Best and Brightest ~In Orbit~

[Rail]

Tashel stood in the main nerve center of Eberon he could feel the ship pulse as the doors opened and the transports bearing the queen and her clutch landed safely. Being taken down to the lower levels where a hatching sands had been set up. Eberon was tense, it had been a while since he had been a while since he had pulled himself along a the gravitational well of a planet running congruently along the magnetic edges of the poles and Tashel could tell. He knew why it bothere him so, he blind in the magnetic field unable to distinguish what ships were his friends or enemies only that there were ships coming near him.

Tashel eased Eberon with his mind to stay his weapons, and walked towards the transport as it settled. Now he would see the best and brightest the Empire had to offer, he see the next generation of his new subjects and the future of his empire.

[prissy]

~Myarin and Abarineth~

Myarin stood by her Queen Abarineth was nervous her eggs had been transported to the Leviathan Eberon and she knew the ship was uneasy. It made the Queen quite nervous but she stood with her clutch by her, that made her mollified. She looked at the Emperor with confident eyes, the Dragon was sure her eggs were fine the two gleaming Queen eggs were between her paws. Abarineth looked at Hers for a moment before gracing the Emperor with speech she was proud he was here. Thank you Emperor Tashel for allowing Mine and my clutch the honor of being hatched aboard your Leviathan it is a great honor.[/b] Abarineth told him as she looked at him with slowly whirling eyes, her clutch was secure in her paws.

Myarin was nervous however and her three pets sensed that, Morisa was purring in her arms contentedly trying to reassure her bonded. Skye and Sea were attempting to show that they were calm and happy to be there with Myarin by sitting on her shoulders satedly. They would prove they were worthy of being there as well, this was a grand day for them all, after all. “Thank you sir, we are honored to be here. I’m sure Abarineth has already said that sir.” Myarin was nervous as well.

CANDIDATES COME TO THE LOWER LEVELS A TOUCHING! MY EGGS ARE READY![/b] Abarineth announced as she looked around the cavern waiting for them to arrive.

[Krystal]

Candidate Rosella.

Rosella was nervous about being on a living ship, worried that it could harm her, or worse, kill her. Nothing about it made sense to her, and it was that that was making her worried and nervous. Then a voice boomed in her head, loud and full of authority. CANDIDATES COME TO THE LOWER LEVELS FOR A TOUCHING! MY EGGS ARE READY! It said and that made her all the more nervous. She had never been in a weyr, and certainly never on a Leviathan, as she had heard them being called.

"Shards and shells." She murmured, she didn't have the faintest idea of where she was on the ship, let alone how to get anywhere on it. She didn't even see anyone to ask directions or anything. What was she to do?

[prissy]

Dalmian heard the call of the queen he had come up with the other candidates on a shuttle. He was pleased however because he knew where he was suppose to go. Then he heared a mutter from some where nearby, who was that? He wondered and walked over to her, who was she? It was unusual for him to not know someone he was sure she was going to be curious as well.

"Hello can I help you?" He asked as he looked at the girl curious as to if he could help the girl or not. She was obviously a Candidate or at least he thought she was. But what was she doing her and not in the lower levels? "I'm Dalmian Candidate to Blood Abarineth's clutch."

[Krystal]

Apprentice Harper/Candidate Lytan

Lytan had been in his quarters, okay they weren't his but he had been allowed to use them until the hatching. Once the hatching had finished, he'd go back to the surface with the others, that is if he didn't impress. Unless the weyrlings would be transported back as well.

He had been on the Leviathan for a few days now, and had made a point to learn his way round. Although he was currently reading over a piece of music he had written, that was until the voice boomed in his head. CANDIDATES COME TO THE LOWER LEVELS FOR A TOUCHING! MY EGGS ARE READY! Then he left the music and hurried towards the strange contraption that would take him down to where the dragon and it's clutch were.

Once he exited the moving room, he went to stand a safe and, most importantly, respectful distance from the dragon and her eggs. He gave a low bow while keeping his eyes on the red beast, to watch for any hostile moves by the dragon.

"Thank you for allowing me to be here. Might I have the honour of touching your eggs?" He said formally, politely requesting permission to touch the eggs as he thought was right. As he thought all candidates should do, no matter their age or how long they've been candidates.

[Krystal]

"Hello can I help you?" Rosella heard from behind her and whirled round to find a lad stood there, looking at her curiously.

"I'm Dalmian Candidate to Blood Abarineth's clutch." He introduced and she felt slightly relieved, at least this was another candidate. Even though she had no idea how she knew she was a candidate, she knew all the same.

