Where the Wild Things Are <<Hatching>>

[Na Qaiah]

Shamara smiled at Kethemar when he sided up to her. "Yes I think so. I've heard its been worse or more busy then this hatching is. Last turn there was a set of twin blues that surprised everyone. I just want to impress. That poor brown laying there, I want to help him so bad but I don't dare touch him. How are you doing?" She asked the fisher lad, he looked positively scared out of his wits.

[wolflover1458]

Erizay had been rather excited for the upcoming hatching. His two older brothers were already Impressed (Z'ten having found Deynzith at the most recent hatching) which left him still a Candidate. But hopefully not for long. It wasn't until he was truly standing on the sands, feeling the heat beneath him and waiting, that he really felt just how much he wanted this hatching to end happily.

Of course, there were more Candidates than dragons, and actually by a rather large margin, so he could see the chances might not be altogether high, but if everyone else in his family could Impress, siblings and half-siblings alike, then he could do it too. The number one thing he wanted was to Impress. Not necessarily this time around, though. He would certainly love it, but he had least had the consolation of another clutch soon if he didn't. Impressing one of Issarith's children would be wonderful, though. He was just happy he wouldn't have so long to wait if it did not occur.

Just Impressing at all would be nice, but if he really thought about it, color felt partly important as well. Not so important that he would refuse any dragon that came to him, but just that it would, maybe, if possible, be nice if he Impressed something a little better than a Green.

Not that anything was wrong with Greens. It was just that both of his brothers rode a Green dragon, as well as Vaylee and Zaylee, and it just felt like, maybe, he could do a little better than that. His father rode a Blue dragon, after all. Maybe he could manage the same thing? Or a Brown. That might be nice. He didn't have seriously close relations to any Brownriders, after all. It might be neat to be the first of his family with one of those.

But he didn't want to be too picky. He'd rather Impress a darling Green then be left with nothing. It was just that, if given the opportunity, he would choose a male dragon. Just to be a little different. Stand out a little.

Erizay was pretty sure that having such thoughts might influence how the hatchlings choose, though, so he tried to push those things away from the front of his mind. He didn't want to scare the Greens off, or make them think he thought they were worthless or anything.

The hatching didn't seem to have gotten off to a good start, as the first egg to rock seemed to give in about halfway through, leaving another egg to be the first to hatch. Still, he got to watch as a Green Impressed to a girl he didn't really know, and then a Blue to a boy whose name he couldn't quite recall. The Impression certainly seemed to make the boy very happy.

That was good. Even other people Impressing was good. He might not have Impressed yet, but there were still several dragons wandering around, and plenty of eggs yet to hatch. Besides, there was really no rush to Impress. There would be other hatchings, and he didn't really feel like it was possible for him to end up unImpressed when both of his brothers seemed to have managed it easily enough. It just might take a little more patience for him. He could handle that. Some of the other Candidates looked rather stressed, as though they wouldn't be able to handle it if they didn't Impress. Erizay couldn't quite bring himself to understand this, though. If they were going to Impress, they would. No need to think too much about it.

~~~

Therion had been paying very little intention to the goings on of the dragons. It made no difference to her if they hatched or not. She didn't notice the first egg that stopped moving and then lay quite still, all she noticed was when a Green burst out of her shell. Then she returned to her silent lack of care for this entire event. Because seriously, the whole thing was being very overrated it. Didn't anyone get it? There was no Gold. Thus, no point for her to be here.

But did S'nuo care? Of course not. He would have yelled at her had she dared to skip something so utterly useless to attend. All she could do was stand on sand far too hot for her liking, in clothes she was quite unused to, and think of how she could be a Weyrling already if the sharding Gold from before had just picked the right girl! How hard could it really be?

She did not notice the Green coming near to her until the creature was already in front of her. Therion stepped back with a snort of disgust, but the Green had already veered away to another girl. Just as well. Therion was meant for greater things. She would not be stuck with something so mundane, worthless, and boring, as a pathetic little Green hatchling, something that would amount to nothing in the end. Others could accept such a horrid dragon if they wished. She, however, was waiting for the perfect dragon. The one that wouldn't end up just being 'one of the many' but rather the one above the rest, who would control the many.

Therion didn't understand how anyone could want something so worthless and utterly numerous as a Green. They were all the same, and nobody knew anything about any of them. Such a dragon would only condemn her to a life of normalcy and never truly being noticed. She would never, ever, accept that.

Still, the fact that the Green had come near her meant that she had to pay attention, if only to make sure some other idiot dragon didn't try that on her. She was definitely not in the mood for it. Therion was at least certain that there was no way she would allow herself to Impress today. She was waiting for the perfect dragon, not some silly little annoying pest.

[hbk]

.:: Junior Weyrwoman Suynie ::.

Suynie had felt the telltale flutter of excitement tremor through the Weyr just before Rhiannoth had informed her that Issarith's clutch was getting ready to hatch. Having had a dress ready for this occasion for a month, Suynie slipped into the sheer, red garment that was split up to her thighs to showcase an expanse of her long legs. Quickly slipping into a pair of sandals and lacing them up her calves. Suynie slipped a couple of combs into her hair on either side and then took off towards the Hatching Cavern.

