The Touching -- Galactic Clutch

[Administrator]

Shmee hummed merrily to herself, picking at a stray thread on her new shirt. It was quite lovely, she thought. It was a deep red, and it had cost her a fortune. No matter- she was able to buy it. She grinned. She loved the marks being Weyrwoman provided. It meant she could look good all the time, and she loved that feeling. Aslath snorted from where she lay, protecting the Cosmos Egg with her large claws and had a loose tail wrapped around the weak-looking Neptune Egg.

The Weyrwoman surveyed the clutch with mild disappointment. This clutch was extraordinarily strange. Never before had she seen such deformed eggs. Although, she thought, it was probably because Fath was so fat and old. And ugly, she thought with disgust. Shards, Fath was an ugly old thing. And look at the spawn she created!

I am Fath's spawn then. What is spawn? Aslath asked curiously. Shmee sighed. She had forgotten for a minute that Fath had been Aslath's dam.

"Children," she replied, then smiled. She used a really big word. Proud of herself, she nodded at Aslath. "You may call the candidates. I think these eggs are tough enough, except that little one over there," Shmee informed her dragon, gesturing to the Neptune Egg. Aslath rumbled in agreement, reluctantly letting go of the Cosmos Egg.

Candidates, she announced, Please come to the Hatching Ground. The Touching is to start now.

[Requiem]

Hearing the queen's voice in her head was enough to nearly overwhelm Kalierre. Salenth's voice, though deeply powerful, didn't carry quite the same majesty. It frankly astonished the Journeyman Healer...Candidate, now, Kalierre. Even if you are older than half the dragonriders who Impressed from the last few Clutches. The honey-blonde ran her fingers through her hair with a mental sigh. This is going to be uncomfortable. I'm not sure whether to strangle or hug S'rei for bringing a Searchrider to the infirmary. I guess I won't be sure until after the Hatching - if then. All of this went on in her head as she made her way toward the sands. She was curious to see these eggs. After all, by all reports they were a strange gathering indeed.

It was common for a candidate not to meet the Weyrwoman or the Queen until well after she arrived, but Kalierre still found the sight of these two sovereigns a bit off-putting. Her sensitivity over her age was only heightened when she fully realized that even the Weyrwoman was younger than she. And the gold Aslath seemed a bit small, though no less beautiful or majestic for all that. A heartbeat passed, and then Kalierre felt her smile take over, a smile that rarely left her face when around other people, though it certainly varied in intensity in response to the mood. She still bore the knots of a Benden Journeyman Weyrhealer. Her main purpose for doing so was that - in the event of an emergency - she could get those who lived in this weyr to accept her help. She was not, after all, a Weyrhealer for Selenitas just yet, though she secretly thought she was more likely to be spending the rest of her life in an infirmary than on a dragon's back, even if she did seem to have some sort of natural rapport with the majestic creatures she'd come to love.

Kalierre was careful to stop at the entrance to the grounds, waiting until such time as she sensed Aslath's acceptance of her presence before proceeding. A mother's instinct suffused the Queen, even if she hadn't clutched these particular eggs. The woman's eyes swept the eggs in curiosity, immediately noting how unusual this particular clutch was before she stopped a yard from the Weyrwoman, her arm crossing her chest in a formal salute. The ever-present smile broadened slightly. "I've heard your name often in Benden, Weyrwoman Shmee. Though I would have thought you and our Queen Aslath older, given the accomplishments they grudgingly give you both." There was laughter in her voice. "I am Kalierre, S'rei's longshot, if he even bothered to mention me."

[paryal]

Paryal had just touched ground, legs stiff from her exhilarating ride on the Searchdragon's back. There wasn't a bit of the flight that had phased the strong-willed girl in the least- even /between/ hadn't been bad. It was merely a short span of time where it was bone chillingly cold, and you could feel, see, or hear nothing. All senses were muted. That was it. Nothing really. Paryal laughed at herself, trying to take stock of her surroundings. All her worldly possessions that she had cared enough to bring to the Weyr hung loosely in the grip of her left hand, swaying slightly with the momentum of Paryal's steps. Time to find her place in the Candidate Barracks, she supposed. There would be a bed waiting for her there. A nap would do her some good, for it was still almost dawn at her home in Keroon. Her old home. This was Paryal's home, Paryal's life, from now on.

Just as the newly made Candidate had been about to enter the darkness of the Barracks, a voice echoed in her head, strong and authoritative. Candidates, it said, Please come to the Hatching Ground. The Touching is to start now.

