright red, and he returned his attention to the eggs. How had he not realized that before? Whatever, it didn't matter: one of the eggs had finally hatched! One of Ausk's; the candidate could barely see the wheret from here, but it was dark. Really dark. And tiny. A black? Or a little dark green? Probably a black.
One egg had hatched, and Khemres couldn't help but wonder which of the others held his wher. Was it the tiny black on the sands? One of the other eggs? None at all? Oh, he hoped it was one of them. Any wher would do; Khemres loved them all to pieces. He'd been waiting three Turns, and Ridan had said that would probably count... not that he had a clue what it counted for, but there were more eggs than candidates. Surely everyone stood a good chance of Impressing!
For once in his life, Sagaral wasn't trying to push around any of his fellow candidates. Although he certainly noticed when each one arrived (including his roommate, Hester), he didn't make any aggressive moves toward any of them. For one thing, he was absolutely certain that at least one, if not both, of the mother whers would maul him for that. Maul or kill - neither option was very appealing. For another, he still wasn't in the mood to fight. Just as well, though, considering the injuries he'd amassed from his battle with D'ix. But he was healing.
Healing or not, whers were hatching, and the candidate's eyes were fixed longingly on the rocking eggs. Ausk's roaring didn't faze him in the least - he remembered his mother's red behaving the same way. He'd grown used to her tantrums, and although Sagaral respected the screaming red, he also wasn't afraid of her vocals. Her claws and teeth? Yeah, he'd be nervous if those were coming after him. But they weren't.
One of the eggs finally popped open, although not the blue one he'd been staring at. It was one of Ausk's eggs that broke open first, expelling a tiny black hatchling, and Sagaral smiled, just a little bit. It was beautiful, of course - all whers were beautiful, in their own right. All animals were (except that cyan he hated so much). Would it be his? Would one of the others? He was sure everyone was thinking the same thoughts, but there were nineteen eggs yet to break. Some might be duds, but most would contain live hatchlings. There was a chance that everyone would Impress. Perhaps he would, too... it was the only thing in the world the candidate wanted right now.
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Post by matsi on Apr 18, 2011 19:21:21 GMT -5
His brown eyes watched the eggs, eagerness making them dart from one rocking figure to the next. Then, there was another sound that made Nikan flinch and look away from Risk’s eggs, and to the red Ausk. He blinked, overwhelmed. Then, one of her eggs began to split, and Nikan almost yelped out in excitement. He wiggled and wiggled as he watched it split fully, then… He couldn’t see what it was. He squinted his eyes, trying to tell what its color was, and trying to see the baby wher’s details. Another smile, one that was larger than the first, spread on his face as he finally realized what was now on the sands. A black. It seemed to proud of itself as it stood there, alone on the warm sands. He was first. First into the world that Nikan knew as home. Soon, this youngster would understand that it was his home too. Well, that’s what Nikan thought, at least. Maybe the youngster was just playing, and really wasn’t going to be that proud and calm looking. Maybe the black would be a monster born from the deepest pits of pern. He was the right color to be a monster from the halls of hell, but then again, he was a wher, a creature of the night.
Nikan’s eyes lingered on the black, but soon, his anxious mind was pushing his eyes towards all of the other, unhatched eggs. They shook, wiggled, and cracked, making the candidate wiggle more and more. He was moving so much that he felt like he was vibrating on his feet. There was so much going on! Why couldn’t he have more than one pair of eyes? Then again…that was kind of the point of a Wher, right? He was pretty sure that that was the point, so he had to just bite his lip and keep looking from one egg in one clutch, to another egg in the other clutch.
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Post by larkwing on Apr 18, 2011 19:28:21 GMT -5
Rin shrunk back briefly. Ausk was screaming at all the candidates on HER sands. Biting his lip, the boy jumped from one foot to the other. The sands were hot and he was having one of his jittery moments. Wringing his hands together, Rin stopped. Or made himself stop was more like it. More and more candidates had started to arrive. Were there going to be enough viable eggs for them all?
The candidate sighed, he certainly hoped so. The spasming of one of Ausk's egg turned his attention from his thoughts. The little egg was rocking and jumping and making a scene. A huge scene. Rin couldn't help but laugh and smile. He liked this one already. Come on you, come on just one more push. Suddenly the egg burst open and a dark form toppled out.
