Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
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Post by Trith on Nov 23, 2010 4:37:57 GMT -5
Amid the cheers that echoed through the stadium at the dawning of their new hope in the large, delicate gold, the other eggs had not been idle. Under the gaze of their mother, they rocked with purpose, ready to start their own time in the world with their chosen ones. The Green Tea Egg was accumulating cracks in increments, almost as if it was difficult for it to rock about. While the Mint Egg was definitely the most active, it had yet to show even a single crack. The Pekoe Egg, however, was steadily starting to break apart. Great cracks soon covered its evenly rocking frame to the point where it was a surprise the shell did not simply fall away.
There was a pause in the movement, and then the egg stretched with the power of the sigh of the dragonet within. A wriggle, and then one shard fell away, obviously prodded by the single blue claw extended behind it. Shard after shard fell away similarly, each poked with just enough force to knock it away. Finally, enough had been knocked away that the remainder of the egg simply fell away, revealing a rather bored looking blue. Slowly he uncurled from himself, giving a slight stretch to all of his muscles and a tiny shake to rid him of the last of the itchy little bits of shell.
Sitting back, the Pekoe Blue gave a careful yawn before turning a baleful stare on the whole of the stadium. Scowling, he heaved another great sigh, as if to say just what he thought of this nonce. Without any more hesitation, he simply got up and headed straight for the boys. It was quite clear from his lack of wavering that he already knew exactly where he was going. Shoving past the remaining group of boys even as some were just finally picking themselves up from the antics of his bronze brother, he paid them little mind as many fell back down again. Finally he paused long enough to nudge one boy in the chest hard. You. I am Flith, and you are Mine. Now, I am hungry. Where is there food? he demanded in a tone that somehow seemed both grumpy and bored. As soon as he was given direction from his new bonded, Flith turned and made his way there with an apathetic air – leaving the boy to blink once before raising his brows and grinning in amusement, then quickly following behind with a salute to his remaining fellows.
As the new bluepair made their way off the Sands, the Green Tea Egg finally gave its last shudder, the splintered remains of the eggshell finally sloughing away. Carefully unfolding himself, the Green Tea Brown quickly revealed himself to be rather massive. Though his egg had been of middling-large size, it would seem that he had been quite cooped up and folded in on himself inside of it. Once unfolded, he began a series of stretches to work out all the kinks he’d accumulated during his time in the egg, the slight annoyance finally removed.
As he finished his stretching, he sat back and took a look at the shards of the egg that had confined him, two tails thumping the ground behind him patiently. He gave a quick little shrug to himself, as if saying ‘what can ya do?’ Turning to give a quick nod of respect to his mother, he picked himself up and trundled over to the Candidates. There was a moment of wonder as he quizzically looked between the two groups…before heading toward the females. Some instinct told him that it was more normal to have headed in the other direction, but he felt pulled this way instead. And he was okay with that, just a mite confused.
Cocking his head to stare at the majority of the tiny females before him, he was doubly confused. Well, those fragile little things wouldn’t be able to handle him, so what- ah. Brightening as he finally saw a much sturdier figure, he gently stepped his way over to stand before the woman (wouldn’t want to accidentally tromp on one of the more breakable ones, really). Coming to a halt before Batavia, he tilted his head and stared at her with whirling eyes. My apologies for taking so long; it was a bit difficult to move in there, his calm voice rumbled evenly. A quick glance at the dwindled number of those remaining – male and female alike – he let a wave of relief flood through the bond. I’m just thankful that no one claimed you away from me, he said lovingly, warmth and a gentle happiness flowing in abundance. They must simply have been blind.
An echoing rumble interrupted the spread of the calm contentment as his stomach chose then to remind him of a very pressing necessity. He looked down at himself, then back up to Batavia and gave another of his ‘what can ya do?’ shrugs, knowing without a doubt that she would lead him to where he needed to go.
A few moments of calm were felt across the Sands as people waited for the last and largest egg to hatch. What could it be? The queen had already hatched, and as desperately as they might have wanted another who had ever heard of two queens in the same clutch? Perhaps another bronze, but there had already been two. Hadn’t the browns been a bit large after that first one? Regardless, they would see soon, as little hairline cracks spiderwebbed all over. A few weak areas fell away, but naught could be seen within the egg.
Confused silence reigned when a small, bright green leg slipped out of one patch in the golden upper-half of the egg. After a moment of flailing, it quickly slipped back in, only for another leg to poke out of a different hole along the side a moment later. Panic started as soon as the first small, dark green leg stuck out of a hole in the lusciously green lower half. There was no way that those limbs could belong to the same normal dragon, given their size and spacing. Whispers and cries of ‘not again!’ spread in a hushed undertone as more legs slipped out of the exposed areas. There were a total of seven: three of the lighter green, four of the darker.
For a moment the legs flailed helplessly, then the egg gave a heave of a rock and tipped onto its side. The legs all began to scrabble at the sand once they felt it, managing to at one point pick the whole egg up and skitter back and forth as if fighting to decide which direction to go in. If not for the frantic atmosphere, it could be considered quite comical, and might be considered so in hindsight for those who sat in witness. After a few meters, the legs failed in their support of the egg and it came crashing down to the sands. As it did so, the patterned chain around the center – acting as a divider between the golden and green hues – was prized apart with a giant crack…and the egg split in two.
The two halves simply sat there for a moment, as if they were in just as much shock as the rest of the stadium. Then, a little green head peeked out of each half to stare at each other, giving an adorable cheep of confusion. There was a laughing cheer of relief from the crowd, and the excitement over the new dragons was born anew. After a few blinks, both heads ducked back down and the two egg-halves began to move again. The top half of the egg kept rolling about, wings flicking out of the open portion as the Honey-Mint Green diligently tried to free the three legs trapped in the holes of the egg. A great amount of rustling was heard from the bottom half of the egg as it rocked, the Peppermint Green shifting her tail around trying to collapse the remainder of her confinement.
Finally, they freed themselves almost simultaneously. The Honey-Mint Green managed to wriggle away from her half just a little before, coming over to help the Peppermint Green pick away the last of the frustrating bits of crumbled egg with her small beak. Once that was finished, they gave each other a set of twin little chitters of draconic-giggles, flopping down to take just a moment to rest from their exertions. The Honey-Mint Green popped up first and gave her sister an affectionate nuzzle – which the Peppermint Green returned quickly – before setting off toward the Candidates. The Peppermint Green took a moment more to give a little stomp to the remainder of her shell for being such a nuisance before she deigned to follow suit.
Darting playfully over to the girls, the tiny green took to skipping around them in circles and then quickly turning to backtrack, amusing herself with how they turned to follow her. A little chitter-giggle accompanied her antics, and she lowered the top half of her body to wave her tail around like a playing canine or a feline ready to pounce now and again, curious about the way that some squeaked and ducked away when she did. Finally, she tired of her little game and darted forward to nip at the hem of one of the white robes and pulled. Unintentionally – and also somewhat ignored – she did leave a small scrape along the girl’s leg before her teeth could actually close on the fabric. Synchellllllllllllllaaaaaaaa~. Hi! That was fun! Let’s go eat now, though, ‘cause I’m tired, piped the sweet little voice. Large, curious eyes blinked up at the newly-bonded girl, happily waiting to be led off to the next great adventure – food! And then…sleep! Amazing!!!
Slightly more sedate than her twin, the Peppermint Green gave a good-natured shake of her head at Priyath’s antics. Honestly, what a handful. But she would see more of that later, and now she needed to find her own. Quietly she tripped along the line of Candidates, starting with the girls as her sister had. Serene as she started, there was an almost comical frustration to her features as she reached the end of the line, and it wasn’t hard to imagine a miniature thunderstorm around the tiny green’s head. Turning, she gave a hard stare all down the line, making certain she hadn’t missed one… Nope. With a grumble she sat back to brood on what to do next when she caught sight of a flash of green a bit of a ways off to the side. Well, that was different, what- …oh. Well, see, that simply wouldn’t do.
Marching over, the little dragonet hooked her bright claws into the green robes, tugging Miko toward her a little. Now see here, MyMiko, stop that nonsense this instant! How was I supposed to find you over here? You were standing in the wrong spot; your Seriath was over there, she scolded petulantly. There was a stubbornness in her huffy stance, and she practically vibrated with indignation for a few moments before relenting. Peering at him critically, she wondered on the difference between him and the ones clad in white; how odd was that? Nothing for it, I suppose. Now, are we to sit here and stare all day or do you perhaps recall something else that requires doing rather immediately? she teased in good humor, her soothing mindvoice allaying the fact that she had actually been angry. Canting her head to the side, she waited to see how Hers would respond to her indirect manner.
Despite the scare from the twins, Trith was pleased with the last of her hatchlings. They all seemed healthy, and they’d found Theirs quickly. Happiness flooded her as she felt a final settling in her soul. Sixteen hatchlings alive and happily bonded, and a golden daughter among them. They would do well for these people, just as Hers would have wanted. Cerulean would prosper with the addition of its newest dragonets. Content, she finally relaxed and watched the last of her children be led off the Sands this one last time.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Nov 18, 2010 15:38:43 GMT -5
In the midst of Mu uniting with Trivaruth, the Apple-Cinnamon Egg’s efforts paid off, the brightly-colored shell sloughing off as the dragonet within raised its powerful wings. Giving a small shake from head to tail, the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze quickly looked around at his surroundings. Noticing his feeble white sister, and having heard her desperate cries, he forewent his own hunger to move and lend himself as something for her to lean her weight against. He gave her an encouraging croon of affection, and hovered one of his sturdy wings over the whitepair both in protectiveness and to add a counterweight to balance himself even with Trivaruth leaning against him. He felt his stomach rumble and he eyed the pails with longing when they finally neared the feeding area, but there was something else pulling him even stronger than his hunger.
Reluctantly turning away now that his task was done and his littlest sister was in the clear, he made his own wobbly way back toward the line of boys. When he had to spread his wings and concentrate on his steps to keep his balance now, it became apparent that there was a small issue with his claws. The digits were all a mite longer than usual – except for the center one, which seemed to be missing half of it, on each paw. Head down to watch his feet, he didn’t realize that he had wobbled and veered back toward the eggs once again. It was only the sound of furious cracking that made him pause and look up, blinking owlishly as he realized where he was again.
The Oolong Egg had begun its laborious task of hatching, and cracks formed quickly down its sides. The egg almost seemed to jump in place as several hard strikes battered at its very top. Finally, the tip broke, scattering small spans of eggshell everywhere. One landed on the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze’s nose, and he spent a few moments shaking his head and snorting and trying to brush the sticky egg-bit off of his snout. Simultaneously, a pair of neon green claws clutched at the hole in the egg and began quickly breaking pieces off. When the shell was about halfway gone, the dragonet within took a small break to spread her pretty wings, as if to announce that, yes, she had finally arrived, and you could rest assured now. A soft sap green covered the majority of her hide, with a bright neon green accenting the finer points of her frame in startling slashes of color, and she was certainly very pretty indeed.
