Golden Beginnings [[Hatching!]]

[hbk]

Suynie smiled as Therion and Kiiroth left the Sands. Truly Therion had been dedicated to the idea of having a queen, and in the end she had been right. Kiiroth was the picture of poise and grace as a queen, something that reflected her lineage from Rhiannoth. The junior queen was very pleased with her daughter's choice, but already the golden mother's attention was back onto the two green dragonets that were still moving amongst the Candidates.

It was the pale green dragonet, the one that some would term "plain", that Impressed first, choosing Tenoch, a fisher from the South. The boy, of only fourteen, happily announced to the crowd that his green was called Zenoth!

The vivid green dragonet, that had sprang from the Lady Marmalade Egg had finally taken her pick of the Candidates as well. Even though she had enjoyed her freedom to roam the Sands for a bit, her belly was growing hungry and now she was ready to take her rider and leave.

Happily wiggling up to Sareen, the green gave a soft, high pitched bugle.

I'm done playing now, my rider! Can we go eat, puhhhlleasseee? I'm starving! And I don't know if you saw the size of Kiiroth (she's huuggeee!) and if we don't get there fast enough I might not have anything left to eat!

Sareen's eyebrows ascended into her hairline, a shocked expression ranging on her face. She'd been sure when the golden Kiiroth had began walking in her direction that her moment had finally come- finally! And yet, it was not to be. Like the brush of a moth's wing, the gold had slipped by her, leaving only a trail in the sand beside her.

Her heart had felt as if it had crumbled into a thousand pieces. Despite the knowledge that Impressing a gold was highly unlikely, for anyone, still, she had held that little assumption inside that she would be the one to walk from the Sands with the golden dragonet.

Only now, as she looked into the beautiful, whirling eyes of the vibrant, neon green dragonet in front of her, her heart swelled, lifting and filling her chest with a sense of warmth and belonging. For all Sareen cared, sweet Amoureth was just as good as any gold. The rainbow of emotions that she felt rushing through her mind and sweeping into her soul was unlike anything she had ever imagined! How could she be sad when she had this?

"Her name is Amoureth!" Sareen happily announced to the crowd before looping an arm around her dragon's neck and leading her from the Sands.

As Sareen and Amoureth left the Sands, the Beautiful Beach Tan Egg split with a 'pop!' A beautiful, leaf green dragonet stepped forward, her coloring comparable to the beautiful underside of a leaf, brightly kissed by the sun.

There was nothing to mar this beautiful green, and she slipped around Briac, eyeing the candidate briefly on her way to where Mentari stood.

"Her name is Aletath!" M'tari announced with a proud, confident voice.

Suynie forced out an exhale. That left only two eggs on the Sands, The Buddha Egg and The Sphinx Egg. The eggs were as different as night and day. Where The Buddha Egg was round and funny colored, The Sphinx Egg was tall, statuesque and shrouded in a mysterious cloak of silver.

It was together that these two eggs finally decided to hatch.

With a shudder, the pudgy Buddha Egg revealed an equally pudgy jade green dragonet with lighter tones of green beneath her thin wingsails.

Out of The Sphinx Egg stepped the second bronze of the clutch, earning another cheer of approval from the Stands. This bronze, unlike his nearly golden brother Maximuth, was a dark, coppery bronze. His size was a bit smaller than his sibling, although he was certainly long and lean.

Immediately the green dragonet made for Hinuk, her steps sure and confident. Suynie put a hand to her mouth. It was no secret that Hinuk, the son of D'seus, expected outright to Impress a bronze dragon... what if he Impressed a green dragonet instead? How would he, and his father for that matter, deal with the situation?

The bronze dragonet, as well, headed towards the grouping of male Candidates where Rhodri, Hinuk, and Briac, among others, stood.

I do apologize. I hope you are not angry. I did not mean to keep you waiting. I also hope that you are not disappointed, but then, why should you be? I am a very good dragon, and you will be my very good rider. Come, come then. I am quite famished.

It was obvious at this point, however, that Hinuk's eyes were squeezed shut, as if in an attempt to ward off Impression with the green dragonet that was making her way towards him. It was with some amusement, then, that a voice filled the young man's head.

Why are your eyes closed? The cultured voice questioned, the tones lilting and pleasing to the ear... or mind in this instance.

Hinuk's eyes flew open and he looked around. Where had the green dragonet gone? Looking over his shoulder, the green dragonet was standing beside of the boy who'd been directly behind him, Beyjor was his name.