The wher was a black and he had a smirk on his face. That is if whers could smirk. Rin laughed in pure joy at the little one's escape. Would it choose him? Could it? Find yours little black, find yours. Rin urged the creature on even though he knew it couldn't hear him...or at least Rin thought it couldn't hear him. What a surprise it'd be if the first one out impressed to him. Still, he couldn't be that lucky...could he?
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Apr 18, 2011 19:59:08 GMT -5
Niton was in the barracks when the call came, and he could hardly fail to notice the sudden chaos as all the wher candidates rushed toward the sands. Fortunately he was able to take his time, ducking into the kitchen to get a meatroll before heading to the stands to watch, excitement thrumming through his veins. His first hatching, and he wasn't Standing for it; instead he got to cheer on his friends among the wher candidates, especially Rin, and enjoy the entire process.
He arrived just in time to watch the black tumble onto the sands, and a smile spread across his features as he halted in the middle of shuffling into a row. Somebody smacked him upside the head - he was really far too tall to block people's view like that - and he hastily dropped into a seat, leaning forward with sparkling eyes. He finally managed to spot Rin and waved, though he knew full well nobody down there would be paying attention to anything but the rocking eggs - and right now, that little black that they all desperately hoped was theirs.
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Post by kia on Apr 18, 2011 20:25:45 GMT -5
Risk looked over at where the Red was. Ausk was pitching a fit and throwing a tantrum like a baby wherlet. Risk could have snorted at the sight of the Red. She understood the annoyance of having the Candidates on the Sands and worrying that they could get too close to the egg, but Ausk was taking it too far. Like an immature brat. Risk growled over at Ausk, warning the Red to behave. But she turned her attentions onto the Candidates. They received a much fiercer growl. She was warning them to make sure they kept their distance and that they better behaved. She was not going to put up with an stupid or reckless antics.
Ausk`s eggs were beginning to move at the same time Risk`s eggs were moving. So all the eggs were going to Hatch together. Risk wondered if there were going to be enough Candidates for all her eggs. But her question immediately left her mind when the sight of the black from Ausk`s egg caught her attention. So that little Black had Hatched first? Risk snorted and turned her attentions on her moving eggs. Well, if that little egg had not taken long to Hatch out, then her eggs would not take very long to Hatch. She continued to hummed, waiting for the eggs to Hatch. The Ocean Bay egg seemed very close now.
The Ocean Bay egg continued to wiggle before it seemed to be moving. Behind it, something dark was flailing about. Ridan had to chuckle at the sight of the egg. The only thing that seemed to have escape the egg so far was the little Wher`s tail. A small chuckle from the man earned him a glare from Risk. She was not amused. Her little one was still stuck inside its egg. The tail kept flailing about until it hit the off white egg with brown spots. The contact of tail onto something else caused the little one to squawk inside his egg and jump with surprise. The little Wher was free now!
Out stepped another Black. The second Black on the Sands. He was glad to be out of that nasty shell. IT was suffocating. It hindered him. To be inside something. One had to think outside the egg to figure things out. Yes, and here he was, watching the next egg nearby shaking. But why was he in the back? He needed to up front. He needed to be closer to where all the action was. What caught his eye was the movement of the muddy brown egg nearby. He walked over it, not even glancing at the large egg of the Clutch, and sat by the egg. He would wait. He believed this egg would Hatch.
The muddy brown egg twitched and occasionally a small chirping noise could be heard. The little one inside wanted to get out. It pushed and pushed, bumps forming on the outside of the egg. The egg fell over, and the fall caused the egg to crack on the bottom. Progress! The egg began to move, rolling back and forth, the little Wher still trying to escape. Just one more push. Just one more push. A wing was out. It was flapping about. The taste of fresh air was too sweet to comprehend. It had to get out. It had to get out!
The little Black took a step back as a Green fell out of her egg. The little Green`s first sight was the Black looking down at her. He chirped at him, happy to see him. She stood up and shook the shard off her back. But as she shook, she fell over on her side. Oh well! She stood up and then look down at the sand. So pretty. The way the moonlight struck it made the sand all glittery and awesome. She was so distracted that when she tried to move again, she just fell over. The little Black nearby was starting to think the little Green was a clumsy thing. Well, now that the egg had Hatched, his loyalty was shifting to his stomach.
