HOME FIRES MISTS LIFEBLOOD SPOKES
We open to the candidates, shortly after lunch, discussing how bad the morning's klah was...
Maraczek grins. "That bad?" On the Sands, Arthan sneaks off real quiet-like. On the Sands, Arthan climbs up into the Stands. Arthan makes his way through the bleachers. You say "You have NO idea. I think they dumped citron in it." Catalina looks around as all the Candidates start appearing. "Ahh..hi everyone?" Kyliven makes a face, then waves to T'dry on the Sands. She gets up from her high perch and moves down to join her compatriots. "Everyone get a break at once?" On the Sands, Avroth looks up at those in the stands, untwining somewhat from his usual adjacent-to-Irianth position. His eyes whirl a pale hue of inquisitiveness. Sarai listens to the klah talk as she slips in. Silent, she leans on the railing and takes a look. You say "Seems like it, Ky. But then it is midday. Although why we're not sleeping.." Laurene flumps down in a seat. "If I see another sack of flour, I will go loudly insane." Kyliven grins. "Why sleep when you can look at the eggs?" She gestures out at the Sands, and at the eggs which Irianth has yet again moved. "And I get to keep my dessert tonight, too!" she crows. Catalina sighs as she glances around with eyebrows lifted almost to her hairline, wrinkling her nose. "Geez." She makes her way towards her usual place in the Stands..front bleacher, near the railing..and makes herself comfortable. On the Sands, T'dry looks around with a smile, walking a few hotfooted paces towards the stands. "Rysa's not around. Wanna sneak on for a quick closer look?" Arthan stands a little apart from the others, looking more than a little worn. Jaegon leans on a bench, regarding the moonlight egg as soon as he spots it. "I was getting too fat anyway, Ky." He blinks at T'dry, then grins hugely. "She'll tan his hide.." he murmurs to himself. Arthan looks to the others, then at the eggs. Sarai grins at Kyliven, "Too hot to pick up junk in the bow-" She pauses and looks at T'dry, eyes largening to saucer size. Laurene rises and crosses over to Arthan. She mutters to Arthan. Catalina blinks at T'dry. "Really?" Arthan blinks a bit at Laurene. He mutters to Laurene. Kyliven snickers at Jaegon, then turns, blinking in surprise at T'dry. "What, now? Go onto the Sands? Us?" Her voice rises, until the last word is almost a squeak. Laurene places a hand lightly on Arthan's shoulder. She mutters to Arthan. Arthan smiles very faintly at Laurene. Arthan mutters to Laurene, "Thank you,..." Catalina glances at Maraczek, biting her lower lip a bit. "Here's your chance," she says with a smile. A nervous one. Jaegon heads for the stairs, not one to turn down an invitation like this! Laurene gives a slight nod of her head, then backs off a bit to let Arthan have his space. Igen Weyr Hatching Grounds - Sands(#1045RJQa$) An immense, vaulting expanse hollowed out of the rock serves as Igen's hatching cavern; uncannily hot, even the air lies thick and heavy in one's lungs. The gritty, black sand shifts beneath each burning footstep, as unsettling as it is uncomfortable, and its dark hue makes it difficult to discern the subtle changes in its surface. The arched entry tunnel is wide, leaving enough room for dragons to fly through it with relative ease, and the tiers of broad ledges provide space enough for far more than the Weyr's entire complement of dragons. Igen's galleries huddle against the west wall, raised several meters above the vast swath of sand below. Contents: Arthan T'dry Avroth Irianth(#11790IJQaeps$) Nature's Precipice Egg Grace Denied Egg Unblemished Bystander Egg Desert Mirage Egg Daybreak's Thrall Egg Cozied Quilt Egg Moonlit Tranquility Egg Dusk's Gloaming Egg Obvious exits: Up STands Arthan walks in with the others, still staying a little apart. In the bleachers, Kyliven pelts after Jaegon and the others. Jaegon hurries down the stairs, but stops dead at the bottom, waiting for the go-ahead. In the bleachers, Sarai licks her leaps and heads down. Just like last time, Catalina halts directly behind Jaegon, nearly colliding with him as he unexpectedly puts the brakes on. "Eek!" Maraczek slips to the stairs nearer the back of the pack, quiet. Jaegon mmmphs but doesn't fall. He looks back over his shoulder at Cat. "You all right?" Arthan walks slowly closer to the eggs. Candidate traffic jam! Kyli skitters to a stop behind Cat, bobbing her head as she tries to peer over or around bodies. "What's happening?" she hisses. Laurene