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Post by Fern on Sept 22, 2014 22:45:48 GMT
Kitchen staff, candidate lessons and the infirmary. That was a nice range of things to do. He wondered why he never noticed her helping the kitchen staff before. Maybe he had his head too focused on listening to the cook tell their stories. Or maybe she had not been there when he was. That could be too. No matter. If he saw her there again, he'd try to be polite and say hello. He had no idea he could have something in common with someone. It was almost...nice.
"I don't envy you the task of caring for injuries. Its not fun seeing others in pain." He shoved the thoughts of all the pain the other Earth-born had suffered firmly away and put his sudden focus outwards towards the tree-line. He had seen something out of the ordinary. It looked like she had noticed too for she made mention of it. And with a very enticing idea.
"Egg hunting?" He toyed with that idea for only a split second before he nodded and one corner of his mouth twitched up with the pleasure of that idea. "Sounds fun. Be careful though. Some mother-critters can be nasty mean." Leading the way, he glanced back and waited for her to catch up. Then he matched his stride to hers as he moved to hike by her side.
"It was a little critter like the one on your shoulder, right? I didn't catch a full view of it. Did you?"
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Post by Lynn on Sept 22, 2014 22:53:29 GMT
"I think so. If it was we shouldn't need to worry," she said dismissively. "Emeralds are honestly horrible mothers for the most part, and that was most definitely GREEN, not any Pearl hue." Orti chirped on her shoulder, and she nodded for whatever he was indicating. "He 'says' that it did appear to be an Emerald. He got a good look at her. I think it was us that scared her." She smiled and nuzzled the Sapphire's head, then removed him from her shoulder. "Can you lead us, little one?" she inquired lightly of him. He hesitated, then looked to her human companion and chirped, before turning and darting towards the treeline.
Still with that impish grin, Aura grabbed Tobias' hand and raced after him, not even noticing the slight pull at her lower wound. She was too excited, and besides, it was healing well anyways. She was fine. And who knew! They might even end the days with a fire-lizard or two each!
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Post by Fern on Sept 22, 2014 23:09:48 GMT
He looked at her while they began to move with confusion. All he had heard the critter 'say' was a little chirp. How did she know what it said. Did it talk to her in her brain? He had heard tales from the cook about things like that. He wondered what it might be like. No words for the little critters though, just emotions and pictures. It seemed to be smart enough to understand Aura's request to lead them because it took off. Then surprise of surprises happened and Tobias didn't have a moment to wonder about it before he found himself racing with his hand in hers. He didn't get touched a lot. It was a scary-good kind of feeling though. He began to wonder if maybe she couldn't be a friend someday. If she wanted to.
He also began to wonder as they moved swiftly if they might actually find any eggs. And a quick glance her way every now and then might suggest that he worried she might be hurting herself. She looked so excited though. Maybe she would be fine. Putting his focus around them and in front, he spotted the little critter [Orti] ahead of them.
"An Emerald is suppose to be a lower rank critter that doesn't care for its eggs?" He wasn't entirely sure. He was great at recalling things he saw but things he heard was a different matter. And there was so much he still did not know that other pernese youths knew from practically infancy.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 22, 2014 23:49:54 GMT
"It's the Pearls who are the awesome moms, the Pearls who refuse to abandon their clutches until they Hatch," she replied. "The Emeralds don't have the same maternal instinct as they do." Grinning, she continued trotting along at his side, not releasing his hand. She was so excited that she was afraid if she didn't hold herself back somehow, she would hurt herself. From ahead, she hard Orti chirping and then an odd hissing noise. Skidding to a halt, she frowned, hesitant now. That had not been a fire-lizard, she thought, and Orti only confirmed it by returning to her, curling around her neck and snarling at the bushes.