With a sigh of distaste, she glared down at the other half of her shell that was still impeding her from bestowing her amazing presence in full. About that time, the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze had finally freed himself of the sticky egg-bit and tentatively reached over to help break away another piece of shell. Blinking at him in surprise, the Oolong Green went instantly coy, no longer showing her dread at having to finish off the egg. When she was finally free, she gave her helper a delighted trill, rubbing up against his neck happily.
Turning back toward the boys again, the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze lifted one wing in invitation for the pretty green to lean against him as they made their way. This time, he was amusingly able to balance better once again, and they were both able to focus on making their way over to the boys. Once there, the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze gave a small bob of his head to the delightful lady, and turned to search for his. The Oolong Green gave him a flirtatious little brush of her tail in thanks, showing off the interesting formation of it – starting as one tail at the base, but instead of running down to a small fork, the fork reached about two-fifths of the way up her tail – as she sat back to watch.
Realizing that His wasn’t right in front of him, the Apple-Cinnamon Bronze quickly turned to his left to search once more…and knocked down another boy with his swinging tail. Surprised, he made to quickly turn again to help that one up, but ended up knocking two more down with his wings and tail. After a time or three of spinning mostly in place trying to simultaneously help up those he knocked over and knocking down more, the bronze was starting to droop in obvious frustration. He was just too big! Finally, he spotted one of the boys who had been knocked down, and quickly moved to just bury his muzzle against the boy’s robe. This isn’t working quite like I’d hoped, Mine, he intoned sheepishly, not quite able to keep it from reaching the others present. The Impression made, the boy announced him with a whoop as Mneketh and apologized with a delighted laugh to the others. Mneketh let out a happy bugle as, leaning against his new partner, they finally made their way back over to the food.
Thoroughly amused by the chaos caused by the wobbly bronze, the Oolong Green had patiently sat there, rumbling with quiet laughter. Now that the other was gone and the boys were once again standing up and brushing themselves off, she narrowed her eyes and took scrutinizing stock of those assembled. Marching back up and down the line – not much more gracefully than he clutchsibling, knocking a few down on her own as she climbed over them – she finally plopped herself down in front of one male. Looking him up and down in an even more judging manner, she finally nodded and leaned forward to brush her snout against his side. You’ll do, was the short response, sure to ruffle the feathers of her new bonded. Honestly, Zanalorin, don’t you know we’re worth ten of them on a bad day? And good day? No comparison. Now come on, I am hungry and you need to feed me. With a little flounce, she turned and took off toward the feeding tunnels, seemingly heedless of whether Hers followed or not.
In the background, another egg had progressed through a gentle rocking to crack all down its sides. The shards fell away, an in their place was an adorable little brightly-colored blue. Perking up at the sights around him as the last of his shell fell away, the Five Fairy Flower Blue gave a happy chirp to the general assembly. Shaking off the last of the egg goop covering him, he took off with a bouncy stride to one end of the Candidates. Threading his way through the boys much more easily than the previous two, he stopped for a moment in confusion when he got to the end. Blinking and shrugging, he then started in on the girls, chirping at those who reached out to touch him happily. …But then he got to the end of them as well.
Thoroughly confused, he spun around and made his bouncy way back along the line…to the end. Huffing once, he sat there with his small tail tapping against the sand, obviously trying to puzzle out this conundrum. Giving a resolute nod, he set himself back on track to thread through the lines again, pausing longer this time to nudge and sniff at each Candidate. When he reached the end of the girls this time, though, he noticed something off to the side. Stepping carefully over, the curious little blue approached the prone girl off to the side, nosing her gently. She seemed to actually be breathing, but the blue still looked stricken. Curling up on himself and half on the prone form, he gave a tiny little keen. Whimpering, he nosed the girl a few times, her broken frame offering no response. Giving another much louder keen, the little blue curled in tighter around His, winking them both between in a puff of cold air.
The general consensus of the stadium was shock. Worse even than a dragonet not being able to find theirs, but for a dragonet to find that theirs had been mortally injured on the sands themselves… A stricken Trith let out a desperate keen, responsibility for the death of her son’s bonded heavy on her shoulders. In protection of one child, she really had doomed another, it seemed. Silence fell as Trith’s keening finally quieted, the day not able to stay untainted by sorrow. The mutated green, the death of one of their mighty bronzes and his Rider, the almost-disaster with Trivaruth, and now...now one had made his way between in devastation.
In the mourning silence that permeated the area, the blow that echoed next seemed surreally loud. Again it sounded, shaking people from their melancholy to eye the Sands warily once again. Again and again and again it sounded, the last powerful strike finally causing a series of cracks down the side of the Jasmine Egg. Trith fidgeted on her couch, now riveted on the next egg to hatch. If any had doubts about what the egg held, that alone wiped them away. Now the egg was cracking all over, pushed and prodded and bulging here and there. Breaths were held as people awaited the hatching of their true new hope, moved to the edges of their seats. Though their sadness was not forgotten, this was what they had needed to draw forth their hearts again.
With one final blow, the shards of the beautiful egg fell away, and the dragonet uncurled herself to stand at her full height. Spreading her wings as they shone in the bright afternoon light, she stood there majestic and proud, golden hide sparkling brilliantly as she simply reveled in the freedom and the warmth of Rukbat’s rays. There was a delicate air about her, belied only by the powerful bearing of her large form. When her moment of triumph receded, the reddish-gold turned to solemnly face her great mother, bowing her head in graceful honor, as if to say that she would do her proud. Nuzzling one of the elder gold’s forelegs in affection and comfort, she then turned resolutely to face the line.
Almost in contrast to the majestic and solemn bearing of before, her stride had a bit of a sprightly skip to it as she pranced over to the girls, weaving into them with an air of caution yet still managing to knock a few over with her sheer size. Brushing against all of the remaining female Candidates in a friendly manner, she turned to half-stand over a fallen Raelwyn, regarding her face with calm yet whirling rainbow eyes. Your Ellenath is finally here now, my lovely, she announced in her mirthful, lilting mindvoice, faceted eyes twinkling in good cheer. We will prove ourselves worthy to ours, she said with a hint of steel, somehow conveying that she meant the whole of their Weyr – dragons and humans and flits and whers alike – …in good time. For now, however, I seem to have knocked down a few of your sisters; will you help them up? Then, with a quirk of her head, she added as an afterthought, Quickly, if you please; I’m also quite famished.
And with that, the new queen of Cerulean moved back gently to allow Hers to assist the fallen, waiting patiently but with desperate hunger to be led to where she could smell the meat sitting. As Trith straightened once more in pride at her gentle daughter, she caught notice that the last of the eggs had begun to move. The Green Tea Egg was given a few stifled shakes, cracks forming along the shell as it did so, while the Pekoe Egg started to rock steadily. The Mint Egg had developed an odd wobble to it, almost as if its insides were spinning around unsteadily within it.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Nov 16, 2010 0:27:29 GMT -5
Ignoring the reactions of the humans around her, Trith took a moment to just stare at the space where her mutated daughter had flashed between, marked only by a small divot of sand that had been taken with her. While a part of her was saddened at the loss of any of her children, she inherently understood the natural order of things. That one would never have been able to survive in this world, and in truth shouldn’t have hatched at all. The great gold had worried when she noted the thinness of the shell, but had been optimistic for the sake of her offspring. To have been simply a dud would probably have been a kinder fate for the poor green, but what was done was done. At least she suffered no longer, and she hadn’t caused too much damage to her clutchmates. Making a small sound of pity for the one that was lost, she turned her attention back to those who yet lived.
Other eggs were moving now, and it pleased the queen to take note of them. Only a couple had yet to show signs of life within, but there was time yet. They were taking things at their own pace, and that was fine for their mother. If they had all hatched at once, even she might not have been able to calm the chaos that would surely ensue.
The Darjeeling and Lemongrass Eggs quickly became the most active on the Sands, and it was a toss-up as to which would break shell first. Cracks spider-webbed across both shells, but in the end the Lemongrass Blue hatched first, the precarious cant of his egg causing him to fall right on the Darjeeling Egg and crumble its shell to dust. There was a squabble of dark, matching limbs for a moment as the prone Darjeeling Blue flailed in surprise, and then they were twisting around each other in a playful mock-fight. The tiny rumbles of laughter that echoed forth from the tangle of seemingly identical blues made it quite apparent that there was no malice in their awkward swipes.
Leaning down, Trith nudged them none-too-gently and gave a brief rumble of scolding to the pair, who froze and turned to stare at her with wide, innocent eyes. Taking notice of their giant mother - as well as the rest of those gathered around - the Lemongrass Blue sheepishly climbed off his brother and sat back. It took a few moments for the Darjeeling Blue to right himself, as being flat on his back had made his wings quite the hindrance in his efforts. Shaking the sand off themselves, they turned to give each other a withering glare, instantly blaming the other for making them look silly (and getting them in trouble with mom).
With a huff, they turned away from each other and started toward the Candidates as if the other didn’t exist. Those watching would then realize that it was almost impossible to figure out which dragon came from which egg. The eggs themselves had been almost identical, and the two blues in turn were exact mirror images of each other.
The Lemongrass Blue stalked his way evenly over to the males, his long limbs making his gait only slightly awkward. It didn’t take him long to select a boy, gently latching onto a piece of his robe with his beak and tugging. His name was announced as Drailth, and the pair quickly began making their way to the side-tunnels where there was food waiting.
There was a tiny bit more of a grumpy skulk to the Darjeeling Blue’s awkward gait as he neared the waiting lines, but he ended up having to stop. Eying the males for only a moment, his muzzle crinkled up in a perfect expression of ‘ew’, and he quickly turned to eye the waiting females instead. Head bouncing, he made a little noise as he passed over each one until his gaze finally came to the right one. Practically dancing over in delight, he ended up splashing quite a bit of sand up on some of the waiting girls. ...Oops, he broadcasted, blinking owlishly down at his feet for a second. But then he was back on track, turning to poke his nose into Keiko’s stomach. Oh hi! There you are, Keiko-love! I am Absinth, and we are going to have so much fun! In an attempt to nuzzle and curl up around her affectionately, he ended up knocking them both over and rumbling out a laugh. I need to work on that, I think, was quickly followed by a cute chittering noise that had quite the affect of a giggle.
Shaking her head, Trith retreated back to her perch, glad to see two more bonded. They were certain to be trouble...at least to each other. Strange movement caught her eye from the side of the eggs, and it quickly clicked into her mind as being human. With a snarl, she rounded on the foolish twoleg that dared to try to interfere with her clutch. The overly ambitious girl, having seen the egg she was certain held a gold begin to twitch, had threaded her way closer. When it hatched, she would be the first in its path, ready to intercept and claim the new queen! This, however, was not to be. Remembered fear over those who had stolen and rained blows upon her precious eggs - doubled with the excessive protectiveness over her golden daughter - had Trith striking forward with her whole frame, roaring and grabbing the young woman in her beak, shaking her furiously. A powerful swing coupled with her releasing the intruder sent the woman careening off to the side, skidding to a halt just shy of the wall. Her form was limp, and she bled, but it was impossible to tell from her position if she yet lived.