spreads out from the others, hopeful to make things less chaotic. She stays towards the edges of the clutch, not quite closing in yet. T'dry just stands back and watches each candidate. "Not too fast, folks. Irianth's going to wake Rysa if she gets upset. Then it'll be all of y'alls neck for sneaking down here." Catalina waves her arms around and stands on tiptoe to keep from causing herself to rock backwards. "Ahh-aeii.." She finally finds her center of gravity, blushing furiously. "Sorry," she mumbles. Arthan looks gravely up at Irianth. "Hey!" Kyli calls indignantly, yet quietly. "We didn't /sneak/! YOU invited us!" Laurene bows politely to the gold and her bronze mate. Jaegon makes his way slowly out, giving Avroth and Irianth courteous bows. "Irianth, you're in fine color today. Avroth must be doing a good job of hunting for you." He makes a slow, but steady VTOL-line for his favorite egg. T'dry points a finger at Kyli. "Yeah. You convince her of that." Kyliven edges out from behind Cat, then slowly makes her way across the Sands. Not touching any eggs, not yet, merely looking for now. Macami comes down from the stands and watches the candidates fussing with the eggs. Sarai slips out and ends in the back of the crowd. Her eyes flicker to the eggs she touched last time and then the youth walks, as slowly as her booted feet on the hot sands will allow her, to a perfectly normal, purple-green egg. It rather resembles the grape bunches at Benden hold. Laurene's hand, once she reaches the egg, touches lightly to the shell of the grey Grace Denied egg. Her expression is thoughtful, turned inwards. Maraczek stays nearer the edge of the area, just looking around quietly. His lips purse and twist, still quiet. Arthan looks wistfully at the eggs, hanging back once reaching them. Jaegon kneels by the Moonlit egg, saying softly "Heya. I told you I'd be back. How're you?" before he lays a tentative hand on its much-harder shell. Catalina scuttles around Jaegon, eyes locked on the same egg she was so intrigued with during her last visit to the Sands. She pauses as another Candidate steps into her way, frowning and looking annoyed until the other girl moves. Sighing, she continues to trek towards unblemished bystander, pausing as she reaches it. After a moment of just standing there with wide eyes and sweaty palms, she extends her right hand and gently lays it on the warming shell of her favorite egg. "I'm back," she croons softly. Kyliven begins to stick her tongue out at T'dry, but a glance at Avroth, then Irianth, makes her change her mind. "You wouldn't lie to her," she says softly, still defending her position as she searches for her green egg. Arthan looks towards the cozied quilt egg, then up at Irianth again. Macami puts her hands behind her back and watches Catalina and Jaegon with a soft smile, unusual on the hard face she has these days. Maraczek finally takes a few steps forward, watching as the other candidates seem to gravitate to certain eggs. ((Jaegon feels:)) Cool but hard, like a blade. Inside, the calm calculation of something waiting. Jaegon smiles softly, not his usual grin but an unguarded tenderness. Laurene crouches, not quite kneeling upon the sands. Her blue gaze looks over the surface of the grace denied egg, picking out details. Arthan takes the final few steps, looking awkward as he reaches out to touch the chosen egg. Target finally reached, Kyli gingerly reaches out to touch the green shell with just the tips of her fingers. "I can't believe how hard it is!" Sarai stops by her picked 'grape cluster' egg and slowly reaches one hand out to touch it. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. ((Jaegon's favorite egg's desc)) A floating landscape smoothes the surface of this mid-sized egg like a blanket of clouds, all reflecting the brilliant silvered blue of moonlight. High patterns glow as if from within in untainted, inspired white blue; lower valleys are shrouded in dark mystery, greys and deepened blues vying for prominence. Serene clumpings lend a cold luminescence and rainbows reflect as if from water droplets as they scatter in the light, although any chill is dispelled by its utter sense of peace. Maraczek moves nearer Irianth and Avroth, looking up at the large pair. He looks around, a bit lost. After all, he's never done this before. Jaegon traces his fingers across a sweep of grey on the egg, then gently lays his forehead against the upper curve. His eyes close. Arthan rests his fingertips lightly