Rhiannoth flew there separately, her long golden wings casting a large shadow in the bowl as she entered the cavern and took a place on the ledges above. The gold joined the humming of the rest of the dragons as they waited for the eggs to hatch.

As a goldrider of the Weyr, Suynie had an honorable seat at the front of the Stands. Slipping into her seat, she sat back with a little sigh and a smile. She looked out to wear Sakorai stood, relieved not to be in the Senior Weyrwoman's shoes currently. Hatchings, while fun, were also stressful and a little nerve wracking until they were over. It pleased Suynie to be there as a spectator so she could simply sit back and enjoy.

As with any hatching, it started with a bang and in the blink of an eye four dragons were out on the Sands finding their lifemates.

.:: Assistant Weyrlingmaster K'vett ::.

K'vett was all smiles as he jogged down to the Hatching Cavern in his Gather best. A dark blue pair of breeches, a cream colored sleeveless tunic and then a light brown surcoat over it. The metal on the bottom of his riding boots clicked noisily against the stone floor of the Weyr as he took the path down to the gates of the Hatching Sands. Being the Assistant Weyrlingmaster K'vett would be down near the entrance to the Sands helping and guiding the new Weyrlings and their dragonets as they left.

It was an honor and a priviledge, in K'vett's mind, to be in his position, helping the new dragonriders as they took their first steps into a new life. He was happy that there was finally a reason for him to use the training that he'd acquired over the Turns.

.:: Candidate Kethemar ::.

Kethemar shrugged, "This is the first time I've seen a Hatching... It's just not what I expected I guess." The fishercrafter glanced up into the Stands, eyes roving over the sea of faces as cheers went up while another egg shattered. Being on the hot Sands surrounded by large eggs and new baby dragons was almost surreal for the Candidate.

[Lady Smara]

It was the Aslan’s Pride egg that hatched next, violently throwing shards of the egg to the sands as the bright, light bronze made its way into the world. The dark green hatchling was hit by one of the shards, spilling the first small bit of blood onto the hatching sands with an angry hiss. The sudden hush that came over the hatching sands was like a sudden pause, a gasp at what had happened before that hiss grew into a further snarl. The dark green hatchling didn’t seem to care if her brother was a bronze or not as she snapped at him.

None of her snaps or angry bites landed, but it did not keep the two from circling eachother for a moment, the green showing her anger and the bronze showing that he would not back down from her, standing his ground and right like any bronze should. Eventually the little green made a final snap inches from the bronzes snout before turning upon the candidates themselves. It was in the direction of the candidates Shamara and Tishu that the dark green stalked angrily.

Coming closest to Tishu in her search for her lifemate, she found a curtain amount of distain for the woman who would whisper to a brown rather than to herself. Snapping at the woman much like she had her bronze brother, she misjudged and actually connected on the girls forearm. Nothing serious, but a hatchlings teeth are sharp and the skin separated easily beneath her teeth. Releasing the woman and realize how much she disliked the taste of blood on her tongue, she shook her head and impressed to the older boy next to her, Lorick. The Candidate Master’s Nephew was now known as Lor’k as he announced the little green’s name to be Aileeth and lead the angry little thing from the sands.

Seeing the blood fall to the sands let out a sigh from Sakorai’s lips, as if all of the weight she was trying to hold up finally fell to the inevitable. She knew the hatching was going too well to be any of Issarith’s children. That green… Well she showed a similar nature to her mother who was quick to bite first and settle things later. It was a pity to see the green try to take a chunk out of the candidates arm, and from here the blood was clear, but Issarith reassured her that it was nothing – just puncture marks in the skin, little Aileeth had not enjoyed the woman’s taste.

The bronze hatchling moved past two more rocking eggs that held spiderwebs along their sides as he stepped closer to the brown and the long line of boys to that side of the clutch. Like his sister, however, the brown hissed his dislike for the bronze coming near the ones he had lain down by. The bronze snapped at the brown with a roar that came out more like a squeek from his small frame. He stumbled a little in the shifting sands before he was able to steady himself against the First Snow.

Correcting his course, he finally stopped in front of three boys – Thoran, Kethemar and another, tall and older candidate who was from the north. It was Kethemar, however, that he spoke to. My siblings are clumsy and angry because they are not me, K’mar. Feed me, your Tsevoth, before I feed upon them.

It was the Little Man Egg that finally gave way to the small hatchling inside, a little green as he stumbled out. The forest green hatchling, however, was complete proof to the clumsyness of young dragons as it tripped on its own wing, falling and cutting its hind leg upon one of its own sharp eggshells. More blood colored the sands, though this time it was the green ichor of dragon blood as the little thing cried out.

It seemed that the brush of the bronze steadying himself upon the First Snow Egg reminded the dragon within that it needed to get out with its brothers and sisters and it began to rock and shake again, a long crack finally forming along its length before a small portion of its shell finally fell free to show a wet, teal-blue nose sticking out and taking its first breaths of real, fresh air. It grew still once more, however, as it took its time tasting the air – as if uncertain if it really wanted to leave the warm and familiar confines of the egg.

