Ancheoth and Tehndarinth ** Please note that images are labeled 'atnye'

Size comparison Piece and Knockoff/Pawn

Pernese, four legs and two wings all with short claws, long neck with boxy head, prominent fangs, high crest, faceted eyes; slender tail with spade tip; Bond is required at hatching, cannot be sponsored, may multibond or bond to nonhumans

Naming is standard Pernese -TH ending, Knockoff names are -ANTE

Knockoffs stats: all average 2 with one being 4 and one 1 your choice; powers as their full sized clutch mates the knockoffs have average skills in Telepathy, Local Teleport, and can breathe fire after chewing a little stone; these have good Nexus teleportation, and may bond to nonhumans or each other

Clutch is presented 4 hours until Midnight, the first of the clutches to be shown off! (Since they were technically the first pair back in ... muttermumble 2000s, and have waited an awfully long time for this to hatch!)

Bond: Mihr, Impression, Multibond (see other pickups)
Meeting Notes: When Mihr arrived to the event venue there was a bit of a hiccup. Well not so much a bad thing, more... the pair of multidimensional men in formalwear (when were they not?) put everything on pause and took a good long look at them. Obviously the pair were telepathically sizing them up, and for that reason, Mihr took a moment to turn their colorful shoulders and flex.

One of the Lanes maintained a straight face, somehow, but the other, the one with more genuine grin-lines and a slightly kinder-gentler feel, gave a single half-suppressed chortle. He turned to his companion, shrugged, and opened a brightly glowing rectangular doorway back to wherever it was he lurked during the party. The other remained just a moment longer, straightened his tie, and did the same to a slightly different spot. Apparently having passed this test, 'not-a-threat' 'still-has-strong-powers' left in the mental air around Mihr, the demon decided to enter the party with as much of a flourish and a broad smile.

There was dancing! And drinking! And music from so many different styles it was a wonder anyone could keep their dancing straight. They didn't: Mihr saw tangos and hip hop and formal stuffy court dances all happening at once. Wait, no, that was in sequence, but that's fine. Mihr was used to it. This place seemed to be trying to help them sort out things moment by moment, and Mihr took another few slices of time to appreciate that fact.

The location was such a mishmash, so entrancing. Joined to a single anchoring physical location, but with a fractal array of times and dimensions splintering away from it on all sides. There was a big chunk of what Mihr heard was 'the Healing Den' over on one side, another called 'The Stage' (pronounce the The right!) where the performances were centered, and a dozen smaller spots that reached the casino and dragon nests and a very intriguing dark corridor going ... somewhere Mihr wasn't supposed to be. They shrugged their gorgeous shoulders and moved on, if it wasn't for them they didn't need nor want it. (Wait, wait, that... wasn't typically xir excuse for not doing something... was that the Lanes doing it for them? they did have an awful lot of power between the two of them - and there were six more of him scattered around this venue, that might explain it.)

It was so hard to decide where to go first, what to do then, who to meet next. They'd gotten the idea that perhaps freezing or restarting time in a loop was ... a bit of a no-no, from that nearly silent meeting with the Lanes, so xe decided to stick with the floor show in the main ballroom for a while. Besides, there was a buffet filled with positively scrumptious items, including puff pastries and wildly tasty guacamole and salsa with chips... And the booze, oh how it flowed. In tall fluted glasses, in big round mugs, in simple silver goblets. Everyone had a drink (well, everyone minus a few of those younger-units that somehow managed to arrive), everyone was just. So perfectly overflowing with the mood of the event.

It was still quite early in the evening when a pair who had been billed as 'the first of the group' brought out their small cadre of hatchlings. Mihr flipped through the pamphlet (they provided the whole evening's schedule along with detailed and image-heavy pages about each of the dragon pairs? How thoughtful!) and discovered that 'first' in this case meant 'they were originally laid somewhere that went dormant' for so many years... Well then this was certainly cause to celebrate after all this time, and time seemed to be a theme that even the dragonets knew.

We waited a very long time, a voice broke Mihr's mental barrier with ease. Normally that might be cause for alarm for such a thing... But it was followed by a warm, hungry, satisfied gloating. The confident little dragonet walked with his long wings held as high as he could manage, which wasn't honestly much but he was just a little one! Wouldn't be very big anyway, given the parents were ... well, small! Shorter by a good margin than Mihr xirself.

"Well now you don't have to wait! This is the time of your life!" Mihr exclaimed, and swept the dragon into xir arms, hugging him not-too-hard, "you're a hungry little one aren't you, I wonder if the meat is as delicious as the plated frites." (continued on another page with their bonds)

Bond: Impressed to Deborah
Meeting Notes: At 4 hours to midnight, this clutch of dragonets emerged to a rousing cheer. They looked proud and energized, not at all the way many people imagined seeing fumbling fresh-hatched Pernese dragonets. Their feet were big, their wings would be huge, and they were quite long even though their features were still pleasantly chubby from being within an egg. Their eyes were clear, bright, though a few of them winced a little when the spotlights of the Stage drifted over them. Those lights didn't dwell there though, somehow knowing that the dragons were still sensitive. Deborah watched as one dark dragon in particular swayed a step or two and then dodged to the side.

Just like she did? Without even realizing it, she started moving in that general direction, and for once Alan realized as he watched her, it worked on the dance floor. Or rather: it worked around the dancers there. She and the dragon clearly spotted one another, and made an effort to coordinate their strange motion, winding up with Deborah on her knees and the dragonet laying somewhat exhausted with her head on the woman's lap.

You captured me, the dragon asserted, but she was anything but defeated.

"I was going to say the same thing," Deborah breathed. They made it over to the wide table where the alsylum group seemed surprised and pleased. Thomas in particular appeared to gloat.

Bond: Flutura, Impressed Multibond with Ologesu (see GESU pickup)
Meeting Notes: They had been shuffled around during the party - Voivode and the other adults had things to do, people to talk with, drinks and dancing to be had. Some of the kids moved off to the buffet table and punch bowls (and were pointed to another table because that punch was definitely not for them). Valencia wasn't much more help, she wanted to hawkishly spot 'her' dragon and probably plot trouble. There were servers and helpers getting food and drink to those big tables and groups, and Flutura wondered what kind of tea or coffee or... juices or whatever else they had available.

