Breaking the Seal...(Mandyr Hatching)

[Requiem]

The weyr was dark and, having been abandoned but for its recent new inhabitants, dusty. Any movement, in fact, would throw up a cloud of lung-clogging particles to assault any intruders who might come poking around. The clutch was, at first glance, quite cosily left on a pile of blankets in the middle of a mattress that had seen no sleepers for several months at least. Seven tiny eggs. It was hardly impressive, unless you happened to know that the sire was a certain silent blue salamandyr. Neither was the clutch nearly so abandoned as it seemed. Dementia had wormed her way into a chink in the wall, the gleam of her eyes shuttered by a couple layers of lids. She had two minions tonight, as she did most nights. Her green slave and her blue mate were ever so useful for keeping watch. They could all get their sleep and eat this way, too. Such a comfortable arrangement.

The small, forgotten weyr not far from the infirmary began to stirr. It was not, after all, the adult salamandyrs in the room. No, it was the Seal Egg, rocking on its bed of blankets at the center of the clutch. There was within it what sounded like frantic scrabbling. In the dark shadows, it almost seemed like the other eggs were tilting toward that center one, waiting expectantly. A crack suddenly split the egg clear down the middle, and a sodden, goopy leg prodded at the crack, forcing it briefly wider then pausing for a rest before trying again.

Dementia watched for a moment longer, a soft humming building in her throat. Her little clutch was finally beginning to hatch, and she would be happy to see them Impressed and return to spending every waking moment with Hers. Babies really were such a pain. (Even if she couldn't help but feel proud of her spawn. Just so long as no uglies had snuck their eggs in this time, it would be perfect.) The gold had already brushed the mind of Hers to come and come quickly, but now she broadcasted to the sleeping weyr in general. Babies hatching, lazystupids. Wake and come see.

Dmitri pushed his way through the door looking like he'd just gone rolling down a hill and slammed into a tree (which he had, damn Dementia for her demanding way of notifying a person) and immediately threw an arm before his face to protect his lungs from the blanket of dust that rose to greet him. He was just able to see the leg thrusting fully out of the shell of the Seal Egg when the dust finally settled. Though it looked...like...no, that couldn't just be the salamandyr's bones. A trick of the light.

Throne Egg :: Unhatched
Pestilence Egg :: Unhatched
War Egg :: Unhatched
Seal Egg :: Has one leg out
Famine Egg :: Unhatched
Death Egg :: Unhatched
Bowl Egg :: Unhatched

[Ruby]

An' then, ugly littleface deuced Mential, an' she took him, not Shells. So much no sense, too much flail. Yes? Shells whined, twining a piece of Serissa's hair between his paws. Such pretty fire, so so gilty. So bad, Mental, so ugly, she no stand. Under. Yes. Mini-things, he moaned, the blinked in Piden's direction. Denden love like M- Piden snatched the bronze away, smiling and laughing a little at the bluerider. "Heh, who can understand him anyway?" he asked, sliding a little closer. Uncharacteristically, Shells had gone totally quiet, limp in Piden's hand. Serissa just raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. Piden opened his mouth to reply - and Shells turned into a screaming, wriggling ball of 'mandyr. Meenies! Minis! Smexsegs? YES! And with that, he freed himself, dashing off into the hallways and screaming all the way.

Piden blinked a little, then turned to the Bluerider next to him. "Ever been to a Mandyr hatching?"

"No," Serissa said, sounding incredibly suspicious. "I hear they're... something to see once. And only once."

"Sounds about right," Piden agreed, then pushed himself up off the bench and extended a hand. "But it IS something to see once. Shall we?"

Serissa held back for a second, glancing at the time candle. "I suppose I have a few minutes. I'm going to blame you if something awful comes out, though," she teased, taking his hand and sliding out, allowing Piden to lead her in Shells' wake.

It wasn't much later that a very large and very bashful Candidate shrank into the shadows of the abandoned Weyr, trying to keep from being noticed by Serissa while keeping the clutch in sight. It was past curfew, so Hinsero really shouldn't be out, but he had taken a pack of medicines from the Infirmary when he left this morning, and had forgotten to return them. Go figure, it was when something broadcasted about babies that he remembered. Shock. He'd never dreamed that a more senior healer would be there, nor did he realize that this wasn't a firelizard hatching. Sure, the mother looked weird, but there were lots of those weird, mutated firelizards in the South. The ones that talked like Dragons.

Serissa, of course, had immediately noitced the sneaking candidate, and waved him over. "Hinsero, right?" she asked, while Piden snatched Shells away from an attempted attack on the clutch, and smiled half-heartedly at Dmirti. Meanwhile, the big Candidate had nodded, then looked down at his feet, expecting a lecture. Instead, Serissa pointed to the leather satchel, smiling. "Is that pack for me? Looks very important - smart of you to find me here." The wink she gave Hinsero made him blush, and the poor boy just nodded again, and shrunk back into the shadows. At least now he was allowed to stay?

