A throng of demi-angels, some humans (with and without magic) and some furry bipedal felines quickly gathered around the three rings of the hatching sands, not daring to actually enter the spaces occupied by the queens and their rocking clutches, but rather hovering on the very stones that marked the boundary.
The first crack of shell was practically audible in the vast cavern, and within a moment, one of Feyrilayt's larger eggs began to open. Bronzed paws pushed the ivory shell apart, and the large male dragon made his way out into the world. His wings were clouded blue-and-bronze, and his muzzle was marked with an irregular sort of blaze that seemed to melt into his bronze hide. Older Ryslenites applauded the successful hatching of the bronze dragon, and younger ones cheered as the two-toned hatchling stopped before a feline who was quite proud of his orange coloration. He was, true to his nature, completely ignoring everyone and everything around him. Christian, you arrogant tom! the bronze snapped, swiping his paw at the catboy's leg. The youngling practically jumped out of his gothy clothes. "Qionytar! What the!?" The bronze-blue's eyes danced in amusement. Ignoring me won't work...
In the central circle of the hatching grounds, one of Clareth's eggs shook itself apart, spilling twin green dragons onto the soft red sands. At that moment, one set of the eerily-twinned demi-angels seemed to twitch - as though their Gift had kicked in unexpectedly. Indeed, Inahai and Inaka couldn't tell if they were seeing or Seeing what was happening, even as the twin greens sorted their limbs out and began their trek across the sand to their chosen bonds. Inaka, I am Renatre. one said stopping before the female. Inahai, I am Tonatre.
On the far right of the hatching sands, one of the striped Danachian's eggs fell to pieces and a darkly black-blue striped hatchling slunk out. His hide seemed to mirror the Ebon and Midnight coloration of one of the Magicked children - Atahern. Tell them my name. The striped blue whispered into his bond's mind. "This is Hiaeti!" the young mage announced to the assembled.
Another of Feyrilayt's eggs cracked open - almost violently, as though the hatchling were fighting his way through a barrier of warriors rather than out of an egg. The brown-red hatchling snarled at the bright light of the outside world, and almost took a swipe at the scruffy brown catboy who crept cautiously forward to investigate him. Numiz sat back on his haunches, almost falling backwards. "Whoa Fieytar!"
At the same time, another of the cream dragoness' eggs snapped open, and an almost identical hatchling stepped forward. He wasn't quite as fiesty as his brother Fieytar, but he did have something his brother lacked -- a second set of wings. Cuual stared at the duowing in awe, entranced by the warmth of the red-brown clouded sails. Oh please... the hatchling said. There are better things to gawk at than me, Cuual. The boy blinked, breaking the trance. "Scimytar?" The two-colored duowing nodded his head, and moved to the boy's side.
Finally, one of Xenarioth's huge eggs began to spiderweb and then crack. It fell apart at the insistance of a pair of purple paws. Huge purple paws, which soon made way for the rest of the Light Purple dragoness. She was, needless to say, huge. If she wasn't as large as Qionytar, she was larger. Clearly a Queen after her mother's heart -- and Xenarioth and Peimolath seemed very pleased indeed. The oversized Light moved quickly to her bond, decisively. Grace, you are mine and I am yours. I am Ciraeth. "I know." The peaches-and-cream catgirl said with a know-it-all grin.
In the wake of Ciraeth's departure, one of Clareth's eggs split apart, again forcing twin dragons upon the world. These twins didn't linger in making their choices, but did not move with the ghastly synchronicity that their sisters had. The first ran across the sands to a red-haired catgirl and practically pounced her. Violet, I am Zovatre! The second was a bit more careful, and stopped to inspect the lacy gown that her purple-eyed chosen was wearing. So delicate, Ohtazal... so soft. the dragoness said, leaning her head against the silk and her rider. "Thank you, Beltatre."
