Nerissath nudged her fifteen eggs as the sun climbed steadily overhead. Her gold hide shone in the sunlight like the metal it was named after. Bimarith shook his head. He was going insane from the combined heat of the sun and the sands. Not to mention Nerissath herself was a pain.

They haven't changed since yesterday, Neri', how many times must I tell you? He asked the shrunken gold, squinting up at the sky. We'll be here forever at this rate.

If they haven't changed, why's that one moving? She asked rhetorically, poking at one egg in particular.

It's not moving. He told her firmly. The sun's getting to you, too.

Honestly, I think it moved! Nerissath said proudly. Call the candidates!

No. It didn't move. Bimarith said stubbornly.

The prissy gold glared at him. Call the candidates, or I'll squish you!

He scooted sideways on his ledge to peer at the eggs. I don't see them moving. He told her again.

The egg Nerissath so determinedly said was moving suddenly cracked. A large line sketched along its shell drew both parents' attention to it. The gold looked smugly up at her mate, yet Bimarith was not paying attention.

He bugled loudly. Call the candidates! The clutch hatches NOW!

See, I told you they were hatching. Nerissath said.

Sssh, here they come. Bimarith replied, glee in his voice as he crouched low to watch his first child hatch.

A small black tail cracked from the shell and whipped around. A normal blue nose peeked out of the same side of the egg. Nerissath stared at it. Either her children were incredibly flexible or...

The first candidates stumbled onto the sand and the egg was slowly chipped apart. However, it seemed to be taking longer than usual. Bimarith nudged it cautiously, making the egg fall over and shatter.

Oomf! Oww! Two voices cried.

Huh? Bimarith asked openly, seeing a night blue and a normal blue sprawled on the sands.

The normal blue shook himself and tottered across the sands to the candidates - now all gathered there - with purpose. His twin, however, just watched him go.

One of the boys, by name of Terrali, squatted when the hatchling stopped in front of him. He stroked the little creature's head and the blue crooned.

His name is Imututh. His twin said proudly. He just doesn't want to tell you all that. I am Utumith. I don't want a bond.

Nerissath blinked at him. Well.. er... then... go eat. We'll figure out where to send you later.

He grinned and bounced off to do so. Meanwhile, two other eggs had hatched their twins. Four dragons now stood on the sands.

Mrrg, get off of me Essaeketh! The normal brown grumbled at his twin, who was on top of him.

Sorry 'bout that Ekeasseth. Hey, Lyehdyn! Can we eat? The night brown asked, leaping off his twin and going to his chosen.

Yeah, Lortia, I'm hungry! The other demanded, going to his new rider.

Another egg hatched, but the two who had already hatched before would not have the spotlight stolen from them. The two greens grinned evilly and dashed across the sands, each pouncing on an egg.

My name is Ulipath! I want to go with Utumith! The normal one shouted from her perch, though the egg slowly fell as she stood there.

Keena! Don't you want me? I'm Apiluth! Her night twin asked, leaping off of her egg.

As a result, the pair made two more eggs shatter. Now six dragonets were sprawled across the sands. Bimarith stared at this and smirked. I'll bet the others' clutches aren't this good! He said eagerly.

Nerissath rolled her eyes at him. Quality, not quantity.

Says who? The night blue retorted.

Yeah, who says that quality is better than quantity? A high-pitched, young voice demanded.

A candidate groaned when she spoke up and ran forward. "Sorry about Aeasesth!" He said anxiously.

Nerissath blinked at him.

Arteiz! The youngling cried joyfully and pounced on him.

"You have an odd twin, Sesaeath." Adril said to her night green.

The darker dragonet nodded in agreement.

How come they get the spotlight, Sorsha? I, Radeynth deserve the spotlight as much as they! A night green grumbled to her human.

I can be just as good as Aeasesth, Vesnt, can't I? That one's twin asked.

"Of course, Nyedarth. Though I'd prefer that you don't pounce on me." The boy said.

They're all silly in my opinion. Right, Osia? Another normal green asked.

"Er... sure Tuatseth." The girl said hesitantly.

I'm Estautth. A night green said to Keloshi.

Hey! A normal brown called, tugging at his chosen's pant leg. Hello? Down here! Adoth to Thom! Adoth to Thom Ward! The young man looked down. Feed me. The dragonet ordered, grinning innocently.

Daesan looked down as a night brown approached him. The little hatchling grinned. The young man nodded. "Hello, Odath. Hungry?"

The hatchling nodded. Very much so. Adoth is really loud, isn't he?

"He is." The new rider replied, laughing.

Heya Tin'eny! Tin-eny? That's a funny name. I don't mind, though. My name's Garieth. A night blue announced, peering innocently up at his rider.

Em-et! I'm Eiragth. I have a better name than Garieth, no? I think you have a good name too! His twin said, locking an adoring gaze upon his human.

