What Tune Do You Dance To? (B.Dances Touching)

[Ember]

Eikask growled lowly at Hers. It wasn't something she'd ever done before and, even though he knew she wouldn't hurt him, Eikane was a little scared of her. A whole new side of the gold had been revealed after she'd laid her eggs. It took her half a sevenday before she let him near her eggs. The sire and the other whers? Forget it. She growled like mad anytime any of them came close to the room set aside for her and her eggs. The goldhandler gathered his argument and let it all out. Thank Faranth for logic. The gold responded to it well enough.

"Eikask. Your babies will have a better chance of bonding if you let people touch them. Not to mention, those who coem to touch them are likely to spread the news so that we have more candidates. At your hatching there was only one remaining candidate. Do you want there to be one too few? Perhaps one or more of your babies will go wild..." Her growling picked up a frantic note and she suddenly wasn't growling at him but at the memory of Quintresk and Dmisk attacking the wild ones. She did not want her own whers to be killing her babies. She may be arrogant but she genuinely cared about her babies.

The gold relented and consented to a touching, but if any of them so much as.... "Yes, yes, I get it. You'll eat their faces and keep them as a comfy couch. Now hurry up and do your thing." Eikask still wasn't pelased with the idea so when she touched on the minds of those in the candidate barracks (Hers had told her where they were and warned her not to call on the others) it was with significant force. Whers weren't limited by anything so basic as words; the gist of her thought-call was there were eggs and she was letting them see them. If they wanted to come then they bloody well hurry up.

The Harper sighed as her thoughts washed over him too. Forceful gold. He approached one of the eggs and trailed a hand over it. The Foxtrot egg almost seemed to pulse with a variety of emotions and the backed away from it...directly into the gold, who was staring at the egg. "Oh, for...none of the babies can take me away from you, Eikask. Stop glaring at that poor egg and help me welcome the people who come...if any." The relish he felt from Eikask at that suggestion made him a bit nervous. He tugged on the mental reigns and she snorted. She wouldn't hurt anyone just for entering.

As a couple people arrived the gold took to growling quietly while Eikane explained what was to happen. He couldn't have them go willy-nilly to the eggs. Eikask would eat them. "Hello. Thanks for coming. I'd say ignore the growling gold but if you don't listen to her at least a little you might end up hurt. Whers are equally protective of their eggs as dragons are so please keep that in mind. You're welcome to touch the eggs but be careful. If you have any questions feel free to ask me." He ended up repeating much the same thing to the stragglers that came while Eikask patrolled near the eggs. She mostly hovered near the Paso Doble egg and looked balefully at anyone who tried to touch it. She wasn't actively stopping them but she was warning them off.

[Rei]

Darmori was up when the call came. He flinched slightly at the unfamiliar presence in his mind. However almost as soon as it had come it had passed. Upon his bed Harmony shifted and extended her spines outward. A soft call left her throat and then the chubby gold fell silent. Tilting her head up she regarded hers with placid whirling eyes. Mori go see babies yes? Say hello? The candidate chuckled and stroked down the gold, replacing the hair braid he had been examining into it’s place in his special chest. “Yeah suppose I should go. Would be the smart thing to do.” He extended his arm to his mandyr who quickly scrambled into her customary placed on his shoulder, tail winding about his throat.

It didn’t take the pair long to find the place. Darmori had grown up at Selenitas. Lurked it’s hallways his whole life. The new ones where just additions and had been quickly learned as well. Knew his home like the back of his hand. Well at least most of it. The jungle was still a bit intimidating to him. Upon entering the room he took a spot behind some other hopefuls and listened intently to the handler. He didn’t want to get mauled by an angry gold wher. Not really high on his list of things to do. His eyes flicked to Eikask and then back to her eggs. Swallowing slightly he decided to take the initiative and stepped forward toward the nest. Oh shards he was going to piss himself he just knew it.