Sesal half-glared and half-pouted at her sister Ohtazal, and then bounded out into the righthand circle, bowling over the smallest of Danmorchaeth's eggs. It split instantly, spilling out a deep green and black marked hatchling, who screeched in irritation. Sesal turned to snarl at the noisy creature, but both were instantly pacified as the bond was made. "I'm sorry Dactiae..." Sesal purred, gathering the largely-spotted hatchling to her. While some had expected striped offspring from Danmorchaeth, none had exactly expected this wildcat sort of spotting to come from Prrljati...
Another of Clareth's eggs gave a shiver and then fell open, revealing a blue dragon. A singular blue dragon - not twins. With cautious steps, he made his way towards an ageless male obsessed with the timing of things. Prophesy and fate... the hatchling sighed. Your mind is so busy Ivurae... have you a moment for me? The green eyes of the demi-angel locked with the rainbow facets of the hatchling and they both smiled. "Always, Direat."
The attention of the masses shifted to the left sands again, as two of Feyrilayt's eggs fell open in succession. The first revealed a solid purple dragon with slight cloud-markings on her wingsails, and the second was two-toned, but just barely. If it hadn't been for the metallic nature of gold hide, the young queen could have been mistaken for a solid cream. The purple swept past her larger sibling - not cruelly, just focused on her choice -- her rider, her bond. Long legs carried her to the demi-angel of Mercy, who knelt before the young purple. "Welcome Socaryt." Iquoa whispered. The cream-gold strode haughtily across the red sands to young woman of substance -- of magic. "Gwenaryt." Asael said coldly, speaking the name of the dragoness before her. That's my name, don't wear it out. The dragoness sniped back at her. The graceful young woman dropped to the sands before the dragoness and stared into her opalescent eyes. "Who's choosing who, Gwenny?" The dragon butted her head against the woman's chest. Stalemate.
Another of Xenarioth's eggs practically shattered, assaulting the world with the appearance of twin night reds. They snarled at each other and bolted in opposite directions, tiny grains of sand becoming airborn in their wakes. The first ran to Kiar, the red-eyed child of unholy magic, and the second sprinted to Ikuru, demi-angel of Judgement. "This is Xerauth." Kiar said, touching the night red at her side. "Gaxairth has chosen me." Ikuru stated. "They are twins. And they are both Female." Kiar said, her arrogant tone daring any to attempt contradiction. None did.
Not too far away, a white catboy sat in the sands poking his clawtips into the slight cracks on the surface of one of Danmorchaeth's eggs. Prrljati seemed irriated by this, but Dan' was quite at ease. Poor Abiel was quite startled when the hatchling within gave a sudden kick and sent pieces of the shell flying into the catboy's lap. A red and white body squirmed within the cup-shape of the largest piece of shell, and soon the hatchling looked out upon the world with wide opalescent eyes. My name is Grizaeti! the hatchling giggled. "Hi Griz. I'm Abiel!" Abiel said cheerily. "Are you striped or spotted?" The hatchling squirmed free of his shell, revealing his markings. Both!
Across the sands, another of Feyrilayt's eggs rocked itself to pieces, revealing a green hatchling. No, a green-purple hatchling. This was made quite apparent when she opened her double set of wings and fanned them dry. You'll never be alone again, Sula! the hatchling promised innocently, and the amozon-like catgirl nearly cried in her joy. "Zalaryt! My Zalaryt!"
The last hatchling of the cream dragoness' clutch made for a poor climax - he was brown brown brown and brown. Not that Iquani cared. His purely brown Alyetar was the most divine thing - a perfect companion for the demi-angel of Mercy.
A second solo blue made an appearance from Clareth's blessed clutch, and he stalked and skipped his way over to Bahesion. "I'm not sure what to make of you, Andreat..." the Magicked boy said. Not dinner. the hatchling insisted firmly.
