Umuminaenth's Hatching, the First Hatching of Cathair Utopian!! It seemed that it would be another ordinary day. Umuminaenth was a bit fidgety in guarding her eggs, but that was the only unusual thing. Anaess was a few leaps away from the Sands, in her cathair, tidying it. Everything was peaceful. Until Umuminaenth's triumphant bugle split the silence. Anaess's eyes widened, and she dropped her broom, running toward the Sands on winged feet. She called to the candidates, and they followed quickly after her, donning their irridescent Hatching robes characteristic of Cathair Utopia. The stands filled with the people of the Cathair. Ambrek, the current Cathairix, scooted in next to Anaess, and held her hand. Anaess's brow wrinkled in worry; there were plenty of eggs-the leftover eggs had been transported to incubation, and would be used as prizes for the upcoming festivities-but a lack of candidates. She remembered that one of the girls, Shasia, had been accepted instead at Lasair Weyr, and that she had chosen to go. She shrugged, and decided to wait and see what would happen. A minute later she was distracted by the worried shouts of the candidates. Umuminaenth was crouching over her eggs, growling angrily. Umuminaenth, lovie, you have to let the candidates Imprint! I know that! But these candidates are crazy. They've waited for months; who knows what they'll do to my precious babies? Anaess laughed. That's absurd. Move back now, before I call Undasheth to move you with force! Umuminaenth's only reply was a snort, but she did move back, allowing the candidates to see that the first of the eggs was hatching. It was a large egg, of a pearly luster. All starry clutches had that same irridescence, and this egg was no exception. Hairline cracks covered the oval, until it burst apart, scattering the shell far across the sands. In the midst of it all was a large, proud copper hatchling. He strode with great purpose toward the boys, who all stepped back-except for one. Zentaril rushed forward, hugging his new dragon. Hey, Zentaril, enough mush! We're s'posed to be proud and brave, not wussy. I'm Orkaneth! "His name's Orkaneth," yelled Zentaril with a teary grin. He put Orkaneth down, and the two walked off the sands, because Orkaneth was hungry! The audience was once again captivated, beause two more eggs were hatching. The smaller of the two split apart first with a tremble, and a the smallest green dragon possible lay on the sands, a dainty shade of mint. She rose to her feet, and staggered toward the girls, where she sat for a minute, taking in her surroundings. Finally, she nuzzled Tiki's leg. Tiki's plain, haggard face lifted into a smile of pure love, and she held the small dragon to her, whispering, "She says her name is Peukath." A minute after the bond was made, the larger egg cracked, and out popped a strong, large green hatchling, with irritated fire in her eyes, disgust at being cramped so long. However, the red was quickly replaced by blue as she vaulted into the air, and into Erika's arms. Erika stumbled backward with the impact, and grinned at her dragon's strength. "You're a strong one, Barneyth, there's no mistaking that!" They walked out, following Tiki and Zentaril to the food. Meanwhile, two eggs were rocking in perfect rhythm. It was no surprise to Anaess that they split apart together; it was plain to see that these brothers had a strong sense of kin. The real surprise was the colors of their scales! One was dark and moody, the other brilliantly cheerful. They both knew who they wanted from the start, and strutted toward two boys. The black chose Trenathew. "Hatath," he whispered hoarsely,"you chose me!" Of course I did. You needed me. We are alike, you and I..but I want to make one thing clear: It wasn't your fault, Trethie. A dragon knows these things. Trenathew's eyes filled with tears upon hearing his old nickname, that his mother had once used. "Thank you,"he whispered to Hatath, and carried him out. The silver chose Kaladrin. Hello, Kaladrin! I'm Tuveth! "Oh, Tuveth,"shouted Kaladrin," I'll never have to steal again, for you are the most beautiful-" Handsome, corrected his dragon. "-handsome," grinned Kaladrin," treasure ever!" I know..but if I EVER catch you stealing, your hide won't be worth paard droppings! "Of course, Tuveth." A huge egg was shaking. Anaess supposed that it would be a rare dragon, or a copper. Something of the sort. She had no idea how wrong she was! Out of the egg two shades of purple fell, sprawled on the sands. It was a twin egg! Well, almost. One was purple, and one was lavender, but it was miraculous just the same! The twins bumbled toward the female candidates gracelessly. The purple dragon chose quickly, moving to bump against Tyup's leg. "Persikath! How wonderful!" But the lavender dragon took her time. Her eyes darted from one candidate to another, and she hesitantly stepped toward Aylara. But the girl knew that this wasn't right; she couldn't understand the lavender. There was no link. "I'm not the one," she said softly, shaking her head with a smile. The lavender nodded her head slightly, and chose instead Calthandra. "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake, Varifranth?" she teased. Varifranth looked hurt and indignant. I am NOT sure, now that you said that! "Oh, Varifranth, I'm sorry, I was only teasing!" The girls and their dragons moved across the sands. Three candidates and five eggs remained. Ambrek was curious, because if that egg a minute ago was a twin, what was a fifth egg doing there? He moved onto the sands, and tapped on one. It made a hollow noise, and Ambrek's question was answered. Another egg vibrated, and a silky pearl tail jutted out from the shell. The audience oohed and ahhed in reverance, for they could tell that it was a starry. The little girl starry backed out daintily from her eggshell, and turned gracefully to cast her aqua gaze upon the candidates. She turned back, as if asking her mother if that was where she was to go. Umuminaenth nodded, and pushed her child forward with her nose. The starry decided to walk on her own, taking mincing steps toward the last two girls. She moved her neck forward, very gently touching Morrigan on the leg to show her choice! A roar went up from the crowd, as Morrigan bent to embrace her new lifemate. "Darling, darling Cembaloth, as soon as we're home, I'll compose a million songs for you!" She gathered Cembaloth into her arms and waited to see Aylara imprint.. The last egg fell apart, and a green butted heads with Cembaloth playfully, then ran toward the last candidate, who exchanged a pleased look with Morrigan, and picked her up. "Generath!" cried Aylara. The last two girls were forced to walk closely together on their way off the sands, because their two dragons insisted on playing with each other all the way to the dining room. Umuminaenth bugled sadly, for she saw that the egg, next to the empty one, was not hollow, for it shook with the rhythms of a dragon child. It split open, and a small starry dragon lay curled there, and sensing its aloneness, shook with tiny draconic sobs. The other dragons around the Sands moaned in sadness, and Anaess buried her face in Ambrek's shoulders. "We should've put that egg into incubation..I knew Shasia wouldn't be here, and it isn't her fault, its mine, that this little dragon hasn't a lifemate.." Ambrek patted her shoulder awkwardly, trying to fight his own grief. However...those dragons left alone would be saved by the Festival of Flight...