Engell was sure that the flock of flitters around him were getting restless. Even with the addition of their big male llithra they seemed like every small, round egg-shaped thing attracted their attention. Engell didn't quite dread going on diplomatic missions, they were far more important than anything else he was doing these days, but still. When the flitters would tug at him he had to try turning away before they handed him yet another egg.

But one time, it just didn't work. He was out at Darkling Dawn, checking out their flight list and jotting down genetic specs for Kalkin and Baeris (imagine, the former lord holder of Alabaster running genetic-errands for those two?). When he'd mostly finished, he took his typical tour of the weyr. It was a nice, intimate place. Not too big, and not so small that he'd worry about it closing any time soon.

He walked slowly past a darkened room, and then into another larger one. It was warm, gently familiar. Snowflake and Barry chittered to one another excitedly, and Mystere and Blizzard joined in a moment later. From two sides, then, Engell was shown two different large speckled eggs.

"Oh, not again..." He sighed. One of the eggs was clearly ready to open. But the other seemed a bit warm, and he couldn't refuse them once the flitters had handed them off to him.

The first of the eggs would be the one that he kept in his hands, the other went into a warm pocket. It was still small enough to do so, and Engell had done this how many times in the past now? He unconsciously sent Snowflake out for meat, because he assumed that this new egg-shaking creature would want some. Not a moment too soon, Snowflake arrived with a few shreds of wet looking meat. She'd probably snagged it right out of the cook's hands, by the looks of it.

"Good girl," he muttered with a smile. "Now, I wonder what this is..." The egg broke up, shaking slowly and finally releasing another white creature. It was still shimmery and wet for a moment, but then it's head raised up and Engell thought that there had to be some mistake. This was hardly a flitter - this was some kind of mammal, wasn't it? It had feathery wings, and what appeared to be fur on it!

"What is this?" He said, "I've never seen anything like it!" When he said that, of course, Barry made a little coughing noise and Engell laughed. "You too, you're unique."

The little white creature gave off a crooning warble, such a voice! Barry snuggled up against it, and propped it up on Engell's arm. It had a fluffy tail, and all. It looked like the puff of a dandylion flower. It also had the look of sure confidence that Engell recognized from some of his Zekiran counterparts.

"Dandy," he announced, "this is Dandy, everyone. Now... I think if this one is for me, that other one needs to go to Baeris. She'll appreciate this little creature too."

"They're not all alike," said someone from behind Engell, startling him. How could they have snuck up on him? These flitters weren't just distracting, they were a menace to his telepathic abilities! "They're called Rukels, and they are all different."

"Oh - that's ... that's great, Baeris will like them that much more, then." He smiled. "I don't owe you anything for this one do I?" He held Dandy out, and Dandy puffed himself up. He looked actually more like he was wearing Engell's hair than anything else, fluffed up and half-grinning. He had tiny bits of red on his muzzle, from the meat. His eyes were also red - an albino.

"No, no, just come back and visit. Has your tour gone well sir?"

"Yes, it has indeed. Now, I've got to get this one back to Baeris. And their notes..." He patted himself down and found the notes, and Tehndarinth outside bugled that he'd be ready anytime.