Fluttering up to the arched ceiling rafters, Flutura dangled their legs off the elegant metal strut and swayed a little. They sighed, it was so early in the night, the big clock said 4 hours until midnight, and they were already at a bit of a loss of what they could be doing.

You could come with us, they felt a mind brush up against theirs, and glanced around to see where it had come from. Well it wasn't easily obvious, because there were a dozen or more dragonets on the dance floor bumbling and bouncing around trying to avoid getting stepped on. They needed to get a closer look, now.

Flying down they tried to home in on wherever that mind had come from. There were a few people who gave stern looks - a child, here? Well yes. And they were about to give one of those grumpy adults a piece of their mind when a pair of dragons cornered them. They were quite different looking, bright and dark bodied, contrasting wings, but Flutura did start seeing their different traits beyond just colors.

It was us, I am Neijoerschdagth, this is Ologesu.

"Bless you," they said on hearing the name, and giggled - suddenly hoping that the dragons wouldn't be offended by their action. It didn't look like the dragon was bothered at all. The white one had a long neck and elegant slender wings, which she folded over her smaller companion. That littler one wouldn't be very big at all, neither of them would, but it would be ... "Both of you are lovely! And small enough to ride!"

They caught a memory from Flutura, of a massive steed and bouncing around on its huge back. Ologesu nudged its head out from under their companion's wing and gave a snorting, draconic laugh.

Bond: Brinlan (Br'an), Impression
Meeting Notes: Brinlan and their group entered this venue with wide eyes and open mouths. Sure, they'd seen parties and gathers, as well as the immense caverns and twisting passages of their Weyr lit up with glows and fancy trappings at times. But this was something else.

And Brinlan was absolutely in their element. And for once, those folks weren't going to be whining about their intensity or flighty focus. This was a party, this was a place Brinlan would be able and even encouraged to go from one event to another and just love it for everything it was worth!

It was only by virtue of being dragged out of bed far too early by their Steward and stuffed into their gear, that they were even here as a group 'on time', but frankly the first thing Brinlan's first move was to find some food to wake themself up. Everywhere they looked, it was more stuff to do, and by golly Brinlan was going to do it. Dancing! Check! Fingerfoods, yum! Casino cards? Absolutely! A stage show with what? How were they even doing those things with just... water and fizz? It was all astounding.

And then the dragons started coming out from their 'side' of the massive Ballroom venue.

I have waited, I've been so patient, Brinlan had a strange tingling sensation - it wasn't their thought. It was from outside. It was bright, it was flashy. But now it's time to play! We'll have to wait for the end of that clock-thing, before my name is true!

Possibly for the first time in their life, Brinlan was left speechless and in wonder - and they'd been around dragons all their life, in a Weyr after all. But this was something special. And never let it be said that Brinlan couldn't adapt, at least for the moment... to something as stunningly important as...

As Impressing a dragon. Their dragon.

Br'an, I am Vitiirith, the dragonet bespoke quite formally, but there was a very, very strong overtone of 'getting it overwith for the sake of mom n dad n all that background noise they keep tossing at me fine fine I'll tell them my name!!' In fact, Brinlan... Now Br'an, absolutely knew that was all going on in the back of this brilliantly white dragonet's mind. They could feel it. They knew this dragon. Bubbly, but also confident and perceptive. And not small, though they wouldn't be a big-big dragon - even as a little one this sleek-winged hatchling strutted with strength. I will be able to fly strong if you need me to fight, but I would rather do better things with you.

"Things like meeting other dragonries?" B...Br'an said, "things like watching hatchings and finding people?"

If you want that, or maybe carrying goods from place to place, or even scouting a place for food to hunt?

"We can do anything," Br'an's heart was just filled - anything was possible. This dragon's mind was eager, but his belly was quite hungry too. "The only thing I feel bad I missed, was you hatching?"

Everyone missed that, I was first!

You were not first, Vitiirith's eyes went from that mostly-orange (which they would be as a baseline) to an angry red-violet, sticking his tongue out at his sibling that was wandering nearby. But then shrugged and happily clung to his new bond as Br'an picked him up to find the food tables.

Bond: Nalia, Impression
Meeting Notes: 4 hours to midnight, it seemed that the 'original pair' really wanted their dragonets to be shown off and finding their way. Maybe they were kind of tired of having waited this long, they wanted to party! It was with the same kind of confidence that Nalia herself showed, that this dark bodied dragonet pranced up, and extended her brilliantly contrasted wings.

If we need to signal others, I can do that! They cannot help but see me!

The voice was feminine, strong, encouraged by the pressure of finding a bond. She'd found one, in the form of Nalia. The Steward's daughter looked over this delightfully energetic dragoness and an actual smile moved over her perfectly painted lips. This would be quite the night.

I can watch you dance if you convince her to join you, the dragon said, plopping down next to Nalia. But right now I'd like it if you would help me find the food. I was hoping you'd have it with you.

Nalia looked at the tables nearby, "I don't think you will want my food, little dear... But," she consulted her Ball pamphlets, "there is some right... over there," she easily spotted the nook where new dragonets and partners were already gathered. By the time they got to the area, it had thinned out, which suited both of them.

Bond: Ayla Lenville, Impressed
Meeting Notes: There were whispers and then mutters and then cheers and shouts, when the first of the groups of dragons emerged from their private lodges. It was four hours until midnight according to the big black clock above the dance floor, and it made sense that some of the earliest participants in the event would have their hatchings first. The dragons that came from that archway (which was white at the top, black at the bottom, and mixed along the edges in a sparkling dot pattern) resembled the arch in significant ways! The parents were lovely, and Shanyrria pulled her mistress' sleeve. "They're so festive, don't you think?"

It was all that Ayla could do to remain civil, but... but then she did turn to look at the dance floor. So many people still on it, dancing in the corners and edges, but through the middle walked a bunch of wide-winged (and slightly sleepy looking) dragons. They hardly came to a human knee, but then again the parents of the clutch hardly stood higher than a human head. And they were lovely, weren't they?

Ayla put another cheese popper into her mouth, it was odd that she was so hungry, she'd been munching here and there while dodging attempts to get her on that very same dance floor. Everyone was so dressed up and fancy and... ugh, it just made her edged and angry. How could she have let anyone convince her - even a goddess - to come here?