There was a moment of confusion for Trith, as she had heard a definite crack, but the human hadn’t actually hit the wall. Puzzling over it a moment, a wave of panic had her spinning around, realizing the noise was from behind her. In her haste to protect one egg, her tail had lashed out behind her and struck the small White Tea Egg against her couch. A noticeable crack stretched across its side, and it was fear that made the gold completely forget her previous ire. Crooning to it in both apology and love, she silently begged that she hadn’t damaged one of her own children.
It took a moment, but the previously still egg gave a small twitch, and a skittering could be heard within. Slowly, the egg finished cracking the rest of the way, falling away in pieces. Collective gasps were heard as the tiny dragon who weakly raised her nose trilled back at her mother, radiating soothing forgiveness, letting it be known that the tailflick was quickly forgiven. Trith showed surprise at the startling white shade of the dragonet before her, but was quick to drop her head and nuzzle her own nose to the small one upstretched toward her. Perhaps this one might not have hatched without the help, but she was here now and Trith would treasure her.
As silent shock filled the stadium, the white dragon worked at freeing herself from the last of her shell, pitching forward once her support was removed. When she lifted herself again, it was on thin, wobbly legs, and when she tried to make her way forward she quickly faltered and fell. Raising herself again, she made a few frustrating attempts to move forward, but she simply had too little strength in her limbs. Her will, though, was one of iron, and when she turned her rainbow eyes on the crowd the entire stadium felt the weight of her regard. There were several who gained her attention more than others, and she brushed gently against their minds as she searched for the one that was Hers.
I remember you. Oh, I know you. I felt you, didn’t I? You touched me and you spoke to me and I remember, she spoke with an overflowing love, unable to shield her mind to just a few just yet. Where is Mine? I can’t get to you! Please help me! I feel you there- please! she called with a heartbreaking sadness, centering on one little mind and willing her bonded to come. Her now-noticeable two tails wriggled helplessly on the Sands behind her, as she made another attempt to push forward. If only Hers would come, then maybe they’d have enough power to get her to sustenance! There was a leap in her big, draconic heart as she saw a small figure detach from the crowd, and quickly pushed all her love into the uncertain mind.
Amid her cries, another egg had begun to shake powerfully, and cracks rained down the sides of the Apple-Cinnamon Egg as it tilted toward the sweet white dragon, almost as if it were racing to lend its assistance to its helpless sister.
((The person who was called out knows who they are already OOC! Now’s the time!!! As interesting as it would be to give our tiniest baby assistance from anyone, let Hers come to her first, please!))
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Nov 12, 2010 23:38:28 GMT -5
((OOC: Just assume from here that all Candidates were already on the Sands.))
Pleased with the first round of Impressions for her children, Trith was feeling a bit more lulled, though ever watchful. Crooning softly to those who had begun to move, she settled back more on her couch, content for this fleetingly blissful moment. Another egg began to show life at her croon, the Earl Grey Egg beginning to give off a few odd shudders.
Despite the power of its rocking, the Oriental Spice Egg seemed to be having quite a bit of trouble breaking through the egg. Several cracks had appeared, and the shell itself could almost be heard creaking with strain by the nearest Candidates, but it held fast. As if spurred into motion by the manhandling of its green sister, the Chamomile Egg set about a very methodical session of twitches, almost as if trying to break the egg with as little effort as possible. Slowly, cracks appeared all over, culminating in the egg practically falling apart to reveal a soft blue hue.
Sitting up a little and stretching, the Chamomile Blue showed little will to divest himself of the remaining fluids coating him, as well as the little bits of egg still stuck to his hide. An amused look was angled to Geveneth as Hers led her from the Sands, and then he turned to sleepily regard the Candidates. Though he was stock still, his eyes were fiercely intent as he surveyed those gathered, eyes twitching back and forth. Miiiiiiiiiiiine, he finally called out to Aidaen, I’m hungry! Bring your Skeith some food? And with that, he gave a large yawn and curled up, content to wait despite his gnawing hunger.
Trith sat there, bemused with her lazy blue hatchling for a moment before giving a huff. This one was almost as bad as that brown! Flicking her tail forward gently, she squarely whapped his hindquarters. It wasn’t at all hard, but it was enough to make him exert the effort to turn his head and glare balefully at her. Grudgingly he picked himself up from the Sands, granules stuck all over his underbelly in the goop, and began to make his way toward the feeding tunnels. Glancing back at His, he gave a small motion to follow and trudged off, droopy and slow and letting his wings drag along beside him and not making any more effort than necessary to move away. Despite the outward quietude, there was sure to be quite a bit of grumbling into A’den’s mind the whole way.
As the blue passed by it, the Oriental Spice Egg finally decided to hatch with a ferocious tearing noise. Sprouting from the top of the large egg, a powerful brown surveyed the area around him, his medium-reddish hide gleaming with slight slickness in the bright afternoon light. Now aware of the various smaller eggs clustered around him, he exhibited a bit more gentleness than his form would suggest in breaking away the bottom half of his egg, careful to not bump into the others. His thick tail raising to lash the air behind him, he began to saunter his smug way over to the Candidates - but his attention was caught by the Earl Grey Egg.
The odd shudders of the egg had grown in violence, and soon the thin shell was flaking away in patches. A bright green leg jutted out of one of them, and then another, and another, and yet another of a much darker hue. A dark wing popped out of another hole, followed quickly by a brighter one at an odd angle...and then another. Gasps took the crowd as a fifth leg made its way out of the shell - and then the shell crumbled completely. A couple shrieks filled the arena as the green was finally unveiled, a mismatched set of seven legs, four wings, and two tails - swirling apple and neon green mixed haphazardly with a dark, forest green shade. She raised her distorted muzzle and let out an ear-splitting shriek, her eyes whirling fast with fear. Immediately, she began to try to retreat from the loud noises of both the crowd and the other dragons, her disorientation evident in her haphazard flailing.
The ruckus over the hatching of the Earl Grey Green had mostly overshadowed the much quieter hatching of the Chai Egg, large wings drooping to the Sands as the dark green shyly crawled from the remnants of her egg, seeming apologetic for having destroyed it. Unfortunately, the careful stepping of the Chai Green led her right into the path of the anxious Earl Grey Green, causing the latter to squawk in confusion and round on her clutchsister. The tiny chirp that issued from the Chai Green only seemed to scare the Earl Grey Green more, causing her to launch into an attack.
The Chai Green let out a loud squeak, cowering back from her even larger clutchsister with wide eyes. The larger fell upon her with swipes borne of a fearful-madness, and she was unable to move with her giant wings tangling her and weighing her to the spot. With a roar, the Oriental Spice Brown was there, knocking the Earl Grey Green off their helpless sister and swatting at her powerfully to drive her away from the smaller dragon. The roar that Trith gave to the violent green only seemed to incense her further, and with a scurrying yelp she switched direction and took off.
Turning to nuzzle the injured green, the Oriental Spice Brown gave her a soft croon of affection. She gently nosed him back in return, giving a small, sweet trill of thanks. The moment of adorable calm lasted only a moment, though, before yells rang out again. Turning, it was now visible that the Earl Grey Green had headed for the Candidates instead! With an apologetic chirp, the Oriental Spice Brown took off once more, bounding over to drag the green mutation away from the Candidates by one of her tails - but not before she had done quite a bit of damage. Tazar received a large gash to his left arm, and Haverisen to his right leg. Zanalorin was battered by one of the wings, likely leaving some dark bruises along his chest as well as a tiny cut along his right cheek. Relian, however, had taken the brunt of the attack, having been toppled over by the rampaging green. The Oriental Spice Brown crouched low between his mutated sister and the fallen Candidate, letting out one more ferocious roar.
The Earl Grey Green spun in place for a moment, torn between the too-bright lights and the too-loud noises and the scary things around her. Nothing made sense! Wailing, she keened her sorrows and fears to the crowd as she wished it would all just go AWAY! The narrowed eyes of the defensive brown didn’t even quiver as the angry, frightened green found her way between, more thankful that she wouldn’t be harming others anymore than he was that her own plight was over. Turning to regard the scattered boys behind him, his demeanor once again became gentle as he padded over to the fallen boy. Are you okay, RelianMine? the brown asked the prone form, worry flowing along their bond. When a weak hand laid itself on his muzzle, relief flooded the area around him. It’s okay now, because your Kaith is here, and I will protect you always. And with that, the large brown ignored his own hunger to curl up next to his bonded’s side, vigilant to make sure harm would never again come to his perfect mindmate.
The Chai Green watched with a much more horror-struck visage as her sister first went for the Candidates and then disappeared between. Beginning to feel her own injuries, she meekly took a few steps over toward the section of girls, peering at them with eyes wide with innocence. Sliding over to Valee, she tried to curl her form around the girl, smearing green ichor all over her white robe. My sister tried to hurt me, my Valee... She was so scared... I didn’t mean to scare her! Why would she want to hurt your Iveth? the sweet voice sounded in Valee’s head. Wide eyes turned up to stare at her in sadness, and if dragons could cry they surely would have been pools of liquid.
Nudging her new bonded’s side, she sought comfort for her difficult entry to the world. It only took a moment, though, before the joy of their bond shone greater, and the dragonet curled closer again in an imitation of a hug. I was so sad, at first, but now I’ve found you, so I am happy again. I am hurt, but it will all be okay, won’t it? she said with a soft conviction behind her words, her sweet soul shining forth.
The crowd was awash in murmurs in the aftermath. Such a strange mutation! But three more healthy dragonets as well, Impressed and due to stick around. As the commotion settled, it became apparent that several more of the eggs had begun to move. The Darjeeling Egg was shaking a bit in it’s prone position, while the Lemongrass Egg was gently starting to knock into it from where it tipped along the former’s side. The Oolong Egg was also showing signs of life, and the Jasmine Egg had just begun its first few gentle twitches.
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Nov 11, 2010 23:46:43 GMT -5
Quickly after her call, people began pouring into the stadium from almost every door. Gradually, Trith felt her hackles rise as the multitudes of unknown faces swarmed in. She felt a gentle, tentative presence to her side, sparing a glance for the nervous, tired woman there. Samhara had trusted this one, and asked her to keep Trith as calm as she could - and in turn had asked Trith to accept the temporary presence - as her dying request. Trith could feel from the other’s mind the sadness and the fear and the doubt, but also the determination, and drew her own strength from that. If this human would try to do what Hers had willed, then Trith would attempt to comply.
But it was difficult, as seeming waves of unknown humans poured into her realm once again. There was a voice in her that shook as it whispered about all the harm these humans could enact upon her young, as other humans had already done. Letting out a growl of warning to the amassing crowd, she sat up on her couch and flared her wings. Let any of them dare, and she would be ready this time. Her dragons were around her now, and as much as she still shied from the presence of some of the males, she also built that presence into a wall to shield her and her beloved children.
It was only a quick burst of emotion from the Healer woman that prevented her from striking out as the first of the Candidates made their way onto the Sands. The familiar robes of white - seen many times before - calmed her nerves a bit, and she settled back onto her couch - though not before issuing a long growl as she trailed her way down their line. They would keep back until her younglings had chosen, if they were smart.
