Who We Are [Eceph's First Hatching]

[Cy]

[/i] had to belong to one of them. She'd been searched. The black beast that stood beside the clutchmother herself had said that she should be there, surely that meant something! That was a word that couldn't be wrong, could it? Her eyes darted to Alianph, to find some kind of sign that her time was well on its way, but her impatient self could not linger for long before she was throwing her entire focus back to the hatchlings.

Right on time to see Elan with a blue of her own. Her lips parted slightly as she watched them together, and she wasn't entirely sure how to feel. She liked Elan, truly liked her. She was a friend. She was pretty in that rough way, and enjoyable to be around in that adorably awkward stiffness that she had about her, but... a part of her couldn't deny that faint sense of jealousy that wormed its way in among the torrent of emotions running through her. Overly sensitive and confused, she had the audacity to allow the irrational thought that moving to help someone else had put her out of the way to be bonded. After all, she'd been standing right next to Elan for the whole of the hatching. She moved away to help and she got run over instead. And Elan had bonded. Perhaps she was simply some kind of bad luck. She whipped her head around to face away, putting her attentions back where they belonged.

When the black bonded to one of the boys, it was little surprise, though being looked over even by a simourv that she knew she'd be looked over by was still a sting among many.

Her breath snagged and held when a light blue stopped in front of her, his dark gold eyes staring at her with a certain kind of civility. The spark inside of her flared and she fought to feel what she was certain she should feel with a bond. She'd watched so many others by this point. She'd watched them cry, she'd watched them drop to their knees, and she watched them cling desperately to their simourv as if it were their last day on Pohono. She felt none of these things and she felt an awful sadness as a result. However, just when she was beginning to consider going through the motions in the hope that the feelings would come, the blue was moving on, pausing in the same manner in front of others. She despised when the chicks did that, gave hope and shattered it just as quickly as it had come. They were young, newborn, and surely knew nothing of what their actions did to the expecting candidates... but still, it hurt.

Quietly, with a vaguely visible pout to her bottom lip, she looked around to those that still waited alongside her. There were five of them left, and only three hatchlings blessed the sands. Two of them would inevitably be left on their own, as singular as they'd been when they'd first entered the nest. Slowly, she forced her gaze back ahead, tipping her chin up with as much strength as she could muster in these final weak moments. Only three more decisions to be made and all would be over with.[/ul][/size]

[‡§åkørü‡]

The largest of all the new greens sat moodily in the place of her hatching for some minutes more before she decided that it was a most boring location. Upon reaching this decision, she rose and began to pace restlessly back and forth. Tail switching behind her, and tiny wings fluttering, she began to lengthen the route of her pace: back and forth, back and forth, going a few steps farther every time. Within minutes she was sick of it, though, and moved at an alarming pace towards the remaining candidates, yellow eyes flashing in that dark mask. Hissing softly, the green stopped in front of Amira, surveyed her for a moment, and then snorted, clearly displeased with what she saw. She didn't want that candidate! Not if she could help it.

Oblivious to the hurt she'd just dished out, the green moved on, digging her claws deep into the sand with each step as she sought to control her rising irritation. Where was Hers? She wanted Hers, and she wanted food, and she very much wanted to claim her human and get out of here! Snapping her beak in annoyance, she spared not so much as a glance for three of the remaining four candidates. She didn't want them either!

Growing increasingly aggravated, the green stormed about, throwing up sand with each step, until she came to rest in front of Hers. Tired of being in the cavern, and tired of being alone when she knew there was a rider here for her, she glowered up at him, clicking her beak in impatience. And then, within seconds, she had twined herself tightly around his legs, wrapping her tail around his ankles and glaring around at all the other people present: winglets, simourvs, and candidates alike. They had better not come near Hers or there would be a price to pay! K'ii, your Akaturiaph is very annoyed, and very hungry. Come with me to find food or I'll haul you by the ankle, she grumped. Still, the green's tone indicated that she was happy with her choice. Of course, it also indicated that she would do exactly what she said. The largest of the greens wasn't kidding around when she said she was hungry.


6C9D4B - snappish, possessive, withdrawn, utterly loyal

---

Even the Scholarly blue was growing tired of waiting. He bid his brother goodbye with little reluctance, though he liked the other hatchling, and then turned to move, quietly and deliberately, towards the remaining candidates. There were just a few left - almost all had been chosen by the other young simourvs. And, the blue belatedly realized, he was one of two hatchlings left on the sands, with the green and Caaracrinaph both gone to their new riders.

Not that being one of the very last bothered him, but it probably bothered all the remaining candidates, since he had been the very first blue to hatch. Quite patiently, though, he finally approached the people again. They were all worthy of second looks: Jervace, Amira, Evalyn and Salena. In that order he looked them over, and then again and then a third time, weighing all of their good traits against one another. At last, though, he decided on His, and moved quietly to her. Careful as always, he brushed softly against her legs and then, gently, leaned on her legs, chirping contentedly.

He didn't say anything for a moment, and gave every appearance of being about to move on, as if he were simply testing out the feel of the people as well as their minds. But he didn't: instead, he lowered his haunches slowly to the ground and nuzzled up against His, warbling in soft tones. Sal'a, it took you a very long time to get here. But your Sydnyph doesn't mind, though it'd be nice if you didn't make a habit out of it. Bad habits are very hard to break, he informed her, chittering. Nuzzling her hand, the blue warbled again, and then closed his dark red-brown eyes, leaning heavily on Sal'a's leg. Waiting, though he didn't mind it, was very tired.


5269B5 - intelligent, pacifist, patient, lives for routine

[/center]

[zeis]

Kenii tried to watch with a passive face as first the black, and one of the blues passed by him to find their riders without a glance. Tried being the key word. However as the number of simourv on the sand dwindled down to a trickle of the flood it once had been, he found himself increasingly upset. He didn't show it other than a tensing of his muscles, balling his fists, and a sighing exhale of breath that came out through clenched teeth. Why did this always happen? Why did he always end up empty handed whenever he tried anything? He deserved to have good luck, because he definitely strove to succeed. He deserved to have his efforts pay off, and after coming here and enduring all these lessons and chores he deserved one of these chicks.

His dark green eyes dropped moodily away from the remaining chicks, tired of looking at them at the moment. He stared a hole through the sandy floor, and simply decided to wait until it was all over. Niraan had been skeptical about their purpose here at the eyrie, but he had been wrong at least for himself. His brother had a future here now as a simourv rider, while Kenii would be lucky to allowed to remain as a worker with his hefty record of accidents. He lifted a hand and rubbed furtively at one eye with his wrist. There was just something in his eye was all. A piece of sand maybe, or just the heat getting to him.

The boy blinked to clear his vision, and found himself confronted by the large green who he had seen enter the crowd. From all he had seen of simourv body language today, and all he had learned, he could take a wild guess that she was angry. He wondered bitterly if this morning would end with him being mauled as a last bit of salt in his wounds. His souring expression was struck dumb by the voice trespassing so deliberately in his head. K'ii, your Akaturiaph is very annoyed, and very hungry. Come with me to find food or I'll haul you by the ankle.

K'ii stared down at her with surprise, and the hurt that had been growing steadily inside him was fed by the rapid onset of emotion from the first moments of their bond, and the irritation and joy radiating off the simourv. His simourv. His passive facade crumbled into a look of joy, and though his eyes glistened threateningly he did not cry. Akaturiaph, I thought... Instead he awkwardly tried to kneel down to embrace the chick, who stubbornly refused to budge, and caused him to overbalance and fall heavily on his rump in the sand. Akaturiaph squirmed free of him with a small hiss of impatience, but clung close to his side, leaning her large bulk so heavily into him she nearly forced him to the ground again as he tried to stand. Yes, I know! Why get sad about it, I'm here now. I'll never leave. She huffed, though her voice was emphatic with a twinge of devotion in his head. Now feed me, will you? I wasn't kidding when I said I'd drag you.

The red head had regained his feet, and reached out to take his green's head in his hands, gently rubbing the sides of her face with the type of boyish smile that was usually only reserved for N'raan. He turned to look to his brother, and opened his mouth to talk, but seemed unsure of what to say. After some moments of struggling, he voiced proudly and happily. "She's mine." He blinked as the large green gave a snorting whuff of impatience, and nudged him forcefully along toward the exit of the cave where food awaited. While the boy cast an apologetic eye at his brother, his simourv fixed him briefly with a critical golden gaze as she ushered her rider outside. He was hers now, and what was hers was hers alone. This boy K'ii called brother better get the idea.

