As evening settled on the bowl of Aden Weyr, Gaylvi reflected on the events of this less-than-interesting day. Nemisath had been on a constant guard of her eggs, turning and shuffling them so often that no one could tell one from another. Threadfall wasn’t due for two more days, so everyone had spent their free time in rest and relaxation. Everyone except for the candidates, who were too keyed up, and herself, who was too preoccupied with a broody queen. 

Rider, called Nemisath from the Sands, I think you may want to assemble the candidates. My children are anxious to hatch. 

What, now? she thought, jolted out of her thoughts. But it just got dark! Couldn’t you have picked a better time? 

Well excuse me, I can’t exactly choose their time of hatching, now can I? 

“Alright, alright,” she snapped, startling her weyrmate. “We’ll get them down there right away, your highness. C’mon E’lan, Nemisath said the eggs are ready to hatch. I’ve alerted some of the others, including Bretta, so you should have help gathering the candidates. Right now,” she rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation, “I’d better get down there while I can still see my hand a few inches from my nose.” 

So saying, she sprinted down to the hatching sands, stumbling and falling flat on her face more than a few times in the ever-increasing darkness. She ended up at the Sands very scratched-up and annoyed, cursing silently under her breath. Doing a quickstep over the hot floor of the cavern, she stopped by her dragon’s side and sat, glad to be off of her thinly clad feet. Nemisath snorted as the candidates made their uncomfortable way across the Sands, shifting quickly from foot to foot in a dance much resembling Gaylvi’s. 

They should do fine tonight. And they should all walk away with a companion. I think. 

Her rider didn’t bother to respond, as one of the smaller eggs had begun to rock with a vengeance. After another minute it gave one good crack and split right down the middle to reveal an unusually small blue hatchling. He paused and looked around at the hopeful faces surrounding him, eyes eventually resting on Leighara’s white head, which had been turned towards him from the first. He walked a few steps in her direction. 

Don’t worry Leighara, no one will laugh at you while I’m around. My name’s Arventith and I’ll always look out for you. 

While this was going on, another small egg had hatched to reveal a stunningly dark green. She seemed to know exactly who she wanted and trundled over to stand in front of Calanna. The green-clad girl looked down in surprise at the little hatchling and knelt to get a better look into those translucent rainbow eyes. “Yes Verisiath, I’m the same color as you! Would you like to come help me with my plants?” The green gave a quick nod and followed her new rider off the Sands. 

Just after they’d left, three eggs seemed to hatch at once, revealing a bronze, a brown, and another green. The green sat back on her haunches, satisfied to let her brothers Impress first. The brown, a very strong and sturdy hatchling, looked all around him in confusion. Where was his partner? Then he looked off into one of the more shadowy alcoves in the cavern and could just make out Livas’s dark head of hair. 

Why do you hide from me Livas? Don’t you want to be with me? I can’t make your memories go away, but I can help you deal with them, if you want me to. I can help give you a reason to live. 

“Wha-“ said the young man in surprise. “Who said that? Zhueth? You want to help me? I’m not hiding from you, just…from everyone, the world I guess. But from you…” He just shook his head. “I would never hide from you.” 

Meanwhile, the bronze had been circling the remaining boys, sniffing each of them in turn. He stopped by Dlandon and let out a roar loud enough to be heard at the other end of the bowl. 

I like loud noises. So do you! I think I’d like to hear that instrument you worked on, and I’d like to hear you play it! My name’s Mavrenuth! 

The new rider shook his head a little to stop the ringing from the hatchling’s overly loud voice. “Well, sure, if you really want to. But I think you may want to tone it down just a bit, that’s loud even for me!” 

During these Impressions, the little green was just sitting on the shards of her broken egg. At last Alemia could take the suspense no longer and walked up to where she was sitting. “Well Tehanuth, are you going to get up or not? I didn’t come all the way here for you to just sit on your shell all day!” The green pretended to look offended, but wasn’t very successful and eventually stood to leave the Sands with her chosen. 

There was a short lull in the hatching after their pairing, and several of the riders placed bets on the next to crack shell. They were all a bit surprised when one of the wildly rocking eggs slammed hard into another, and two blues spilled into the world, tangled in each other’s wings and tails. Arwen and Quitassa immediately stepped forward to sort out the blue mess. As Quitassa untangled the lighter blue from his brother, her eyes fixed onto his and softened somewhat. 

“Don’t worry Noghrith,” she murmured, “he didn’t mean to startle you so badly. Torrell tells me there’s some food for you over by the weyrling barracks, so let’s go get you something to eat, okay?” 

