New Companions

Writers: Aaron, Francesca, Heather, Miriah, Paula
Date Posted: 8th March 2019

Characters: K'lvin, A'be, Brennault, Urlene, Arrilon, Calten
Description: A firelizard clutch bonds with their new humans.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 9

Brennault

Urlene

"Go ahead and get them," Calten told the gold firelizard perched on
his shoulder. The young beauty's clutch had already been spoken for by
different individuals around the Weyr. The beastcrafter had kept the
modest clutch tucked in a large tray of sand and sitting on the hearth
of the fireplace in his office. It was bittersweet knowing that the
eggs would be hatching in moments and that they would be gone, but
Calten felt confident that those who had asked for the eggs would take
good care of them.

When the gold flit popped into K'lvin's weyr and left the message with
Xmrenth that the firelizard eggs were about to hatch, the bronzerider
left, not bothering to put away the tools he'd had out on the table.
He'd never attended a firelizard hatching before, but he'd been told
by others that you had to get there quick because once they started
hatching you had to fill their bellies or they would disappear
/between/.

Urlene watched the small clutch, her prepared meatrolls carefully
piled on a small plate. Waiting patiently as the eggs rocked, she
hoped the egg that she had been eyeing had at least a nice brown or
even a brown in it. Greens, she decided, were far too silly and blues
too mischievous. She knelt, keeping close to it and prepared to offer
the food to the hatchling the moment it burst from the shell.

Arrilon's breath caught in his throat the moment the gold firelizard
appeared, knowing immediately what it meant. He walked as quickly as
he could towards Calten's office without breaking into a jog, his
thoughts and emotions settling into the pattern they had followed at
each dragon Hatching when he was a Candidate. Logically, he knew it
was different with firelizards and, as long as he was there and had
food, he would Impress. But what if he arrived too late? Or, what if
even the firelizards didn't want him? He firmly shoved those negative
thoughts away, determined that this was one Hatching he wouldn't leave
empty handed. He arrived and barely noticed the others in the room,
his eyes immediately going to the eggs. Giving a sigh of relief that
none had cracked yet, he quickly took a plate of meat and stationed
himself near the egg he had spoken for.

Brennault, on the other hand, did not bother to keep his excitement
under control, and he ran as fast as he could manage to get to
Calten's office. There was no way he was letting this opportunity pass
him by, not after everything that had happened so far.

The runner slowed only as he passed the threshold into the office. He
snatched up the meat prepared for him and said, "Thanks!" He knelt
down, catching his breath as he locked his eyes on the egg meant for
him.

Uljath dropped A'be off. The blue was almost as excited about the
firelizard eggs as the rider. He was disappointed to discover he
didn't fit close enough to actually see it. **You can watch thru my
eyes, ** A'be comforted and patted his flank. Then he hurried to join
the others. He had meat scraps in a leather bag.
"Hi, I hope I'm note late," he greeted and tried find a spot around
the eggs without jostling anybody.

"Remember everyone," Calten said as everyone gathered, "it's not just
about feeding. Once your egg hatches you have to send them
encouraging, welcoming thoughts as you feed so that they'll associate
you as their home and safe place. Otherwise, they'll /between/ of on
their own into the wild."

K'lvin crouched, eyes studying the egg that was his. If he wasn't
mistaken he could see it starting to tremble. From the top of the egg
a sharp snout suddenly poked through and then the rest of the egg
split. A handsomely vibrant azure firelizard tumbled out of the tray,
kreeling hungrily as his wings flopped against the stone floor.

"Easy there," K'lvin said as he offered up a piece of meat to the
creature. The blue gobbled the piece of meat greedily, his small
wedged-shaped head tilting to look at K'lvin as if demanding another
piece. "My apologies, good sir," the bronzerider grinned a little as
he lay down another piece, and another, until the firelizard had
worked his way into his lap.

