Rainbow Topaz Sylekask
Sylekask is every inch as bright as her personality would have one believe. Her build is small, and not quite as stocky as one might expect from a wher— though really, that's not saying much. She's still more of a bulldog to a dragon's saluki. Her wings are small, even of a wher, and won't support her in flight. She has a dainty dished head with delicate features: a contrast to her muscular wherbulk, even if she is light for her species. Her hide is a blinding array of bright colors in random, mingling spotty patterns and splotches: bright blues, cyans, greens, yellows, pinks, oranges.. you name it, it's probably there, playing on her hide in psychedelic neon.
Ref
Egg Name and Description
For these records see the profile for Sylekask at New Pern, where she Impressed Sylekask. Syleka and Sylekask were 'ported.
Personality
Energetic, Hyper, Friendly, Loving, Loyal, Trusting, Playful, Feminine, Polite, Protective, Defensive
Want to know what Sylekask is like? Take a boxer and give it some coffee, see what happens. That's Sylekask.
This girl has energy. Tons of it. She's a roiling ball of energy, and if it wasn't for the fact that Syleka is more then willing to match her, take her on long walks, and give her plenty to interact with, Sylekask would be quite a destructive creature out of boredom. Thankfully, Syleka gives her plenty to do to occupy her quick-moving brain and high energy level. This physical energy is buoyant: at the beginning of the night, Sylekask will literally be shaking with how much pent up energy she's got. She loves running, walking, and expending this energy any way she could— it's a pity she can't fly, because that might be a workout to actually tire her out.
Sylekask is also hyper— and she's clever and intelligent. All that energy and a big mind to go behind it means that she's not going to be distracted or put on by some haphazard game— she needs to use her brain. She's a smart wher, and she wants to use that big brain of hers. She learns things very quickly, especially with the right incentive (affection, anyone?). Her hyperness will cause her to bounce around and get into everything, and her cleverness will only help this along. That thing you don't want her to get into, that place she's not supposed to be, that door you swear you locked in a way a wher couldn't get through? Yeah, she'll figure that out, unless she's got something better to do with her ample mind and energy.
But she's not mean, and she doesn't mean to be destructive, even when she is. In fact, she's quite friendly. Stranger? What's that? She's not the nasty sort of wher that doesn't like anybody. On the contrary, Syleka being the friendly, social creature she is managed to give Sylekask exceptional socialization in her early life, and now Sylekask has gotten used to the thought that People Are Good And Friendly Creatures Who Give Scratches And Treats. Not that you should go around jumping on her back without warning, but so long as you're not being mean, Sylekask will be perfectly happy to be friendly and sweet.
She's super affectionate. If you're friendly, she's willing to be friendly too, and give you a nice nuzzle. The closer you are to her, the more affectionate she is. Her favorite thing to do is snuggle, and if she manages to tire herself out she loves to lay with her head in her favorite person's lap— you know, until some of that wild energy returns. Syleka is, of course, her absolute favorite person, but by no means is she the only one who gets Sylekask's affection. This little wher spent the first months of her life sleeping in Syleka's bed during the day, and now she still sleeps on the floor beside it (having grown too large and heavy for most mattresses or bedframes to handle). Showing one's affection through touch is normal for this wher. That's also part of the reason why Sylekask is almost never seen without Syleka— Syl knows how sweet her wher is, and that her wher would almost never hurt another living soul— but most people would be rather put off by a massive wher running towards them, tongue lolling, even if all the wher wanted to do was give them a good head-snuggle.
Sylekask makes a decent watch-creature, but she doesn't make a good guard. She's too trusting. She doesn't really understand that people could potentially be bad, unless they make an outright hostile move in her presence. Otherwise, well— people are for snuggling and playing with! That guy running off with your stuff, that he just took from your weyr? Well, if he's not threatening violence to anyone, Sylekask is just going to think he's around to play and try to be affectionate. That said, she's a good watch-creature because she reacts to people coming— even if it's with a happy set of chirps and dashing off in their direction. She has all the sharpened senses of a watchwher, and very little of the traditional malice. Since she's rarely alone, anyone sneaking around where they shouldn't be will probably still be caught, even if she's not going to be the one who's upset about it or recognize any wrongdoing.