What about me? Can... can I convince you? Aren't I worth it?

She looked up sharply, glancing around, looking for the source of the voice. It wasn't a goddess, it wasn't Shanyrria's voice, certainly. Until her eye was drawn downward. The voices around them were turning hushed, as if everyone was holding their breath. Why? It was because a small dragonet had walked toward their small table. Shanyrria breathed, whispering, "it looks like your dress, it matches you," but said nothing more that Ayla could hear. The noises in the background all faded into a muddled blur as the green sparkling eyes met hers.

Everyone will want to see you, and respect you, I promise. The dragon bespoke carefully. She was... lovely? Though small and somewhat unsure of her step, she announced, I am Tjuetoth, it's time for you to become new, like the night into day.

"Well that was surprisingly deep," Ayla chuckled. How would she adjust to this new role? What would it really be? Who knew, but she now had a dragon to show for it.

Bond: Litas Arvelle, Impressed
Meeting Notes: It was still early in the event, around 4 hours until midnight struck, and Litas had been enjoying himself more with examining the surroundings and artistic styling of the venue than cutting it up on the dance floor or gambling in the casino. (Though the casino did have very fancy looking frills and paintings, and the port-hole styled windows along the walls looked out onto an undersea city that was absolutely impossible given the layout of this location...) He found himself wondering what all the black and white clothes would look like with different trim, not that the people showing off their fancy duds didn't already look fabulous.

Do I look fabulous? I think I look fabulous.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, like someone had tapped his shoulder or leaned in close from a crowd and whispered directly into his ear. He glanced around, blue eyes darting next to him, but he didn't see the source of the voice.

But he did hear both an audible sigh, and the same voice letting off an overly-dramatic dejected huff. Both? How?

When he spotted several people who were bending over and picking up small dragons, he realized...

Yes, that's it! That's it! Come look at me, I know you'll love my style. It was a dragon's voice, in his mind? Of course, where else would I speak to my chosen? I suppose its my one failing, another dramatic sigh, I cannot speak your words. I suppose I could try.

When he heard a creeling warble quite nearby, Litas at last looked downward rather than eye level, and saw a striking black, white, and silver dragon posing without difficulty near one of the banquet tables. With his wings folded in front of his face like a fan, then moved to highlight his proud crest, this dragon was nothing if not fancy!

I am Yahzeeth, and you know I can do more than just be pretty.

"We'll have to sort out what you'll be best at when we get home," Litas chuckled, "but I can certainly appreciate your style!"

Bond: Pero, Impression
Meeting Notes: Even if they hadn't been the first to be invited, Pero did his best to act like it. Though in another realm he might have been considered a 'spin doctor', able to make even the worst news sound mild, and the best be the most amazing ever, here he was one of many such folk. He came across a strange man who talked to himself as he examined the party-goers, their pets and their friends, their choices of meals... But he did like the style, maybe there would be some potential to incorporate it...

Honestly that was a good idea, but it wasn't more than an hour in to this big amazing ball, when fanfare announced the presence of a clutch of dragons! There had been a pamphlet... thing, delivered to everyone even though they had 'snuck' into the event - somehow large enough to be handled by the larger-than-human personages of the Court. He looked at the shapes of those parent-dragons, and realized this was the pair that had 'started it all', and they were simply lovely. Long wings, slender tail, high hind legs, and a jaunty neck crest - and those patterns?

Festive wasn't even the start of it, they were downright impressive.

We are festive as well, but I like impressive. Impressive suits me.

"What was that?" Pero said, interrupting his own mental dialog. "Who said that?"

Others around him, standing near the edge of the bar-area and not quite on the dance floor, glanced up at the large stone-like man, and gave him a little more space. But that wasn't because they thought he was dangerous or weird. It was more due to the presence of the tar-slick black dragon with the stunningly reversed lightning wings who strode through the crowd. He had come with his siblings through one of the arched connections between the 'dragon side' and the biped-side, and they were getting attention for sure now.

It was me, I am here, you may announce me. The dragon didn't sit on his haunches like a few of them were doing, before their respective... Bonds, yes, I am yours. You know my name. He paused, tilted his broad head with what seemed like a grin, say it.

"Puthuvarshamth," the word tumbled out of Pero's mouth, so many syllables for such a young little dragon. "And you're probably hungry, little one?"

Very, I know it is early in the night but that means I will have a full belly for the rest of the party.

"Then I will escort you, my new little friend," Pero smiled gently "And then we'll make sure to check out everything we can, this party will stick with us, I think."

Bond: Ikko, Impression, Multibond with Neuth (see LAEJU)
Meeting Notes: This event was proving to be quite the profitable one. So many contacts, including that white-haired man whose dragon was apparently the sire of the 'first' clutch of dragons here. He made sure that their producer exchanged contact information with hin, they might have access to dozens of new performance venues after tonight!

The pair of 'adults' chatted and drank and laughed and compared business cards. But the action was all down on the floor. It was around the middle of '3 Hours to Midnight' that quite a few of the dragon clutches were milling about. Ikko looked around, his companions had all sort of scattered, and he wondered whether any of them heard that strange sound.

The blond youth kept squinting at clumps of people, also taking a long look at the Stage performance - how bizarre, that it was a group of people, clearly all performing together, but they were called 'The Solos'... He shrugged that off. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he kept hearing things. Whispers? No, it was more conversational than just some behind-their-backs chatter. He'd heard a lot of that in his time with the team. No it was more like... a chant? Sort of?

Ikko was quite sure he just heard the words 'find us'. He looked around once more, handsome features slightly hidden behind the elegant headgear he wore. No one human-like was looking his way. No human voice had said it. That would only mean one thing.

He brought his gaze lower, like when he had to do trick slides around the stage and not knock anyone else over. Footing just right, speed geared up, Ikko dodged the dancers and twirled around the sidelines of the ballroom floor, and listened carefully. He heard 'colder!' and then 'warmer!' in short order as he changed direction. He heard 'hot!' and noticed that he was near the base of one of the black-carpeted staircases leading up to the overhead balconies. So, whatever it was playing this game with him was up there? He trotted up the stairs, not even close to out of breath.

