The buzz and thrum of the hatching sands, as well as the sticky heat that filled the air, fluttered through Rill's mind like an annoying gnat. Though already hot, she clung to Ra'al desperately and refused to let go. All around her, people were watching and waiting for the moment when the shivering, jumping eggs would hatch and the dragonets inside would choose their bonds.
Normally, Rill would be fine in a situation where every eye was on her. At the moment, when she knew that she would only be noticed if she Impressed, she was shaking with nervousness!
Yet as she stood there beside her best friend, Rill realized that everyone else was as nervous as herself. Something about that fact calmed her enough to stop shaking and loosen her death grip on Ra'al's arm a bit. She even dared a quick glance into the crowds, taking note of the many unknown riders and the one, red robed figure that she knew to be Mystic. For a moment, Rill pondered whether or not to wave to Mystic. Her thoughts were cut short as the first egg snapped all attention to itself.
Gasps ran through the crowd at the sight of the green and blue wingless dragon. Rill was more amazed by the luminecent, green glow that surrounded its small frame. The creature was so tiny and curious that Rill squealed with delight.
"Oooh!" She purred, nudging Ra'al to make sure her attention was on the same dragonet. "He's so pretty! I hope they're all like that."
Ra'al nodded briefly before returning her flustered attention to the next hatching eggs. Rill continued to watch the glowing, two-tailed, wingless dragon and his bond until they had exited the sands. Then, the Lironess' attention was dragged back to the sands by the hatching of the third egg. She had missed the second.
"Look at that!"
"It has two heads!" Surprised and confused voices whispered urgently to their neighbours. Rill stared in wonderment, watching the hatching of this beautiful, two headed dragoness.
The hatchling pushed herself from the remainder of her shell and flapped her small, wet wings in the open air. She glowed as the others did, accented by patches of blue and gold that caressed her sleek hide. Two stubby horns protruded from each head and her tail spades ended with another set of tines and sails, sky blue like her wings.
She waited until she was sufficently dry before picking up her twin tails and prancing elegantly over the sands. Both heads bobbed with the motions of her feet, not yet as agile as she would become.
Before she could stop herself, the little dragoness plowed into another egg, a dead egg. Gasps and groans came from the crowd again. Even Rill whimpered and closed her eyes to the sight of the lifeless corpse that spilled to the ground. Yet the live dragonet continued on her way without a second glance to her dead sibling.
Her prancing steps carried her all the way to the candidates and ended at Rill's feet. Four sets of shimmering blue eyes focussed on the Lironess and a soft coo thrummed in the hatchling's throat.
Hello Rill. My name is Katzeth. The delicate, sweet tones that swept through Rill's mind caused her to gasp in amazement. Slowly, she knelt to embrace her new bond, enchanted by the feeling of another mind in her own.
"Her name's Katzeth!" The tan Lironess shouted to the stands as she lifted Katzeth in her arms. She giggled as her bond cooed and brushed two cheeks against her own. Together, they turned and walked from the sands.
Rill navigated the tunnels of Firestone Weyr as she had been shown in candidate class, heading straight for the feeding area. Katzeth purred in her arms, two tails swishing in front of her belly like off beat pendulums.
This is going to be great! I knew you were the one for me! The green-gold-blue dragonet bubbled energetically in Rill's mind. The Lironess giggled and nodded her agreement.
"We're perfect for each other! And then when Ra'al Impresses, you'll have another friend to play with!" Both rider and dragon giggled excitedly at the thought of fun times to come. Rill hugged Katzeth tighter and Katzeth surrounded her bond's neck with both of her own.
I wonder if me and the other dragon will be just like you and Ra'al.
"Of course!" Rill purred, her green eyes finding all four of Katzeth's whirling blue facetted ones. Katzeth purred again, a low rumble in her young throat as she rubbed one cheek against Rill's. Her attention was quickly drawn away from the sentimental moment as a new and inviting smell wafted up her nostrils.
Food! The dragonet exclaimed, two heads turning sharply to see the paradise of meat bowls set out for the hatchlings. She squirmed in Rill's arms as her bond laughed and picked out a place where they would have some privacy while still being able to watch the door. She wanted to see Ra'al as soon as her friend had Impressed.
"Here's a good spot." Rill commented cheerily, setting the eager dragonet down beside a food bowl while she pulled another one closer for Ra'al's bond. Finished with her rearrangments, Rill sat down beside Katzeth to watch her eat.
She didn't wait very long before the hungry hatchling had gobbled up her meal and sat contentedly back on her haunchs. An unexpected burp escaped Katzeth's mouth, causing Rill to giggle with laughter. Katzeth brushed off her body's rude noise and curled up in her bond's lap for a little rest after a good meal. She rested her heads on Rill's softly furred legs and watched her twin tails settle on the ground before her.
Do you think I'll be able to fly with these? The odd question came with a motion of the fins at the end of Katzeth's tails. Rill reached a hand down to stroke the dragonet's head gently and cast a contemplative gaze at the sky blue sails.
"I don't think so." She grinned, looking down at one of the dragoness' heads. "You've already got two wings for that." Katzeth giggled and flapped her tails as if to imitate wings. Both dragon and rider dissolved into more laughter at the sight.
As they sat and talked about anything from fur to fins, the rest of the feeding area was quickly filling up. Rill began to get worried as the last few newly bonded entered the room with no sight of Ra'al.
There she is! Katzeth exclaimed happily, pointing out the tall, tan felinoid as she and her bond stood in the door way. Rill quickly caught their attention and waved them over. "Hey!" She called cheerily as Ra'al joined the small group. Katzeth lay contentedly in her lap, one head napping while the other watched Ra'al's bond curiously. "Ooh! She's beautiful!"
"Thanks! Her name's Kedith." The smile that lighted Ra'al's face was as bright as the sun. Her green eyes sparkled with the same joy Rill knew and her excitment was barely contained.
"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." The slightly taller, more protective Lironess boasted, followed by another round of giggles.
"Best friends to the end!" They chimed together then dissolved into more laughter. A few of the other candidates cast them odd glances and a few evil glares.
Kedith had finished her meal quickly when Ra'al had first set her down. Now she fixed the other with a whirling blue gaze filled with curiousity, mirrored in Katzeth's eyes. Hi! She began cheerily.
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 Rill's story.
Katzeth is from: Firestone Weyr