HOME FIRES MISTS LIFEBLOOD SPOKES
Dorn snorts and looks over at Kiashi. "I always'll have chores, no matter
what I do."
Gina looks out from reorganizing her press, now that she's almost out of
weaving supplies. "Lal was sure it'd be soon, and they are like rock!"
Polly looks over at Dorn and smiles, a quick giggle escaping, "I think
you might be right Dorn. Chores do seem to follow you."
Dorn rills his eyes at the girls and snorts softly, a permanant grin
asfixiated on his face.
Kiashi looks up at the sky and says, melodramatically, placing one hand
on her heart--"Yes, but its the specific chores. For example, I had a
nightmare last night about a lifetime of dusting, never being allowed to
stop. Which is why I woke up with a shout, sweating--and sneezing."
Yazric wanders into the cavern, a fresh sheaf of hides in his hands.
Polly yawns and stretches slightly, "Don't know why I'm so tired today.
I'm used to the chores by now. Must be all the dust and ash in the Weyr."
Gina laughs but makes a seacrafter gesture to avert ill luck. "Don't say
that, Kiashi!"
Kiashi grins wryly. "Consider it unsaid."
Polly looks around the quarters, a slow mischievous grin coming to her
face, "Hey, why don't we all sneak down for an evening swim. It'd sure
feel nice this evening."
Kiashi glances about at the others.
Yazric looks up from his hide, "Oh. Lots of people." he blinks,
re-focussing back into reality.
Alexandra looks about and says, "I wonder, shouldn't we all be about
doing chores?" she giggles. "Or are we all playing hooky?"
You say "I am doing a chore, I'm neatening my press."
Grego grins over to Yazric. "I'm finished mine," he tells Alexandra. "But
I'm not sure I want to get all ashy again. Faranth, but that's annoying."
Polly smiles and look at Alexandra, "I finished my chores for the day. At
least, if I don't get caught."
Alexandra nods and says, "It is more than annoying it is bad for your
health." she shivers a little and clears her throat again.
Iriane quietly slips into the room headed straight for her cot, absently
listening to the others chatter around her.
You say "Haven't you been covering your face?"
Kiashi keeps messing about trying to get her own area clean.
Yazric rolls his eyes as he flops on his cot, "I've done enough chores to
last me forever. I'm taking time off for me." he grins, "I snuck out some
dragonhealing hides." he informs Grego.
Grego tsks at Yazric. "Shame, shame," he says, with a grin that is
obviously approving.
Alexandra paces a little and says aloud, "Do they even know when this
will stop!?" she seems to be getting a little edgy.
Yazric looks over to Alexandra, "When what will stop?"
Gina kneels and with a dirty skirt sweeps out from under her cot.
Alexandra looks at Yazric and says, "Huh?" she blinks and then says,
"What? Oh... I'm sorry. I have cramps." she smiles sheepishly.
Kiashi winces, sympathetically.
Yazric nods, "My sympathies, just dont throw things, kay?"
Alexandra giggles and says, "Oh... I won't. I mean throw things that is."
Kaci giggles. "Or if you, just don't aim 'em at us."
Kiashi grins wryly. "Or, if you aim 'em at us, make sure they're soft."
Polly sneezes softly from the ash and dust that Gina's cleaning has
lifted into the air, she looks at Alexandra, "Have you checked with the
healer, they could give you something to ease those."
Grego tosses a balled up tunic at Alexandra. "Throw this, if you like,"
he says, with a grin.
You say "After being around proddy riders, I will never feel bad about
that time again! Whoops, sorry Polly!"
Yazric grins, "Mom had a bit of a temper, especially oh say once a month
or so." he laughs and nods to Gina, "No kidding."
Alexandra giggles at all the comments and catches the tunic. She glares
at Grego and charges him... stopping just shy of running him over and
drops the tunic on him. "I said I wouldn't throw anything." she winks to
him.
Polly turns to look at Gina and grins, "Don't worry about it. I've tried
cleaning up too. Not sure it's possible any more."
Kiashi sings an improvised, four line "Ode to The Grey, Ash Covered,
Candidate Brigade."
Grego grabs his pillow in mock-defense as Alexandra charges him. As she
stops, he thwaps her with it--gently, but it's a thwap, nonetheless.
Elle smiles and yawns a tiny bit. "Evening" she says with a quite voice.
Yazric laughs, picking up a clean shirt of his own and tossing it at
Alexandra.
Iriane pulls a few rumpled tunics from her press, shaking each out before
folding it, grinning as Grego gets attacked with a pillow.
Gina pokes her head up from her sweeping. "Who has laundry duty tomorrow?
Anyone know?"
Alexandra tries to duck Yazric's shirt, catching it on her left arm.
"You!" she exclaims as she throws it back.
Yazric shakes his head as he picks up his own pillow in defense of his
own flying clothing, "Not me Gina! I had it today."
Gina mutters to herself, "... matters.... ash.... be... the... my..."
You mutter to yourself, "Not like it matters. ALL my clothes are covered
with ash. They'll all be grey for the rest of my life, at this rate."
Gina says, louder, "I really hope it's not me. Either I'm imagining
things, or it was coming down harder today. I went by the lake it it
looked like a mud puddle."
Kiashi says, "I hope I don't, the way you people are throwing shirts
around. A mud puddle? Oh yuck."
Grego waves his pillow at Kia, his menacing expression patently false.
"Now, now. We're not getting them dirty." He grins.
Alexandra looks around and grabs somone's pillow and throws it at Kiashi.
"Here, catch." she giggles.
Kiashi oofs as two pillows catch her. She giggles and tosses them back at
both culprit's heads.
Alexandra ducks quickly, letting the pillow fly overhead.
Gina gets hit square by the pillow Alexandra ducked and yelps! "HEY!"
You say "Oh, that's just the living end!" She's grinning hugely, though.
"My honor demands I retaliate!"
Grego catches his pillow, with a laugh. "Ah! Two at once. And y'got Gina
into the bargain." Looking quite amused at the situation, he backs
against his cot, pillow held at the ready.
Yazric laughs, throwing an available cushion into the fray, heading right
for Grego.
Alexandra laughs and runs for her cot. "I'm innocent!" she yells as she
runs.
Kiashi laughs, "Sure you are!"
Elle giggles and smiles. Watching the antics of the room. making sure no
one tosses anything at her.
Grego yelps at Yazric's approach, hopping atop his cot. "A defensive
position," he announces, with a grin. From his higher spot, he takes aim
for Yazric's back.
Yazric laughs, taking a swipe at Grego's knees with his own pillow, "En
garde!"
Alexandra laughs and tries to grab her pillow before she is caught by any
flying objects. She laughs and says, "Everyone get Kiashi!!!"
Kiashi snatches up another cushion and tries to sneak up on Grego,
holding it high.
Nathel pushes aside the curtain across the exit to go out into the east
cavern.
Kiashi stops, blinks, giggles. "Me?"
Grego is too distracted by the kneethwap to notice Kia's approach.
Retaliating with another swipe of his own, he's totally oblivious to
anybody else.
Kiashi notes that Grego isn't paying attention and tries to *thwap* Grego
lightly over the head with her pillow.
Throughout the Weyr, a low-pitched humming begins to tremble on the air,
so deeply pitched as almost not to be heard at first--but quickly rising
into an audible sound of draconic anticipation.
Chibi yawns and glances about at all the others..
Gina decides Grego is well-taken care of and launches herself at Quilen.
The Harper has done this many times as an apprentice, however, and is
about to retaliate when he, and Gina, stop dead in their tracks.
Alexandra grabs her pillow and turns to attack Kiashi. "You deserve it!"
she yells at her fellow ex-healer apprentice.