Mennial love, what minieggsies! No uglies this time, I vestly hope!

[Rowana]

Farryl-mine.

No.

Faarrryyll-miinne!

NO!

Oh, but Farryl-mine, Peppeth crooned sweetly and hopefully. How can you say no? Easily, Farryl replied grumpily. She was actually awake, having had another nightmare last night. They were slowly becoming less frequent, but she still had them now and again. This time she'd decided a walk and some fresh air would help clear her head. It just had to figure it put her close to the infirmary and that cursed clutch. What rotten luck.

She sighed. Peppeth, you know what happened to the others, she tried to explain, she couldn't bring herself to name them. Losing pets was painful, salamandyrs worst of all. Even if Zellos's had been the most peaceful passing. And this is Dementia. I can't go through this again. Dementia had been Isshun's mom. He'd been unwanted from the start, but she'd loved him just the same. I know, Peppeth agreed sadly. You still have me and Hobbs! And you seem so sad. As if to reminded her, the awkward blue trilled, curling around her shoulders. He was still here, see? She couldn't really be cursed.

Please, Farryl-mine? Little ones always cheer Peppeth up! Waking cheers you up, Farryl pointed out sourly. Fine, FINE! She threw up her hands, trying to ignore the victory cheers from her too bonded friends. Had they been planning this together? I'll watch, but that's all! Woe to any salamandyr that comes my way, she thought grumpily. It didn't mean she wouldn't get one, but she sure wasn't going to tempt one to her. Maybe Hobbs would scare they away with his enthusiasm. The greenrider slipped quietly into the weyr, waving at the dust. With a sigh, she leaned against the wall farthest from the clutch, but still close enough to see. Hobbs chirped in protest of the position and climb onto her head to see better. Such lovely eggs, he trilled proudly. He'd helped by chasing, hadn't he?

[rii]

This isn't allowed, Versaith noted with inner delight. Jenna mentally shushed her, even though no one else could hear the green sitting outside along the grasses near the weyrling barracks. Jenna had been on her way back from collecting a small meal from the kitchens when she heard the announcement. With curiosity she edged forward, ducking in through the riders to get a good view of the eggs. They were so small and cute. Jenna took a bite of her sandwich, noticing the wherhanlder amongst them and quickly making a retreat to the other side of the dusty room.

A hand fell on the girl's shoulder before she could run into him. F'lix kept it there, golden eyes silent as they regarded her sheepish smile before she shrank away from him as well. It might have been kinder of him to smile at her in assurance than nothing had been wrong, but he didn't see the point in trying. With F'ur and Simper gone, the happy feeling was just not there. Saboth wouldn't speak anymore, and Lilitu was little more than a constant grouch on his shoulder. Lust was no longer there, having returned to Kalierre, and in his absence felt that quiet need to fill the spot again.. he wanted Simper's mindless happiness back.

Though as the first leg pushed through the rocking shell, F'lix felt ridiculously foolish for coming to the hatchling. Nothing could replace what he had lost, and what was he doing to do, sit there with meat and plead for one to come impression and make him realize just how much it wasn't Simper. F'lix turned to leave, coming to a dead halt before he reached the door. His gaze briefly locking with the dark blue of the weyrleaders.

Ja'kin paid the bluerider no mind than the glance that happened in his direction at the motions toward the door he was just outside of, leaning against the stone to let the riders in and out as they pleased as he sipped at his tea. A salamandyr hatching, a curious spectacle that a person should at least attend to know what all the excitement was about – or possibly understand the appeal people might have for wanting to impress one.

"Oh, don't look so pleased," Ba'sun chimed from the other side of the door as he smiled brightly at the weyrleader and glanced inside. Arms crossed over his chest as he shook his head to the small gathering around the eggs. "Your radiating smugness might attract a lovely green that wishes to preen alongside you."

"Good morning, Ba'sun."

[Ember]

"That would be all too fitting," R'ril added after Ba'sun spoke. He really couldn't have asked for better timing to arrive at the hatching. Salamandyrs, hmm. Fun little creatures if the stories were true. He offered the Weyrleader a cheeky smile and slipped inside to lean against the wall just to the left of the door. If any of the babies really wanted him they could make their way to him. He only cooperated with mindmates after they bonded. Until then they were just more little things to provoke.

Hisalyth probably wouldn't be too happy if he Impressed one. That could be pretty amusing too he supposed. If Ja'kin got a little green thing, though, he'd be over the moon. It wasn't like he had anything against the man but the idea of a bronzerider also having a green salamandyr that would Run was just soooo funny to him. Being chased was an entirely different thing from chasing.

