Hatching 1

Reizlyn woke with the earliest light. She rolled over in bed to look out across the large stone couch where little Ashiyeth was still sleeping soundly. The hatchling did nothing but eat and sleep more often than not, which, while disappointing, was perfectly fine with Reizlyn as it allowed her time to get all her work done. She had not slept well since impressing, but she just chalked it up to all the responsibilities she had, helping the FGPC get settled in and helping direct the reconstruction. There was not much they could do with a clutch on the sands, as the mothers cried out in worry for their children if there was too much noise, but they had started some minor changes and Xalia expected Reizlyn to be around as long as Ashiyeth was asleep.

Reizlyn finally decided to get up and slowly rolled herself out of bed. She dressed quickly in the chilly weyr and entered the bathing chamber to tie back her hair. As she was leaving the bathing chamber she felt Ashiyeth starting to wake so she hurried out to the stone couch, unable to contain the smile that spread across her face.

“Good morning, Dear-heart,” said Reizlyn kneeling down before her dragon and scratching Ashiyeth’s eye-ridges. Ashiyeth crooned in pleasure and stretched into the caress, her mouth opening in a wide dragon-yawn. “Sleep good?”

You didn’t, replied Ashiyeth; knowing Reizlyn already knew the answer to her question. Reizlyn nodded and continued scratching until Ashiyeth shook her head and stood. I’m hungry.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

Ashiyeth crooned but it came out more like a whine. Reizlyn could tell the hatchling was indeed very hungry but suddenly Ashiyeth’s head came up and if she’d been a horse Reizlyn thought for sure she’d be perking her ears as if listening.

Don’t you hear it? asked Ashiyeth and Reizlyn cocked her head to listen. It was only then that she felt the rumble in the stone beneath her and heard the sound of loud humming. Ashiyeth, young as she was, began humming as well and only then did Reizlyn realize what it meant.

“The hatching!” Reizlyn jumped to her feet and headed for the stairs, Ashiyeth flying clumsily down to the bowl and waiting for her there. Together they rushed into the hatching sands but Reizlyn paused at the opening, not sure where she should sit.

At Tripaldi the entire Weyr was in confusion. The dragons were all humming and most people figured they had all gone insane as there wasn’t a clutch on the sands, not there at least. Xalia leapt to Frinaith’s back as soon as she was dressed and the gold leapt into the sky her powerful wings taking them quickly to the little-known side of Tripaldi that was the SCZ. Frinaith plummeted into the hatching sands and landed in their place as Weyrwoman and Queen dragon.

Xalia looked around as she dismounted and soon noticed Reizlyn hovering by the entrance. “Frinaith, tell Ashiyeth she and Reizlyn should come sit with us. Ashiyeth isn’t full grown yet but people need to start seeing Reizlyn in a position of authority.”

Frinaith was glad to oblige, her moodiness at bay due to the excitement of a hatching, and before long Reizlyn had joined them, Ashiyeth at her side, her eyes swirling green and red. Xalia smiled at the two of them and leaned close to Reizlyn so as not to have to yell, and so she wouldn’t be heard.

“Any word on those eggs that went missing?” she asked, careful to keep her face pleasant so as not to raise alarm for any of the candidates who were now filing onto the sands.

“Missing? Xhorieth found all seven eggs in the center of the sands, safe as could be,” replied Reizlyn, careful to keep her tone conversational and unconcerned.

“Did she? I heard no one knew how the four missing eggs ended up in Xhorieth’s clutch.”

Reizlyn colored and Xalia chose not to ask why Reizlyn had thought seven eggs went missing when each green clutch was only missing two eggs. She didn’t have time anyway because at that moment, as the mothers’ riders ordered them out of the way, the first egg exploded, sending sharp egg shards flying everywhere.

Xalia couldn’t contain her grin as she watched the lovely silver-blue hatchling struggle to his feet. The force he had used to break his shell so dramatically had wearied him and knocked him over. But before long he was on his feet and barking at the male candidates who had circled around him. Xalia had stressed that though each candidate had a place in a particular clutch that they weren’t to exclude the possibility of impressing from another, as no one knew whom the hatchlings would want until the hatching was over. So the boys circled eagerly around the silver-blue but he just flapped his wet wings and barked at them, turning in a circle as if looking for a way past them.

Xalia looked to Frinaith who barked at the boys as well, and hearing the formidable Frinaith at their backs several of the nearest boys moved. The ring broken, the hatchling scurried forward and started marching around the outside of the ring, butting the young men in the back of the legs if they didn’t turn around to watch him. Finally he’d had enough playing and rushed into the cluster of girls, knocking several of them out of his way until he stopped and looked up into the eyes of Thaia. The strong woman laughed as she bent to scratch her dragon’s eye ridges. “If you’re done taunting the males we can go feed you, Tentreth.”

Tentreth barked and crooned in agreement and the first TSCZ pair left the sands followed by several annoyed looks from the other candidates. Xalia and Reizlyn both watched the pair go, each thinking that they should be sure to approach the young woman about her offer to stay and help with the reconstruction.

Another egg hatched to reveal a red-white who looked out on the candidates with sadness in his eyes. He had sensed before he even broke his shell that none of the white-robed candidates were right for him. Still several of the candidates approached him but he turned his head without even looking at them. Reizlyn’s brow furrowed in sorrow for the hatchling, but then he turned his attention to the stands in surprise and his eyes whirled blue in happiness. He moved to the rail and crooned until a young man, probably no more than 14, stood up with a guilty look on his face that soon morphed into one of disbelief and delight as he realized the dragon had chosen him.