Shards! Cursing mentally, Paryal turned direction, bag still in hand, toward where the Searchrider had said the Hatching Ground was. Here only a few moments and it appeared that Paryal was already to attempt to make her mark on the dragons, with her hair askew from the flight on dragonback, sleep in her eyes, and her stomach grumbling loudly in complaints. It wasn't the best of conditions to try and be pleasant in, but Paryal squared her shoulders and drew her chin up high, proud to be here, proud she had been Searched. No others had been brought forward on that trip. The dragon had seen the potential in her, in Paryal, and no others. Paryal had always seen the potential in herself, but having it recognized was another thing entirely. It hadn't just been her imagination and childish fantasies of riding a dragon. It was based on truth. The possibility of Impressing a dragon was laid out before Paryal very clearly, as if it was a map to her future. Staring here, Touching the eggs, then moving onward to the day of the Hatching, upward and forward always.

Blinking at the sudden blast of heat and light change that happened leading to the Hatching Ground, Paryal carefully left her bag in a corner. She would come as she was, and show that despite looking horrid and feeling none too great, she was destined to be a dragonrider. Well, it was now or never. Sucking in a deep breath, Paryal felt herself growing strangely calm. There wasn't an ounce of fear in her, as she carefully crossed those hot sands to stand before the Queen dragon, though she was not the mother of this clutch. The eggs all looked rather strange, though Paryal couldn't say what normal dragon eggs looked like, not having seen a clutch before. But should some of them be this indented? And there was one that huddled near the Queen's body that looked very fragile indeed, as if it would crack at the lightest of hand pressure. Remembering to bow, Paryal gave some semblance of a sweeping, dramatic, almost theatrical gesture, a smile tugging up the corner of her mouth. "Greetings golden Aslath and Weyrwoman Shmee. I am honored to be here. And rather excited." Paryal's tone was droll, though her eyes were bright and wide as they tried to take in every egg of the clutch. There was even a golden Queen's egg, shining bright and full of promise. Would she be permitted to touch that one, to give her chance and her hopes to the future dragon onside? Oh, she hoped so!

[Administrator]

Shmee yawned, only brightening when she saw that candidates had indeed begun to arrive on the Hatching Ground. Straightening herself up from her slump, she flashed each one a dazzling smile as they entered. They were her underlings, she realized with surprised, but pleased, smugness. She had power over these candidates, and it felt good. However, she didn't need the extremely firm prod in her mind from Aslath reminding her to be mature about it- of course she knew! With her great power came great responsibility. Though it was sorely tempting to ask the first girl who arrived to fetch her a chair, she resisted. However, her restraint on her powers just made her ever the more smug- what a great leader was she!

Smiling patiently at the first candidate who arrived, who naturally wanted to come over and talk with her first. Straightening with interest as Kalierre mentioned that Benden was probably worshipping her accomplishments, Shmee beamed. "Talking about me in Benden? I am quite flattered, but I suppose it was to happen sooner or later," she remarked thoughtfully, oblivious to the fact that she was probably sounding stuck-up. However, Shmee's pride was innocent- she liked the look of power, and herself, of course, but Shmee knew how the Weyr worked. And it it was her job to make it do so.

She pondered for a moment. "S'rei?" she asked with a blink. Who was he again? It took Shmee a long time to remember names of people, especially new ones. Who is S'rei? she demanded of Aslath.

The queen made a noise that sounded strangely like a draconic sigh. He is Salenth's, came the disgruntled reply. Feeling more questions coming up, she added, Salenth is a bronze. At this, Shmee smiled innocently. A bronzerider. She liked bronzeriders.

"Ahhh, yes, S'rei, I remember him," she said sagely with a solemn nod. Odds were anyone could see through this act, but she was pulling it off well. "We were childhood friends," she lied dreamily, putting in a far-away look to her eyes for the desired effect. "We hated each other at a young age, until I said to him, 'Wait! We cannot fight!' Do you not realize that we are not actually enemies, but-'" Shmee paused for effect. "'But friends!' He concurred, and we remained fast friends ever since. However, it was not meant to be. I Impressed a queen, and S'rei was so distraught that he moved to Benden. He had secretly fallen in love with me, you see, and he doubted his ability to Impress bronze. Throwing himself into the wars, he lost his eyes and a thumb. But now you say that he has returned?" she asked dramatically, feigning a look of pleased surprise. "Bring him to me, let me meet him so we can remember the old times we once shared!" she added loudly with an air of firmness that this girl had better not turn her request down.

"In return," she added slyly, "I can let you touch the queen egg."

Excuse me, but the egg is mine,, Aslath said, clearly irritated with her rider. Girl, she added, directed at Kalierre, You can touch the egg. You don't need to find Salenth's. Rumbling with what seemed like was life-long tiredness from being bonded with Shmee, Aslath twisted her head, locating Paryal.

