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Hatching Story  Dlyza watched as Niayith stretched her wings lazily over her last buck. The rain streamed down her body from the summer storm that had come to the Weyr. Above Dlyza and the young queen yawned and looked over toward her rider who smiled and twirled the flower she had picked. She watched her mate, bronze Allionith, as he and Tr'fert took off. Niayith sighed at the bronze before walking up to her rider. What are you thinking about? Niayith asked and settled next to Dlyza. The eggs? She sighed and looked to the Hatching Grounds where the gold had left green Suwanth to guard the two clutches. "Yes," she admitted. "They are so hard. Shouldn't they hatch soon?" The gold yawned again as she sat up and extended her fore arm. When they hatch they will hatch, she said, turning her head to watch Dlyza mount. Slapping the golden neck affectionately, Dlyza smiled. Niayith rumbled and took to the air. Niayith glided across the Bowl of Falas Weyr close to the ground before she swerved up and hovered above the opening to the Hatching Grounds. She waited patently while the skylight was opened from the inside then dove in to get out of the rain. With the glass panel closing behind them the gold descended and landed on her mound. Green Suwanth was scurrying away from the queen's place and near her clutch of eleven. Dlyza dismounted and walked over to one of the smaller eggs on the sands while her gold went to hover over the gold egg. Laying a hand on the hard shell Dlyza waited. Nothing happened and she sighed taking a step back. "Nothing," she said scowling. "Niayith," and she turned to look at the gold who was staring at one of the eggs intently. "Niay? Love, what's wrong?" It moved, the gold said blinking. I swear it did. Just a little but... A low humming turned Dlyza's attention to the little green at the far end. "Suwanth?" she asked, the question more for herself then the green. "Niayith, call the candidates!" She pointed excitedly toward the now violently rocking eggs near the entrance. Niayith sat on her haunches, pointed her muzzle to the sky and let out a long bugle. Soon the Falas dragons were seated on the rim while the bronzes went to collect the queen candidates. Dlyza found Tr'fert who had been called back by Niayith. They had just finished dropping off Jennae by the queen egg. He smiled, kissed her cheek then went to where the Weyrleaders were sitting down. J'tha rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Blues and greens," he said. "Lots of them." Dlyza frowned. "Blues and greens?" she asked confused. "But browns and..." "I'm just hoping," he grinned and winked at her. Dlyza could have slapped him. She looked over at Niayith. Niay, dear, could you move away a bit? The gold looked at her quickly before returning to her vigil watch over the queen egg. She hissed slightly at the girls who backed off a bit. Niayith. It`s my egg, the queen said angrily. Yes, well they all are. But now they are going to hatch and choose new riders. Move back. Dlyza tried hard not to laugh when the large gold lowered her head and flicked her tongue over the light golden shell. Niayith, Dlyza warned. Just a few steps back will do. The queen hissed slightly then moved back farther then was necessary. A sharp crack reverberated in the cavern sending the humming dragons to silence. A piece had broken off the top sending a thin spider wed across the molten surface. The hatchling rammed against the shell and a chunk broke off to revel a dark nose under a thin membrane. It broke allowing the head to emerge along with a wet forearm and wing claw. Squealing desperately the tiny hatchlings wriggled out of the shell and fell onto the sands shivering and breathing hard. "That's the darkest bronze I've ever seen," Tr'fert commented quietly to Dlyza. She nodded and glanced at J'tha who was frowning. "It's too dark to be a bronze," the Weyrleader muttered. As the dark dragonet was standing up another egg had shattered and a large bronze dragonet that was a light bronze shade emerged. Shaking the remnants of his shell from his glimmering coat the bronze looked around at the candidates but did not move. J'tha clapped his hands startling Dlyza. "Copper!" he cried pointing at the wobbly hatchling. "It's a copper!" Dlyza looked up a Tr'fert and grinned. The bronze began to move toward the candidates with more sureness then his brother. Still disoriented the copper walked up to two of the boys before stopping in front of Kerintin and sniffing the boys hand. Then he warbled softly and butted the boy's legs. "Barahirth," he whispered, dropping to his knees. Kerintin hugged the copper head to