A New Path [Eceph's Second Hatching]

[Kat]

Morgana had set her head up so that it did not look like she was watching, with her head tilted into her right hand at such an angle that she saw splotches of color out of the corner of her eye. This sight required her to squish the fat from her cheeks to the side so that she could see. The red was beautiful, Morgana thought, a bit dark, but the bright red she could see looked promising. She wished she could tell where on the simourv it was. Then there was a slurry of blues, and Morgana did not care for blues. She only liked reds because they were bright, but she really only liked female simourvs. And blacks were the worst. She did not understand why people worshipped them so much. They were disgusting, dull, ugly, and masculine. But reds were doable, vain enough to keep her interest, and bright enough to make her appreciate them. But reds went to boys, and this one went to a blond person, although she could not tell whom. Surely, it was not Embry. The blues went to—people. One of them was very light colored. She thought it was a gray at first before she remembered there was not a gray egg on the sands. It went to someone—someone—no one? She could not see a person where she saw the blue patch settle. How…odd, but maybe it was like that awful blue at Altaph’s hatching that cowered in the corner for so long.

Then, two more blues hatched, and they looked exactly the same to her. They were like twins, or at least, their colors were similar enough that from her view point, where she could make out only blobs out of the corner of her eye, they looked the same. One went to—she couldn’t see, a dark haired person…male? And the other went to someone else with dark hair. Female? Maybe Vrinta? That would make sense. That girl was boring enough to be a blue rider. When the Caution Core hatched, though, it was beautiful. The green color of its coat was perfect, from what Morgana could tell. Why, it was the perfect simourv for her. She could imagine buying all of her clothing to match those bright feathers. Oh, she could make earrings out of the feathers! She wanted it so badly that she almost turned to watch, but she held her ground. She had faith that she could bond from here. She was on the edge, yes, but two of the Alpha’s had bonded from the stands, and she was not that fair removed from the proceedings.

But the green that Morgana loved did not come to her. It stayed away from her. It flittered to other people. It settled next to—Morgana could not tell, but it was not her. She suddenly felt crushed. Her arms crossed over her chest. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She pouted. Then, she realized that that little gray egg that had ruined her day and kept her from her beautiful green chick hatched. It was an ugly color, but Morgana still felt obligated to it, as if it was hers because it had ruined her life so efficiently. Really, now she wasn’t going to hatch, because of that stupid egg and its stupid ugly shell. She watched it, and it hobbled over to a blond head—was it Embry. No way. Morgana’s mouth dropped open, and when she was sure the stupid creature was bonding to the blond head, she turned to prove to herself that Embry was not bonding. He could not bond. He did not deserve it. She was better than him! Besides, this was her egg. She had been the one to touch it, and obviously, that touch inspired it to hatch. But Embry did bond to the snot color chick, and Morgana huffed and sulked and pouted, her obstinate turn away from the clutch abandoned so she could gawk. It was then that she noticed a third green on the sands. Maybe this one was hers. She was pretty, too, and perfectly suited for Morgana. She would do better than Embry, yet.

---

Jackson did not know what to do with himself. He watched the girl get carted off by Eceph with fright, his eyes swelling at the sight of the giant gray queen moving like that. Ts’kal’s voice rang in his head. Jackson felt—apprehensive, to say the least. He had never been an easily frightened person until the koxi attack, but now he found that his head pounded when he underwent emotional situations. It was pounding now, and he tried to ignore it. He heard Kel talk to him, but instead of relying, Jackson only nodded his head. He did acknowledge her, though, and he managed a small, sad smile across his lips which lasted only an instant before it fluttered into a stern grimace.

Then, the hatchings started. The red came first, and Jackson backed away from the threat of it, moving further to the periphery of the sands. He did not want to come between that red and its goal. Then it bonded to a boy Jackson did not know—but he knew so few, before it stalked off the sands. The purple core egg hatched. A blue, and it bonded to a boy Jackson had not met, the one that the red had mauled. The one on the ground. Even though he had bonded, Jackson was glad that he was not the one on the ground in Horatio’s place. Two more of the Giants broke, two blues, and Jackson watched as they bonded. They were beautiful, each one of them so joyful, except for that tyrannical red. Jackson realized the red scared him, because the fury made his heart beat with understanding and recognition, and Jackson hated the affective reaction stirred when he remembered his own anger. As the two blues bonded, Jackson slinked further back. He felt somewhat rejected, but also not surprised. He did not deserve a hatchling. That he knew, and he did not expect one, but a part of him wanted one.

Then, three greens hatched, and two bonded. Jackson watched the bondings, and he felt sadder and sadder. It was almost crushing, but he ignored it, reminding himself to remember that he did not deserve a simourv and that it was foolish to hope. He tightened his jaw, and his face went neutral and slack. He was almost on the complete edge of the nesting sands now, from where he had slinked away, only the two disciplined girls were farther on the outskirts. But this—it was where he belonged.

[Para]

Erunei stood in her room, restlessly reorganizing the stacks of paint, pencils and paper without paying any attention. The noise outside whoever’s room she was in--someone’s possessions were there, but fortunately the person hadn’t come in--had died down to a few sets of hurrying footsteps that were audibly fading. Erunei knew she should have been following them, or really should have been ahead of them; they’d come from farther down the hall than she was, and even without knowing what all the noise was about she hadn’t had any trouble figuring out it was important and that she should be following the rush of people it had obviously triggered.

But there was no way she could face people at that moment, especially from in a crowd like that. There probably weren’t the hundreds of people it seemed like, but there were plenty, and she was still thrown off from the sudden change in--everything, really. She knew she was at the Eyrie, that she was supposed to be doing something, but beyond that anything coherent that the rider had told her had either faded from her memory, or been buried in the swirling confusion-panic in her mind. So had his name and face, really; all she remembered was that his simourv had been beautifully colored and she could not face people now.

She couldn’t face them later either, though, especially if she missed something she was clearly supposed to be doing. Erunei made herself set down the papers she was needlessly reorganizing and forced her hands to her sides, stiffening and then relaxing them so they stopped shaking, then ran her fingertips over her face as if to wipe away the visible nerves. She sighed, then set her mind to getting to whatever was going on. At least, with people so excited and focused on whatever was going on, she could probably observe without being noticed for a while, and hopefully figure out something about what she was supposed to do and how to interact.

She left the room, carefully closing the door as quietly as possible, then followed down the hall and out of the building. The place seemed dead; only a few buildings and caves had lights on inside, and no one was in sight. Light from the building she’d just left let her see faint footprints on the ground though, all heading the same direction, so Erunei followed them toward one of the larger lit cave entrances.

Reaching the entrance to the cave made her eyes widen and she very nearly turned around and left the Eyrie to walk back to Sayaie, night and koxi or not. There were people--far, far too many people, and simourvs, and noise. No one seemed to have noticed her though, and a moment of hesitating let her force her mind back toward what she was supposed to do.

If she could figure out what that was. People were gathered around the cavern in clear groups, but which group was what she couldn’t tell, except for the batch of hatching simourvs and people feeding them that were further separated from the rest of the groups. She clearly didn’t belong with them. So instead she edged around them, carefully aiming toward a spot near the wall that seemed separate from all the groups, but close enough to a few that she shouldn’t stand out too much, placing her feet carefully as the sand scalded her bare feet.