Immediately focusing her attention on the new girl, Shmee's determination to get Kalierre to do her bidding was held back- but hadn't disappeared- from getting the girl to do her bidding. Giving her the same smile that she had given to Kalierre, she said in a long, dramatic way, "Welcome to Selenitas, candidate!" The last word was stressed innocently. She was in power, after all, and she needed to be discreet. She liked this girl's bow. Shmee was deserving, after all, and Aslath was doing a hard job of watching over these orphaned eggs. They were both deserving of a bow, she amended.

"Do you think you are worthy to touch Aslath's eggs?" she asked in a grave voice. "It takes responsibility! Understanding! Power!" With each word (and compliment to herself), raised herself up further and further. "And..." she added, as if hesitating, "love."

I've heard this speech before, Aslath remarked.

Shush, Shmee replied with a stern look as Aslath. Though she loved the beast, Aslath grew to enjoy commentating on any of Shmee's speeches.

Child, just go touch the eggs. You have my permission to touch the queen if needed, Aslath told Paryal in a strong voice just as Shmee inhaled to start her monologue. Looking disappointed, Shmee fell back, determined to snare Paryal in one of her long talks about power.

[Requiem]

Kalierre had greeted the Weyrwoman out of something like propriety, and though she might have expected many different responses - not the least likely being a dismissive sniff - Shmee did throw the healer off for a few seconds. It was hard to shock a healer for much longer than that. Still, Kalierre had to grudgingly admit that this girl had the sort of overwhelming personality - the sort that managed to render a healer nonplussed - that would serve her well in the role she had come into. As soon as she mentioned remembering S'rei, though, Kalierre's mind did a quick mental calculation. There was a difference of five or six turns between the two. She would have been...eight turns when he left Selenitas, and he certainly hadn't been back in the last ten turns.

Salenth... Kalierre was still a bit uncomfortable initiating conversations with the bronze, but he'd made it clear that he didn't mind her bespeaking him, even if it wasn't an emergency. The presence in her mind changed, and she continued, Do you remember a Shmee from when you were a weyrling. She wouldn't have Impressed yet. There was a long pause. I don't really remember people. Only the ones important to S'rei. The healer suppressed a grin at the dragon's statement. Apparently she wants to meet him. Something about being childhood friends. I suppose no one has told her that he won't remember her, even if they were.

Aslath's voice in her head, following so swiftly after Salenth's, only made her more aware of the great difference between a gold and a bronze. It was so beautiful. So naturally commanding. Kalierre smiled in thanks, concentrating on her gratitude and sending it back to the Queen. It would have been presumptuous to speak to any dragon as she did Salenth, but it was pure foolishness to do so with Aslath. She did not, however, move to touch the eggs immediately. Instead, she waited patiently for Shmee's speech to wind down as she addressed the other, nameless candidate.

With a deferrential dip of her head, Kalierre informed the Weyrwoman quietly, "The bronzerider should be arriving shortly." Salenth had not said as much. Yet he would never, directly or indirectly, disobey Aslath's. It was as much against his nature as any other dragon in the weyr.

In fact, the bugle of Salenth could be heard following her words. The bronze didn't enter the Hatching Grounds, electing to remain outside, though such a huge place would hardly have felt cluttered with him there. She paused to watch the figure that strode purposefully through the entrance, his tall, lithe form backlit by the light without, and rendering his features, at first, indecipherable. Kalierre gave him a small wave. She could feel his brief, acknowledging smile, even if she couldn't see it. The healer had been privy to that expression enough times to know its warmth.

This should keep the Weyrwoman occupied for awhile.

Kalierre made her rounds of the eggs, taking her time to feel out the personalities coming from each. Her healer's mind quickly placed each set of impressions with one of the many people she'd tended, giving her some idea of what each creature must be like. She found that, while many of the eggs drew her, a few she felt much sympathy for. And a few, she was certain, she didn't wish to touch at all. The taste of their emotions was enough to repel her immediately. Nor was she the sort to think that those emotions would change at her touch.

The yearning of one nearly black covered egg, well removed from the others of the clutch, drew her first. Kalierre's heart had always gone out to the lost. Crooning, and unaware she had started, the woman squatted down, her hand stroking the surface with what could only be reassurance.

***

S'rei had come to stand before the Weyrwoman, absently noting that Kalierre had taken advantage of Shmee's distraction. His bow was entirely formal, and executed with the same cat-like grace as all his movements. His stormy greys moved over the young woman appraisingly. She was, as simply put as he could make it, not Kalierre. Fair where the healer was tanned, tall where the healer was not, dark-haired where the healer was blonde, slender where the healer was curvaceous...but not at all unappealing, when it was all said and done.

