Eleven Minutes to Midnight (Dementia's Hatching)

[Requiem]

Nuclear Assault Clutch

[/size]

Where is the best place to lay a clutch? Why, in a nice, warm, dry corner of the steaming baths, of course. Soft blankets have been spread out - obviously by a human hand - and at their center is a carefully arranged spherical array of eleven eggs. While each individual egg is unique, the eye doesn't tend to be drawn to any single one. Instead, the clutch has been very clearly arranged into what is, without doubt, a yin yang symbol, divided between predominantly black eggs and predominantly white, with one egg of each sneaking its way in with the eggs of the opposite color. Perhaps Dementia got a little confused.

At any rate, the dainty salamandyr queen has taken up residence on a shelf full of random soaps, shampoos, sands and other hygenic tools. When she isn't meticulously rotating her clutch with her devoted minion, Devil, she watches over the eggs from this shelf. Over the last couple of nights, an additional guardian stands watch over the clutch - as much as sleeping can be considered standing watch - in the form of a pale blue wher. Large enough to give most pause, he's barely moved a muscle in the last 48 hours.


Something Wicked Egg
A very average-sized egg, it could easily conceal all but the biggest of creatures. Positioned exactly at the six-o-clock position of Dementia's meticulously arranged clutch, it has a dull matte black sheen. Speckled intermittently with grey specks a shade lighter than the black, there isn't too much to keep the interest of any curious beyond a hairline fracture (faced meticulously inward toward the rest of the clutch most of the time) that vaguely resembles a claw or hook.

Another Violent End Egg
Tied with the Serve Man Egg as the smallest in Dementia's clutch, this little beauty is as smooth and unblemished as a pearl, and gleams with its own special sheen. At the very bottom of the egg, however, a dark crimson overtakes the pure white hue, spreading across the bottom fourth of the egg unevenly. If one were to look closer, they might also notice that a few crimson specks seem to have frothed up, breaking the expanse of white.

Chaos Egg
Directly next to the Another Violent End Egg, this egg isn't much larger, and seems to be pure black at a glance. A closer look, however, reveals that the egg isn't black at all. It's a roiling miasma of dark green, deep purple, midnight blue and deep brown, so confusing to the eye that most interpret it as black for their own sanity. Don't spend too long trying to figure it out; Raebeli has enough crazies to deal with already.

Forge Egg
Rather small, it nudges up next to the Madness Descends Egg. The smallish egg has a shiny, metallic sheen to it's iron grey coloring, but that isn't the most interesting feature of this egg. No, instead there is a faint glow to it, like that of an inner fire. The strangest part is that, if you look away and look back again, the glow seems to have...changed positions. Or is that merely a trick your memory is playing on you?

Madness Descends Egg
One of the larger eggs of the clutch, this particular egg shades evenly from a deep midnight blue upwards to the inkiest black. Small, almost microscopic flecks of red and white dance randomly across the shell in what resembles flurries blown about on the wind. This egg remains the only egg that Dementia doesn't regularly turn or tap, and it is suspected that whatever was meant to hatch from it...is probably already dead.

Behind Glass Walls Egg
The singularly largest egg in the clutch, it sits directly between the Another Violent End Egg and the Serve Man Egg. It doesn't shine or gleam like some of the other eggs do, and it's coloring is comparatively simple: it splits into pure black and pure white in even halfs. The line between the two colors, however, seems to be warped, bending inward and outward at random intervals.

No Time Egg
While the egg itself isn't particularly large, it tends to draw the eye due to it's distinctive shape. Namely, it narrows toward the center rather than being perfectly spherical, forming a somewhat lopsided off-white hourglass. Along one side is a rather stylized blemish in pale blue that vaguely resembles a half-mask one might wear to a masquerade, though the marking is so faint that you'd have to get up close to it to see it.

Serve Man Egg
Sister in size to the tiny Another Violent End Egg, this egg is the purest, darkest of blacks. It is so dark, in fact, that it tends to draw you down into it when you look, almost as if it had its own gravity and was sucking you in. Intermentently, small white markings that vaguely resemble stars sprinkle down the sides, trailing thin grey tails in their wake. The egg leans up against the white half of the Behind Glass Walls Egg.

Poetic Justice Egg
Nearly a match in size for the Madness Descends Egg, this egg, also, is just a shade off white, though it shades toward faint pink rather than yellow. Small, thin bands cross the egg horizontally, almost like some weyrbrat had got ahold of it to color it, and where these bands cross the pink shows itself a couple shades darker than the rest of the egg.

Trail of Tears Egg
Snugged up against the Serve Man Egg on the edge of the clutch, this egg at first seems to be the only egg that is genuinely pure white. However, a second look proves that assumption false. Faint blue/grey lines dash vertically down the egg, such that it resembles looking at the egg through a veil of raindrops. The faint color seems to collect at the bottom of the egg just like real rainwater would.

