Wild Clutch 4
Storm clouds gathered at the horizon and a lone
lightning strike split the distant skies. And yet there were people out
and about. The nekrats had alerted the Islanders that the eggs were
hatching. The waters were churning as the rising currents met the
quivering of the eggs. Adult nekrats had formed a barrier around the bay,
making sure that the eggs could hatch safely. Airborn and flightless
dragons had come to watch from the land. Some humans were braving the
coming storm to witness the hatching and the candidates were lining up,
standing with their feet in the shallow waters between the eggs. The
candidates who'd been found were diverse. There were humans of course, but also
shapeshifters like the otter defore, avangaean sea dragon and the eel pony. As
they'd waited for the clutch to hatch, new water sports had been introduced to
Lantessama and friendly (or sometimes fierce) competition had been waged between
the natives and the visitors.
As the winds picked up, a small fountain of water shot up and the first nekrat
announced it's hatching with a musical hum. It's tail lashed up showing a black
body with purple fins. A few seconds later, it's head reared up and the well
hatchling made his way to Cha'yesha, the Pernese farm hand that had one day
appeared on the beaches without clear knowledge of how they'd gotten
there.
"I'm yours." The well hummed
happily, "My name is Zigrun, but you can call me
Ziggy."
Three more eggs hatched in unison, spraying the nearby candidates with water. An
earthy brown rock nekrat made her way to caravan owner of Dawn Cove. The woman
was steady as a rock and hard as granite. The rock liked her instantly.
"Deriaki," she said, "I
want to come with you. My name is Adelynha."
The other two kits, both blue, could hardly be told apart from the water. They
swam around in between the candidates, trying to get a feel for who they'd pick.
It was the female wave nekrat that made her choice first. She'd found a little
aquatic playmate in the Dolphin Tessa and decided she would like to see this
place Pern that they'd come from. Most of all she wanted to play with all the
pets Maati had bonded over the years.
"My name is Sekyrei" she told the
dolphineer and happily accepted the food he was holding for her.
The remaining blue hatchling, a gletsjer female by the name of Lindalu, took
longer to make her choice. Like most gletsjers she was logical, determined and
fierce. And after some thought she saw only one candidate that was right for
her.
"Volley," she said to the Eel pony
shifter who was sitting in the surf in her mermaid form, "I'd
like to assist you in keeping your team on top for the coming years."
The next two eggs that hatched revealed a yellow-coloured sand female and a
white-coloured foam male. Both kits were light-coloured and easy to follow as
they raced to the same place. Bujoca, the otter shifter, and Licinia Plautus,
the sea dragon had both come from the Refugium to impress nekrats. They'd both
been active as hydroball players, and along with Volley, had introduced the
sport to Lantessama where Aquion, it's merman Finder had been eager to join a
sport that made use of his special talents. It was only at the last moment that
the two dragons veered to their intended bonds.
"Bujoca," the sand female called, "I'm
Gruyt and I've come for you."
"Licinia," the foam male said, "You're
mine. My name is Revent."
The next dragon to hatch was yellow as well but a bit darker, a puddle male that
listened to the name Drizs. He had liked to hide his intentions a bit more, but
with only two people left standing, he quickly made his way to Diraye and
wrapped his tail around her legs possessively.
"I like you." he said, "Do
you like me?"
Last to hatch was a sleepy green-coloured swamp male. He lazily made his way to
the former cattle hand from Gremyne and decided that the boy was a good
fit.
"My name is Tazrin." he said, "I'd
like to meet the other nekrats at Dawn Cove." After all, it paid
off to have a lot of help around.
With all nekrat kits safely bonded, the spectators quickly sought refuge before
the rain started to fall. The new pairs were escorted to the northern cliffs
where caves on and below the waterline offered housing for those that didn't
have a permanent residence on Lantessama.
Maati (m/f) and Wave Sekyrei (f)
Volley (f) and Gletsjer
Lindalu (f)
Licinia Plautus (f) and Foam Revent (m)
Nyaka (m) and
Swamp Tazrin (m)
Bujoca
(f) and Sand Gruyt (f)
Diraye (f)
and Puddle Drizs (m)
Deriaki (f)
and Rock Adelynha (f)
Cha'yesha (m/f) and Well Zigrun (m)