World of Pern
Latest Updates

2023/08/04 Hello loves! While I haven't been writing, I have been working on updating some issues that have been hanging around on the layout! The Character change box is now at the bottom of the page, beside the up/down arrows! Green and Gold dragon flight dates have been shifted to the bottom of the page, where the (useless!) discord widget was located. Where the dragon flights were in the header, is now replaced by a Monthly Event box! This will be updated at the start of each month, with a fun mini-event you can take part in, if you want to! Thistle!
2023/01/07 Welcome to the New Year! We are now ELEVEN years old! Thank you, all of you, for your love and writing! I am looking forward to spending another year with youall! In addition, a new Default colour scheme is in progress and will hopefully be available soon! All my love! ThistleProse
2022/07/29 Gold Malvayth and Bronze Xyxyth clutch is Hatching! Come and join the shenannigans 743.08.03 | NIGHT STALKERS HATCHING and bring the popcorn!
2022/05/11 Gold Malvayth has Flown, caught by Bronze Xyxyth of A'tay. Their Hatching will be PC, and take place in Telgar in August around the 20-22nd! Update your Candidate Applications and prepare for some fun!
2022/04/21 New default layout! I hope you enjoy it! If you find any bugs, please report them in the discord #bug-squishing channel!
05/JUL It’s Hatching time!! Come take part in the shenanigans here
30/JUN Gold Thallyath of Ista Weyr has laid a clutch! More information here
27/JUN A bluerider, and then a greenrider, are found dead. More information here
25/JUN The Touching is up! Take part here
30/MAY After the Touching, many Candidates found themselves preyed upon in the form of their food. More information here
18/MAY Another goldrider - Ameris of Benden - is attacked. More information here
05/MAY Multiple individuals are attacked whilest out of the Weyr! More information here
04/MAY Take a chance OOC and guess who you think the murderer is! You can win prizes! More information here
03/MAY Goldrider Cazan and her twin brother Cazelarias are attacked. More information here
24/APR Goldrider Ashara of Fort is murdered by two brownriders. More information here
12/APR Searchrider B’jin was attacked at Telgar Weyr, surffering a slash to his throat. While in Benden, bluerider B’dor is found dead in his weyr. More info here
05/APRMore attacks occurred today. More information here
03/APRMultiple individuals found their death this day; more information here and here
28/MAR Tragedy has struck again! Across all the Weyrs, multiple people - primarily dragonriders - have fallen ill after eating muffins. There have been multiple deaths, and others are in criticle condition. More information here
24/MAR Weyrwoman Ameris and her son, Rislan, poisoned! More information here
18/MAR Benden’s Weyrleader M’ris and his children have been poisoned! Resulting in sickness and death. More information here
18/MAROn 18.03.742 Bronzerider A’dris of Vyaniorth was found dead in his personal bathing pool. He appears to have drowned after drinking an excess of alcohol. Afterwards it was realized that Machiya of Gold Cameth from Telgar Weyr had disappeared. Having never arrived at her destination, it is suspected she had an accident between.
11/MAR Gold Racoth of Donmaline went between taking Bronze Beruth of T’rel with her shortly after she had been caught, due to T’rel strangling Donmaline. He did not survive. more info
25/FEB Congratulations and thank-you to Guest for taking on a moderator role! <3
14/FEB Stars Above PC Hatching Link
06/JAN :o new layout is a WiP. Please report bugs in Discord.
01/JAN Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!




Currently: Spring 03.745 al
Monthly Event
2024-February
Details: Link

Welcome to the Month of Lovetm! This month's Monthly Event is all about Romance, whether it is asking someone out on a date, or getting sweaty between the sheets! Anything and everything counts, if it even looks sideways like it could be related to Valentine Day -- including lover's spats, or breaking up, Flights Wins (or Flight Losses!). Honestly, this month has a huge opportunity for interpertation, so go wild!



2023-December
Details: Link

Ahh, the fresh snow, the crisp air, the naked trees... welcome to Winter! Or, just the Colder Months for those in the more Northern Weyrs, while Ista is just... not as hot. But it is time to enjoy the end of the Turn, so folks should get together, spend some time gossiping, and drinking Hot Chocolate (alcohol and marshmallows opional)... does Pern even have marshmallows????? (they do now!)



2023-November
Details: Link

Feel like bitching? Wanna take part in a brawl? Or bet on someone? Take part in Brawls and Bitching this month! Boo-yeah!



2023-October
Details: Link

Thistle flunked this month; You can still post until the end of November as a result <3
Experience, tell or hide from a Spooky Story!



2023-September
Details: Link

The flu is running rampant, colds are clogging noses, and someone might have lost a limb?



2023-August
Details: Link

Partake this month by going fishing... or anything that occurs while fishing, or dealing with fish!



Latest Posts



[G] [O] [EVENT] 740.07.25 | Just A Little Touch
3 PM | Candidates

Casa
of Gold Thallyath

Date of Birth
16.11.720 AL, 24
Height
5'3
Eyes
Green
Build
Slim, petite
Hair
Blonde, shoulder length

Threads
64
Posts
403

Written By: ThistleProse
#1
The amount of time, argument, and plain threats Casa had been required to use to beat down Thallyath had been exhausting! Casa knew some dragons got really possessive about their clutches, and hadn’t been particularly eager for the Touching, but Thallyath was just being utterly ridiculous! The little dragon had stood over the eggs, her body arched like a cat and her wings flared as she snapped and snarled at Casa like a bloody damned wherry. That comparison, had, of course, just fired the little gold up more until Casa had threatened to get Ameris to bring in Mizeath to shut Thallyath up, since even if the itty-bitty gold were gutsy enough to take on the senior gold, she would like be eaten up quickly. Or Mizeath might even kick her out of the Weyr and finish the process of nesting the clutch until they were ready to Hatch and Impress.

Thallyath had finally began to see sense after she had a major tantrum at the idea of the other gold stealing her babies. Casa was thoroughly exhausted, had an awful headache, and had warned the Weyrlingmaster that if anyone went too close to Thallyath (whom she’d banished to the other side of the Grounds) they were liable to be eaten. The expression on both goldrider and dragon’s faces clearly indicated that Casa wasn’t joking. It was quite scary, and Casa wondered what would happen to her if her dragon actually did eat or maim someone. Dragonets got away with it, but a fully grown albeit tiny adult gold wasn’t likely to be handwaved off…

Sighing, Casa pinched the bridge of her nose as she stood beside the eggs, listening to the Weyrlingmaster lecture the candidates on what was expected of them. The class consisted of about forty or fifty candidates, and no more than ten or so women. Casa was pleased by the turn out, considering there were only six eggs; some of them were personal friends of hers, some of Nerreh’s, and some a mixed bunch. The rest were confused looking Searchees who had somehow managed to wrangle their way in. Casa suspected they were likely Searched for one of the other Weyrs, but were offered the chance to drop by Ista to roll their dice. Good luck to them.

It was going to be such a small class!

