A New Path [Eceph's Second Hatching]

[Quill]

Her plan was to stay in the seated position for a minute, only a minute and then her legs would burn for use again and she would stand, but Amaryllis did not have that one minute. Instead, thirty-seconds in, she froze in horror when a hatchling moved remotely in her direction. When a simourv neared her, every time she would get some sort of hope that this would be it, but not this time, the blue-gray simourv knew what he wanted and she was not it. Ama thought she had enough time to stand and get out of the way, but that was a silly miscalculation.

As soon as she stood on her two feet and adjusted her dress, she felt the impact of the blue. Her body fell to the sound, falling on her right arm. It burned for a moment, but the now towering simourv was a more pressing manner. She lost her breath for a moment and struggled, hating the oppression that was forced onto her. Then she stopped and expected the blue to do nothing more than force her to the ground. After all, that red and that blue had done the same.

But the candidate was wrong. Wronger than could be. Instead, claws blurred in front of her face. Ama had no where to go, with the blue hovering above her. Though the claws had no yet harden, she still felt great pain and she wondered if this was the punishment for sitting when she should have been standing. When the claws dug into her, Ama sunk deeper into the sands and crushing her awkwardly placed elbow. Closing her eyes, she wanted this blue off of her and when she opened them again, the simourv moved away, but a hind leg stepped on the arm not bound by the rest of her body and numb with pain There was pain in it of course, but not as much as actual mauling. The lightness of his step made her curious about the She craned her neck to look at the hatchling walking away and cursed her bad luck. Ama wondered for a moment if the simourv had meant to step on her other arm and then decided he had only meant to get her out of the way.

When the supposedly happen scene of the first meeting between the two, Ama wanted to get up and congratulate him. It was a good ending for being previously thrown to the ground by another. She could not. All she wanted to do was stay there until the hatching was over.

That was not an option. If she stayed on the ground, laying helpless in pain, what would the simourv think. She knew what they would do, they would look her over as a large lump of colorful sand to not even bother with. So she had to get up. Kicking her feet, she used her uninjured legs to some traction, but with the hot shifting bands, she could find none. And her loose shoes were no help in the manner. She flipped them off and ignored the hot sand. It felt kind of good in fact.

Then that familiar voice boomed in her head. It was Dionyph, she was sure. It was comforting to hear the sound of it, but the tone, the meaning were very distressing. Ri'ley. "Please, no," she begged out loud. "Please don't let him do what I think he's doing. He's an Alpha, he should know better." Her voice started out as a whisper, but it grew until she caught the sight of her brother. Then she saw another offer her some help. She bit her lip. There was no need for a healer. That could wait until this entire hatching was over. The pain couldn't be much worse. No, this entire felt worse than if that blue had been a gray. Still lying on the sand, she grimaced at her brother with a feeling that could have been translated as pain, discomfort, and many other things. Truth was, Amaryllis wasn't feeling any single emotion. She just wanted him away.

"I'm fine!" she demanded as she sprang her stepped on arm into the air, moving it at her wrist, elbow, and then her shoulder. "You don't need to worry about a stupid thing like a bruise. I'm not a child." She moved again, leaning on one side to free her crushed arm, but when she put some weight on it to push herself up, there was too much pain. It was as if all of those claw marks focused into her elbow. She tried to move it again and this time she shrieked in pain.

The fall! She must have fallen on her elbow and the simourv's blow put the needed pressure for it to break. Amaryllis fell to the ground and chuckled. What the others must have thought of her, for making such a big deal about a simple mauling. It wouldn't have been a big deal if it was a red mauling or black but a blue? This was weak. When the hand rested on her cheek, her left hand sprang toward, grabbing it. She chuckled again and smiled, gathering her thoughts. Trying to think of the best way to put her thoughts into words without making a scene.

Then she heard Dionyph again. He was so upset. Was it possible for a simourv, especially a black, to get that upset? And they had done, Ri'ley and her. Her eyes closed for a moment and tears escaped through the crevices of her eyes. She released the hand, tossing it away. Using her strong legs and unhurt arm, Amaryllis regained her footing. "A hurt elbow is nothing. And so are these cuts. "She felt the injuries with her fingers. There was some blood, but only drops occasionally oozing from few spots, but there was one that felt wetter than the rest. Right next to her neck. "What does matter is what you're doing to poor Dionyph. Can you hear that? He's in such pain because you're here. Get away from me and go to him because he needs you right now. Much more than I do, so go away and worry on the sides. I'm not going to be left standing here again because of you!"

Okay, she realized mentally. There were only a few eggs in the last hatching and she had been the newest candidate. It shouldn't have been such a shock being left standing.

"But I guess that's what you want. For me just to stay here as a candidate, learning lessons that I'll never get to use. You bribed that searchrider, right? That was what he owed you, right! So you can have the chance to redeem yourself or get me hurt enough to where I would never go back to the troupe. Please, just go away."

She took a deep breath and faced the sands again, gripping a fist and letting her other hand dangle. Then the gripped hand unclenched and felt the wound at her neck. Feeling it for a second time, it did not feel like it would be a major scar. Regret boiled in her stomach and then grasped her lungs so she could not breath. She then gulped and felt more tears. Now she wasn't crying for Dionyph's distress as she had before. Now she was crying because she was cursing herself, saying all of those things. Some of it had to be said, but she went too far and there was no way she could go back. Part of her wanted to turn around, but that was not going to happen.

[zeis]

Serapais raised her eyebrows at Ri'ley's stubborn gallantry, followed by Dionyph's not too private proclamation of betrayal. She craned her neck to follow the large black simourvs retreat throughout the crowed with with a curious smirk. Well, someone was certainly airing their dirty laundry where everyone could see it! She had never spoken with any simourv other than Valenph and Aburoqaph, and she had to wonder if all blacks were such as this one. Fragile shameless drama-kings? She cast a sidelong glance at the black that was still on the sands, which didn't seem half as frantic as the one currently making a fool of himself and his rider.

~~~~~

Shaegir had sort of gotten lost in what was happening. There were so many chicks on the sands, and bondings going on, people falling over and getting knocked down. Every second it was a new thing, so when Dionyph screamed his unknown objections she merely stared blankly at him and Ri'ley with a faintly bewildered sad smile. What was going on? She didn't get it! Who had betrayed who? Something dramatic was going on... Oh, it was just like opening a book you had never read to a random page!

Still, it was rude to stare, and what was going on wasn't any of her business. The girl smiled at the smallest green of the clutch, that was still snuggled just where she had hatched.

~~~~~

That tiny green watched the hatching through slitted eyes, looking sleepy, happy and calm. Her young but considerable mind radiated kindness and encouragement to her more active siblings. She cared for them all, and she wished them all the luck in the world in finding theirs. She knew what she would do when she found hers. She would wrap her tail around them just so, and croon, just like this. The green tried to curl around the Divided Dwarf, the egg being slightly larger than she, and after a bit of repositioning she settled for something else. The green sat in the sand beside the egg and draped her body over its width, the girth of the shell making her stand a bit awkwardly on her tip toes. It felt nice, her siblings egg was very warm from the sand, and some unknown part of her seemed to agree that, yes, this is what you do with eggs. The green crooned softly, and perked her ears as the Slow Children Core rocked to life.

The vibrant multi-colored egg hatched abruptly, a chicks rump and legs bursting through the bottom of the shell without much shaking at all. This new simourv stood up a little clumsily, the top portion of its shell still hanging over its head and neck. It warbled with cheerful confusion, trundling forward without seeing where it was going, and wavering over the sands. Oh! It was good to be in the world! Even if the world was much darker than she would have expected! Still, at least she had room for her legs now. She was a green, larger than the one watching her. Her body was a dull green color, daubed and splotched with patches and spots of darker and lighter greens. A broad patch of green so light it looked almost white covered her chest, and her legs were a light gray. She heard her sister crooning, and stumbled hopefully in that direction. She would find her sister in the dark!

The much smaller green chattered helpfully, guiding her blinded sibling with sound toward where she sat still incubating the divided dwarf. How silly her sister was, didn't she know she was wearing a hat? When the other chick came near enough, the small green craned her head forward and knocked the egg cap off with her beak. She was greeted with the sight of her green siblings light brown eyes, gazing fondly from her masked face. The small green chirped a greeting, and leaned forward, nearly falling off her perch to butt her head affectionately into her sisters ruff.