Sylekask is also very loyal. She knows who her people are, and the closer you are to her (or Syleka), the more she'll do for you. Not that she won't go to great lengths without the connection: humans in general are Good to her, and thus she will try to do what needs to be done to please them. For her humans— not just any humans— she'll go to greater lengths. She'll follow Syleka anywhere, and do anything for her, including risk grievous bodily injury.
But really, Sylekask wouldn't like to focus on anything so serious. REally, she just likes being her normal happy self, and seeking fun and a good time. She's a playful creature, and there's little she likes more then games. Meeting new people? Heck yes, but she'd like to play with them, too! Oh, she'll play your standard games like fetch— they were her favorites as a child, and even though she's older and more dignified, she still likes them for the nostalgia and the fact that, well, you're chasing something! What's not to love about that? More complicated games are even more fun, though. Part of what occupies Syleka's nights are devising training strategies in the form of games, and if strangers want to get involved, then the more the merrier! She also loves playing games with dragonkin, especially the firelizards— even if they are a bit more simpler then she might get with a human.
Syleka has managed to teach Sylekask a thing or two about manners. This little wher wants to run up to everyone and stick her face in theirs, but chances are she's not going to- she's going to wait for Syleka to make the introductions first. Why? because she's a big scary wher and that scares people. Sylekask may not understand why people are afraid of her— seriously, what's there to be scared of, she knows she isn't going to use her claws against people— but she listens to Syleka and has learned some restraint. She's also probably not going to start fights and is generally well-behaved when meeting new dragonkin.
Sylekask is a pretty creature, and she knows it. Her dainty form is not just in appearance: she's a feminine little creature. She has a natural grace and elegance to her that brings to mind "Female." Her movements are quick, light, but they have a coiled power beneath them. She's proud of her appearance- including the hide whose bright tones she cannot actually see as humans do. It's partially because Syleka is so enamored with her wher's appearance, and partially because Sylekask herself has a slight tendency towards vanity. Sylekask will be more concerned with cleanliness then your average wher, and when going into social situations will want to be freshly washed and shined. She deeply enjoys compliments, especially from humans and males of any species. Flirting is one of her favorite activities too, but it's a coy, demure sort of flirting. Playing with the males is one of the only things she does 'subtle' for. She also really likes to be chased, even outside of runs.
For the most part, Sylekask is candy and lollipops. Sugar, spice, and everything nice- just like little girls are made of. This is partially thanks to Syleka's guidance and natural affection, part due to an inborn good-natured temperament, and partially due to rigorous and thorough socialization, amongst other things. She's a great wher, there's no denying that.
It's important to remember, though, that Sylekask is still a wher. All that muscle, those claws, and those teeth are not just for show. IT's incredibly rare that something will rankle her ire or make her act to the full potential of her destructive or violent capabilities, but it's not entirely unheard of. Don't attack her home. Especially don't attack her people- that's a killin' offense. She's the size of a brown wher and she has all the strength of one.
She can be quite defensive. If Sylekask is backed into a corner, she will hiss and growl and eventually strike. She also isn't keen to let creatures into her territory if they're hostile or unwelcome: she's very good at picking up body ques. She can be intimidating and muscle her way through situations if she needs to, and when she needs to be defensive she'll show off these skills.
She's also protective. Mostly of her people, and of her home— the weyr, to a lesser extent, and then her own space. The only place she'll be actively territorial is her den. No one may enter that without her or Syleka's permission. Her bed especially is subject to her possessiveness: it's hers. Syleka can touch it, but she'll chase Fiji or Patches off if she sees them near it. She'll likewise keep a wary and protective eye over her special humans/animals/firelizards/dragons/etc, watching for any sign of danger so that she may leap to their aid. Syleka gets most of this attention, of course, and Sylekask will be quickest to protect her handler, but she'll also jump into the fray over a dragon ridden by one of Syleka's friends, for instance. Normally her protective urge manifests mostly in protective grumbling when she's not entirely comfortable with a situation— if syleka is talking to someone she doesn't trust, for instance, she'll mutter and pout— but if there's ever active hostility or a physical threat, she will not hesitate to resort to violence.
That's Sylekask. Sweet, affectionate, cuddly, mostly harmless— but still 100% muscled watchwher, capable of pulling out the stops if she needs to.