[Kilnarak]

N'raan had kept his arms draped lightly over Kenii's shoulders for a few moments, leaning against his little brother and watching the hatchlings with a critical eye. None seemed overly interested in his brother, and that annoyed him a touch - they were both a far cry better than the lot of these children, they should both bond. It was some minutes before he ceased leaning upon the boy, two more simourv had passed, lingering briefly before Kenii, and then moving on. The older boy sighed quietly, straightening out of his forward lean, but leaving his hands on Kenii's shoulders, offering a reassuring squeeze.

"Hell, y' don' wan' black anyhow, 'nii. Th' ain' near bright 'nough," he paused a moment, meaning to continue that thought - but one of the hatchlings was headed their way, a green, and her determined stride and angry glare made N'raan remove his hands from his brother's shoulders, made him consider whether he shouldn't take a step away. The creature - large for a green, but still smaller than his Teimoph - made the choice for him, shoving him out of the way as she wrapped about Kenii's legs and shooting him a baleful glare before her attentions turned back to her new bond.

N'raan shifted uncomfortably, watching the creature warily. Kenii seemed to have forgotten him in favor of the bird, and he was uncertain how to feel about that - partly he was glad that his brother had been chosen, and partly he was angry with the little beast for taking his brother from him. His expression masked his thoughts, however, having fallen completely flat as he was shoved away, unreadable. Teimoph sent a brief questioning thought after him, sensing his discomfort and the hint of his anger - the thought hot enough to burn, but the red's own anger was directed elsewhere at the moment. Distracted, Teimoph didn't press for an answer, and N'raan wasn't sure he could give it even if the red had.

"Yeh, sh's yers 'nii. See y' outside," he mumbled and nodded after the boy as the simourv began to push him outside. His brows furrowed slightly as the creature turned a final glare to him, although he didn't make much of it. N'raan cast one final glance about the caverns - but he didn't care much for the few remaining on the sands still - before he followed after Kenii and his green, setting a leisurely pace. He would see what had Teimoph so riled up, and then... well, he would deal with the next part when he got there.

Outside, Teimoph was still standing, his tail lashing violently behind him and his feathers fluffed up. Dionyph's dismissive reply only made him angrier, and he snapped his beak sharply, digging his claws in the dirt. You do not mind because you are a fool. What good does your gift do? She shouldn't need a token of your loyalty! It only cripples you! And to no effect! Teimoph hissed sharply as he finished speaking, lunging at Dionyph abruptly - not an attack, not yet, rather he snatched the meat that had been placed before the black, dragging it back with his forelimbs. He didn't intend to eat it, he wasn't even sure why he felt the need to take it - but Dionyph shouldn't be eating the gray's meat. He didn't deserve to eat the gray's meat!

A 'knight' is not worth much, if he cannot even hunt for himself. Will he feed forever on our Lady's leavings? Teimoph snarled, his claws sinking deep into their new prize. Not a knight at all! Just a scavenger! He was so agitated with the black, Teimoph seemed to have almost forgotten the gray Laraph's presence. He didn't think that she might be displeased with him for taking her own offering away from the black - perhaps he should have. After a few moments spent glaring at Dionyph, his gaze finally flicked back to his gray sister and queen, and he bobbed his head low in a faintly apologetic gesture. Let him get his own food, he does not need yours Queen. His claws flexed in the meat again, then carefully pushed it back toward Laraph - it was a bit dusty now, and mutilated by his talons, but still, that didn't make it inedible.

As the black's rider made his way over, Teimoph growled up at the large man, ruffling his feathers further. How dare he intervene? He lunged again, hissing and batting a chunk of meat from the fool human's hands. He growled another warning, his fiery amber eyes twitching between the man and the black. That belongs to the Lady! It is not his! the red projected with an angry squawk, spreading his wings in a posture that would have been impressive if they were not so small and fluffy.

It was in the middle of this display that N'raan padded back out of the cavern, his gaze immediately falling upon his Teimoph - to his eyes, his mind's eye, the simourv all but radiated heat, hot angry energy. His step wavered slightly, but then he was striding forward toward the group Teimoph stood amidst - the giant and his black, the new 'phoenix' and her gray - his bright amber gaze flicking from one to the next. He stopped a few paces off, settling his hands on his hips and arching a brow questioningly. "Th' hell y' all doin' t' piss Tei off? Ain' really th' smartes' plan 've action, y' know?"

Teimoph didn't even look at His as the man made his way over, the only indication that he was even aware of N'raan's presence was a slight twitch of his ears as he began to speak, and a smooth step to the side to place him nearer the man - near enough his lashing tail thumped against N'raan's legs. Teimoph didn't make any answer to His' question, simply continued to growl angrily.

[crow]

R'ths had smiled at L'nan as she introduced herself, happy to have made acquaintances with her. Seating herself on the floor beside the girl, the greenrider leaned against the cool surface of the wall as she kept a watchful eye on her energetic green. Eyes still trained on her Caidiph, the blonde accepted L'nan's gratitude with a nod. "Hey, don't worry about it, Lea. I'm sure you would've done the same as well if ever our roles were reversed."

R'ths had always considered herself to be somewhat of a professional when it came to judging the character of others. Having spent her childhood with a wide array of strange and interesting individuals, the girl had somehow developed the skill of being able to determine another's personality just by spending a short amount of time with them. When she was younger, upon first meeting someone, she would jot down everything about a person just so she could understand them better. But as she grew older it just sort of came naturally to her, and that was how she was able to tell that Lea, at her very core, was a kind and nurturing type of person. The tawnyrider was a typical parental figure, capable both of great love and even greater anger.

The thought of seeing the slightly flustered girl before her going into a rage amused R'ths. Although she would still pity the poor soul stupid enough to incur such a wrath, there was no denying that she would find his or her plight highly amusing. Not even bothering to hide her smirk, R'ths just hoped that she wouldn't be the one on the receiving end. Completely immersed with her own thoughts, R'ths almost missed L'nan's passive comment about the red that had injured her.

To be honest, R'ths had expected the other girl to be more upset with the entire ordeal, the fact that L'nan wasn't simply threw her off. Turning so that she now faced her fellow rider, R'ths took a few moments to study the girl's expression, her gaze searching. When she realized that the girl truly held no grudge against her attacker, she decided to let the subject drop. After all, there was no use in crying over spilt milk. Sighing, R'ths shot her companion another wry smile. "Personally, I think you're too forgiving." Mind wandering elsewhere, R'ths hand unconsciously drifted towards her right shoulder, her fingers dancing lightly along the beginning of the scar that had long since marred skin on her back. Her blue-green eyes clouded over as she recalled a painful experience, her lips pulled to form a tight, cynical smile. "I guess we're just different like that."

While her bonded continued to make small talk with the other rider, Caidiph had taken it upon herself to keep her sister company hoping to gain another playmate. The green simourv had been content to wait for the larger tawny to finish her meal - she would wait as long as it took if it meant that she would get to play later - when she sensed a dark vibe emitting from her rider. Anger rolled off of Hers in waves, and the hatchling could almost see the suppressed rage bursting to be let out. Caidiph let out a timid croon as she carefully walked up to her rider, not daring to call out for fear of drawing that vortex of negative emotion onto herself. Slowly, gently, the smallest of the hatchlings wound herself around Hers and nudged R'ths with her beak. Having received no response from her bonded, Caidiph quietly called out to her rider, not a trace of childishness could be detected in her speech. Come back, Mine. It is dark where you are. Your Caidiph cannot follow you there. Come back, Mine. Come back to your Caidiph.

At first, Caidiph was afraid that Hers would not respond again, she feared that she had lost Hers to the dark cloud that was her rider's hatred. Her fears turned out to be unfounded however, when R'ths flashed the green chick an apologetic smile and gave her an affectionate pat. Caidiph, being the naturally cheerful and easily exited simourv that she was, began to prance around having sensed that her bonded had returned to normal. Watching her simourv's antics, R'ths laughed as the green tripped over her own feet, falling flat on the floor. At the sound of her riders laughter, Caidiph let out her own trill of laughter. She decided that if falling down was what it took to cheer Hers up, the green chick would gladly play the fool in order to do so. Caidiph paused to stare at Hers briefly before she quickly dashed to her rider's side again.