So it was with a childlike excitement that R'ril had woken up and gone to the odd hatching. "Seems curiosity has drawn quite a few people already, despite the time," he commented out of boredom to his fellow Wastelanders. Waiting for the babies when he was already way excited was not the easiest thing to do. His eyes caught again on F'lix (he'd noticed and dismissed him earlier) and shifted slightly to be able to block the door if that one decided to leave. It'd be interesting to stop him.

((Nocturne is there, just chilling in a crack somewhere.))

[Requiem]

Dementia's focus was on the leg, but, even so, it was a bit impossible not to notice the shrieking bronze 'mandyr announcing himself the entire way to the weyr. Her eyes narrowed on the stupid male, but His was fortunately much smarter than the salamandyr himself, and she wasn't forced to eat his bleating head. Was he trying to compliment her now, or mock her? Hard to tell. Either way, it was beneath her to be offended by so insignificant a creature, and she yawned. No worry stupid little head, blue mate best guard. Let him chew on that reminder. Dementia was ever so glad she hadn't suffered momentary insanity and actually chosen him.

Dmitri caught Piden's look and merely shrugged. He didn't care if Shells decided to be stupid, bringing the three 'mandyrs watching over the clutch down on him. As far as the bluehandler was concerned Piden was protecting his mindmate from his own stupidity and nothing more. His interest was more in the kids filtering in against the rules, and the Wastelanders hanging out by the door. A slight smirk touched his lips. Curiosity was such a dangerous thing.

The burst of images, of struggle and pain, broadcasting through the room in the next moment had Dmitri wheeling toward the clutch and Dementia half-standing in her chink. Ichor ran down the crack of the shell where the Seal White was currently forcing head and shoulders through. It wasn't a trick of the light, either; its leg had been stripped to the bone trying to force through the egg. That it had any strength at all, cutting itself on the shell shards, to force itself through the crack was a minor miracle. Distress colored its eyes, another burst of images of sadness and rejection. Hers didn't want her. She curled up into a shivering ball.

Almost as if on cue, cracks shot through the four eggs nearest the Seal Egg, almost as if they'd just been waiting on that first entrance. The Pestilence Green tapped out an opening, knocking it loose with an elegant thrust of her head, and stepped daintily through the hole. Her wings spread, glistening, and she glanced at the Seal White. Poor thing. Hurt and rejected, too. Stepping over to the Seal White, the Pestilence Green licked her head gently. Everything would be better soon. The tiny, pale salamandyr that looked white herself glanced around. The War Blue would be no help; he was currently occupied with demolishing his egg with each powerful sweep of his stumpy tail. Look at all the pieces! Love, he crooned, as he continued his systematic destruction of the colorful shell.

It only took a look to see that the Famine Green would be equally useless. Her eyes were focused on the Seal White, but she kept ducking her head beneath the line of her broken egg whenever it seemed someone was looking at her. She took an egg fragment in her mouth and tried to cover herself with it. Her sister was so perfect and she was so...ugly. The Death Green was not nearly so shy, though. She thrashed to clear herself from the egg, making a soft sound of distress at the state of the Seal White. Catching sight of the Famine Green, her frill flared in surprise, brilliant white with ribs of blood red. Perfect, she crooned to her dung-colored, emaciated clutchsister, and the other green's eyes flooded pink in embarrassment.

You could practically see the Pestilence Green sigh. So easily distracted. You may admire our sister later, darling, she told the Death Green privately. This one needs your help. See how she suffers? The Death Green immediately wilted. Poor, poor thing. She ran in a most curious gait - as if her limbs were not all quite the same size - to the Seal White. Make better. Licking, the salamandyr's neck, she suddenly bit down, and the Seal White thrashed, reaching for Hers with the stripped leg with images of Farryl rescuing her, helping her, couldn't breathe...please. Then the images abruptly stopped. The Death Green licked the ichor from her maw and glanced back at her shy clutchsister. Hungry? She ripped open the belly of her dead sibling, and carried the string of entrails to the Famine Green.

Again, the Pestilence Green visibly sighed. Must she do everything? Coming over to the two, she gently took the intestine in her mouth that the Famine Green was hurriedly scarfing down while crooning to her sweet sister. Yours will feed you. Don't you want to find Yours? she prompted the Famine Green. The salamandyr blinked a couple times, clearly considering trying to steal the intestine back, but then she glanced toward the door. Well, if he would feed her... Of a sudden she writhed out of the shell, her tiny legs scrabbling across the ground uselessly. Yes, she knew she was ugly, and they'd probably all run screaming, but she was hungry and her sister said Hers would feed her. The emaciated green was worn out by the time she made it to him - but no other would do, so the exertion was worth it - clawing up his boot and enough under his pantleg to sink sharp teeth into his ankle. How right her sister had been. And he tasted so...good...too. Mine yum she told R'ril affectionately, tearing another 'mandyr-sized bite out of his ankle.