Critical Mass Egg
The palest of greys, this egg manages to be entirely average in size so that no one can guess what it conceals, positioned ever so precisely at the twelve-o-clock position. It is, to be sure, the least interesting of all the eggs, lacking completely in marking or shades or anything whatsoever to break up the monotony of the color - except one single black spot, approximately the size of a small button, that is just enough off-center to generate a second look. [/center][/font]

::Please wait to post until I post the introductory post. <3's to all. First Impression(s) at precisely midnight tomorrow, Selenitas time.::

[Requiem]

Dementia watched her clutch in utter silence as the Another Violent End Egg and the Serve Man Egg rocked gently back and forth. Most golds might have already announced the Hatching, but the salamandyr wasn't of the opinion that all the bonebags needed to be standing around, ogling her beloved babies before the first even cracked shell. She'd tugged at the mind of Hers, confident he would arrive before the first little snout started breaking through. He was her harperlove, after all, and how could any of her babies be so rude as to hatch before he came?

Apparently babies needed to be taught their manners, however, because the first wet, glistening head pushed through in the form of a green before Dementia's arrived. The salamandyr crooned to the Another Violent End Green, who carefully cleared the shards of shell from her hide before stepping neatly around the other eggs, wings spread to dry them. Her frill would have been constantly displayed, given the hardened nature of the spines - had there been a frill. It was the only peculiarity of Dementia's first daughter, however, and she nudged the Devil. Beautiful ours, yes? Call bonebags, if think worthy Dementia baby, can come. Can try. Call now. It was apparently beneath her to talk to all the unworthy peasants.

Dmitri arrived with meat, looking as if he'd just rolled out of bed - which he had. The boy eyed the small green who had set about trying to lick the moisture clear of her hide. Hello, Dementia bonebag, the green greeted sweetly in a whisper, continuing about her business, apparently unperturbed at the lack of people. Her mother would bring them, yes. Just needed to be patient... However, an exploding egg rained shards down upon her, spilling forth a writhing green. She squeaked in surprise, turning her head to see the Serve Man Green. What a beautiful creature! But, oh, why didn't she have legs? No, wait, she did, but they were so very small. Crooning anxiously, the Violent End Green
waded back into the clutch, nuzzling her writhing sister.

Dementia was focused on something entirely different, however. An ugly! What were uglies doing in her clutch?! It had to be that ridiculous bronze/green. She must have gotten it pregnant, too, and it had had the audacity to lay its eggs in with hers! Turning to Devil with a snarl, she growled, Your slave, where is? Bring now! Terrible, terrible slave, must punished, or Dementia punish devil. Why lay uglies with beautiful ours? Her rant was halted, however, by something even more enraging. Was that ugly riding her daughter? Off, off, off! she screeched at the firelizard, who just chirped at her quizzically.

The Another Violent End Green helped her sister out of the eggs, and though the Serve Man Green couldn't understand why her dam was yelling at her - or why the other green was helping - she wasn't about to turn the aid down. Couldn't they see she had trouble walking? The salamandyr curled around her firelizard sister as much as she could, twining her tail with hers and nuzzling her reassuringly. Her mother was just confused, was all. Nothing to worry about.

Whispering softly to Dementia, she attempted to reassure their golden mother. Is okay. Is okay. Help sister, no eggs broken. Clutchbrothers, clutchsisters okay.

Something Wicked Egg :: Unhatched
Another Violent End Egg :: Green Salamandyr :: Curled up with Serve Man Green
Chaos Egg :: Unhatched
Forge Egg :: Unhatched
Madness Descends Egg :: Unhatched
Behind Glass Walls Egg :: Unhatched
No Time Egg :: Unhatched
Serve Man Egg :: Green Firelizard :: Curled up with Another Violent End Green
Poetic Justice Egg :: Unhatched
Trail of Tears Egg :: Unhatched
Critical Mass Egg :: Unhatched

[Kisha-Ra]

The Devil paused, enraptured by the first movement of her clutch, for although Lao had technically sired them the bronze firelizard was Devil’s slave and all that was Lao’s was Devil’s first, therefore she was the co parent of this clutch, not her ugly slave.

The green stared down fascinated at the first muzzle to push out of an egg. A green! How exciting! Of course The Devil would have found anything exciting. Beautiful ours, yes. the green repeated, agreeing with her gold as any good servant would. Their first baby was obviously the best green hatchling ever. Oh, yes. It would be a good idea to call some slaves for the little ones wouldn’t it? The Devil strode to the edge of the shelf and puffed herself up as if that would make her louder. CAN TRY BONEBAGS IF WORTHY! COME NOW DEMENTIA’S BABY! The green sent out her call as loudly as she could, the slave species all tended to be either a little deaf or a lot stupid but the babies had to have slaves, and any worthy ones would come.

