Amanda, Steward, and Howard sat around and stared at each other as life moved on around them within Cathair Fionabhainn. Cathairte Kataela and Cathairix D'lan were nice, and had welcomed them as candidates, but now they had to bide their time until Starry Thenthrith's clutch was due to hatch.
"How did we three end up together." Howie said at last.
"And why're we always sitting around drinking?" Mandy threw in.
"Yea, we definitely are the quiet bunch, aren't we?" Stu said.
Mandy nodded. One of Fionabhainn's finders stopped by them, a glowing rock in his hand. "Would you mind touching the findstone, please? It's just a matter of formality, really."
Stu reached for the rock, and as his fingertips touched it, the glow immediately vanished. When Howie reached for it, the glow faded out slowly, and vanished at his touch. Mandy made the glow fade when she reached for it, but it got bright again when she touched it. The finder chuckled. He knew what that could possibly mean.
"How does it work?" Mandy queried, looking at the finder. Mandy was a big gal, and sortof plain. She had the sort of build that just screamed farmer at top volume.
The finder shrugged. "I'm not really sure. They sortof grow that way…"
Mandy looked at the finder. "Will you show me where they grow?"
"Sure, why not?" he said with a shrug. "Let's go."
Soon Howie and Stu were alone as the agriculturist went off to see how glowing rocks were grown. It would have been interesting to chemists too, but neither of them were. Stu, a 6'2" tall, dark haired brown eyed average-built sort of guy had been studying electrical engineering, but that would be useless to him here. Howie, being a mere 5 inches shorter, was blonde with brown eyes (an unusual combination) and just hoped for some literature to fall into his hands. His English studies wouldn't be wasted.
"I still want to know how we got to East Rock." Stu said. "Last I remember we were on the bus going up north."
"I told ya, Stu, we were abducted by aliens, and they dropped us off near Ryslen when they were done." Howie said, forever the conspiracy/alien theorist.
"And I told you I don't buy into that alien stuff." Stu growled.
"Would you guys give us a hand?" Someone asked from the kitchen, interruping what could have become a fight. Howie began to clap. Stu poked him, and got up from the table.
After a while, Mandy came back with a sample of her own to study. Somehow she could hold the rock in the palm of her hand, and it would still glow, but if she touched it with her fingertips, it faded out.
All three of them were strong, dedicated, and homesick. What would hatching day bring for them?
Amanda's Ice Lavender Gailbeath, Stu's Ice Black Oighreth, and Howie's Ice Blue Loineth. Story to follow.
Amanda's Ice Lavender Gailbeath, Stu's Ice Black Oighreth, and Howie's Ice Blue Loineth. Story to follow.
Amanda's Ice Lavender Gailbeath, Stu's Ice Black Oighreth, and Howie's Ice Blue Loineth. Story to follow.
Amanda, Howard and Stewart are candidates at Cathair Fionabhainn
Background by Tiyanni!