Keep Close to the Hearth [Firelizard Hatching]

[Anaxarete]

Virvine slipped off to grab some scrap meat, in case either one of the new babies took a shine to her or her egg got the idea from them somehow. When she came back, a little crimson was peering intently at her foundling.

"Sorry," she told the little red flitter, "I don't, uh, know what's wrong with it." She felt a little ridiculous for addressing the hatchling like that, but she talked to felines and canines too sometimes. He apparently had no interest in her though, just the egg, so Virvine dropped some meat on the hearth near him in case he wanted it.

Then abruptly, without so much as a twitch of warning, the egg cracked in two and a petite little aurora sprawled in the bowl looking rather dazed. Virvine let out a shrilly delighted sound unfitting to her age (though probably fitting her size) and immediately dangled food in front of its nose.

I told you so, announced Throsnoth. Virvine would have stuck his tongue out at him if he were actually present, but he wasn't, so she just grinned broadly and continued to feed the little aurora female.

"Uh, thank you," she mumbled to the little crimson as an afterthought. She wasn't sure whether he'd just sensed the impending hatching or somehow coaxed the little aurora out, but she was happy anyway.

[Cait]

Sitting on the ground and with the general din in the kitchen, Dav was oblivious to the rather comical scene of a Moonlight trying her best to cram herself through the entryway. Of course there was plenty to watch directly in front of her what with the impromptu game of chase that was being carried out by the adorable purple and blue and then the rather impressive hatching of the Crimson. In her pocket, Snowball shifted and poked his head out, staring blearily at the madness but otherwise made no move to leave his warm little hidey hole even when Dav scooted closer to the clutch, inching her way towards the white who was intent on something further off.

---

Squirming and wriggling and twisting, Korinath managed to twist herself until she was awkwardly on her side. If it weren’t for her wings she might have made it through the door but as it was she was as far as she was going to get. As she scrabbled with her front feet trying to get in a more comfortable position. Though, when the little black marched up to her, the Moonlight fell still, her head twisting to get a better look. When the little firelizard began to strut the weyrling let out a croon of delight that reverberated through the kitchen and alerted even the most oblivious of workers to the fact that a young dragon had wedged herself in the doorway.

Korvalia! Look at the little one! She’s so adorable! Korvalia look. LOOOOOOK!

Would you be quiet, you are going to get me in trouble, and what do you think you are doing. I am going to have to grease you to get you out!

Korvalia quickly wiped her hands on her apron and hurried through the labyrinth of gawking workers and cutting through the very edge of those gathered for the hatching to reach her dragon. What had she done now? Gossiping was one thing and getting into little tiffs with Niekolgoth—troublemaker that he was—was another but trying to fit into the kitchen? The daft beast hadn’t fit in the kitchen in quite some time!

“Korianth, leave that thing alone and get out of here before the Headwoman finds out. Look! You have gone and scratched the floor!”

Korianth was too busy trying to twist her head and stretch her neck just right so she could nuzzle the adorable little firelizard. So pretty and clever. Remembering her offering, she swung her head around, nearly knocking into Korvalia and nudged it towards the Black, crooning again. Her persnickety rider wouldn’t stop her! She would have her very own firelizard, yes she would.

[Shoki]

The red flitter merely glanced at Virvine as she spoke, but remained as he was. The action of dropping food on the hearth was similarly noted but not acted on. However, upon the hatching of the Aurora, the Crimson firelizard jumped away, his tail lashing about as he did so. He barely resisted hissing at this surprise disruption, apparently not expecting the action. He stared, still agitated, at the Aurora that appeared. However, he calmed slowly, eventually turning his head up toward Virvine when she spoke again. At the thanks to him, though it probably wasn’t particularly deserved, the little Crimson felt a swell of pride and puffed out his little chest. This seemed to remind him that he hungered. He went to the food that had been dropped for him, greedily eating the whole lot. Apparently it wasn’t enough, since he went straight to Virvine and began to demand more. Surely that would be easy enough, after all he was well worth the food.

