GALORA! The clutch is hatching and won’t wait a minute longer!
But….Jisefth…we only have three bonders!
Well, then we only have three bonders. The rest will probably die if they do not find their bonders.
Galora raced down to the sands, pulling on a jacket. It was freezing today! F’lnor came up beside her and grinned. “Well, Galora, looks like Jisefth’s clutches are just as demanding as Isifth’s.” Galora sadly smiled at F’lnor.
“I’m sorry there aren’t more candidates, F’lnor. I’m sorry the clutch wasn’t blues and greens, I’m—”
“Hush now, it isn’t your fault, Galora. It was a choice we made when we came up here, defying the other Weyrs and building our own. A lot of you have been more than generous to us and you don’t know how much we appreciate that.
“We have a green that has clutched now, Thiuth, I believe her name is. There is another green and a white also ready to fly, though which one first I am not sure. We will soon be strong enough. We may struggle, Galora, but in the end we will be strong, no matter how long it takes us. Besides, the First Pass is almost over. If the records are correct, this Pass should end in the year one hundred eight.” F’lnor said. “Then we will have no more Thread to worry about and we can become stronger in the interval.”
Galora smiled at F’lnor as her golden dragon started thrumming, joined by F’lnor’s brown Krispith a moment later and then the rest of the dragons at Sidra Weyr. The three candidates started filing onto the sands and Galora leaned against F’lnor. “What will we do when there isn’t Thread left to fight anymore?” Galora asked and peered up into F’lnor’s eyes.
“Well, I imagine Tai and T’rukel will think of something, as will the rest of the Weyrleaders of Pern.” The first egg shattered, revealing a handsome-looking young brown. He tripped over a wing and did a nose-dive into the sands then got back up and started walking on his wobbly legs towards the two boys.
Eitak! I am so glad you came to Sidra Weyr. Aren’t you happy? I am happy. Who is your friend? He looked at the green firelizard, flitting around happily and squawking. Suddenly, the firelizard landed on the brown’s muzzle and wrapped her tail around his mouth and looked into one of his eyes. Ooh, I like her. My name is Sideagreth. Get me something to eat…if I will be able to eat, that is. The brown said and looked at the green firelizard wrapped around his mouth.
Theuromar watched Eitak leave with sad eyes. Would he Impress? He looked over at Chiara and gave a little smile. She was the only gold candidate. Suddenly, a gasp escaped her lips as the golden egg shuddered and flipped onto it’s side. Jisefth lowered her head and practically shoved Chiara onto the golden egg, her blue eyes whirling softly in amusement.
With one final shake, the golden egg shattered, revealing a tiny golden dragonet. Chiara pet the small head with one finger and smiled, then wrapped her arms around her. I am here. I told you I would not leave you. If you called, I said, I would always answer. And now here I am, the lovely Amosaeth. I know my color now and I know that we can change time together, Chiara. The golden beauty thrust her head into Chiara’s stomach and then rubbed her head against her face. You could feed me now, couldn’t you? I am very hungry. Chiara grinned.
“Of course I can feed you. Come along Amosaeth.” Chiara said, standing and leading her golden beauty off the sands.
Next to hatch was a small bronze, but as it looked around, it did not see anyone it wanted. It even ignored Theuromar’s attempts to attract it. It was about to go between in despair at it’s chosen not being here when it heard the call of it’s cousins in an Un-Impressed area. Come, we are waiting for our chosen to arrive. Already one of us has been taken by our clutch mates. Come and we will help you until your clutch mate arrives. Do not despair, cousin ours. The bronze, gleeful that he would not have to die and loose his chosen afterall, loped to the food and gorged, then joined his cousins.
Two blues and two more bronzes also left Un-Impressed and joined their brother and cousins. One large green-it’s arrival a surprise to everyone-also joined them.
I knew that green was there…I just didn’t tell anyone. Jisefth said, somewhat put-off that a green must hatch in her clutch. Theuromar left without a dragonet that day, much to his sadness, but he was prepared to stand for the green’s clutch if he had to, to get a life-mate.
F’lnor put his arm around Galora and smiled. “Why don’t you stay here at Sidra, with us?” He asked. “I think Krispith is taking a liking to your gold.” Galora laughed.
“And what about me?” She asked as she watched Theuromar retreat. F’lnor blushed.
“Oh…erm…” He shrugged and scratched the back of his head. “How about lunch?” He asked.
“You mean at the feast? Is this a date?”
“Of course at the feast. And if I may be so bold as to say: yes, a date.”
“Then I accept, F’lnor, rider of brown Krispith.”