hbk
Queen Rider
--heartbreakkid--
Posts: 224
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Post by hbk on Apr 28, 2012 14:01:27 GMT -5
{Tags: D'seus first; then all}
.:: Junior Weyrwoman Suynie ::. Rhiannoth had waited, and patiently, her large, egg-heavy form brooding and pensive. From her ledge she watched, her eyes never leaving the Hatching Cavern. Once Issarith had left the Sands workers had began preparing for the next clutch that was soon to arrive. The Sands had been raked, the blood soaked areas removed, and new fresh sand had been brought in. Once the new Sand had time to heat, Rhiannoth had possessively flown down to the Hatching Cavern and began to make her wallow.
Settling into the Sand, Rhiannoth spread her large golden wings, working them in slow, smooth motions until she had a nice divit worked into the Sand where she could rest comfortably. Once positioned she craned her long, graceful neck and used her snout to create smaller mounds beside of her. These mounds would soon house her eggs, and be close enough so that she could spread her wing over them to keep them safe if the need arose.
While life around the Weyr began to settle around the new Weyrlings, the junior Queen kept quietly to herself, patiently laying on the Hatching Sands as her body began to prepare itself for the delivery of her clutch.
Now, it is time. Come at once. The Queen's voice was urgent and firm, but quite calm. She'd been laying on the Sands now for a full sevenday, and even though this was her first clutch, Rhiannoth instinctively knew that this was right. After all, Queens were born and bred to be mothers and genetics had blessed Rhiannoth with a good, strong build and her lineage as Aeriath's daughter showed.
With Rhiannoth being egg-heavy, Suynie was now restricted to ground work and had been in the middle of talking with some of the Candidates that had failed to Impress at Issarith's hatching. Mid-sentence the Junior Weyrwoman froze, her eyes glassing over as she listened to Rhiannoth.
".... If you'll excuse me." She murmured to the Candidates before quickly departing from the room. Dressed simply in riding boots, breeches and a tunic, Suynie headed straight for the Hatching Cavern.
Zorometh, join me. Rhiannoth requested from the bronze, although it came out more like a command. Rhiannoth had been nothing but pleased with the bronze that had caught her, and, in fact, quite enjoyed his company. That Zorometh should be there for the clutching of his children seemed only right.
Hearing her dragon's request to the bronze, who was never far away, Suynie felt a little trickle of relief. Having D'seus on the Sands with her during Rhiannoth's clutching would be helpful since the bronzerider wasn't a stranger to flying golds.
Entering into the Hatching Cavern, Suynie froze at the top of the Stands, her eyes fixated on the golden beast on the Sands. Even though the Sands glowed with heat they paled in comparison to the rich, dark golden hue of Rhiannoth's hide. Suynie was once again astounded at the physical difference between Rhiannoth and Issarith for now seeing Rhiannoth on the Sands made Suynie realize, again, how small the Senior Queen had looked.
Bounding down the steps two at a time, Suynie found herself smiling as she stepped onto the hot sands, the heat present even through the thick soles of her boots.
How are you? Suynie asked as she placed a hand to her lifemate's fore flank. All is as it should be. Rhiannoth's voice was more strained than it had been before, but the Queen was pleased and anxious to finally begin delivering her first clutch.
How much longer until the first egg? Soon.
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Post by HG on Apr 28, 2012 21:35:06 GMT -5
D’seus. She is on the Sands.The Bronze wasted no time in telling his very busy rider. The man was almost as pleased and excited as his dragon although few could match the smug kind of pride Zorometh felt in having sired a clutch. And what a clutch it would be! Rhiannoth was bound to carry a good number of eggs inside of her considering her size and how egg heavy she had become. If D’seus were a betting man he would wager there were several larger eggs inside the Gold. No one would know for sure until the Clutching was over. They were in the middle of drills Shadow wing had an excellent Wingsecond to hand the reigns over to in times such as these. M’nor was someone D’seus trusted explicitly. There would be no mishaps or problems for D’seus to worry about. The next few candlemarks or more he would be indisposed.