"Oh, I am Rosella, also a candidate for this clutch. I would be ever so grateful if you could help me get to where it is, I have absolutely no idea where to go." She replied with a small, soft smile, hoping that he knew the way or they'd both be likely to miss out on touching the eggs.

[prissy]

~Myarin and Abarineth~
You may touch the eggs young Harper, you are here after all to try for one of my clutch. I would not have called you had I not wanted you to touch my eggs.[/b] Abarineth addressed the young boy, she was sure he would find something interesting among her eggs that much she new for sure. He would discover Piloth the Brass would not be silent not since he had felt the presence of HIS!

My Harper, L'tan! I'm Piloth! Your dragon will you be here when I hatch will you be here? WILL YOU? Piloth bellowed into Lytan's head when he felt the presence of his chosen so close to him yet so far away.

[prissy]

~ Candidate Dalmian~
"Yeah I'll help you just follow me, I know exactly where to go!" Dalmian said in excited voice as he led the way to the hatching sands well the impromptu ones anyway. He was happy to be there with a girl after all they were going to be standing together hopefully he impressed something that didn't want to chase his sisters dragon. Whatever that was, "What are you hoping to impress?" Dalmian asked as he walked with her to the lift so they could get to the hatching sands.

[Krystal]

Lytan smiled at the large dragon and moved towards the eggs, wondering which to touch first. He didn't want to leave any out, apart from the queen eggs so zealously guarded by their mother. He hadn't even moved more then a few steps when another voice rang in his head.

My Harper, L'tan! I'm Piloth! Your dragon will you be here when I hatch will you be here? WILL YOU?

It was somewhat louder then the blood's had been and left his ears ringing. Faranth? How can you speak to me already? Lytan thought, unknowingly sending it to the dragon that had spoken to him. Wait, it had called him L'tan, and said it's name was Piloth? He hadn't even touched any of the eggs yet, and already a dragon was claiming him, before it even hatched. It was completely unheard of and caught him off guard.

[Krystal]

Thank Faranth Rosella thought as Dalmian said he knew the way to where the clutch was and she started to follow him. At least she would get to see the eggs, and hopefully get to touch the queen eggs. He asked what she hoped to impress and she had to think of an answer that wouldn't make her seem too ambitious.

"Well, I'm not really sure. I mean a queen would be marvelous but I somehow doubt I'd be good enough for one. I'm not really all that knowledgable about the colours, I did grow up in a hold until I ran away." She answered, being as truthful as she could.

[H-ness]

Heh...ship...how strange was that? Tavia could not quite get over the fact that, not long ago at all she had been the unimportant younger daughter, and now...now she was on a Leviathan ship. In orbit. As a Candidate.
Yeah, that had not been what she was expecting to become even as little as a week ago. She would have informed anybody who suggested any such thing, as politely as only Tavia knew how, that they were insane, and yet...well, the evidence was right here in front of her. Tavia was, indeed on a ship, and she was, indeed, a Candidate for the Blood queen Abarineth's clutch.

Her parents weren't quite sure what to make of this abrupt change, as far as she could tell.
Of all things, she was on the Emperor's ship (her older brother would probably have fainted at that). Faranth...The shuttle ride with the other Candidates had been one thing. Actually being on the ship was quite another. She'd never even left the planet before!
Tavia took an uneasy breath, and struggled to keep her balance as she walked through the hall towards the appropriate place.
Grace was not something she had in great quantities, but being on a ship was not helping the matter any.

Ensuring that her ordinary brown hair was neatly tied back and her clothes were tidy enough not to embarrass her family (though admittedly they'd never know) Tavia finally reached the level where the egg touching was being held.
The instant she entered, she wished she could disappear. The likes of her weren't supposed to be here! They were supposed to be heroic people, who were to become Dragonriders. Tavia was far from heroic...she was just an ordinary person, and a female at that.

"Oh dear," she murmured half to herself, before curtseying awkwardly to the Emperor, and then to the Weyrwoman and her brilliant red queen.
"Good day," she mumbled, cheeks flushing a blotchy red. "May I have the honour of t-touching your eggs, please?"
She wouldn't have called them if she didn't, she reminded herself crossly, but the other part of her pointed out that it never hurt to ask. It was better to be safe than mauled by a dragon or kicked off the ship.
Great Faranth. What was she even doing here?

[Krystal]

Lytan started moving again, walking towards where he felt the pull of the mind that had reached out to him. He wound through the eggs, careful to not touch any as he went past them. There was only one he needed to touch, and that one held the dragon that had spoken to him. The dragon that had called him L'tan, and announced itself as Piloth. He went passed more of the eggs, always following that pull, it would take him right to Piloth's egg, he just knew it would. Then he came to it, a rather large egg, although hardly the largest. He just knew it was, and he would see off any that wanted to touch it. This was the egg that held his dragon after all.