Thankful for having her simourv by her side, R'ths turned her attention once again towards L'nan. Though the girl's eyes were still shining with laughter, R'ths offered the tawnyrider a guilty smile, ashamed that she had acted in such a way in front of the other girl. "Sorry for spacing out on you. I tend to do that at times. I'm not always like this though!" Having said her piece, R'ths then turned to look down at the simourv beside her, a smile tugging on the corner of her lips as she did so. For some reason, she could no longer imagine what her life would be like without the childish Caidiph by her side.

[winged]

Laraph's genial mood seemed to hit a substantial snag, as an indignant Teimoph snatched hungry Dionyph's meal from the black's hungry beak. I'dou's reaction was sudden, a meaningless cry of disapproval matched with a dark look for the petty red. Laraph's was slower to build, a quiet hiss that swelled as she fed off of her rider's disgruntlement, eyes bearing down on the red with silent disapproval, piercing for all that she refrained from squinting them into a raptorial glare. 'It is mine to give, Teimoph.' Her feathers still lay smoothly against her sleek body, her stride as graceful as her awkward newborn symmetry allowed, as a taloned paw came to rest solidly atop the bucket Teimoph had wrongfully taken, her beak hovering just inches with him as she leveled a chiding look at him. 'It is not yours to take.' It was a gentle rebuke, but the steel lay just beneath the surface. She would not tolerate further misbehavior while he remained in her presence.

I'dou cut an almost humorous figure, compared to Laraph's measured, confident rebuttal. With her feathers ruffled, she turned on Ri'ley with undeserved heat. "You should've!” She seemed to embody all of the untethered emotion Laraph kept in line, the outburst tailored to an undignified squawk as I’dou rounded on the black rider. Her anger was scathing, but brief - as though realizing she was letting her feelings get in the way of logical judgment, I’dou recoiled back into her defensive stance. Shoulders hunched, arms crossed and then re-crossed over her chest as she glared instead at some incongruous score on the ground, likely made by simourv feet as they crossed the threshold into safer territory. She wasn’t angry at Ri’ley - she was ANNOYED, certainly. But she wasn’t angry, and she needed no mild rebuke from her simourv to realize that.

Just observing Laraph and the way she neatly handled intense situations fostered enough guilt for I’dou to attempt a fumbling apology. “…at least you were helping people.” A grudging compliment, if one could decipher it. Or if one could even hear it, as the words seemed to balance on the cusp of human hearing. Mumbled, too, and heavy still with the exasperation she felt, and attempted to restrain. Stupid males and their ego games! ‘They mean well, though. I’m proud of you, we will do good things.’ Laraph bespoke her quietly, a tendril of mist separating itself from the river of consciousness and weaving affection and pride throughout I’dou’s mind. She knew that it was troubling hers to refrain from simply shutting them out, and the Gray encouraged it. Hope dawned eternal in the hatchling’s downy chest - things would turn out well!

Bolstered by that, I’dou settled long enough that N’raan’s careless insult was buffeted with a sharp glance, and sharper words. “I could ask the same of you, stupid. You left him here by himself, what did you expect us to do when he came over here of his own free will?” She heavily emphasized those words, as if scolding a child. She would treat him how he wanted to be treated, and clearly he had no desire for respect. Laraph chittered her amusement at the barbed thoughts. There was humor lurking there, somewhere beneath the veil of indulgent contempt.

[Kat]

Teimoph was being quite melodramatic, Dionyph thought, as well as being a sore loser. If the situation were to be reversed, Dionyph was sure he would have accepted Laraph’s alternative affection much more gracefully, or at least Dionyph believed that he would have been a better player, a calmer and more disciplined adversary. Dionyph shook his head, his feathers bristling along his neck and face, to show that he thought the other hatchling was incorrect. Did Teimoph have any understanding of the concept of chivalry? Of sacrifice? Of devotion? Dionyph thought that the red hatchling did not; as if he did he would understand those concepts, he would know the beauty of Dionyph’s gift and promise. The feather would grow back in time, and it would not hinder the hatchling’s flight for a long enough period of time to cause a problem. In fact, the feather might not affect Dionyph’s flight in any manner, especially since the hatchling had a good understanding of his body, even at such a young age, and had known which feathers not to remove. Dionyph would be able to protect Laraph no matter what, and he always would protect her until the day he died.

Although Dionyph was calm and controlled in demeanor, and not particularly aggressive or temperamental, when the red hatchling took the meat, Dionyph puffed himself out again, straining his feathers into a raised arrangement, and he released a long, guttural hiss. The red had crossed a line, and Dionyph would not stand for it. Dionyph lunged towards the stolen meat. He did not move to attack Teimoph directly, but the black’s lunge was indiscriminate in its path. He snapped with his beak, narrowly missing Teimoph’s feet, as he stole back his food.
A true knight does not take what is not his.
Dionyph snarled into Teimoph’s brain. The tone of the black hatchling was sharp, cold, and tight. The black hatchling’s fury was different in kind to the anger of the red hatchling. While the red was filled with sound, and aggression, Dionyph’s anger was controlled and tense, but in his own quiet way, the black’s displeasure radiated from his movements and words as a tight, unspoken threat.
I am not the kind of creature who turns down a gift and ignores a command. While I have the ability to get my own food, refusing the lady’s gift would have been rude and inappropriate towards her.
Dionyph replied, and while his answers had sounded explanatory before, now his reply held a subtle, chilly edge of scorn. After he spoke, Dionyph turned to Laraph again, and dropped his head into an apologetic, submissive half-bow.
I am sorry for my display of anger.
Dionyph said to Laraph, and his eyes did reflect an apologetic expression. He hoped that the lady would not hold it against him. He hoped that Laraph would forgive his display and remember that he could be a controlled and insightful warrior for her.

As Ri’ley watched the interaction between the three hatchlings, he felt his own anger begin to mount into an outright rage. He was already emotionally vulnerable. He was already tired, stressed, and excited, and so his emotion swelled more quickly than it would have otherwise. His hands begin to shake as he fed his simourv, from tiredness and fury. But despite his anger, Ri’ley ignored the red hatchling’s comment, not even turning to look at the awful creature as he continued to feed Dionyph. When the red batted the meat from Ri’ley’s fingers, the man only flinched. He did look at the Teimoph. He did not look up. He did not react, because the little red hatchling wanted a reaction. With calmness and precision, Ri’ley picked up the thrown chunk of meat, and fed it to Dionyph for a second time. But when N’raan approached, Ri’ley lost the control he had of his caln, and Ri’ley stood, puffing his own chest out in a similar way to the manner Dionyph had earlier, without the feathers, and straightened his back and shoulders to his full height.
”Dionyph and I did nothing! Your Teimoph is just a horrible, cruel bully. Don’t you think he has done enough damage tonight? Don’t you think that you should be attempting to control your beast before he damages anyone else? You are an irresponsible pest, and you are letting your demon bully other candidates and other hatchlings.”
Ri’ley announced, but even though he spoke, his body, leaned forwards, looming over N’raan, showed that he planned to continue.
”Teagan, alone, is going to need over twenty stitches across her hip—all because your Tei is a dangerous, uncontrolled beast.”
The words erupted from Ri’ley’s mouth, and his usual calm lilt was replaced with a burst of angry fire. Ri’ley could not believe N’raan’s gall. The man was an idiot and a pest himself, and as his abandonment of Teimoph showed, very irresponsible. Ri’ley had spent all morning fixing the problems caused by the rider and simourv pair. In response to the situation, Dionyph stood up, slipped to Ri’ley’s side, and matched his rider’s puffed, aggressive stance perfectly. They looked so similar, standing like that, like two members of a team, as their dark coloring and stance matched.
Mine, I think we need to let them be. I am not injured, and it is best if we do not make a scene in front of the phoenix and the queen. Besides, you do not need to be worked up; you have lots still to do.
Dionyph relayed to his rider even though the hatchling remained loyally by the man’s side. The black’s words, though, made sense, and almost immediately, Ri’ley began to force himself to calm down. It was difficult to manage his temper, but Ri’ley had some control. The flush began to melt away from his cheeks, and the prickly hair on the back of his neck began to lay flat again.

