Wher Are We Now? (ATTN: all Wherhandlers)

Alden and waited beside the quietly watchful Aldisk. The green wher had called the Weyrlings and Divisk to attend a meeting in the rough, open cavern that had come to serve as the Wher cadre’s common room. The grizzled wherhandler had even thought ahead enough to have refreshments ready. Wine and Lightning and cold meat and cheese for the handlers, and herdbeast innards for the whers. He didn’t imagine most Holders would find the scent too appetizing, but then, he didn’t care. The whers would like it, and that was enough for him.

It had been some time since this wherling clutch had hatched and Impressed, and he figured it was past due for an update. Unlike dragons, young whers tended to be far more individualistic, and so they’d been basically self-pacing their training and development based on their needs and their handlers’ interests. Luckily, none of them seemed to be a slugabout. At nearly a Turn of age, they were probably close to ready to begin adult duties, which was why he’d invited the Wherleader.

It was time to assess some things and begin to come up with a plan for the future. With two breeding queens, that future was looking bright, but they’d have to take some thought to bloodlines as well. Wouldn’t do to breed too closely, with these four all being related. Might have to do some bartering for studs. Maybe they’ll get lucky and have some wild males show up, too.

All in all, Alden was hopeful about the future of this little cadre, but they needed to have some conversations. Thus, this meeting.

Rhaensk glared at him menacingly. She would have it if she wanted it. Of course she counted on him to resist her. He was always difficult. Rhanethwor wouldn’t be pushed around by her nor would he show that anything she said or did intimidated him. Though she tried all the time to be the more dominant of the pairing. Rhaensk was stalked after him her walk both powerful and feral. She was a Queen and she would have everyone notice that in her body language alone. If for any reason her hide weren’t enough, they would surely think twice about bothering her. She was still after Rhaenthwor for taking her prized possession, a pretty chain with an emblem on it that she like hanging on her cavern wall above where she slept. It was an odd quirk to be sure but it didn’t harm anyone for her to have it.

Looking over his shoulder he grinned at her. Rhaensk’s eyes whirled reddish orange as she spoke to him, I want it. I will have.

“You will when we get back to our cave. For now, we have a meeting and you will be on your best behavior.” He didn’t threaten the item as a way to garner her obedience. He wouldn’t always have something like that with him so it made no sense at all to give it as a reward. She would earn his trust and confidence if she did as he bade her. That would have to suffice.

Smell?
“What is it you…” He began to ask when he took off after her. She was running toward the meeting area at the smell of the food. “No.” He called to her mentally and outloud. The Wher stopped suddenly, turned her head so she could see him and wondered why she had to stop running. We will walk and show our self control and ability to behave well for the meeting from the start. You cannot show up in a flurry of speed and hunger. Not if she wanted to be considered ready for anything but lessons.

As the pair entered at a walk, Rhaenthwor ducked his head slightly at the entryway. He was used to the common area entry being a little too close to the top of his head for his own comfort. Meanwhile, Rhaensk looked up at him, pleadingly. Wait until it is offered to you. Understand?

Understand.

“Evening Wherling Master.” Rhaenthwor said before moving aside.

Hello Aldisk.

Piersk gallumphed ahead, not ranging too far ahead of Pierson but clearly impatient to arrive. She pulled up short to walk in next to her handler when she realized Rhaensk was already inside, though she paid no attention to the queen while stalking closer to the delicious smelling smells.

"Hey," Pierson said, slouching aside and convincing Piersk, for the moment, pouncing on the food could wait.

*
Dividia headed toward the meeting without Divisk - safer that way, as the brown had yet to make his peace with the fact that certain of the whers had in fact stayed in the canyon (not all of them. Certain ones. Male ones). Preferably she'd arrive after all the newer handlers - certainly she had little time to wait on them, and didn't intend to do much of such things if she could help it.

Looking. Tahlansk said as she pushed her wedge shaped head under Tahlana's bed. Tahlana sat back on her heels and nodded, pleased that the queen wher wished to help her but unsure of how successful she would be. Tahlana could have kicked herself but for the life of her she could not find her other boot.

'And what a goldhandler you will be if you show up without it, hrm? They would laugh you right out of the class room.' she thought to herself.

Ever since bonded to Tahlansk, Tahlana had felt like she was falling behind in some fashion in her training. Not like Rhanethwor, who always seemed to her as having it all under control. She lashed herself with the knowledge that if she did not live up to what was expected, she would forever live in the shadow of the male goldhandler. That made her frown and reaching up to rub her temples fiercely, she sat back heavily against the floor. She didn't like this feeling that kept telling her she should try and be better than him. She disliked worrying about falling short next to Rhanethwor and the unsaid competition made it hard to approach him.

'I feel such a conflict of interest.' she thought, sighing. Tahlansk wiggled backwards suddenly and with Tahlana's boot in her mouth, brought it over with warm trill. Tahlana smiled and reached out to rub the gold wher over her eye ridges and down her lines. Her hands smoothed over that meyer lemon gold hide and her heart warmed away a little of her troubles.

"Ah love, thank you." she breathed. Tahlansk nuzzled her hand and her powerfully head swung Tahlana's arm. Indeed, the Harper could hardly believe how much the queen had grown in almost one Turn's time. She was developing a barrel chest and her tail lashed powerfully when she was vexed. With bright eyes and a mouth full of razor teeth, she was all that was beautiful and deadly.

