Golden Beginnings [[Hatching!]]

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

J’ldaem of Tseravith
Weyrleader && Pyralis Wingleader

Mine, they are hatching.
[Oh boy, let’s just get this charade over with...]

In his chambers the man sighed, exiting the bathroom from his recent wash. Moving to his cabinet he picked a decent enough attire before quickly dressing, grabbing a wine bottle from his desk and two cups (he’d been storing them for such an occasion, he had a feeling he’d need it as much as the Weyrwoman) before bolting out of his weyr; Tseravith already gone to meet Issarith before they both flew into the caverns to join the other dragons in humming.

Taking stairs two at a time he soon made his way to Sakorai’s weyr, allowing himself entrance without knocking. No doubt the woman already knew about the great big event occurring on the sands; so before she had the chance to lash at him or something the man lifted the bottle into sight as well as the wine cups.

”Sooo... Ready to go put up an united front and all that jazz? After a good cup or two of wine, of course.”

He wasn’taiming to get them drunk of course; but simply not sober enough to actually give a damn about the so very strong and healthy and simply perfect clutch of gold Rhiannoth with bronze Zorometh.

Suynie and D’seus could go burn in a pit at the Holdless camp for all he cared honestly.

[HG]

There, he had everything in order, D’seus thought as he left his weyr to head to the Hatching Caverns. Like many others he had been working before the clutch began to rock on the Sands. It was Zorometh who informed him before the humming began that the clutch was ready. Naturally being forewarned gave the Bronzerider more time to get to the Sands even if it were only a few minutes more. If He used the time to his advantage, he would have arrived at the Hatching Cavern before most of the other Weyrfolk and riders had. However he had not been prepared like he usually was taking longer to get ready than anticipated.

Once at the Sands, D’seus took no time at all, walking to Suynie and greeting her with a warm hug before the Hatching began in earnest. Then he took his seat in the Stands with the rest of the Weyr. Hinuk would be out there, which was all he really cared about at this Hatching. His son should impress to a dragon his dragon sired. It made perfect sense. Even Zorometh agreed that Hinuk deserved to Impress, the boy had improved his behavior much lately and he was learning what it took to be a true leader, something other boys had no concept of.

It might be fatherly pride or it might be that D’seus would want someone like Hinuk in his own wing, whatever the case he saw no reason why his son should be on the Sands long. He felt himself grow a bit tense as the first dragonet broke free. A Bronze, closer in color to Rath than any of the other Bronzes due to the golden hue in his hide, but nonetheless a Bronze. It took only a moment to see where the Bronze was heading.

Right towards his son and some other boy though really what chance did he have next to Hinuk? His thoughts went thus until the dragonet knocked his son down and Impressed to the other youth. I sure hope all your spawn are not so rude and dismissive.
You are only unhappy because your son did not Impress to the first Bronze of the clutch. Someday I will have so many sons, you will have no reason to complain… The Bronze was a proven sire and he had a point. Hinuk was young and that was not likely to be the only Bronze in the clutch given the size.

[Lady Smara]

Tschermak had been one of the last upon the hatching sands after the humming had begun. In fact, he would have probably not made it at all if he had been anywhere but the common room when the humming began. While his leg was healing well by all of the healer’s accounts, he still had a limp and he still grew sore quickly. Or perhaps he had too quickly fallen into the habit of favoring the leg that he still did so more than was necessary?

It was hard to tell for the boy, but by the time he had his robes on and boots laced, he was doing his best to limp quickly behind the pack of Candidates that were hurrying onto the sands. He recognized everyone now, each of the candidate faces except those who had come in just the last few days. And for the first time in his life, he wished not so many would recognize his own. Sure he had been lonely when people could be bothered to remember his complicated name, but now they all knew him for that small, fragile boy who had nearly lost his ability to walk in the last hatching.

Should he even be here? Was he healed enough to stand on the same sands that could have nearly claimed his life if the Weyrbrat Hinuk had not been so quick to stem the flow of blood? And now, with the small boy so clumsy on his own feet, would he be able to keep from making the same fatal mistake a second time? Would he be able to get out of the way of a flailing hatchling? Was it not better to make the boy way another turn or two so that his size would at least match the age that the crèche women guessed him to be?

Ah, but Malith wanted him to stand. And Tschermak had promised both Malith and S’nuo that he would try his best. And then there was Seirsha…. He had promised to stand with Seirsha when she stood and he was determined to be over his fear of the hatching sands before she could stand – that way he could be brave for her. With her. And then there was Hinuk now too. Who had told him to dragon-up and have a little backbone. Hinuk would know… Having lead the brat pack for so long. He’d know that Tschermak of all people could use a little bit more of a backbone before he was walked all over for the rest of his life.

And then there was the Holdless woman too. Amnixiel. Such a strange name that twisted his tongue, though he knew by the faces she made that it was the same way his own name would get her tongue into knots as well. Yet on that fateful day, when she could have escaped with none of the riders the wiser, she had chosen to stay? And why? Because he, Tschermak, could not stand the thought of dragons dying on the sand just because their chosen were not there.

So there he was, limping his way across the sands to the group of candidates when the first eggs began to break open. He was glad that he was not close enough to be in the way when Hinuk was pushed aside, though in his gut he hated himself for being glad. He should have been there in case something had gone wrong. But it seemed that Hinuk was okay behond some sand on his clothes. Tschermak stood still and waited for the other Brat Pack member to leave the sands with his bronze before finishing his way to the group.

Two more hatched and found their lifemates when Tschermak came up beside the other boy; the boy with the green flitter what loved to bite.

“Hope I didn’t miss anything…” Tschermak whispered, eyeing the boy he was beginning to think might just be a friend. “You’re okay?” he asked, an obvious plea and whine in his voice. He was scared already, but he had promised so many people. And he had to be brave -- Learn to be braver. For Seirsha.

Eyeing the little weyrling who was on the sands now, seemingly searching for his, Tschermak moved a little closer to Hinuk before tearing his eyes across to the other eggs. Could he remember which ones he had touched? Some of them had been… reassuring. Encouraging too. Had those ones hatched already or were they still out there in the massive clutch.

[hbk]

The brown dragonet was obviously displeased that he could not immediately see his new rider from where he was standing. Legs still unstable, the dragonet took another wobbly step forward. Thick and strong, though he was, this dragonet would definitely never be the most agile. Letting out a frustrated bugle, the brown took his talons and raked Rhodri out of his way, effectively gauging the candidate in the thigh as the young man found his legs swept out from under him.

It was with relief that the dragonet finally came to his rider, Why didn't you come to me? I needed your help! This just won't do!

Ph'lar sputtered, seemingly surprised that the brown was talking to him!

"I'm s-sorry, Bernyth! I thought you wanted Rhodri!"

Who? Bernyth demanded as Ph'lar began walking with his dragonet off of the Sands.

Suynie winced when Rhodri was knocked so rudely to the ground. Unlike Maximuth who had merely butted the snotty Hinuk out of his way, Bernyth had gotten angry when he couldn't immediately see his rider. Even though it was nature, the Junior Weyrwoman never liked to see the more vicious side of Hatchings where dragonets hurt the Candidates.

