Laser Focused [Firelizard Hatching]

[Femisis]

"Come on, hatch already," Shouto mutterd with a huff as he watched the basket full of eggs, warm but still. Mnythri perched on the opposite side of the basket, watching her eggs like a hawk. Drivith craned her head over her rider's, also watching the eggs like a hawk. It was to this Izuku walked in, glancing in confusion between the knot of beings around the egg and his own dragon who was curled up on the ledge, soaking in the warm spring sun.

They've been sat like that for quite some time, Xistanorth commented without moving, perfectly content where he was. The eggs were watched and didn't require a fourth set of eyes.

They haven't moved since I left... Izuku replied, rather worriedly. He'd been gone for a good half candlemark, having gone to eat breakfast sans Shouto, his weyrmate too invested in his firelizard's eggs to join him. He'd brought back food, of course, but it would sit on the desk for the moment. "Um, Shou? You okay?"

"Yes," he replied, still laser focused on the eggs. "If they don't hatch soon, I'm going to explode," he deadpanned, attention still on the eggs. He was so invested in this. Perhaps the eggs felt this investment, as a moment later they began to wobble, tiny cracks appearing along the shells. All at once, Shouto gasped, Mnythri trilled, and Drivith warbled excitedly, causing quite the noise in the weyr.

Realizing word wasn't going to get out any other way, Xistanorth sighed. Good morning, High Reaches. There is a firelizard clutch hatching in our weyr. Please feel free to come if you would like to take your chances with one.

"Thank you," Izuku said gratefully as his dragon shifted on the ledge to allow him easy viewing of the room in order to keep an eye on the anticipated crowd. "I can't wait for Shou to get back to normal."

Normal. Right.

[Dragon]

Melosa was near when the call for a flit clutch went out. One of her current lovers was a dragonrider, and she'd been in her weyr last night. It seemed like providence; she turned toward the weyr in question almost on a whim. She'd had Berry for over fifteen turns now, and maybe this wasn't the best time for this since Merisk was only two seasons old. Still, she was here, and while it didn't quite seem like a good idea it at least didn't seem like a bad one. I can certainly handle two babies at once.

She peeked past the doorframe and caught sight of two riders and their dragons; the center of attention seemed to be focused on a bright gold flit and the basket she perched on the edge of.

"Are those the eggs that are hatching?" she asked. It was hardly impossible for her to be in the wrong place, or for there to be another flit watching over a clutch at the same time.

[Windra]

Go get a friend.

Yes. Certainly. Sure thing. Sc'let was eager to see a little lizard on her arm - best as she could see, anyhow. But Edwyth was particularly pushy about this venture. She could totally bond with a little dude and extra points if it was a brown boy just like her beloved! But she could also totes do without. Because, caring for a newborn thing? With those eyes? Aha! Sure she could feel for dry patches to be oiled. And raw meat could be smelled pretty obviously. It absolutely permeated from the little planter-size bucket o' slop swinging from her right hand.

Go get a friend.

"Heard ya the first time, babes!" barked Sc'let - not irritated, but rolling her milky eyes barely visible through mounds of scar tissue. "But my dudes, listen - 'dis be's for me, or fer you?"

Edwyth couldn't really answer that. Of course he'd want something to flitter and flutter alongside him in the sky - something that could see his feats of grandeur, or listen to his woes ... Eddie hadn't scored a lady yet, not for lack of trying. Between Sc'let going mostly blind and the lack of companionship that extended a little more that banter between colleagues, Edwyth was feeling very lonely. Heart-achingly so.

"S'okay, my babes. We be's getting a friend, no be's worryin - oof!" Right after hitting these walls. This was the fifth one! Curse these eyes! "Eeeeey, Shouboy! 'Zuku! Holler so I can be's hearin' which way to go, can ya's?"

[nineofswords]

Barca of Brown Brynth

Barca was doing...something. Brynth wasn't entirely sure what, but he was sure it was going to involve dirt, mud, or bugs, and would end with her smelling awful. He let out an aggrieved huff of air. She could be so much more than what she let herself be if she stopped using dirt and smell as a buffer between herself and the world, but she didn't listen to him! He only wanted what was best for her, and she was obstinate about only ever chasing what was the worst for her.