"Her name is Newarith!" B'jor's pleased laughter rang over the Hatching Sands as he announced his greens name.

Were you expecting someone else? The voice was still amused.

Hinuk shook his head, "No, I knew you were meant for me!" With a triumphant smirk, D'seus's son turned to the waiting Stands and proclaimed, "His name is Imhoth!"

Suynie applauded, smiling as she looked to the Stands to see a proud D'seus. And just like that, the Hatching was over. The Sands were littered with shells, and already the Stands beginning to empty with people heading to get ready for the following festivities.

It went by too fast. Suynie complained.
Right, you are. They will make handsome contributions to the Weyr though, don't you agree? We have every right to celebrate tonight. There were no duds, no fatalities, and all of my children found suitable mates. Come, I am ready to be gone from these Sands.

Suynie sighed, she knew her dragon was right. Reaching down she picked up a colorful shard from The Jewel of Troy Egg. This she would place in her Weyr as a keepsake from Rhiannoth's first hatching.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Hinuk
Weyrbrat && Brat Pack Leader

B’hari was now off the sands, off to feed the first bronze hatchling of the clutch. He knew he should feel happy for his fellow Brat Pack member, they were almost as much family for him as D’seus and T’ran were. He should be elated they were all impressing so well thus far; not envious and jealous. Ah but it was hard to reason with the heart sometimes; and what was to be expected from a thirteen turn old brat?

”Hope I didn’t miss anything... You’re okay?”

It had been while Hinuk had been in this mild broody stage, finishing dusting off the sands from his form, that Tschermak and his voice had finally reached him; the boy turning to give the newest unofficial Brat Pack member a wide and cheeky grin. Just because he was upset it didn’t meant all of Pern needed to know about it.

”Not at all Tscher, things are just getting started. And hey, the Brat Pack’s sure making a name for itself now. T’ran impressed a fine brown before, Philibith, huuuge too. And now did you see Baha—B’hari? A bronze, a big bronze!”

Truly, he was joyful for his fellow friends... though he hated the way it also stung away in his chest. These feelings of envy and jealousy were really not his thing, he despised feeling such things for his lifelong friends, but how could he avoid it? That bronze had been so fine looking, why had it simply shoved him, the best of the lot, aside like he had been worth nothing more than the sands in which they all stood?

It was probably just wrong in the head or something, that golden tint to its hide was probably making it think like a Queen or something.

When the dark brown had come towards them Hinuk had been quick to guide Tschermak a bit away, something about the way the dragonet moved hadn’t sat well with him – and as the claws sunk into the nearby Rhodri the blond knew he’d made a good call. Even though the wound didn’t look too bad Tschermak was already injured as it was; another mauling might just as well kill the poor kid or something.

Seirsha would have Hinuk’s hide if such a thing happened under his watch, he was sure of it.

But while being attentive of Bernyth he had missed the two knew hatchlings; a very, very dark blue and a red hued brown. It was the lower ranked dragonet which took off first in a collision course towards the Weyrbrats, the sudden shifting of Tschermak as he saw the impending danger coming and tried to get out of the way making Hinuk look away from the previous brown and into this new threat. By Faranth’s eggshell; how was he supposed to stop that?!

”Oh come on, give the guy a break damnit!”

Really, was Tschermak a magnet for maulings or something? Before the blue could reach the kid, however, the red brown had bowled his brother over, making him skid in the sands before the blue finally moved elsewhere to impress. It was with a sigh of relief that he watched the dragonet move away, before turning in alarm as he remembered the scarlet hued dragonet now left.

But it was okay, he soon realized, the rainbows swirling in the young hatchling’s eyes signaling the impression in progress as he edged carefully closer to his chosen, almost protectively. He made sure to step a good pace or two away, giving the new bonded pair privacy as the blond quietly chewed the inside of his cheeks.

Why in the Red Star’s name was everyone of his pack impressing but him?!

He knew it wasn’t air to be angry, to get upset over such a trivial thing, but how much more did he need to wait in these scorching sands for the perfect bronze fitting only to him? He had been so sharding sure his dragon would be sired by the amazing Zorometh; and yet that stupid Rhiannoth’s genes had screwed up the sole bronze in the clutch so far. For such a large clutch all he was seeing were greens, and a few blues, what a scorching joke. He had always known that silly young queen and her annoying and clingy rider Suynie were nothing but a thorn in his side.

”Good luck...”