He met her blues with a mild smile, one side naturally more pronounced than the other, making that smile appear more roguish than might have matched his personality. "Salenth reports that Kalierre said you had need of me?" S'rei found it mildly pleasing to find that he didn't have to look down very far for Shmee.

[paryal]

The Weyrwoman certainly was... theatrical. Paryal had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing when the woman told an obviously false story (complete with grandiose words) about knowing a certain bronzerider. This wasn't the most surprising fact about Shmee, however. It was her age that took Paryal by complete surprise. She didn't know much of the woman, but had assumed her to be at least in her late twenties. Wasn't that the age that a Weyrwoman usually took over, if not later in life? Clearly research had to be piled into this observation, for Shmee couldn't be more than a few months older than Paryal. The other female Candidate present looked even older than the Senior Weyrwoman, a fact that made it hard for Paryal not to laugh once more. This was hardly believable, yet here Shmee stood, around nineteen Turns at most. Well, at least this would be interesting. Did the other Candidate realize she was older than the Weyrwoman? It didn't seem so, or at least the girl was tactful enough not to bring it up.

"You don't know any rider named S'rel, do you?" Paryal shot at the Weyrwoman once Kallerre seemed to be out of earshot. Lifting one eyebrow delicately, Paryal took the time to look over the clutch once more, eyes resting on the eggs she decided she rather liked. She had only to receive the Queen's permission and she could go about her merry way, resting one hand on each of the shells. First, however, the Weyrwoman had asked a question of Paryal that needed to be answered. It was theatrical, so Paryal decided to answer in kind.

"Alack, I have always dreamed of this moment! When I was just a little girl, tending injured runnerbeasts while my abusive father drunk all night, I dreamed of being rescued on dragonback. It has finally come true, and none too soon. Now I just hope to lay my hands on these beautiful orbs, like little stars. I fear I will never be worthy, but I must try. I must!" Placing a hand up to her forehead, Paryal smirked, one corner of her mouth slightly higher than the other. None of that story had been true, except the part about wanting to touch the eggs and wanting to be a dragonrider from an early age. Her father had been her closest ally, and she had never actually worked with runnerbeasts. Still, Shmee didn't know this. Power, love? Aye, those were true enough. Paryal had want of both, but didn't feel like sharing this with the Weyrwoman just yet. Her Queen had given Paryal her blessings to touch any of the eggs Paryal should want to. Bowing once more to the Weyrwoman, Paryal turned and nearly bumped into a handsome bronzerider. Her eyes ran over him once frankly, appraisingly, before her attention was fully drawn to the eggs just waiting.

Though it was sorely tempting to touch the beautiful Cosmos Egg first, Paryal decided to save the best for last. First off was the Venus Egg, calling her attention with its bright colors. Was it a bronze? Another Queen? No, it didn't have the uniform golden color that Queen eggs were supposed to possess. There was still something about it though. Gently laying two fingers against the shell, Paryal was surprised to feel a great deal of heat coming from it. Hmm, strange. It seemed to draw her in. Why touch other eggs? This was all she needed. Shaking her head, Paryal frowned. Anything that could draw her in like that should be regarded with caution.

Another egg caught Paryal's eyes quickly enough. The Comet Egg had something intriguing about its gray surface. It wasn't uniform, though it appeared so at a difference. The egg wasn't exactly friendly, but something about Paryal dared herself to stroke it just once. Nothing came from the egg- no emotion at all except a vague sense of indifference. The egg didn't seem to care that anyone was paying it any attention at all. How ungrateful! Clearly this was going nowhere. Paryal's need to at least say she had touched the glowing Cosmos Egg needed to be satisfied, and touching all the rest of the eggs in the clutch wouldn't satisfy that need.

Creeping over to it slowly, reverentially, Paryal laid her full hand against the shell. Once more, she was struck by how warm the eggs were. The Cosmo Egg was almost hot, though it wasn't to the point where it was uncomfortable. It was a pleasant, pleasing heat that made Paryal relaxed, a smile gracing her face. This was quite nice. In fact, she wasn't sure she wanted to leave the egg quiet yet. Eventually she knew that she would be asked for leave, but for now she was content to relax there, quiet contentment over her features and softening them. "You are a beauty. I can tell already." Speaking softly to the egg, Paryal stroked it with one hand. Whoever Impressed from this egg would be lucky indeed.

[missa]

A squeak, this was what one got when they let their thoughts drift away. Got caught up in a dream world that would never work out, or never come true. You ended up being late for a Touching. Puffing slightly, Ellanoran drew up to the enterance on the Hatching Grounds. Noting the large gold and her protective stance over the eggs. Not that he could blame her, such wonderful eggs they were. Such... Beauties...