Reizlyn turned at a noise from Xalia and almost laughed aloud at the odd mixture of anger and relief on her face. But she had little time to wonder at the Weyrwoman’s mixed emotions as more eggs began to crack, the hatchlings inside shrugging off the shells and making their way into the disarray that was once an orderly circle of eager candidates.

Aizel and Anache stood together and separate from the rest of the huddle of Candidates as a cluster of eggs burst open - around six, and bets were made in a flurry. Another knot of Candidates drifted up towards the new dragonets who were on the Sands - all of a green or blue shade it seemed - but the two stayed back.

}Why do you stay here hidden, Anache? I can not seem to get to you easily.{ One of the blues stood up on his haunches, trying to see over the heads of the other Candidates. Anache glanced at Aizel, but the fey girl gestured for him to move up to accept the dragonet, and the blue-silver nearly toppled over into Anache's arms as he rushed to meet him.

A silver followed Anache's blue-silver towards him, weaving an erratic path, and Anache hoped it would go to Aizel, but the silver was intent on finding her own path.

}Naroyke? Are you bored here at the Clutch Zone? I don't want you to be bored.. I suppose we could find somewhere more exciting, but right now I want to stay here.{ Naroyke's eyes widened at the sight of the silver coming towards her, and she shook her head quickly.

"No, I'm fine right here as well, __," she murmured as she led the silver off the Sands. Naroyke gave her friend Lahyr a smile of encouragement as she and her silver brushed past her, and Lahyr tried not to let a tear slip down her cheek.

}Don't cry, Lahyr! I'm here!{ One of the greens tried to dash towards the girl, tripping on all the dragonets in front of her, causing hisses and the blues and greens to separate and dash towards the Candidates, howling with indignation. The green had a shimmer of silver on her hide, and Lahyr smiled, reaching down to hug the green.

"I'm not crying," she assured the green. "Naroyke! Wait!" she called and the newest pair hurried to catch up with the silver and rider.

}That stupid green. Don't you agree with me, Sarron?{ Sarron gaped as the blue, who had the same shimmery silver color over the blue as Lahyr's green, who clung to his legs. }She nearly hurt me!{ Sarron nodded.

"You're right, __. C'mon. Some food will fix you up right away." The shimmery blue obviously agreed with this for the pair set off the Sands, but taking a path parallel to that of Lahyr's.

At the same time Urilu was comforting another of the shimmery blues, his green Oswora ignoring all attempts to get her off the Sands creeling at the blue. "Shh, Oswora." He tried to shush the fire lizard at the same time as he tried to convince the blue to stop hissing irritably at any of the greens who were near him. "__, it's all right. I bet you're hungry."

}Of course I am! I might have to eat that fire lizard if I don't get food soon!{ This caused Oswora to start creeling once more, and Urilu shook his head, giving up at last.

"Oooh!" Sydia's squeal of delight went unheard over Oswora's creels as a shimmery green came towards her.

}And guess what?{ the green said smugly as she spread her wings, revealing blue wingsails. Sydia hugged the green-blue tight and the two left, conversing silently.

Anache had stayed behind to wait for Aizel, and his wait paid off as the last Hatchling of the group went towards Aizel, not hesitating. She didn't have the same shimmer effect as the others, excepting Anache's blue-silver, and Aizel gave a small smile at the green.

"My own," she murmured, as the green sat back on her haunches, wet wingsails trailing in the sand. "Don't do that. Your wings are much too precious to get dirty like that." The green raised her wings obligingly, revealing the same silver sails as Anache's blue. The pair went to join Anache and __, and the fey and Danachian walked side-by-side, following those who had left previously.

Syhra had watched her twin Bond already, and she stood within the leftover girl Candidates, scuffling her foot slightly. She was uncertain about whether she would Impress - was she dragon-deaf? Or were Quadora and Liazeth just making things up? An egg shattered - one near her - and Syhra jumped.

"Oh!" Syhra walked towards the green-gold automatically, as the dragonet was right in front of her. A sob came from behind her, and Syhra paused, uncertain. Alaya was there, one of the younger Candidates. The two were at odds, and the green-gold stood in front of Syhra until Alaya walked forward. She was nearly as tall as the older Candidate, and the green-gold dove for her. Syhra bit her lip as Alaya cried, "Ceibeth!" She and green-gold Ceibeth walked away from Syhra without a backward glance.

Meanwhile, two blues had Hatched, two-tones, but the exact shade of their wings wasn’t yet determinable, and headed towards the males. Arvandor and Rauned were in front of the males left, and the dragonets headed for them. Unsure after what had happened with Syhra, Arvandor was tackled by his. }Arvandor! Pay attention!{

"Yes, Perrakith," Arvandor replied automatically, grinning as the blue's bronze wingsails caught the light. Rauned walked towards the other blue.

"Cedomyth?" he asked hesitantly, and the blue trotted hesitantly towards his Bond, trying not to trip over any of his limbs.

}Rauned, help?{ The ten-year old, which had caused some grumbling within the Zone, moved forward, gently helping the blue organize his wings and legs.

"Cedomyth!" Rauned gasped, a little less hesitantly this time, as Cedomyth's brown wingsails were revealed in the same manner as Perrakith's. And the blues left.