The Great Divide Egg and The Promise Land Egg hatched nearly simultaneously. The former bringing forth a dark, midnight blue dragonet--

and the latter bringing a uniquely colored brown dragonet.

Suynie had never seen another brown colored the way this one was. It had a nearly scarlet tinge to the rich, brilliant brown color.

The dark blue took off first straight towards Tschermak. The injured Candidate, already nervous about being on the Sands again, was a little slower to move than the other youths because of his injured leg. Just as the blue was about to flatten Tschermak the creature was tackled by his brown brother. The brown dragonet bugled in alarm.

You almost ran over him! Watch where you are going! Not, by nature, the type to be so bold, the brown's eyes were still whirling with alarm, his actions driven by panic.

Turning to Tschermak, the brown edged protectively towards the Candidate, Are you allright? I know you are afraid, but everything is okay now. I'll protect you, I promise. Come on, I know your leg is hurting.... Oh, and I'm Rusath. All of this was spoken in a quiet, hushed tone.

"T'mak." Suynie tried out the Candidate's new name, smiling as he made his Impression. Good for him, he deserves it!

Getting to his feet, and shaking himself off, the dark, midnight blue dragonet, continued on his way, as if oblivious to the fact that he'd been knocked over by his larger brown brother. The blue made straight for Erizay, Vaylee and Zaylee's cousin.

"His name is Dakenth!" Er'zay cried happily.

After that, to Suynie, it seemed like there was a frenzy of new hatchlings wandering around on the Sands. The Southern Bell Egg hatched a gorgeous, seafoam green dragon.

"She's mine! She's mine!" Nikavi cried joyously, "Her name is Emmaluth!"

Next came the Cortez Egg it's brilliant, black and gold egg shattering with a quiet fury. This dragonet was true green in color, like an emerald in the sun.

The green slipped quickly between Candidates, only accidentally knocking over Quelas on her way.

"Her name is Esmerath!" Sh'tar happily announced when the emerald green dragonet had finally made her way to him.

Suynie wasn't sure which egg hatched first, but the Jewel of Troy Egg, The Red Czar Egg and the Liberty Bell Egg were nothing but shells when she looked away from Esmerath.

The Jewel of Troy emitted a hunter green dragonet.

Another brown graced the Sands from the Red Czar Egg.

.

And the Liberty Bell Egg brought forth another blue dragon, which earned approving bugles from the blue dragons in the Stands.

The trio moved quickly on the Sands, colliding with only a few Candidates as the white-robed figures scattered to get out of their paths.

"Ariath!" Danella shouted, triumphantly announcing the green dragon's name.

"Czareth!" Z'than, one of the older Candidates, proudly announced to the crowd as he looped an arm around the brown dragonet's neck.

"Libryth!" I'ley, a youngster, shouted in a small voice, barely heard over the sound of his brilliant blue dragonet yawning.

Applauding the trio of new riders, Suynie's attention was caught next by the rocking of The Red Dynasty Egg. This Egg had been a favorite of many with the markings of a black dragon on the front.

The green that emerged from the shell was a beautiful jade in color, dainty, but proportioned perfectly.

Stepping, with amazing grace, the dainty green made her way shyly towards the Candidates, ducking her wedge-shaped head as she moved. When the Candidates took a wary step back the dragonet reared in alarm, flapping her small wings.

I won't hurt you. Please don't be alarmed. Her voice was surprisingly silky, and there wasn't a hint of shyness there despite her earlier actions. Taking another step towards the Candidates, the green oh-so-carefully lowered her snout to Tishu and gave her a gentle nudge. Come, my rider, let's go eat.

"Oh, Dynasth!" Tishu wrapped her arms around her dragonet's snout in a joyous embrace.

[wolflover1458]

Therion's eyes were hardly on the hatching dragons. All of her focus was still on the unmoving golden egg that lay in front of her on the sands. So focused was she on it, that if someone were to ask her what color had been first to hatch, she would have been unable to answer. Her eyes had looked up as each dragon Impressed, and she made certain that no Green tried to come to close to her, but other than that, she simply reverted her gaze back to the golden egg, the only reason she was there at all.

She did see all of the hatching occurring, certainly, but she did not comprehend it. Therion had looked up to see Maximuth hatch, but the memory of it had vanished instantly, just as she had looked when Trelia was wounded, but then just as easily forgotten it. It just simply wasn't something of importance to her. The only thing that mattered was that one egg. The rest of it could have never happened, and she would have been perfectly satisfied.

And yet as each of those eggs hatched, she could feel the concern rising up in her. For a few moments, she allowed herself to be pulled into the world of her imagination, where the Gold choose another; where she Stood for Turns, but never Impressed; where she was finally forced to make the worst decision of all: stay at the Weyr without a Queen, or go back to the home she had fled from. She didn't want either, but what if it came to that?

Now was the wrong time to think about that, though. Therion forced herself to think about that as she shoved those thoughts behind her and came back to reality. The golden egg had yet to move. She still had a chance at the creature inside.

What was she talking about? She would Impress to the creature inside. She had been telling herself for days that she was the only logical choice for a young Queen to make. Was she really backing out on that now? Weakness was hardly going to make her appear as a suitable lifemate. She had to seem strong when the Gold came out. Otherwise, she might end up overlooked. Again. That could not be allowed. She had felt the touch of this creature when it was inside its egg. It had welcomed her.

She'd thought there had been a reason for it. She couldn't quite recall, but... oh, yes. It welcomed her as its rider-to-be, hadn't it? Therion had felt so certain of that standing her days before, when the eggs were not near hatching. Now, however, she found herself unable to remember the sensation she had felt. What if she had been mistaken? She didn't want to be wrong again. She just wanted the dragon to hatch already. To hatch, and to come to her. Why couldn't it just do that? Standing on this sand was really starting to get to her. Therion wasn't sure how much more waiting she could take. Every moment was a chance for new doubts to creep up on her; ones she had never considered before. But she had spent too much time assuring herself what was to be to back out of it now...

Therion shook her head angrily and looked around. A trio of dragons had just hatched: a Green, a Brown, and a Blue. Therion watched them go, trying to avoid looking at the golden egg now, because she knew it would just make her feel miserable and uncertain again. She instead kept her eyes on the three dragons (although especially the Green) until they had all Impressed. By then, another Green was breaking her shell. Therion watched the dragon head towards the girls. It would not Impress to her, of course. She was meant for the Golden Queen which had yet to hatch. She must wait for that. And if the Gold somehow didn't choose her, then she would be leaving without a dragon for the third time. Even if some pathetic little Green was there, clearly wanting her. She didn't want such a commonplace dragon. She was meant for bigger and better things, not to become one of the many. It would be better to be without a dragon than to be Bonded to the most common color.

She turned her eyes back to the golden egg without even watching the Green Impress. She could feel her heat burning up. There was sweat running all across her body. Her fingers twitched incessantly. Why couldn't that egg hatch already?