Throne Egg :: Unhatched
Pestilence Egg :: Green :: Holding intestine
War Egg :: Blue :: Demolishing shell
Seal Egg :: White :: Impressed to Farryl :: Dead
Famine Egg :: Green :: Impressed to R'ril
Death Egg :: Green :: Killed Seal White
Bowl Egg :: Unhatched

[Requiem]

Famine Green
Impressed to: R'ril
Age: Hatchling
Color: 665500

Appearance: This little one is, without a doubt, one of the ugliest creatures ever to grace Pern. In addition, she quite simply is just so emaciated in appearance that people can’t help but wonder how she even managed to break shell, much less live more than a few hours. Her little twig legs are practically useless, flailing a bit as she moves and only capable of helping direct her writhings over the ground. She’s actually rather long for a green, though, and would appear even longer if her tail didn’t insist on breaking off at the slightest provocation the moment it gets any real length. Every bone in her body is readily visible, her hide stretched tight over her skeleton.

The stick-like creature doesn’t get the benefit of pretty coloring, either. Quite frankly, she’d camouflage well in a pile of dung. Her mottled dark brown/green coloring is, without a doubt, atrocious. She has no real markings, either. Curiously, her ‘wings’ lack membranes, of course making it impossible to so much as glide. The frill isn’t much better, though at least material stretches between the tines. It is a sickly yellow-green hue.

Personality: The most noticeable trait of this green is that she is always hungry. Anything remotely edible will be gobbled up at the first opportunity. If she hasn’t eaten recently enough - within the last quarter candlemark, in other words - the green begins plotting on how best to eat the creatures moving around her. She’s too slight to overpower them, but she’s a clever little beast, and can often figure out ways to make them helpless so she can sate her undying hunger. And if there are no creatures around that she can reasonably overwhelm? Well, isn’t that what Hers is for? Providing for her every need? He tastes so sweet, too.

In the rare moments when she’s satisfied her belly - no she doesn’t eat to the point of vomiting, that’s just disgusting - the green tends to mope about her ugliness and how difficult it is for her to get around. She never has a kind word to say to anyone, even when she’s trying to be nice. And yes, she does try on occasion, especially with Hers. But either her stomach is hurting terribly or her poor underdeveloped muscles are paining her. That or she just was insulted by some creature noticing how ugly she is (real or imagined). At any rate, she has to take out her pain and hurt on someone, and it almost always ends up being Hers. Not that she’s discriminating. The insults and yes, sarcastic comments are free for everyone to enjoy.

Perhaps because of her sense of inadequacy regarding her appearance, this green never Runs. No, she only chases one green, in fact. The Death Green’s peculiar habits during Runs are particularly suited to this green’s tastes, and as a result she’s always around to see the end of one of her Runs. In fact, the two greens care for each other so strongly that they can sense when the other is in danger, and will spur Theirs to help.

[Ruby]

Guard, hmm? Shells asked, innocent, not squirming in Piden's arms - for now. Instead, he looked at the hatchlings, the Famine Green in particular. Ugly guard make ugly babies, 'parently. Meniat no need babyguard, need KING. Uglies, stupids, fliers, fails, they guard, even if no mate. Firegolds command, they do. Only see when Menail picks poor one mate? Eigses babes not finished, maybe idjit, poo-colored. Or is that Demented's fault? Shells think no, must be Ugly. He WOULD inslut like so. He Ugly.

Serissa, ignoring Shells, had turned to question Piden instead - THIS was what he'd wanted her to see, half-formed creatures that hurt themselves or hid after they hatched? - but then, the Death Green bit down on the Seal White, who thrashed and projected, apparently calling to the pretty brown-haired girl with the greenrider's knot. The woman didn't seem fast enough to respond to the little White's plight, but Serissa was a healer, used to emergency situations. This was clearly one, and she couldn't help but move.

"Apprentice!" she snapped, beckoning Hinsero forward as she approached the clutch. She'd never worked with him, and had no time to find out what he knew, and if he could help. "Redwort, a syringe, and a needle and thread, the smallest you can find. Redwort NOW!" While he dumped the pack out onto the floor and sorted through what he had, Serissa turned to the Pestilence Green, hoping the beasts could understand human speech. "She might not need to die, but I'll need that," she said, gesturing at the intestine even and Hinsero shoved a bottle of redwort into her other hand. Without waiting for the green to make a decision, the healer doused her hands and sat gingerly on the bed, doing her best not to stir up dust. The rest of the world was ignored - if Hinsero knew what he was doing, he'd do his best to keep them out of the way.

The syringe came first, needlethorn already in place. Without a second thought, Serissa snapped it off, tossing the rest of the apparatus. With the hollow thorn in her left hand, she felt at the tiny creature's neck below the injury, feeling for the rings of cartilage that signified the airway. That was the most important - it didn't look like the Death Green had snapped the Seal White's neck, just crushed her airway. The rest could be taken care of after she was breathing again. But she was so small! Serissa could barely feel the difference between the thick ridges and the thin hollows, so easy in a human or dragon neck. With a steadying breath, she made her choice, sliding the needlethorn in gently, hoping she'd found the right place. She met no resistance, so... maybe?