Syhra suddenly dashed forward, peeling the eggshell off of one egg that had been revealed by the Hatching of Perrakith and Cedomyth. The scraping echoed around the oddly silent Hatching Sands, causing several spectators to wince. A small dragonet was revealed - so tiny a few murmured that the dragonet was stunted, too small to live. Syhra glared up at the stands.

"Ulumeth is not stunted!" she cried fiercely, helping the green-black out of the egg. Ulumeth teetered forwards, but Syhra was there to catch her. "Come on, Ulumeth," she said softly. "Ignore them." The pair made their way - slowly and proudly - down the Sands, a soft murmur of voices following them, no doubt a few bets placed, morbidly, on how long the green-black would live.

Hocayi, the cheetah-Kin, stood more or less on his own, searching the sands with his eyes and his senses. A blended dragonet came from his shell and moved to the boys with feline-like grace. Hocayi watched him evenly until the white-black paused and looked at him. Their eyes met and the dragonet moved to his Chosen's feet, /Am I a suitable mount for a cheetah-kin?/ he asked, holding his head up proudly. Hocayi nodded and touched his head, "Yes, Enfinth." he replied simply.

A small dragonet tried to come from his shell, yet got stuck. He squeaked in surprise when he found that his head was thrust through a hole in the shell and his body was half out the other side. He shook his head and ended up rolling onto his face. That brought a squeal from the bronze-seeming dragon. Jesse seemed to start out of a reverie and looked at the squealing dragonet. He remembered well what his grandfather had said and, therefore, rushed to the little dragon's aid. He righted the egg and helped the dragonet break the hole around his head big enough to come out of. Once rescued, the bronze dragonet spread his wings - silver wings - and nudged Jesse's hand, /Thank you, ridermine./ he said quietly and gratefully. The boy smiled - a small smile, yet a smile - and rubbed his dragonet's head, "Anytime, Vaarith."

The egg closest to the Weyrbrat Daeltez hatched next, shards of egg flying everywhere as brown wings flew out from the side of the egg. Instinctively Daeltez flung up his hands to protect his face and ducked back a bit in the hopes of avoiding most of the flying shards of egg. A shard of egg nicked his arm, not a deep cut but painful all the same, and Daeltez flinched as he covered it with his other hand and glanced across at the dragonet that had exploded from the scattered shards of egg shell. It was a blue-brown and, Daeltez decided, the most handsome dragonet that had hatched from the clutch. Almost certain though that the blue-brown wasn't for him, Daeltez backed off a little further to give the dragonet moving room then blinked in surprise as the blue-brown stumbled towards him -not to the candidate beside him, or behind him, but him. "Stop moving!" Rvahath ordered hopefully, and visibly relaxed as Daeltez did just that. "Much better mine. I'm glad you waited for me. I'm Rvahath!"
Not far off, one soft, smaller egg wiggled free from it's bed of sand. Soft green hues flaunted the egg's shell in a mask of utter and complete-- well-- cuteness. It's a cute egg. Who ever woulda thought? The crowd fell silent as tiny, acute vibrations shook sand from the creamy orb, and soon enough, a gigantic /crack/ sent a wet, yet somehow perky dragonet flopping onto the sands.

Liriath was free! And.. this world is so strange. So very unlike the shell she grew to know as her only home. Brave, the dragonet tip-toed forward, and a weighing gaze was cast towards the endless sea of white. An overwhelming need to find the one person who fits-- who can make this strange emotion-driven world make sense-- flooded her more intense than even her hunger. There's someone out there simply for her, and only her. She simply has to have the courage to find them.

Neyna was trembling with hands kneading themselves into her sides as each emotion overwhelmed her further. There were so many.. people, and dragonets, and... Yekelo.
Don't worry, my precious Neyna. the sweet dragonet crooned, rubbing her acute head against the girl's trembling side. I won't let him hurt you. I won't let anyone ever hurt you.

Neyna nearly leapt from her skin as she felt the creature -touch- her leg, and she would have screamed if it weren't for the overwhelming applause that echoed throughout the cavern. There was great cheering-- an Impression?

They are happy for us, Neyna! I am yours now. Do not forget about me down here. The girl sniffed back overwhelming emotions, and glanced down at the gleaming, shiny-eyed Liriath. Only one feeling overpowered the rest of her emotions swarming throughout her brain-- she was safe.

An aniline, scarlet egg nestled further from the rest of the green's clutch rippled violently, the none-too-fluid motions of magma-shell becoming more and more stressful on the shell. The egg stilled, for the last time: suppressing hate throwing arms up against the inevitable. The quaking red egg simply falls apart, fulfilling it's destiny.The dragonet, red in color with smoky, coal-like wings, was definitely one of Tripaldi's more nefarious beauties.

The charcoal-esque dragonet stopped in his tracks after he made that annoying trip out of the clutching group. He stood there, scrutinizing the crowd of remaining candidates with one eye on his clutch mates. He knew what they're doing-- oh-so-sure of themselves that they will rob him of the best candidate.. Motionless. And then, he's halfway across the sands, knocking his white-red sister out of the way and zipping in front of the candidates. He's here! And disappointed. Quivering, little children. Were none of them worthy of this fiery, scoffing dragonet?

It was like that-- wham-- that it hit the red whelp who was maybe worthy of his perfectly sculpted and meticulous mind. He simply stared into the boy's face-- Presian's face-- livid eyes swirling like those of a hurricane.