Normally Bronzeriders were not there for the entire clutching however this was Rhiannoth’s first clutch and D’seus was certain even if the Queen was not anxious, her rider probably was. The thought on his mind, he had a drudge sent to inform the dragon healers of the situation. Even with healthy clutches it set the leaders minds at ease to know if anything should happen healers were at the ready. He also made certain Emera would be informed and keep too many people from coming by. It was Rhiannoth’s first clutching and too many people might make her uneasy. No one knew how she would act once her eggs were on the Sands. Issarith for example was none too happy to allow anyone other than her rider on the Sands when she was Clutching and afterwards. Aeriath had her moments when there were more people around than she liked.
While D’seus made sure things were being taken care of for himself and the Junior Weyrwoman, Zorometh did not hesitate to fly to the Hatching Caverns and land promptly on one of the ledges, overlooking the Queen and the area the new eggs would be placed. I am here. He said in a reassuring tone. His positioning on the ledge was protective. He could see anyone and anything that came close to his Queen and his clutch should anyone dare. Zorometh doubted any human would be dumb enough to approach while he guarded the Sands but then there were some real characters here at Refuge. He wouldn’t put it past some silly child to come waltzing in and think they were permitted. As if they owned the place! HAH! Zorometh owned the place. He was guarding it, with his Queen on the Sands and his babies. Possession meant he was entitled to the belief that the Sands were his although D’seus might find him becoming slightly more overbearing than he normally was.
Don’t fret Zoro. You know they’ll be perfect. You always sire large, healthy clutches. I do not worry. My only concern is unwanted visitors. Do me a solid and do not scare away anyone bringing us food, klah or any other necessities. Oh and there will be dragon healers around should there be any issues. You are not to scare them off either. The Bronze grumbled mentally but he made no real response. Is that an agreement growl? Fine. No Brats. No Firelizards. I want Shields outside… No brats, no flits and the shield are already on their way. We won’t allow any Holdless near your clutch. Good!The Bronze said to his rider as the man finally walked into the Sands.
He wasted no time walking up to Suynie and giving her a hug. “I apologize for taking so long. How is she?” The question came out as he pulled away. After listening to Suynie, he told her why he was later than expected. “I’ve informed Emera to keep all Weyrbrats and firelizards out of the vicinity. No one allowed on the Sands though people can get a glimpse from the Stands so long as there are not an overwhelming abundance. The Shield are on their way to guard outside the Cavern. Kitchen drudges will bring us some food and drink around dinner time. I’ve also sent for a dragon healer, just in case.” Although from his tone he doubted the strong young Queen would have any complications. Still it might reassure them all they had nothing to worry about.
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hbk
Queen Rider
--heartbreakkid--
Posts: 224
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Post by hbk on Apr 28, 2012 22:44:58 GMT -5
.:: Junior Weyrwoman Suynie ::. "D'seus." Suynie smiled as she returned the Weyrleader's hug, reveling for a brief moment in the solid, stability that the man's presence brought. Regardless of the fact that she'd been mentally preparing for this moment, there was still nothing like standing beside of your dragon, waiting for the first egg. When D'seus explained about being detained, Suynie nodded, her eyes darting up to the Stands as the first dragonhealer appeared.
"She's fine so far. You know how she is; since she day she came out of the egg she's been nothing but confident. She has already assured me that this was what she was born to do and that everything is fine." Suynie lifted her shoulders as she said that in a sort of resignation. She'd learned a long time ago not to doubt what her dragon told her. Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a dragonhealer around in the rare occurrence that something did happen.
"Honestly, I expected her to be more.. grumpy? While I can feel her stress and tension growing, she's more determined and focused than anything else. She's bent on providing the Weyr with a strong clutch... and with Zorometh as the sire I'm sure she will." Suynie crossed her arms over her chest, rocking back on her heels to ease some of the heat from the Sands. Personally, she liked having D'seus there during the entire Hatching, and from what she gathered from Rhiannoth the queen didn't mind either. After all, he was the rider of her mate.
Rhiannoth crooned in response to Zorometh's presence, content to have her bronze mate positioned so protectively. Even with thoughts of clutching at the forefront of her mind, Rhiannoth still admired the prowess of the bronze. There wasn't a doubt in Rhiannoth's mind that Zorometh had been the best bronze in the Weyr to have as a sire for her clutch.
The first egg comes. Rhiannoth's elegant voice was stiff, as if she were speaking through gritted teeth.
