The Spooky Clutch Touching: Trick or Treat! Open!

[Thaliawen]

Marinel was outraged. Overly bonded? Overly bonded? And what did it mean by implying Dolmar wasn't good? And why did he have to condone anything? Everything Dolly did was for someone's own good. He just---Dolly was kind of cocky sometimes!

He followed Dolly to Hunter. This egg seemed nicer.

...what was that? Was that an egg?! Someone had hurt an egg? Who was the fool who'd gone and done that? He turned a very cold glare around to the other candidates nearby. He hadn't seen all the eggs yet. He wasn't done! Couldn't they keep their stupidity off the sands?

He hurried to another of the smaller eggs, the Werewolf Egg, and put a hand against it. "I hope your brother or sister is okay," he said. "It sounds really upset. Are you okay?"  

[demon_pachabel]

Lennik

It was easy to allow himself to rest by the brown and black spotted egg, shoulders drooping as he allowed his burden to roll off him some......at least until the nearby egg started to shriek it's offense. His head whipped around to look towards the red egg, eyes wide.

But he knew better. It had called out not only offense - but for mother. Vimiath had already taken to the sands twice this Touching and with that in mind, Lennik made no motion to move. He'd practically been at every fussy egg so far! He wasn't about to get stomped over again!

Martirae

The shout of the mummy egg made Marty's head turn as well as she looked over to see who the offender of the little red egg was. Well, it wasn't very little, but...

Then she looked towards the Frankenstein egg, as if wondering if it was going to rile again. Faranth, maybe some of these candidates needed to be kicked out.  

[~Kiana_Nala~]

Miach (HR)

Hello was the brief response Miach got from the Angel Egg before there was a feeling of awareness. What was this? This was certainly new. While the egg had pondered her, Miach had pondered what was going on before quickly realizing what was happening. Thus far she hadn't experienced something quite like it but it made her giggle and smile so big. That sparkling approval from the egg felt good and the confidence it sent her way bolstered her further. "Thank you!" She got out in her excitement. The confidence bolstered her enough, for now, that her speech to the egg came out clear. "I'm Miach and you're the Angel." She added the latter part mostly for herself. When Miach had asked the question she had mostly been trying to figure out who the Angel egg was much like she did with the Hellhound. Maybe asking it a few questions would be okay?

"It is very nice to meet you."Miach said, rubbing her hand in a way of greeting. Something felt almost giddy within her. Maybe it was the boost of confidence she had received from the egg and it's Hunter sibling earlier. All of these eggs had been so kind to her and it wasn't until the Angel that Miach realized how good that feeling felt. Or how much she needed it. These eggs were certainly far wiser than any candidate had likely thought. They hadn't seen the world yet but seemed to understand it far more than she did. Miach couldn't help but appreciate and love them all the more for it. "Do you mind if--" She began before the very angry thoughts from the Mummy blurted into her mind. Wait, it was hurt?! "Someone hurt an egg?" Miach asked with anger, not realizing that the emotion she felt could very easily seep through to the Angel. "How dare they!" While she didn't shout it was very clear to any candidates around that Miach was NOT happy. Vimiath and her rider would of course would end up stepping over there to deal with it but it certainly rubbed Miach the wrong way.

"I-I don't understand some of them." Her stutter reappeared with her anger as she talked to the Angel egg. "Why harm an egg or distress it? If that was the goal then why come?" Miach couldn't help but ask, knowing that the Angel might not have an answer much like she did. Her hazel eyes locked onto the egg as she tried to soothe it with her touch. "I--I did--dn't mean to share my anger with you." She told it. "Vimiath w--w-ill deal with the candidate. I just feel so h--h--orrible some of us are doing this." There was clearly so much disappointment directed at the candidates who were distressing or going so far as to harm an egg. Miach didn't want to sit here and do nothing. The mummy had made it clear it rejected her attention, but that didn't mean she wanted any sort of harm to befall it. Miach tried to instead focus on the egg before her and learning more about it.

Kambri (W)

Upon his touch of the egg it was clear that the dragonet was none to impressed by or with him. He understood that and tried to not let his own insecurities flow through the egg because upsetting an egg was not something he wanted to do. Would he help an egg in distress, gladly, but would he be the cause of it himself? He really hoped not. His gaze briefly met a pair of gray eyes when he rose up from his position. He nodded his own head in response. She looked familiar. Where had he seen her? Hm. He would have to think about it later after the touching. Kambri had already taken his hand off the egg and risen to go onto the next when he paused at the very loud, angry words shouted into his brain. His hands gripped his head and his teeth clenched in response. Hurt? The Mummy was hurt? It took him a brief moment to realize the words had been directed at a her.