Bowing to the golden wher he offered a nervous smile. At least he hoped it counted as a smile. “Hi there. I’m Darmori.” Oh Faranth that was stupid. Like she cared about his name. In an almost panicked voice he continued. “Your eggs are lovely. Real colorful. Mind if I touch them? Promise I’ll be real gentle.” Was that even an appropriate response? He hoped so. Upon his shoulder Harmony regarded the gathering with disinterest. Crooning she fixed her gaze on Eikask. Pretty eggs. Grats to you darkwalker. She said sweetly to the other gold before nuzzling under Darmori’s jaw. Go touch Mori love? She asked him privately, gaze still upon the big darkwalker. Why the gold wher allowed anyone to touch her children Harmony wasn't sure. It seemed wrong in so many ways to the gold mandyr.

[raii]

Karou listened to the short speech with increasing boredom. She’d been to enough hatchings to know what to do during the Touching. She surveyed the eggs, giving each a thorough analysis. All were beautiful, but her eyes were exceptionally partial to the Foxtrot and Waltz eggs, as well as the subtle beauty of the Tango egg. The Foxtrot egg was a lovely swirl of fiery colors, while the waltz egg was a lovely swirl of black and white. The Tango egg was an almost melancholy stained blue.

She didn’t approach the Foxtrot egg first. It wasn’t the Waltz egg either, or even the Tango egg. The golden wher never left the Paso Doble egg’s side. In fact, she protected it. She seemed to be warning off the candidates, desiring they keep their hands off of this egg. The egg itself was mesmerizing, but not quite as lovely as her handpicked three. However, she took Eikask’s warning as a challenge, drawn to the egg not because of appearance, but because of daring.

She loved the thrill of defying the expected as well as the forbidden. While the egg was not completely off limits, by any means, it was obvious Eikask did not want any candidate’s touching it—at least not yet. Karou swept over to the queen wher gracefully, taking long, directed strides. She gave a soft bow to the queen. As she came up, she bowed her head, in a form of respect. Respect for the clutchmother, not for a queen. She took her slender hand, spreading her five fingers.

Her intentions were clear. She had chosen this egg as her first to touch, well aware that Eikask would not like it very much. She would do what she would do. She wasn’t sure exactly what was so special about this egg, but she would touch it. That was that. She placed her hand delicately on the smooth egg, directly on the top of it. No one tells Karou what she can or cannot do. She’ll simply do it anyways, whether she would have wanted to or not.

[Ruby]

Piden was fairly confident that Pidesk hadn't slept since Eikask's clutch was laid. The Wher tossed and turned even now, muttering in a half-doze of worry and exhasustion. Not your normal marching orders for a father to be, unless he was getting cold feet. Pidesk wasn't; he had given Eikask her privacy when she was in labor, but as soon as the sounds had stopped (and she had had some time to recover her composure), he had very politely stuck his nose around the doorframe, sending thoughts of love and encouragement Eikask's way.

Huge mistake.

She hadn't exactly bitten him, but only because Pidesk understood very well that all that growling meant 'get out', and had acted on that as soon as he got it. He'd skittered back around the corner immediately, apologizing all the way, and had stayed clear of the room since. Piden hadn't even tried looking at the clutch (the morning after with Eikane had been awkward enough, and none of that was Piden's fault), but he did try to comfort his Wher by reminding him that even Eikane hadn't been allowed near the clutch for days. It was nothing against him, and the babies would be fine. Pidesk didn't truly believe him. What babies could be fine without a father to protect them? Even with a mother as brave and fearsome as Eikask. So Pidesk had taken to patrolling outside the door any time he was awake, not actually stopping anyone from entering but giving them a very strong warning against it.

So an extremely haggard Piden was up (it was hard to sleep when your Wher caused bad dreams every time you dozed) when he heard footsteps in the hall. There were so few Handlers that he unconciously knew their sounds, and more importantly knew that something about these was different. He shook Pidesk out of his fitful doze, whispering so that Red and Shells wouldn't know what was happening. "I think Eikask has called the Candidates to look at the eggs," he said, pushing the door open and glancing down the hall. "Yep, that kid with the Gold mandyr is a Candidate. Maybe now she'll let you in to see?"

