Rouxy
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Rouxy of the Jungle
Posts: 345
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Post by Rouxy on Aug 31, 2010 10:39:47 GMT -5
Who: Rozsk and everyone eeeeelse! What: Hatching! Where: Hatching Caverns. When: Close to midnight.
A warm breeze blew through the Weyr, bringing with it the scents and sounds of a nighttime jungle. Hoots and hollers, the sweet scent of plant life in all stages of growth and decomposition, it was all at once familiar and wholly new to anyone who lived on the edge of such a place. The breeze swirled around windows and through hallways, finding its way down hewn rock stairs and through cavern openings until it was brought to a golden nose in a chill corner of one such cavern, a feminine form occupying a nest of ten wonderful wrinkled wher eggs.
Rozsk shifted on her clutch, not for the first time longing for the open air of the wonderful jungle, her wild heart coming to the surface only as it had on previous times of required stillness. In the cave that was gradually becoming perceived as smaller, compact and stuffy to a creature more used to roaming at will through trees and grass, it was practically a prison. Her only relief was in her bonded, as the woman took long walks with her mind open to the gold, allowing her a piece of freedom, of open spaces and sky. Not to say that Rozsk was directing even the smallest amount of this disgruntlement towards her precious clutch, but the cavern in general. It made her a grumpy, prickly creature, and it had only gotten worse as the sevendays passed.
Her bonded was on such a walk even then, wandering about the beach below the Weyr as a safe location to be at night without a larger creature to escort. Zeek was, of course, on her shoulder and alert to the night air, but he'd been on edge ever since his clutch had been laid, protecting it as clearly only he could. The largebrown who'd been with Hisgold so often of late was only added protection to Zeek's eggs.
Rozsk shifted again, the third time in nearly as many minutes, and suddenly her senses were alive as she noticed a tapping coming from one of the eggs. Gently with her beak, she tapped back, and after a moment, the creature within the Dandelion Egg replied with more hustle and bustle as the egg suddenly jumped to the side, knocking into at least three other clutchmates. The Willow Egg was knocked completely over with the strength of the impact, and Rozsk instantly moved to it, unwrapping from the clutch as she prodded to make certain the shell had not cracked prematurely. Suddenly she reared back with a wailing bugling call that rebounded from the cavern walls and carried out over the Weyr, joined in a mental double that raced to her bonded. They hatched!
Rozen jolted to a stop, her eyes drawn up the cliff face in wonderment, then she began running, a surprised Zeek winging after with a squawk, his 'alertness' clearly not up to suddenly having his perch leave from under him at a dash. Up three flights of stairs she raced, until she came across the infirmary and recognized a rider within working the late shift. She flew in and dashed to him, quickly relaying the news and a request. "Wher's are hatching, get your blue to spread the word!" And she was away, a sleepy looking S'lain watching as she left. He dutifully prodded Jaxith into wakefulness, and the blue broadcast the call with a little less finesse than usual. Whers hatching in the caverns. and then promptly fell back asleep, his job done.
Rozen skidded around corners and through hallways, finding the shortest if not safest route up through the Weyr to the hatching caverns. She slowed as she finally neared the location, waiting for her breath to slow and her heartbeat to return to normal. Zeek spiraled above her, honor guard until he suddenly realized -why- she'd been running, and he zipped away to the caverns. His entrance was heralded by a vicious snarl from Rozsk, who wanted no one near her clutch. The gold dug her long talons into the rock, ready to rip apart this intruder who had only hours ago been sleeping on her shoulder. The brown warbled but kept his distance, perching across the room to begin thrumming his welcome to his babies. Rozsk settled only a little until Rozen walked into the caverns, and then the gold's rage was cooled to a controlable point as the handler chose a spot close enough to intervene should she need to, but far enough back to not interfere unintentionally.
They waited now, for candidates, for hatchings and for the future.
The Holistic Clutch
Yarrow Egg: Hatched - Green to Mira Hawthorne Egg: Unhatched Comfrey Egg: Hatched - Brown - Cerulesk, the Weyr's wher Sage Egg: Hatched - Green - Wild Dandelion Egg: Hatched - Green to NPC Valerian Egg: Hatched - Brown to Meta Feverfew Egg: Hatched - Blue to Naoko Stinging Nettle Egg: Hatched - Green - Wild Willow Egg: Hatched Green to NPC Aloe Vera Egg: Hatched - Blue to Dastan
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Thorney
Dragonrider
Let's remove the space between me and you.
Posts: 203
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Post by Thorney on Aug 31, 2010 11:46:27 GMT -5
Despite having been attempting to adjust himself to the habits of a wherhandler, Dastan still had chores just like the rest of the candidates, and so slept on roughly the same schedule as the others. He awoke earlier, of course, and had a harder time falling asleep at lights out, but all the same, the boy did sleep. As it was now, even as Rozsk was becoming more alert, Das was fading into the world of dreams, his body exhausted from the physical work of his day. Slowly, the candidate slipped away, his senses dulling as slumber finally came. However, his rest was brief if anything, for as soon as sleep took him, a voice reverberated through his head and banished all thoughts of slumber from his mind.
Whers. Whers were hatching in the caverns.
