Who We Are [Eceph's First Hatching]

[Kilnarak]

On their path toward the cavern's mouth, N'raan and Teimoph suddenly found their exit blocked by K'huna - not allowed to leave just yet. Both rider and simourv glared at the Wingletmaster, two sets of amber eyes narrowing on him in unison. N'raan still felt angry when he saw the man - a part of him was still interested, since their first meeting, however the larger part saw him as an enemy, a captor. And now, with Teimoph's mind linked with his own, a rival. The young red sensed his bond's anger and reacted in kind, the thick downy ruff about his neck fluffing up and outward in threat and a low growl issuing from his beak - like a puppy raising it's hackles, it was difficult to take that aspect of the display seriously. However, Teimoph's sharp claws - sticky with blood and flexing in the sand - held a more serious threat; his talons were like razors so soon after hatching, not yet dulled by use.

"Th' hell 're y' gettin' in th' way, hunter? W' ain' helpin' them, 'least not 'til after w' eat," Niraan snorted, baring his teeth at K'huna as he drew himself up straight to his full height, his hands fisting at his sides as he shifted slightly. At his side, Teimoph's posture shifted in the opposite direction, the red falling into a half crouch, as though he meant to lunge. They deserve what I gave them. We will not carry children who cannot carry themselves, the little red hissed in emphasis, his tail lashing behind him. He was hungry, and he was angry that this man - this man who had slighted His - wanted them to help those little fools who had offended him, who had gotten in his way. For his part, N'raan couldn't share Teimoph's anger at the other candidates, however he did think they should have gotten out of the volatile creature's way. They should have been more wary, and so he felt very little remorse for them... even if the one girl had made very nice sweet rolls.

The young red was definitely a larger threat than his bond, and likely would have launched himself at the man standing in their way if the faint hint of indecision in his N'raan's mind didn't sway him away from it. "Get out 've our way." Get out of our way. the two hissed in unison, then waited for K'huna to do as much - N'raan unsure if he should press the command, Teimoph wanting little else than to do so. Eventually, after longer than either would have liked, K'huna allowed them to leave, directing them just outside to where food waited.

Teimoph took the lead, shoving aside anyone fool enough to get in his way and clearing a path for his N'raan. He didn't wait for his bond to feed him, but moved directly toward one of the buckets of chopped goat and began devouring gobbets of freshly butchered meat, spattering his face with more gore. N'raan trailed behind the simourv, casting a final brief glare toward K'huna, before dropping to a crouch near to his ravenous hatchling. "Y' gonna wan' more 've tha'... Teimoph?" he said the simourv's name slowly and wrinkled his nose slightly, accustoming himself to the sound of it.

As he asked the hatchling knocked his bucket over, scrabbling awkwardly at it with one foreleg - there was still meat inside, but he couldn't reach. Yes. No. Maybe, the hatchling grunted softly, distracted by the meat just out of his reach. N'raan reached out to take the bucket from Teimoph, digging out chunks of meat from the bottom, and without much thought on it, began to feed them piece by piece to the red. Teimoph wouldn't hurt him, it was allright to feed him this way... wasn't it?

---

Still on the sands, Teagan flinched slightly as she felt something else touch her injured legs. She looked up from her bloodstained hands to the boy looming over her, calling for bandages, and she simply stared a long minute - first at him, then past him to the great black and gray at his side. She almost shied back from the creature - but it didn't look as though it meant her any harm, it didn't look as though it meant her anything at all.

The girl shifted, wincing as she pushed herself up to sit - sand sticking to her bloodied hands and legs. "Is this too... torn ta serve?" she asked, her voice hoarse and quiet and her eyes cast down from the man and his bird, focused on a section of her tattered and bloodstained slacks. It wasn't as 'though she would need them whole - as torn as they already were, she would likely simply throw them away. Neither was she overly concerned with removing the garment in the current company - they would need to be removed eventually to clean and bandage the wounds, and she still had underthings on to protect her modesty.

Tears still tracked wetly down her cheeks, and she refused to look up to her would-be healer. Similarly, she refused to look toward the sands or the simourv scattered about. Now that she had not only seen but also felt the wrath of one such creature, the thought of others moving about her terrified her. It was like her earlier dream - trapped amidst waters with predators circling. She shuddered slightly, glancing briefly up at Ripley. "Hurts like all hell, does it look as bad as all that?" her voice shook faintly, still hoarse, but she tried at least to force some humor into her tone. It wasn't particularly effective.

[Siphran]

Narhpis watched as the wounded were helped away from the sands and towards the infirmary. He was glad that the red had ceased its attacks, but the damage had already been done. He brought his attention back to the various hatchlings wandering about the sands and the fortunate pairs of bonded. Soon, he too would be bonded, he was sure of it. No doubt from earlier affected him now as he watched the hatchlings that hadn’t bonded yet.

His destined bond wasn’t among them however, but out of sight, behind him. The tackle knocked the breath out of him, and for a moment he thought that it might be the red again, but no, it had only attacked female candidates so far. Then a green face appeared, brown eyes staring confidently into his. Even though he was still pressed to the ground he cracked a smile. Do not be afraid, Nar'i. Your Tiaph has caught you.  Let that be a lesson. We must always be vigilant and ready. I will not have an oblivious rider who sees and hears nothing. I can defend you, but you have to defend yourself too. “Sure, wont happen again.” He chuckled, almost giddy with excitement and happiness, and pushed himself up and patted what he could off of his front.

He stroked the green’s soft feathers, noting the changed in color along its body, smiling. He noticed, in his peripheral, Kaylee interacting with her bonded, which was also a green. He had never thought that this moment would ever occur, but here he was. Sitting in front of his bonded, now no longer a candidate but a winglet. It all had a surreal feel to it.

[winged]

It began as a tickle. Easily dismissable, attributed to the trickle of sweat constantly wearing paths through the collective dust on her skin. That tickle some became a trickle, however, a constant that couldn't be ignored no matter how fiercely Ichidou brushed it aside. It remained persistant, and somewhere along the line it internalized itself inside of the young woman's mind. A rivulet of conscious thought weaving through her own, making itself intrinsic and perfectly at home amidst fragments of frustration and uneasiness; a certain 'clean' impression that betrayed the days' old outfit she'd dressed in for the day's planned activities.

Ichidou grew uneasy, aware of that foreign presence and uncertain as to how to approach it. Her stomach did a nervous flip, a gut instinct somewhere informing her that that trickle's origin was not the depths of her own mind. It grew increasingly apparant, as that rivulet grew into a stream, before becoming an engorged river from which branched off tributaries of collective thought.

Thoughts and feelings that weren't her own. Ichidou grew deathly still as she felt the pressure explore the expanses of her mind, before satisfaction led it to grow still. Then came the voice - as soft and ethereal as mist rising from a pond in the early dawn, rippling across the still surfaces of those tributaries with formed word behind coherent thought.

I'dou, you are right. Pale faced and with a quick hiss of escaping breath, Ichidou's head snapped around to face the source of that mist now veiling her own uncertainties. Somehow it echoed from without even as it murmured from within, stunning the young woman as she watched with a most unlady-like gape as the Gray padded purposefully forward, sleek as a feline and poised despite the ungainly drawbacks of a fresh birth. She was sure of herself, confident in the blissfully naieve ideas she presented, and reverent.

Of her. Nothing like the hammer's blow she'd been preparing herself for, but it was there. Love, and devotion. Laraph's mind was as open to her in that instant as I'dou's was to the chick - and it was stunning. Reflexively her knees collapsed under the weight of legs which would no longer support themselves, and Ichidou toppled to her knees in the uncomfortably warm sands.

At some point, she'd reached forward to grasp Laraph in a devout hug, fingers buried in downy feathers as tears cut grimy trails though the loose sand and dirt on Ichidou's face. She didn't sob, however, and despite the uncomfortable lump that had formed itself in her throat, the Phoenix managed a throaty, thick chuckle at Laraph's delighted surprise in realizing there was water coming from her rider's eyes.

