Egg Touching
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Xanadu Weyr - Hatching Sands
Immensity yawns in this cavern, the space vast in every dimension. Rough walls of natural basalt with the odd intrusion of harsh granite rise up from a carefully leveled floor, arching up into immeasurable darkness that can never be fully banished. Yet, the attempt is sometimes made, with firelizards and the smallest of the green dragons depositing glows on a thousand little ledges until the effect resembles a starlit sky. At ground level, big permanent torches have been built, designed by clever smiths to burn for hours if enough fuel is provided. On those occasions when there is something happening in here, those torches are lit and their bright illumination can be almost as powerful as daylight. Sand covers the floor of the cavern, a wide sweep of sand that is deep enough to bury the largest dragon egg twice over. That sand, however, is unique: a mixture of red and white grains that combine to form a distinctive shade of pink.
There are two obvious exits. The first is the dragon sized tunnel that leads due north, long and gently curved so that the outside is not visible from within. That tunnel is large enough for dragons to fly through, although none but greens could do it abreast. The other exit is the steps that have been built against the wall, leading up to the galleries and ledges where spectators can watch.


Mysarra walks over to Second to the right egg touching it gently and saying, "I like gold."

Keriana bows and all that.. because Keriana likes touchings. This time, she heads over towards the Resistance Against The Sun, because.. well.. glutton for punishment.

Second To The Right Egg to Mysarra> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells fly in joyous as ever. It seems to be playing some sort of game. In an instant it whips around, bright lights flickering everywhere to spray brilliant glitter towards you. Gold? It spins a web of golden tendrils towards you. Isn't it amazing? All the things it can do? The tendrils pause a moment, wrapped in our mind before bursting out into that same shimmery desert of gold. It twinkles happily and spins about in this heated wonderland. »

Second To The Right Egg to Mysarra> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells sail back and forth over the sands beckoning you with. Coem look at the treasures another visitor gave it! It pauses over a lake of silver, not nearly as dazzling as the sands the little mind has created by itself but deffinately one of the beautiful things on Pern. It dips down and shimmers against the lake, examining itself in the shiney surface before speeding back up. And there's more! But mostly in its jungle. It spins and pipes happily. »

Mysarra grins and gives it a image of ista in full bloom, the flowers and the smell's the feeling of the rainforest.

Second To The Right Egg to Mysarra> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells are overjoyed! Spinning once more, except with tendrils of mostly green and blue, they explode with the shimmer of delicate chimes into a jungle wonderland much like the image you have shown, only the colors are even more brilliant, as if composed of gems. A familiar tune, one that you know from when you are little but could never be able to play, pipes upon your arrival. The little sparkling mind twinkles as it applies these smells and feelings to this little jungles of it's own. »

Blood Quenched Steel Egg to Keriana> « Lyrical Sandstorms echoes loudly, as if in a discussion of utmost importance, as it realises the touch of the person. All suddenly goes quiet and a glow of white eyes flashes warningly. An infiltrator? Friend or Foe? A tendril of green whisps outwards, almost tentively, before smaller spines make themselves known and 'mentally' lock onto you. Who are you!? One deep voice barks in the silence, but the words are more felt then heard, the spines digging deep, almost to the point of pain. »

Keriana headshakes softly, more used to it's… issues. "You again. Must you always be so.. combatative?" She pets the egg softly. "I take it that you've not been dreaming of nice things since we last.. spoke?" As we're not sure what it's talking about, we'll just.. keep on keeping on. "And you're still ouchy."

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark coughs in unison, glow of eyes flashing again. What makes you think it has issues? Could be you with issues, and then its the normal one. The tendril wraps around you like a snake waiting for the kill, mearly engulfing you with its presence, without causing much more pain. Nice things? That is too far and few between… must be prepared for the evils in the world. But your not evil… are you? It knows nice things, too. It does! The voices are an indesternable mumble of many voices in your mind, all talking softly in your presence. Do you believe it? »

Keriana headshakes, again. This is becoming a pattern. "This is most possible. The issues thing." As it keeps poking her mentally, might as well see if one can poke it back. « Stop that. That.. surrounding thing. It's, well.. at another time, it might be comforting. Add purples. Purples are nice.» More or less, this is a test. For Keriana to attempt that strange sort of mindspeak that dragonriders are supposed to be proficient in.