That was all it took to wash away every ache in every muscle, and any drowsiness that might have previously gripped his mind. Dastan bolted up, cursing softly. A considerate person, the candidate tried to dress quietly, so as to not bother the others close by, but it was difficult. He wanted to get there now! Throwing his trunk open, the boy pulled out the first clothing his hands came across, tugging the sleeveless shirt over his head and jerking the leggings up as quickly as he could. Reaching down, Das grabbed his boots and yanked them on as well, pausing only long enough to grab his belt before pelting out of the barracks. As he ran, the candidate hastily buckled his belt upon his waist, having only bothered with it because of the longknives that hung from the leather. One of which he would use to slice his hand, should he prove worthy of a wher.
Dashing into the wherhandler’s apartments, the boy hurtled through the corridors until he neared the hatching cavern the gold had chosen. To bust in upon her as quickly as he had been going would have proven to be…most unwise. Dastan loved the queen, and he knew that Rozsk liked him too, but she was guarding her eggs right now. She wasn’t the same wher. Unlike the Touching, the candidate had not brought a gift, because this was not the same thing. Here, the gold would be sizing them up, not awaiting treasures to win her favor. Today, they would have to impress her with their behavior.
Pausing outside the cavern, Dastan took a moment to straighten his clothes and run a hand through his hair before entering. Silly of him, he knew, but all the same, the boy wanted to look at least decent for the wherqueen. Well, not to mention her handler, too. Stepping carefully into the cavern, the candidate paused just inside the door, watching the gold as she in turn watched over her clutch. Rozen was there, of course, which made him slightly nervous about performing every action perfectly, but Das wasn’t about to back down now. He had wanted to stand for Rozsk’s clutch ever since meeting the lovely queen and her handler, and nothing was going to end that dream. Even if the gold looked ferocious enough to kill. Stepping forward only enough to allow his voice to reach the queen, the boy paused, bowing low and not moving otherwise.
“Good eve, Queenhandler Rozen. And good eve, lovely, mighty Rozsk. I am here to stand at your clutch, if you would allow me.” The candidate was silent then, unmoving, and barely even breathing as he awaited the reply. Would the gold reject him? He knew that, simply because he and Rozsk had a history together, did not mean she was still favorable to him right now. She was guarding her clutch, choosing the right handlers for her eggs, and perhaps she would suddenly judge him unworthy. However, even as his nerves danced anxiously as he awaited her reply, excitement still coursed through Dastan at dizzying speeds. His first wher hatching! Finally, it was time to put himself to the test. Only one thing remained to be seen; was he worthy?
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Kira
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Evil Mod of DOOM!!!!!
Posts: 266
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Post by Kira on Aug 31, 2010 12:41:46 GMT -5
She had stayed.
In those brief moments she'd been allowed to touch the wher's eggs - to feel her heavy regard - to see her predator's form - to smell the scent of her breath and hide while leaning carefully over the eggs...she had felt something. A gripping feeling, both unpleasant and not at the same time. It called to her and took her breath from her, made her blood rush and body tremble. She didn't quite know what it meant, but she wanted more of it. She wanted to find out what it meant.
So she had stayed, while her fellows had gone. She'd made plenty enough acquaintances there that she hadn't wanted for places to stay for a night or two - both with and without a price, depending. She'd flitted here and there in the Weyr, helping drudges and workers with chores to earn her keep, in her mind. She hadn't settled into any one place, uncertain of what the future held. There was a small spark of hope that spoke of a future with her own quarters in the Wherhandlers' apartments. She dared not fan the spark too much, lest she douse it or fan it into an all-consuming flame. As it was, if it didn't happen, it wouldn't scar her - wouldn't taunt her in the back of her mind. She could still ask one of her new Rider friends to take her to where she knew the caravan would be camped as it wound it's way back across the Southern Continent. And that would be that.
It was late now, and she knew she should likely find someplace to rest for the night before it became too late. But she was restless - more so than she had been these past couple weeks that she'd been a ghost in the Weyr. So she found herself in this one spot again. She wasn't certain exactly what she lay over, but she'd found a way of climbing atop the caverns that held a pivotal point of her future. Laying there, her hair for once unbound and spread around her, she twirled one of the late-blooming flowers she had found. The moon was more than bright enough to see by, and she could hear little except the wind through the trees.
Until the dragon's voice spoke in her mind.
The message was simple and concise. Five words, neither more nor less than were needed to convey their intention. But they shot through her with their meaning.
Tonight.
It would all be decided tonight.
Her heart hammered and her mind spun, but outwardly she was calm. Slowly she gained her feet and walked across the roof of the caverns to their entrance, swaying with every rise and dip of the rough stone. Deftly she jumped down in front of the mouth, brushing herself down to assure she was presentable. After all, wouldn't want to look displeasing on the day her life might change forever, now would she?
Quick, light steps that made quiet little taps heralded her entrance to any that could be bothered to notice as she strode to the third inner cavern. There were two people already there - the pretty blonde goldhandler and the boy she knew would be standing for a hatchling as well. She bowed low to first the woman, and then her wher - nothing extravagant or showy, but deeply respectful.
"Greetings," she said quietly. "If I may be allowed..." the words stuck in her throat for a moment, but she managed to focus her nervously-widened eyes on Rozen, "...I would like to stand for the clutch."
And now it was out of her hands. She was here, and she would remain her if she were permitted. Belatedly realizing she still carried the little flower in the fingers nervously intertwined in front of her, she gently tucked it into the small twist of hair on the back of her head that kept it tied back from her face.