on the Quilt egg, remaining that way silently for a minute. Then he looks up at Irianth, sighs softly, and moves away. A slender finger traces the tan highlights on the seemingly plain surface of the whitish egg, blue eyes following its progress. Catalina breathes in deeply, becoming mesmerized with the pulsing life that she can't see but knows exists. Kyliven jerks her fingers back as if burned, then slowly reaches out again, head cocked to one side. One hand splays across the green surface, resting lightly on the shell. Arthan climbs up into the Stands. In the bleachers, Arthan makes his way through the bleachers. In the bleachers, Arthan heads out to the Bowl. Maraczek looks for an egg not already occupied, glancing back at the mammoth sire and dam occasionally. Sarai gently slids her hand across the egg shell. Hands that have coaxed a newborn lamb out of it's mother, hands that have held baby chicks with utermost tenderness. Such are the hands that caress the egg shell of the dragon. Laurene rises, brushing her fingers along the grace denied egg's surface as she circles the egg. Her attention turns, briefly, to an egg next to it, also touching that surface, but soon she returns to the grey egg. Laurene spies Maraczek and waves him over, "The surface of this one is intriguing." Her words halt abruptly and she drops her gaze to the egg, expression unreadable. Jaegon's lips move silently as he *thinks* to the egg's resident. Maraczek kneels near the Desert Mirage curiously, glancing at Laurene curiously. he reaches out toward the egg with a slow, curious hand, touching only with the pads of his fingers. Kyliven reluctantly withdraws her hand, silently regarding the egg for a long moment before turning away. Perhaps that one next... no, surely not, for Irianth would take note. Another, then. Is this resonance? For a heartstopping moment you can feel a response, a thought of longing, but it quickly dissolves into nothing, leaving just the metallic feel. Catalina releases the breath she didn't fully realize she was hiding, closing her eyes and concentrating on the /feel/ of the egg, rather then its /looks/. She gently lays her left palm next to her right, spreading her fingers out as much as she can before she sends her hands in two completely separate directions. "Are you there?" she asks softly. Jaegon shudders, his shoulders tensing. He strokes the egg reassuringly, opening his eyes and sitting up more fully as his knees start to burn. Laurene moves away from the grace denied egg, thoughtful. She makes a circuit of the sands, touching each egg shell in turn. Gentle hands feel hardening warm surfaces. Sarai slowly moves to rest her cheek against the egg, listeing to it. Patience everlasting, she rubs one hand gently. Kyliven turns completely around, looking at each egg in turn. Another catches her eye and she moves towards it, feet shusshing through deep sand. Bolder now, she reaches out to stroke the shell of the Precipice egg. In the bleachers, Taira climbs into the stands. Jaegon sits up and looks around, giving the egg a last pat before heading to another one. This one is deepest crimson and an almost silvery hue..reminding perhaps a bit much of the Red Star. Sarai moves away from the Grape Cluster egg, and slowly walks to the desert Mirage Egg. The one that Irianth tends to guard closely, and just looks at it. Laurene spends time with each egg, avoiding only the desert mirage egg. Prudence or something else, it's unclear. Finally, her feet find her back at the grace denied egg, inevitably. Irianth looks up sharply, having been watching Kyliven for the most part. Her eyes whirl, focussed solely on Sarai now. Sarai looks up at the gold dragon taking a deep breath, and regarding Irianth absolutly calmly. She's not touching, she's not. Kyliven reaches out with both arms to hug the egg, as if preventing it from doing something. She mutters to herself, "... falling.... catch..." Maraczek rests his hand there, looking around and blinking. He bits his lip and moves his other hand against the egg, this time touching with both hands, fully. Jaegon strokes a finger over the streak of silver on the egg he's selected. Catalina looks at the egg in front of her curiously, dropping down to a squatting position and stilling her hands, although they don't move from where they're positioned. She gives it a searching look, running her tongue over her dry and cracked lips in a futile effort to replenish them with the moisture the heat from the sands has