The queen said this to her mate, and to Suynie who turned her eyes expectantly to her lifemate, "It's coming." She murmured to D'seus in astonishment.
Rhiannoth grew still, to the point that Suynie could barely even see the rise and fall of her dragon's breathing, and then lifting a wing, Rhiannoth ducked her head out of sight for a moment and then gently nudged a large, glistening egg onto one of the mounds she'd prepared earlier.
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Post by HG on Apr 29, 2012 21:22:57 GMT -5
As he withdrew from the hug he felt the Weyrwoman relax a little. D’seus tried not to let himself be happy that he was the cause for her feeling more at ease. He knew the effect he had on women. They seemed to be comfortable in his presence for the most part. No matter the reason it was a trait which had come in handy from the time he Impressed onward. Zorometh was not the type of dragon to sit out of a good flight unless he had won a Queen recently. He tended to be true to a Queen till the next flight. If he lost, he returned to chasing everything he felt like. D’seus was glad for the reprieve from flights with so many other things to concern himself with. Besides he was only starting to really get to know the Junior Weyrwoman.
His eyes, like everyone who entered the Stands were drawn to the Queen in labor. Her breathing was even despite the fact she was having contractions. Rhiannoth would be a good mother. He could see as much already. “Aeriath was never a grumpy Queen. I remember her being quite cool and in control of the situation. It was the rest of us who were unable to wait calmly for the arrival of the eggs. I’m sure Rhiannoth knows exactly what she is doing. Queens were meant to be mothers and she is going to be wonderful at it.” D’seus found himself smiling at the situation. Nothing was better than a good healthy clutch on the Sands of a small Weyr.
Zorometh was just as proud of Rhiannoth as she was of him. They were going to have a splendid clutch. As he had proven his worth already, this would be a chance for Rhiannoth to show her own worth to the Weyr. She would not disappoint. D’seus was not the best at hiding his excitement for the Clutch when it was announced the first egg was on its way. He first looked up at his Bronze who was looking down on them all. Zorometh heard the Queen's tone and responded calmly, The first of many perfect eggs lovely one.
Then he took Suynie’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Once the first egg had been attended to, D’seus spoke in a tone of awe and wonder. “Already a large egg on the Sands! How many do you think she’ll have?” He asked as a way of conversation. He was curious as to how much Suynie might expect from her Queen. It was anyone’s guess as to how many eggs there would be.
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hbk
Queen Rider
--heartbreakkid--
Posts: 224
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Post by hbk on Apr 30, 2012 19:16:50 GMT -5
.:: Junior Weyrwoman Suynie ::.
"At least twenty... hopefully more." Suynie shot a confident smile up at D'seus as she looked around for a place to settle herself while Rhiannoth lay her clutch.
...Later
Just as Zorometh had predicted, the first egg that Rhiannoth had lain was only the first of many. Currently there were fifteen eggs nestled with care on the Sands. They were colorful and glistened in the warm glow of the Sands as they hardened and developed the shell that would protect them until they hatched. As she had been in the beginning, Rhiannoth's voice remained low and calm, the only agitation showing in the flicking of her tail, or the shifting of her wings.
"Already she surpasses Issarith." Suynie said, with no small amount of pride evident in her voice.
You're surprised? Not at all my beautiful queen.
Suynie rolled her head from side to side, one hand massaging her tense muscles as her free hand reached for her cup of klah from the tray that one of the lower caverns drudges had brought. Rhiannoth had ignored the extra presence of the drudge because she'd been in the process of neatly nudging one of her eggs safely to its resting place amongst its brothers and sisters.
Breaking Suynie from her reverie, Rhiannoth let out a loud exhale, her large golden body shifting as a small grunt of discomfort escaped the young gold. The noise caught Suynie's attention and instantly she was on her feet once more.
Do not worry. This one is difficult, but worth it. Rhiannoth's voice was tight and strained and for the first time Suynie felt a sharp stab of pain in her abdomen, making her wince as she put a hand to her stomach.
With a final grunt, Rhiannoth's body relaxed, and once more she ducked her head under her wing to move the egg.
Finally, there you are. The queen spoke to the egg, her voice filled with pride.
Suynie's mouth dropped open as she watched Rhiannoth nudge the largest egg yet onto a separate mound, apart from the rest of the clutch.