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Kaemi
Weyrling
Posts: 144
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Post by Kaemi on Aug 31, 2010 14:15:17 GMT -5
Normally it was mothers, and expectant mothers, who went on leave for maternity. It took women greenriders out of their wings for a good measure of time, due to the threat of between on the baby, and the danger of flying for candlemarks on end when you were so off balance, not to mention the stress that the lack of food and water could put on the pregnant body. Apparently, however, Tovsk expected paternity leave.
For the past few evenings, the brown had been attempting to skive off of NightWatch duties, despite his handler's insistence that they go (especially with whatever was off picking off their herds) and his assurance that the wher babies would not hatch that night. Even so, the brown would not go unless they stopped by and spent at least a few minutes to a candlemark before and after duty at the Caverns. And, even so, he was distracted and not much help at all to the Watch. But tonight, Tovsk awoke almost simultaneously with his handler, just prior to dusk, and absolutely refused to go on duty. Toven attempted to assure him that the eggs wouldn't be hatching, but the brown would hear no word of it.
Even after they had missed their watch, the two were arguing in their weyr. Eventually, when it was nearing midnight, Toven gave in, and they began to make their way to the caverns. The brown was insistent to see the eggs tonight, despite Tov not thinking that they would be ready to hatch. Still- humor the creature, and then maybe they could get some work done. Maybe Tovsk could even help him with the finishing touchings for his wherling plans!
They were not even halfway there when the Weyr-wide call went out- a call that many of the weyrfolk would probably miss, being asleep. Needless to say, neither wher nor handler missed it, and they set off at a much swifter pace towards the hatching caverns. Tovsk would not allow himself to miss the hatching of his children. He was a particularly possessive father, and he might even become angry if he didn't get to see the little whers hatch and bond to their handlers. Not that he would miss much of their development, afterwords... his own handler was the Wherling Master.
They soon arrived outside the caverns. A girl and a boy had already arrived, but unlike just after Rozsk clutched, the brown refrained from shoving in front. If the clutch was hatching, then the golden beauty would be occupied and temperamental, so he would wait his turn and be respectful. Still, he crooned to the queen, begging entrance to see the clutch which he had sired hatch and Impress. Simultaneously, Toven looked to Rozen, to see if he may come in to watch, and keep an eye on his own wher.
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Mango
Weyrling
Posts: 107
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Post by Mango on Aug 31, 2010 21:14:44 GMT -5
Meta was in a weird place between sleep and awake. She was just about to wake up naturally. Well, maybe in a candlemark..... She had been doing her best to get into a more wherhandler-like sleep schedule. It was just too hard with Candidate chores and such. But the blue that echoed in her mind decided that she was up.
The girl sprung up and got dressed. A hand tousled her hair, making it a perfect mess. She ran off, long legs carrying her quickly to the Hatching Caverns. Meta had tried to go there as often as possible, often just sticking her head in and dashing out before the wher mother could really gather she was there. She had attended the touching, making sure to bring lots of meat to the mother. The feeling had been just as amazing as touching a dragon egg.
Now, it was time for the Hatching. Her heart was pounding, not just from running. She was nervous. And excited. To her, it was just like the dragon hatching she had attended. She hurried into the hatching caverns, giving the gold and her handler a huge, excited smile. This was followed by a crude, but honest and respectful, bow. She was never really taught the proper way to bow. And she certainly never learned to curtsy. But her bows were enough. They were respectful and put her below the two.
"I'd very much like to stand," she chirped from her bow, heart racing and keeping her from thinking of much more to say. There were two people here already. Meta kinda knew them, but kinda didn't. Well, they'd hopefully get to know each other better now.
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Rouxy
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Rouxy of the Jungle
Posts: 345
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Post by Rouxy on Sept 1, 2010 8:44:51 GMT -5
It had been a longish day, and Naoko had spent another late evening in the library, pouring over books. She’d need to start classes soon, but there were still things she could learn that might help her teach the riders willing to listen. Still, she’d not met many of them, nor many of the people of the Weyr to begin with, and maybe it was time after all to get things moving. About two candlemarks before midnight she retired to bed, but lay awake for some time more in wondering. It seemed she had just fallen asleep when an eerie sound just barely wafted through her room, situated in the old rider housing atop the cliff. It woke her from the deepest point of sleep, just enough so that when a dragon’s voice belled through her head, she was consequently wide awake.
Whers hatching in the caverns.
She sat up abruptly, her mind a whirl of emotions. The whers were hatching! It would be perfect for her to take notes, to see the bond in action but… and here she hesitated. She had refused to attend any hatching since that time, even after the proddings of friends left behind at Honshu. She was utterly uncertain that she’d be able to keep it together, but she also remembered the suggestions of one rather forward Wherling Master. She waited only seconds more in anguished indecision before slipping her feet out from under the covers and moving to get dressed.
Before she knew it, the brisk almost chill air outside wrapped around her, and she clutched the small notepad tightly to her slender frame, a writing stick on her hand and a shawl around her shoulders. Belior’s glowing, partially hidden face showered half-light on everything, while Timor faced the world not at all, and the woman soon found herself wending through the caverns to the place she had gone only once before to take a brief look at the eggs and offer her gift to the watchful gold in anticipation of earning her good will for future endeavors. There were already several people there in attendance, and the astronomer didn’t enter the cavern so much as she stood just outside, able to see but also able to withdraw unnoticed if she needed to. She did sketch a bow to the queen though, her dragon manners saying it would be unwise not to. Then she took her notepad –a single sheet of paper attached to a harder back surface for writing- and began sketching the nest and writing whatever brief descriptions caught her eye.