The larger green nuzzled her smaller sibling back gently, offering a soft grateful trill. That was much better. She had been blind, but now she could see! She was glad the world was much brighter than she had thought, it made things considerably easier. She gazed calmly around her, absorbing in all the new oddities and sights before her that appealed to her big heart. She sighed dreamily, and leaned against her sister and her egg with a chatter. Wasn't her black brother so graceful and noble? Weren't the bonded candidates and simourv so blissfully happy? She loved this harmonious bright new world. She wanted to stay forever.

The smaller green chattered back that she could! She was hatching this egg, but if her sister wanted to stay, she would gladly let her stay and try. There was something she had to do, but she trusted her sister. When the other green agreed, she slid off the egg, and pranced eagerly toward the candidates. Some of them started to look so sad, she couldn't bear it! She had to cheer them up. The green didn't so much look for any candidates in particular as she snuggled each of them in turn, remaining with those who looked the most upset the longest. She paused near Amaryllis and Ri'ley and looked between them curiously. The girl looked sad and hurt, and the boy looked sad and angry. She licked the girls face soothingly, and stared at her a moment with wide eyes. Kisses made better. Then she crooned quietly to Ri'ley, and nosed him reassuringly. Things would be okay, strange angry man!

Having in her mind reassured them thus, she once again went on her way. She knew the girl she wanted when she saw her. She was like her, full of love to give the world. Her sister had been right. Things were so harmonious! She skipped over to meet her, and entwined lovingly around Samara's legs. S'ara, your Lormanuph has done a lot today, but this is the best thing. My favorite thing... She crooned, and settled down to drape herself over her bonded's feet, as though she were content to never move from this spot. I love you, Mine. You're much comfier than an egg!

46a24b - sweet, loving, enjoys nothing more than snuggling

[Lan]

Where was hers? It seemed like she had been searching forever... well, sort of. The fluorescent green had stopped chasing her tail now and was looking sort of stumped at all that was happening. There were so many of her brothers and sisters ambling about now finding their Owns. But what about her? She wanted Hers! Yes, she would go out and find hers. But wait... what was that? Those two over there. Well, they weren't joining in on the fun at all! That was not to be allowed!

She bounded over, ever-not-so-graceful to the sisters Shaegir and Serapais. Yet, as she did so, the Flammable Core suddenly had a tremendous show of energy. It seemed as if it had barely rocked before it all but exploded, leaving a rather unruly-looking blue in its place. His eyes were dark and foreboding, but his down was a light blue that was almost turning white. His legs, beak, claws, and tiny stubs of horns also were a light gray color. But his pure-looking arrangement was not at all an apt description of what was going on beneath. The smallest of all his brothers, he was not one to be pushed around. From the way he crouched there, small beak clicking and eyes glaring at each thing their gaze fell on, he seemed to be one to give most reds a run for there money. Then, suddenly, he stood upright, as calm and collected as a blue could be, and he waited. For what, he didn't know, but he would know it when he saw it.

Suddenly his green sister padded by him and, quick as lightening, he spun around to follow her. She was headed toward two sisters, one in particular that seemed rather interesting to the blue. However, as opposed to heading toward the other sister, the green seemed to be heading directly toward the girl he wanted! Well, that would not do. Not at all. Without warning, the blue pounced, claws sinking into the bright green as they tumbled in a small kerfuffle just short of where the two girls were standing. He wanted to look first... and what the blue wanted, he would get. The green shrieked, but the violent blue made not a sound. When he was sufficiently pleased with the blood that stained her blindingly bright feathers, he detached himself and stood calm again, although this time there was a sense of triumph in his pose.

The blue then quickly wrapped himself around Serapais, looking at his wounded green sister with detached interest. This one is mine... you cannot have her. You may have the reject, if it makes you feel any better. He spoke first to his sister before looking up fondly at the one he had chosen to be His. S'pais... I am your Xaph... And no one shall come between us, or I shall rip them apart. There was a bright sort of gleam in those dark eyes as he spoke, as if the idea of having the opportunity to injure something was something he thoroughly enjoyed. Yet, his words were also solemn. He meant every word he said.



9CA7DD - loves blood and violence, empathic but manipulative

---

The green, meanwhile, was bleeding but seemingly unaffected by her small skirmish with her brother. If he wanted to be rude, that was his problem. She had no interest in HIS person. She was out to find her OWN. Forgetting her wounds for the moment, she turned about as if she had forgotten where she was going. Where was hers? Where was... her eyes met Shaegir's and suddenly she knew. Yes. This was hers. Her own. Her precious... or something like that. The green strutted up right in front of her and gave a cute little cooing noise.

Sh'gir-mine... Your Anaph has found you! How exciting is that?! Anaph tried to stand on her hind legs at first (which she thought would be a clever trick), but proceeded to fall over. Looking at herself, she realized once again that she was, indeed, wounded and bleeding. Anaph's feathers are dirty... perhaps you could clean them? And stop them from getting dirty? She didn't seem to want to admit she was in need of medical attention, and looking around she quickly found something to take her mind off of her condition, We should get Anaph food too! Yes? I think food sounds like good fun. The green then proceeded to get up and try to make her way over to where the food was. Also, did you know your name sounds like "sugar" if you say it really quickly? Anaph thinks so...



B1CE3E - hyperactive, rambunctious, has a tendency to change her mind on a whim

---

The Divided Dwarf was now rocking, starting slow at first and... continuing to be slow. It almost looked like the little hatchling inside wouldn't have enough strength to get out. Yet, it persisted and ever so subtly cracks started to appear. Soon a small beak poked its way out, but the egg persisted to do nothing more interesting further than wobble. It was a slow process for this chick, hatching, and it seemed to be trying rather hard and getting tired rather quickly. Then, like a tree toppling over, the egg fell onto its side and split in two, revealing a very slight-looking green. She was a darker green than most of her sisters, although still a medium-Kelly green. The top of her head was black, with some yellow on her cheeks, and a white band around her neck. With white tips of her downy feathers on most of her torso, her tail was splotched with yellow and black and gray. Furthermore, she had dark brown eyes like a cow's, gentle and kind. For the moment she was content to lie there, recovering her strength before she went off to search for her human.

[Fox]

L’nan hadn’t been paying that much attention to her surroundings other than the feel of Eoreph’s shoulders beneath her and the sight of the brightly-coloured babies gambolling around the sands. It didn’t seem so long ago that the woman had been down there herself, waiting anxiously for something- anything- to occur. Over a year. Had it really only been such a short time? Lea could hardly remember a time before Eoreph’s presence had seeped into her life and her mind. But as yet, the Alphas were only fifteen months old. It felt like a lifetime. The tawnyrider smiled to herself as she felt her simourv’s wordless agreement to her musings, even as the excitement of the hatching sped up her pulse and left her fidgeting ceaselessly, fingers drumming on the straps of Eoreph’s harness.

They’d flown in from the Guard Heights when Eceph’s summons had gone out, where the tawnypair had been watching the sunset and just enjoying a moment of free time. Ever since Eoreph had begun to carry her rider in flight, it had become increasingly hard to tear the woman from the harness except for necessary things like lessons and chores and the fundamentals of life. Even then, it wasn’t uncommon any more for Lea to be found eating a hastily thrown-together sandwich on the way to doing something else. There never seemed to be enough hours in a day, truly. But for now… There was a Hatching to watch, and while neither rider nor simourv were at present entirely pre-disposed towards chatter, the pulses of excitement that travelled between them at a bonding or a hatching were enough to communicate their joy.

At least, until things started getting messy. An influx of unusually temperamental blues (and therein lay the surprise; they were blues and not reds), three in quick succession, left blood dotting the Nesting Sands. Much like she had during her own Hatching, Eoreph recoiled from the coppery smell, every instinct screaming against the wanton injury of one of their own, but Lea pressed her lips together and bore it grimly. She would not interfere now. Maybe later, she would see if they needed an extra hand in the infirmary, since she well knew how it was to be injured and in need of treatment. The scars from Teimoph’s attack still decorated her lower legs. No, indeed, she would not interfere in the Hatching unless-- Heavens forbid-- someone was in danger of dying.