Thankfully, it was only a short time after the rumble of the filled stadium had built that the eggs took center stage for her attention again. The Ginseng Egg was thrashing even harder than before, clearly excited by the commotion it could hear outside its egg. A few of its harder twitches even sent it rolling a short distance from where it had been carefully placed. However, the more sedate pace of the Black Tea Egg seemed to be more advantageous. More twitching, and then the sound of hard blows could be heard from various places in the egg. Cracks grew over every inch, until finally it began to swell.
Bursting from the egg in a rain of shell-bits and liquid, a large bronze stood tall and regal in the light. Dark and reddish in color, broken by the crimson streaks visible along his muzzle and limbs, he still shone with a brilliance that had nothing to do with the slickness of his skin. Stretching his surprisingly small wings, he let out a tentative bugle and shook his head. Crawling away from his shell, he paused, surveying the entirety of the arena from the stands to the dragons to the Candidates, a small twitch wracking his frame now and again. When at last his eyes fell upon those in white robes, he began to tilt his head this way and that, as if reasoning with himself. A look was spared to the rolling egg next to him, along with a soft snort of amusement. Nodding to no one, he made his way sedately forward to the line of boys, precisely to the point he wished to be.
Bumping his nose gently into Elric’s shoulder, he brought his face back to gaze at his mindmate. Yes, I believe you are the most sensible choice. Greetings, Elric; I am your Orith. Might you have something for me to eat? I am terribly hungry, he intoned cordially, seeming pleasant despite the gnawing hunger that could now be felt along their bond.
Cheers went up as the first to hatch was not only a bronze, but one that had found his bonded so quickly and without fuss. At the sound of the cheers, the Ginseng Egg began an even more rambunctious set of maneuvers. Rolling again, it managed to knock into the Rooibos Egg and knock it off-kilter. Almost as if startled by the other egg, the Rooibos Egg twitched a couple times of its own before long cracks swept across the shell. The back end of the egg was knocked away, and the crowd began twisting in their seats to try to catch a glimpse first.
Out from behind the remaining wall of egg, two giant, black wings snapped out, causing a waves of murmurs. Fluorescent green talons sneaked around the edge of the shell, connected to startlingly dark claws, and in an instant the rest of the shell was leveled. If the hatching itself had seemed ominous, the dark, almost midnight-colored brown seemed amused - and if he knew to do so, he would have readily yelled ‘boo!’ to the gathered crowd. His attention, however, was drawn quickly to the rolling, brightly-colored egg that had knocked into him. In a move more suited to a kitten, he leapt forward to pounce on it, missing by inches. Trith took that moment to scold him for his antics, giving him a gruff grumble. Shrugging as if none of that mattered, he effectively shook off the last of the goop on him instead.
Making little fuss over it, he sauntered his way over to the line of boys, though not without eying the girls curiously. Before moving completely out of range, he managed a swipe of his tail that knocked into the Ginseng Egg, almost as if swatting it back in an ongoing game of tag, reaffirming the other as ‘it’ now - and then quickly scampering forward before Trith could swat at him herself. Looking high and low amongst the boys, it took him two quick passes before he finally found His. Having to push through two boys to find the short youth half-hidden behind them, he stopped just short of pouncing on the young man. Hihi, DacktuoMine! Your Desyth was looking for you - you’re good at hiding! was the exuberant greeting. But we can play more later, I’m too hungry right now, Desyth added, seeming genuinely saddened by the fact that he was too hungry to continue the game.
Finally, the Ginseng Egg began to show a few cracks in its bright shell, and mid-roll the egg finally split apart into a multitude of shards. Unfortunately for the minty green within, that left her to continue rolling for several paces until she fetched up against the Chamomile Egg. Clinging to her clutchmate a looking comically dizzy for a moment, it now became apparent that there were some darker greens woven into her hide, as well as a curious smattering of red and purple freckles here and there. Shaking her head in finally recovery, she crooned her adoring thanks to the Chamomile Egg, nuzzling it as if to thank it for steadying her. Finally looking up, she sighted the other two that had already made their way out of the clutch.
Chirping indiscriminately to Orith and Desyth to wait for her(!), she made to scramble after them, crawling over the Chamomile Egg in the process. Nuzzling playfully against both of her clutchbrothers, the Ginseng Green finally took notice of the other being there. Oh! How exciting! Fetching up against another of the smaller boys, she crooned her happy affection at him. Sava- Sana- SavvieMine! she chirped, giving up on getting his name right for the moment. I almost didn’t remember you were waiting, but I found you anyway! I wanted to get to you first, but they distracted me, she said, almost conspiratorially. An odd grumble sounded from her stomach, and if a dragon could turn bashful, she did. Quickly curling around Savareniel, she made to hide in embarrassment from the two nearby males. Can we eat now? was the quiet, sweet inquiry that echoed from her mind, clearly chagrined at having made such a noise.
Left in the wake of the excited green, the Oriental Spice Egg began to rock powerfully, with the Chai Egg giving its own tentative twitches and the Chamomile Egg rocking lazily as well.
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Nov 10, 2010 7:41:56 GMT -5
Who: Trith, egg-babies, and there had better be Candidates! What: Hatching of the Tasseography Clutch. When: A perfect, lazy summer afternoon. Where: The Hatching Sands. Warnings: Distraught, agitated, and protective Trith + hatchlings. ...Anything is possible. o_o
Trith twitched and grunted as she slept, growing annoyed at the tiny little skittering noise she kept hearing. Thrice she had awoken, only to find nothing amiss. No humans, save for the Healer woman who, per Samhara’s dying request, had rarely left her side. The fire-lizards had cleared off after she’d seethed at them for disturbing her with their chatter. The few dragons nearby either dozed in the hazy afternoon light or were standing quiet vigilance - none so much as twitching save to eye her carefully when she’d awoken to look around warily for the noise.
She had just laid her head down to rest again when she heard it - much, much closer this time. Lightning-quick she oriented on it, ready to snarl - only to stop short when she realized what it was. Leaning forward she tapped gingerly on the Ginseng Egg, resulting in a little shake and a series of more skittery noises. Ah, so that was it. Her children were ready. A little of the happy shade of blue swirled into her eyes, which had been a pale yellow with the occasional hint of red since the attack. Caressing the bright little egg maternally, she gave it a quiet croon before sitting up. She could feel the attention of those around her as she rose to her full height, the majestic queen for one last time.
Bugling loudly, she hoped to catch the attention of every square inch of the Weyr. For a moment, she hesitated. For that brief span, she almost wondered if it was kinder to let her children flash to between instead of ever having to suffer the loss of their partners. But the thought was quickly replaced by the memories of joy she had spent in Samhara’s company for the time they had. No, it would be no kindness to deny them a chance at the very same. And when one day their partners did fall to age or sickness, accident or violence, then they would follow quickly behind them into the Void. Only her golden daughter risked a fate such as hers, but Trith knew that seeing her children into the world was worth this brief span of agony. And soon enough, she would join with Hers again.
Gathering her thoughts, she gave one gaze across the whirling eyes riveted on her before she began a great thrumming in her throat. Those gathered around her eagerly took up the sound, beginning the Humming that would usher her last clutch into life. Candidates! Come, and bond my children into this world! she called, her voice ringing beautifully within every mind in the Weyr. If her get were to survive, they would need every choice they could possibly have from among the human young. Gazing down at the seventeen colorful eggs before her, she noticed that the Ginseng Egg was now twitching and shaking harder - the slight squabbling drowned out by the sound of the Humming. Also, one of the larger eggs - the Black Tea Egg - had begun to rock gently as soon as the Humming had begun in earnest.
List of Eggs: Apple-Cinnamon Egg: Hatched 11th - Bronze Mneketh - NPC Male. Black Tea Egg: Hatched 1st - Bronze Orith - E'ric. Chai Egg: Hatched 7th - Green Iveth - Valee. Chamomile Egg: Hatched 4th - Blue Skeith - A'den. Darjeeling Egg: Hatched 9th - Blue Absinth - Keiko. Earl Grey Egg: Hatched 6th - Green - Betweened. Five Fairy Flower Egg: Hatched 13th - Blue - NPC Female - Betweened. Ginseng Egg: Hatched 3rd - Green Geveneth - Sa'niel. Green Tea Egg: Hatched 16th - Brown Hearth - Batavia. Jasmine Egg: Hatched 14th - Gold Ellenath - Raelwyn. Lemongrass Egg: Hatched 8th - Blue Drailth - NPC Male. Mint Egg: Honey-Mint - Hatched 17th - Green Priyath - Synchella & Peppermint - Hatched 18th - Green Seriath - M'vren. Oolong Egg: Hatched 12th - Green Violith - Z'lor. Oriental Spice Egg: Hatched 5th - Brown Kaith - R'lian Pekoe Egg: Hatched 15th - Blue Flith - NPC Male. Rooibos Egg: Hatched 2nd - Brown Desyth - D'uo. White Tea Egg: Hatched 10th - White Trivaruth - Mu.
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
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Post by Trith on Nov 1, 2010 8:04:00 GMT -5
Trith was growing slightly more anxious as she watched the candidates move through the clutch, her dagger-sharp claws digging into the sand without conscious thought. To those few who arrived after the touching began, she peered through imperious eyes, before slowly nodding her agreement for them to proceed to the touching. Her clutch would need all the candidates they could offer, and she would make certain her children had all the choices they needed and deserved.
The Apple-Cinnamon Egg reacted to the touch with a brush of friendly enthusiasm that had a distinctly –different- flavor than the one touching it. It was nice, but this person was not for it. The White Tea Egg was overjoyed, and terribly excited to be getting attention. It almost seemed like it would bounce right out of its shell as it felt distinctly sadder when the attention was no longer on it. Right on its heels, the Darjeeling Egg emulated similar emotions, and also felt sadness when the toucher left it. For the Jasmine Egg it seemed to lift the toucher up, and even if she fell from that tightrope, she would always be caught in a warm welcoming embrace.
The Aureum Egg seemed solid and firm, however there were mental walls around it, closing the toucher out. For the Phoenix Pearls Egg, it seemed to radiate a sense of intelligence , but it was also defensive to the touch. The Black Tea Egg seemed to approve of the toucher’s sense of ‘this is who I am, take it or leave it’. It held itself aloof, but seemed inclined to keep the toucher close until he left. When the Chai Egg received attention, it seemed shyly aversive, but not unfriendly in its reclusion. The Lemongrass Egg gave a sense of being highly amused , but the Darjeeling Egg practically on top of it seemed inclined to pull everyone to itself while the Orange Zest Egg was bright and cheerfully happy to receive any and all attention.
The Ginseng Egg seemed to give an almost teasing nudge of its toucher, friendly in a friendly way. For the Aureum Egg, it seemed to close itself off from its toucher, but that wall seemed breach-able like the distance was only a façade. The Five Fairy Flower Egg was all at once friendly and bubbly, which in turn turned to curious. It then drew away as if startled, and didn’t approach again. For the Oriental Spice Egg it seemed gently flirtatious, but also accepting with an edge of protection. The Mate Egg seemed all too happy to draw its toucher in with a series of soothing waves, like it would be fine to simply fall asleep right there curled next to it.
