Week 3 Wher Bonding

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Reminder: Sign-Ups for this clutch are open until 07th June

Quote:

As the wherlets get used to their legs, eyes and other senses they will become more interested in their surroundings and those around them. They will begin to take notice of candidates on an individual level. Candidates are encouraged to feed, play and interact with the pups as much as possible. Although candidates may have a specific wher they feel suits their profession actively shunning a wher can have disastrous consequences and is a sure way to not be liked among the Weyr’s handlers. Different whers will respond more or less positively to interactions depending on their personality. While some whers would like to wrestle with a candidate, others would rather be held while they sleep off their meal. Candidates are advised to spend as much time in the den as they can in the first month to maximise their chances of being awake when the pups are.

From the Wherling Guide, Month 1

Rules
- Members of Fort Weyr wherpack may be present in the den.
- Handlers of the wherpack and candidates are the only humans allowed within the wher den.
- Firelizards are not allowed in the wherden.
- Candidates may now enter the den as often as they desire for as long as they desire.
- 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 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.
- Candidates are encouraged to attend to whers needs. Candidates should not squabble over hatchlings.
- 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.
- Daily prompts will be posted for three pups. Players can also have their character seek out a pup if they wish.
- Pups will not respond to posts made after 11:59pm (GMT) Sunday 7th June, after which point the Week 4 thread will begin. This is also when Sign-ups with close.

The Pups
Hidden – 2'11'' long, 1'2'' at the shoulder
Build: Standard
Hit Points: 0
Strength: 0
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0


Music – 3'3'' long, 1'4'' at the shoulder
Build: Lean
Hit Points: 0
Strength: 0
Stamina: 0
Speed: 1
Dexterity: 1

Grave – 3'3'' long, 1'4'' at the shoulder
Build: Overmuscled
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Water – 3'4'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Moonlight – 3'5'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Blood – 3'6'' long, 1'6'' at the shoulder
Build: Overmusculed
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Misshapen – 3'9'' long, 1'7'' at the shoulder
Build: Standard
Hit Points: 0
Strength: 0
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 1

Ancient – 4'0'' long, 1'8'' at the shoulder
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Dyad – 4'5'' long, 1'10'' at the shoulder
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 0
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 1 Prompts

Moonlight had woken rather suddenly and frankly very hungry. The pup immediately climbed to wobbly legs and began to snuffle over to the food, making a series of loud barks and yips as they went.

It seemed Dyad had found something to occupy them. Who it was that had brought in the lump of wood was uncertain, but it was Dyad's now. The pup lay with the thick branch between their paws, gumming all over it.

The fact that Ancient now had rather good control of their legs put them in a great mood. True they couldn't move as purposefully or as quickly as the adults or the candidates, but they could move! The pup shuffled about, batting at pebbles they found in the sand. It was fun to bat the pebble and then trundle after it to bat it again.

 

[Earisa]

It was good to see the pups up and moving about freely, no longer crawling around helplessly though some were still wobbly. They seemed more eager to interact then the usual eat and sleep routine they had before, but Jelric was trying not to worry about the fact he didn't think any of the pups so far had shown particular interest in him. Sure he had tried playing games with Dyad, puzzled Ancient's intrigues, comforted Misshapened and cuddled Blood, but it seemed they hadn't begun playing favourites themselves yet. Maybe it was too much to expect so soon, after all they had only just opened their eyes.

Most of the whers seemed content tonight, either being fed, dozing or doing their own thing. It was also nice he was starting to identify the colours of their hide better, though the poor lightning made some difficult to pin. Dyad whom Jelric had bets on being a bronze seemed happy with it's bit of stick, so the man wasn't going to bother the pup by making it think he would take away it's plaything. Ancient on the other seemed more open to play, trotting after a rock he was batting around. He had thought about things to play with the pups, their antics being much like human infants maybe they would like the same sort of toys.

Ducking outside briefly to retrieve something he crouched down near Ancient, "Hey, maybe you'll like this?" He gave the object a little shake, producing a small rattling sound. It was just a wooden ball made by gluing two small bowls together with a couple of tiny pebbles inside to produce some sound, big enough that the pups shouldn't be able to fit it in their mouths yet. With a little toss he sent the ball rolling passed Ancient to chase.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

If left to their own devises it was likely that Ancient would have played with their pebble until they got tired enough to go back to sleep. When a candidate approached they were more than happy to include them in their game, turning to peep happily at Jelric. When the candidate shook the ball the pups eyes locked onto it. It made noises, that was different to the things they had in the cavern so far.

Jelric tossed the ball and as it rolled passed Ancient they pounced on it. The round object slid from under their paws and rolled away. Ancient let out a happy trill. Aha, the game was afoot! Launching themselves the pup floundered after the ball. This time throwing their entire self onto the object. Try and escape now! The ball was wedged under Ancient's body, which allowed them time to turn and wrap their gums around the ball. If Ancient had teeth it would be unlikely that the ball would last long, but for now it was safe. Straightening up with the ball firmly grasped in their mouth Ancient turned back to look at Jelric with a triumphant (but very muffled) honk.  

[Earisa]

The toy seemed more successful then he had planned! Or maybe Ancient was just more accepting of new things, it had always been a curious pup. At least it was happy, that's what mattered, but he would have to take it away when they were done playing. Jelric didn't want the Whermaster to be upset at him if they started fighting over toys, or tried to eat it.

"Very good! Bring it back?" The man put out his hand, wondering if the pup would give it back so they could keep playing together.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

Ancient tilted their head when Jelric asked them to bring it back. They didn't really understand what he meant, but words were still a very complex subject for such a young wher. When the candidate put out his hand however the purpose became clear. Ancient was more than willing to give the ball back, temporarily of course. Jelric had made it move in a fun way, maybe he would do it again if Ancient returned the ball to him? The pup waddled back, the motion different now they were holding something in their mouth. Still the pup managed alright and was able to stretch their neck up to Jelric, offering him the rattling ball.  

