Come Away, oh Human Child, to the Waters and to the Wild...

Meet the Indian Wilds Clutch! Yes, there's a theme... but remember. Galateath will probably be tense if you try and take liberties about touching the eggs. After all, that's unheard of as of yet.

1. Bengal Tiger Egg - The second largest in the clutch, this egg is a brilliant blood-orange color, accentuated by black, jagged streaks. It's long and oval-shaped, and rests farthest away from its mother, as if she instinctively tries to keep it's influence away from the other eggs. Dark and seductive, this egg beckons to your senses... drawing your attention away from its brothers and sisters.

2. Rhinoceros Egg - Short in length, but stout, sturdy, and hard this egg exudes rough strength. Steel in color, but marked by black highlights mixed in amoungst the pale whites and greys, this egg isn't the most easily noticed out of all the clutch, but it's personality hits you as soon as your eyes and attention fall upon it. Eager, like a puppy waiting to please, this egg seeks the attention of all it comes in contact with, and most of it's admirers leave with a wry smile.

3. Elephant Egg - The largest in the clutch, this egg sits comfortably within it's mother's grasp. It thinks itself to be the favorite... and boy, will you know it should you touch it. This white and grey swirled egg is loud in its thoughts, proud of it's place, and just plain arrogant. All trumpets and clarion calls of battle, this egg will assault you to the point of annoyance with its emotions. Some might even wonder if Galateath holds it in an attempt to smother it's broadcastings.

4. Indian Lion Egg - A golden brown color as the base, this egg is beautifully highlighted by gold streaks, streaks that coalesce the surface in a magnificent web. Even more startling then the colors of this egg is it's personality. Defiant, it sits tilted against a mound of sand off by itself, seeming to rebel even against it's mother's protection.

5. Cobra Egg - This egg is the earthy brown of soil, with coils of black snaking around the sides. It's very nondescript in it's appearance, but the biting, fierce mind that occupies this egg is nothing but. Like one of the fierce warriors, this egg dares you to cross it, but with the proper attention a very smug satisfaction simply radiates from it.

6. Peacock Egg - By far, this egg is the most beautiful in the clutch. A brilliant blue-green serves as the base, and patterned above it are the "eyes", the ostentatious spots that adorn the peacock's feathers. As a result of the coloring, this egg emanates a haughty pride, a vanity that will doubtless manifest as the egg hatches.

7. White Tiger Egg - This egg is quiet, in appearance and in emotions, but do not be fooled. This egg is a deep, thoughtful thinker, with an intelligence that puts to shame most of its brothers and sisters. Those that approach only draw curiosity from this egg, nothing more, and nestled in a group with the Rhinoceros egg and the Cobra egg, this one seems to be the calming, quiet influence that calms those with it. Pure white is the base color of this egg, with black, uniform lines crossing the surface in a set pattern of stripes.

8. Snow Leopard Egg - A gloriously white egg, this creature's shell is the color of snow on a mountaintop, with creamy tan patches layered across the surface. Polite and unassuming, this egg is silent with it's emotions, at least until it notices attention. Once its under the scrutiny of a candidate or someone else, it returns the interest, probing the onlookers mind gently, as if to say, "Well, two can play this game..."

9. Black Antelope Egg - The moment one turns their mind to this egg, you feel the urges it does. Sheer freedom is what this egg dreams of, as well as adventure and challenges and new heights to reach. Housed within a shell of the colors of black, brown, and white, all mixed equally, this creature eagerly awaits the day it can break free and emerge into the world, because it is the next great adventure and this dragonet couldn't be more impatient to get there.

10. Black Bear Egg - An egg as black as the night sky, with a shell that glosses like none other in the clutch, this egg is merely... there. Though pretty, it could care less about the candidates or older dragons. All this dragonet wants to do is sleep.

11. Red Panda Egg - This egg is a blazing, outstanding red-brown, but other than that it has no noticeable markings. A medium sized egg, this creature sits resting against its larger counterpart, the Black Antelope Egg, drawing comfort in it's sibling's courage. A meek, shy egg, it tries to avoid contact with candidates and others by withdrawing.

12. Striped Hyena Egg - Blacks stripes rest across a brown background on this egg. It's smaller than most of its siblings, but that doesn't dissuade this egg from trying to defend the clutch, for it sends out sharp jabs into the mind of any who stray too close to it. It's all in self-preservation, though.. Nothing mean meant by it.

