Desert let out a huff as they children continued to flail around, Vargas lost along with the fellow adults.

Well, time to do what he said he would. Rising to his feet, Desert cast his gaze out to the others as they seemed to be winding down. "Now is as good a time as any," he spoke to Hemlocke first, looking over them.

A nod was given to their Overseer. "Of course." He stepped forward, drawing himself up and clapped his wing-paws together, attempting to draw attention to himself. "Alright- Everyone, listen up!" He cast his gaze out. If they decided to respond, good. If not... He'd make mental notes, at least.

"My designation is Desert Rose Thirty-Five. I will be your commander for training, for now." He glanced to Vakornol with a mixture of apology and deference. "Come. I have a competition for you all." He paced away to the hollow he once slept in, speaking along the way. "Now, I want you all to dig a place for you to rest. Decide how deep you need it- it must be out of the wind. I'll tell you when you've done enough."

The little ones would have a harder time, but he'd just have to see what they'd do- all of them. When he came close, he patted the ground with his wings before backing off, watching and waiting.

When the last filed over, he'd nod. Let them get to work. Any questions he'd answer with simple variations of 'don't worry, just continue working', fighting down the power trip that came with instructions.

This was only temporary, he chided himself.

;exit Desert unless stopped? the thread's been gettin' long overdue so i figured this quick out would help

The others were talking again! Drawing its head up, it gave a hard look to its stone-giver, watching him stalk away.

A competition? Oh, its fur blazed up in excitement! Giving a playful bat to the Garnet as a last swipe, the Selenite hopped around and ran after the commander- what's a commander?- bright eyes looking for its task.

It would win! Given the go ahead, its claws extended out and dug at the ground, intent on scrabbling out its hovel and get whatever prize it'd be given.

Was there even a prize promised? Maybe they prize'd be knowing it did more than everyone. Yeah! Determination set in its little quivering bones as it stuck through pain to prove its worth to them all.

;exit Gamma into diggy time

The orthoclase bristled, quills fluttering up as its commander clapped his wings together, the noise resounding. This creature - it'd noticed him before - was small, but his voice boomed with authority. Desert Rose Thirty-Five was his designation (not that it held any real weight to a yet-nameless Alpha.) Acidic eyes fixed on him, and it moved to follow blindly as he led them towards the undug Warren.

Competition was, of course, the perfect way to word what was otherwise a mundane task. It smoothed out its quills, immediately setting to trying to weasel into the hole and carving out more space with its baby-claws. The orthoclase intended to carve out the biggest space possible, and didn't care how many little siblings it'd have to shove out of the way.

;exit

The Ruby had set itself heavily on the ground, jaws twisted in a frown as its body stung from the soreness in its limbs. It watched the others playfight a little absentmindly, every so often glancing at its other sibling. It had been a good fight - not a fun experience, but a fight all the same, despite how terrible the two children had been.

At the smaller brown-thing's command, the Ruby turned its head, at least, but at first disregarded its command. It was tiny, smaller then it, despite being far older. It would be bigger then this so-called commander and, so, did not see why it should respect its authority. Nor the others - only the Overseer. As the Ruby looked over at the massive beast as he walked away, it found itself disappointed in itself. It had probably put on a pitiful display for the Overseer - no, it had to be stronger.

It heaved itself to its feet. It wasn't going to follow Desert-Rose's commands because they were that - a command, but rather because it had nothing else to do at the moment and it was useful anyways. A place to sleep would be welcome. It chose its spot near the Orthoclase, but not close enough that it would be in its way, and proceeded to begin digging. Probably a space just big enough to support its body.

*exit

The black-masked child felt bruised and injured, but despite wanting to cry for attention, no one seemed to pay it much mind. The lack of attention told it that it's pain was not as serious as it though-- if the big adults did not seem scared, then it shouldn't be scared either.

Desert Rose addressed them all, and the garnet's ears pricked curiously toward the sound. It listened, reconizing itself in the face of the fluffy dragon, and found its tail twitching.

Commander in training.

It liked the sound of that. Almost as good as Overseer. The child padded after him, and sniffed at the spot where they were supposed to dig. It's nose still stung, but it sniffed, and got to work making a tiny hole that it could curl up in.

By the time it was done, it laid its tail over its nose, and fell into a deep, heavy sleep, completely exhausted.

;; exit

[Origin Cave]

Character: Garnet-Delta Age: +4 (4 Cycles) shh i know they were babies Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +11 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +13 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +11 Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +11 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: +1 oof Penalties: -0 Total: 52

Character: Selenite-Gamma Age: +4 (4 Cycles) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +11 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +1 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +1 :( Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +18 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: No roll Penalties: -0 Total: 36

WINNER: Garnet-Delta

@Selenite-Gamma @Garnet-Delta
- navy