The darkness had enveloped Aden Weyr, and not a soul stirred. There was no movement, save for a cool, light breeze that rustled through the air. The stars twinkled briefly in the clear sky, rejoicing at the gloriousness of the silence. The two moons were abroad, casting their light upon the Weyr in silvery rays. The Watch-riders stood dutifully at guard beside their mounts, ready for anything that was out of the ordinary.

The Hatching Sands were eerily silent, shadows dancing across large stone walls. Kallenth was asleep, curled protectively around the eggs of her clutch. Off to the side, a small egg shuddered gently. The golden dragon's eyes snapped open, instantly alert. Her eyes were whirling gently, swirling with red. Once she realized what was happening, her eyes took on the shade of a light blue.

The eggs are hatching! Kallenth announced to her rider, as well as the many other sleeping dragons. Her words had a curious effect upon the Weyr. Almost at once, light began to stream through the openings of the individual weyrs, as riders opened glowbaskets, no doubt in response to their dragons' words.

The first to arrive at the sands, was Tayf. She rushed to her lifemate's side, her blond hair streaming out behind her. The beating of wings caused them both to look up. Darenth had arrived, bringing a tired looking L'retan with him. The man dismounted, and went to stand beside his weyrmate, watching the eggs with an admiring gaze.

Light filtered into the Cavern, as people began to arrive, carrying glowbaskets in their hands. Positioning them strategically around the sands, they then went to find seats in the tiers. The crowd began with a few sparse people, the numbers gradually growing into large throngs. The tiers were filling up, quickly. No one wanted to miss a Hatching!

Fifteen figures cloaked in white stepped onto the sands, settling into a loose semi-circle around the rocking eggs. The candidates had arrived! They stood proudly on the burning sands, albeit they were tired. Their thin shoes provided little comfort from the heat, but they resisted the urge to lift their feet. Their eyes were concentrated upon the large group of eggs before them.

Suddenly, a smaller egg shudded violently, rolling onto its side. Sand sprayed in many directions as the hatchling inside fought to escape its prison. The crowd grew quiet. Small, hair-line thin cracks began to race down its side. Without warning, the shell shattered, depositing a damp green dragon upon the sands. She climbed to her feet, more surprised than anything. She swung her head to the side, glancing at her surroundings. Catching sight of the white robed candidates, she took several steps in that direction. Then, taking sight of the one she wanted, she hurried her pace. Stopping at the feet of youngest candidate there, she nudged the girl gently. Tiryl's eyes widened in surprise. "Her name is Litanth!" she cried out.

The crowd errupted in cheers, as the first pair walked off of the sands. Two eggs hatched next, revealing a brown and a blue. The large brown sprung from the remains of his egg, scrambling over to the candidates. He could sense the one he wanted... But he couldn't see them! He threw his head back, crying out in dismay. A small candidate shoved his way past the others, his hazel eyes widening when he caught a glimpse of the dragonet. The brown's cries immediately stopped when he caught sight of the lad. "I'm sorry, Moneth! I wasn't hiding from you on purpose!" Wyrrin exclaimed, rushing to the brown's side.

The smaller blue watched this event with interest, cocking his head to the side. As the newly impressed pair exited the sands, he turned his attention back to the candidates gathered before him. Each one was trying to gain his attention, but he knew who he wanted. Instead of tramping over to the boys as expected, he began to walk towards the females. The crowd began to mutter in surprise. The blue crooned gently. Laughing, Magrat hugged the blue. "Those are stars, Yereth! I will show them to you, once you have eaten, of course.

Two rather large eggs split at once and two bronze hatchlings stood in the eggs place. It was obvious that they were proud, even for one so young, one, a bit larger, nudged a tiny shard off of his leg with a snort of disgust. After removing the offending piece, he straightened, and began to march purposely towards the young men, who waited eagerly. Beginning with the first lad, he began his inspection of the ranks. Each boy watched him with a glimmer of hope, and each time, the bronze continued on his way. At last, there was only one left. Vendin smiled down at the little dragon. "Do I pass the inspection, Esinth?" the pink-haired man inquired.

While the first bronze picked his rider and they walked off, the second stood and watched in amazement. Then he let out a loud bugle unimaginable for one his size and began a charge at the circle of boys awaiting him. They scattered and only one remained. The brown was a few lengths away and stopped charging. The remaining boy knelt and his face immediately reddened. "No Tidith (prounced tide-eth), I wasn't going to move. You knew you couldn't hurt me!" Iztak said proudly, despite his reddening face. The bronze bugled in triumph and led the way to food as the crowd cheered enthusiacically.

While that was happening, a green and a blue wandered across the sands. The green was the first to impress, scrambling to the girls frantically, as if afraid that her rider would be chosen by someone else unless she hurried. With a squeal of fear, she launched herself into the air, knocking Wenn onto the ground. Ignoring the heat of the sands, the girl proceeded to comfort her new lifemate. "No one was is going to steal me, Yiceth (prounced why-cith). Don't worry. We are together now, and we will be forever."