The Chamomile Egg was swamped in the urge to not move ever, and very much invited its toucher to join it. Laziness that almost seemed contagious urged the toucher to sit down and stay a while. The Earl Grey Egg hid something beneath the fear, the barest touch of anger like needles in the mind. For the Fireside Egg it also drew the toucher in, but this sense of ease had a hidden edge to it, like the toucher should be wary for himself. As for the Rooibos Egg a blossoming sense of wickedness of the most fun kind flashed out, however it wasn’t fun necessarily intended for the toucher, oh no.
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
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Post by Trith on Oct 27, 2010 8:07:28 GMT -5
Samhara viewed each candidate with a sense of subdued pride. Each one seemed to be reacting as they should -which they should know how to do, because what were lessons for then?- and Trith didn't seem too terribly anxious herself as more people joined the lineup. She would even hesitate to say that it was going well. Each candidate who arrived greeted both her and Trith, to which she responded in kind with nods of acknowledgment. Trith's mood was slowly moving towards protective, but the Weyrwoman monitored it at minute levels, making sure the gold still sent out what her usual touching reactions were.
Whatever else, Trith was remaining calm and that was most important. The great gold had folded her wings back primly, her whirling eyes on the candidates who sought to touch her beloved children. Well, she supposed they'd do, and she brushed each mind with her own in agreement for them, giving them permission to begin. All except the one who'd brought a small one with him. Trith flashed her teeth in a soft snarl, indicating her disapproval. Had this one not learned? Leave your small one, boy, she has no place here where you vie to connect, to bond with a child of my clutch. If the small one did not leave, then the boy would.
Shards, hadn't they been told to not bring pets? That should have been one of the first rules! A scowl crossed Samhara's face as she noted the boy who'd brought a flitter with him. Well, he’d learn, and fix his mistake, or Trith would send him from the hatching sands. There was nothing they could do about it now. She just hoped he’d react well to the command.
Trith moved forward to keep an eye on the eggs as the candidates began moving forward. There would be no damage to her clutch wile she was on guard. The unspoken warning brought the slightest red tinge to her whirling eyes and a low growl into her chest, a rumbling that flowed over the hatching sands. This was normal for her though, and Samhara eased back just a little, a small smile forming on her face. She was growing more confident that the touching would go well. Trith was reacting normally, and even now, the gold left her mind lightly touching her rider’s, letting her happiness flow through even as she put on an impressive front to warn the younglings against harming the clutch.
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Oct 26, 2010 6:54:43 GMT -5
Where: Hatching Sands What: Touching!! When: Midmorning. Who: Trith Samhara and everyone else! Warnings: Wouldn’t you like to know!
She was healing. That much was certain to a much less frazzled looking Goldrider as she surveyed Trith milling about her clutch. Whether it was time slowly easing the pain of her wounds -both physical and soul-deep- or the clutch bringing out a softer side to the gold, she had started speaking again. It was wonderful to hear that soft voice once more, and Samhara had deepened the mental link until her emotions flowed through to the gold like sweet, soothing rain water, showing how much her rider had missed her usually jubilant presence. As if sensing her attention, Trith paused in her adjustments and looked up at her rider sitting near the queen’s couch, her eyes a peaceful whirl of green and blue. As if assuring herself and her rider of her continued well-being, Trith slowly spread her great wings, a show of the growing good health after her disastrous Flight. The dragonhealers said by the time the clutch hatched, she would be healed enough to work on her flying again, and the news had overwhelmed the Weyr, glad tidings for all.
Trith went back to her care of the clutch, gentle and tapping here and there, testing the strength of the shells and feeling something within each that told her the egg and the hatchlings were properly ready. Mine, they are ready for a Touching. that soft voice blossomed in her head, and Samhara smiled, still relieved to be hearing the gold after so long in silence. She’d never realized just how much Trith’s gentle teasing and good-natured quips meant to her until they were no longer there. By all means, lovely, tell them to come. I’m sure they’ll be glad to hear you. She kept any of the lingering rancor from her voice with the strictest of control. Trith didn’t need a reminder that the clutch had been forced on her, but the good nature of dragons allowed the gold to see past the father and love the children as all golds did. She would be wary though, and when the Candidates approached, Samhara would have them informed that they should be on their best behavior.
The amount of spectators and dragons around the hatching sands had eventually dwindled, only a few now on guard now that Trith was well on the mend and feeling better, her bronze suitors notably still around. Trith straightened and sent out a bugle call, accompanied by a mental caress to everyone in the Weyr. All candidates, the Touching will begin shortly. Your presence is required on the sands. The announcement complete, Trith moved lightly to settle herself mid-way between the clutch and her couch.
Samhara glanced around, noting the ex-Weyrleader’s quick arrival up a flight of stairs. He must have been nearby. Gareth certainly still hung in attendance to his Queen. She walked to him, taking a seat on the edge of the warm sands where he joined her, preferring to stand. “Have Gareth pass on a request for everyone to remain calm and be respectful. She’s still… wary.” He nodded, and after a moment, the bronze rang out the tactful message. Candidates be aware, you are to remain on your best behavior and remember your manners when approaching a Queen.
She nodded with a small smile, and returned her gaze to Trith. They’d be alright. She’d be alright. All she needed was more time, and she’d heal completely, and once she was in the air again, Samhara had a feeling the gold would finish healing the inner wound as well.
The Tasseography Clutch
Apple-Cinnamon Egg Aureum Tea Egg Black Tea Egg Chai Egg Chamomile Egg Darjeeling Egg Earl Grey Egg Fireside Egg Five Fairy Flower Egg Ginseng Egg Green Tea Egg Jasmine Egg Lemongrass Egg Maté Egg Mint Egg Oolong Egg Orange Zest Egg Oriental Spice Egg Pekoe Egg Pheonix Pearls Egg Rooibos Egg Yellow Tea Egg White Tea Egg
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Trith
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Goldie McGolderson
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Post by Trith on Oct 13, 2010 20:55:06 GMT -5
Where: Hatching Sands When: Late afternoon Who: Trith and everyone else!!!! Warnings: Angry Trith SMASH!
The sevendays had passed in a blur of remembering and regret. The bronze had not appeared again, and good riddance was the thought of nearly every person in the Weyr, especially those who had participated in the Flight firsthand. No one would easily be able to forget what had happened, least of all the one hurt the most.
Or rather the two. It was a full sevenday before Samhara left her personal weyr, shunning most male companionship. Her heart ached for Trith, who once treated for her injuries, had been all too gently placed on her own weyrledge by her faithful and worried males. The gentle gold was silent, too silent even, and her gentleness was washed away in a simmering that lay just beneath the surface. Samhara could feel it like a sickness in the gold, growing deeper and uncontrollable. Something wild, and something scary. For the first time in their entire relationship, Samhara couldn’t predict what the gold would do, and as much as she tried to hide it, she was frightened.
All it would take is something small to tip Trith over the edge into something violent and unpredictable, and that something might just involve her clutching, a time when typically golds were more volatile to begin with. Trith was egg heavy now, and had spent the past two days rounding the hatching sands, shuffling about in her land-bound state. Given enough time, her chances were good that she’d make a full recovery, including her flight. For now however, she needed assistance to move, and the pair were under constant supervision from many of the bronze and brownriders, not to mention the healers.
Even now, as Samhara watched the sullen gold shuffle about, her wing tips partially dragging the ground, a whole cadre of riders and healers were trying to surreptitiously watch the pair. It was making her sick with annoyance, and that was not only transferred to but doubled upon by Trith, who also felt almost trapped by all the.. male attention she was receiving. Much as the goldrider loved hatchings, she would secretly be glad when this one was over. She tried to not think of all the problems arising due to their lack of a Weyrleader. K’roi had stepped in for the most part, but he was in the process of creating a counsel of sorts to watch over the Weyr until Trith rose again, a process that everyone knew would be at least a Turn in coming. They didn’t even contemplate what might happen if the rider of that bronze stepped forward. The general, if unspoken consensus was that any rider belonging to such a bronze would be just as twisted and just as likely to abuse his power.
Trith growled low in her throat as Samhara felt something change in the huge dragon. It was familiar enough by now that she could tell. Clutching time. Unsure whether to be happy or worried, she settled for anxious as she watched Trith find the best space on the sands, a place she’d already prepared by sweeping it into a gentle depression with her broad tail. Reds began whirling in the disgruntled gold’s eyes as she hackled, daring any to move closer to her and her precious clutch as she began to lay. Even though it was a tangible, obvious reminder of him it was still a clutch of her children. She would see them all protected, no matter the consequences.
The Tasseography Clutch
Apple-Cinnamon Egg: One of the larger eggs of the clutch, this egg is a simple, variegated pattern of bright reds, yellows, and greens. These three colors are evenly distributed across the entirety of the smooth surface, and this egg has a much more rounded shape than some others. Situated right near the center, this egg seems comfortable with its clutchmates in general, and even leans companionably against more than one. Sprinkled – almost like a last minute thought – across the top facing curve, reddish speckles are bunched here and there, dark against the brighter colors. A vague spiral shape forms out of the speckles on the very top, just distinguishable among the other bunches of reddish color. Along the bottom of the egg, triangles of a darker green form a ringed pattern that goes all the way around, periodically having one that looks more like the acorn of a tree amidst them. This egg feels very gentle, and its aura makes plain the fact that the dragonet within is a very kindred soul.
Aureum Tea Egg: Large and fiery, this egg vibrates in a space of its own – aloof yet within the confines of its clutch. It is based in a deep, molten red – darkened as if in constant shadow – that swirls slightly with a dark cream tone in paper-thin bands near the bottom. The bands meld together at certain points, and if one uses a bit of imagination it almost looks as if the broken segments of a sword lay amongst them. It has a rather elegant shape, neither too fat nor too thin, too tall nor too short. Curved about the topmost piece – seeming at first to be a trick of the light – are tiny flecks of golden color, glittering brightly against the near blood-red. If viewed from above, the flecks almost seem to form the shape of an hourglass spread over the top of the egg, the grains of sand scattered within. Bits of a near black seem to float under the surface of the red on the egg like roiling clouds, and the warm tones overlaid make it reminiscent of a dark fire. There is a definable aura of strength wrapped around this one - though it is the strength of high, barricading walls rather than dogged perseverance.
Black Tea Egg: Quite large in size, this egg seems robust both in color and quality, though its thick shell promises a difficult hatching. Its bright red color catches the eye more-so than most of its siblings, and while most of the shell is that lovely crimson color, a few darker slashes of brown-black create some swirling, smoke-like contrast. One swirl in particular has formed an interesting image, that of a nearly perfect set of scales. They are balanced evenly with an odd pear-shape in each dish, though the image seems precarious, as if the scales might tip at any time – and viewing it from a different angle might indeed make it seem as if they had. Rising up from the bottom on the side nearest Trith, several angular spires conglomerate to the effect of an odd castle – bright and strong rather than dark and imposing. The most striking image floats just above the castle, clearer than most others: a rampant dragon, poised and composed. Even just passing near this egg, one will feel an intense scrutiny pass over them – as if weighing their hearts and minds.
