[Wher Hatching] Fright Beside You (Open)

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

The candidates had been allowed to come and go as they pleased for the past sevenday. Some made more use of it than others, choosing to be within the den every moment they could get away with. Others seemed to have specific times they liked to visit each day. Fortunately none had been foolish enough to not visit. Mezask would have refused to let them back if that had happened. The green wouldn't tolerate their rudeness. There were some that she liked more than others. A few had won her favour my bringing her gifts. Usually in the form of a small wherry or some other pleasant to eat offering. Her pack kept her well fed, but the matriarch wasn't one to turn down treats.

The clutch had begun sluggishly shifting a few hours ago. The time was close, she could feel that. It would likely be some time tonight. Many of the candidates were already in the den. As her eggs became more spirited Mezask had gradually shooed them back. They needed room to move around, and not to be crowded. There would be plenty of time for the candidates to fawn over her perfect children once they were out of the eggs. Meat had been brought and placed tactically in the den. The ground mush wasn't to Mezask's fancy, but her toothless pups would need it. There were plenty of candidates to feed them, but still Mezask and some of the other whers kept meat nearby. Should they need to feed the wherlets themselves.

The Blood Egg gave a jolt and a loud crack sounded through the den. Mezask was instantly alert. Whers didn't hum, but the barracks were soon alive with the snorts, clicks, rumbles and other excited calls of the pack of greens. Word spread quickly. Any candidates that hadn't gathered within the last few hours had best get there soon. Lest they miss the event and risk Mezask's displeasure.

Rules
- Members of Fort Weyr wherpack may be present in the hatching den.
- Handlers of the wherpack and candidates are the only humans allowed within the wher den.
- Firelizards are not allowed in the wherden.
- Candidates are expected to be present. They may not be looked on kindly if they are absent from the hatching.
- Candidates should show ample respect to Mezask as she can throw them out whenever she wants.
- The cavern is small and dim, candidates will have little space and should move with caution.
- Wher eggs are roughly circular, lumpy, and between five and eight inches in diameter.
- Candidates are encouraged to cautiously approached hatched whers. It is important to get them all fed and asleep as swiftly as possible. The most important aspect is keeping the pups happy.
- Wher pups don't have teeth and aren't especially nimble. They can leave a bruise through biting and might manage to break the skin with their claws if there's force behind a swipe.
- Any wher not attended to by a PC will be assumed to be getting the care they need from another candidate or adult wher.
- Candidates are supplied with buckets of ground meat for the whers to consume. They may eat until they fall asleep.
- Whers do not bond at their hatching. They have weeks left before they decide which candidate they want.

The Eggs


Water Egg - 2'10'' long, 1'2'' at the shoulder
Blood Egg - 3'4'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Dyad Egg - 4'0'' long, 1'8'' at the shoulder
Music Egg - 2'11'' long, 1'2'' at the shoulder
Moonlight Egg - 3'3'' long, 1'4'' at the shoulder
Ancient Egg - 3'7'' long, 1'6'' at the shoulder
Misshapen Egg - 3'4'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Hidden Egg - 2'7'' long, 1'1'' at the shoulder
Grave Egg - 2'11'' long, 1'2'' at the shoulder

Sign-Ups are still open until 7th June.

 

[TawnyAngel]

Today was a good day! Nine new whers would be joining their pack, it wouldn't be forever for the males but that didn't mean Beresk wouldn't be pleased to see them; one day they would leave, and take their bloodline to a new pack elsewhere as was only right.

An evening off wasn't something Bereck usually took but it wasn't every day the pack had a new clutch, wasn't every turn even, and so although he was only tangentially attached to the Weyr's handlers he wouldn't have missed it even if one of his students hadn't been intending to try to bond to one of them. A green would be best for Bekah of course; if she got a male she'd have to move on from Fort sooner rather than later - even-tempered though Beresk was she wouldn't tolerate working with a mature male - and a gold would be far too big to be practical in an infirmary, bulls and glassmith's workshops came to mind.

In the complete darkness Bereck relied on his wher's senses, one of the eggs was already moving vigorously and he was sure that others wouldn't be far behind.

As the tension and excitement began to build Beresk's rumbling and clicking grew louder - pups soon!  

[Revel1984]

Bekah was looking forward to the whers hatching and had been in the den, with Mesask's permission of course, she never failed to pay the green respect, as soon as the first rumbles of hatching began. She was glad her mentor Bereck was there with his green Beresk, she really liked the green wher, Seeing the bond between her and Bereck and how they worked to help make medicines had really inspired her, especially after her encounter with a bonded wher acting strangely just before her Bonded showed any symptons of being unwell. She was excited to try see if she could work with a wher to help other people in the sense Bereck and Beresk worked together to help people, it led to better treatments and more recoveries from things that could have taken longer otherwise.