He could just imagine the sounds as their shells cracked open, as the creeling dragonets were spilled onto the sands. They struggled to their feet, whirling eyes looking about for some sort of guesture as to who theirs were.

Look, there he went again! Dreaming while he had the real thing right here... Well, almost. Eyes went to the floor as Ellanoran stepped forward, managing a smile at the Weyrwoman and the Queen.
"Good day to you both... I was wondering, Aslath... May I approach your glorious clutch?" Of course he would talk to the dragon and not to the rider, because riders more often than not demanded eye contact and that could prove to be an unsettling thing. Shifting on his feet, the young candidate waited for a response, what ever that may be.

[Administrator]

Shmee beamed at Kalierre. "My many thanks," she said officially, drawing herself up. Haha, she fell for it! she thought, working very hard to not give herself away by not laughing. "You can go touch the eggs now," she added, flicking her hand as if to shoo the girl away. She wanted oh-so-desperately to talk to a bronzerider, and she didn't want little candidates around to hear it. She used the term 'little' carelessly, not taking into consideration that Kalierre was, in fact, older. But to Shmee, she was so below in rank that she could be considered 'little' if she wanted her to!

She smirked as Paryal saw through her act. It no longer mattered, considering that Kalierre was now touching an egg, but why give herself away now? "We were indeed long-lost friends," she remarked solemnly. Aslath gave a derisive snort that Shmee seemed to not hear. It was also encouraging to hear someone else who seemed to like speeches just as much as she did. That in mind, she then added loudly, "Do not doubt your Weyrwoman! 'Tis I that will lead our Weyr to happiness, 'tis I who will lead the wings to Threadfall, 'tis I-"

SHUT UP! Aslath said as loudly as she could in Shmee's mind, but it was loud enough for Paryal to hear also, for Paryal was the next to be addressed. Child, if you don't get away from Mine, you will be cursed with having to hear her make up some irrelevant words, she informed Paryal before her attention turned to the bronze's bugle.

Attention leaving Paryal immediately, Shmee smiled warmly at the approaching rider. "Greetings," she said in a voice similar to a purr. "It was wonderful to meet you, bronzerider," she told him as she came a step closer. Though some may consider her indiscreet, she was able to pull it off to have a pretty good effect. "I am Shmee, the Weyrwoman here," she told him, stressing her title. Yes, she was willing to use rank to reel handsome men in. Perhaps he would participate in Aslath's Flight... Sure, it was but a couple months away, but Shmee was a planner, particularly when it came to this sort of thing.

She sighed. She wished the Flight would be sooner, but Aslath had been such a late bloomer. While most other queens flew very soon, Aslath was taking her own sweet time. It seemed as though the queen were a lot more reserved than herself, which was utterly bizarre. Nevertheless, Shmee loved her little darling anyway, and so Shmee just let herself do all the, er, messy work.

Then some other candidate joined the sands, and Shmee sighed. He was disrupting her time with S'rei. "Yes, go touch the eggs, Elernon," she said in sharp dismissal, messing up his name despite them sharing candidacy. Waving a hand to shoo him off, she turned right back to S'rei. "So, where were we?" she asked, her voice immediately gaining its silky quality that she reserved for handsome men.

[Requiem]

He doesn't know her at all, Kali, Salenth rumbled in the woman's head, drawing a mild chuckle from her. She loved the way the bronze shortened her name. They'd already discovered that S'rei at least got a feeling of familiarity around people or places that he'd seen before. I didn't think he did, truth be told. Though it would have been nice for him to find a long-lost friend aside from his sister at Selenitas.

Kalierre moved to another of the eggs, this one admitting a friendly, warm vibe, as she watched the scene between dragonrider and Weyrwoman unfold. It was all she could do to stifle a laugh.

S'rei found his lopsided smile growing even more lopsided, his brow arching up into his hairline as this cat who called herself Weyrwoman advanced on him. It wasn't as if he'd never suffered the attentions of women. Quite the opposite, though most had been neck-deep in a sort of hero worship that frankly turned him off. Shmee obviously worshipped herself and no other. His arm came up, hand settling on her bicep with a feather touch - she would find that a gentle pressure would keep her in her place if she attempted to get any closer, however. Whether or not he was interested in the Weyrwoman was a moot point; S'rei didn't intend to make a scene.

Glancing at the candidate who had - thankfully - interrupted the exchange S'rei had not quite been prepared for, the man offered what he hoped was a reassuring smile, though he doubted the lad really noticed. Eggs had that effect on people. Her silken question brought his gaze back to Shmee. Try not to do anything stupid, Mine. S'rei resisted rolling his eyes at Salenth's words. Don't worry. I can be - tactful - if I have to. He leaned in toward the Weyrwoman, careful that he only touched her with his hand, his voice deepening as he replied, "I believe you were attempting to seduce me?"