His head snapped up as a green sent out a call for firelizards. Barca had never really shown an interest in them before, and he didn't think they needed one, but...maybe having a new baby to care for would be good for Barca? The more people - or flits, in this case - that he could coax her into letting into her circle of loved ones, the easier it'd be for others to see that she was worth getting to know.

He mentally cleared his throat, getting her attention.

'Oh what now?' she moaned. 'Another lecture on how much I need a bath?'

While you do, that's not what I wanted to ask, he said. Xistanorth has alerted us that there are firelizards hatching in her weyr, and I was hoping we could get one.

Barca paused, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. She was elbow deep in mixing compost from the kitchens into the soil for one of the gardens with her bare hands. 'Why?' she demanded.

I... Brynth thought about the best answer. If he told her to just do it, she'd refuse. If he tried to lie, she'd probably see through that, as she was annoyingly perceptive, for all she pretended not to be. But the absolute truth would make her refuse to ever get a flit. I'm lonely, he said abruptly. You never want anything to do with me when it's not threadfighting, so I want company. I think I deserve that much consideration.

Barca's face colored slightly as guilt and shame washed over her. The brown felt lonely? She shook her head, rejecting that thought and shoving the emotions it had brought up in her aggressively away. 'Ugh. Fine. Whatever. But you owe me,' she snapped at him across the Weyrbowl, rising. 'I gotta get meat from the kitchens, and they won't let me touch anything unless I give my hands a rinse. I'll probably miss the whole damn thing, anyway, and then you'll just be pouty about that for forever. '

I do NOT pout! Brynth said indignantly, but she was ignoring him, hurrying to rinse off the dirt and eggshells and potato peels from her hands and grabbing meat. Hurrying, because whatever she said or told herself, she did feel guilty, and...well, Brynth didn't ask for things. If he was deigning to ask for a favor, she supposed that she could do this for him. Just the once.

She arrived at the flit's hatching place, meat bucket in hand, the scent of decaying foodstuffs still lingering on her skin. She slouched into the room, sticking to the edges, shoulders hiked up defensively, ready to snap at anyone who questioned why she was there. She had meat in a bucket in hand, that should be obvious. And she was here earlier than the inevitable rush, so if it was first come first served, she decided she could make a case that she deserved one. She wasn't deluding herself, though, she was fairly certain no one here would give her a flit egg out of the goodness of their heart.

[FirebrandPhlox]

It had been a long night of work, and Raev was ready for bed. Maybe a quick bath, then bed. She and Rask were just about back to their weyr when the call that firelizard eggs were hatching rang out through High Reaches. Rask perked up and immediately turned to her handler.

Flits! Rask want flit! Raev get one?

Raev gave Rask a tired look."Firelizards are a lot of responsibility. I don't think I need the extra responsibility on my plate."

But Raev most responsible one Rask know! And Rask play with flit! Help care!"

That, was a good idea. Raev often had to sacrifice her own free time to give Rask the proper enrichment she needed. If she got a flit, it might be able to take some of the burden off her shoulders. And flits were useful in other ways. Perhaps it was a practical decision.

"I'll go get one, but only if you promise to help care for it every day. Play with it, help make sure it's fed."

Yes! Rask promise! The wher replied, wiggling in delight. Raev smiled and gave her bonded a scratch under the chin.

"Go back to the weyr. I'll go get us an egg. I'll bring it back and what color it is can be a fun surprise when you wake up tonight." Raev said, giving the wher one more scritch for good measure.

Rask bounded happily off the the weyr, broadcasting her excitement to Raev. The woman smiled to herself as she went at a slower pace to the weyr that had the eggs on offer, making sure to swing by the kitchens for meat for what were sure to be famished hatchlings.