You're mine. You're mine. Nothing can change that.

"Funny how I'm not disappointed in my decision," Presian mocked, grinning maliciously at his monstrous dragonet.

Your decision? I think not. Take me or leave me, Preisan. I can ravage on my own. Having a second opinion is only icing on the cake.

Even as Tartuanathunceasingly awed his bond on their way off of the Hatching Grounds, the little red-winged white dragonet continued to struggle with her spindly body and failing attempts to collect herself. A pathetic whine squawked from her throat as she tripped over a wet, sand-caked wingsail. Was she doomed? Doomed to forever stumble across the sands while her clutchmates found their bonds and frolicked mockingly off to the party? The party! She would be left there to struggle forever. She would.. she would..

She'd be eternally late for her party!

Hijari, across the sands and rather unrecognizable in the mosh of white, nervous beings, cupped her hands over her ears as an overwhelming wave of emotion and pessimism filled her mind in swarming masses. She bent over, body thriving violently like her head was to explode all over..

That's.. rather unpleasant.

She looked up slowly, tears building up around her eyes as the pain suddenly subsided and she locked gazes with a pare of red-whirling, glossy orbs.

Are you without a partner for the party, as well?.. What, why are you crying?

Hijari gathered herself and stumbled across the sand dunes with her frail body victim to the holes Riatarth had dug for her rocking eggs earlier that day. Knees buckled and she fell to the sands, her hands quivering and face wet with hints of crying. The dragonet, whom showed the same helplessness towards the sand, crawled to the rescue of her possible party friend.

I don't see why they have to use sand. Why not something less.. sandy? She lowered her wedged head towards the girl, who folded her arms around the dragon's soft neck and kissed her head gently.

"Oh, Loritth," the girl, now ecstatic with affection for her dragonet, whispered shakily-- as if it were all too good to be true..

Slow and steady, one egg closely nestled together with a second, more dormant one began to sway and shimmy in it's sand pocket. Freedom was imminent! The active one smacked harshly against it's neighboring egg, causing the blue-flecked orb to fall over on it's side. Even then, no signs of a hungry dragonet thriving to get out were seen from the slow egg. A 'loud' hush captivated the Hatching Sands, and Raitarth whined quietly. Oh, how she longed for her egg to just show a quiver of life.

Rubbing her nose along the last barriers of her shell, a quaint green dragonet poked her head out of the shell with growing curiosity. Some sharding instinct told her to find a.. partner. Partner? Pshaw. There was no one worthy of her.

You may think I'm your average green, but I'm not! She hissed at the dragons around her, who urged her towards the plainer candidates. Wingsails peeked out from her grumbling egg cradle, and an impressive applaud caused the fledge to radiate proudly. Black wings! There was no doubt she was, indeed, special.

Careful eyes inspected each of the candidates, though the male selection was scoffed at through her categorizing. You had your blonde candidates, your red-heads, your pretty, tiny Holdbrats, and..

The green had teeter-tottered towards the group and locked eyes with one special girl who met her quota, when out of the blue, a rumblin', tumblin' brown-blue dragonet rolled down a rather large dune and plowed into the back of his sibling! She squawked quite fiercely as she regained her posture and he lay sprawled in the sand meekly. Nips and tugs were exchanged, though soon enough, the green's special pick, and a light-haired boy intervened, yanking the feuding dragonets apart.

Good-for-nothing!

Malefactor!

"Quiet, quiet, Neomath," Tifellae whispered soothingly to her squabbling bond, who wiggled to try and free herself. After seconds of mumbling and muttering, the green finally succumbed to her new lifemate's croons and encouragements, eyes whirling affectionately. Soft 'aws' filled the crowd.

Reytan had found himself coddling his new dragonet in his arms (though he barely would fit), grinning from ear to ear as he rested his wedged head on the boy's shoulder. "So, you're the late arriver?"

Psh. Lucky me-- you-- us-- I got here as I did. One more second sleepin' in that egg of mine, and you'd be doomed to spend your life with that.. that.. sibling of mine! The brown-blue gave a harsh snort, flicking his forked tongue seethingly. Shardin' sister..

"Does that matter now? You're stuck with me, Hitroth. Pleasure to make yer acquaintance."

Pleasure's mine. Now, lets eat and find somewhere to nap before my clutchmate eats all the food!

One egg, smothered in-between some of it's clutchmates, rocked in the mired puddles of its own doom. Slow, steady, back and forth- hypnotizing. Bit by bit, the streams of bile seem to eat away at the very shell itself; with an anticlimactic ending, it half-implodes, half falls apart. Jonirth had arrived, blue tail swimming in the remains of his shell.

This dragonet, blue with lightly touched sepia wings, stepped out of the shards that littered the ground around him. One, clawed foot over another.. For a moment he looks regal, stately.. and then he falls flat on his snout. A piercing yowl lets loose as the blue attempts to wiggle back on two feet. He was met with a pair of hands that straightened and helped set the squirming creature back on his feet. Yekelo smiled-- this was his dragonet. His one and only.

How odd you are, the blue-based hatchling murmured, peering inquisitively at his bond, whose mind was wheeling with emotions and thoughts. I guess I will have to adjust.

The next two eggs helped each other hatch. The larger egg spun out of control to smack into the smaller, cracking them both. The smaller hatched into a black-green while the larger was a black-red. The black-green crooned thanks to the black-red for helping him to hatch before setting off towards the candidates.

