Rain poured over the weyr as Kareenie paced back and fourth. For a sevenday now, the eggs were thought to be hatching soon, so the past week had been full of momentary ecitement, and disappointment. Now, in the dreary rain and fog, the worse kind of weather ever, the hatching really was to begin. 
   The drudge had run into her barracks in the lower caverns at midday in breathless exitement, exclaiming that the hatching was to begin, as if the bugling of the dragons hadn't given that away, but in her excitement the drudge had forgotten to bring her the white robes that candidates wore for impression. Kareenie didn't understand it, but right now she just hoped the drudge would hurry so she could get to the sands!
   After what seemed an interminable wait, the drudge returned and Kareenie all but grabbed the robe from her hands and changed her clothing in an unmodest rush.
   Out into the rain she went, joining the other candidates that were forming a line. The area around the sands was beginning to fill with people, and she caught a glimpse of Yaren in the crowd, he winked at her, and the thought crossed Kareenie's mind that the white robe she wore would become see-through with the water.
   She glared at Yaren as best she could, but a clap of thunder in the sky attracted her attention, and the first egg hatching. It was a beautiful brown, and Kareenie stared in awe at seeing a hatchling dragon up close. 
  The next egg hatched into a green, graceful, beautiful. She strode towards the girl candidates, eying each one, puffing out her chest, until her eyes fell on Kareenie. Suddenly, the dragonet dropped her stiff act and bounded towards her, careless of the other girl candidates who might be in her way. 
    You! My name is Alimath! I bet I can beat you to that food! Kareenie had only a split second to take in all the happiness and joy that she felt at impressing her lifemate before she was rushing across the sands, movement hindered somewhat by the wet robe after her friend in a rush of happiness. Her one thought, besides the fact that she was loosing, was that she had found her best friend, and she liked to race!