Unfortunately, as the tawnypair watched the latest victim go down, Lea could not be sure that certain others would mind the unwritten rule. She didn’t know Ri’ley’s little sister at all well, but she knew Amaryllis’s older brother well enough to know he would not stand to see the girl go down. Horrified, L’nan’s hands left their comfortable placement in her lap to cover her mouth as, sure enough, a tall figure that was certainly not a Candidate stalked onto the sands. But even in her horror and shock, there was a certain resignation. Ri’ley was like that. Eoreph too shifted uncomfortably at the sight of the blackrider, but she would not have said anything had not Dionyph’s distressed, betrayed voice bugled out for all to hear.

Both Lea and Eoreph winced. The tawny’s reaction was an immediate, instinctual one, though. She reached out mentally, her mind’s touch carrying as many soothing undertones as she could muster amidst her own (admittedly mild) distress. She turned her dark brown eyes to seek Dionyph’s larger form, beginning to move in his direction even as he cried out to his rider. Dionyph, brother, please be calm.[/color] She crooned, nudging him gently with her beak. No one sees you and Yours as traitors. There is no need to be so upset. Please lower your voice, my brother, as I do not think it best that others be privy to such a matter.[/color] Her soft, whispery tone, though more mature than it had been as a hatchling, was chastising, but at the same time bore no ill will. She understood, to a degree, that Dionyph was incredibly upset. And Eoreph certainly did not agree that his rider’s actions, or his ignorance of his own simourv, was correct, but there was little to be gained by airing it all out in public.

Aside, to her white-lipped, narrow-eyed rider, though, Eoreph sent a faintly steely enquiry. You will speak to him, Mine? ’Oh, don’t you worry about that. I most certainly will.’[/b]

&

I do believe Dionyph’s's little sister just accused you of accepting bribery, Mine.

What?

She thinks you searched her as a favour to her brother. Pay attention, Mine.

Rubbish. And my ears aren’t as good as yours.

Indeed. Your ears among other things.

&

The soft tapping coming from the Slow Moving Dwarf was slow, and systematic, as the chick within seemed to search the shell for its weakest point. It continued as other eggs burst open, and seemed not to hurry as other chicks chose Theirs. Finally, the tapping seemed to pause at a spot. The chick tapped again, cautiously, and then the effort seemed to finally begin in earnest, a spiderweb of cracks fanning out from one point on the shell, directly at the centre of the orange-and-white whorl. The shell bulged outwards as the simourv within pushed at the weak spot, and then it broke open, scattering bightly-striped egg shards here and there.

For a moment, dark grey claws scrabbled at the opening, making it larger, and then out stepped a dark green foot, followed by an olive-green body, until finally a green chick stood on the sands, still damp from the egg, but ready to face the world! She was of an average size for her colour; certainly not the largest, but hardly tiny either. Through most of her body, her feathers were a dull, olive green, shading to pale yellow on her belly and also to a forest green on her tail and wingtips. She would have been rather unremarkable, if not for the delicate tracing of mint-green and forest green around her eyes, like a lady’s eye makeup, enhancing the pale yellow irises in a delicate pattern. Unfazed by her late entrance, the green chick surveyed the remaining candidates with a critical eye, mentally totting up the pros and cons of each human. Secretly, though, she was sad for those that she would be forced to overlook today in her search for Hers, and she could feel for them, she really could! But the chick huffed and ruffled her feathers, as if she were embarrassed at the thought.

Still, behind the unassuming exterior, the chick’s mind was razor sharp, and already as she strolled past some of the specimens that had come to attend the hatching, the chick could think of several things that she would say to them. None were very complimentary. But trading witticisms would have to wait until she found hers. And the olive green was fairly sure she knew where hers was; she could feel it right down to her bones, and the chick paced carefully forwards following that feeling. For a long moment, she stared in some confusion at the back of a very large person who… felt almost like Hers? The chick let out a soft squawk of confusion, before she nudged her dark beak into the man’s back, not hard enough to really be of harm, but possibly enough to set balance rocking. She wasn’t quite aware of her own strength yet.

But this was not right! The chick was disgruntled. This person was not Hers; he belonged to another already! Why was he here? He should move and not get in the way of a chick and her Own. The chick indulged in a brief hiss at the man, before peering cautiously around his bulk to the girl on the ground. What began as a passing glance skittered back to lock onto Amaryllis, as the green let out a surprised chirp and then darted around Ri’ley to throw herself into the girl’s lap. A’ryllis! Your Molotoph nearly could not find you because that tall fellow was so inconsiderate. He got in the way and I nearly couldn’t feel you or sense you, Mine![/color] Suddenly concerned, the chick nudged gently at A’ryllis’s arms, which she could feel was a point of pain for her chosen rider. Does it hurt, Mine? Very badly?[/color]

688156- methodical, overbearing, witty, secretly very sensitive

[/size]

[Shaetani]

Of course, if it had been Tijera on the sands hurt Taridan probably would have been glaring and, maybe even throwing punches to keep her safe. Still, it was a rather unique experience being on the receiving end of Ri'ley's stare. For a moment, Taridan's shoulders squared back and his hazel eyes narrowed before the words sunk in. Focus on the eggs. Sighing, he took a few steps back and once again faced the eggs though he kept the girl in the corner of his eyes. He was still close enough that when the girl decided to let loose he heard all of it. Wow. Deciding he was going to listen to her words since he was close enough it was hard not to Taridan continued to stare at the eggs even as he got a rather thoughtful look on his face. Was it possible to bribe the simourv riders enough that they would influence their simourv's choice of a candidate? Hmpm. Tijera might call him names and stuff, but she would never publicly accuse him of anything like that... under all her frustrations, she was his sister and Taridan was pretty sure a part of her understood that what he did for her, he did for her own good. Since he was staring at the eggs he at first thought a gray was going to come out, judging by the colors of the claws that suddenly poked through an egg. However, the creature that followed was a lovely shade of green. Trying to remember to breath, all his thoughts of his sister and the others were snuffed out as he watched her come closer and closer... only to give Ri'ley a shove at his back and bond with the guys sister.

A wide grin split his face as he clapped his hands together in excitement. "Hey congratulations! Now you can get off the sands and get that arm looked at!" Smiling, he turned back and looked at the remaining eggs, wondering if there was one out there who would match him, one who would help him defend everyone and take care of keeping the world a safe place. Thinking along the lines of everything he and a simourv partner could do together, the smile suddenly froze on his face. Babies. The simourv had flights... and that males sister had just impressed. Could the riders exert enough control to keep their simourv from rising to chase another if they really didn't want them to? A lot of eyrie life was still a mystery to Taridan, but in this he sure as fire hoped there was a way... if the rumors he heard were true, it would just be wrong to have your simourv catch your siblings in flight... Just... eww. Shaking his head to try and rid himself of such thoughts, he stared back at the shells, focusing on the here and now rather than letting his mind wander to thoughts of things that might not even be his concern. Shards, he might not even impress... no point in counting his simourv before it had even hatched. Oh but he did hope one hatched just for him, it would be a totally new and exciting experience.

[Kilnarak]

The redpair watched as one after another of the candidates bonded, blues and greens mostly, and a black. The black demanded particular attention, at least as far as Teimoph was concerned; the young red's amber eyes narrowed on the new 'prince' and a low rumbling growl built in his throat. However he looked at it, he was superior: his plumage was brighter and more handsome, his form more muscular, better able to protect against koxi. It was beyond him that such a creature might be preferred, revered even. It made him angry.

It also annoyed him a touch (although that annoyance was a trifling thing in comparison) that His kept directing his gaze elsewhere. N'raan drew their shared gaze back toward the candidates time and again, his interest piqued as a few of his preferred individuals bonded - greens the lot of them. Oddly, Teimoph found this less abhorent - they were not rivals then, but still, there were other things more demanding of his attention than a few tiny greens. Like that near white hatchling, for instance...