Rozen stood and watched, her stance easy but balanced on both legs, the best to move quickly if need be. Several days ago she’d stashed a first aid kit in the clutching cavern in anticipation for this day, and in the absence of a trained healer, she could patch well enough. She was also entirely certain she’d need to use it. Of the candidates who entered, she nodded to each, in effect giving permission, but it was truly Rozsk who’d choose those able to step forward. She gave a small half smile to Toven, inviting him in with a small wave of her hand before refocusing on the gold and keeping her temper down.
Rozsk’s hackles were up as more creatures came into her sight, a growl rising with each new arrival. Her wings gave an angry shake of warning before she folded them tight to herself with a snap, stirring up dust in the chamber. So these twolegged creatures wanted to bond with her children? They actually thought themselves worthy of her get? With a critical eye and a growl on her tongue, the gold sized up every person to enter the chamber, brushing against their minds with an imperious air of demand.
The familiar male twolegs, yes, his presence rang a note in her head, but it was different now. Now he wanted to take one of her children, her precious eggs for himself. Did this smallmale deserve it? And the next to enter, the smallfemale who’d brought numerous gifts. Trying to win her way in through bribe? The gold would not tolerate such an act and roughly brushed the girl’s mind in question before moving to the next to enter. The tone of her growl changed only slightly as her brownmale entered, and she was pleased to note that he did not assume he would be allowed to approach. She brushed against his mind with approval and gave him permission to stand by, but not too close! She needed her space and he could help defend. His bonded was given a passing glance, though the gold sized him as a possible threat and sent a warning through her brownmale that he should take care to not come too close.
Two more smallfemales entered, though one stayed far back in a stealthy, sneaky seeming move. With a bark of command Rozsk ordered the last candidate inside, to which Naoko took a small stumbling step within and that was all. Satisfied, Rozsk narrowed her angry red whirling eyes on the two females and appraised them as she had the others.
Pah! Not a single one was truly worthy of her children, but in the gold’s heart she wanted her children bonded to twolegs, and if this was the only pool… clearly annoyed, the gold growled at Mira and Meta only. They could step forward.
While the gold was occupied with weighing the worthiness of the candidates presented, the eggs had begun to waken with more activity. The Dandelion Egg was in constant motion now, the wher within clearly trying to break free. The Willow Egg gave a brief rock, as if being turned over had upset its occupant, and then stilled before rocking again. The Valerian Egg, largest of the clutch, began moving a little, bumping into the Aloe Vera Egg and the Stinging Nettles Egg simultaneously. Of the two, the Stinging Nettles Egg began shaking furiously, clearly upset that it had been so bumped.
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Thorney
Dragonrider
Let's remove the space between me and you.
Posts: 203
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Post by Thorney on Sept 1, 2010 9:44:31 GMT -5
Glancing over as each new candidate arrived, Dastan was unable to see much from his bowed position. However, he dared not move until the queen responded to his request, and so stayed in that odd posture, eyes focused up so he could just see Rozsk from barest edges of his sight. The wher looked fiercer than she ever had, lips raised and her teeth gleaming in the faint light. He could feel her mind as the gold brushed against his conscience, doubtlessly weighing his worthiness of standing for her children. As he felt the touch, the candidate felt his breathing stop altogether, and even after it was gone, he could still sense the tingles in his mind. Would she allow him to approach? Would she reject him? The boy could not know, but he felt his muscles taut with anticipation, practically shaking with repressed energy. It was…nerve-racking.
The queen’s growls were enough the raise the hairs on the back of his neck, but the candidate still did not move, awaiting Rozsk’s appraisal. Finally, she once more gazed over all those assembled, and it was then that something rather devastating occurred. The gold gave permission to approach to only two of them, and Dastan was not among that number. Swallowing convulsely, the boy fought down disappointment and pain, reminding himself that she could still change her mind later. Slowly, the candidate straightened, watching as Mira and Meta were given consent to step forward.
For a moment, he fought to master himself, finally pressing the rejection down and breathing deeply through his nose. That…well, that was as bad as a punch in the gut. Or worse. Yea, he definitely decided it was worse. Dastan stood rigidly in place, breathing only shallowly as his dark eyes focused upon the queen. What had he done to earn Rozsk’s displeasure? Dwelling on that, however, was useless, he knew, and so cleared his mind and thought of nothing but the hatching eggs. The gold had always been his friend, but she was in a different mood now, and was only doing what she thought best for her children. There was nothing he could do about that, except remain respectful while the hatching continued.
Glancing over at the girl who had entered last, the one whom Rozsk growled at, Dastan offered a small smile of encouragement, though he was unsure if she wanted it or not. Turning his attention back towards the eggs, he watched as the Dandelion Egg rocked constantly, obviously nearing it’s time. It seemed as if the Willow Egg would perhaps begin moving more, though the Valerian Egg seemed to have a bit to go before hatching. Then again, eggs were often surprising things, and loved shocking their audiences with unexpected occurrences occasionally. As the candidate watched, the Stinging Nettles Egg began to shudder violently, perhaps angry at being hit by it’s larger brother.