Before he really understood what he was looking at, he saw the backs of two dragonets at the top of the staircase. Thankfully it was very wide and they didn't interrupt anyone else trying to get to the stairs, but they definitely were plotting something together. A huddle? He joined it quickly, without even a pause.

"What's the plan?" Ikko asked, and the dark dragon to his left twittered something incomprehensible, while the white one on his right gave off an equally excited yip.

"You found us!" That white dragon said, surprising Ikko; dragons fresh out of their shell could speak?

Some of us speak different, the dark dragon replied to that... thought?!

"Don't be rude Zadante, ask before reading minds!"

I can't help it, he's our one! I hear him loud and clear!

The dragonet was quite excited, that's for sure. Ikko finally stood up, grinning ear to ear. The dark dragonet had those checkerboard patterned wings, and the other... wow. Patterns, sure, but gorgeous silver and grey, black on white bubbly...

He likes you better, I just knew it. The black dragonet pretended to sulk. But by now, Ikko's mind had felt the subtle tug of that dragon's own emotion and he knew that the little one was just being dramatic.

"I like you both, you're a perfect team!"

"We are all a team now," the white one said. "I am Neuth, you've already met Zadante. We knew you could keep up with us."

Bond: Cassius, Impression, multibond with Merseth and Temth'Alkar
Meeting Notes: (see also GESU and KEBA)

While that spaz Tsanthryl obviously wandered off to eat, drink, and be merry, Cassius had indeed felt it necessary to plant himself down at a small table, not one of those that could host a whole damn adventuring party (and there looked to be at least four of those here tonight by their builds and obvious body language) but one more suited to just a pair of friends out on the town having fun. And it was a good thing he'd done so, because pretty soon after they arrived, a lot more people started showing up. Not really 'pouring in' or pounding at the doors to enter, but definitely a constant stream of new arrivals. And the table he'd chosen was perfect for people watching! There was a little 'claim flag' that he put up, and it appeared to notify the hosts that the table would be 'theirs'. So clever, he wanted to pull apart the little box that the flag was on, just to see what kind of gears it had in it. Maybe later.

There was an equally steady stream of dragons moving around - at first pretty easy to spot because they were among the only ones out there, helping to serve and bring guests to their tables. But then as time went on, wow they got harder and harder to locate. Because there were a lot more dragons.

The full sized ones, impressive with markings and flashy features, were all paired with little'uns that had checkerboards like the attendants. But not one set of these dragons were alike. True, they all 'had wings and tails' and whatever, but with that as the backdrop they were markedly different each time.

Cass ordered something light, unlike his friend who just ate whatever passed by his fangy maw, the crow-shifter paced himself and ordered the 'sampler' for the table, asking for delivery of a full meal later on. Turned out that was a brilliant plan, because he wouldn't have much time to think on what he would be eating by then.

The big obsidian and silver clock's hour hand reached '4 hours' until Midnight, and right at that moment, the first of the full clutches emerged from the weirdly magical archway beyond the ballroom's floor. So while Cass's table was terrific for people-watching, it was a little less easy to get a glimpse of those entering dragons, because there was a whole entire venue in the way of that. He spotted quite a few raised wings, shiny, dappled, heavily marked; and heard a good number of squealing voices that told him bonds had been made.

He did weirdly get a sensation in his gut, that wasn't just how good the spicy broccoli and cheese was. But it passed, at least wasn't sharp, for another half-hour or so. When it came back rousingly strong. By then he'd finished that first little dish, and was curious anyway; the table wouldn't be 'allowed' to be occupied by anyone in his absense, Cass felt confident enough to leave it unattended.

A second group of hatchlings had arrived, quite different in shape and ... weight distribution, than those first ones. Cass only knew this because one of them came walking directly up to him, with purpose. She was oddly colorful though? Like, not ... not directly colored, not like that group of performers when they had arrived. But she had impressively iridescent white hide that caught every single light in the place, dazzlingly rainbow in effect. Her wingsails were silvered, flashed brighter under them, darker on their backs. Her very-pale eyes sought his blue ones.

His vision swam, from the strength of her telepathic communion. You should be sitting down for this, I have to tell you something important.

Though the impact of her mental voice was definitely deep and straight through him, it wasn't 'painful' or 'threatening' - far from it, she was absolutely correct, she had something that was truly the most important thing he'd ever hear. So he led her back to that small table, where... one of those first clutch dragons' 'knockoffs' sat eating the jalapeno poppers and letting little flames escape his very black mouth.

Well that was... a surprise. It could produce flames. From the spicy food. It was eating his food.

Rude! I told you to wait!

HUNGRY though! But now he's here so we're good right?

This conversation played out through Cassius's mind, the dragons going back and forth about how impolite it was and how she'd told them to just 'be ready' for their arrival.

"Wait, hold up," Cass said, finally finding his chair and s l o w l y resting into it. "Your important news, it's... this, right?" He waved his faintly-taloned fingers at both of them. "It's you. Right?"

Correct, the rainbow-white dragoness bespoke. He noticed when she put her head on the table and a single paw up on his leg, that those feet of hers were a more solidly snow white, without the rainbow cast to them. The other dragonet, altogether longer and leaner and not-quite-half her size, proved to be an inky shadow to her brilliant sparkle.

Wellllll, that dragonet mentally barged in, I mean. Not alllllll just us.

Cass had his hand just picking up a fork, but instead dropped it gently onto the silver edged white tablecloth.

Rather than allow the little checkerboard black to continue with this, the more girthy of the pair bumped him with her rump and nearly knocked him off his feet. But that at least did jostle some sense into him, and he sat quite prim and proper beside her.

Ahem. The rainbow white cleared her mental throat as well as giving a little vocal trill. I am Merseth. This is Cwepante. She took in a deeper breath when Cwepante started to fidget. And yes, we are... Waiting for another. They aren't ready yet. So you should consider us your bonds now. As we are to each other as well. I know that not all of our ... parents... (She hesitated with a sidelong glance at the checkerboard winged one who didn't seem to even notice this, in favor of sniffing more at that table with fun food to steal.) Necessarily approve of wandering off with other dragons, tonight is a good night to break some rules.

Awesome! Cwepante exclaimed and nearly knocked the table over in their enthusiasm to reach those poppers again.