Teimoph's ears pricked forward and he ripped their shared attention away from the greens and their newly bonded humans to the pale creature that had burst forth from the Flammable Core and shortly attacked one of the greens. It is a blue, Mine, Teimoph rumbled, loosing a slightly uncertain growl with the words. He wasn't sure what to make of the tiny monster; a blue wasn't much of a challenge, wasn't nearly up to his level, but still, the newborn was intriguing. Teimoph wasn't sure what to make of him, and his attention remained focused unerringly on the tiny terror - so intent that he failed to notice His' attention slipping away.

N'raan slipped smoothly out of their shared sight and made a face down toward the sands. Really, this wasn't his sort of thing - he was removed from this event and it held little enough interest for him. Morgana and Embry had bonded greens which was... interesting, but not exactly something he had needed to watch. And Silas still stood on the sands... He snorted softly to himself, carefully moving out from beneath Teimoph's possessively protective bulk - venturing first toward the edge as if he meant to peer down. Of course, he didn't care much to look down but the movement served a different purpose: it showed him that Teimoph was not following his movements, as the red did not snatch him back. Teimoph was distracted, and his distraction left N'raan an ample chance to slip away and perhaps find something more entertaining...

N'raan slunk away from his red, moving about the back of the viewing stands and observing the other watchers without being observed himself. It was tempting, too easy to weave in among them and cut loose unguarded coin purses - something he would have done back in Sayaie, but now... Now he fought the urge, at least for the moment. There was too much risk of being caught. Still, he could watch them as he moved past. He considered leaving outright, however Teimoph would certainly notice that; so instead he moved about the fringes of the stands, looking for something to entertain himself until Teimoph grew bored with the show.

He was nearing the end of the crowd when he finally spied something that might interest him. N'raan's lips curved up in a sly, pleased smile, and he padded toward his object of interest smoothly - his steps nearly silent.

"Hello~" he all but purred as he came up beside K'huna, one hand flirtatiously drifting up the taller man's arm to touch his shoulder in greeting.

--

Muraaph put her ears back as M'ari approached, her great head cocking to one side to watch Valenph's. But he wasn't a threat to Hers, certainly, and she chirped a clipped greeting to the man before she resumed nuzzling at Hers' hair. Usually so interested by the hatchlings and their bonded, Muraaph had hardly noticed the babies pairing themselves off. Hers still hurt, although the pain was less sharp now, simply sore; but his face! Half of it was turning a simply horrible red-gray-purple! She made soft, comforting noises - the kind she would make had she chicks of her own - and tried to preen A're's hair.

Where Muraaph did not answer, A're did. He cracked a slightly strained grin to his friend and offered a short wave. "Oh, just fine an' dandy. And ya, M'ari?" He finished this with a slightly sheepish laugh, and shoved a bit at Muraaph's great beak as she pulled at his hair. Muraaph warbled again at him and nosed lightly at his hands instead.

--

Romallyeh realized, rather abruptly, that the sands were quickly clearing. She only noticed this, however, when a green bounded past her, shrieking, to Morgana. Of course, if she had truly looked around after that young blue butted into her, she would have noticed sooner. But after the creature had inadvertently struck her, she had watched it and the other hatchlings and eggs, and not the people who surrounded her. She didn't begrudge the blue for striking her, bruises were nothing - even if it had briefly knocked the wind out of her. But then Morgana and the green moved to leave and she suddenly realized how alone she was, off to the side of the stands.

She blinked slowly, looking over the remaining candidates - there were a few faces she recognized yet, particularly her roommate Koeti. She wondered absently if she should go stand with the girl, if not through actual camaraderie then perhaps only because they had been roomed together. It seemed like the correct thing to do, didn't it? But the other girl had hardly even looked her way since they had arrived, and did not seem to be particularly wanting for company - there were plenty of others about her, one more would make little enough difference. Still...

Romallyeh picked her way carefully away from the corner, following the back wall and slowly making her way nearer to the rest of the group. She cast a glance, briefly, to the rainbowpair Candidatemasters who had previously blocked her, and then to the Phoenix and Hers. Neither of them seemed to care to stop her, and so she continued on. The girl stopped a good distance short of the group still, but out of the corner, and after she had found this new position she dropped smoothly into a crouch in the heated sand; sitting on her heels. Perhaps a different view at these creatures, one more on their level, would provide her some different insight?

[zeis]

Serapais looked over the remainder of the candidates on the sands, absently slicking her ashe blonde hair back with one hand. She had been dressed for a cold night, but the heat in here was stifling. There weren't that many of her class left. She, and her sister, a handful of other boys and girls including that flirt Silvanus. Still there were eggs and hatched chicks left on the sands. Time was winding down, running out. She'd been passed over this long, so logically, if something was going to happen it was going to happen soon.

She snapped back with wide eyes at the shattering sound of shell the preceded the palest blue on the sands, largely a whitish color. The girl shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she took stock of him. He looked about as angry as that red had earlier, at least for a few moments. Then suddenly nothing, calm. Then all of a sudden both he and a green from earlier were running toward the candidates, toward them. With considerably less meat shields standing around her the possibility of being mauled rose drastically. Arrogant and flippant as she was, she wasn't too keen on spending the night in the infirmary. She took a cautious step back.

Shaegir did not share her twin's reactions. A naive girl to begin with, she didn't see the blue for what he was when she hatched beyond initial notice. He was pretty, and quite poised looking, calm and graceful. Nothing like the boisterous green that danced and pranced around the sands, locked in eternal combat with her own tail. Blue eyes drawn to the more active and interesting chick, she smiled and clasped her hands in front of her. She found herself constantly entertained by the green girl simourv that had hatched, and this little beauty was no different.

She brightened when both the little green and little pale blue seemingly joined forces and started running toward them. Unlike her sister, she took a step toward them, eager to see them up close and meet them if they were as affectionate as some of the chicks before. After all, even if she didn't bond it was only polite to make a good first impression, especially if she would one day have to work with these simourv and their riders. She kept and unassuming posture otherwise, not wanting to cause any offense or discourtesy that would further antagonize the clutch-mother.

Then the blue, with not a growl or a feather out of place, lunged for his green sister and bore her to the ground under his claws. The two rolled in a flailing ball of limbs, tails, and flapping stubby wings, kicking up a small cloud of sand. The green shrieked, and her bright mix-matched green feathers were stained a bloody reddish brown in short order. Serapais watched with a slightly furrowed brow, unsure of what to make of the scene before her. She had been expecting some violence from this deceptive blue, but toward his own kin? Was there a precedent for that? She stole a quick wary glance over her shoulder for her Candidatemaster Ts'kal. What should she do in this situation? Shaegir gave a small scream in surprise, startled and horrified by the blues violent actions that were not only sudden but totally unwarranted. She recoiled from the fight, and hovered uncertainly, wanting to help but afraid to get involved. Then it was over.

Serapais watched with wary apprehension as the blue darted toward her, expecting fully to be the next under his claws. When he wrapped around her, she stared down at him in honest awkward confusion, admittedly not sure what to do or think. She had seen other chicks nuzzle her sister but choose others, and he did seem temporarily distracted, staring at the wounded green. Was this some sort of trap? A ruse designed to lull her into a false sense of security? Then his black eyes were on her and she froze, meeting his gaze, and she had a growing sense of the unknown as a foreign but uncompromising voice spoke in her head. S'pais... I am your Xaph... And no one shall come between us, or I shall rip them apart.

Her breath caught in her chest, and all her quick thinking and sharp words failed her. Her preparation, study, and insistence that this moment go exactly the way she wanted it too were a farce. There was not building defenses against what she felt now, that surge of blissful emotion that bloomed in her, far surpassing any of the great love she held for her own sister. Her eyes stung, threatening tears, and she had to look away and glare coldly around the sands to gain control of herself. She didn't want anyone to see her as an emotional wreck, unlike some people out here.

Let them see. Xaph suggested with a slow blink, watching his rider's struggles with fond recognition. She could no more easily hide from him than he could from her. If any say a word against you, I'll silence them. For good, if you like. He spoke this as though it were a promise, and lifted his head to lick reassuringly at S'pais' hand. The girl laughed, half amused and half startled by her simourv's words, that from his deadpan manner could have just as easily been a promise as a joke. He felt only the most passing in disappointments when she didn't immediately set him loose on some enemy present in this room, and brought up a more pressing concern. I will eat now. He stated, rather than asking, turning his black gaze pointedly in the direction of the smell of butchered meat.