Chai Egg: This medium-sized egg is practically aswirl with several different shades of brown: mocha, dark chocolate, cream, and ochre – among others. They all swirl together in a marbling effect that travels over the slight bumpy shell in rivulets and currents, almost as if looking long enough would reveal that the browns are sluggishly moving around the shell. Among them seems to be the tiny images of ivy, twining along the divides. Despite this interesting illusion of perpetual movement, this rather matte egg tends to fade into the crowd behind larger and brighter eggs. The swirls along the bottom form a very contrasting set of hash marks, nearly opposite the rest of the egg in form. A series of squares is formed by these hashes, round-edged and somehow not at all detracting from the smooth glide of the overall egg. Small and almost unnoticeable, three canines play among the small gaps between color-rivulets; a dark chocolate colored one lounges very near the top, while a cream one and mocha one play-fight near the bottom-most part of the egg. A kindness encompasses this egg, to the point where one might not even think it silly to give it a hug or lean against it to cry out their sorrows – everything will be alright, after all.
Chamomile Egg: This egg is neither large nor small, and sits nestled in the center of its brethren as if sheltering itself there. A pale golden hue curls with richly deep amber, surprisingly even-toned despite the dichotomy. A few hints of yellows, browns, and whites line the divides between the two colors, creating a softer transition that has a life of its own. Flourishing along one side, the curls form the shape of a pretty little shrub, and almost hidden just underneath it is a small canine reminiscent of the old Earth jackals, mouth open in laughter. Around the top is ringed a series of lumpy images that – after a few moments study – look vaguely like three- and four-leaf clovers. There is a sleepy serenity blanketing this egg, almost too calming and soothing to stand near for long lest one drift off.
Darjeeling Egg: This egg is smallish, and exceptionally pretty. A pale yellow base is accented with tan and green leafy shadows that cover the whole egg, and deepens in color to an aged gold close to the bottom and lightens to a soft cream towards the top. Slightly longer and thinner than usual, this strange egg certainly stands out despite its muted appearance. Oddly enough, it seems almost identical to the Lemongrass Egg, save for a few small shadows formed by the leafy tans and greens. A small arc drifts between two shadows, like a connecting bridge, and above it is a pretty little crescent shape. Rising from the sand-line, the leafy shadows look a bit more like fronds coming off of an intermittent rod. Tiny, blue-purple shapes blossom like flowers here and there, lovely in color and deepening towards more purple in the center of each. Smaller bud shapes in pale blue seem to grow from the leafy shadows like flowers yet to bloom, and among them one can see curved, fluttering wings reminiscent of the prettier pollinators that flit to and fro. Interestingly, this egg seems perfectly happy in its current location and position: laying completely on its side in the central back of the clutch, tapered end pointing out toward the others and completely ignoring the Lemongrass Egg that leans against it. Happiness bounces off of this egg, mixed with a modicum of impatience, like it just can’t wait to be free to socialize. For now, though, it welcomes all near it with a clingy friendliness like it won’t let you run off without a visit.
Earl Grey Egg: Strangely lumpy, this egg is layered with a mixture of orange and chocolate splotches. Quite round as opposed to oblong in shape, there are a number of places where the shell either bulges or sinks in unexpectedly. Though not lacking in hardness, this slightly misshapen shell still seems a little thinner than is typical. It means well for the hatchling within, guaranteeing an easy hatching. The colors are haphazardly spread, a messy morass of orange and brown in a very prominent dual-toned look. All along the bottom, the dyadic colors seem to lick at the shell like flames, while rising from these are a multitude of smoky clouds. Out of the chaos, a shape or two can be made out like picking out shapes in a cloud-scudded sky, including a single straight-lined image, eerily resembling a coffin. Two sets of perpendicular slashes stand out on this egg, one standing on its slightly-longer vertical arm and the other tipped at a precarious angle, equal-armed but with two oval rings along the tips on one side. One of the sunken-in, smoky splotches twists into the uncanny visage of one of the hooting, nighttime avians. An uneasiness cloaks this egg, swirled with an off-putting confusion.
Fireside Egg: On the small end, and rather lazily tipped against one or two of its clutch, this egg is soothing to look upon. Deep browns and reds dance across the backdrop, where flecks of brighter orange, red, and black dart. Sparks of a warm amber float near its base, with a curl here and there extending as if to trap a passing shadow on the egg. Among these curls is the curious form of a toad, distended as if mid-croak, limned against the darkness. The dark tones carry throughout this egg with few deviations, aside from tiny bits of blue that are few and far between, like the hottest sparks of flame. Several sparks seem to almost have a tail, as if bursting away from something – and upon very close inspection, one might just make out the shape of an old-tech pistol. Rising up from the ashy bottom, a twisting spire of black forms an odd steeple along each side, neatly dividing the egg in half. There is a dark, sultry feel to this egg, taunting and tempting, alarming and welcoming at once.
Five Fairy Flower Egg: Middling-size, this egg seems to twist about constantly to touch its brethren, happily ensconced near the middle of the clutch. A multitude of colors ply over the surface of this egg, based in a rich, light honey-amber tone. Flecks of lavenders, greens, whites, and yellows dart over the shell like confetti, with heavier pieces seeming to shift about under the honeyed hue. Slightly longer and thinner, this egg has several distinctive markings blended amongst the plethora of what almost seem to be flower petals raining throughout. Almost hidden just underneath the surface colors, kaleidoscopic figures of a chiropteran and a scavenger avian float spectrally. Twisted figures play across the surface as well, dancing between the ‘petals’ all over. There is an unmatched sweetness rolling off this egg, blending with an equally unmatched – though shy – curiosity.
Ginseng Egg: Pale, almost mint green in color, this smallish egg seems to enjoy the presence of all its siblings in its location near the center of the clutch. On top of and nearly overwhelming the paler color, brilliant bursts of red and purple dazzle their way across the smooth shell, almost like fireworks or soft downy flower seeds on the wind. One of the burst is a bit rounder in shape, with rod-like shapes radiating through it like spokes. In addition, small clusters of a much darker red dot here and there – almost hidden amongst the larger, stronger bursts. Coalescing from these are two tiny forms: a hare frozen mid-sprint up one side and a feline stretching languorously along the bottom. In an odd clear spot, the dots seem to outline the shape of a small dagger, point down. Where the mixture of loud and demure would seem almost too contradictory at most times, it seems to harmonize upon this egg. Furthering this is the odd feel of coy sweetness, quietly inviting most near.
Green Tea Egg: An even olive green over its entirety, this medium-large egg is practically hidden in the back behind much larger and more showy eggs. It seems content though, and unconcerned with its placement. Large, tan colored spots dot along the shell, oblong in shape like large pieces of rice. It almost serves to camouflage the egg, but the green color stands out against the white of the Hatching Sands. Small bumps run along each tan spot, giving them a tactile as well as visual difference to the rest of the shell. If viewed from above, the tan shapes angle and curve into the shape of a stylized fleur-de-lis; while along the sides they form the boundaries of a racing canine and a large jug. Nigh-absolute contentment radiates from this egg, tinted only by a very small bit of annoyance.
Jasmine Egg: Quite large, this egg is a mixture of various golden colors. Pale amber-gold sweeps the majority of the surface with even color, while brighter flashes of yellow-gold blossom over the surface here and there. At the center of each yellow-gold coruscation, a burst of pure white catches the eye. Playing down one side of the egg, one of the bright bursts stretches down, leaving the white near the top to for a rather abstract scepter. Between each yellowed section, red-gold flecks scatter like a multitude of tiny freckles, bringing the amber color up to a much warmer reddish hue. Some of the red flecks gather to both sides in vaguely circular symbols – one with a single large dot in the center, the other with lines intersecting it like spokes. Near the sand-line, one of the smaller draybeasts is outlined in the amber-gold by the edges of the brighter flashes, pulled back as if fighting a rein. The whole vicinity of this egg has the feel of gentle sweetness, but also the peculiar, fear-like feeling one gets when walking along a very steep edge.
Lemongrass Egg: This egg is smallish, and exceptionally pretty. A pale yellow base is accented with tan and green leafy shadows that cover the whole egg, and deepens in color to an aged gold close to the bottom and lightens to a soft cream towards the top. Slightly longer and thinner than usual, this strange egg certainly stands out despite its muted appearance. Oddly enough, it seems almost identical to the Darjeeling Egg, save for a few small shadows formed by the leafy tans and greens. A minute crown drifts in the shadows near the top, and a grasshopper seems caught mid-spring along the very bottom. Tiny, blue-purple shapes blossom like flowers here and there, lovely in color and deepening towards more purple in the center of each. Several even seem gathered at one point to form a lovely bouquet. Smaller bud shapes in pale blue seem to grow from the leafy shadows like flowers yet to bloom, and among them one can see a falcon-avian, diving through the proverbial sky. Sitting in the central back of the clutch, this egg tilts forward to just barely rest against the prone Darjeeling Egg, bordering between aloof and friendly to its clutchmate. To the rest of the world, it is both welcoming and reserved. A wry humor dances around it, as if laughing at you and waiting for you to figure out the joke.
Maté Egg: This egg is a bit on the smallish side, and sits off to the side of its siblings near the front. A cloudy camouflage green is the base of its coloring, lightening and darkening ever so slightly here and there. Thick, dull silver wisps sweep around it here and there, laced through with evergreen threads. These wisps and threads seem to make odd patterns against their cloudy background, and if one were to look at them askance they might see a wild canine along the top, its head tipped back in a howl. A little further down and a third of the way around the egg, the form of a stretching tunnelcat – dainty in its features – can just be made out. Another third of the way around the egg is a likeness of a large rodent, skittering frantically away. Around the bottom are twistine, segmented forms, reminiscent of earthworms. There is a very chill aura around this egg, the picture of utter relaxation. One might feel they could just curl up around it and take a lazy nap, or perhaps for the high-strung they might feel calmed enough to use their energy toward something effective.
Mint Egg: Easily the largest egg in the clutch barring none, a solid half of this egg is a bright yellow color splashed with lighter and darker golds. Brushes of a deep forest green color sweep through here and there, giving it some shadows. On the other half, a luscious green color takes precedence, rich with splashes of both lighter and darker greens. Brushes of a golden yellow color sweep through here and there, giving it some glitter. More oblong than many other eggs in the clutch, a single line of the viridian color sweeps around the egg, joined half way by a similar gold line to cut the egg nearly in half. The gold-green color has a slight pattern to it, much like the links of a delicate chain, holding the bright, happy egg together. It leans only slightly to the side, able to stay straight on its own but it doesn't shun its siblings. Along the top, an upward jutting portion of green seems to form the shape of an angular tree, perhaps pine, with other straight slashes that seem inconsistent with the rest of the morass. Along the bottom, the line that cut the middle is dragged down by a very distinct anchor image, while vaguely shadowed are images of a frog and a porcine. They seem to fade into the bottom colors, very indistinct.
