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Jralli
Jralli resolved not to behave so anymore and clenched her fists at her sides as she sat on her bed. It was almost time for the afternoon lessons and she didn’t want to be late so she stood, fists still loosely clenched, and headed out to the Weyrbowl. She sat down next to Kirfon and smiled a friendly hello. They both sat in silence, listening to the lesson. Before long though a woman came running up to the group saying that the eggs were hatching already! Jralli jumped up in surprise, as they weren’t due to hatch for another two sevendays at least! But they were hatching and she rushed back to the barracks to put on her white robe. She got the sands along with the other candidates and she and three other girls formed a circle about the gold egg. She situated herself so she could see the rest of the hatching without missing the hatching of the gold and resigned herself to wait. Golds were usually among the last to hatch so she would probably have time to watch the others impress. The first egg to hatch was a bronze who creeled loudly before walking up and down the row of male candidates who watched him eagerly. He stopped then and warbled happily at one of the young men and Jralli smiled as she saw that it was Darison the bronze had chosen. She knew enough about the young man to know that was his dream and she was happy for him. The next two to hatch were a brown and a small green. Jralli watched as the two of them looked first at each other and then headed off to find the right candidate for them. The brown chose first from among the young men but the green was not far behind in making a selection from the young women present. Another egg cracked open and a slightly larger brown hatchling stood from amongst the egg shards and blinked his eyes to accustom them to the bright light. He creeled and headed for the candidates, walking down the row until he stood in front of Kirfon. Kirfon smiled happily and reached out to rub the brown’s eye ridges. As far away as she was Jralli could still just make out his words. “I’m glad you chose me Matsuoth. Now let’s get off these sands, my feet are about to burn right off!” Jralli suppressed a chuckle and smiled at Kirfon as his gaze landed on her for a moment. She was genuinely happy for him, he’d impressed as he’d hoped, and the brown would be able to fly Arinza’s dragon someday. She wondered for a moment if the two of them would run into each other during weyrling practice, but she suspected Arinza would have graduated before Matsuoth was old enough. Her reveries had caused her to miss a few of the hatchings and she looked around to see two greens and a brown being led from the sands. Another bronze was the next to hatch and she watched, a bit detached, as he and the green that hatched after him chose from among the candidates and were escorted away. The next to hatch caused some muttering from those watching. A black pushed from her shell and chose a young woman who started crying instantly. Jralli could understand the girl’s happiness and smiled as the black was led from the sands. Beginning to feel incredibly nervous as the hatching was growing closer and closer to the end, Jralli fidgeted a bit where she stood, trying to relieve the heat on the soles of her feet. She stepped idly from foot to foot, ignoring the hatching dragons other than to note their colors as the queen egg was beginning to rock. Green, white, another green and all the eggs had hatched save the queen. The golden hued egg was now rocking furiously and before long it had cracked open and a loud creel filled the sands. The little queen crawled halfway out of the shell and creeled piteously as she became snagged inside the shell. Jralli stepped forward along with the other young women to help the hatchling but the mother gave them all a fierce look and they all stopped their forward advance. Jralli watched as Frelarnith took the egg into her mouth and gently cracked it with her teeth. The gold hatchling crooned and shook free of the shards, walking towards the four girls who were now clustered together in anticipation. Jralli watched as one of the young women ran forward, thinking the hatchling wanted her and her heart sunk until she saw the hatchling sidestep with a surprised warble. The young woman glared at the hatchling and stalked off. Jralli watched the hatchling, trying her hardest to project feelings of love, but she knew it was not right. Her heart sunk in her chest as she realized it and the little queen warbled at a young woman named Kanon as she said in surprise, “You want me?” Jralli sighed, obviously disappointed, and headed out of the sands to find Kirfon and his new brown. She would stay for another clutch, and something inside her told her to try for the gold again. One more try and she would ask to transfer to the FGPC as there was another clutch on the sands there. But first she would wait for Ellenath to clutch and if there was a gold she would apply to stand again. Ellenath clutched and there was indeed a gold egg. As soon as she heard the news Jralli went straight to the Weyrwoman. Yakima was on the sands speaking to Ellenath’s rider about the clutch. She waited patiently and pounced on the Weyrwoman as she turned to leave. “Weyrwoman Yakima!” she cried, putting herself right in the woman’s path. “Yes, Jralli?” asked Yakima, a little surprised to see the young woman. “I wanted to ask you if it would be alright for me to stand for the hold egg again,” she said in a rush, not letting Yakima interrupt her. “I know that’s seldom done, but I would really like to stand again!” Yakima arched an eyebrow at her and looked like she was trying not to smile. “And if you don’t impress again this time? You can’t just keep trying for the gold and tying up one of those spots you know.” “I know, and if I don’t impress again in Ellenath’s clutch I’ll transfer to the FGPC or stand on the regular sands in the next clutch.” “Alright, go fill out all the paperwork again and I’ll re-enter you,” said Yakima with a smile and Jralli beamed as she rushed off to do just that. |