Illumin was dozing upon the dunes within the Cathair, her fiery mate guarding her zealously. The eggs were quiet--but then, one trembled. Illumin was awake almost instantly, conveying her excitement to her bond.
They are ready, she said, her tone controlled but happy. At last, they are coming. She sighed in great relief.
It's been a long time, murmured Uaillikenth, spreading his wings and coasting slowly down to land by her. I'm sure you're quite ready to return to the land of the living. His voice was humorous, and he chuckled slightly, nuzzling her.
Shall I wake them?
The candidates? Illumin asked thoughtfully. No.
What? Uaillikenth cried, taken aback.
Illumin smiled pacifically. Not yet, at any rate. I want this to take place by the water. Her mate nodded in understanding.
Then I shall call Chevhe and R'bin.
The two men came quickly, still tired but ready. They bundled the eggs carefully into padded pillow cases specifically designed for such a task, then carried them out, one by one, to the central beach. They unloaded the eggs as gently as possible next to the place that Illumin had chosen to lie down. She gathered them nearer to her, placing some within her forelegs, others by her belly and tail. Over all she settled her brilliant wings. Uaillikenth sat nearby, sphinx-like and patient.
Now?
Of course, Illumin replied, wake them now.
Uaillikenth opened his jaws, and from them thundered a massive bugle. From their beds the candidates stirred, dressing half-asleep, shirts on backwards, robes askew. Cathairte Operye was the first to arrive, ever-elegant in her jade silk dress, hair carefully brushed and shining. Her lover, Cat, was with her, and Cathairix Vynwe came soon after, her eyes bright with anticipation.
The candidates filed in. Excepting their common goal, they were rather different from one another, although four were from Earth and had come together, and two were close friends from another land. The strangest was the blue-feathered Wivres, her taloned feet and winged arms setting her far apart from all.
Sophie, Sean, Madison, and Ryan were all looking a little shell-shocked, as if unbelieving that they were there. Sophie, despite this, was practically hopping up and down--she alone of the Terran group knew exactly (well, not exactly) what was to come.
Val was really out of it, swaying slightly in rhythm to the waves. Her eyes were redder than usual behind her shades, from lack of sleep. She kept brushing imaginary wisps of her shining blond hair back from her face, wishing she were surfing instead. Even so, she had already managed to charm half of the Cathair's staff with her swiveling hips and shapely...*ahem*...assets.
Reeliei and Jodaan stood close together, Jodaan eyeing the crowd that was coming in hopefully, trying to catch a glimpse of Sumuru, if he--she--was there...
Wivres was still, her exotic orange-gold eyes flickering back and forth across all that she saw. Her much-younger cousin, Sprite, was in the stands, cheering loudly for her. She smiled to herself, then waved back.
And then the hatching was upon them.
The first egg shook itself, as if awaking from a dream, before rolling away from Illumin's protective forelegs and toward the candidates. It shuddered, lazy hairline cracks spreading across its smooth, pearlescent surface, before breaking open. The crowd gasped as a curvaceous little dragon emerged, coated in goo. Her hide was a soothing shade of teal-blue, her wings an irridescent, creamy green. She lashed her tail in disgust at the mess, stumbling over and into the water to splash it away. Satisfied, she walked back to the candidates, her gait uneven but endearing. She sat down, eyeing each individual before making her choice.
Val, let's blow this joint, she said, her voice slightly raspy but still sweet. I'd like to see a real beach. Val nodded, sinking to her knees and gathering her dragon into her arms.
"Her name is Praiadoceth," she announced before sauntering off.
The crowd roared; the first duo-colored dragon ever to be born in Utopian!
The second hatchling had already made his way to Sean, a husky blue-silver male with a cunning look in his eye.
My friend, we could make so much mischief together. Sean glanced at his friends, grinning broadly.
"Oh, I agree, Meninoirritarth!" The pair retreated to the edge of the beach to plot together, awaiting their friends' imprinting.
They hadn't long to wait. Two eggs had hatched soon afterward, sending a lovely little blue-starry female to Madison, and another blue-silver male to Ryan.
Ryan's made it to him first, and announced himself to be "Liderverdadeiroth!"
Madison's was next, and as the two Terrans glanced at each other, she revealed her name: Fabricantepazth.
Madison and Ryan exchanged smiles, and moved a little closer to each other as they went to Sean.
Jodaan focused intently on the egg that rattled next, certain that it was his. He was in luck, for as it hatched, it was evident that the blue-black male was destined to be his.
Hey Joe, I'm Peixesth, called his bond as it made his way to Jodaan. Can I see your sword?
"Of course," Joe replied, pleased, taking the sword out for Peix to investigate as they walked off together. Jodaan cast a last, longing look into the crowd to see if Sumuru was there--but no luck, as far as he could see. With a sigh, he entered the Cathair and followed the signs to food. Perhaps he--she--was outside...
Sprite whistled loudly as another hatchling, an elegant female blue-silver, glided 'cross the beach to Wivres.
I am Penaestranhath, she intoned smoothly, making an obvious effort to appear sophisticated. However, in her excitement, her stiffness melted away. Can you fly with those wings? What are those talons for, hunting? Do you like fish? Do I? Who's Sprite? Oh--your cousin. I can help you with her...And so on. Wivres, delighted, led Penae away to meet Sprite.
Without nearly as much ado as the others, Reeliei met his blue-copper bond in the center of the beach. The two regarded each other with easy, relaxed smiles, sealing the bond that would be theirs for eternity.
"Pleased to meet you, Sombraprofundath. Let's go find Jodaan..."
Sophie shifted from side to side, uneasy. It had been her experience that, in the books that she read, candidates did not always impress--imprint, that is. What if the same horrific fate befell her? She shivered; it could not, would not happen to her.
Yet the flow of dragon-children had ceased, stopping abruptly with Reeliei's bond, and while another egg was evident beneath Illumin's haunches, it showed no signs of life.
Sophie sighed. It wasn't fair! She was the only one who had read the books; she should be the one to imprint, if anyone did. Her eyes glittering suspiciously, she turned...
Wait just a minute! Sophie spun around back around.
"Me?" she inquired, while others watched her curiously, unable to hear the silent summons.
Yes, you. Get me out of here! Sophie focused.
Where are you? she asked, delighted that she seemed to be able to communicate in her mind.
Where do you think? The egg, hun, the egg...
"Ah, of course!" Sophie shouted, running forward. Illumin stood and walked away without argument, and Sophie seized the egg, chipping at it with her fingernails.
At last the tough shell gave through the combined efforts of dragon and girl, and a blue-lavender female, tiny and wet, rolled out and quickly toppled when it attempted to stand.
"Oh, c'mon, get up Leitorespertoth," Sophie pleaded.
Give me a minute...there! The little dragon finally stood, spreading her lilac wings to their fullest (not very full, but still...)
"You're gorgeous..." Sophie breathed, standing up as well. "Let's go!"
And thus the fabulous beach-themed clutch of 2003 ended...