Tschermak had found himself amazed and surprisingly reassured as Hinuk had taken hold of his sleeve and dragged him along. Transfixed upon the hatching that was taking place before his eyes, he almost didn’t register that Thoran had even spoken to him about the little brown that was laying down on the sands. He was handsome… the most handsome thing that Tschermak had ever seen and he was more than confident that the little hatchling was more perfect than Tschermak would ever have the chance to experience. He knew the little brown was not for him, but that did not stop the small boy from loving the creature all the same.

While he had found comfort and reassurance in the other Weyrbrats upon the sands with him, that reassurance was quickly washed away to show the fear on his face once more as the angry green and bronze began to snap at each other. They were going to kill each other before either one had the chance to impress! What would the queen do if the hatchlings killed eachother?! Would she take out her wrath on the candidates who were unable to pull their attention away? He could not stop his body from taking a step back and out of the line as the green finally broke off her attack on her bronze brother.

“Thank the shell…” he whispered before his mouth fell open in silent horror. While the green had left the bronze in once piece, it seemed she was determined to draw blood from someone as she closed her little maw over Tishu’s arm. It was then, that Tschermak realized that these little hatchlings were not so little at all. If one could easily fit Tishu’s arm into their mouth – what could they do to a small boy like himself?! Taking a beating from a Weyrbrat was one thing, bruises healed. But how could a body heal if half of it was eaten while the victim was still alive and screaming?

[Na Qaiah]

Tishu watched in silent wonder as the bronze and green circled each other on the sands. It grew quiet when the green started snapping at her brother. She watched as the green still visably angry headed for her and Shamara. She was shocked when the green bit her instead of her brother almost like the little hatchling was taking her anger out on her instead. The bite wasn't ment to mame or kill her but it was fairly deep and it bled good. She took off her sash and quickly wrapped it around her arm stemming most of the blood flow. She waved off the healer and stood her ground. She wanted to finish the hatching. Her baby might be there still.

Tishu smiled at Kethemar when the bronze chose him and nodded to Shamara to show she was ok. The brown hissed at the bronze but didn't move. And She was glad the green chose someone else. She felt bad for the other little green when it stumbled and cut itelf on its own shell, and she smiled at the teal blue nose that was resting before breaking out of its shell the rest of the way. This was certainly a interesting way to view a hatching. Her arm didn't even bother her as she waited for the rest of the eggs to hatch.
.....
It wasn't Tishu that screeched when she got bit, it was Shamara. She couldn't believe her eyes when the angry green actually went out of her way to bite the girl before moving on to chose someone else. She didn't move but watched and waited to see if Tishu needed assistance, she would help if she did. The girl had it handled. Shamara gave her a nod of approval as she wrapped her arm and insisted she still stand. Shamara wasn't sure she could have done it herself.

"Way to go Kethemar!" Shamara congratulated the northern lad she had befriended and helped in the Dining Cavern not that long ago. He would make a wonderful bronze rider. Shamara was happy for him. The egg the bronze steadied himself on rocked again and finally cracked, a beautiful teal blue muzzle stuck out as if taking a rest for the next phaze of breaking free. If the rest of the hatchliing matched that nose peaking out, he was going to be a beautiful color.

[hbk]

.:: Bronze Weyrling K'mar ::.

My siblings are clumsy and angry because they are not me, K’mar. Feed me, your Tsevoth, before I feed upon them.

K'mar didn't have the chance to really enjoy the feeling of Impression; that wonderful rainbow of emotion that exploded inside of the new dragonrider's body and filled them with a sense of completeness. No, instead his dragon was complaining about his siblings already. Even though a moment ago K'mar had been unsure about the entire experience, having now connected with his dragon stablized the previously adventurous lad and he found himself frowning.

Cut it out, Tsevoth! They're your siblings and you'll treat them as such. I shouldn't have to tell you, honestly.
It's not my fault! They snapped at me! I'm a bronze and they'd better learn their place in line!

K'mar exhaled a sigh. This was going to be a challenge.

Are you... are you mad at me? This time the bronze dragonet's voice was tinted with a bit of uncertainty, and possibly a bit of worry.

Just one look into his lifemate's eyes had K'mar melting at the core.

No, of course not. Come on, we'd better get off of the Sands and out of the way.
Yeah, and I'm hungry too! Tsevoth added, full blown confidence now back in his voice.

[HG]

This is the man that nobody sees
He wears my old clothes and he looks just like me
Just one of the boys who gets lost in the crowd
He`s the man that I am when there`s no one around

This is a glimpse of a child that`s within`
He`s so immature but he`s still my best friend
If he could learn how to fly, he`d never touch down
He`s the kid that I am when there`s no one around

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The dragonets were not getting along all that well especially once the Bronze inside the Aslan’s Pride egg, broke free. He seemed to pick a fight with a green who was not at all the type to acquiesce to his demands. A female Candidate, who he knew only by sight from lessons, was injured by a green that impressed to a boy next to her. Poor girl, she probably shouldn’t be speaking to the brown that was lying on the Sands. Especially considering girls did not impress to Browns. At least none that he had heard about and a female brown rider would be something to talk about. It seemed the dragonets were steering clear of himself and Nayza. In a way he was happy for that considering they were beginning to be dangerous and clumsy little things.

