Ra'al stood beside Rill, clutching her friend's arm tightly. They were both the perfect image of a nervous yet excited candidate, watching the eggs as if afraid they'd disappear if they so much as blinked. The call had gone up with plenty of time to gather the candidates together. Though the two Lirons were eager and ready to go, they met a small difficulty when none of the candidate robes fit them! The silly white sheets made their curves disappear anyway.
Ra'al cast a quick, searching glance through the crowd gathered up above and noted the presence of Mystic. Though being the center of attention, Ra'al couldn't shake her feeling of nervous tension. The thought of bonding a creature that would change her life forever was too overwhelming. So she didn't think about it. Instead, Ra'al held to Rill tightly and the two Lirons crossed tails as the first egg cracked open.
Gasps ran through the crowd as the green and blue wingless dragon disappeared into thin air, only to reappear again by his chosen bond. Not only did he not have wings, but he had two tails and was glowing!
"Oooh!" Rill squealed quietly. "He's so pretty! I hope they're all like that."
Ra'al nodded quickly, her green eyes pooling with wonder as the next egg hatched. Then another. Another gasp came from the crowd followed by confused murmurs as the third dragonet had two heads! Yet this strong little girl didn't seem to mind the odd stares she received as she pranced across the sands. Almost as if she was dancing. Her two heads bobbed to the motions of her feet and before she knew it, she had tripped over another egg and split it wide open.
Rill whimpered quietly at the sight of the dead hatchling that tumbled from the broken egg and Ra'al closed her eyes. Not once did they let each other go.
Hello Rill. My name is Katzeth. The little green-gold-blue female spoke into Rill's mind. Ra'al watched as her friend gasped and brightened with the wonderment of Impression. She released her hold on her friend and knelt down to embrace the dragonet in a loving hug.
"Her name's Katzeth!" Rill announced to the world. As she and her bond walked off the sands, Ra'al knew she would be waiting for her dragonet completely alone.
It was a while before the moment came where Ra'al would experience what her friend just had. She stood by herself, shifting nervously from foot to foot while her tail made dust patterns in the sand. All around her, people were bonding to these wonderful, glowing dragonets. All of them special. She was special too.
Ra'al pouted quietly but quickly remembered that such an action would give her wrinkles. Smoothing out her features, she tried to act normal while her heart beat a drum rhythm against her ribs. Her mind wandered briefly to wondering what Rill and her new companion... Katzeth... were doing right now. She smiled lightly at the thought that Rill had Impressed such a beautiful, unique little dragonet. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she almost missed the hatching of the last egg.
The egg shuddered and jumped, cartwheeled and bounced, until it finally came to a stop and split neatly into thirds. Beneath the confining shell lay a softly glowing, green-blue-white dragonet who crooned in delight at being free. Two tails whisked across the broken shell shards and pushed them away from her glistening hide. Strange spikes, like those curving beside her head, adorned each side of the tip of her long, powerful tails. She waited for a moment, fluttering small wings to dry and examining the delicate shift from blue to white painted across her wing sails. Finally satisfied with herself, the dragoness picked herself up and stepped lightly across the sands.
Rill watched as it came down to herself and another woman. A woman who seemed to always be on fire, though not literally. The green-blue-white stopped and examined each of her choices carefully, brillant blue gaze shifting from one to the other as if looking into their souls to see who would be best. When she began walking again, it was to Ra'al's feet.
Well, hello Ra'al. I'm Kedith. The small hatchling projected in a voice that was both calm and energetic at the same time. Her tones were soft and light, like a gentle breeze in Ra'al's mind.
Ra'al squealed with glee, kneeling quickly and scooping up Kedith in a crushing embrace. She felt the dragoness croon happily as she was pressed against her bond's soft fur. Two tails swung in unison against her lap.
Did you think I wasn't coming? Though only a few minutes old, the humour in Kedith's mind was obvious.
No! Of course not. Ra'al returned, thrilled to be using her mental bond for the first time.
Good! Then feed me. Ra'al had to laugh as the dragonet nipped playfully at the furred tips of her ears. She stood carefully, cradling Kedith in her arms and flashing a triumphant smile to the crowd.
"Her name's Kedith!" She shouted, following Rill's earlier example. Satisfied that her Impression had been noticed, she turned on her heels and began walking out of the sands.
Is Katzeth prettier then me? Kedith turned curious eyes on her bond as they strolled happily down the corridors of Firestone Weyr to the feeding area. Ra'al blinked in surprise then smiled sunnily.
"Of course not! You're both beautiful. But only you are my bond." Her smile changed to one of love. Kedith purred, rubbing her small, angled head against Ra'al's cheek.
I love you, Ra'al. You and I will be the best pair out there! A squawking bellow accompanied the bold announcement. Ra'al giggled lightly, cuddling Kedith close to her.
"Yes we will!" She purred against the dragonet's neck, reveling in the joy of bonding. A happy shout and tan paw waving from the crowd signalled to her where Rill sat. Ra'al noted that her friend had readied a bowl of meat for Ra'al's bond, fully expecting her to join her as soon as she Impressed.
"Hey!" Rill called cheerily. Katzeth lay contentedly in her lap, one head napping while the other watched Kedith curiously. "Ooh! She's beautiful!" Ra'al's friend exclaimed upon seeing the small, green-blue-white set down beside the bowl of meat.
Ra'al's smile could have rivaled the sun in it's cheeriness. She tucked her legs under her and sat close to her bond as the dragoness tore into the bowl of meat. "Thanks! Her name's Kedith."
"Do you think they'll get along?" Rill asked between giggles. She was literally bursting with joy.
"Well they're our bonds! And we're best friends."
"Best friends to the end!" They chimed together then dissolved into more giggles. A few of the other candidates cast them odd glances and a few evil glares.
While her rider was talking with the other Liron, Kedith finished up her meal and licked her lips clean delicately. It didn't do to have food on one's face. Happy with her cleanliness, she turned blue tinged eyes on the other dragonet. Hi!
Hi! I'm Katzeth! The green-gold-blue giggled girlishly and blinked two sets of facetted eyes.
I'm Kedith. Kedith returned with a curious chirp.
"Awwww!" The high-pitched coo came from both Rill and Ra'al as they watched their dragonesses interact. "I think they're getting along!"
"That's so cute!" Ra'al purred as she lifted Kedith in her arms and cuddled the dragonet close to her head. Rill did the same with Katzeth and together, they oozed enough sugary good feelings that some of the darker candidates felt sickened by the display.
The two feline friends continued to purr and coddle their dragons until all four had exhausted every 'cute' word they could think of. The dragonets, both tired from the long day and playful romps around the room, found peaceful sleep in their bonds' laps. Rill and Ra'al soon followed, carrying the resting hatchlings back to the barracks before collapsing tiredly into bed.
Mystic had watched from the door way as the two Lirons had found happiness and love in their Impressions. She didn't intrude on the giggling conversations, nor stopped them as they walked out the door and right past her. Tomorrow, she would congratulate both riders on their wonderful bonds. Tonight, Mystic smiled slyly to herself, she would inform Siltek that she now had five wandering minds to deal with instead of just two.
Read Ra'al's story.
Kedith is from: Firestone Weyr