Hatching #2

It had been a beautiful day at Katadon, but there were no words to describe how wonderful things were at Ryslen. Tiny flowers peeked out of the grasses in the feeing grounds, and other trees and plants were in full bloom. Garlands of wildflowers hung over doorways and windowsills, lightly scenting the air. Every window was thrown open, and the warm breezes of early summer blew in. Even Cytiath had ventured out into the bowl for some morning sun the past few days while the silver-muzzled Senior Queen guarded her rapidly hardening eggs. The clutch at Katadon had hatched nearly a sevenday ago, though the flights happened the same day. One cannot rush perfection. Cytiath said again and again. The Hatching sands were very hot, and without the cooling breezes coming in the wide doorway, it would have been unbearable. The long white candidate robes had been abandoned, and in their place short-sleeved white shirts emblazoned with a sun and dragon outline on the back - a cross between Ryslen and VallenCove's emblem. Though the style didn't suit some, all agreed it was better than wearing the woolen robes, no matter how thin they were. They were long enough to go down to the knees of the smaller candidates, and plenty big for the widest shouldered male.

Quaiteth winged down into the bowl, and Tiyanni met Katadon's Weyrwoman there, and led her into the hall for a drink. Kahla had come to support her Junior Weyrwoman at the Hatching of her dragon's first clutch. It wasn't much longer before Cytiath rumbled happily to Illiri It is time.

A low hum began to rise in the throats of the dragons, and they rushed to bring in the guests for the Hatching and most importantly, the candidates, in their sharp white robes. Litayth and Quaiteth hoarded much of the bronze's ledge, forcing some of the smaller dragons to squeeze together. Cytiath hovered protectively over her eggs during the commotion, and Releith tried to sit still in the sand to one side of the dias where Tiyanni, J'kosh, Kahla, Illiri, and L'ken all perched in comfortable chairs - no one really sat during a Hatching. It was far too exciting.

The eggs began to rock faster, and Cytiath reluctantly backed away from the eggs to let the candidates near, settling herself on the opposite side of the dias, so as not to impair her Rider's viewing.

The first egg split like a flower opening, revealing a bright bronze hatchling, with bright whirling eyes. If a murmur ran through the spectators at this site, they roared in astonishment as the bronze crept out of his shell. His neck was lighter colored than his head, his foreclaws lighter, and his wings lighter still. His back half was so light it was white!

"Maybe he'll grow out of it!" someone said, but that didn't stop the half bronze dragon from seeking his rider.

"Hello, Erachenth." Riolym said, not phased in the least by his two-toned bond. After all, his firelizard Lapen was green, purple, and blue all swirled together.

The second egg abruptly shattered as it's occupant kicked through the shell with one white hind foot. The crowd gasped - A white dragon? The dragonet broke free of his shell, spreading his brown-tinged wings for balance as he swiveled his dark brown head around looking for the boy who would become his rider. Another half-white dragon!? How in the name of the golden queen ...

Aren't they beautiful, Releith? Cytiath said, looking to her white mate, eyes whirling with pleasure. Releith rumbled in agreement, nodding towards the sands as the half-brown dragon approached the Lenoum.

I'll bet you didn't expect that, L'nom! Anikupath said, eyes whirling happily.

The third swirled egg rocked into a beam of sunlight, cracking open to reveal a damp green. The light caressed her hide, making her seem to be half white like her clutch brothers. As she moved towards the girls, the sunlight came with her - the third duo-toned dragon. Her deliccate colors were just like sunlight on carved jade... All eyes were on Nycaea as the green Impressed upon her. "Heuth." She whispered, touching the delicately featured dragon carefully, as though she were the most precious thing on the planet.

Another delicate green dragon burst in an almost unladylike fashion from her shell. She too was half white, her hide gleaming a pleasant green. She and Wyand met half way, and the girl hugged her odd little dragon, laughing "Iguazath, I love you!" Her cousin N'ral cheered wildly from the tiers, setting off a cacophony of applause from the gallery.

The cheering completely blocked the sound of the first half-blue dragon's hatching. He ran across the sands and ducked behind a boy, as his chosen was busy congratulating the newest pair. D'ilan... the blue said, causing the boy Denilan to look around to find him. The blue jumped out, and hurried across the red sands to his rider like a joke that refused to remain untold. "Spaeth!" D'ilan shouted, catching the bluish dragon in his arms. The final front-tier! the dragon said, grinning at those in the front row.