Meanwhile, the Bronze seemed proud to put the other dragonets in their place which was not sitting all that well with the others. Runners were not so different in establishing pecking order but there was no set order as in the dragon world. Dragons were supposed to fit the mold of their color. Rhodri wasn’t sure that all the dragonets were going to be as their color dictated. Kethemar was quickly impressed to the Bronze. It seemed in the uproar the blue that was stuck in its shell had finally cracked it open. He seemed more than happy to remain inside the shell away from the crowd.

It continued to be a strange Hatching with three hatched dragonets without life mates upon the Sands. The dragons knew who they wanted. “Wonder what is taking them so long…” He said in a whisper that only Nayza could really hear. While the comment was meant to indicate the dragons that were hatched but not impressed yet, it could be taken to mean the rest of the eggs which had yet to hatch. He was optimistic they would impress. He just wasn’t sure when that would happen. Kethemar was proof that not being from the Weyr meant you could impress even if you had not been a Candidate long. There were plenty of weyrbred boys who had not impressed a Bronze just now.

They had a chance. As good a chance as anyone else there and he was sure Nayza and himself would make excellent dragon riders. To feel that bond between human and dragon was something he looked forward to. He was not afraid of the dragonets despite the damage they had begun to inflict on those around them. The warm welcome he wanted to express to the dragonets was harder to commit to than he thought.

Watching the Hatching as an onlooker was so much easier. There were too many things to focus on as a Candidate. He did not worry about himself but Nayza was like a younger sister to him and he could not allow harm to come to her while he was there to protect her. Protecting his friend, watching the dragonets, trying to express warmth and happiness it was a lot to think about at one time. He only hoped the dragonets would see him for who he was and choose him because of that. After all, the dragons always knew

Cause I will soar away like the blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a sea
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I'll wander wild and free
How do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know
You were born born to fly

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Laure found herself feeling the same way as Tishu, feeling bad for the brown as well as the one inside the egg that had left to leave its shell. She had not vocalized her concern for the dragonets nor was she presumptuous enough to reach for a brown. Women did not impress to browns, even impressing blues was practically unheard of. There may have been one or two exceptions in the history of dragonriding but there were none at the Weyr currently that she knew of. So it came as no surprise that a green might take offense. Still it did not keep her from gasping when the other young woman was bitten by the dragonet. The Bronze which came from the largest egg, was not getting along with his siblings. She felt herself wincing at the thought of another mauling.

Inflicting pain on herself was something she did all the time so being mauled herself seemed less horrific than watching someone else. Would her body be able to take another mauling? She did not know and really did not want to test it. Her brother bullied her enough, she probably would die if she was hurt enough. Laure considered herself stronger on the inside than what was presented on the outside. She was a thin, frail framed, small woman. She looked younger because she was so petite but it wasn’t something she cared much to be considered. Laure would much rather be seen as her age. She wanted to be seen as a strong person. What dragon wanted a weak rider?

Her hope had not dwindled though, even after being nearly killed by a dragon last time. The only thing that was really puzzling her was the amount of time the little tykes were taking. Last Hatching had gone by more quickly though the eggs laid were a little less, the amount of dragons should be about the same, judging by the fact the Queen had deemed two little eggs, duds. There were rumors floating around that Issarith’s clutching had been difficult. It was probably all the changes in her life. Poor dear she had a lot to get used to including all the Bronzes. Laure understood dealing with change and its effect on one’s life.

Candidates were starting to grow anxious, Ledesein among them. There were so many of them and so little dragonets to go around. The fear that none of them might be chosen by the ones on the Sands still made him frown. How could these dragons take their time like this? Didn’t they need to impress? If they remained on the Sands unimpressed, they would die. He could not bear the thought a dragon might prefer to die than to impress to him. It was all too depressing. This was a Hatching it should be happy! So he stood with the others, waiting for his life-mate to choose him.

(I know, its blah)

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[Lady Smara]

It seemed forever before that little brown finally stood back up and began making his way toward the candidates once more. His strides were slow and deliberate, as if he had complete control over the situation and did not seem to be in a hurry at all. He knew, after all, exactly who he wanted as he approached three young Weyrbrats. It was only one that he spoke out though, as he walked up to the boy and leaned against his thigh. T’ran-mine, you will feed me now yes? Your Philibith is hungry and you could use some more food too. We are both too little.

As if the hatching sands had reached a peak in excitement, another three eggs hatched very closely together, so that if you were watching one, you would miss the other ones as they broke through their shells. There was a little green who was wobbling precariously on a shell fragment that had just fallen from her egg, a blue that was so pale it might be argued that it was unhealthy just like healers had first argued over Issarith’s health when she was born, and another brown had fallen into the sands turning him more tan than brown.

