Her hand balled up into a little fist. Not out of rage, though there was plenty to be found scattered. But her heart, a single most powerful, most fragile part of any human being, ached. It ached for the body that no longer moved in the sands - she squeezed Kiri's hand again - and it ached for how that would taint the way many would look at the little green.
The little, perfect, terrified, angry green.
She dug through that moment of fear of her own, so distant, so new and grabbed onto what had come of it. Aryale held onto it tightly and let it be her good thought for this little one. Hugs, reassurances, kisses on the forehead, a bubbling anger as her mother threatened to throw the offender off of his dragon herself, that warm place cuddled up between two green bodies. Comfort on the other side of bad feelings.
"Careful and Calm," Aryale agreed, making a point to make sure none of the trio got too close to the obviously irritated Bone Green. Rightly so! "They're all beautiful," and oh, there were so many. Perfect greens.
As the green climbing up into the stands had impressed, Keris was equal parts relieved she had found Hers.. and equal part feeling utterly foolish for allowing herself to believe, for one moment… …
Her gaze drifted back, checking briefly on one to make sure she had not been harmed, before her gaze trailed to the green who had rampaged -- and come to a complete stop, greying near instantly. Oh, little one.. All would be well….
And another green scolding the greying clutch father? Hm.
The horror, the fear, the ache of Metzli's death was shaken some by Phryana blocking their vision. It was hard to see the stain of red on the sands with the other candidate keeping their attention. Voice harsh but alert, making the young baker pry away from looking at the sands and the babies and the chaos around them as hands pressed a white robe into the deep gashes.
"N-no, I'm fine.." It certainly hurt, and Nonami was tentative to put even a fraction of weight on that leg, but they could still stand. A better, proper candidate had lost their life, and Nonami still stood here.. The least they could do would be to keep standing. "Are.. are you okay?" Had she been hurt?
Had they failed at the one thing they hoped they could do right?
Tsunake
Prism Shine
Fanatical Egg
Offline
Cheri
Vice Captain
Interstellar Pirate
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:49 am
But the Olive Green golds were on the move again. Walking jointly through the Candidates, they nuzzled here, gave a reassuring thought there. One sister peeled off to investigate the wounded Candidates, pausing before Papys. She gave him a gentle lick, as if to thank him for understanding their feelings. When it appeared that the healers had everything in hand, she at last went to Nonami, peering up at the child. Are you quite all right? she asked, checking the Candidate over. Oh dear, that didn't seem to look how it should - the red on the robe was quite out of place.
The other little queen had started investigating the female Candidates, pausing here and there to see what they had to offer. With a little chirp at Aryale, she seemed to try to encourage her. But there was another thought somewhere that... didn't sound quite so nice. Their father Teth was... very upset. Are we so horrible, Father? Given that he'd already told her her behavior was bad, she didn't find it far fetched.
demon_pachabel
houllow
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:59 am
Papys
Papys leaned his head into the small gesture from the young gold, his smile returning - though perhaps not as broadly as usual. He was very, very sore all over. "I'll be alright, little lady," he assured, "I hope the rest of your everything is better than the start, okay?" Papys almost wanted to reach out, to offer a pat or a pet or something.
But it was inappropriate, so he had to hope the positive thought would suffice.
-----
Aryale
Aryale smiled down at the little queen that peeped up at her. "You too, little one," she pressed that feeling - that raw love that numbed the bad feelings - towards the gold. It had been for all of the babies to hold onto if they needed it. Take it all, there was so much more waiting for her. An infinite supply whenever it was asked for.
demon_pachabel Crew
Beloved Werewolf
Offline
tatterpixie
Tipsy Codger
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:03 am
Sorsha Sorsha suddenly found herself way too close to the action. There were angry dragonets everywhere, snarling and snapping at each other and the Candidates, and a Candidate had actually been killed by one of the greens. She felt sad for the poor kid, but she knew full well that such things happened at Hatchings. Still, she didn't want to end up a casualty, so she carefully sidestepped out of the way of the snarling green and grey-eyed brown before she got shoved by them.
Tokki This was worse than the Hatching he had stood for at High Reaches. All the hatchlings seemed to be angry, and one of them had actually killed a Candidate. Tokki was becoming a bit uncertain that he wanted this as much as he thought he did; there was so much anger and blood involved, it seemed, and death and fear. As a Healer who had treated Thread victims, he knew his fair share of these things, but it bothered him that a supposedly joyous occasion such as a Hatching had to be beset by them.