Bond: Rasnala Trewen (continued from another bond)
Meeting Notes: It was clear that the dragon had been waiting, sitting beside others that watched in rapt attention as the stunt team swung or dove overhead. As another group of hatchlings came out, a fair few of them scattered to their new friends and bonds, but one of them strayed closer to this dark dragonet and plopped down beside them. The more speckled grey with white shiny wings was possibly going to be the same mass as the darker checkerboard-winged one, but was clearly a very different shape.

"What'cha waiting for?" The grey one asked. The black dragonet gave a sigh, forefeet nervously shifting around on the marble floor.

My bond, the strong one, with the feathers, she is so high, and I can't fly yet. I would join her if I could.

The sleeker and more modestly marked grey tilted his head at them, "are you sure you can't fly yet? I mean. Your wings are gonna be big." And it was true, those heavily marked wings already said volumes about the potential of this hatchling. And it appeared that the dragon barely realized it. When it looked like the long winged one was about to try actually ramping up and flying, however, the grey intervened.

"You might want to still wait?" He winced as the long wings flapped and cleared out a few of the other onlookers a couple meters.

Why?! You just said--

"I think they have a pattern they want to finish, don't want to break their concentration."

I wouldn't want to see her fall! The dragonet suddenly realized. They plopped their butt back down on the marble floor, though their wings were still up in a prepared posture. I am Hunante, I already know my one's name. It is Rasnala.

"I'm Spaanth'Alkar, do you think I could come with you?"

To meet my bond? Of course! Oh, and she will too, the dragonet looked over to another of Spaanth's brood, all but opposite in her light and dark values.

"It's good to have family with you," Spaanth pinged his clutch sister who looked up curiously from the other side of the ballroom floor, and knew that she too was absolutely entranced by the performance above, waiting. There was a third, more patient, who had arrived just before the Alkar brood, with their eyes upon the other member of that crew. Oh the trouble they were all going to get into once they grew up!

It didn't take too long for that performance to end, the crew gathering their long ropes and trapeeze equipment. Obviously eager, Hunante definitely wanted to find their place at Rasnala's side, Spaanth followed suit, and looked for the other - ah there they were. This would be quite the group!

"And... and who are ... you?" Rasnala said, still breathing deeply from her performance efforts. The dragon had all but bowled her over when she was attempting to shake hands with a more humanoid onlooker.

Hunante announced themself with a strong and proud flapping, and then Spaanth nudged his way under those big wings. "And I am Spaanth'Alkar, I would love to see what my friend here does... and keep track of you all, if that's okay."

Rasnala looked around, quite surprised at not one but two dragons. She only felt the adoring gaze of the dark one in her mind, but on its fringes, yes - there it was, almost a web woven between several dragons and now the stunt team. "I don't think I have any choice but to vote you in," she replied.

Bond: Khilseith, Impression
Meeting Notes: What would father think, what would he do? That kept going through Khilseith's mind the whole evening, and it was a worry that his friends knew plagued his mind. And they wished it would stop. They told him as much, too, their influence over Khilseith had grown strong - at least, 'according to his father'.

Was it true? Was it so bad, though? They'd managed to bolster his mood enough to even ask permission to attend this amazing ball, and now that he was here, he felt freer and more like himself than he ever had. They'd split away and hunted up a table and some food in the meantime, as Khilseith continued to wander on the main floor. This event was unlike anything he'd ever dreamed of, and unexpected things would most certainly happen.

Doesn't that mean they're expected things? A voice asked him.

"Well it's more a turn of phrase," he replied, and only a moment later did he realized that it wasn't a person gathered at the edge of the dance floor, it was ... a dragon, sitting beside him in a polite manner, head tilted watching the dancing beyond.

Your father will not be expecting me, I can't wait to meet him. There was such an air of impish glee about that simple statement, Khilseith's eyes blinked rapidly - how did this little dragon know about... Of course I know, I'm your dragon, you're my chosen.

He tried to turn this on its side, "Then ... then why don't I know about you?"

I'm postitive you do. I just hatched recently, how could I have anything to know about beyond my name?

"Haiante," he breathed, he did know. "And you're going to be a handful aren't you?"

I will make every effort in the world to be just that, my one.

Bond: Thehy and Urrodoth, Voluntary Multibond
Meeting Notes: "We didn't know she was a dragon!" "That was sneaky, how were we supposed to know she was part of the casino staff?" Unitsila Kiona had been among those visitors watching but rarely participating in the card games, and when she caught the two young shifter dragon-people... well, sparks might fly eventually, but maybe not tonight. Thehy distracted the security people (how did a guy that size get stuffed into a brilliant white suit like that? Excellent tailoring, that's how...) and while the pair of shapeshifted dragon-kids were slinking away to do who-knew-what, Thehy went back to the gambling.

Little did the 'boys' know, but she used the winnings from her first few throws of the dice, to cover their ilicit 'wins'. Maybe she'd take it out of their pay at some point, did dragons get pay? She'd have to find out. All of those thoughts rumbled around in her mind as she tossed dice and made a tidy pile of chips for herself.

While she was distracted by her compatriot's amazing lute-playing session, Thehy started to feel something a little weird. It was coming from her dragon, who had already been over on the four-footer side of the venue, enjoying her time watching dragons do their feats of flaming or whatnot.

The thing was, Thehy got a very distinct feeling that there was more to it than just a few flames and maybe a game of hide and seek?

**

You found me! The dragonet was delighted. And the adult dragoness was too, since she hadn't gotten too lost in the shuffle and did remember she was playing hide and seek. Of course, she was meant to be seeking for the other adult dragons that were participating in this 'stealth-event', but instead found a little tiny dark grey dragonet with especially entertaining wingsails.

I did! If you want to play some more, we can do that, Urrodoth bespoke, feeling the wave of exhaustion from her little sort-of-half-sibling. It was entirely possible that they would be almost the same size. The others in the clutch, the ones without the bold checkerboard patterns, were barely bigger; her sire Tehndarinth wasn't big at all. The cream-and-silver white dragoness Urrodoth brought her focus back to the little one, when it creeled with a big yawn and a rumbling tummy.

We can find the food, the adult sugggested. She just followed her nose, the smell of fresh meat mingled with fish and the sea, oh right they were under the water.