Elle blinks and a smile creeps across her face, hearing the sounds from
the dragons.
Kiashi yells, "Deserve it? What did I do? Hey. What's that noise?"
Yazric laughs, returning with a pillow thwap only moment after Kiashi's.
He pauses, listening, "Hmm, dont think we've got long to wait kids."
Quilen says, softly, "Oh, SHELLS. That's no earthquake."
Dorn turns his head for a moment at the noise. "What is that?" he says
quietly, his face tense.
Grego, besmacked, tumbles rather comically to his cot. "I'm killed!" he
announces. Then he hears the humming, and scrambles to his feet. Turning
towards Yaz, he inquires, "Is that...it?"
Madalyn makes her way in from the lower caverns.
Gina's face goes white. "Oh, Faranth! That's not..."
L'tan makes his way in from the lower caverns.
Alexandra freezes in her tracks, pillow over her head. "Uh...." is all
she utters.
Iriane freezes mid shirt... "Oh dear."
Yazric nods to Grego, "I'm sure of it." he turns just in time to see
L'tan enter.
Tamina makes her way in from the lower caverns.
Dorn looks over at L'tan quickly and stands up off his cot.
"Did --" Pant, pant --" You hear that. They're going to /hatch/!"
Madalyn's breathless voice, though calm in a peculiar way, heralds her
entrance; immediately making for her cot, the candidate reaches for the
folded bundle of her robe. "It's time.."
Tothun makes his way in from the lower caverns.
Kila makes her way in from the lower caverns.
Gina dives over her cot for her press. The just-straightened mass of
clothes is tossed in a glob on her cot as she grabs for her robe.
Nathel makes his way in from the lower caverns.
Kiashi makes a sound very like, "ack!" and snatches for her robe.
Chibi sits up in her cot, peering about frantically, "Time? It's time?"
She dives for her robe, throwing it on haphhazardly..
Mertinel looks up and grins excitedly at Madalyn. "They are?" Her
breathing is equally breathless.
Tothun comes in at a run. He hurries over to his cot, stripping out of
his clothes and pulling on the robe he has ready.
"No so fast!" Kila calls, trying to both shout, and sound calming at the
same time. "We're no needing any robes torn in haste."
Gina is glad she took a shower after dinner. She digs through the mass of
fabric for something to use to tie back her hair.
Elle smiles and quickly throws on her robe, trying not to fidget to much.
Merien makes her way in from the lower caverns.
Alexandra climbs into Alexandra's cot, sitting next to you.
Tamina kicks off her sandals and almost trips, hurriedly digging for her robe.
Dorn scrambles about and grabs for his robe, throwing it over his head in
a flash of white material, wiggling out of his clothes underneath.
"I'm having some white ribbons, for those as need them for their hair,"
Kila offers, rummaging in her press for both ribbons and robes.
Polly finally wipes the dumbfounded look off her face and quickly changes
into her candidate's robe, blushing the whole time.
Grego's fingers all turn into thumbs, and he fumbles frantically with his
press for a moment, before finally opening it. "Feh," he breathes,
tugging off his clothing and replacing it with his robe.
Crease by minute crease, Madalyn unfolds the white cloth of her robe,
hastily removing her other clothing -- not before stepping behind her
cot. Stepping into her robe, she smooths is testingly against her skin.
Merellia makes her way in from the lower caverns.
Kayala snatches her robe out of her press and hurriedly reties her curls
up out of her face with a white cord.
Merien comes in frowning, hands on her hips. She salutes Merellia and
L'tan.
Iriane quickly changes, tossing her twin's robe at him, staring off.
Kiashi throws the robe over her head and yanks her clothes off
underneath. "Shards," she says, over and over again, breathless.
Gina bathed, really. She plaits her hair quickly, although it takes
shaking finger s few times to get it right. She slips the robe on over
her clothes, then takes her oldclothes off from underneath. The plait is
done up with a ribbon gratefully accepted from Kila.
G'fen makes his way in from the lower caverns.
Kaci dives for her press, carefully lifting out the white robe stashed
within. Takes her a minute to remember to remove her regular clothes
before pulling the shift on.
Gina(#10518Pceh)
Grey eyes sparkle with wary excitement as this young woman stands
before you. About five and a half feet tall, she's almost lost the sick
pallor she had before summer. Her slender form is garbed in a simple
white robe, and her dark hair is pulled back into a plait and tied at the
end with a cord of bleached leather. She shifts from bare foot to bare
foot, both excited and scared, and maybe a bit hot.
Chibi bundles herself in her robe and ties back her lengthy blonde hair..
Dorn looks over at Kila and shakes his head as he ties his hair back into
a runnertail with a piece of cord he's saved. "Shards" he mumbles towards
Madalyn and the others as he stands to attention towards the riders.
M'hryn makes his way in from the lower caverns.
Kila slips out of her dress and into her robes, before changing the
ribbon securing her plait to a new, white one. She gives a final,
straightening twitch to her clothing, then straightens herself as well.
"There."
Kiashi stands at attention as well, chewing on her lower lip.
Alexandra climbs out of Alexandra's cot.
Elle stands at attention before the riders, hands behind her back finger
notted together.
Iriane scrambles to get her robe straightened, smoothing down wrinkles
that might not matter anyway.
Tamina pitches her old clothes across her cot and heads over to join the
growing crowd of candidates.
Gina shoves the bundle of clothes back into her press, takes a deep
breath, and closes her eyes to center.
"It fits well, afterall.." muses Madalyn; ivory hued cloth billowed about
her form, the candidate's eyes light with a mixture of nervousness and
excitement. In vain, they dart to Dorn. "Dorn?"
Kaci twitches nervously at her robe as she straightens to attention.
Tothun straightens the robe on himself, standing as tall as his legs will
allow, but the look on his face shows more nervousness than anything
else. He looks then to the weyrleaders, fidgetting excitedly.
Merellia sweeps into the cavern, the elegant autumnal cloth of her skirt
rustling about her ankles; despite the finery of her clothes and
anticipation of the event at hand, the Weyrwoman's expression is faintly
tinged with green, and she's wiping at the corners of her mouth with a
handkerchief as she enters. Touching L'tan's arm as she arrives, her
attention glances over the Candidates speculatively. "As soon as you're
all dressed, we," with a gesture to the Weyrleader and members of the
Weyrlingmaster team at hand, "Will be leading you onto the sands. Please
remember: no jewelry, no glitters, just the robe and a thong to tie back
your hair if necessary."
Grego tugs his robe just a little lower, muttering something about hems
and additions. Then he gives himself a small shake. "They're not going to
care."
Kila eyes Merellia with some concern, and looks about to speak; then she
mutely nods.
Dorn glances back at Madalyn. "I'm here" he whispers before looking at
the Weyrwoman with a smug nod.
Gina nods, her expression a bit more centered. She salutes the
Weyrleaders respectfully.
Polly fidgets where she stands, torn between wanting to be done with
candidacy and the desire for it to never end. She sighs softly and smiles
warmly at the gathered candidates.
Kiashi bobs her head up and down, checking herself over for jewelry that
has never been there before. She blushes sheepishly as she realizes what
she's doing and throws her hands behind her back.
Tothun swallows a little, reaching back to tocuh his hair as if he isn't
quite sure himself how long it is. He stands at attention again quickly.
Madalyn scans her appearance, stepping sidewards and forwards in
inspection. Sinewy strands of fiery crimson tugged backwards into a
miniscule runnertail, she takes quick steps towards Dorn. "Ready?" Eyes
dart to Merellia. "I am ready, I think."
Chibi stands at attention, pulling at her robes fretfully. She gives a
fellow aprentice a nervous half-smile, then turns her attention to the
Weyrwoman, ready for anything.
Merien begins looking the candidates up and down assessingly.