Kambri's eyes turned to the only her's around. He knew he couldn't do or say anything and it was likely mere moments before Vimiath was going to come kill them all. Okay, killing probably wasn't what was going to happen but the reprimand he received would surely be a tap on the wrist in comparison. "Very disappointing." Was all he said before he made a hurried escape to another egg. The Werewolf egg seemed to be a good choice at the moment. Kambri dropped to his knees and touched the egg. "There's a lot of excitement today, isn't there?" He asked it with a nervous laugh. Oh Vimiath was going to be so mad. So, so mad. Kambri just really hoped he wasn't in the crossfire. Or that the other candidates suffered for the girl's choice.

Hattaki

 

[Tsunake]

Alya

What a delightful thing, this egg was! Alya would have loved to stay and cuddle... but there were other eggs to touch! Wishing it a fond farewell, she skirted to the Siren Egg, marveling over how beautiful its shell was before she touched it. Hello, beautiful one! I hope you're having a better time than your siblings!

The shriek from the Mummy Egg had her going pale, instinctively flinching away from the sound with wide, startled eyes. What on Pern...?

Iathe

Vimiath was on the move--but Iathe had bigger concerns, because the goldrider was headed their way. Her mouth went dry, not due to fear, but because, as loathe as she was to admit it, Iathe knew she'd been in the wrong. She'd allowed the egg's anger to overwhelm her in such a way--and, shards and shells, she knew better! This wasn't her first Touching, but she felt like a fool. It was even worse when the goldrider didn't talk to her about her actions, as though she was getting away with her bad behavior.

As the Candidates quickly dispersed from the Frankenstein Egg, Iathe paused for a moment to catch Roana's eye.... and gave the girl a tight nod back, in turn. Iathe wasn't one to apologize, but if she were to find the older girl again, after this, she might just have to swallow her pride and do so.

Trying to keep her face from burning, Iathe straightened her spine, threw her shoulders back, and tried to move confidently towards the Vampire Egg. She could feel the power emanating from the shell, but she firmly kept her own emotions in check before she respectfully laid her hand upon the golden shell.

It was the sudden 'scream' from one of the eggs that had her mouth tighten, whirling at once. What was wrong with these people?!

Sinders Path

For mention!

 

[ShinosBee]

-----------------------------------------Dolmar-----------------------------------------

Feeling an egg physically retreat from his touch was not the response Dolmar wanted. His hand withdrew, particular effort given to make the motion seem both natural and desired. It wasn’t that Hunter didn’t want to be touched, no, it was that he didn’t care to touch Hunter. Tsk. The egg’s only saving grace in his mind was that it seemed tolerant of Marinel. But then again, it very well might be a bad influence. It could crow about his own unworthiness all it liked—it was nowhere near good enough for Marinel either.

He cast a glance about for another egg to move to, but then grimaced as something rent the mental air of the hatching. Pain and fury and...Faranth between. He could see exactly how this would go. It was over. Done. Touching stopped. The hurting of the Mummy egg pounded into his skull, though he did not react as strongly as some. A crease between his brows took shape as the realization of how little time there was left hit him.

He had to return to Vampire or Demon. Two of the largest, and both receptive to him. Waste his last moments here with an unknown egg, or better aquaint himself with one he felt proper, and knew he was liked by. An easy choice. But which? Vampire had dazzled with alluring potential, and he was staring at it before he even moved from Hunter’s side. Their conversation had been interrupted...But Demon had personally invited him to rejoin it, and Dolmar had noticed what felt like the sensation of being watched from behind ever since he’d left it. Vampire had seduced...but made no such offer, and he’d felt no pointed interest from it since departing its side. A good host never ignored its guests just because it preferred another...but a better host minded both, and made all feel as the sole object of its attention.