Eventually, as the night wore on, Urrodoth realized that her rider was wondering where she'd gone to. Many of the small sized dragons - like herself - had remained with their riders in the main biped venue. But Urrodoth absolutely wanted to check out all the fun and games beyond the humans' area. Thehy apparently got lucky with the dice, good for her. There were dice games over on the dragon area too but the rules got too boring to listen to. Particularly with a little dragonet to help!

She wasn't a mother, she was now its friend, its bond, and could feel that bond warmly seeking out her human partner too. By the time they met back up it was nearing midnight, and Thehy was rather surprised.

"So that was it," she whispered, bending down to pick up the bitty grey dragonet. "You should rest, it's been a long night for you, hasn't it?"

It has - they came out early, we had a lot of fun though! Urrodoth bespoke, and her mind was rich with memories that would become fleeting and vanish within a day or so. It did seem though, that the new dragon, Vakante by name, was both a relative of hers, and ... well, considerably smarter? It seemed to understand that they weren't 'where they were supposed to be', in time and space. But tired, full of fresh meat and fish, the dragonet immediately started snoozing with its head dangling long over Thehy's shoulder.

The bond was strong among the trio, so now Thehy had two little dragons as companions!

Bond: Kelsea, Impressed, Multibond to rabbit group (see other pages too)

They all had 'ears to spare', this group of rabbit-folk and their furless elf companion, but that wasn't what they would be remembered for. And from early in the evening on arrival, to halfway through the night, they danced and thumped their way through the crowd. A few attendees actually tried to join in, to limited success. They needed big feet. Heck, the orchestra between Stage sets even obliged them with a drum-heavy jig that they would try and emulate when they all got back home!

They did take breaks, there was food aplenty, there were performances on that Stage that required more silence and slow-dancing than their energetic bouncing would allow. There was even gambling to be done in another room, so they did that while they couldn't dance. Gwylfai confidently did a few jokes and gags on the small stage in there, got reasonable (if polite) laughs and applause. And every once in a while, at least twice per hour (or perceived hour, they didn't know how much time was actually elapsing here in this weird magical place) there were dragons to gawk at.

A bunch of their orphan friend group so far had hooked up with some mighty impressive dragons: black and shiny, white and sleek. But now it was growing later in the evening, even their durable feet were getting a bit numb from all the dancing. They'd selected a smaller table next to the bigger one seating Voivode and the other grown-ups, and got to watch even from there as another dragon found its friend among his cabal.

After the brief lull on the dance floor that had indicated another of the clutches were being released, it was Valmai that sighed deeply. "Wonder if anyone's gonna come home with us," she leaned back on the black-cushioned chair. "I guess it was worth a try."

"Night's still going," Tynan nudged her with his elbow, "look it's not even run an hour until midnight. That leaves plenty of time for us."

"Now now," Kelsea chided, "we are here for it, not just to dance and drink," she raised her glass at the dance floor where it looked like more dragons were filtering through the crowd, "and we're going to go home proud and happy." She nodded and that was that - apparently.

Gwylfai fiddled with the pamphlet on the table, flipping pages and glancing up occasionally, matching dragonet to advertised pair pretty easily. And something on those pages made them blink rapidly.

"We should- go," the blue-haired rabbit suggested, suddenly.

The others wondered very briefly about this, but the tall rabbit had already risen and was walking almost in a trance toward the dance floor. Well, more dancing it was, then! But - it wasn't them dancing.

It was a foursome of small, freshly hatched dragons. Two were nearly opposite in coloration, one brilliantly white, the other gritty-dark, they were bigger than the other two. Those others were both checkerboard-winged, and both in shades of middle-grey. All of them had features unique to their clutches, from extra wings to split tails and spikes and big big wings. And they...

They were doing the stomp dance. Well they were trying to anyway. They used their tails, and snapped their wings above their backs, instead of trying to hurt their paws (big as some were) on the floor. Circling, pause, stomp stomp jump, circle... The dragonets were intent on each other for the most part, but then the bigger of them looked up and gave a creeling call. They circle stomped their way toward the rabbits and elf.

You!

You're for us!

We're for you!

Come join!

Four minds, mixed together. Those among the rabbit group with any amount of empathic power - even suppressed - could tell that the dragons had already bonded one another, and now they were on the lookout for companions to help them grow! Some of those minds were much more intimately tangled with the bipeds.

You will do much for me, and I will do my best for you. I am Vrickezmeth - it was to Gwylfai that the snowy-white dragoness marched.

To Kelsea, the small grey and long-checkerboard-winged Rokante proclaimed their pride and allegiance, smacking their long tail against the floor.

The tiniest of the group did a spin and nearly tumbled into Valmai, who burst out laughing, "Lyxkeba, you need to practice if you're going to get it right!"

And the large dark drak-winged one finally bumped into Tynan, I am Corem Nye'aynn, we will keep them all safe and sound, all together.

So they did have slightly tighter connections to individuals, but by the end of the ball they knew that there was no separating this group of dragons from each other, let alone from the rabbits!

Bond: Aesir Jassan, Impression, Multibond with Lloth (See their page)
Meeting Notes: Who would have believed that he of all of them would be here at this massive party? None of the monks at home, that's for sure. Perhaps when he got home, they'd believe his story of prophetic, God-induced dreams?

They'd have to. Because they were coming true. He felt more than a little pride at the thought of even being chosen to represent the Warren as a candidate here. And even further: this was a very important party. He recognized the flavor of 'leaders brought for talking' above and beyond just a fantastic soiree: he knew bodyguards when he saw them, he knew those stilted postures. He much preferred the relaxed and enjoyable dancing, the casino's profits, and most of all the wet bar!

The group had arrived in the middle of the celebration, rather than early or particularly late, which meant he had his choice of events to watch or catch up on. How in the world were people meant to stand for dragon clutches here? There were no sands, no stands. But there were dragons, oh absolutely. In fact they were underfoot most of the time!

Nearly tripping over a bump on the white marble floor on his way to a table, with a piled-high plate of salad and spicy meats, Aesir was about to get rather irate. But he didn't spill the plate - or more accurately the plate was caught by the dragon he'd stumbled over. Its big wings were checkerboard patterned, that was... certainly a theme at this ball! It wasn't a big dragon.

But it looked at him with shimmering faceted teal-shaded eyes, and just. Spoke.

You don't want to drop this, I'm sorry! I thought you saw me. I am yours! I am your Saegante! And we wait now! I have been here waiting for you and now you're here!