Then she got around to see past the people and--eggs. Brilliant, colorful, beautifully patterned eggs. Erunei forgot about everything else; the people, the simourvs, the heat, and the noise all dropped out of her awareness as she saw the eggs, moving a few steps to get a better view, then froze and stared, trying to memorize the colors and the way the light gleamed and flickered.

[Quill]

Amaryllis had never thought about it. Things have either come and gone. It never occurred to the candidate that she was actually impatient, but as she craned her head, trying to get a good look at the simourvs as they burst from their shell homes, she felt that her impatience wasn't having the best effect. An impressive blue appeared and then bonded. It was all rather quick, but as each simourv bonded to a human, time slowed down, especially the amount of time between hatchings.

And she felt rude. The new winglets must have felt like they were on the top of the world. With the congratulations they were given, Amaryllis felt bad that she contributing the celebrating. Perhaps the simourv could tell this? Confidence rose again as the hatched green sped around her, but it was a tease as the hatching became preoccupied with chasing her tail. Blowing a strand of hair out of her bound ponytail, she tried to remain calm, but when a green rushed up to Rainer. That connection seemed to work much like a magnet.

Amaryllis could feel it; her hold on her emotions slipped away. Leaning her head back, she tried to regain some control, but seeing K'ean looming above did not help manner. She eyes squinted when she saw the red simourv. This was a trap. A flipping trap to keep her here in the Eyrie. K'ean was Ri'ley's friend, so it all made sense.

Then, shaking her head, she fought with herself. Thinking about the tawny at the last hatching. Amaryllis remembered the burning feeling in her chest and how much it hurt to be denied by the simourv. That had to mean something. If she did not belong, wouldn't the hatching meant nothing to her. And the lessons. She had been doing quite well in some of them, but remembering the ones that were harder to grasp shook her faith. Sighing, Amaryllis calmed herself. No, she told herself. She had to have faith in her brother. He would not do something so cruel, to force an experience like he had, just to make her stay. And Dionyph. That black wouldn't let him. She took another deep breath and looked around, instantly finding the large black. When she noticed her brother near his large bulk, she didn't know whether to smile or grimace at him, but she did stand taller and she could watch the eggs moving with more clarity than before.

Though another green bonded to another candidate. She remained calm and even gave a congratulatory smile at Embry. Like her, Morgana, and Silas, he was left standing at the last hatching and now he had found his own. There was hope for the rest of them. Well, maybe not so much for Morgana because she was still stuck in her corner. Amaryllis felt bad, but what could she do? Though she never talked too much to the candidate, she always felt a sort of kinship. Focusing on the girl, she tried to flash an encouraging smile to Morgana and only prayed that it was not negatively translated.

[Cy]

[/i] dislike for simourvs. First, some clutzy blue comes along to tread all over him before scuttling off to bond elsewhere. Then a ridiculous green wrapped herself around him, leading him to foolishly believe that he'd succeeded at something. She was bright and lively and she seemed really suitable – but nope, nope, all a rotten ruse and she was dashing off before he could pet her, chasing her own tail like an idiot. In the wake of such misleading affection, he felt humiliated and upset, his arms once more coming to cross over his chest with a huff of air escaping him. He was soooo done with this hatching. He was sick of it. He was sick of it and everything and just eugh. That's all he had to say about the mess. Eugh. And curses.

So intent on being angry, disappointed and jealous, he ignored the eggs that crumbled open to release still more hatchlings to the sands. As newborns darted left and right, other eggs growing more severe in their attempts to break, he kept his jaw set and his lips pouted, just waiting for things to wind down to their end. People could have their birds and he could get back to that shopping venture that he'd been so intent on. Not that he was really feeling in the mood for shopping anymore, which was even more depressing. It was just more eugh to pile on top of everything else.

But then he was being rocked off balance, his arms uncrossing just enough to catch it back as he wobbled and snapped his gaze down to the green wrapping around his legs. This was definitely not the same green as before. By his opinion, she wasn't an attractive shade of her colour at all. It was dull and flat and just generally unappealing. He half hoped that this was just another ridiculous tease and she'd go darting off for someone else. The moment was separated from the stupid green of before when a bubbly voice filled up his mind, jumped into every unhappy corner with a vibrancy that seemed to be trying to make up for what she lacked on her feathers. It was just about enough to give him pause to reconsider her as she nuzzled pleasantly against him. Colour flushed into his cheeks as he glanced around for a moment, to check that everyone else was (hopefully) caught up in other details of the hatching rather than some dull-coated green wrapping itself around him. For once, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted any attention at that particular moment. Glancing back down to her, to his Kaykeetaph, a smile managed to worm its way onto his features as he threaded his fingers through her soft downy. She unleashed a giddy little warble as she pressed her head up into his palm.

“Alright, let's get you fed then.” He prompted lowly, glancing aside once more before stepping out from the circle her body created around him as carefully as he could. She was rather small, but still enough to trip over! As she darted up to follow after him, darting to his side before rushing in front and then falling behind and then slipping right back to his side again, her little talons stepping daintily over the sands as they moved. And Embry – now E'ry, as Kaykeetaph had informed him – just made to move briskly, hoping to move along to where meat had been dished out for the newly bonded hatchlings without being stopped. He'd been expecting something flashy and amazing and powerful. Instead, he had her; while her personality certainly proved all of that and more, he needed to figure out what to do with her outside not reflecting this so well before he could properly deal with people. Yup, there was much to be done.[/ul][/size]

[zeis]

Valenph, though she was somewhat distracted with the hatching eggs, and the chattering of Liliph at her side, noticed the arrival of Muraaph. The smaller green had chosen a small respectable distance away, not as close or affectionate as she commonly would be on such a happy day. The green tore her black eyes away from the show itself, and cocked her head at her sister, reaching out a tentative and soothing tendril of thought with no words. That the other simourv was upset by something she could tell, the energy she gave off was frazzled, distracted. What was bothering her though, she didn't know until she switched her gaze curiously to A're, as humans could often be easier to read than her own kin.

M'ari, look at Muraaphs! Do you think he ran into that barmaid's boyfriend? She asked earnestly, and M'ari not having any idea at all what his bonded was looking at, scanned the crowd until he found his friend. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of him. The guy looked awful! Like he picked a fight with someone and lost. He leaned forward, and patted his beast lightly on the shoulder. I'll go see what's happened. Try and keep Muraaph from biting my arm off, okay?

She wouldn't bite it off. Valenph corrected him without delay, though she added in what may have been a joke. But she might bite. The greenrider smirked and unlatched himself from his harness, sliding down his partners side, and weaving his way through the crowd toward the other green-pair. He paused ever now and then to watch a bonding, but gradually made it there after the bonding of happy young green to a young man. M'ari paused a respectful and cautious distance away from the pair, and strove to make eye-contact with his friend's simourv, asking permission to approach any closer before he made any presumptions. "You two a'right?"

[{r e k y}]

Another green joined ranks of the hatched, an incredibly clumsy thing falling all over the place. Vrinta found it a little unfortunate that she should be so ungainly, but mostly, it was just very cute. The way the green kept going despite her disability was great. The determination in the chick almost put a smile on Vrinta's face, but she was still too nervous for that. She bit her lip instead, one corner of her mouth lifting slightly, and then she was looking at the rocking Yield Ahead Giant. Soon enough, a big, blue simourv chick exploded from it. Unlike his sister, he got his balance fairly quickly, and he was off.