Casa waved to Nerreh and moved over to join the bluerider as the class was broken up into groups of six, and each group was given a timeframe they’d be able to touch each of the eggs — if they wanted — or one or two before leaving the Sands or joining their companions in the Stands.

It quickly became apparent that things were not going smoothly...


Eggs — Touched by (Personal response from egg); Touched by (Personal response from egg); etc.
Egg #1:
Egg #2:
Egg #3:
Egg #4:
Egg #5:
Egg #6:



Candidates are divided into groups of six (6) who each visit the egg for 30 minutes, with a 15 minute gap between sessions. There are currently about fifty (50) candidates Standing for this clutch. For the purpose of RP, all PC Candidates are in the same group, which is being threaded below.

This Touching commenced at ~3 PM and these guys are the first group, meaning that no one else has yet Touched the eggs yet! Because the group comprises of six candidates, and there are 6 eggs, each will be given the opportunity to touch each egg, but is not required to do so if they don’t want to. A minimum of one is required, and going back to a favoured egg is only allowed in the event that everyone is finished within time, and they won’t be causing any holdups.

Candidates are expected to be polite and demure; the egg safety is paramount and anyone found to be goofing around will be removed. Firelizards are not allowed on the Sands during the Touching, as Thallyath is extremely emotional and grumpy about the whole ordeal, and will no doubt cause flitter deaths if she spies them.has promised to eat any who show themselves.

Eggs are approximately 4 to 5 feet in length, and approximately half to two-thirds that in width. They’re rather squat and roundish. Eggs are laid in a leathery state, much like an earthen snake egg. They slowly expand as they harden with the youngster growing within. When a candidate Touches an egg, they will find the shell to be hard, but kind of lumpy and bumpy in some spots, and smooth in others, depending on how the dragonet shifted during the hardening phase. All the eggs are roughly the same mottled greenish-tan, except for the gold egg, which has a bit of the metallic gold color in the shell, in addition to being larger than all the others.

Additionally, when the candidate’s hand connects with the shell, the dragonet within will reach out mentally and touch their mind. The response the dragonet has to each individual candidate is extremely varied and often considered private by the individuals. A negative response from a dragonet does not denote the inability to Impress the hatchling within! There have been several cases in the past – PC and NPC – when characters Impressed to a hatchling from an egg that they thought hated them.

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Sariel
of Gold Cirith

Date of Birth
20.12.720, 28
Height
4'10"
Eyes
Hazel Green
Build
Fit
Hair
Golden Blonde

Threads
12
Posts
84

Written By: ZZZ Deceased
#2
Sariel wasn't as nervous as she thought she might be, she was too fascinated, really. It mattered little that there were only six eggs, she was actually going to get to take a look at them. From a healer's standpoint, it would be marvellous. Oh, Faranth, really, it'd be a lovely thing to be so close to them. She had a long wait before she actually did get to see them properly. Sariel glanced at Thallyath who seemed discontent and in just the right way that might end in blood and tears but made her way slowly and carefully. Even if she had her brows knit, she was as mentally open as possible to both queen and to the sixth egg she felt drawn to touch.

It was a careful, careful walk toward the sixth egg with one eye on the dam and one eye on the egg before she set her hand on the egg.



----
@[Casa]

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B'kit
of Blue Erebuth

Date of Birth
12.12.721 AL, 23
Height
5'11"
Eyes
Dark brown, trusting, and frequently lit up with laughter.
Build
Trim
Hair
Brunette and wavy when long, worn loose around his face. The bangs tend to flop into his eyes and he swears he’ll cut it all off when he Impresses or the next time he’s hungover.

Threads
25
Posts
144

Written By: ValGal9
#3
Beckitt waited with the others of his group, all too aware of the angry presence of Thallyanth behind them. He gave Casa and Nerreh a smile as he waited, wishing he could ease their anxiety. He had been one of the first to step up to stand, wanting above all to Impress, but also to support his friends who were going through hell right now. Unable to do much other than wait till they were called to approach, he closed his eyes and took slow breaths, focusing on the heat of the sands beneath his feet instead of the low, constant, rumbling growl from the gold. How would a Harper compose this moment, he wondered. Small reedy pipes for the anxious and excited candidates and a constant tumbling beat on the biggest possible drum to mimic that growl, perhaps?

Hearing his name, he opened his eyes and moved forward with the group, stepping carefully up to the fourth egg of the group. He heard a gasp from one of the girls but paid no attention, smoothing his hand over the surface of the egg and reaching his mind out to the young dragon within. Kitt’s hand shook where it contacted the shell as if unsure to pull away or remain. This… what was going on? He looked around, startled, then took a breath, pushing the sadness and pain down. “You haven’t even been born, little one. You don’t know what it is to live, let alone the rest,” he whispered against the shell before swallowing around a lump in his throat and stepping back.
~
Every egg was always different, he reminded himself. And if he had felt that way before, well. That was turns ago. They had rebuilt, and he had come North despite his fears, and his father… better not think too hard on that. He moved to the first egg of the clutch, letting his hand fall gently to its surface. At first there was nothing and he felt confusion crease the space between his brows. Beckitt wasn’t prepared for the grief--the despair that washed over him as the dragonet within touched back. How had it picked up such crippling emotions? He looked up at Thallyanth in horror; was she so dissatisfied with her Flight, with her Clutch that she was influencing them through their shells? Were their thoughts hers? Shards, he hadn’t even felt this way after the landslide.
~
As a rule, none of the candidates spoke or giggled amongst themselves at the touching lest they get themselves thrown out, but he looked over at the others and saw pale faces and clammy skin. Not all of the eggs were like this, surely? He stepped to another egg- the sixth, placing both hands on either side and--

How had he ended up on the ground? He dimly heard his name, but it felt miles away or underwater. A hand touched his elbow and he flinched before realizing they were trying to help him up. “I’m fine,” Beckitt heard himself say. His hand fell away from the shell it had still been touching and he unsteadily got to his feet. “Stop. I’m fine,” he insisted when they tried to guide him away. “It just startled me.” He scrubbed at his eyes with the back of a sleeve--when had he started crying? He bit his lip and straightened his back. He’d get through this for his friends. For Faxxoth and Thallyanth. For these six eggs. They deserved a good standing.

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N'noa
of Blue Atranth

Date of Birth
29.09.715, 29
Height
6'0
Eyes
Hazel
Build
Fit
Hair
Brown, curly

Threads
6
Posts
78

Written By: SunsetWay
#4
Narinoa had been Searched almost exactly two turns ago and he still felt a bit out of his element every time a Hatching came around. He still didn't think he was worthy of such a majestic beast but a dragon thought he was so he continued to Stand each time another Hatching rolled around...and continued to have nightmares thanks to the shit that happened at each one. It seemed like he was the only one affected by the deaths and maulings given how others seemed to move on almost immediately. And there he was having constant nightmares and losing sleep until Casa's sex klah worked his body up enough that he could enjoy some great sex before crashing hard into a dreamless sleep. Unfortunately with the Hatching drawing nearer, Narinoa had cut back on how often he was taking the shit to help clear his head for the next round of trauma in case he actually Impressed.