Amusement colored Salenth's thoughts. You have never understood the concept of subtlety.

His hand drifted up, a bare centimeter from her neck, brushing the back of his knuckles over her cheek as his smile broadened. "A woman like yourself hardly needs to be so direct. Any man would appreciate such beauty and power." S'rei took a step back, his hand lingering just a second longer at her face before it fell to his side. The pot calling the kettle black. What man in their right mind would speak to their Weyrwoman that way? S'rei's smile shifted to a smirk. I think it's been well-established that I'm not in my right mind. True.

His expression was entirely serene as he gazed at the younger woman. "Was this a business call, or a personal request? Because, frankly, I've been trying to locate the Wing to which I've been assigned, but it seems there are few in it. Or they wish to avoid me as a general rule." His tone was nothing but questioning.

[saberlin]

((jumping in hope thats alright!!!! character is approved and ready to be a candidate just need to get her searched in the other thread. hope its still alright to post here!))

Rilliana had landed still dressed in her Harpers blue choir uniform fake pearls still in her golden blond hair, her golden eyes searching everything about this place, putting her harper trained mind to good use at memorizing all of it. If this was to be her hope, she would have to remember how to get around in it. The Weyr was amazingly strange, she realized, being in a canyon at all. She would have to ask the dragons what they thought of it since it was not a common weyr like the ones in the north. Certainly an interesting change of view though, that was to be certain. She was half way across the bowl and could still feel the wings of the dragon who had dropped her off turning air above her when she heard a dragons voice in her mind.
Gasping she turned around to see where the dragon was. But could not see her. Then she re-went over the message and figured out that it was to the sands that she was suppose to report. She used quick steps to get her over to the hatching sands and set her bag of goods down at the entrance to the large and heat filled cave. She immediatly spotted the Weyrwoman and went over, deeply bowing to the woman and introducing herself.

"Tis a pleasure to be so quickly introduced to the Weyrwoman of such a fine Weyr. May I please ask you, and your great Gold," she paused to turn and bow again to the gold, even more deeply than she had to the rider, knowing that Golds were particularly grouchy around their eggs.

"For permission to be a part of the touching and for the permission to touch the great golden egg as well?"

She stood looking over the sands and all the great and awesome eggs that were laid there. She also emmediatly noticed that these eggs seemed to be a bit off, full of pock marks and lumps. Had there been something in the water of the queen who had laid this clutch? Had there been something wrong with the bronze stud? Maybe it was the length of the flight that made them look this way.

Rilliana had been to many a hatching before this one and had not once over all of the north seen a clutch look like this. It was almost unsettling. She thought all of these things very very quietly so that no dragon could hear them. She did not mean any offense to the Queen after all. These were her children and would be dragons no matter which way they cracked.

[evendar]

Narna walked onto the Sands with purpose, her brother her constant shadow behind her. They held hands as they looked about the Grounds, the rather pallid looking eggs before them. Narna gave her brothers hand a squeeze as she looked in awe at the beauties before her. Her's was here, she could feel it. Her brother's too, but this was her moment. With a final squeeze she released her brothers hand and walked up to the guarding queen. Her eyes locked on that glowing egg she bowed.

"Great queen, might I be aloud to touch your golden daughter?" she asked courteously.

Nevis stood where his sister had left him. Rubbing one arm in his nervousness. He looked about in confusion, biting his lower lip as he watched the other Candidates touch the eggs. His eyes caught a flash of white hiding in a corner. And not wanting to remain in the center of the Grounds by himself he walked over to the small egg, hidden in the shadows. He wanted nothing more than to leave the Grounds right now and curl up with a good book. But his sister was adamant that he get out more, and not one to stand up for himself, or leave his sister behind anywhere, Nevis had come, only to be left alone as Narna approached the queen and her golden charge.

He stopped when the flash of white caught his eye again. It was an egg, he wasn't dreaming. The small black and white egg looked so lonely, he couldn't let it be left alone. With shaking fingers he extended a hand to the Eclipse Egg, his breath catching as he touched it.

"It's so warm." he whispered to himself as he brushed his fingers on it. Thinking he'd found a friend at the weyr at last. He looked up and saw that there was a seat in the Stands not to far from the egg. He could visit again. Glad that he'd come over to the shadows to remain out of sight of the people, he let himself smile a bit as he stroked the loneliest egg on the Sands

((Hope you don't mind Nevis finding that little egg. It just seemed so like him that I couldn't resist.))