Something in his vibrant colouring and how happy he was and the way he chuckled had Vrinta hooked. He was off looking at some other people, and what happened after that was a bit of a blur. Vrinta's heart started pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. He was... coming towards her? She held her breath, and then...

We’re going to be the best out there, Vr’a! Just you and your Beneph! So let me help you, Mine, and you can help me too. But first, we must find food!

[/i]

There was a simourv curled around her, talking to her, and she felt such an overwhelming sense of elation that she just wanted to sit down and take it all in. She didn't care at all what anyone thought of her right now. She wanted to cry, she was so happy, so she cried. She smiled and she cried and she held her Beneph tight. The blue trilled like he was laughing, nuzzling his Vr'a.

"Yes, we'll be the best," the newly-named Vr'a grinned into Beneph's feathers. "The best there ever was, Ben."

Of course! With your help for me and my help for you, Vr'a, we can do anything! But, you know, I need food's help, too.[/i] He gave a little simourv giggle and untangled himself from Vr'a. He pranced away a couple feet, looking at His with smiling, expectant eyes. She first smiled at Koeti, who had congratulated her with a pat on the shoulder, and then at Ben. She followed him, and together they went off to find food.

Koeti was so happy to see Vr'a bond. The girl had seemed so nervous, but her nervousness had definitely paid off! She looked as happy as she possibly could right now, and that made Koeti happy, too. With all these people bonding, her turn couldn't be too far away. She was incredibly optimistic about the entire hatching now, and continued to watch with happy eyes, hands clasped and ready to clap whenever a new bonding occurred.

Another blue tumbled out an egg, and he went prancing towards the candidates. He seemed just as happy as his blue brother who'd just bonded. There were so many happy chicks -- that was a good thing! Clumsy ones, too, Koeti noted. The blue was stepping all over everybody's feet! He came past her and narrowly avoid her own toes, thanks to luck on both their parts, and then he fell right onto Tekoa. There was a pause as Koeti wondered if Tekoa was alright, and then, she and the spectators exploded into applause. She smiled down at Tekoa - T'koa? This name-changing business was tricky.

"Oh, congratulations!" She said kindly, making sure not to use his name in case she used the wrong one. "Are you alright? He's such a lovely blue."

Two other greens bonded in the meantime, and Koeti took note of and clapped for both. Now both Faric and Tekoa were bonded. She was the last one out of the group of three that had been Searched that day to bond. The feeling of loneliness from being that last one left was shortlived and quickly taken over by optimism. That red who'd Searched them had been right! Tekoa and Faric made riders already, and surely she would, too. But to which simourv?[/size][/blockquote]

[Bre]

One part woman, the other part girl . . .

Emi frowned at F'ric's name for her, then let it go. Serious things could be taken seriously, but the boy in front of her was nothing more than a prankster. He was like a child, probably more so than her. However, in a display of the oblivious naivety she had, all wrapped up in everything else, she didn't noticed the possible play of his name. She simply put it in her little memory banks and put his red's name in there as well. Even if they weren't going to be friends, it would be important to remember. The redriders of Pohono were not a large group. They did not even number as large as a class of children. With F'ric, they numbered eight. F'ric of Vexigoph was the eighth redrider of Pohono. Of course, she wasn't about to tell him that. The last thing he needed was something to add to his ego. She proffered a smile as if nothing was odd between them.

"Nice to meet you, Vexigoph;" Emi chimed. The red had returned to his eating, obviously hungry, but manners could hardly hurt. She knew she'd been a touch rude to F'ric the last time they'd met, but he'd returned the gesture. She was sensitive about certain things. He didn't seem like he was going to respect that, so she was just going to have to be tough about them. "So, you're gonna be a winglet now, a real part of the eyrie and everything. You excited? Been here long?" Her cheerfulness was real enough. She was happy to talk and question, happy to be at the hatching. Every so often, she would glance towards the sands, but people taller than her were in the way. She only knew who had bonded, because most of them were moving towards the food. Not necessarily all, but most were trying. She let out a small sigh to herself.

On the sands, the first blue, the spindly creature with the awkward legs, was still wandering about with endearing hope. He'd looked at all the candidates, but he didn't seem to have found anyone to suit him. Then Erunei arrive and he skittered towards her, expression brightening with joy. His hope distracted Eceph, and probably most others, from the girl's late arrival, because he looked so happy to see her. However, she wasn't his. It was just the hope. For a moment, that was enough for him. He fluttered about her. However, he knew they wanted him to choose. He knew people were looking at him. He wanted to explore, so he went on his way. He didn't want to disappoint them; disobeying wasn't in his nature. He glanced at his mother and awkwardly waddled away from Erunei, skittering back amongst the candidates to continue his search.

The Yellow Light Giant began to rock, its motions small and devoid of any overbearing force. Slowly but surely, it began to crack. A foot, scaled in a dark, inky gray, emerged. Then another followed suit. Finally, the stubs of horns knocked against the shell and it fell away. Out stepped a black, a grand creature with only snippets of white on his wings, back, and head. His tail was tipped in white as well, but the only other sign of color were faint spots of dark gray on his chest and tail. His eyes were a dark brown, nearing black themselves in color, but they were bright and clear, showing a certain intelligence. While that brilliance of mind might not have been quite true, he was a calm beast, pausing outside of the confines of his egg. He gazed about himself, shaking a few bits of egg innards from his downy feathers. He most definitely quite large.

With the world properly surveyed, the black picked himself up and started forward. It was as simple as that. He made no effort to act particularly stately. In fact, he seemed rather unaware that he was larger than his siblings or would one day outrank them. He didn't much care. He called a friendly greeting to his blue brother, who returned it cheerfully, and then he set about examining the candidates. He didn't get too close to them. He didn't really appear too interested. His gaze was kind, as was his manner, but he honestly didn't appear too invested. He would take his time and do it right. Male or female, he looked at them both, checking and pondering with a calmness he seemed to exuded by the bucket load. There were actually mostly girls left. That didn't seem to bother him. Perhaps worrying to others, but he seemed to be taking his time.

The hopeful blue had looked over a few of the candidates again, but he just couldn't seem to find who he wanted. Then he noticed Morgana and Romallyeh. He wondered what they were doing in a corner for a moment, endlessly curious. Then he figured it out. They were candidates too! He still had more options! He could please mama and find his! With a hop and a skip, he pushed his way into the crowd, not minding the close presence of people who were not right for him or his brothers and sisters. He came skittering right up to Morgana and Romallyeh. However, he hadn't quite realized how little space there was over there. He tried to look them over, craning his neck. Then he tripped and tumbled into Morgana. He immediately knew she wasn't his and tried to stand up, but he ended up stepping all over her face with a clawed foot. He squawked an apology.

Finally managing to sidle back, the blue turned to try to find where Romallyeh had gone, only to ram his head into her. Temporarily blinded in one eye, he squawked again in apology. Neither of them were right! Quite upset, he plunged back into the crowd, pushing his way back to the sands on stumbling feet. Where was his rider? He had to have one! Greatly disturbed his own clumsiness, he headed straight for his mother and hid amongst her feet, shooting Ro'za a few glances. She returned his glances with a raised eyebrow, but Eceph soothed him gently, running his beak through his downy feathers. He would find his rider soon, she was sure, but she wasn't going to let him be upset by candidates who kicked eggs. Her expectations were not so high for him. She knew he wanted to please her and much of the rest of the universe; she didn't think it very necessary.