Well away from the bulk of the mayhem, Tokki nevertheless kept his eyes on it, and refocused his thoughts toward welcoming the hatchlings to the world. He hoped they were paying attention...
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:04 am
What…? But he wasn’t done yet! Funfetti sagged, watching Shining Star trot off on a mission of his own. He’d been marginally aware of someone shouting, but had been so focused on telling his story that he missed the important bits. So he went to the nearest sibling—Mint Chocolate Chip—and poked his nose into the hole in its shell to strike up another woeful, one-sided conversation. How wronged he’d been! Can you believe it?
BOOP! Mint Chocolate Chip’s nose pressed against the blue’s, and the baby inside stood up, keeping their noses together while bursting from… her shell! Another green! Eye to eye, she drew back just enough to give him another boop. Did you hear? Did you hear? The Olive egg has TWO golds in it! My nextdoorneighborsisters! Can you believe it?!
Funfetti just blinked, startled to silence. He couldn’t help himself, slowly glancing off toward a certain pair of sisters that he already knew plenty about.
Mint Chocolate Chip’s eyes followed his gaze, and her cheerful expression dimmed. Oh. She’d been a little late. Well, what about—? Oops, nope. Everyone already knew about that, too. Well, shardit! She gave her brother another boop and took off like an arrow into the crowd of candidates, bumping into some of them half on purpose and laughing as she did so. She’s with you, BoneSis!
Teiha
Offline
faesinger
Predestined Cultist
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:05 am
Dsharmira
Well aware of the going on out in the sands, Zhaoruith had trouble feeling too bad about it. She was saddened that someone was dead, that was a terrible loss, but these things happened sometimes. She had seen that in the minds of the candidates who touched her egg. The candidates kew that when they chose to walk out on the sands. And she was proud of her accomplishment. She had been first to hatch, she had been first to impress. No one could take that away from her even with all her siblings stealing the thunder of impression. Dsharmiramine at least was fully focused on her.
Dsharmira stared at the meat she was supposed to be cutting up before looking around for a bucket that was full of small pieces. Maybe…yes! Some kind soul had made one, and because they were first no one else could take one of the few. With only mild unpleasantness she began offering the meat to her, her!, dragon. It was a mind changing experience as well as a life changing one. She thought about what her life would be now, full of hard work and danger, but she wouldn’t give up Zhaoruith to be free of it. Zhaoruith was perfect and worth every bruise and sore muscle, every life risking moment, because they would share them together. They didn't need to say anything to each other as they basked in the joy of being together.
The voice gave Nonami a bit of a start, looking around before the brilliant hide of the little golden dragon caught their attention. "O-oh, hello." She was even prettier up close, and the candidate smiled a touch. But her concern brought a flush, gaze darting down to their leg. "I don't- I don't think it's too bad. I'll be okay." Happy thoughts, right? "But I- I hope you're okay. It is your biggest day."
Prism Shine
Fanatical Egg
Offline
demon_pachabel Crew
Beloved Werewolf
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:08 am
Shalaera - Bet tracking
A lot was happening. Good thing she was safely up here in the stands and not down there with teeth to avoid. Not anymore.
"Not in my time, no," Shalaera confirmed, doing another count of heads for how many *twins* there were. Goodness! "They have plenty of pick from, I'd hope. Some are still very, very, actively searching though."
Magnadearel
T’tain bets that the first dragon to impress will be a blue. - Loss, Green
T’tain bets that the last dragon to impress will be a green.
Shalaera bets that the first dragon to hatch will be a Green.- Win
Shalaera bets that the last dragon to hatch will be a Brown. --- Vosin bets Killakeeth has hidden at least 5 more eggs
Shalaera makes no counter bet. - All 5 eggs must hatch at time of the hatching (AKA can't be added on at time of Graduation)
----
Candidate Jaiyce bets that he will Impress a Bronze
Candidate Jaiyce bets that Killakeeth will have TWO golds - win
Shalaera counters that Jaiyce will impress a Blue.
Shalaera has no counter bet for 2 golds. - loss
-----
Qiana bets Keleres will Impress a female dragon.
Qiana bets that more Western candidates will Impress than High Reaches.
Shalaera bets that Keleres' female dragon will be amongst the last 7 to hatch.
Shalaera bets that more than half of the metallics in Killakeeth's clutch will impress Western candidates.
-------
Onyx bets that Nyrida will Impress a female dragon.
Onyx bets that there will be at least one stands Impression. - Win
Shalaera bets that Nyrida will impress a dragon that hatched from the first 6 eggs.