[Tashe]

A pair of black boots rested nonchalantly upon a wooden chair as their owner whittled a piece of wood with her small throwing knife. Teetering on the back legs of her chair, the young woman yawned and rocked herself slightly for it was definitely a boring day.

Candidates. Please come to the Hatching Ground. The Touching is to start now.

Jerking slightly as the unexpected voice entered her head, Saraina wobbled her arms as she tried to regain her balance on the tilted chair. Though her attempts were to no avail and with a loud crash, both the chair and the human in it hit the ground.

"ACK! FOR THE LORD SHARD IT!" Picking herself up from the ground with a thrust of her back, Saraina brushed her dark blue and black tunic off. Snarling slightly, the woman cracked her neck and back before tossing the throwing knife onto her cot. Stalking unhappily through the door that lead from her shared room into a hallway, Sara snaked her way through the throng of the main hall, trying her hardest to not be seen let alone touched by the others.
The door that lead to the hatching grounds was enormous, although the size itself did not overwhelm the candidate, it made her feel small an insagnificant... she didn't like it. Giving a snort and tucking her slender thumbs into the lips of her breeches, Sara entered the sands and tried to shrug off the heat. The dark coloration of her outfit made her stand out against the light tan of the sand, though her only concern was the heat, but thankfully she had worn a sleeveless tunic. Green-gray eyes flickered over to the Weyrwoman and her queen instinctively as she heard the woman speak, which in turn caused the young adult to roll her eyes. She had been with the Weyr for a while and had been subjected to Weyrwoman Shmee's theatrics from time to time, though the weyrwoman seemed never to remember Sara's name when ever they bumped into each other.

Shrugging slightly, the black haired girl made her way over to a respectful distance from the Queen and her Rider and bowed with some formality. But only because the Weyrwoman was absorbed with a bronzerider... Although the bow she gave the Golden Queen was of textbook respect, Saraina would be alright getting in trouble with the Weyrwoman but offending the Mother of the eggs would not be the greatest Idea.
"Honored as always to be graced with your presences." Straightening up from her low bow, the young woman retucked her thumbs into her breeches.

[paryal]

It was with shaking steps and obvious reluctance that Partol entered the Hatching Ground, quickly followed by a dark skinned girl who had a grin that seemed to eat her face. They made such an odd pair, the girl almost pushing the boy, forcing him onto the hot sand. "Go on. You need to do this." She continued to push the lad despite his obvious reluctance. He didn't even know her! Shards, Partol had just wanted to maybe take a little look at the eggs, poke about a bit, then go back to his bed. He hadn't wanted to actually touch them, but this- this creature had found him and was making him touch the eggs despite the fact he was protesting loudly. Manna, on her part, was whistling cheerfully. This boy was so silly, not wanting to touch the eggs! Of course he wanted to. He had to. He simply didn't know it yet.

Both bowed deeply to the Queen, though Partol was still stiff and looked slightly nervous to be in the prescence of such a large and important dragon. Hopefully she wouldn't notice him properly and he could quickly touch one of the eggs and just leave. That was the ideal situation, though he was prepared to do about anything at that moment to get himself rid of Manna. The overbearing, over cheerful girl was grating on his nerves, already frayed enough by being in the Weyr and in this new situation. He didn't like new situations or new places, and he didn't like trying to make new friends. This was simply awful.

Manna moved forward with purpose after bowing, not bothering to ask the Queen for permission to touch the gold egg. Manna had no ambition to ride a Queen, and would have hated herself for being in that position of power. Something small and neat, like a little green, suited her much more. But what eggs looked as if they might house a green dragon? The happy Manna quickly spotted the Ceres Egg, and seemed almost overjoyed by her good luck. No one looked to be around it yet, but how could they ignore it? It was so happy, even just to look at. The dragon inside would be special indeed. Laying her hand on the shell, Manna's happiness increased tenfold, until she was almost singing aloud, her thick body swaying to an invisible tune in her head. It was with obvious reluctance that she left the egg, clearly having decided that this could easily be the egg and the dragon for her. But she had to move on, had to give herself at least one other chance.

The Mars Egg was the only other egg that seemed to call Manna's attention. It was bright and red, though it was in a cheerful, rather than evil, way. Patting it quite happily, she stayed by the egg, though tempted to return to her favorite. These two would do for now. If there was another Touching then she would touch more eggs, but it simply wasn't needed now.

Partol, meanwhile, was edging around the clutch. No egg was catching his attention... Until his eyes saw the Saturn Egg. Though it was medium sized, it seemed to be trying to convince everyone it was much smaller. That reminded Partol strongly of himself, and he gave the egg an affectionate pat before moving away. There was no use spending too much time with each egg- he had to keep moving. Next came the lonely Pluto Egg. It also reminded Partol of himself, in a different way. He liked it quite a bit better, in truth, and stayed there, hand resting lightly on the shell as he whispered to the dragon within.