I like finding. Tahlansk said, preening under the gratitude and attention of her handler. Tahlana pattered her shoulder and smoothed her hand down to her Tahlansk's gold flank, encouraging her to move and allow Tahlana to get up.

"We have somewhere to be. Come on." she told her firmly. Tahlansk followed, sniffing the air as they traveled. Tahlansk could smell the food but also she could smell Rhaensk as well. The meyer lemon queen came in beside her handler but head held high. Tahlana reached out to stroke her.

"Enough." she said, her voice soft but firm. Tahlansk swung her head back at Tahlana, then back at the other queen. Licking her jaws, she settled at Tahlana's feet.

Rhaensk. Piersk. Aldisk. Tahlansk offered by way of acknowledgement.


"Good evening, Wherling Master. Rhanethwor. Pierson, it is good to see you." Tahlana said.

There was little sign of the limp in Kane's deliberate, purposeful stride as he entered the common space.  Kanesk, for once, kept pace, and remained at his side instead of darting immediately for the food laid out in such tempting array.

It might have been a near thing, though-- the bronze was clearly all temporarily leashed power, waiting to spring.  Tail lashing, he might have growled something in greeting to the other whers, or remained silent; it was hard to tell, given how low the sound was.

"Wherling Master," Kane greeted, nodding to the others in turn.  Hopefully this meeting wouldn't take too long-- Kanesk would only behave for so long, and his wher was in the mood to hunt.

"Thought we'd better have a meeting," Alden said as his pupils arrived. "Got some food. Have some, then let's talk."

That seemed to be enough preamble. He took his own advice and led Aldisk over to the innards tub. Truth be told, both Wherlingmaster and green wher were more than a little impressed at how well the younger whers were holding it together. Seemed that the training was going pretty well. Leastways, no one was bleeding yet.

Food. Mine first. Teacher. Then queens. Then bronze. Then green. Then talk. Aldisk said to her pupils. See how good training is. she added, with a bit of humor to her rider.

"Heh," Alden said, and went to get his own plate of food as Aldisk pulled out a tangle of the innards and retired to her former spot near the back of the cavern to enjoy the treat.

No, Piersk said, rather reasonably, and lunged forward.

Pierson, faster than he looked, got between his green and food, and she stopped, then, deliberately, reached up to wrap talons around his calf. She purposefully didn't do anything that would lead to long-term hurt, but there was definitely blood streaking under his dark pants.

Eat now. Food there. All eat, now. to the rest of the whers. Was there enough food to go around? Who cares. Let the bigger whers scrap it out with wily Aldisk, and Piersk could grab what she wanted.

Dividia leaned against the doorway, watching. She didn't need Divisk there to share the words, having spent long enough with a wher who didn't believe in rules.

Rhaensk was displeased with her clutchmate. She looked at Piersk in such a way as to say she could be the meal if she wasn’t careful.
No. And in less than a second she was standing in between the food and Piesron. The Gold was more feral than predictable so Rhaenthwor did not interfere at this juncture. He deemed her behavior to be normal and not dangerous to the others. At least not at this point.
You wait, as told.

Rhaensk’s head was raised in a domineering fashion as she looked to Rhaenthwor. Her handler was not going to stop her from acting what she thought was appropriate when it came to hierarchy. Aldisk first.

Well done. When Aldisk and her handler are done, then you may approach the food.

Piersk growled low in her throat and crouched, ready to spring. Not boss, she said, uncaring. Pierson pushed hard at her mentally, and she shoved him aside (to clear the path between her and Rhaensk, clearly). Think better than me? Scorn now, dismissive.

Before she could stalk more than a step, Pierson physically tackled her.

Distracted, she wrestled with him, the dangerous tension in her ebbing immediately.

Not forgotten, more likely than not, but then Piersk was much more likely to come at someone sideways, when she had the advantage.

Piersk must wait. Tahlansk agreed. The bright gold wher was looking at the green wher, partly in response to Tahlana's internal reaction. She had been scared for Pierson in that moment; Rhaensk was a queen and thus towered over Piersk. Pierson could very well loose some fingers if not his hand trying to defend his green from the much larger gold. Tahlansk was not as fond of Piersk as her rider was of her handler; Tahlana felt closer to Pierson than any other handler in their group. Yet, the young woman's emotions could, from time to time, sway the much more aggressive queen's mind.

Rhaensk is queen. I am queen. You must listen. Piersk is new green. Aldisk is grown green. We must heed her.

"What she lacks for in size, she more than makes up for in sheer tenacity." Tahlana said, nodding at Piersk.

Piersk ignored Tahlansk's addition, so obviously as to be very clear as what she was doing. Primly, she distangled herself from Pierson and moved away, as though losing interesting in everything - food, queens, trainers, handler.

Pierson sighed and sat up, grinning his lopsided grin at Tahlana while keeping Piersk in his peripheral vision. "Tenacity is a really nice word for it, thanks."

Kanesk was tempted to barrel his way through and take what he wanted-- he wouldn't be subtle or sneaky about it, not like Piersk.  He was big, and he was willing to fight.

But, he'd been promised a fine hunt if he behaved for this meeting.  An evening jaunt to one of his favorite spots, where the prey was particularly plentiful, and put up a good chase.  The bronze wasn't sure he was willing to give that up just for the sake of quickly grabbing the tasty snack they were being offered right now.

Of course, he could possibly be convinced otherwise, given the right motivation, but for now, he remained at Kane's side.  Not attempting to help keep order, but doing nothing to encourage chaos, either.