Slave? The Devil echoed, recoiling from Dementia’s sudden anger. What could Lao have possibly done? The ugly bronze wasn’t even hanging around here for a change. Lay uglies, why? The green looked down at the eggs at that, surely there were no uglies in that? Devil’s slave was bronze, no matter how much Lao thought he was a green. What?1 there was an ugly green in there too! The Devil raised her frill agitatedly. Terrible slave. Terrible. Punish. she agreed. How Lao had laid eggs The Devil didn’t know but he should have had the decency to lay them separately. Now the babies would have to fight Lao’s ugly babies for the slaves. The green tugged insistently at Lao’s mind, tempting him with thoughts of the eggs. Stupid slave wouldn’t be able to resist that. For good measure though the green prodded at her bonded, her big ugly, and the green ugly. All were her slaves, so all should come and be punished for their sins.


Yoalla frowned into the darkeness as Yosk suddenly barked at something and both her firelizards started whizzing around the room chattering. Eggs. Oh, right, Dementia’s clutch. Time to embarrass Dmitri maybe. The green handler gave a wicked smile and gestured for her mind mates to follow. They should be able to get there soon.

[Rei]

Elysia was in the process of bathing when the call came. Hmmmm? I believe some of those mandyr things are hatching in the bathing rooms. The communal part I believe. Came a helpful reply from her green, who was lounging outside near the riverbank. I am surprised you are not there actually. Don't you usually prefer them? Chuckling lightly Elysia steeped out of the bath and towel dried her hair. I wasn’t in the mood for company. However that was swiftly changed. This is the boy’s gold correct? Of course. Please try and control yourself minelove, there will be others there after all. “You say that as if I don’t behave well normally.” The amused feelings off her dragon at her words amused the rider in turn. She dropped the sopping towel to wind a dry one about herself see she could behave. Clothes ignored, she left the female portion of the rooms to make her way to the communal section.