Shalaera bets that the stands impression - or first one if there are multiple - will be to a character that identifies male. -Loss ---------
Jacquol bets she will impress a green.
Shalaera is betting Jacquol's green will be between 22-24' (AKA 'Average' on the size chart) ---------
Astriana bets that there will be at least two whites in the clutch.
Astriana changes her second bet to impressing a blue
Shalaera bets the first white to hatch - if there are multiples - will be female.
Shalaera bets that Astri will impress the dragon that hatches very middle of all the babies. If for some reason there is an even number, sucks to be her. - This only counts for PC eggs that hatch, not NPCs at Graduation ---- Taiena has bet that Nikal will impress.
Shalaera has bet it will be a brown. --- Rinis has bet that more than half of the greens in the clutch will impress boys.
Shalaera bets that for every boy over half that impresses green, a girl will impress blue or brown. Ex. There are 6 greens and 5 impress to boys. That means 2 browns-or-blues impressed to a girl. ---- Dhawsn bets that there will be more male-identifying candidates on greens
Nikal bets Veikel will get a dragon
Shalaera bets that at least 1/3rd of the boys that impress greens - if over half - are from High Reaches.
Shalaera bets Nikal will impress. ------
Adi bets that at least one blue will have an adult length of 31+ feet.
Shalaera bets at least one blue will be 23'
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:11 am
Kiri
The young woman watched as the green seemed to stop, seemed to wilt at her fellow sisters reproach. Regardless what happened, the young baby was still that -- a baby -- and dragonets were known to be fierce and wild out of the shell. Her anger had been pure and true... And Candidates, all of them, knew the risk. Just as Kiri did. Just as Shinnikan had. No... Instead, her thoughts turned away from the past, and focused instead on the future, and more supporting thoughts. The little ones were nothing but strong and fierce and each meant to be a fighter; they would be pitted against an Enemy that would do far worse to all of Pern without them to defend.
Besides which... Even when they did push aside or tear down a Candidate, none lingered to play with--or on--the victim. And that, to her at least, made all the difference. Find your strength and shield; find your perfect hearts. This was their day, after all.
She squeezed Aryale's hand.
"They're certainly all quite spirited ones," she mused with quiet appreciation, though her eyes did drift over to see where the other, seemingly quieter, dragonets had found themselves; the two sets of twins, the golds, the--
Oops.
A gold moved close to their group, and for a moment Kiri wondered if perhaps Aryale was the intended? She let go of Aryale's hand, stepping back a moment to give her space, so as not to crowd.
demon_pachabel
Tsunake
Uta Captain
Shy Mage
Offline
houllow
Sparkly Decorator
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:16 am
TETH
The words of comfort didn't help, though later Teth would thank those who'd reached out. He would have spoken then, but -
He hadn't expected being attacked. Teth was used to being hit by others, during flights and what not, but certainly not by his own child who would proceed to insult him. Her claws did little to no physical damage, as he was indeed thick and tough from turns and fighting, but Teth had always been a gentle soul. He was easy to abuse, easy to manipulate, and easy to push around.
He could, despite common belief, be pushed a bit too far. Perhaps the nudge from Bone Green had been a nudge too far, and the little dragonet would would find a very brief, but very strong, feeling of anger. Not hate, no, Teth could never hate, but it certainly was a angry feeling of warning. A glance up would see a streak of red in an eye that had likely never held such a color, a bright stripe in a sea of grey. And even that grey was fading, getting back it's color. Teth had been pushed. Do not push again. seemed to be the warning, even if it wasn't spoken.
But even then, that flicker was quite a blink and you miss it moment, for Teth's attention was turned now towards the gold who spoke to him. The red stripe remained, though it was softening onto a background of gentle green. He was not full of hate, only sorrow.
Of course you're not horrible. A wave of love, even if shaky, was sent to the inquiring dragonet. Who said you were horrible?
Uta
bobonebone
Mr Cheri
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:19 am
Nashwa
Once it seemed safe(-ish), Nashwa took a few moments to check the damage to her lower left leg - it had been a glancing blow, thank Faranth, but the blood was quite something. Still, she wasn't in need of a Healer, that could wait until after the Hatching, when others in greater need had been tended to and she was done on the Sands. Assuming, of course, she didn't meet her end like poor Meztli, or other who might yet join them. The boy the brown had mauled needed carried off the Sands...maybe, if he was very lucky, it wasn't already too late for them.