He had let his guard down, very down indeed, to not have heard Tschermak limp back; the sudden hug to his back given by the newly impressed weyrling catching the boy completely by surprise as he froze in faint stiffness. He corrected the mistake almost as fast, giving a slight awkward chuckle before patting the arm around him in return for the gesture. He really hadn’t expected it, not from T’mak; not after all those countless times they had made the poor boy’s life a living inferno to be honest.

”T-thanks man; but come on don’t leave your Rusath waiting! I bet he’s starving! Go feed him, come on; I bet I’ll join you in no time with the most handsome bronze you’ve ever seen at my side!”

He gave the boy a wink and his usual cheeky grin, finally watching him limp off towards the feeding tables as he waved once in congratulations; his other hidden hand balled into a tight fist as he gripped the white fabric of his robe. Why? Why was he feeling so negative with each impressions his friends made? There was no reason to, he should be just as happy or more than they were. Even T’mak, Hinuk should have been happy for the lad... he really was nothing more than a brat after all. Teeth gritted inwardly the boy turned to face the rest of the clutch with a stern gaze; though his mind was not taking into mind any event for a good while.

It had far more important things to nag him about; such as why he was being a poor friend to his fellow members. Had he not sworn to protect them when he established the Brat Pack; that they would be each other’s family and watch their backs? He should be happy for them; he should be just as happy as he knew D’seus would be im he was the one impressing. Then why was he having such negative feelings towards it all, why was he viewing it all with such a dark light?

To some the hatching might have seem like it dragged on forever, to him it felt like it had come and gone in the blink of an eye. Finally only two eggs were left; the massive and impressive Sphinx along with that pudgy and weird looking Buddha egg. And together they both hatched, revealing the second bronze of the clutch as well as another of the many greens it held.

While slightly smaller looking than Maximuth there was no denying this was a true bronze; that rich coppery sand shade, perfect and unblemished in any way, instantly captivating many in the audience as they cheered. He looked even more regal and handsome as the light reflected off him; the metallic shades known to all high ranks absolutely making him shine like a star in the boys eyes. Such a perfect, absolutely perfect, bronze he was...

And then he saw the flare of neon green, his attention grasped by the incoming pudgy jade colored dragonet making a beeline... straight at him.

No, it could not be. Fate could not be so cruel. Why, with such a handsome and perfect bronze on the sands, would that... that thing be coming straight at him?! It couldn’t be, it just couldn’t be! His eyes shut tightly in reflex, he did not ant to even risk glancing at the face of that green; h was not some common kid off the mill! He was Hinuk, the best damn thing to ever live and grace Pern with his presence, so why in Faranth’s scorching name was that threadforsaken green coming straight. At. Him?!

He’d brought in upon himself, that had to be it, he had drawn it to him due to all those angry and envious feelings towards his friends’ impressions. He’d been acting just as a stupid green dragon all this time; jealous, envious, upset. This was Faranth’s way of shitting on him for acting like such a spoiled brat. She was going to mount him on a pudgy, good for nothing female dragon, the lowest of the low ranks in the hierarchy of dragons, and make him the laughing stock of all of Pern to see.

Everything be damned, he’d rather be lost in a trip between than impress to such a thing!

Why are your eyes closed?
”Go away, you’re not mine! You’re not mi—“

There was just one solution of course, force the green to not impress him; force her to choose someone else. He had been about to do so, his eyes flying open as he glared up front for a few seconds before it was soon replaced by a stare of shock and confusion. The pudgy jade colored green was nowhere in sight.

”Her name is Newarith!!!”

Behind him a loud joyous cry came, startling Hinuk and making him jump a good inch or two in the air before he sharply turned to watch the candidate that had been behind him now lead the dragonet away from the sands. But if she hadn’t talked to him, then who—

”Y-you?!”
Were you expecting someone else?

It was with quick efficiency that his mind connected the dots faster than light, now turning to face the bronze hatchling standing before him; a somewhat amused and smug chuckling trickling into his mind from the newly formed connection between them.

”O-of course not! I absolutely knew you were the only one meant for me!”
Good to hear, my H’nuk. Now, how about we get out of this hot place, pleasant as it is, and get some food in my belly? I fear Kiiroth and Newarith might just devour it all if we linger for too long.
”No way those silly female dragons are leaving you, the best bronze of Pern, with nothing!”

With a confident stride he met the sandy bronze, scratching the eyeridges lovingly before he begun to lead the dragonet towards the tables; a pause given as he scanned the stands for the familiar face of his father. Finally spotting him the boy gave the biggest grin he’d ever had in his life, his hands cupping around his lips as he yelled out.