Not that it seemed likely, as the six eggs coming into view reminded him. He did feel bad for Casa, knowing she had to have taken some shit for the Flight and now the small clutch, though maybe that Nerreh guy was taking more of the blame. Either way, he decided to Stand to show Casa some silent support and continue trying for the dragon.

After the usual spiel of what to do and not do, Narinoa glanced once more across the Sands to where a rather angry-looking Thallyath sat watching them. No pressure there, right? Sighing, he approached the last egg that currently didn't have anyone already at it, took a deep breath, and set his hand against the shell.

And immediately was blasted with the sound of nails on a chalkboard that both startled him and hurt his head so much that Narinoa stumbled away from the egg, falling backward onto the ground. He scrambled a bit further back, putting more distance between him and the shrieking he swore he could still hear as his ears rang with the sound. One hand held his head as the other waved away people he barely saw coming toward him. No doubt they were shouting in concern for him, but Narinoa couldn't hear a word of it as both hands now rubbed at his temples as he felt a migraine coming on.

What the fuck was wrong with that dragonet? Was it just screeching for the world to hear or did it hate him that much that it wanted to cause him pain on any level? What if the beast knew who he was when he cracked shell and came running full speed at him to finish the job he had started while still in hiding? That was a terrifying thought but from what his ringing head could currently remember of tales from other Candidates, it didn't seem like dragonets recalled the minds they had brushed before Hatching.

With that thought in mind and after a few minutes of all but rocking himself back and forth on the hot Sands, Narinoa got to his feet, stumbling a bit as he moved on to another egg. Fuck it, maybe this one would be better for him.

At first--nothing. Narinoa managed a frown before he was hit with such a deep hatred for everything he was. The dragonet couldn't stand a single thing about him from the way he was made up--red blood, what even was that about?--to his height and boring eyes that couldn't even change colour. And don't even get it started on what was inside.

Narinoa froze, unable to pull his hand away as the dragonet found every little detail about him and what he hoped for and wanted. Was he really kidding himself? The dragonet pointed out every flaw he had, including being a holder and not born into the dragonrider life, and what was with the obsession with some drug? Did he really need to have that to keep him going? Worthless and pathetic!

Narinoa gasped, realising he hadn't taken a breath the entire time the dragonet insulted him, tore him down, and promised him all the pain in the world for being the scum of the world that he was. He forced himself to pull away as the promises continued and immediately stopped as the connection broke--at least in the form of the dragonet's doing. Narinoa was now left with his own voice in his head coming up with all the horrible things he was and did and how he wouldn't amount to anything. He was crying, his head was pounding, and he wanted to get away from those eggs as quickly as possible.

Without speaking, Narinoa blew right past the Weyrlingmaster in his attempt to flee. He made it just outside the entrance to the Sands before he fell to his knees and threw up.

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Sh'ran
of Blue Dyoricath

Date of Birth
19.01.717, 28
Height
6'1"
Eyes
Dark hazel
Build
Pretty boy
Hair
Ashy blonde hair that is almost always straight. He used to keep it a bit longer, but clips it shorter after moving to the Weyr.

Threads
8
Posts
138

Written By: Zandelion
#5
Misharan was very excited about this Hatching. Casa was his friend, Nerreh was his friend, and it gave him a reason to spend at least a few weeks in Ista with many of his friends. All fantastic! And okay, yeah, the Clutch was pretty tiny and he didn’t have high hopes that he would Impress from this Clutch — the chances were just so low — but there were so many other reasons to be there. Misha smiled at Casa and Nerreh, waving enthusiastically. Once they acknowledged him he gave them a thumbs up. He was being cheery and supportive because the energy at this Touching was awful.

He figured it was Thallyath’s poor mood radiating from her tiny gold body and reaching everyone on the Sands. There was no other reason Candidates would be so morose at a Touching. It was exciting! Baby dragons! Maybe your life mate would be one of them! Got to see friends! Whatever, Misharan would just have to be positive enough for everyone.

As soon as their group was given the go-ahead Misha beelined for one of the eggs and eagerly pressed his hand to the side. And felt nothing. Misharan frowned, pressing a little harder on the shell. Still nothing. A quick glance towards Thallyath confirmed that the gold was sulking and not looking in his direction, and after Misha was mostly sure he wouldn’t be eaten, he gently shoved the egg. Nothing. The fuck? He rapped his knuckles on the shell, trying to get anything from this egg, worried there was no one there to respond. Wait! Misharan leaned in, frowning, trying to reach the faint presence he felt. The dragonet was there, but it was tired. So, so tired. He could feel it reaching for him, scratching at the edges of his consciousness and trying to find something to hold onto, anything. Trying to hold on and pull itself out of sleep, fatigue coloring its entire being as it dragged at him, not strong enough to pull itself out, but maybe strong enough to unintentionally pull Misharan in…

Misha gasped, suddenly coming back to himself, breathing heavily. His chest felt tight and Misharan frowned, confused. What had happened? Had he been holding his breath? A few deep breaths later Misharan decided he was alright, though he was deeply worried for the dragonet. Was it alright? Shaking his head to brush off the last of the tiredness from the egg, Misharan moved over to another one.

That one started off better. The dragonet inside responded immediately to his touch, and for a heartbeat Misharan was relieved. The feeling didn’t last, because this dragonet hurt. Misha only partially successfully suppressed a whimper as pain shot through him, until he couldn’t feel anything else. He’d been mauled at a Hatching the turn before, and this felt kind of like that, except instead of the pain being centered in the lacerations left by dragon claws it was everywhere. Misharan didn’t stay long, pulling his hand back from the shell as if he’d been burned — it felt like he had — and stumbled backwards, his legs deciding they didn’t want to work anymore and they folded, bringing Misharan to sit in the sand. It was hot, but it didn’t hurt as much as the dragonet had.

“What the fuck?” he whispered, looking around at the other Candidates clustered around the eggs, all of whom seemed to be having about as nice of a time as he was. There had to be one egg that wasn’t... like that. At least one. Had to be. Determined, Misharan stood back up and walked over to a third egg. Third time’s the charm, right?

It wasn’t. This egg felt starved, and the emptiness caused it agony. Misha felt sick, stomach roiling in response to the dragonet’s hunger. He’d eaten not that long ago, but he felt a gnawing emptiness, as if he hadn’t eaten in turns, before it transformed into a feeling that he’d eaten but he wasn’t able to digest food, his body was so used to being with nothing. Misharan jerked his hand back, closing his eyes and trying his hardest not to vomit as his stomach tried to figure out what was its own reality and what was the dragonet’s, roiling around uncomfortably. He tasted bile but managed to keep everything down, again letting himself collapse to the ground so he could recover from the intense misery that seemed to be this Clutch.

What the fuck?

