Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Apr 19, 2011 18:11:39 GMT -5
The black hatchling, thank Faranth, was absolutely nothing like his red mother. Perhaps he had the same amount of energy she did, but it was an entirely different kind of it. He was still brimming with happiness and wasn't at all sure what to do with himself right them. He wiggled around, his body gnarled and knobby even from birth. There were some wiggles he wanted to do but simply couldn't, because some of his spiny bits got in the way, but oh well! He was alright with that.
Ausk, on the other hand, was still unhappy. Something inside her was briefly awed at the sight of her first live child, but Risk quickly stomped on that feeling. The gold growled at her. Ausk growled back without even thinking, baring her fangs. Of course she would behave. She didn't need the gold to tell her what to do. That was insulting. She almost wanted to disobey Risk, purely to make her angry, but she knew Audren was close. Audren would spoil all the fun before it even began. She snorted, looking down her nose at the stuck-up queen across the sands. YOU behave, the glare said, and then she turned a cold shoulder to Risk. She didn't have to waste energy on something so overly shiny.
Her son, meanwhile, had slipped past her. She hadn't been expecting that. Startled, the red watched the black prance across the hot sand, wiggling his spindly excuses for wings. Ausk huffed. She wanted him back! She didn't want him to go out there! But the black, most definitely, had other ideas. He gurgled as he went along, a sound so ugly it could almost be considered cute, and then wound his way between all of the candidates.
He wasn't sure which one he liked the most. They were all immensely interesting to him. He couldn't quite see them very well, even in the nice dark that enveloped the sands, but he could smell them and hear them. Some were talking in silly human voices... He liked that very much! Some, when he listened really close, had loud thumpy things in their chests. He liked that very much, too! Some of them smelled like beds or animals or clean things and he liked that very much! He ran a tight circle around Mavrin out of excitement, and then promptly tumbled away to roll for a bit. Then he was up and running again, sniffing around. He liked people! People were the best! He could smell a big gold version of him, and his mom, but he liked people more. Best!
He blundered his way through the rest of the candidates and back again. He visited some of them twice, missed and few, and then tried to figure out which ones those were. He smelled something he hadn't smelled before. Not up close, at least. He put his dark gray nose to the ground, jet black tail up in the air, and followed the scent. He came up behind the source, oddly enough, and let out a grating squawk of delight.
KIRE BEST, he squeaked in her head, bouncing up and down on pudgy feet. He came to sit in front of her. Kisk is... KISS. He seemed quite proud of noticing the similar-sounding words, and in his dizzied state, drunk on love, his teeth went for Kire's leg. It wasn't that he was equating the action to a kiss, but his train of thought was somewhere along the lines of "I love you, I eat you." Without the use of Kire's knife, the crucial blood bond was made.
Audren clapped, grinning ear to ear. Ausk had never had a live child before. All her few eggs before had been duds, simply through the unluckiness of the genetic draw. The black had just Impressed, though, and seemed as healthy as could be. Ausk might not have been thrilled at her son leaving the nest, but Audren was ecstatic. She glanced back at her red's eggs, but only saw the faintest of movements in the dark brown egg. Maybe they were just waiting?
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Hester was immediately overwhelmed by the energy on the sands. Two of Risk's babies had hatched and one of Ausk's, and already people were excited and happy and - shells, people were already Impressing! All of a sudden, he realized how real this actually was, and how he actually had a chance at bonding to a wher. He hoped maybe not one like Ausk's kiddo... That black sure was energetic. It had sniffed at Hester twice, which made his heart leap, but then moved on which made it sink. It was an up-and-down ride already... a little tiring.
There was still that green on the sands right now. Who would she go to? Hester didn't put himself at the top of the list. Actually, he sort of just felt like a spectator. He wasn't putting himself on the top of any list. Probably other people would get whers first, and he kind of wanted that. Whers would want people who were actually one hundred percent committed to being a handler, or people who didn't injure their own firelizards or stupid things like that. Or maybe they did want silly guys who liked healing? Whatever. Things would happen. He'd just wait around, he guessed. Wait around and see. [/blockquote]
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Post by larkwing on Apr 19, 2011 18:33:22 GMT -5
Rin was still watching the new black pair. The green was on the sands, and it caught his attention again. It was a pretty green. Then, Rin saw a flutter of movement from Ausk's direction. It was the black that had hatched first! Finally free of the red's motherly protection, it went past her and looked toward the candidates.
Ausk called after, apparently unhappy that her son was wandering off. Still, the black didn't seem to care much and continued on toward the people. Would it choose me? Is it? It is....not. Rin smiled though as it came near. Running tight circles, the candidate was careful not to get in its way. Please, stop and choose me. Of course, Rin wasn't that lucky though.
The black continued on and went up to a girl. Biting her leg, the blood bond was finished and the pair was permanently made. Sighing, Rin closed his eyes and twisted the blade in his hand. Don't worry Rin, the candidate whispered the thought in his hand. You'll get one Rin. He had to stay optimistic about this stuff. Hopping from one foot to the other, Rin looked back at the green.
Was she for him? Could it possible that that pretty green was for him? Or maybe it was one of the other ones behind Risk. Turning toward the red Ausk, Rin bit his lip. Maybe one of hers? Forcing himself to be still, Rin spared another glance to the stands. Nitan seemed to still be there. He wanted to do well in front of his friend. He wanted Nitan to be proud of him! Glancing back toward the wher on the sands, Rin twisted the blade in his grip again. Come on, come on, come on, I know one of you are meant for me. Staying positive, Rin would be staying positive until the bitter end.
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Sakoru
Drudge
THE FEARSOME FIERY BEAST
Posts: 11
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Post by Sakoru on Apr 19, 2011 19:43:53 GMT -5
The Hatching was going well so far, although Khemres knew that it probably wouldn't last, given that there were seventeen eggs yet to break shell. That was a lot of room for chaos - but the three newborns so far seemed to have reasonably good temperaments, all of them. Risk's two hatchlings made the albino smile: first, the black, who certainly didn't seem vicious. Not as energetic as Ausk's son, but calm nonetheless. And then the green, who tipped over after trying to move. Both made Khemres smile - the sight of these new lives warmed his heart.
Risk's black Impressed, and the albino warmed with pleasure for this Hatching's first wherling. He'd no idea who it was, because his vision was honestly terrible and he couldn't make out her face, but he was happy all the same - and just as happy for the bonded of the second black. Things were already progressing nicely - wherets were hatching, they were bonding, and nobody had been mauled (yet). It was a good start!
But other eggs were shaking, though Khemres couldn't tell if they were cracking yet, and he watched them eagerly. His gaze kept drifting to the little green on the sands, though - was she for him? Although clumsy, she seemed like she might be a sweet little thing. I shouldn't be particular, the candidate scolded himself, but the fact was that he didn't want an unmanageable lifemate. He wasn't sure he could handle an aggressive wher, if he Impressed at all. And the little green was so cute! All baby whers were cute, though, and every single one that hatched looked as adorable as the one before. Khemres didn't even notice their inherent ugliness: they were adorable. And he wanted one so badly he could taste it.
Sagaral stood quietly - a lot more quietly than anyone who knew him probably would have suspected. He had no idea that Tedaon and Lokien were both here, which was just as well considering his strong dislike for the latter. Instead, his thoughts were focused on other things: namely the baby whers that were hatching. The second black seemed interesting, as did the tiny green that tumbled from her shell after him - but then, Sagaral loved all whers. Firelizards, too, but certainly not people. Naturally, it was people he was surrounded by.
Still, he behaved himself. For one thing, he had to; for another, no one was bothering him or giving him any reason whatsoever to be irritated. It was probably the first time in his life he'd actually been totally calm, except for the Hatching jitters that ran up and down his spine. There was no desire in him to hit anyone, or get away from the situation, or do anything similarly anti-social. No, Sagaral was perfectly behaved, although his hands were trembling with suppressed excitement. Would anyone notice? Would anyone care?
Probably not. If anyone noticed anything about him, it was likely to be the fact that he wasn't misbehaving. Mostly because of the whers, of course, but also because of the occasional memory that flicked through his head: ones of Isk, mainly. If there hadn't been a red there, he probably wouldn't have thought about her nearly as much, but Ausk's presence kept dragging Sagaral's mind back to his mother's red. To counter it, he switched his focus to the unbonded green and the other eggs, trembling and quivering as some of them were. He shouldn't dampen a happy event with morbid memories. That wasn't right. It wasn't like Ausk was trying to remind him of Isk; she didn't even know the other wher. Risk, however, was safe (at least, mentally). So he focused on her clutch instead, trying not to look at Audren's red and her three remaining eggs. There would be more wherets, and he would forget everything else when they hatched.
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Post by matsi on Apr 19, 2011 20:02:49 GMT -5
Nikan became eager as another egg hatched open, then another. A green and a second black took the sands. It almost made Nikan bounce around with excitement. Then, the black wandered towards him. His muscles stiffened, his jaw clenched, and his eyes widened as he anticipated to hear the voice of the black in his own head. It looked at him, making Nikan wiggle more and more, then disappointment. The black continued on his way towards the next candidate, almost past her, then impressed. Nikan’s heart sank, and he let out a sigh. His coppery eyes watched the black that had just impressed, then looked back to the other black and the green. There were still those two, and a bunch of ones that hadn’t hatched yet. Quickly, Nikan’s mood lifted again. That was it! Maybe his was one of those! After all, that was the first to impress.
Once again, Nikan’s eyes watched as the second black wandered off and impressed. This time, though, Nikan didn’t become disappointed. He knew better now, and only became extremely excited again. So excited, that he had to cross his legs to prevent himself from peeing his pants. He felt like a toddler doing the potty dance. Yes, he was that excited.