Dionyph turned to Laraph, who had been so kind to support him, and his face perked into an expression of thanks and love. His eyes danced with pleasure and excitement, and he cooed lowly, a soft, affectionate noise.
Thank you, Laraph, you are too good to me.
Dionyph replied. He moved to brush against the other hatchling, but before he could nuzzle her, he decided that such an action would be inappropriate and would display that he did not respect Laraph’s space, so instead he shrank back and bowed his head again. When I’dou reprimanded Ri’ley, the large man turned to her, his face reddening again, and he cowed down, recoiling into a stooped, submissive, and humiliated stance. He looked apologetic, like he was a small child being scolded by his mother, and his appearance was almost comical, as his large body expressed a sense that he should not submit to anyone.
”I know. I’m very sorry.”
Ri’ley replied, his voice sounding every bit as apologetic as his stance conveyed. As I’dou continued to speak, Ri’ley’s stance just became more hunched, saddened by her mumbled statement and intimidated by its implications.
”I haven’t helped people enough.”
Ri’ley mumbled, and his shoulders bore the weight of the tasks to come, of the work that needed to be done. Ri’ley felt that he had been completely useless in aiding the other candidates. He had done so little, and he still needed to do so much. The girls, who had been hurt, were still hurt, and until the hatching officially ended, Ri’ley could do nothing else. He hated feeling so useless and so helpless. In response to his rider’s sudden wave of self pity, Dionyph nudged against Ri’ley’s leg, his head stroking the man’s knee slowly in a comforting way. Ri’ley dropped his gaze from I’dou to stare at the hatchling with a mixture of awe, devotion, and appreciation, as he let one of his large hands drop to Dionyph’s head where Ri’ley slipped his fingers under downy black feathers.
No, mine, you are useful and you have done well by the injured. They would have been much worse off without you. You have a good heart, and you will some day make a good leader.
The black stated. The riders of blacks were leaders, and Dionyph had faith that his rider would fill the role with grace. Dionyph would not have bonded to Ri'ley without those traits, otherwise.

[Bre]

Reading between the lines . . .

When the Peasant blue realized that he was the last hatchling on the sands, he straightened with a start. Normally, he wouldn't have cared, preferring to take his time as was only proper. However, he saw how important the hatching was as an event. Everyone was waiting on him! He didn't want that kind of attention. He was much happier plodding along in the background. Why else would he have been born a blue? If he was meant for attention, he would have been born a red or a black or a rainbow. The Peasant blue was a simourv who was very comfortable in his position, content to do what good he could do for the world from the background. What really got to him was the idea that he was the center of attention right then. He was making everyone wait! How rude of him! They all must have been as sleepy and hungry as him! Oh, how horrible!

Hungry and agitated, the blue hurried forward. His dark, greenish amber eyes scanned the crowd over and over. He couldn't see anything. He couldn't feel anything. What was taking so long? Where was his rider? Was she or he out where Talmaph and Romaph had found theirs? Oh my, did he not even know what gender his rider was supposed to be? No, wait, he knew that. He wanted a boy. Even though there were more girls left, he wanted a boy. Maybe that was the problem. There were only seven candidates left huddled on the sands. It really shouldn't have been that hard, but he continued to stride back and forth, looking them over again and again. He was hungry, his belly rumbling its complaints. All he wanted to do was lie down and rest. His legs felt tired and heavy. He'd been on the sands for a while. It was hot.

Then, at long last, he found his rider. He'd been there all along, one of the last boys. He'd just gotten stressed. How silly of him! That was why it was better to take it slow. Je'ce! Your Nasyeph finally found you! He nudged his rider's leg gently before flopping down in front of him to rest. His belly gave another grumble of protest. He had every intention of listening to it. I need food. Like meat. Or nuts. Ooh, what do they have? I'm really, really hungry. I'm sure its going to be good; he chattered, eyes lighting up at the idea of what he would get to eat. He did still need to go see if Akaturiaph was okay, but that could wait until he had eaten. If he starved to death, he would be no good to anyone. Noble of motivation, happy of heart, he was possibly the most complexly simple person. He did have such shiny, bright blue feathers too. How wonderful for him.


208EF3 - chivalrous, lazy, playful, loves to eat

With that, the hatching was over. Twenty-five bondings. A full twenty-five new riders, more than there already was. Now they just had to learn how to do the job with which they had just inadvertently landed themselves for the rest of their lives. Letting out a small, self satisfied sigh of relief at the sight of the last little hatchling bonding, Ro'za straightened. Eceph was already moving forward as well, her children safely bonded. She had picked herself up and was nudging at the egg shards that littered the sands, cleaning them up. The Phoenix, leaving her simourv to her diligent cleaning, smiled out at the eyrie. Her people. Her riders. Her folk. Her winglets. All hers and, for once, didn't it feel great! "There will be a feast tonight;" she called out, voice cutting through the air, gathering their attention. It was the middle of the morning.

"In the meantime, candidates, please go with Ts'kal." There were only six of them left. Six left and two had been chosen from the crowd. Ro'za stored that thought away for later, nodding towards the candidatemaster for emphasis. "Winglets, congrats, please go with K'huna. He''ll work our your barrack assignments. Your hatchlings will most likely want to sleep now. You can all move later, before the feast. Everyone else, back to work! The fun starts later." She gave them all a shrug and a smile. That was that. Eceph continued with her cleaning. To both of them, the end was anticlimactic and that was for the best. They had things to get done before the feast tonight, the feast that the cooks were already working hard to prepare. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten yet. Despite that, she remained where she was for a while longer.

M'rion had already set a bowl of food in front of Romaph. The green slowed down slightly as she ate. She was beginning to grow tired, quickly burning what energy she had built up after sleeping in her egg for so long. With the green preoccupied with food and unlikely to run off, she finally turned around and scanned the crowd of winglets that had formed outside. Sure enough, there was G'rael, picking his way through the crowd with Talmaph. She hurried towards them. I'll be right back, Romaph, with friends; she told the green, who replied with a trill and continued to eat with her ever present gusto. Don't choke; the winglet added with a mental laugh, finding it easy to talk to the green that way at least, though she still stumbled with the words. Dodging easily around the dramas the others were putting on, she reached G'rael quickly.

M'rion could hear the Phoenix shouting so she hurried, gently tapping the boy on his shoulder. "I think we have to go in just a minute. Come on, I can help feed Taly. No need for you to trip or cut yourself or anything;" she drawled, grinning from ear to ear, falling comfortably back into her own skin. She wrapped her arm around the other winglet's shoulders, still ignoring the protective presence of his simourv. She wasn't going to abandon G'rael. She would always be running, but he was her friend and she was going to look out for him, better than some socially clueless blue, no matter how adorable Talmaph was. "Imagine what it's gonna be like when they can fly." She was chattering, but she did it with purpose and there was a distinct reverence in her voice at that thought. Flying was the only thing that could match running to her.

. . . of what you say and what you said.

[Kilnarak]

Teimoph actually flinched under Laraph's disapproval - her size didn't frighten him, nor the implicit threat, but her disapproval distressed him. He didn't want for his queen to dislike him! He had only been doing what he felt was right, what he felt was for her own good - didn't she understand? A queen couldn't give up her sustenance, not to anyone! Not to a big gloating fool of a knight like Dionyph and not to a warrior like himself! A small questioning growl escaped him, and his tail curled about His' legs. But it isn't his, was all the answer he gave the gray, biting back on the argument that he wanted to give. She wouldn't understand, she didn't understand, and he was beginning to realize, if only vaguely, that the queen did not know everything, that she was not flawless. The realization distressed him and his young mind flinched away from it, shoving the thought back and locking it away - he couldn't deal with it right now.

The red's feathers ruffled as Dionyph addressed him again, a surge of anger rising off of him at the black's remarks. I never claimed to be a knight, he replied snappishly, flexing his claws in the dirt and coiling his tail more tightly about His. You made that claim, I did not. I do not make pretensions toward being greater than I am, he hissed, withdrawing further - he didn't wear uncertainty well, and suddenly he was tired of dealing with his siblings. They were all fools, the lot of them.

Teimoph coiled possessively about His' legs, not exactly sulking although he glared balefully at everything. I do not want to be here any longer, N'raan. They understand nothing, his voice rumbled in N'raan's mind, even as he curled a bit tighter about His' legs. N'raan's hand fell absently to his red's head, ruffling the feathers at the back of the creature's neck - he didn't look at Teimoph, his attention focused first on I'dou, and then on Ri'ley. A familiar mask had fallen across his features, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Y' call m' stupid, an' I'm na' th' one baitin' him. Y' ain' real smart yerself, girly, don' pr'ten' otherwise," he snorted derisively, his gaze flicking from the girl to the giant and back. He didn't care much for her, Phoenix or no - her new rank meant little enough to him. Would she kill him for stepping out of line? Would she cast him out? He doubted it. The Eyrie needed riders, and now that he was among their number he was protected by that fact.