Upon arriving Elysia crept over to Dmitri and then said very softly. “Oh what a perfect place for a hatching love.” Not waiting for him to react she plucked a few pieces of meat from the bowl he was carrying. “Oh this place really takes me back. I believe this is the place we first met.” Batting her eyelashes she let the towel intentionally slip a bit lower exposing more of her breasts. “Tell me darling have you missed me?” The words where and intentional purr as she circled around him to end at his left. She didn’t touch but was close enough that all she would have to do is outstretch and arm to do so. Idly she drooped the meat back into the bowl. It wasn’t her intention to acquire another pet. She was just here to play~

~~~

Tynaris and Darmori where soaking in the baths and chatting idly when the call rang out. Tynaris raised and eyebrow and caught the eye of his fellow candidate. Ok so it was technically against the rules to attend a mandyr hatching and they should be running as far away as possible right now but, was it their fault that they had stared somewhere as covenant as the bathing rooms? Nope. Besides how bad could mandyrs really be? It wasn’t like Emoyan had explained why they where illegal so to speak. Gingerly picking his way out of the bath Tynaris dried himself hurriedly and threw on his pants. “Come on it isn’t going to kill us to take a look.” He said to the room out large before beckoning to his fellows.

Darmori watched his fellow candidate and caught the eye of another of his fellow before shrugging and beginning to clamber out of the pool to join Tynaris. Really it was true. It wasn’t going to kill them to just watch. If they stayed to the back it was likely they wouldn’t pick up anything anyway. He had watched enough flit hatchings in the Main Hall to know that. Hungry hatchlings never seemed to want to go far. He followed hot on the Southern boys heels. Soon the two teens had entered the room looking much like nervous wild flitters ready to go between at the first sign of danger.

Standing towards the back wall Darmori’s eyes went to the clutch, where movement had sufficiently caught his attention. While Tynaris’ eyes went straight to the towel clad woman standing in the middle of the room. A low whistle left his throat before he could catch it. It The woman didn’t seem to notice though. She was much too busy paying attention to the beanpole.

[Ember]

Iskierka was not pleased to hear the communal baths she was going to wash up in were going to be occupied by all sorts of people curious about some thing called Dementia's baby. She shook her head at the rather annoying broadcast. Before coming to Selenitas firelizards had been a rare commodity but at the southern weyr they were very common. They were annoying enough. The salamandyrs were little terrors, from what various Selenitas people had told her and from seeing them around. She'd learned the little parade that had gone through her weyr had been under the influence of their salamandyrs.

She wasn't about to change her plan on account of hatching salamandyrs. She slipped into the bathing room and noticed there were already several people around, including Elysia. Interesting...but not enough to draw her over to the little corner. She wasn't there for any of the silly little eggs, oh no. She was there to get clean. She figured she was safe enough from the hatchlings; people rarely bothered her since she looked so very unfriendly. She moved over to one of the smaller pools and tested the water with a foot. Good, it was warm. For whatever reason her weyr's bathing pool would only fill with cold water. She wanted a warm bath, thanks.

Iskierka didn't have much undressing to do. She was wrapped in a large towel, wearing only her undergarments and holding her knives. Why yes, they did indeed go everywhere with her. She fiddled around underneath the towel to get off her undergarments. She let them drop at her feet. It was becoming more apparent that her wardrobe was not devoid of bright colours. No, the bright colours all hid underneath the darker clothes; today's set of undergarments was neon green.

The Benden dragonrider slipped into the water, careful not to show any of her body. Despite her upbringing, Iskierka held onto a healthy amount of body modesty. She placed the towel and her knives on top of her undergarments and sat in such a way that she could keep an eye on the people gathered in the corner. She pulled on the hairties keeping her hair in two runnertails until her black hair was freed to drfit slightly in the water. Bath and a show. She wasn't sure if she was more annoyed or amused.

[Rowana]

Farryl buried her face in Peppeth's side. Not salamandyrs. She didn't want to look at another salamandyr right now. Hobbs fluttered about anxiously chirping. Peppeth snuggled her with her nose. Farryl-mine? she crooned worriedly. It will be all right. She tried to sound confident, but it was hard. Farryl was supposed to be the stronger one. No it won't be. Farryl let the tears come again. Why did it have to hurt so much? Losing Tille had never been this painful. He's gone and it's all my fault.

Hobbs buried himself into her neck well Peppeth tried to be reassuring. It was not, she cooed. We could do nothing. Yes it was, Farryl insisted. Me and my pathetic fears. I should have made you all go swimming without me. I should have noticed something was wrong sooner. Maybe if I had... He would not have gone. Peppeth reminded her. It was his choice to stay with you. I should have made him go! Oh Zellos...

Farryl clenched her fist. If only she'd never Impressed him. He'd been stubborn, arrogant, and rude, but he'd loved her more then anything. She'd never deserved him in the first place and now he was gone. How could it not be her fault? It felt like her heart had ripped in two. If this was what it was like to loose one's dragon, she was sure she'd rather die then live without Peppeth. Farryl-mine? Peppeth tugged at her. You should go to the Hatching.

No, Farryl said sharply. She sighed, hugging Hobbs tightly. I'm sorry, I just. I don't think I'm ready. It'd only been a few days and the pain was fresh. It might cheer you up to see the hatchlings, Peppeth continued hopefully. You like hatchings. Farryl sniffed. If Zellos hadn't been so stuck up, he might have been the father. She hadn't cared at the time, but now she just wished she had some part of him to hang on to. Besides, Peppeth went on, trying to sound cheerful. It is right here.