Oolong Egg: Moderately sized, this egg is rather animated amidst the clutch, despite the obvious immobility of the egg. It's clear this egg wants to be the center of attention, especially given its placement. Near the center, it is hard at first to tell what the egg is, given the stout, somewhat fluid seeming shape. This is an egg which is mostly an even, soft yellow-green of grass at summer’s end. Milky-yellow and darker green swirls curl at the bottom and top respectively in thin strands, underneath flecks of soft green, dark black, warm brown, and pale gray which float about the sides. Almost as an afterthought, and of course entirely of the egg's own design, some feathery monstrosity of a hat seems emblazoned on its side in slashing pink and purple lines. So brash a symbol has nothing else to temper its audacious zest, and is clearly delineated against the much softer hues.
Orange Zest Egg: Bright and happy, this middling-large egg dominates its area, cheerfully leaning against a sibling here or another there depending on the day. A heavy – and heady – mix of bright autumnal colors mark this egg, all shades of a glorious orange-red to orange-yellow. The tones swirl together over the expanse of the surface in a quixotic and somewhat dizzying manner, flecked with shards of bright vivid yellow, dashing pure orange, and tiny little hints of green. Those speckles almost seem to form images at times against their backdrop, though it could just be the egg teasing you. Among these images are those of a comet and an umbrella, as well as the odd form of a woman’s torso ended in a dolphin’s tail. Amidst the swirls is also the vague formation of small links of chain, broken from each other here and there. Approaching this egg, a heady feeling of bright happiness will wash over a person, giving an excitement for all things to come.
Oriental Spice Egg: Sitting at the very front of the clutch, this large egg seems almost to shield the smaller eggs around it from either view or harm. It certainly looks powerful and intimidating enough to do so, and by the way it’s canted it does appear to shadow over one or two of the others. Nearly solid black in color, only tiny spots of red and orange seem to float across the egg in the barest moment of whimsy. Otherwise, the ebony hue of this shell is steadfast and almost menacing. A touch the shell however, would belie this initial visual reaction. The egg seems to seek merely the protection of others, and shows other signs of friendship in the way it leans back towards many of its clutchsiblings. Like the most indistinct shadow against the black, an almost silvery color outlines a shield that covers nearly the entire back half of the egg, that which faces the clutch. As if hunching is own shoulders up, a vulture sits in silhouette on the shield image, while to the fore, a tiny harp in incised near the top third of the egg in the same silvery color.
Pekoe Egg: A rich, dark reddish-brown, this larger egg sits to one side of the clutch, listing away from the other eggs beside it and towards the walls. The base of the colors, which on closer appearance are several similar shades instead of a whole, is a light yellow-red tone, seen only in a few spots. A deep, brownish-red amber swirls lazily over the whole, curling about slowly as if there is all the time in the world to meld. A few swirl in a manner that forms the shape of one of the sanctuary buildings scattered around on one side, and on the other there is the vague shape of a spade. Long thin bits of darker greens and brown-black float about haphazardly, as if they, too, care less what occurs in the world. Outlined by these bits are two slightly misshapen forms – one looking much like the draybeasts sometimes called asses, the other looking like an oddly long-necked runner with two bumps raised off its back. The aura of this egg is an odd one, for while it seems completely apathetic to the presence of anyone near it, it also curls in around and seems to cling as if to keep one close.
Pheonix Pearls Egg: Delicate greens and yellows dance over this slightly smaller than middling egg, settled mostly near the bottom of it in tight little balls that bulge just barely from the smoothness of the shell. The lighter golden-green backdrop is covered in these, as well as lazily drifting dashes and hatches in a darker gray-green-white tone at the top. Tendrils from the ‘pearls’ of darker greens turn yellow as they sway gently up the sides of this stout-seeming egg, as if they are breaking free of a prison and reaching for the heavens themselves. Among the dashes there seems to almost be the outline of a knife, point down, and the tendrils swirl into the form of a rudimentary saw. Near the base, curled amongst the balls of color are all manner of serpentine forms. Over it all lays a somber green-gray that, while trapping, is protective to those stems and leaves – hinting at the freedom just below its surface.
Rooibos Egg: In a word, dark would best describe this egg's hue. Dark red – like the color of old blood – with slashes of a lighter brown here and there, cover the slightly bumpy shell. Towards both ends of this large egg an even darker ebony hue seems to gather in swirls and eddies, as if touched by the wind. Just barely visibly, several of the swirls seem to form into small jointed figures, like birds seen flying at a distance. They pepper the shell in a lighter red hue, scattered mostly over the top third. Among them is a small, slightly diamond-shaped blotch with two lines coming from it – one straight and curling around the egg to disappear beneath the sand-line, the other shorter and kinked with small knots. On the side facing Trith’s couch, a few swirls that rather abstractly resemble a crown circle around pair of perpendicular slashes, seeming to rest on the horizontal bar. Right near the bottom, easily missed, is an eerie extension of the ebony hue that curls up in a jointed hook, seeming almost like a gallows. The egg leans only slightly to the side, towards the empty space of the rest of the Sands. An energy practically pours off of this egg – a playfulness that rather makes one unsure if they should grin…or flee.
Yellow Tea Egg: Of middling size, this egg seems to be almost a mix of the coloration of the Green Tea and White Tea Eggs – though nowhere near as vibrant. In fact, this rather drab egg would be easily overlooked if not for the sheer presence rolling off of it. A dull olive tone is frosted over by a patchy, lighter green, making it seem like pale moss had started to grow on the egg. These patches have a series of tiny raised bumps in them, adding to the effect. Several shapes appear half-hidden in those patches, the most discernable of which is a rounder blob with a loop on one side and extension on the other – like an odd kettle – near the top. Along the bottom of one side is a series of tall, almost-rectangular shapes, like the buildings of a city skyline. The foggy patches coalesce into several more shapes around the rest of the egg, the forms of various beasts prowling. The most prominent of the creature-shapes resembles a massive grabber with its front limbs tucked away, and for those savvy enough of old Earth-creatures they’d see the resemblance to a shark. Despite not being much to look at, this egg has a thick presence around it that practically demands that one pay attention, almost seeming to vibrate with the force of it. The direct center of its siblings, it has the added effect of drawing the eye to the clutch as a whole.
White Tea Egg: While this egg is on the smaller side of the spectrum, it certainly creates a presence for itself in its luster. A bright, polished silver in color, one could almost swear they saw reflections in its surface, though that isn’t actually possible. A very light green swirls over the surface in rollicking patterns, and upon inspection one can almost see the faint lines coalescing into a few figures when looked at on a certain angle. Outlines of an axe and a hammer ring the top of the egg, and a cart seems to float along a multitude of wavy lines. Another set of twists somewhat resembles a coiled tunnelsnake. Right near the base, just above the sand-line, there seems to almost be the tiny image of a runner, but with a strange protrusion from its forehead. The egg sits close to Trith, but near the tail-end of her couch, tilted toward her as if showing a broader face to the rest of the world. Nearing this egg, one feels a great warmth and acceptance, along with a strange, unfathomable curiosity.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Oct 11, 2010 7:35:26 GMT -5
The ultimate joy of choosing, the fluttering of her great heart for her chasers, it was suddenly cut short as another took up the chase. How dare he injure her males! Trith’s voice bellowed both through the air and through minds as she exerted a gold’s presence of mind against him… and was utterly confused as it slid away from his mind like it was covered in grease and oil, hiding something sickly beneath. No dragon could resist a direct order from a queen! That moment of confusion bought the new bronze precious moments to further divert her chasers, and suddenly he was there beside her. If he thought she would choose him after injuring the others... but no! What was he doing!?
Trith’s limbs were tucked close as the bronze forced a malevolent mind against hers, and she shrieked in pain as her left shoulder cracked from the unnatural force pressing her limbs about her. She was falling for only a second before the horrid male swept her up, his filthy hide covering her as he twined with her. Trith shrieked again, a sound echoed by Samhara as the Weyrwoman tripped to the side in the flight chambers away from the surrounding males, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if warding the feelings going between her and the gold.
Trith saw and heard nothing other than HIM all around her as he blocked her mind and senses. His harsh claws and rough skin scratched her hide and his smell overwhelmed her. Lines of ichor were drawn where he held her and she still struggled, but he took the victory regardless of her vehement protests. Suddenly they were taken further from the other males as the huge bronze swept them away. Battered both mentally and physically, and aching in more ways than one, the final affront came when the bronze disengaged from her with a contemptuous shove, and the gold fell with a jolt to the hard ground below. Far, too far it had been from the forest floor, and something else cracked when she landed –a handful of ribs close to her keel bone. She gave an anguished cry, and far away, Samhara fell to the floor in a heap, the pain and shock too much for the goldrider as she collapsed.
The gold slid to a stop in a clearing close to the river, only half-aware, patches of hide scraped away by the skidding landing and leaking ichor along her sides. She luckily did not land against a tree or outcropping, which might have broken her neck, but the damage was done. A low moaning whine escaped the gold with each panting breath, and eyes whirling with muted reds slowly closed against the pain. They would be his children, his eggs. Never had Trith felt so confused and disgusted at the same time. She could only dimly hope that she would never have to see him again.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Sept 27, 2010 9:06:34 GMT -5
The jungle spread in a pool of green, and Trith zipped over it like a phantom. She thrilled in her chasers, and dipped close to a few, growling both encouragement and warning. She actually let a wing glide over the closest brown, Veneth. Such a showoff he was, but it thrilled her, and he was older, experienced. He had such stamina, to keep up and display winged prowess in such stunts. She was quite enjoying his show. The young bronze was flashy as well, but only in hide. His movements were straight and true, and he kept up admirably, but he seemed reserved, held back. Or perhaps he didn't think it important to show himself past being able to keep up.
The younger brown was quite lovely on the cliffs, actually cutting off another male in his expertise. Delightful! He was having trouble keeping up over the jungle though, and Trith snapped her tail at him with a brief rumble of encouragement. She did like the young ones. It was unfortunate that her blue chaser fell back and gave up, but Trith was ever kind, and brushed the briefest thought against his mind of encouragement, a touch she'd yet to give any other male on the chase.
Ah, and she had two magnificent prime bronzes after her as well. One younger by several turns, though doing a lovely job of following while showing off his best side. He rode her tailwinds in compliment, a difficult task that he pulled off admirably well. She pulled down low over a wide lake, skimming the surface again and following the line ahead into a more narrow river that rushed and tumbled along, sending up sprays of water that splashed gloriously over her hide. The older bronze, Gareth most experienced of the bronzes on her tail and also familiar. He'd shown how good a protector he could be with their clutch that wasn't really theirs, and he too kept up well, though he'd been last to arrive. He'd have to prove himself just like the others though, and she deemed it time to really put them through paces.