In order, Misha touched
Egg #2
Egg #1
Egg #3

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Mylorah
of Gold Amagrith

Date of Birth
10.02.721, 24
Height
5'8
Eyes
Light Brown
Build
Curvy
Hair
Brown, long

Threads
33
Posts
377

Written By: SunsetWay
#6
As if Mylorah would miss this clutch!

One of her best friends' dragon was the clutch mother and she didn't care if a blue had won the Flight--even if she thought it was a bit weird but they were both tiny and agile dragons so whatever--especially since the blue was ridden by another friend. Mylorah wasn't really one to follow the crowd either so when people started dropping out of the Touching and Hatching for whatever dick reason, she proudly said she would still Stand and skipped her way in with the rest of her class. Thallyath's mood seemed to dampen the spirits of most of her classmates but Mylorah kept her smile on, waving at Nerreh and Casa, and encouraging a couple of people around her to lighten up with nudges and faces since talking was frowned upon.

When her little group was given the go ahead, Mylorah stepped forward, going to the egg that was closest to her. Honestly, growing up around Hatchings and being a part of several, she knew the ritual was pointless. It didn't guarantee anything but it did make people more aware of what the personalities coming out might be like. She also felt it was just some very old tradition that now brought comfort to the old riders that needed something to cling to after surviving the plague. All that said, she still always followed the rules since that was the only way she'd be allowed to Stand at the Hatching. So, she placed her hand on the shell, hoping to have a quiet reflection with the little guy or gal inside.

She gasped as she felt a startled presence surround her. The dragonet, so close to being ready to join the world but was afraid of that prospect. The fear it projected started pounding against her head, her entire being, and suddenly all she could hear was the roar of the landslide on that horrible night that took her mother, brother, and so many others. She could smell the mud, debris, and blood, taste the mud as she crawled her way out of the hut she had been in that thankfully hadn't been immediately crushed or swept away. She couldn't breathe, remembering the feel of the mud around her and the fear and heartache of that night and the following ones for weeks.

Mylorah was gasping, a hand clutching at her throat and it wasn't until she released the hand from the egg to join at clawing her throat that she felt the emotions lessen and her breath returning. She was panting and taking small steps away from the egg while doing her best not to hyperventilate or scream from the memories she was drowning in.

Unfortunately, she wasn't paying attention to which direction she was backing up and Mylorah soon found herself bumping into another egg, her hand going behind her to balance herself, making full proper contact with the shell.

This time, the dragonet surprised her and the fear coming from the little beast is a stampeding herd of beasts. The pressure of it against her skull caused her free hand to go from throat to head, worried that it was about to explode. The image of her brain melting out of her ears became more and more vivid the longer contact remained and she was certain her nose was now broken and bleeding.

Both hands were now on her face and head, examining all the imagined wounds that still felt real upon breaking the contact from the horrible little beast. She couldn't shake the idea that she was bleeding profusely with her head about to crack open. Combined with the memories of the landslide still running through her head, Mylorah was confused and lost in time, gaze distant as she starred at things that weren't there.

And then she started screaming as she held both sides of her head as if keeping it together.

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Kor'is
of Blue Taith

Date of Birth
21.03.716, 29
Height
5'11
Eyes
Brown
Build
Average
Hair
Blonde, short

Threads
13
Posts
133

Written By: SunsetWay
#7
Kordiavis did not want to be there. He didn't want anything to do with the clutch that was sired by a blue. Blues were not meant to fly golds and the size of the clutch and Thallyath's apparent mood showed that crystal clear. Why waste his time on a clutch of six eggs? Why risk Impressing to a dragon that didn't have any prestige attached to it? It wasn't even that he only wanted a bronze; he could have a blue and be happy with it. The fact that everyone would know the sire was a blue just made it not worthwhile to him.

Of course Mylorah and Misharan had ganged up on him when he told them each individually that he wasn't wasting his time with the clutch that was associated with a green-turned-blue and a whore goldrider. He supposed he earned the slap Mylorah had given him at the comment about Casa and he figured he also earned his two closest friends teaming up to drag him along and show his support for their friends he didn't really care about. In the end he had agreed, stating it was to shut them up and not because he convinced himself that something might go wrong and he'd never forgive himself if he wasn't close to them and possibly protect them. He sometimes still had nightmares about the last few he Stood for and how people had died and it could have been him or the two people he had finally let in.

So there he was, rolling his eyes at Mylorah and Misharan being excited and trying to lift everyone's moods while looking over at Thallyath and agreeing with her mood. She didn't want them there and he didn't want to be there, yet he was and when he was urged forward with the rest of his small group, Kordiavis did his duty and touched an egg, again rolling his eyes as he did so.

At first he didn't feel or hear anything. He actually checked to make sure his hand was on the shell with nothing hindering it, not that he was in long sleeves or wearing gloves, but check he still did. Nothing. Just like what he was sensing. Nothing.

It was quiet. Oddly so. Kordiavis had a moment to wonder if that was what eternal between felt like, or perhaps what his mother went through after she lost her dragon. Empty and silent. Nothing.

Then that nothing turned into nothing. It felt like something was pulling everything out of him. He no longer felt anything, didn't sense anything, couldn't even breathe. Then he felt his past slip away as if it never happened. Dreams? Future hopes? Nothing. There was nothing left for him; nothing left of him.

Kordiavis did not exist.

Never did. Never would.

That empty sensation faded soon after and Kordiavis' hand slipped free of the egg and he stumbled back, feeling numb and looking around at everything and everyone around him as if he had never seen any of it before. What did any of it mean? Why make connections with anyone? It all meant nothing.

Then he heard a scream, breaking through the void he now existed in and his attention shot back enough to see Mylorah clutching her head and screaming like he couldn't even remember her doing during the killer maulings at the Hatchings.

"Mylo?" He whispered, still confused as he didn't entirely believe he was real or what he was seeing was actually happening as he stumbled in her direction, forgetting about the eggs entirely. Each step cleared his head further and he only saw a friend in pain and he needed to get to her.

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Sariel
of Gold Cirith

Date of Birth
20.12.720, 28
Height
4'10"
Eyes
Hazel Green
Build
Fit
Hair
Golden Blonde

Threads
12
Posts
84

Written By: ZZZ Deceased
#8
EGG 06
As soon as her fingers touched the sixth egg she had to suck in a breath of surprise as she felt immediately assaulted.

Nauseating, whirling, gravity-defying stomach rolls left her with the not-so-polite feeling she ought to spray the sands with the leftovers of her formerly digested lunch. Thankfully, being a Healer had her quite prepared to quash that urge, thank you.

It was with a quick, sharply confused breath that she stepped away, swaying a little as she took a moment. She felt as if she hadn’t engaged at all with it. Faranth knew that hadn’t been much of a hello.

It was, however, new and incredibly concerning.

Was Thallyath angry in a protective bent or a general angry at the whole situation sort of...way? Sariel was about to pause to speculate more as her fingers met the egg’s warm surface. Maybe she ought to think about anything else but the Flight.

Rainbows, the first klah cup of the day,
L’gan, their daughters…

Much better, she thought, as the feeling of rather acute nausea faded away.