His gaze twitched back to Ri'ley as he felt Teimoph's hold about him tightening as the creature tensed, a low hiss issuing from his beak. N'raan's own hands flexed into and out of fists, and he grinned broadly at the man - baring all his teeth in a mix of threat and amusement. "Don' look like nothin'. Are y' sure y've got firm hol' on th' reins 've yers, Gian'?" He snorted again at the man's comments - listing injuries like they were something he would care about. The man was a hypocrite - he hadn't been paying any attention to his hatchling either; N'raan had spied him both within the sands earlier without his creature in tow, and when he had come back out and padded toward the group, the giant had seemed more concerned with talking to the pretty new Phoenix than looking after his bond.

His lips slowly curled into a sneer, holding the expression of disgust, and his fingers flexed tight in the feathers at the base of Teimoph's neck. The red was right, these people were tiresome. And if they remained much longer, either he or Teimoph (or maybe both) would attack Ri'ley - while he doubted the Phoenix would see him cast out or slain for minor offenses, for fights, he doubted he could get away with murder. At least, not while everyone else was watching. He slowly smoothed the expression from his face, nudging Teimoph away from his legs so that he could move. Before he left, however, he cast another smile at the pair, overly sweet and entirely insincere. "Mayb' this place could use th' bullyin'. Th' lot 've y' are t' sof'," he laughed then and turned away, padding slowly toward a more solitary vantage. Teimoph remained behind him a moment, glaring at Ri'ley and Dionyph, before he turned and followed.

N'raan heard Ro'za's instructions, and after he was sure he was alone save for Teimoph - having moved a good distance away from the other winglets - he scowled. He didn't want to deal with these people anymore, he didn't want to deal with K'huna. He wasn't sure exactly what he wanted to do, but getting away seemed like a good idea right about now. "C'mon Tei," he muttered at the red, who had fallen into a sullen silence. The two began to pick their way away from the other winglets, not moving to follow K'huna but wandering away on their own. N'raan would figure out where he was going when he got there - someplace quiet, alone. He did glance briefly toward Kenii as he made his way - but the boy wasn't looking, instead seeing to his green.

---

T'gan flinched slightly as she had been set down upon a ledge, but she nodded her thanks to Ri'ley before he moved off to see to something else. Othokenph whined on the ground below, pushing up onto his hindlegs and leaning up to nose at T'gan's side. I can't reach, Mine! How am I supposed to help down here? He whimpered and dropped down back to all fours, pacing back and forth beneath the short ledge and staring up at His worriedly. T'gan dropped her hand over the side, and the blue immediately nuzzled his beak into it.

"Don't worry, Oth. I'm... I'll be fine," she smiled down at her blue - although there was a hint of worry in her eyes as well. She could feel that Othokenph was hungry, and she knew she should be feeding him - but the food buckets were well out of reach given her current position. Her little blue hadn't said anything about his hunger, and she worried he might starve himself, trying to look after her. When one of the medics came to begin cleaning the sand out of her wounds, T'gan stopped the woman, asking her if she could bring some of the food first. The woman blinked at her, momentarily confused, then smiled reassuringly and nodded, calling an assistant to do that while she began seeing to T'gan's injuries. This done, T'gan relaxed slightly, trying not to flinch under the ministrations of her healer.

The bucket was brought and set down near the blue Othokenph, who only eyed the food a moment, distressed, and whined all the louder. The little simourv tried to push his way between the medic and His, trying to lean up again so he could see what the woman was doing - only to be shoo'd back down. Eat, my Oth. It will help, T'gan thought to the blue, hoping he understood. She felt a wave of concern and guilt in response, but no words. Othokenph did turn his attention toward the bucket, nosing disconsolately at the meat. He didn't want it! He wanted His! But she had told him to eat, it would help, and he was hungry... Tentatively the little simourv took a small piece in his beak and swallowed it whole. Then, with a bit more enthusiasm he took another, and another as his stomach made clear just how hungry he was. Soon his head was stuck within the bucket, the paler blue feathers on his chest dotted with crimson splotches.

T'gan would have laughed at the sight, if she wasn't distracted by the ministrations of her doctor. Once the wounds were cleaned and closed and bandaged, then would she be able to walk? Or should she still remaining prone? She worried at this, not wanting to have to be carried to and fro like some invalid. I can carry you! Othokenph chirped, his head still shoved in the bucket. T'gan smiled, turning her head to peer down at the blue. Maybe when you're bigger, Oth.

[Cy]

[/i]... and somehow, she had not bonded. It didn't even feel possible, but the reality was forcing its way through her thick head. She had not bonded, her lifemate had not been of such a massive clutch. If she thought she'd been unprepared for the blood and the fear, she'd certainly not been prepared for that possibility. She felt alone and her heart felt shattered.

She managed to focus on the grand voice of the Senior Pheonix as it cut through the fog, taking in the orders offered and zeroing in on those directed to the candidates. Because that's all she was, still just a candidate while those that she'd learned and prepared with were able to move on without her. She made a pointed effort to avoid looking to G'len and Alianph as she lifted a hand up to wipe her eyes childishly, turning to glance to the exit where all the new winglets had gone. So many familiar faces, tear streaked and happy as they fed their sleepy simourv. She didn't want to have to walk through them, rejected where they had been accepted. She could only hope that K'huna moved them elsewhere first or that Ts'kal knew an alternative route to get out of there. She just wanted to get back to her bed, curl up tight on the top bunk and try her best to forget about this day. She didn't feel like celebrating.

But she managed to suck it up despite the tightness of her throat. She brought her hands together to lightly clap with the rest of the spectators. There was a sharp inhale through her mouth, but she suppressed the sob fluidly as she twisted around to seek out the rainbowrider that would apparently serve as her candidatemaster for quite a time longer. And she shoved a smile to the corners of her lips with all the strength that she could muster, though it still appeared rather weak when her usual brightness was considered, and she marched over to the man as they'd been directed.


T'ia's head perked up when she heard the Pheonix shouting, her dark eyes wide and her lips grew in a calm smile as she looked down to her slumbering Shovaph, curled delicately at her feet in the light doze that she'd been unable to hold off. They'd been the first to walk off the sands and the new winglet felt a sense of pride in that fact, a certain sort of honour with being the first candidate chosen. It had felt so effortless, she'd simply arrived and it had been done. Her ego soared.

The hatchling had managed to daintily eat her fill long before the last of her siblings had bonded and, while she'd loathed to drop to the ground to sleep, exhaustion had demanded it of her anyways. Tenderly, slender fingers wove their way through the soft green downy so she could feel over the muscle far beneath. 'Shovaph, love, it's over. We can go somewhere that we can better take a nap.' Her nudgings filtered smoothly into the chick's mind and those dull brown eyes blearily opened a crack, peering around her to the sudden appearance of the rest of her siblings in their entirety. She closed them for another moment, a sleepy croon slipping from her throat as she picked her head up, blinking lazily a few times as she cleared her head, shifting her small frame around as best she could to fit her ideal of a lady-like posture.

'It is about time," she grumbled to her lifemate, focusing on a level just above the heads of her siblings rather than right at them. If she looked at them, she'd see their flaws and she didn't have time for such imperfections right now. She was too tired. 'Punctuality is important, T'ia.' She snipped in response to the woman's chuckle and the winglet could only nod along. 'Absolutely,' she returned pleasantly, her own gaze focusing on each of the former candidates that surrounded her, taking them in with her usual ulterior consideration. And she didn't mind the imperfections that her simourv seemed so upset with, she liked them all the more for them.


Off to the side, as alone as he could get in a renewed crowd, Ze'el continued to suppress the urge to kneel down and bury his face in the red feathers of his Dareph. Instead, he proved content with the steady weight leaning against his side, his hand still resting among the downy, and a part of him was no longer sure if the simourv was leaning against him or he was propped against the male instead. The red took it all in with his usual silence, lifting his head from his bowl of meats to acknowledge each one of his siblings that joined them. Exhaustion was beginning to tug at him, but he was determined to finish off what he'd been given. A warrior needed his energy and the meat would give that. A full stomach would give him the strength to grow big and strong, bigger even than the Kingly giant he already was.

