Planet Zar: Nexus

"It's only right," Njeri said, their neck craned way, way up as they met the stony stare of the towering murdon. "There's no sense reminding anyone you created us, we're well aware, but we're people, not puppets. If you truly want to help us, you should give us the same opportunities as any other Nidus resident."

"You want… to bond." The murdon selected her words with stilted caution.

Njeri knew she was poking around the herd's minds, gathering weapons to use against them. They needed to interrupt her before she got any ideas.

"Yes. Just the same as any murdon or alien resident of the Nidus. Not because we'd be useful with bonds, but because it's right." Njeri cocked their head a little. "But bonds are useful."

Kudebinya - murdon Prima of Viridis Nidus - met Njeri's gaze with an unreadable look, her many sets of fingers elegantly tapping palms. Njeri held strong under her scrutiny, an easy enough feat with a dozen noulicorns at their back. Not that they'd be much use in a true conflict, but the murdon wanted peace, not struggle. The noulicorns needed to cooperate willingly to fix their planet.

Njeri must have projected the thought broad enough, because Kudebinya nodded and selected a diamond shaped silver object Njeri recognized as a teleportation shard.

"This will take you and one other noulicorn to a destination of your choosing, and will return you here upon a second activation."

"Just two of us?" a cheery voice burst behind them.

"What about the rest?" another voice, deeper, angrier.

Kudebinya lifted a hand to quiet them. "Two for now, and preferably someone giftless. If the experience goes well, we'll see to equipping more of you with teleportation shards."

Chatter erupted, a miasma of ambivalence as some noulicorns whooped joyously at the opportunity, while others snarled their disappointment. Njeri tucked the shard in a bag around their neck and turned to face their comrades.

"Never worry, my friends," she started. "Everything will go splendidly."

"But who will you pick?" squeaked a dun mare.

More comments jostled for attention, each seeking permission to go off world. Njeri's eyes slipped to the back of the crowd, where the shyer noulicorns harried. Young fawns, a few adolescents still with knobbly knees, and only a couple giftless adults looking wide-eyed and hopeful.

"Storm Warning!" Njeri called, trotting through the throngs of noulicorns. "You're just the right person to accompany me."

"M-me?" the big grey buck stuttered. He frowned. "I won't- I can't- It'll be strange."

"It'll be perfect for you," said Njeri. "A bond will help you find your voice, my friend, a maybe your Gift along the way."

"And where are you headed, Electus Wanjeri?" Kudebinya loomed over the herd once more.

Warning stepped up next to Njeri, quiet but bold, and Njeri flashed a brilliant smile.

"To Dawn Watch Weyr! Some of our Custos have informed me they have whericorns."