He walked by the males, his tail dragging in the sand. Finally he stopped, peering into one face and giving an ecstatic cry.

Iako, I have found you! He thumped his tail in the sand happily as the sailor reached down to stroke his head. My name is Ellourth!

The black-red, however, was having a bit more trouble deciding. He ran from candidate to candidate, looking into faces and growling when none of them was who he was looking for. Finally he stopped, heaving a draconic sigh and sitting down in the hot sands.

“Who are you looking for, Tehurath?” asked Torlaar as he stepped out from behind another candidate.

You! I just couldn’t find you because you are so short and skinny, replied Tehurath as he walked over to Torlaar.

Suddenly one egg began to rock very forcefully, shaking so much that sand was pushed away from it. Cracks slowly spread across the round shell as the inhabitant fought to be free. With a sharp crack, a piece was off. A light nose poked through the hole, widening it enough for the rest of the hatchling to emerge. It was a beautiful white-blue, very different from Dhumduanath’s dark coloration but much like his mother’s. Opal eyes surveyed the candidates as the hatchling made his choice.

Tascethir, crooned the hatchling as he nuzzled his chosen lovingly.

“Dhurolyth ,” replied Tascethir. Whatever other words these two shared was not heard as other eggs cracked.

Celarelen had been watching one egg throughout the entire hatching. The large trader wasn’t sure why, he just felt drawn to this one. As the shell fell into two pieces he felt with a certainty that this would be his lifemate, this was the dragon for him. The hatchling was a white-brown, a sturdy dragon who looked straight over at Celarelen.

And then went directly to someone else.

Dentaph, my name is Porrenith, said the brown-white happily as he sat before the beastcrafter.

Celarelen sighed. So much for that plan. He was glancing at the other eggs when he felt something nudging at him from behind. He turned to see nothing other than another brown-white, just like his brother but a bit larger.

Celarelen, you were watching the wrong egg, weren’t you? Admonished the hatchling.

“Yeah, I was,” he admitted. “Sorry, Anourith.”

That’s fine, as long as you feed me real quick! I’m starving!

Celarelen chuckled. “Ok, come on.” The two of them left the sands as the hatching continued.

The next egg that hatched hatched very quickly, as if the hatchling was in a hurry to get out. The red-black hatchling kicked his egg apart before bolting for the candidates, still glistening wetly from egg fluids. He skidded to a stop in front of Gianos, panting as he looked up into the starsmith’s face.

Come on, let’s go! Said the hatchling breathlessly as he jumped around.

“Go where?” laughed Gianos. “Why are you in such a hurry Auroneth?”

Things to do, lots of things to do. Come on! Gianos followed the energetic hatchling out of the sands, smiling at his good fortune.

A green-blue hatched next, the two colors blending together smoothly and leaving it difficult to tell where one color ended and the other begun. This coloring however, was entirely lost on his new rider -whom the hatchling had chosen without pause- Nefounel wasn't watching the hatching. Instead, Nefounel was watching the decidedly large spinner -or spider- that was wandering unconcernedly across the sands. None of the other candidates had noticed the black insect, but Nefounel had - and had backed away a few steps while trying to remain appearing as if he was indifferent. Not that any of the other candidate's had noticed anyway, they were busy watching the eggs mostly after all. "It's not going to hurt you," the Blue-Green Shaith grumbled as he moved forwards and dipped his head to blow on the spinner -which promptly scuttled away to try and find cover- "-it was only a tiny little thing." "It was huge!" Nefounel protested, then silenced quickly as he looked up into the whirling eyes of the dragonet and felt the huge rush of completion that came with impression. "But you scared it away... Thank you Shaith." Whether Nefounel was saying thank-you for scaring the spinner away, or for choosing him it wasn't clear - but chances were it was probably both.

A Brown-Gold followed next, his gold wings contrasting with his brown body and making himself seem both light and dark at the same time. The effect wasn't lost on Iira and the former-King smiled at the sight of the dragonet. All the same, when the Brown-Gold turned his gaze on him, Iira started in surprise - he hadn't completely expected to impress, and never thought he might impress something so stunning as this brown-gold. "Do you miss you work with Whers, Iira?" The dragonet asked as he stepped forwards, his pace unhurried as he fought to remain dignifiedly upright despite the shakiness of his legs. "A little," Iira admitted, as he moved forwards quickly to save the slower moving brown-gold dragonet some walking distance, then crouched down beside the brown-gold dragon hatchling to run his hands over the dragonet's flanks gently. "Yet we have other things to accomplish, don't we Tinesoth?"

Two dragonets followed, hatching simultaneously from two eggs separated by a good stretch of bare sand. Their coloring however, wasn't highly separated, instead their colors were fairly well matched. One blended from blue to white, and the other from white to blue. Likewise, the twins Euphon and Euphand -architect and glasscrafter respectively- although not much different to look at were deliberately placed at either end of the semi-circle of male candidates for Xhorieth's clutch. At times it seemed like the pair were friends, while most of the time it seemed like they weren't - from the looks the blue-white and white-blue blends gave each other it was guessed that their relationship was probably going to be much the same. The blue-white choose first, and seemed to have no difficulty at all figuring out which was his twin despite the pair being almost identical. Stepping surely up to Euphon, Zhiaqueth nudged the young journeyman in greeting and crooned softly. "Will you design a beautiful interior for our weyr mine?" "Of course, Zhiaqueth, whatever you want," the younger twin promised. The white-blue blend meanwhile, had -having snorted in distaste at his 'opposite'- wandered over to Euphand and settled himself in front of the glasscrafter. "I am Quazhith," he announced, unaware how similar his name was to his clutchmates - which was probably for the best all things considering.