The moment was touching, but brief. Even if Laraph herself hadn't fully acknowledged it yet, I'dou realized her simourv's needs. "Let's get you fed." Rising shakily to her feet, one hand resting at all times against Laraph's side in silent communication, I'dou led the Gray off of the sands, past the chaos of the Hatching that was already a distant memory for the winglet pair.

[zeis]

Kenii sidled away from the bloodied candidates as they were removed from the sands, but other than that did not pay much attention to those that were leaving. His dark green eyes were on the red that stared accusingly out from behind unhatched eggs. It wasn't because he wanted it, but because he was afraid the mauling might begin anew. He lingered at the back of the group of candidates, which had diminished to just over half of what it had originally been. He ran a hand nervously through his dirty red hair, and stole a quick glance at the exit before returning his eyes to watch the possibly volatile chick.

Niraan had bonded to a simourv. A crazy one, but he had still pulled it off. Would he be able to? He... He was pretty sure he could do it. Pretty sure anyway, like almost completely sure. Did he want to do it? He wasn't so sure any more about that... He worried about what would happen to him if he did not get one, since his brother had. Would he get to stay here still? Would he be made into a servant or something similar? Would they kick him out? Or would they make him stand before eggs again and again? He didn't know...

~~~~~~~~~

The blue watched his flashy green sister go off and choose her own with interest. What type of people did his siblings choose? Did they choose whoever they liked the best? Or did they take time to think who would benefit them the most? That was what he was interested in, what would benefit him. He liked the idea of a partner. Two heads were better than one when it came to playing the game of life. He did not want to be at a disadvantage. It was never too early to start making alliances, to start playing the game. He had spotted his gray sister, and was on his way to her to chat when she walked past him without even seeing him. The blue looked over his shoulder to watch her with passive disappointment and interest. She seemed happy, her rider was overcome. Interesting.

Thoughtful, he skulked leisurely over to where his much lighter lazy blue brother sat, edging his way cautiously around his strange red brother. He was not sure about that one. They were family, but he would never get anywhere associating with odd ducks. The other blue was calmer, more... normal. He stopped politely before the lazy blue and squeaked a how do you do. He enjoyed casual chat, learning other peoples motives, analyzing what they said and how they functioned. Hidden information, useful information. He enjoyed being social, making connections and ties with his brothers and sisters.

~~~~~~

Several things began happening at once. The first was that Gypsy Dwarf began a wild sudden dance of movement, as the hatchling inside decided it was their turn to enter the world. The spiraled shell of red orange, greens, and golds broke open from the base down in a cascade of glittering shards. The chick now sat awkwardly on the sands, with the top half of the shell over his head and chest like some sort of helmet. She was finally free! Free to move her feet! Her clawed toes on each food wiggled, and a small warble of glee emitted from inside the shell, echoing strangely. How strange that sound was! She chattered to herself inside her egg shell, and looked this way and that, turning in the direction of muffled sounds whose source she couldn't see.

What sense was there in sitting about? If she wanted to sit around, she would have stayed an egg! The green jumped to her feet and clumsily backpedaled out of her egg helmet with a wild lash of her tail. She was an avocado green color that darkened slightly around her tail cheek's, and wings. A circle of minty green feathers encircled her neck like a collar, and her bright pale yellow eyes were lined with vibrant orange mascara. She was average size for a green, perhaps a little larger but not by much at 3'1" at the shoulder. She shook her feathers and her whole body like a dog trying to dry itself. It felt good to be free, it felt good to move!

And move she did. She did not have time to stop and smell the roses. There was too much to see, too much to do. There were no many sights, colors, sounds, and smells, and she wanted to experience them all. She was alive, and life was wonderful. She darted around the sands at varying speeds, sometimes prancing, sometimes running. She had boundless energy, she would dance and leap until she could dance and leap no more. She woul- What was that? Her attention had shifted between so many interesting things, but now it focused on her keening blue brother. That was a sound she had not heard. It felt sad, it felt troubling. Was he alright?