Shaegir stared in horror as the blue left the little green bleeding in the sand, and rushed for her sister. Her muscles tensed, and the clutching etiquette that Ts'kal taught them screamed for her to remain still and not interfere. She didn't want to listen, she wanted to shove her sibling, her only remaining family out of the way of this little blue monster. How could she just stand around? But her movements were too slow in her shock and fear, and she paused in her steps toward her sibling as something changed in her. The blue wasn't moving on, he was staying with her. Positive feelings for Serapais warred in her with worry, and at a loss she looked back at the green chick who was regaining her feet.

The wounded chick pranced the short distance to her, in spite of the bleeding wounds across her back and side. Plucky even though the trauma. The girls heart nearly broke looking at her, and she crouched down carefully in the sand, reaching out her hands toward the infant creature. Even if she didn't get picked, and even if she couldn't do anything the very least she could do was comfort the poor thing. Her fingertips nearly touched the bright green feathers when a voice touched her mind, fast talking, a little strained, and rambling. She withdrew her hand as if stung and stared at the little chick with wide eyes. This was... her Anaph.

At the mention of dirty feathers, her gaze shifted to the blood now dripping to the white sand beneath them. She had no time to address that issue when her partner changed topics again, the skirmish with the blue forgotten. Suddenly she was talking about her new name resembling sugar, which earned a wan smile. Anaph tried to head past her, and Sh'gir's paralysis broke. "Wait, sweetie..." She murmured reaching out to carefully embrace the simourv, gingerly examining the wounds. Panic and sympathetic pain gripped her as she got a better look at them. The girl was young, and certainly had no medical training, so of course she over exaggerated. "I'll get you some, but we... we need to get these looked at first, alright?"

Oh, those? Anaph blinked as her progress toward food was halted, and swiveled her head to examine the scratches through her feathers. It's just a flesh wound. She reassured hers with a dismissive aire, sounding cheery and raring to go despite the pain she felt. The green didn't think it was really such a big deal, but her Sh'gir seemed worried. Really worried. ... Maybe it was a big deal. Actually, Anaph doesn't feel so good after all. She changed her mind, looking up at hers with round nervous brown eyes. This was serious! Am I going to die?

"Wh- No! Don't be silly!" Sh'gir scolded with a frown, feeling odd being so stern. The idea just scared her is all. She took a deep breath, and glanced around the crowd, looking for a face that could help. She noticed Serapais and her... blue leaving, and her lips tightened a little. Some of the watchers were noting them with a frown, but it was Ts'kal who caught her eye. The girl had no hope of carrying the young green, as comparatively small as she was to most of her siblings. "Come along this way." She directed the little simourv, rising quickly to a stand and leading her gently toward the crowd and toward where Anaph's first meal lay waiting. She quickly procured the food for her new bonded, and gave it to her with a small worried smile before departing to find the Candidatemaster. "Mister Ts'kal, my sim- my Anaph needs help. Could you come see her? I don't know what to do..."

~~~~~

K'huna and Canph, compared to the younger Red-pair, were having a considerably good time. Hatchings were good news all around, a sign of healthy simourv and a good future. Many had bonded, and all the chicks to the Wingletmaster's eye looked hale and strong. The two of them had also noticed the smallest blue, and at least K'huna watched with astonishment as he mauled one of his siblings. Simourv on simourv violence was a rare thing in their experience with them so far, almost always a result of flightlust. Was it out of hunger or just malice that the little one attacked? Canph though he candidly offered no comment, understood well enough. He tussled with other males in flights often enough. In a few of his more extreme rages he had to restrain himself from launching himself onto his aggressors, particularly his red brother's. He had always restrained himself or been restrained by K'huna. Civility and all that.

The red noticed the approach of N'raan before his K'huna did, and whuffed in amusement. How fortuitous that he didn't keep his rider on such a short leash as Teimoph, and was not their to influence the scene that would play out on his riders part. Also how funny that he knew more about what was going on than the younger red! He settled on the ground and resumed watching, his feathers fluffing out around his neck and face with smug contentment.

K'huna turned to look N'raan in the eyes with mild surprise, as he had honestly not expected him to attend. He carefully schooled his expression, and turned his eyes back to the hatching. Knowing the winglet, he probably came here purposely just to tease him and make him as uncomfortable as possible. The man nodded in a cordial fashion, and turned his amber eyes back on the dwindling eggs. "Evening, N'raan. Enjoying yourself?"

~~~~~

M'ari relaxed once he got permission from Muraaph to approach, though he knew that she would give it. His friends green was a sweet if willful creature, and the green-rider felt as easy around her as he did his own Valenph. He closed the distance a little between them, though he left the simourv enough room to continue her grooming of her rider. "A sight better'n you, I'd say." He laughed, tilting his head a little to peer at the man's injuries. He gave a low unobtrusive whistle, appreciating the damage he saw and not envying the man in the least. "What did you do, lose a fight with a flight of stairs?"

[Kat]

Jackson watched Amaryllis from his position on the ground. He saw her watch him, and to show that he was fine, he flashed her a small smile. Even though he was humiliated, the smile was bright, a certain excitement to it. It was almost as if the humiliation triggered a familiar feeling in him which brought him back to a previous time in his life. He was finally beginning to untangle himself, and he brought himself to a sitting position with a small grunt. He sat up just in time to catch the glare from Keldraza’s new simourv, the one who had pushed him over. While Jackson probably should have resented the creature, he guessed that the thrill of hatching was overwhelming. He understood that the simourvs were babies. Jackson understood children, even if he himself never had the chance to be a father. He had wanted to be a father, so he had invested himself in learning about the moods and technicalities of babies. The man was almost standing, so he nodded towards Keldraza, who he liked quite a bit—who was almost a friend, or the closest Jackson had to a friend—a friendly acquaintance.
“Congratulations Kel--“
Jackson began, but suddenly lost the rest of the comment due to utter shock. Because he had been on the ground, he had not seen the Prohibited Core hatch. Even though it had burst apart, Jackson had been completely oblivious. All the sudden, though, he was very aware of the hatchling. Before Jackson could finish talking to Keldraza, the little blue, because he was certainly smaller than most of the others on the sands, nudged Keldraza out of the way and lunged towards Amaryllis.

Jackson watched the event with horror. He gasped, his body recoiling from the sight of the girl tumbling to the ground under the blue simourv. He had been told that blues were gentle, that they were not the ones to worry about. Reds were the issue, Jackson had thought, but the blues today seemed particularly—dangerous. More than one person, besides Amaryllis, who seemed to be a great deal of pain on the floor, had been struck down by a blue. But Jackson’s recoil send him, once again, to the ground, and as soon as he felt his back hit the sand, he felt a pressure on his chest which was the blue simourv and he was looking into a pair of red eyes, and then he felt it—or didn’t feel it. As soon as the simourv and Jackson met eyes, the emptiness which dwelled inside of Jackson for these two years, that Isabel left, melted away and all that was left was affection for the creature. Jackson was stunned by it, and he had to spend a few minutes remembering how to breathe. And then he did, and his hand floated up to muss the creature’s neck feathers which were soft with afterbirth. His movement was slow and methodical and confused, as his fingers pressed into warm feathers. The chick sounded so determined, so comforting, like a piece of Jackson was fit back into place, a piece which had been ripped from him, and the man sighed. Foph, as the creature called himself, did not want to move, he was curled on Jackson’s chest, with his beak tucked under the hole in the shirt’s armpit. It was as if Foph knew to connect himself with this garment.

And Jackson needed the chick’s support in that instant, as if Foph’s presence made Jackson realized how completely destroyed he was inside. The man took in a deep breath, and then he lifted his neck to touch his cheek to Foph’s shoulder.
I don’t want you to leave me.
Jackson muttered as Foph pushed himself down harder against Jackson’s chest as if the simourv wanted to crawl inside Jackson’s skin and cohabitate with the man.
But you will have to get off of me so I can stand.
Jackson gently reminded, but Foph was not yet ready to remove himself from Jackson’s body, so he just curled tighter against Jackson and heaved in protest.
I will stay here for now. I want to be with you for a few more minutes here. I want to protect you from the rest of the world. We can live here together.

