K'ylon's Blue Alaruth

Foreboding Woods Egg

Mist hangs on this egg, obscuring the forms that shade and mark the shell. Dark lines and masses, umber and gray, twist in craggy branches, fading into the fog and sharpening again where it clears. Pale brown brambles march along a ground-line before the base of the egg turns deadly black. On one side of the rounded shell, a path is cleared through the ominous shapes and their reaching fingers, a wind-swept road, with the brown specks of long-dried, fallen leaves, leading off into the shrouded, twilight gloom.

Egg Inspiration: Sleepy Hollow

This egg is based on the foreboding wood and roads that the Headless Horseman prowls in Sleepy Hollow.

Hatching Pose: The mist crowding the lines of the Foreboding Woods Egg seems to shift, the craggy branches on its side almost reaching out as it moves slightly in the sands. Small cracks spread along the path on one end of its rounded shell, then there’s a moment’s stillness as if the occupant is considering its next move. A quick roll to its left puts pressure on one end of the egg and then suddenly it all shatters into small pieces, puddling into a pile of egg fluid and shell on which the Solid Slate Blue is rooted.

Stoic Slate Blue

Scaling from blackened talons to a sturdy back, journeying ever upward to a chiseled head then spreading outward to diaphanous wings, this youngling is a study in depth and perception. Sturdy, lean legs blend cobalt with slate, colors solidly meshing to root him firmly with his environment. Joining with his underbelly, those same tones twine with lighter shades that lengthen in sinewy, flexing textures to paint the trunk of his form completely. Murky gray rises up his slender neck then melts into a sapphire splash on his lean muzzle, around his eyeridges, and over the apex to present a thoughtful silhouette. Branching out from his sides, brighter tones along the leading edges of his wings provide a sharp contrast to his otherwise dusky shades. Shimmering sapphire echoes, too, in droplets of color scattered along his mainsails from primary to spar. Behind, his tail outlines the earth and sky in decidedly lighter hues that darken into shadow at its end.

Final Size: 28.4

Inspiration: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a film about a high school senior who skips a day of school with his best friend and girlfriend to gallivant about Chicago. While Ferris is the charming slacker of the film, his best friend, Cameron, is a hard-worker who is more serious and questioning. It is this character that inspired your Alaruth. Cameron is unwillingly dragged along during Ferris’s capers, but ends up enjoying himself by the end of the day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_bueller

Alaruth’s physical traits are based on a tree called the Blue Beech, whose common name comes from its muscled, sinewy bark that is a light-gray to blue-gray. The tree has a slow growth rate but can get to be very tall and also very wide, often growing in a multi-trunked form as it leans outward toward sunlight from the edge of woodlands. http://dnr.ohio.gov/forestry/trees/beech_bl.htm

Name: Alaruth - His name stems from a few different things. Rue, French for street, is related to all the driving around Chicago that Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron did. Not only that, but a lot of Cameron's guilt in the film stems from the use of his father's prized possession, a ferrari. Cameron may even rue the day he agreed to participate in Ferris's scheme. In the movie, Cameron was played by actor Alan Ruck, and so his name's reminiscent of that as well.

Mindvoice: Alaruth's voice rolls on balmy breezes as potter's hands lightly touch a block of clay to fashion it to an artist's will. Deep, secure texture in keeping with his darkened presence contains thoughtfulness, reflection - a depth to hint at what lies within his being, waiting to be awakened. A hint of saffron-scented and hued hesitation permeates his speech and thoughts when he is young, though budding maturity soothes this aspect of him and leaves a more self-assured density to his resonance.

Internal Impression Message: Stoic Slate Blue Hatchling marches determinedly across the hot sands. There is little hesitation in this blue youngling's stalwart pace now that the decision has been made, pre-empted only by a fleeting glance at a yell somewhere near the far end of the Candidate's row. Fleeting distraction gone, he now presses against the brown haired, freckle-faced lad, croons softly and gazes raptly into the boy's eyes.

External Impression Message: Strong yet tender, a delightfully soothing mix softens your concerns, your worries, the uncomfortable heat upon your sandals, depleting all negativity within you. Instead, comfort, companionship, camaraderie, joy and the essence of oneness fill you with their presence. << I have come to find you and join with you forever. Here you are and I am glad! >> Swirls of love and affection encompass you, the world of the sands momentarily forgotten as the bond strengthens. Blots of color - teal, turquoise, ultramarine - pop about this specially joined space, much like the light tumble of freckles upon your face. << K'ylon, we will be happy together in all that we do! I am Alaruth. But first? Is there something you can do for me? What can you do for the grumbles in my middle? What is that feeling I have? Do you feel it too? Can you… feed me? >>

Temperament

Weyrling:
Elemental to his core, Alaruth will be utterly fascinated with the world about him — especially all things tall, whether it’s you or some other object in his world. You may need to gently remind him to watch where he's going, a tumble easy enough when more concern is given to stargazing than a rock that dared to get in his way when he wasn't looking. He may also be concerned with your possessions, questioning just how clean they should be kept or if they need replacement any time soon.