She tried to keep her dreaming in check as the Blood Egg cracked, While she knew it wasn't like a dragon's hatching, it would be the start of bonding with the whers that could bond to them.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Eggs lurched and began to shift in their shallow wallows. Hidden began to shift, the first time it had ever willingly drawn attention to itself. From within Music could be heard the insistent scratching of claws. Blood jolted as cracks began to spread over the red shell. Every egg except for Grave was taking up movement. Water and Ancient were more reserved in their motions, while Moonlight began to buck fiercely.

However, it was Misshapen that was the first to spill its contents onto the sand. Slowly rocking the egg unexpectedly pitched forward. Collapsing the side of the wallow that held it in place it fell heavily to one side. Were the egg truly circular it might have rolled. In fact even a slightly less lumpy wher egg might have rolled. Misshapen did not roll. Pitching onto the indented side the egg is incapable of rolling any further. This does not stop the wherlet inside. With their egg jolting to a sudden stop, the pup comes crashing through the side of the shell, rolling across the sand with a startled mewl. Thudding to a stop the wherlet lies on their stomach, head slowly lifting. Eyes closed still, the pup relies on their nose, sniffing the air.

Misshapen is alone now, their siblings feel far away all of a sudden. They do not understand. A low, sad, and frankly pitiful groan comes from the pudgy pup as they lay in the sand. They try to get their thick limbs underneath themselves, but thud back down to the ground before they even manage one. A sad peeping begins to come from the wherlet. Help. Please? They were so hungry, and so alone.

 

[Revel1984]

Bekah watched as eggs made movements, this was her first Wher hatching so this was definitely strange and new compared to the Dragon hatchings she'd attended, though she knew what to expect. She did not, however, expect the first egg hatching like it did, or how vulnerable the wherlet was going to be, she bit her lip in indecision for a moment, but remembering that these were Whers, not Dragons, she decided to help "Here little one, there's food here" she said, gesturing to the bowl of meat mush in her other hand. It was up to the little dark blob with bright eyes in the gloom to decide what to do next.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Slowly Misshapen's head turned towards the voice. They didn't fully understand what was being said really, but sniffing in that direction brought a smell that made their stomach audibly grumble. Driven onward by the voice, which didn't seem to be shooing them away, and this new smell. Misshapen began to scooch forward on their stomach. Their legs were still being uncooperative, but wriggling along seemed to be working to some degree. Reaching Bekah the wherlet let out a pleasant rumble. Reaching their head forward into the bowl, the pup tentatively scooped up a mouthful. Hesitant, just in case the candidate should pull it back at the last moment.

Music was the next to join the fray. Vibrating excitedly, with the frenzied sound of scratching coming from within it was hardly surprising. The egg could hardly hold up to the onslaught for long. Collapsing away it left another pudgy, albeit smaller, wherlet in the den. Sitting in the remnants of their egg, Music turned their head this way and that. It would look like they were looking around, were it not that their eyes were still firmly closed. Tuneful peeps and whistles began to emanate from the pup. They were quiet happy to be here. Getting out of the egg was quiet an accomplishment in their opinion. Still now the emptiness in their belly was becoming most insistent.

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Thasne sat quietly in the den. Being that she had come to the Weyr to bond, there wasn't really anything else for her to do here. That meant she had spent most every moment that she wasn't eating, sleeping, or bathing in the wher den. It helped that she had been given a location in the wher barracks to use during her stay. This had made staying nearby very easy. For the past several days Thasne had done her best to stay out of Mezask's way and not make a nuisance of herself. She tried to be in contact with one egg or another as often as possible, but was quick to scamper away when any of the other whers approached the eggs. So far it had done her well and they'd not become visibly irritated by her presence.

That meant that the miner had been in the den for the past few candlemarks. Once the eggs had started moving and Mezask had shooed the candidates off the woman had parked herself and waited. That had meant skipping a meal and the hunger was starting to get to her by the time the pack perked up. It was easy to forget though when the unmistakable sound of eggs cracking sounded in the dark.

The first egg rolled and spilled out its occupant. Thasne squinted in the darkness to try and see what colour the wher was, but she couldn't tell. If her memory was right that had been the large green egg near the back. One she had considered a potential choice for a pup she would like to pursue. Unfortunately as she sat debating another candidate managed to coax the wherlet over to eat. It wasn't a catastrophe. Feeding a pup made a good impression, but there were plenty of meals between hatching and bonding.

Another egg hatched and Thasne waited. Looking at this pup it was smaller, but she really didn't know enough to say. A small pup could be a green or blue. There again maybe this hatchling wasn't small and Misshapen was actually huge? Thasne tried to recall which egg this one had hatched from. Casting her eyes around the miner looked at the remaining eggs. Moonlight or Music if she was correctly making out the sizes of those left. Not the smallest, but on the smaller side. So likely a green or blue. A blue would be good. Ideal probably.