[Lady Smara]

Tschermak had felt his face grow cold and clammy as the blood drained from it at the sight of the dark blue rushing toward him. A red blur stopped the blue mass in sudden shove, however, and Tschermak found himself staring face to face with the red Weyrling.

Red… Red?! No, that wasn’t red. It was brown. A very redish brown, but brown none the less. Like the color of red clay soil, turning the brown vibrant.

Watching this new baby dragon nearly creep toward Tschermak, as if afraid he’d chase the frightened boy off, the brown nudged his way into the candidate’s mind and Tschermak could not stop the flood of tears that began to wash over his face.

“Look at me, a big bawling baby… I should be happy.” And not crying in front of everyone like I had in the infirmary… Tschermak had spoken out loud, however, though it was in a hushed tone, as he lifted a small, dirty hand up to the red-brown to sniff. ’Please don’t bite me…’

You are happy. On the inside, I know that you are happy now. The redbrown replied as it butted its muzzle into Tschermak’s hand reassuringly. And I will not bite Mine.

T’mak’s eyes grew wide as he heard the red-brown dragon once again. A smile threatened to tug and pull at the corner of his lips as he listened to the little thing as it took charge and tried to lead the small boy from the hatching sands.

“Bet you’re hungry too, Rusath.” He said, finally letting that smile catch upon his lips. Pausing, however, he spun around and limped back quickly catching Hinuk in a hug from behind. “Good Luck…” Turning back around, he was limping back off toward the tail of that red brown weyrling once more.

[freya]

Trelia had been watching the eggs hatch when a blue dragnet had come their way. She had wondered are you meant for me then the unthinkable happened with the dragon's talons coming across her stomach. The young woman was knocked on her back as blood started to stream through her robes and noticed how a a young girl tried to help her. Her eyes we're tearing up from the pain and soon healers we're surrounding her as they worked to stop the bleeding. "We've got to get her off the sands," said one of the healers and Trelia used her hands to stop them. Trelia wouldn't loose her chance of impressing a dragon just because of this accident and it was just three talon marks across her stomach area. The wounds we're bandaged up as they took off her robes and as she let them do their duty there we're more hatchings.

She couldn't believe that she'd been dumb enough to think that the blue dragnet was for her. The blue dragnets went to exceptionally brave women and it was obvious that Trelia was not one of those. The young woman watched as more greens, blues impressed and even a beautiful brown red coloring dragnet impressed. Her breath was rigid as she bit back the pain as they continued to bandage her wounds that we're causing her great pain. Trelia reminded herself that there would be time to heal later after she impressed and wouldn't miss her chance. The young woman sighed as the wounds we're quickly bandaged and then a make-shift shirt was put over her. While she couldn't stand at the moment on her own this caused her to be held up by a healer. "I'll hold you up," said the healer as he held her up and was thankful for the older gentlemen's help.

The whole situation was slightly embarrassing as she had been only the girl injured and had yet to impress. She hoped that the pain of this injury would be made worth it by impressing. Trelia still counted there we're plenty of eggs left and this made her grimace through the pain. If she had to then the young woman would remain throughout the entire hatching just for a chance to impress. In the end she could say that she stood her ground and had given destiny every chance of her impressing.

...............................................................................................

Quelas watched with anticipation as the eggs started to hatch and soon it seemed a sea on dragonets we're everywhere. He saw that a bronze dragonet was the first to hatch and this caused him to smile. The hatching of a bronze dragonet first was a good omen for the clutch and then waited as it chose another young man. When a red brown dragonet hatched and came his way this made the young man hold his breath because the dragonet was beautiful. The brown made him hope to impress a brown dragonet because his father had rode one. When the dragonet chose another it caused Quelas to come to believe that maybe he wasn't destined to impress.

The Cortez Egg hatched leaving behind a beautiful green dragonet and it started to head towards the boys. When it passed him causing him to fall backwards and he watched as it went to a young boy. He didn't know the boy's name and sighed it was becoming apparent that there we're none for him as he stood up shaking the dust off. His smile was gone now as he just waited for it to be over with and he was going to leave. A small voice in the back of his mind reminded him that there we're still eggs left and he just watched. The northerners we're even impressing and this made Quelas more angry. Quelas thought of them of outsiders who had not won the right to stand and he was the son of dragonriders. His breath was becoming more varied as he grew in anger at the Northerners. The dragonets had to have something wrong with them to even impress to them.

The young man was very angry by the time another brown dragon had hatched and wanted with more then anything that the dragon was his. He just balled up his fists and waited for the disappointment that was approaching of not impressing at all. Quelas just watching as each pair was made and just kept repeating to himself, "Stay calm,". His temper was not common to the candidate and yet there had been so much disappointment over the turns. "Come on one of you have to be for me," said Quelas as he continued to look upon the eggs that had yet to hatch. The golden egg had yet to even start moving and that didn't concern Quelas because men couldn't impress gold. He saw many of the girl's eyes we're hopeful of the perspect of impressing gold.

...........................................................................................

Sareen counted twelve eggs that had impressed as of yet and none of them had come close to her. She looked around almost with a lost look on her face and thought that the dragnets must be displeased with her. The dragnets didn't even give her a lingering look and she looked on longingly. A bronze dragnet had been the first to hatch and had made everyone cheer. He was a symbol of good luck or at least that is what Sareen understood from her lessons. When a couple of blue dragnets hatched and went towards the boys it didn't really concern her much because she wanted a green. The next egg hatched revealed a uniquely colored brown that went towards the boys.

She hoped that the dragons hadn't forgotten about the girls and looked on as two eggs hatched at once. The eggs revealed a beautiful blue and another odd colored brown. Sareen just looked onward as they chose their life mates and had to wonder when the green eggs might start to hatch. A whole group of eggs seemed to hatch next with many greens coming out of the group and each going to another candidate. While the coloring on each was very different with sea foam green to emerald. She had to admit that there was some jealously in her when they went to others.

The young woman watched as a few more hatched to reveal yet another brown and a beautiful green. She sighed for a moment and groaned as it seemed that if her life mate was not coming forth. If her dragon was to be born then it must be one with great patience and liked to take their own time. Sareen figured that if she ever ended up with a dragnet then it would be one who tried her patience. Her patience was not a strength and then looked onward as more eggs continued to shake. The candidate thought of one thing Elynth would be rising soon and that meant more chances to impress. She would eventually impress and that would make her impression even more worth it.

[SnickersPods]

Briac kept shifting his attention from the stands, to the clutch and the other young folk burning their toes on the heated sands. He gave up uselessly trying to distract himself from his impatience when the first egg split, the young hatchling grabbing the attention of every soul inside that building in less than a heartbeat. He watched the creature move with a fascinated gaze, entranced by the delicate bone structure inherent in all young, coupled with the palpable strength of this bronze dragonet. He heard the cheering, and some functioning part of his brain that always seemed to be thinking supplied the vague references he'd overheard regarding the fortuity of the bronze hatchling. Briefly Briac wondered why, from what he had read and surmised the order of the hatching very rarely had any impact on the quantities of ranking dragons amongst the clutch.