She entered the weyr slowly, sizing up the other hopefuls who had come for eggs. They seemed eager, and she swore there was an unpleasant smell wafting from one of them. She decided to not engage any of them in any kind of meaningful conversation. "Well, I must have made it to the right spot. Is there an egg I can have? I do have meat, if anyone forgot some." She spoke matter-of-factly, knowing fully well there were plenty of eggs in the pile for distribution.

[Arcane]

Azul had not heard anything about Izuku, or Xistanorth, having a firelizard- let alone a firelizard that laid eggs. They were not particularly close, but he was her wingmate and Azul generally tried to pay some attention to her wingmates' lives. A rider ought know something of the people she risked her life besides.

Perhaps he is trying to acquire a firelizard and purchased extra eggs? Azul mused, as she flipped through the scroll she'd recently borrowed from a Semacan acquaintance, And sentimentally wished to keep the new hatchling near clutchmates?

Pausing over a sketch of an unusually large fruit, Azul tapped her quill to her mouth, I believe Izuku has a weyrmate. Mayhaps his weyrmate is the firelizard owner in question.

Just ask if you're itching to know so badly, Claarisath suggested, from where he lay gazing out over the weyr.

Azul considered the notion for a moment, then nodded, You have the right of it, Claarisath. Better not to assume a motive.

She got up and eyed the brief walk to Izuku's weyr, I have heard firelizards make excellent messengers and agreeable companions. Would you object to my claiming an egg, should there be any remaining?

Claarisath had never much thought about getting a firelizard, one way or another. It had been just him and Azul, for some 17 turns now, I suppose that doesn't sound too bad.

How much trouble could one little firelizard be?

Azul smiled at him, as she stopped by the kitchens for a small bowl of meat, before going to the weyr Izuku shared with his roommate (whose name she believed was Shouto). There was a gold firelizard, who Azul presumed was Shouto's.

"I would present myself as a candidate, if there are no objections. I share a wing with Izuku, so he can vouch for my character," Azul said to the greenrider.

[EW-NA]

Lau'ren of Blue Cedrateth
--

'I'll be a touch late returning to our weyr, Cedrateth,' Lau'ren mentally announced to his dragon. 'There's something I wish to see to.'

He hoped it sounded as casual as he hoped. It wasn't uncommon for him to have to make detours or meetings and such running a bit longer than intended. He hoped the Blue wouldn't be suspicious.Than again, most things in that department seemed to fall awkwardly... considering said dragon had almost full access to much of Lau'ren's inner workings. The rider was hoping it to be a bit of a surprise. A bit of a surprise for both of them really, as Lau'ren had to wait for such an event to pop up (and hope he'd be available).

If Cedrateth had any inclining of what was in the works, he gave no outward note of it. Take your time, Lau'ren, he responded calmly. I shall be here when you return.

Perfect, Lauren mused to himself pleasantly. With his items tucked under one arm, the Bluerider began making his way to where the current flit hatching was getting underway. Perhaps this wasn't the most opportune time for him to take on something very small and needy, but a firelizard wasn't so difficult.

In truth, Lau'ren thought it would make an amicable enough companion for Cedrateth, in such instances like that afternoon, when he was on his own for the day. Surely dragonkin found appeal in eachother for companionship, despite the size gaps. He didn't ponder too greatly on the thought, as he'd arrived at the desired location. With a polite knock on the entryway, Lau'ren followed behind a few prior arrivals, composing himself as he awaited his turn and to not make much distraction.

[Tyto]

Firelizards!

Sorey jumped nearly clear out of his skin as Calmanth's voice came suddenly and loudly in his mind. One would think after nearly a decade together he'd get plenty used to it, but it was more the sheer volume of it and the fact that he went from dead silence to that--well, it still caught him off-guard on occasion. He sighed, rubbing his hand over his face and unknowingly smearing the charcoal on his fingers over his cheeks. "Maybe I'll go check it out," he commented aloud to no one in particular. "Tell Mikleo I'm going to see about getting a new friend."

Hopping to his feet, he strolled out of his weyr and through the various caves, Camlanth giving occasional odd directions when he got turned around (sue him, he didn't know where every rider in High Reaches lived!) before finding the growing crowd. He had to double back to the kitchens for food, just in case, because he didn't want to be rude and assume that there would be some there for him to mooch off of.