. . . trying her wings out in a great big world.

[zeis]

Serapais remained aloof and silent throughout the hatching, not offering wishes of good luck or applauding as he sister and many in the crowd had at each bonding. She studied the faces of the chosen candidates with vested interest, curious and skeptical. The girl did want this, she couldn't lie to herself. The soldiers life that was chanced here tonight was the antithesis of everything her family had wanted for her, and everything she thought she could attain for herself. That was a good thing, a very good thing.

As the latest chick, a sizable black, hatched, she looked over him briefly before looking over the other eggs still unbroken. Many of them were showing signs of movement, and she wondered if any which one would hold the one right for her. She caught herself in the middle of this thought and hmphed audibly, not wanting to get caught up just yet in all that gooey emotional talk she sometimes heard riders and winglets associate with Hatchings. No, this night was important to her, but she wouldn't let it get a hold of her. Who was to say she'd even like the simourv who chose her? It might be just another she'd have to put up with.

Still, she couldn't help but be excited.

~~~~~

Shaegir had one before witnessed the birth of foal from one of her father's few horses. It had been pretty gross, but she had appreciated the momentous occasion and the beauty of it. Precious innocent young life entering the world! That was happening again tonight, but on a much grander and nobler scale! The girl's cheeks had begun to ache from smiling, and after a while she no longer noticed the oppressive heat rising from the sand. She applauded and offered well wishing if slightly inane comments to all who bonded and left the sands, and chattered quietly with some of the girl candidates around her, giggling at the young creatures antics.

"Hello, little king." She whispered to the newly born black as he passed her without much interest, and offered a playful little curtsy in her nightshirt. He was a very noble looking little creature, but still quite adorable. The girl craned her head to see the others still on the sands, checking on the progress of that gangly blue that had been around since nearly the start, and on that curious green who was taking her time playing. Around her she had heard some people make impatient comments about those chicks not yet choosing, but she wasn't sure she could blame them. Of course children would want to play! Let them have their fun.

~~~~~

Since near the beginning of the Hatching, the Uphill Traffic Dwarf, spurred on by some unknown desire, had been shaking and struggling. The chick inside had been tempted, oh yes, to simply tear the egg apart. But this would be the only time the chick ever hatched, and things must be done right. The stage must be set for its grand entrance, and it felt on some subconscious cue that the time was now. Tiny claws finally pierced the bright green peak of the egg, and the chick within quickly and gracefully entered into the world, trilling loudly to announce her arrival. Everyone, everyone look! She was here fashionably late.

She stood and trilled again, tossing her head back with the exhilaration of it all. Eyes were on her, she knew, and even though she felt a little icky from hatching she was still fabulous. She was a green, a resplendent, iridescent, shining green in the dull evening light. Her feathers were the color of healthy summer leaves, though a dark green topcoat covered her shoulders wings, back, haunches and tail. All along this topcoat were mixed shining feathers, of shining neon green and dark sea green. These most of all caught the light as she moved, like sequins on an elegant gown. Her face was marked with light minty green around her ears, and in a pattern that accentuated her crimson eyes. Her beak, and legs were a reddish orange, bold and noticeable against the green.

The green looked herself over, and chattered in delight, turning in a small circle as she gazed in fascination at her own patchwork tail. She had been hoping she was gorgeous, but really, she was happy she matched so well! After all, she was going to be wearing these feathers for the rest of her life! Looking satisfied, she turned to look at the crowd, trilling and cooing once more to announce her intent. She would choose now, so pay attention! How curious the candidates looked, all covered in cloth and leather of many colors, some more interesting and eye-catching than others.

She strutted throughout the crowd sizing up the girls she passed, and offering either chirping praise or seemingly scathing chatter commentary on their appearance. She snubbed the boys entirely, they weren't interesting at all to her. The green was quick about perusal, and seemed to be going somewhere, though she wasn't entirely sure where. She paused only long enough to inspect those candidates who looked most pleasing to her, such as Koeti, Shaegir, and Samara. She nuzzled the legs of these girls before moving on. Its been fun, love, but she really must be going! Ta-ta!

Elegantly, she strode on, and fixed her scarlet eyes on the last girl. The best girl. The chick froze in place, her beak dropped open in awe. Elegant, coordinated, stylish. That sealed the deal, oh yes, this girl was meant for her. How could it be anyone else? She gave a shrieking squeal of excitement that was quite painful to hear, and bounded over to her chosen, who was sprawled prone in the heated sands as though relaxing awaiting her arrival. The chick slowed, careful not to spatter the girls red dress with sand. Such a thing would ruin it.

Oh, Mo'na~ Hello! Your Vestiyph thinks you are looking just radiant tonight! She crowed in delight, walking in a small circle around her before taking a seat in the sand with her at her side. The chicks eyes stared lovingly into hers, her voice excited and alive, but familiar, as though they always knew each other. What a gorgeous dress! Wherever did you get it? Oh, oh! Let's talk about this over dinner!

457E25 - obsessed with cloth and clothing, quick to bond, loud

The One Way Dwarf rolled onto it's side in the sand with its mighty benefactor the Yellow Light Giant already hatched. The small egg had been shaking in earnest for a while now, and finally it reaped the fruits of its labor. The bright yellow and green shell cracked all over, before crumbling around the chick within and leaving her sprawled on her back with all four gray scaled legs in the air. The green blinked dark brownish red eyes with mild surprise. My, the world was upside-down! Or was she? She rolled awkwardly to her feet, and sat up taking a moment to get her bearings.

She was largely a lime green, but with a number of bold and curious markings. Around her eyes was a band of burnt orange that made it seem almost as though she were wearing stylish glasses. Around her cheeks and down her neck was a collar of bright shining iridescent teal green feathers. Her stubby wings bore stripes of that same burnt orange, and a much darker green. Her tail and rump were entirely orange and yellow, the dark and bright colors melting and intermixing and looking almost like a waving tongue of flame. She gazed fondly out over the crowd, but made no move yet to go meet any of them. Instead she resumed her eggs old position, nuzzling up affectionately around the Divided Dwarf as best she could, trilling a low and gentle noise almost like a purr.

[Fox]

As he grinned at H’tio and his new simourv, Silas felt his eyes drag away to the goings on at the sands. He saw Embry bond, and more and more eggs brought forth brightly-coloured simourv chicks. The hope that he had been fighting to quash surfaced again. Perhaps there was one here for him, then.

&

Hair-thin cracks snaked down the sides of the Sharp Turn Giant’s shell, segmenting the jagged pattern even further. The egg did not shake again, but rather the chick took a moment to pause, as if considering the best way to go about things. Hmm. What a quandary. Then, the chick within seemed to decide that upwards was best, and a moment later stubby greenish-gray horns broke through the tapered end of the egg. From there, the cracked shell seemed to shatter, leaving in its place a blue chick, the smallest of the Giants yet plenty large enough for a Blue. Briskly, he shook his damp feathers, fluffing up to glare at the assembled spectators with narrow orange eyes. Was this all they could come up with? This… this was pitiful. And the other eggs! The blue glanced around, taking in the sight of his blue brother cowering beneath their mother’s legs. Well, it was obvious that they weren’t much better. Disgraceful.