EGG 05
The fifth egg upped the anté sparking her nerves in a sort of skittering, haunted way, like being trapped some dark and closed in place. There was relief from roiling nausea at least. The claustrophobic feeling pressed in on her further, the pressure of it unrelenting, as if someone were pushing her body down and down and down into the smallest space possible...

And then pressing her further.

She was going to see this through, she told herself. They were dragonets, weren't they? Nearly ready to hatch but they deserved nothing ill spoken about them. She fought the darkness with the light she had about her, bringing with it everything about the world that was positive. And reached a little more.

The dragonet! She felt the wings of its presence beating away at her mind, fragile, unsteady but there. It was alive, that much she knew and soon, she hoped to see it free on the Sands. Free and Impressed.

This negativity, though, was apparently pervasive to the very sands.

EGG 04
Sariel was determined to make it through the whole clutch and as she went to brush her fingers against the fourth egg, she saw a few Candidates run - actually run from the Sands. Some went from horror, some seemed to weep as if they had lost something precious. If it were any indication of the difficulties to come, she was going to have to indulge in wine. Sariel let out a soft but determined sigh and steeled herself from what was to come. It was much like the Infirmary, moving from one patient to another. Fresh eyes and a warm heart, one of her mentors used to say.

Her fingers sank against the egg carefully and she found she was met by, well, nothing.

It wasn’t a dud or the dam would have cast it aside by now. It was viable. Perhaps it wasn't quite ready to be touched. It wasn't its fault.

In an instant, she was nowhere. Sariel had gone between often enough that she knew the strangely disoriented feeling it gave. Her breath instictively held and her face went pale. What if she never got out of here, this darkness? Never came back from the Touching? Could it happen? Could you get stuck in this place?

It would have to come out at some point and so would she. Her chest tightened in response as she counted somewhere inside of her head. It was so dark that it seemed to stretch on for turns so that when she was finally released with the tiniest response from the egg, her knees gave. She gasped for a moment carefully controlling her breathing as her forehead brushed the shell.

Her face remained pale but determined. She had never run from anything in her life. She would not run now.

...however, she was definitely going to take a moment.

[small]Eggs — Touched by (Personal response from egg); Touched by (Personal response from egg); etc.[/small]
Egg #1:
Egg #2:
Egg #3:
Egg #4: Touched by Sariel - ?!?!?! DON'T RUN.
Egg #5: Touched by Sariel - ???? Poor little butterfly, stuck in a shell (if this is rhyming I guess I did well?)
Egg #6: Touched by Sariel - EXCUSE U, VOMIT EGG. wtf

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B'kit
of Blue Erebuth

Date of Birth
12.12.721 AL, 23
Height
5'11"
Eyes
Dark brown, trusting, and frequently lit up with laughter.
Build
Trim
Hair
Brunette and wavy when long, worn loose around his face. The bangs tend to flop into his eyes and he swears he’ll cut it all off when he Impresses or the next time he’s hungover.

Threads
25
Posts
144

Written By: ValGal9
#9
He heard Mylorah begin screaming and his head snapped her direction. He hadn’t noticed when Narinoa ran, but her agonizing cry tore at his heart and pulled him from his own misery. Beckitt carefully side-stepped the next egg in the line, rushing to her side and getting there just after Kordiavis. “Mylo?” He grasped her shoulder gently but firmly. “Mylo, it’s okay. Its Kitt. Your Hummingbird. It’s going to be okay. It’s just in your head, it’s not.. real.” He glanced uncertainly back over his shoulder at the eggs.

“Mylo, just breathe with me.” He tried to help her breathe slowly and come back out of it but found himself just as unsteady. “Do you want to leave? You don’t have to stay,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as the Weyrlingmaster came over.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to stay, after this. But he saw the horror and pain and shame on Casa and Nerreh’s faces and knew he would try to grit his teeth and get through the touching.

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Casa
of Gold Thallyath

Date of Birth
16.11.720 AL, 24
Height
5'3
Eyes
Green
Build
Slim, petite
Hair
Blonde, shoulder length

Threads
64
Posts
403

Written By: ThistleProse
#10
Honestly, Casa hadn’t been overly concerned by Thallyath’s irritability. She had expected it. Not to the degree, certainly, of her gold dragons snarky bitchiness and incredibly sour mood, but she had expected it. Younger and first time golds were known to be possessive and disquieted by the process of the Touching. It was normal.

Even the way the Candidates were responding to Thallyath’s constant rumbling growl and glowing red eyes was normal. Casa wasn’t sure she would have been too quick to want to touch the eggs if she’d been on the Sands. Even her friends, who knew Thallyath, seemed withdrawn. Of course, some were trying to pick the mood up, and Casa smiled thankfully at both Mylorah and Misharan; they were good friends and she was so glad they had chosen to Stand for the tiny clutch Thallyath had produced with Faxxonth.

Taking a deep breath, Casa reached over and grabbed Nerreh’s hand, clinging tightly to it and closing the distance between them so that she was leaning her shoulder against Nerreh’s, still staring out over the clutch. This was supposed to be fun, and exciting, but between Thallyath’s constant rumbling, Faxxonth’s terrified shadow, and the air of disquiet that was hovering over the Candidate class, Casa didn't feel good about it and was especially nervous.

She didn’t expect the shitstorm that followed.

The first Candidate that had a negative reaction, well, that was to be expected at least once, right? Casa remembered some of the girls touching Thallyath’s egg had had a horrible time of it, while she’d been convinced the dragonet would be destined for this or that girl when they came away beaming like they’d already Impressed. It was a strange custom, granted, but it usually helped to settle nerves and get an idea of dragonet personalities and how big they would be, what with standing right by the egg and all that.

As the negative reactions continued, Casa’s features grew more and more drawn, and she squeezed Nerreh’s hand, eyes wide and face sallow, the colour long gone. “What’s going on?” She whispered, broken and confused, as more candidates fell back. Some were bolting off the Sands; some had thrown up; some looked like they were fighting off passing out. And then the screaming. It took Casa far too long — staring blankly — for her to process that it was Mylorah that was screaming; the sound filled with all the pain and horror, and Casa felt her stomach drop, making her feel sick.

“Mylo,” she gasped, staring and unable to move as other friends flew to the girl’s side, touching and murmuring and reassuring. Her screaming eventually faded, but not before Casa was sure she’d never not be able to hear it. Tears were streaming down her face, and she was shaking as she clung to Nerreh. “What’s going on?” She asked again, sobbing and confused. Why were the eggs being so awful? Why were all of them being so terrible?

HE RUINED THEM! Thallyath’s scream clapped through the air and the minds of anyone with an ounce of reception, a snarling, vicious sound of outrage and disgust as the gold dragon swung her head towards Faxxonth and roared, flashing her teeth and puffing up, her wings extended and her head low and swinging, threatening the blue dragon but not quite moving from where Casa had her bound.