Arwen was busy calming darker Justrioeth, who kept darting his head around and flicking his tail violently. Obviously a very nervous little blue. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Let’s follow my sister’s example right now and find you some food. While we’re at it, I can introduce you to Lera. She’s little right now, just like you.” 

Seeming to be spurred on by the Impression of their siblings, two more eggs hatched to reveal the second bronze of the clutch and the fourth blue. The blue wasted absolutely no time in his choosing and raced for Shan before anyone else could steal him. Bowling over the surprised redhead, he chattered at him in a non-stop stream. 

Hi Shan, my name’s Mercutioth, aren’t I handsome, fast too, what’s that thing on your shoulder, it’s blue like me but a little smaller, what’s wrong, why do you look so confused, am I going too quick for you? 

Shan just shook his head in amusement. “Don’t worry Mercutioth, I can learn to live with it. I’d learn to live with anything so long as I have you. And the creature on my shoulder’s name is Keenen, he’s a fire lizard.” 

Snorting in superiority of his chatty blue brother, the bronze made his way regally forward and stopped his progress in front of Braynin. 

Well, I suppose you’ll do. Yes, I definitely think so. Congratulations, you now have the privilege of being my rider. Aren’t you just ecstatic? 

The young man looked a bit amused at the bronze’s pride, but responded in kind. “Oh, of course. And aren’t you just ecstatic that you have the privilege of being my dragon? Boy, Ahrianna’ll sure get a kick out of you Dreeykoth.” 

Even as the newest pair made their way to the exit, the smallest egg began to crack. Everyone in the stands and on the Sands held their breath, and the egg shattered into a million tiny fragments, revealing…an extremely tiny green hatchling, pleased to be the center of attention. She preened a bit under the eyes of those around her, and daintily stood. Looking over at the remaining female candidate with the same prideful air as her previously hatched bronze brother, she slowly walked forwards, only to trip on a piece of shell and fall flat on her snout. Odessa couldn’t help but laugh at that and went to help the humiliated hatchling to her feet. 

Oh, I didn’t mean to do that. It spoiled my grand entrance! 

“No worries Meiglasith,” she said, chuckling, “you’re still a star in my eyes. Oh, my brother will be green with envy when he sees you. You’re absolutely perfect!” At this Impression, loud applause erupted from the stands, and she turned to see all her relatives on their feet and cheering, including her brother. 

While this was going on, Nemisath crept forward and unearthed two more eggs that she’d kept from the prying eyes of others. They were rocking just as furiously as any of the others had been, but the larger one was apparently more eager and shook with such force that it practically jumped from its hollow and shattered in the air. A damp brown landed with a thump next to Lengal, who could only blink in surprise, just about as dazed as the hatchling. 

Whoa, that was a little bumpy. Oh, hi there. You’re Lengal, the one I’ve been looking for, right? I’m not sure, I’m a little dizzy. My name’s Freonath, I think. Yes, it is. How could I forget? And how could I not know you? You work with that FGCP thing, right? It’s really interesting. Maybe I could help. 

“Ah…” said Lengal, “sure, why not? You’d probably be a big help, and I’m sure father would approve.” 

Then the last egg decided it was time to hatch, and out popped an average-sized brown. He looked at the last boy on the Sands, Doray, and seemed to give a draconic smile. He walked up to the tall man and seemed to just look up at him. 

I’m glad the others didn’t steal you before I could hatch. You’re a nice person, and you have a nice family. I’d like to meet them soon, if I could. Your daughter sounds very cute. 

“Oh, she is Keoketh. And I’m sure Erini would love to meet you too.” 

As the newest, and last, pair began to wend their way to Doray’s waiting family, Gaylvi grinned and stretched. “Well, that was a nice hatching, wasn’t it. No queen, but two bronzes and three browns. Definitely not bad by any standards.”

List of Riders

| <--- Previous Hatching Story | Next Hatching Story ---> |

| Home | Apply | History |
| Links | Firelizards | Mating |

The "Dragonriders of Pern" & the "World of Pern" are copyright Anne McCaffrey. This is not an online weyr, but, an adoption agency. This site also serves as a place for people to become better educated with the "World of Pern," as well as my own cyber dragon collection. All of the graphics are linked to where I got them from, if there is no link, there will be a credit at the bottom of the page. If there is no such link or credit, Weyrwoman Carah of Jerdan Weyr or myself drew the graphic & it's copyright 1999/2000 to Jerdan & Aden Weyr & used with specific permission. Please do not copy any HTML or words from these pages! If you need HTML help, ask.
Background set copyright Falora of Talor Cliff Weyr made specifically for Aden Weyr.