The next step was to breathe air back into the baby's lungs, hopefully kick-starting her system without the need for CPR. She was so small, Serissa didn't think she could perform it without crushing ribs and vital organs, and the poor thing certainly didn't need any more damage right now. If she had to, she'd try, but for now she leaned down, blowing the tiniest stream of air through the needlethorn, hoping the baby's chest expanded - at least then she'd know she had the needle in the right place. You didn't really want to perform a tracheotomy twice.

[Rei]

Z’ves paid the others no heed at all. He didn’t really care what they where up to. Or what brought them to the hatching. He was just slightly irritated that the broadcast from the ugly little golden creature had made the pretty blonde he had been flirting with flee. She would have screamed so lovely for him he was willing to bet, the fact that he now hadn’t the chance to find out almost pushed him beyond irritated to actually angry. The bluerider had been growing more and more easily agitated as of late and had been using Lucith as a nice outlet. However the blue was dead asleep thus Z’ves left the beast in peace for the moment. Instead coming to see what all the sharding fuss was about.

Eggs? Who really gave a fire lizards ass? Obviously a lot of people by the sheer volume of them the stupid spectacle was drawing. Maybe there would be an opportunity to stomp on one or another of the little speaking menaces? That would be lovely. Baring that Z’ves didn’t care. He didn’t want to socialize. He wanted to kill something. Anything. It had been way too long since he had been able to cause something pain and it was quite clearly driving him up the wall. Slipping past the freaking bookends in the doorway he roughly shoved past R’ril a low growl sounding in his throat. “Watch what you’re doing.” F’lix was ignored. If all else failed he could always visit R’ril. The greenrider wouldn’t turn him down. Even if he wanted to Z’ves knew the other couldn’t.