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark stops the noises, almost as if paying attention. Purple? It can do that. Suddenly, away from the entwining green comes up a blurr of purple- looking like a very odd looking flower, before it vanishes from view. See? Purple. What can you do, child? The mental thought is almost mocking, a sharp crest of needles accentuating the words. The needles are red in design, but don't cause pain, folded back once again into the darkness. Then, at her sudden request, the green draws back and an expanse of tan comes forth

Keriana taps gently on the shell of the egg, brushing past the mottled colors. "Well, you seemed to respond a bit to that, so.. urm.. let's try that again." She steels herself and closes her eyes to think again. Bursts of golden sunrays, like the scatterings through the trees onto the forest floor rush to her mind with a new immediacy. A new competition, perhaps even a skill to be honed. Tongues of flame lick at the gold, zooming upwards towards a canopy of green, until it brushes past the treetops to rest, in a sea of cloud and blue. « That is certainly different. But that is much better. You're getting much better. Do you remember how you scared me?» It could be like a goldfish. They have a 3 second memory.

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark stops and one voice murmurs, indestinct in the expance of tan desert… which also is heating up a bit, like standing in the deserts of Igen. Then suddenly the expanse changes and it mimics her own, tracing the colors moreso sharply, but still the same. Jagged edges poke a little, tearing away at the blackness to have sharp colors of blue. —- Wait. Fish?? It sharply spits a needle at you painfully. It remembers how is scared you, but it definately is not some defenceless and puny animal. »

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark stops and one voice murmurs, indestinct in the expance of tan desert… which also is heating up a bit, like standing in the deserts of Igen. Then suddenly the expanse changes and it mimics her own, tracing the colors moreso sharply, but still the same. Jagged edges poke a little, tearing away at the blackness to have sharp colors of blue. —- Wait. Fish?? It sharply spits a needle at you painfully. It remembers how is scared you, but it definately is not some defenceless and puny animal. »

Keriana coughs. « Hardly defenceless. » She launches into a tale of the one time where a fish, most large, destroyed most of a ship and sent all the crew into the water. " It was a very big fish. As big as.. Kilaueth." She can't decide whether or not to be annoyed with it, or ask it if has cold feet. Because whenever Keriana's mommy had cold feet, she got grouchy. « But they're very nice.. sometimes. The brighter blues are nice. That's not evil, right?»

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark sounds… smug? Ofcoarse it isn't defenceless. The ones that look the most weak could prove to be deadly, afterall. The stilling colors meld back into that desert of heat, again, quiet as ever as it listens to the story. A fish? That large? Well, there ya go! It proves its point. The tendril comes out again and twirls around- without those spines exposed. It doesn't hurt, does it? It blinks, though there is no actual view of blinking- more of a mental recognition. WHo is that? That name? Are they that big? At her comment of blue, the desert gains a sky, shining brilliantly in the… sunlight? Though there is no sun in the view. Blue is good. »

Mylla rushes into the cavern, looking a little out of breath. She must've gotten notice about the touching a little late. She takes a quick look around to make sure nobody's waiting to reprimand her for her tardiness before she sneaks off into the eggs. Today, she thinks she'll try touching one she hasn't had the chance to spend time with yet: The Second To the Right Egg. She places her hand on it, gingerly.

Keriana sagenods. So many things to discuss. At the mention of Kilaueth, she sends a mental image of the giant gold, patiently watching the eggs and.. sleeping on the sands. "That's, well, your mommy." Because it's the best way to describe it. « That's better. None of those little.. pokey things. And blue is good. How is that that you know so much?» The mindspeak gets a little easier everytime she uses it.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells loop in, a bright ball of light gleaming so brilliantly at the joy of itself. It loops in tiny cartwheels, shimmering and jingling with gay laughter. Oh how wonderful to be me! It seem to declare in every flicker and chime. There's a pause. It wheels about to you and tinkles merrily. There's a spray of glitter upon you, dazzling and twinkling like stars within your mind. Isn't that just wonderful? A little tune pipes in the back of your mind. It soars around you, and it's own glitter jingling and piping merrily. »

Mylla smiles at the egg, rubbing the shell gently. She seems to be somewhat refreshed by the contact. These sorts of eggs are far more pleasant to interact with than the downers, or the angry ones. She giggles, unafraid to reply to the egg allowed, no matter how odd it sounds. "Well, you're a happy little one."

Resistance Against The Sun Egg to Keriana> « Deep Voices in the Dark coughs again. Big. What could possibly be the point of being so big. Smaller is better? Or do you think bigger is better? The green tendril twirls tighter, but more in a snug embrace then in pain. Though in some form, a bit of unplesantness is present. The heat will account for that, this time. A question forms and the heat increases, almost like noon in a desert. Do you not know much? WHy would it not know so much? Don't they all? The voices are in their usual background talk again, almost comfortable now with the touchee's presence. »
Keriana digests all the information running past her. "Well, yes, big. I'm not sure she had much choice in the matter. I'm small, though.. right now, and I didn't have much choice, although I suppose that I could get much bigger.. relatively." All these.. people to answer in there. Are they ghosts? Are dragons the souls of our ancestors? Like.. the stars.. An interesting sort of inquiry, perhaps to be appreciated. « Some of them are more curious in knowing what I know, others are more interested in telling me what they know, and having me fill in the gaps. But you've never been outside your egg, so.. it's surprising. Babies, or.. our babies.. don't really know very much. But I can't think to our babies.»