Alexandra just stands and fidgets.
Kayala smooths down her robe one last time and hurries over to join her
friends, grinning with suppressed excitement.
Alexandra bites her lower lip as she is looked over.
Elle smiles, not quite knowing what to say, so she nods and makes sure
she has everthing correct on her. Fear and wild anticipation make her
rock slightly back and forth on her feet.
Kila runs her eye over the other Candidates, frowning a little at a
crooked hem, offering smiles to those who seem nervous. Then she
remembers to turn her eyes forwards and stand straight for the more
official inspection.
G'fen stays near the back, staring at the candidates as he watches
calmly.
Merellia tucks the handkerchief away into a pocket hidden by the blousing
hem of her tunic. "You'll bow to the sire and dam, then form yourselves
into a large semi-circle." Without pausing in the flow of her litany, she
continues smoothly, "Grego, please take one of the standard robes out of
that chest," inclining her head to the one where extra candidate robes
are stored, "and put it on, please." Firmly, "Do not touch the
hatchlings. Unless one Impresses to you. Don't think about food, or being
hungry. Keep your thoughts as calm as possible, and wait to see what
happens."
Polly composes herself where she stands and looks around at the gathered
candidates, "Well, looks like the time has finally arrived." Her face
pales slightly and she puts a hand over her stomach.
Gina steps away from her cot, ready to step into her new life, or not.
Either way, this is the most special night of her life.
Kiashi listens carefully.
Grego nods to Merellia, moving quickly to do as she requests.
Breathe drawn, only to be languidly exhaled, the candidate remains still
besides Dorn; chin held upwards in it's dignified tilt, Madalyn attempts
to present herself with a calm dignity, yet nothing conceals the constant
trembling of her fingertips.
Tothun nods a bit to the weyrwoman, rocking a little on his feet as he
stands there, waiting.
Dorn nods his head, his fingers twitching like a trundlebug under the hot
sun. "Aye" me says mutely as he glances over at Madalyn, forcing a smile
on his face.
Yazric listens quietly, nodding as he absorbs what Merri is saying.
Merellia rests her hands on her hips, giving the candidates a final
once-over; her skin resuming more of its normal tanned coloring, she's
still a bit greenish nevertheless, though steady on her feet. "Alexandra,
you too. Get a new robe now." Addressing the rest of the Candidates, "Any
questions?"
Tamina glances over at Grego and winces a little, then turns her
attention toward Merellia nervously.
Kayala joins the nervous group, offering an encouraging smile.
Iriane casts an anxious look at Nathel, who seems to stand there with a
near oblivious look on his face. She edges towards him, while listening
to the Weyrwoman speak.
Kiashi shakes her head vigorously.
Kaci shakes her head slowly with a very quiet, "No, ma'am."
Elle shakes her head no to Merellia, and glaces around at the rest of her
candidate friends, and smiles.
Dorn coughs a little and shakes his head. "If I had any questions, they
dissapeared from me head when them dragons started hummin."
Alexandra blinks a few times and then nods to Merellia, "Yes ma'am." she
turns and retrieves a new robe.
Tothun shakes his head a little, opening his mouth as if to echo Kaci.
His mouth moves with the words, but no sound comes out.
Alexandra climbs into Alexandra's cot, sitting next to you.
Madalyn draws her back erect, pine hued orbs fastened adroitly onto the
Weyrwoman.No questions from me.." Head shakes to accompany her statement,
she takes another deep breath.
Tollot trails along near Grego, his bulging eyes now buggy with terror.
Kila smiles reassuringly at the Weyrwoman, and gives a firm "No
questions, ma'am," although the speed of her breathing betrays
nervousness.
Merien clears her throat. "No firelizards on the sands. Or any other
animals besides candidates."
Polly shakes her head no, and keeps on shaking it for several moments
until she realizes that she looks idiotic. She blushes slightly and
stands erect, hands folded neatly over her stomach.
L'tan stands with his arms crossed over his chest, a stern expression on
his face.
Tamina shakes her head to Merellia and rubs her clammy hands down her
robe.
Kiashi rocks back and forth on her heels, taking deep breaths.
Kaci glances at her cot, giving the baby brown firelizard perched on her
pillow a stern look.
Chibi shakes her head solemnly, her whole personality changed in her
nervous wait..
Merellia takes another breath. "All right." Gesturing to the
weyrlingmasters in the cavern, she adds, "If you Impress, one of the
weyrlingmasters will direct you to a corner of the hatching sands along
with your lifemate. There's food there, and oil if they complain of being
itchy."
Iriane snickers softly and quickly wipes it from her face, from the look
that L'tan has on his face.
Dorn looks over at his cot, just swarming with the little creatures and
sighs softly. "Aye, aye" he says, nodding as he listens closely to the
Weyrwoman's every word.
Alexandra climbs out of Alexandra's cot.
M'hryn stands near Merien, watching the Candidates quietly. He inclines
his head as Merellia mentions the weyrlingmasters.
Tothun nods a bit once more to the weyrwoman.
Madalyn blinks astonished orbs to Merellia, then towards the
weyrlingmasters; a quick motion to Caprio situated atop her cot, the
brown gives a disgruntled snort. Yet, Madalyn, attention focused
elsewhere, ignores him.
Gina nods, her face very still. No hunger, no nerves. Calm. Really.
Kayala shifts her weight from one foot to the other and wedges in between
Yazric and Churrun. SHe nods as she assimilates Merellia's instructions.
Yazric holds his hand out mutely to Kayala, giving her a gentle smile.
Nathel chews almost distractedly on a fingernail, looking like he's not
paying attention... but it's just nerves, really.
G'fen stands up.
Kiashi licks her lips again and takes a few more deep breaths.
Churrun eyes Kayala as she takes Yazric's hand and tucks his own in under
his elbows so she can't even try to take one of his.
As normal, Madalyn's roving gaze searches for Chibi's evident form.
Finding the girl, her arm's insistent becon is obvious. Besides Dorn, she
occasionally sways against his side, muted 'Sorries' heard now and then.
Merien stands near Merellia and L'tan, hands clasped behind her back.
Alexandra shakes and looks as though she might just make herself sick
with nerves.
G'fen walks slowly over to his spot behind the Weyrlingmaster, still
silent and somber.
Kila's gaze seeks out Grego. Slipping through the other Candidates until
she can actually see him without being blocked by taller bodies, she
offers him a sypathetic glance for his change of robes.
L'tan says "If anyone has any last minute questions, now is the time to
ask them."
Gina shakes her head.
Elle shakes her head, even if she did she probably would not say
anything.
"I have none.." is calmly -- or at least, feigned calmness -- said as
Madalyn rocks upon her heels.
Kiashi shakes her head as well. A little too vigourously.
Dorn shakes his head nervously and leans against the wall. "No sir."
Kayala gives her head a small shakes and takes a long breath, steadying
herself.
Grego gives Kila a small smile, scooting over to make room for her. As
L'tan speaks, he shakes his head, mumbling, "No, sir."
Kaci shakes her head. For once, she hasn't a question in mind.
As if her feet are tied to rocks, Chibi makes her way laborously to
Madalyn. She clasps the girls hand with her own, her palm clammy, and her
eyes wide with aprehension. SHe slowly shakes her head..
Nathel looks as if he might ask something, but the jab he receives from
Iriane makes him close his mouth again and mutely shake his head.
Alexandra shakes her head and looks a little green. "None here sir."
Tothun's eyes move to some of the other candidates, searching out Dorn,
Grego, and Chibi in particular it seems. But, soon after he looks back to
the weyrleaders.
Tamina crosses her arms and hugs herself in excitement and shakes her
head quickly, "No sir."
Dorn glances over towards Tothun and flashes him a warm reassuring smile.
