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Discreet Egg : Discreet? But this brownish egg is the biggest in the clutch! Well, frankly, there's just not much else to say about it. There's definitely something in there, but it doesn't bother trying to interact or communicate when touched. Whatever's inside is busy assessing everyone who touches its shell, but isn't inclined to give anything in return.

Antsy Egg : For an egg, this one is quite active! It wiggles, it shivers, then wiggles some more until it wears itself out and just has to be still. Even then, it seems quite proud of itself - Did you see that last wiggle? It was the best one yet! And better than any of the wiggling any of ths others might be doing, don't you think? This dragon is just itching to break its shell and do something really impressive.

Watchful Egg : Yes, in fact, you are being watched. Very closely too. The Watchful Egg doesn't feel malicious in it's observations, but very acutely aware of things about you that maybe you don't want laid so bare. Whatever this egg has seen, it's opinions on the matter are kept to itself. It tolerates you for a time before giving a distinct 'move along'.

Obnoxious Egg : BAM. Headache. The mental force coming from this egg is enough to send a person reeling. Oh! This little egg didn't mean it though! They were just so excited to greet you! Unlike it's quieter siblings the Obnoxious egg is ready to give any candidate as much attention as they could possibly desire, and then some. Immediately upon touching the egg there is a sense of playful eagerness and curiosity. The Obnoxious egg sincerely hopes you won't leave!

Territorial Egg : Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing here? This isn't your territory so you'd better back off fast, or at lest show some respect! This egg certainly packs a mental punch, but so long as it is treated respectfully it soon calms enough to become curious. Candidates who are fond of adventure will find themselves welcomed after a few moments, females more so than males. Any candidate that seems to be thinking less than complimentary thoughts about this medium-small egg however will find themselves under continued mental assault until they back off.

Glowing Egg : This egg is truly tiny, surely containing a green or an atypical dragon. It might not physically glow but the utter self confidence it exudes almost makes it seem as thought it does. It is unafraid of those who come to greet it regardless of the shape of their mind, but if their hands are dirty they can expect a sharp rebuke! Those whose hands are clean will be left with the feeling that the unborn dragon is considering their minds astutely and in minute detail.

Guardian Egg : This middling small egg is one serious customer. As a candidate lays hands upon the shell they will be left in no doubt that they have the egg's full attention and that they are being judged. Those who lack honour are rebuffed firmly, but it is a considered move not vicious lashing out. While the dragonet inside the shell is clearly curious about the hands hands that come to rest upon it, it does not leap all over them and pester with a thousand questions. It seems that a self contained creature lies within this egg, as independent a mind as any dragon can be.

Kind and Keen Egg : Oh well hello there, who are you? This small egg welcomes those who touch it without even a moment of hesitation, and seems pleased by just about every mind it encounters. There is a great feeling of happiness spilling from this one, happiness it seems more than willing to share around. More astute candidates might also notice that it also seems, well, astute! There's a very sharp little mind inside this egg, and enormous curiosity about the world outside the confines of the shell.

Temperate Egg : Oh my, the inhabitant of this little gray egg is certainly a calm fellow or lady! It is more than happy to engage you in "conversation" with a gentle, soft push of its mind and then let you lead the conversation along. The egg itself stays perfectly still; there is no rocking and no movement from its place, except when it is moved by Cepheith.

Easily Agitated Egg : This egg alternates between long periods of gentle, subtle rocking and sudden bursts of frantic wiggling. The dragon inside seems to be only vaguely aware of its surroundings and the people who are so interested in it, but its wiggling during the Touching appears to coincide with the approach of Candidates with energetic or aggressive personalities. It makes little to no effort to reach out to those touching it and appears to want to huddle closer to its fellow eggs intead.

Vibrant Egg : Bright and pretty it is easy to see how this egg got its name. It is neither the largest nor the smallest egg in the clutch..sitting comfortably somewhere in the middle but sticking out like a sore thumb thanks to its brightly colored shell, parts of which seemed to almost sparkle as the sun touched it. Laying your hands upon this egg reveals a sense of pride within and jostling nearby might elict a more protective feeling..as though the hatchling within desires to take care of those around it.

Rolly Polly Egg : This egg is a bit peculiar, not in size...nor even in color but in shape, its a fat round little egg almost more of a sphere then an oval. But despite it strange shape and the worry this elicted when it was first laid the hatchling within seems healthy enough when one lays thier hand upon its shell. A quiet spark of intelligence greets those who choose to do so and one gets the impression that the little beast within is pondering great thoughts for such a youthful age.

"I swear, if it isn't one thing it a other." Jemi scrambled over the seats in the stands pulling ahead of Wen. Rynsemth had decided to linger outside the sands. The young woman stopped at the edge and took a seat on the wall, ignoring the lingering dampness. Most of the sands were underwater but she could at least see the clutch. "Think they'll be alright?" She asked, dangling her feet over the edge.