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells spin about you once more, hidden metallic tones of games and adventures echoing after. How can it -not- be happy? Suddenly all around you is the most magnificent jungle with jeweled flowers and decadent greenery. Where has the sparkle gone? Why -here- silly! It zooms forward from behind and emerald leaf and jingles a giggle of joy. Blowing glitter at you the landscape changes to a beautiful blue-green lagoon, dolphin-people laying all over the rocks. Then again to another lagoon with a great ship. It seems to be showing you the interior of it's littel world. Where should tey play first? Another place, a wild-people's camp. And another, a ring of trees. »

Mylla breaks into a fit of giggling, her eyes unfocusing a little as she seems to be lost in whatever mental world the egg is transporting her to. "Wow, you have such an incredibly beautiful imagination… I love the water. Which one is your favorite?"

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells shimmers a moment in thought. It -has- no favorites. They are all favorites! Or they wouldn't be here! It jingles a moment and returns to the first lagoon. You liked the water? The Dolphin-People? Yes or the Pirates? Another shift. Or… Another shift, a new place, a rock out in the middle of another lagoon allll alone. Marooner's Rock? Ooh! Off in the distance, rounding the corner to the rock is a little rowboat, two men sitting in on one end and one lady sitting at the other. It jingles and zooms forward! Follow me and keep hidden, it chimes. »

Mylla continues to giggle at the egg, looking rather dazed, happy, and lost. "That's so vivid… did you get these memories from other candidates, or did come up with these places yourself?" She decides to share some of her own memories with the egg, focusing on her recent swim with the local dolphins.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells jingles, pausing. The boat goes on by the rock almost at once as the little mind changes course. Dolphins! Like the Dolphin people! It changes to the dolphin-people lagoon and jingles again. They are suddenly underwater, this little light more a glow. Dolphin people swim with dolphins and giant runner-fish with spiral horns. The dappled elegance of the water plays over their skins and scales and causes the runner-fish's manes to sparkle and gleam. »
Mylla looks increasingly disconnected from reality. One unfamiliar with the effects of egg touchings might think she was drunk, or otherwise under the ifluence of some mind-altering substance. "That's beautiful… Show me more of it, please?"

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells is delighted! It zooms off deeper into the water, you following without much choice. A Dolphin-people city is nestled in large gardens of coral and seaweed. Each building is decorated with disgarded shells and gloriously colorful urchins, anemones and sponges, all resembling bubbles in shape. Some connected together in a chain of bubble-houses. Another chime. The dolphin-people seem gathered together for something. An attack on the pirates! They ride on runnerfish and dolphins, all ready for battle in gleaming shell armour. The lady Dolphin-people are tossing colorful sea-flowery things to their companions as they go by. One of the males on a great white dolphin sees the sparklie and it's friend, you, and swims over. There's the distinct impression of help needed. With a jingle and dazzling sparkle the mind informs the Dolphin-man of the boat over the marooner's rock lagoon. The Dolphin-man thanks you and the mind both and turns his people that way. Charge! »

Mylla wanders along in the mental world the egg creates for her, swaying a little as her fingers trace over the shell, her mental self following where it is bid. She looks as though she's still enjoying herself, though perhaps a bit concerned. "This won't be violent, will it?"

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells shimmers curiously. Violent? It gently picks out an image for reference and suddenly shivers. Oh dear no! No no no! It jingles and plays a tune, replaying battles with the wild-people and the pirates and how they just catch one another. Like a game! When the game is over every one's returned and the game starts over! In this little world there was no violence as everything taht was pretend and a game was the reality. If you said you were the Queen of all Pern the little shimmer would believe you! »

Mylla seems thrilled and relieved with whatever response she gets from the egg, nodding excitedly at it, even though it can't see her. Hopefully, the emotion of it comes across regardless. "I hope that when you hatch, the world is as wonderful as it is for you now."
Keriana has disconnected.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells are thoughtful again. A visitor told it of bad things in the world outside. Made it sad. But then showed it good thing too! Like you showing dolphins! It jingles and they are out of the water and on top of Red Butte, except all the color has been doubled vividly. Like this. And now to the hills in High Reaches, covered in dew. Again the color is surreal and the sparkle of the dew like the glory of stars. It shimmers and pipes a little tune. To live, it declares, will be an awefully big adventure! »

Mylla grins and nods to the egg, in definite agreement. "Life is the biggest adventure of all! I'm certain you won't be disappointed. Is there anything you want to know more about? I know lots about the world outside. I'm a bit of an adventurer, like you are. Or will be."