His thoughts cut off as he caught the movement of the comparatively minute dragon pushing aside a child he had glimpsed briefly during his stay. His first instinct was to see if he was hurt, get him back on his feet. His muscled clenched with the intended motion, but Briac clamped down on them as remembered advice from the short crash course he'd received filtered into his brain once more. Stay put, keep out of the way, there are more capable healers there than you. His gaze jumped over to the walls dividing the stands and sure enough, he saw a contingent of healers, all with their sharp eyes on the boy as they assessed the damage. It took but a moment to see that he was unhurt, though his pride perhaps bruised a little. Briac found just the corner of his mouth tipping up with slight amusement, personally knowing how much wounded pride could smart.

Briac shifted his gaze with just enough time to see another child approached, and Impression was made. He didn't know how he knew, despite the teaching, but it was like seeing the sky; you just knew. He trailed his gaze after the pair as they left, sharply jerking around as another flash of colour heralded the arrival of another dragonet. Two in fact, Briac noticed as he watched these new jewel bright blues enter the stage. They impressed rather quickly, but Briac's attention was lost to them as he watched Trelia fall to the ground. He didn't know her well, but she was one of the few he could say he knew, and the urge to run to the group of girls and scoop her up was overwhelming. He held his ground though, knowing even from their brief encounter how much the chance of impressing meant to her, she would not appreciate being removed from it so soon. Even so, when a healer headed towards the downed girl he breathed a silent sigh of relief.

With less occupying his thoughts, the hatching once again demanded his attention and subconsciously he shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet in case he needed to move fast, or at least faster than a newborn dragon. The brown that struck forth in a strong leap was an earthy tone that appealed to Briac's defunct sense of style, his brows for once not drawn down as he tried to take in everything at once. The way he stood there suggested he was not entirely sure where to go, or perhaps it was more of an expectation that his bonded would come to him. Briac was not going to play a game with such odds and waited to see who would bond with the solid first Brown.

It didn't actually take him that long to make a decision from the looks of it, Briac decided, but he left carnage in his wake. Briac wondered if a tick had developed on his person yet, he hated to see people needlessly hurt. He didn't blame the dragons, which his churning mind filed away briefly to look at later, it was obvious that there was no malicious feelings there. The sputtering youth lightened Briac's mood momentarily, the expression on his face one Briac was beginning to understand would be mirrored in all those whom impressed here.

New eggs were hatching Briac realised, tearing his gaze away from the newly Impressed pair. These two dragonets captured attention, their unique colouring drawing the eye with magnetism hard to describe. Their impression was, interesting, to put it mildly. Watching the brown tackle his blue brother made something inside Briac clench tightly, the intense feeling of wrong pervaded it, though it faded just as quickly as it had come. There was something about fighting dragons that made his gut coil and nausea spike. The blue seemed unconcerned and impressed in due course, following the brown off the sands without incident.

What followed was a veritable parade of newborns, Impressing with speed and efficiency. As the last green to impress left the sands Briac turned his gaze back to the eggs still rocking on their carefully tended mounds of sand. As he stared he couldn't stop one small hope forming in his mind, Are you in there, dear one?

[HG]

The hatching was overwhelming at first. Before, he recalled the clutch going quickly but there were not nearly as many. This Hatching was proving to be just as interesting too. The smallest of boys seemed to be Impressing and he could not help but wonder why. Dragon behavior was beyond his previous study. A Bronze Hatching first was considered good luck, according to the people next to him. Shrugging, he decided why not go with it. Everyone could use a little good luck on a Hatching Day. After the Bronze the hatchlings came and Impressed rapidly.

Two blues followed the Bronze’s lead, finding lifemates among the young men of the Weyr. Yet again the dragonets showed their clumsiness and single-mindedness. The young woman with the wounds on her chest was already receiving help before he could really register how injured she was. Would she be able to finish out the Hatching? He hoped things worked out for her. He had heard rumors that people died in these Hatchings, especially where Queen dragonets were concerned. His thoughts went to Nayza. He should be over there, making sure she did not become injured. Rhodri knew he would not forgive himself if he let any harm come to her.

What happened next was somewhat of a blur. The brown who hatched just after the two blues was desperately trying to find his life mate. He was headed straight for him, Rhodri thought so he stayed put, not moving out of the dragonet’s way. He should have known better but like many on the Sands he was certain that this could be his dragon. At the last second with no indication of violence previously, the dragonet clawed him down by slicing his thigh. Searing, writhing pain shot up and down the injured leg. He was actually glad that was all he had injured. The boy who walked off with the brown seemed bewildered and confused. Hopefully the two of them would work on their communication issues.

He should be upset, he should lay there and let the Healers make sure he stopped the bleeding sufficiently to Stand but Rhodri despite pain and blood loss, saw no reason not to finish out the Hatching. His resilient and determined nature would not diminish because of one little scrape. ((Merely a flesh wound…)) So as more dragonets began to break free of their shelled prisons, Rhodri struggled to his feet. He may have fallen back on his ass a couple of times but it did not deter him. By the time he was standing steadily. The white Candidate robe was repurposed to keep pressure on the wound and stop the bleeding. The healers were too late to stop him from doing so and really how different was it from wrapping a runner’s leg?

So he was wearing his wet working clothes which were about as far from white as they could be, being dark brown. He was doomed. He knew it, he felt it. Taking a deep breath he looked up to see what he had missed. A young woman was leading a green off the sands so he figured he’d missed a good bit. One of the other boys whispered,”Three greens, a brown, a blue and then that last green. WE’ve got about half the clutch left.”

Rhodri nodded, scanned the eggs that were left and wondered what sort of havoc the Queen was going to inflict on them all. Here was hoping she’d have more poise than her brothers.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Nayzarette
Northerner Candidate

It was good to see Rhodri, even if from a distance as they were now. The only familiar face in the entire Weyr, Nayzarette had yet to actually bond more with the other candidates aside from small chit chatter, it was that familiarity in such a strange and unknown place and time of her life that she welcomed fully. Time and time again the girl had been grateful they had been searched together; for while she knew she would have still come to Refuge even if by herself the fact of having her childhood friend here made everything better. She could understand his mouthed message in return, even from a distance, and beamed a smile back at the older lad in return.

Soon enough the hatching was suddenly underway, many of the eggs beginning to rock as the humming of the older dragons intensified further. Out of the largest egg, not counting the Golden Egg of course, stepped out the first hatchling of the brood: a gold tinted bronze. He was quite strong looking, and big, even at such a young age – and without hesitation he made his way through the sands among cheers from the inhabitants of the Weyr.

A Bronze hatching first had always been viewed as an omen of good luck in this society, and their cheering was quite contagious if Nayzarette was honest.

Finally reaching the lads she watched with some surprise the bronze push one of the younger brats aside; before picking the even smaller lad behind him. Fortunately enough the boy didn’t seem wounded, well aside from perhaps a bruised ego, and Nayzarette found herself sighing in relief as she released a breath she hadn’t been aware she’d been holding to begin with.

