Week 4 Wher Bonding (Final Week)

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Quote:

Throughout the month the pups will bond with the candidates. Towards the end of the month they will begin to draw towards a certain person and this bond will strengthen. A wher is considered to have made their choice when they broadcast their name as that of the candidate they have chosen. Unlike dragon impression a wher’s bond is not guaranteed once it is made. A pup may announce their name but should that person neglect or mistreat them the bond will weaken and break. Possibly a wher could be bonded to a candidate they knew, but after a month the chance or bonding successfully becomes slimmer and slimmer. Often pups that have not made a successful bond by the end of their second month will have to be euthanised before they become feral and dangerous.

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 14th June, after which point bonding will be final.

The Pups
Hidden – 3'1'' long, 1'3'' at the shoulder
Colour: Green
Build: Standard
Hit Points: 0
Strength: 0
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0


Music – 3'5'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Colour: Green
Build: Lean
Hit Points: 0
Strength: 0
Stamina: 0
Speed: 1
Dexterity: 1

Grave – 3'6'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Colour: Blue
Build: Overmusculed
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Moonlight – 3'6'' long, 1'5'' at the shoulder
Colour: Green
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Water – 3'7'' long, 1'6'' at the shoulder
Colour: Blue
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Blood – 3'7'' long, 1'6'' at the shoulder
Colour: Green
Build: Overmusculed
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Misshapen – 3'11'' long, 1'8'' at the shoulder
Colour: Bronze
Build: Standard
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 0
Stamina: 1
Speed: 1
Dexterity: 1

Ancient – 4'3'' long, 1'9'' at the shoulder
Colour: Brown
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0

Dyad – 4'8'' long, 1'11'' at the shoulder
Colour: Gold
Build: Muscular
Hit Points: 1
Strength: 1
Stamina: 0
Speed: 0
Dexterity: 0  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 1 Prompts

As the pups got older, they got more curious. Water, now that hunger was starting to stir in him, was looking for something a little different today. He could go to where the meat was kept and attempt to eat his fill before anyone stopped him, or he could beg from one of the adults. Instead he wanted to see if he could find something for himself. Water had seen the little creatures that got into the den sometimes come out of the sand. Hopefully he could find one today and eat it, determined the blue began to rifle through the sand.

Play was an important part of development for a wher pup. Unfortunately, the line between play and what looked like actual fighting was a rather thin one. Moonlight and Music were circling each other. Well, it was as close to a circle as the unsteady whers were likely to get. Moonlight threw herself forward in what could have been considered a charge, although it could also be called a targeted fall. Regardless of the inelegance of it, she hit her target, the two pups rolling together across the floor.

Music wasn’t about to give up the fight. The two were very similar in size, although Moonlight was much heavy set than Music. However, it was already clear that Music was faster and more agile than her more muscular sister. Twisting around the young pup snapped toothless gums at Moonlight’s chest, wriggling to get herself onto the top of the pile they made. With Moonlight on top Music had little chance of winning, but if she could get on top then victory was possible.

 

[Earisa]

The pups had come a long way already since they hatched, blind and not much bigger then a firelizard, and still had a long way to go yet. They were sleeping much less and playing much more, their personalities standing out more for better or worse. Today Jelric caught Water digging through the sand, wondering if the blue had dug the hole for Grave yesterday or whether digging was the latest game they all wanted to play. The man watched the pup dig for a few moments before stepping in to help, pushing away the piling sand that was spilling back into the hole as the pup dug.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

At first Water didn't realise he had company, he was deep in the sand and focused on trying to dig up a bug and find out what it tasted like. The sand kept slipping back into the space he made no matter how much he pushed it behind him. The sound of shifting sand that was out of sync with his own digging caused the blue to pause. Looking up his large eyes settled on Jelric, the pup giving a happy peep as he realised what the candidate was doing. Thank you, that was very helpful. Thanks given Water dove back into the sand, pushing it out of his way with his forepaws. There had to be something down here.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 2 Prompts

As play became more and more interesting objects had begun to find their way into the den. Mainly things that the pups could hurt themselves with such as rocks and thick pieces of wood. It was one such piece that Misshapen was batting around the floor of the den now. He was enjoy hitting it and then shuffling along after to hit it again. That was until he hit it hard enough that the piece of wood went flying far enough to thunk into the side of Ancient. The larger pup turned sharply to look at Misshapen, a huff of displeasure. Misshapen lowered himself slightly, it had been an accident.

Ancient looked at the piece of wood, before leaning down and picking it up. This earned a squeak of protest from Misshapen who actually shot up. That was his! The smaller bronze moved forward and took hold of one end of the wood in his gums, pulling hard. Ancient was in no mood to give up however, digging his feet into the sand he tugged also. Small growls came from the two as they both tugged at the wood. Ancient seemed stronger, but Misshapen was determined, being dragged along, but refusing to let go.

Not bothered by her siblings issues, Dyad was having a great deal of fun with a stone she had found. The large, smooth, rock fit comfortably in her mouth, and the pup had discovered it made noises when she hit things with it, and that the noise changed depending on what she hit. The sand made a sort of puff sound. Another stone made a click. The adult wher made a soft thunk, followed by a growl. Now she was carrying her rock elsewhere, to find new sounds to make.