The chase between the Purple and Blue spilled into the kitchens, some small amount of chaos ensuing. Between Moonlight dragons and unfettered flitters it was becoming a rather interesting lunch hour. Soon enough though, both of the flitters found some food to steal and they officially became someone else’s problem.

Three eggs hatched in quick succession. First, a female gray was loosed into the world. However, she seemed terrified of being alone for too long, and raced off to find a human with no looking back. Lucky there was a warm soul with food waiting for her. The second was a Darkblue, but he seemed a bit less sure of his surroundings. Not terrifying, but perhaps a little disconcerting. He wandered toward the Sunlance, who gave him a reassuring croon. The last in the group was a Pink, who trilled upon her release, clearly pleased to be there. The Darkblue shied away at the noise, leaving her to bounce about on her own. The White’s attention turned to the Pink now, having not given so much as a peep yet.

The Black flitter was well pleased with the response she got from the Moonlight. Someone who appreciated her! The Black strained to reach the nose of the Moonlight in greeting, but there was a noisy human being all in the way. When Korniath presented the food, the Black stared for a moment at the huge (comparatively) chunk of meat. The Black skittered back for a moment, her tail twitching back and forth before having a run at the meat, pouncing upon it like a feline might. She had a harder time getting meat off the thing, which left her chirping orders at the nearest subjects. Someone should help her with this!

[Terayne]

M'iren cocked his head as he watched the flitters playing, chuckling softly at their antics. His Brown was now curled around his neck, asleep(supposedly, an eye opened occasionally to eye the siblings), and he was still trying to figure out a name for the little beasty. At the Hatching of the Darkblue, Pink and Gray, he smiled, amused at the resemblance between the tiny Darkblue and his MUCH bigger Bonded one. In his mind he felt Storith's utter delight at the little one and had to resist the urge to laugh, even as he retrieved more meat and seated himself near the small version of his love, wondering if he could coax the tiny one to him.

[Cait]

Dav continued to inch ever closer to the white who was so fascinated in her surroundings. In the back of her mind she was aware of Niekolgoth being near and rather excited. Of course he wouldn't be able to sneak a peek of the clutch because his Moonlight sister was blocking the entrance, but it didn't stop the Purple-Gray from trying. Hovering over the Moonlight, he twisted his neck around so that his eye was level with an opening near the top of the door.

I see you Davquil! Oooh, little tiny things! If Korinath can have one, can I have one? Korianth, move your rump, I wanna seeeeee![/b][/color]

The Moonlight snorted and laashed her tail, whacking the Purple-Gray in the rump even as she focused her attention on the little Black. Wheeee! She'd pounced on the meat...but, oh the poor dear. Korinath crooned pathetically, swinging her head around to stare at her rider. Korvalia narrowed her eyes.

Absolutely not! This was not going to happen. For all she cared, the little firelizard could gnaw on that hunk of meat until the sun went down, she was not going to help! She wasn't going to let Korinath bully her into it either! She was going to be strong and firm...

Korvaaaaaliaaaaaaa

"Oh for Faranth's sake!" She was going to cave. She knew it and the Moonlight knew it. Korinath crooned even as Korvalia pulled a knife from her belt and crouched down beside the hunk of meat. With a practiced hand, she began to cut off several chunks that were small enough for the Black to handle and then a few more, remembering how much Korinath had eaten when she was a hatchling. All the while she muttered under her breath. Something about stupid wheedling dragons?

[Terayne]

Above the chaos at the entrance to the Lower Caverns, Storith was watching the two younger dragons with more than a bit of amusement. The Moonlight's persistence in trying to get inside was apparently going to pay off according to his rider in her getting what she obviously wanted from HER rider, and the rapt attention of the Purple Gray on the inside led the Darkblue to believe that perhaps he was wanting a small one as well. Rumbling softly with his humor, the older male settled once more to his ledge, having sat up to watch and wait, and shifted his wings closer around himself, humming under his breath, the deep sound melodic and strangely haunting.