That was all the invitation Pidesk needed. The bronze surged to his feet, padding down the hall to follow the Candidates through the doorway. While Eikane was explaining the rules, he greeted Eikask with a thought full of love and pride. It was laced with suspicion, though, and that suspicion was firmly aimed at the Candidates. She was surely capable of protecting the clutch on her own, but another pair of eyes would not hurt with so many hands and fingers to watch. He could call His as well, if she wanted even more, but that was certainly up to her. Piden currently had his hands full back in his apartment, attempting to restrain Shells, who was for once not spouting obscenities. Instead: Gold, pretty pretty fire gold, made of Mandyr, must make gift, must make offer! Yes, mentioning Harmony might have been a mistake.

[Ember]

As the sire entered with some of the candidates the queen sent him somewhat welcoming thoughts in return. She hadn't let him in to see her eggs but she'd known about his watchfulness and appreciated it. She had, in her mind, been forced to choose Pidesk, but he was turning out to be a good sire. A flick of her tail and warm thoughts served as his invitation in to see her eggs (she was still unwilling to call them anything but hers, not that she'd tell anyone but Hers that) and help protect them. Another wher to keep her eggs safe was welcome.

Eikask opened her impressively large wings wide as the first candidate approached her. She was deliberately trying to intimidate him and she was pleased to see it working. At his words she snorted. Silly human. Not the brightest, like Hers was, but he didn't seem bad. He was an odd one though. Hairless. A quick glance at Hers and the others present just strengthened her sense that he was odd. The humans were supposed to have hair, and yet he had none. Interesting.He also seemed to be waiting for a response and just as she was about to brush against his mind his gold little spoke up.

Already bonded? So the gold little was not enough for him? Yes, clearly her eggs were better, even if that gold little could lay eggs too. He had it well trained at least. She brushed his mind with the permission he seemed to need and brushed Harmony's with a warning. She was welcome to look but not to touch. Then another arrived and Eikask looked at the female candidate. This one was considerably less fearful of her. It served only to annoy the gold and she made no move or sound when the girl spread her hand.

If the girl thing wanted to touch the egg she could go ahead. The Paso Doble was not a pleasant egg to touch. There was a reason Eikask kept even Hers from touching it. The others were a bit odd, yes, but not like the Paso Doble egg. As Karou put her hand upon the egg, the gold's mouth dropped open in a parody of a smile - or a smirk, as the gold was aiming for. She'd seen and liked the expression on Hers well enough. She lacked the same mobility in her mouth but it would suffice for her. Silly little girl, touching things better left alone.

[Requiem]

Creepy creepy sneak sneak. She was gonna be a sneaky creep! Waiiit a second...that hadn't quite turned out as planned. Ximera paused in her tippy toe advancement behind the waterfall. Hm. She'd have to think of a better theme song. Sneaky creeps got jumped and sat on, because they were creeps. The gold wher sounded upset, she did, or felt upset, or something. Kind of hard to categorize so complex a mental stab. (A mental stab that had left her trembling and seeking out Laddy. Yes, that was the ladle's name that she still carried around in her pocket lest he be locked up again, which was ever so sad a fate.)

Too bad Kayla wasn't interested in the whers. She would have liked a friend to tiptoe around with, apart from Laddy. Nothing against one of her oldest friends or anything, but he had a distinct lack of legs and lungs, which would leave all the running and screaming to her, that it would. Ximera didn't think Eikask would attempt to eat Pern's secret princess, but it was a secret so she might not know. Or worse, she might be jealous, and Ximera really didn't intend to steal her thunder any. Just a princess in waiting for her prince was all. Nothing significant.