“Leave him alone!” Casa screeched, releasing Nerreh’s hand to throw herself onto the Sands, and between the two dragons, knowing her dragon would never risk hurting her, no matter how much she currently wanted to rip Faxxonth apart for destroying her clutch.

THEY DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE! Thallayth roared, and Casa flinched at the thunderous roar in her mind, but she didn’t know if Thallyath meant the blue pair, or the six eggs currently resting on the sands. She shouted at Thallyath, trying to get the dragon to calm down, but it wasn’t working and while she was keeping Thallyath from doing anything either of them would regret — like hurting the blue, eating a candidate, or squishing the eggs — Casa wasn’t sure how long she could prevent the slaughter her dragon wanted to cause.

“Someone call Mizeath!” Casa shrieked, desperately hoping the older gold would be able to pull her distraught bonded back into line. She wasn’t thinking clearly and Casa couldn’t get her to stop focusing on her rage, her embarrassment, her horror at what was going on. “Thallyath!” Casa screamed again, trying to get her dragon to focus on her. “Thallyath stop!”

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Ameris
of Gold Mizeath

Date of Birth
15.08.708 ,
Height
5'6"
Eyes
Dark Brown
Build
Trim
Hair
Black

Threads
30
Posts
148

Written By: Jenn
#11
Ameris had trusted that Casa and Thallyath would be fine. Trusted that the girl and her small gold were mature enough to deal with their own touching, but she'd been wrong. Oh she didn't know that when it was beginning but she knew it now. Knew it in the sudden rage that enveloped her normally calm gold. She could feel Mizeath's outrage and anger as well as she could feel her own. Mizeath? she questioned the gold as she handed Eris to the maid. The little girl didn't complain as her mother basically threw her at the woman, clearly used to the rough handling that happened sometimes and waved a happy goodbye to the mother that darted out the door.

She could hear the roaring, the shrieking and the hatching sands stank of vomit. What the fuck was going on here? THALLYATH! she reached the hatching sands in time to see her brilliant gold sink into the sands and felt every ounce of command Mizeath possessed leeching into her voice. Be STILL and calm yourself, immediately. Mizeath was much larger than Thallyath and used her bulk to crowd the smaller gold. Ameris had a moment's fear that Thallyath would turn on MIzeath and it was felt by the gold. Be settled, rider of mine, clear your mind and do not think of it. If you can not, you must leave. Now, Mosiath, I may need your assistance in this, Mizeath told Ameris even as she called for her mate.

I trust you to take care of this, Ameris told her with renewed confidence. Any doubt could harm Mizeath and Ameris could not allow that to happen. So instead she moved towards Casa, skirting the golds that could battle at any moment, "Casa!" she shouted above the noise, "What is the meaning of this? What happened here?"

Mizeath mantled her wings, spreading them to cover Faxxonth and the candidates. You will stop Thallyath. None will die here today, my dear, calm yourself. It is the fault of no one what has transpired. Be still for once,. Mizeath could not allow Thallyath to continue her actions. She could not allow her to kill the blue or the candidates. Or the eggs that contained a new generation. It would reflect badly on Ista and her rider, and Mizeath could not allow that to happen. She would kill the smaller gold first if she had too.

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N'reh
of Blue Faxxonth

Date of Birth
11.06.721 AL , 23
Height
5'6"
Eyes
Dark hazel
Build
Wiry
Hair
Dark brown, wavy

Threads
11
Posts
89

Written By: Zandelion
#12
Nerreh wanted to be anywhere else in the world other than on the Sands just then. As if dealing with all the looks and whispers the past few months hadn’t been bad enough, but standing on the Sands next to Casa was worse. But Thallyath had apparently insisted on Faxxonth being there (even if she looked at him like she’d rather he disappear) so they’d both gone, though Faxx had awkwardly settled himself as far from Thallyath as he could possible get. If Casa hadn’t wanted them there, Nerreh would have climbed on Faxx and flown as far from the Weyr as they were allowed until the sun went down and it was safe to crawl back.

But Casa, for some reason Nerreh could not comprehend, because it could not be good for her image to have her there, it would probably be better if she’d just made herself scarce, wanted Nerreh there with her. But she did, and Nerreh squeezed her hand when she grabbed his, trying to be as supportive as possible. Being bonded to Thallyath recently must be exhausting; Nerreh was pretty sure Casa and Thallyath were constantly at odds, Casa trying to keep her dragon from pitching a fit.

And of course, the Touching had to go terribly, because of course it did. Nerreh hadn’t actually been to a whole lot of Touchings — he was pretty sure this was the third — but he was well aware that Candidates screaming and crying and throwing up was not normal and pretty fucked up. What was going on? Were the eggs okay? Was this all his and Faxx’s fault? Probably, that would just be par for the course, really, and Nerreh held onto Casa, who had started crying and was holding on to him like a lifeline, filled with dread. Was it his fault his friends were being hurt? What else could you call it when something that was supposed to be nice, a fucking Touching, had one of his childhood friends curled up on the ground and screaming and everyone else looked like they wanted to throw up or pass out or both.

"I'm sorry, I’m so sorry,” Nerreh repeated over and over, gently swaying as he held Casa against him in an attempt to be comforting. Fax had just wanted to have fun and show off, how had it gone so horribly wrong?

He visibly winced at Thallyath’s scream, pressing further into Casa as if that would hid him from her dragon. Faxxonth froze, eyes wide and whirling whites and yellows. The blue pressed his wings as close to his body as he could, trying to make himself as small as possible and pressing himself back towards the wall of the Hatching Grounds. There was no way he could get out without passing too close to Thallyath, so he could only hope Casa kept her from tearing her hurt and frustration into his hide.

Nerreh immediately let go of Casa when she moved to confront her dragon, too stunned to be able to do much other than stand there. What could he do, when his mere presence and that of his dragon was part of what was causing the Thallyath’s distress in the first place? He clung onto Casa’s request to call Mizeath — that was something he could help with.

’Faxx, call Mizeath,’ Nerreh thought through panic, startling Faxxonth out of the fear that had frozen him in place. The young blue resisted wailing in distress, not wanting to further anger Thallyath more than his existence already did, and reached out to Ista’s most senior queen, somehow managing to be mostly coherent.

Mizeath! he called, fear making his mind voice raise a couple octaves, making hims sound even more like a green than usual, Please! Faxxonth sent her an image of Thallyath, wings out head low, and Casa in front of her, shouting, not wasting time explaining the situation when just the image would do.

The appearance of Mizeath on the sands had both Nerreh and Faxxonth relax a fraction in relief. These were Mizeath’s Sands, and she wouldn’t tolerate Thallyath hurting anyone on them. By some miracle the older gold seemed to have some measure of control over Thallyath, and while she was still roiling in anger Faxxonth was sure she wouldn’t pass Mizeath. Shaking, Faxxonth almost collapsed into a sitting position, all his energy sapped from the intense fight-or-flight he’s just dealt with. Nerreh, pretty sure he wasn’t going to immediately die if he moved, crept forward to reach Casa. He wasn’t even sure if Casa would appreciate him being there right then — her dragon’s rage was mostly his fault, after all — but everyone other than Ameris seemed too stunned and scared to approach her, and she was crying. Nerreh couldn’t leave her to deal with everything alone. It wouldn’t be fair to Casa. He stopped right behind her, hesitantly reaching forward to take one of her hands. His hands were shaking and he clung onto Casa’s hand as if it were the only solid thing around. When she didn’t protest the hand holding, Nerreh moved up a little further so that their sides were barely touching, letting Casa know he was there if she needed him for anything. Nerreh was too stunned to cry outright, but his eyes prickled with tears and her throat felt tight.