It was the deep green from the Little Man Egg that impressed next, however. The deep green stumbled past one girl, knocking her down but otherwise causing no real damage as the green forced her way to a sandy-haired youth. L’sein, why are you anxious? Your Babouth is here. Babouth is not lost nor will I stay on the sands. I am hungry, L’sein! Turning to look better at her lifemate, the green hit the girl sitting up on the sands once again with her tail before muttering to L’sein that the girl was clumsy and needed to get out of her tails way.

It was the second brown, slightly longer and thinner than his brother, that impressed next. He had made his way back to his feet and impressed to an older boy from the Weyr who worked in the Blacksmith. The boy was large and built even for his age, but there were still tears of joy in his eyes when he announced the brown’s name from the Southern Duke Egg to be Corbith

The pale blue, however, seemed to be a little more indecisive as it made its way across the hot sands to look up into one boys eyes. Apparently no words were exchanged though as the blue lowered its head and walked up to the next boy. This happened three more times, as if he was judging who would best fit him before he caught a foot on his own wing and stumbled – right into Tschermak. The boy, who had found the thoughtful blue beautiful, could not help but think how quickly such a beautiful hide could turn ones stomach when his own blood was smeared across it.

It took a few awkward movements before the blue managed to step off the boy and continue over to a dragonrider’s son. The Dragonrider’s son announced that the blue’s name was Issiodorensith before helping him walk off the sands and clean off the blood. Tschermak, however, was deemed in too much danger with blood spilling from a deep gash in his right leg to remain on the sands and two healers moved quickly forward to carry him off and to the Infirmary.

The grass colored hatchling that had been balancing so precariously on her own egg shell that finally managed to wobble off of it and made her way to the candidates. Again it seemed a dragon was destined to walk toward the woman who had stepped back from the line of candidates, but it was not her that caught the green’s attention as the green instead impressed to a young cook from the Lower caverns. He announced that the grass colored hatchling from the Winds of Change egg was named Acinonyth.

It was the little blue that was so hesitant to leave his egg that was the last one to ‘hatch’ on the sands. He made his way carefully from his shell, stopping and turning around to inspect what had been holding him so long and sniffing at the goo that still clung to his hide. He seemed more interested and inquisitive at what was around him than actually impressing as he then turned his attention to the sand sticking to his underbelly and his forefeet.

Eventually he noticed how many eyes were watching him and the blue knew instantly which set of those eyes he had fallen in love with while still in his shell. Making his way over, he did not stop at the male candidates nearby, but continued confidently over to the girl Shamara. Sh'ara-mine, I am ready to eat, but your Unciath has many questions – like why will this stuff not fall off my hide! It itches and I have decided that I do not like it sticking to me.

As the blue impressed, it seemed like silence had fallen upon the spectators in the sands as they looked expectantly at the eggs still left on the sands. There were the two that had been separated from the clutch, the Broken Marble and the Sphinx’s Lament. There were also two more that had been with the clutch. The Little Empress egg sat so still that it could have been mistaken for a stone and showed no signs of a hatchling struggling inside. The Warning-Storm Clouds Egg, however, gave the slightest hint of a sliver.

All eyes turned to that egg and more than one voice could be heard being raised to encourage the little hatchling to try just a little bit harder. Another shiver came before a voice spoke to a candidate on the sands. Laure, I can not do it. I am sorry, your Uralith was not strong enough, Laure. The egg, however, did not give another shiver as it grew as still as the other three still on the sands.

“We do not usually have so many duds…” Sakorai said, breathlessly and the sound of pain on her own voice as she looked over the eggs still on the sands and one girl who seemed to be in complete shock. “But then again, we usually do not have such a large clutch. All in all, we have more healthy hatchlings than normal and I take that as a good sign…” She grew quiet again as her eyes remained on the candidate in shock. What was wrong with the girl, could she not see that the eggs left on the sands were not going to hatch?

[HG]

One more hatched and then another and another. He found himself like the rest of the Candidates get a tense feeling around his heart. Why were the others more worthy? What made them better for the job of dragonrider? Before he knew it the Hatching was over. The last to impress was a pretty blue who impressed to a girl. This seemed to shock and please the Weyrfolk. He began to leave like the other Candidates but looked back to see a frail young woman standing, staring blankly at the last egg. What was wrong with her? Surely the healers would drag her off? He didn’t think that was normal either.

He shook off the eerie feeling of disappointed dreams and smiled to Nayza. In order to lighten the mood of the other Candidate he said, “We’ll Impress next time.” The determination in his voice was unexpected especially by himself. After being part of a Hatching and watching the awe inspiring emotions come over people as they found their dragon life partner he had decided being a dragonrider was one of his new dreams.“Before we head back, do you have anything nice to wear for the Feast? I’m heading to see if they might be able to help me find something presentable at the weaver’s in the Lower Caverns. All I brought was what I was wearing and they issued me some work clothes." Might as well go together, in case he got lost which given the number of passages was entirely possible.

They were Hatching and Impressing quickly now. Laure’s high hopes had not diminished as many others had. She had complete faith that her dragon was out there. Sadly being right was not always a happy occasion. As the last little egg shook she felt and heard the little dragon inside. Staring blankly at the egg with the dying dragon inside. There was nothing she could do. The dragonet within would not live outside the egg either, Laure knew this because the dragonet would have been fighting if it could. It is alright Uralith. You fought your hardest sweetling. Rest now. I will join you Between. And she felt the little one breathe its last breath.