Watching silently, the candidate regarded each egg reverently, fighting against his sorrow. Things could change. It was always a possibility. Dastan knew that wher hatchings were intense, and the queen was particularly violent on this day. Rozsk would perhaps allow him to approach later, or he may even Impress in spite of it. However, to be honest, he would prefer to have the gold’s approval to bond to one of her children, but on the other hand, when it came down to it, he would take what he could get. Das was silent and respectful as the wher allowed the other two girls near, watching quietly and not moving even slightly. He did not wish to provoke Rozsk in any way, though he was not afraid. It was respect, not fear, that drove him to act as such.
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Mango
Weyrling
Posts: 107
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Post by Mango on Sept 1, 2010 12:12:07 GMT -5
The moments spent in her bowed position seemed to last an eternity. Rozsk was clearly not happy and that anger seemed to be directed towards the Candidates. Meta frowned, her change in facial expression mostly hidden by her bow. She had done her best. She was new to wher Hatchings. She had bowed in the best way she knew how and had tried to ask as nicely and elegantly as she could. But it was hard for her. She didn't have the teachings of a Holder. She was from the country.
Eggs were moving as she waited in the bow. Oh, she longed to see which ones. She didn't much care what egg she Impressed, if she did, or what color it was. She just wanted one. She found the muscular "ugly" creatures wonderful. And she wanted to bond with one.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the gold growled at her and another girl. She slowly straightened and stepped forward. This was good right? She was chosen? Of course, that didn't mean a thing, but it meant that perhaps the gold thought she was worthy...or close to worthy.... She didn't know. At least she had the ability to look around now.
A smile crept up onto her face as she looked at the eggs, eyes shining bright with excitement. The Dandelion Egg seemed very close to Hatching. Meta wanted to focus on it, not wanting to miss the moment the wher broke out of the wrinkly shell, but others were moving too. She wanted to look at them all. The egg that had been knocked over seemed to be fighting to break, but only in bursts. Once the biggest egg began to move, knocking the two eggs close to it. One of those eggs, the Stinging Nettles Egg responded with angry shakes. Perhaps it would be the first to Hatch?
As she pondered this, she took a quick glance to the other candidate that had been approved to step forward. Her grin widened slightly as she recognized the girl from the dancing and the Hatching. She wasn't quite sure she remembered her name but her initial Impression was that she was gonna like the girl. Hopefully, they'd both Impress so that they could get to know each other.
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Kaemi
Weyrling
Posts: 144
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Post by Kaemi on Sept 1, 2010 20:16:34 GMT -5
Neither Rozsk nor Rozen seemed to object to his presence, and so when the gold handler beckoned him forward, Toven went to stand by the wall nearest her. He made sure to take a wide berth of the eggs, noting Rozsk's bad temper. The gold was refusing to let anyone, spare Tovsk and two girls, anywhere near her clutch. He even caught the warning that his own wher supplied to stay away from the precious eggs.
His eyes surveyed the candidates quickly, from the two girls whom Rozsk approved of, to the rest denied access to the clutch. One boy seemed particularly downtrodden at the denial while another-- wait. That was Naoko, the woman who had helped him in the Library, to find the Record that one evening. She had said that she wasn't planning on Impressing. So she was probably here to continue her studies, and observe. Toven nodded towards her, uncaring on whether or not she noticed, as he moved on to the next person, and the one after that. There truly weren't many people at all, but that was alright. They all seemed to be able-bodied and none appeared to be terrible horrible people, at least from their outward appearances. So they could all stay until Rozsk kicked them out.
Tovsk was more picky than his accepting handler, or at least, he was right now. He crooned towards the beautiful gold as she allowed him closer, weaving his way around the people, and keeping a good distance from the eggs. Wouldn't want to upset the queen, the mother! But he would protect the mottled, shaking forms from the humans who were crowding them. Obviously, the brown was in support of Rozsk; he stayed away from the eggs, and kept a little away from the gold, in fear of her protective streak surging and him being exiled from the room. Then he wouldn't see his eggs hatch, and their occupants Impress these... humans.
While his handler surveyed the people, he kept his eyes on the eggs. Two were shaking vigorously, while two others began moving in a much more subdued way. That meant healthy whers, who were moving and active and obviously hungry. That meant that he had sired at least four healthy creatures! Tovsk's tail gave a large flick, and he crooned quietly again. This time it was directed towards the eggs, and meant to be encouraging. They could do it! They could hatch, and Impress!
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Rouxy
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Rouxy of the Jungle
Posts: 345
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Post by Rouxy on Sept 2, 2010 9:03:05 GMT -5
A handful of new arrivals each earned their turn under Rozsk’s growling glare as she sized them up and approved or disapproved as necessary. Three more people stepped forward, leaving the same number behind, and each was aware of the scrutiny, paying their utmost in respect and silence. Her brownmale’s clear defensive stance put her in a bit of a better mood though, and she raised her head imperiously as she sat in relative calmness behind the clutch, her eyes now riveted to the scene of hatching.
Naoko had spied Toven after her inwards movement, and was glad to see him. The somber handler was happy to answer questions, and she found it remarkably helpful. She stepped to the side just a bit so that she had a clear view of the nest, and resumed her note taking, jotting down the eggs that moved, and how others reacted. Despite the queen’s assumption that she was a candidate, the astronomer felt remarkably at ease watching the wher eggs. The trepidation of earlier was nearly gone, and her misgivings gave way to wonderment at the birth of these creatures.
