The day of the First Pass hatching was drawing nearer and Tayika and Alema were both getting more excited with each passing day. Tayika almost felt she would burst from excitement.
“Yes, we have enough film to last us three or four hatchings if we use it wisely!” Tayika said excitedly.
“Tayika? You, the one with camera!” Tayika looked over her shoulder and smiled. She figured he was going to ask her to take a picture of him.
“My name is R’es, rider of Brown Kraiteth.” The dragonrider said. “I am Headsearchrider for Sidra Weyr, but I don’t believe you have met me yet. I hear you have a camera?” He asked. She nodded eagerly.
“You want a picture of you and your dragon?” She asked.
“Well, if you wish to take one of us, but that’s not why I am here.” He said.
“You’re not?” She asked, and he shook his head.
“I am here because Kraiteth told me you’d make a fine candidate, and seeing as this Weyr has two clutches on the sands, it gives you a little bit of choice. Which sands would you like to become a candidate for?” He asked. Tayika’s mouth dropped open. Alema went farther than that and shrieked, she grabbed Tayika by the shoulders and jumped up and down.
“You are a candidate! You are a candidate! You are a candidate!” Alema shouted, continuing to jump up and down. “I’ll take the pictures for you of the hatching!” Alema was still shrieking and Tayika joined in. R’es waited, grimacing sometimes when their shrieks got too loud, but he waited patiently. Finally, Tayika turned around, her heart thumping wildly.
“Yes! I want to be a candidate! For the green’s clutch!” She said, smiling broader than she ever had in her life.