"Hey, everybody!" Sorey announced himself as he entered the weyr, giving enthusiastic waves to the others. "I heard there are some firelizards hatching, am I late?"

[Femisis]

As expected, it didn't take long for people to start arriving, having heard the siren's call of hatching firelizards. Izuku greeted the first arrival with a smile and a nod, gesturing at the basket still being crowded by his weyrmate and said weyrmate's dragonkin. "Yep, right over there!" he told Melosa with a nod. "Shou's a little, er, enamored, but I'll get him to give you an egg if he's still out of it." Hopefully this little out of character silliness was a one time thing, but he couldn't blame Shouto for being happy. This had been kind of fun, watching the eggs develop over the past few weeks, yet without the stress of standing for Impression.

Both he and Shouto jumped at the now familiar shout, the call breaking the latter out of whatever spell he'd been under. "For Faranth's sake..." He muttered exasperatedly, nearly running into Melosa as he jumped up. "Oh, sorry about that. Here, this one's cracking quickly. Careful with it," He said, gently transferring an egg from the basket to the 'candidate's' hands, ignoring Mnythri's squawk of protest.

Egg safely given, Shouto left the weyr, preferring to bring Sc'let in himself rather than just call. He didn't mean to baby her, so to speak, but watching her smack into walls stopped being any sort of funny a long time ago. "'m right here, this way," He said, gently taking her by the elbow to guide her back to the weyr. To her credit, she wasn't far, only down the hall, but this was a bit safer. Once safely inside, he brought her over to the basket. "Here, hold out your hands. You can have this one," he said, handing the egg over to her once it would be secure.

In the meantime, Izuku kept an eye on other arrivals, giving Barca a warm smile as she entered, either oblivious to the other rider's desire to remain hidden or not caring. "Hey, welcome! The eggs are cracking pretty quick, you should get one soon."

This time it was Drivith who responded, trilling at Barca softly and indicating an egg for her with the tip of her tailforks. While the Green could certainly be gentle, she wasn't willing to risk injuring the hatchling by moving the egg herself. Besides, humans had hands, this one could do the work herself!

Shouto looked up as Raev entered, nodding eagerly as he reached into the basket. "Hmm... you can have... this one." Fingers closed gently on an egg and he took it out of the makeshift nest to hand it to the wherhandler. "This one's still working on the shell feels like, but it'll be out soon." Some were definitely hatching faster than others, but they were all coming soon, if the little wiggles of the shell were anything to go by.

No sooner had he given the egg to it's new friend another rider arrived, Azul, apparently one of Izuku's wingmates. "Oh, of course. Let me pick you one, here-" Tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth, Shouto perused the basket for the right egg (he had to listen to his gut on this one). At the same time, Izuku spotted Azul and grinned.

"Oh, hey! He shouted from across the room, making quick time of coming over for a proper greeting. "Are you here for an egg? Oh, of course you are, why else would you be here?" Izuku laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "It's nice to see you out of wing drills, yeah?"

"You're rambling," Shouto said to his weyrmate with a fond smile, making the other man blush. To Azul, he said, "Here, this one is for you." He passed off the egg with a nod, sure it was going to the right person.

It was Mnythri who spotted Lau'ren first, squinting suspiciously at the Bluerider as he entered. He didn't make a fuss, no one else made a fuss, so in the gold 'lizard's mind that meant it must be safe to give him an egg. After all Big Bronze (Xistanorth) didn't seem troubled, so why should she? With a loud creel, the gold took flight, fluttering over to Lau'ren and taking hold of his sleeve to awkwardly drag him over to the basket so she could indicate the egg that was his.

Since Sorey was not quiet when he came in, he was immediately tended to by Shouto. He'd been prepared for this, having another egg in hand for the next person to enter, so he was on his feet quickly. "No, there are still plenty left, like this one," he said while pressing the egg into the other greenrider's hands. "This one seems eager, it'll hatch soon, probably."