She skipped over to him, and stopped by his side, crouching down to chatter curiously and encouragingly at him. Even as she sat, she couldn't stop moving, and her hips and tail wiggled like a cat tensing for the pounce. That was a strange sound he was making! Why was he just laying there? Didn't he know how interesting the world was? They could feel the sand beneath their toes, the heat in their feathers, hear the voices of people, and feel the first tentative touches of each others minds. Life was far too interesting to start it off whimpering! She scooted forward and nudged at him cajolingly. They should go experience the world together!

~~~~~

The second was the hatching of the Thieving Dwarf. The blackish green and gold spotted shell cracked, and a second green slipped impatiently out of its former prison. She was a light pea green color, mottled with feathers of lighter and brighter green. Arcs or dark green and avocado decorated her wings, and her face was decorated with a speckled mask of black green.She was small for a green, the smallest chick seen so far other than the rainbow Weirph. Standing at only 2'6" at the shoulder, she immediately did not seem very intimidating. This changed as she got her bearings. She kicked free of the eggshell with a small growl of annoyance. She had grown tired of trying to crack open her shell almost immediately. Why had it taken so long?! She did not know, but she felt like complaining to whoever came up with the idea. Perhaps she would have a word with her mother. She would have very much liked to have just been born with no annoying obstacles.

She spat and scolded at no one in particular, but gradually the ruffled feathers on her neck soothed. Where was she anyway? She took a moment to look around curiously, with eyes so dark a brown they were almost black. A bright light of intelligence shown in those eyes. She understood immediately. This was the hatching place. This was where she was supposed to stay until she found what she was looking for. Her eyes lingered briefly over the candidates, considering them shrewdly before turning away. Some urge to seek a rider tugged at her, and told her to go among them, but no. She didn't want to. Not yet anyway. They could wait. A little waiting never hurt anyone.

The Servile Core caught her attention, and on a whim she went over to inspect it. She reared up and rolled the egg carefully backward onto its side with her foreclaws, and lingered by to inspect it. The pattern pleased her. Difficult, hard to follow with the eye. Complicated like a maze. She liked complicated things that challenged her mind to figure them out. Except for things that were needlessly difficult, stupid, and uninspired. She did not like inconvenience, or a lack of utility. It irked her. But not this egg. She was not trapped inside this one, so she did not have the pressure to escape. She traced the pattern with her eyes, and then rolled it onto its other side with her nose, pushing it further away from the group of eggs around the Kingly Giant.

The third thing that happened was that the Kingly Giant, standing guard over all the other eggs, shattered into tiny pieces. Like a phoenix from ash, a red emerged from the wreckage, an incredibly large red. Standing at 4'3", this red was only slightly smaller than the first black to make its appearance, and he towered over the other red currently on the sands. Most of his body was a dark crimson, but bright bloody red feathers covered his head back, and the top of his tail. Crescents of black, red, and crimson adorned his wings, an the tip of his tail almost seemed dipped in black ink. Crimson patches over his eyes gave him an angry appearance, feral, and catlike.

And right now he was. Angry. Vindictive, and ready for action. He did not care right now about the candidates that were waiting on the sands. He knew they were important, but they were not his concern now. Maybe later, but not now. He was angry about the eggs. He stood proudly, head high and feathers ruffled, wings flared, and chest puffed out. He was silent, but imposing. He did not need to raise his voice to show his displeasure, and he did not intend to throw a tantrum. His anger was justified. Righteous. And it was directed at the thieving green.

He fixed her with a hard stare as he began to approach, his head cocked slightly to the side as he gazed at her with warm brown eyes. She had taken an egg. One of his mother's eggs, one of his eggs, one of his brothers or sisters. She was his sister of course, but that did not excuse her behavior. The eggs had been arranged, and he had been placed to guard them. He was their protector, their champion. He would see to it they entered the world, and he would keep them safe. Even from their own. It was his job, and his alone. He would not hurt the green, but he could not allow her to treat the egg so roughly.

The green in turn was surprised to see another challenge her. She was not hurting the egg! She was studying it! What sort of thing was that to think? Did he think she was stupid? She returned his stare with a glare of her own, and propped her claws possessively up on the servile core. Who did that red think he was anyway? He wasn't her guardian thank you very much! She had the wits to take care of herself. She could do what she wanted. Perhaps one day it might be different, but for now they were on equal footing. Right?

Wrong. The red lowered his head and took one warning step forward. He was a king, and kings were not intimidated. He needed to look out for their bests interests, to do what was right, and zealously protect his kingdom. He would not fail, and he would not falter in his duty. He did not speak, but simply puffed up further, the threat and the warning obvious in his body language. No, he would not harm her, but he would not allow her to continue either. The two chicks locked eyes, and the air around them filled with strained intensity. It was a battle of wills.

The green looked away with an irritable screech. Fine! He could have the egg! She'd finished with it anyway, really. And it hadn't been all that interesting to start with! Just a boring old egg. Nothing special. Oh, and she hadn't lost, it had been a tie. She turned her back on him with a dismissive squawk and stormed moodily toward the candidates. She cast only fleeting glances at Teagan, Amira, and Salena. She was looking for someone as brilliant, and currently as irritated as she was. She wanted a mind to match her own, and yes, she also wanted some sympathy.

She found it in Mirao. She stopped in front of the girl with a huff of breath, and clawed the sand with one food. M'rao! Can you believe the way that red spoke to your Seiliph? All I wanted was to look! Is that so wrong? She demanded with lash of her tail, staring up at the girl with flashing eyes. After a moment, the chick lunged at the girls legs, rubbing against them for comfort. Now I'm all upset. I'm glad I found you so fast. By the way, I'm hungry. I want food. Do you have any?

92A805 - irritable, intelligent, demanding, unpredictable

The red moved to stand protectively over the Servile Core as he watched his sister go. He was sad to see her angry at him, but it was for the good of all. He nosed the rescued egg with his beak, gently checking for damage. None, good. With gentility yet to be shown by the other reds prior to bonding he nudged and pushed the egg back to its original spot, going as far as to prop it back up in the sand. It felt good to see things as they were. Order pleased him, made him feel calm. He gave one last lingerng look at the eggs. They were all safe. They would all hatch, he felt sure of it. His current duty to them was done.

He turned his eyes to the crowd, and took his first step toward them. He felt the urge to choose someone. Someone to keep him calm, someone to help him preserve and restore order. Someone to help him become the simourv he was supposed to be. Or perhaps he was supposed to help them become something else. He did not know, but the idea seemed right. He started toward them, no malice or anger in his eyes or in the way he carried himself. Only pride, and silent determination. He paid no heed to his siblings, or the bonded that remained on the sands. He had another job to do.

He found his off to the side of the group, filled with uncertainty and rising upset. This was the one he needed. Ze'el, your Dareph is honored to meet you at last. I had other duties to attend to, you understand. He spoke firmly, but not without apology. The red darted his head forward and nuzzled his beak into the boys clenched fist before moving to lean his body against the boy's waist. Things will be different. We're warriors now, and we must act like them, but I will let no harm come to you, I promise this. You have my word that I will not falter.

631315 - proud, responsible, silent, jealously protective

[Fox]

Lea had just turned around to help Teagan apply pressure to Farah's wound when she felt someone else arrive. She barely paid any attention to Ripley's words, other than nodding shortly, attention too focused on the bleeding girl that she tended to. It made sense, she thought after a moment as her eyes flicked to the blood-stained floor of the nesting sands. There was a reason they were called the Nesting sands after all, and the midwife could feel heat seeping upwards through the cloth of her trousers. Impatiently, she brushed a few dangling tendrils of hair away from her forehead with the back of her hand, unwittingly getting a bright smear of blood across her brow. Lea remembered seeing Serenity go down beneath the red's claws as well, and wondered whether there was anyone tending to her. Farah had been closer, so the young woman had gone to her first, but now that Ripley was here she was fairly sure that if Farah took a dramatic turn for the worse (which she doubted; beneath her hand the bleeding had begun to slow already) she wouldn't be left completely unseen to. "I'm going to see about Serenity." She said shortly, nodding to Teagan before easing away from Farah. There was no need for much else than that notice. Ripley would know what to do.