Of course I'll be here when you hatch Piloth. Where else would I be? Lytan sent, finally deciding to properly answer his dragon. Faranth, how he wished he could tell what colour it was from it's voice alone. Yet it just was not possible, no one could tell the colour of a dragon from it's voice.

[prissy]

I can because you are my chosen I knew that from the beginning L’tan. Piloth answered as the shell moved under Lytan’s hand then he heard Lytan’s comment that he would be here and that caused Piloth to jolt his egg again. I am glad! Piloth was happy and he was making it known, however he sensed a question from Lytan and decided to answer it. I’m a brass silly. Piloth told his Harper, the boy was being an idiot.

You may touch my eggs, my daughters if you wish it young girl.[/b] Abarineth said as she adjusted so that her claws were not so close to the precious queen eggs. She knew that every girl would want to touch them.

[prissy]

~Candidate Dalmian~

“I think any dragon would be grand after all a dragon is great. But I’d love to impress a bronze, like any lad but then again a blue would be just as good.” Dalmian said as they arrived, he looked at the eggs and bowed to the Queen Dragon and the Emperor, “Sir.” He said formally as he bowed then turned and looked at Abarineth who snorted but nodded her permission to him. He was nervous as he went among the eggs stroking them touching them and feeling the life force he was sure that they were all Dragonets by now but where was the clutch father?

[akusma]

His head was pounding. He whimpered slightly as he stumbled off the transport with the candidates, hands shaking despite clutching the notepad and pencil pack hard enough to turn his knuckles white. Someone had wanted a painting done of the eggs (actually the eggs and the Blood together) and since that someone was paying handsomely for his time, he was going to go and do it. Why he had no sharding idea. No amount of money was worth the headache this was bringing on as his gaze darted out the place. If it wasn't bad enough that he had to be on here, no doubt some wonderful person was going to ask why he was shaking. Shard it!

Virena was cursing under his breath as he followed the others, ignoring the yell of the Blood with a mixture of results. On one hand it made him jump, want to run, want to be sick from how sharding alien it was to him. He didn't know what it was feeling, all he knew was that it wans't supposed to be there. But...Faranth it sent a shiver up his spine. Something that big, that glorious was speaking to him...And at the same time not him. Because he wasn't a candidate. The thought made him shrink even more, lifting his sketch book to his chest to hug it firmly.

He was here to make a few different quick sketches and a few complete ones with shading, plus a few in colour, so he had something to work off when he was painting it. He would be doing a small water colour, and a larger oil paint one. There. The thoughts calmed him slightly. Ordinary things, nothing like the place he was in, anything to take him mind off the sheer amount of...stuff and space and emptiness that was around him. You can never simply think forever though.

He grit his teeth in a grimace before stepping up the Blood, eyes drifting over a hide so red it almost seemed to shine orange. Think of the details...think of how wonderful it would be if he could get that shine just right. "B-Blood Abarineth, m-m-may I have th-th-the p-p-pleasure of making a f-f-few sketches of y-yourself and your c-c-clutch," he stammered, head bowed as he stood in front of her, still shaking like a leaf. He'd have to get some more red paint back in his workshop for this.

[H-ness]

You may touch my eggs, my daughters if you wish it young girl. The voice in Tavia's mind was confident and feminine, and there was no mistaking it for any other creature.
Faranth. A Queen had bespoken her.
Shaking her head in dazed awe, Tavia took a tentative step further into the chamber, and held her breath as her gaze flickered across the clutch.
Twenty eggs. Twenty marvelous eggs, and two queens...Abarineth had given her permission to touch their shells, but Tavia was not a Queen type.

Queens chose strong, leader sorts. They did not choose mousy young women who could barely even speak up, and she did not want to impose on some other girl's chance. Tavia would only be getting in the way.
Instead, she curtsied and said softly, "I am honoured, Lady Abarineth," and ventured towards the clutch, eyes wide.
The eggs were marvelous. She had heard much about dragon clutches but she had never seen anything like it before.
Even the occasional firelizard clutches she'd seen, here and there, had not suggested the sheer majesty of a dragon clutch.

Tavia felt...out of place. She was sure that there were people looking at her, and being looked at was not something she was comfortable with.
Being looked at meant, for one thing, that people were judging you, and she did not handle that very well. What if they were thinking things about her? Wondering what such a plump, ordinary little thing was doing on the Emperor's Leviathan ship, and wandering around a Blood Queen's clutch?
Well, she supposed they could be excused. She was wondering the same things.
"Goodness," she murmured, as she dared to reach out and brush her fingertips oh-so-lightly along the shell of the nearest egg.