The antics of the previous hatchings had cleared some sand away, revealing a fifteenth egg. Though nine of the visible eggs hadn't yet hatched, this dragonet wanted out now. The egg could barely wobble in it's sheathe of sand, but hte dragonet broke free, and slithered out, shaking her pale green wings to dry. Come to me. she whispered. Come. her voice was nearly a hiss. Shezumi blinked. "Perhaps you'd do better to come here, Tesimith!" she responded, and the Light green dragon slipped to her side. Ivo looked at her, but said nothing.

The next egg split, spilling a blue and white dragon into the red sands. Why is the sand hot? the dragonet demanded as he struggled to get up. A hand helped him to get his balance.

"Because the hot springs flow through the rocky tunnels below the Hatching Grounds, Ragonfith." Corimon said as he led his dragon off the sands.

An egg in the middle split unevenly, causing it's occupant to fall out. Her hide was a soft yellow-gold, shading to white on her hind end just like her clutchmates. Despite her false start, she got up and moved gracefully across the soft sands to the girls. Will you sing about me too? she asked, her voice melodious and perfectly on pitch. Of course, only one girl heard her. "I will, Lieyanth." Vienna said, a smile crossing her face. Releith looked pleased - not only that he had sired a goldish dragonet, but that she'd picked his favorite candidate.

By This point, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the remaining eggs would be half-white as well.

Another blue dragonet hatched gracelessly into the world. "OOOH! Are you okay, Tamioth?" Chaiuan said, leaping to aid the half blue dragonet to his feet. I am! of course, Tamioth was a bit excited, and knocked his glasses off into the soft red sand. "Oh no!" he said. I'm sorry Ch'uan he half white dragonet said, delicately lifting the glasses with his foreclaws. Here they are... but what are they?

Two green dragons shattered their shells on opposite sides of the sands. One fell onto her back, and the other raced towards the girls, floating light as a melody across the sands to Nyaati. I am Aacath. she said, No worries, Nyaati. the green said to the nervous-seeming girl.

The other green got up and tried to get the fine sand off of her wings. It was very distressing to her and after a moment Jeszibelle stepped up and began to brush the clinging sand from the light of her life's wings. "Don't fret, Keilebeth," she said, beginning to smile. "I am with you always."

Another of the brown-shaded dragons cracked free. He walked in a circle about his shell, and finally picked up a piece of it in his mouth and trotted dutifully over to Conthal. Here's the piece; Sorry I took so long. Perfection can't be rushed. Webeith said, eyes whirling slowly in happy colors.

A dark brown head burst explosively from the creamy shell of the next egg. He wriggled out of his shell like a molting tunnelsnake, His colors also shading from dark to light. The darkish dragon walked right to Riringo. "Maybe this'll shed some light into his dark mind." D'run grumbled. He still didn't think this boy should Impress. "Khalbalahath." R'ingo said, Naming the dragon. The dragon's eyes whirled red as he walked out with his bond.

A swirled egg wobbled, then split, and the dragon's white tail flopped out, leaving the dragonet to back out of the egg. Help! the dragon called, but only one could hear. Haezar, a kind boy leapt across the sands. "Ooh... don't move Udeventh! The shell will rip your wings!" With his rider's help, the blue and white dragon got free - a splendid Impression.

An egg began to roll end over end in a straight line down a slight decline in the sand. Just like a trundlebug one boy thought, the smile on his face broadening as the egg split, sending the dragonet tumbling bronze head over white tail down to land at the feet of Zalanor. "Are you dizzy, Janinolth?" he said, helping the half-bronze hatchling to his feet. The golden Cheese fluttered around trying to help, but the flit was just too young for that.

The last egg rocked itself to bits, spilling out a blue and white dragon like the fresh light of a new day. He looked to Nuita, and what he said brought tears to the girls eyes. I cannot replace Atuni, Nuita, but I love you so much my hearts ache. the girl crashed to the sands, hugging the dragonet. "Meilizath! I love you too!"

The dragons sat restlessly, looking at the remaining candidates -- mainly girls, but that was to be expected -- as Cytiath got up and began to dig around in the sand among the shells. "Just how many eggs were there, Cytiath?" Illiri asked. Enough. the queen responded, unearthing the egg she sought then retreating as it rocked violently.

A small dark gold dragon was revealed, and she sat pristinely there, demanding things of the other dragons. Finally she spoke to her rider. Naera - leave it behind. The dragons know it was self-defense. The girl blinked at the dragon. "Zheyth!" she burst out, "are you serious?" The queen snorted. Why would I lie? she got up and walked over to Naera - perfectly shaded from gold to white.