depleted. She applies gentle pressure and cocks her head to one side, remaining silent. ((Jaegon feels:)) Warmth, as if from a slowly sinking desert sun, reaches the tip of your fingers. Though the egg is dark red, the streak of silver is not threatening like thread. You feel peace emanating here... Laurene, finally succumbing, crouches once more and lightly lays her ear against the warm surface of the grace denied egg. Sarai watches Maraczek touch the gold egg, her face a cross between surprise and intrigue... Jaegon mmmms softly, oblivious to anything else as he caresses the eggshell. Maraczek lifts his hands, blowing on his fingertips and palms. Despite their pink color, he flexes his fingers, standing up again. Not sure what to make of it. Irianth was hesitant, but enough is enough. Despite Avroth's chiding, she takes a firm step towards the Mirage egg, her huge foreclaw settling into the sand only a few meters away. Maraczek turns to look up at Irianth, and takes a few steps away from the egg towards her claw. "I'm sorry, pretty. I won't do it again." He raises his hands to show her. ((Jaegon feels:)) Peace seems to flow through your fingertips. There's heat there too. A misunderstood soul? Catalina shivers, feeling her heart skip a beat. She lays her ear to the warm surface, keeping her hands still. "Try again," she coaxes in a calm voice that seems to surprise even her. Her eyes remain closed, her breathing slightly irregular due to nervousness. The gold's red tinged eyes pale only very slightly. Unmoving, she waits, perhaps to see if the candidate is true to his word. Sarai looks over the Desert Mirage Egg at the gold, simply looking at it before stepping away. Finding a pink sunset egg near enough that she can touch one egg while looking at the others. Jaegon murmurs to the egg, reassuring as he would be with a two-turn-old in a nightmare. Maraczek walks the rest of the distance towards the gold, speaking in his best soft tones. "See, here I am." he looks up at the massive form. "Rysa doesn't like me touching you either." Laurene hums a soft, faint song. A haunting tune of loss at sea. Deep in her own thoughts, she continues to caress the surface of the grey egg. Avroth moves now, crossing in front of Maraczek and nudging his mate slightly with his long neck. Kyliven drops to her knees beside the Precipice egg, arms shifting slightly but still wrapped around blue-brown shell. She mutters to herself, " I'm here, don't... up, all of us..." ((Jaegon feels:)) Light, a wish for light and freedom. And for someone to love. Sarai is vocally quiet, but her hands gently smooth across the pink sunset egg she's chosen. Maraczek finds an oblique vector to take, carrying him away from both dragons and the eggs. Jaegon leans his cheek against the egg. Maraczek loops around, wandering over to Macami. ((Jaegon feels:)) Is this a soft hum? It seems to echo through your skull for a brief moment. Macami arches one brow and stares at Maraczek, faint smile on her lips. Sarai's fingers follow a line along the egg. Her eyes drift closed as her face takes on a look of intensity. Bonding with the egg through her hand. Hands dampened with sweat from both heat and anxiety take up their slow caressing of the hardening exterior of the tan-tinged white egg, and Catalina continues to whisper softly to it. Whether the inhabitant can /hear/ her or not is a mystery to her, but she continues to alternate between talking in a low voice and humming. T'dry stands near Macami, eyes the only thing on him moving. Not even his feet seem to mind the heat of the sands as he watches, arms folded, the candidates before him. Maraczek purses his lips. "I guess you were right...she doesn't want me near the eggs." T'dry chuckles. "Don't take it personally, Maraczek. She won't let me near it either. At least you got to touch. That's the only one she's like that with." Kyliven gasps sharply, arms pushing herself away from the egg in abrupt startlement. Still kneeling, she blinks at the egg, regaining her composure before saying, "Soon, I promise. Does it hurt so much?" Jaegon nuzzles the egg unselfconsciously. Ain't no one here on the sands but me and this egg, nope.. Maraczek nods, pursing his lips. He tests the theory rather boldly, approaching the sands. Sarai sighs and stands up, leaving her pink sunset egg, and looks at the gold egg again. Wavering in her stance, a decsision is reached and Sarai looks at her hand before walking, carefully yet firmly, back to the Grape Cluster