It was odd how her attitude had turned an almost complete about-face from a short time ago in the Candidates' Barracks. The anxiety was still there; but now Lea had a purpose as one of only two people who had any medical experience whatsoever, even if hers was somewhat tentative to begin with. Her lips were tight, her face pale, but her eyes were flat and determined. She would not let herself sit down and think, because thinking would only make the nerves come back. She needed to do. Lea was just turning to search for the other injured girl when a red blur raced across her vision, and Teagan was knocked away with a sweep of stubby horns. And then suddenly her vision was filled with red feathers and golden eyes and a large, gaping beak. A scream strangled in her throat as she threw up her right arm, just in time to feel jaws clamping down onto it, pain flashing through her as flesh bruised instantly and bone cracked beneath the pressure. The red chick shook her, and his soft, new claws dug into her calves, tearing ragged wounds in her flesh. Pain and fury made her scream, as she struggled underneath the weight of the large red.

Then suddenly he was gone, and Lea had to struggle against the urge to curl up into a ball to protect her head and stomach, her brain telling her that it would do no good to get sand in her wounds. The rainbow stopped by, and she flinched at her presence, but the smaller simourv simply nudged her and then went on her merry way. Eventually, Lea tried to raise herself up into a sitting position, holding her injured arm gingerly, face set into a grimace of pain. She was fairly sure that the red had fractured a bone; not broken, which was a small blessing, but injured nonetheless. Her legs were on fire, and when she looked and saw the bleeding mess that the red had made of them, her eyes widened in horror. Her throat closed up and she fought the urge to scream again. For a moment, she just stared, then with sheer force of will Lea pushed her injuries from her mind. She took a shaky breath and, tearing her eyes away, looked around for Teagan, only to find her- slightly grayed- vision blocked by Ripley- who was, of all things, shirtless- holding a needle. Her gaze shot from the needle to her legs, and then she scowled at him, pain making her voice sharp, the words coming out mangled through her gritted teeth. "Why are you tending to me first?" she demanded, as Ripley explained that he was going to put sutures in her leg. "Teagan and Farah-" Lea broke off with a hiss as he started on the stitching without waiting for her reply, her teeth immediately clamping down on her lower lip to avoid making any other sound. The coppery tang of blood filled her mouth, as she waited out what seemed like an eternity of stitching. Well, she didn't want to distract him now. She would chew him out for this later. There were plenty of other people worse off than she was.

Eventually, it was done, and the exposed skin of her legs looked like something out of a horror story. Bloody, with the wide, temporary stitches running like tracks across her flesh, it was almost morbidly fascinating. Lea almost wished she could be like the others and simply throw up; the fact that the state of her injuries barely bothered her from an academic point of view was disturbing in itself. "Fine. I'm done. Now go and see to the oth--" It was then that the young woman looked up and found herself staring straight at a very large black simourv chick. The words died in her throat, and Lea's first reaction to the large, possibly dangerous simourv was panic. Then, strangely, Ripley's hand slowly reached out to stroke the black's head and the look on his face had transformed from one of tightly-wound worry to wonder and another powerful emotion. Lea almost didn't grasp what was going on, until Ripley spoke again, addressing the hatchling, and then her mouth opened into a small 'o' of surprise. So he had bonded. Ripley- she wasn't sure what his new name was yet- the Blackrider. Faintly, jealousy twinged in her heart that he had done so so quickly, but she buried it as deeply as she could. She would be happy for him; he deserved it.

"Congratulations." She said softly, as he called for bandages. "You're a blackrider." A smile slid across Lea's wan face, tinged with pain and the tiniest hint of envy, but it was as genuine as she could manage. But that small smile was all she would allow at the moment before she reverted back to her business-like tone, if a little pained. "My shirt's still clean- well. Cleaner. You'll have to rip it up." Modesty had no place when it came to field medicine and besides, it wasn't as if she was only wearing the shirt. One sleeve was gone already anyway. With one hand Lea tested her mobility, discovering the hard way that moving her legs led to extreme agony, and her right arm was only a little bit better. She was just biting back a curse, struggling with the voluminous white material when the softest voice slipped into her mind, barely a whisper over the rest of the chaos and, more importantly; not her own. L'nan, your Eoreph can help the others. We can help the others, together, as one. L'nan- as she was now- stilled, forgetting that she had been trying to sacrifice her shirt for bandaging when she turned her head, brown eyes mirroring brown, and she finally, finally gazed upon her hatchling.

Love washed over her; love that Eoreph felt for her, and for her brothers and sisters and their riders, but chiefly for her. L'nan had known that her parents loved her, but knowing someone loved you and feeling that they loved you were two whole different things. Suddenly, her eyes stung, and a tear tracked down her face. "Oh." She breathed, struck speechless by the phenomenal capacity to love that the little tawny had within her. Her lips began to tremble. "Oh." And then, slowly, L'nan smoothed a trembling hand through the hatchling's dappled feathers, and leaned over- ignoring the spike of pain- to press a kiss against the top of Eoreph's brown head. And then, with a silent Thank you, L'nan moved back, sniffing and drawing her good arm across her eyes. When she looked up again at the Rider K'huna, she was composed, though the slightly reddened eyes somewhat gave her away. "Thank you, sir." She began formally, a hint of steel entering her eyes. "But Eoreph and I would like to stay and help with the wounded. I was a midwife; my father a surgeon. I am perfectly capable of acting as nurse for the time being." So long as the patients could be brought to her and not the other way round. The whole not walking thing would be an issue. For a moment, L'nan glanced over at her hatchling, her eyes soft with the love she felt for the lovely creature. I promise after this I'll find you as much food as you can stuff yourself with. She said, tentatively trying out the new mental link. A smile spread over her face when she was rewarded by Eoreph's gratitude and hunger, though it was overlaid by the impression that the injured people came first. As it would always be, with the pair.

[crow]

The moment she saw the red hatchling make his way towards the exit with one of the candidates – Niraan, was it? – Reiths let out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding. It wasn’t as if she was actually afraid of the Simourv or anything, she just wasn’t particularly fond of seeing another candidate falling victim to his rage. Especially since the attacks were hardly justified. She understood that perhaps the young hatchling had grown tired of waiting for the one he was destined to be with, but that hardly gave him the right to act in such a way. Still slightly miffed with the way things turned out, Reiths could only glare at the retreating forms of the two. She hoped that none of the other hatchlings would be as reckless as that one.

By the time Reiths turned her attention back to the rest of the group, she noticed that, within a short moment of time, more of the eggs have already hatched. Colorful baby Simourvs were all over the place and quite a number of them had already bonded with some of the candidates. She couldn’t help but raise a single eyebrow when she saw that the black hatchling had bonded with the surgeon. It was however, in her opinion, as good a match as any.

Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to moments, after a while Reiths found herself starting to get a bit restless. The whole process of hatching and bonding was still a subject of interest for her, but after witnessing the same thing happen for who knows how long was beginning to get a bit boring. Of course she was honored to be one of the chosen few and she was delighted to be able to see the hatching first hand, but a small part of her just wished that things would get over and done with already. Her spoiled, inner-child demanded that she return to bed immediately and it took all of Reiths’ self discipline to ignore that whiny voice inside her head.

Stifling a small yawn with the back of her hand, the girl then focused her line of sight towards the eggs that have yet to hatch, and it was there that she witnessed something that amused her. There, surrounded by a few unhatched eggs, was a red and green baby Simourv having a standoff. Fights between siblings were not something new to her, and it brought a smile to her face as Reiths watched the brother and sister glare at one another like that. Truthfully she had no idea why she found the notion so laughable. Perhaps after being separated from her brothers, even if it had only been a short while, she had begun to miss the four and the frequent squabbles that she had with them.

When the green hatchling backed down with a screech and looking less than pleased, Reiths burst into a fit of silent laughter. Covering her mouth with one hand and clutching her stomach with the other, the girl prayed that she didn’t draw any attention to herself; it’d be troublesome if someone saw her while she was in such a state. She let out a slight chuckle at the thought of being seen by another. Oh well, Rayan did always say that I was a strange one. Having one other person think of me in the same way isn’t going to hurt anyone.

After having composed herself, Reiths began to inspect the other new hatchlings with a renewed interest.