"Rynsemth's siblings seemed alright after the kidnapping fiasco," Wen offered quietly and kept standing, looking over the wetness. Usually he would stoically ignore the weather, but this was ridiculous. "It was after the touching as well." He looked over the eggs on their little island of dryish ground. Rynsemth?

the black rumbled, using his rider's eyes to look over the clutch. It seemed to be a rather boring looking clutch. The reddish looking egg was somewhat promising. He shifted, sprawling out his wings to absorb more warmth.

And we will be bailing more water after this, Wen sent and ignored the grumbling from his bonded. "How has the Trine watch been treating you?"

Jemi snorted, touching her smashed nose in a show of self-consciousness. "Like a guy, I think the person that accepted my transformer paper actually thought I was one till I spoke. Not bad, but my social life is a bit shot at the moment."

Candidate Jolene

Today was the touching, also known as one of the events leading up to what she would assume would be the single most important event in her entire life. This would be the very first time she saw the eggs. How many there were, what sizes there were, and most importantly, if there was a queen. Faranth knew that standing would be nothing but a waste of time if there was no gold egg. There had been a queen at the last clutch but the silly thing had failed to impress to her, something that had caused her no small amount of anger at the time. But by now she was over it. After all, if she had chosen someone else there was obviously something wrong with her. No, her queen would be bigger, better, stronger. A dragon truly worthy of her.

The moment she was allowed to enter the sands Jolene's eyes flew to the clutch sitting on the small patch of dry sand. It was disappointment that immediately began to color her face. Most of the eggs were barely even glanced at for she was only looking for two traits. Large or, but preferable and, gold. While there were no eggs that held both of those traits there were two that caught her attention, the patchy looking golden egg and the large white and brown egg with a bit of a sheen. While she would touch all of the eggs, she couldn't help but think she had to unless she wanted to feel the clutchmother's wrath, it would be those two she paid the most attention to.

She made sure to plaster a grin on her face as she approached the clutch, forcibly preventing herself from wincing as she sloshed through the water. Cold, horrid, filthy water. Shards, she would probably have to bathe ten times to clean this stuff off! But as much as she wanted to show her displeasure she had to look oh so happy to be there for the gold. Along with her annoyance at the water she couldn't help but think about the horribly low chances of either of those eggs being a gold. After all, the gold one was small and the large and shiny one was not gold. Maybe they were just coincidences, heartbreaking coincidences. Yet upon reaching the eggs she forced this out of her mind, bowing to the clutchmother before saying, "thank you for allowing me the chance to touch your beautiful clutch."

Kharmeen had weathered storms before and according to family legend, his cousin Ahmeena has been born in a storm like this one. He had done his duty with helping coastal folk and fisherfolk. Pulling in boats, tying down lines, securing baskets... He was tired for it. But everyone had made out fairly well; minus it looking like one sharding good time of a Turn's End party.

And like other candidates and folk in Trine, he had taken a turn doing the best to dry out the Hatching Sands. Of course, he stole a couple looks at the eggs but he wasn't a fool to go wandering anywhere near them. That was until Touching was announced. He had gone with the others, slightly familiar with what to do this time as they were herded and scolded and lectured along the way.

Carefully, he made his was to the Sands that were slightly less soaked than before and bowed to Cepheith. He saw a couple of the eggs that had caught his attention, namely one that reminded him of the blue seas of his home and another that almost looked like an eye. Stepping to the side, he was hesitant to be the first to walk up and Touch one of the eggs.

Zarike

Hesitation? What was hesitation?! Zarike barely paid attention to the water as he quickly slogged his way across the swampy sands. This was his first Touching! The first time he'd ever been allowed down on the sands when a clutch was laid. The first time he'd get to come closer than the first row of stands! Nothing, short of maybe death, would be able to dampen the spirits of this young candidate as he trotted right up to the clutch and paused, bowing low to Cepheith. It did occur to him that she might not be the happiest of mother's right now.

Still. It was the Touching and touch he would! He didn't even have to think about which egg to touch first. He hadn't been eyeing any one in particular, but it didn't matter where he started as he intended to touch them all. The first egg to meet his outstretched hand was the Temperate egg. Zarike let out a woosh of breath as he felt the egg's inhabitant press itself into his mind. He'd been talked to by dragons before, and Impress two little flits who he could feel watching from above, but this was something different altogether. If he didn't know any better, Zarike might have hoped Impression could happen from within the shell.

Zarike wasn't sure what to say or think back though and as no conversation was to be had, he reluctantly pulled his hand away, feeling the severing and absense of the dragonets mind as he turned to look for Orlina. Words had been unable to describe the experience to him, not adequately.

Cai

What was this? Was Cai actually doing nothing for once? Well. Not really. But at the same time yes. The weyrling approached the Hatching sands, hand resting on the neck of the crimson who paced by her side. I am excited to see them mine!

Please. You forget they're there half the time.

That's why I have you to remind me Caimine. Miath held her head high, peering around the edge of the sands as they approached the entrance. Suddenly she erupted into an ecstatic trill and charged towards the unmistakable black shape that had appeared. Rynsemth! The adolescent dragon butted her head against him, thrumming happily. Have you come to see the eggs as well? Is yours here?