Even as he did his potty dance, Nikan looked at the green wheret, then the shaking eggs. Wherry Bumps formed on his arms, making him shiver a few times.
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Post by kia on Apr 19, 2011 22:31:45 GMT -5
More eggs were beginning to move. The dark gray egg with the sheen appearance was starting to rock back andforth, banging up against the dark rusted orange egg. The deep goldenrod egg was forming cracks. It was not hard to notice the goldenrod egg because it was located toward the front. It seemed there was race between it and the grey egg. Both had cracks forming along the side, both threatening to burst forth. But it was the dark grey egg that won the battle. The cracks get longer and formed faster, and soon a head popped out of the egg. The little Wherlet stuck its head out and gave a chirp. The world! It existed out here!
The gray egg revealed another Green. She gave a chirped as she fell out of the egg. She gave more chirps before looking around. There was another egg near her! It was moving. It was the black to deep purple egg. She ran over to it and chirped again, her eyes swirling green. Her body was moving fast, as if she was laughing with happiness! Ooh! Look! Another egg was moving nearby! It was the rusted orange egg. She ran over to it and chirped at it. She was answered with some sort of squawking noises on the inside! It spoke back to her. Crack! She turned her head. Wait, another egg had Hatched!
The goldenrod egg had finally released its prisoner. It was a Blue. He stood tall and proud, looking all around him to understand what was going on. There were two Greens nearby. One had fallen on the ground and was staring at him. The other was running over to him! He gave a surprised squawk as she ran over and tackled him. She was very happy to see him! They were out of their shells! Nothing could ruin this moment! Nothing. But the Blue wanted to get away. Something had startled him, and he wanted to get away from here. He gave several more chirps before a shadow was cast over them.
While the Green had tackled the Blue, the rusted orange egg had continued to crack and move. But now with more ferocity than before. The Green`s attitude toward it had prompted it to move more. Cracks began to snake its way everywhere, making spider web cracks everywhere. Without warning, the shards went everywhere. Out stepped for a Red! But her eyes were not calm or kind. She took one look at her feet and began to make a fuss. Her feet were pink compared to her lovely red hide! Then she saw the Green and Blue. That Green had perfect feet! And the Green was having fun! She slinked over to the Blue and Green.
She was on top of them! With feral growls and roars, she attempted to go after the Green. But the Green, turning to say hello to her new friend and finding a Red about to attack her, had jumped out of the way in time. The Red brought her teeth down and sank them into the rib cage of the Blue. The Blue cried out, trying to escape and get away. But the taste of ichor only drove the Red further. She tore into the Blue once more before the swirling in his eyes stopped. They blues and oranges became gray before turning white. He was gone, and could not be saved.
The little Green squealed as she ran away. She had to get away from the nasty Red. Now that the Blue was dead, the Red had its sights on her. She had to run! Run fast. Wait, her Handler could save her! Yes! She ran around the boys, but it was futile. The Red roared as she crashed into the boys, shoving Khemres out of the way, tramping Mavrin, and snapping at Nikan. The little Green ran and ran. Delgar! Dsk need help! Delgar! she called out to the boy. She scrabbled over to him, trembling and terrified. He would protect her! Yes, he had to!
But the Red could care about the Impression. She had tasted ichor, and she wanted more. She was hungry! She thirsted for ichor. Roaring, she jumped up and landed against Delgar`s chest. Claws racked in as she tore the boy apart. How dare he get in between her and her prey! She gave a low, primal growl before sinking her teeth into his throat. So warm. Fresh. Yes, first human blood. But it would not be the last. Now that she had taught this pathetic flesh bag a lesson, she turned to look at the screaming Green. Shut up! her roar seemed to say as her claws came down on the Green`s head, crushing the Green beneath her claws. Victory was hers! Who was next?
Risk roared with anger. Two Whers had been killed. But there was nothing she could do. Risk was grateful that the little Red was far enough away from Ausk. But the Red would have to figure something out. If she decided not to Impress, Risk was going to have to kill her. Now that the Red had blood and ichor in her stomach, what was stopping her from having more? But she had to wait. Maybe the Wher would Impress. Whoever Impressed her would have a hard time controlling her. But the Red turned and locked eyes on Risk. There was hatred there, but the Red would not dare attack Risk. Something told her that this one was not worth her time.
The clumsy Green had managed to pick herself up and hide behind the large egg when the Red had attacked the Blue. But now that the Red was chasing after the other Green, she knew this was her chance. She had to get off the Sands. Now! The dark color green on the inside of her wing membranes would be a beacon. She was a target for the Red! She ran towards the males, running head first into the one she wanted. The sheer force and concentration she had put into her run caused her to trip her new Handler. She chirped in surprise as she grabbed the pants of the legs of her wanted. Nikan! Off Sands! Now! Too dangerous for Nisk! she squealed, pulling Nikan pants and tripping again as she did so.
Name: Nisk Color: Green- 83E36E Info: Clumsy, optimistic, gets distracted easily, total sweetheart, big heart Pic: [IMG]http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg47/emperess_kia/Dalibor/GreenNisk.png[/IMG]
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Post by matsi on Apr 19, 2011 22:54:21 GMT -5
Nikan watched the eggs, excitement almost too much to handle. He watched as eggs shook and cracked, then split. Another, lighter green flopped out onto the ground, and by flopped, he meant FLOPPED. Nikan couldn’t help but grin. Then the light green continued to get up and look at other eggs. Then, the blue hatched. Niki watched with amused eyes as the green attacked her brother, seemingly very happy that she had a new friend on the sands with her. Though, the blue didn’t seem as pleased. Then, the red hatched. As soon as she appeared to the world, Nikan could tell something was wrong. His suspicions were proved when the red leapt onto the blue, almost taking one of the greens down with him. Nikan let out a startled yelp, accidentally peeing a little as he did so. How could something so young be so mean?! He felt sorrow, which was a rare emotion for him, as the red left the blue, dead in the sands. Nikan couldn’t tear his eyes from the dead body. Then, there was another sound. The sound of Wher on person. His eyes shifted back to the red, just as she ripped delgar to shred. The sight was enough to make him sick feeling to his stomach and back up slightly. He wasn’t liking the turn of events now. That red…was a monster! What if more like her hatched?! He wouldn’t be a happy Nikan anymore!
Just as Nikan’s thoughts started to get morbid, something collided with him and made him fall backwards into the sands. It scared him so badly, needless to say, his bladder let loose. At first, Nikan thought it was the red, then he saw the blinding color of green as the Wher clung to his legs. Nikan! Off Sands! Now! Too dangerous for Nisk! A small voice almost screamed into his head. His eyes were wild with the fear that pounded into his mind from the green. Danger? Of course there was danger. He knew that. Quickly, he sat up, grabbed his knife, and slit his palm, all while shaking with surprise. He slid his legs from under the green and wrapped his arms around her. ”Here,” He held his bleeding palm to the green, whos eyes were wildly colored. She wanted off the sands, and she wanted off NOW. She looked at his palm, then began licking at the crimson liquid. She was hungry. After a few laps, she looked up into Nikan’s face. Off Sands! Nisk in danger! Sands Bad! she yelled into Nikan’s mind again. Nikan flinched slightly and nodded. ”Alright, lets go. Lets get you safe! He said with an anxious nod. Her emotions were making his heart race, and making him panic. Soon, he felt a massive urge to get off the sands with Nisk, and to change his clothes. As soon as he was standing, Nikan placed his hand on Nisk’s green head. ”Come on, Nisk. We will be safe!” Nisk Safe? Nikan Safe? Now? ”Yes! We will be! Nikan almost busted out laughing. Only now was it setting in that he had just impressed Nisk. He had a wher. He had a green. He now had his dear Nisk!
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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 22:56:11 GMT -5
Kire eyed the other eggs but especially the little tiny Whers as they wandered across the sands. The little black was slightly lighter than the other that had impressed to Camea. She willed it towards her as it rolled across the sands. Literally. Ausk seemed a little reluctant to let the creature leave. But he had already run past the mother and out to the candidates. Kire almost laughed but composed herself and concentrated on the hatching with all her might. She focussed what brain power she had on assuring a Wher that she was to be trusted. She was a good person. She watched as the little Black continued to roll across the sands but it was tough to see him other than a dark shadow. She lost sight of him and squinted.
She could now only see the green that had hatched. Suddenly she heard something in her head. KIRE BEST. She turned, startled and then heard the squeaking voice again, Kisk is... KISS She gasped as she felt a sharp pain in her leg and stumbled a little but couldn't help smiling. She had impressed! She had done it! And she hadn't even needed to cut herself! She turned and hugged Kisk with a laugh of excitement and adoration for the little creature. He was just the best thing that had ever happened to her. Kisk! Kire and Kisk! She hugged him again and got to her feet groggily. She would need to clean up the blood but who cared! She had someone who she could love forever.
"Kisk! You're... You're amazing!" She told him. Kisk sent a wave of excited emotions to her as they trotted off the sands, Kisk almost rolling once again, pudgy feet moving almost faster than he could handle. Kire best. Kisk love! Kisk want kiss! Kire laughed and wandered into the stands leaving a trail of blood. A man bustled over and thrust some bandages into her hands. "Kire kiss Kisk!" She said and bent and kissed the Wher. Kisk waggled his tail and whole body happily, waving his little wings almost skipping in excitement. Kire wrapped the bandages around her leg and went to search for Camea and watch the rest of the hatching. She had been so enamoured with Kisk that she had missed the more... Dramatic events.