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells jingles. What sort of adventures? It likes stories and you get the impression of it sitting on the floor infront of you, glowing with attentive interest. The area around them has returned to the black void that it began, with sparkles and glitter here and there. Its your turn to paint the picture, though you can be almost certain any images you give will be twice their brightness and vivid in color. »

Mylla looks almost disappointed for a moment as the world of imagination drifts away, but she seems excited about the prospect of sharing her stories with the egg. She conjures up images from all over Xanadu: The forest, the beach, the caves, snow, rain, and sun. She shows a vivid image of a sunset seen from the canyons of Igen. Then, not just places, but tales of her personal exploits: pranks played on riders, elaborate matchmaking schemes involving her friends, and endless heroic and daring escapes from chores to enjoy the world outside.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells ooh and ah in all the right places, facinated and rivetted by each vision and tale. It jingles and adds some images of Xanadu to it's home. And some of Igen. It twinkles curiously at Xanadu. That felt familiar. It couldn't explain why but it pipes the little tune for Xanadu that it hears and feels when you show it images and tell it stories. It wonders why? Do you know? »

Mylla grins and nods, quite happy to see the egg pick up on this sort of thing. "Xanadu is your home." She responds verbally only with that before she slips into providing more images, from everywhere around the weyr. She adds in some images of the egg's mother and father as well.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells jingle in alarm! Home?! Where it will be going soon? It jingles flitting through images of its jungle island nervously as if afraid to leave it, but no! It's not scared! It looks over these images of Xanadu then of the two dragons. Mother? Father? What're those? Do you have them? It shows the image again of the bronze and gold, both vivid and shiney. Like that? It pipes curiously. It is still very much the child. »

Mylla seems to find the egg absolutely endearing, repeatedly breaking down into giggles. "No reason to be scared, darling. Xanadu, your home, is a wonderful place. There will be plenty of adventure there for you." She conjures up images of her own parents, as well as one of herself for good measure.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells are exicted at the promises of adventure. But the bells chime, confused a moment, images swapping paticularly between the two sets of parents. They sure don't look alike that's for sure. It jingles curiously then looks at the image of you, then parents, then its parents. It jingles once more. You look like your parents. It denotes this buy covering the images with sparkles so they look like they were made with tiny gems. Will it look like these? »

Mylla grins from ear to ear, clearly delighted with the egg. "You've got the right idea. People look like their parents, most of the time. That's how it works. Of course, you might not look exactly like them. You might look more like this." She transmits the image of a brown dragon. "Or one of these." Blues and greens follow. "Nobody can tell until you hatch."

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells shimmer with great intrigue, those dragon images swapping quickly. So many colors! It wants to be all of them! At once! Or maybe not at once but to change. It pauses a moment and shifts it's little shiney self into each one. Though each color is brilliant and rich of it color. It is not sure. It goes back to it's shiney little light and twinkles. It shall stay like this for now. Too many to choose from. And it doesn't get to choose. Sad twinkle, followed quickly by a happy twinkle at the surprise! There's a whistling tune and it wonders if your kind are only one color? The images pop up and it gazes at them. Your parents and your skin gets changed gold, then bronze, then brown, then blue, then green. »

Mylla giggles and shakes her head, clearly amused by the idea, but attempting to gently correct the dragon. "That's not quite how it works. Dragons can be any one of those five colors. That's what you are, a dragon. I'm a human, and we look a little different. See?" She thinks of all the people she knows, her friends, relatives, and rivals, with all different colors of skin, hair, and eyes.

Second To The Right Egg to Mylla> « Tinklings of Tiny Golden Bells are envious of the many choices of colors! Not as dazzling as blue and green and gold, but still different and beautiful! It sparkles and applies these images to the faces of the dolphin-people, pirates, and wild-people excitedly. Now it has so many different things! What joy! Suddenly a tune pipes up from a ways off. There's something haunting in it, for you know it very well from when you were little but would never be able to play it no matter how hard you tried. The little shimmery star twinkles a moment, reguarding the tune then you. It must go. But it sprays you with a load of lovely and colorful glitter and leaves you with the images of the Dolphin-people which fades as teh shimmering light twinkles out of sight till only the vaguest outline of the images in glitter can be seen, winking at you. »

Mylla smiles as she withdraws from the egg, her fingertips barely brushing the surface of the shell for a moment, gradually breaking contact to ease the pain of the farewell. "Well, goodbye for now. I hope you have all the adventures you want to." She then breaks off completely, reluctantly filing out of the cavern with the other candidates.

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