The dragonet, brightly white and almost the same shade as the marble floor, held that plate of food expertly in long clawed fingers, head tilted, all but grinning. "...Saegante?" Aesir repeated, numb suddenly. The word was in his head almost from the moment they'd arrived, and that meant... "You have been waiting for me, I'm the one who should be sorry."

The dragon helped put the plate back in his hands and then trotted over to a round table nearby. It took a few bites of the delicious spicy food for Aesir to realize what the dragon had said.

He was only halfway through that plate when another batch of dragonets were paraded out from one of the archways to the dragon half of the venue. And he just knew.

Because Saegante knew! He felt the hatchling's excitement, joy, and confidence - it was a true Impression after all, even if the dragonet itself was engineered. It wouldn't be big enough to ride. But... the big black and white dragon that strode carefully toward their table absolutely would be. He wasn't entirely the opposite of Saegante, but just as bold and beautiful.

Saegante was practically vibrating, his long tail slapped the floor like a dog's, as the other dragon came near. I am glad you both waited, his voice was strong and warm, calm in exactly the opposite way that Saegante's was excited. We will certainly make a good team, all of us. He nudged the small white dragon and Saegante gave off an excited trilling.

"What... is your name?" Aesir finally swallowed that one piece of meat that he'd stopped chewing the moment the dragonet showed up.

I am Lloth, as much yours as this one's, again he leaned on the littler dragon who seemed quite proud of itself. Aesir was also, quite proud of himself.

The monks would just eat their hats. The Gods knew what they were doing when they enlisted him.

Bond: Bimina, Impression
Meeting Notes - this includes Quamami and Banthol
"Do you think they'll adjust well, where they are headed?" It was Rue who asked it, of course she did, because she was the reporter at heart as always. Hollis gave a short nod, watching them.

"They're a team already even if they don't realize it." He paused, "what will be the deciding factor, of course," he cast his grey eyes around the large ballroom floor below, "is whether dragons are actually here for them."

Rue chuckled, sipped her wine, and gave her own knowing gaze over the venue. "Oh, they'll find something, or something will find them here. If I've learned anything from this event so far, it's that if they're brought, they'll find a partner."

--

"D'you want to dance?" Vauldis asked, just in general, but neither of the girls seemed all that interested, but truth be told neither was he. It did look like some fun, but whenever the music changed to something slow and close, it just seemed a touch too intimate. Looked like they thought that too, but thankfully there was a lot more to this event than just dancing.

Even though 'young' by any standards, the trio were allowed into the casino (but not the secret stage in the back, not that they would even care to watch that!). That might have been a mistake, given how the coins attracted Bimina. She was wide-eyed, almost sparkling at the way the coins fed into the machines, and pushed across the gambling tables. She didn't know the card games being played, but watched with tremendous interest.

"Did you see that? Tell me you saw that?" She nudged Gillamu, who rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"I did, but I wouldn't get used to it. They say that on the sign." Her ringlets bounced as she glanced back and forth. And between the time she took her eyes off Bimina and put them back, she had picked up three disparate coins and was now watching them shift back and forth from 'Pernese Marks' to 'whatever it was that had two metals and a circular design on them'. And even if Gillamu was the one who tended to swipe little shinies, Bimina had to be encouraged to put down those other people's coins and move on.

It was wild, though, but the group moved on and watched some of the smaller stage groups, fiddled with chilled drinks they'd never heard of with fizzy bubbles and strong flavors.

Over the course of the evening, as they almost wept in awe at the stunt dragons or the beautiful songs on the main Stage, or dug in to delicious platters of food. And they watched so many dragons come out from the archway at the end of the ballroom... So many. Each of them had individually felt something odd now and again. A fleeting sensation, hunger, yearning, but also amazement and euphoria, since it was definitely such a huge event! Had they recognized the same feeling across each of their faces or their postures - suddenly furrowing their brow, slightly turning a little to one side, like someone had tapped them on the shoulder and nothing was there... Maybe they would have asked each other about it. Eventually, it would be obvious.

--

They had not been among the truly-laid eggs, these smaller and boldly marked dragonets. Their larger and nestborn companions got preferential treatment from their parents, but the 'knockoffs', once placed in careful incubators or even right up next to the main nest eggs, were encouraged to run around with those main hatchlings. Their clutch mothers, their sires, their siblings, all of them realized together, as dragons did, that they were all here for a reason.

And that reason was in the other room, mostly. After hatching, after the initial burst of confusion and hunger, the Pieces moved from the nest and with some amount of confidence wanted to head toward the bonds in the biped side. Most of the smaller checkerboard hatchlings did so as well. A few didn't - some stayed among the dragons, which wasn't the desire of those descended from Pernese stock.

Almost the entire night had gone by with clutch after clutch moving from their private nooks and into the main draconic arena, then into the biped halls. The big full-grown adult dragons attending, both bonds to the humanoids on the other side, and those who arrived on their own or with their groups, continued to enjoy the events. Flame and ice, magic and claw, stories from across the Nexus entertained all of them.

A trio of small dragonets, hatched from disparate but still 'old world' lines, lingered together. They had clear minds that sought one another to share their desires, hungry bellies that were sated if briefly by their guides nudging them toward the piles of fresh-hunted and claw-shredded meats. Their faceted eyes caught all the shiny motion, their ears heard such amazing sounds. Together they took a few steps out into the weird savannah where some of those meats had been harvested, and together they backed right up into the safety of the Ball's caverns. It was so huge, it was vast in a way that they could not, as hatchlings, properly comprehend.

They were used to the cavern with the collected hundreds of bonded and riderless dragons, the intimacy of the hatching chambers, and before that, their close, warm eggs.

But they knew, as a group and individually, that they had more to expect than a terrifying pale-blue sky and endless fields. And as things were starting to wear down a little, it was Pinante who decided they should find 'theirs'.

The paler dragonet was also the smallest of the trio, with the solid grey bodied one the biggest. Their clutch siblings - as well as their donor parents and all the rest - had moved into the main chambers hours before, in their case. The sharp-spined big dragonet's clutch had hatched last, or at least been moved out to the biped arena later than the other two, but several of their siblings had chosen odd directions to find bonds among dragons or each other.