A black-green broke her shell followed closely by a black-brown. The black-green's hide blended gradually from one color to the other while the black-brown had a black hide and brown wingsails. They ignored each other pointedly, being from seperate clutches, and headed into the remaining candidates to make their choices. The black-brown made his first, barking loudly at Cicero as he stopped before him. He stood up on his hind legs and attempted to butt Cicero in the chest with his nose but lost his balance and barely remained on his feet. Cicero laughed at the dragon's antics as he reached out to steady him. "No need to show off, Centoth. I know you're the best dragon here."

Centoth nodded his head in agreement and the two headed off the sands just as the black-green took a bounding leap and landed on top of Cicero's friend Abalone. She blinked up at the dragon in surprise and found herself staring into the adoring eyes of the black-green hatchling. Happiness welled up in her and she mumbled the dragon's name softly, so glad to have finally impressed that she was momentarily without words. "Jiorath."

A blue-green, a black-red, and a dark green-blue hatched all at once. The black-red inspected her sister and snorted before bounding quickly into the group of girls and sliding to a stop at the feet of Nilnarra. I am Kinioth, Nilnarra. The crowd did not catch whatever reply Nilnarra gave as all focus turned to the dark green-blue who was growling loudly from where she'd been left by her sister. She growled and yowled until finally one of the girls stepped forward to shush her. Aerathyaes walked right up to the hatchling, who immediately stopped yowling. Aerathyaes began to walk away but the hatchling began yowling again. She turned around to face the hatchling again and the noise stopped. I knew I wanted you Aerathyaes, but I wanted you to come to me. said the hatchling in a sly tone and Aerathyaes tried to contain her laughter as she scolded the hatchling. "You lazy beast! Well, I won't carry you out to get your food, so you're just going to have to walk, Kaliath!"

With that Aerathyaes headed off the sands, Kaliath scrambling behind her, the mention of food all it took to get her on her feet. As the two of them left the attention returned to the blue-green who seemed to be hiding behind the legs of one of the young men on the sands. Daerinil turned around in surprise and as he did so the blue-green lifted himself up to look Daerinil directly in the eye. Yes, it is you I want.

"Were you unsure, Jonath?" asked Daerinil but the blue-green just shook his head and headed for the weyrbowl, eager for his first meal.

One of Novath's eggs quivered more violently than the rest before shattering, sending shards this way and that before anyone could tell what the color of the newest dragonet of Tripaldi's Special Clutch Zone was. A blue pulled himself from the remains of his shell, creeling softly. With delicate movements, he started towards the male candidates without as much as a wobble. -Larenfor? What do you think of me?- The blue asked the one before him rather inquisitively. The skinny, short young man furrowed his brow before taking a glance at the dragonet taking a seat before him. "Forgoth?" He paused with a blink. "You have not shown yourself in full, yet." Forgoth tilted his head in slight before taking a glance back to his wings. After a moment's hesitation, the blue beast unfurled his wings, revealing the full length of his wings. And so it was not a blue, but yet a blue-green. The blue-green Forgoth, who assured his rider that they would be together forever.

Eggs had been hatching quickly but to a green-haired girl they couldn’t hatch quickly enough. Her mind raced and part of her wished she could hide away in the kitchens with Korla, but she knew that this was her only chance to remain. If she didn’t impress she’d be sent home to be married off. She shuddered and as she did a nearby egg burst revealing a purple hatchling! The purple hatchling looked at Semmal upside down as she’d hatched on her back. When their eyes met though Semmal knew she wouldn’t be going home and the purple crooned as Semmal helped her to her feet. You will stay with me always now, right?

“Of course, Kishyth, I wouldn’t leave for anything!” replied Semmal, covering her face as her dragon stopped to shake sand off her wings revealing the touch of lavender in them that made her all the more special. Semmal grinned and together they walked off the sands.

Four eggs- two from Novath's clutch and two produced by Xhorieth- shattered at about the same time, each revealing dragonets of a bluish base color. One was a blue-green, two blue-whites and a single blue-brown. They all creeled with hunger- more like newborn fire lizards then anything- but the first to rise to her feet was the blue-brown, who started towards the female candidates in somewhat of a gallop. -Nitereeeeee!- The dragonet bugled defiantly. Nitere jumped at the sudden burst of voice into her mind, letting out a cry of surprise. "What was that for!" The girl snapped at the dragonet, who skidded to a stop before her. The blue-brown snorted slightly. -Cause! Why did you try to Impress those Queens, Nitere? You knew I would be here!- She creeled, pawing at her chosen's leg. Nitere sighed, but smiled softly. "I knew, Rilasoth... I didn't have a choice in the matter. But I'm here now, right? That's all that matters!" She pointed out. Rilasoth's eyes swirled with curiosity, then nodded firmly. -Yes. That's right. But I'm much better then any proddy gold, right?- "Of course." Nitere assured her beastess, scratching the dragonet's eye ridges slightly.