Cai bit back a smile. She was growing used to Miath's lack of memory finding it easier just to remind the dragon rather than chide her for not remembering on her own. They were working out a system at least and Cai was having to repeat important information fewer times before it stuck. Whenever she saw Miath with the others of her clutch she couldn't help but compare their sizes. The half grown crimson was only just larger than Rynsemth, though the other crimson, Kibeth was distinctly larger.

Even if she appeared to not be growing as well as Cai felt she should, she was reassured that it wasn't uncommon for atypical dragons, and that Miath looked like she was growing fine. The only recommendation Cai received to better care for her was to actually practice and exercise outside of their formal lessons. Yes, Miath was small, but her muscle tone needed work before it came time for them to fly. Cai huffed and put it out of her mind for now, mustering a smile for the black dragon. "Hello Rynsemth. I hope you and Wen weathered the storm safely?"

Rynsemth

Rynsemth shifted, barely getting his feet under him before Miath was against him. The black rumbled, returning the greeting with fond nuzzle and a deep belly thrum. he greeted and gave her a gentle head butt. The black looked serenely down at Cai, blinking his calm blue green whirling eyes and simply nodded.

He questioned, turning so he at least face the entrance of the hatching sands.

Naanash & Vaail

Vaail watched the young boy nearly charge past them, stirring up a small wake of muck. Barely any older than his little sis, not much taller either. Bold kid though. He watched, intrigued as the kid bowed to the queen and then went straight up to one of the smaller eggs. The little white one with the grey eye spots. It was one of the more visually striking eggs in the clutch in a gray scale. The brightest had to be the golden orange patchwork in the back rows.

Vaail continued to splash through the water and bowed to the queen. What was her name again? He straighten up and headed straight towards the Kind and Keen egg attracted to the shiny gleam and rich warm colors. He laid a hand down and jerked slightly, surprised as cheerful warmth spread out in his mind and just as swiftly the surprised turned to bubbling glee. Well, hello there. I'm Vaail. First egg and he was already in love.

Naanash shook his head, moving as far away as his twin brother as possible. He gave a polite if a tad stiff bow to queen Cepheith and moved to the Rolly Polly egg. The egg was actually more of a sphere, round and different. It happened sometimes in food eggs, so he expected whatever the metalicish bronzy shell was hiding was in perfect health.

The mind that greeted him certainly echoed his expectations, quiet and intelligent and slow weighted pondering. The weight in his mind was different. Harbinger was simmering rage and sharp suspicion and a tad wake of everlasting love all in one fleeting little golden package. Naanash had been expecting something similar, not the rage, but just fleeting glimpses not the weight on his mind.

After seeing the others start to go up, he quickly wiped his hands off as best he could. He didn't want to dirty the eggs, especially with the queen watching so closely.

Stepping forward, he followed one girl's lead and bowed to the queen before reaching the eggs. He wasn't sure which one he should touch first. His eyes were drawn to the wiggling egg. He eyed it. Did it really just move by itself? It did it again and he slowly moved forward putting his hand on the Antsy Egg He felt it shiver under his hand and he chuckled alittle, wanting to hold it still just incase it rolled over and out of the dryish sands into the wet ones. "You're quite the mover." He mumbled to the egg as he felt it's smooth surface. It seemed this little guy or girl just couldn't stop itself from wanting to break free. A big smile broke out on Roan's face as he rubbed his hand on the rough surface. "Even if you're not my dragon, I can't wait to meet you..." With that, he pulled away and travelled to the next egg.

Naanash left the Rolly Polly egg behind and took a few steps to greet its neighbor. The egg was smallish, certainly dwarf by some of its larger siblings but it was brighter than many of them. Orange with black specks in white. It was rather pretty. Sort of jittery. The egg moved, rocking a bit more firmly as he approached and almost scooting into the nearest sibling?

Could eggs be shy? He shrugged, standing before the Easy Agitated egg, fiddling with his candidate knots in amusement, watching it rock about a bit more before reaching out and firmly touched the shell. There wasn't much, just a fleet sense of go away. Naanash might even be miss reading it. He shook his head and stepped aside, leaving the egg be.

Vaail nearly regretfully left the Kind and Keen egg be. The tattoo artist stepped back to take a closer view at the clutch, torn from touching the dark and large brown and gold just to his right or the smaller wiggly purple one. A other candidate reached for the purple and he moved on to touch the large Guardian egg.

It was larger and ooh, Vaail frown as the weight settled in his mind. This was rather unpleasant. More like being caught for a prank gone wrong. He frowned, being firmly but gently rebuffed from the larger egg. Weird. He pfft, blowing air at the egg. Nash would get along with this one. Where, ahh, well his twin would get to it soon enough.

Rynsemth murmured and pushed against the crimson, friendly brushing against her as he followed Cai into the sands. he sent, attempting to ignore the chilly water and climbed up onto one of the dragon perches for a better view. Much better. < Join me, my fiery Miath.> The black rumbled, curling up and reached for his.