Farryl looked over Peppeth's shoulder. Sure enough, Dementia had layed her clutch right in the bathing rooms beyond where they were. Farryl had been letting Peppeth and Hobbs soak in cool water. After Zellos had gotten sick, she wasn't taking chances. But... She didn't want to Impress one, not now, but Hatchings were fun to watch. Maybe Peppeth was right. She had to start moving forward. Alright, she agreed, drying her eyes on a sleeve. But I'm staying far away. Peppeth pushed her forward and Farryl shuffled a little closer. Hobbs snuggled deep into her neck as she leaned against one wall. She watched the two greens sadly. They were cute, she supposed, but their antics weren't doing much to cheer her up.

~

G'tor blinked as he approached the baths. Tervain's head perked up brightly. Apperently he'd arrived just in time. It had been a while since he'd been to any kind of hatching. He liked Star, maybe another salamandyr wouldn't be so bad. Of course, they hardly ever bonded to one who had one already, but there was no harm in watching. Tervain was already flying to a shelf not far from the clutch. She liked salamandyrs and wanted to see the babies up close.

What was this? That was a fire lizard, and a silly green at that. Tervain snorted at the baby. What were fire lizards doing in a lovely salamandyrs clutch? She had little opinion of her own kind, but salamandyrs were interesting and fun, in her opinion. Star stayed cuddled in G'tor's shirt as he walked closer. "I hope I haven't missed anything?" he piped up brightly. Maybe he should have brought meat. Star perked up. Meat for her, of course. "No, silly," he tapped her head lightly. "For the hatchlings." Star grumbled. They didn't need meat, she did, to get big and strong. Wasn't she tiny like they were? "Yes, love," he chuckled. "But I don't think you'll get any bigger, just rounder." Star scoffed. G'tor was being rude! She was not fat! Just, nicely plump.

[raii]

Sari had been in the candidate barracks, lying down. Her eyelids grew heavy, and just as she almost drifted to sleep, a loud noise jolted her into reality. At first she looked around, dazed, before remembering that there had been an imminent hatching. It was a salamandyr queen, she recalled. She quickly leaped out of bed and tied her hair in a loose bun behind her head.
Still barefoot, as she preferred, she ran down to the communal bathing room. She nearly ran into Farryl. "Oh, hi!" she said, her face slightly flushed from running. She glanced over at the eggs and the preening queen. They were arranged like she'd never seen before, not that she'd exactly seen many hatchings. Still, these eggs--and the formation--seemed strange to her. Strange, but beautiful.
Eleven eggs, each unique and lovely in their own way, each an opportunity. She hoped she'd Impress; she longed for a deep connection with something other than nature. She wanted to make her brother proud. As she gazed at the eggs, she absentmindedly braided her thick, brown hair. She shifted her weight from one foot to another. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins, a mixture of excitement, hope, joy, and just a bit of regret.

[dragon]

They were too far away to hear the call. Not to mention entirely engrossed in what they were doing. Tools, boxes ... bits if material all laid out neatly on a tarp. C'oar took up the corners and tied it securely, before offering up the giant knot on it to Frosstyth. The muddy lightening storm of a brown took the knotted tarp in one front foot while C'oar deftly swung aboard his burly shoulders. "Alright, let's get this thing fixed."

Apparently, some of the piping in the baths had busted, why was anyone's guess. Might have been turns of minute shifts in the rock, might have been the heat, who knew? In any event - the only hot water the baths were going to get now was the stuff already drawn. At least, until he got it fixed. Always willing to help wherever possible and nigh on inexhaustible when it came to such work, C'oar found himself heading off to repair it.

Storm zoomed around over head as the brown took off. A few wingbeats and they were cruising toward the baths. A few backstrokes, and Frosstyth touched down gently, lowering his bundle to the ground as he settled. C'oar hopped off, grabbed up the tarp, and headed inside with it slung over his back.

The baths were usually occupied, yes. Sometimes crowded, yes. But this was nuts. C'oar had difficulty getting in, much less through or past. "Come on, people." He grunted. "Unless you have decided you like cold water after all..."

Just what was going on anyway?

Storm zoomed in, circled overhead, and then settled down not far from the other adult draconics, watching the nest. Ah hah! He remembered things like this ... once upon a time, one of them had been his! He couldn't remember who the Queen had been, but it wasn't really important. What was important was remembering that he, too, was a sire. A happy chirp, and he crooned to the ladies guarding the nest. So nice!

[Ruby]

For once, Tenlie wasn't working. She was looking for Big Brother, who had been missing for hours. It was usual for the blue to dissapear, but he usually reappeared, looking shiftier than ever, with a barrage of Weyr conspiracies. He'd been gone for hours this time, and she hadn't even heard from him about who was meeting whom, or who was conspiring against him. Instead, every time she'd checked in, he was quiet and still. Surveillance, most likely. But still, maybe the faded blue had gotten himself in trouble, and Ten did NOT like that idea, so she was out looking.

Eventually she traced his mind to the baths. "Really?" she mumbled under her breath, not really convinced he'd hear her if she just thought at him, "You're a peeping tom now, Bro? Classy." That's just what she needed, a firelizard who liked to watch ladies bathe. She would not put up with that sort of behavior, but how was she supposed to discipline such a slippery creature? Well, not she was going to give him a sharp talking to, that was for sure.

However, Big Brother wasn't being lewd. Instead, he was crouched up near the ceiling, on an unused shelf near a golden creature. With all the steam in the room, it was easy to mistake him for a towel or an old breastband, epecially twisted up how he was. Sighing, Ten pulled out some tough jerky, Big Brother' favorite treat. He liked contorting himself into crazy positions trying to tear off bite sized pieces of the meat, and would go into a frenzy over it if she let him. Now, though, he didn't even move, and he was too far up the shelf for Ten to pick him down. He was determined to watch the new babies hatch: who knew what sort of plots they would have in mind already.