As the newest bonded pair left the sands, the blue-green rose to his feet, shaking off the eggshells with a flap of his damp wings. He snorted slightly as it didn't help much, and was led to attempted again. -Get off!- He ordered rather harshly. -Oooooff!- "Need help, Zenkith?" A male candidate- and ex-Lord Holder asked smugly, taking a step forward from the group of the others. The blue-green glanced up before warbling slightly. -Aye. As long as I don't have to go shopping with your sister, Phios-mine.- Zenkith rumbled in reply. Phios laughed slightly before leading his bond from the sands.

And so the two blue-whites were left, stumbling over themselves in result of hatching rather close to each other. They couldn't tell tail from tail- nor wing from wing... Though one was definitely female, and the other male. After a moments struggle, the two blue-white dragonets managed to part from each other. Proud of their accomplishments, one started towards the female candidates, and the other towards the males. -You where right, Atheda!- The female stated to the girl proudly. Atheda blinked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity. "Right about what?" She asked. The blue-white beastess gave the girl somewhat of a wink. -About being able to Impress. I am Lutacth.- She stated. Atheda squealed happily and embraced her dragonet, then began her way off the sands, Lutacth bound to her side. Meanwhile, the other blue-white wasn't having as good of a time managing to get his way over to the male candidates, as he was constantly stumbling over his own feet. With a creel of frustration, he tumbled headfirst into the sands, struggling helplessly to get back to his feet. "Oh!" A boy cried out, reaching out instinctively towards the blue-white. With the young man's help, the new dragonet was on his feet. The beast turned his swirling gaze into that of the boy's. -Thank you, Anstos. I am Amoreth.- He greeted with a swish of his tail. Anstos grinned before leading his new bondmate off the sands. ----- An egg of Novath's production split straight down the middle, spilling into the world a glistening blue dragonet. He padded wobbly- yet proudly towards the male candidates, where most where squinting to gain a better look at the dragonet's hide. Just then did he- and the rest of the audience- both candidate and others- realize the shimmering of silver in his hide. The shimmering blue was met halfway with a weyrbrat, whose lips curled into an undeniable smile. "It's nice to meet you, Delhinth." Kyri greeted, reaching out to touch the dragonet's head lightly. The shimmery blue blinked at this, but nodded. -And it's nice to meet you, Kyri-mine.- He crooned in reply before being led off the sands.

One of Xhorieth's plentiful eggs shattered, revealing a partial queen dragonet. A black-gold. Her hide was gleaming in dampness, wings spread to dry for all to admire her beauty. The girl candidates prepared themselves, ready to attempted luring the black-gold towards them. The dragoness raised her head, tilting it only in slight as if she only just then realized the candidates were before her. With a croon, she started towards the candidates with remarkably steady legs, knowing exactly who to choose. -You are mine.- The black-gold informed Madelli in a cool tone, wrapping her tail around her new bondmate's ankles in a sign of affection. -I hope your father's all right.- Madelli bit into her bottom lip, nodding only in slight. "I hope so too, Dynnysath..." She agreed rather glumly. Dynnysath gave her rider a chirp of assurance before the pair started from the sands in search of food.

A green-brown was next to hatch- obviously female. She clawed at the grounds, stretching out her wings with a draconic yawn. -Good morning!- She greeted to the entire occupants of the area rather happily. Some people chuckled at this, but the green-brown dragoness simply swished he tail before darting towards the female candidates, tackling Xandra without hesitation. -Lovely day, isn't it?- The beastess asked, tilting her head with a grin. Xandra grinned, reaching up to scratch the dragonet's eye ridges. "It sure is, Lesijyth."

One of the last eggs to hatch in Xhorieth's clutch cracked open at this point, the white bodied dragonet inside falling onto the sands with a loud squeak of protest. As the white dragonet pulled himself upwards, and tried to shake off some of the sand stuck to his damp front, he gave another noise of objection and flared his wings -wings that were a mixture of gold and green, aka bronze- with a snort that succeeded in clearing his nostrils of the sand that had found itself in them after his tumble into the sand. A burst of brown dove onto the dragonet then, and the white-bronze ducked his head with a further sound of discontent as he flicked up his wings in an attempt to rid himself of the brown firelizard that had decided -quite stubbornly- that this was the dragonet for his rider. "Kairo!" Nysyr scolded quickly, recognizing the brown flit as his own, "Leave Cadilivith alone!" The fact that he knew the white-bronze's name didn't register with Nysyr straight away, but it registered with Cadilivith gave a bugle of joy as the brown flitter finally backed off and he stumbled over to his new rider.

"Glad you came, Ferisstof?" Turning quickly as he heard his own voice in his mind, Ferisstof frowned in confusion as his gaze swept over the sands behind him before he turned to face forwards again. Hearing voices in ones head -especially ones own voice- was definitely not a good thing he decided as he cast a glance over the eggs once more. Almost all the eggs had hatched now, at least from Xhorieth's clutch and he was starting to wonder about the decision he'd made to try standing elsewhere. "Fine, ignore me then!" As the words this time were punctuated by a flash of annoyance in his mind, Ferisstof looked around again - his eyes finally alighting on a dark dragonet that had been laying previously in the shadow of his dam. Locking his eyes with the Blue-Black, Ferisstof wavered a little at the rush of a second consciousness entering his own -just as his entered the body of the small dragon hatchling. "I didn't mean to ignore you Tenth." he apologized as he quickly hurried forward to meet the dragonet - keeping a careful eye on how close the gold-white mother was as he did so.