After stepping past the other wastelander the bluerider turned cold blue eyes to the clutch. The broadcast from the white actually made him smile slightly before he backed up towards the wall and leaned against it. With actual interest he watched the murder of the poor white and then the impression of the nasty colored green. Served R’ril right to get one of the ugly creatures. All Z’ves wanted was more of the death and pain. Where they actually eating their sister now? How positively delightful. Okay maybe he could grow to actually tolerate the little things. Especially if they all where this deliciously horrendous.

~~~

Darmori in the other hand had been just getting ready to go to bed when He had heard Dementia’s call. Curiosity was something he could never quite totally ignore. So, sending Darmosk and Harmony ahead and back to the apartments, the blonde had quickly made his way back the way he came. The golden mandyr who had been left behind wasn’t really happy with his decision to go take a small peek at the other queen’s eggs. If her Mori wanted another he could just have one of her babies. But no the bronze handler had assured he that he did not want another mandyr. He was just curious to see what the clutch would bring. He had gotten Harmony from Dementia after all. It was purely curiosity that drove him on.

However that curiosity soon became overpowered by nervousness when he saw the sheer amount of people and Wastelanders the clutch was drawing. Darmori wanted to leave. Just turn around and leave. But he wanted to see the babies too. They where Harmony’s half siblings right? He wanted to see what they looked like. Creeping closer he quickly ducked past all the riders and ended up half hiding behind some blonde rider he didn’t know. Peering around Serissa, Darmori was quite frankly horrified at the sight of the mandyrs practically pulling apart their sister. Trying to keep from vomiting he turned away and closed his eyes. Okay Harmony was right. He should not have come. In fact he needed to get the hell outta here. Like now. Unfortunately there where lot of people now in the way so for the moment the teen was clearly stuck. Sharding Faranth. Backing away he closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing…had to get out.

[Rowana]

Farryl's face fell. If Peppeth was trying to cheer her up, this wasn't working. The poor little thing was bleeding so much. That couldn't be good, or healthy. Maybe one of the healers would impress it, that would be good. If it lost too much blood though. A storm of emotions trickled in, bringing tears the young woman's eyes. Surly someone wanted it? More eggs were hatching, mostly green. Several of them were going to see the white. Maybe they would help.

Farryl stayed where she was until one of the green's went for the white's neck. Her eyes went wide and she clung to her own neck, the pain as deep as though she herself was dying. "NO!" she shrieked. Hobbs keened in horror and sorrow and took to the air. Farryl-mine! Peppeth wailed in panic. loud enough for everyone in room to hear. Tears poured unbidden as the green rider bolted for the eggs. It was already far too late. "No." Farryl's voice was barely a whisper. She collapsed to her knees next to the bed. Serissa was already trying to save the little creature, but from the emptiness she felt, Farryl knew it was too late.

It was all her fault. She wasn't fast enough. If only she'd stood closer. It was like Tille, Zellos and Isshun all over again and all at once. Hobbs was swooping at the greens, screaming in distress and trying to convince them to leave the white in peace. Farryl was torn between the overwhelming sorrow and rage that burned in her heart. She wanted to strangle both greens for what they'd done, but there had been too much death today. Obviously to Hobbs and Peppeth's cries in her mind, she reached to stroke the little white's still head. "I would have," she choked, almost too quiet to hear. "I would have saved you. I'm so sorry. So very very sorry." What did she expect? An apology? It was just too much. Farryl gave in and let the tears come.

[rii]

Jenna stared at the grotesque scene, watching as the white's clutch siblings not only killed her, but one even partook in eating the slain white. The wherling backed off a step, a touch of uncertainty forming in her features. She was fairly sure this was not normal for a hatching. Mine, as much as I approve of sneaking in there, I demand you leave. Jenna nodded to the mental voice, turning to wedge her way out only to find a group of wastelanders blocking the door. Z'ves among them, and looking and acting.. well.. very different from what he had shown her out on the beach. Farryl's outburst brought tears to Jenna's eyes and she reached out to smooth a hand along the greenrider's back in an attempt to comfort.

Lilitu hissed from her perch on F'lix shoulder. None of these were to her liking, and the last thing she wanted was to have one of those troubled green bond to Lixher's mind. They already had enough to deal with. Seen enough, Lilitu stated pointedly to her ride, snaking inside of F'lix shirt collar and urged him to leave. He did, too, silently moving past R'ril after Z'ves ever so politely shoved the green rider out of his way.

"F'lix," Ja'kin's voice froze the bluerider on the spot. "I want to speak with you after drills."

Ja'kin let F'lix go after that, turning his gaze back inside to the more interesting spectacle. Ba'sun sadly shook his head at it all, frowning at the poor woman. In a quieted tone he explained to the weyrleader, "They say salamandyrs bond as strongly as dragons do."

"Mm," Was Ja'kin's only comment as he took another sip of tea, letting F'lix slink the rest of the way into the hallway. "What's the appeal?"

"Oh they just look adorable riding around on your shoulder," Ba'sun chimed as he slung an arm over R'ril's shoulders, grinning at the younger rider. "Tell the man, won't you, do you feel all warm and fuzzy inside now that you've impressed a little lizard – a little darling cannibal she is too."

[dragon]

She probably wasn't supposed to be out and about at this hour. But she wasn't really sure, and well ... she had always subscribed to the policy of asking forgiveness later rather than begging permission. Orena was out walking the halls just to see what she could find, while Riavorth was sleeping. Riavorth needed her rest, after all, just to cope with the rather demanding lessons that were put to her. Orena on the other hand, was used to a far more active lifestyle with no real curfews that had been capably enforced. So, as a result, she typically was up and wide awake (usually getting into some sort of micheif) for quite a few hours out of a day, and typically went where she wanted when she wanted.