The Hawthorne Egg began moving as its siblings did, but all other movement was overshadowed by the furious cracking, shattering sound from the Stinging Nettles Egg as the creature within worked with a will to free itself. The mottled, spined shell gave away with a last final effort to remain closed, practically shattering from the pressure within and scattering shards within and without the clutch’s ring of eggs. The green revealed was a thin, long thing, her color rich and dark from the very depths of the forest. However, all thoughts of the creature’s beauty were finally and decidedly put to the side as the bitter green turned with a howling wail on the eggs, her small claws raking across the Valerian Egg’s bright shell with a skittering, screeching sound that left trailing marks behind. Growling her rage, the green didn’t get much further before the queen roared in defense of the unhatched, her own claws swiping in anger at this little one who so sought to hurt her clutchsiblings.
Furious at such a denial, the very much smaller green hatchling hissed at her queen mother who had placed both of her large clawed forepaws between the angry hatchling and the rest of the eggs, her tiny wings beating and shaking in anger before she turned to spy many more things to which her hate could be vented, standing between her and escape no less! Barking and growling, the thin green moved like a whip, scoring here and there among the crowd with claws suited to the task. Meta’s leg earned a deep wound in passing, but Naoko, as the last person before the door, couldn’t get out of the way in time and she too earned the green’s rage as the ired creature lifted to her hind legs, claws scoring across the woman’s chest. The female twolegs fell to the side, and the green’s course to freedom was clear, woe to anyone who crossed her path before she earned the comforting closure of the jungle.
Rozen was a bit taken aback at the sudden sprays of blood, and she had not been ready for such an irate hatchling right at the beginning. She’d seen it before, but the swiftness of it had taken her by surprise. The wounded would have to wait though, and despite initially falling in shock, the woman who had score marks across her lower chest rose again, using the wall as her aid. Rozen’s hatching trained eye assessed from across the cavern, and the several injured would all live, likely with little difficulties presented by the injuries.
Rozsk, after assured that her daughter would not return for a second attempt at revenge, turned her concerned gaze on the Valerian Egg, whose occupant had stopped moving at the attack. The claw marks seemed superficial, but the queen allowed a small gentle noise of encouragement to the arrested hatchling. As if taking heart, the hatchling began moving to free itself again, and it wasn’t long before the shell broke along the score lines and a caramel colored brown head peeked out, chirping. Glad to see that the hatchling had come to no harm, the queen eased back to continue watching without interfering. The Valerian Brown looked around curiously, then ducked his head back in and attempted to crack the remainder of his shell. The Dandelion Egg, moving the entire time, suddenly split down the center to reveal a brightly colored green who rolled out of her shell with a squeak and landed with a flop on the floor. The Yarrow Egg began showing signs of life, tapping and writhing sounds coming from within the rather smooth shell.
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Mango
Weyrling
Posts: 107
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Post by Mango on Sept 2, 2010 11:50:11 GMT -5
It happened quickly. A few more stepped up and the first egg hatched, the Stinging Nettles Egg hatching into a green as nasty as her name would imply. And the Valerian Egg was the green's first target. Rozsk, of course, would have none of that. The green had to move on, still fuming at those around her it would seem. And Meta was the first in her path.
The boyish girl let out an actual feminine cry as she felt the sharp,angry claws rake across her leg. But this wouldn't stop her from standing. No. She had to take it like a man. And with that, she tightly clenched her fists, digging dirty, short fingernails into the palm of her hand to help distract from the pain. It didn't work wonderfully, but it worked enough. The pain throbbed in her leg, but Meta remained standing, slowly clenching and unclenching her fists at her sides. She would show the gold that she was worthy to stand for her clutch. One little scratch from an angry green who longed for the jungle wouldn't stop her. Besides, the other poor girl behind her seemed to have gotten more than she did. It could have been worse.
To help distract herself from her leg, Meta looked out to view the eggs that had just fought to free themselves and succeeded. The Valerian Brown was a very lovely shade and seemed curious. Meta had to grin, despite her pain. He was cute. The Dandelion Green that just hatched was also very cute in her opinion. You know, if she really thought things were cute. It was strange to see how different they were from their now-wild sister. They didn't look like they'd hurt anyone. Of course, that could be a mistake and Meta tried to stave off that thinking in case it proved to jinx her.
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Thorney
Dragonrider
Let's remove the space between me and you.
Posts: 203
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Post by Thorney on Sept 2, 2010 13:48:51 GMT -5
Standing silently as more candidates arrived for the wher clutch, Datan watched as three more were given permission to step forward. Rozsk did seem to relax a bit then, settling down to watch as the hatching began. Several of the eggs were moving now, but the first to break shell was the Stinging Nettles Egg in shower of flying debris. The boy’s eyes began to move critically over the little green, even while the ghost of a smile touched his lips. She was long and slender, a deeply colored hide upon her sinuous build. For a just the barest part of a moment, the green looked beautiful, but then she quickly displayed her vicious temper. The candidate’s first instinct was the rush forward as she began to claw at a nearby egg, but Das quickly got a grip on himself. The queen would run him through if he stepped forward without permission to do so.