Peeking around the corner of the door, her hand curling around the doorframe, she stared wide-eyed at the gorgeous gold wher and felt a shiver of pure ecstacy run down her spine. Oh, beautiful, beautiful! How could she ever Impress a...quickly jumping back, she stared at Pidesk, a little squeak of joy on her lips. Oh, he was handsome too! Ximera pressed her back against the wall outside, venturing one more tiny peek. Sooo beautiful.

[raii]

Karou touched the egg, feeling a jolt she was accustomed to, as the egg communicated it's emotions to her. It was an evil egg. Predatory. Stalking. Waiting for the perfect time to leap and prey on its victims. Her reaction was nothing like Eikiask had hoped. This egg was not boring and cheerful like most eggs seemed to be. It was dark, calculating, cruel. A mind well suited for Karou or any other male or female of such...interesting...disposition. Naturally, of course, Karou would do better with a soft, moldable creature, but she did enjoy this one.

"I like you," Karou whispered, as if confiding a secret.

She stroked the egg kindly, promising mentally to return if time permitted it. She had only touched one egg, but she felt a deep admiration for it. Onto the next egg of interest to her. Her eyes dwindled on the pretty Foxtrot egg. It was lovely, to say the least. It was the colors of flame, spotted with deep green. Beautiful, beautiful egg. It almost seemed to pull her in, as if craving admiration, appreciation, or just plain attention.

She placed her palm on the egg, feeling the emotions it radiated. Desire to be loved, yes. Karou stroked its surface kindly. Don't worry, egg. You won't be alone. Whers almost always Impress, while only a fraction of humans did. Lucky little creatures. Even luckier were the dragons, who either Impressed or died, guaranteed a life that was never alone. Karou longed for that. She didn't like people of course, or fire lizards or salamandyrs, in most cases, but she could learn to like them. Of course, no one tries to be friends with a pompous, manipulating, callous mastermind.

Karou was proud of her pompous, manipulating, callous mastermind-self. Intelligent and self-assured, she could often make things come about as she liked. She was determined, she said. She was stubborn, they'd say. It didn't matter what they thought. She might be embittered and stuck up, but she knew she was smart enough to be happy. Perhaps if Enia was here, she could have been intelligent and kind.

Refusing to dwell on the past, Karou immersed herself in the egg before her.

[neeuqtar]

It had been a long and difficult trip to get from Southern to Selenitas. The first leg of the journey had been delightful -- Kinstar's mother had let her "borrow" Jekisk to get to one of the far-flung coastal cotholds from whom she could purchase a runner's time. Riding the wher had always been among her favorite activities, and taking such a long trip with him had been an absolute delight, despite the couple of weals she had gotten from whippy branches. The trip down the river had been much longer. She hadn't been able to buy a runner, and had to travel down the river with a small trading group. It had been... irksome. Particularly since she'd had to travel during the day.

It took a little bit of wandering and questioning of the few people awake when she arrived to find the wherhandler quarters; a little more to discover just where she might find the goldhandler. Apparently there was a Clutch laid -- she would find the gold and her handler there. Kinstar took a brief moment to fix her hair in the reflection of a small shard of mirror she carried with her. It wouldn't do to show up looking as if she had spent the last month traveling with a bunch of cotholders (though she of course had). At least it had given her a chance to map the entire river, from nearly the mouth of the Selenitas to the Weyr itself.

Kinstar stepped into the wherhandler apartment tunnels with a deep inhalation. Some people found the musky smell of whers distasteful, but Kinstar had grown up on it. Walking into the Selenitas wher quarters was almost as good as walking into her child home and getting tackled by a delighted Jekisk. She adjusted quickly to the darkness, tracing the path a helpful handler had given her to the Clutching area. Eikask and Eikane, she repeated to herself. Gold and handler.

Kinstar rapped on the door gently, glancing down at what looked to be a weyrbrat sneaking in for a peek at the eggs. She looked about to die from ecstasy. The woman stepped in through the doorway, then bowed deeply to the gold, holding the depth to signify her respect the mother of such a fine Clutch. Then she looked to the man who must be her handler, and gave him the wher salute.