Quietly, the winglet's stomach growled and Dareph picked his head up to look up to the man. He cocked his head at a curious angle. 'You should eat. It is important that we keep our strength up, Ze'el.' Glancing down to the red, the former farmhand wasn't certain what to do with the encouragement. Normally, he'd have already eaten a quick breakfast before heading out to feed the rest of the animals under his care. His eyes lifted to look to the entrance into the nesting sands, where the Pheonix had spoken, before looking back to the red chick with an awkward pause beating between them. "We'll go somewhere for you to sleep first," he muttered, the nod of his head a slight accompaniment. "I'll eat soon."

Dareph wasn't sure he approved of the idea of his Ze'el waiting to eat just so he could sleep. His warm brown eyes remained up on the man's face, imploring and proud and so very tired. And finally, he conceded and turned away, dropping his head back down to continue scarfing down what was left in his bowl. It would simply be his responsibility to make sure His ate full and hearty as soon as he awoke and he would not fail in this.[/ul][/size]

[maiwolf]

[/i] did Ol’ia feel? She felt spectacular, but she felt so, so tired, as well. It was as if her very being was linked with Weirph’s, because she was not tired. She’d just woken up. And she felt energy course through her veins as she thought about her life with Weirph. She was excited, and Weirph was tired. That made her laugh gently as she pushed her rainbow’s feathers up and down, back and forth, and generally wondered over the small feathers, which were colored beautifully in the most stunning rainbow she’d seen. Darker red started at Weirph’s face, right after her mask, and trailed through the ROY G BIV spectrum until her tail, where it ended with the most spectacular color of blue she’d ever seen. She fiddled with the rainbow’s small wings, incredibly small, and wondered how those wings would someday be strong enough to hold the rainbow as well as her.

Then she thought of Aburo and Ts’kal, and realized that one day she and Weirph would be just like them. She would rule the skies on Weirph’s back, and even though she would not be as magnificent as Eceph, or that new gray-rider (was it Ichiduo?), her Weirph would certainly put the rainbow into the clear skies. A smile spread across her pale, young face as she wondered about how Weirph would turn up as she aged. Then she nudged Weirph awake, “Come on, sleepy-head. Up and at ‘em, love! Time to go see Mr. K’huna!”

Weirph blinked sleepily awake, and nodded, Okay, She said as she yawned, I’ll go, I’ll go. She wasn’t particularly cheerful now, as she’d just woken up, and she couldn’t think of any jokes to just waking up at that moment. She yawned again, and scrambled to her feet, But I’m tired still. There’s somewhere for me to sleep, yes? “Of course, Weirph!” Ol’ia declared, and stood up, pushing her simourv gently off her lap and testing her legs for sleepiness. They weren’t sleepy, and she walked, slowly and to the pace of Weirph’s small legs, to where K’huna stood.

---

G’rael picked his sloppy, slow way around the crowd who, though they tried parting for him, didn’t really help him out. Moving through crowds in an unknown place was much easier than being in the middle of a big, open space because at least he could feel when the crowds ended. Talmaph stood strongly beside him, and the new rider realized that he didn’t need to use others—other humans that is—to move through places now. The little blue chirped, and surged onward, still awkwardly lurching but slowly getting the hang of walking. I thought you weren’t going to be there. Talmaph declared suddenly, and seemed to sense that this was not the time to say something like that, and fell into silence. The blue kept walking, and G’rael could finally pick up the scent of meat and… were those nuts? There’s… she’s coming again. Talmaph continued as if he had forgotten all about that little outburst, and he tensed. But G’rael’s firm hand rested on his head, “She’s fine, Taly.”

He could smell her before she tapped him on the shoulder, and though he tried to focus on her, there were too many other things going on, too much ruckus, and too little quiet. But Talmaph knew where she was, and he let out a small hiss as she wrapped herself around G’rael again, but he was ignored. Well, at least he was ignored by M’rion. As they trudged along, Talmaph was quite sure that, every chance he got, G’rael made sure the blue was still there by running his sensitive hands up and down the blue’s back. To feel the blue’s feathers underneath his hands was luxury, one he had never known before. He didn’t even have to see Talmaph to know he was beautiful, and if he’d never heard Talmaph, G’rael was sure he would have died.

M’rion’s words startled him out of his reverie. “Imagine what it’s gonna be like when they can fly.” She said, and G’rael found himself stumbling. Talmaph, though weak and hungry, never strayed from the new rider’s side, and G’rael felt his force as he tried to steady G’rael. On his other side, he could feel M’rion take some of his weight, and he quickly found his feet again, blushing profusely. He had always said he didn’t want a walking stick, one of those things that automatically point you out as a blind person; he’d always had a dog, and now, now he hoped he’d always have a blue to help him, as well. “Um, yeah, flying.” G’rael said, a bit choked from the surprise of her statement and the sudden failure of his feet. “I just wanna know how I’ll get through tonight, much less getting onto him and flying. Pardon me thinking only about me, but…” And G’rael smiled weakly as he gestured to his eyes (using the hand that wasn’t plastered to Talmaph).

Talmaph stopped him right before Romaph, telling him that Romaph was right there and eating. He then said that the food bowls were to the left, and that he was hungry, but don’t move if it meant that he’d get hurt, like she said. G’rael hesitated, and tried to smell for the food, but it was all over. He also tried to hear, but there was too much clinking. How was he going to get past tonight, if he couldn’t even feed his simourv this morning? “M’rion…? Sorry, but I am going to take you up on that offer. Where are the food bowls?”[/ul][/blockquote][/size]

[zeis]

K'huna had ushered the newly named winglets, and the wounded outside where servants and cooks had brought prepared buckets of meat and nut mash. He saw to it that each pair got a portioned amount for the chicks first meal, though there seemed to be some disagreement in the case of Teimoph who the wingletmaster spied stealing food out of the corner of his eye. He snorted at the willful red, though he could not blame him. Young reds were particularly out of control, especially fresh out of the egg. In time he figured the fiery simourv would calm, if only just, as his Canph had done. The man surveyed the feeding of his new class with a watchful eye, and a scowling smile of pride. Some of them did not like him, he could tell from the looks, and the tactless reactions of their bonded. That didn't matter. They didn't have to like him, they just had to learn what he had to teach.

He looked up at the Phoenix's command as she walked outside, and shot her a dutiful if casual salute to show it would be done. He pushed his hair back behind his ear, and reached out to Canph to show his intent. Once every simourv chick had eaten its fill, he called out over the din of eating and conversation. "Everybody up, we're moving out to the Winglet Barracks. You're simourv fought like hell to get out of those eggs, and they're going to need to sleep that food off. Try and keep them awake till we get to your rooms." His voice was authoritative, and held the weight of a command though he sounded civil enough. "Those with smaller chicks, if they fall asleep, just carry them if you can. All the wounded will be taken by healers to the infirmary, and we'll set you up in your rooms later once you've healed up a bit." Canph spoke encouragingly into the new chicks minds, his tone surprisingly gentle when it came to children. Please stay awake, little ones. There are beds for you where you're going, and they are much nicer than the ground. The man allowed them some time to get themselves up and ready and their simourv roused enough to start the march before leading the new class off and away from the nesting sands. His new class. The thought made him grin.