The river ahead developed an edge, like it suddenly cut off and was lost below to oblivion, and Trith hugged the waters, her progress straight as an arrow. The edge dropped below her and she followed the water as it fell over a wide waterfall, cutting through the press of air and spray of water straight down. Trith's wings snapped out as close to the bottom as possible, and she fairly thundered across the rocks at the bottom of the falls as she narrowly pulled into a horizontal rush, the wind snapping in her terrific wake as she blew over the river. Ahead, a nearly hidden stand of rocks. Timing her move, Trith's golden legs shot out as her wings snapped to turn straight upwards, shooting up with the aid of a kick off the rocks, the boulders shifting under the massive impact of her muscled limbs. Up, up, ever upwards again as she began to make her decision. Who was still with her? She glanced back, eying the pack of males, and worked her way into the sky with strong strokes. One of them was better, the best in fact. Which one? She was leaning...
Samhara/Trith prowled around the room, a hand to V'taph's shoulder, a direct look at V'ton. These were her males, and they showed promise indeed. The wind at her back urged her to make a choice. She was still missing two males, her bronze and her brown. They didn't know what they were missing. She swung around F'ren, and gave a melting look to S'ren, then returned to the middle of the room in preparation of the choice.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Sept 19, 2010 7:24:09 GMT -5
The bright solar light rose as Trith did, bathing her body in layers of honeyed golden colors as she reflected and captured Rukbat’s rays as her own. She released another bugle of sheer pleasure and anticipation as males began following her upwards flight. Bronze brown and even blue, all were there for her pleasure. Well, it was time to begin! Cutting as tight a backwards loop as her size would allow, the gold broke into an all out dive, angling into the path of the upwards racing males, daring each as she passed within touching range, and some within only a hairs breadth of crashing. She noted which ones turned when, and who stayed the course, careful to show only disregard at this stage of the flight and touching none.
Clearing the males, Trith angled towards the beach and the cliffs, her speed dazzling as she mounted waves of eddying winds and careened down, her flight a wild pattern of ups and downs as she rode the winds like a lover, letting it caress and guide her, for nothing was more unpredictable and thus would serve to make her more so to her suitors. Finally, the edge of the cliffs ahead peaked into view, and as they shot under her, Trith cut a quick turn to follow the cliff line, lowering until she flew below the cliff edge, hugging the wall and riding the updrafts from the ocean below. She maneuvered close to the jagged rock, angling in and out there to follow the cliff line. Many got close, very close, to touching her, but she'd gone over this particular area enough times to know when to duck down and when to dodge out. It was a game she was well-versed in playing, and she wanted to see who would play with her.
She made a point now to glance behind and see who rode where on the winds. Who was the most daring, and who was clever enough? Where any of them showing off for her, even in the dangerous conditions they now found themselves in? Trith dipped lower, nearing the waves below, skimming them so close her feet nearly took off several whitecaps. Her tail did sluice through the water momentarily before she pushed up, up again into the high blue, arching out over the cliff and back over the jungle again, her movement now this way and that as she darted over the leafy green expanse in zigzags.
Samhara/Trith prowled about the room, coming up close to this male and that, testing their reactions and judging. Each had something interesting to offer her, but they would need to prove it over the others. There could only be one winner, and she would be certain to pick the strongest, the best overall. Her brow wrinkled in annoyance as a male, no, two males seemed to be missing from the group around her. She wasn’t certain if she was in a forgiving enough mood to welcome them late to the flight.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Sept 15, 2010 22:41:43 GMT -5
Who: Trith and her chasers Where: Flight grounds What: Gold Flight When: Sunrise
The sun was just below the horizon. A fresh breeze blew in from the ocean, a salty breath of air over the cliff and through the open-ended personal weyrs. A glowing form stood ready perched on the edge of her weyrledge, the breeze stirring up dust and grass seeds that wafted and swirled around her half-open wings. A low trill vibrated up from her chest, setting the entire weyr awash with sound. Her bonded sat up in bed, on edge in a familiar way. Trith was ready, so ready for her chase. How she yearned for the males, but it wasn’t time yet, not time. Everything had to be perfect for her moment. Each time, it was perfect, but she yearned to outshine her last performance, and she was bound to do it this day.
Samhara pulled on loose pants and a comfortable shirt, her own heart yearning to begin alongside her gold’s. She’d have to be careful not to let Trith go too soon, or the flight wouldn’t end as well. She was especially obstinate when it came to blooding, and it took all of Samhara's well-trained will power to keep her in line so she wouldn't be weighed down with excess meat.
The sun’s golden lip slipped just over the horizon, and Trith called out her challenge to the world in a ringing bugle of desire, echoing and re-echoing off the rocks. Samahara was instantly beside her, ready to control the flight, and Trith fell from the high ledge with barely a whisper of movement, her wings snapping out with a clap of displaced air as she soared straight back up, heading for the feeding grounds with quick, strong beats. Her bonded stood precariously close to the edge of the cliff as she watched, momentarily lost for thought before she snapped back to herself. The goldrider walked back to her door and out into the hallway, pausing at an intersection as Trith made it to the feeding grounds. She'd need to focus for this part, then the flight would go smoothly.
She leaned against the wall even as she leaned against Trith’s need to feed holding the gold to blood only. Roaring fiercely at the pressure to not eat the meat, the large gold was up in the air and tackling another herdbeast in anger, blooding it as well. Her claws sliced through the herdbeast like paper, dropping the animal in a heartbeat. She eyed a third before making a decision and thrusting powerfully upwards into the air and straight up, a flash of golden might, swift and sure as an arrow darting for the pure blue of the morning sky. Sparse clouds laced the sky with yellow, orange and pink as Rukbat’s face edged further up, but the gold would put it to shame. She glowed as if she too were a brilliant star, her color warm and coppery in the brilliant shine. Again, she voiced her challenge, calling her males to come, come all. They needed to prove themselves worthy of her.
Samhara made it with ease to the flight rooms, taking her customary spot within the center of the room. First to arrive, she took a pace of the room before centering herself, ready for the task ahead. Already she was slipping into the gold’s mind. Things became sharper as the world tilted crazily and she pumped large, powerful wings as she arrowed upwards, trying to outshine and outrace the rising sun. The room faded until she felt the wind on her skin, over-sensitive to pressure changes in the air, the rise and fall of thermals. Those males who could, would follow her up, ever upward. The sky was her goal, she'd brush the clouds and touch the stars, sweep them together and fling them away with a sweep of her tail.
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Trith
Moderator
Goldie McGolderson
Posts: 25
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Post by Trith on Jul 10, 2010 20:04:39 GMT -5
Samhara was practically on the edge of her seat. It was amazing how much such a small clutch could grab at her heart. It was her reaction to all hatchings, but Trith's emotions doubled up on her own and it was practically the one time she actually contemplated having children with someone. Too bad there wasn't anyone, and that's the way she liked it! She had to remind herself at every hatching though, and the smallest part of her admitted it might be nice.
The Splendens Egg continued its leisurely progress towards hatching, the cracks gradually widening as the hatchling within worked at a steady pace to free itself. Almost as if testing the atmosphere of the hatching bowl, a slender aqua green foot pushed easily through the fractured shell the rest on the warm sand. A slow crumbling of the rest of the colorful shell revealed a long and slender green hatchling of a delicate aqua hue, her body and senses already alert to the world around her. She peered around for a long moment before moving almost instinctively towards the Puntius brown. Chirping quietly, she sought to gain his attention from Trith. The queen urged the little green hatchling on with a series of low hums as the brown turned to his green sister with a questioning warble.
She nuzzled him for a brief soothing moment before turning expectantly towards the semi-circle of candidates and urging him to follow, once again showing the lost hatchling where he should be. He seemed momentarily confused, then followed his bright clutchsister towards the line, seeking her attention as he had sought Trith's. Trith crooned to the pair in encouraging tones, glad to see the pale brown at least moving in the correct direction finally.
The Corydora Egg began fracturing open as its efforts began to show progress, and again the gold hummed at it, giving it direction. Finally releasing its occupant, the shell broke apart in thirds to reveal a dark blue hide with some lovely mottling. Unfortunately, that was the only truly beautiful thing about him. Large imposing jaws and an awkward frame made the Corydora blue look just a little too much like a wher, especially for Trith’s comfort. She peered steadily at the hatchling who was looking around with avid curiosity, and deigned to leave him to his own devices. -She- would have never birthed so ungainly a creature. Wings of a decent size promised that he was indeed a true dragon, and he pumped them a time or two to help him keep balance as he romped puppy-like out of the clutch, leaving only egg shards behind as the last one to hatch.
The Splendens green worked diligently to shepherd her clutchbrother towards the candidate line, seemingly unworried about finding her own bonded. It may be that she’d already spotted Hers, or that she was more worried about the brown’s proximity to betweening. Either way, she had him to the line almost before even he realized it, and there were suddenly twolegs everywhere, or so it seemed to the brown. Despite her helping heart, the green had inadvertently directed him towards the female half of the line. His wasn’t there! In a frenzy, he took down two girls in a stampede towards the males –he was no small hatchling!- and left bloodied gashes along both Batavia and Valee’s torsos. He ran into Zanalorin, knocking him to the ground as well with a bloodied and maybe even broken arm before he stopped in his tracks, his eyes on a boy in front of him.
A thin, high pitched cry of ultimate relief was rent from the brown as he ran for Ranen, knocking the boy from his feet in his hurry to reach His, finally, and settling squarely between His’ legs, his claws hooked in the front of Ranen’s robes and likely scratching him as well. R’nenmine! Olloth was looking for you! Olloth didn’t see you, why were you hiding from Olloth!
Now that her clutchbrother had been taken care of, the Splendens green walked demurely over to Kivin and leaned against his legs with a contented sigh, wrapping even her long wings around his slight frame. Asileth is sorry she took so long, K’vinmine, but don’t be sad anymore! Your Asileth is here now, don’t worry. Please, feed Asileth?”[/i]
Completely oblivious to the drama playing out around him, the Corydora blue continued to prance in happy euphoria over being out of his egg. He casually walked the candidate line, looking into each twoleg’s face for his bonded, and just as casually moving by, though giving each a friendly chirp in passing. He was sorry to make them sad, but he had to find His. He reached the end of the line and paused in confusion. Where was his? Maybe he’d missed His? Alright! The dumpy blue turned right around and walked the line again with a rather adorable waddle in his step, this time letting his tail tap the ground as he passed candidates.
Ah hah! The awkward looking blue stopped before his chosen, placing his rump firmly on the ground as he peered happily up at Cheko, his tail tip avidly thumping the ground. C’komine, Peth missed you! Peth is sorry, would C’komine feed his Peth now? The blue would have been grinning in an utterly silly way if dragons could grin. As it was, his wings vibrated with excitement.
Trith bugled in sudden relief that every hatchling had now found its partner, and many of the dragons around the hatching bowl joined in, their happiness practically coloring the air. Samhara, a rare relieved smile on her face, stood and raised her hands to gain the attention of those gathered. “I offer up my congratulations to our newly impressed riders!” She shouted, the bowl amplifying her voice in a natural echo. “We will see them all again at the Great Feast in celebration of their new bond! I invite all to attend!” With that, she moved to Trith, the gold sniffing at the shells that had so recently held the babies, and gave her shoulder an affectionate pat. The gold turned to her, clearly excited that everything had gone so well. Minimal maulings, each hatchling impressed. It was a good evening for a feast.
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