Inside, M'iren was fighting not to laugh as he watched the Moonlight wheedle her Mine into feeding the Black. He then turned his attention back to the little Darkblue, crooning softly to him, trying to reassure him that all would be well, if he would just have faith in the humans around him. Around his neck, Cliff(as he'd finally decided to name the little beast) was watching intently, also crooning to his sibling encouragingly.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T'ruk wouldn't have come at all, certainly it wasn't his idea of fun to be hemmed in by other people and the occasional weyrling dragon, but Atanek had really wanted to come, and had gotten Guyaky to follow him in swooping through the crowd to perch, humming to greet the hatching flitts. T'ruk had tried to follow them, but both his and Azeriuth's nerves had failed upon his getting about halfway into the room, so that he was drawn up against the wall and watching. Azeriuth was just outside the entrance, watching from behind as Niekolgoth and Korianth competed for the entrance.

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You should not go in there! There are too many people who will notice you and it will ruin any plans for tonight.

T'vax rolled his eyes. Except that we don't have any plans for tonight.

Ducking around Korianth, T'vax strode into the room. He grinned upon seeing two of his friends with firelizards.

"Dav, Virvine, congratulations! Do they have names yet?" He called out, temporarily ignoring the other firelizards that seemed to fill the room.

[Shoki]

The Black crooned as Korvalia cut up meat for her. The little flitter did so love when things were done for her. The moment there was food available she started to wolf it down, pleased for finally getting both food and followers. She would start to show off again, but she was too focused on food for the time being. She would just have to wait for that.

The Darkblue, sitting next to his Sunlance sister looked up toward the crooning with a quiet attention. The Sunlance observed as well, chirping once with a pleased expression. The Darkblue turned back to his sister, then back to the man and flitter that crooned. He blinked, once, twice, and his head dipped. The Darkblue wandered slowly over to M’iren and let out a single long yawn. The crooning was rather soothing. A nearby human took a step too close to him and he suddenly scurried over to M’iren, now wide awake and chirping rapidly. Surely this human with the soothing sounds would save him.

The Sunlance settled down once again before tilting her head back to the eggs still on the hearth. There were sounds of cracking eggs. Perhaps it would be best to get out of the way. She meandered away just as two eggs hatched in time, a Citrine and a Brick. The pair looked at each other for a moment before the Citrine observed the Brick and decided to try and taste her sibling. This did not go over well. The Brick became infuriated and began to chase after the Citrine, who didn’t want to be the target of the Brick’s ire at all. The Citrine stopped at the nearest human with food, nabbed some, and used them as a shield from the Brick. The still angry Brick not to be outdone, tried to take more food, and chase after her. That pair was certainly going to be a handful.

Another egg broke free altogether more quietly. It took its time, while the flitters chased, it carefully cracked until the egg could no longer contain the firelizard inside. The Midnight broke free and wandered out, moving away from his Pink sister’s performance. Maybe something more quiet. He looked back, seeing two eggs that hadn’t hatched yet, but didn’t seem all that interested. Maybe something else more interesting would catch his eye.

While this was happening the Sunlance-Black wandered toward Korvalia and Korinath. She observed her Black sibling and the Moonlight cousin before turning her attention to Korvalia. She looked stressed. The Sunlance pondered what to do about that for a moment before sitting down and crooning. The flitter was doing her best to give Korvalia a feeling of appreciation, but she wasn’t sure if it was getting through. She would try her best though.

[Terayne]

As the little one headed towards him, the sounds didn't change, and a feeling of kindness, of love, was urged towards the baby. M'iren started slightly himself when the other human got too close, having not been aware of them, but immediately moved to scoop up the Darkblue and remove him from the stressful situation, offering him food and comfort. Cliff reached down as far as he could, seeking to add to their now mutual Mine's comfort, and Storith also reached out, gently touching to both younglings and introducing himself.