Canph slunk out of the nesting sands with a languid stretch of his front, then back legs. He gazed appraisingly over the new winglets with interest, enjoying their bright colors, and the wild clouds of their emotions. His brown eyes lit on one pair in particular, the thief he had helped catch in Saiyaie and his new bonded, a red that had shattered his own record of mauling upon hatching. His great head lifted to watch them stalk away from the group, before turning to aid his rider in ushering the winglets to their new quarters. Perhaps he would catch up with the troubled pair later.

~~~~~~~~~~~

K'ii had relented and allowed himself to be pushed and corralled outside to where the buckets of freshly butchered meat were kept waiting. He was used to being dragged around, and moved through life like a piece in a game by his brother. It was... a little different when your mover was a simourv, who it seemed had currently unlimited access to his mind. His strong sense of joy and completeness was mingled sparingly with a sense of invasion, having his thoughts and feelings laid strongly to bear before the volatile green hatchling. As their bond developed and their experience in dealing with it grew, he and the others would learn to control the connection that linked them eternally here after. But for now, Akaturiaph seemed to notice every little thing running through his head, and her snippy comments were an unstoppable and unmutable voice.

Still, despite the new difficulty that had presented itself, he couldn't help but crouch in wonder by his green as she tipped the bucket unceremoniously on its side and tore ravenously in the finely sliced and chopped meat that spilled out. The only other simourv he had seen quite this close before was Canph, and he had been too terrified to really examine the creature. While he had been nothing but afraid of the large red, he was stricken by love for her. He couldn't imagine that he had lived for 15 years, and not felt something this perfect before, this complete. As a boy he had loved his mother, and even now he loved his brother dearly, but this could not be compared to that. It was not even on the same scale. It was like a part of him, a second self he hadn't been aware he was missing until now. He felt whole. He felt strong.

Akaturiaph finished eating quickly, and retreated tightly to his side. She may have felt better for finding her rider, and having a full belly, but she was sure she could still find reason to be in a foul mood. Her dark gold eyes turned peevishly on the crowd around them, and she huddled closer to K'ii in a puffy display of ownership. This boy was hers, she was sure her siblings understood that, but she also felt a little out of place here. She didn't want to speak to these humans if she could help it, she felt no desire to. The simourv knew she would one day have relations with, but she was hesitant to speak with them. She wanted to spend time with her K'ii, to be alone with him and make sense of the bond that seemed to be confusing him. She did not want to have her own or her riders emotions on so easy display for the others. They were private things, their things.

She blinked her eyes a bit owlishly as she observed a quarrel going on between some of her larger siblings. The fight would have been interesting if not for the heavy weight of food in her belly. A nap would have been nice, though she was loath to fall sleep and not be there to watch her rider. What sort of things could he get into with her not around? Perhaps she'd sleep on him so he'd be there when she woke up. The idea pleased her. Her gaze turned to K'huna when he caught the crowd's attention, and while she was pleased that they'd be leaving and getting rooms, she felt some small apprehension in her rider. He didn't like this man for whatever reason. Whatever reason was a good enough reason for her.

Sticking almost smotheringly close to him, she followed as K'ii made his off after the Wingletmaster. The boy had heard some commotion earlier involving his brother, but now torn between Akaturiaph's emotions and his own, he was having difficulty locating him in the crowd. He walked distractedly, bumping into people as he scanned the crowd for his sibling. Where was Niraan?

[‡§åkørü‡]

Ts'kal watched the last simourv, a bright blue, as he wandered around the sands alone. Anticipating, the candidatemaster began trying to guess who the little one would pick, but failed utterly, having no idea what its personality might be. Still, his hands came together with a snap of applause as the hatchling at last chose Jervace, and the hatching officially ended. Aburoqaph threw back his head, and, just as happy as his rider, warbled excitedly. This was when Ro'za's call came, telling the candidates to go to the rainbowpair, and the two exchanged glances.

Ts'kal, grinning, slapped his bonded's neck and swung himself onto the bright feathers. C'mon, Aburo. Everyone's bonded, and here he frowned slightly, realizing the implications, so we should try to comfort those who didn't. Let's go. Beneath him, the great muscles bunched, and the rainbow launched himself off the ledge and down onto the sands, carefully avoiding landing on any eggshells, hatchlings, or people. This he managed fairly easily (being the smallest adult simourv in the entire Eyrie), and, landing neatly on the floor of the cave, looked around for stray candidates. They'll be picked next time, Mine. They're good, the rainbow murmured to his rider, apparently trying to reassure him. Already in need of it (though not nearly as much as the unchosen candidates), Ts'kal smiled and stroked his neck, swinging himself down to the ground. Yes, Aburo. They're very good. They'll be picked eventually, he reassured the simourv. Between the two of them, the rainbowpair was doing a reasonably good job of cheering themselves up.

Unfortunately, that slowly lightening mood was drowned immediately by the sight of Amira, returning with a crushed, forced smile on her face. The candidatemaster returned it, though his own was sad too, and it only disappeared when he noticed the multitude of cuts streaking her body. Ah, yes - he remembered that, now. Sradivaph had done it. "Amira," he greeted, striding forward to meet her, "you'll need to go to the infirmary for those, I should think." Halting, he waited for all of the other remaining candidates to arrive, and then stepped back so they could all see him. Behind him, Aburoqaph sat, towering over his rider, a solemn rainbow sentinel. "I imagine that most of you don't feel like attending the feast right now," he guessed, and smiled faintly before going on. "But whether you decide to go or not, I've got a few words to say to you all now. Come with me." Gesturing towards the entrance (of which there was only one), the candidatemaster tactfully had Aburoqaph walk between himself and the group of candidates, and the new winglets. He'd speak to them outside, where the disappointment, he hoped, wouldn't be so crushing as it was here.

---

M'rao and Seiliph had found their feed buckets with relative ease. The latter complained about how smashed the nuts were (didn't they know she wanted to tear them apart herself?), but otherwise had no real complaints regarding the food. M'rao, though, was extremely pleased. Sitting on the ground next to her tiny bonded, she ran her hand lightly over the iridescent feathers, and then set to work feeding Seiliph. She would have left the newborn to do it herself, but they were just bonded. Why not indulge them both a little? Besides, she had no quarrel with handling raw meat.

Passing her green a scrap of meat, M'rao smiled as the baby attacked it, snatching it from her fingers and gulping it down without bothering to swallow. "Easy, Seiliph," she murmured, and her simourv looked at her with demanding eyes. I don't want to go easy, M'rao! I'm hungry, and that stupid red made me all mad! Slapping her tail decisively against the ground, Seiliph tore into the next handful of meat Hers held for her, and then, refusing help, assaulted the bucket of mashed nuts too. Despite her vicious style, she was a surprisingly neat eater: she dropped only a couple small bits of food, and wasted little.

Within a few minutes, the little green had eaten all she wanted. She paused for a moment, considering the last scrap of meat in the bucket, and then looked at M'rao, flicking her tail slightly. Hold it for me, Mine? she finally inquired, and, laughing at her simourv, the winglet complied. Plucking the meat out of the bucket, she held it for her new bonded and laughed again as Seiliph took it daintily in her beak. Of course, it met the same fate as all the meat before it: buried in her belly, which was no doubt quite crowded by now.

And then, just a few minutes after the green had finished, K'huna shouted at all of them to get up. They, he informed them, were going to be installed in the winglet barracks (in which M'rao was now convinced she had always belonged). Exchanging mutual wry glances, the new greenpair rose together and, M'rao sashaying and Seiliph stumbling, headed after the redrider and Canph. Already the small green was tiring; she staggered first to one side, then the other, and crashed into Hers' legs several times. I'm sleepy, Mine, she mumbled, and the redhead lifted a brow. You're the one that ate so much, she pointed out, and was rewarded with a glare. But I had to get out of that egg first. Do you know how hard that is, when you're cramped up inside it? Seiliph demanded.

M'rao shook her head, and with a sigh, kept walking. A bit surprisingly, her green kept up, though she was weaving quite badly. Still, if Hers wouldn't carry her, she'd walk by herself! And she'd do it better than all the other hatchlings, too! She wouldn't be carried...even though she was falling asleep as she walked. I'm tired, M'rao. Let's get to our new home fast so I can sleep. And then, she trilled sleepily at the thought, when I wake up, we can meet my siblings. They'll be interesting, I'm sure.

M'rao, for her part, was happy with that idea. She'd hardly met anyone yet...and her simourv, like her, already wanted to push people's buttons. Or rather, she wanted to learn how to push people's buttons. She didn't necessarily want to actually anger them. Together, they'd figure out how! And then maybe the real fun could begin.

[/center]

[Bre]

Tell me, baby, do I look like the real thing . . .

M'rion felt a bit like smacking G'rael when he waved his hands at his eyes as way of an explanation. Was it wrong to want to smack a blind person? Quite possibly. Did she care? Not particularly. He was adorable, all pitiful like, but that didn't keep her from wanting him to make him buck up. That was how she dealt with her friends. She wouldn't change for anyone. Well, maybe Romaph, but she had fought long and hard for who she was. Lips pursed, frowning behind her wicked grin, she led him over to where she'd left her simourv and then released him, motions sharp enough to cut through the air like a butter knife. Trilling happily at the sight of her brother, Romaph, already quite full, having practically inhaled her food, started to prance around them all. Hi Talmaph! We should dance! Her rider glanced at her, but the brunette girl mostly kept eyes fixed upon G'rael.