"Starry skies," she said in a soft but cheerful voice, by way of greeting. "I presume you are Ei..Eikane? And the glorious golden lady you stand by must be none other than bright queen Eikask." Kinstar knew to compliment any gold wher with eggs. They could be... vicious. "I bring greetings from the wherhandlers of Southern Hold," she added after a moment. "But such things can wait until a time when the children of such a magnificent wher are safely Hatched."

Mentally, Kinstar frowned. Three Candidates, for what looked like six or seven eggs? Though of course whers could go wild, it would be a shame to watch a queen's children flee into the jungle, where they would likely be out-competed and killed by their wild kindred. Even domestic whers were sometimes killed by the wild ones, in Runs and on patrol. Her mother's beloved Jekisk was scarred from a few such encounters with the territorial wild whers. Feral domestics simply were not as suited for outdoor living as the wilds.

"Might I?" she asked of Eikask, stepping forward and squatting down, stretching a hand out towards the nearest egg. Even if there were other Candidates, the whers needed to be sensitized to a variety of people in order to feel comfortable around them when they broke through their shells. Though she didn't really have the intention to Bond a wher, particularly not at Selenitas Weyr (how could they compare to Jekisk? Or old Uilask, or any of the others at Southern Hold?), Kinstar had no difficulty with imagining herself a Candidate... at least for a Touching. Wouldn't her brother be amused to see her now...

[ryanne]

Dinag was working in the kitchens when the pictures began to appear in his mind. For the first time, he could see the eggs that could hold his future bonded. It took a great deal of effort to keep the air nonchalance about him when he allowed himself, just for a moment, to think about what it would be to bond to one of the whers that had yet to hatch. He kept his hand chopping consistently, though, determined to make sure that no one else saw his excitement. The second that he showed any sort of eagerness or care towards something else was the second that someone knew how to affect him. And that was the last thing that he wanted. It was much easier not to let others know what things meant to him.

Finishing the last of the roots, he pushed them to the drudge who was preparing the vetegables for the morning meal the next day. He went and quickly got dismissed after citing the reason for his departure. Only after he left the kitchens, though, did he let his pace move from meandering to walking with intent. He didn't want to be late and anger the clutch mother. But for that matter, he didn't want to be early and anger her that way either. Grudgingly, he slowed his pace again, keeping a steady clip, but no longer speed walking towards the whers.

He was proud of himself for at least adjusting his sleep schedule. He was finding that it was easier and easier sleep with the sun shining. It just took working himself to exhaustion during the night, which he succeeded easily by taking on more chores (discretely of course) and finding other tasks to occupy his time. He took to doing chores that others around the weyr would do for him, such as changing his own glows and sweeping his own area. When no one else was around of course. He couldn't imagine the disdain he'd get from fellow candidates if they saw him doing extra work!

Finally, he arrived at the clutch, cowed for a moment by the clutchmother, who was quite obviously not pleased with the amount of people meandering around her clutch. Dinag refused to show her any fear. Instead, he simply bowed first to her and then to her handler before moving towards the eggs. There were many other candidates milling about, but he refused to let that frustrate him. Just because the whers had more choices didn't mean that he wasn't going to get chosen. He was a firm believer that if it was meant to happen, then it was going to happen. That didn't stop him, though, from thinking extra hard about impression and love while he was wandering through the eggs.

It didn't take him too long to notice that the colors were vivid on all of the eggs. Each had lighter colors and then darker colors, there was nothing inbetween. The contrast was quite striking. He kept his mouth shut, though, looking through the eggs before pausing in front of the egg in the furthest corner. It was a dark purple with a light pattern of blue as well as a ring of baby blue near the top. Glancing at the egg again, he knelt down. "May I touch it?" he asked, looking at the gold wher as well as her handler, not sure whom he was asking permission from.