his neck before he led the little hatchling off the sands. The bronze had also chosen his partner. After going back and forth between two of the boys he had settled on Aezel. I'm Tilionth, Aezel! the little bronze announced as he walked up to the boy and sat down . Aezel smiled and walked, his arm draped lovingly around the bronze's neck, off the grounds. Two eggs began to fall apart then. One green shattered hers quickly and loped across the sands to Besora. Seeing that the green was going far too fast the girl waved her arms to try to get her to slow down. Unable to stop the greed slid right into Besora sending them both tumbling to the ground. "Lavaraldath!" she cried as she helped the young hatchling to her feet. Lavaraldath crooned before she began butting the girl's legs urgently toward the exit. A green muzzle had emerged from the other egg, which was soon followed by a refined green head. The hatchling writhed in her shell, sending hairline lines along the molten surface until, piece by piece, the shell broke away and the green stood and unfurled white wings. She let out a long cry of hunger before running toward the girls. Aarea watched as another normal green found Azura amongst the ring of candidates. The girl knelt and hugged the green's neck. "Oh, Sarith," she whispered. "Come on, let's get you something to eat." She smiled and led the hatchling away from the commotion. As she lowered her eyes toward the ground Aarea stopped and looked into the whirling eyes of the green-white. I am Aelinth, Aarea, she said gently, dropping her head and tilting it up questionably at the girl. I`m not really a green but...do you like me? I like you. "Aelinth! Of course I like you! You're beautiful!" She hugged the two-toned hatchling who warbled happily. Aarea kissed the damp nose and stroked Aelinth's eye ridge. "Are you hungry? Of course you are. Come on. They have food waiting outside for you," and they left. As the couple were leaving the sands Dlyza gasped in delight. "Tr'fert, look!" She pointed to where a white was battering against her shell trying to get out. "Oh, no. She's stuck!" Creeling in agony the white tried desperately to escape from her shell. The small hole she had created was doing little good but kept her in place. Her cries became desperate but no one moved to help her. Two browns exploded from their shells. They clamored over the sands creeling with hunger. One brown came to a stop in front of Selan who smiled at the hatchling. I`m hungry, the dragonet declared looking around for something to eat. "I know that Iluth," Selan smiled and lead him toward the Bowl. The brown had walked around nearly six boys and girls before stopping at Benjarin. He circled the boys three times slowly like he had done with the others then raised his front legs to the boy's chest and looked into his face squarely. I like you, Benjarin, he said matter-of-factly. I am called Hithliniath. "Benjarin," the boy said smiling even if Hithliniath already knew it. He moved back causing the blue to fall back on all fore legs then lead him away. Lelin stood watching the white struggling in her shell. She was almost out but tiring. Looking around to see if anyone would do anything she saw that they were watching the emerging bronze rather then the rare beauty. After a quick glance Lelin ran toward the egg and ripped the hard shell away from the small body. The while fell out on the sands, shook her head and looked up at Lelin. Thank you, Lelin, she said. The girl smiled and knelt to hug the small head. "No one was helping you," she said. "So I did." I would have gotten out eventually. I am Elerinath, Lelin. The girl smiled. "Hungry?" Very. Standing, Lelin gestured that she and her white leave the sands. The bronze had emerged after a short struggle with his uncooperative wings and was making his way toward Ajeren. He watched the dragonet with little thought. Then the bronze was sitting at his feet staring up at him. Ajeren stared back. "Urinth," Ajeren said. "I didn't see you there. Well I did but I..." You were looking right through me, Urinth said practically. Ajeren nodded with a smiled. You're not now. "No, I'm not." He took a step back, running into Rizon who moved out of his way. Then they left the sands. A green and blue were next to enter the world. They looked at each other before they ran straight toward the brother and sister, Grendel and Vaya. The blue halted in front of boy while the green choose his sister. I`m Palantirith, the blue said. I`m Isilth, his sister added to Vaya. Smiling at each other the boy and girl led their new life mates away. A flash of lightning split the air above Falas Weyr causing some to jump. Niayith