Right, the candidate master had constantly warned them about this: hatchings weren’t all butterflies and rainbows. These dragonets, adorable as they might be, were just born – and still quite unstable with their limbs and judgment. Two blues hatched next, quickly impressing – though it had seemed one of them had thought the girls to be in the way of him and His. Trelia wasn’t lucky enough to move out of the way fast enough, receiving a slash to the chest as the other girls managed to dodge the newborn; though in no time the Healers were on the sands tending to the fellow candidate.

The sight of the blood, however, was enough to remind the Northerner girl that this wasn’t just a happy moment. Hatchings were dangerous, and if you weren’t alert and quick to react to your surroundings you could wind up dead in the sands.

The blues were soon followed by a dark and rather handsome brown. This hatchling took a bit longer than the others, remaining by his egg shell as he scanned the crowd; before suddenly sprinting forth as he seemed to find his bonded. There was just one problem... apparently someone was in the way of the quickest route.

”Rhodri?!”

It was with dismay that she watched the brown rake his talons against her friend’s thigh, knocking him on his butt into the sands. Her instincts were telling her to run over, to check Rhodri and make sure he was alright; but her brain soon took control over the situation. It would make little difference if she went to his side or stayed put; she was not a Healer to being with; and what’s more she’d be putting herself in unnecessary danger by crossing the dragonet infested sands. If she got injured due to worrying over him Nayza knew Rhodri would feel all the more guilty.

Already he’d been having a hard enough time since the moment they had been informed the boys and girls would be standing apart this time, on account of the Queen Egg; if she got injured because of him getting injured that would just make him feel all the worse in the longer run. And he seemed to have it in control, after all he had plenty of training caring for and tending to runners... no, Rhodri would be fine. He wouldn’t let such a trivial thing get in his way; that wasn’t the Rhodri she had known all these turns.

Still the brunette couldn’t help the wave of relief that flooded her upon finally seeing him stand, having made a makeshift tourniquet of sorts to stop the blood loss in his wound with part of his robe. Even when Healers approached it was evident he wasn’t leaving the sands just yet, the girl nodding softly in his direction before turning her attention back to the plenty of dragonets swarming over the sands now. Blues, greens and browns all moved; some injuring other candidates though they were all eventually impressed and lead off the sands. Finally it seemed like a small calm had taken hold of the sands, empty of living dragonets as the remaining eggs rocked and shivered in their places; threatening to burst open and any minute.

All except for The Golden Cherry Blossom Egg that is.

Her attention finally turned back to the Queen Egg they were all standing so much closer to compared to the rest of the clutch, hazelnut shaded eyes glancing over its surface once more as she took in every detail fully for the second time. It truly was a beautiful egg, and Nayza could feel her nerves calming down somewhat as she concentrated more on it. Such beauty and grace, it almost seemed to wash away her worries and replacing them by such a tranquil state of mind. Was this just her imagination, however, or was it somehow the doing of the young queen lying inside?

She was curious, no doubt, and part of her wished to just be able to touch the shell once more – feel that welcoming presence inside for just a little longer. But she knew better, the Touching had already come and gone – and while they were allowed to stand so near to the jealously guarded Queen Egg of Rhiannoth simply walking forth and touching it would be the stupidest idea anyone could ever perform in the sands. She was not about to act in such a foolish way; after all she was not a child anymore. No, she was a women just like all the others standing beside her; ready to face her future head front and wrestle it down to the ground if the need arose. It was the reason why she had accepted such a dangerous position as a Candidate; it was the reason she was standing here now – where at any moment she could be mauled into the ground until she bled to death if not careful enough.

But she had no regrets about her decision, this was what she desired. And she would see it to the end; just like Rhodri would do as well.

[hbk]

The momentary calm that had fallen over the Sands was soon broken by the abrupt hatching of six more eggs. Like a line of dominoes, one egg hatched and then a ripple began, eggs hatching and producing a swirl of green and blue dragonets.

From the Guinness Egg a green:

.

"Her name is Isuelth!" a tiny voice belonging to the weyrbred Miare could be heard.

From the Fall of an Empire Egg a brilliant blue:

.

Kr'tian had been dubious about being a Candidate, even though he was weyrbred. He was simply relieved that he hadn't Impressed a green dragonet, and he happily put his arm around Caesath.

From the Hasta La Vista Egg a bright green dragonet stepped forward:

Verdean, now V'dean, blushed as the green dragon came to him. He knew that his cousins, Vaylee and Zaylee would be proud, it seemed that being a dragonrider really ran in their family genetics.

"Her name is Arceliath." He said happily.

The dragonet that stepped forward from the 'Here's Looking At You, Kid' Egg was extremely poised and an appealing shade of baby blue.

Os'ian, a harper from the North, was the lucky one chosen by the blue Ilsath and together they left the Sands without mishap.

From the Fish and Chips Egg a bright, light green dragonet stepped forward. Her coloring was almost that of an emerald reflecting in the sunlight. When this little lady stepped forward she did so with all of the grandeur of the Queen dragonet herself. There was no doubting that, despite her color, this green held some of her mother's elegance.

Stepping past Sareen, the dragonet headed instead for her sister, Arayna.

"Her name is Reginath!" Arayna said happily, once Impression was made.

Following after her clutchmate,Elandrath, a dark olive green, from The Sea Turtle Egg Impressed to La'ett.

Suynie's palms were tired from clapping as she watched the group of blue and green Weyrlings exit the Sands. Things were happening so quickly! Looking back at the remaining eggs, Suynie grew nervous as she realized that only six eggs were left. There were so many hopeful Candidates remaining as well.

When Suynie realized that there was an unnatural hush over the Hatching Cavern, she looked immediately to The Golden Cherry Blossom Egg which was rocking slowly from side to side.

It is time. Come forward, little one. Rhiannoth crooned proudly.

The shell practically peeled away, fluttering to the ground in beautiful, golden pink shards, like the petals of a flower. From the midst of the shell a beautiful, bright gold dragonet stepped forward. Her color was that of the sun at midday, brilliant and beautiful. While she was not the size that Rhiannoth or Elynth had been when they hatched, she was gloriously proportioned, and her fine pedigree could be seen in the graceful curve of her neck, and the triangular shape of her head.

"She's beautiful." Suynie murmured.

You expected something else? Rhiannoth retorted.

Regally the gold dragonet stepped forward, her eyes fixated on the group of girls anxiously waiting. While she walked towards them two other eggs hatched.

The Capulet Egg shattering and bringing forth a pale, faded green dragonet. There was nothing dazzling about her hide, but because of that she stood out.

From The Lady Marmalade Egg a vibrant, practically neon, green dragonet stepped forward. Rambunctious and ready to get started, this green sprang forward on a collision course with the Junior Weyrwoman, who stood beside of Rhiannoth.