There was a lull in the hatching then. A chance for the spectators and parents to catch their breath. Bimarith looked over the sands with a proud grin. Only six eggs remained. Twelve children.

Nerissath caught that thought and hit him gently with her tail. Greedy. She teased.

That was all the time they had for conversation before two eggs hit eachother and fell apart.

Oww! Gerroff me, Zeracth! A green whined, fidgeting.

I can't! Carezth's on top of me! A blue grumbled.

And I'm on top of him! A night green said proudly.

The other three glared at her. She whined, yet slid off. My name is Zeusioith. She said, holding her head high and walked right through the bonders.

I'm Carezth, if you hadn't guessed. The night blue added before following her off the sands.

The normal blue got off his green sister and she trotted after them. He grinned. Her name is Ioisuezth. He announced.

"And yours is Zeracth." A candidate said, stepping forward.

Exactly right, Sugoi-mine. The blue agreed cheerfully, going to his chosen.

He's Sameisth. I'm Siemasth. A timid blue said as two blues moved forward.

I choose Adaldi and he chooses Asorka. The night blue announced as both males chose female riders.

Tell them my name, please, Adych. A quiet voice murmured.

No one had noticed the hatching of two whites except for two candidates. One of which currently murmured "Asyluaivth" to the crowd.

"And mine is Viaulysath." Kalena added proudly, stroking her night white's eye ridges.

The crowd murmured loudly as the eggs paused a moment again. Nerissath blinked, then was suddenly very angry. They think our children are odd! They say that our children should not be so small!

Bimarith stared at the candidates left on the sands. They're blue-sized at most, neh? Well.. the nights may be a tad larger.

That's three fifths normal size, isn't it? The gold mother asked.

Quality over quantity, dearest. He said innocently and had to dodge a swipe of her wings.

We're not wierd, are we? A timid bronze asked, looking up at his parents.

No, of course not sweetie. His mother crooned.

Bimarith coughed. Liar He muttered, coughing again.

She swung at him with her tail this time. The bronze shook his head. Well, Demawdar doesn't think I'm wierd, does he?

"'Course not, Vicanth!" A surprised young man called. "I think you're perfect!"

Try spending a few months with him, then you'll see that he isn't all that great. A night bronze said teasingly, going up to his chosen. I, however...

"You're just right, Nacivth." Iende told him.

A gasp went up from the crowd. A female bronze-rider? A female on a male bronze? How could this be? Was the night bronze mad?

Iende is mine and don't you doubt it! The night bronze cried, his eyes turning red.

I don't see what their problem is, Nacivth. Just forget about it and get yourself some food. Bimarith said soothingly.

A sudden explosive sound marked the arrival of the final four dragons. However, Nerissath spread her wings and covered two of them before any could see them. Wait a moment, let the others choose first. She whispered to the pair.

Oww... Ematsth, why'd you have to hatch so loudly? The smaller, normal blue demanded.

Me? You hatched louder! His twin challenged.

Did not! The first retorted.

Did too, Stameth! Risale will back me up, won't she? You? The night blue faltered, looking at his chosen.

She laughed. "Silly Ematsth." She told him and made as if to walk away.

Hey! Wait! I'm hungry! Ematsth cried.

No fair, I'm hungry too. Do you have to pick somebody to eat? The other blue asked. 'Cause I don't want one.

Nerissath smirked at her mate and pulled her wings back to her sides. In her shadow stood two golds. Their hides glistened brightly and nightly. Glistened nightly? Bimarith chuckled. He really was crazy.

Can we go now? The normal one asked.

Their mother nodded and the two golds went across the sands to their chosen. They were really tiny for golds, but that did not matter to their two humans.

"You're beautiful, Iaecth." Lyeonn told her dragon, the normal one.

"As are you, Caeith." Imres told his female gold.

This brought a near roar from the crowd. A male on a gold? How could this be! The parents and the offspring were all crazy!

They may choose who they wish! Nerissath snapped, making everyone fall silent at her and Bimarith's bugles.

She glared menacingly at the spectators, making sure no one insulted her children in her hearing. It was one of the few times in Bimarith's memory that she actually acted like a proper gold.

Bimarith, however, was talking to his rider. It was a good clutch, even if everyone thinks our children are wierd. Yes, they're undersized. Yes, they're nights. Yes, they're twins. Yes, they're related to Flynnth. But does that really matter?

"To some people-" H'fen began.

Just say no for your own safety, mine. The night blue warned, looking at his mate.

"No, it doesn't matter at all." The pirate agreed.

Besides, I rather like our little wierdos. Bimarith said. We can probably bring a few back with us, no?

"Only two." His rider warned.

Fine then. The father said and pouted.

H'fen rolled his eyes. "It was a good clutch, though."