As he grows, the challenges of early weyrlinghood might tend to overwhelm him at times, and maybe even cause him to be timid. << Can’t we stay in the barracks today? My knee feels a little funny. Can you see it? Look. >> A mock hobbling step to compound his thinking that staying in the barracks is safer than attempting to walk a straight drill line with his clutchmates could well be a ruse, fueled by his feelings of inadequacy. He will need your encouragement and firm words to urge him to try new things, experience new ways of viewing the world.

When he is in lessons, he may very well want to complete a task by himself. If others suggest an alternate method of completion, then maybe they should just do it themselves. That’s just another manifestation of his nagging inner worry that his way won’t be satisfactory, and his feelings may be hurt if he’s criticized.

And if you get the urge to sneak out, skip a lesson, or disobey a weyrlingmaster? Oh, the guilt! But if you lay on the coaxing hard enough… he’s your man. Though he’ll probably nag and worry and fret for as long as he remembers that you’re supposed to be someplace else.

Adult:
Love, loyalty and camaraderie will always dominate his feelings for you; of this there is no doubt. Be assured that Alaruth is a stalwart friend and companion, never to leave your side in all sorts of weather. Bring on the lightning in your life, the swirling stormy weather, the incessant drizzles of dampening rain! He would make it all turn to warm sunny days for you if he could.

However, knowing that he can’t... hesitation will hold a place in his world, and he’ll be cautious to buy into your schemes before giving them more than ample consideration. Questions will abound: be prepared to hear them should you try to develop a plot or two. He will be your conscience, your tuning fork in matters such as these, and there will be ample worry on why things are the way they are, what makes you tick, why can't he change things? He will need guidance and support as he self-criticizes and you’ll need to put aside your own feelings and urges to lead him onward, encouraging him when he slumps or doubts his capabilities.

In short, your Alaruth is just wound up awfully tight, for a dragon. Here's his other secret: behind those feelings of inadequacy is a secret well spring of untapped rage. Should he ever feel too-long ignored or too-often unattended, he may take it out on inanimate objects or, even more likely, on herdbeasts at feeding times, with an almost wickedly wild glee. This discovery of a release of his emotions might not occur until later in his life, after he's faced frustrations, sorrows, joys or triumphs and explored some of his reactions to them, always with you at his side.

Flight:
When he is old enough, glowing females will both entice him in a delightful way and worry him. << Look! She crooned at me! Do you think she likes me? Am I doing the right thing? When I am with her, I best not do much in case I do something wrong! >> He’ll be attentive before a lady dons a glow, and even more so afterward, granting her prime choice of herdbeasts at mealtime, offering to fetch or run needless errands for her, or letting her tread all over him if that seems like her wont. Again, your friend will need your assurances and staunch conviction that he is your 'winner' no matter what the outcome!

Winning flights will send his confidence soaring, but it is your love that will pitch him higher than the tallest mountain (particularly after his brand of canine-like adoration grows old in the eyes of his companion!). There is nothing better than your love, and he knows it! There will be a moment in time when he comes to an awareness of himself and everything you do for him will make good sense. Watch for it.

Wing:
There is security in numbers, and he uses that fully when you both are finally tapped into your first wing. He takes direction clearly, immediately hopping to the task at hand at the first hint from authority. In addition, diligence and performance are qualities he is vitally aware of, making him a strong wingmember.

Long sweeps may again have him anxious, << Are we where we’re supposed to be? Are you –sure- this is what we were assigned to do? >>, but with a little prodding, he’ll even find enjoyment in time away from the weyr—though he may sometimes sulk and pretend he doesn’t. Periodically, there may be glimmers of the old questioning of his abilities. << The inverted v? What side are we on? Can we do this without bumping into someone else? It looks rather close! >> Pause. << I know. We can do this. So, come on! It's getting late! >> These moments, however, will be fleeting, overcome by your strong connection, finally disappearing into the Istan sunset.

Despite occasional self-doubt, your blue has the potential to grow into a seasoned dragon with your help, ready and able to give advice to the younger dragons. You may find him spending free time in the bowl, giving pointers to them on the best way to catch a thermal or snag the most juicy wherry of the pack.

Credits:

Egg: Griere
Description: M'yr
Temper: M'yr
Puppeteer: M'yr