Polly looks at the Weyrleaders, her faced visibly, if not actually,
composed. She shakes her head slightly, "No questions from me." She
speaks softly and slowly.
Alexandra swallows and puts her hands down at her sides. She continues to
shake a little and bites down on her lower lip, steadying herself?
Kiashi closes her eyes for a moment. Takes several deep breaths. She
opens them again, face calm, almost expressionless.
Merellia takes a breath, spine straightening. "Ready, then." Inclining
her head towards a curtained-off 'stairs', "We'll go this way to the
Sands." That said, she brushes aside the curtain and heads through them.
Merellia heads down the stairs.
Madalyn heads down the stairs.
Kiashi heads down the stairs.
You walk down the stairs, emerging into a corridor only lit by evenly
spaced glowbaskets. As you walk down the corridor, one thing noticible is
that there are no branching corridors off this corridor. You emerge on
the Hatching Sands. There is no turning back now.
Hatching Sands(#1296RADas$)
The black sand beneath your feet reminds you of standing on a beach at
midday. Heat from the sands pentrates to your feet, making you
uncomfortable. This huge cavern arcs over your head in black matte rock,
while the tiers of the Galleries provide seating for spectators. A
glorious array of eggs lie spread across the heated obsidian-glimmering
sands of the Istan Hatching grounds. Scattered on the midnight-dark
grains like jewels across velvet or the bright speckles of stars in the
evening sky, eggs glimmer in all hues: brightly-colored violets are
mounded about by sand, mixing with vermilion, viridian, pastel shades
with delicate traceries of designs. The most prominent of these is the
richly gleaming luminescence of a solitary golden egg, taking the pride
of place among the clutch. Phediath cradles the golden egg possessively,
while Solarith looms protectively nearby.
(Type 'view eggs' to see a list of visible eggs.)
The people here on the dark sands are Madalyn, T'saren, Kiashi,
Madelynda, and Merellia.
Besides the span of the galleries to the south, one can head over towards
the entrance to the hatching grounds, or into one of the Queen's tunnels
to the southeast and southwest.
Grego comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Elle comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Yazric comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Alexandra comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Kaci comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Tamina comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Iriane comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Nathel comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Magnificent Host Egg shudders against two of its fellows, tiny tapping
sounds coming from within before subsiding.
Dorn walks onto the sands from the entrance to the Hatching Grounds.
G'fen comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
A look of incredulous awe overcomes Madalyn's expression as she enters;
eye's pine hue immediately swept towards the queen and her mate.
"Greetings, Phediath and Madelynda." Sweeping bow is given, "And to you,
T'saren and Solarith."
Merien walks onto the sands from the entrance to the Hatching Grounds.
Tothun comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Kila comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Mertinel comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
T'saren nods his head to the candidates as they begin to come in, keeping
a hand on his lifemate to calm the bronze a bit.
Ancient Cunning Egg has arrived.
Tothun lets out a yelp as his bare feet first touch the hoy sands. He
stumbles onward though, hurrying along with the other candidates.
Several small cracks appear in the shell of the Cursed Landscape Egg
before it goes motionless again.
G'fen walks around the perimeter of the sands, heading for the waiting
area for the new weyrlings.
Polly comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
G'fen walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
M'hryn comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Alexandra looks around and tries to keep herself sane. She looks at the
myriad of eggs on the sands and all the people in the stands and puts a
hand to her mouth. She seems a bit nervous to the look of her.
Chibi walks in, head hanging down, and almost topples over anotehr
candidate as they stop to bow before the queen and her mate. REmembering
her directions, she gives a quick bow before wandering over to the eggs
with the rest of the white clad group.
Kiashi gives a low bow as well, but appears far less speechless then
Maddie.
Ancient Cunning Egg wobbles a little bit in its place, edging a little
bit first to one side, and then to the other.
Gina edges closer to Dorn as she makes her hot-stepping way across the
sands.
L'tan comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
As one, the candidates bow their respect to the queen. Well except for
Aryadh, who is looking up at the stands, her mouth open in a gape. She
gets an elbow in the side from Kale and she belatedly bows.
Elle bows in respect to the queen and her mate, and hurries over to the
rest of the candidates.
Madalyn returns to her upright posture, calming breath taken as she
inspects her surrounds: The Ancient Cunning Egg, it's occasional tremble.
Inched steps moving alongside several candidates, Madalyn situates
herself within the outer corner of the semi-circle.
Merien pauses to murmur to the other weyrlingmasters.
L'tan goes to stand next to Merellia. His arms across his chest and a
stern expression on his face.
Sandy Scarred Egg dances in place briefly, leaving a scuffle in the ebony
sand before it again settles down to rest.
Kila reaches over, past Grego, to give Tothun a comforting pat on the
shoulder, then nudges the candidate on herother side to get into line.
Phediath, eyes whirling quickly, watches with head lowered as the
candidates bow. In a prideful response, the queen swishes her tail across
the black sand and changes her low hum to a welcoming croon, even as the
eggs start rocking before her.
M'hryn nods at Merien's murmer as he steps back, away from the
semi-circle of Candidates.
Elle shifts back and forth on her feet, trying to not be so nervous.
Dorn's mouth is dry as he seaches the ground for his friends, giving each
a nod of encouragement as he shifts about nervously. "Shards" he murmurs,
watching the eggs.
Tothun takes up formation with the other candidates, eyes focuses on the
jittering eggs. He rocks a little from one foot to the other. He glances
up to Kila as he feels her hand on his shoulder, and smiles nervously.
T'saren smiles at the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman and salutes them jauntily
before turning back to the eggs and candidates surrounding them.
Kiashi gets into the semi-circle, standing still, now that she's in
place, save for the occasional shift from foot to foot, whether from the
heat, or nerves, or both, is hard to say.
Grego's gaze is distracted form the eggs by Kila's movement. "S'okay,
kiddo," he stagewhispers.
Tollot practically clings to Grego, his mouth as agape as his eyes are
bulging.
Ancient Cunning Egg gives an experimental sort of rock now, shifting back
and forth, back and forth, and dislodging little granules of dark sand
from the micromound on which it perches.
Polly's eyes are wide with surprise. She shifts softly from foot to foot
as she watches the rocking eggs, trying to take them all in at once.
Tamina reaches up an arm to wipe at her forehead as she moves in with the
other candidates. She wipes her hands down her robe again and watches the
eggs, holding her breath.
"Shards, there'll be some.." Madalyn's wry smile momentarily juts towards
Dorn. Taking to his side, her sandaled feet delve partially into the
blistering sands. "And hot, too.."
Iriane grabs onto Nathel's hand, shifting uncomfortably on the hot
sands... so much hotter than home!
Kayala comes out of a yawning tunnel onto the Hatching Sands.
Alexandra looks about and seems more than nervous as she tries to
concentrate on all the things going on around her at once.
Yazric holds Kayala's hand, leaning over to murmer something quietly to
her.
Gina shifts from foot to foot. These sands are enough to fry these poor
eggs, no wonder they're trying to hatch! She ignores the stands, and
tries hard to ignore the beat of many wings overhead as latecomers
arrive.
Merellia's glance canvasses the candidates arrayed loosely around the
eggs, then the eggs themselves, taking into account the vigor with which
they're rocking. Crossing to L'tan, she touches the Weyrleader's arm,
indicating a particular one to him with a slight smile.
Kayala walks slowly after the group, appearing resolved and to calm a bit
with Yazric's assurance.
Tothun's eyes focus again on the eggs, and particularly the one that is
rocking. He fidgets a little.
Dorn nods his head and reaches his hand down for Madalyn's hand. "There
will be plenty that's for sure."