Who would tell her no? She had found that walking into places like she owned them tended to keep people from questioning whether or not she was actually supposed to be there. Having the stature and shapliness of a full on woman helped that, too... and she wasn't averse to using it either.

Waltzing into the infirmary, she swiped a whole pack of needles (since she couldn't go get any herself), and dropped them into a pocket before walking right back out again, never once skulking or sneaking about. No, being obvious was far more concealing than sneaking could ever be. Hardly had she set foot back in the hallway, though, when she heard the call.

Curiosity piqued (always a bad thing, isn't it?), she rotated on one foot and went the other way. Time to go see what this was all about!! She paid no never mind to the people standing about in the hall and doorway, walking right past all of them, through the door way, and straight into the room itself. There, she did falter, at her first lung full of ... of ... grit. Orena wheezed, and then sneezed violently, covering her face with both hands. Even then her lungs stung and ached in her chest. Blinking away the tears that appeared for the effort, trying to clear her eyes of the dust, she frowned at what seemed to be the center of attention.

"My word." She said, under her breath. What were those, exactly? Were those the mandyrs that she had heard such interesting things about? Was this a mandyr hatching?! The awe and interest she would have normally had for witnessing such a thing was rather derailed by what she was seeing.

"Are they eating each other??" Orena asked, flabbergasted. "Are they supposed to ... do they normally do that?"

[Requiem]

Dementia wasn't at all interested in what Shells was saying anymore, her eyes glued on the hatching babies. The poor whiteling. Of course it wasn't her daughters' faults for trying to help her. They'd only been responding to the fact that she'd been rejected by Hers as well as hurt. Red eyes locked on the crying girl. Oh, so now she cared, did she? When it hurt her too?

The Pestilence Green regarded the human for a long moment. No, not Hers. She could feel Hers close but all the other minds were making it hard to find the exact location. Nevertheless, she padded over obediently to lay the half-mangled string of intestine on the small body of her clutchsibling. No longer in pain, physically or emotionally. Not that humans would understand such things. If this one could bring her back to life and repair the half-digested loop of intestine, well, then good for her. Though not necessarily for the Seal White. No 'mandyr deserved to come into the world already rejected. It was with almost detached interest that she watched the little chest suddenly move, a tiny flicker of life returning to the eyes. The Seal White managed a gurgling croon, ichor spilling out her mouth. A brush of love against Farryl's mind, joy that she was loved after all, forgiveness...and a plea not to cry. She'd never meant to hurt anyone. But it was too much for the little white, and she expired for the final time with a shudder. The Pestilence Green turned away to resume searching for Hers in the crowd.

Now, the War Blue was growing tired of smashing his shell into smithereens. He was hungry, His was far away right now, and this made him irritable. Hate, he grumbled. His should be quicker. All this hubbub around his sisters was also pissing him off. If people wanted something to be upset about...the thick male sprinted for that pretty little twisting blue and green Bowl Egg given the prominent position in the clutch, slamming into it and sending it rolling clear off the bed. It shattered into a million pieces.

Oblivious to her brother's antics, the Death Green stretched her wings, flapping them curiously. Now what were these for? Her darling clutchsister was so far away. Moving forward, she leapt, flapping her wings mightily and...going about in awkward circles. The Death Green barely avoided slamming into various people before alighting on R'ril's shoulder and licking his ear. Precious! she called down to her beautiful sister. And finally eating, too. With one more croon for R'ril, her gaze turned curiously to the men gathered near the door. Z'ves, Ba'sun and Ja'kin. Nope, nope and...ah yes, that was the one. She leapt from R'ril, wheeling on her ungainly wings and slamming into his chest, her little claws digging in. Hellllooooo. Precious, precious, she chanted gleefully to Ja'kin. Found him!

From the Bowl Egg emerged a quite unlikely salamandyr. Or, rather, two salamandyrs. Or...two in one? For they split at the waist into two seperate torsos, the creatures hissing up at the War Blue, though the male was more interested in something else now. At least, it seemed so, cause he'd turned away and was chanting Love, love, love to himself. Find- the blue began. -Ours, the green finished. And they didn't have to look very far at all. In a marvel of cooperation, the two sets of wings worked together to lift the body to face level. No cry, OursLove, the pair chorused to Farryl.

Throne Egg :: Unhatched
Pestilence Egg :: Green :: Searching
War Egg :: Blue :: Chanting 'love'
Seal Egg :: White :: Impressed to Farryl :: Dead
Famine Egg :: Green :: Impressed to R'ril
Death Egg :: Green :: Impressed to Ja'kin
Bowl Egg :: Blue/Green :: Impressed to Farryl

[Requiem]

Death Green
Impressed to: Ja'kin
Age: Hatchling
Color: ccdd66

Appearance: Her frame is a touch…awkward. There’s really not any one thing that is off or weird, when it comes right down to it, but somehow the sum of the parts warrant a second, third and fourth glance as you try to determine just what it is that is so…unusual. Her legs are all slightly different lengths, unnoticeable unless you bothered to measure each limb, and certain ones are more muscular than others which gives her an awkward, almost lurching gait. It doesn’t seem to hamper her speed any, though. Her tail’s a little too short, though not short enough to be called stumpy. One wing is also slightly larger than the other. She’s capable of real flight, remarkably…she just flies in circles when she tries.

Now, her coloring is just…sickly. Pale yellow with a green tinge, it looks much like a rotting corpse. Black spots form up in almost-lines, randomly encircling a limb above the knee, another at the hip, another right above her foot. Another line of black dots loops around chest and neck almost like a string of tiny black pearls. Her wings are as black as her spots, and her frill as white as snow, but the ribs of the frill are a blood red, and she often flares it when a movement doesn’t go quite as planned in order to catch herself.