It's now or never, the paler one asserted, and their marked grey and mist colored friend strode first through the barrier toward the bipedal ballroom.

This place, too, was overwhelming. But it wasn't terrifying, merely big and loud. There was less in the way of bursts of flame and ice or glittering blinding lights - although certainly glitter and blinking over on that Stage that had a lot of odd humanoids and a fair few dragons dancing their hearts out on it.

They recognized their own clutch siblings, plentiful in numbers, scattered all over the place. Some tucked up on the high balconies, one or two even draped over a beam near the ceiling. Others still walking confidently beside their own One, and many of them slumbering beside theirs on cushions or held over shoulders. It was a blast of smells, colors, motion. But it was for them - all of this, all this majesty and pomp, was for the dragonets, their honor, their lives in the future.

I see them, the darkest one said, are you ready?

I am, I am excited. And hungry.

Very hungry, I know!

--

They weren't really getting it: this was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime, they'd been Searched, they were talked up on that trip here.

Why was it near enough to midnight at this shindig and they had yet to have even one little glance from a dragonet? Maybe if they'd been lined up like tradition dictated, in uncomfortable white robes to disguise their bodies - for whatever reason - and to force the dragons to make the first move?

They had in fact overheard quite a bit of discussion on that topic, while eating up on the balcony. Some bigwigs, some high ranked folks, including one somewhat irate woman and a couple ultra-chill scary-calm others. Choice needed to be of their own volition. Change could only happen slowly because look what happens when it was forced?

They had heard silence from the more uppity woman after that, but still they wondered. They were here to impress, right? And there were literal hundreds of dragons that could have chosen them!

Do not worry, we are here.

We hear you, it's all right!

Sorry we're late, we wanted to see the dragon magic!

And the hunting demonstration...

But we got scared of that one so we didn't.

As a unit, the three humans paused, one with a glass of water to her lips, another with a chicken wing in his fingers; they put down their food, their drink, the napkin. And all three of them moved their eyes and heads, craned around just a little, to see three equally young and slightly tired looking dragon faces peering at them from beyond the booth's curved half-wall.

One would have long, straight spikes and big thick horns off his headknobs. Another a fine and jaunty crest. The third with muscular wing fingers already and a quick flickering split tail.

So they were different, but they were so very, very welcome.

The littlest, paler one sniffed at Bimina's outstretched hand, and nuzzled it warmly. The biggest one strode up to Vauldis and tried taking a lick of whatever smelled good on his fingers. And the two-toned one put their head on Gillamu's lap and seemed to make a draconic giggle at the gurgling that her 'comfy tummy' made.

I am Pinante, you are mine, that one bespoke privately to Bimina. She pushed her blue-colored hair out of her eyes, but they were still swimming with happy tears.

I like how you sound inside and out, the two-toned one thought to Gillamu, I am Quamami, and I am yours. She too seemed unable to focus on this little dragon's face, but hugged it gently.

You are my one. I am Banthol. I'm glad we waited though, because I like this chicken wing thing you have, could I have that? The darkest dragon declared to Vauldis. That dragon didn't wait for approval, it was already sniffing at the plate...

We want you to stay together, we want to stay together, Pinante told the trio, and each human felt their own dragon's mind chiming in on that notion. We know there are places where we can work just right, we just don't know their names yet.

The dragons did eventually get fully fed, given fresh water and proper acknowledgement that they were healthy and sound, their names recorded (by Rue, no surprise there), now it was up to the humans to figure out where they would spend their lives as dragon riders!

Bond: Armand, Impressed
Meeting Notes: It was early, the night had barely begun, and the big clock showed 4 hours to midnight. With the mass of people on the dance floor, Armand and Alida had to make room for the dragons that came from the nearby hatching chamber. While a number of the full sized hatchlings found their friends, the checkerboard-marked littler ones seemed eager to get themselves underfoot. Well, one of them anyway, a little lighter grey than most, a bit darker than a few. It kept getting between Armand and his wife as they attempted to get back into the dancing.

It looked up with bright, curious eyes. Do you like how I dance? The mental voice came to him and he suddenly realized that even though they were engineered and smaller than typical, this dragon... had just Impressed him? He had to pull Alida aside and settle his mind... and learn the dragon's name! Kivante, an odd name for a Pernese dragon? But not odd for the knockoffs. Perhaps... If Alida also found a little partner here, they would be set at home!

Bond: Kwil Vahlden, Voluntary Multibond with Sidante
Meeting Notes: (see also Evgeny)
It wasn't much more than an hour later, still very early on in this party's long churn, that Kwil and Evgeny were joined by another long dragon. Prompted out from their entry point along the big wall between the bipedal and draconic portions of the venue, a group of them had come. Numerous others would use this portal as well, but this one specifically had its eye on the Zekiran and his newfound sleek friend.

Kwil was instantly hungry, he hadn't had anything much to eat just yet, but he knew... it wasn't just his own stomach rumbling! There was a newness to all of these feelings, and it was thanks to the dragons. He wasn't really Dragon Tuned, that was outside of his family's ability. But it didn't seem to matter here: almost all the dragons seemed... people Tuned. Well, obviously some wanted other dragons to be their friends, and could be seen remaining on that other side of the place while the archway was still open.

This one, this one particular checkerboard-winged dragonet, however, wanted nothing more than to sit by Kwil with a look of admiration and love on its broad face. That jaunty crest, also checkerboarded, some amount of genetic fiddling must have gone on here for that feature! It was all over the place. Hm, he ... wondered whether his own projects might benefit from such a theme?

Am I a project? The dragon sent a mental ping toward Kwil, and his heart and mind suddenly rang with a new hunger. A new feeling of wonder and amazement. Every time this dragon bespoke, it was new.

"You aren't a project yet, but you could be if you wanted? I'm still new at that kind of thing. I like dealing with insects and keeping other people's areas clean." He admitted. Evgeny nearby gave off a chuckle.

We can be any kind of thing you want to be, Evgeny asserted. The other dragon nuzzled up against the sleek white one, and together they looked at their new friend.

"I see you have faceted eyes, now," Kwil looked at both dragons, "that's like an insect's, and something I'm familiar with!"

Are you familiar with food? Hungry, we're hungry. That's a project, right? Feeding us?

That project would last for quite some time, even when they settled home...