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Taking a deep breath, Iliyana dusted her knuckles on the side of her skirt and approached the Regal Egg, pausing to try and tug her hair out of her face for just a moment before putting her hand to the egg's surface. Oh... oh, my, this... Her hazel eyes went wide and the short blonde nearly fell to her knees as a tiny gasp escaped her mouth. Tugging her hand away, Ily wrapped her arms around herself to try and disguise the face that her hands were shaking.

What - what had that been? It was somewhat like what happened during a flight, but it was much stronger, much more concentrated and - and directed - and... rather nice. Eying the egg like it was about to explode on her, Iliyana took a deep breath and got her feet secured, hurrying away from the Regal Egg before it could affect her even worse.

... Or before she was tempted to go back and touch it again.

Dagner squinted, glaring sullen daggers at Herryk's shapely back.

"Yeah, well -"

He paused for a long time, mouth open and brows furrowed, as his mind completely failed him.

"Ugh." He finally grunted. He strode away from the other man, absently running his hands along the Regal Egg as he passed. His ego-nursing was soundly disrupted as a thrill went up from his fingertips and down his spine."Oh, my," he murmured, his upset promptly forgotten. He ran the very tip of his finger across it's surface, breath catching at the sensation.

Dagner finally drew his hand away, lashes fluttering as he let out a heartfelt sigh. "Herryk, come try this one."

He bit his lip to keep from grinning.

Herryk narrowed his eyes at Dagner, passing by Hanratty (giving his bro a clap on the shoulder as he passed by) before standing before the Regal Egg. He wasn't sure he trusted the expression on Dagners pretty face, and for a moment he just stood near the egg, idly chewing on his lower lip as he debated his options.

Well. His two options. Touch the egg, or don't.

Hesitantly, Herryk stood near Dagner before reaching out his hand. The sensation was one he was familiar with. Too familiar, really - as Herryk was a passionate bloke, and he'd had his fair share of lovers. Closing his eyes, Herryk merely stood there, lingering perhaps a little too long with his hand upon the egg.

Letting loose a low, rumbly purr, Herryk reluctantly drew his hand back before opening his eyes, piercing blue locking on Dagner's face before a slow, wicked smile spread across his lips.

"What are you doing after the Touching, Dagner?"

Jennes listened attentively to the Candidatemaster. Although he'd heard the instruction before, it never hurt to listen again, just in case something changed. His flit was firmly instructed to remain outside, and the rest was expected. When they were released to the sands, be bowed carefully to the gold, who was oddly far from her clutch. An oddly small clutch with very little said about it. An unusual situation all around, but it wasn't his job to worry about it. He just had to keep to his work and do what he was told.

As per his instructions, he carefully approached the eggs. At his first Touching it had surprised him to feel something coming from inside the egg, but now he was always curious to see what impression he'd get from the hatchling inside. It could be fun to speculate what the dragonets would be once they hatched.

The bright Tropical Egg caught his eye, and he went over to place a hand on the shell. He was immediately greeted with the impression that the egg wanted something...in his hand? What might it want? There was a number of things he might have in his hand at any time, but none of them would be with him during a Touching. Regardless, the egg seemed disappointed when he didn't have anything. Ah well, perhaps when it hatched its rider would find out what it wanted. He tried to send a feeling of encouragement to the little one, willing it to be patient a little longer until it hatched and could find what it wanted. Then he lifted his hand from the shell and looked around the clutch.

One egg left to touch. Just one more, and then she would have to clear out of the way for all of the other candidates to have their turns. Walking a bit slowly toward the Effervescent Egg, she thought a little about each of the eggs she had touched so far. They all had something interesting about them, if not attractive. Even the Ovate had been interesting in a way, its utter lack of reaction a stark contrast to the high-running emotions of the Glowering Egg and the Regal Egg.

So what would this one be like? Reaching out to touch the final egg, Iliyana let out a gasp that turned into a pleased and amused giggle. Talk about saving the best for last - at least if she was to believe this unhatched dragon's feelings! It was so energetic, eager, even - the blonde couldn't help but smile a little as she brushed her fingers over it one more time. Here was a future dragon that would achieve much in its life, if its behavior as an egg was anything to go by!