Todmund was fully aware that, as a candidate, he was not allowed to impress a Salamandyr. He'd memorized the rules, as well as all of the old lesson plans he'd found in the archives. Normally he'd stay far, far away from a hatching that would even suggest a salamandyr, but he'd found out that very few people thought hatchings of the smaller species were worth recording. Naturally, Todmund was highly interested in Salamandyrs and their generation, especially since they were unique to the south. So when The Devil called, he came running, tablet and stylus in hand.

Of course, he woudn't impress a salamandyr. Maybe a fire lizard, that would be alright, but just to make sure, he hadn't brought any food with him. He'd also been careful not to eat for three or four hours before hand, so he wouldn't smell at all like food. A pet would be nice- someone to fetch scrolls from a top shelf, to carry requsts for information, that sort of thing. But that could happen after he got a Dragon. Of course, then he'd be tall enough to reach the top shelf, but no matter. A pet would be nice- eventually.

[Requiem]

While the Another Violent End Green continued to try to get her clutchsister settled, the faint tapping that had been lost in the screeches and bustle of a building crowd grew louder, until finally the very top of the Trail of Tears Egg lifted just enough for two watchful eyes to peer through the crack. They were tainted a faint orange at all the movement going on, and the 'lid' of the shell slid back into place, the occupant apparently having second thoughts.

Dementia's anger at Devil - misplaced as it was - had already subsided, and she forgot it completely as her harperlove...apparently decided that the bonebag who had approached him was far more interesting than her babies finding their own personal bonebags. Hissing, the gold leapt from her shelf, gliding to land upon the offending creature. Or, rather, the offending part of the bonebag's anatomy that was stealing all of his attention. Spreading her body as far across Elysia's breasts as she could manage, her eyes turned to him angrily.

For his part, the harper blinked, flushing suddenly. He'd been...staring, yes. Wasn't even sure what she said. How did you respond to what you hadn't heard? "Uh, sure." That was pretty safe, right? Turning to the people filtering in, he waved them forward. "Dmisk doesn't bite. Anyone but me, anyway, sharding bloodsucker. Brought plenty of food, so come on." He was so not going to Impress half this clutch simply because everyone was feeling shy.

Nor need he have worried. The Serve Man Green had finally managed to stabilize herself enough, and now was looking around with interest, fluttering her wings enticingly to the male firelizards swarming in and rubbing up against her clutchsister, who crooned happily, tails still entwined. Then she saw him, the pretty male zipping around. How handsome! Without so much as a backward glance at her small helper, the green firelizard took to wing, fluttering up after Storm. Helllooooo handsome. Oh! Whoops. She'd meant to land neatly beside him, but the poor thing's legs didn't hold, and she ended up flopping against his side with a squeak. Crooning apologetically to him, the Serve Man Green rubbed her body all over his. Her lovely shiny male. He'd be willing to share His with her, right? Chirping her hunger to Storm, she began looking for his human...ah, there. Floating above the heads, she lighted on Coar's shoulder, rubbing herself against his jaw and looking back to call an invitation. Theirs, yes? And such a large, handsome human Theirs was!

Watching her clutchsister leave to flirt with the bronze, the Another Violent End Green curled up into a despondent little ball. Abandoned. Maybe she should...look for Hers, yes. But her eyes still followed her firelizard clutchsister sadly. So distracted by her first heartbreak was she that the salamandyr didn't notice the sibling who had silently tapped a hole into her shell and slithered out. The No Time Green had no more luck with her legs than her sister, but the second of the green firelizards apparently was much quicker to adapt. She'd tucked her legs against her body and was slithering sneakily through the eggs, accidentally knocking against the Trail of Tears Egg and knocking the top askew.

Suddenly she darted forward. So hungry, and the Another Violent End Green seemed to be the perfect size for a yummy snack. The salamandyr just barely noticed in time, darting aside with a startled whining sound. No, no, no eat, no yummy, she insisted to her clutchsister, shrinking back.

This of course drew the attention of Dementia, who dug her claws into Elysia's chest and shrieked at the ugly, too angry to utter words. It was during that commotion that the shy Trail of Tears Brown emerged with stately grace from his egg, working his way free of the clutch before glancing around nervously. So many, all the noises, all the activity. The brown firelizard creeled quietly to himself, and launched into the air, his oddly pink-tinted hide going mostly unnoticed with the little drama unfolding between his dam and clutchsisters. Of a sudden he darted, startled by sudden movement to his left, narrowly avoiding Farryl's head and slamming into Sari's shoulder. The brown firelizard scrabbled at her clothing, clinging with all his might. He was hungry, but couldn't they...leave...too much going on. He creeled anxiously to His.

Something Wicked Egg :: Unhatched
Another Violent End Egg :: Green Salamandyr :: Cornered by No Time Green
Chaos Egg :: Unhatched
Forge Egg :: Unhatched
Madness Descends Egg :: Unhatched
Behind Glass Walls Egg :: Unhatched
No Time Egg :: Green Firelizard :: Attempting to eat Another Violent End Green
Serve Man Egg :: Green Firelizard :: Impressed to C'oar
Poetic Justice Egg :: Unhatched
Trail of Tears Egg :: Brown Firelizard :: Impressed to Sari
Critical Mass Egg :: Unhatched

[Requiem]

Serve Man Green

Name:
Impressed to: C'oar
Species: Firelizard
Color: Green 66CC33
Age: Hatchling

Oh are the heavens dropping in
To save us from destruction of ourselves