:peers at the eggs with far away gaze as she stands stock still and
mute. The sands beneath her decide to give her some impetus and she
hisses, lifting a foot quickly. This seems to have done it as she looks
about the sands with amazement, as if she doesn't know how she got there.
She quickly trots over to Madalyn, standing besides the girl as she sighs
gustily.
Solarith turns his head to Phediath and gives her a happy croon, tail
thumping in the sand before returning his whirling blue gaze to the eggs.
The Snow-Decked Forest and Swans and Eagles eggs split open at
practically the same time, spilling a bronze and a brown in different
directions. Each of the dragonets turns to gaze at the other for a long
moment in curiosity, then with sniffs and two tiny rumbles of disgust,
they move in the direction of the circle of candidates. A slim young lad
from Balen Hold with an engaging smile drops to his knees and wraps his
arms around the bronze's neck, calling out "He says his name is
Mirinuth!" and becoming Q'len; the brown goes to a sturdy blonde-haired
lass from Benden Hold, who nudges her with his muzzle before an assistant
weyrlingmaster helps the first pairs to a corner of the Sands.
Alexandra shivers, as if chilled, but dances as the heat from the sands
finally get to her feet. She looks down and says, "My lord it's hot on
this sand." she looks up again, and looks about at the moving eggs.
Kayala watches with wide eyes as it all happens so fast.
Gina blinks and cheers! "Keppa! You got brown!" Her eyes sparkle with
excitement for her friend.
Childhood Mysteries Egg has arrived.
Hands clasp immediately to her mouth; a sigh, purely in awe, Madalyn's
unwavered voice mentions: "Q'len. Oh, that's wonderful!" A tear threatens
to fall, though her gaze steals towards the eggs themselves.
Kaci glances around, wide-eyed, trying to take everything in at once. She
gives a soft whistle as the eggs hatch.
Childhood Mysteries Egg trembles slightly, wiggling in an almost hesitant
manner.
Grego, standing on one foot, windmills just a bit as he tries to follow
the courses of both brown and bronze. He grins suddenly, then shifts to
his other foot.
Dorn blinks at watches the first of the dragonets break free of their
confinds. "Brown first hatched!" he says joyously with the others.
Tamina watches the first impression and can't help but beam at the first
pair. She turns back to watch the other eggs.
Elle smiles and is lost in all the excitemnt, a big smile forming on her
face as she shifts back and forth the sands hot upon her bare feet.
Yazric stands still for the time being, watching the hatchlings with a
grin.
Kila picks her feet up smartly one then the other, without moving from
her position. At the suddenness of the first to shell-crackings, her hand
fumbles for Grego's, even as she whispers a reassurance to the nervously
shaking girl on her other side.
Kiashi just watches the eggs, not participating in any of the chatter,
not looking at the other candidates, looking only at the eggs, perhaps
too nervous to concentrate on anything else.
Tothun watches everything happen, eyes even wider as everything happens.
His attention turns then to the Childhood Mysteries egg, catching it's
movement. He watches, swallowing.
Dorn looks over and sees the bronze and just shakes his head. "Luck" he
whisper to both Madalyn and Gina.
Merien escorts the new lifemates to the corner of the sand where the food
and oil await.
Gina grabs Dorn's hand as she rocks from side to side.
Kayala offers a happy grin to the new lifemates and watches Tothun as the
next egg wobbles.
Grego squeezes Kila's hand a little too tightly, then mumbles an apology
as he realizes what he's doing. "Little nervous," he adds unnecessarily.
"You --" voice drops into a discrete whisper, "You too, Dorn." Madalyn's
pine eyes give an excited spark, though they immediately turn once more
towards the eggs.
Polly notices the two quick impressions and nods approvingly, "If only
the rest of the hatching is as smooth." She says softly to one of the
candidates beside her. She smiles at the new pairs.
Alexandra swallows and watches as the actions around her go on. She looks
out of place as she doesn't seem to be looking at the eggs, rather the
other candidates. She smiles once and then turns back looking at the
goings on. She squeezes her hands shut and takes a deep breath.
The gentle sounds of careful cracking on the Ancient Cunning Egg reveal,
one tiny shard at a time, a dotted snout, a massive claw, and eventually,
a blue head, shoulders, and paper-thin wings.
Childhood Mysteries Egg moves with more vigor, the hatchling within
tapping against the enclosing walls of the eggshell.
Gallant Granite Blue Hatchling
Pocked richly with a myriad of blue hues, this hatchling appears a
collage of stone-cold colors, solidifying and fusing together into
vibrant beauty. Along his rounded chest, surprisingly firm and taut
despite being fresh from shell, flame blue circlets are set against
creamy, ice-toned shades that seem misplaced upon a dragon's hide;
indeed, as he moves, they almost sparkle with quartz-like light.
Elsewhere, a deep color not unlike an Istan midnight is severed and
flecked with crisp azure, creating complex constellations upon his
haunch. But the hatchling's rock-solid frame, contradicting the dotted
trappings of his hide, betrays an innately strong and reliable
disposition that will surely withstand the tests of Thread and time.
Iriane sucks her breath in, transfixed, even though she promised herself
she wouldn't.
Tothun's eyes move quickly to the hatching egg, and he bites his lip,
looking over the blue hatchling while rocking from one foot to the other
just a little faster now.
Gina gasps. "Blue!" she breathes. "Blue." She glances around, then tries
to recenter herself.
Kiashi grins now, excitement overcoming nerves. She gazes at the little
blue. Could this be the one? For her? For one of her friends? She hardly
dares to blink.
Watchful, alert eyes gaze upon the hatchings sands as Chibi lifts her
feet in an unknown rythm. Her eyes scan the eggs closest to her as she
wipes a bit of persperation off her forehead. A step is taken back as her
gaze alights on the blue, hatching triuphantly from his shell.
Elle glanes at the new hatchling and holds her breath. Smiling at Gina,
she rembers to inhale.
Dorn smiles softly between his friends, holding both Gina and Madalyn's
hands tight. "He's amazin" is all he can manage to say, his voice all but
gone.
Kayala's eyes sweep over the myriad of blues on the hatchlings hide.
"Oh," is about all she can say.
Kila squeezes Grego's hand in return. "Ye'll be fine," she murmurs,
comforting herself as well as her friend.
Mertinel glances around a little nervously, and sidles over toward some
of her friends. She sucks in a breath and watches as the eggs move and
begin to hatch.
Polly stops her intense scrutiny of the rocking eggs and stares
transfixed at the beauty of the blue, "What intrigueing markings." She
says to no one in particular.
Madalyn, taut body held still at the blue's arrival, lets a timid sigh
release: "Awe." Arm's persistant tremble is obvious as she folds them
across her hips, occasionally swaying towards Dorn. "A blue, look.."
Childhood Mysteries Egg shakes, rattles, rolls, shimmies, and just plain
moves as the dragonet inside strives for freedom.
Alexandra takes another deep breath as her hands flex out relieving the
stress on her white knuckles. "They are so beautiful." she utters, rather
loudly. "And small." she adds
Grego nods quickly to Kila, but his gaze is promptly caught by the
new-hatched blue.
Tamina's mouth opens in an "o" fight and she looks around for her friends
with a wide smile.
Tothun risks glancing away from the blue hatchling as he looks towards the
Childhood Mysteries Egg once more, saying a soft, "Come on, you can do
it.."
Kaci's eyes go to the little blue hatchling, her face creasing into a
grin even as the heat of the Sands starts to force its way through her
reverie, causing her to shift about a bit.
Merellia's face lights with pleasure as the first Impression occurs;
shifting slightly on the sands as the heat of the grounds reaches through
the soles of her boots, the Weyrwoman follows the fury of hatching eggs
just in time to see a blue spill onto the sands. Expression smoothing as
the pace of the hatchings pick up, Merellia's gaze seeks out Madelynda
through the gathering, autumnal colors swirling as her skirt rustles with
her faint movement.