As the blue stalked forward, it became obvious that he was an odd-looking chick. Anyone who looked at him would probably tilt their head to one side in mild confusion as he seemed… rather lopsided. It was really because of his coloration. Primarily a dark, navy blue, the chick was splashed with patches of sky blue in strange places, contributing to his rather asymmetrical appearance. His left ear, shoulder and leg were all brightly coloured, but his right side was not. However, anyone who stared was just as likely to get a chilly, nasty glare from the chick, as he was plainly unimpressed with the world he had hatched into.

The hatchling continued on his way, stopping only to aim a displeased screech at his cowering blue brother, ignoring his other black sibling entirely. He paced onwards, dismissing first one candidate and then another with a hiss or an abortive lunge. None of these were even remotely close to being what he wanted. The large blue was even beginning to doubt whether he would even find His amongst this measly bunch when, lo and behold, he finally spotted the one he was looking for. The only one who could ever keep up with him and complete him. And she was standing next to someone else.

With an outraged scream, the blue threw himself between them, using his bulk to shove Jackson to one side. He did not attack further-- he wasn’t a red after all-- but he stood and hissed at the man, feathers fluffed and head low in an unmistakeable sign of aggression. Then, having decided that his point was made, the blue turned to curl himself protectively around Keldraza’s legs, glaring spitefully at Jackson before turning his orange eyes up to the one he had chosen as His. His and only His. Ke’raza, you are the only one that your Sdapaph finds remotely worthy here. The chick announced, his voice almost frigid with his anger even as his mind touch softened with pleasure at bonding. There isn’t anyone else here for me but you, Mine.[/color]

71D6FC - cynical, clinical, cold, snappish and spiteful to others but rider

Unbeknownst to the others on the sands, a light, careful tapping sound came from within the Slow Moving Core, the sound almost drowned out by the murmur of the crowd and the noise produced by other eggs cracking. But the little orange and white striped egg remained still, unlike its rocking sibling the Prohibited Core, except for that methodical, rhythmic tap-tap-tapping. [/size]

[Para]

Erunei continued staring at the eggs until something brushed against her legs, jerking her mind at least partially back to reality. A feathery blue simourv hatchling, still slightly damp, was--playing in circles around her legs, it looked like. She twisted, trying to watch it, then reached down to try and pet it, but it skittered away before she could. A distant part of her heart was stabbed with rejection, but it wasn’t any more or worse than plenty of other old rejections, so it wasn’t too difficult to shove away. She turned her eyes back to the eggs, then let them wander a bit more, trying to memorize the colors and behavior of the hatchlings; it was always harder to capture motion than light. She resolutely ignored the humans she was now aware must be staring at her; she wasn’t less than them, she wasn’t theirs to judge, and she had no reason to acknowledge them; they should be the ones feeling ashamed, they were the ones staring and judging, expecting her to do something without explaining what or why.

A few more eggs cracked, some pairing up with people--Erunei began to have a suspicion of exactly what she’d unintentionally invaded, and shoved it away again--while the one that had played around her went two two other girls, knocking one over and stepping on her, and knocked into the other, before hiding under the adult gray Simourv that was hovering near the eggs. Erunei was vaguely glad the hatchling had reserved its clumsiness for the others; she would have fallen over, even with only the bump the second girl got, and didn’t need to be making more bad impressions. Not that she had been making bad impressions. It wasn’t her fault she didn’t know what to do, she could make it not her fault that she was late easily enough; she didn’t know where to go or something. If anyone even cared enough to ask anyway. Hopefully she could leave before they asked; pack her things and just walk out without anyone knowing what happened or where she went. Hopefully koxi slept at night too, she could probably make it back to Sayaie by dawn if she didn’t get lost. As soon as this ended, she would leave. Now would probably be the best time to sneak away, there certainly wouldn’t be any better, but hopefully soon afterwards would have people almost as distracted, and the whole scene was just too pretty to leave.

[Kat]

A black hatched, and Morgana did not care. She was much more focused on watched Embry leave the nesting sands. He probably had a new name now. She was sure he would tell her about it at a later date. He was that way. She was both happy for him and bitter, not just because she had wanted to bond before him, but also because she felt bitter, still, for his rejection of her, which was never explicit, but always implied. She wanted to be better than him, so badly, she wanted that. But he had won, and she had lost, and she was standing on the sands. Then, before she knew it, as she glared at Embry’s back, she found herself on the ground, her flesh melting with the heat of the sands. She gave a gasp as she tried to capture her breath back, but it was lost to the impact. After a few seconds of floundering, Morgana’s eyes finally focused on her attacker, a blue, who seemed less maleficent and more clumsy. She could hardly blame the vile creature for an accident, but she wanted to do so quite badly. She grumbled as she tried to stand up, but her head spun a bit and her lungs still burned, so she remained in the sands, on the ground, for a few seconds longer. This way, no one would see her struggle for a breath. That would not be good showmanship.

Another egg hatched, one of the bright green ones, one of the small ones. Morgana watched it burst open and eyed the simourv inside. From her position on the ground, she could only see the creature’s legs and underbelly, but she had the brightest legs and the prettiest emerald feathers. Those feathers would look incredible on a necklace—or a cape! Morgana thought to herself, but then she stopped the thought quickly, since she could not allow herself to dwell like that. The last time she had thought those thoughts, she had been stood up by the creature and rejected. When the chick squealed, Morgana’s hands moved over her ears, but then the chick came bounding towards her. Morgana’s heart began to race in her chest, and it was just as her breath was returning from her tumble with the blue, too, but this chick seemed to be interested in her. It was clearly not interested in the other girl—it had to be Morgana. Then, Morgana heard a voice in her head, and she felt an incredible wave of affection and idealization strike her. It made her heart stop, and she forgot to breathe for a second, before she remembered and gulped ungracefully in the air, her plump lips flapping like a beak. She had forgotten that she was still trying to make her breathing graceful. That was lost.

Morgana looked up at the hatchling in awe as she realized what happened, when the hatchling’s voice resonated, bright and loud, into a full sentence.
Oh, Mo'na~ Hello! Your Vestiyph thinks you are looking just radiant tonight!

[/i] The chick announced, and Morgana’s heart continued to beat in her chest. She reached up from the ground to stroke Vestiyph’s underbelly. Her feathers were so soft and so perfect. Morgana was so pleased. Her green was even prettier than that bright green. Why, Vestiyph was the prettiest! The chick then moved to sit with Morgana, who lifted her own body into a seated position. She then started to stroke the simourv’s neck with her fingers, her eyes clearly admiring the chick’s beautiful feathers.
What a gorgeous dress! Wherever did you get it? Oh, oh! Let's talk about this over dinner![/i] Vestiyph announced, and a huge smile burst across Morgana’s—Mo’na’s face. Her chick had taste! Mo’na was so pleased.
Oh, Vestiyph, I will tell you all about my wardrobe; let’s get something to eat for you, because you need to be well fed so that your feathers stay so beautiful and sleek.
Mo’na announced with full authority. She passed all those stupid lessons after all. She knew her simourv needed to be fed. Vestiyph stood happily with that announcement, and bounded off towards the edge of the sands. She waited expectantly, her beak open slightly, her eyes glowing, for Mo’na, watching her human stand and then brush off her clothing, first her skirt, and then her cape, which she twisted around to her front to shake off, before returning it to its proper position. As soon as Vestiyph saw the cape, though, she danced back to Mo’na so that she could wrap herself in the fabric, slipping her head behind Mo’na’s body, but under the fabric.
You have such good taste, mine. You are so pretty and so composed. Let’s be beautiful together, mine. Do you have lots of clothing like this? Maybe you can find me some. I want us to match. Can we match, mine? Do you have anything in my shade of green. You should go find some things. I can help pick them out.[/color]
As she talked, Vestiyph became more and more excited, until at the end of her speech, she trilled her excitement to the entire Eyrie in a tight, bright, and loud shriek. Mo’na began to laugh, a smile bursting across her face, as she admired her chick, ignoring where she stepped.
Oh, everyone, my Mo’na is going to match me. She is going to let me pick out all of her pretty clothes, so that we can accessorize each other. She is going to look so pretty, like me!
The chick announced to everyone at the nesting sands, while Morgana took her away to feed.