”His name is Imhoth!!!”

[SnickersPods]

The hatching was winding to a close, with only a smattering of dragonets left and a whole mess of broken shells. Two more greens hatched, Impressing quickly to a boy and a girl consecutively. The attention of the audience was waning Briac guessed, everyone assuming that the rest of the clutch would be relatively plain. He did not share their wandering interest, watching the next green with pleasure as the little bright female waddled by him. No matter how gracefully a newborn moved there was no getting around the fact that they did in fact, waddle. Their gazes caught for just a second and Briac, reacting instinctively to the drama inherent in any hatching, winked before the stare broke and she went to hers. He grinned as the hatchling's name was called out, and he knew he would remember little Aletath even as she stopped being so little. He even failed to notice, in his enjoyment that he was in fact grinning for the first time in longer than he cared to remember.

He turned back to the remaining eggs, shattering almost the moment his brown stare dropped on their unique shells. Instantly the cavern hummed with the intense concentrated interest of an invested people. Of the two last hatchlings, one was a bronze, and the other a little green who received very little attention aside from the reaction of one of the children near him. Briac quirked an eyebrow speculatively as the same child shut his eyes tight, little premature crow's feet appearing at the corners with the emphatic denial. He kept on speculating as the bronze stopped very clearly in front of Hinuk - Briac learnt his name sometime later - rainbow Impression swirling in the many facetted eyes as he looked on his new rider.

Finally, the WeyrBrat noticed his bonded was a Bronze, and Briac watched him light up as if he'd just been given a second life; which in fairness, he sort of had. As the last newly bonded cleared the sand the rejected Candidate's soon filed after, Briac among them. He put an extra touch of speed in his stride, reaching the safe haven beyond the sands and immediately sitting and removing his boots. As he sat there, he tipped the wher hide footwear upside down and watched the fine sand trickle out. It is a universally known fact that sand, from all walks of life, somehow finds a way into everything; contrary to any and all efforts made to keep it out. Working in a Glass-hall meant working with copious amounts of sand, especially the fine white type needed to produce it, which is almost powdery to begin with. Briac had more than enough experience with it, and over the years, his skin had developed a kind of natural sand repellent, or so it seemed to him. Somehow, however, it always got into his boots.

He hooked his elbows on his eyelevel knee and looked around him, spotting the new batch of Weyrlings receiving their first ever lesson, so far away from him that they could almost pass for flits. Except for green flits, Briac thought, couldn't abide the nasty things.

[HG]

Rhodri continued to watch the Hatching, the heat of the Sands just beginning to irritate the young man’s booted feet. He knew the numerous dragonets coming and going were passing him by and he felt a slight sinking in his stomach. He could be left here with nothing but a horribly injured thigh. He was aware of the sudden hush as the Queen finally graced the Weyr with her presence but the silence was short-lived as loud cheering followed. He watched the clumsiest of the dragonets searching to find her own life-mate among the young women.

At first the Queen seemed to be taking her time. He found his eyes were glued to the beautiful creature along with almost everyone at the Weyr. The youth made no attempt to move, even as he saw her coming close to Nayza. Then he saw how clumsy se was acting and that like himself, Nayza was too involved in trying to Impress the dragonet so she would not move out of the way, even if to some of them it was quite clear the dragonet was headed elsewhere.

He couldn’t move quickly enough to the female’s semi-circle as he watched the unthinkable happen to Nayza. He could care less about the dangers in that moment. He walked slowly, hobbling to his young friend’s side. When he reached her the Queen had Impressed to Therion and was leaving the Sands. In his single-minded mission to get to Nayza, Rhodri missed the rest of the Hatching. Perhaps he would have found his life mate if he wasn’t so concerned? He pushed such trivial thoughts out of his way. The only thing he could do when he reached her was watch the Healers do their work. So he took her hand and promised her that he would see her soon.

If he could only promise himself the same, but Rhodri was not as naieve as some when it came to injuries and death. She was losing a good deal of blood. The Gold had come at her chest and practically pummeled her into the Sand there. No, Rhodri had no love for Kiiroth at that moment but then many Weyr folk went through this. There was a very real danger in standing for a Clutch. It was why the Candidate Master insisted they turn away fear. Even with runners it was better not to show weaknesses.

He began to feel lightheaded as the Hatching ended and found himself laying on them next to Nayza. They were both being taken to the Infirmary for healing. Before he could blink, he was being swallowed by darkness. Then nothing, nothing at all.