So instead, the boy clenched his fists, eyes wide as he watched the green. He had never heard of a hatchling attacking their own clutchsiblings like that, but then again Dastan had never been to a hatching. Thankfully, and naturally, Rozsk quickly put an end to the little wher’s actions, roaring ferociously. Breathing deeply in relief, the candidate suddenly realized that he had thought far too soon, for the hatchling darted forward and began leaving wounds in her wake as she scurried through those gathered. Das could hardly believe the fierceness that lived within such a young creature, but there was no denying the green was born to live in the wild. As the girl next to him earn a nasty wound, the boy quickly stepped towards her, reaching out to help the woman to her feet. “Are you ok?” He asked hurriedly, though quietly. Dastan had a feeling the gold wouldn’t tolerate too much noise in her cavern. However, the girl had stood on her own, using the wall to steady herself. Giving her one last concerned look, the boy returned his gaze to the hatching before them, hoping that the rest of the whers would be less vicious than their sister.
Now, more eggs began to move, though the large Valerian Egg had stopped after the green clawed it’s surface. Dastan was just as concerned as the queen was, and was relieved when her encouragement brought rocking movement to the egg once more. After a moment, the boy grinned when he saw the brown peering out, making soft noises. Watching him, the candidate almost forgot that Rozsk had forbid him to approach. Almost. When the small wher disappeared back into his shell, the boy glanced over at the still-moving Dandelion Egg, blinking in surprised when it abruptly hatched, spilling a rather pretty green onto the sands. For a moment, Das held his breath, hoping that this young one would prove to be more like her brother rather than her sister. When she squeaked and landed in a rather undignified manner upon the ground, and the candidate smiled at her. The green was cute. More noises began, then, this time from the Yarrow Egg, and Dastan glanced at the egg, wondering what this one would bring.
Of course, even as the hatching began in earnest, the candidate still held onto the hope that Rozsk would perhaps change her mind and allow more to approach. Dastan merely watched the younglings and the rocking eggs, hope at the back of his mind.
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Kira
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Evil Mod of DOOM!!!!!
Posts: 266
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Post by Kira on Sept 2, 2010 14:55:07 GMT -5
Mira took the rough brush against her mind with a small jolt. That was...unexpected. She'd heard some of the dragons doing broadcast calls before - like the one that called her here - and a friendly flit or two had shown her pictures and emotions...but nothing like that discerning brush. She wasn't sure if the presence lingered, but she tried to think of her mind being open - however that should work - in a way that she wouldn't be with any other human.
There was a thrill of a shiver that ran up her spine when she was apparently allowed to approach. She had been seen and deemed worthy enough. She took a few careful steps forward, but still remained a good distance from the protective dam and her eggs. She felt a little sorry for the boy that had not been allowed near, for he had seemed so much more set on Impressing from the first time she'd spotted him in the cavern while exploring. Perhaps he'd still get his chance - there were a lot of eggs after all. ...Or could multiples whers bond to one human? She...wasn't sure. She's heard that whers could bond to multiple humans, but she'd never thought to ask about vice versa. They seemed to go to and fro between being closer to their larger cousins or their smaller cousins in everything they did.
She winced slightly when the Valerian Egg knocked into the two smaller eggs. Luckily, it seemed to do little harm other than upset the seemingly prickly Stinging Nettles Egg. She shot a quick glance over at the other person that had been approved by the queen, giving her a half-grin when she recognized her from before, then quickly focused back on the eggs in front of her. There were a couple of other people that toddled in afterward, but they were given no more than a brief glance since none of them were known to Mira. The Weyr was understandably huge, but she never felt it so until she was standing in a room half-filled with faces she'd never laid eyes on before.
Suddenly, there was a series of cracking noises as the lovely, dark green broke from her shell with a fury. Mira made a small noise of surprise and worry when the creature immediately turned and began to attack her sibling's egg. The queen seemed decidedly unpleased - and who could blame her? - but instead of lashing out with the intent to injure she simply knocked the smaller female to the side and placed her arms between the wherling and the clutch. There was a moment where Mira wondered if the little thing would attack the gold instead, but that was quickly negated when it turned whirling eyes on the assembled humans.
Mira stood stock-still, hoping to not attract the violent attention of the small green creature. Were all of the hatchlings going to be like this? Wild and violent? She was left uneasy, internally kicking herself for the nervous edginess that had kept her from approaching one of the handlers to ask questions beforehand. The green raced their way, but somehow avoided Mira and scratched up the legs of the girl next to her. A few drops had splashed over onto one of Mira's legs, and she eyed them silently. There was another cry behind her as the green made her escape, but Mira dared not turn away from the queen and her clutch to see what happened.
The Valerian Egg began to hatch then, revealing a brown that was definitely much calmer than his clutchsister. Mira smiled and bit her lip on a giggle when the little thing chirped and ducked back in his shell to finish getting out. The giggle did just barely bubble forth before she could catch it as the Dandelion Green squeaked and flopped on the floor from its egg. These two were much different from the first egg, and Mira's trepidation lessened greatly. The Hawthorne, Yarrow, and Willow Eggs were still moving gently, and there were four more after that that hadn't moved. Keenly, she watched on, the excitement building within her. To keep herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet, she gently began tapping the rhythm of the poem she'd written for the wher-queen on the back of her hand, reciting it in her head over and over.
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Rouxy
Cerulean Weyr Staff
Rouxy of the Jungle
Posts: 345
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Post by Rouxy on Sept 3, 2010 10:17:44 GMT -5
Naoko gasped as she straightened, the slashes across her abdomen stinging with the movement. They certainly hurt, but she was incredibly lucky, because she could feel that the razor sharp baby claws had just barely gotten past her leather vest and into her skin. Lucky for her that it had been a green and nothing larger, or she might have been seriously injured. Pressing the clothing she wore against the slices to staunch the light blood flow, the woman watched as the irate creature stalked away, then returned her gaze to the rest of the eggs. She nodded with a small smile at the boy who'd asked her if she was ok. She’d be ready now, if another hatchling decided it wanted out. She kept her position near the wall, and out of the way, her scientific side taking the fore as she resumed her notes.