Egg. Macami looks at Maraczek with a surprised expression on her face. "Pardon?" Maraczek hunkers down on his feet, no use getting singed knees this time, and reaches out a tentative hand to touch the nearest unoccupied egg, irregardless of color. Noise washes over Laurene without her hearing it, her attention focussed upon the grace denied egg. She shifts to the other side of the egg, pressing the opposite ear lightly to the surface there. In the bleachers, Hotohori climbs into the stands. Catalina suddenly presses the underside of her wrist to the egg with a bit of a sigh. Her pulse is racing, and it seems that she's trying to convey that to the dragonet that waits inside the egg. "I bet you're not as scared as I am," she murmurs, stroking the egg with her other hand. If she realizes she's speaking out loud, she doesn't care. In the bleachers, Taira looks up, then hmms. She gestures towards the sands. "Best get out there, lad, before they close up the sands for the day." In the bleachers, Hotohori peers down, seeing his fellow candidates for the moment, taking a seat in the galleries. Hands settle within his lap, before he peers over to Taira. "Hmm? Oh." He didn't know, really, as he rises, once again. Laurene smiles fondly, fingers stroking soothingly over the surface of the egg. A yawn puctuates her expression. Sarai still doesn't speak, but she exudes (as best a youngster can) inner peace. Calm, trying to feel that through her skin and the egg shell. Patience, trying to keep that in mind. Relaxed. Amazingly easy. T'dry chuckles, noting Laurene's yawn. "I'm sorry they're not moving around and hatching for you, candidate." He just shakes his head. Hotohori is shuffled out, at prompting, looking around the area for a moment, a wince given to the heat as boots crunch over to the activity. He remains on the fringes for the moment, watching the others. Kyliven reaches out almost absently to the Precipice egg once more, then shakes her head and stands before she can touch it. "Soon," she promises it again, before dragging her attention away. Macami nods a calm greeting to Hotohori, as she stands way behind, just watching the candidates. Catalina smiles a little. She'll take that as a no. She ceases speaking, switching to humming a gentle song that she makes up as she goes along. Her hands refrain from movement once again, Cat being quite content to just listen for now. Laurene flushes and grins at T'dry, "Nono. It's the heat, I think. And the lack of sleep and all the lugging of flour sacks." She shakes her head, "It certainly isn't the eggs' fault." Maraczek tries to figure out how to touch the egg before him, and settles on resting the backs of his hands against it, watching irianth cautiously. Hotohori wanders along, finally; another candidate's nudging moves him along to one of the eggs. Moonlit's surface is watched, carefully, brows furrowed as she tries to gain some sort of perspective as his fingers splay along the oviod's surface. The Moonlit egg catches Kyli's eye as she turns, immediately heading towards it. "Hey, Maraczek," she greets the other absently, tracing a greyed valley with languid fingers. Jaegon doesn't even notice Ky heading toward his favorite egg. He's too caught up with his second-favorite. Maraczek tilts his head, blinking. Both brows raise, and he looks at the egg again, then glances to his fellow candidate and then, Irianth. Hotohori lets his fingers trail along clouds and shivering luminenscence, a shudder passing along taunt frame as he peers --just peers-- at the egg. Kyliven isn't even seen along the other side of the nightime Tranquility, as he pauses in place, a finger moving along trailed moonlight. In the bleachers, Everin climbs into the stands. Kyliven smiles at the egg, fingers trailing up and over the eggs' crest before following the valley back down. "...eager, too..." she mutters to it. Sarai curves her palm along the grape cluster egg, fingers seeking something denied their touch. Laurene forces herself away from the grace denied egg, in thrall of another egg for now. Fingers trail lightly over the surface of the Daybreak's Thrall egg. In the bleachers, Everin sidles awkwardly along the lowest tier, keeping his gaze studiously away from the sands, and nods silently to Taira. Sit. Jaegon finally shakes his head and rises, tearing himself away from the egg. In the bleachers, Taira looks over, startled a bit. "Had to leave the sands? Or have you been out there?" Jaegon glances around, blinking, as if