Nobody was moving towards the little pup. Feeding it wouldn't guarantee the wherlet would take a liking too her. Which might be for the best, Thasne couldn't tell what colour the wher was. Still she couldn't afford to keep hesitating. Otherwise she would never be able to successfully bond with any wher, let alone be picky about it. Slowly the miner shuffled forward, careful to mind where her feet were going. Holding out the bowl of mince she offered it out to the pup.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Music was hesitant at first, the pup tilting their head as the smell of food grew stronger. Turning towards the smell the pudgy newborn sniffed the air. Very carefully the wher climbed to their feet. Wobbling uncertainly they tipped backwards, landing on their rump with a peep of surprise. Well, Music would not be deterred. Clearly more comfortable controlling their front limbs, the wher began to half scooch, half crawl forwards. They let their nose guide them closer and closer to the scent of food. Fortunately there wasn't far to go before food was available. Letting out a happy squeal the pup took a large mouthful of meat from Thasne's bowl, whistling happy around the mush in their mouth.

The remaining seven eggs were making gradual progress. A small shard chipped away from Moonlight, a snuffling snout poking through the hole. Dyad gave a spirited hop, while near the back Hidden gave another shudder. Only Grave remained still, the grey egg still having not moved despite the growing enthusiasm of their clutch siblings. It was Blood that next made their entrance into the world. One of the first to crack their shell, the dark fissures had been growing over the shell. The red surface had resisted the wherlet inside's assault for a considerable time. When it finally relented the egg fell apart into pieces. A new wher lying still in the shards. Blood's tiny face creased as it began to shuffle. The shards beneath them were uncomfortable and they did not like it.

 

[Earisa]

Jelric had done his best to visit the whers every day, and stay for as long as he could. Adjusting to a nocturnal lifestyle was a challenge, but one he had signed up to. Some days his eyes burned with fatigue, others he could only spend a few hours before dawn after finishing his work in the kitchens. The whers, or Mezask since she was the one she needed to ensure was happy, didn't seem to mind. Bringing treats from the kitchens seemed to help.

The darkness in the cavern was a problem he hadn't fully thought through. It was too dark to tell the colour of the hatchlings, and the eggs had been shuffled around so he wasn't sure which one was which. He wanted to bond the males, but had to be satisfied that he would have weeks more to single out an appropriate pup. In the mean while all he could do was treat them all equally, make sure they were fed and did not wander from the nest. The latest to crack shell seemed to be shuffling a lot but not moving. Gingerly he reached out, worried it was distressed, fingers feeling for leathery skin and brushing the sticky shell fragments off. In the moment he wasn't sure which end was the head, so it was hard to offer it any food.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Blood continued to wriggle in irritation until they felt something brushing their back. Stilling suddenly the pup waited. Oh, the unpleasant things were being removed. That was good. Blood did not like them. Letting out a happy hum, the wherlet lifted their unseeing head towards Jelric. Thank you for that, it was most unpleasant. Sniffing the air the wher made a questioning whistle. They didn't suppose Jelric had any food on him? They were famished you see. It certainly smelled like he did, but they didn't want to presume.

A third of the eggs had hatched now and two pups were already being fed. Mezask looked out across the den, keeping a careful eye on all the candidates. She wouldn't tolerate anyone being heavy-handed, or rude, or anything else she didn't like. Perhaps the green should have turned the same attention to her eggs. Just as their mother was staring down the candidates the Dyad Egg gave another lurching jolt. The large egg swung out, colliding with the Grave Egg. Cracks rippled across both shells from the point of impact. For half of a heart beat the Dyad egg was still, before it lurched forward again and slammed into the grey egg a second time. Two strikes were all it took and two wher pups tumbled to the sand in a heap.

They however seemed very different in demeanour. Tangled together in a mess of pudgy limbs and sticky goop. One began to writhe almost immediately, giving irritated cheeps, not really caring at all that their paws were repeatedly slamming down with damp slaps onto their sibling. The second wher didn't seem to really notice either. The pup lay in the remnants of their egg, not moving. The only sign that they were even alive was a low groan that came from their throat.

 

[Earisa]

The sounds the hatchling made sounded happy, Jelric must have done something right. Feeling it move under his hand he could better guess which end was the head, offering it a handful of meat goop from the bucket. There was cracking and wriggling followed by chirping and... slapping? Was another one in trouble? With one hand busy feeding one he did not know if he could find it in the gloom. Filling his other hand with another lump of mushy meat and reached it out into the clutch. Maybe hunger could lead it out.  