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Tedaon tilted his head to the side when he heard and spotted a candidate being bitten on the leg. He watched the pair as they made their way off the sands. He'd get to work on that as soon as he could. No point letting a candidate, wherling, bleed out upon impressing. He waited patiently, Neras Flittering overhead and then his heart sank as he looked back to the Sands.
A Red. Why a Red. Why was it always a Red. She tore into one of her brothers and then charged across the sands at a Green and, more importantly a Candidate boy. Tedaon almost called out in horror as the boy was torn to shreds literally. He grabbed bandages and shoved some into the hands of the Wherling wandering into the Stands and bustled past her. There was nothing he could do though. Nothing. He stopped at the entrance to the stands and stared on in horror. A candidate. Dead. He had seen nothing like it before. Neras shrieked and promptly betweened in fear, sending a message for Tedaon to leave also.
He could not. He felt as though he was frozen there and rubbed his face in shock. He had been able to do nothing...
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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 19, 2011 23:23:40 GMT -5
((OOC: Edited because I finally noticed that my last paragraph has fallen off somewhere.))
Another Green broke shell; there was something very familiar about the way she started darting around until she was joined by her Blue brother. Damali held her breath, eyes focused on the wherets, and missed the Red breaking shell.
From that moment on, everything seemed like it was moving so slowly. The Red tearing into the poor little Blue, the way the color faded from hie eyes in that way she remembered so well. The new Green tearing straight for them, straight for Delgar, that tiny moment where realization set in on what must be happening, and she was sososo happy for her best friend! But then...the Red was right behind Delgar's Green.
And then the Red leaped on Delgar and all Damali could do was watch in numb fascination as his hand was ripped straight out of her own. Blood spattered on her as her best friend was...was torn apart in front of her while she stood and did nothing.
And then the Red went after the Green, Delgar's Green. The sound her tiny body made under the vicious Red's claws as they broke her was like a signal for time to speed up again. She didn't even think, she just acted; wounded person – get them to her brother. She turned towards the stands even as she grabbed a hold of Delgar, ignoring the little voice that told her that there was no point anymore and dragged him away as quickly as she could.
Lokien didn't even think about what he was doing, jumping from the Sands the moment the Red landed on his sister's little friend. Something tight in his chest loosened a little when Damali started moving away from the Red at last, and to do what he'd drilled in her head again and again! He waited as close as he dared, having the sense at least to not venture into the danger zone lest he set one of the clutchmothers off by his interference.
Damali reached him and backed away from...what was left of her friend. Lokien squeezed her arm as he knelt down to examine Delgar, to see if he could do anything to help, but Damali pulled away, setting back towards the clutch. “What are you doing?” her brother hissed, grabbing for her, but she evaded, wet eyes locked on the little broken Green. The little Green who was supposed to be her best friend's companion.
She didn't care if she was disqualified from Standing by pulling Del away, or by what she was about to do. She didn't care if it would provoke anyone. Delgar deserved to have his wher, even if...even if he couldn't have her in life. She was going in to get the Green, and she was going to make sure the Green ended up by Delgar's side.
It was the least she could do.
A little common sense had reasserted itself by the time she reached her former place on the Sands. She was close enough to the little Green's body to defend it if necessary, but even she now realized that she couldn't risk pulling it away until after the Hatching was finished. Knowing that didn't help her not to feel guilty every time she looked down and saw Delgar's blood in the sand, though.
((OOC: Blue, if you need my to edit Damali's actions, let me know and I'll be happy to.))
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Apr 19, 2011 23:29:46 GMT -5
At first, the hatching was amazing; Niton watched the whers tumble onto the sands and interact, his smile widening. They were so sweet, and surely one of them would be Rin's?
Then, suddenly, it all went wrong. Not long after he clapped for the first Impression, a fiendish red burst out of her shell, and within what felt like seconds, two wherlets and a candidate were dead, and all trace of happiness fled from Niton's features. He'd heard, of course, about how things could go wrong at hatchings, especially when reds were involved - people mauled and maimed, new hatchlings viciously ripped apart. But it was one thing to know it happened and another to see life crushed out of small bodies, especially when you had friends down on the sands.
He clapped a hand over his mouth in horror, looking around the stands for everyone else's reactions, and spotted his roommate not far away. He immediately ran over to sit beside Jerrith, making a little squeaking sound. For someone who was usually all smiles, it was quite a change.
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Atenna arrived to the hatching rather late, crossing her arms over her chest. She was not expected to help with any healing that should be required, since people and whers were not her forte. That didn't make it any less painful to watch as the red began her rampage across the sands. The other wherlets and the candidate were dead before anyone could begin to intervene, but Atenna still itched to run down and help, somehow.
Mostly, however, she just felt awful for the red, and for whichever candidate she Impressed to - if she Impressed at all. It wasn't easy for someone to control a red at the best of times, and to deal with the guilt of a lifemate who had already killed three times...well, Atenna at least didn't judge. It was in the nature of reds, as depressing as it was, and everyone here ought to know it by now.
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Post by purnip on Apr 20, 2011 0:04:17 GMT -5
It was a rather pleasant Hatching. At first. Pananarie delighted in the first Black, then the 'FIRST' Black, and Greens who were as sweet as pastries. She was leaning forward, excited beyond all belief and imagining because she loved a good Hatching and she didn't care what kind of creatures came of them. All of them were precious in their own way. If they weren't people wouldn't be able to stand so close and Impress to them--kind of like Impressing to a dragon.
She had all kinds of questions she wanted to ask, noticing as the first Candidate to Impress cut herself for the darker Black to lap up her blood. Was that normal? She couldn't remember Demeth bringing it up. She then noticed Kisk taking a bite of Kire, another person she didn't know but felt somewhat sympathetic for. It was strange and somewhat scary; it looked like half of these Candidates would surely be mauled at this rate, for even the friendly whers had to cause a little harm for their bonds to be true. She wanted to talk, even if it was going to have to be to herself at this point. It was then that she briefly noted K'leb's existence and leaned his way, even though he was about three or four seats away. She still had her eyes fixed on the Hatching, so she had to project. "This is normal, right?" She didn't even glance his way. It was pure intuition. Maybe she wouldn't have spoken to him if she realized he was a man, but she only sensed another human being.
As she asked, a few more eggs were toppling about and spilling young. A couple of Greens, cute as could be, and a Blue that suddenly became involved in their game. But the color of his eyes did not reflect any joy. He seemed to be frightened. Pan thought it might have had something to do with his nature; she knew dragons who were pretty timid and shy.
That was, until the bane of Risk's clutch made her entrance.
Pan held her breath at the sight of her, beautiful as she was. Yet typically, she was wary of Reds. It took a lot to put any fear into her, or just the right kind of things, but Reds were often explosively aggressive. A murderous intent always gleamed in their eyes. She knew what was going to happen, delayed only by a half-second when it actually did happen. She attacked the Blue, killed him swiftly, and charged after a Green. The darker Green fled towards the boys, trying to reach one of them in particular, but the Red bulldozed the poor lad and sunk her teeth into his neck, as if attempting to bleed him dry. She didn't waste time in taking out her sister as well, leaving one frightened Green hiding behind her unhatched siblings. It was this sort of thing Pan did not want to see. She felt like she was already getting to know that Green. That Blue. Even that boy. But all three of them were gone now, and somehow the lighter Green had to make it to safety.
Pan forgot about her proposed question as she watched the Green make a run for it. "Please...please make it," she prayed. Her fists were clenched as she tried to urge the young one on. That Red's temper was unbelievable. Pan couldn't believe how something so young and fresh could be so violent right off the bat. Could it Impress? Would it? What would happen if she tried to kill again?
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Admin
Administrator
brect[M:-2154]
Posts: 3,754
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Post by Admin on Apr 20, 2011 2:17:05 GMT -5
Well, they encourage your complete cooperation, Send you roses when they think you need to smile. I can't control myself because I don't know how, And they love me for it, honestly, I'll be here for a while.
Obelir slipped into the back, Obelisk at his heels. The blue hummed away, welcoming his new brothers and comrades, but Obelir was silent. He scanned the crowd. There really wasn't much of a crowd; Bri wasn't present. However, Ezekiel was and he noticed the boy's presence with a smile! He slipped over to where Ezekiel was sitting, careful to mind his step and stay quiet. He did not wish to attract Ausk or Risk's ire. However, it appeared that he had other things that should have been worrying him. He hadn't thought himself terribly late, though Obelisk was informing him with pictures that several eggs had already hatched, the blue's eyes fixed on the eggs rather than the crowd. However, it seemed things were already taking a very bloody turn, one that was far worse than Obelir had hoped. He avoided looking at the scene, knowing he couldn't interfere.
Obelisk tripped Obelir up when he tried to cross the last couple feet between where he stood and Ezekiel. The blue twined protectively around his handler and friend's feet, trying to keep himself between them and any danger the sands might bring. He was a good wher! He guarded his handler and his friends first, then everyone else! That was what he had to do! Obelir tried to calm the blue, trying to remember his training, but his heart wasn't really in it. He didn't know what to say. Even he knew quoting death statistics would have been out of place and there wasn't anything he could actually do. Going out onto the sands would probably get him killed, if not by Ausk, then by the new red. Hunkering down next to Ezekiel, he didn't say a word, furtively looking over the bloody corpses in front of them. Obelisk remained pressed against his and Ezekiel's legs.