Appearance: Yes, it's true. A mandyr/flit union has produced a decidedly odd-looking firelizard. This little girl is completely perfectly proportioned from snout to tailtip, with one major exception; her legs are roughly the size of a green salamandyr's. It makes quite the awkward and heart-stirring sight, watching the poor green's tiny little legs attempting to paddle through the dirt as she undulates and flops around with varying success. Eventually she might achieve a reasonable level of mobility by throwing her body sideways in a kind of whipping motion, but for now she can generate little more than awkward flailings.

And such an otherwise beautiful creature, too. The green's base color is a vibrant, lively chlorophyll, her markings loosely resembling an autumn leaf pattern. Though varying shades of greens and yellows predominate, splashes of brown, red and orange have also worked their way into her hide, including a ruddy red-brown that forms a patch around one eye. Orange and yellow swirl together in eddies across the deep green membranes of her wings. While she doesn't move well over the ground, the female is positively graceful in the air, seeming to have been hatched with the ability to find the easiest route through the air using the most graceful of motions.

Personality: A flirtatious creature, this firelizard loves to be admired, spending much of her time preening and posing for any lovely males who happen to wander by. If she has noticed the absence of functional limbs, or that she's ridiculously awkward on the ground, it doesn't show. Though any firelizard male (and some of the nicer male dragons) is worth a second look and a flirtatious trill, she definitely favors males of the glittering, muscular variety. Oh yes, such pretty bronzes for her to enjoy.

This girl has a decidedly neutral stance when it comes to salamandyrs. She doesn't ignore them, per se, but they tend to be grouped in the same bracket as firelizard females - which is to say those creatures who aren't worth much of her notice because they have no potential to catch her in a Flight. And they don't, really, considering she likes to fly up high and play with the air currents way way far above the ground. In fact, only one salamandyr generates any sort of feelings in her at all. The Violent End Green Salamandyr, though nice enough initially, keeps on wanting to cut in on the Serve Man Green's flirting time. It's ever so annoying, and the firelizard has taken to ignoring her stalker religiously. Despite all this, she dotes unfailingly on Hers, and is always willing to do what he asks if it results in ample affection.

---

Trail of Tears Brown

Name:
Impressed to: Sari
Species: Firelizard
Color: Brown CC9966
Age: Hatchling

Another day has passed you by
And now it seems that you don't care
You've let your life slip away
You feel no pain, you feel no joy

Appearance: This firelizard, like his lizardy siblings, possesses diminuitive legs. His, however, manage to be well-muscled enough that he can actually walk with them, though it requires sucking in his tummy so it doesn't drag on the ground. Because of this he has a very upright posture, and also has the habit of keeping his wings spread as he waddles faintly from side to side over the ground. His tail, which has a fine, forklike split into three 'tongs' at the very tip, sweeps the earth as he moves, chest displayed to the world.

Despite the solemn air of his movement, his coloring happens to be rather unfortunate. The brown is actually something of a dusky rose color. Further, rather than subtle patterns - or even more obvious patterns - tracing all over his hide to give it character, he instead sports what looks like...muddy boots. The dark brown extends up his legs unevenly, and also claims the lower third of his tail and his snout. One would hope that his wing membranes might also have this darker color, but no, instead they are a faint opaline pink. Add to all this the fact that, while long for a brown, aside from his stumpy, musclebound legs he has a delicate, streamlined appearance, and men everywhere start pitying the poor flit.

Personality: Stately would be the term to describe this male. Everything he does is with the attempt to impress, and he so desperately wants to do just that. He would love nothing more than for a female to want his company, or for a male to acknowledge him as worthwhile and useful. Unfortunately, this male doesn't know how to accomplish this, instead keeping himself apart and watching all the other firelizards longingly. If any do address him, he acts quite self-important, hoping they'll like him - which usually only drives them away and hurts his poor feelings.

Exceedingly arrogant when it comes to salamandyrs, he considers them not worth his time, and often will go so far as to Between somewhere else if any of the noisome creatures are in the vicinity. At each perceived rejection, the brown grows more and more bitter, taking out his frustrations on His who simply does not understand him. The poor girl will ever be sporting the claw and bite marks of her abusive mindmate. If only he found another creature to care about him, he might actually become sweet, but...most of the problem is his perception, anyway, and if firelizards don't react the way he thinks they should, he throws fits that they're unlikely to forget. A vicious circle, it is.

::Lyrics before the appearances are all directly from the song by the band Nuclear Assault that the egg is named after, for these and all the descriptions to come. No, they're not mine. ^^

[marge]

Tobby wasn't really all that sure who Dementia was and he wasn't exactly sure that bonebags meant him either. But, the voice he had heard had said babies. That meant a hatching. The voice hadn't been a dragons, but it had been close. Maybe a salamandyr? The candidate didn't really care all that much as he headed toward the baths. He was just in a hurry to get there while the hatching was still underway.

In any case, Tobby probably should have stopped to think about it. It might have been helpful to know just what he was rushing into. But boys will be boys, and there was no stopping this one. He came to stop near the rest of the people, eyes focused on the blue wher before anything else. The candidate hadn't ever really seen a wher up close before and could kind of see why people thought they were ugly. But the wher had his own sort of charm and it was completely distracting Tobby from what he had really come from. Finally, the candidate tore his eyes away from the blue and to the Hatching. He was right! Salamandyrs. But also firelizards? The boy blinked in confusion, but focused more on the Hatchlings then trying to figure out their lineage.

[Rowana]