[Revel1984]

There was plenty of food in the container for more than one wherlet, if any wished to come over to where she was feeding misshapen, Bekah encouraged it with warm thoughts. She watched as another egg hatched, impossible to tell colours properly in the gloom, Music's melodies were rather more tuneful than the average Wher noises which made her smile, ah someone was feeding that one, good. Blood hatched and even in the darkness she could feel how irritated it was, Perhaps if it moved OFF the shards of it's shell, it would be more comfortable, but then it seemed Blood was getting help, ok good.

When one egg smashed another open, two wherlets tangled, She was rather concerned about the one that was rather still. She wondered what Mesask was going to do, would it be ignored because it seemed weak? Bekah was concerned enough to place the bowl the wherlet in front of her was eating, down on the ground, grabbing another and moving carefully towards the two tangled ones, gently urging the more active one to move away so she could feed the unmoving one beneath it, her instinct to help and care for others didn't end at Humans, she wanted to help the creatures too. She hoped Grave wherlet was going to be okay. "Hey there, need some food?" she murmured, holding the bowl towards the baby, hoping it's more active sibling wasn't going to shove it's way in first but if it did, she hoped someone else would distract that one.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Dyad hadn't really been looking for food, but when it was held out in front of them they weren't going to refuse. The wher's head snapped forward, grabbing the lump immediately and gulping it down. They soon began to cheep insistently for more. It had brought to them before and they wanted more. They were so focused on the first source of food that they didn't even notice Bekah approaching. Grave did though. At first the wherlet didn't really move, just huffed in a few deep breathes. Then, with a groan they started to right themselves. Rolling onto their stomach the pudgy pup began to lift themselves onto shaky legs. This motion completely dislodged Dyad, who gave a displeased peep as they toppled forward. A short hiss followed, before they remembered that they wanted food. Turning back in the direction of Jelric Dyad began to peep insistently once more. While Grave lurched forward to grab a mouthful out of the bowl Bekah offered.

Blood happily took the meat that was offered to them, purring with contentment as they chewed and swallowed. The pup shuffled closer to Jelric, opening their mouth wide, showing toothless gums. Could they have more please? They would really, really, really like more.

Misshapen for their part was largely unaffected by being left. If anything they had expected it. The pup continued to eat out of the bowl by themselves. Gulping down mouthful after mouthful of the soft meat. Gradually their movements grew more sluggish, in tandem with how the amount of meat in the bowl reduced, and how much of their body was inside the bowl to get to it. Sluggish movements eventually turned to no movement, but a soft snoring could be heard coming from the lumpy shadow.

With all the pups and eggs moving around it was easy to miss Ancient's arrival. One moment there was an egg covered in cracks, and the next there was a large pup sat surrounded by shards. The egg hard rather quietly caved in on itself, leaving the wherlet free. Ancient shakily lifted their head, sniffing the air and listening to all the shuffling and movement that went on around them. Well, they didn't plan to go wading in now. There was plenty of time. There was always time.

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Only three eggs remained in the clutch. The others having already unleashed their pups. Misshapen snoozed away, and Music had fallen asleep under the care of a candidate. Dyad and Blood requested food, while Grave contentedly ate what was offered. Ancient remained lying on their belly where they had hatched. They simply turned their head to listen when Moonlight's shaking caused them to break free of their wallow. The blue egg rolled a few feet before slowing. It wasn't long though before it gave another lurch that sent it rolling off to the left. Once again it slowed, a moment passed, and it rolled back to the right. Fortunately this didn't happen again as the egg split, sending a pudgy wher rolling on their side. The shell of the Moonlight Egg, still remarkably intact, lay motionless now that it's inhabitant had escaped. The Moonlight pup however was far from still. They had immediately began to wriggle, letting out bright cheeps and chirrups. The wherlet sounded happy, though with their closed eyes it was admittedly hard to tell.

Moonlight had not hatched alone. In the back of the clutch another egg had broken. When exactly Hidden had joined the bunch was uncertain. Those that had seen Ancient's arrival would have seen an egg, but sometime during the spectacle of Moonlight's entrance Hidden had also broken shell. The wher pup was crawling along on their stomach already, moving determinedly away from the throng of their siblings. Too much noise. Too much fussing. Hidden didn't want any part in all their dramatics. And if that meant they had to find their own food then so be it.

 

[Earisa]

The glop in his hands quickly disappeared, from both as another hatchling wandered over from the nest. At least the slapping stopped, whatever that was. It was much to dark to be sure of really anything so saw, the rough shapes of what he was sure were eggs were now writhing baby whers crawling around and over each other blinder then the humans in the cavern. The only thing he was sure of was the soft light that came from Mezask's eyes, always watching.

With chirps and nibbles on his hands Jelric obliged and handed more to the demanding hatchlings, accidentally knocking over his small bucket when taking his hands out. Biting back a cuss there wasn't much that he could really do about it but feed what he had to the siblings. There was more buckets, but Jelric knew he was probably going to step in it if he hadn't splattered some on himself already.