A few meters down the wall, Paget was also watching, one of the small contingent of crafters who'd decided to attend. She was doing it for prosperity's sake more than out of actual interest in the affair. She'd never spent much time around whers and didn't plan on spending much more time around them in the future. However, this hatching, this bloody affair, was an important part of Pern's future and that interested her, however clinical that interest was. She didn't lack passion when the young red, so very much like Ausk, appeared. She was rather disgusted with the little beast, wasting life and limb when she was only a few seconds passed birth, and found all of the hatchlings quite ugly. They'd grow into strong, powerful beasts, of course, that would protect her in her sleep, but in their first moments, they were horrendously ugly and she'd think nothing else.
Despite their inelegant visages, Paget watched the hatching with an air of cool disdain. Delgar's limp body did strike a chord. She bit back a snarl at the sight of Damali dragging it away, as if that would do it some good. Most of the hatchlings, tiny creatures, though muscled even in their youth, weren't much of a threat. While the fighters could doubtlessly give nasty scars, only the red was big enough to be a real killer at that point. How unfortunate that she was the one born hateful, even by the standards of whers. Paget had thought the beasts might be more placid in youth, but it seemed that she had been wrong. It didn't really bother her. What bothered her was what Damali was doing. Huffing and glowering, the harper leveraged herself up and stalked towards Damali, attempting to firmly shove her back into place before she reached any of the dead whers.
So give them blood, blood, gallons of the stuff! Give them all that they can drink and it will never be enough, So give them blood, blood, blood, Grab a glass because there's going to be a flood!
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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 20, 2011 3:33:52 GMT -5
Two blacks hatched and a green, although it hardly mattered to Camea. Her eyes were on the larger eggs, those destined to contain larger whers in them that would be fit for her. She had clawed and fought for where she was every step of the way, after all. It was much more than some queen or kingriders could say. Wouldn't that be worthy of a ranking wher? Sadly, there wasn't a gold in the mix, as there was no metallic egg, but there could be an iron or a bronze or a red. So focused she was on the other eggs that she hardly noticed the little black trotting right up to her. Only at the last minute did she scowl down at him to hear foreign, masculine words enter her head.
Camea, Cask protect. Loyal only you. Think. What next? She blinked, speechless. Wait... what? This was what she got? Even as the emotions of impression overwhelmed her supposedly "better judgment" she was in a state of disbelief. Cask? It was part of her name... this creature had taken her name! He was part of her now. Yes. Cask. The mental words were formed like a grunt. Goodness, he hadn't picked a dumb one, had he? But, no... she reached a hand for the knife in her belt and looked from it to her hand. She knew what to do. HisCamea would always know what to do. And he would protect her until the end of his days.
Camea drew a slit across the tougher side of her palm, kneeling and reaching out to let Cask lap up the blood. The black did so greedily, his eyes never leaving hers even as he tasted the essence of his handler's being. Blood bonding. The new blackhandler couldn't say that she didn't like the idea. Even if he wasn't what she expected, they were part of each other now... at least for the moment. She'd make the best out of it. Together they'd make names for themselves that no one would ever forget.
She stood again, grunting a c'mon to the black as she led the way toward the meat set aside for the wherets. As the days passed she might slowly grow to love him in her own way, but until then she would not treat him any more than an over-glorified guard dog. He would be useful. Loyalty, he quoted, which was good. He'd protect her too, which was also good considering she wasn't exactly the most physically fit of her peers. But love? She didn't think she was ready for that.
Darryl watched with eager eyes as another green and then a blue made their way onto the sands. The blue seemed nice. He could relate to a blue. They were considered to be stable, hard-working folk, right? However, it seemed it wasn't meant to be. A red made her way onto the sands, fierce and commanding. She drew his attention even from Ausk, who was also a frightening presence on the sands. But Ausk hadn't killed anyone at this hatching. This new red, all ire and might, killed the blue and quickly made her way for the candidates. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.
Delgar had not been standing too far away from him when the red attacked. She reamed his flesh from his bone with such terrifying ferocity that for a moment Darryl thought his feet might bolt their way off the sands. But he regained control of his fears. Stay strong. Stay strong. He held his ground even as he watched his peer die a horrifying, brutal death. Even when it was over, and the boy and a green near him dispatched from life, Darryl couldn't tear his eyes away. The mangled remains of candidate and wher imprinted themselves upon his retinals, all bloody and torn-up as thought shredded beef for a stew. It didn't sit well with him. Someone needed to calm the red down. Someone needed to make her stop. But she wasn't his wher and this wasn't his hatching, so he stayed put. His eyes followed her with caution.
Tesla, meanwhile, was a nervous wreck. She would have run away by now if it wasn't for feeling like she was frozen to the ground. Her legs refused to move, but she was definitely panicking. Heartbeats resounded in her ears as loud as a dragon's roar and her arm was getting redder by the minute as each layer of dead skin came peeling off. Tiny red dots where forming where her nervous habit drove her to scratch, as if even those tiny bits of blood were so fearful they were trying to escape from her very skin. When Risk roared the girl flinched, frozen in time for a moment as she clenched her eyes shut tight and she stopped her scratching. Black swirled in her vision, unfriendly and lurking. Would she be next? Would the red kill her as well? How much of a mess that would make! Eyes shut tight, she awaited the worst.
Camea looked over at the red with longing in her eyes. So powerful and feared... why couldn't she have been impressed to that magnificent beast? It didn't matter who the red had killed or the atrocities that had already occurred that night. She wanted a strong wher! One that would make others cower in fear! Cask looked up from where he was eating and his eyes met his handler's as she instinctively looked down. Camea better than red! Red no good! His voice was strong, forceful. The sentiment caused a smirk brighten her face. Of course, Cask was something special, although she wasn't quite sure how yet. Camea and Cask would show the whole of Pern how amazing they really were! But, until then, she had to keep up appearances. She took a few steps to where Kire and Kisk were, a patient smile playing across her lips.
"Congratulations." She said in a moderate deadpan, appropriate with the death that had just happened. Her eyes scanned down to the black wher that belonged to her roommate. Odd, that they would both impress black. She was sure Kire would belong to some silly green or blue. Black held a certain amount of mystery, Camea thought... even if she was just justifying her impression to herself. And Kire was... just not the mysterious type.
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Post by larkwing on Apr 20, 2011 5:26:37 GMT -5
Rin smiled as more of Risk's eggs began to hatch. The babies within were trying to race each other out of their shells it seemed. Prancing a tiny bit, the candidate held his breath as the first of these new eggs started to hatch. Another green was out! She was a much darker green than her sister, but still had that happy joy tumbling off of her in waves.
Would this one be his? Suddenly another egg hatched and a proud blue decided to appear. Or that one, could that one be mine? Rin watched as the green ran over to meet her newborn sibling. That's when everything went horribly bad. A red! Another sharding red had hatched out of Risk's egg, and the sub-queen was out for blood.
She started with the blue, tearing through the prey easily. Even then though, the red apparently had not had enough. With a cry she had decided to go for the green as well. Rin gasped as the green fled over to the candidates, the red on her heals. He knew the moment the red toppled him over. Her claws digging into part of his flesh. Holding his leg, the candidate was just glad that the red for now had decided to leave him be.
Or at least, Rin was happy until he saw the green call out to Hers. The red would have none of that though. Delgar had no chance really. Rin couldn't take his eyes off of the body either. The sub-queen quickly killed the gree wher too. Blood and Ichor, it was everywhere. The smell of it seeping into Rin's senses. Putting a hand to his mouth, he tried not to cry. However, his tears came anyway.
There was no need to try and control his jitters now. He had none. His body didn't want to move around anymore. Not too mention, that his leg hurt terribly. Keeping a wary eye on the red, Rin almost missed the first green's impression. At least she's free now. Glancing at the red momentarily, Rin grimaced. He hoped she didn't impress. Anyone with that particular wher might even rival Ausk. Speaking of the adult red, Rin wondered what the female's reaction would be.
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Post by alix on Apr 20, 2011 6:39:46 GMT -5
Malissa gasped as the red wherlet tore into her own brother. She must have been trying to join into their game and misjudged her own strength. After all, she was bigger than they were. Surely she hadn't actually meant to hurt the Blue, she just didn't know her own strength. That had to be it.
And then the Green, understandably startled, dashed towards the Candidates. Towards Delgar, with the Red hot on her heels, totally unaware that to her sister, this wasn't a game of tag. The dragon candidate was just about to release her hold on Shalarissa's tail to clap for Delgar's Impression, when the Red jumped him.
She cried out, unconsciously squeezing her firelizard's tail hard enough to draw an indignant squawk from the pink, prompting her to release it and clamp her hands over her mouth in shocked terror. Delgar... was bleeding. Wasn't moving. And the Red had caught her green sister now, with about the same results as her pounce on the Blue.
"Stop it," she whispered through tears. "You're playing too rough." Because the Red had to be playing; she refused to accept that the wher could be acting out of malice. Animals and dragons and everything in between (such as whers and firelizards) didn't possess malice in her world.
She saw Damali drag Delgar off the Sands like a ragdoll, over toward her brother. Maybe he wasn't dead. Maybe Lokien could...? Somewhere, she knew it was a vain hope, and a foolish one. When Damali returned to her former spot on the Sands she had to bite her own hand to stay quiet.
It didn't matter if the Red wasn't acting out of malice. She didn't want to lose both her best friends. She didn't want Damali to be so close to the blood and ichor soaking into the Sands.
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Post by veritas on Apr 20, 2011 7:00:35 GMT -5
Strange. At first, the excitement of the Hatching had enraptured Jerrith. He'd leaned forward in his seat as more of the eggs had cracked, eager to see more of the hatchlings find their partners.
And then... there was the red.