Personality: Sweet, loving, but decidedly stupid. She genuinely adores other salamandyrs and, yes, firelizards. This green loves nothing more than to involve herself with any little pet who crosses her path, wooing them with poetry. Of course, her poetry takes the form of rhymed couplets. Two words, usually. She’s not the most eloquent of creatures, and her idea of what is beautiful and what are compliments tends to be just a bit different than that of other living things. For instance, she thinks nothing to be more complimentary than being compared to a maggot, and the creatures that others consider to be ugly she finds to be the most beautiful. The more deformed it is, the more she adores it.

Apart from this oddity, she has a rather odd affinity for dead flesh. Salamandyr flesh and firelizard flesh are the best, of course, and even better if they were a friend. No friend would want their flesh rotting and going to waste, right? Maybe she thinks that by eating them they live on inside her. Who can tell? Of course, this craving of sorts also likes to manifest when something isn’t yet dead. It’s safe to say that if you are of a size to make a meal for a ‘mandyr, you’d best not be getting injured. She just can’t resist a wounded body. They look so delicious!

There is one time that she will cannibalize - or eat a firelizard - when they are perfectly healthy. When this green gets overwhelmed with love for a mate, she must immediately start feasting upon them, as this clearly is the ultimate sign of her devotion after they have mated. Now they will be together forever. Afterwards she mates again, with her adored and hideously ugly (though of course she thinks she’s the most beautiful creature in the world) clutchsister, whom she shared her grisly meal with in the first place. Fortunately for her sister, she is quite full by that point so cannot cannibalize her, too.

Bowl Green/Blue
Impressed to: Farryl
Age: Hatchling
Color: 3300dd-Blue - 009911-Green - 006644-Both

Appearance: From the waist down - if you can reliably locate the waist on a salamandyr - there is nothing unusual about this salamandyr. Large for a green, small for a blue, the proportions are correct and the teal color is perfect, glossy, and unblemished by any markings. At the waist, though, this salamandyr splits…in two. The torsos of the separate salamandyrs are rather slender, as if the mass had been split in half to balance the salamandyr out. Nicely proportioned legs and sets of wings accompany each torso, as well as streamlined heads.

At the split the teal melds seamlessly into a vibrant emerald green for one head, and a bright sapphire blue for the other. Neither salamandyr…or are they one salamandyr?…has any markings on their upper half, either. Their wings are translucent and rather small, meaning they won’t be able to even glide without working in tandem, but should they work together flight is a definite possibility. The frills also run on the small side (perhaps so they won’t get tangled), looking more like two large ears than a full frill when flared. The blue has an emerald frill, and the green a sapphire one.

Personality(s): Just in case you were wondering, yes, these are actually two different salamandyrs. Together they’re wickedly mischievous - if they can be made to agree on anything - and like pulling pranks with little regard as to who gets hurt (or killed) as a result. They take great exception to anyone even remotely suggesting that they are the same salamandyr simply because they share the same body, however, and will fly into a rage. This rage is, unfortunately, directed solely at Theirs for not teaching these other people properly.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that the two tailor their likes and dislikes to be exactly opposite of their sibling. If today the green wants to go swimming, the blue wants to go investigate the nearest apartment (nevermind that he actually wanted to go swimming, too, until the green announced it). They also have a habit of finishing each other’s sentences. This can go on for awhile until one or the other of them notices they’re agreeing, then it immediately disintegrates into an epic dramatic argument about one misrepresenting the other.

Mating runs are even more problematic. The blue hates being dragged along when his sister Runs, hates males chasing after them, and especially hates having to share his sister when he wants her for himself. (He tries not to think about the fact that they’re mating with him, too. He is not a green, thank you much.) And of course because she still insists on Running, he must Chase, bringing her along while she protests all the way. Why would he want any other female? Needless to say, these ‘mandyrs don’t mate for life any more than all their other siblings, though you could be certain that if they could they’d mate with each other. Definitely a rather awkward mix of sentiments for Theirs.

[Rei]

Cold eyes widening Z’ves watched as the little white expired. Seriously they where all jumping to save something that was clearly so far gone? The Selenitas riders where clearly still idiotic and sentimental. Not only that but the greenrider’s little break down just made him want to smack her across the face, shake her, and tell her to get a hold of herself. It was just a pet. Pets died. Ah but that green weyrling he had met that day on the beach was already over and comforting her. What a sweet girl Jenna was.

Eyes going back to the clutch and the remaining little monstrosities the bluerider was torn between amusement and pity. Did they all have to be so horrible looking? It made him want to cull the entire clutch. Or at least half of it, like they had once done to the mutated dragon hatchlings back home. Little monstrosities clearly shouldn’t be allowed to live. No matter how deliciously evil they appeared to be.

With actual interest Z'ves watched as the sickly yellow green impressed to none other than Ja’kin. The bluerider actually had to bite back a laugh at that and tear his gaze from the bronzer. Before he got himself in trouble with a comment. It was the two headed creature his eyes fixed on next, the desire to kill it rising. It even impressed to that wreck of a girl. How disgustingly fitting. Lose one and get two? This whole clutch was like some freak show. It actually seemed to be soothing his irritation oddly enough. Seeing the agony and upset of everyone else had obviously greatly improved his mood.

~~~

Darmori had quite simply had enough. He wanted out. Before he vomited all over someone. Clearly this had been a mistake and it didn’t help that Darmosk was considering braving the rising sun to come fetch him. The terror the teen felt was even throwing Harmony into a very uncharacteristic rage and the LAST thing he needed was his angel making her way down here to start a fight with Dementia.

No. The bronze handler had clearly had enough and he was leaving everyone else be damned. To this end he roughly shoved someone out of his way and practically ran towards the door, seeking to follow F’lix’s example. Yeah that guy definitely had the right idea.