13. Clouded Leopard Egg - A creamy color, overlaid with brown, large spots that resemble the eyes on the peacock egg it rests next to. A seductive mind, this egg merely wants you attention, and once it gains it, this creature is loath to let go. An alluring mind for sure, this creature covets the spotlight.

14. Macaque Egg - Though none would dare call Galateath's eggs ugly, it is hard to find a better word to describe the Macaque Egg. The brown that sands looks when wet, this egg is one color, marked by random spots of a lighter, sandy brown. It's personality, though, is what sets it apart. Compassion and a genuine warmth emanate from the egg, though many never get close enough to actually embrace the soothing feelings.

15. Indian Langur Egg -A brilliant golden color, many will suspect this egg to be the queen of the clutch until they really notice it's smaller size. Nearly glowing with it's bright hues, this egg radiates nothing but sheer happiness and warmth, and many ignore the other eggs in favor of the presence of this one.

16. Indian Camel Egg - A tan color all around, his egg sports some odd deformities in it's shape: humps. Though it is yet to be seen if this egg will hatch or not, many speculate that it won't, considering the lumps that mar this egg's surface. Humped and by itself, it rests next to it's mother, resting close to her side, away from most of the other eggs. Though misshapen, this egg feels no animosity towards others... Instead, it has a blustery contentment, as if all it wants to do is serve those around it.

IC Time: Month 9, Late Winter. {A week before the flit hatching}
IC Setting: Early Morning

Adrienne awoke, having slept fitfully throughout the night, and stretched, then curled back into the crook of Mikhael's body. Blinking slightly, she peeked over the security of her blankets and looked towards's Galateath's stone couch... only to find the gold missing. She blinked again, rubbed her eyes, the looked out once more, only to see the same thing. Galateath was gone. Tenatively she reached out with her mind, waking Lynx in the process.

Gala, baby? Where are you..?

The bronze firelizard peeped at her in annoyance for being woke up, but Adrienne just harrumphed at him, sitting up in bed and pushing the covers back. She tried to keep Mikhael covered... but she didn't really succeed.

Here, love. I'm on the Sands.

Immediately Adrienne shoved out of the bed, muttering under her breath as she quickly responded, alarmed that she'd missed something.

The Sands, Gala? Are you laying the eggs?

I've already laid them, Adrienne-Mine. You were sleeping so well... It was nothing, really. Come see...

Repressing the shriek of frustration, Adrienne leaned over the bed and gently shook Mikhael, speaking softly as she roused him from sleep. He hadn't been sleeping well at night ever since Cally's disappearance in the blizzard, and she had to admit, even she was starting to love the little squirt. Gritting her teeth, she prodded Mikhael again, shoving back the feelings of grief and depression.

"Mikhael, Gala clutched. Wake, lover. We need to go see them."

It was nice, finally having a staked claim on Mik, and Adrienne smiled wryly, thinking about those years she'd denied the way she felt about him. Once he began to stir, though, she turned, walking over to a chest and pulling out clothes, and with no qualms about her nakedness she changed right there, stripping then replacing her sheer nightgown with wherhide pants and a ripped shirt. Over the shirt she pulled on her flight jacket... well, Mik's flight jacket... and she stepped into her boots, looking up again to see if her weyrmate was coming... Oh, that word was odd... Weyr... but D'lor'd insisted that's what they were called.

Lynx glided over then wrapped himself about her neck as he usually did, and scratching his back quickly she turned to go out the door, knowing Mikhael would come eventually. Oh, Gala had clutched...

It was so exciting, really. The first actual parented clutch of eggs, and they were by her gold! Pride swelled within Adrienne as she walked, and had any seen her, they would've noticed the generous twinkle in her eye.

Once she made it to the Sands, Adrienne jogged down the tunnel...

...and then stopped, her breath caught in her throat. Galateath sat, nearly purring in contentment, behind her clutch, and oh... the eggs were so pretty. Stroking one as she passed, Adrienne looked at the eggs and then at Galateath, saying in what many would consider a choked voice,

"Gods, Galateath. I wish you would've called me..."

It wouldn't have made any difference, my love. I think I did fine, all things considered.

"Oh, girl... You did. You really did."

[Alright everyone... There is not going to be a touching till the egg shells are much harder... I will post here with Mik as he is the father of the clutch... but until I open this topic again.. there won't be a touching..]