Xenarioth gave the more stationary of her two remaining eggs a nudge with her large muzzle, turning it over. Suddenly, the hatchling within gave a sharp kick and the shell fragmented into countless pieces. Inside was a Night Blue - and a large one at that. He was easily as large as Iquani's brown. He moved quietly towards the novos, his manner dignified as though he were a Lord and not just a hatchling dragon. "Oh Dinevoth!" Palin laughed, tackling the dragonet and hugging the sturdy dark blue to his chest. Love you too Palin.
The last six eggs raced each other towards hatching, and the largest of Prrljati's offspring broke free ahead of the rest. Her hide was icy purple streaked with lavendar -- stripes, to be precise -- and she streaked towards her chosen, Iscya, who was gifted with the ability to purify souls. "Bless" they called it. I will help you, Iscya, with your tasks. I am Nytiae.
The next egg to open was one of Clareth's brood -- and twin blues danced lightly out of the shell as though it was merely a curtain to brush through. They moved quietly towards their chosen, the demi-angels who performed Divine Acts. "My bond is Danreat." Ideruu said to his sister. "This is Edireat." Ideni said, introducing her twin to her dragon.
Ischeu watched the eggs without blinking. His twin had her striped bond... would there be one for him. Patience, Ischeu. came a faint voice, and the next egg to shatter was right before him -- and the spotted blue who tumbled out... "You are Mendaeti? You are mine?" Of course Ischeu.
The last of Xenarioth's oversized eggs cracked like thunder, and the Light dragon who stepped forth from the shards of shell roared like the wind. "Braggart." Ikuteo accused, and the hatchling oriented on him. Though the dragonet glared, Ikuteo knew that he was pure of heart. "You're going to choose.... me?" the demi-angel seemed shocked, but the hatchling did not flinch. I am Leimeuth. And I do choose you, Ikuteo
Leimeuth's choice left five demi-angels unpaired: Ixaelo and Ixaxi, Ihlte and Ihlha, and Ivuti. The last of Clareth's eggs quietly opened, revealing one small green. My name is Diratre. The soft voice said. Her mind-touch was like a breath of fresh air for the demi-angel of Prophesy, who had been waiting breathlessly since her twin Ivurae had been chosen by his blue Direat.
That left one egg, one of Danmorchaeth's. What would this last egg hold? For one young person, it held a life-long bond, a love so pure and intense that no bard could ever capture a fragment of it in prose or in verse. Even the intact shell held a whisper of promise, a temptation... As the ivory shell fell apart, noone dared breathe, and as the blue-spotted paws of the young dragon carried him to his chosen, triumphant shouts rang through the hatching grounds. Franen, I am Tzaeti.
Christian and Bronze-Blue Qionytar (50)
Inaka and Green Renatre (45)
Inahai and Green Tonatre (45)
Atahern and Striped Blue Hiaeti (49)
Numiz and Brown-Red Fieytar (50)
Cuual and Brown-Red Duowing Scimytar (50)
Grace and Light Purple Ciraeth (bronze sized) (46)
Violet and Purple Zovatre (45)
Ohtazal and Purple Beltatre (45)
Sesal and Spotted Green Dactiae (49)
Ivurae and Blue Direat (45)
Iquoa and Purple Socaryt (50)
Asael and Cream-Gold Gwenaryt (50)
Kiar and Night Red Female Xerauth (46)
Ikuru and Night Red Female Gaxairth (46)
Abiel and Spotted & Striped Red Grizaeti (49)
Sula and Green-Purple duowing Zalaryt (50)
Iquani and Brown Aleytar (50)
Bahesion and Blue Andreat (45)
Palin and Night Blue Dinevoth (brown sized) (46)
Iscya and Striped Purple Nytiae (49)
Ideruu and Blue Danreat (45)
Ideni and Blue Edireat (45)
Ischeu and Spotted Blue Mendaeti (49)
Ikuteo and Light Brown Leimeuth (46)
Ivuti and Green Diratre (45)
Franen and Spotted Blue Tzaeti (49)