seeing all the other eggs for the first time. Catalina finally stands, wincing a little as her muscles, which have become tense from squatting so long, stretch. Her hand glides up to the tip of the egg, beginning to trace a small circle that eventually sprials out to cover a larger area. "I'll be back," she whispers affectionately, smiling. She drags her attention towards Dusk's Gloaming, shyly approacing it with reserved curiousity. Her right hand makes timid contact, and Cat waits. In the bleachers, Everin says "I was ... helping Wingleader Shayne with something." He finds immense fascination with his left knee. "I thought I'd come watch, at least. How are you?" Sarai's left hand curves at an odd angle, pinky nearly straight as she wafts her hand across the smooth shell. Laurene murmurs, more to herself than anyone else, "So much potential..." Her hand lightly rests on the surface of the Daybreak's Thrall egg. Hotohori's tenseness doesn't fade, expression twisted into a mask-like parody. Obviously, something isn't sitting well as hand is withdrawn, a hasty step taken back. Head shakes, as if to clear confusion, before he patters away, coming to stop before Grace Denied. Maybe here, he thinks, hands coming to rest upon the egg's shell. Kyliven chuckles at the egg, then turns away yet again, heading towards the eggs closest to the bleachers. She veers towards a pale grey and lavender egg lurking behind a larger sib. Maraczek tilts his head curiously, ignoring the beads of sweat forming and rolling down his face. He recovers his hands blowing onthe palms, and tentatively touches another, as the other candidates seem to be doing. He moves to the Unbelmished egg. Jaegon spots an almost tiny Cromcoal-colored beauty and smiles, crossing to its side. In the bleachers, Taira ahhhs, and then chuckles. "Get out there on the sands, young man... don't talk to me!" In the bleachers, Everin picks his way through treacherous words. "With all due respect, Taira, I would rather not. I did not have a good experience last time, and I've no wish to interrupt the others' ... fun." Sarai's hand rests on the Grape Cluster (NPC) egg gently, her hair slipping to fall across the shell. Catalina glances at Maraczek out of the corner of her eye, watching him approach her favorite egg. After a moment, she refocuses on the large ovoid in front of her, placing her other hand on the surface. Jaegon kneels by the coal egg and speaks softly to it before laying a tentative hand on its surface. In the bleachers, Taira lifts a brow, and then hugs a knee up to her chest. "It isn't about fun, Everin... it's about the eggs knowing you, and maybe making it easier for them to pick. It's about making it less likely that you get hurt on the sands." In the bleachers, Everin is firm, though, watching his knee. "Perhaps another time, Taira. They take us out there often enough; I don't need to go every time." In the bleachers, Taira leans forward, hands resting on the railing. "And have you thought that they do that often enough for a reason, candidate?" Kyliven circles her latest choice, first one hand, then the other spread upon the apex. She leans gently upon it, resting a bit of her weight. Hotohori's eyes shut, shiver tensing spine though his hand refuses to move away. Lips purse, drained of blood as he keeps contact with the monochromic Grace. Breath is spilled out when remembered, though he doesn't leave, just yet. Jaegon mmmms softly, laughing to himself at something. He gives the small coal egg a tentative hug, just a little squeeze. Catalina oohhs softly, smiling gently at the egg in front of her. "Hello in there," she says in a hushed voice that contains more than a little awe. One hand stays where it is, and the other one glides down Dusk. Laurene moves away from the center of the clutch, an egg of soft pale orange catching her attention. Fingers trail over the surface, following slight swirls of yellow. In the bleachers, Everin's eyes cut sideways, unhappy, irritated askance. "I know there's a reason," he says calmly. "It's to familiarize us, so we don't get mauled at the Hatching and so on. I just can't do it. Not right now. Please." Kyliven jerks again, eyes flying open and springing back. "Feisty..." she murmurs, with another walk around the egg, hands carefully kept at her side. Sarai quietly continues to caress thegrape-droplets on the eggs, hands tensing and relaxing, alternatly. Soon enough. For now, Sarai builds upon her quiet, calm, intensity. Maraczek blinks, closing