Having obtained what he wanted-for now anyways-M'iren stayed back in the quiet, stroking the little Darkblue and continuing to soothe his stress with food and love. Eventually, the little male calmed, and was given his name as well, then the two little flitters relaxed and curled up in their respective places, Cliff on M'iren's shoulders and the Darkblue in his lap. Smiling, the rider then continued to watch the Hatching as it wound down, biting back his laughter at the antics of the Citrine and Brick, not wanting to startle his own flittlings.

[Cait]

Dav's head came up at the sound of a familiar voice and her smile transformed into a grin and in true Davquil fashion let out a squeal of glee and waved at her fellow Weyrling. From her poket, Snowball let out a little squeal as well and ducked back down into his poket-hole. "His name is Snowball, c'mere I was going to try and get the other little white and name it Snowflake. Wouldn't a matching pair be adorable?"

Back at the door, Niekolgoth crooned at the sight of T'vax and shifted just enough so that he could pass then shoved his head through the gap between Korinath and the edge of the opening, only managing to get a bit of his purple snout through before the Midnight began to squirm, both oblivious to Azeriuth nearby.

Korvalia glanced up at T'vax as he entered and watched him move across the kitchen, calling out to two of the girls; one of them belonged to their Weyrling class and was far too hyper in the cook's opinion. Looking back towards Korinath, the blonde rolled her eyes at the sight of a purple snout wedged beneath the Moonlight's front leg. That dragon...if it wasn't sprawled on its stomach playing dead, it was all over the place, never anything in between. With a sigh she turned to leave only to stop short at the sight of a little yellow and black firelizard sitting at her feet, crooning.

Oooh, that one is cute too. Korvalia, pleeeeease?

Korvalia stared at the sunlance for several long seconds. From what little she'd noticed of the clutch so far, this one seemed to be remarkably calm. Still...the black looked as though she might be more than the woman cared to deal with. Behind her, the Moonlight crooned and nudged her rider. "One day I will get you back for this, Korinath. Keep that in mind." Stooping down she quickly sliced off another handful of meat chunks and dumped them at the feet of the little Sunlance. Really she was adorable with her little black belly but she'd never admit as much to her dragon or she'd end up with a million more of the little beasts. "I will not name them Korinath, they are yours to care for. Remember that."

The Sunlance, however, had other ideas. This grumpy woman needed her. But that would wait until after she'd eaten. Yes, food first and then she'd show the woman.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Crimson Atanek was having none of his person’s shyness, and swooped down to grab T’ruk’s sleeve pulling him further into the room.

“Atanek,” the boy half-whined, but then a cook was pushing a bowl of scraps at him with a grin, telling him to “get the little Crimson guy a friend”. There were still un-hatched eggs, and T’ruk always had liked firelizards. Almost without realizing it, he started edging forward to join the crowd.

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T’vax noted that there were still un-attached firelizards and made a beeline for the meat scraps, weaving around and among people with a lithe grace at odds with his lanky height. Having secured some scraps, he wove back to stand next to Dav.

“I think they’d make a great pair,” he said with a smile, extending the meat towards the baby firelizards in a hopeful gesture. He didn’t know if he’d get one, almost didn’t dare to hope that he’d get one, but, they were just perfect anyway. He had to try.

[Shoki]

The Pink continued her little performance and just as she was trilling the loudest as an egg spilled open behind her. She stopped abruptly to view the Dream that had spilled out and crooned. She was awesome! She began bouncing over to the people with food, wanting a good source of food now that her amazing performance had yielded another hatched egg. She went over to the chatting Davquil and T’vax. She looked at them both before chirping. ‘Look at me!’ she seemed to say.