 

[Earisa]

Things were a bit lively tonight, it was good to see Misshapen standing up for himself though Jelric had never seen Ancient being so aggressive. At least it shouldn't be a messy fight between them, they should be fine to sort it out themselves. On the other hand Dyad had sparked his curiosity, walking around with a rock and dropping it on things. A little concerning that she was dropped it on other whers, but luckily she hadn't hurt anyone. So far.

Thinking how to draw her attention before she got herself in to trouble, Jelric picked up an empty wooden bowl and rapped on it with his knuckles. Maybe she would be interested in that sound.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

Dyad had just been gearing up to throw her rock against the wall of the den to see what kind of noise that made, when a sound cut through her thoughts. It wasn't a wher sound, or the natural sounds that she was used to hearing. Turning her head the gold narrowed her eyes as she looked for the source of the sound. It wasn't that difficult. The den was small and wher senses were keen. She looked at the bowl, not really acknowledging who was holding it. It was simple enough to understand how the sound had been made and that gave her an idea. Turning in a wide arc the pup shuffled over to Jelric, paws insistently batting at the bowl. Give it to her. She wanted it now.  

[Earisa]

Jelric laughed as Dyad became interested in the wooden bowl. "Oh course you can have it, my lady." letting her take it from his hands. It was always good to acknowledge she didn't snatch it, even if she was a little forceful on asking. The man had always though she was an aggressive bronze, but knowing now she was a gold it almost made perfect sense. No one had even thought it a possibility. Kneeling down Jelric was curious what she would do with her new 'toy'.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Earisa

Batting the bowl to the ground Dyad set about arranging it. The pup pushed it so that it was upright between her forepaws, into the exact position that she wanted it. Straightening up she held the rock up above the bowl, moving her head slightly to get it into the right position. Then she dropped it. The stone fell into the bowl with a clatter, bouncing against the sides and coming to rest at the bottom of the bowl. All the while Dyad stared at it in fascination. Carefully lifting a paw she batted at the bowl, causing the rock inside to clack against the sides.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Day 3 Prompts

Learning was important, and Hidden had quickly learned that sand was not a great burrowing material. Oh, she could dig pits in it like her siblings, but those were real dens. They didn't give her ample coverage. Hidden was finding that she liked ambushing things. Waiting for a trundlebug to walk right up to her and then smooshing it. This was her main goal. For that sand wasn't the best material, but Hidden made do with what she had. Either nobody had noticed the pup bury herself or nobody cared, but the green had managed to wallow herself down and cover herself with a thin layer of sand, until just her snout and eyes were visible. Then she lay in wait.

Music was more focused on the audible learning than her sister. The pup had taken to sitting near the opening of the den and listening hard. She was curious what all the sources of noise were out there. Human and wher voices were diverse, and she spent plenty of time imitating those sounds, but there were always new noises from the tunnel. Things she couldn't copy so easily. Perhaps if she saw how they were made it would be easier, but for now sitting and listening was her only option.

It was Blood that was caught in her smaller sister's trap. The largest of the greens had been quite contentedly walking through the den when Hidden exploded out of the sand and collided with her. Blood gave a startled trumpet as she fell, but Hidden probably hadn't thought her target through carefully enough. Half a foot longer, several inches taller, and a lot heavier than Hidden, it took Blood virtually no time at all to gain the upper hand. With a thump the larger green sat on her sister, ignoring the indignant shrieks Hidden was giving as the weight kept her down.

 

[Revel1984]

Bekah entered the wher den, wondering which youngling to approach first, she'd been as surprised as anyone that there'd been a Gold hatchling and that had intrigued her, what could that mean for the dragons? immune Golds from Green queens perhaps? Nevermind, it was Whers that mattered right now.

She watched, waiting for one, maybe Music, to perhaps approach her, as a sign of confidence to approach others, that would be important, confident but not too overbearing she hoped. She began to hum a little to herself, sadly it was rather out of tune.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Revel1984

Given that she tended to sit by the entrance Music was used to candidates passing by as they came and went into the den. Some would stop and spend time with her, that was nice, but she wasn't bothered when some passed her by. The pup was fairly certain that some didn't even notice her small form. So when Bekah entered the cavern and passed her by Music didn't give it much thought, she was content to listen at the entryway.

That is until a sound interrupted her. Humming Music had learned was an enjoyable thing, and she liked the range that candidates had shown her that humans were capable of. The pup had quickly come to realise though that tune was important. This sound was decidedly not in tune. The green slowly turned her head and looked at Bekah. Rather swiftly she was at the candidate's side raising a foot to gently rest on the healer's leg. No, no, please stop. The wher hummed back Bekah, adjusting it into something that closer resembled a tune. There, like that.  

[Revel1984]

If Bekah was surprised by the sudden appearance of Music by her side, she didn't show it on her face, she stopped humming the moment the foot touched her leg, she very much picked up on that intent. She attempted to match Music's tone as she resumed humming but was still a bit off key, it was closer than before though, having a partner definitely helped.  

[The_Muffin_Puppy]

Revel1984

Music listened quietly, flinching when Bekah got the tune wrong. Not quite. Again the pup repeated the tune. Hopefully the candidate would get it with time.  

[Revel1984]

it tok a few shaky stops and starts but soon Bekah worked out the best way to humm with music so it sounded somewhat decent. "Nice to see you again" she said to the wher, wondering if she would let her pet her again, at least... she was sure it was the same wherlet