Silent tears streamed down her face as she felt herself losing any hope for a future in this world. Her future had died with Uralith. She might as well have let her brother kill her or the Holdless brainwash her. Laure had never felt more alone than she had in this moment. The girl who never gave up on herself had finally been crushed heart and soul. The delicate woman would grieve her loss and then, she would end this life of sorrow and misery.

Slowly, as if in a dream she watched herself walk to the egg, she sat and though the sands were burning to the touch she could not feel them. Her arms wrapped around the cold shell protectively. Without warning Laure began to sob loudly. The woman was not crying like a girl who had not impressed. She was distraught; she was beyond hearing others and felt as though she just lost a part of herself. There was no point in living anymore. Her cries were brought on by heartbreak nothing as silly as not impressing.

The people who remained in the Stands began to worry for her and Healers were sent but she had a death grip on the egg. Her bottom was likely burned from the Sands at this point but Laure still felt numb to everything but her loss. She wanted to stay here until she died. She saw no point in living without Uralith.

"]

He saw the dragons Impressing and felt that familiar tug to watch whichever one came closest. There was an idiot girl next to him, who quite frankly was making this Hatching more irritating than positive. So he tried to hide his amusement when the green who came close to them knocked her over. The Hatching was one surprise after another when the green in all her glory locked rainbow faceted eyes onto his blue ones. The feelings which washed over him were inexplicable. He’d never been happier and doubted he would be again so he wallowed in the warmth of the loving dragon.

L’sein, why are you anxious? Your Babouth is here. Babouth is not lost nor will I stay on the sands. I am hungry, L’sein!
“Her name is Babouth!” He called to the Stands knowing his family was out there. They would be so proud. He was the first dragonrider in the entire family, ever!!! To the green he then turned all his adoration and attention. “I don’t like her either.” He murmured to the green. “There is food this way. I’m sure your classmates will be happy to see you.”

Who cares?!She snapped, going from sweet and clumsy to waspish in about two seconds. Then amended her statement with, Food will be very nice. The blonde young man nodded and began to wonder just what he had gotten himself into.

[Na Qaiah]

When a Bronze and a green hatched they circled each other with the green snapping at her bronze brother. She headed for Shamara and Tishu and stopped. She seemed like she was still angry and instead of impressing Tishu she bit her making Shammy screech at the site. The teeth marks were deep and it bled a lot, but Tishu decided to stay on the sands after wrapping her arm so it wouldn’t bleed so bad. Shamara would have helped if the girl had asked her too, but sense she didn’t she stayed put and watched the rest of the hatching.

The angry bronze steadying himself upon the First Snow Egg seemed to remind the dragon within that it needed to hatch so it began to rock and shake again, a long crack finally forming along its length before a small portion of its shell finally fell free to show a wet, teal-blue nose sticking out and taking its first breaths of real, fresh air. Then he didn't move any more, however, as it took his time tasting the air – as if he was uncertain if he really wanted to leave the warm and familiar confines of the egg. Shamara thought as she watched to see what the little blue was going to do, that if the rest of the hatchling matched that nose peaking out, he was going to be a beautiful color.

Shamara stifled a gigle when the little blue turned around to stare at the sand that was sticking to his legs and belly. He seemed to be most interested in the stuff he was covered with then finding his lifemate. What surprised her the most was when he marched up to her instead of the boys. Shara-mine, I am ready to eat, but your Unciath has many questions – like why will this stuff not fall off my hide! It itches and I have decided that I do not like it sticking to me.[/color]

“Are you really talking to me?” She asked softly. She couldn’t believe the hatchling was really talking to her. She filled up with love so fast and so complete it almost buckled her knees. Blues don’t choose girls, do they? If they did it was very rare. Are you not happy with me Shara-mine? Unciath asked tilting his head to the side to stare at his chosen one. “Oh my gosh, you ARE talking to me! Shamara declared as she fell to her knees on the sands where she wrapped her arms around the tiny teal-blue neck. “I am VERY happy with you Unciath. Lets go feed you. The sand will come off you when you dry some more. But let me help you a little now so it won’t itch so bad ok?” She asked her hatchling as she leaned over and started brushing the sand off his drying hide.

Thank you Shara-mine I am ready to eat now please.[/color] Unciath complained adding a small head bump to the girls chest to make his point. “Lets go, she said standing up and brushing the sand off of her robes. Wait, what did you call me?” She asked before she could take a step. Shara-mine, is that not my riders name? It is what I am going to call you. It’s a proper name for MY Dragonrider.[/color] Unciath answered with a snort.

“It’s ok, I like how it sounds. Sh’ara. It’s pretty.” she added as she put her hand on Unciath’s neck and turned to head off the sands. About that time Handsome came down from where he had spent his time watching with most of the other flits. As he landed he chattered a greeting to the teal-blue hatchling. “Unciath, this is Handsome. Handsome, say hi to our Unciath.” Sh’ara introduced the pair as she walked. Handsome made his way down the front of his persons robes being careful not to scratch the girl, and nuzzled his new addition to his weyr. Unciath greeted the little bronze with a nuzzle of his own.