Still, despite all of that, M'rion was patient in her own way. She didn't reply when he asked her about where the bowls were, mouth remaining shut tight. Instead, ignoring Talmaph as much as ever, content to wait until the blue got used to her until she acknowledged his existence, she reached over and took G'rael's hand in hers. Tugging firmly, she turned him around and then placed them squarely on top of what he wanted. "Right there;" she said softly, eyes intent on his face. She wasn't looking for a blush. She was looking for some hint of understanding that she wasn't going to ditch him. She wasn't going to let him wallow in his own self pity. They were the same boat and she refused to believe any different. If she could succeed at this, so he could he and she had absolutely no intention of failing at anything. She was in it to win it and have fun at it too.

Releasing his hands, M'rion turned around and then proceeded to burst out in laughter. Romaph didn't look like she was anywhere near ready to sleep, though she was growing tired. She was prancing around Talmaph, circling him joyfully, kicking up her feet in her exuberance. Glad to hear her rider happy, she came darting over, weaving herself around M'rion's feet. "Agh, Rom, stop it! You're gonna make me trip!" G'rael momentarily forgotten, she laughed her heart out. However, she really did trip, though only because she was trying to avoid her lovely green, not actually because the hatchling had tripped her. Still laughing, she tumbled over backwards, only to catch herself on Gabe, fingers quick as could be. She didn't lean on him too much, using his shoulders to simply pull herself back onto her feet. "Thanks;" she drawled, a chuckle in her voice.

Canph is calling! Let's go, go, go! Happy to see her rider safe but still as energetic as ever, Romaph was off like a shot, charging towards K'huna and his red. Sure enough, the wingletmaster was calling and M'rion turned to hear him, wanting to keep an eye on her simourv though she knew she would never be able to get the green to stay put. As soon as where they were going was confirmed, she grabbed G'rael's hand and took off running, pulling him after her. Come on, Talmaph! Let's go! Apparently utterly in step with her rider, Romaph came circling back, running along side the messenger girl. Feet confident, steps assured, M'rion pulled her bluerider friend along without question. She wouldn't let him trip and if Talmaph or K'huna had a problem with it, they had another thing coming to them. Namely, her. Romaph and her, the unstoppable force that they would be. Poor world.

. . . or would you change the color of my eyes.

[Lan]

Elan had spent much time lurking about the side of the hatching sands, watching others bond as she laid back on the sands. Part of her was a bit disappointed she didn't bond right away, she had to admit, but she was always a sort of late bloomer. That's what her commanding officer had called her from the moment she hit basic training on. She wasn't great at first, but she had heart. She had spirit and a diamond-hard will. That was enough, right? Well, it'd gotten her to where she was now. And she'd go further. While not the typical power-hungry type, Elan was sure she would impress. If those silly hunters and scientists could be found worthy, why shouldn't she?

Yet she had remained standing for a while after that thought. It had been some time, and several bondings had occurred, before one hatchling blue simourv careened right for her, as if he was blind to all but her. As he encircled around her, she stood still and unmoving except for a smile creeping across her face. Inside she was elated. That hole left by her mother's actions... by that man that had used her and left her... but all those meaningless flings and nights drinking... for a moment it was filled by the strong presence of this creature that curled protectively around her. He was strong despite his slender appearance, and larger than all but one of his blue siblings. And he knew it. This blue was a force to be reckoned with. And Elan liked that. She could respect that, and at the same time it made her feel safe to have him circled around her. Not that Elan never felt safe... it was just different with him.

'E'an... Your Kaslimeph needs food,' The voice came strong, like a command. She raised an eyebrow at him, eyes squinting at him. Were this how all simourvs were? Bossy? Yet, something about him commanded respect. And he was hers. She was his. While she wasn't keen on being bossed around, something deep inside her was overflowing with love and admiration. 'I'm glad I found you.'

'I'm glad you found me too... and that you didn't kill me.' E'an, too, was sincere, despite her morbid humor. She knelt down, for a moment showing her tender side as she wrapped her arms around his neck, heart overflowing with that joy that was indescribable except for perhaps that notion of feeling whole. Kaslimeph, at first, was confused. Why would he kill her? That's a stupid idea. But as she hugged him he sat up proudly, like a guard dog staring down the others to make sure they didn't get too close to him or his. Then E'an stepped back and grinned toothily, Kaslimeph in turn clicking his beak agreeably. 'Now let's get ya some food, eh? Can't have ya starving...'

It seemed shortly after Kaslimeph had finally had his fill that the Phoenix had proclaimed a feast and given quick directions. No sooner had she done so than the Wingletmaster, a man named K'huna or so the Phoenix had called him, were ushering them to the winglet barracks that E'an had helped ready not weeks before.

'Come, E'an... we must go.' Kaslimeph's voice came, tired but still holding much conviction and strength. He was sleepy, especially with all this food in his belly, and he longed for a nap. But, unlike some of his siblings, he was far too dignified to sleep on the sands and was eager to follow the orders given to him. He set off at an awkward trot, not bothering to check if his girl was following him as he was confident she was there. Sure enough, E'an followed after him. This new guy, this Wingletmaster, was much more direct than the Candidatemaster. He wasn't overly boisterous or cheerful and seemed more sure of his orders. The redrider, E'an thought, was much more like her commanding officer back in Chydyn. Not quite that strict, it seemed, but still not at all ridiculous. So far he had held some respect from her... whether or not he would keep it would be another story.


Alianph crooned encouragingly as his children now left the sands, although his eyes fell on particular to Amira. He remembered her. He had searched her, after all. While his children had found favor in most of the other candidates, and even a couple that hadn't actually been searched, she was left standing. Still, the black had no doubts about her. While she hadn't bonded in this hatching, he was still sure that she would bond. 'G'len...' He called out to his partner, who was currently noting with great enthusiasm all that had happened at the hatching.

The Senior Commander paused upon hearing the gentle tone of his large feathered friend's mental voice and looked to where Alianph's gaze was directed. It was all it took. He saw the girl from Itnala... the girl he and Alianph had searched before Eceph's flight. He hadn't really even talked to her since she had moved to the Eyrie. Things had moved so quickly and after Eceph's flight he had been busier than ever so that he hadn't had as much time to talk with the new occupants of the Eyrie. Amira was her name. Glancing around, G'len took off at a subtle jog to catch up to her before the candidates would leave with Ts'kal to resume their duties.

'Hey...' He began, nearly awkward as their first encounter had been. Only now he wasn't merely a rider, which had whether he liked it or not developed some more confidence within him. 'Hello,' The brunette called again, touching her on the shoulder in a comforting way for a moment and then removing himself from her personal space again. He smiled kindly, blue-gray eyes searching her light blue ones that had once been full of so much cheer. Now they were sad. It removed some of the brightness of his grin.

'Tell her I still think she's good,' Alianph told him, nodding in their direction before removing his attentions to watch his mate as she diligently cleaned the nesting sands. Looking in the direction of the black King, G'len nodded, then continued, 'Alianph wanted me to tell you that he's still sure about you,' His eyes glanced back at her, 'So don't give up hope... okay?' At this his smile gained its brightness again, and he glanced over at Ro'za who was giving orders, as always, and then toward the winglets and those who were leaving to make their own preparations as well. 'I have to go... but I'll see you at the feast?' He paused just long enough to hear her reply.


Meanwhile, a small green was doing acrobatics in the sky and crooning in excitement. Her rider was somewhere on the ground, amidst the other simourv riders who had come to watch the show, but she didn't care about that right now. They babies were here! They were so lovely! And they were smaller than her, that was the most wonderful part.

'Eceeeeph!' She called to her gray sister, settling to perch on one of the rims and watching her as if she were the most glorious being in the world. 'They are lovely babies, Eceph. You make lovely babies, yes.' No sooner had she called out her compliment was she in the air again, coming to land outside the nesting sands on the way to the winglets' barracks. 'Welcome to the world, little ones! Let your auntie Liliph know when you want to play!' After exclaiming her excitement to all the new hatchlings she took off yet again, crooning prettily at Canph before making her way back to where her rider had been standing to watch the event.

'Wasn't that exciting, Liliph? I think I'm ready for bed now... To have such excitement after night watch makes me feel like I'm about to pass out.' Yawning, Fe'ra climbed aboard her waiting simourv that, while also tired, still had some residual energy left over from the hatching, 'Besides... there's just preparations going on right now... nothing too incredibly interesting that requires our attention for the moment.' 'Yes, yes... Fe'ra and Liliph must sleep before the party for the little ones. Can you imagine the fun? It shall be like a tree laughing in the wind with all of its brother and sister trees... except we're simourvs and not trees. Off we go!' The green simourv cooed again to her gray sister before leaping into the sky to take herself and her rider back to their eyling to get some much needed rest before the feast later that night.