"What in the world?" she murmured, kneeling down in front of it and peeking inside. The bushes rustled, another low hiss was given, then she saw a flash of neon green scurry out the other side and vanish into the underbrush. Blinking, she shook her head, then Orti climbed down her arm and disappeared into the bushes. She heard what sound like the little flitt GRUNTING of all things, then four eggs were rolled out to lay before her knees. A fifth one rolled out and settled by Tobias' foot, and she smiled. "Pick it up," she encouraged him, then did just that with the four before her, curling them into her shirt.
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 0:08:27 GMT
Holding onto her hand a little tighter, Tobias made ready to stabilize her in case she were to stumble. She didn't. Human contact felt odd but nice. When the hissing noise came to his ears, he hesitated and came to a stop when she did. He looked all around and tried to see what the neon green creature was but it moved too quickly and not all of it could be seen before it was gone. When Aura knelt down, he let her hand go and crouched upon his heals. His one forearm rested across one thigh. His other hand stabilized his balance upon the ground with his spread finger tips.
"What was it?" He wondered under his breath. Did Aura know? Aura's creature companion that had accompanied her left her then and entered the bushes. He worried for it. Sounds came from it and then surprise of all surprises, eggs began to appear. Five total. One of them came rolling towards him and stopped gently at his foot. Glancing from the egg to Aura when she suggest that he pick it up. He looked slightly uncertain about that idea. But he did not hesitate long. Very slowly he reached out with both hands. Tilting one of his knees towards the ground to balance himself, he picked up the egg very gently and peered closer at it.
After Aura had collected the others in her shirt, he glanced her way briefly before his attention turned back to the egg in his hands. Standing up carefully he held it with one hand against his chest and reached out to grip one of her upper arms. He hoped he could help her to stand if she let him. "What kind of creature eggs are these? Do you know?"
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Post by Lynn on Sept 23, 2014 0:29:30 GMT
"I... Don't know," she admitted, peeking into the bushes once more. All she could find was a tuft of fur of bright, neon green, and she cocked her head slightly. "Fur?" she said curiously, then shook her head. "I've heard of mammals that come from eggs, but..." She shook her head and allowed him to help her up, then looked down at her new little charges. "Hm..." She looked up at him and smiled, then motioned him to follow her, wondering if the mother would follow them or just let it go and chalk this clutch as a loss.
After about thirty steps she decided the mother had let the clutch go and, though she felt guilty for essentially STEALING the creature's babies, she was also excited at the prospect of new creatures to possibly befriend. The eggs were not huge, about the size of a large raptor's eggs, and she wondered what was hiding inside. "Something with fur and with the potential for VERY bright coloration," she said thoughtfully, hinting at what she was thinking. She then looked to Tobias. "And we found them!" she said excitedly.
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 0:46:37 GMT
"Fur?" He echoed her, wondering even more what exactly it was that had laid these eggs. After he had helped her to her feet, he kept hold of her arm to make sure that she did not trip. Seeing as how she had hold of four eggs, he didn't want her to get hurt if she were to lose her balance. He didn't want the eggs hurt either. When she mentioned fur with very bright coloring, he still had no clue what creature it could be. Did she have an idea? She had mentioned that she didn't know. So probably not, he surmised. Following her, he kept himself slightly behind her and to the side, just in case the mother came after him. He wanted to be the first line of attack to spare Aura. He felt protective. There was no sign of the mother creature though and he was glad. He did not feel too much guilt. If the mother wasn't the sort to protect them, maybe because they had taken the eggs, they had a better chance of living.
"You found them Aura." He gave her the credit. All he did was follow. "Well done." He tried to praise her but it came out a little awkward. "Who do we give them to?" He wondered.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 23, 2014 2:34:57 GMT
"We both found them," Aura said firmly, her eyes intent as she studied the eggs. They LOOKED normal, mottled and creamy, but some of them had tones of other shades, including the one that Tobias held, and she wondered if those tones reflected the beings inside. Humming softly to herself, she looked up. "I would think they would let us keep at least one each. I mean we did FIND them after all," she said thoughtfully. "And I REALLY want to know what they are." A frown touched her lips as she studied the neon green fur she held in her hand. "Especially with this..."