his eyes and resting both hands againt the egg's shell now, leaning in as if to listen. In the bleachers, Taira frowns at Everin's tone, then says, "You might want to watch the voice... you've another month here and snapping at those around you won't make it any more pleasant." That said, she moves from her place to sit futher back. Maraczek stills completely, chest barely moving to breathe, if at all. Kyliven breaks her orbit, spinning free of the egg's pull and back towards the bronze and his mate. Momentum slows, then stops as she looks, torn between her favorite green egg and the blue/brown Precipice. Hotohori lets out a held breath, the candidate refusing to move from his spot. Lips, nearly cracked from the pressure are licked, before he finally opens his eyes, gaze intent upon the egg. In the bleachers, Everin stiffens. Looks deliberately at the sands. Then he stands, bows his head to Taira politely, and makes his way out. In the bleachers, Everin heads out to the Bowl. Sarai kneels in the sand, ignorant (apparantly) of the heat, takes her hands off the egg shells, and just /looks/ at it. Jaegon finally draws himself free of the coal egg, and makes his way back to the Moonlit egg. Catalina bites her lower lip a bit, pressing her ear to the warm shell. "I'm listening..are you in there?" she asks softly, fasinated. Hotohori chews on his bottom lip, the pressure finally making him back away from the egg. Wild gaze is eventually smoothed into something more placid, as he turns, coming face to face with yet another egg. As if they should be somewhere else, as Unblemished is spied, fingers just touching. Jaegon kneels next to the Moonlit egg again, touching his forehead to the gleaming, smooth shell. Green, brown. Brown, green. Kyli stands, irresolute, some distance away from either. At last, with a wry grin towards the green, she plods towards the Precipice egg and caresses the top of the shell. Sarai's green-gold eyes peer at the Grape Clusters Egg, as if the child can see through them. Kyliven grins to herself and varies her movements -- hand gliding this way, then the other crosses its path as the first lifts to begin anew at the bottom. "A game?" Catalina sighs, looking almost rejected. Giving the egg a final pat, she turns her attention away from it and begins to wander aimlessly throughout the sands, hands brushing eggs here and there. She meanders over to Daybreak's Thrall, eyeing it carefully before applying gentle pressure with both palms. Enough is enough, it seems. Irianth shifts position again, clearly agitated. Despite Avroth's best efforts to console her, she bugles loudly. Hotohori physically gasps, as if burned, arm locked as he attempts to pull back. Fingers still touch in some morbid curiousity, expression barely kept in place. Forehead comes to rest upon the egg's shell, contemplation eviden in every nerve. ((Jaegon feels:)) The coolness of a mountain lake momentarily seems to numb your fingers. Macami jumps back. "Oh my, I think it's time we left." She bows apologetically to Irianth. Catalina jumps at Irianth's bugle, hands jerking away from Thrall and snapping to her sides. "Oh no..." Jaegon smiles softly, and then starts as if seared. "Shells. Well, thanks, Irianth." He rises, bowing to the queen, and trails one hand over the egg's surface in farewell before he slowly begins his trek back across to the stands. The Boss Has Spoken. Laurene rises and bows once again to the gold and her mate. Silence shrouds the copper-haired woman as she makes her way to the galleries, lost in thought. Avroth studies his mate only for a moment until a golden muzzle is turned in his direction. Bidding conveyed, he circles the clutch the other direction, herding humans towards the stands. Sarai's apprentice trained reactions, ones attuned to animal cries, cause her to leap to her feet with alacrity. Sand sprays as booted feet land in a wide stance, prepared for birthing a burdenbeast. Oh. No, dragon bugels. Collecting herself, Sarai stands straught, bows to the parent dragons, and casts a gaze to one particular egg, nesteled by Irianth, before walking back to the stands. Laurene climbs up into the Stands. In the bleachers, Laurene makes her way through the bleachers. Sarai climbs up into the Stands. In the bleachers, Sarai makes her way through the bleachers. Catalina backs up towards the Stands, looking at Irianth with huge eyes. She suddenly turns around and flees, not able to reach the galleries fast enough. T'dry stands his