And really, once Marinel moved towards Werewolf, it made the choice easy. Demon was closer. Close—for the first time yet he approached an egg alone—but apart. With fierce intent he returned his hand to the ember-hued shell of Demon, reaching out to call to the being inside. There wasn’t mich time, he felt certain, not with the mother on the sands, or a screeching egg, but he was here, had returned. I’ll show you all of it, tell you all of it...if you choose me. Think of it... He couldn’t help himself, couldn’t hold back the tumbling thoughts and images of his desires. Outwardly he was as carved from ice as ever, but inside...he knew who he was, and what he wanted, he saw himself there, would make it come to pass if he had any power at all. There was yet more that he still kept tucked away, and parts of himself not even he fully knew or understood, secrets he would hold to death if he could, but he let much more of who he was shine through this time. His hunger. His will. And a desire for something so white hot that it burned cold in his breast. It was a jumbled mess—there was so little time!—but surely, surely Demon wanted that too, didn’t it? Or had he chosen wrong...?

Thaliawen

-----------------------------------------Jacquol-----------------------------------------

Ha ha, whoops! Well, that was about what she expected! Something anout the vibe the egg gave off reminded her of the prissy formal ladies she’d occasionally filched from at gathers. Ever scandalized by anything ‘unseemly’, they were simply a riot to rile up. Ahh, no, no. She was surely not a fit for a number of these eggs! No matter. There were plenty left to touch. Her last impression towards Vampire was good natured, still teasing, utterly unfazed by it’s indignation. Not everything had to be so stuffy, darling!

Of course, her plans were curtailed by the sudden crippling mental shout from nearly point blank. Mummy, in a fury. Someone had hurt it? “Grrragh, what’d you do?!” Her hands had clutched over her ears as if that could possibly help, her words directed at no one, as she had no clue who had committed such a traumatic, stupid act. Eager to get away, she circled wide around Vimiath, ending up near Zombie. Should she stay? Go? No one had yet called the touching off, though the scream had at least dulled this far off. Gingerly she nudged Zombie with the back of her hand. Sorry guys. Looks like someone got a little carried away. Up the mainsail without a line, for sure.

-----------------------------------------Falienn-----------------------------------------

Falienn was pretty sure he knew a con when he saw one. Or felt one. That special way of twisting charisma to win hearts and minds—he used it all the time. To feel it oozing from this big egg, aimed at him? To know that even being conscious of it, he would probably fall for it just to get that flicker of interest and acceptance? It unnerved him. Mostly I wish—!!! Whatever inner thought or snarky reply he’d been working up to died with Mummy’s screech. His hand fell away from Demon, to pinch at his temples as a raging headache came bubbling up. Oh no, NO thank you! His small flicker of pleasure that this surely meant he could get the shards off the sands soon was mired in the pain and anger that anyone would assault an egg.

Not even he was that stupid. Probably.

“Is that it then? Can we go home?” He asked no one in particular as he made for the edge of the clutch. Almost absently his hand trailed across Hunter, though just for a moment. He was ready to go off the sands, have dinner, and ideally split a bottle of wine with that fetching Western candidate over there...

-----------------------------------------A’iel & Nasath-----------------------------------------

Nasath had never been good at being patient. Or very observant. Serfie’s stress didn’t register to him...but a small green firelizard that had been perched in the stands took flight with a squeal, snappin between. A few minutes later, just as Serfie perhaps thought they wouldn’t come, they did. Not into the hatching sands, but landing just outside. An already-tired looking A’iel slid from Nasath’s back to stand at attention, eyes fixed on the scrappy young girl. His shoulders rose and fell in a sigh. Well. It was going to happen sooner or later.

Zinath, my rider would like to speak to yours about that person. The bronze too was more somber than usual, and seemed to pay no mind to the chaos of the touching—though his eyes did flare red, then whirl nearly gray with concern as one of them cried out. What a mess, all of this. At your leisure, of course.

“Mx Cherie”

“Revel1984”

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Eggs were small and fragile. He had learned this. While on the sands, Blundarth had to be slow and careful. With all these little people around, that meant still. He couldn't move between eggs the way Vimiath could. Balance wasn't a strong point and sand was squishy and prone to moving unexpectedly. So Blundarth had no options, other than to sit and watch. Laying would have been more comfortable, but he was too excited. Excited and anxious. This was a big day.

Even when Vimiath had moved away to intervene he had stayed put. As much as he would have liked to take his upset children away for cuddles and nuzzles, it was appropriate or safe. He would be available as a depository if Vimiath needed him. It was best to defer to her judgement on things. What with her being the far more experienced party in this whole affair. K'tor simply stood awkwardly at the sidelines, hoping nobody would notice him, so he wasn't much use in all this. All Blundarth could do was sit and wait.