"The leaves three of them. I wonder what they'll do with them," she murmured softly as she continued walking, heading towards the sloped path rather than the cliff staircase. She didn't wanna fight those steps while trying to juggle the four delicate shells within the hem of her shirt.
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 3:20:29 GMT
Conceding defeat in that small point, Tobias nodded when Aura insisted that they had both found the eggs. Going down the sloped path, he continued to hold his strange egg with one hand and her arm with the other. He did not wish for her to get hurt. He hoped she did not mind his careful hold upon her. He'd let go if it looked like she did not want his help. He was very protective but did not wish to upset her either. So far she seemed fine. That was a relief. As they went, each step bringing them ever closer to the place they lived at now, he also began to wonder what she was voice aloud. "I don't mind if they want to take my egg too. I am hoping they won't though." He admitted quietly. "I hope they don't become our dinner." He huffed slightly in a poor attempt at humor. He did worry about that though. Maybe what they had found was Pern's version of a chicken egg. That would be rather embarrassing. A little sad too. He'd already gotten attached to the little thing he carried. Even if it did turn out to be a chicken thing...with fur, he wouldn't mind something to call his own. Then again it could be something dangerous or venomous too. "Hope it isn't a poisonous critter." He voiced his thought aloud. He didn't bother telling her about his idea of it being a chicken egg equivalent. She seemed to be so proud of what they had found. He had to admit that he was also kind of pleased too. "Maybe they will let us keep one. If only one between us though, you can have it. I don't mind." He would love to have one of his own but definitely not at the expense of Aura's happiness. He'd rather she be pleased then him.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 23, 2014 15:39:46 GMT
She wasn't really paying attention to the hand on her arm. She was far too excited about the eggs, and the thought that they had found them. But still. What WERE they? she wondered. As he started talking, she listened to him, careful to keep her balance so the precious shells didn't fall from her shirt, Orti chattering excitedly overhead. When he mentioned poison, she considered the neon green of the parent's fur again, then shrugged. If they were, maybe there was a way to train them not to use it on humans, dragons or fire-lizards, just their animal foes? she wondered. She then shook the thought off. They wouldn't be poisonous, she decided. That would just ruin the excitement of a possible new species being discovered.
When he spoke of them only letting them keep one between the two of them, she snorted softly. "If they try that trick, I'll argue with them," she said calmly. "I will not let them take your earned egg just because they wanna be stingy. It's YOUR'S."
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 16:01:02 GMT
Aura's stubborn determination that he would keep his egg or she would argue, brought a slow smile to his lips. She was adventurous and spunky. He could appreciate that. One had to be head-strong in order to get by in the world. Well, the old world. He couldn't imagine this one would be any different.
"You're a stubborn sort." He muttered but there was a pleased look in his eyes when he said it. As they traveled on their way, he kept his silence and watched carefully where she, and himself, were putting their steps. It would be bad to get most of the way and have an accident happen from a misplaced foot. Arriving at the outskirts, he looked around and wondered who to approach with this. Perhaps Aura knew. He'd let her lead the way. "Who are you going to go to with these? I suggest not going to the cook." Did he just joke? Perhaps but it might have been a dry kind of humor. She might not realize he was trying to be funny.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 23, 2014 19:38:07 GMT
She smiled for his joke and winked, then turned and considered for a moment before padding towards the Hatching Grounds. "We'll take these to Lin and see what she wants to do with them," she replied thoughtfully. "She's the Weyrwoman for now, so it's kind of our responsibility to keep her informed." She grinned. "And yes, I am stubborn. It's one of the few things that kept me sane and going," she said, her tone dropping at the end. She then looked down at the clutch she held, and at the egg he did, and nodded sharply. "She'll be sure to make sure they go to good people," she said quietly.
She then glanced at Orti and smiled. "See if it's possible for your momma to get some sand and a basket for this," she told him quietly. The Sapphire chirped and darted off, quite confident in Tobias's ability to watch over Aura, given he'd been doing so the entire time.