Once they reached the edge of the sands, Sh’ara turned to those that made it there before them and said. He calls me Sh’ara and his name is Unciath. With a huge smile she grabbed a bucket of already cut meat and started feeding the ‘boys’. The feeling that was surging through her was something she couldn’t explain. He felt loved and complete for the first time in her life.

Good![/color] Was the only sound Sh’ara heard.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Nayzarette
Northerner Candidate

”Maybe he’s just tired...?” The comment was whispered right back to her older male friend, the brunette at one point inching unconsciously closer to Rhodri as the dark green had snapped and connected with the arm of a girl not too far off. It was one thing to read about them in the few scrolls left in the North, to dream upon such fantasies; and another thing entirely seeing them up close. While they were beautiful, the most beautiful things Nayza had ever witnessed in her opinion, those claws and fangs were not for show – and the way a dragonet here or there stumbled showed they still weren’t exactly in full control of all their limbs.

Getting in the bad side of one of those things would probably be just as painful, or more, than getting caught in Thread by surprise. Softly her hand grasped a piece of the white garment that coated Rhodri; it was comforting to have him there – more than she would have ever thought before – and the northerner girl found herself silently thanking the first gold dragon that they had been searched together that faithful day. While excited about this all, and doing pretty good to adjust to Weyr life and all the strange and new things it offered, it really was good to have a bit of familiarity around; this time thanks to Rhodri.

Eventually, finally, the brown nearby had stood once more – the girl couldn’t help but stare at his pretty hide really – and carefully moved to the group that held some of the smallest kids standing for impression. Nayza had tensed just slightly, faintly fearful than an accident might indeed occur, but with gentle and well calculated movements the brown butted softly against the thigh of the dark colored lad – who moments after announced the brown’s name as they both headed to the feeding tables.

Soon enough more hatchlings were about in quick succession, a green knocking a girl down on the sands (though no bodily harm was done) before impressing to a blond boy and a second brown – completely different from the first in everything. ”It’s amazing, isn’t it Rhodri? Who cold have thought they could have so much variety and differences; even among their own color ranks!” Sure, equines and other creatures varied as well; but Nayza had never dreamed these beauties could come in such a wide range of shades and combinations. None of the stories had ever mentioned much about their looks, so the girl had assumed they would all be somewhat similar to others of their own color.

Faranth was she being proven wrong now.

Unfortunately as the powder blue hatchling had been moving along most of the boys, the little one possessing quite the odd hide indeed, the dragonet seemed to stumble and trip against one of the smallest kids; sending him into a scream of pain that froze Nayza on the spot as she clung to Rhodri more. She could see the other blond boy next to Tschermak move to try and help him untangle, before the dragonet moved off to a much older lad and impressed. The younger boy was taken off the sands soon enough; alive still. Nayza could only hope he remained alive; he looked so young and meek – she remembered him running out of the sands in fright during the touching of the eggs.

”We’ll impress next time.”

The firmness in his voice started the girl back to reality, quietly removing her hand from his garment as she nodded back decisively; a deep breath taken in order to compose herself. This first hatching had been much more than what she could have ever imagined: both in the goods and the more scaring thoughts she now possessed. Being a candidate was dangerous, there was no doubt about that, but there was nothing else in the whole of Pern where she would have rather be at that moment.

”We’ll impress, and show these weyrborn we’re just as good dragon material as they are.” To his next question the girl blinked for a moment, before finally putting it all together. Right, the Weyr had been buzzing lately with chatter about the evening feast that would happen after the hatching... A real Hatching Feast. ”Oh, come on! We have to get there quick then, before other people start hounding the weavers down!” She would not look bad in her first hatching feast, it was like a dream come through. Oh why had she not bothered long enough to bring more clothing with her that fateful day...

Quickly grasping his hand, and as soon as they were allowed, the girl dashed out of the caverns – dragging her BFF along for the ride. Hey, he hhad offered to be accompanied... Rhodri better be ready to suck in any complains if Nayza took long in getting ready now.

[Na Qaiah]

Tishu watched the rest of the hatching as if in a mini trance. She gave Shamara, no Sh'ara a smile and a thumbs up when the teal blue Uncaith made his way to her friend and they impressed. If she could have thought a bit clearer she would have realized that it was a very rare thing indeed to have a blue choose a girl. She really was happy for all of those that had impressed, and to be honest she was glad there was another batch of eggs due on the sands soon. This batch of babies seemed a bit off to her, well maybe not off, but angry sounded more like it.

When it was done, and Sh'ara had left the sands with her new lifemate. Tishu signaled to a healer that she was ready to be looked at. She was starting to get light headed, she wasn't sure if it was from the loss of blood or because she had forgotten to eat or maybe even a bit of both. Either way it didn't matter. When she turned toward the healer she passed out cold. what happened from there she didn't know.