He made his way over to the Candidates and looked at each of them. He gave a snort at Nikan, knowing this boy was not for him. Something about the boy made him feel uncomfortable. It could just be that Nikan was an energetic person, and the Black was pretty passive for the most part. But if something got between him and what he was looking for, there was going to be hell to pay. The little Black walked past Kire, his tail moving like an angry cat and whipping the part of her foot. His loyalty was not with her! No, but he found where it was! He found his Handler! He suddenly increased his speed and wrapped himself around his new Handler`s legs. Camea, Cask protect. Loyal only you. Think. What next? he asked.
Name: Cask Color: Black- 0F0F0F Info: Loyal, guard dog, believes in potential for anything possible, thinks outside the box, fights for what he believes and cares in. Picture Code: [IMG]http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg47/emperess_kia/Dalibor/BlackCask.png[/IMG]
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Post by larkwing on Apr 18, 2011 21:04:11 GMT -5
Rin looked as the first black was soon joined by another. The second wher to hatch! Smiling, the boy stepped forward, the thought better of it and stepped back. He had to control his nerves as well as his excitement. Running toward the cute hatchlings would only get him hurt. For once, Rin actually needed to think before he made a move. Or better yet, let the whers make a move.
The candidate was moved out of his thoughts as the second black started to walk around its sibling's eggs. Another green had hatched, and wasn't she a beautiful thing? It seemed that she was distracted easily by the sand as it glittered from the moonlight. Laughing, Rin covered his mouth to stifle the sound as the green fell over onto her side. Come on, get up you. Smiling wide, Rin nodded his head as the green brought herself up...only to fall again.
The black was now walking around trying to find His. Passing by first one boy, then the next, he kept searching. Could it be that it was his? No. It passed him as well and stopped by some other candidate. Still, there were plenty of eggs left. Not too mention that pretty green on the sands still. Keep your head up and eyes open Rin, and keep hoping.
Turing around, Rin happened to look up into the stands. He saw Nitan there and smiled. Waving back slightly, his grin got wider. His friend had come to see him! With that in mind, Rin turned back to the quivering eggs and green wher hatchling. Alright, I can definitely do this.
Larka clapped softly as the first black made its impression. "Good for you." The dragon candidate whispered to herself partially. The girl was completely caught up in the hatching now. Just as she had been with many before at Benden, this hatching had swept her up into its happy atmosphere. Of course she knew that that could easily change. Whers, like dragons, were not entirely tame when first born.
The candidate shifted in her seat and bit her lip. I hope that no one gets hurt tonight. Looking up she studied the little bit of light that was filtering through to the sands. She understood perfectly what that green wher was thinking. It was so pretty how the sand glittered with the moonlight. Alright green wher. Find Yours now.
K'leb shifted in his own seat. Putting his chin on his hand, he watched as the newest wher handler was made. Smiling, the blue rider had himself thinking about when he had impressed. With you by my side that brown couldn't get to me anymore K'leb. Smiling, the rider closed his eyes and searched out Harlequinth. The dragon was curled up on his nest in the infirmary. Giving a gentle caress through the mental bond, K'leb agreed with his blue. Amazingly, Quinn also gave a slight push back. Normally you aren't that friendly Quinn. K'leb smiled as he opened his eyes again. I'm in a good mood I suppose Mine.
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Chek
Weyrlingmaster
chekct[M:-15]
I'm so magical I vomit rainbows
Posts: 1,091
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Post by Chek on Apr 18, 2011 21:45:15 GMT -5
In the stands, Lokien gave a brief nod to Qosis as his fellow dragon Candidate took a seat beside him, “Yes, my sister is here, and not yet dismembered. I'm as surprised as you are.” He didn't do more than twitch a little, enough to keep track of who was coming and going, wher Candidates and spectators alike, and making a mental tally of who looked likely to be dependable in an emergency.
Tedaon, the older journeyman, was here, not too far away, in fact, and it looked like he'd come prepared. Good; Lokien had already spotted that irritant of a dragon-mauled patient on the Sands and would be more than happy to avoid dealing with Sagaral if he could help it.
He returned his gaze to his sister.
Damali was bouncing, and trying not to look like she was bouncing. She worked her way over to Delgar, catching his hand in her own just as the first wheret broke shell. “A Black, Delgar! Isn't it gorgeous?” She was staying clear of Ausk, that was for sure, but she couldn't help going up on tiptoes in order to get a better look.
Cracking in Risk's clutch distracted her in time to watch another Black work his way free of his egg. And then he waited for the little Green to hatch! It was beautiful! They were beautiful! Damali could feel herself start to go a little sniffly, and definitely had to wipe her eyes when the little Black from Risk's clutch Impressed to Ca....Cam...Cam-something. Shards, Damali could have sworn she knew everyone's names!