He recoiled in shock as the red tore into her own blue clutchmate, but that wasn't the worst of it. Chasing down the green, for whatever reason - and then -
The harper sank back in his feet, ashen. The Candidate who should have been rejoicing his Impression - gone. Just like that. A human life snuffed out, and one - no, two whers along with it... and for what? This wasn't even the doing of an animal - animals would lash out if they were cornered, or hurt, or otherwise in dire need. This rampage was... was monstrous.
And yet in spite of the building horror, he couldn't look away. He was dimly aware of his roommate settling next to him, but he couldn't even spare a glance or gesture through the sick fascination.
Lyra stood up on his right shoulder, wings half-spreed, keening. Magpie, on the left, creeled more softly, nuzzling Jerrith's cheek, trying to console him.
Husk's low, excited hum faltered as chaos began to unfold. That red was killing his younglings! And the human youngling, too! He wanted to jump down, to herd her away, to keep the others safe! But he couldn't. Those weren't his sands, and he couldn't cross Risk. Couldn't keep even that red from finding the right person.
Hustafer let out a breath, his hand tensing against Husk's shoulder. He remembered that boy, remembered his energy, his vivacious spirit. All gone, now. He'd never walk with his own lifemate on patrol, never have another adventure with his friends. And then there were the hatchlings that would never get a proper chance to live.
He shook his head. Wher hatchings could be rough, sure, even compared to those of dragons, but it was never pleasant to see things turn this bad.
"You had a good heart, kid," he said to himself. "I'd have been glad to work with you."
But there were still eggs to hatch, still bonds to be made. The night had seen an early tragedy, but there could still be some joy in it yet.
The Candidates - the wherlings - would be shaken, though. They'd need help getting used to their new partners, and some of them might have shock to get over, too.
Hustafer pushed up to his feet. "C'mon, buddy," he said to Husk. "Let's watch from down there."
Husk come, the wher acknowledged, though he lingered one moment longer, gazing down at the lives starting and ending below, before turning to follow his handler out of the gallery and toward the entrance to the sands.
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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 20, 2011 7:51:09 GMT -5
Tedaon watched with some detatchment as the girl began to drag the candidate boy off the sands. Apparently she was some relation to the other Journeyman. He hurried forwards and looked down at the... Boy... There was nothing he could do to help the candidate... Wherling, for he had impressed. In his gut he felt sick, in his heart he felt pain and it was not so much that he was shocked for he knew that things like this happened during Hatchings... Well... Not like this... But he knew that there were maulings. All the time and more often than not it happened because of the Reds. But there had been nothing to do! Nothing to help with. He had been unable to even try to save the boy. It was a humbling feeling. And it made him feel sick.
He looked at the other Journeyman grimly, eying the girl as she made her way back to the sands. He took a bandage and, with as much care as he would offer any patient, wiped blood away from the boy's face. He had many more, and he wouldn't have to worry about infection on this one. He also didn't care what anyone might think about his actions. The boy didn't deserve to stay like that. He was silent. Then he looked back at the hatching, eyes narrowed as he glared at the Red. At least Risk would not allow the Wher to leave without impressing someone. At least once she impressed someone would be able to control her. Hopefully.
He only noticed then that one of the greens had just impressed. No one seemed to notice, however, enough to clap or anything. Everyone seemed far too shocked to move. Tedaon felt much the same. He stepped back though, away from the grieving Journeyman and sat down in the stands. But he would have to still pay attention and make sure nothing else happened. It was his job.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Kire looked up at the sands and noticed something. Surely she hadn't bled that much but then she realised what had happened. Her hand flew up to her mouth and her eyes widened to saucerpans. Wherlings dead! She could see their crushed bodies... And... No... That wasn't right! It couldn't be! She crouched down not wanting to see anything. It wasn't real! It was just a silly prank by someone. She hugged Kisk tight and tears fell from her eyes. But she had to be brave. She had Kisk now and she needed to protect him while he ate. She wouldn't let that horrible Red near him ever! She stood once again.
Kisk waggled again once he felt the emotions of His become a little more stable. He pranced forward and out to some meat. There was already that Black there! A friend! He ate his food quickly eying some of the other candidates on the sands with suspicion and especially the Whers. They smelled like him but they were not the Best. Not like his BestKire. Best Kire. Feed Kisk. Kisk good. What smell?
Kire smiled sadly but with some happiness at the Wher and then looked up as Camea approached. She reached out to hug the other Wherling, knowing that it was not conventional but she needed to do something. She didn't know what else to do! Kisk was eating and she couldn't think. Nothing was right. "Thank you!" She said quietly, "Congratulations"
She said it in the same way Camea had. With quiet shock and sadness... But this should have been a happy time for all of them. For the boy that had impressed also. It was not as good as she'd hoped. It had been for but a moment.
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Post by blue on Apr 20, 2011 9:36:31 GMT -5
The Hatching was getting started in earnest, and Delgar bounced on the balls of his feet as more eggs Hatched and Ausk's black Impressed to Kire. He clapped for her. There were more eggs for Damali and him; he wouldn't begrudge her her Impression. He glanced up into the Stands, noticing that Maly had arrived. Delgar's face borke into a grin and he waved energetically at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the Hatching.
A green and a blue had emerged from their eggs in Risk's clutch, and they were playing together. They were adorable, and certainly seemed like the perfect Adventuring type. And there were two of them, already friends! Maybe they could Impress to him and Damli. Wouldn't that be perfect? And then, the egg behind them broke, revealing a red. The green noticed in time, leaping away, but the blue…the poor blue didn't stand a chance, and Delgar squeezed Damali's hand as his eyes slowed and faded. He didn't even have a name or a chance to bond and now he was gone.
And the green… The red was after her now, and Delgar silently urged her to run faster, get away, find somewhere to hide until the red Impressed and could be contained. Delgar! Dsk need help! Delgar![/color]
"Dsk!" She was his wher now, and he stepped forward to protect her from the angry red, blocking the red's path to Dsk. He didn't expect the wher to keep going. She ripped into him, and Delgar didn't have any chance to react. He saw the blood staining his white robes, and wondered hysterically how he was going to get the stains out. Then the red's teeth came, and he thought nothing more.
Dsk keened as the newly-made bond shattered. No! Hers was supposed to protect her! The red wasn't supposed to get him too! They were going to have Adventures like the ones she had seen in Hers' mind! A wher could form a new bond, but before Dsk recovered from the first one shattering enough to contemplate it, the red turned back on her again and Dsk joined Hers sprawled on the Sands.
(OOC: RIP, Delgar and Dsk, Adventurers of my heart.)
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Apr 20, 2011 10:22:15 GMT -5
Qosis rose from his seat somewhat later than Lokien, who after all had that very personal investment on the field. He leaned toward the end of the row, then stopped to peer behind him. At Tasia. He looked down his nose at her, his face a mask of professional detachment wrapped in color-drained skin. For all she had said to him, he only now uttered his second response to her:
"Stay."
He walked with that easy, long stride down the row and to the stairs. And from there he joined the gaggle of gawkers beside the Sands, not quite close enough to provoke either queen. Had Tasia never broken the veil over the last Hatching for him, he might have allowed this as a very extreme case of hatchling hunger-confusion. Like they had been told. It was perfectly fine for Candidates to get dented and scratched, and though he had never thought a wheret comparable to a dragonet in killing capacity, it was alright for humans to die.
When he stopped at the corpse so helpfully dragged off the Sands by Damali, it was only to squat down and rummage around the bloody hands and hips. The thing he wanted to pilfer was not there. Qosis' head turned to follow the puddles of gore marking Delgar's last adventure. His eyes stopped at a silvery glint on the boundary of the Sands, then rose to the murdered Green Lokien's sister was soldiering after, then at last settled on the hideous young Red squatting in the sand. Not an accident. Not confusion. And now she was waiting for others to show their faces. Other Greens she could take without challenge. Meanwhile, the Red's mother remained an impotent glittering fixture at the Hatching's center. He straightened and walked to the border, his long arm swiping up the lost bonding knife. His attention flickered momentarily to the sour-looking woman moving almost in step with him, to a different purpose.
Qosis did not have a sheath for the blade, so he slipped it down an inline pouch beneath the collar of one boot. The pouch was made to fit an Igen knife he had relinquished as a condition of Candidacy, so it held this small one handsomely. And it was...small. But adequate, he thought, looking after the Red. He did not move onto the Sands, into the range of the queens' poorly focused ire. It was not the getting killed part that was problematic; only that he would not reach the murderer before death clawed into his back too. But if the Red would be so gracious as to return to the scene of the crime...that would be different.
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Zane
Drudge
zanect[M:0]
They see me rollin', they hatin'.~
Posts: 40
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Post by Zane on Apr 20, 2011 15:03:25 GMT -5
The voice of the Gold boomed into her head, and she sat-up in a startled manner. She hadn’t been sleeping, more or less resting. She’d been restless these past few days see, what with knowing that the eggs were bound to hatch at any given time. She hadn’t so much bothered to introduce herself to any of the other Candidate’s. She didn’t feel like dealing with the dramatic persons whom would rather not accept her just the way she was. It wasn’t like dragons or whers cared about sexuality! So, why should people? ”People are dumb, that’s why,” she said, answering her own question. Either way, it was hatching-time!
She reached a hand under her pillow, smirking once she’d pulled out the dagger. ”Is it normal for most people to keep a knife under their pillow? Probably not, but at least I have a good excuse,” she spoke aloud, not talking to anyone in particular of course, what with Scroll and Coral sleeping all tangled up amongst one another. She glimpsed the pair, knowing she couldn’t take them, again: too much drama. Drama was something she’d prefer to avoid, at all costs.
