The sky above Aden Weyr is cloudy and overcast. You walk into the Lower Caverns to get something for breakfast and can hear several unhappy riders talking. It seems as though their mood matches the sky outside. You wish there was something to ease the heaviness you and obviously they feel. Halfway through your steaming mug of klah, a loud bugle issues from the direction of the Hatching Grounds. You and several other riders rush to the entrance of the Lower Caverns. It is then that you begin to hear the dragons hum. The eggs are hatching. Which clutch it was you didn’t know at the moment, but the bugle had been Celinath’s.

You call to your sturdy blue dragon to fly you in to the Hatching Ground to see exactly what’s going on. You quickly mount and reach the tiers inside. Once seated in an empty spot in the middle you can clearly acess what is happening.

The clutch of five eggs that the sweepriders had found were hatching. Celinath had been watching over them since she had clutched her own nine, so when she saw Hatching was eminent she gave out a cry to alert everyone. The eggs are rocking furiously. The chosen candidates are standing nearby tensely waiting for the first dragonet to break shell.

Finally one of the eggs develops a small crack. It rolls down the mound from its clutchmates and a little sea blue hind leg breaks through followed directly by the other. A few more good rocks and his front legs are clear. He begins to run and smacks right into Selen’s legs effectively shattering the rest of his confines. He shakes his head and looks up at the boy. A broad smile covers the boy’s face as he leans down and hugs his dragon. “It’s okay, Lerynith. You made it out just fine.”

The new pair of lifemates left the Sands to applause and the sound of another egg cracking open to release its inhabitant. You watch closely as the large dark brown hatchling shakes his shell away and frees his damp wings. He turns to the white female on the grounds and cheeps at her. Celinath and the other dragons encourage the young brown. The brown turns his head looking at the candidates. He cocks his head in Salem’s direction with a questioning look. Then he runs to the boy. Salem leans down and hugs the brown. “You won’t be hungry for long, Rasonath. I’ll get you something to eat,” you hear the new rider say to his crooning lifemate.

Suddenly the largest egg in the clutch begins to rock. The movement catches everyone’s attention. You lean forward in your seat trying to get a closer look. Just when you think that the egg is never going to hatch, it shatters sending shards everywhere. You even feel one hit you. Then a loud gasp issues from the crowd. Standing there on the Sands, were two perfect twin green hatchlings. They're a little smaller than normal green hatchlings, but when two are sharing food that is only meant for one, that can be expected. You watch with your mouth hanging open as they pelt toward the girls exactly insync with each other. The greens reach their chosen girls at the same moment. Sora calls out first. “Zaralith, I know you’re hungry. There’s food waiting outside.” The little green needs no further encouragement and nudges her rider all the way out of the Hatching Grounds.

The other twin green had found Diodin. The hatchling's opalescent eyes are whirling rapidly as she stares at the young woman. Diodin smiled down at her dragon. “Come on Karalith I know you want to follow your sister. I know you’re hungry too. Let’s go.” Then the auburn haired rider and her dragon leave the Sands.

You smile to yourself remembering your own Impression and the many other hatchings you have attended. You don’t have much time to think as another egg pops open to reveal a sapphire dragonet. The medium blue hatchling heads in the direction of the remaining young man. Sillin looks down into the swirling eyes and a grin crosses his face. “It’s okay, Azureth. I don’t mind being the last boy on the Sands,” he says and caresses the blue’s headknob. Then they leave the Sands.

Nabi is the only remaining candidate. You can see that she’s a little disappointed because the last egg has shown no signs of hatching. The people above you begin to leave, but you remain seated because of a strong hunch. After a few minutes, the egg begins to rock harder than any of it's clutchmates had. It gives one more strong shudder and splits neatly in two to reveal a damp brown hatchling. Nabi smiles, but remains where she is. The brown could still want someone in the Stands afterall. The sturdy brown hatchling stands up and begins to walk with a determination none of his siblings had shown. The stops when he reaches Nabi. “Oh, Judareth, I knew you wanted me. I wouldn't have left you.”

With that, the Hatching is complete and only egg shards litter the grounds. You look up as you hear your blue bugle and then watch White Celinath wadle back around to protect her clutch. A strange bugle is heard and all heads turn to the sky, a shape seen only from the ground is visible as a black shadow, it seems to stop and observe the Sands and then blinks out Between. Could that have been the sire or dam of the hatchlings?

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