[Cy]

[/i][/color] The voice was masculine, firm and yet sweet. His gaze snapped over to the chick, wary blue caught by a pleasant brown. The simourv, seemingly the largest of those still left on the sands, thrust a head out to nuzzle his beak against the fist of the farmer's hand and Zeke's first instinct was to jerk away from the contact, lifting his arm up and moving his hand away. He watched the hatchling carefully, the combination of disbelief and wonder and confusion steadily breaking down the stoicism of his features. For the first time since he'd stepped foot on the nesting sands, he was openly fascinated.

Dareph was a warm weight against his side, leaning comfortably against him, and he felt a swell of something that rose in his chest. He failed to recognize it for what it was. 'Things will be different. We're warriors now, and we must act like them, but I will let no harm come to you, I promise this. You have my word that I will not falter.' Now, complete sincerity filled the assurances offered from hatchling to young man, and Ze'el felt his throat tighten. He felt impossibly weak, utterly defenseless amidst emotions he couldn't have ever imagined to be so strong.

He lifted his head to look away, his gaze darting to the candidates at his side, to those bonded and those still hoping. He looked to the newborn chicks still darting over the sands, searching for the perfect fit. There was the gray mother and the black father, watching the happenings with proud eyes. Obnoxious Ro'za, certainly as cocky and smug as he remembered her from the gardens. And the other riders, more women and men that protected Pohono, and now he was one of them. It had to be a mistake. Dareph was silent through the rush of insecurity that filled his boy's head, the weight of him leaning against the human being all the comfort that he could provide. A soft croon of hunger left his throat as he picked up his bright red head to look up to the stunned man that was His.

"I should feed you." The normally gruff voice, low and brusque, was now hoarse and unsure. A whisper amid the chaos of the hatching, but that didn't matter. Dareph heard him fine. 'Yes.' Ze'el blinked, dropping his gaze finally to the big brown eyes staring up at him, proud and loving. The true depth of that care was unsettling. He didn't know it, didn't know how to respond to it, and he could only assume the twist of it that he felt in his own being belonged entirely to the red rather than to himself. Tightening his jaw, his brow creasing with the seemingly endless stretch of his uncertainty, he lowered his hand down finally to place upon the chick's head. The downy feathers of the large beast were soft to the touch, and he slid his fingers cautiously through them. There was another croon from the hatchling's throat as he tipped his head up, still staring up at His. 'Come now, Ze'el, be strong. We are warriors. All is well now, I am here for you.'

His eyes narrowed, a slow wince at the comfort that soothed him all the same. And finally, he nodded, his eyes dropping down, breaking away from the warm brown gaze of his Dareph as he turned to lead them along. The red stayed close to the side of the new winglet, his presence pressing close against the movement of Ze'el's legs as they left the sands together.[/ul][/size]

[jaker]

Kito scratched the back of his head and patted Ripley on the shoulder once more, "aye, I need to check something out..." he muttered, half talking to himself and his roommate. He walked around the apparent chaos in deep thought, not taking notice of what's around him, people bleeding and crying in pain, he wasn't bothered in a sense. Will he get bonded? Is there enough hatchlings? He didn't know but he thought if he walked around, he would give everyone else a chance to bond because he wouldn't be almost invisible slipping through the candidates and hatchlings.

[Kat]

The bandages and water were not coming; Ripley—Ri’ley realized that he was going to have to improvise, because otherwise Teagan was going to continue to bleed onto the sands. He had to at least attempt to stop the blood, to halt the flow before the girl bled out onto the floor. He had already used his shirt. He should have split it in half, but instead he had wrapped the shirt around Farah, so he did not have the fabric to use to stop Teagan’s bleeding. He had also decided not to take Leannan’s shirt, as leaving the woman topless in front of the whole Eyrie seemed like a terribly humiliating idea. He would avoid it if that was possible. Ri’ley had never dealt with a situation with some many people who needed his help by himself. He had dealt with difficult situations, with koxi massacres or fires providing multiple injured people, but he was always coaxed through the motions of the actions by his master, who was patient, understanding, and calm in all situations.
”But you, mine, can overcome this obstacle; I picked you because you are strong.”
Ri’ley affectionately muffed the feathers on top of Dionyph’s head, burying his fingers into the soft down of his simourv, who he was having trouble forcing himself to move his hands so that he could help the injured people. He had to move; he had to moblize and act, especially with Teagan, who was losing blood with every extra beat of his pounding heart that Ri’ley allowed to pass. Ri’ley finally moved his fingers, separating them from Dionyph’s head in a way which almost demonstrated a sense of physical effort with the task. Ri’ley was a man who worked with his hands, and for him, the sense of touch was one of the most important and intimate. He expressed his love through his fingers, and he loved this hatchling more, perhaps, than he had loved any creature, despite the fact that he had only just met the hatchling.

Once Ri’ley decided to move, he moved quickly and swiftly. He kicked his brain into action, and once he focused, Ri’ley found that he gained the capacity to make decisions. He accepted the fabric swatch she offered him, nodding that he would work, but he felt he could use some more. Modeling himself after her example, Ri’ley bent over, grabbing his pants near the seam and ripped upwards. Had he not been in the situation he was in, he would have mourned the pants, as he was very fond of them, but in the moment
Ri’ley only needed enough fabric to cover the inappropriate areas of his body. He ripped his pants to the knee along the inseam, and then, with some trouble with the thick, high quality fabric. After a few seconds of working the fabric two directions with his fingers, it finally ripped horizontally against the grain of the fabric, and Ri’ley was left with a sizable swatch of black fabric. He was lucky, or rather the girl was lucky, that he was so tall. His pants required quite a bit of fabric. Ripley turned to the girl, and as he carefully rolled her over so that he could examine her damage, he remembered her name as a sudden epiphany. It was useful information.
”Teagan, I’m going to keep this fabric here to try to stop some bleeding. Try not to move.”
Ri’ley did not exactly bark orders, but he did speak with a calm, but very cold and firm, tone. It was abrupt, tight, and controlled, like Ri’ley at his purest, or at least how he wished he was at his most elemental. Dionyph knew that he needed not to intrude into his bonded’s work, either mentally or physically. Ri’ley’s concentration was delicate and stressed, and Dionyph understood that because he understood Ri’ley. He was connected to Ri’ley and he wanted to suppose Ri’ley as best as he could. Ri’ley did not like when patients asked him how badly they were hurt. It never worked out in their favor, as he hated promising to someone that he or she would be okay, and having the person end up damaged or dead, and if the person was dying—well, it was best that they did not know that information. Teagan, though, was going to be okay, Ri’ley was pretty positive. He could not tell how the injury would heal, but she was not at death’s door or anything of the sort.
”I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
While the statement was both generic and non-informative, it was the best way Ri’ley could answer her question. He was not going to discuss the injury at least in terms of its severity until he could really look at it, and although he grunted the words, he spoke with a determination which was almost forceful. He spoke the absolute truth. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure the girl ended up as best as she could possibly end up. While the phrase was one that many doctors used as a comfort, but when Ri’ley used it, he seemed to be absolutely truthful with his words. It was a promise, and it was not a promise that Ri’ley was going to break.

Ri’ley did not even realize when Leannan bonded. The Tawny simourv was so quiet, so unimposing, and Ri’ley was too focused on helping everyone around him that he did not even notice. He was crouched over Teagan now, even though his eyes flittered towards Farah and Leannan to ensure that both girls were still fine. Ro’za’s instruction about leaving the sands bothered him. He could not leave a girl bleeding on the sands without any help. He knew he needed to feed Dionyph—thinking of the hatchling made Ri’ley aware that Dionyph was waiting patiently, proud, tall, and magnificent behind him, waiting for his rider to be ready. Guilt washed over Ri’ley, who felt as if he was the worst rider possible, that he could hardly deserve such a wondrous, powerful creature if he could not care for it properly.
”You have a duty to the Eyrie as well; you should help them, and I will sacrifice my pleasure in order to prevent the suffering of the bondeds of my sisters.”
Dionyph’s words elevated some of Ri’ley’s guilt, as the hatchling seemed to agree that Ri’ley acted correctly in his tending, but Ri’ley hated the thought of Dionyph suffering. He as too beautiful a creature to suffer. Ri’ley was still being neglectful.

When he felt Kito’s hand on his shoulder, Ri’ley looked up briefly, glancing at his roommate, a tight, forced grimace flitting to his face. He was not upset that Kito offered his help by any means, in fact, Ri’ley was very thankful, and the grimace was a smile corrupted by his current level of anxiety. Ri’ley moved his hands off of the black fabric in a way which would allow Kito to take over the task.