The Dream yawned once before moving over to the last egg. He had somehow decided he wanted to be the last one to impress or something so he was waiting for the egg to hatch. It didn’t quite want to break free, though it was moving. He waited patiently before turning to watch the Midnight and his adventures.

The dark colored flitter was sneaking about. He was mostly looking for a little peace and quiet if he could manage it. He avoided the Pink, since he found her noisy and rounded to T’ruk. After a few moments of examination the Midnight went forward and had a go at trying to get some food from the Weyrling. He was hungry and wanted to be away from his siblings.

The dream watched the whole affair silently before the egg behind him cracked and he turned to look. The firelizard inside was breaking off pieces of the shell before finally getting a large enough hole and being about to break out. She was an Aurora, almost entirely purple and pink. Little bits of blue could be seen though. She stretched out for a moment before sitting up and looking around. The Dream waited patiently, not willing to rush anything.

The White female finally got up. She’d seen everything. Well, everything she wanted to see. She still didn’t make even so much as a peep as she started to wander looking for food. She spotted some but noted her Pink sister was trying to get attention. She waited for the Pink to become quiet, but that didn’t happen. Then she waited a little more. Then her eyes started to whirl with impatience. Then something snapped.

EEEEEEEEEEE! A loud high pitched screech broke the air, and the Pink jumped back. The White, though the most silent of creatures when she was calm, apparently had no problem with being loud when she was aggravated. Content that the Pink was not going to be in the way now, hopped over to Dav and silently requested food.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

T’ruk smiled at the little Midnight as it approached. The little firelizard definitely seemed hungry, and T’ruk quickly offered several of the scraps from the bowl that he held, his eyes wide. Sure, he’d done this before, but it was still amazing that the little creature wanted him. Names, well, there was time for that later, for now, there was a firelizard to feed.

Atanek and Guyaky peered down at the Midnight-new-brother. They both crooned a greeting, and Atanek even reached out to bump noses with the Midnight when the newcomer paused before eating another mouthful.

-------------------
T’vax stared at the sudden appearance of the Pink, then reached out, offering the firelizard some of the meat strips. Maybe, maybe… he reached out a little further, hoping to tempt the singing firelizard into taking a bite.

EEEEEEEEEEE!

The Pink jumped away, back and to one side, and T’vax sighed quietly. There wasn’t much time for that, though, for in the next instant, the other little white, snowflake to be, leaped forward and started eating the meat that Dav had handy.

“You got Snowflake,” T’vax whispered to Dav, grinning.

[Terayne]

Rather abruptly, a little form danced into the Dining Caverns, her eyes dancing as they moved around the cavern. She was quick to note the events unfolding, and squeaked with excitement, much like one of the flitlings on the hearth. Grabbing some food, she bounced over and plopped to her bottom on the cold stone, ignoring the chill in it in her excitement about the little ones.

Behind her, one pale brow rose, then its owner, as well as his two babies, slipped out and away as silently as they had come in, disappearing into the Bowl....

[Cait]

Looking up at T'vax, Dav smiled though some might classify it as a grin. Her friend had found some meat and was now holding it out to the hatchlings. It was a chirp that brought her attention back to the clutch and away from the young man beside her and she was startled to see the loud little Pink looking up at them, making all sorts of noise and in general being adorable. Davquil giggled and nudged Tiv lightly. "You should try--"

EEEEEEEEEEE!

Davquil stared, her mouth hanging open, at the little white. Snowball ducked back into her pocket and after a long moment of stunned silence that such a noise could come out of something so very small, Dav let out a squeal of her own as she offered up the food she had to the little female white. Where he had his head wedged between Korinath and the door, Niekolgoth let out a delighted if muffled bugle. In a matter of seconds, Dav began to bounce and once the little white was finished eating she wasted no time in scooping her up and giggling before looking over at T'vax. "I did! She's so adorable! Eeeeeee! Are you going to go for the pink? She's adorable too!"