Damali tore her eyes away from the new wherling pair, and turned back to the clutches. After all, there were so many eggs left; one of them could have her partner, and she wasn't going to risk missing her or him hatch!
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Apr 18, 2011 23:18:55 GMT -5
Qosis did not respond to Tasia's demand. Actually, he did not seem to notice the looming girl at all. His normally acute gaze had turned misty with the first full-bodied shriek from the enraged Red Ausk. At some point his gut reaction to such a sound had been rewired from the proper terror to adoration. If only the queen would echo-- or supersede --the motherly howl. That would be a highlight as good as any egg cracking. But Ausk's ferocity ended up summoning one of her offspring out first, and he too was negligibly different but achingly familiar to the enraptured observer. It was hard to see the details of him under his wet black skin, but he had a handsome stance for a three-second-old.
And a second slice of midnight broke into view within moments. His docility confounded Qosis. Perhaps he was ill, waiting like he did. He was not half as attractive as the result of the egg he doted on. With a shudder the trader shifted his attention back and forth from the departing Black and the arriving Green. His eyes lingered on the second, wanting to stay, but wanting to see the outcome of the Black's sudden march to the Candidates too. Just as Cask slithered around Camea, Qosis curled his abbreviated finger into his palm. The femininity of Cask's chosen but as-yet unblooded Candidate did not register with him just then. His mind was in other places, trying to remember.
It was when he looked back for the Green that a red tinge on the periphery of his vision caused him to snap his head toward Tasia. His breath affected a gasp, genuine surprise his only mannerism after a trance so thoroughly broken. Qosis made a short recovery, dropped his brow grudgingly low, then turned back to the Hatching. One arm twisted behind him to seize at Tasia's shoulder and gently nudge his fellow Dragon Candidate into a place on the bench behind his.
"Sit."
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Post by veritas on Apr 19, 2011 1:09:31 GMT -5
Jerrith hadn't paid all that much attention to the wher eggs on the sands, mostly because he found his days busy enough already. If the eggs hatched while he was up and could attend, he'd figured, he'd go, because dragons or no, it was a Hatching, and he ought to support the Candidates too; but he'd not intended to go too much out of his way for it.
His roommate apparently had other ideas, bustling out as soon as the ruckus in the halls announced the Hatching's start. Magpie stirred in his wake, lifting his head and letting out a soft, sleepy squawk. Jerrith lifted his head and gave it a shake, trying to will the black back to sleep. It was a minor miracle that Lyra hadn't woken up yet, and if he could just keep it that way -
No such luck. The bellow in the hall, the hammering on doors - the pink youngling burst out of her basket-bed with a startled shriek.
Jerrith winced. Just when he'd started to think Qosis might have some semblance of decency under his disagreeable demeanor... "Shard it, man," he mumbled under his breath, much too quietly for anyone but himself and his fire-lizards to hear. "Some of us would like to get some sleep before our kitchen shifts..."
Oh, well, there was no hope for it now. Lyra had got over her fright, but she was fully awake now, demanding attention. What was Hers doing still sitting way up there, not looking at her? Didn't he know how pretty she was by now? She fluttered up to the head of the bunk, scolding him.
Oh, she was going to be so happy about not being the center of attention at the Hatching...
Sighing, Jerrith slid out of his bunk and got dressed, then jogged toward the Hatching Sands, Lyra clinging to his shoulder with her tail wrapped around his neck, Magpie fluttering after them on his own power. He was a bit delayed in making his way to a seat - just in time to see a second black, and a green, join the first black on the Sands.
But once there, the rude awakening didn't seem to matter much anymore. He leaned forward in his seat, rapt; both his firelizards, now perched on each of his shoulders, stared down at the goings-on as well, crooning, eyes whirling.
Hustafer was rather more prompt about finding a place to watch. Of course, it helped that the Hatching started when he was already awake and about; but there was no way he was going to miss even one of Husk's offspring breaking shell, even if it had been the middle of the day. He made his way through the press of people and found himself a seat at the end of a row, where Husk could sit beside him and watch as well, close enough to observe but safely out of the vicinity of both clutch-mothers.
The big iron was almost quivering in excitement. He always had liked hatchlings, of course, but this wasn't just any wher Hatching, this was a clutch he had sired. All right, so the first egg to let free its wheret wasn't one of Risk's eggs. No matter; it was a fine, healthy hatchling!