Keely got-up and made her way to the bathing rooms. She couldn’t very well just leave the barracks straight from her bed! She had some sort-of confusing and nonsensical reputation to uphold. She was peering in the looking glass while others were already out the doorway and on their way to the sands. She speculated, and wound-up tying her hair back. She fixed a strand here and there, muttering to herself the whole while before finally grinning at her reflection. ”There, perfect. And I do mean perfect,” she chuckled, wondering if her self confidence ever went amiss by those she encountered.
Heading back into the rooms, she went to her chest to take out her robes, shaking them to get the dust off. It was surprising just how quickly dust collected here, or anywhere, for that matter. She didn’t want to look like a filthy holdless girl. She’d bear the Apprentice Dolphineer rank well. She had zero doubt that she would’ve become a Journeyman, had she stayed. There had been places to go, and whers to see, however. How could she turn down the opportunity? Well, she couldn’t have, and so here she was. Scroll and Coral hadn’t minded a change of scenery either, as much as they loved their Southern home. It was their heritage, so to speak, as it was hers.
As she was getting on her robes she felt the pair stirring. The last thing she needed was for them to awake and fuss over coming with her. They seemed to think that hiding was always the answer. It was awful hard to hide a pair of green flitt’s when they were such chatterboxes. They’d be silent for a moment, and then start making all sorts of sounds. The only place that Keely had ever thought to hide them would be in her shirt, but misshapen breasts weren’t attractive, last she heard. No, they’d have to deal with the fact they couldn’t be everywhere with her, every second, not like they used to be. Moving to Dalibor Weyr had required some changes, necessary changes. Having a free moment from her flitt’s wasn’t a bad thing, not at all, she was finding out. It gave her more time for unobtrusive thinking and just good ‘ole alone time.
She was out the door and walking along, taking her sweet time, and in realizing this she picked up the pace after a stretch or two. She was swinging her arms as she went along, whistling a tune to herself. Didn’t matter whether she was surrounded by few or by many, she was always in a fair mood. She knew how to be independent, and yet happy. Even if she truly didn’t wish to be alone, she made it work. She knew that nothing was permanent; well... she wanted to believe that nothing was permanent. She was having an inner battle with that one, deeming herself a lost cause and whatnot. It’s not like anyone else knew! No, not with how she acted. She was the master of facade’s and putting up fronts.
The sands were warm, very warm, reminding her of the south. She shook off all nostalgia, standing with the female Candidate’s as she was instructed. They all looked as eager as she felt. Observing the stands above, and the area around and beyond, it took her a moment to recall that she was supposed to respectfully greet the clutchmother and her bonded. The gold wher looked tense, the very reason why Keely remained in place trying to come up with suitable excuses as to why she hadn’t bothered to approach them. Having come a tad late, well, maybe more than a tad... her excuse soon came. Her dagger was safely stored in one of her large pockets. She wasn’t going to be a wimp about what she had to do.
When the red began its rampage, and the blue wher was mercilessly killed, Keely’s eyes went wide in shock. She stepped back, not even knowing she’d done so, her subconscious telling her that she should stay further away. The sands were not safe, not anymore! This exciting little clutch had turned into a massacre. The red soon tore apart a newly-bonded boy, and his green was next on the menu when it came to cannibalism. She looked away, unable to watch. It was far too gruesome; a boy had just been killed! Was that about to be her? She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, threatening to flood out all other sounds coming into her head! She took another step back, a near stumble. She wasn’t ashamed by her fear, who in their right mind wasn’t afraid right now? It was hard to be happy for the two black’s that had impressed when the newest pair was, yeah, dead. Were all reds the same? Shells if she knew!
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Gray
Wingrider
grayct[M:-350]
Posts: 870
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Post by Gray on Apr 20, 2011 15:52:45 GMT -5
And another impression! Everything was going so well. Lyr clapped along with the rest when Kire impressed the black. She did understand Ausk though. As a mother, she too would be sad when Kidanyr left the proverbial nest. Then there was a blue, and then a green! Lyr wondered if her own hatching would be like this, so calm and wonderful. Lyr sighed happily. Of course, nothing good lasts.
A red hatched, a violent volatile terrible red. Lyr's expression changed quickly from one of intense joy, to one of intense concern. She had never seen a red, neither wher nor dragon, before today. But she had heard of them. They were ruthless, and this one was no exception. Soft, pained sound was all Lyr could make when she tore into the blue. He was dead, but she was not finished. Eyes set on the newly hatched green, and she chased her down. She didn't kill her though, not yet. The green must have impressed. Lyr watched, her breath caught in her throat as the red ripped into the young candidate. Like the blue, there was no hope for him. Even then the red's bloodlust was not sated. Though she could not hear it well from where she sat, she knew the green was dead, crushed beneath the red. Tears welled in the young woman's arm.
One hand reached over and settled on Ezekiel's shoulder, Lyr giving it a soft squeeze.
–
This was so much fun. Ezekiel was so happy he came! Already the blacks had impressed! Eagerly, he clapped his hands, bouncing in his seat as he did. He cheered as both a blue and another green hatched, they were just bursting out of their eggs now. Hand lifted to cover his mouth as he stifled a laugh. They were playing just like children. Then again, they were children. He cast a glance to the candidates, wondering who those two would choose. While he was looking away, the red hatched. When he turned back the red was already charging for the blue.
Look of horror etched itself on his face as he watched the red tear into the blue. Why would she do this? They were her siblings! They had just been playing! What reason... What right did she have to kill the blue? Head buried into his hands as she barreled after the green. He would now only peek between his fingers. Ezekiel had not yet noticed Obelir, to transfixed by the horror on the sands. Obelisk brushing up against his leg made him jump a bit. It was then that he saw Obelir. Hand raised in weak greeting, before he looked to the blue wher.
Lyr's hand on his shoulder more or less woke him from his slight stupor. Looking back to the sands, he clapped for Nikan and the newly named Nisk. Was this normal? He wanted to ask Obelir, but he couldn't find his voice.
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Tasia felt out of place. Where every one was enchanted, she was starting to lose interest. It seemed too tame. She had heard wher hatchings were violent. This one seemed to be an exercise in friendlessness. It wasn't until the red hatched that things got interesting. Tasia leaned forward a bit, tilting her head some. Well this was interesting. Tasia had seen a red dragon hatchling before, but she was no where near as violent as this wher. She watched as it ripped into it's blue sibling, her nose twitching fainly. She didn't like where this was going. Her green sister was next. Tasia watched in horrified fascination as the red collided with a candidate who stepped in to shield the green. How could one be so foolish?
She shook her head, wincing as the red ripped into him, claws and teeth ending his life. Tasia shook her head, both in disgust and sadness. When Qosis stood and gave her a command, she glanced up to him. What was he going to do. She let him get up, but followed once he was a bit away. No way was she going to let him do something foolish. She paused to look at the corpse of the boy, Delgar. She felt a small twinge in her chest, only now noticing that a few tears prickled at the edges of her eyes. He was so young, and he had just impressed. Turning to watch Qosis, she chewed on her bottom lip. Seeing the knife in his hand, she shook her head. What foolish idea did he have in his head now?
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Sakoru
Drudge
THE FEARSOME FIERY BEAST
Posts: 11
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Post by Sakoru on Apr 20, 2011 18:41:43 GMT -5
Everything was going smoothly. So marvelously smoothly - nobody had even been mauled yet! Eggs were cracking, splitting open, and revealing new hatchlings to the world: a green, and the first blue of this Hatching. Although Khemres was tense with anticipation, he wasn't afraid. And then the rusted orange egg split open, and out stepped the murderous, pink-footed red.
When it came to whers, the candidate was wary and respectful, but not necessarily afraid. That changed a little bit when the vicious sub-queen lunged for her siblings and tore into the blue. This was bad enough on its own; Khemres cringed at the loss of the baby, and then turned to follow the red's progress. Mistake! Mistake! She slammed into the albino's legs, taking out his feet so that he landed hard on his rear. With a grunt, Khemres shifted, but didn't get up yet. Instead, he watched the killer red chase her green sister. She was headed straight for his roommate.
For possibly the first time in his life, Khemres raised his voice to scream a warning. "DEL--!" The rest of the boy's name never left his mouth, though. There was no need. Strong jaws closed on Delgar's throat, and the albino's eyes widened in horror as the red slaughtered his roommate. He hadn't been really close with the boy, but did that matter? He was dead! The kid's sheer energy had been somewhat terrifying, but watching him die was worse, and Khemres pressed a hand to his mouth, partly because of shock, and partly because his hands were shaking so badly. Delgar had Impressed, and now his bonded was dead, too. It wasn't fair! A boy like that shouldn't have to die...!
Despite the fear and horror twisting in his stomach, though, the albino pulled himself to his feet again, heart hammering. Would someone else die? Would the red just run around killing everyone on the Sands until someone killed her, too? Khemres didn't envy whomever she Impressed - if she did. Maybe someone would just have to kill her. Even that was a repulsive thought. There shouldn't be death at Hatchings. There shouldn't be. Revolted by the savagery of the red, the candidate pulled his gaze from her, turning half away. If she planned to attack him, she'd do it whether or not he was looking at her. Might as well focus on the other quivering eggs, and hope for the best... although considering the roiling in his gut, Khemres suspected that 'the best' might include him vomiting into the Sands afterward if he caught even a second glimpse of Delgar's ruined body, and that of the little wher next to him.