Gallant Granite Blue Hatchling unfurls himself with the utmost care,
lifting a wing, and then a foreleg, and his head. Only one limb at a
time, mind, with almost cautious movements, as though he were trying to
step out of the shattered eggshell. But he doesn't quite get that far.
Somewhere between stepping out and stepping down, something gets in the
way, and he tumbles, landing in the sand with an awkward-sounding bugle.
Nathel seems more interested in the childhood mysteries egg than the blue
dragonet sprawling on the sands.
Mertinel watches the blue with a wistful gaze as her hands clutch at the
fabric of her robe.
A shudder runs through the Childhood Mysteries Egg, a shudder that its
shell can no longer absorb. Countless minuscule cracks appear, racing
this way and that across the curvature like a fisher's net...and then
everything gives way, collapsing and freeing a sudden rush of goop and a
tiny green hatchling.
Tamina winces a little as the blue stumbles, but doesn't move to help.
She bites her lip and watches it closely."
Kaci winces with sympathy for the hatchling. "Poor thing," she breathes.
Dorn winces softly for the blue as his eyes avert to the green. "Look
Madalyn, a green too" he says, nudging her side.
Sidling closer to Madalyn and Dorn, yet keeping her eyes on the
hatchlings tumbling about the sands, a soft smile emerges. She winces as
shewatches teh blue take a spill, but keep her guard up, eyes darting
warily around the area..
Alexandra looks upon the Gallan Granite Blue hatchling and cringes,
"Ouch." she says as she nearly steps forward. She seems to mentally grab
herself and stop her forward movement. "Is he hurt?" she asks aloud.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling
Like the finest of silken veils, yellow-green drapes this small beauty in
an even-toned shade from the tip of her narrow muzzle through the bellied
roundness of her body and the slender length of her tail. Despite her
new-hatched wobble and uncoordination, the purity of her coloring
evidences brightly against the dark obsidian Sands like the discovery of
a pale mineral entrapped amid a dark rock. Viridian veins web across the
thin sails of gossamer wings, and a finely-sculpted neck and wideset,
large eyes show this hatchling off as the beauty she'll become,
full-grown.
Grego winces just a bit as the hatchling takes his tumble. "Ow."
Tothun looks to the blue hatchling for a moment, but quickly his
attention turns to the new green hatchling. He smiles, whispering as he
watches it, "Wow."
Kiashi smiles. "He's okay. I bet they're tougher than they look."
Yazric laughs softly, tugging on Kay's hand to catch her attention to the
green newly-hatched.
Kayala gives Yaz a grin. "I see, I see," she whispers.
Elle wipes her hands on her robes lightly, shifting her weight off her
other foot. Eys lovked on the rocking eggs and the newly hatched dragons.
Gina gasps as the hatchling stumbles, but then the green makes her
arrival and her eyes widen. She forgets to sway from foot to foot for a
moment, and her hiss of pain indicates her regret for that oversight.
Madalyn draws an inspired breath, holding it momentarily as she green
arrives. "I see.." Bouyant smile evolves onto her expression, hands
writhing with anticipation. To the blue's fall, her wince is obvious,
arms motioning upwards. "Get up.."
"Colors," Iriane murmurs, "Such pretty colors, don't you think, Nath?"
Her hand nervously clutches her twin's under folds of white.
The Knowledge Hungry Egg quivers, rocking in its place amidst the black
sand. Suddenly it shatters under pressure from within, bursting into
myriad tiny fragments to leave a tiny blue hatchling standing in its
place. The blue steps forward hesitantly, then trips over a shard of
shell in its path, which sends the dragonet into a tumble of wings, legs,
and tail. A small lad from the Beastcraft darts out and helps the
hatchling to its feet, and as the blue stands, his eyes lock with the
boy's and Impression is made.
Deceptively Plain Egg has arrived.
Polly frowns slightly with concern as the little blue stumbles. She takes
one or two steps towards the hatchling, but catches herself and steps
back into formation with the other candidates. She willfully turns her
head towards the green hatchling trying not to be too overly concerned
for the blue.
Alexandra looks at Kiashi and actually starts a conversation, "I wonder.
I mean even at this age they... " she quirks an eye and then looks back
at the hatchlings. "Um... " she giggles nervously and then shakes her
head. She smiles to the hatchlings and takes a deep breath to remain
calm.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling shakes herself delicately - more
of a tremor than a true shake - to rid herself of the remains of the
eggshell which was so recently entrapping her. She takes a tentative step
forward and then another. Wait, she peers down at the sands beneath her
muzzle. Her head tilts in contemplation or more likely confusion. Her
expressive face clearly reads, 'what's that?'
Kila's nervousness is replaced by a flash of concern as the clumsy
hatchlings stumble on the sands. "They'll be okay. Have hatchlings no
been okay countless times afore..."
Kaci oohs, spotting the green. "Do they get any prettier than that?" She
grins at the new pair.
Gallant Granite Blue Hatchling did that on purpose, he did, he did, and
recovers quickly enough to balance on all four legs, wings held out in an
obvious attempt to keep his balance. One of those wings is wiggled
experimentally, and he turns his head about slightly to eye it... but
something else catches his eye as he does so: movement from the ranks. He
snakes entirely around to try and see it, but rather than simply turn
back that direction follows the head-snaking, turning it into a circle
that somehow manages to get him off the mound and closer to the
Candidates, who he then proceeds to study quizzically.
Kiashi grins wryly in Alexandra's direction. She looks back at the Green.
"Looks like something's caught her interest. His too!"
Gina shakes her head to Kaci. "Never. Not a chance."
Kayala smiles softly as the little green olive hatchling moves forward.
Poor thing, looks confused.
Deceptively Plain Egg shudders slightly, digging deeper into the sands
beneath it.
Tothun wipes his sweaty hands on his robe as his eyes move between the
blue and green hatchlings. He continues to rock on his feet, but stays in
place.
Grego nods at Kila, though he forgets his words as soon as he hears them.
"Where to look," he murmurs. The wing-wiggling catches his attention, and
he laughs quietly.
Tamina takes a deep breath and tries to remain calm. She shifts from foot
to foot and switches her gaze from green to blue then back again.
Dorn watches both blue and green, his eyes flitting about in the sockets
nervously. "Maddy, Gina" he says, giving the girls another squeeze on
their hands. "They are a sight."
"She's inspecting the sands?" One narrow brow rises inquisitivel as
Madalyn's own inspection falls upon the wayward green. Despite the
looming heat, she ignores the lingering beads of sweat, attention drawn
to her surroundings. "Aren't they, Dorn!"
Mertinel's gaze flickers over to the newest dragon as it hatches. Her
lips part in a wondering gape and then quickly close. She stumbles to one
foot, taking pressure off of the other.
Alexandra stands a little taller and seems to finally calming herself
down. She looks quickly along the rim of the candidates. "Everyone okay?"
she actually poses a question. She looks along the line again and the out
to the hatchlings and eggs. She grins and takes another breath, making
sure that she at least accomplishes this.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling seems to have figured out 'sand'
and takes another step forward towards whatever those things in white
are. Motion in the galleries catches her attention and she twists her
neck to one side - her view now bringing in her slender tail. Neat. She
swivels her head around to the opposite side, there's a tail there too!
Left, right, tail, tail, one, two. Another dragon passes into her realm
of vision. Her expression turns to one of confusion. One over there. Her
head swings back and forth, two here. She lifts her muzzle to the cavern
ceiling and wails out a plaintive croon of confusion.
"That's it, go on," Kila encourages the Hatchlings, "Ye lifemate is
there!"