---

The biggest of the eggs rocked, and then opened, and Jackson saw that it was a black. He knew that blacks were not the ones that attacked, but this simourv was very large compared to the others. It dwarfed even the red, which was the next biggest chick on the sands that day. Jackson was impressed by this black, because it was majestic. Other than Alianph, it was the only black Jackson had seen. He knew there were two black riders in the Alpha class, but because Jackson did not engage much with that class, he did not know them. L’nan was friends with one of them, Jackson seemed to recall; maybe that was how he knew there were blackriders to begin with. Jackson did not expect to bond to the black, or to any of the simourvs at all, but the black seemed friendly. It surveyed the group with a certain kindness that impressed Jackson, since the black was better by rank than all these other simourvs. Jackson liked that it was so open. Hubris was one of his least favorite traits in people. He had spent his whole life being judged by people, and because of that, he had come to appreciate the truly kind people. This simourv had much to be prideful for, but it still seemed to care about his siblings. Jackson admired it.

The blue with which the black interacted seemed so distressed. Jackson actually wanted to help him, but the human did not dare approach the chick. He had seen a boy mauled already, and he did not want to be hurt in the same way. Besides, the blue was right next to Eceph, who seemed not to like it when her children were handled. Jackson understood that. He would not like it if strangers touched his children, either, or that would be true, if he was lucky enough, gifted enough to have children. His one regret in life was that Isabel and him had never—but that did not matter now, because he was here, watching the hatching, waiting to be rejected by all the chicks so he could go home and return to his empty life. That was what he deserved, because he had been unable to save his wife, and he deserved to be alone. Jackson’s thoughts only manifested as a more pronounced bend to his shoulders. With every bonding, Jackson realized that he did not belong.

And then, even though he thought he was so far removed from the group, a blue hatchling came barreling towards him, and Jackson recoiled, because the blue looked so bitter and so angry, and he screamed as her shoved himself past Jackson to reach Keldraza. And Jackson would have thought about congratulating her, because at least someone could be happy that he knew, but he was too distracted from the attempt to keep his balance. He was not a balanced person in the best conditions. He was known for falling all the time, and so with the extra issue of the bonding simourv trusting him aside, Jackson could not stand up. He tumbled to the ground in a pile of dark arms and legs, which jutted out from all angles. Nothing was broken, luckily, but his arm was twisted uncomfortably under him, and since he was on his backside, one of his legs folded under his body. He felt so ashamed and so silly that his dark skin turned a bit red as he tried to stand up again. But his leg was too tangled with his body, so instead of getting up, Jackson only fell further down, until instead of sitting uncomfortably in the sand, he was laying in a heap of his body parts, trapped in his own limbs. Jackson gave a defeated sigh, as he began to detangle himself. He just had to start with his arms, and move down, until he could lay out straight, and then stand up. He just needed a minute, so he could fight the humiliation, to begin.
[/size][/blockquote]

[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.

She watched as Jackson fell to the group and winced. Her first instinct was to help him up, but the candidate didn't want to embarrass him, so she tried to ignore Jackson as he struggled to find the ground. In his defense though, sand isn't the firmest of surfaces. Once he started to stand again, Amaryllis legs, however strong they were, started to grow tired of standing, never moving. She bent her knees and stopped right above the ground, wrapping her knees. Her dress concealed her knees and it touched the floor. She knew this was not the best perspective to be in, but with the other simourv completely passing her by. Some of them didn't even offer a glance, Amaryllis saw no harm in her sitting. So she did, still holding her knees as she watched the black and the newly hatched green ever so closely.

[‡§åkørü‡]

The Prohibited Core exploded. That was the only way to describe it. From the thin, spiderweb cracks egg membrane bulged, and then the entire thing shattered. Bits of eggshell flew everywhere and the simourv within lunged forward, surprisingly coordinated for being a newborn. It was a blue - pale grey-blue, with dark indigo blue stripes on its face. Red-orange eyes stared out belligerently; shaking himself off, the blue paused only to look around. Disgust made him snort - he didn't even look at most of the candidates as he began to stalk through them. His gaze was focused somewhere else - a wall perhaps, or a bit of air. Whatever he was looking at, it wasn't the waiting people.

Who cared if he disappointed them? They didn't matter. Not one of them mattered! Every single one was unworthy of him - unworthy of even bonding. And the other newborns on the sands didn't matter either - the blue didn't even bother to glance at them. He didn't care that there was a black, or that there were pretty greens standing everywhere. All he wanted was His and he didn't know where His might be. But he would find him. Oh yes, he'd find him.

---

Keldraza hadn't said anything more since greeting Jackson. She'd noticed the sad little smile he gave her, and returned one of her own. She wondered, somewhere in the back of her mind, why he looked so... well, so sad all the time. He had when she'd first met him in the canyon bed, too, and she didn't know why. Still... his sorrow was not her own, and she reluctantly turned back to the hatching. Young simourvs were spilling out of their eggs and racing all over the place now, bonding rapidly and twining around the legs of their chosen people. One of the girls at the back had been chosen now too (after being stepped on by the unbonded blue, of course).

And then a black hatched, and Keldraza watched him with interest. There was no chance of his bonding to her, of course - she knew that - but it brought back memories of how that wild black had saved her the first time she'd ever been attacked by koxi. Her knees went a little weak at the memory; her heart fluttered with adoration for the black - and all the simourvs here, really. They were all wonderful. So very wonderful - she was happy for everyone who bonded, although she personally didn't really think she was going to get a hatchling. It didn't matter. She had Azreiax and he was enough for her. Horses had always been enough for her...

Someone screamed. Instantly Keldraza bristled, whirling to see what was the matter, and her dark eyes widened as she saw a blue simourv knock Jackson to the ground, hissing at him. Alarmed, she moved to extend a hand to help him back up, not thinking about what she was doing...

And then the simourv was wrapped around her legs, his warm body keeping her from moving her legs. Alarmed, she lifted her hands to fight him off if he tried to bite or otherwise attack her, not trusting this creature after what he'd done to Jackson. But the hatchling looked up at her and a voice she didn't recognize flowed into her head - cold, angry, but undoubtedly softening. Ke’raza, you are the only one that your Sdapaph finds remotely worthy here, said the voice, and Keldraza - no, Ke'raza - stared in shock. The voice continued: There isn’t anyone else here for me but you, Mine.