Not first, however. The egg Raev had been given wiggled hard, seemingly finding the motivation to hatch now that it was being held by hands instead of warm sand. The shell splintered at the top and a Blue nose poked out, soon followed by a neck, shoulders, and the rest of a body. Sleek and elegant, his cyan hide was freckled with pale blue markings, some almost star like, while his wingsails were a more stormy blue. His expression was a bit stormy, too, as he grumbled at Raev for food, wings flexing impatiently.



Sorey's egg decided to hatch next in a flurry of shell, pieces falling to his hands (and the floor) like snowflakes, leaving him holding a lovely Garnet in his hands. She twisted around to begin cleaning herself off, allowing everyone to see her speckled hide. She was pink all over, hide shifting from a darker pink to coral and back again. She was coated in dusky pink spots, marks that she showed off proudly. Once clean, she wrapped her tail around Sorey's fingers and chirped, demanding food.

[EW-NA]

Lau'ren of Blue Cedrateth - Reacting to Mnythri
--

The room was quite packed with various individuals, and it was turning into quite a ruckus! A rather good one, to say the least. Hatchings of any kind always brought excitement for spectator and potential alike. There was a decent number of tiny colored eggs, nestled safe in a basket, that were now beginning to crack open and wobble. Tempting as it was for a closer look, Lau'ren kept himself quiet and patient, ever mindful of making good impression to the rest of the Weyr he served. There was so much movement and bustle as the flits were ready to appear, he didn't wish to add to it and perhaps have an unintended mishap.

So he waited, or would have... until a high pitched call prompted his attention.

It would have been hard for him to miss the bright splashed Gold, as she hovered about him – rather expectantly, strangely. Lau'ren could only assume this was the parent of the collection of eggs, as she was seemingly the only one capable at present. The Bluerider dropped his confused expression, to offer Mnythri a bemused and handsome smile.

“Greeting to you, Fine Lady,” he offered benevolently. “I take it these are your children we're being gifted with – A fine brood, I'm sure they'll be.”

Despite his flowery speech, Mnythri plucked at his large sleeve, pulling him closer into the fray. It seemed she was very devoted to the task of ensuring her children were sent where they were meant to be. Lau'ren found this quite endearing, chuckling lightly as he allowed the flit to pull him along, as if he were no different than a discarded handkerchief.

“Of course, Milady, take me where you wish,” he said, having no objections.

[FirebrandPhlox]

Raev gave a gruff "Thanks" as one of the riders handed her an egg. She held it carefully in her hand. She had seen plenty of flit eggs before, but hadn't held one. It was much smaller than Rask's egg had been. Instinctively, Raev treated it delicately, waiting for the creature inside to hatch.

She didn't have to wait long. A few more people filed into the room behind her and were handed eggs, and barely after the last one was given a soon-to-be firelizard, her own egg cracked. The top of the shell shattered, and slowly a blue snout poked out. The rest of the flit was quick to follow, seemingly impatient with his former housing.

Raev didn't have an eye for art or beauty, but even she could tell this was a pretty flit, with a deep blue body speckled with lighter star-like markings. She did not have much time to admire her new companion before he was huffing irritably for food.

"Don't worry. I'm not some inexperienced weybrat. I know what you want," Raev told the flit as she picked a slice of meat and held it towards the blue. The firelizard wasted no time, voraciously chomping at the meat. Raev felt the rush of impression come over her, not as strong as Rask's has been, and the feeling more of a general sense of the flit's mind than distinct words. The flit's eyes swirled rainbow with impression briefly, then went to irritated orange as the small beast demanded more food.

Raev chuckled softly to herself as she held another piece out to the glaring firelizard. "Glares won't get you anywhere with me. I'm not going to let you gorge yourself sick, and the sooner you learn that, the better for both of us."

The flit grumbled as he continued to eat at a regulated pace. Raev liked him, even with the attitude. She'd let Rask come up with the name later, since the wher wanted the firelizard so badly. Raev knew in her heart that Rask would adore the blue, even with his sour disposition. She put up with Raev, after all.

