The Flurry Mothers were getting restless and everyone at Ryslen - resident, guest, and candidate alike - were well aware of the fact. The large clutch that the Hathian sisters Daminiss and Rotuk tended seemed to stop hardening and just sit there. Would it ever hatch? The only ones not concerned were the Hathians and their rider Ivit. As time passed, the duo exposed more and more eggs, until a total of eighteen sat nestled in the soft red sands of Ryslen's hatching grounds.
As the sun began to set, the matched voices of the two rang out over Ryslen, calling all to the hatching of the clutch. The candidates eagerly ringed around them - humans, elves, demons, vampires and dragons alike. The parents of the clutch stood proudly nearby - Daminiss and her mates Cioraniyeth and Hobbinboliblaziniyaghth, and Rotuk with her mates Garath and Dvheyantriaenayotcheyvanyshlavarth.
The first egg cracked wide open as the final spectators jostled for seats. The red-gold flames on the hatchling's blackened wings were almost startling, and most certainly would have been cause for concern in any other clutch. Hobbin' welcomed his daughter into the world quietly, and the red-bodied Ryshathian looked over the candidates. Finally, she strode boldly towards a young mage and practically demanded the girl's attention, though she did not speak. "Her name is Serialiyass." Sheena announced, placing her hand possessively on the arched neck of the red-black-gold dragoness, unharmed by the youngling's fiery crest.
With a powerful kick, a healthy young yellow sent her shell flying away. It landed with a soft thud as she scrambled out into the world. She shook out her wing-arms and looked around the sands. Almost coyly, she sauntered across the circle to the werewolf Temka, who embraced her bond. "Aenaiyeth is her name." Whispers passed through the assembled. Whose offspring was this yellow? Clearly she wasn't Hobbin's daughter, but could she be Dvheyan's? The flaming undead dragon was disinterested, but the two DragonSoul browns... Cioraniyeth crooned happily to his daughter, pleased to share part of his name with such a stunning young ryshathian.
Following her clutch-sister's example, a lavender hatchling smashed free of her shell and stood up to face the world. Her hide was clearly a color not normally found on Tris'hathian dragons, and her wingsails were noticibly absent. The spars coming from her wrists burned with supernatural red and yellow fire, and a line of the same burned down her spine. Even her hathian eyepieces seemed to be aflame. Dvheyan' seemed rather pleased. Again, the assembled were astonished. Would this Danachian-colored hatchling ever fly? "Xihiaruk will fly!" Kenver snapped to noone in particular. "Dvheyan' flew Rotuk fair and square!" The lavender hatchling leaned on the human girl until she practically fell over. "Yes love, it's time to eat now..."
The shell of a second yellow hatchling fell away in pieces, and the new Rys-hathian blinked her eyes, squinting into the light brighter than the interior of her less-than-cozy shell. "Isilondeiyess..." Lumanel whispered, her voice almost a hiss as she named the sunny yellow beauty. One of the vampires curled his lip in disgust, but said nothing. Nevertheless, Cioraniyeth glared at the errant undead candidate.
With a determined wobble, the egg nearest Daminiss split in roughly in half, dumping a hatchling that was vibrantly fuschia and black into the sands. Her flame marked wings marked her as Hobbin's daughter, and with a hungry creel, she launched herself across the sands towards the four adult dragons who stood as candidates. The males shifted aside, and soon Kyalana's gaze met with that of the unerringly pink dragonet. Welcome Niateiyass.
In improbable unison, two eggs broke, and two blue hatchlings tumbled out into the sands like well rehearsed acrobats. Their synchronization did not end there, as the brother blues headed for the identical twins from Earth. Jayke, your bond is called Leriukra. Liciukra is yours, Jeckyl. Only the twins and the blues knew for certain which hatchling spoke which words. By their names, it was quickly gathered that these were Rotuk's sons by Garath.
With a convulsive quiver, a shell ceased to fight and the yellow paws of a hatchling pushed it apart. Her neck and wingspars burned with silver and copper flames, and her eyes shone in pastel rainbows. She lurched across the sands, and past the humanoid candidates. Etoehenth and Arraquath looked at her, but it was Fezaelenth who stepped forward and kept her from falling into the sand. I am Mautaaruk.
