"Where's Zeus at?" he asked the night-colored firelizard. She made what could pass for a grimace and settled around his neck, crooning. She had never really been fond of the blue, even though they were clutchmates. Torresan had Impressed Zeus by accident anyway. Heckate had just finished punching through her eggshell and was eagerly inhaling the gobbets of meat that Torresan was feeding her, when another egg began to rock. It caught Torresan's attention, just as a small blue head popped out and had Impressed. The small black had hissed at the blue, not wanting to share her human. "I still love him, just as much as I love Heckate." Torresan thought. He probably had coddled the black more because she was a rare. Zeus broke into Torresan's thoughts with a timid chirp. He smiled and extended a finger for the blue to step on, and the stroked its small head, suddenly guilty for all the attention he had spent on Heckate and not on Zeus. The blue crooned and rubbed his head on the back of Torresan's hand. "You know I love you, right Zeus?" he asked softly. Zeus looked into his eyes and her could tell he knew. "I just don't show it enough..."

"Who are you talking to?" Torresan was startled by the sudden voice behind him, but her could tell it was just his brother. "Just Zeus." he replied and turned coolly to Sylvan. "Father said we could go to Falas today, since he's being flown there to attend some meeting." Sylvan stepped outside and leaned on the wall across from Torresan. "Is that the place with the genetics program? I've heard that some pretty weird firelizards come from there." Sylvan nodded. "The Weyrleader up there has a silver-gold mix, I saw it the other day when he came down to check out the herdbeasts for that feast." Sylvan turned and headed to the runner pens, calling to Torresan. "I'm going now, if you want to come you have to be there before midday!" He quickly lead a runner to the stable to be saddled and sped towards the weyr. Torresan soon followed.

At Falas Weyr

Sylvan was very excited to be at Falas. It's genetic programs were renown throughout the continent, and some of the most fantastic colors had come from it. He hurried down the corridors, Torresan walking behind him, at a slower pace. Torresan was trying to be cool and calm, but Sylvan didn't care. All he knew was that he wanted to get to the F.G.P.C. Amway, his green flit, clung to his shirt as he practically ran, sharing in his excitement. Someone suddenly stepped out in front of him and he slammed into them, landing hard on the floor. Amway abruptly leapt up and winked between with a shriek. He stood and mumbled a "sorry" and quickly darted around them and continued on his way, a bit more carefully. He finally found the door that said "Falas Genetic Program Center".

"Yes! I hope I get a black so I can show up Torresan..." he thought and pushed through the door. He was directed to the Incubator Room as Torresan said he'd rather not Impress another, for he already had two. The room was quiet and hot and a few incubators were empty. He walked up to a full one and watched for rocking eggs. It seemed to take forever before one began to move. Sylvan carefully scooped it up as a woman set a bowl of fresh meat next to him and wished him good luck. The firelizard seemed to have a tough time, but it finally pushed one tiny grey claw through. Then it stuck the tip of its muzzle through the hole, but it couldn't get enough leverage to break the hard shell. Sylvan gently squeezed the egg until a crack ran down the middle. The firelizard forced the two halves apart and shook off the remnants.

"Looks like a granite to me." The woman who had given him the bowl of meat pushed it to him. "Better feed it." Sylvan chose a small piece of the meat and gave it to the granite firelizard, who swallowed it rapidly and crooned for more. "What are you going to name it?" The woman asked, pulling a form to her so Sylvan can register the firelizard. He thought for a few minutes then says, "Firestone, I'll name him Firestone." Amway popped from between and landed on the table, watching Firestone raptly. She asked him a few more questions and left, allowing him to bond with his new pet. Sylvan made his way out as well shortly after, beaming as he showed Firestone, who was now soundly sleeping, to Torresan. "Cool." he said absently, watching a pretty young girl enter the room and speak to the woman at the desk. Sylvan was to wrapped up in his new firelizard to pay any attention to anything else.

One Turn later...

Sylan played absently with the rope he was holding, while watching the bright blue sky, daydreaming. A brown dragon glided lazily across, and disappeared into a cloud. If Sylvan closed his eyes, he could almost imagine being the rider on that dragons back..."You gonna help me, or are you going to chase imaginary dragons?" Torresan broke into his daydream. "Shards." he murmured under his breath, and took the end of the rope Torresan handed him. His twin brother had been even more of a bother in the past few months. He'd been arrogant, selfish and cruel in his way or treating the animals. Many of the runners bore the marks of Torresan's treatment.

Sylvan looked up to see what was on the other end of the rope. A mare had stubbornly lain down, and Torresan had attached a rope to it's bridle, trying to pull it up. "Wait Torresan!" Sylvan shouted. "You're going to hurt her!" Sylvan jerked the rope from his brothers hand and untied it from the runner. "Then how are we supposed to get the bloody beast up?!" Torresan shouted. "We don't, we leaver her alone and let her get up by herself. You're going to end up killing one of our runners, and then father will kill you!" Torresan had already broken a runners leg by racing it over rocky terrain. He had no respect of the beasts! Sylvan sighed resignedly. "I wonder what he'd do if he got a dragon?" He snorted and thought, "Probably jerk the fardling thing's head off or something, trying to get it to fly or between" He gently coaxed the mare up and led her back to the pens. This would be a long night....