Then the worst happened. An egg had been sad. This was bad, but Vimiath had handled it well. They had gotten sad before. An egg had been angry. Blundarth didn't understand angry very well, but Vimiath had handled it and now the baby was quiet, which seemed good. Blundarth had made a mental note to cuddle that one later. Even though he would cuddle all of them later. No. This was worse than all of that. Now, one of his babies was hurt, and Blundarth did not know how to feel. As the Mummy broadcast Blundarth went rigid, a sound akin to a deep squeal escaping from low in his throat. The large bronze pushed himself to his feet, head twisting around as his one eye swirled with yellow and grey.

Blundarth made a large arch, staying a large distance from the eggs as he limped. It wasn't elegant, nor was it especially fast. Care was needed, and he knew he wasn't good at that. Steps couldn't be too heavy or the eggs might feel it. Foot placement needed to be sure, or he might slip in the sand. Large wings were thrown out wide to provide him with extra balance, casting a large shadow over the clutch. Blundarth came to stand at the side of the clutch. He could not reach Mummy, with it tucked among the other eggs, but he stretched his neck out as far as he could, mentally reaching out to the egg. Go away! Leave them alone! There wasn't anger in Blundarth's voice as it broadcast across the sands. It wasn't his intention to shout, but his words still found their way into any available mind. Along with it came the chest gripping fear as he stared at Akaris with a pale swirling storm of grey. All the while reaching out for Mummy. It was okay, he was here. Vimiath would be here soon, she would make it all better. The mean one would go away. They would be happy, all of them, everything was going to be okay.

Meepfur

For being at the brunt of this wave.

 

[SilverLutz]

Venn was about to head the long way across the Sands to some of the eggs that weren't involved in the hubbub, but he had barely taking two steps before a frantic, pained, angry voice resounded in his head. He grimaced at the sudden 'noise' and stopped dead in his tracks, trying to locate the source of the voice. He had never been involved in a Touching where so many people were goofing off or doing things they shouldn't be doing, and to be honest he was starting to worry that the golden queen was going to lose her temper. She had already pushed a Candidate away from an egg, what was she going to do now that there was one crying out for help?

He could wait, he decided as he walked away from the eggs and off to the side of the Sands, hopefully out of potential danger. He didn't want to be counted as one among these Candidates that were getting in trouble. He had stood at countless Hatchings and if he would stand at this one and not Impress, so be it. He didn't want to contribute to the pain and agitation the eggs were undergoing. Even if he hadn't found a dragonet that would Impress him, he would wait for the next clutch just as he always had.

He made it to what he hoped was a safe spot before turning around, his back pressed against the walls of the arena, eyes on those still crawling around among the eggs. He'd wait a bit to see if this Touching was going to be called off. It was almost simultaneously that the bronze father was starting to take matters into his own hands as well, speaking to the Candidates and trying to get them away from his children. Yes, it was a good thing he had moved away for the time being.  

[Meepfur]

The screaming fit pierced her mind, as it did everyone else's, but outwardly Akaris barely even flinched. Inwardly, there was one - how could there not be, with pain and outrage radiating out from the egg, at her and because of her? She removed her hand, only to put both on her hips and turn up her nose. It had called her a foul name, and she had only repaid the hurt in kind. If it - if anyone now gawking at her in disgust or distress or anger, the gray-eyed bronze father included - thought that she was or should be sorry, there were sorely mistaken. If anything, she was defiant of the impending punishment the Mummy's tantrum was sure to bring down on her, sooner rather than later.

She fixed Blundarth with an unrepentant stare and stated simply, "It started it."

The_Muffin_Puppy

sorry about multi-quotes.
orz

 

[stella cinere]

Apate lingered around, the bright blue eyes watching the other eggs and riders as they moved through the eggs. Some of the candidates were nervous while others seemed to be stressed or concerned as the eggs wiggled or moved. When he felt confident no one was looking he crept closer cautiously until he was near enough to run his fingers along the shell of The Goblin again. See I was suppose to behave today, or at least be on my best behavior so I wouldn’t get dragged off the sands by grumpy pants or even worse lose a limb to your mommy otherwise I would do something fun like maybe switch your place with another egg or have you find your way into my pocket… or maybe the pocket wouldn’t be fun but imagine the panic it would cause. Then of course I would probably lose a limb to your mom.  