She woke up in the infirmary feeling much better and her arm was newly dressed and didn't hurt. She heard talk of the hatching feast and she wanted to go get ready. Once she was checked over and warned to take it easy she was released to attend the feast with orders to return to the infirmary after it was over. Agreeing she made her way back to the barracks to get decked out.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Hinuk && Thoran
Weyrbrat Candidates

Much like the dragonets before none had really held Hinuk’s attention for more than the custom necessary amount that he needed to give them – which was enough to know one wasn’t going to suddenly trample his ass into the hot sands. Nly when the largest egg in the clutch begun to show signs of hatching did the boy finally lock his senses into it; remembering as one of the three he had touched way back. He had immediately gone for the bigger eggs at the center of the clutch, glad they had all been grouped together, for the close proximity had meant he could actually caress the shell of all three unlike many other candidates that picked eggs far from one another. After all, surely one of those three at least had to have a bronze inside.

Tseravith might be a small thing, and so was Issarith, but surely even a poor specimen of a bronze and queen like themselves should be able to clutch one high ranking dragon.

In an explosion of shards the occupant within made himself known, the light coloring almost having Hinuk believing it to be a gold at first. Indeed the lad had been about to look away when he noticed the lack of excitement from the female candidates – why were they not dying over the golden hide? It was then than a second glance was spared, the boy finally seeing the faint green tint customary of most bronze dragons, vibrant blue eyes now glued to the hatchling as a smirk spread on his lips. Even when the bronze stood his ground against that silly dark green, just like any king damn well should, Hinuk couldn’t help but stare intently at the beast.

Finally the creature had moved, coming over closer to the boys though a bit too far from him to Hinuk’s taste. No matter, surely this creature would know that he was the obvious choi—before he could even finish that train of thought he watched Kethermar move towards the bronze, leading him away from the sands and towards the feeding tables; the rainbow swirling eyes of the dragonet a telltale sign that impression had occurred.

It was with faint frustration that Hinuk finally turned his eyes away; head held high and proudly as his posture never slacked. ‘Hmph, good riddance.’ It wasn’t like anything sired by that Tseravith would really be worthy of him anyways.

Next to him Thoran fidgeted slightly, he had been paying attention to his leader since the moment the bronze had appeared. Over the turns the boys had become so close to one another, to the point they almost really acted like siblings more than friends. He could pick up on those telltale signs in the blonde’s body language – Hinuk was upset even if he would never admit it. Before Thoran could say anything, however, the brown before the weyrbrats finally decided to move once more; coming closer to them still. Bot Brat Pack members had tensed well enough in preparation, the boys ready to try and jump out of the way if the thing suddenly went berserk on them or something – Hinuk had even faintly grasped at Tschermak’s robe as a precaution. The lad might not be part of the Brat Pack; though they had certainly managed to pin many of their earlier pranks on the poor kid before Emera became wise enough to see through them.

The least he could do was try to keep the apparently frightened kid safe if he could.

Unlike most newborns however the bulky beast seemed well in control of his movements, glancing at the trio of the smallest candidates before carefully making his way closer, the coppery snout and head making gentle contact with the thigh of Thoran as the hatchling bespoke him. T’ran-mine, you will feed me now yes? Your Philibith is hungry and you could use some more food too. We are both too little. The head of the beast raised enough to make eye contact with the shocked dark skinned lad, eyes whirling in a sea of rainbow hues as his love and adoration for the young weyrbrats flooded T’ran. Philibith, this was his Philibith.

With hesitant hands the boy caressed the creature, scratching his eyeridges adoringly as he received a content warble, before his gaze turned to the boy besides him; his childhood friend, his best friend, his brother. No words were shared between them, none were needed for each to understand the thought of the other, and with an impatient snort Hinuk jabbed his friend slightly. ”Well don’t look at me, you should be long gone already and at those tables by now.” He did his best to mask the faint jealousy he could feel bubbling inside, giving Thora—no, T’ran now—his best smile as he watched the lad bump him back in his shoulder before leading his new brown away to feed. It had been while he had been distracted, watching T’ran and Philibith move away, that Hinuk had failed to see the incoming pale blue dragonet.

The hatchling tripped, landing right on the poor Tschermak and snapping Hinuk’s attention back to reality and the hatching going on. Reacting the blond was able to shove the dragonet off the other weyrbrats as he tried to regain balance and scamper over to his chosen bonded – Kyrah’s own younger brother – before Hinuk focused on Tschermak himself. Doing his best he had kept pressure on the wound of the younger lad, trying to avoid it to bleed as best he could, until the healers were finally able to reach them. Moments later the other weyrbrats was taken off the sands and towards the infirmary, leaving the blood stained Hinuk looking at them until they disappeared from the caverns. He had remained there for the rest of the hatching, the feeling of the warm blood as it slowly dried and encrusted into his skin – as well as its iron heavy scent – bringing back memories he was not too fond of. It had been here, in these same sands, where Evelys had been killed two turns ago; the Brat Pack leader biting his lower lip slightly at the thought before he finally glanced back to the feeding tables. It was with a faint sigh of relief that he had seen T’ran focused on feeding his brown, oblivious to the events that had transpired, and before he could be spotted by him Hinuk had abandoned the sands as soon as he had been able to. He would end up going to check on Tschermak in the infirmary first, before finally later meeting up with his father to prepare for the feast that evening.