Kayala gives Alexandra an encouraging smile. "I'm ok. How 'bout you?" Her
green eyes sparkle with excitement.
Nathel scratches the back of his head with his free hand and grins
crookedly at the green, since there's no eggs to watch.
Kiashi sucks in a breath. "I'm calm," she murmurs, riding the wave of
nerves and excitement. "Hey, little green," she says, softly, "its okay,
you know?" She doesn't move. Its almost like she doesn't dare even shift
from foot to foot anymore.
Elle smiles and grins, her voice quiet.
Kaci gives Gina a quick grin before turning her attention back to the
hatchlings, her eyes flicking between them, unable to decide where to
look. But her gaze is drawn to the green at the sound of her croon.
Elle says "There so beautiful." is all she can say."
Dorn scratches his brow for a moment, staring around at the circle of
candidates, then back to the green. "What's she doin?" he whispers to
Madalyn.
Alexandra bobs her head and offer up, "Good to go here." to those that
responded to her question. She looks along the line and smiles
encouragingly. She looks upon the hatchlings and smiles, a bit of her
nerves coming back to haunt her, but only for a moment.
Loren snorts softly, "They're so small and.....and clumsy! Who thought
such noble creatures could come from something so awkward."
Madalyn blinks; bewildered by the green's unpredictable croon, she
withholds her forward steps to a mere inching forwards -- scooting Dorn
and Gina along with her. "C'mon.." she pleeds, "Get closer.."
Tothun can't help but giggle a little as he watches the green's
explorations. He nly takes his eyes off it now and again to watch the
progress of the blue.
FInally remembering she's supposed to breath, Chibi lets loose a gusty
exhale. Still lifting her feet to an unheard drum beat, she relinquishes
her gaze on the sand and glances at the crowd on the stands. Her
attention cannot be taken long as her head turns back to study the wobbly
new lives on the sands and vibrating eggs.
Gallant Granite Blue Hatchling might actually have this thing down.
Maybe, possibly. Just in case, though, he leaves his wings out: out for
balance, and out of the way of his legs. Then, resolutely, he lifts his
head and sets off along the row of white ad pink and rather
rudesefelence, taking a few steps in one direction and then pausing to
study a clump of the robe-clad.
Phediath croons to the little green and confused hatchling, stretching
her muzzle toward her and giving her a gentle shove toward the circle of
candidates, her movement full of warmth and encouragement.
"Awww, sweetling," Kayala croons back to the little green. "S'kinda a
confusing place to start isn't it?"
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling turns slowly to face the source of
the reassurances and is confronted with something more intriguing than
whether she has one or two tails. The golden form in front of her
captures her attention and she stands, enraptured.
Gina nods as Phediath shoves her daughter forward. "That's it," she
breathes. "Find your lifemate, and it'll be all right."
Kiashi giggles. "Well she's found her momma, at least."
Grego tugs on Kila's hand. "Hey," he stagewhispers, with a quicksilver
grin. "Has a dragon ever Impressed to another dragon?"
Kaci giggles. "Yeah. Can ya blame her for reacting like that?"
The Mirthful Elegance Egg wriggles once, then splits into a pile of
shards to reveal a small brown hatching. The dragonet stares in shocked
surprise for a moment, then creels loudly and wanders towards the
candidates, trying to find his lifemate. He succeeds in his quest rather
quickly, spotting Duryala, a young, dark-eyed and dark-haired woman from
Ista Gar, and nuzzling her fondly as she cries out, "Jasleth!"
Tamina makes a tiny awww noise and balls up her hands into fists. She
looks down and forces herself to relax again, watching the little green.
Polly smiles warmly at the tender moment between hatchling and mother,
"How sweet." She moves closer with the other candidates trying to get a
better look.
Rope Burn Egg has arrived.
Deceptively Plain Egg rocks gently in its sandy cradle, tapping against
an egg next to it. A few cracks begin to appear on the otherwise unmarred
shell.
Speechless, for once, Madalyn's pensive expression draws faint lines into
her forehead. Unblinking, unwavered gaze focuses onto the green's
indesisive movements, while she simply stays quiet; watching, liearning,
waiting.
Yazric nods, "Good for Duryala, she so hoped for a brown." he gingerly
lifts his feet, wincing as he does.
Elle smiles, and still can't really belive she's here, and giggles at
Grego's remark.
Tothun continues to smile as he watches the green. He wipes his hands
again and fidgets, though, as he watches. "Come on.."
Alexandra stops moving and seems to settle into one spot on the sands.
She looks up at Phediath and then looking back to the hatchlings she
shakes her head. She offers an answer to Grego and says, "I don't think
it has happend or if it can." She eeps and says, "Congrats." to the girls
from Ista Gar.
Dorn snorts softly at Grego before looking back towards the newly hatched
brown, and watches as he impresses.
Merien escorts Duryala to the corner with a few softly-murmured words.
Kila looks at Grego wide-eyed, then snorts. "Don't be so silly, Grego.
Surely if ever such a thing happened, there'd be a Harper's tale." She
looks back to the poor, confused green. "Listen to ye mother, lass, and
ye'll be fine."
Gallant Granite Blue Hatchling snorts quietly as something doesn't quite
work for him with that group, and starts to move on until a noise catches
his ears. He stops short, or part of him stops short... the rest of him
goes tumbling into a little heap of blue just shy of Tamina.
Rope Burn Egg starts its wobble-dance, the shaking drawing your eyes to
it. It soon stops, as if resting.
Gina gives Duryala a brillant smile. She stands on one foot for a mment,
then shifts her weight to the other. The blue's tumble elicits a gasp,
and she squeezes Dorn's hand, maybe a bit hard.
Tamina smiles in suprise then quickly kneels down to her new lifemate
calling out, "His name is Gaudiorth!"
Iriane's mouth drops open into a wide grin as she looks at the blue pile
collapsed before Tamina.
Dorn turns to watch Tamina and the blue with wide eyes. He smiles for a
moment. "Congrats Tamina!" he calls, wincing as Gina grasps his hand.
Kiashi grins broadly. "Congradulations, Tamina," she says, softly,
perhaps too softly to even be heard. But it is said.
Alexandra takes a deep breath and looks from Duryala and then back to the
hatchlings. She smiles more to herself, you would think, as she takes a
careful step to the side. She hops a little and seems to be the victim of
the sands again.
"Congrats," Madalyn stretches towards Duryala, searching to remember her
name, "Ah, Duryala." Eyes suddenly blink invoilate astonishment to
Tamina. "Tamina!" Palm squeezes into Dorn's hand, "Tamina! Oh!!"
Elle smiles at Tamina finds her lifemate.
Kayala gives Yazric and Churrun on either side of her a quick, nervous
smile and then her full attention focuses on the jeweled eggh rocking so
gently.
Kila beams as more Impressions are made; then waves her hands a little
impatiently to the other Candidates, to close up the gaps that have been
left.
Kaci beams, calling out congratulations to Tamina.
Polly claps her hands softly and smiles largely at Tamina, "Oh! How
wonderful. Congrats Tamina." A small tear of joy forms in the corner of
her left eye. She beams proudly at the new pair.
Tothun looks quickly to Tamina, and smiles even wider. He lets out a
little cheer for her, and continues to watch for a moment before looking
back to the green, eyes hopeful.
Deceptively Plain Egg gives another shake, a few tiny flakes of shell
starting to fall from its curved surface.
Elle moves into the gap as more of the eggs hatch.
Yazric beams as Tamina Impresses, calling over, "Congrats Tamina!" he
turns his attention first to Kayala with a grin before watching the eggs
again.
M'hryn steps towards Tamina with a smile and leans down next to her.