Sagaral was violent, but he wasn't a monster. Even he was startled by the red ripping into her clutchmate, crushing his ribs before she lunged through the group of boys. She missed him, fortunately, but Delgar wasn't so lucky. A flurry of blood and claws and teeth, and the boy was dead, sprawled on the sand in a gruesome parody of his mother's death three Turns before. The two incidents were totally unrelated, but that sharding red tied them together, and Sagaral pressed his lips into a hard line. He remembered defending Iral's body just as Damali was defending Delgar's, in her own way. He remembered the blood - blood everywhere, all over the floor, and now all over the Sands.
It was disgusting. Disgusting! Rage boiled up in his throat, the old fallback when he couldn't bear to be afraid. He wasn't scared of the killer red, but he was angry with her, and the way she forced him to think of Isk and his mother and all the damned memories that came with them. Gritting his teeth, Sagaral watched the pink-footed red, his face white and grim. Somewhere under the rage, maybe he was afraid, but he wouldn't admit it. Never admit fear. That was his first rule.
She was just sitting there now, lurking over the dead green whose skull she'd crushed. Maybe the death didn't sicken him the way it did others, but the red's apparent pride in herself was almost as bad as the murders. Staring at the young wher, Sagaral curled his hands into loose fists, and then glanced towards the lighter green as she Impressed. He would have clapped, but he didn't want to draw attention to either himself for the little wher. People he could care less about, but whers? Whers were precious to him - although the red wasn't high on his list at the moment. She was brutal. Unnecessarily so. Killing people wasn't necessary, was it? Violence could be justified. Cold-blooded murder could not.
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Post by pocketowl on Apr 21, 2011 13:50:06 GMT -5
Fenrimere would have had a hard time explaining why she was late, should anyone have bothered to ask. Not having a roommate, on account of being so new to Dalibor, had spared her the convenience of a companion who was clued in to the developments down at the Sands. And while Risk had seen fit to call out to the nearby barracks, where the Candidates were most likely to be, this particular Candidate had been no where near her intended spot. Perhaps it was the distance, or perhaps the intense focus that the girl was levying on her current task, or even her unfamiliarity with voices projecting themselves into her mind. But she did not hear Risk's call, and continued in her work unabated.
It was simple work this time, nothing fancy. It was by sheer and brilliant lunch that she had found a bucket of oil unattended. She wasn't entirely sure what it was--she had never oiled a dragon, herself--but she was quickly made aware of how impossibly slippery it was. So it only made sense for her to be systematically going round the caverns, oiling every door knob or handle that she could find. A silly prank at best; anyone coming through would have some difficulty with opening the treated doors. Especially those with round doorknobs, Fen noted with some glee. A test run with her own hand had proved that, especially if one was not paying attention to technique, a knob would slip uselessly in a greasy hand. She had even gotten to witness a harried-looking drudge fussing with one such door--a close call, her having oiled it only a few minutes prior, and being conveniently hidden in a glow's shadow--and with only one hand to spare, the other being occupied with a heavy-looking bucket, it was nigh impossible for her to get the door open even a budge! Oh, Fen really did crack herself up sometimes.
The girl turned on her heel, ready to continue on her Mission of Utmost Importance, but she was too pleased with herself to avoid what happened next. She had thought herself alone, save for the annoyed and now rather slippery drudge, but another had been coming up behind her. It was into this unseen adversary that she turned into, the expression on her face flickering briefly from shock, to horror, then to innocence of the highest degree.
"I en't been doin' no 'arm!" Fenrimere had time to squeak as the offending drudge grabbed her by the arm, slopping oil over the sides of the jug and onto her hand. It proved fortuitous, the slippery limb and the leverage of leaning away from the man allowing her to slip out of his grasp. Not one to spurn good fortune, the prankster took off at a dead run, cradling the oil to her chest as she hurtled down the dim hallway.
The drudge had other matters to attend to, far more important than a snot-nosed mischief-maker, but he took the time to hurl a curse after her retreating footsteps. "Yeah, you'd best run, better hope those hatching baby whers don't catch and eat you!"
Fenrimere nearly tripped at the words, even considered stopping and asking him what he had meant. Surely the wher eggs weren't hatching just yet? Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of... announcement, or something? Someone had gone over the specifics of the process with her not soon after she had arrived, but she had been quick to forget all but the most basic. Don't irritate anything gold or red. Don't irritate whers, period. Something about a knife. Look presentable. She had none of these things covered. And if that drudge had known about the hatching already, who knew how far along it had progressed! Hoping desperately that she was wrong, that the threat of baby whers was meant for the future, Fen continued her spring towards what she hoped were the Hatching Sands. Again, someone had shown her where the hatching was to take place... but it was so easy to get turned the wrong way in these tunnels, so different from her sprawling seaside Hold, that it was only an educated guess at best. She didn't even think to run by her room beforehand, too preoccupied with the fear of having missed the hatching altogether. Would they kick her out? Would she not be allowed to stand?
While most of the other Candidates had arrived on time and collected--if not wholly calm, their nerves understandably jangled--well-dressed, and armed, Fenrimere was none of these things when she finally reached the Sands, her sides heaving for want of breath. She had missed the beginning of the hatching, and would take a few moments to even begin putting together what had transpired. She was not wearing the finest of her clothing, and given that even her finest was not so fine as all that, she was unfortunately close to looking sloppy. Adding oafishness to sloppiness was the fact that one of her hands was drenched in oil meant for dragon skin, and a few splatters had managed to get on her tunic during her mad dash to the Sands. And of course, she had no knife with which to blood herself for the bonding of a wher.
She was weighing the possibility of how rude it would be to ask another Candidate for their knife, should she happen to need it and they not, but her wondering trailed off as her eyes became accustomed to the dim light. There were... bodies. In the sand. A wher, and a boy, and was there another wher laying some ways off, also unmoving? She was too late to have witnessed the death as it happened, and so now was left to make what sense of the puzzle pieces as she could manage. She didn't even think to connect the bodies with the red wherling that still stalked the sand. A shade paler even beneath her dark skin, Fenrimere took her place among the Candidates, although suitably far back from the bravest, who stood so close that it seemed like folly to her. She wasn't even entirely certain that any of them had died, much less in in a hatchling's jaws--maybe they were just very injured, maybe they had just been born wrong--but the tension of the knot of the waiting told her to hang back. Don't be foolish. Don't irritate anything gold or red.
And shards, if she could just get hands on a knife, should she need it for bonding or otherwise!
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Post by kia on Apr 21, 2011 19:39:49 GMT -5
The Red had stormed off the body of Delgar once she was done with tirade. Looking down at her pink feet, she growl lightly. The red blood had helped cover the pink partly, but she could see it still there. And the green ichor look atrocious on her feet. She stormed away from the body, not interested in the other humans at the moment. They would get their time when she was ready. Instead she turned her attention on the woody brown egg that had sat in front of her egg. Bringing her claws down, she destroyed the egg. Luckily the egg turned out to be a dud as liquid half-formed embryo fell out of the egg, but the Red did not care. Anything that drew attention away from her would meet her claws.
While the Red had attacked the Candidate and little Green Dsk, the black to deep purple egg had continued to shake and crack. It was slow, cracking slowly and moving so often. It was as if it was afraid of what was going on outside to draw attention to itself. It did not want to be killed before it had a chance to see the outside world. Every time a crack form on the surface, the color around the cracks was a deep gray to indicate the stress that the little one was pushing against it. Finally, as the little Green`s screams were hushed, the egg released the Wher inside.
A Brown came tumbling out of the egg. He ran into the large egg, but did not damage. Instead, he knocked the large egg over. A small chirp inside the large echoed. It was alive. The little one inside seemed to know it was time to wake up. The large egg began to shake. But as the Red stalked over to the woody egg, the Brown hid himself behind the large egg. The Red turned her eyes on the large egg. It was moving! And that egg had been so much larger than hers! She was going to kill the Wher inside. She hissed at the egg and stalked towards it, eyes red with murderous intentions. All eyes had better be on her.
The Brown was not going to have that happen! He jumped out from behind the large egg and tackled the Red. There were hisses and growls, even a roar from the Red as the Brown tried to defend the egg. The Red brought her claws down on the Brown`s tail, racking the right side of his tail. The Brown growled as he shoved the Red away. Away from the other egg. He would defend the others the best he could. He had to. Such a chivalrous creature he was. He was not going to give up so easily.
As another fight on the Sands broke out, the sunset orange egg has secretly released the little Wher that was inside. Another little Green fell out of her egg, but she managed to catch herself. As Nisk was clumsy, this little Green was very poised. She stood up and looked out at the Brown and Red that fought on the Sands. She tilted her head in a very cute, cat-like way as she watched them, curling her tail around her body. The tips of her tails were a shade darker than her body. She knew the danger that existed, but she was curious about what was happening. Why were they fighting? There was no need to be fighting. Were they not hungry like she was?
The Red snapped at the Brown, missing his throat several times. The Brown was not trying to kill her like she was trying to do with him. He was simply defending the eggs. Luckily for him, he had an advantage. Unlike most Browns, he was not as stocky in the body. He was a little slender, but not too much. It was only noticeable when the moonlight hit the curves of his muscles and body. The Red roared in angry and shoved the Brown off her. Standing up, she charged the Brown and seemed to shove him in the air. He may have gotten an inch off the ground, but there was enough force for him to be sent flying into the feet of a Candidate. The Brown looked up at the Candidate and gave a sweet chirp. Keely, Keelsk defend. I do good? he asked.