[/color]
Foph replied, and his mental voice was so soothing, so comforting, and if Jackson was not so wrapped up in it, he would wonder how such a cruel creature, the same creature who brought Amaryllis to the ground, could have such a soft, gentle voice. Jackson then remembered that Ts’kal had said that the newborns would need to eat. He questioned this to Foph, asking him without saying it, just by thinking it, and the hatchling only expressed a certain desire for Jackson’s warmth and heartbeat. Jackson could not convince Foph to move, so they waited a few minutes, while Jackson’s heart slowed enough hat he could interact in a normal state of emotional arousal.

But then, the situation escalated. Ri’ley came onto the sands, stomping, and Jackson thought he was very much like an angry mother bear. The man on the ground hissed through his teeth. It was an unfortunate situation. And Jackson tried to ignore it as much as possible. He would apologize to Amaryllis later. He felt terribly, but ultimately, Foph and him were now—the same, in a way he couldn’t explain, so he had kind of done this to her. But the blackrider, who Jackson had never seen before was large, and he was dedicated to aiding the girl, and Jackson---Ja’son did not want to get in his way. So, the bluerider lifted his lips to the area right under the blue simourv’s ear, as close as he could drag his lips, Ja’son’s dark mouth blending with the darkest feathers on an otherwise light body—brown to purple. Had the man been thinking, he would have realized that he did not need to speak out loud to the creature at all, but newly named Ja’son did not yet know that.
“We should go, Foph, and get you food.”
Jackson whispered against feathers, and the hatchling relented, feeling his rider’s new agitation at the scene. In one fluid movement, as Jackson began to lift his body up off the ground, the hatchling rolled, until he was on his feet. Then the pair slunk off, Ja’son crawling for a few feet before he felt comfortable walking. And then he was up, briskly shuffling away from the scene, and towards the room where he would feed his Foph for the first time.
Why did you hurt her, Foph?
Ja’son could not understand the hatchling’s tendency. In the mind of the man, Foph was infinitely caring, loving, and perfect. Yet he had harmed Amaryllis without a second thought. He had attacked the girl, and Ja’son was not that kind of person. He did not understand how he could feel so comforted, so in love, so close to a creature who did so much damage.
Because you only need me, mine, and she wanted to help her, and I did not want her to intrude. I wanted to be the one who helped you, mine. I am all you need.[/color]
Foph explained to Ja’son, as the hatchling pressed his body against Ja’son until the man stumbled. But Foph was there, catching his rider and preventing the fall with the tap of his beak. He would always be there. He would not let anyone else touch Ja’son, be near Ja’son. None of them were worthy[/blockquote].
[/size]

[zeis]

The Slow Children green had remained with the Divided Core until the egg hatched, just as her sister Lormanuph had asked of her. She watched with joy and pride as the other egg hatched, and cooed encouragement as her newborn sibling wandered off to find hers. How wonderful, how absolutely serendipitous. She liked this place of new life, with all the hopeful faces and happy meanings. It was a special place, warm and filled with excitement. It felt good to be here, to help her family and see them all around her. She swiveled her head and looked back at her great gray mother, and she trilled lovingly, prancing over there to join her blue brother by her feet.

The green nuzzled against Eceph's great scaled legs and nosed gently at her sibling, sensing some hesitation from him but not knowing why. It was about something... Something they were supposed to do? The chick paused in deep thought, trying to remember what had originally been on her mind when she first hatched. Oh, a person! Yes, she needed to find a person. The chick whirled to face the candidates with a new consideration, anticipation bubbling up inside her now that it was her turn. One of these people was hers forever and ever, her best friend, the love of her life... How poetic!

She strolled sedately over to where the candidates waited, meeting their eyes with her dull brown ones and examining each in turn. All of them were nice at first glance, and puzzled the green made a second pass, looking harder this time. With a soft trill she recognized what she was looking for in one of the older candidates, a boy she wrapped around gently, turning her eyes to gaze up at him with unequaled adoration. L'lan, your Fauneteph is so happy to be in this beautiful world, because you are here. She whispered meaningfully, before they left the sands to feed.

718C52 - gentle, kind, not particularly bright, quite the romantic

[Bre]

Blue lips, blue veins . . .

Tekoa had been paying attention as he was expected to do. His best friend had bonded and he took the other boy's good faith and luck to heart. He expected himself to bond, if that was what was in the cards for him. If not, he'd stick around and keep F'ric out of trouble. It would help with his wingletmaster's sanity, he was sure. What he hadn't expected was to be knocked over and trampled by a blue. After the previous violence of the hatching, he tensed as he fell, a stupid move, but found himself happily surprised when he received no slashes or bites from an angry hatchling. He found himself with a blue chick sitting on his chest, staring down at him and warbling in an excited way. He didn't appear to be the most coordinated of beasts, but T'koa wasn't sure if he should help the creature or not. Wait, T'koa? A voice filled his head with joyfulness.

T'koa! Your Soleph seems to have squished you! Are you all right? Do you need some help? Never fear, Soleph is here! Love and adoration filled the newly named winglet. He sent thoughts of reassurance back without really thinking about it, not that they were needed. It just felt right to reassure the little blue sitting atop his chest. It hardly mattered that it was a little hard to breath with the large chick sitting on his ribs. It was his Soleph. He had bonded! What a miraculous thing. It all felt very, very right and very, very happy. His head and back were covered in sand and his skin felt like it was on fire, but he strained his neck to stare down at his lovely Soleph. He reveled in the simple beauty of the moment, because that was the sort of person he was. He would never fear, because he had his Soleph, his kind and happy Soleph.

Here, let me get off of you! Soleph scrambled back, giving him room to breath, and then curled around T'koa's feet. The tall boy sat up and stared down at the crooning blue, a smile on his face. He could do nothing to hide the joy, every loving and joyful feeling of bonding written on his simple features. With an absent hand, he brushed sand off his back. He blinked for a moment, trying to decide what to do. Soleph was just so happy. There wasn't very much he needed to do. The blue was perhaps a little clumsy and obtuse, but it wasn't like he meant anyone harm. The two of them sat there, a bundle of sunshine in the middle of the sands. It lasted a few moments that seemed like forever, then T'koa, not as oblivious as Soleph, noticed the chaos around them. Time to get his new bonded to safety. Until Soleph grew up, T'koa would play daddy.

"Come on, Soleph. Get up and we can get you food; the new winglet said, keeping his voice soft. With a triumphant noise of joy and enthusiasm, the blue jumped to his feet. He stepped on T'koa's legs in the process, but the boy merely winced as a few small bruises from their tumble were pressed. He picked himself up despite that small reaction, no worse for wear, and started towards the ledge where the winglets had gathered near the entrance. The wingletmasters were helping a little and food had been brought. Everything was in order. Riding the wave of happiness, T'koa led the way, Soleph narrowly avoiding stepping on a great many people in the crowd. Finally they reached F'ric, and their tiny friend, Emi, and the blue trumpeted a warbling greeting to his brother. T'koa greeted them both with polite nods and big grins.

It's Vexigoph! Hello Vexigoph; Soleph greeted, all cheer and sunshine. He would have said more, but his rider got food for him and he promptly realized that he was hungry, so he set about eating. Not too fast, but fast enough. T'koa kept a loving eye on Soleph, a bit worried, but he also watched the blue because that was what he felt like doing. He kept an eye on F'ric too and gave Emi a smile on occasion, even briefly wondering what the two were doing. Emi returned his smiles though and seemed as happy as could be, so that was good. However, everything was different. It didn't seem that different or feel that different, but it was different, because Vexigoph was there and Soleph was there. New life. New pieces to the puzzle. He stood, arms crossed loosely in front of his chest, and life was good. He did not stray from Soleph's toesy self.

. . . blue, the color of our planet from far, far away.

[Para]

It took a moment for Erunei to realize what the voice in her thoughts must belong to, and then an instant longer to panic. If a simourv and rider could get in so much trouble that they were traitors just because the rider went onto the sands, what could happen to her? Why hadn’t anyone stopped her? She got here late, stopping her probably would have required a further violation. Or maybe that’s what the rider was doing now. But instead he was ignoring her, walking toward a girl who’d fallen and landed awkwardly. Erunei backed up, pressing against the wall as tightly as she could, trying to stay as out of the way as possible. If they hadn’t done anything to her yet--but if a rider could be punished so harshly--she didn’t want to think what they’d do to her. The simourvs hadn’t stopped her either, maybe they were more forgiving than the riders. That eggshell blue hatchling must have been trying to warn her. She hadn’t understood though, and now....