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 20:24:51 GMT
He remembered that the one in charge was called a weyrwoman. She was the one with the queen dragon that had the eggs. So, according to Aura's logic it would only be right to go to her. But would they be stopped before they got to speak with the woman? He'd never tried to talk to anyone in leadership here. He figured it might be as unlikely a thing as it would be to be seen by the president or mayor. So, without a word of protest he followed Aura's lead and hoped for the girl's sake they were not turned aside.
"I hope so." He said, when Aura spoke of the weyrwoman finding good homes for them. In his experience though, nothing could be counted on for sure. So he was a bit more skeptical. Perhaps it echoed in his voice. Perhaps it didn't. He kept his negative thinking to himself though. He didn't want to discourage her.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 23, 2014 20:38:27 GMT
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye for his words, and she cocked her head slightly, curiously. She then hummed softly and continued moving forwards, hesitating only slightly when J'mael moved towards them. The Diamondrider looked at her curiously, and she motioned to her bulging shirt. "We found something we wish to show the Weyrwoman," she told him, and he smiled and nodded, motioning them inside, then leading them into the Hatching Sands.
"Wait here," he told them lightly, then paced across the sand, watchful of the pale blue beast now eyeing them curiously. Seated on her curled forepaws was her rider, reading, and she looked up as her mate approached, listening to him, then looking at the pair as she rose. Once she had crossed the sand herself, and was facing them, Aura inclined her head with respect.
"We found these in the forest. We thought we were following a very bright Emerald, but last I checked, flitters don't have fur." She saw the question forming and held out the little bit she held, allowing Lin to take it and examine it. The Weyrwoman then looked at the eggs themselves, and smiled, her smile almost as impish as Aura's had been when she suggested the egg hunt.
"Ooh, more new beasties," the Weyrwoman said, sounding quite excited, and Aura grinned as the woman almost danced in place with glee. Behind her, her mate chuckled, and the Weyrwoman quickly moved to gather sand in a leather bag and gave it to the girl. "Now, put them in the Dining Caverns to keep them warm," she instructed, then saw the look in Aura's eyes and recalled who she spoke to. Her smile turned from impish to gentle, and she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Of course, you two each get one, since you DID find them," she said firmly, and Aura smiled brightly. "Those of course you can do with as you wish. We'll need to figure out some way to place the other three..." She frowned slightly as she considered them, then, with Aura's permission, transferred them from her shirt to the bag. "Now, off with you two. Aketh's getting a little nervous," she said mildly, and Aura nodded.
"Thank you Weyrwoman. We wanted to make sure you were aware of what we'd found."
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Post by Fern on Sept 23, 2014 20:56:55 GMT
Tobias was nothing shy of being shocked. When J'mael stepped towards them, Tobias knew that this was the closest they would get to speaking with the weyrwoman. But it was not so. They were shown in and were told to wait. He couldn't believe what was taking place. It was unheard of. Why did he matter to anyone? Why would they want to see the likes of his sorry face at all? ...Ever? Shoving these negative thoughts away, having heard the voice of his father speaking them in his head, he straightened his shoulders and stance and awaited the weyrwoman with patient attention. When she came closer to their location, he leaned down from the waist in a low bow that he had learned well from the cook. Then he stood and listened respectfully as Aura and the Weyrwoman conversed about the eggs. He caught the impish smile and the excited reaction and relaxed a little. He thought this woman was very nice. And it was only further proven when she assured them their own eggs from the group. Since he was already carrying one of the eggs, he chose to keep it. It needed to be heated though? Okay, that made sense. He knew, with Aura's help, that this could be done soon. He'd not want his egg to suffer for long without warmth.
"Thank you." Tobias echoed Aura's sentiments to the weyrwoman and bowed again. A quick look was given to Aura and a rare smile appeared on his face for her. He was thankful that she had suggested an egg hunt. Now, what it might produce, he had no idea. But it was exciting to anticipate the outcome.
"When do you think it might hatch?" He wondered aloud. He'd not want to miss it's hatching.
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