ignored Dlyza's commands and hovered over the queen egg again. The thunder rolled away and the rain beat down harder. Weyrwoman Nyarna called Yakima to her and they went to check on the already impressed dragons and riders. "Let's hope this is all we get," J'tha muttered looking at the skylight were the light played across the water stained glass. "But you can't stop a hatching." He pointed to the black that was emerging from his shell. Dlyza nodded and held Tr'fert's hand tighter. Unlike his white sister, the black was able to shatter his shell with a few decisive blows and he was running along the sands toward Jarellin. Jarellin! Get away from here! Their is a storm and... "I know Delduwath," the boy said. "Come on and we'll get you something to eat." The black sighed, glanced nervously at the sky and stuck to Jarellin's legs the entire walk. Much to J'tha relief a green and brown had now began to make their way across the sands. Falran ran to the stumbling Falmarindith who warbled as the boy helped him stand. They left the sands just as a green joined her sister in the search for the right rider. The lighter green followed the darker toward a group closer to the door. The light green stopped next to Rhestan and nudged him gently. Hello, Rhestan, the green told him. My name is Anorth. Rhestan smiled and led her to the entrance where the Weyrwoman had gathered the riders to wait out the storm. The green looked at Maeve longer then the other girl. She warbled uncertainly and nudged the girl's hand. Maeve reached out to stroke the eye ridge but the green turned and walked up to Shalampayis. With a sigh of contentment the green Vinyath finally choose her weyrmate and Shalampayis led her off the sands. Only two eggs were left. The two boys and Maeve watched as the last egg rolled around the sands until it stopped and the top shattered. A silver head poked through the opening and chirped before it began to thrash about sending shards of shell onto the sands. In the next flash of lightning the dragon was out and staring at the shell as if it had done something terribly wrong. Then it turned and walked up to the first of the boys. After rejecting those two it turned and poked at Maeve. Warbling she turned to the girls watching the queen egg rocking under Niayith. Lifting her head to the sky the silver dragon let out a wail of loss. Maeve placed her hand on the dragonet's head gently and turned the faceted eyes to look at her. "Why are you crying silver one?" she asked. I am not silver, she said ceasing her cries. I'm silver and white. Maeve looked and saw that her wing sails were less metallic then her glimmering body. "Yes, you are silver and white, Silivrosth." The dragonet blinked and stared at her before Maeve felt the full impact of Impression. Silivrosth warbled and Maeve led her dragonet out to the entrance. Niayith, dear you have to move, Dlyza pleaded. She's hatching and must see the girls. No. The storm will get them. The queen hissed and curled around the egg more even as a piece of shell fell off and the dark golden hide was seen below the membrane. The five girls looked at Dlyza hopefully as the young queen rider found herself in a position similar to controlling a mating dragon. MOVE! NO! NOW! Zenith bugled and lowered his head to the reluctant queen who stubbornly refused to listen even to the senior queen Anazith. Her shell strewn about the hot sands the dark golden hatchling looked up and her mothers huge form and whimpered. Slowly she began to creep out of Niayith's shadow. Once the queen saw what her daughter was doing, Niayith hissed and pushed her back. A few of the girls began to get brave and ventured closer. Laryn and Tekata stopped inching up to the confused hatchling when Niayith blocked their view. Terina hung back but kept looking to try and catch the young queen's attention. Kalla walked confidently under Niayith and refused to back away. Jennae also tried the same tactic. Bugling, Niayith pushed her daughter farther back. Anazith, Rhiath and Zenith were now circling the queen and closing in. Niayith refused to budge. Dlyza was crying. She HAS to Impress, Niayith,she cried desperately. Please let them by. They have to get past me first. Niayith retorted and Dlyza looked at J'tha was staring at his sunset dragon. Suddenly the hatchling bolted from her mother and made it toward the girls. Instead of picking one she hid behind Tekata and Kalla. Laryn, Terina and Jennae stood in front of the three of them and glared at the huge queen. Niayith hissed and took a step forward. "Niayith!" Dlyza cried along with J'tha, Tr'fert and the two other queen riders. Their dragons reinforced the command and Niayith