Her hands shook as she pressed against the wall, and nausea hit her painfully hard, making her head spin. She couldn’t think, or control her reactions; she knew her expression must be terrified and she couldn’t focus enough to change it. She forced herself to grab her hat instead, pulling the brim down to hide her face, and the action helped her focus a bit better. Maybe.... If I can.... This hatching was clearly important, and had everyone’s attention. She’d been planning to leave anyway. Maybe if she got away, far enough that it would take effort to find her, they wouldn’t bother; no point chasing after a criminal who’d run into the wilderness, not when the koxi were more than likely to get them anyway. No place she’d ever been in had bothered, maybe the eyrie wouldn’t either. Better a slight chance than none. Sayaie is big enough for me to disappear. Maybe koxi sleep at night.

She glanced up at the eggs a final time, but the beautiful colors just made her feel sick again, and she started edging along the wall toward the entrance, moving as quickly as she thought she could without drawing attention. She hadn’t been far into the cave, and it only took a moment to get back to the entrance. She stumbled as she got to it, grabbing at the side of the entrance and almost falling as pain shut through her feet. It took a moment for her to figure out what must have happened. The sands had been soft enough that they cushioned her feet some, reducing the pain enough that she hadn’t noticed it while she was focusing on the eggs and getting out, but now the bottoms of both feet were solidly covered with open blisters from the heat, with sand sticking to and embedding itself in the worst ones, and the hard, cold outdoor ground crushing it all together. So my punishment begins already, apparently.

[{r e k y}]

T'koa and Soleph had gone on to join the rest of the feeding new-bonded pairs. Koeti felt, for a moment, the slight chill of being alone. Both Vr'a and T'koa and F'ric near her had bonded and she was left with room on both sides. She soon shoved the sensation off under terms that it was ridiculous, though. There were still quite a few candidates left, and even if they weren't cozy-close to each other, she wasn't alone. She would, hopefully, be joining the feeding pairs soon anyways. They were all going to be one big, happy Winglet family, and she'd get to watch all the chicks grow! That would be exciting. She'd probably cry when the graduated, all grown up and ready to face the world.

A green hatched. Koeti found her extremely striking, especially with her bright orange beak against her emerald feathers. She watched as the chick went to the girl who had been picked up and put aside by Eceph. It was, briefly, a little perplexing. The girl obviously wasn't thought worthy by Eceph, right? But yet she had bonded. Koeti supposed that she was bonding material after all, just... going with her own slightly impertinent flow. She joined in the applause for the green and her new partner, and in the gasps from the shoving blue, and clapping when he found happiness in one person, at least, even if he definitely didn't seem to like anyone else.

She couldn't say she liked any of the pushy, angry chicks that hatched. She might have respected them (they were simourvs, after all), but she didn't like them. She didn't know why they needed to be so rough. They were animals, but it still wasn't a true excuse for them to be rude and cold. They had human-level intelligence. To be constantly the way they were just had to be exhausting, for themselves, too, and not just their riders. She had been brought up on good manners and respect, and that was how she taught her students. Could simourvs learn like children could? She pondered that, but soon gave up. She had very little idea how simourvs' minds worked. It was probably complicated.

A rather gaudy green that had hatched before bonded, and applause came again, but then came a bout of chaos. A blue attacked another green, abruptly and violently, and then the two went off to bond to the twin girls. Koeti felt sick. The green was bleeding, and Koeti had faith she'd be alright, but that two enemy simourvs should bond to twins... She couldn't imagine how they'd handle it! Koeti could be strict at times, but really, she was faint of heart, and she knew it. Even when she got angry, she would just quietly seethe and argue little save for a few snappish comments. She didn't like getting upset. It made her feel bad. She didn't liked bossing people around, either; she preferred more peaceful approaches to remaining in control. She hoped that the twins could work it all out. It would be fine, Koeti told herself, especially if simourvs could learn behavior like kids could.

Two more greens bonded, and the hatching was on a cheerier turn. Smiling and clapping, Koeti looked out at the sands. How many eggs were left?

[/blockquote]

[Bre]

Turn a blank page . . .

Eceph was not exactly pleased by Ri'ley's presence and she rather abhorred Dionyph's screaming, but her main response was huddling closer to the small blue between her front limbs. He wanted to go out and help! He could make it better! He knew he could! Maybe the girl was his rider, if he looked at her again! That would make his mother proud of him! However, the gray told him to stay in a quiet, wordless way and he stayed. He was not truly ready to go out again. He could hear the black screaming, but he didn't at all understand what the big creature was saying. All he knew was that the older black was very upset. However, his kind sister made him feel better too. He liked Fauneteph, and Eceph, though not the most nurturing of creatures, was more than willing to protect him and shelter him from the world if that was what he needed.

It was Ro'za who went about telling people off. However, she was surprisingly gentle, and slow in her response, as she watched a certain green move across the sands. Truthfully, her eyes darted about a great deal, but when Molotoph got close to A'ryllis, she saw how things were going. With light steps, the grayrider picked her way across the sands, avoiding the remaining eggs and wandering hatchlings. She placed her hand on Ri'ley's shoulder, a body part located well above her head, but smiled down at A'ryllis and her green. "Hello, little one;" she said softly. "And girl, I don't think your brother bribed any of my searchriders." It was probably about then that the fact that she liked simourvs more than people became very clear, for her gaze was more than firm when she turned it directly towards A'ryllis or Ri'ley. Such accusations irked her.

"But your brother does need to get off the sands;" the Phoenix added, voice just above a growl. His idiocy was astounding to her. I'dou had been severely injured when he'd dared to tell her that she was wrong. The new winglet lying on the sands, a happy chick in her lap, was hardly in danger of death. She was scratched up and her arm was likely sprained, but even the child, who was not really all that much younger than Ro'za, knew that standing was worth more than a bit of pain. "Your first loyalty is to your bonded, Ri'ley. It works much better to work with your own self, rather than against it." Raising one eyebrow in a meaningful gesture, she pursed her lips and jerked her head off the sands, towards where Dionyph fretted. "If you get attacked by an angry red or blue, he can't help. He knows that. Get gone, idiot."

The black was still making his way patiently amongst the candidates and strode around the Phoenix with his head dipped in respect. He was a mannerly creature, but no interest in the proceedings showed in his dark eyes. The candidates were enough for him and he would take his time in choosing. He was not the most interesting of fellows. If someone had commented to that effect, he wouldn't have argued. His confidence was an inner sort of confidence. If you presented a new idea, he was happy to consider it. His mind was always changing, but it was also always working. While he knew nothing of science or mathematics, as that was not his place, he knew plenty about philosophy and the good to be found in human, or simourv, nature. He may have seemed horribly apathetic to some, but he truly did believe in the good of people.

The final giant was breaking, cracks forming in the bright scarlet shell of the Red Light Giant. A piece chipped off and fluttered to the ground, landing lightly on the sands. A dark purplish blue beak emerged. It looked as if there would be no lucky, or not so lucky, second red or black. It was not so strange. There was every possibility that a clutch could be entirely made up of greens and blues. The hatchling trapped inside the egg clawed at the sides, trying to get out. Finally, the shell gave way and the chick pulled its beak free. It turned out to be a she. Despite a purplish beak and dark legs, she was a tawny. Most of her body was a deep mottled brown. She had spots of tan on her chest and blackish brown on her tail and tiny wings. She probably wouldn't have minded being called a blue. She probably wouldn't have much noticed what she was called.

As soon as she free, the tawny started scrapping up what was left of her dark prison, bright golden eyes not noticing anything that occurred nearby. Oblivious to the world around her, she tidied up her space. She was a large creature, even for her color, as big as a fair many reds, and she not built along delicate, dainty lines. Beside the greens and blues that still remained on the sands, she was a slow and ponderous creature. She didn't much seem to mind. Being slow and ponderous suited her fine. In all essence, that was what she was. A noise, some slight thing, perhaps inside her own head, startled her and she raised her head, turning her gaze to the candidates with a curious blink. Oh. There were people. She shifted her position slowly and started forward at a lumbering pace. She'd been rude not to notice them before. Best to go see if they needed help.