With the equivalent of a chuckle, Rhiannoth brought her large, golden wing down, creating a barrier in front of her rider. The vibrant green bounced off of her mother's wing, sending her flying back on her butt. Shaking her head, and crooning curiously up at her mother, the dragonet turned and started back in the direction of the Candidates.

The gold dragonet on the Sands ignored the commotion around her that her green sisters were creating. She exuded confidence, and a calm demeanor.

Sareen stood closest, and for a moment the gold drew near to the girl, but only to brush past her, her tail creating a trail in the sand behind her. When one of her wingtips caught in the Sand the gold dragonet found herself momentarily off balance, and cast out her talons to steady herself. Only, her talons found their way into the soft flesh of Nayzarette, who buckled under the weight of the dragonet.

Do give her my apologies, Therion. My wing got caught. The gold dragonet said as she stepped away from Nayzarette, who lay wounded on the Sands. Moving to Therion the dragonet brought her golden head down to look her new rider square in the eyes, I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, my dear rider. Now. Please announce my name so that we may go and eat.

"Her name is Kiiroth!" Therion announced with a slight tremor in her voice.

[Na Qaiah]

Tishu wasn't sure where to look next everything was happening so fast. She sidestepped when she needed to so that she stayed out of the way. She was rubbing her hands on her robes between impressions trying to stop the stinging in them from clapping so hard. She was so happy for her fellow Candidates when they impressed.

She watched as a few more were bowled over and a boy got his leg sliced by talons of a blue. Another blue got pushed over by a redish colored brown just before it collided with a boy from the last hatching who was still hurt but healing well. The brown chose this one and seemed to be protecting him as they left the sands. Looking back at the eggs, three hatched and impressed just as quickly, green, brown and blue.

Tishu was still clapping when out of the corner of her eye she saw a green heading her way, not sure if the pretty little jade colored baby was going to stumble into her she started to move out of the way. The jade green hatchling was stepping, with amazing grace for one so soon out of her shell. As the dainty green made her way shyly towards the Candidates, ducking her wedge-shaped head as she moved. When Tishu took a wary step back the dragonet reared in alarm, flapping her small wings.

I won't hurt you. Please don't be alarmed.[/color] Her voice was surprisingly silky, and there wasn't a hint of shyness there despite her earlier actions. Taking another step fowards, the green oh-so-carefully lowered her snout to Tishu and gave her a gentle nudge. Come, my rider, let's go eat.

"Oh, Dynasth!" Tishu wrapped her arms around her dragonet's snout in a joyous embrace. The beautiful jade green had chosen her, really had chosen her. Her name is Dynasth! Tishu called as she turned and led the beautiful lady off the sands toward her waiting food.

[SnickersPods]

So many dragonets seemed to swarm the sands, and yet still more shattered their gilded cages and stepped unerringly towards their perfect match. Well, almost unerringly, Briac amended as more blood stained the sands. He watched the little Queen make her selection after the unfortunate stumble, her lovely talons marked with blood as she and her rider gazed upon each other with rapture. He didn't recognise the girl, though that was not surprising, but he knew he'd probably know her life story or at least the good bits, within about a week. Gold Riders were a hot topic in the Weyr, with good reason; they held so much hope and responsibility on their usually lovely shoulders. With Thread back that responsibility was only going to get heavier, with the need for more healthy fighting wings of particular importance. Briac shivered at the recollection of his first threadfall, locked inside the stone constructions waiting with the other residence for the voracious spores to run themselves out.

Realising that thinking dark thoughts about such an ancient instinctive enemy would certainly not endear him any to the remaining dragonets Briac banished them. Instead, he considered the lovely new Gold pair, smiling crookedly at the almost sweet tremor in the girl's voice as she presented her dragon to the rapt audience. The golden daughter received almost thunderous applause with the official confirmation of Impression, the stands fairly thrumming with the noise of a people made one for a short moment. He knew that the tremor was purely emotional, and had nothing to do with the character of the girl. Gold dragons only ever chose women with cores made of steel and hearts as wide as the Monaco bay; women that could distribute compassion and retribution fairly. Even a Northerner with only the very basic old teaching ballads new that, with tales of Lessa and Menora requested over and over by the very youngest children.
A few weeks at the Weyr had taught him that some of them could be prickly, or downright narcissistic. Nevertheless, they were thought of as good people and relied upon to place the wellbeing of the Weyr above all else.

Briac bounced on his feet, testing his balance and trying to relieve some of the heat causing his feet to sweat. The sand shifted slightly beneath him and he put that into consideration as he prepared for any wayward dragonet. If he had to make a leap to safety, he had to know his terrain. There weren't many left now, except a bright little green out of her shell and what appeared to be two more eggs still on the sands. He glanced to his left and right, noticing that there were still a generous serving of Candidate's for the young dragons to pick from. That was good, Briac told himself, less chance of one of them finding them all failing and going between. He looked up at the proud mother, whose expression -if a dragon could have an expression - was smug and most definitely amused. Why did that strike him as funny? With a small smile catching playfully at the corner of his mouth he crossed his arms across his chest, dismayed slightly when he heard one of the seams split beneath his armpit. He shook his head and resigned himself to the scolding he would likely get when he returned the outfit. He wondered if they would even be able to find one that fit him at the next clutch if he didn't Impress today. It was with a shock that Briac realised that yes, he would stand again and again until life saw fit to send him a Dragon or set him on a different path. He'd noticed that there were apprenticeships open for Candidates, and determined that if he did not emerge a Weyrling than he would apply for the Smith Apprenticeship immediately. He had a skill for glassware it was true, but smithing was good honest work he could learn to love.

[wolflover1458]

((Hope you don’t mind if I changed a bit of the words you had written))

Just as the Green Impressed to Tishu (that much less competition, at least), several more eggs broke open: a chain of Green and Blue hatchlings. Therion couldn’t have possibly hoped to watch them all, but she heard the names of the dragons being shouted by their respective new riders. She had to wonder what strong emotion made everyone want to shout out the dragon's name. Well, with any luck, she would find it out soon enough. Her eyes turned back to the golden egg. It wasn’t moving quite yet. She looked back at the unImpressed hatchlings with some annoyance, and then back to the golden egg. She had the feeling it was about to do something. Or perhaps it was even now, and she was simply too excited to notice it. In the back of her mind, she was still hearing the pathetic noises from the Greens and Blues.

But Therion’s attention could not be drawn so easily to the silly hatchlings bumbling about. They were nothing to her, for none of them would do. The creature she strived for was inside that golden egg, the one that had now begun to shake, crack, and, in the end, almost simply peel, as the being inside forced its way out. Finally, the shell crumbled, and the hatchling that had been trapped within it was free now, her eyes whirling red, and her hide nothing other than a shade of gold that could be recognizable as nothing other than belonging to a Queen dragon, the most coveted of their kind. The little hatchling picked her head up, seeming to gaze around.