Peppeth spotted Sari before Farryl noticed her. Look, Farryl-mine! Sari has come to Impress! She bounced hopefully. Maybe this would cheer her up. Farryl turned around and managed a weak smile for the candidate. "Hello," she answered softly. Normally she'd hide her feelings so she wouldn't make others uncomfortable, but she just didn't care today. Hobbs offered Sari a melancholy chirp. Farryl was sad and he didn't feel happy unless she was.

Farryl thought she aught to wish Sari good luck, but it seems she wouldn't need it. A fire lizard had already claimed her. At least it wasn't a salamandyr. "Congratulations," Farryl managed a slightly bigger smile. The brown seemed a pleasant fellow and maybe he would help Sari's loneliness. See? I said she would Impress, Peppeth purred. I'm sure she hopes she'll Impress a dragon too, dear. She will. And you will be happy then? came the hopeful reply. We'll see, Farryl sighed.

~

G'tor chuckled at the hatchlings. They were a frisky bunch that was for sure. Four had hatched already, that was quicker then most of the other hatchings he'd seen. Tervain was glaring as if the eggs were an insult. What was with all the silly fire lizards? She wanted to see clever salamandyrs instead. She chirped angrily at the green salamandyr's attacker. Bad baby! She should go pick a human pet, not bother her siblings. Star just grumbled and stared at Dmitri's meat hungrily. She wanted some, surely there was enough?

G'tor spotted a familiar youngster and tapped Tobby on the shoulder. "Trying your luck?" he asked.

[mierce]

After nearly two months of laying in the Infirmary with far too cheerful healers poking and prodding her wounds, Evrgarde was more than pleased to finally have been let out. The dagger injury wasn’t too serious it itself, though delayed treatment led to quite a bit of blood loss. Her legs, however, had been badly burnt. Thank Farnarth that she had worn her heavy leathers that day, otherwise the burn may have been far worse. As it were, scar tissue laced along the entire length of her legs; battle scars, were they not sustained while fleeing of all things. Psh.

At the moment, she had found some solitude in soaking at the communal baths. She had been given special salts and herbs by the healers, a good portion of which was currently swirling in the water of the pool. It was all very nice despite being communal; both Lange and that mutt were back at the weyr and while she had noticed several other people come in to use the pool, nobody was foolish enough to start conversation. It was quite peaceful to say the least, until a certain collection of eggs started to wake up.

What was that noise?

Baby mandyrs, it seems, came a soothing draconic voice.

What a stupid place for a nest.

The bluerider opened an eye a crack and looked off in the direction of the sound, somewhat annoyed to see most people flowing into the area. Maybe you ought to try Impressing one.

No. She closed her eye again and leaned back, pondering whether to stay or go. She couldn’t see the nest, so that should mean none of the pests could see her, right?

~*~*~

It was an accident, really. Cer’c could tell that Harmonyth was a little disappointed that he had Impressed with a firelizard--a bronze, no less. She already didn’t get along very well with Eee; adding Cuprite to the picture wasn’t really helping. He honestly did not mean to upset her with a new fire lizard. So it was, by far, a truly innocent mistake borne from ignorance of where salamandyrs make their nests when the junior weyrling hopped on over to the communal baths to cool off (it was hot, after all), and came upon yet another hatching.

Common sense would have screamed at him to hightail out of there, but curiosity was a powerful incentive. After his brief interaction with the super friendly Mimic, Cer’c was very interested in seeing what salamandyrs were about. He’s only heard “horror stories” of the little things, but found it somewhat hard to believe from Mimic’s adorable antics. I’ll stay in the back, he assured an increasingly antsy green.

Making dur on his promise, he hovered off to the side, peering curiously from around a corner. There were only a few that had hatched, and the remaining eggs were surprisingly monochromatic in color. Is that the norm for salamandyr eggs?

[Kisha-Ra]

The Devil continuted to watch the clutch avidly for a few moments after Dementia left, and probably would have remained rapt had there not been a flurry of wings as Lao landed beside her. Terrible slave. The salamandyr scolded before she returned her attention to the clutch. Another ugly? Devil turned to stare at her slave, how did he replace all the real eggs with those?

Yoalla slipped into the bathing rooms with a smirk firmly in place on her lips, and a deliberate swish to her hips. As she noted that someone else was already tormenting her target the smirk grew into a full blown wicked grin. ‘Another woman Dmitri? You player.’ Yoalla teased as she moved over to stand on the opposite side of the harper to the towel clad woman. She’d gotten as far as raising an eyebrow at Dementia’s perch when the gold shrieked and dug her claws in. Yoalla winced in sympathy, she knew how sharp salamandyr claws were.

The Devil’s frill snapped up as the green tore her eyes of the brown ugly that left the clutch and back to the remaining green. The only real hatchling of the clutch so far was being menaced by one of the uglies! Nonono! No eat baby uglyslave! Devil eat ugly baby! The Devil glared at Lao and snapped for one of his wings before diving down to land in the nest and circle the eggs anxiously, too scared of her queen’s wrath to actually leap among the eggs and bite the evil ugly baby. Never mind, she’d bite Lao later. All his fault.



Curiosity killed the cat, and it certainly would have done a fairly good job of maiming Kainfuzzi. The incoherent screaming of what he supposed must be one of those salamandyr creatures he’d been hearing about, and was supposed to avoid Impressing, had attracted him. However he’d had some trouble working out that the hatching was actually in the bathing rooms until he’d spotted a few other people heading that way to trail behind.

Well, if one of the little beasts cold damage his chances of Impressing a dragon, Kain didn’t really want one. However, so far as he could see, all that was emerging from the clutch was firelizards. Firelizards with very short legs it seemed, but none of the frilled beasts at all. Was it possible one of them had adopted a firelizard clutch or something?