[Dragon]

Melosa took the quickly cracking egg gently, sparing a glance for the 'enamored' dragonrider and the protective mother. "Ah, thank you," she said quickly, careful of the egg in her hands - and realizing only belatedly that she'd utterly forgotten that she was going to need to feed the little beastie. Well, she undoubtedly had something on her - you didn't work with babies and toddlers for as long as she had, nor have a flit of your own, without carrying snacks pretty much everywhere.

She shifted the egg into one hand, patting her pockets as the small, dark-haired dragonrider went to respond to a shout and bring in a woman who - well, that was certainly disturbing. It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened to her face; threadscoring was unmistakable to someone who had lived their whole life in a Weyr.

As two of the eggs hatched - one blue, one garnet, both with smatterings of pale markings like snowstorms - she found what she was looking for in one of her pockets. Half a cookie and a few scraps of jerky were tucked in there; the jerky would do well for her new flit's first meal, and the half-eaten cookie should probably be tossed once she was out of here. Now just to wait for the egg to transition from cracking to actually hatching ...

[MothyCake]

Jacek of Garnet Rinisath

Well, he hadn't expected to attend a flit hatching, especially as he really just didn't expect them to actually reproduce (Edsel would have called him an idiot if he found out).

He smiled as the first two firelizards hatched, nodding with approval. They were adorable.

[Kitarial]

Chuuya of Blue Yask and White Chusk

To Chuuya’s own surprise, it was Yask who lifted his head when the call for a firelizard clutch went out, despite having previously been dozing. Get flit, Chuuya. Good minions, if train. Hope get smart one, he stated, looking directly at Chuuya as he said so. Chuuya blinked at him for a moment, unsure.

“You sure, Yask? What about you, Chusk?” he asked, looking to his second partner. Chusk’s long headknobs wiggled and flopped a bit as he tilted his head at Chuuya, though he seemed to agree with Yask. Chusk don’t know what Yask plan. But Chusk agree with Yask. Flits cute, too, he responded, prompting Chuuya from his bed with a sigh.

”Fine, since you both agree. I’m going,” Chuuya said, making his way out of their quarters and towards the rider’s weyrs. It was only after a small trek that he managed to make it to the right Weyr, surprised to see quite a few people already in there. Two eggs had already hatched, and more would likely show up, soon.

“Hi. It seems my bondeds are both of the mindset that I should come see if I could get a flit, if you don’t mind,” the handler called out, running a hand through ginger curls.

[nineofswords]

Barca's shoulders hitched up even higher as Izuku called out a warm greeting to her. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, wondering why he was being nice to her, what he was trying to get out of this interaction, but there was so much else going on that his attention was quickly directed elsewhere.

Her attention was quickly drawn to the green trilling at her - and that was confusing for a moment, because Izuku's knots indicated he was a bronzerider, but Barca's confusion didn't last for very long as she figured out the green probably belonged to Izuku's weyrmate - and she followed the gesture with the tailfork to an egg.

She stared at the little cluster, and for a moment, she thought about grabbing a different egg than the one that was being indicated, just to be difficult, but this was for Brynth. He'd get pissy if she was intentionally antagonizing people in the getting of his egg, and she could feel his attention in the back of her mind like a sneeze that just wouldn't happen. So she carefully grabbed the egg Drivith was pointing to, carefully cradling it in her hand. She didn't say 'thank you', just retreated to a quieter corner with her bucket of meat, glaring at everyone as she waited for the little thing to hatch.

It wouldn't have killed you to thank them, Brynth grumbled at her.

'I had to grab mine myself,' she snapped back at him. 'Most people had their handed to them. I ain't thanking them for being snubbed like that.'

They might've handed it to you if you didn't stink, Brynth pointed out dryly.

'Oh forsk you!' Barca said, scowling even more deeply. 'I'm doing you a favor here, you don't get to insult and nag me!'

He snorted. I'm not wrong, though. He wasn't. And that was honestly why she was annoyed more than anything.

"Stupid meddling dragons with their stupid ideas," she grumbled aloud, poking gently at the egg as if to encourage the flit inside to come out faster. "I hope you bite him," she told it. "It'd serve him right."