And her confidence shattered. The tender threads of hope and surety that she had been trying in vain to hold up collapsed around her, and every happy thought she had on this moment vanished. It was going to go all wrong. In just a few minutes she would be alone again. The Gold, glorious creature that she was, would find another girl. Like Elynth, she would choose wrongly, find someone who didn’t have what it took to be Weyrwoman. She would go to Trelia, or Nayza, and find someone far too incompetent to do the job a Weyrwoman had to do. And she, Therion, the one she alone seemed to realize was truly suited for that position, would find herself never rising to that destiny.

What if it wasn’t her destiny at all? What if she’d merely thought it was, and her whole life was simply to be one of broken dreams, crushed hopes, the shadow of a chance she had never gotten. Or worse: what if the Golds weren’t choosing wrongly? What if they weren’t choosing Therion because she wasn’t suited for it, because there was something to being Weyrwoman that she had overlooked, that someone had failed to mention to her? What if she’d come all this way to the Weyr, and suffered so much, for nothing? A never-ending stream of nothingness. She would not return home, but she could not stay here dragonless. The Queen was her destiny, or so she had thought, but if she had been wrong, then what would she do?

At first she hardly saw the movements of the creature she’d yearned for, so deep inside her own nightmare was she. But then she rose above it No. She was not wrong. She was Therion. She was the one girl out of all those gathered that was actually suited for the position the Gold thrust upon her rider.

Just like she’d been the only one last time…

No. She was Therion. And if she couldn’t express that, then she would be passed over for sure. But… what if the creature didn’t want Therion? What if she wanted something else? What if being herself was her own detriment? But how could a Gold want anything other than Therion, the pure epitome of what they should look for in a rider? No, it wasn’t true. Therion was right. She was perfect. Elynth had made a mistake, but that was her problem. Hopefully this Gold would not make the same one. But Therion could not let thoughts of that paralyze her, not now. She needed to be strong. Weyrwomen were meant to be strong, and so she must be so now.

That resolve slipped farther and farther from her the more the Queen moved. She watched as the Gold, graceful creature that she was, moved near Sareen. Therion closed her eyes and exhaled. So that was to be it, then. The Gold would choose Sareen. But she heard no noise, no cry of happiness from Impression, and so opened her eyes again. The creature had some of its limbs dragging through the sand. If Therion hadn’t been so shocked and certain of the cruelty of this moment, she would have wondered if that were a bad thing. It proved to be, however, as the golden creature stumbled as one wing caught in the sand, and she bowled into Nayzarette. Was that it, then? The creature would go for the girl she mauled? It felt fitting. How could she choose Therion?

She felt completely certain now, of all moments, that she had evidently been wrong all along. That left her with uncomprehending eyes when the creature came off of Nayza and continued to move. Why did it do that? Surely it had tormented her for long enough? Therion had spent long enough under her clear delusions. This creature just needed to Impress, rather than continue to taunt her with the possibility of it still coming to her. Her eyes followed its movements as it neared her. It had rejected the other two. Had it come to do the same to her, and perhaps leave a terrible scar as well? One that would certainly never heal? She felt as though she ought to move, but she felt too distraught.

And then what was possibly the strangest voice in the world broke into her mind. A voice she felt sure had been there all along, but that she had simply been unable to hear, for how could it not have been there before? No, it must always have been there, she simply hadn’t been listening hard enough; her own voice had been covering it up, and she had simply been hearing herself. But now she was listening, and that voice spoke to her. Do give her my apologies, my dear Therion, my wing got caught.

For a few moments, Therion could do nothing but stare in shock. And then she broke. The facade she’d been trying vainly to hold up broke down around her, and with a cry of “Kiiroth! She’s Kiiroth!” she collapsed, curling her arms around the creature’s head, noticing not the burning from her knees downward, all of which was immersed in the heated sand. For what was a little heat compared to this? She could contain the emotions she felt no longer, and started sobbing profusely, her tears falling onto the hide of the creature before her, who, for the moment, allowed this show of emotion, merely supporting the shaking and sobbing girl who had flung herself around her. Every horrid thought Therion had been suffering from had vanished now. She’d been concerned before, but now there was nothing. Neither joy nor sorrow, not anger or fear, not surprise, not confusion, not apprehension or stress, simply an odd unemotional shock and some strange kind of wonder. The one singular thing she’d been striving for had been achieved, and her brain could not process that information. She could hardly believe she was here, wrapped tightly around someone that finally understood her, that realized who she was, and why she was who she was, and could sympathize with every nasty thing that had ever happened to her. She had been lost before, deep inside a cave, a cave in which she could hardly breathe.

But Kiiroth had brought light with her, shown Therion the way out, and taught her how to draw breath. And now she could survive in this world, for now she had someone to survive for, a creature deserving of her comforts and attention, and who could give the same thing back. And it wasn’t just any creature, it was the glorious Queen of all Pern, with whom Therion could lead, control, direct. Now the things she wanted done could finally experience some doing. And she would be the one accomplishing them. With Kiiroth at her side.

She was glad, now, that Elynth had not gone to her. Certainly the Gold had made a mistake in choosing another girl, but Therion was glad for that mistake. Glad, for if Elynth had gone too her, than Kiiroth never would have, and she would never have experienced this joy, this wonder, that she felt now. She’d have been bonded forever to a creature other than the wonderful, glorious one that was before her now. How could she possibly have wanted anything else? It was good that she had waited, good, perhaps, that she had suffered. For in the end, it had all been worth it. Her destiny began now, and she simply had to rise to meet it. And yet through all her happiness, she could not prevent her quite dramatic response.

She was too shattered to notice even the burning hunger she now felt through her link with this golden beast before her. Kiiroth alone of the two could remember that hunger, that need to be fed, but for a few moments more she allowed Therion to do nothing but cry on the creature who would, of course, have taken no other girl. She allowed this clear play of emotion until she could stand it no longer. That is enough. Food now. You may adore me later.

It was a good minute more before Therion felt herself prepared to respond to this. She ceased her sobbing, lifting her tear-streaked face from the creature. “Of course… Kiiroth. Come on, and I’ll feed you as much as you like.” The dragon was quite agreeable to this, and steadied herself as Therion rose to her own feet, the smile on her face bigger, perhaps, than had ever been seen on Pern. Certainly more grand than any ever seen on Therion’s features before. Together, the pair began to make their way across the sand to where the others were gathered, the others who were their classmates for now, although they would eventually be far beneath them, and who would do as the pair wished. For Therion and Kiiroth together would rule them.

She had been nothing but a Candidate before, a speck of no importance in the overall scale of the Weyr, good for nothing but labor until she Impressed. But now she had, and she would rise quickly above the Candidates who would be left, the other Weyrlings, even the Weyrling Master. All would be beneath her. Everyone would be beneath her, for she was alone no longer. No more was she the only one speaking the words she thought. Now she had a Queen to speak those same words, and with that assurance behind them, everyone would listen. No more would she be subjected to the horrendous schedule of a Candidate. She was far above that now. It was something she would never face again. And no longer would she listen to the silly rules of others, for she was above all others. Kiiroth knew it was so; Therion knew it was so. Perhaps the rest of the Weyr didn’t, but they would learn soon enough.

