The darkness they'd once found soothing and comfortable suddenly seemed to press in and suffocate them, the only way to stop it was to get out. They kicked and kicked the walls of their prison. A lurch and the prison tipped and began to roll over and over before they felt a bump and the walls suddenly didn't exist anymore. Her brother glanced at her, a fond farewell in his eyes after spending many months enclosed in the same egg. Multumith was going to bond and leave his twin alone there, on the hot sands.

He has to... she thought sadly, his bond is here. Mine, however, is not. Museitetsujinth turned to her dam and said, There is no one here for me. A large green dragon stepped forth, a kind look on her face. Come with me, Musei'. Let's get you some food, my name is Cynnath. She spread a comforting wing and escorted the little female bronze off of the sands. What about my mother, why can't she take me? Musei' asked as she ate from a bowl of meat. The rest of your brothers and sisters haven't hatched yet, she has to stay. Don't worry, you'll see her soon enough. You get to stay here, with me! Cynnath said, nudging another bowl of meat at the hungry bronze.

The hatching continued, Musei' was joined by a female blue and a male black who both did not want to bond. They were going to different places and were taken away once the hatching ended. Cynnath stayed with her during the hatching feast and afterwards when she escorted the sleepy bronze to see her dam. Little Musei', you did not want to bond? Kadith crooned to the female bronze. No, my bond wasn't here. I will wait, I will find them when they come... she replied quietly, looking up at her mother with wide eyes. I know you will, little one. Go with Cynnath, sleep well. With a parting nuzzle, Museitetsujinth followed her caretaker off of the sands and endured being carried to her weyr.

Where is your bonded? Do you have one? she asked as they settled down for the evening. I do, his name is Kjedoreth and he's off sponsoring at another weyr. He will be back, maybe with a friend for you. Now, go to sleep. It is late. Musei' waited until Cynnath had fallen asleep before stepping out onto the ledge and gazing up at the night sky. The two moons gleamed brightly in the dark, casting a silvery light across the weyr. In the weyrling barracks, the new bonded and their dragons slept peacefully, content in each other's presence and warmth. But Musei' was left alone with a caretaker who did not know how it felt to be that way.

Musei' grew rapidly, and, more often than not, she was left to her own devices. Cynnath did care for her, made sure she went to weyrling classes, made sure she got bathed and oiled, made sure she ate...but the green had more on her rather frazzled mind. She and Kjedoroth were fighting, then they disappeared to a distant world and came back with two more little hatchlings they'd bonded. A red and a white who squabbled non-stop. Musei' avoided them whenever possible, she detested hatchlings and small human children. They were annoying to watch, they never did anything worthwhile other than eat and complain and fight... The bronze tried to seek comfort with her mother, but the senior queen hardly had time to dote upon her child, what with all the running about, ferrying her bond here and there, flying Thread that came through frequently that time of year. Her father was also busy doing similar things with his bond. In the end, Museitetsujinth was still left alone.

This didn't really bother her, mostly. Gave her uninterrupted hours to simply watch. The bronze constantly corrected her fellow weyrlings in classes, instantly alienating all of them with her know-it-all character and her snobbish air. All she was really trying to do was make friends with someone, anyone. All while she was listening and observing, no one bothered to listen to her. So she sought a bond of her own. Not a human, they were nothing but bothers, always needing to be taken here and there, but a pet. Someone who would listen but never need to be listened to.

Easier said than done. Being a weyrling, though she was unbonded, Musei' wasn't allowed to leave the weyr at all, much less go between. Most asked why she didn't just bond one of the local llithra? Because, they are nothing but parroting annoyances. As intelligent as Tiberius claims they are, they never really listen... she repeated time and again. The ilori even came to her weyr one day - a rarity in itself, for he never left the small side-cave where he tended his precious llithra. After a few vain moments discussion, the ilori couldn't get her to change her mind and left, sauntering down the hall with his tail high. Shaffing beast, I don't want some pet that'll talk at me all the time! Museitetsujinth bugled from her ledge in irritation before retreating inside.

Before she had the chance to fall properly asleep, Musei' as awakened by her dam. Little Musei', would you come to my weyr please? the queen said, wisely asking instead of commanding the bronze dragoness. Grudgingly, she pulled herself off of her sleeping couch and leapt from the ledge, spiraling up to the senior queen's weyr. There she found not only Kadith but her rider standing just inside the entrance. Yes? the bronze asked upon landing. I'd think you should be more respectful, seeing as we've a gift for you. Kadith said sternly. Kayla smiled and said to her queen, "Now Kadith...Musei' is a teenager, she has the right to be moody." A smirk crossed her face. "As I remember it, you were worse than she is, in your weyrling days." The queen huffed and stuck out her forked tongue. I never! I was always respectful of my dam and sire, as well as to the senior dragons! "Oh please, you weren't that way then and you sure as hell aren't that way now!" Kayla rolled her eyes.

Seeing an argument between the two brewing and wishing to head it off before she was stuck on that ledge all night long, Musei' made a small noise in her throat, as if clearing it. "Sorry Musei'...Anyway, Kadith and I heard you were searching for a pet, and we thought you might like this." She held out a creamy, blue-spotted egg the size of her fist. "It's a rukel from Darkling Dawn, they are very intelligent and can speak aloud." Musei' took the egg gently and felt it twitch in her paws. It's hatching! Sure enough, two creamy paws punched through the shell as soon as Musei' had a proper hold on it, quickly followed by a wet muzzle. The rest of the rukel struggled its way out and Musei' soon found herself in possession of a small, cream-colored male.

He busily began licking the egg fluid from his fur, while Musei' watched. she idly thanked her mother and her rider before turing and taking off from the ledge, gliding back to her weyr for the evening. What will your name be? she asked the cream. He merely gazed up at her patiently, indigo eyes twinkling in anticipation. Do you not wish to speak? The weyrwoman said your kind can talk... The rukel shook his head. You won't speak? Well, I guess I got what I was wishing for. I shall call you Nodokaikko. That means "quiet one" in the same language as my name. Nodokaikko nuzzled the end of Musei's muzzle and coiled himself up comfortable in her folded fore-arms. For the first time in her life, Musei' felt a warm glow of love fill her chest, all directed at the cream ball of fur in her claws.