And then two of Risk's eggs did crack, letting another black free, and a green. Hustafer tensed, letting out a deep sigh, as the black found his partner and a bond was forged. "Good start," he breathed to nobody in particular, settling his hand on Husk's shoulder and thinking back to that day, so long ago now, when they had found each other.
It warmed the heart, to know that today, others would share in that experience.
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Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
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Post by Gray on Apr 19, 2011 2:19:10 GMT -5
Lyr drew her knees to her chest, arms wrapping around them. Eyes were wide as she took in the sight of the sands, candidates gathered there, but still... Shailen was not there. Soft frown creased her features, though it vanished quickly. Lyr gasped audibly as the first egg started to hatch. The triumphant black was cute, in it's own weird way. Yet he was not the only one on the sands. Shortly after another egg saw fit to start rocking wildly. From where she sat, Lyr could not see the miniature tail that rocked the egg. Soon another black joined Ausk's on the sands.
Eyes followed the second black as he saw fit to strut around. He wouldn't be the only of Risk's clutch for long though. Green tumbled out with gusto. It was heartwarming, watching the siblings, though the Black had little interest in his sister. She watched as he left his sister and started walking among the candidates. Seeing her first impression was like magic for the young woman. Her heart swelled and she clapped excitedly for both Camea and Cask.
– Ezekiel held his breath as the first egg cracked. He had yet to see Obelir, but then again, someone had to be on duty while everyone was at the hatching. He giggled giddily as the first black made his presence known. He kind of wanted to hug it in congratulations, but he didn't dare step on the sands. Who knew what the gold and the red would do! Let alone the little wher at getting assaulted by hugs.
But the black wasn't alone for long. The eggs started hatching rather rapidly. First another black, then a little green. Again Ezekiel cheered joyously. Yay for new lives! And when Camea impressed the second black, he whistled! Or at least, he tried. It was more of a breathy whoosh than an actual whistle.
–
Tasia on the other hand, was not happy. Nor excited. Nor any positive emotion at all. Hate practically dripped off her. She was no longer Tasia. She was the Heiress of Hate. Glare bored into Qosis who seemed to not have noticed her. She was intent on keeping her glare and anger to him, but the first egg caught her attention. Lifting her head, she watched with a slight scowl. Stupid hatching. Her expression softened a bit at seeing the cocky little black though. “Little guy has spunk.” She chuckled softly.
Prince poked his head out from her thick red hair, his eyes whirling a bit as he chirped. Was the storm over? Was his happy yet? Sight of the Whers made him retreat again, though he kept his nose poked out, little nostrils flaring a bit.
Tasia was determined to not be enchanted by the babies. She set her lips in a thin, hard line, her brows furrowing. She would not find them cute! She would... Oh look another black hatched. Then a clumsy little green. Brow raised sceptically at the green, but Tasia shook her head a bit. Surely she would grow into her limbs one day. When Cask impressed, she clapped her hands lightly, a sour look still in her eye. Still Qosis had not given her the time of day, but that quickly changed. He grabbed her shoulder and gave her a single word demand. Anger bristled in her again as she turned to him.
“Qosis you better pay attention! I am not happy I'm very angry and...” Again thoughts trailed off as she followed his gaze to the whers, specifically the little green lass. “Man... You really like whers, don't you?”
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Apr 19, 2011 7:15:55 GMT -5
Kire stood in anticipation and excitement but froze when the Red thrashed about in seeming rage. She watched it for a moment in slight fear but pushed the thought immediately from her mind. There was no need to fear her, she wanted her little ones to have Handlers. She would not attack. She calmed even more when a little black emerged from one of Ausk's eggs. The first Wher to hatch. It was lovely! She watched it for a moment but was then drawn to the sight of another Wher hatching... Another Black. One of Risk's. They were so gorgeous. She watched in anticipation as yet another egg hatched, a Green. The Black seemed to pay attention to the Green for a moment and then left her.