The black would soon run out of candidates. He glanced casually back over the ones behind him. There weren't as many as before. He was a little sad that he couldn't pick them all, but he knew that wasn't how it worked and if they were upset about such a simple act of fate, it wasn't really his problem. If they wished to debate the philosophy, he was open, but he was who he was and it was as simple as that. It didn't matter that he was a black. There was simply one person for him. Turning his head back to what was in front of him, he blinked in casual interest. There were only three or four boys left on the sands and most stood behind him. There was only one for him. His gaze settled on the figure of the youth and he studied the interesting human in front of him, eyes as calm and steady as ever. Yes, that was his. That was the one he'd wanted to find.

Sil'us, your Restaph thinks you will suit; the young black said, calm as could be. He came to sit a few feet in front of the boy, staring up at the figure that was not too much taller than him. He was a large beast, but all polite and full of kindness. Not overly loving, but he cared in a manner befitting his carriage and cool regard. What do we do now? He felt a bit hungry, the odd sensation gnawing in his belly, but he wasn't exactly sure what to do. He was happy, glad to have found his rider, but he wondered what was supposed to happen. Were they something special now? It was a tinge worrisome and he didn't like to worry. He stared up at his rider with his dark brown eyes and waited patiently, not too bothered. Never too bothered, that was him. He wasn't exactly friendly, but pride was not a part of him. And now he had his rider.


1B202B - calm, highly uninterested in rank, a kindly sort

. . . it's a new day, it's a new day.

[‡§åkørü‡]

The blue from the No U-Turn Giant was most definitely unhappy that no one was paying attention to him anymore. With a soft snort, he turned away from his siblings and wandered back to the last few eggs, poking them at random with his beak before cruising away again. The other eggs weren't interesting enough to justify his continued fascination, so at last he turned and wandered off to investigate the candidates.

Most of them just weren't interesting enough! The young blue wasn't angry, however. He wasn't an irritable kind of creature; he just wanted to find His now. If nobody was going to pay attention to him, he was going to find someone who would! That was what he'd do! His would pay attention to him, because that was what Mines did! They paid attention. They simply had to pay attention.

---

While the No U-Turn blue was drifting around, and as the new tawny began to hatch, the Closed Ahead Dwarf started to shudder. It rocked slowly, as if uncertain of what it was supposed to be doing, and eventually small cracks began to appear on its surface. The motion of it was continuous and fluid, and the egg finally broke, splitting along the dozens of tiny lines that had appeared on its surface. A hatchling stumbled out of the wreckage, shaking itself off, and it soon became obvious that the 'it' was in fact a she. She was large for a green, and a dull olive green at that, with a pale yellow, almost white chest that turned to bright yellow on her shoulders. The tiny wings atop her back were the same pale yellow as her chest, with the olive primary feathers being edged with a rich green colour. Her tail feathers were edged with the same shade.

Looking around with wide, pale yellow eyes, the hatchling gave a frightened squeak at the number of people standing around. Spying her tawny sister, she lunged over to her and hid near to the much larger hatchling's side, apparently deciding that this other young simourv wasn't going to hurt her. Indeed, the tawny didn't look as if she were capable of hurting anyone at all. Maybe she was big, but she was harmless, the green decided. A soft chirp of greeting issued from her, and she pulled a piece of shell from one of the other eggs over to herself, hiding behind it so that the crowd of people couldn't see her as easily.

---

The blue finally spied the person he wanted. It had taken a few minutes of searching and friendly crooning, but he'd finally found her. Excited (but not excited enough to get worked up), the big hatchling wandered over in His' direction, chirping warmly. A few other people received friendly nudges on the way, but never forceful shoves. He wasn't a violent chick.

Upon reaching His, one of the exiled girls at the very back of the cavern, the No U-Turn chick wrapped himself securely around her legs, nuzzling her belly affectionately. Hello, R'lyeh, Mine. Your Cantarillaph thinks you're wonderful, and also that you should be over with the other people where you can socialize. He paused a moment, then uncoiled himself and leaned his head contently against His, humming a little tune. Can we get something to eat, Mine? I'm hungry.


1A6CCD - musical, aims to be famous by association, relaxed, sociable

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[Quill]

At the sight of the black, Amaryllis went pale before color returned to her cheeks. The sight of the black amongst the many colors of this hatching was startling. She wondered if this black was anything like Dionyph. The candidate doubted that. From what she seen at this hatching, even though there was so many hatchlings, they were very different. Her eyes fixed on the black before another wandering simourv distracted her.

It was a green and she seemed so eager. Ama was surprised when it strayed from the waiting candidate, focusing on the punished ones instead. Giggling, she wondered and then, when the two made a bond, Amaryllis smiled. She didn't know much about her, personally, but Ama often identified herself closely to Morgana. Oh, how she wondered what her name was now. Then a flash of blue sped by her, causing the candidate to take a step back. Surprised by the determination the blue had, she watched the simourv. If she was colorblind, someone could have fooled her into thinking it was a red.


Pain throbbed in her elbow. It surprised her that not a single blow had landed and it still broke. She stood one step forward and even though the sand was soft, her harsh step caused a vibration that eventually rattled her elbow. Amaryllis wanted to grasp it, but she fought the feel and plopped on the sand again, grimacing at the pain. For one adjusted to pain, the elbow would have meant next to nothing, but pain was foreign to the girl.

Whatever Ri'ley did, it did not matter because she blocked it all out. The people around the sands, other candidates, new winglets. Even the hatching eggs grew faint, but she heard them, the crick-crackle-snap of egg hatchings. It didn't occur to her that baby simourv were actually emerging when a strange flash of mostly green with some reddish shades approached her. The kiss was even more a surprise and with that, the simourv went away and perhaps bonded to another.

She tried to focus. Amaryllis needed to know what was going on, but with her brother still so close, there was no way she was focusing. Ama rubbed her eyes until she saw two simourv meeting the twins. A smile appeared. "Now, my room mate is a winglet." She laughed as she noticed her twins bonded to another room mate. There was tension, she was sure.

Then another simourv entered, another green. She saw the feathers behind her brother's bulk. She craned her neck to see, but she was more worried about his presence here to worry about the simourv. At least one good thing would happen. Ri'ley might have blocked another simourv from attacking her. But the green feathers neared and she wondered if Ri'ley would indeed be attacked by the baby. Geez, she wasn't wishing it would happen.

But the simourv was patient and gentle with her prodding. She half expected Ri'ley to sent away with a push, but instead, the green circled with careful steps. When the simourv took a quick action toward, Ama did not flinch. She expected to do nothing but that, but indeed she did. Then the simourv entered her mind. A'ryllis. The name felt like she lived with it all her life--the perfect blend of her childhood life, her dancer life. For many moments, A'ryllis did not know how to react to Molotoph's concern. So many had shown it already, but this felt real, not like a job or a family attachment.

"Molotoph, it hurts," she admitted. A'ryllis knew she could lie, but starting this new relationship with lies was a very bad idea.
"Mine then needs to get up so she can heal and I can eat. I can't enjoy my meal with you in pain, now can I?"

Then footsteps caused her to swing her head around. They were the most confident steps she heard so they could only belong to one person. Looking up at Ro'za she felt small and she bit her lip, only expecting cross words toward her brother and her. She got them, more Ri'ley than her. Though she knew Ro'za was not in any fashion supporting her, Ri'ley should listen to the Phoenix more than he would listen to his little sister.

Her head shook and she stood. As she tried to steady herself, Molotoph leaned against the attacked side, nudging her fingers with her beak. A'ryllis wrapped this around the beak before gently grabbing her hurt elbow. "Then I'll issue an apology toward him before the night is over," she said to Ro'za both avoiding her eye contact and focusing on Molotoph at her side as they exited the sands. Any attempts for a healer or such, she denied. Part of it was, in her opinion, no one could tend to her the way Ri'ley could, but he should tend to his fretting simourv before her. "Mine needs a healer now," proclaimed Molo as they exited the sands, but A'ryllis just smiled at the simourv.