The blue took a few steps towards the girls, before going to the male candidates. His nose flared with excitement, as he caught wind of the lad meant for him. In his haste, he tripped over his wing, landing snout first in the sand. With a cry of rage and frustration, he tried to stand, only to have the sand shift out from beneath him. A pair of hands steaded him, and he looked up into the eyes of a special Journeyman Harper. "Are you alright, Loyeth?" Treyan whispered. Realizing what he just said, his eyes widened in disbelief. Loyeth stood up, and together, the pair left the Sands.

Two eggs, one small and one quite large were rolling in a frenzy, digging up sand every which way. Several candidates took a step backwards. They had no desire to come in contact with the burning grains of sand unless they had to! The two eggs came in contact with another, and a large crack could be heard. The eggs shattered, leaving one green and one gold dragonet sprawled out on the ground, stunned. Two girls rushed over, their eyes wide with concern. The smaller green looked up, her eyes meeting directly with the darker haired young woman that stood before her. "Do not worry, Kalath," Allelia murmered to her lifemate. "I am sure that she will be alright."

The larger gold was still lying on the sands. She crooned gently as she saw her sister walk away with her human. Slowly, she stood up, her eyes whirling with anxiety. She looked to her mother, Gold Kallenth, for reassurance and began to walk back to the other female candidates where she stood, she examined each and every one left on the Sands then her voice rose into a shrill cry. Chaila's eyes widened. "I did not know that you were looking for me, Delarath! I didn't think you would choose me!" The gold rushed over, and Chaila bent to recieve her crooning lifemate. Chaila, you were the only possible one! Delarath stated as the other girls int he circle heard her with widened eyes. A vocal queen, that's for sure.

A young green spilled out of medium sized egg, scrambling to her feet without a moment of hesitation. Squeaking in apprehension, she rushed back to her golden mother. Kallenth lowered her head, nudging her daughter gently with her muzzle, pushing her in the direction of the candidates. Obeying, the green ambled towards them. She veered off after a few lengths, continuing until she had reached the remaining girls. One gasped, falling to her knees as the hatchling approached. The green stopped before her, sniffing at her gently. As the green's warm breath caused the girls curls to ruffle, her surprise evaporated, and Narrine giggled. "Xeerath! Don't do that!"

One egg, situated off to the side, gave a mighty heave. The thin shell split into two pieces, and a brown dragon stepped out into the light. He blinked his faceted eyes, adjusting quickly. There were only a few male candidates left, but he didn't mind. He walked over, peering into the faces of each lad. He stopped at the second one, his eyes beginning to whirl quickly. Hadex swallowed hard, trying to grasp the truth. "Bireth?" he asked softly. Then, obviously receiving a positive answer, his face broke out in a large grin. "Come, then! We will find you some food at once!"

The Hatching was almost over, and three eggs were left. There were four candidates, each one watching the rocking eggs, desperation in their eyes. One of them wouldn't impress. Which one?

Small egg pieces began to fall off of a medium sized egg. It began to rock raster and harder, causing shards to fly every which egg. A pale blue snout slammed through the side of the shell, and the hatchling inside took its first breath of air. Encouraged by his success so far, the blue began to fight. His leg came through, and he continued to struggle against the confining walls of his egg. His wing burst through the shell, and he was free at last. Startled, he rolled several feet, before coming to a stop. He crooned gently as he stood, swaying gently on his new limbs. The boy he watched smiled gently, tears streaming down his cheeks as he silently spoke with his new lifemate. "I know, Solitath," Pertin said outloud, his voice soft. He reached out to scratch the blue's eyelids gently. "I will never be sad again, now that I have you."

During this impression, the remaining two eggs had hatched. A green and a brown were the last dragonets. The green daintly stepped over the remains of her shell, her snout raised high. She sauntered over to the remaining candidates, looking over them swiftly. Her hide was damp, and she spread her wings to help them dry. She was going to take her time. It was obvious.

The brown scrambled over, giving a snort of disgust. Turning his back on the green, his tail swished through the air. It connected with the green's backleg. With a startled yelp, she lost her balance, and crashed to the ground. In anger, she jumped to her feet, barking at the brown. Her brother ignored her, and she took a step forward, trying to get his attention. He was in for a good scolding! At last, he turned around. As she was close, he knocked into her, sending them both to the ground. They tried unsuccessfully to climb to their feet, but they only ended up tripping each other again. Two candidates stepped forward, seperating the dragons from one another. "Now there, Abionath," Dracleia murmered, helping the green up. She stroked the emerald hide gently. "Are you alright?" Vollimar smiled at the brown. "Yes, Taoth, you can stand up now. She won't get you." The dragon did so, slowly. With gentle care, the lad walked his lifemate off of the sands, his arm draped over the dark brown neck in affection. Rebbel looked around dejectedly and a single tear ran down his face. No eggs were left.

Slowly, the crowd began to disperse. They were eager to return to their beds, several of them already covering yawns with their hands. The next day would be busy, filled with the feast that would be prepared in honor of the new riders and their hatchlings.

Kallenth crooned gently, amidst the scattered shells that were strown about the sands. Tayf approached the gold, experiencing the same sadness that her friend was feeling. Kallenth's children had all hatched, and would be beginning their new lives with their chosen riders. "Don't worry, love," she murmered. "There will be more clutches."

With that, they too walked from the Sands.

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