”Keep the pressure on her wound. We need to slow the bleeding as much as possible. And keep an eye on Leannan and Farah as well. I need to check on the other girl.”
Ri’ley announced, the distress call of Elahumph finally registering in Ri’ley’s head. He stood up, not even bothering to brush the sand off of his body, which stuck to his skin because of his sweat and the blood of other’s which coated his arms and chest, and began to move towards Serenity. Perfectly aligned with his rider, Dionyph strode behind Ri’ley, his head held high, both to show his position, but also so that he could keep an eye on his gray sister who had yet to bond. He had to make sure that his gray sister was okay, and he needed to know the second she chose a rider. K’huna reached the girl at the same time Ri’ley did, and Ri’ley moved close enough to examine Serenity while talking to the older rider. Ri’ley’s eyes moved over Serenity quickly, flashing across her body, before Ri’ley nodded.
”She’ll be okay; try to keep pressure on the injury until this is over and I can look over it properly. She should be okay to move. I’m going to try to get the other two girls off the sands.”
Ri’ley said. Because he addressed a full rider, Ri’ley’s voice lost its commanding aspect, and instead his briskness was replaced with a weary fatigue. Ri’ley was impossibly tired; he had barely slept the night before, and he knew his day would stretch long into the night.

By the time Ri’ley returned to Farah and Leannan, the former girl had already stood, a fact that deeply displeased Ri’ley. Since Farah’s gash was across her abdomen he would have preferred her to lay flat. But the girl was already standing, supporting herself on her newly bonded green simourv. Ri’ley looked down, noticing the tawny so close to Leannan, and he realized she had also bonded. That was good news. Ri’ley bent close to her, and then, without a second though, scooped Leannan up into his arms. He was used to carrying injured people; Master Donovan was a tiny, frail man, and Ripley had always preformed the heavy lifting. Leannan was tiny, light, and almost fragile, he thought. And she was going to be so, so angry, but Ri’ley would deal with that when he could think of another solution. He doubted she could walk. What did she expect to do? Before he began to walk away from Teagan, Ri’ley lifted his hand in a wave directed to Amira.
”Amira-“
Ri’ley called, projecting his voice so she could hear him. He was glad he remembered her name. It was important that he knew names, he was beginning to realize.
”Could you come over here and help Kito tend to Teagan? I don’t want to leave him alone.”
Ri’ley wanted to leave two people tending for Teagan. Than Kito would not solely feel responsible if something happened to the hurt girl, and if one of them became tired or bonded in an instant, the other would be there to help and cover.

Ri’ley then tilted his head downwards to peer at Leannan, so he could talk to her, or at least make sure she was okay in his arms.
”I’m sorry; I can’t think of another way to get both you and Farah off the sands.”
Ri’ley grumbled, as he took too very quick steps towards Farah so that he could position his body in such a way that would force her to lean against him.
”Mine, you can’t touch L’nan without asking Eoreph first. What if she is insulted and never forgives us?”
That thought had never crossed Ri’ley’s mind. He was too focused on doing what he needed to do in order to protect everyone. Ri’ley gasped, before he turned as best he could towards the tawny hatchling, and nodded his head in a small bow. He could not bow properly, as his arms were full and his body was supporting Farah, so he hoped the action would suffice.
”I’m sorry, Eoreph, I never meant to insult you. I just want to make sure that Leann—L’nan is okay. I meant no offense.”
Ri’ley sounded sincere, if a little panicked, in his apology, and he hoped that the tawny simourv would forgive him. He hoped that she would forgive him. He would be crushed if, as Dionyph suggested, Eoreph never forgave him. It would be a tragedy. Right as Ri’ley reached K’huna, who was unfortunately blocking his exit, he felt Dionyph willing him to turn. Ri’ley’s head twitched to the left just in time to watch the gray hatchling claim Ichidou as her rider. Ri’ley was stunned that the gray had chosen, finally, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
”My lovely sister has chosen a rider. We will lay down our lives in order to serve her and her I’dou. I cannot wait until I can congratulate Laraph properly. Besides you, she is my only reason for living.”

[/i]
Even mentally, Dionyph could hardly contain his excitement at the bonding. His voice shook. It was the first time since he had first bonded to Ri'ley that his voice sounded anything but droopy and morose.
”We will have to meet her at another time.”[/i]
Ri’ley expressed with a small shrug of his shoulders, even though no one else heard the comment to which the action replied.
”I need to get these people off the sands.
Ri’ley muttered, defeated and tired sounding. He just wanted to keep everyone safe, and his mind still lingered on Teagan and her injuries. He really wanted to go back and tend to her now that there were people to help Farah and Leannan. He hated leaving her bleeding, even though he knew Amira was at least there to help her.
”There’s still an injured girl out there, too.”
Ri’ley explained to K’huna. The new black rider secretly hoped that the older rider would give him permission to help Teagan, but the phoenixes instructions rang in Ri’ley’s head. He needed to feed his Dionyph. He needed to keep himself off the sands to reduce clutter. There was so much he had to do, and the three girls here needed his help as well. Dionyph finally pulled his gaze away from Laraph and I'dou and he nudged his rider supportively. Ri'ley was glad to feel the touch of his bonded.
[/blockquote]

((I am so sorry to everyone that this is such a cluttered mess. I had a lot of ground to cover, and it ended up kind of a clusterfuck of a post.)) [/size]

[‡§åkørü‡]

Ts'kal watched the Hatching with extreme interest, wincing in sympathy as the first red tore apart his candidates. The second, at least, was less destructive; he merely knocked people over and then returned to crouch in the sand, glaring at the assembled crowd. Fascinated, the rainbowrider began to move around the side of the cavern, the one farthest from the clutch so as not to disturb the hatching. Aburo, come down and get me, he called softly with his mind, and the rainbow swooped down from his perch. Saying nothing (which was very rare for the simourv), he let his rider climb on, and then returned to the ledge, settling exactly where he had before.

Slipping down from the bright neck, Ts'kal stood next to his bonded and watched as baby after baby chose their candidates. A rainbow - the only rainbow so far - chose Olivia, and he couldn't help but grin. Aburo was thrilled - he liked Olivia too, and now they matched! They'd have to go say hello after the Hatching! And the little simourv's three candidates had all Impressed except Hokan, who was still waiting. But he'd Impress! Aburoqaph simply knew he would! Narniar had been picked by a green, and so had Kaylee! Oh, it was so exciting, even despite the maulings!

Ts'kal was a little more reserved with his thoughts, but not much. His attention now was focused on the grey, who was slowly approaching the candidates. Holding his breath, the rider watched in rapt fascination as she drew closer, closer...and settled on Ichidou. Instantly the sun-browned hands came together to clap. Pohono had a second greyrider! And it had so many more winglets still to be made.

---

The blue still lay silently by the clutch, curled up in the sand. His eyes remained closed; he wouldn't look at the others lest he accidentally spend too much time looking at one or the other. Yet something caused him to wake, and that something was his blue brother from the Lordly Core. Chirping a soft greeting, the lighter one rose to his feet and reached out to greet his sibling. Surely they could be friends. Maybe they would even hold discussions sometime in the future. About what, he'd no idea. Did it matter? Not at all - but at least they were acquainted now. But his Mine still wasn't here. The right candidate wasn't in that crowd; he didn't want to look at them again yet. But the methodical creature from the Lordly Core - was His there yet? Wasn't he going to go choose a candidate, if there were one there that suited him?

A few feet away, the red wasn't at all pleased. He dug his claws into the sand, glaring round and hissing. Why wasn't His here yet? He wanted His, and he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible! Not at all pleased with being kept waiting, the blood-hued male rose and began to pace restlessly back and forth, lashing his tail and moving faster all the time. Hurting the remaining candidates didn't really interest him anymore, though he was getting angrier and angrier.

And then he realized that His was here. Whirling, the red gave a savage scream and lunged for the candidates, shoving ruthlessly between them as he made for the one he wanted. No one fell this time, and he still he injured no one - but he wanted his chosen boy, and he wanted him right now. Impatiently the red seized Amira by the shirt and set her aside - what was she doing in his way? She wasn't worth his time! She wasn't even interesting!

At last the red found His. He was in the middle of the group, standing there looking half pleased and half bored (or something). Annoyed by this, the large hatchling leapt at his chosen human, and pushed him onto the ground, though he was careful not to hurt him. Pinning the hapless boy, he glared down at him with fierce golden eyes. Don't ever be late for me again, H'kan. None of these humans are trustworthy. I want to stay near them no longer than I have to. Your Gaoph is angry.

[/i]


D10000 - odd, suspicious, fierce, secretly very loyal

---