"D'seus! A gold egg!"
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Post by Lady Smara on May 2, 2012 19:03:46 GMT -5
Sakorai had heard that the other gold had begun to clutch. It was not that she was not excited, but there was a sort of dread sitting heavy in her stomach. It weighed her down each time she stepped onto her Weyr’s ledge and glanced in the direction of the Hatching Sands. They had left the leadership of the Weyr up to fate, letting nature decide which Gold rose first – and it had been a close call. Too close for comfort really, but still she heard the whispers that the Weyr should have gone to the one born for it. Not the stranger for decades past.
Even so, there were many in the Weyr who liked Sakorai’s way. She was a gold rider who often chose to help with the messiest jobs – who made a point of riling up the men and starting a few food flinging fights herself. She knew there were some in the Weyr who smiled when she entered the room. So why did they have to be so outnumbered by those that looked at her so darkly?
Issarith was as much a queen as this queen from the future.
When she heard the whispers of the size of the clutch, Sakorai had gripped her Klah mug a little harder and had to force her smile a little more toward the candidate master who’s lap she was currently occupying. It was at the news of a golden egg, however, that her curiosity finally got the better of her. Leaving S’nuo where he was – probably wondering if he shouldn’t accompany her, but what did his thoughts matter? – and made her way quickly to the enterance of the hatching sands.
She didn’t dare step onto them. After all, Sakorai had stolen the Weyr from the woman-child who was destined and trained to take it upon her return to Refuge. Would her queen have matured just a few weeks earlier she’d have had it too. It really was unfair – but then again wasn’t it unfair that Sakorai had been overshadowed by so many queens for so long in the past as well? She’d already paid her dues, shard it.
Looking across the sands from the enterance, the Weyrwoman could not stop her hand from flying to her mouth. So many eggs! Not only that, but there was, in fact, an egg put to the side. Not because its health was questionable, like it had been in Issarith’s clutch. No, this egg pulsed with a golden hue and that ripple of power that came from the hatchling inside.
It was healthy.
They were all healthy.
I am happy for Rhiannoth and send her my wishes. No dragon should ever be wished unhealthy. But she makes you look bad, Issarith. I am a Queen. I never look bad.
Shard it all, even her queen was happy about the size and the health of the clutch. Well in Sakorai’s current opinion, Rhiannoth and her rider could both go burn in a threadfall for their obvious health. If every clutch turned out like this, it would not be long before the Weyr did decide that Sakorai was the wrong choice for the health of the Weyr. Storming back to her Weyr, she declined the company of several men along her way before falling into Issarith’s stone couch and fuming there until exhaustion overtook her.
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hbk
Queen Rider
--heartbreakkid--
Posts: 224
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Post by hbk on May 2, 2012 20:53:50 GMT -5
.:: Junior Weyrwoman Suynie ::.
In the celebration of the golden egg on the Sands, Sakorai's presence was missed, which was probably for the best since the arrival of the Senior Weyrwoman would have been the only thing that would have earned a rippling snarl from the clutching queen. Suynie as well would have resented the appearing of the the time-traveling Weyrwoman. In Suynie's estimation, Rhiannoth's power, size, and obviously healthy clutch just went on to prove that it had been Rhiannoth's place to be the Senior Queen at Refuge.
Still, with a gold egg now on the Sands, the last thing on Suynie'was mind was Sakorai. She was too busy hugging D'seus as tears of joy coursed down her face. For so long Suynie and Rhiannoth had been looked at with suspicious eyes. They hadn't Raised in Flight when the Weyr thought they should and many had been certain that Rhiannoth would be an unhealthy, unproductive queen.
Well take that! Suynie thought triumphantly.
When Rhiannoth began tensing up once more, Suynie looked at her dragon in slight surprise.
There's more? Plenty. Sit down and get comfortable. Rhiannoth said with a touch of amusement and pride in her voice.
After another candlemark on the Sands the last egg was finally put into place by Rhiannoth. The queen looked over her beautiful, colorful clutch with pride, a croon rising to her protective mate who rested above.
We did well, Zorometh.
"Twenty-four, D'seus! Twenty-four eggs! Can you believe it?" Rhianonth and Zorometh had surpassed even what Suynie had first guessed. Truly the bronze and gold mates had been meant for each other.
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