[Ryala]

Ryala

When the candidate who had hurt the Mummy tried to justify her actions with the words "It started it", Ryala privately thought that she sounded like a petulant child, refusing to even take responsibility for her own actions. With a sigh, she turned away. There was nothing that she could do, as the situation was already being dealt with. Still, recalling how Vimiath had personally gotten involved with the two previous incidents, the redheaded girl knew that she would probably be over this way in short order.

Therefore, knowing her time was limited, she turned her attention back towards the Vampire egg. She hadn't meant to turn away from it's palely glistening shell, or the awesome power that she could sense contained within. However, it was rather impossible not to notice when someone decided to act the fool.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ladellan

Wait... was she serious? The girl sounded like any kid who'd been caught doing something against another, and pinning the blame for their actions on anyone but themselves. And she expected to Impress?

Shaking his head at this backwards thinking, Del made his way over to the Hellhound egg. He'd meant to visit it a few minutes ago, but had been distracted by all that was happening. Placing his hand on the shell, he awaited the occupant's reaction.  

[smolderingskies]

Laelia had been near the Mummy when it happened, having just touched it and, turned away, headed in the other direction to touch another. She didn’t mind being turned away - knew it was just part of the process. Sometimes you had to deal with a little negativity from eggs. But the scream echoed throughout her head as the egg responded - recoiled - from what appeared to be a physical hurt. The candidate, apparently the perpetrator, mewled a childish response that “it started it.” With a few quick strides, Laelia angled herself between Akaris and the Mummy egg.

“It started it?” she seethed protectively, death written on her face. She hadn’t felt this much unbridled anger in a long time. “It is a baby. It’s allowed to make mistakes. And you hurt it? Would you hurt any child who made a mistake, that didn’t kno any better? And a dragon, no less?” She glared with disgust. Whatever the egg did to elicit this behavior, the girl had probably deserved it.

“Meepfur”

Laelia’s in a fightin mood

 

[Revel1984]

When Serfie saw Nasath arrive just outside the Sands, she almost wept, they had come, she hadn't exactly called for them but somehow A'iel knew she was in trouble and had come.... however, one look at his tired, resigned face and her stomach dropped. Had she been party to the conversation between the dragons, she would have been even more upset, She had enough about her to give the candidatemaster a small GLARE when he told her to stay put, like she had a choice exactly .. but she was even more dismayed when A'ral moved towards A'iel ... no ... she hadn't meant to get him into trouble .... "it's not his fault" she said quietly, not even realising she was even speaking "He had no idea i was coming to the eggs, i hadn't seen him in a few days .... please... he didn't know, all he did was try to keep me from living out there ....." she choked back a sob that had been forming, especially once she realised she'd spoken out loud where the dragon could hear... "TELL HIM" she said louder, "please... tell your rider it's not A'iel's fault, if he'd known he would have stopped me, or gone to your rider himself, PLEASE dragon ... it wasn't his fault" a couple of tears traced their way down a scruffy cheek and in wiping them away, she wiped the hair away from the scarred side of her face, revealing the badly healed (but cleanly healed thankfully) mark down her face.

Mx Cherie

that moment Serfie babbles without realising it

 

[Smerdle]

Oer brightened at the egg's excited shift, preparing a minor mental onslaught of his favorite fish dishes for the creature, when the sands turned to s**t. Like, even more so than they had been before. An egg over in the general direction of Those Fussy Ones He Hadn't Visited Yet began shrieking about getting hurt, and then a girl was berating another girl about mistakes and babies, and another one was getting grabbed and it was all he could do to repeat

fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish
fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish
fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish
fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish
fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish

in his head to keep the other, far more unsavory thoughts out. He sincerely hoped that this mess didn't reflect poorly on his own performance. And, to think, he'd been certain that being a craftless opportunist from a tourist Hold would lose him points here.

But, oh! Right. The dragon.

He placed both of his hands on the Ghoul Egg and closed his eyes to the madness in front of him. He thought of whitefish, blue fish, fish as crimson as the shell in front of him, prepared in cream sauce, sauteed in butter, and presented to the dragon inside. Oerlen even threw in some berries of his own, a bushel of sweet, purple things someone had brought in from the north when he'd been small. It was the best he could do, given the circumstances.