backed down, crouching with her tail thrashing. The young gold looked up at all five girls then locked her eyes with Laryn. I am Rathlorielth, Laryn, she said and rested her head on the girls outstretched hand. They quickly turned to leave, nearly running for fear that Niayith would change her mind. J'tha took a deep breath and looked at Dlyza. "I'm sorry I couldn't control her," the young queen rider said softly. J'tha smiled and lay a hand on her shoulder. "As long as you can control her in a mating flight, girl. In the mean time lets go meet the remaining few. Belorian, Rizon, Dejan and the four other queen candidates stood near the eleven eggs of green Suwanth. The boys were watching those eggs eagerly while a few of the girls tried very hard not to cry in front of the Weyrleader. J'tha smiled at all of them. "Well, it is over. But not completely. As long as there are dragons in Falas Weyr and female dragons laying eggs you will have another chance. You are welcome to stand for Suwanth's clutch if you like. Until then, you are welcome to stay at the Weyr." They nodded and walked off silently. J'tha took a long breath. "I hate doing that," he muttered. He looked over at the hatchlings by the entrance. "Four blues, five greens, three browns and two bronzes," he said thoughtfully. "And not all will be staying here. Not to mention young Rathlorielth and the billion..."Dlyza hit his arm and glared at the Weyrleader. "Fine, five unusual that showed up. All things considered I think it was a rather good clutch for Niayith's first." Tr'fert tapped Dlyza on the shoulder. "Who were Niayith's parents?" he asked as Aarea settled her green-white Aelinth down to sleep. The Weyrleader and queen rider grinned at each other. "Well," she said with a long drawled tone of voice. "Let's just say that Zenith and Niayith are related." "How?" J'tha smiled. "Brother and sister. Niayith is also one of the first dragons to be genetically altered. She just didn't have that much in color change like Zenith but from the looks of this clutch I would say that the odd-color gene is very dominate for her. Zenith is a little more hidden I think." The bronze rider just nodded as Dlyza took his hand. Then they went to the entrance where the eighteen new dragons and their riders were waiting out the storm. It's not over, Niayith said smugly. Dlyza turned just as her gold moved to uncover three more eggs. Her rider gasped and yanked Tr'fert's head around. "Jedtha!" she cried, slipping into his original name. "J'tha! Get those boys back here!" At her cry the three boys and four girls were already making for the emerging dragons. J'tha looked at Dlyza with a confused expression. She shrugged helplessly and grinned. Soon the rest of the weyrfolk turned back to watch the rest of the hatching. Dejan watched as he ran. A small dark blue had emerged along with his averagely shaded brother. They had bolted for their chosen riders at the same instant and fell on their noses. As the darker of the two cried out piteously, the lighter thrashed about only to get himself in deeper trouble. "Irimorth!" he cried and reached out to steady the lighter blue. "Settle down or you'll hurt yourself!" Rizon had came up to the help other boy and together they helped untangle the two blues and set them apart. The darker blue turned and gazed at Rizon with a dragonic smile. Thank you Rizon, the blue said with little bob of his dark head. I am Orodlinth. Rizon smiled and the two boys quickly lead the two late comers toward the hatching grounds entrance where the others greeted them. The girls, all disappointed at the loss of the gold, watched if maybe a green would emerge from this last, large egg as it rocked on the sands under Niayith's lowered head. The egg spit around the top sending hairline cracks, which allowed bits off shell to fall off. A blue muzzle penetrated the top, then the rest of the head. It squawked and the two boys stepped forward to try to make the impression. Then a decisive blow shattered the shell and out spilled the contents. The blue shook his head in confusion then stood. After a while of starting at all the candidates he shrugged, turned and pounced on Bordel who yelped as he was squished. "Hey, Vaiyath!, watch it!" With a laugh the new rider lead his dragon over to the younger Falran to wait out the storm. J'tha turned and glared at Dlyza, hands on his hips. "Any more surprise young lady?" he asked. He was, however, unable to contain the smile on his face. The queen rider just grinned as Niayith settled down to sleep. She strode past the Weyrleader while flashing her golden red skirts with the happiness she felt. | Journal | Search | Hatching Story | Stats | |