But... now she had touched all of the eggs, and it was time to stand aside to let others have their turn. Iliyana sighed softly and glanced over all of the eggs one last time, her gaze lingering on a few for a longer moment than others as she nibbled her lower lip. There were enough candidates here that all of the eggs would Impress come the Hatching, she was sure of it.

They just had to.

Quindrife had been at several Touchings in her life and this one she would have expect would be no different from the rest however there was something off about the whole situation. Cranking her neck out as far as she could muster without looking too ridiculous the brute of a girl stared at the Gold beast with dismay evident in her clear colored eyes, never in her entire life had she seen a mother dragon act in such a deplorable manner; she seemed almost ashamed of her brood. Did the other candidates sense it too or was this simply her focusing too much on something that she shouldn’t concern herself with, either way the solidly built brunette looked at it her stomach was a flutter with nerves that failed to be soothed by any thought she tried to come up with.

At the moment the word was given Quindrife acutely exhaled through tightly pursed lips, she could feel the heat of the birthing sands attacking her mercilessly even before she sauntered into the bowl. Sweat had long ago decided to form at the nape of her neck and soak into the thick fabric of her under tunic and heavy leather coat, the latter of which was beginning to adhere to her arms and throat like a second skin. Giving a tug at the collar of her outfit the lanky limbed candidate eyed her surroundings once more before striding onto the searing hatching grounds, droplets of moisture gathered at her brow as she bowed deeply towards the queen; she was one to show her respect to the sovereign Golds without fail no one could ever accuse her of otherwise.

Straightening to her full height the longhaired tomboy hurriedly wiped at her face with her powerfully built forearm, the heat wasn’t something that she was accustomed to and her lack of tolerance was apparent by the flustered rosy hue that climbed into her cheeks and settled into her face noticeably. Snubbing the side of her nose absentmindly Quindrife worked along the outside of the circle of eggs merely watching those around her, calculating eyes surveyed the reactions of her peers while taking a tally of their collective expressions. Some seemed more guarded with their antiphons where as others where outright and unrestricted. Suckling down a deep breath between clenched teeth the virile harper’s daughter made her approach towards the Ovate egg.

Brows knitted and furrowed at the listless, nothingness that greeted her sullied bandage wrapped hand. She had played games like this before at other touchings, keeping her palm firmly planted on the lackluster shell Quindrife waited for the life within to make itself known. ‘Well, aren’t you just an odd one. Not even the slightest peep,’ mentally stated the brunette towards the hardening ovum. Worry hastened itself to her gut as she allowed her hand to linger for just a moment longer in hopes for any sign of existence but was rewarded with nothing. ‘Please be okay in there little one, even if you don’t feel like coming out we all want you here with us. Take your time and relax, I’ll see you again on Hatching day.’ Plucking her large hand away from the dull egg Quindrife frowned deeply while shaking her head. She loved hatchings and yet at the same time they were simply the most depressing of days when a baby betweened or was simply a dud, she really didn’t want to see that, really she didn’t.

Jennes moved on to the next egg, and the Ovate Egg was the natural choice. It was resting against the one he'd just touched, after all. He rested a hand against the egg's shell and waited for a reaction. But after several moments, nothing had happened. He quirked his head to one side, puzzled. There was usually something from the egg, even if the occupant didn't seem to pay much attention to its surroundings. Odd, this one. He hoped it wasn't a dud, especially with such a small clutch, though he supposed that might be preferable to a hatchling going between. He waited a moment more in case the egg decided to show some sign after all, but at last he withdrew his hand and moved on.

Mari glanced around the clutch, she had touched nearly half and ooh, hello there. What a darling intensely purple blue looking beauty of a egg. She swayed over to the Regal egg and her siblings, what a surprise. She gave the boys a smile before reaching down and laid a hand on the shell. Ooh...

She shut her eyes, giving a soft husky purr at the feel but kept in control with just a little flush. 'Hello there little dragon, you are quite a flirt aren't you.' It was similar to tumbling in someone's lap, laughing and stealing soft kisses, tangling fingers in hair. She pulled away, shaking her head. It wasn't the same though.