The Priestly Core rocked harder and harder, and finally simply cracked down the middle as if it had been chopped by an axe. The hatchling within sat for a moment, totally confused, and looked around in bafflement, chirping benevolently. What a large cave! He rather liked it. And all the people! He was simply delighted to see them all - maybe he could help them, or give them something! But he'd never hurt them, oh no. That would be wrong - very wrong.

Chittering to himself, the hatchling shook himself off, revealing himself to be pale blue. His head was black and dark grey, and he was speckled all over his torso with the same colours. His tail, though, was bright blue, fading to almost white at the tip. Dull yellow eyes flicked alertly about the cave, and the newborn stepped out of his egg, doing it clumsily but not falling down. Happy that he was learning how to walk, the little blue (just a smidgen under three feet tall at the shoulder) padded towards the waiting candidates, chirping. In passing, he warbled a sweet hello to his grey sister, and to all his other siblings too. But Laraph deserved a special greeting, because she was the biggest, and the most beautiful of all of them! She was the grey!

Still, he couldn't very well pick his sister to be His, so the little blue went on. Every unchosen candidate received a chirrup and a friendly glance, but he didn't stop for any of them. He didn't even go near Mirao - she scared him. None of the others were that weird, but he didn't like her. Yet there was someone here for him...he knew that. He could feel His somewhere nearby, and he wanted to find him or her! Still, he was patient about it - he said hello to everyone, and then headed for the injured candidates, as well as the tall man hovering over one of them. Aha! Someone over there was interesting - but who? It was time to investigate!

Wandering happily over to the hurt girls, the blue warbled contentedly, and then paused, looking around. His was very near - but where? Wanting to know, he arrived at the small group, and immediately figured it out. Squeaking with delight and concern, the slender blue rushed over, and threw himself down next to His, wriggling and offering his sturdy shoulder to her for support. You're hurt, T'gan! Teach me how to help you! How can your Othokenph fix the wrong that his brother did? Warbling, Othokenph gazed at T'gan with adoration in his eyes. He'd do right! He'd help fix the bad things that had happened here!


9DCCF1 - generous, gullible, moral, loves to learn and teach

---

Mirao was getting extremely bored with the hatching. She didn't know any of the other candidates except from lessons, and therefore she had no real connection to any of them. Besides, they all had just the same looks on their faces when they were chosen: love and wonder and amazement. It was disgusting. And above all, it was boring. Did they all have to be so open about their emotions? Did they all have to look so delighted that a hatchling had actually picked them? Only the grey was worthy of that, really, since she was a queen. But the girl mostly ignored the new queen and her chosen, gazing instead at the standoff between two of the new hatchlings. A green, the tiniest one of the entire clutch save the rainbow, was rolling the Servile Core about in the sand. The sight made Mirao lift a pale brow, settling her hands somewhat boredly on her hips. What was the little simourv doing?

Whatever she might have been up to, the thieving green had apparently irked her newly hatched crimson brother. Stalking over, the latter apparently ordered the green to stand down - and the tiny thing didn't, not for some time. Instantly the redhead was interested. At least the tiny creature had guts, standing up to her much larger sibling. And then she gave in, and a wave of disappointment washed over Mirao. Why hadn't the little green kept up the challenge? She seemed intelligent enough to maybe outwit the red, after all.

Instantly the candidate was bored again. She tapped her fingers restlessly on her hips as the annoyed green stalked between the standing humans, barely looking at any of them. Momentarily closing her eyes, and tilting her face up to the ceiling, she was surprised to hear a voice weaving through her thoughts, low and hissing and angry. M'rao! Can you believe the way that red spoke to your Seiliph? All I wanted was to look! Is that so wrong? Immediately the grey gaze swung down....and found the green at her feet. For a long moment M'rao simply stared into the dark eyes, flashing with irritation. And then she reached down and ran her hand through the soft feathers, petting her new simourv as she wrapped around the human's legs. No, it wasn't wrong, Seiliph. I would have done the very same thing. Seiliph immediately felt better, but she was still hungry. I still want food. And I want it before my brother gets it, too.

Deeply pleased, though her face was still blank as stone, the winglet knelt in front of her new simourv as the latter stopped rubbing against her legs, and brought the dark face close to hers. Two pairs of intelligent eyes met, and she traced the mask of nearly-black feathers with both hands. "All right, then, my beautiful Seiliph. I'll feed you," she murmured softly. The green chirped assertively, and as one they headed for the entrance to the sands. Instantly their thoughts began to mirror one another: it had been worth both their whiles to be here today. M'rao would be flawed...and Seiliph would be flawless for her.

Together, they disappeared outside.

---

With no warning, the Minstrel Core shattered. Its shards rained onto the sand, and out stepped a lively, heavyset blue, strutting about to show off his dark feathers. Light yellow eyes glowed in a rich blue face, and the navy-tipped wings fluttered vainly. He waltzed around the clutch, and approached his mother, long tail flicking dramatically. Hadn't she hatched a beautiful blue? Wasn't he just the handsomest one on these sands? Showing off to Eceph, the blue fluttered his wings again, and then turned and wandered off, weaving between the unhatched eggs remaining in the clutch. He didn't want to pick a candidate yet! Nope! He wanted to show off first, and let them all admire his good looks! Besides, he already knew that His was here. He just didn't want to go to His yet. Making the candidates wait was fun. And it wasn't like he was going to hurt them by making them wait, either.

Perhaps startled by the treatment of its egg, the Servile Core was beginning to rock. Shuddering, actually, was the best term for it: it shook violently, in no particular rhythm, almost as though it were cold or afraid. Each quiver opened a crack, however, and soon the shell was covered with hair-thin cracks. Still it didn't pop open, and indeed, it stopped moving. No more movement came from within - it seemed the hatchling inside didn't actually want to get out yet. But it would come out eventually; that much was clear.[/size][/center]

[Vanman]

Hokan stood there, like he had been, amazed at all the sights and sounds around him. He wondered when it would be his turn to bond. Kaylee (now K’lee) and Narphis (now Nar’i) had bonded to two beautiful greens. They seemed like they were the happiest people in the world now that they had a simorv to call their own. He felt expescially glad for K’lee, That’s great, now she has someone she can call her sibling...sort of. he thought. I wonder how Nar’i is taking this, to bad he didn’t get the red he wanted. I kinda feel bad for him, but at least he got bonded. With that he felt something tackle him.

He looked up to see a red simorv on top of him. It had pounced on him and he was afraid, the last red simorv took the liberty of slicing and dicing one of the canidates. Instead this pounce didn’t hurt, he imagined it being like getting tackled by a dog out of love. All of a sudden he heard something in his mind, Don't ever be late for me again, H'kan. None of these humans are trustworthy. I want to stay near them no longer than I have to. Your Gaoph is angry.

Hokan...er H’kan was in shock. He was now bonded to Gaoph, his simorv, for life and Gaoph was bonded to him. It was an amazing feeling. He spoke out loud for he was not used to mental communication, “These people are my friends.” gesturing to K’lee and Nar’i, “I would trust them with my life, you will trust them as well in time. There is no reason to be angry my Gaoph, for I am here for you.” He loved the sound of the word “my” when he was referring to Gaoph. It gave him a sence of pride and accomplishment, for there was a life he was now responsible for and he was going to o everything in his power to make it the best life that Gaoph could have. “Lets go get you something to eat.” he said. He had a feeling that this was the start of an amazing journey.

[jaker]

Kito ran towards Teagan and placed his hand on the wound, "don't worry missy, I won't let ya die on you're bonding day," he whispered warmly, he looked over to the two others that Ripley indicated. They seemed fine for now, he looked at Teagan and smile, making the scars on his cheek look like red embroidery. "Ya luck thoug, you found your's and it ain't gonna let you die or nothin', ain't that right you little scrapper!" he laughed, hinting at her new hatchling that sat by them.

He looked up at the sky in silent prayer, 'I hope your proud, Dad, Mum, soon I'll be able to save innocent people.... I'm just sorry I was a let down and let you get killed,' he looked down in mixture of happiness and sorrow. "Ok, let's see if you can calm down, slower heart rate means slow blood pumping," he exclaimed, closing her eyes and holding her hand, "I want you to take deep breaths in, and out, just focus on you're breathing... nothing else is real right now, only your breathing..." he whispered quietly.

[Kilnarak]