This was such a horrible fucking mess and as soon as it was over Nerreh was going to take Faxx and go as far as possible and probably throw things around and yell and maybe cry, but where there weren’t people who could see.

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B'kit
of Blue Erebuth

Date of Birth
12.12.721 AL, 23
Height
5'11"
Eyes
Dark brown, trusting, and frequently lit up with laughter.
Build
Trim
Hair
Brunette and wavy when long, worn loose around his face. The bangs tend to flop into his eyes and he swears he’ll cut it all off when he Impresses or the next time he’s hungover.

Threads
25
Posts
144

Written By: ValGal9
#13
Everything was happening so quickly. Beckitt clapped his hands over his ears as Thallyath roared, terrified. He grabbed Misha and Mylo by the hands instinctively scrambling away with several of the others. The absolute last place he wanted to be right now was anywhere near the gold or her eggs. All plans of putting on a brave face were gone as draconic screams of rage filled the air.

She was crazy! Had she really been thinking such horrible things the whole time she brooded over her clutch? No wonder the eggs were reacting like this. He wanted to scream back that Faxxoth hadn’t ruined anything, she had, but all he could feel was the roiling fear filling the hatching grounds. Faranth help them, she wasn’t going to squash the eggs, was she?

Mizeath’s arrival saw a wave of relief flood through him. The senior queen wouldn’t stand for violence from a junior, not on her sands. Not at a Touching. As her wings spread over the group protectively, he was finally able to let go of the others, staring at the eggs, a million thoughts racing through his head. They didn’t deserve to feel like this. Maybe… Barely aware of what he was doing, he stood slowly so he wouldn’t attract attention. Beckitt crossed carefully back over to the tiny clutch, tears still streaming down his face.

He hesitated, his hand above its surface, then squeezed his eyes shut and closed the distance. He felt a maelstrom of anger and fear batter his mind and gritted his teeth against it even as he swayed. It’s okay. I don’t know what she’s been telling you, but you are wanted. You don’t know what this world is like yet but it isn’t this. It’s so much better. He felt someone grab him and bodily yank him back and thought frantically as hard as he could, it will be okay! Trust us! Don’t fight us!

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Sh'ran
of Blue Dyoricath

Date of Birth
19.01.717, 28
Height
6'1"
Eyes
Dark hazel
Build
Pretty boy
Hair
Ashy blonde hair that is almost always straight. He used to keep it a bit longer, but clips it shorter after moving to the Weyr.

Threads
8
Posts
138

Written By: Zandelion
#14
Well this Touching had gone right to shit. Misharan felt he was doing fairly well, considering. He wasn’t poor Mylo, at least, he thought, pressed up against her side as Beckitt tried to calm her down, Kordiavis on her other side, leaning against her but staring blankly into space. Misha had no idea what was going on in either of their heads, but it seemed like it was worse than whatever he’d dealt with. And the eggs he’d touched hadn’t exactly been pleasant, he couldn’t imagine what had shaken Mylorah and Kordiavis so much — his friends were always so with it and put together, and their reactions sat uncomfortably in Misha’s stomach.

He cowered with the rest of the Candidates, still curled up with his friends, while Thallyath raged around them, voice reverberating through his head. There was no chance Misharan was doing anything until she had calmed down — it hadn't even been a full turn since he’d been on the wrong end of an angry gold dragon and he had the scars to prove it. It was not an experience he wanted to repeat if he could avoid it.

Things calmed down for a moment, once Mizeath had arrived and forced Thallyath into some sort of reluctant truce with the world. Misha let out a shaky breath in relief. Okay, things were going to be okay. Mylorah had stopped screaming, Thallyath wasn't seconds away from murder (probably). So of course Beckitt had to go back over to the Clutch while everyone was distracted watching Thallyath. Misharan didn’t notice until his friend was already halfway there, cursing under his breath and gently letting go of Mylorah — she still had Kordiavis right there, they would be okay for a minute — so he could get up and follow him.

Kitt was crying as he touched one of the eggs, and Misharan growled in frustration. Idiot! Wait until a goldrider or the Weyrlingmaster confirmed it was safe before going back to interact with the eggs of a gold who seemed to think that several someones should be dead. He didn't want Beckitt to be added to her list, thanks. Misha reached his friend, pulling him back from the egg he was currently crying over, dragging him back a few paces until he felt they were in less danger.

“Don’t be stupid, Kitten,” he admonished, keeping his arms around Beckitt, who was noticeably shaking, “don’t get close to the eggs until we’re sure their mother won’t rampage. Wait like, a minute, fuck.” It was actually less than a minute until the Weyrlingmaster looked over, realizing some of the Candidates had gone back to the Clutch. After the man checked with both goldriders that the situation wasn’t immediately about to get worse, he announced the Touching would continue, and that their group still had time if they wished.

“There we go. Safeish to go see the eggs now.” Misharan loosed his grip on Beckitt, enough that he could break free if he wanted to go back to the eggs. He was torn, himself. Part of him was stupid determined to touch all the eggs like he’d planned to, while a very strong part wanted to go back to huddle with Mylo and Kordi. But he couldn’t give up on the eggs just yet — it wasn't their fault they had been steeped in whatever fucked up sense of gold shame Thallyath had been stewing in, and they still deserved the chance to be normal eggs at a normal Touching. And sure, Misha had been told the Touching didn’t really affect Impression at all, but there had to be some purpose to it, even if in this instance it just showed the dragonets that not everyone in the world was full of hate and rage all the time.

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Sariel
of Gold Cirith

Date of Birth
20.12.720, 28
Height
4'10"
Eyes
Hazel Green
Build
Fit
Hair
Golden Blonde

Threads
12
Posts
84

Written By: ZZZ Deceased
#15
Sariel turned to watch the queens and the blue, Faxxonth, who'd won her Flight. This...was going to one of those moments where she was going to get through it by sheer will. She had more eggs to touch and so she did. The third egg was angry, in pain, soaked in fear and negativity that she tried to soothe by mentally curling around its presence, telling it gently that it would find its lifemate on the sands when it hatched.

It would be alright. In the end, through the tears and pain and all this negativity. They were alive and deserved the love that would come to them when they hatched. And they deserved her love now, which she gave to the remaining eggs freely, without restraint.

Even if she didn't Impress, they deserved whatever love she could give them. Her fingers brushed over the final egg and she leaned down with a whisper.

"You lifemate will be waiting for you, little one," she said with a soft hum. "They'll be waiting."