Niena shivered as she stood on the Sands, it was days –sevendays in fact- since that day in the 'not-herb storage room' but still she remembered it. True, her mind should have been on the hatching eggs in front of her, and mostly it was, but every once in a while a voice would carry to her that reminded her of one of the voices from then, or something would brush past her ear and make her jump. It was impossible to completely forget. Only a few moments -and she'd been rescued before any harm could come of her- but the thought of it, or what could have happened, still made her worried. As it was, one of those brief moments of recollection took place just as a Green-White dragonet hatched onto the Sands. The girl next to her however, didn't miss the green-white's hatching -nor the following creels as the green-white looked directly at Niena- and she quickly poked the other candidate hard in the ribs. Starting, and almost screaming, Niena caught herself just in time as a sudden rush of love and caring enveloped her. "I'll protect you Niena, I am Sevalidith and I'll always keep you safe."

At this point there were only three eggs remaining and Reizlyn did a quick mental tally and smiled softly to herself before returning her gaze to the eggs. She bit her lip as she watched, worried, as none of the three eggs were so much as quivering as far as she could tell. The two remaining candidates stood together, they were obviously friends and with three eggs left they stood a good chance of impressing. Reizlyn glanced at Xalia, who was watching her with a look of curiosity, but neither said anything and both returned their attention to the sands as one of the girls squeaked in surprise. One of the eggs burst to reveal a lovely gold-bronze dragon with black on her wings. She sat down hard on her haunches and knocked a somewhat large egg beside her. The egg rolled a few feet away and the gold-bronze-black hatchling got up and crawled towards it in curiosity. She batted at the hard surface and at that moment the dragon inside burst forth, spraying egg shards all over her, several flying as far as to land at the feet of the two remaining female candidates. The newly hatched dragon barked at her sister, for they were both obviously from Xhorieth’s clutch, and flared her wings. Her hide gleamed wetly, but could soon be discerned to be a soft white color and her wings, once fully spread caught the now late morning light filtering in through the dragon entrances above and sparkled. The girls both shielded their eyes and were delighted to find that beneath the shimmer was gold. The two dragonets looked each other over, nodded as if in approval and marched up to the two remaining girls. They sat down on their haunches, the white-gold shimmer in front of Aendra and the gold-bronze-black in front of Celeste. Both seemed to weigh each candidate with her eyes before they both jumped up at the same time, their heads colliding as each leapt for the candidate in front of her sister.

Aendra was the first to react as the hatchlings tumbled into a heap. She reached down to help the white-gold up as she’d landed on top of her sister and from underneath the gold-bronze-black looked up into Aendra’s eyes and crooned. Thank you Aendra! Are you glad you waited for me? You were not rejected this time...

Aendra smiled, “No, Skerath, I wasn’t, and I am glad I waited.” Things are not as bad as they seem...how odd said Skerath, suddenly distracted as she turned to examine her wings, I thought for sure my wings would be just bronze...

Meanwhile Celeste shook herself into action, still a little hesitant, but hearing Sacherth’s words in her head once more she reached out to steady the white-gold shimmer who crooned happily as Aendra let her go and she was able to move closer to Celeste. Do not worry, Celeste, we will honor Sacherth’s memory together always, I hope he would approve of me.

At this Celeste smiled, the pains of the past lessened as she fell to her knees in the hot sands before her beautiful dragon. “I’m sure he would have, Aalonth.”

The two new pairs left the sands together the friends delighted that their dragons were also friends, despite their collisions. As they left all eyes turned to the last little egg on the sands which still had not moved. Reizlyn winced and shook her head. “That one will not hatch. I knew it when I put it down…” she trailed off as she realized she’d been speaking aloud. Xalia turned an incredulous look on her, but it slowly changed to comprehension as she realized what had happened.

Xalia stood then and indicated that the spectators should file out. She gave Reizlyn a sidelong glance as she mounted Frinaith. “I’m sure Deriam will be dying to know how some of those colors managed to appear in clutches for which he’d predicted all the possible colors.”

Reizlyn tried to keep a straight face, but could not contain her groan at the thought of poring over genetics records and probability charts with the TSCZ’s former Head Geneticist. Xalia pretended not to notice but could not contain the momentary smile that graced her lips.

“Now I’ve got to see about a certain weyrbrat from Tripaldi who was not supposed to know about this place, but who I’m very grateful to for showing up!” With that Frinaith took off, carrying Xalia away to congratulate the new riders.

Reizlyn remained sitting where she was until the hatching grounds had emptied and all that remained were her, Ashiyeth, the shells of many colorful dragons, and that one unhatched egg. Ashiyeth crooned impatiently and Reizlyn shook herself from her daze. “Alright Ashiyeth, go get something to eat and return to your ledge. I have things to do, the first of which will be to recruit Thaia to help my workers whenever Tentreth is sleeping.”

With that dragon and rider parted ways. Ashiyeth flapping clumsily out to the feeding grounds and Reizlyn heading for the celebration in the weyrbowl. Reizlyn felt bad about leaving her hatchling to catch her meal and return to their weyr alone, but there was always something to be done and Ashiyeth, bless her, never seemed to mind. The hatchling would grow fast though, and Reizlyn hoped she would have time to enjoy the process. Perhaps when they entered weyrling training with the TSCZ hatchlings she would be relieved of some of her duties. After all, a Junior Weyrwoman had to be able to fly her dragon.