She gasped a little as the Black approached her and willed it to approach her. It did... Sort of. She flinched as it flicked her foot with it's tail. That would most definitely bruise. She did not move though as the Black moved away. To Camea! Kire smiled with joy and turned to her roommate. Well, perhaps not anymore. Her friend though definitely. She clapped ecstatically for her friend and then spotted the Green. She seemed sweet! Kire willed herself to concentrate and draw a Wher to herself. She would impress! She had to! Her and Camea would have to be Wherlings together! They could help one another and Kire was so excited to have that chance. Plus, that Green needed someone. All of them did, the other Black, and the eggs still waiting to hatch. She would be able to protect one of them.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Tedaon waited in the stands, arms folded in a calm fashion. He spotted the other Journeyman healer from that time with the half eaten boy. Looking into the Hatching he spotted Sagaral and knew that he would probably have to stitch someone up from the image of that boy. He smiled a little and then nodded at the other Journeyman. He started pulling out bandages preemptively so they were on the top of his bag. He looked up at Neras. "Looks like we might be in for an interesting night."
Ausk suddenly bellowed and Tedaon tensed, ready to run onto the sands and help anyone who might need help but she seemed a little calmer when one of her eggs hatched revealing a Black. What seemed like a second later another Black had hatched from Risk's clutch. Tedaon watched as that Black seemed to stand there a moment until a small Green emerged from another egg. He held his gear ready as he watched the Black approach the candidates. It seemed to look at a few of them before moving off to someone else. A female. It curled itself around her feet and Tedaon relaxed a little.
He supposed he would also need to watch that the candidates did not blood themselves too much. Eying the knives in each hand he frowned at the practice. He understood the necessity but it still did not sit right with the Ex-Rider... He shook his head and looked to watch what the other new Whers would do with their freedom. The Green seemed utterly unable to move all that far as she kept falling over.
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Post by blue on Apr 19, 2011 8:07:36 GMT -5
Delgar squeezed Damali's hand as Risk's black hatchling Impressed. "We'll be next," he said eagerly, eyes flicking between Ausk's black and Risk's green. Of course they'd be next. If not immediately next, then sometime next. How could a wher resist either one of them for a whole Hatching? They couldn't. And that was why both of them were going to Impress and leave the Sands as wherlings instead of candidates. And then they and their lifemates would have fantastic Adventures that not even Damali's healer brother could scold them about, because they'd be too wonderful and no one argued with a pair of whers anyway, not unless they wanted to get hurt.
Not that he'd let his wher hurt anyone. At least, he'd try not to let it. He was pretty sure he'd be able to manage, unless he got a mini-Ausk. A mini-Ausk might be more difficult, but learning to control her would be an Adventure all on its own! The world was full of Adventures, and as soon as he Impressed, there'd be nothing to stop him from going on every single one that he could! And Damali and Maly would be with him the whole way, especially once Maly Impressed her dragon. Two whers, a dragon, and three brave Adventurers—they'd be unstoppable! He smiled, fixing that happy plan in his mind. Yes, that was definitely going to happen. All they needed was for he and Damali to Impress at this clutch, and he'd already decided that they would. And then Maly would obviously Impress at the next dragon clutch, and his dream would be well on its way to reality.
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Post by alix on Apr 19, 2011 15:29:00 GMT -5
An undefinable something had already worn Malissa's sleep a little less deep by the time Qosis ran past with his slate. Maybe she'd heard a trace of the wher candidates' footsteps, or maybe Shalarissa had figured out something was happening and her curiosity had bled over into the dragon candidate's dreams. Whatever the reason, her awakening wasn't quite as rude as it could have been.
And once she was awake, blinking bleary-eyed and a little confused into the darkness, her firelizard helpfully flooded her with images. Images of boys and girls heading toward the Hatching Sands in the darkness. It took Malissa a few more moments to sort things through, realize the wher eggs were starting to Hatch, and then she was up, shrugging into clothes as fast as she dared for fear of waking her roommate (just in case the girl had managed to sleep through Qosis's wakeup call - how thoughtful of him to make sure nobody who wanted to attend the Hatching would sleep through it!).
She quietly, mousily, made her way to the stands, finding a spot where she wouldn't get in anyone's way and could still see Delgar and Damali clearly. In her soft-spoken way she was excited for their sake; she couldn't wait to see her friends Impress the whers that would be their life-mates forever after! Shalarissa had followed her, of course, settling on her shoulder, and she discreetly kept a hold on the pink's tail. It wouldn't stop her if she really wanted to take off, but it might serve as a reminder that right now, Maly very much wanted her firelizard to stay put.
Already there were wher hatchlings on the Sands, but only a single black had found His, so far. She hadn't missed her friends' Impressions, then. Good. She'd promised to be there and she intended to keep that promise.
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