Unable to take it in, the girl stared, speechless, at Sdapaph for a few more seconds. Sdapaph - her Sdapaph. Hers. As soon as she realized that he was hers, Ke'raza's eyes softened and she sank to her knees, feeling the simourv unwrap himself to let her land on the ground. He gazed at her silently for a moment, letting her adjust. Unlike some of the others, he didn't touch her. But she touched him - reaching out and catching the soft, asymmetrical face in her hands. "You're mine?"

Yours, Mine. The others here are unworthy. Completely unworthy. Why, he demanded with sudden harshness, were you standing next to that one I pushed? Snorting softly, the blue rose to his feet, and Ke'raza slowly did too, turning to look at Jackson with confusion and wonder in her eyes. There's nothing wrong with him, Sdapaph. Nothing at all, she murmured into her bonded's head. Without thinking about it, she used the same tone she did with spooked horses: calm, soothing. He responded in kind, relaxing a little bit though he glared unpleasantly at the fallen man. Hush, Sdapaph. You don't need to speak to him, she promised, and the blue snorted. I won't.

---

The smallish blue from the Prohibited Core suddenly stopped short, staring at one of the candidates with intense interest. The others were completely ignored - he hadn't even glanced at them, sensing that they weren't right for him. But there... there was his. With a sudden scream, the hatchling shot forward, shoving candidates aside and knocking Amaryllis down to slash her with his claws, hissing. No! No, he didn't want her! He'd already seen his, and in seconds he was moving, leaving the candidate with her wounds. Someone else was standing near his, too, bending to offer him a hand... he forced Ke'raza out of the way and leapt to stand over His, snarling at the newly bonded girl. Hissing, he lowered himself over his chosen candidate's chest, and then finally turned to look down into His' face, red eyes softening. Ja'son... you don't need to be alone anymore. Your Foph will protect you from everything. Everything, the chick promised, and lowered his soft body onto Ja'son's chest. I'll never leave you, Mine. Never.


A9B8C6 - protective, possessive, focuses only on those close to him

---

The No U-Turn Giant rocked several times, twisting in its place on the sands, and then appeared to decide that it didn't want to break yet. The hatchling inside remained still for a few minutes, and then the egg shattered, revealing a bright blue simourv with a dark purplish head. Intelligent grey eyes gazed out of its face, and the blue chirped once, pleasantly. Oh! He liked this. Everyone's attention should be on him, he appeared to decide, so without hesitation the large hatchling struck the most dramatic pose he could, and began to sing happily, chirping and warbling to the world. Everyone look at him! He wanted them all to look at him and be proud! His could wait. First he wanted to pick up some fans.

Of course, the baby soon tired of singing, and he looked around thoughtfully, cruising over to his black brother without shame or fear. He chirped a pleasant greeting, then stayed there for a few minutes, apparently getting to know his sibling a little, before drifting off to wander around the sands and look at the eggs. The candidates could still wait. A little waiting never did any harm - especially when it was him making people wait!

[/center]

[Shaetani]

(Can I pretend he's been here the whole time, since arriving late would be rather awkward? If not I can edit.)

So this was it. This was his chance to fight back, to be not only an older brother, but a protector of all. He had arrived only moments before the hatching. He was untrained, untaught in the ways of the eyrie. It all seemed rushed and he wondered if he was ready as he hurried out onto the sands with a group of guys, several who were older than him. He hung back slightly, copying the bows they did to the gray with a few moments delay as he realized what they were doing and why. He felt... lost. Then, as if all this wasn't enough, the gray picked up a girl, a guy grabbed another girl, and all hell broke loose as eggs started splitting left and right. Finally, after there seemed to be a moment of calm Taridan stepped up into the line of boys, filling the spot that had previously held by Embry. Not that Taridan knew the guys name. The only one he knew here was the name of the green rider that had searched him. As the impressions continued, Taridan was having several mixed emotions. There was an awe as the creatures hatched, an envy of the ones they impressed to, and also a fear. What if the green rider was wrong? What if they could see all the dark places inside him and know how unworthy he was of such an honor? Or maybe it was something far more simple. Maybe they only impressed to those who had the candidate training. If he was left standing, would he be able to go home? Part of him wanted that. His leaving had been all too abrupt, and who was going to look out for Tijera while he was here? Granny Nurah could watch her while she was in the house, but what about outside? Who would walk her to school and make sure she didn't get bullied? Who in their family really knew just what was best for her? Him. It had all been him, and this abrupt removal of what had become far more than a job... (It had become a way of life.) it left him unfocused and grouchy. So, when Amaryllis was so abruptly knocked down Taridan jumped, and realized he should probably be focusing on the here an now instead of what-ifs. He wanted to lend the girl a hand, and started to move in her direction before hesitating. What were the rules on the sands? damned if he knew. Shrugging his shoulders lightly, he finished walking over and offered her a hand and a smile. "Determined little things, aren't they? Are you okay, do you need a healer?" Taridan had decided he was going to be himself, and if that meant his helping someone lost him a chance at impressing, so be it. Weren't the hatchlings supposed to want you for who you were anyways?

[Kat]

Dionyph tried to act like he was not excited, but as soon as Eceph bugled, his jubilation was unsurpassed. Ri’ley could feel it, a creeping in his bones, and he enjoyed it, because he liked that Dionyph felt so gleeful. The two of them had been on edge recently, mostly because of the stress of the upcoming hatching. Dionyph worried that none of the eggs would hatch, and that they would not have enough warriors. Ri’ley’s attention was focused on Amaryllis’s chances of bonding. They arrived a few minutes late, after the first egg already hatched and the red tumbled on the sands. Dionyph chirped appreciatively. A red brother, that was good news—since besides himself, Dareph was the most outstanding simourv of their class. The eggs all started to hatch, mostly blues, Ri’ley noted, with a few particularly flashy greens. When the Yellow Light Giant hatched, Dionyph warbled happily seeing the new black on the sands. The Eyrie needed another black, and while the creature might technically be competition for Dionyph, the older black cared far more about the health of their Eyrie, about the strength of their forces, than his own personal desires. This was a wonderful addition to the Eyrie.
Look, mine, another black. Another knight has been born into our ranks. We may not have a queen today, but we have a fighter, and I am happy for this addition to the Eyrie. After the hatching, you must introduce yourself to the new blackrider, whomever he may be, and you will become companions with him, because that is our eternal duty.
Ri’ley nodded. He did not like the idea of being forced to greet the newly bonded blackrider immediately after the hatching. Ri’ley had expected to be tending to the wounded after the hatching, and already one boy lay in the sands, from the red’s attack. But Dionyph and him had been on edge recently, and Ri’ley loved his black more than any other creature in the world. He wanted Dionyph to be happy, and he would do anything to please his bonded partner.

And after the black came more blues and greens. Ri’ley was not sure if the anxiety he felt about the amount of them came from himself or from Dionyph. None of the other giant eggs produced any of the rarer colors. Only one red, one black, and one unhatched giant. Blues were good fighters, as were greens, but Ri’ley felt that they needed more reds, at least, tawnies, perhaps, who could clutch. Dionyph nuzzled Ri’ley carefully with the side of his head, so that his soft feathers caressed Ri’ley shoulder. His bonded partner worried too much, Dionyph thought—they had one black brother and one red brother, and lots of blue brothers and green sisters. They should be happy for the addition of them all. Ri’ley was just beginning to quell his worry, his anxiety, when the Prohibited Core hatched. The blue inside burst into the world with a flurry of anger. The temperament was unusual for a blue. Ri’ley did not think much of it, until the hatchling charged towards Amaryllis, claws bared, and mauled her to the ground. The fact that the hatchling bonded to a boy who had already fallen was of no importance to Ri’ley, who gasped with horror and whose body began to switch into the mode he entered in the highest degrees of stress, which he was efficient, emotionless, and cold. He did not know how else to handle the situation, because if he thought about the fact that his sister was on the ground, bleeding, he might dissolve completely, and be unable to perform his duty to protect. Ri’ley had to save Amaryllis, she was the person he cared for the most in the world, and he had let her down once. Was it incorrect to force her to stand at the hatching? Was she going to end up hurt and disabled? He had done that, and it had been his fault for ever leaving her in the first place.