As she walked towards the area where Kiiroth’s much-awaited food was laid out for them, Therion felt better than she ever had. Her future was secure. She would fulfill the destiny she’d dreamed of. She would take this Weyr and finally sort out all of their silly problems. Everyone would respect her, everyone would love her, and no one would be telling her what to do anymore. She would be her own master and the master of others as well. The Weyr would be under her command, and everyone inside it would listen to her, and they would listen to Kiiroth, and Therion felt even now that it mattered not which of the two was listened too, for both would be saying the same thing, and for once it would be the things Therion wanted done, and now she knew for sure that they would be done. The creature standing beside her was enough to assure her of that.

Refuge, say hello to your new Weyrwoman.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Nayzarette
Northerner Candidate

And soon enough the calm was broken once more with another mini army of greens and blues hatching from their shells and quickly scrambling to impress. Each time a bonding occurred their names were known to all as their new lifemates screamed them loudly to the air, finally leading the hungry hatchlings away from the clutch and towards the feeding tables for their first meal. Excitedly the brunette clapped for each impression, even though she could by now feel the palm of her hands pulsing slightly from the sting she was giving them with each consecutive clapping motion. She had expected this hatching to be long, longer than Issarith’s due to the difference of eggs, but she had not expected this at all.

That and the heat of the sands was starting to become unbearable, even after just showering already Nayzarette could feel the sweat clinging her clothing and robe to her skin in a very uncomfortable manner – no doubt she’d appreciate and welcome fully a second bath once this ordeal was over and done with.

Another silent moment gripped the caverns once more, only the humming of the mighty beasts up above providing a background noise; slowly intensifying with anticipation of what was to come. As if o cue the Golden Egg had finally begun to rock in its place, the shell eventually peeling off the creature inside almost effortlessly and with such grace one would think it had never been there to begin with. And what a beauty the dragonet inside proved to be, a solid shade of gold to be the envy of all – Nayzarette could even catch a glimpse of a pink wing sail for a few moments as the creature moved forwards; towards all the girls lined before her in wait.

Perfect in proportions and without a single blemish in her hide, truly this young Gold was a breathtaking sight to behold – and just the sigh of the first Queen she had ever seen from so close up sent Nayzarette’s heart beating at a thousand dragon wing beats in a candlemark.

”She... she’s amazing...”

She was smitten, to be simple and short, simply in awe of the magnificent creature before them. If before she had wanted to impress it didn’t compared to how much she wanted it now. Such beauty, such elegance and grace... and that powerful aura emanating from such a young creature; she was truly independent and free. Everything Nayza herself wished to be, she embodied it to perfection. In that single second the girl had made her mind for the last, and permanent, time. She would not impress just any dragon; she would impress a gold as beautiful as this one; as beautiful as Issarith and Rhiannoth and Elynth all were. If not this Queen child of Rhiannoth then some other Gold in the future if necessary, but she would impress one of these awe inspiring and elegant creatures.

The hatching of the Queen had made her miss the two other greens that soon followed, forgotten in the background for the first time in all the Hatching as Nayzarette found her focus training solely on the young Queen coming closer to the girls. And how could she not? Her presence simply demanded to be observed, to be adored and remembered by all who gazed upon her.

But she should have truly been paying better attention, they had been warned many times to do so before. She just hadn’t counted on the bewitching effect such a creature could have on her.

By the time Nayzarette saw the two meter shining beast coming for her, talons stretched outwards to try and catch her balance on something and not fall, the girl reacted too late. Had she’d been paying just a bit more of attention perhaps her reaction would have worked without harm, perhaps a scratch or two, but as it was the weight of the young Queen suddenly crashing against her was just too much.

And to think her only thought at the time had been worry, worry of the young Gold tripping and injuring herself. Perhaps she was a fool; oh but she would have never been able to forget if the gold had been injured – better her than this beautiful thing.

Nayzarette’s reaction had been to go to the flailing Queen, instead of shying away from her; the young lass not wanting to see the Gold become injured due to her sudden loss of balance. In short she reacted much the same way she would have if seeing her baby brother about to crash onto the floor, trying to steady her mass. Nayza had just not calculated just how much mass and how heave a newborn Queen could actually be. Gasping out a breath the girl soon found herself inhaling back sharply, teeth biting the insides of her cheeks to muffle a painful cry as one of the Queen’s talon imbedded itself against her right shoulder; the fabric and clothing offering little to no resistance to the sharp weapon.

As the gold stumbled, and Nayza fumbled under her weight to somehow push the Queen in the right direction, the claw unhinged as the rest of the limb raked across her right arm; shredding the fabric clean off as well as leaving some long slashes against her skin. Gasping for the second time, and with a final push, the girl stumbled into the hot sands as the gold finally righted herself; the feeling of all the warm grains sticking against her wounds being none too pleasant.

She never heard about Kiiroth’s apologies to her; but in the end they were not needed. The gold’s wing had gotten caught in the sands and it had tipped her balance all. A perfectly simple accident expected of a newborn hatchling, Nayzarette would never hold the newest young Queen accountable for her injuries.

But by Faranth’s golden egg shells did it hurt!!!

She even missed the impression of the gold to someone else, the beautiful creature eventually led off the sands without a backward glance by herself or her new lifemate; her vision obscured by the two Healers that had rushed over in an organized panic. Iron, she could vividly smell the strong scent of iron as she barely registered the voice of the man and woman tending to her now. Almost incredulously hazel eyes looked down that injured arm and shoulder, the crimson red blood soaking the chest and pooling in the sands before being greedily sucked in.

She did her best to stop the blood flow with the little knowledge she had, the Healers quickly doing a good enough job of patching her up as best they could. But the blood, so much blood, she needed to get to the infirmary fast; they could tell she was having trouble breathing now as well, what with that sharp pain in her chest every time she tried to inhale some of the hot air around them. Picking her up almost as if she had been but a feather the man quickly made a hasty retreat with the female Healer in tow; they needed to reach the Infirmary fast.

That’s right; this was her arm she was seeing. That was her blood that had steadily soaked her chest, her skin, her clothing. Well shards, she’d done it now; Rhodri would be so worried and pissed about this all. Her eyes scanned the sands now for that familiar face as the man took her further and further away, a faint smile still in her lips as an apologetic look took over while she struggled to gaze back at her childhood friend. She’d probably make him worry, and after he had been injured too. She was such a bad friend for doing this to him, she should have been more careful; she would be more careful the next time.

”I’m sorry, Rhodri...”

Yes, there would be a next time, she would Stand again and again until she impressed a strong and independent Queen of her own. She would not give up, she would not lose now. These were just superficial wounds to her stubborn will, just a faint scratch on a massive mirror.

She had not come from the North to die at the hands of a young Gold; no. She had come to impress, to show all of Pern her worth; the worth of all women. She had come to achieve great things, and this was but a small detour in the path that laid ahead of her. She would learn from this, correct her mistakes. She would improve, become an even better person from it.

She would embrace this moment, and turn it into her strength. Her will deemed it so.