[prissy]

You may do your sketch young man. Though be careful, you may get more than you asked for. After all Dragons aren't always sure who they'll impress to.[/b] Abarineth warned him as she looked at him pondering the young man, he was such a skittish fellow but maybe he'd fit for the brass that was so sure of itself. However Abarineth left her words at that and decided to leave things alone and was quite happy to be there with the boy.

V'na? Why are you nervous? Your Omuntoth is here I will be there to help you in a few days! What has you so scared? There is nothing to fear, my mother is there to keep you safe why are you afraid? Omuntoth is right here in his shell but he will be out to help you soon! The dragon wailed into the mind of the boy hoping to help him out but he wasn't sure if he had.

[akusma]

You may do your sketch young man. Though be careful, you may get more than you asked for. After all Dragons aren't always sure who they'll impress to.[/b] He shivered. She sounded so...Normal. Not like a dragon at all. There was nothing grand, nothing spectacular. It was just...Larger then life. He swallowed tightly, bowing slightly before hurrying backwards, blinking rapidly. He was not going to be sick, he was not going to be sick...Faranth, his heart was beginning to race. He did not like it ehre. Not at all. But he had work to do. To start with he needed toget the eggs and the Blood in his line of vision. That was the easy part. Backwards, backwards, backwards...Wall. That would be fine. He could add the eggs he could move his head. He bowed again, flipping the book open onto an empty page and getting out a grey pencil as he attempted to sit down, wincing slightly at the heatof the snads on his palms. It was to hot in here. To cramped, too hot, too ship like. What was wrong with the hatching caverns back at the Weyr? They still worked, and they didn't use technology like this.

Now he would have started to sketch, would have looked over the eggs, checked the lighting and gotten on with it all if something hadn't interrupted his line of thought. V'na? Why are you nervous? Your Omuntoth is here I will be there to help you in a few days! What has you so scared? There is nothing to fear, my mother is there to keep you safe why are you afraid? Omuntoth is right here in his shell but he will be out to help you soon! He was not going to be sick. Virena's hand went straight to his mouth as he swallowed, tasting bile in the back of his throat as he shot up faster then he should have done, head beginning to spin. He needed to sit down again...But the sands seemed to far away for a moment. He was going to be sick, he was going to be sick...

"Shards," he squeaked, "Shards, shards, shards, fuck." Omuntoth...That was not right, that was not real, nothing was speaking to him - he was gonna be sick. Virena kept swallowing as he shook his head, over and over again to try and shake the echo of that thing's voice out of his head. It was wrong. It was not him. There was no way he was talking to something that, technically, wasn't even fully developed yet. It wasn't ready, it was wrong, confused, over reaching. "Fuck. Go away!"

[Krystal]

I can because you are my chosen I knew that from the beginning L’tan. Came Piloth's answer to Lytan's first question that he had unknowingly sent to the still forming dragonet. Well, that solved that, at least.

I am glad! Piloth replied after he had reassured the dragonet that he would be there. Lytan smiled as his closeness and talking made Piloth move the egg. He knew they were rather close to hatching, but should they be moving yet?

I’m a brass silly. Piloth's voice came again, Lytan swore he could almost hear laughter in it. Obviously the brass was already picking up on his thoughts. Faranth, it was strange and, at the same time, fascinating to know he already had a dragon waiting before it had even hatched. Although he quickly looked up when another male cursed.

"Hey. Watch what you are saying. Do you wanted to get mauled by this beautiful dragon?" He called out to Virena, what in Faranth's name had gotten in the lad? He looked at the lad for a moment, then down at Piloth's egg. Piloth, can you hear your siblings? He asked, thinking he might know what had caused the lad's outburst.

[Rail]

Tashel stood quietly the sands hot against his feet the wonderful warmth flowing through him, the two Candidates who had come to thank him he felt odd though he smiled at them, "Yes my children you are very welcome." When the Candidates bowed and curtised to him he nodded in return. "You are both very gracious, in darkened times like this where the lines of our Empire have been stretched. We must all come together, though it does disturb me somewhat has there been something wrong with the schools that were to be set up on Pern?" Tashel asked as he looked at Myarin in wonder, "After all when I took the throne everyone knew what a Leviathan was what is going on?" The Emperor told her in wonder. Tashel looked over at the boy who seemed most afraid as he burst out, what was going on with him? Now he was more curious then ever about the schools. "There will be another Touching much later, but to my own excitement and for those who are interested there is a clutch of Firelizard eggs." Tashel said as his own firelizard Little Prince appeared on his shoulder and crooned to him.