[small]Eggs — Touched by (Personal response from egg); Touched by (Personal response from egg); etc.[/small]
Egg #1: Touched by Sariel
Egg #2: Touched by Sariel
Egg #3: Touched by Sariel
Egg #4: Touched by Sariel
Egg #5: Touched by Sariel
Egg #6: Touched by Sariel

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Sh'ran
of Blue Dyoricath

Date of Birth
19.01.717, 28
Height
6'1"
Eyes
Dark hazel
Build
Pretty boy
Hair
Ashy blonde hair that is almost always straight. He used to keep it a bit longer, but clips it shorter after moving to the Weyr.

Threads
8
Posts
138

Written By: Zandelion
#16
Kitt still seemed to want to touch the eggs, and Misharan wasn't going to let him do that alone, so the two of them moved back towards the eggs. Misha watched Kitt for a moment, making sure he was alright before turning his attention to the nearest egg, one he hadn't touched yet. He eyed it apprehensively, worried about this one would bring. Fuck it, no point worrying about it, was there? How much worse could it get, really. He pressed his hand to the shell.

This one felt a little more... collected, than the others. Misharan actually got the impression of an individual being in the egg, not just a wave of emotions and feelings. Which was promising, for a moment, more like a typical egg in a typical Touching. Didn't last, though. As soon as the dragonet registered Misharan was there it inundated him with a sense of powerlessness. This one could feel the world around it but do nothing, not react to anything, not able to advocate for itself, just subject to the whims of whatever existed outside of its egg. How about you? it seemed to ask, Have you ever felt like this?

’I don’t…’ Misharan started to think, but the dragonet was pulling up memories, dragging things forward Misha usually tried his best to ignore — His brother crushed in a mining accident, gone one day after breakfast, picking him up and promising to play with him later before walking out the door and never coming back. Overhearing his father and grandmother talking, his father admitting that he could never forget how the Healer had chosen the baby over the mother, saving Misharan while his mother bled out, whenever he looked at his youngest son, who looked so much like her. His siblings, one by one, moving out of the house and letting it get quieter, and quieter, until it was just Misharan, his father, and his grandmother, who looked at him with suspicious eyes and assumed he would ruin the family name. Realizing at twelve that he would never look at a girl the way his brothers did, but the other boys made his heart skip and speech stutter. Hearing the miners talk in the evenings over dinner, making jokes about men who took the roles of women and weren’t good for anything, just wastes of space. Knowing that one day his father would find him a wife and he'd have no say in who she was. Taking care of his grandmother after she fell and broke her hip, gradually slipping away as he tended to her every need, followed all the instructions set by the Healer. She thought he was one of his older brothers, the last few weeks, and gave him advice on how to handle the rest of the family, including the youngest, Misharan — that boy was trouble, and needed proper management if he was to be kept from disgracing them. And then she was gone, and Misharan hated that he was relieved, had even started wishing she were — Misharan tore his hand away, staring at the egg, throat tight with unshed tears.

“Did that help you feel less like you're the only one who can't control their life?” he asked it shakily. The egg couldn't respond from this distance, and Misha had no intention of getting close enough again to ask. He glanced over at Beckitt, who wasn't on the ground, screaming, or completely insensible, so Misharan took that as a good sign and turned to the next egg, bracing himself for whatever new misery was in store. With a trembling hand he reached for it, making contact with the surface.

Nothing. Or rather, Misha couldn't feel anything. He knew feelings existed, outside of him, but not here. After the raw emotions dredged up by the last egg, the numbness of this one would have been a relief, if he could have felt that emotion either. A long moment passed, then two, then four, and eventually Misharan slowly lifted his hand from the shell. As soon as his hand lost contact with the egg, everything came back in a rush and Misha almost toppled over from the sheer volume of feeling everything at once after feeling nothing, and he swayed on his feet, eyes pressed tightly closed as he tried to keep from crying, or yelling, or even laughing. Anything. Everything.

Looking over at Kitt again, who was now standing awkwardly at the edge of the Clutch, seemingly waiting for him. Misha briefly glanced at the last egg he had to touch, debating whether he really wanted to deal with whatever fresh horror it held. He didn't but he'd promised himself and the eggs he’d touch all six. Misharan took a step closer, and quickly skimmed his hand over the top of the shell, barely making any contact with it at all. Thankfully, this one was like the first one he touched and was slow to respond, and Misha could step back and move over to stand with Kitt. He’d touched the egg, not his fault it was sleepy.

He was done with this Touching.

In order, Misha touched

Egg #5

Egg #6
Egg #4

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B'kit
of Blue Erebuth

Date of Birth
12.12.721 AL, 23
Height
5'11"
Eyes
Dark brown, trusting, and frequently lit up with laughter.
Build
Trim
Hair
Brunette and wavy when long, worn loose around his face. The bangs tend to flop into his eyes and he swears he’ll cut it all off when he Impresses or the next time he’s hungover.

Threads
25
Posts
144

Written By: ValGal9
#17
Beckitt struggled briefly against Misha’s grasp, not really registering what was being said. After a few moments of being held, though, he sagged into the arms around him, resigned. He nodded absently, agreeing with admonishments he didn’t even hear, as the adrenaline faded and his brain took over again. Even when the weyrlingmaster gave permission for them to approach again, he hesitated, loath to lose contact. He rose shakily and squeezed Misharan’s hand tightly, then walked toward one of the two remaining eggs. He had promised himself he would do this, and he would see it through no matter what.

Stepping closer to the egg, he took a deep breath, centering himself and trying to brace himself against whatever mental onslaught would come. He began projecting reassurances before his hand even touched the shell. It would be all right. Just trust in the candidates. Trust in your chosen.

Why bother? It won’t change anything. You’ll still be motherless and your father still won’t care. The dragonet wordlessly reflected his anxieties back at him, amplifying them with its untrained mindspeech. He barely even knows you exist, why would he care if you had a dragon? It doesn’t matter if you impress a bronze, it will never be enough.

Beckitt ground his teeth in frustration and did his best to tamp down the anxieties. So what? he asked. You’re right; he won’t ever change. But I would. I would have a partner for life. You will too, soon enough. All of you. Someone to protect you, to love you unconditionally, to stand up for you. But you have to trust us. With that, his hand fell away from the surface, he swallowed hard, and turned to the last egg.

Just like before, he took a breath and grounded himself. Let himself feel the heat of the sands radiating off the shells and the walls, focused, then reached out. But as soon as he touched the egg it didn’t matter--Beckitt was falling. Tripping while learning to walk. Falling down a flight of stairs. Slipping off the neck of a dragon whose straps had broken. Losing his grip on a climb due to bad rock and tumbling down the side of the Bowl. Falling forever between, screaming and freezing and helpless as the dragon left him behind.

He barely resisted the strong urge to shove off as he broke contact with the final egg. He still felt cold and he could feel the scream bubbling in his throat waiting for an excuse to get out. Shaken, he stepped back, waiting for the others. What an awful day.

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