Name: Keelsk Color: Brown- C19A6B Info: Confident, jumps head first without thinking, goes with his guts, swift, courageous. Pic: [IMG]http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg47/emperess_kia/Dalibor/BrownKeelsk.png[/IMG]
That Red viciously stalked back over to the eggs, moving slowly like a cat stalking its prey. Her eyes were back on the large egg, but now there were cracks forming on it. She would wait until the egg released its captive inside. What fun was it to kill the one who was stealing attention if she did not have the pleasure of knowing what she was killing? Her tail moved back and forth, twitching with impatience. She made low noises, as if taunting the Wher inside to come out and face her. She would win. She was strong. And she was the center of attention.
The fight had ended. And the Brown had Impressed. The Green seemed to shrug as she stood up and walked along the side of the Hatching Sands. She was careful not to stick out among the eggs for fear of the Red trying to attack her too. As she made her way along the wall, she noticed Ausk in the distance protecting her eggs. If Ausk was anything like the other Red, she would not be someone to anger as well. So she moved towards the Candidates, heading toward the one she knew was her Handler. Like a cat, she rubbed up against her new Handler`s legs before sitting down and tilting her head in the cute, cat-like way again. Hester, why fight? Why so angry? Why kill? Why not Impress? They not hungry? Feed Hessk. What eat?
Name: Hessk Color: Green- 66BB4D Info: Questions (asks them a lot); tilts her head in a cute cat-like way; inquisitive; wants to know what, how, and why. Pic: [IMG]http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg47/emperess_kia/Dalibor/GreenHessk.png[/IMG]
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Apr 22, 2011 10:15:33 GMT -5
The second the red wher hatched, Ausk was tense. She took on an even more defensive pose in front of her eggs, maw hanging open as she breathed heavily. She did not see the baby red as someone to identify with; rather, she saw it as a threat and would treat it as so. She knew, though, instinctively by the colour of its hide, that it would be just as violent as her. She wasn't encouraging it to be like that. Ausk didn't want anyone else to enact discipline among the candidates. She wanted to save that for herself, and now some child was going to beat her to it. Audren felt the urges welling up in Ausk's ribcage and quickly stifled them. She held the mother red back telepathically.
But Audren was worried. Immensely worried. She knew how Ausk was. She knew how reds acted. She also remembered, in clear detail, the amount of blood that had been shed on Ausk's behalf the day she hatched, and how scared and doomed she felt when the red had chosen her out of everyone else. She felt like some ragdoll to be tossed around. Some left over candidate that went to a wher that would eat her alive, instead of a nice one that she could have fun with. It was a huge learning curve. She worried about the candidate that would Impress that red, and about who would get in the way of it.
As unfortunately expected, the red was angered right away. The bloodshed started with the death of a blue. Audren felt useless. She knew how to get into that red's mind! She knew how to hold it back and stop it! But she couldn't. It wasn't her wher. She wasn't connected to it. In a way, she felt like the death was her fault, because she was the only one who, at this present time, could force that red to behave. Or maybe she couldn't. Maybe this one was entirely uncontrollable. Her heart sped as she watched, helpless, as the green hatchling sped away. Her eyes locked with Delgar's, and Audren had a terrible feeling swell in her gut. Moments later, both wheret and young wherhandler were dead, mutilated by the red child. Audren just stood there with arms limp at her side.
While Risk screamed, Ausk held silent. It was one time that she felt the gold's noise was entirely justified. She respected that scream. Her children had turned on each other. She, however, was not going to cry about the deaths. Death was just a side-effect to her. It happened. She didn't care. The baby red, however, was too similar to Ausk for Ausk to like her. She hated that red. She hated most everyone, but that red especially. Ausk wouldn't do anything, though, because not only was Audren everpresent in her mind, but it was not her child to decide the fate of. It was Risk's. And Faranth, she hoped that Risk killed it.
Hester had to fight the nausea sloshing around in his stomach. He'd witnessed it all. Despite his better judgment, his eyes had been glued to the red through her entire killing spree. He felt incredibly sick. He could handle blood - his passion was healing - but he couldn't handle these outright acts of violence. Death occurring right before his eyes. There was no way to undo what had been done to the whers and to Delgar. He was shaking with how uncomfortable he was. He wanted to be sick and he wanted to run away. Why was he standing for a wher clutch when they were so violent? Why? He didn't want to do this anymore. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to get his legs to move and leave. He was rooted to the spot. A mind came into his head, saying basically what he was thinking himself. Hester, why fight? Why so angry? Why kill? Why not Impress? They not hungry? Feed Hessk. What eat?
I don't know why... Maybe she's just too angry, because she's a red. Reds are bad. Do you know how much Ausk scares me? Oh, Faranth... I don't understand! She just needs to calm down and stop! Wait -- what? Hessk? He stopped his mental ramble and forced his eyes open. Winding around his legs was a green wher, tail tipped with a darker hue. She looked up at him with big eyes, head tilted, and rubbed against his leg again. With her bony structure, being a wher and all, it felt strange... but he liked it. Hessk... so this was his wher? He Impressed? He felt himself go pale.
Why red? Hessk asked.
She was born that way, Hester said.
Why? [/i] Genetics, I guess.Oh? What that? Oh, wait, Hessk need eat. What eat? Feed now?[/i] It was still sinking in that he had a wher. A wher! And she was hungry. He was about to lead Hessk away to the buckets of meat, safe and far from that awful red, and then remembered something. He gritted his teeth and slit the inside of his elbow. He couldn't bear to do his palm, with how sensitive hands were, but even this hurt like the Red Star. "Ow!" He yelped, dropping the knife. He crouched and held the wound to Hessk. Here, eat that.Tongue flicking out in a series of small movements, Hessk lapped the blood up like a feline. Then she curled her tail around herself and tilted her head. Now more? With the blood bond made, Hester nodded. He was feeling weak from blood loss already... or maybe he was just imagining it? Either way, he managed to lead his lovely Hessk away from the battlefield and towards the meat, where he fed her until she was full. The baby red was still roaming the Sands and Ausk was still on edge. Behind her, the dark brown egg had finally been frustrated by the slow progress and gave one final push at it. The blunt nose of a blue wher pushed through the cracked egg wall. He blinked at the outside world, withdrew into his sanctuary, and then pushed the rest of the way out. He was thick and stocky, destined to be a powerhouse of muscle when he grew older. The deep cerulean of his hide was like a second patch of night sky on the ground. He made to move past his red mother, since he could see the candidates in the distance, but Ausk snarled and shoved him back behind her. She didn't want him going out there while that hatchling red was still on the loose. The blue gave her an exasperated look, sighed, but stayed obediently behind her. He didn't understand why he had to, but whatever. He'd stay for a little bit.[/size][/blockquote]
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Sakoru
Drudge
THE FEARSOME FIERY BEAST
Posts: 11
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Post by Sakoru on Apr 22, 2011 20:15:45 GMT -5
That red really was a killer. Khemres, attempting to distract himself with the lively wriggle of Risk's remaining eggs, was forced to look at her yet again as she stalked towards the large egg, and the brown that was hiding behind it. Had the candidate not already been an albino, his face would have gone white. However, it had no choice but to turn slightly grey at the prospect of witnessing more death. More murder, more blood... more of everything that shouldn't be present at such a joyous occasion. Formerly joyous, anyway. Watching his roommate die had killed the albino's enthusiasm, too.
It appeared, for all intents and purposes, as though the red planned to smash the largest egg in Risk's clutch. Biting his lip, Khemres dropped his gaze from her. If she planned more destruction, he didn't want to watch it. Delgar's death had been enough. So had the annihilation of the dud egg - in this case, he was fortunate that he couldn't see well because the mess was probably pretty gruesome, dud or not.
But the snapping and snarling going on didn't seem entirely one-sided. One of the wher-voices sounded a bit different than the other, and curiosity made the albino look up again. Sure enough, there was the brown hatchling defending the large egg. Blinking, he watched the battle in total silence, hoping against hope that the red wouldn't manage to kill the brown as she had the other wherets. And then, she shoved her opponent away - and he Impressed! So did the green that had hatched, almost unbeknownst to him. Good. The red menacing the still-rocking large egg, however, was not good. Desperately, Khemres watched, willing the hatchling inside to either run or be sturdy enough to fight off the red when it hatched.
Sagaral observed the red in silence, working his jaw. Was it really necessary to completely destroy another egg? Shells, he was no pacifist, but smashing another hatchling's egg seemed like a vicious move even to him. At least it was a dud; all the same he pulled his gaze from the grotesque wreckage and focused on the murderous wheret and her procession towards the large, twitching egg.
The fight between the red and brown wasn't exactly unexpected, but Sagaral hadn't really thought that any hatchlings would voluntarily go up against the sub-queen. Then again, wher personalities varied widely - he knew that. Maybe the brown was just large enough to be justified in his actions. Either way, neither of them were killed; the defending hatchling crashed into a girl's legs and Impressed. Sagaral struggled to remember her name. Keely? Was that it? Maybe.
A green, unnoticed by him, had managed to sneak by and Impress to Hester, too. The wher candidate didn't really care about that. He didn't like his roommate much - he was too easy to push over, and he had that annoying fair of black firelizards, too. Then again, dealing with him was more pleasant than dealing with D'ix, he thought grouchily, glancing down at the splint holding his broken arm straight. Oh, well. Presumably he wouldn't have to room with Hester for too much longer, assuming they both Impressed. Did wherlings have to pair up? He didn't think so - not unless there was a massive crop of new Impressions. And at the moment, there were no wherlings at all, so his chances of getting a room to himself were good. Finally. Just have to Impress first, he reminded himself, and returned his gaze to the red, waiting, as she was, for that large egg to break open and reveal its contents to the world.
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