[Earisa]

"Good pup!" He had not been sure if Ancient would return the ball, but was happy it had. Not that Ancient had ever seen unwilling or unable to communicate before. The ball was a bit wet with drool, but no matter. With his free hand, Jelric ran a trail of tickling scratches down Ancient's back. Giving the ball a little shake in warning he tossed the ball off again, clattering when it hit the rocky wall.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 2 Prompts

A trundlebug had managed to find their way into the den, and unfortunately for them, Hidden had been the first to find it. The small pup seemed confused by the creature at first. Shuffling along the sand they observed the bug. When this got boring they poked the bug, jumping back as it scuttled away. Now Hidden was following the bug around, poking it and hurrying to keep up as it darted around.

For some of the pups walking was the way to go. For Water jumping seemed to be the movement of choice. If the pup could hop a distance that seemed to be the way they liked to do it. The order of today was pouncing. The pup seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely as they jumped from one peak of sand to the next.

As usual Misshapen was rather subdued and alone. They had found the piece of wood that Dyad had grown bored of the day before and were off in a corner chewing it. Their gums hurt and this went some way to relieving the discomfort.

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 3 Prompts

Dyad had woken in a rather unhappy mood. Their gums hurt from where teeth were pushing through and it made the wher very grumpy. They looked around for the piece of wood that had brought relief a few days ago and found it missing. Further investigation found it in the possession of their sibling and Dyad was not happy about that at all, stomping over to retrieve what was theirs.

Misshapen had been contentedly asleep with the piece of wood between their forepaws. That all ended when a blunt head slammed into their side. The pup looked up at the growling Dyad and whined slightly, seeming to shrink under the glare of their larger sibling. The larger pup barked and that was enough to send Misshapen scuttling away to a shadowy alcove, the piece of wood abandoned.

Blood was feeling oddly lonely today. There were their siblings and the older whers, but they had gotten used to the contact of the candidates and honestly Blood enjoyed it. With some effort the pup shifted themselves as close to the entrance of the den as they dared, beginning to howl into the opening, in hopes one of the candidates would hear them.

 

[Earisa]

For the most part the pups seemed to get along, or as well as siblings tended to. It was a little surprising, though not that unexpected, to look over and see Dyad growling and barking at one of the others over that stick that had been around the past few days. This was exactly why he had to take away the ball he and Ancient had played with, he knew something like this would happen.

Well he wasn't going to scold Dyad for taking what had been given up without a fight, but Misshapen might need some attention after that ordeal. Though one of the bigger pups it was quiet and shy. Walking over her kneels by the alcove the wher had retreated to. "Had a big scare, are you okay? They didn't chase you, it's okay to come out."  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

Misshapen would have likely sulked for the rest of the day had Jelric not come and interrupted them. It was probably for the best, but the pup still tucked themselves in even tighter as the candidate knelt beside them. They'd probably get yelled at for this too. This was probably one of their siblings' favourite person and soon they'd come marching over and yell at Misshapen for interacting with him.

As the candidate spoke Misshapen looked up at him, the fuzzy form of Jelric coming into focus. Misshapen remembered this one. They remembered being petted. It was comforting, they could use some comfort about now. Spurred on by the candidates encouraging words, Misshapen inched out and over to Jelric. Flopping down with the sigh the wher felt unusually bold for a second and placed their head on Jelric's knee. Maybe he would pet them again. They hoped so.  

[Earisa]

Jelric hadn't been sure if he would have been able to get Misshapen to come out, not if it didn't want to. Hidden didn't seem to like spending time with them and Grave... well, no one was really sure what was going on with that one. As the tawny shaded pup rested it's head on his knee, The man was glad he had tried.

"There, see? It's not so bad." Scritching the wher's head knobs before stroking down it's back. Shy and quiet, the pup had a good heart. Was shaping up to be a good fit for any miner or small cot hold when it grew up.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

Misshapen relaxed against Jelric. Enjoying the attention they were receiving coming from such a large clutch it seemed easy to be missed by their more active, vocal, or impressive siblings. Although it's likely that Misshapen would consider themselves overlooked even if they were the only pup in the clutch. They just seemed to be naturally pessimistic. Still, pessimism or not, they had to admit this was nice.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 4 Prompts

Today seemed to be the day for hungry hatchlings. Hidden had already managed to work their way over to the meat without anyone noticing and was in the process of climbing inside a container to help themselves.

Music was making a sound which any who listened to them closely would have come to recognise as the hungry sound. Some called it the 'Hungry song' because of the rhythmic and comparatively pleasant noises that the pup made.

The larger Ancient was not hungry yet. They liked this being awake business and had found themselves eager to play again today. Hopefully someone would bring them something fun to play with. That would be very nice indeed.

 

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 5 Prompts

Ancient was feeling rather active today. Their limbs were getting stronger and they fell less often. They had seen some of their siblings trying this out and now they wanted to as well. The pup crouched down and pounced forward, landing with a thud as they didn't coordinate their limbs quite right on the first attempt.

Elsewhere in the cave Water seemed to also be feeling alert today. They instead were irritating one of the adult whers. Sitting behind them and batting at her tail. The adult seemed to be taking it in her stride, flicking her tail away from the pup each time they began hitting it, but who knew how long the patience would last.

Even Grave was unusually active today. In that they were doing something. The pup had found the piece of wood that had been making the rounds in the den. Although by now it was beginning to look very battered. Grave was laying on their stomach, flipping the piece of wood over between their forepaws and gnawing away at it. No doubt adding to the beaten up appearance.