And so, unnaturally calm, stern, and put together, despite his internality which blinded Ri’ley with fear, a tight panic in his chest with no outward expression, the man coolly marched onto the sands. His pace was brisk, but he did not run. He wanted to run. He wanted to scream and shout and—hurt the person, the simourv responsible, to tear the little creature apart until it was a pile of feathers and flesh. But he did not give into this passion, which raged inside of him, reflected only in a certain intensity in his dark eyes. The passion was not productive. If he was to help Amaryllis, then he needed to tend to her and not give into this rage, but it was tempting, a force which felt comforting and warm. Dionyph shrieked. His usually careful and calculated manner melting, as thurst his body forwards in an attempt to stop his rider from proceeding onto the sands. His large body disrupted everything around him, the crowd, even the sand bent to Dionyph’s massive size, but the space was too small, too crowded for him to move enough to prevent his rider’s steps. Ri’ley, though large, was no where near the size of his 30 foot tall simourv, and feeling Dionyph’s protest as such a force that it almost made Ri’ley halt, he knew he needed to avoid the simourv’s body. And had Ri’ley’s rage, fear, not be so consuming, he might have stopped for Dionyph, but the fact that Amaryllis was injured overrode his hatchling’s horror at the breach of procedure. Of course, Dionyph was obsessed with rules, regulations, and structure, and Ri’ley liked those things too, but unlike his simourv, Ri’ley sometimes rebelled.
Mine, do NOT go into the sands. You cannot violate the hatching. You cannot break the rules, mine—Ri’ley, come back right now.
Dionyph screamed, not only into his bonded’s mind, but into the entire room’s mind, the entire area. He was so distressed, both because he could not belive that Ri’ley would dare intrude onto Eceph’s hatching, and because he could fathom how the gray would respond to his partner’s disloyalty, his betrayal, but also because of Ri’ley own emotions which clouded the black hatching like a thick blanket of panic. Ri’ley was used to these emotions, as he had felt them, or emotions like them, and while Dionyph had been exposed to his rider’s passion before, like that night when I’dou broke her leg, he had never been so bombarded with their potency. Ri’ley knew how to control the emotions, how to mask him behind the stony exterior, but Dionyph did not yet. It was almost painful for the simourv, because it was disorienting and frightening.

And Ri’ley heard Dionyph, but he did not even look back. He tried as much as he could to block the hatchling from his fury, his fear, but he could not quite do it, especially because his violation of the simourv code horrified Dionyph so much, that it only compounded the issue between them. Ri’ley, though, tried to send comforting thoughts to Dionyph, he did try, because seeing—feeling Dionyph so distressed was almost as painful as seeing his sister on the ground. His two worlds split, suddenly, and Ri’ley was fiercely loyal to both. But Dioynph was just distressed. Amaryllis was hurt, and Ri’ley was the only one who could help her, really, or rather, in his own mind, he knew that he had the best set of skills to help her. He did not have any of his equipment with him. The healers had it with them on the periphery of the sands, but he could at least survey the damage. The boy standing next to Amaryllis had the misfortune of asking if she needed a healer as soon as Ri’ley walked up to them, and he turned to the boy, who was Taridan, and glared. His eyes burned with intensity, not quite rage, but not quite fear, sadness, not those either, just intensity.
“Get away from my sister; I’ll deal with this myself. She doesn’t need a healer.”
Ri’ley paused for a contemplative second, before he said, “focus on the eggs.”
Ri’ley’s tone was cold, low, and quiet, an odd contrast to his eyes, which only dwelled on the boy for any instant. And Ri’ley commanded the boy away, sternly, forcefully, but not loudly or even necessarily meanly. He was forceful, though, and controlling, and there was a certain possessiveness in his tone which was the only part of it which conveyed the underlying emotion he felt.

And then, without another beat, Ri’ley dropped to the ground, so that he was as level as possible with his sister’s body. He looked her over first, surveying the damage, before he sighed, tired, worn.
“What is injured? Can you tell?”
He questioned, and even though he wanted to comfort her, to tend to her as he should, Ri’ley could not emote, or he might let all of it loose onto her, on the sands. it was a tight question, businesslike, and detached, because that was all he could manage in that instant. But he did touch her cheek with one of his large, careful fingers, lightly, in a genuine display of affection.

Dionyph continued to panic, and with each minute his rider spent on the nesting sands, he became more and more agitated. What if gray Eceph harmed Ri’ley. She had every right to do so. Ri’ley had already angered the Phoenix. What if they were never forgiven? What if Laraph remembered this day and refused to allow Ri’ley near her clutch? What if she refused to allow Dionyph to fly her, because of this folly, for fear of having Ri’ley near her children? What if the sacred ground of the nesting sands was so violated that they cooled, and no simourvs could be born here again?
Ri’ley, you cannot do that. You are going to make everyone hate us. We have betrayed the entire Eyrie. None of our siblings will ever accept us again. We will never have a place now, and my whole world is being a knight of this Eyrie. Ri’ley, you can’t do this, Eceph will never forgive me. Laraph will never forgive me, and we will have to leave in shame or die. Why are you doing this? You can’t do this, mine; you’ve betrayed everyone. We are traitors now.
Dionyph’s words, which he boomed into the mentality of the entire Eyrie, sounded deprecated, defeated. The damage to their world had already been done, and there was nothing he could do to save their position. And in that moment, he was filled with a hate for Ri’ley’s actions which almost eclipsed the overwhelming love he felt for his rider. Ri’ley was his, but Ri’ley had ruined his life. The ambivalence pained Dionyph, who alternated between feeling so furious that he wanted to snatch Ri’ley apart, and so in love with Ri’ley, who swelled with all that emotion that resonated as emotional pain in the simourv. After his plea, Dionyph only produced a small warble, before he hung his head in shame, and slunk as far back into the shadows as his bulk would allow.

And Ri’ley heard. His eyes flashed with each one of Dionyph’s words, but he only tightened his jaw, until the muscles in his neck bulged and his lips became only a thin line. And he bit his lip, then, as he listened, and his teeth cut his skin, and the blood trickled down his face. He had to attend to Amaryllis first, then he would focus on Dionyph. But Ri’ley did, to the best of his ability, try to send his love to the simourv in gushing waves, which only intensified Dionyph’s confusion. Neither one of them knew what to do without the support of the other. This was the first time they had separated, to this extent, in the history of their partnership.

((I needed to get this posted for Quill, and it took a really long time, and I can't spare much more until I finish some revisions. So there will be a Ja'son post up as soon as possible. I know it's really bad of me not to react to the bonding immediately, but I needed to do this. But I love Foph, and I am excited by him, so don't misinterpret. And I'm sorry for the melodrama. The two of them...))