Arrilon didn't take his eyes off of his egg but nodded at Calten's
instructions. It was impossible to push all of his anxiety away, but
he did manage to calm his thoughts down. His eyes strayed from the egg
for a few moments as the first egg hatched and Impression seemed to be
successful. Just as he was realizing he didn't care in the least what
color firelizard was in his egg, it cracked and opened. For a moment,
the small firelizard inside seemed black, it was so dark. But then it
uncurled itself and Arrilon realized it was a dark green. He quickly
fed her some of the meat, and then some more, marveling at how cute,
and yet demanding, she was.

A'be felt more confident, he had Impressed Uljath after all. His eyes
glued to his chosen egg, he pulled out a piece of meat. A crack
appeared and he heard Uljath start humm. Another crack and then a
snout peered out. "A green!" A'be breathed and little green pushed her
way out of the egg shell. A'be placed the meat in front of her snout
and she snatched it, seemingly inhaling it. "Chew it, darling, I don't
want you to choke on it," A'be said and took out another piece. She
creeled hungrily and piece by piece A'be lured her to him.

Brennault leaned closer. And closer. He peered sideways at the others.
And then back at his egg. Was it not going to hatch after all?

Just then, as though to answer him, the egg split down the middle, and
a bronze hatchling fell over sideways out of it. He stood, peered with
head tilted at the split egg shell, and then yawned.

"Hey, there," said Brennault, trying to get his attention before he
jumped off between without him. "I've got breakfast."

The bronze's eyes widened, and he eagerly began to gobble up the bits
of meat. But he did not walk closer until Brennault remembered –
thoughts of home.

**I waited so long to meet you! I'm so happy you're here. Come with
me, and we can go home together where it's cozy and warm and you'll
always have enough to eat and somewhere soft to sleep.**

The bronze tilted his head again and then walked onto Brennault's hand
and arm, laying his head on his palm. Though he chirped to insist the
feeding continue.

"Oh! Right, sorry. Here we go." Brennault had simply been marveling
just a little too much.

}: Welcome, little sister, :{ Uljath greeted her and the green turned
her head around in obvious.

"You'll meet him soon enough," A'be assured her, directing warm,
welcoming thoughts at her. He was thinking how he was going to keep
her fed and safe and loved. When she wrapped her tail around his
wrist, he knew he was goner. She had him and Uljath.

Urlene glanced at the others for only a moment before the sharp break
in the egg in front of her drew her attention back. She held her
breath, then moved quickly as the a little brown head thrust out with
a shrill trumpet. Pleased, she waited until he had shaken remains of
his egg from spindly wings, then presented bits of meat roll. The
little brown hopped ravenously upon them, following the trail until
he stood in her palms. A real smile came to her then, surprisingly
soft and affectionate. She continued to stuff the little hatchling
until his belly bulged and he nestled down in the frock of her arm.

Calten stroked his gold firelizard's head soothingly as she watched
her hatchlings all partner up with one of those gathered. "Stay as
long as you need," Calten said, "just remember to do the same things
you would have done with a dragonet. Take them home, let them sleep,
oil them, and continue to reassert your thoughts of home and belonging
to them."

A'be just nodded. The green was now slowing down her eating. He gently
stroked her with one finger. She yawned, let out a satisfied chirp and
promptly fell asleep.

"I think we're done here," he said with soft chuckle.

Arrilon's green had also fallen asleep, but not before he thought he
felt a feeling of satiety and contentment that put a small smile on
his face. Now, he just needed to decide on a name for her.

Brennault's little bronze ate the whole plate set out for him, one
bite at a time from Brennault's hand, and then began looking about for
the next bit. He poked his head into Brennault's sleeve. Perhaps it
was in there.

Brennault chuckled and said, "That's all for now. But we'll find you
some more when you wake up." He was almost certain he knew the hungry
bronze's name, but he wanted to tell A'vel first. "Let's have a nap."

The bronze gave him a skeptical look, but he was out the moment he
laid his head down.

**You're home.**

Last updated on the March 11th 2019

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