Rakyn watched all of this with fascination. As the next ivory shell fell open, his attention was drawn inexplicably to it. The creature within the shell was moonlight-silver, and his neck and wingspars burned with pale gold and copper fire like watered-down sunlight. The vampire shook his head. How had he known the hatchling was male? Silver was an androgenous color... Rakyn... the hatchling admonished. Name me. "But you have a name. You are Sezukar..." All traces of confusion left him, and Rakyn stepped forward and accepted his silver bond.
Before the vampire and his silver even began to leave the sands, another egg opened with startling force, and a second silver made its appearance. Her wings shone like platinum, and her eyepiece reflected the light brightly. Daminiss was quite pleased, and Cioraniyeth looked smugger still. She stepped towards the candidates, and the girls looked expectantly towards her. The hatchling executed a stunning bow-stretch, entrancing all who gazed upon her, save one. "Taiariyess... of course you're gorgeous..." Crynia said with a laugh.
After the silvers made their departure with their respective bonds, all was silent on the hatching sands for the span of but a few heartbeats before the forceful kick of a red hatchling sent shell shards flying across the sands. His hide seemed muted, as though dusted with charcoal, and his wingspars and eyepiece burned with purple and copper flame. He lunged across the sands, with far more confidence and power than his fullblood siblings had exhibited and landed at the feet of a vampire. It seemed an obvious choice. "Niewaukar." Recis said with a feral smile, accepting his bond, his fate.
The next hatchling to appear had a far more healthful look. Her green hide shone, and her silver wings almost reflected the world back at the onlookers. Her natural beauty all but repulsed the vampires, and while it was attractive to the dragons, it was the elf Fae who moved towards the hatchling. "Eldebiyess... you make me so happy..."
With an aggressive movement that shattered his shell, another red made his appearance. The splintering caused Tyr Tredd to laugh aloud, and the eyes of the red dragon oriented on him. The laughter did not cease, but changed as the partial demon moved towards the ryshathian. "Mapumoukra... Mad Mapumoukra..." The dragon butted his head against the spiked candidate, a gesture of affection, apparently. "At least he didn't take chunks out of your walls..." a guest murmured to noone in particular.
Vibrant green paws pushed apart the shell which contained them, and another flaming child of Dvheyan' exited her cradle and entered the world. Her neck and wingspars burned with bright blue and copper flames, and with quiet determination, she moved towards her chosen. This time, Etoehenth did not move out of the way. Feloaruk is my name. Though her choice had been quickly made, she did not move, but turned back to look at the four rocking eggs and the six remaining candidates.
The ivory shell of a blue dragon fell away, and he, like his green sister before him moved directly towards the candidates. His hide was muted with charcoal like Niewaukar's had been, and his wings burned with feral copper and black flames.
Hoiriukar chooses Jafix. Feloaruk announced.
Thank you sister, but I will speak for us both. Hoiriukar said, lifting the mute vampire's hand with his head. The flames crackled around Jafix's hand, but did no harm to him.
Olilo looked at her brother, and then at the eggs, and then back at her brother. Envy and anticipation fought for dominance in her mind as she kept silence. After an eternity of waiting, orange-black paws shattered through an eggshell, and the dark hatchling soon made her way into the world. Her hide was shaded from black to orange to autumn gold. Halloween. Olilo thought, and the dragon looked at her, flaring her flame-marked wings. I am Giaraiyass, Olilo.
That left two eggs, and as soon as Giaraiyass had announced herself to her bond, one of them slowly fell open, revealing a grassy green hatchling with shining silver wings. She moved towards the humanoid candidates until she stood between the two Zekirans. Patience is a virtue. she purred as she looked sympathetically at one, and then turned her rainbow gaze up towards Megami Senghir. Ghaoikirauk is my name, Megami.
Aya, Nemia, and the rainbow dragon Arraquath looked on as the last egg shivered. Hope shone in all their eyes, but as the shell split, the flaming wingspars on the hatchling caused two hearts to fall in resignation. Her hide shone the starry-gold of the rarest Danachian females, and her flames burned bright yellow, rich gold and pure silver. She strode forward in queenly fashion, and her bond stepped forward to meet her, lowering his own muzzle to nuzzle hers. Welcome Kibiticaruk... Arraquath almost purred to his new bond in absolute joy.
The hatching sands were now empty, and the Zekiran Aya and Nemia/Silver yet remained. The eggs from the Flurry would soon fill the vast red sands, but when would dragons for these two hatch? Only time would tell.