[Tashe]

Taking a step backward, Saraina clasped her hands behind her back and walked in and out of the galactic clutch. Moving rhythmically and almost musically through the clutch, the young woman listened for any eggs that called to her from where they had been laid.

A few moments of mental silence passed before a twitch at the back of her mind caused her to stop in mid stride. Standing on one leg, Saraina spun herself slowly around before slinking her way over to the first of the eggs that called to her. The flat top of the Earth Egg loomed in her sight, drawing her closer to the egg. Bending over, Sara brushed her fingers across the egg's smooth surface, while a sense of serenity washed over her. Straightening up, the girl shook her head free of the feeling, it was alien and it felt weird. "Youngin'." Smiling slightly down at the egg, Saraina jigged off to the middle of the clutch again.

The next egg that caught her eye was completely black, from the tip of it's shell to the bottom. Pausing a minute to run a hand through her hair, Sara headed over to it before crouching down in front of it. The Sedena Egg sent forth a chill through her body and emotions causing her to flinch slightly. Snorting at it, almost as if she was challenging it to frighten her, Saraina let her fingers brush against it's void black shell. The reaction to the touch of the egg almost forced her to jerk her hand back, but her pride withdrew her hand at a normal pace. "Try it tough one."
Picking herself up from her crouch, Sara glided back to the middle of the clutch.

Almost passing her next target, the girl paused in mid stride again. Replacing her booted foot upon the sands, Saraina pivoted and dropped herself down to peer at the egg upon which her interest now lay. The Comet Egg sat before her as she cocked an eyebrow as her eye's traced the stone grey coloration of the egg. Somehow... this egg reminded her of herself. Uncaring and indifferent to others. Reaching out, Sara let her finger tips brush the smooth surface of the warm shell. "We are alike." Giving a shrug, the girl stood and made her way back to the rest of the eggs.

It took her a minute to locate the soft twinge at the back of her mind, and unfortunately it came from close by the queen. Sighing, Saraina bit the tip of her thumb as she thought of a plan to get to the Neptune egg without Aslath getting peeved at her. Should she try and sneak up close when the Queen wasn't watching? Or should she approach the Queen and ask her permission? Sara weighed the consequences and decided on the direct approach... she might enjoy trouble but getting on Aslath's bad side was not what she wanted to do. Stepping lightly up to a respectful distance from the Queen, Sara bowed deeply before speaking. "Admired Queen Aslath. Might I request permission to touch your Neptune Egg? I have a painter's hands and there for my touch can be light as a feather."

[Administrator]

Shmee let out a bark of laughter. "Attempt?" she asked in amusement. Waggling a thin finger at him, she replied, "I don't attempt. I succeed!" This proud statement could unfortunately come off to one as a cocky one, but Shmee simply was trying to sound inspirational. And failing. Not seeming to notice, she went on, a wicked grin on her pretty features as he touched her. She liked being touched. "Well," she said with false absent-mindedness, "Seducing really is too strong a word. It makes me sound as though I'm doing a bad thing." She looked up at him innocently, and Aslath snorted. There she goes again.

Her smile grew ever so slightly as he continued to speak, seeming to praise how pretty she was. She liked this man already. "Well," she replied, her smile dazzling, "You never know what it takes to get some people to appreciate you. Sometimes, they simply need to be reminded, though I can see it isn't the case with you," she added wickedly, her eyes glinting mischievously.

And then... he was taking about wings?! Irritated, Shmee dismissed it with the flick of a hand. "Wings, shmings. I can help you find it later," she added, managing to make it sound slightly provacative. She was very good at doing that, she found. But what could she say? It was a skill.

All of a sudden, it seemed like candidate season in the hatching grounds. With a heavy sigh, she turned and faced them. Some girl in harper colors, she nodded. "Yeah, go ahead," she told the girl lazily, and flicked her hand to shoo her off before facing the next candidate.

Another girl. So many girls, so many dreams for the golden egg. Undoubtably many dreams would be crushed, come hatching day. Shmee had done that herself- not only had she crushed a girl's dream, but her life, all with this one Impression to Aslath. Not that she'd change it for anything in the world- a world without Aslath was not a world worth living in. "Yes, you may," she told Narna.

She raised a dark eyebrow at the next newcomer. As predicted, she didn't recognize Saraina. "Yes, you can touch it," she replied in a bored tone. She hoped they would stop coming soon- she wanted to get back to talking with S'rei. Fortunately, that did happen. Seeing as there appeared to be no more interest in the golden egg, she whirled back to S'rei, smiling in an ever-so-charming way.