The young woman gathered up all those thoughts and bundled them neatly at the back of her mind, dropping the hem of her bloodied robe and standing straight once more, as ready as she could be for what might be next.
Meepfur Crew
Offline
Sinders Path
Liberal Lover
Offline
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:29 am
Erastan: Of Blue Aspalath
Erastan held his pose with his arms wrapped around his sister, leaning onto her back with his head on her shoulder so he could continue to whisper into her ear without disturbing things or being over heard. "You know why not," he huffed at her, but he didn't try and force her back to the healers. "Too late now, might as well wait it out." he muttered. He wanted Etansi to impress her own dragon. He really did and he had every belief that she could and would. But the sands were dangrous and while she was up here with him she was out of reach for claw and fang. It was also nice to watch a hatching with her again. It reminded him of standing in the back with her on the beach where he had impressed his beloved.
Erastan had nothing to gain from this hatching but he did come to alert when not one, not two but three whole sets of twins spilled from different eggs. That had to be a good thing right?...Maybe not. As it didn't take long for things to go spectacularly sideways.
The small scrap that had started between the baby dragons turned into something else. That ugly energy spread to their siblings and not only did they start attacking candidates they killed one...
Erastan's grip on his twin tightened and his body quivered just imagining her in the poor souls place. "Safer up here with me." he muttered mostly to himself.
Hattaki
Cuzon: Candidate : Western
Cuzon was not immune to everything happening out on the sands. His empathy twanged with each new sign of blood on both the babies and the candidates. The worst of the gut punches came when the candidate was carried off the sands covered by a blanket that was turning red with the spill of blood. Yet none of the healers were attending them. They were dead. Cuzon didn't really know any of his fellow candidates. He was still too new. and while he was always friendly he didn't actively seek out the social connections either but it was also the first time he had seen someone killed like that.
Luckily A'ral had told them what to do. He had even warned them about death on the sands. Taking a deep breath he let his usual calm and somewhat detached emotions reform over the emotional wounds. Tried to clear his mind of useless clutter and keep it open and welcoming for a new dragon. Also helped him keep clear headed enough to quick step out of the way of the greens that had decided to barrel their way into the crowd.
He would have continued to practice the zen master routine but as he stepped to the side to avoid another one of the babies he caught sight of Helane. Standing alone and trembling with fresh tear stains down her cheeks. That was not something he could ignore, not when she was standing right next to him.
Sighing softly he put his hand out to gently touch her arm. "You okay?" he asked softly. "I know its a lot but it would be better to save your tears till later. We can't do anything for the wounded now, but we can try and make sure we are a safe place for the other hatchlings to be born to." he smiled reassuringly. . "If it helps to have a hand to hold though, and a little back up. I'm right here."
Revel1984
l
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:29 am
FISHER
People were getting hit left and right and a dragonet went for the father. It looked as though they were ready to start Impressing rather than fighting and the golds were already moving among the girls and talking. There were several faces that Fisher thought would make lovely goldriders, if only based on her limited knowledge that almost all the goldriders she'd seen were pretty. None really looked like her, but then again maybe High Reaches was just full of a bunch of attractive people and a few unfortunates.
How badly were those out there who were hurt, anyway? The healers had taken all of those who were seriously hurt, as well as that body, but several others were sported red stains on otherwise white dresses. A glance at her own body showed no injuries, same with that of those around her, and she turned her gaze out towards the sands and dragonets.
-----------
VEIKEL
There were so may out there that needed help, but with dragonets milling around them he couldn't do anything. Quietly, carefully, Veikel made his way back to where the healers belonged and could only hope his brother wouldn't be brought over to him in need of help. He...he might accept it if there was a dragonet at Nikal's side, but otherwise please.
Korbet was caught between a handful of conflicting emotions for the briefest of moments. Biting grief for those hurt on the sands, soaring joy for the first green to Impress—despite her hand in all of the chaos—and under it all, that pinch of jealousy that he had never quite been able to stifle. He went back to his notes for a second, Stripe-Stripe disappearing due to a lack of lap, and as he documented little Funfetti he paused. He could appreciate a good show, even in the midst of carnage, and he certainly knew what it was like to lack an appreciative audience.
He didn't stir again until he wasn't moving, the shock and pain of his wounds pushing him away until at least one of the two sensations was gone. Thankfully, the soft sand had saved him from a concussion, so it was mostly the loss of blood that kept him confused once the numbweed had been applied.
His eyes opened wide and he tensed as if he might flee, but he was lying on a cot with nowhere to go. He had been attacked. Maybe? He wasn't sure.