Scratching and cracking noises could be heard from within the Valerian Egg as the brown worked to further free itself. A few moments more effort saw the shell cracking and the hatchling free, small pieces of shell sticking to his limbs as he shook himself from head to tail. The Dandelion Green picked herself up from the floor, eyes whirling in curiosity at the world. Then with a bit of a flounce to her wobbly step, the bright creature began a trek around the cavern, sniffing here, licking there. She found some particular interest in the line of bowls filled with the blood and oats that had quietly been brought in by some helpful soul at the call of hatching, but before she could dig right in, Rozsk barked at her.
The green turned with a start, and suddenly was interested in all the tall, twolegged creatures. Lookit them all! With wide eyes, the green sniffed around the humans as her brown brother also began peering through the candidate line. The Willow Egg continued to move, but it was with a sudden crack that the Aloe Vera Egg broke open without previous indications of life, a pale, icy blue wher kicking free of the confining shell. The Aloe Vera Blue scrambled a little in its effort to step outside the bounds of the clutch, and then paused to watch as the Willow Egg began cracking along several hairline seams. A dusky, olive colored tail suddenly flopped out from a weak spot in the shell, and the Willow Green continued the movement it had in attempting to break free, and rolled clear out of the clutch as the shell practically disintegrated to reveal the rest of the muted green in a ball of wings and limbs. It chirped and then wailed shortly as it attempted to stand and fell over, too dizzy from the rolling.
The bright Dandelion Green finally nosed at the feet of a very young girl, sitting back on her rump and blinking owlishly at her new bonded. She creeled, and the girl went to her knees, holding the hungry hatchling. Rozen gestured to the girl to bring the hatchling to the side and feed it from the blood and oats, which she did with a happy smile on her face, instructing her in the slicing of her palm to let the wher taste of it. The Valerian Brown seemed indecisive, leaning first towards the males, then the females, before choosing one that was in-between, a girl that was decidedly masculine. He walked a circle about Meta's legs, leaning against her as he opened his mind in welcome, sharing his name as a wonderful moment of understanding, his bright eyes watching her. Metask would be hers forever.
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Mango
Weyrling
Posts: 107
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Post by Mango on Sept 3, 2010 13:46:00 GMT -5
So many eggs were moving and hatching now. The Valerian Brown had broken completely free and was staring at the Candidates in the line. Hopefully, he was deciding which one to pick and not which one to attack like his sister. The Dandelion Green was also looking at the candidates, after having been reprimanded for trying to get into the blood and oats.
Meta was enjoying the Hatching so much despite the throb in her leg. As a blue and another green entered the scene, she was ecstatic. One had to be hers, right? She hoped so. The bright green seemed a little more certain who she wanted compared to the others. Now that she didn't have yummy food to distract her, she could decide on a human to bond with. And she did just that, running over to a girl that Meta hadn't yet met. The two happily left and Rozen helped them slice her palm and let the wher taste it.
Meta had to frown slightly at the thought. Her leg was already bleeding. Oh well, bonding was worth it. Her leg could be fixed. It hopefully wouldn't need stitches. -she wasn't a healer or anything. Her hand would heal in no time as she didn't imagine the cut would have to be too deep. This was all assuming she was chosen though, she reminded herself. No sense in getting carried away with thoughts of blood.
The Willow Green and Aloe Vera Blue didn't seem too intent on finding bondeds yet. The former was plopped down onto the ground, probably dizzy from all the moving her egg did. The blue seemed more interested in his sister. A couple of the eggs were still moving. The excitement of their possibilities still kept her hopes up high and put a small mental block on the pain in her leg.
The only other wher hatchling still actively looking was the brown. Did he want a boy? A girl? Meta wasn't sure if whers usually bonded with someone the same gender as them like dragons but she would love the brown. She couldn't make it chose her though. The brown moved to the boys, then seemed to change his mind and move tot he girls. No. Maybe the boys? No. The girls. Suddenly, he turned towards Meta and circled her legs. His name was Metask.
Wait....why'd she know that? She looked down at the brown with happy eyes. Had he chosen her? She was kinda the best of both masculine and feminine worlds. She thought she could feel his mind. No, it was true. She grinned wide and reached down to pick up the wher, taking it out of the circle happily. On the sidelines, she did much what the other girl did. She quickly took out her belt knife and held her hand out. Squishing her eyes together, she held out her palm and made a small incision, just deep enough to draw blood. She held it out to Metask and let him taste her blood, making the bond official.
She then grabbed a bucket of oats and blood and allowed him to eat. He was hungry, she could tell. She remembered someone telling her that he would eat his fill and stop, much unlike dragons, so she let him go at it. She was sure he would need more than the green, being bigger, but she wasn't quite sure how much wher hatchlings ate.
Hopefully, though, it'd be long enough so that she could check out her leg. As the brown ate, she lifted up her pants leg, cocking her head at the gash. Well....that was pointless. Why did she think that'd be helpful since she didn't know anything about wounds. It was bleeding. That's about all she knew.
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