Mikellen yawned as he walked onto the Hatching Grounds. He had worked hard all day and was exhausted come nightfall. He saw marks exchanging hands and a smile crossed his face. The eggs were hatching at night, he'd just won 20 marks. He stretched to clear the sleep from his limbs and winced as tired muscles refused to move. Weyrwoman Falora had learned very quickly that Mikellen was a bother to have around most of the time. Her solution to the problem was very easy: make him work so hard that he didn't have time to cause trouble. Mikellen yawned again. Her plan had worked.
The humming of dragons soon escalated and all the candidates tensed up. The eggs would start to hatch soon.
Butterflies began to dance in Mikellen's stomach and doubts began to swirl in his mind. As the dragons continued their song, Gamble decided to hum along as well. Gamble was on Mikellen's shoulder and his head was near Mikellen's ear. When the bronze firelizard began his rendition of the Hatching Song, Mikellen jumped. He heard snickering from behind him and made a mental note to kick the boy who'd laughed later. For now he swatted Gamble.
"Nice show there Gamble. Make me look like an idiot." He mumbled and Gamble shut up. The small bronze lowered his head and creeled softly.
Mikellen shoke his head and gave Gamble a half-smile. "It's okay. I'm not mad." He reached up to pet his friend when a shout stopped him.
"Look!" Someone in the stands called. "It's starting!"
Mikellen gulped and went to stand with the other boys as the first egg began to rock. He cleared his throat and looked generally uncomfortable. He was 21 turns while most of the other male candidates were still in their teens. Gamble creeled and a cracking sound split the air.
A large egg cracked and shell flew into the air. A small bronze head looked out of the hole in the top of the egg and at his surroundings. The bronze's mother, Mekoth, cooed at him and the tiny dragonet trumpeted back, spreding his wings and cracking the rest of the egg. A tiny fragment of egg was left on the tip of the hatchlings nose and Mikellen stiffled a laugh. The bronze shook the egg off his nose and went straight to the boys group. He nudged quickly through all the younger boys, heading straight for the older ones. Who's he gonna choose? Mikellen asked himself. The bronze was having no problems deciding though. He walked straight up to Mikellen and looked him in the eye.
I am Vekunth. You will be my rider.
Mikellen stood in shock. Gamble happily chirped and nodded his head in aproval.
Vekunth smiled at his new rider. I believe we should go eat now. I'm very hungry. The bronze started off towards the Feeding Grounds then looked back for the stunned Mikellen, now Mik'len, to follow. Mik'len, I'm very glad you made that bet with Magika.
Mik'len smiled at the bronze hatchling, his bronze hatchling. He was overcome with emotion. Unwanted tears tried to force themselves into Mik'len's eyes, but he held them back. "I never thought that bet I made would cause me to have you, Vekunth."
Vekunth smiled as the trio walked towards the Feeding Grounds. The dragonet dug right into the food, but Mik'len kept his eyes open. He quickly found who he was looking for. "J'kar! Hey J'kar!"
The other bronze rider walked up to him. J'kar saw the hatchling and smiled. "Congrats Mikellen, or should I say Mik'len."
Mik'len beamed. "You should."
J'kar sighed knowingly. "You impressed first didn't you? And a bronze?"
Mik'len smiled. "Yep."
J'kar clapped Mik'len on the back. "You just made me a very rich man." The two friends laughed.
You made a bet on my hatching? Vekunth asked rather surprised.
Mik'len smiled and sat back to watch his new lifemate eat. "No. I'd never do anything like that. But J'kar did for me."
Venkunth smiled to himself, but kept eating. How much did we win?
Mik'len laughed. "I think we're really going to get along well Vekunth." He gazed up into the night sky, his fatigue and muscle pain forgotten. "Magika's gonna hate herself for winning that bet."
Read Mik'len's candidate story.
Mik'len impressed Vekunth at Talor Cliff Weyr.
Mik'len impressed Gamble at Blue Star Weyr.
Background from Cosmati Web and Graphic Design.