ground, calling, "Times up, folks. Back to the stands with ya." Kyliven, engrossed in her game, nevertheless startles at the queen's command, head swiveling around to find the bronzerider. "Next time?" she asks, half to the egg and half to T'dry, then hastily backs away from her choice. Catalina climbs up into the Stands. In the bleachers, Catalina makes her way through the bleachers. Hotohori is broken away from the egg by the bugle, expression stunned for just a moment. And then he's gone, not making a stop at the stands, but completely fleeing from the area. You climb up into the Stands. Igen Weyr Hatching Grounds - Stands(#228RJa$) These observation bleachers, hewn from the sandstone which surrounds the entire cavern, span the length of the western wall of the Igen Weyr Hatching Grounds. The cavern is of a tremendous size, stretching something like 10 dragonlengths up to its apex, and having a diameter of roughly 20 dragonlengths. The walls and roof are of rough stone, with long spires of lime hanging down. Just out from the bleachers, an opening gapes to the sky overhead, providing light and air for the dome. There are stairs at one end leading out towards the Bowl. One may simply 'observe object' to see an object on the sands. Contents: Catalina Sarai Laurene Taira Obvious exits: SAnds Bowl On the Sands, Hotohori climbs up into the Stands. Hotohori makes his way through the bleachers. Hotohori heads out to the Bowl. On the Sands, Macami climbs up into the Stands. Macami makes her way through the bleachers. Jaegon looks back out at the eggs, his eyes half-shadowed. On the Sands, Kyliven climbs up into the Stands. Kyliven makes her way through the bleachers. Catalina hurries into the bleachers, giving Unblemished Bystander a final glance...but her gaze locks on Irianth, and out to the bowl she goes. Catalina heads out to the Bowl. Kyliven climbs with alacrity from the hot Sands, turning to watch them again even as her feet reach the top step. "Wow. That was... that was... Wow." Sarai looks at her knees, red and glaring from the sand, "Isn't it tho?" She smiles, easily, and looks at the sands. You say "One of the eggs...felt like a sheathed blade. Just waiting.." Taira looks between the candidates as they chatter about the eggs. "Which one was that, Jaegon?" Kyliven nods, still more than a bit stunned. "They were... waiting, weren't they?" she asks of her fellows, voice hushed in awe. "One of them... /followed/ me!" You say "M...I mean, the grey and silver moonlight-looking one." On the Sands, Maraczek climbs up into the Stands. Maraczek makes his way through the bleachers. Laurene slips away from the others, still lost to the sounds they make. Laurene heads out to the Bowl. Taira half smiles at Jaegon. "What color do you think is hiding in that one, hmm?" Sarai smiles and leans way over the railing, looking at the eggs again. "Least I didn';t get sick, this time, huh, Jaegon?" You say "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's a fighter. And Sarai, you did just fine." Sarai grins, eyes still locked on the eggs. "I was... practicing being calm. So I won't get scared on hatching day." A fond hope. You say "I think we'll all be scared." Macami smiles faintly, then very suddenly walks out, without a word. Maraczek looks around, quietly. "I'm gonna be scared," Kyli declares. "Nervous, anyway. I wonder what's gonna Hatch out of that one?" She points towards the Precipice egg. Macami heads out to the Bowl. You say "What does it feel like?" Maraczek speaks quietly. "I won't be scared." Sarai glances, "I didn't touch it... I don't think.. scared's the right word." Taira mmms, nodding at the candidates a little more. "It is nervewracking... as much wondering if your turn is here as it is for worrying about claws and teeth." Kyliven's eyes narrow. "It was... it wanted to get out, the first time. And when I want back, it followed me. Followed my hands." She gestures in the air, patterns as if moving across an egg's surface. Jaegon blinks at Maraczek. "You won't? Where do you get your courage. Maraczek shrugs at Jaegon. "Maybe from when I was very little...there's only one to be afraid of out there." Jaegon grins. "Well, I'm off to afternoon chores and think. I'll see you tonight." Taira laughs a bit, then tries to silence it. "Oh, any of the hatchlings could slash you... Best be careful." Kyliven cocks her head. "Which one's that, Maraczek?" Sarai slips off to think. You head out to the Bowl.
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