Teagan flinched again, gritting her teeth as the makeshift bandages were wrapped about her injuries. She didn't cry out, and she tried her best not to move although instinct screamed to shy away from from the hurt. After the bandages were in place, she leaned slightly forward to place her own hands over them, pressing down - it was easier that way, although perhaps it jostled the scratches about her hips. The girl nodded briefly to the other boy - Kito - as he ambled over to help, her features strained. He was only vaguely familiar to her, a face she recognized from lessons rather than one she truly knew. Amira, 'though, that was a name she recognized, one she knew, and she felt a brief flush of embarrassment that the other girl would see her thus. It was silly, and she recognized that near as she felt it - everyone had seen the attacks, had seen the aftermath.

She flinched yet again as something different bumped into her side, something warm and soft and alive. Teagan looked down from her healers to the black-and-blue creature cuddling up to her side, staring blankly at him a long moment even as she felt his thoughts in her mind. She wasn't afraid of this one, this one wouldn't hurt her - he wanted to help, he wanted her to stop hurting, because he could feel it too, because he was hers. Teagan leaned against the small blue, not entirely sure what she was doing but it felt right, turning slightly to the side so that she could bury her face in the soft feathers offered up to her - hiding, if only for the moment.

"Just stay here, 'kay? I don't think I can get up on my own," she mumbled into Othokenph's feathers, wrapping an arm about the simourv's small form while the other remained where it was, pressing to the bandages on her legs. She worried distantly about smearing blood onto Othokenph's beautiful feathers, but the little blue didn't worry about it at all, and so Teagan discarded the concern. Othokenph, in turn, nuzzled and groomed at Teagan's short blonde hair, warbling comfortingly. This helps fix it, T'gan? I can stay here, I won't leave ever.

Teagan did relax - although likely more for the simourv's presence than Kito's ministrations. Her legs still hurt, but Othokenph was here now, and everything would be allright now, everything would be fine. The girl's fingers twitched slightly, curling beneath Kito's hand and in Othokenph's feathers, and slowly she lifted her tear streaked face from the blue's shoulder, sniffing lightly. "All th' others... We're s'pposed ta leave now? I don't know if I should be tryin' ta get up, Ripley said not ta move... But I think Othokenph's hungry," she looked to Kito and Amira, then aside to the blue. He was hungry, but the feeling was only a faint buzz, near entirely masked by his elation at finding His and his concern for her welfare. Othokenph pressed himself tight to Teagan's side, nestling as close as he could. I can't eat now, Mine! You're still hurt! I'll stay with you until it's fixed! he declared brightly, nuzzling her side.

---

A're and Muraaph sat at the sidelines, watching as one after another of the eggs hatched and bonded. Muraaph radiated a sense of excitement, and the feeling was catching. So many new babies! She had never seen so many! Of course you have, Mura. At your own hatching, A're chuckled lightly at the green's side, absently stroking her foreleg as he peered across the sands. But that was different! They weren't so small! They were just as big as me! Muraaph fluffed up her feathers, lowering her great horned head to A're's level and peering from his point of view at the eggs. Her rider laughed again, and she felt she should be annoyed that he was laughing at her, but the excitement of the hatching was too interesting to concern herself with it. Her ears pricked forward and her eyes wide, Muraaph watched and chirped excitedly to herself.

It wasn't all good, however - the violent red that had struck out at the candidates near the beginning had been a cause for concern. A're had tensed at Muraaph's side, wondering if he should go out onto the sands to help - but he wasn't sure if that might not confuse the hatchlings, so he had kept his place at Muraaph's side, trying not to feel too distressed about his forced role of observer. It looked like the candidates were helping each other, however, and that was good - it would have to be good enough. It was what they had done, so long ago, at the first bonding - they hadn't any choice otherwise.

A're smiled each time a green rolled out of her shell, each time they chose their bond - Muraaph shared his pleasure, making happy noises as she spied them. So tiny, so bright! They were Eceph's children, but they were like her! She loved them all - at least for the moment. Both A're and Muraaph fell silent a moment as the gray hatched, as she chose - A're wondered how a second gray in the Eyrie would effect life. Would she one day challenge Eceph to rule? Or would she be content with her role as second? Would she choose to fly away, to form her own nest elsewhere? Muraaph did not share his concerns - A're could think such thoughts for the both of them, she was simply awed by the little creature. She is so small, Mine! Eceph was never so small! She was always bigger than me! Muraaph warbled after a few moments, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

"She'll get bigger, Mura. They all will," A're grinned, patting the side of his green's lowered head. He didn't mind watching for now, and Muraaph intended to do nothing aside from that - perhaps later they would be able to make themselves more useful to the children on the sands, but for now they were simply observers.

[skwog]

"Hyuh!"
Clang, clang, clang.
Swiiiiiiing, swooooosh, clang, clang.
"Jeeze, Grey, back down, you're angry."
"No, I am not."
Clang, clang, thhuuuuud.
"Grey, what are you doing?"
"What I should have done long ago..."

Grey sat straight up in bed, his hair a mess and sweat forming upon his brow. Swift, uneasy breaths drew in and out of his lungs, as large pupils scanned his surroundings. "It was a nightmare... Only a nightmare..." Legs swung over the edge of his bunk, resting his elbows upon his knees, trying to make sense of what had happened. The more that he thought about the dream, the more that the figment of his imagination began to drift. Whatever it was that had recently occupied his mind had drifted away, only loose fragments remaining upon his mind.

Within moments of awaking from the nightmare, the familiar voice of Ts'kal bellowed throughout the barracks. The voice was filled with a slight sense of urgency, perking up Grey's senses as he slowly removed himself from bed in a slow pace. As he began to shed off his layer of nightly wears, a tank top and a pair of beaten up sweats, an ache overtook his head as the voice of Aburoqaph entered his conscience.

Candidates! Up, now! The eggs hatch!
Eggs? The eggs? They're hatching? Oh goodness, this is exciting! I hope that I bond, and then...

A thud erupted as Grey had unintentionally slammed his head into the top bunk of his bed. Had he been more accustomed to this rather unfortunate act, perhaps the fate that bestowed upon him would not have occurred. However, Grey began to lose sense with reality, and fell down onto the floor in a heap of flesh and bones.

"What... what... happened?"
Eyes flitted open slowly, as he began to ease back into what had overtaken his body. A hand moved up to his forehead, rubbing the goose egg that had formed from the impact between wood and skull. "Ouch... What... time is it?" Grey pulled himself together, dressing himself in his usual attire, then peered out into the hallways. Nobody was there. There was not a sound to be heard. "Shoot! I'm going to miss it!"

After bolting out of his room, Grey took the only way he knew to get to the sands. Moments later, he noticed fresh footprints leading in a particular direction, and Grey decided it would be best to follow the steps. He looked anything but composed. Hair was a mess, a large mass was forming on his forehead and beginning to bruise, and his shirt was placed on backwards due to the haste of his dressing. Soon enough he had entered the cavern, slowing down his pace. His tardiness resulted in him being at the back of the group, unable to see much of anything. What he could see, however, was stunning to the eye. All around the cavern were the newly hatched simourvs, making their way around and selecting their candidates. Grey looked down at the earth below himself, digging his boots lightly into the sand. He felt ashamed of himself. Here he was, late for perhaps the most impacting moment of his life, looking like a wreck. "I blew it..." His voice was light, and placed under his breath, in hopes of being heard by only himself.

[pannypanpops]

F'ah followed the other candidates at K'huna's summons, using her short, tiny yet long green as much as a Cane as possible, a hand on Mhaliniph's bright green fluffy head, her other arm across her bload soaked stomache, her shoulders haunched. "Wont be long now, Mine! These people look capable!"[/b] She said optimisticly. F'ah smiled, looking for someplace to sit.(I dont have a very good description of the place they were taken ) Her body ached and she was beginging to feel sickly again working her pained and ripped open body. Mhaliniph chirpped encouragingly. "Don't worry! I got something to take your mind off things, mine-Though they should be taking care of You No one else as gutted." [/b] Mhaliniph eyed the few people who were trying to help the injured candidates-winglettes now. She folded her ears to the back of her head showing her irritation. "They're doing the best they can my love-but what is it that will take my mind off things?" F'ah asked, trying to keep her mind off her body. She didn't feel right let alone good, her tanned skin still a paloured color. Mhaliniph snorted at her rider's first comment. Well their best wasn't good enough!

Though the Hatchling moved on. "Watch how my wings move!" She began to move her tiny little wings on her long body, her downy feathers ruffling softly making next to no noise. Mhaliniph cocked her head to watch how she moved her wings, her tail begining to sway back and forth. At this point in time F'ah just couldn't take it any longer, she sat down on the ground, watching her Simourv move her wings, giving her a softy smile. "How wonderfully beautiful! Maybe we'll be the first pair to fly!" Mhaliniph sat down next to F'ah puffing her chest out.

F'ah looked to the three medics working diligently, resting her head on the shoulder of Mhaliniph.