"Tamina," he says quietly, "take Gaudiorth over to G'fen and other
weyrlingmasters where you can tend to him."
Kiashi edges over to close up gaps, staring back at the eggs, and the
hatchlings all ready out, hands shaking slightly at her sides.
Gaudiorth lifts his muzzle to peer at Tamina and sounds a quiet warble,
almost apologetic in tone, and begins to attempt to sort limbs from
limbs.
Kayala does pull her gaze away long enough to smile at her friend Tamina.
"Oh, Tami..."
Phediath watches the Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling as she stares
deeply into her mother's eyes. If encouragement didn't work, perhaps
something more forceful will. Feigning irritability, the queen lets out a
long, loud snort at the little green--loud enough to force any creature
away and into the candidate circle.
Grego flashes a broad grin of congratulations to Tamina, quite sure that
he's oblivious to it.
Gina beams again. So many of her friends are Impressing! And Gaudiorth is
lovely.
Wiping at a trickle of moisture on her forehead, Chibi steps closer to
her friends. A brief smile is sent towards Tamina and her new lifemate
before her gaze is directed back to the motions in the center of the
sands. A sighs is released as she gazes upon the dimishing group of
eggs..
Tamina smiles as her eyes fill up with tears and leads her blue over,
helping to get himself situated.
Tamina walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Mertinel sucks in a breath and lets her gaze dart around, trying to take
in all the hatchlings at once. She shifts, leaning slightly toward one of
her fellow candidates and whispering, "They're so small!"
Dorn watches with suprise the mother and baby for a moment before lifting
one foot ontop of the other, brushing some of the sand off. "It's so
incrediably hot" he murmurs to Gina.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling has been given direction and she
makes progress towards those things in white. Wait, look, sand. Her nose
points down towards the Istan inkiness again for a moment before a
candidate's voice directs her attention back up. She pauses before a
group of candidates and considers them for a moment, confusion still
roaming across her expression.
Solarith rumbles at the little green at the same time as Phediath gives
her snort. One of the two sounds should shake the hatchling from her
reverie.
Alexandra smiles to Tamina and grins to the other candidates. "Another
down." she mutters. She swallows roughly and then coughs, clearing her
throat. She looks around the sands and looks as if she might be trying to
count through the confusion of the goings on.
Kaci giggles. "There's one mother that won't take 'no' for an answer."
Merellia's mouth quirks up slightly at one corner as she takes note of a
blue's impression, murmuring to L'tan, "Good pairing, I'd say."
Phediath's snort catching her attention, she glances over towards the
young gold, a brow arching upwards as she takes in the hatchling green
sprawled before her dam, then move on.
Gaudiorth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Gina nods to Dorn, her eyes on the green now.
Two more eggs crack enough to spill a brown and blue onto the Sands. The
brown Impresses rather quickly to an older boy from Igen Weyr, letting go
the hand of a girl with whom he has become a rather close friend. The
blue, notably more indecisive, eyes the girl as she steps away and closer
to him--and another lifelong pair is made. The two newest weyrlings grin
at each other happily as a weyrlingmaster helps them join the other
weyrlings out of the way.
M'hryn walks with Tamina over to the corner, then returns to his
position, watching the Candidates and hatchlings.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling takes another step forward and
pauses before the candidate with the jasmine-colored hair.
Errant strand brushed behind her ear, Madalyn's curiosity is stolen by
the green's hesitant pursuit of a lifemate. "I wonder why she's
waiting.." is asked of the surrounding candidates, free hand once again
brushing that strand from her eyes.
Tothun rocks a little faster now, raising his feet up farther from the
sand each time. From the looks of him, he doesn't even realize he's doing
it though, his eyes focused on the little green hatchling.
Kiashi clutches her robe with sweaty, shaking hands. She watches the
little green pause, and smiles a bit.
Rope Burn Egg shakes again, more furiously than before. The hollow in the
sands around this egg widens at the movement. A small crack appears.
Elle shifts her feet on the hot black sands, waiting for the olivine
green hatchling to make her choice.
Kila jigs from one overheatedfoot to another, offering encouragement
impartially to new hatchlings, otherCandidates, and Impressed pairs.
Down, down, down; head cocked towards the green's sudden proximity,
Madalyn's eyes widen wistfully. "Um.." Voice forced to calmness, she
steps forth slightly. "Is she.." backwards glance follows to Dorn,
questioningly.
Polly notices Tothun's rocking and giggles slightly, cutting it off as
she realizes her own feet are /quite/ warm and she starts rocking in a
similar fashion to him.
Kiashi grins. "Go, Madalyn," she whispers. "Oh, I hope she's yours."
Kaci glances between Madalyn and the green, and slowly begins to grin.
Alexandra clears her throat and shakes her head. Blinking a couple of
times as if swallowing back something uncomfortable she steadies herself
and looks around again. She watches as another egg looks ready to give
way. She looks toward the hatchlings.
The Deceptively Plain Egg rumbles internally, the sound buffeted by the
insides of the hatchling's natal armor. Heavily rocking, shoving aside
the ebony sands with heartened and frantic movement, the dragonet inside
barrages to escape. In slow steps he finds his release, and amidst the
popping of the shards, emerges onto the sands.
Heart-catching Olivine Green Hatchling leans a bit forward to inspect
this whatever-it-is in front of her. Then her head tilts down again,
look, sand. Oh, wait, again she looks up into Madalyn's eyes.
Dorn looks at Madalyn and releaces her hand. "Did she say?" he asks,
looking between the green adn his friend.
Iridial Peacock Ore Bronze Hatchling
Not particularly big, this hatchling still manages to convey the ideal of
size and solidity: massive bones, broad shoulders, big wings, but not
outstanding in length nor height. But remarkable in his own way, the skin
spread over most of his body is a deep earthen hue, like freshly hewn ore
but with a cascade of colors that pour over it like oil does water.
Spilling from his crown and back over his shoulders is an uneven mixture
of green and tarnished bronze, picking up more golden hues as it reaches
his breast, becoming an almost fiery molten metal on his belly. By
contrast, the membranes of his wings appear an unusual ianthine-blue
bronze, casting itself first one shade and then another like alternating
patterns of light and shadow. This same mingling of color frosts his
headknobs and swirls around his eyes while near-gold fires across his
muzzle-tip, blissfully bright against dark sails.
Iriane's attention is on Madalyn, holding her breath as she watches
Impression being made.
Body's movements pause, while the sudden reality hit her: "Vyth?"
Madalyn's mouth lies agape. "You want me?" Incredulous, the girl's form
drops to enclose her newfound lifemate's neck. "Oh, my dear.."
Polly stops and look towards Madalyn and the little green. She crosses
her fingers and whispers, "Please! Please! Please!" to herself softly.
Elle notices that a bronze has hatched. She grins, "How beautiful." She
glances at the boys near her, openly curious as to which one the newest
hatching will choose.
Gina steps back with Dorn as the green looks up at Madalyn, then lets out
a cheer ! "Welcome, Vyth! Oh, Maddy." She squeezes Dorn's hand again.
Kiashi grins and does speak loudly now. "Madalyn, you did it! Congrats!"
Kayala sees the movement out of the corner of her peripheral vision and
grins at everyone doing the hotsands dance. She nods as she sees MAdalyn
impress. Her distracted gaze swings back to the remaining eggs.
Yazric's attention is caught by the bronze, barely noticing the
Impression of the green.
Dorn claps his hands togethe happily at the two. "There now!" he says in
a lour voice. "She's just perfect" he calls, turning to not at Gina. His
eyes fall back however to the bronze hatching on the sands, little beads
of sweat forming on his brow.
Merien can't help smiling at the green's Impression, and she gives the
pair a moment before she approaches them. "I'm sure she's hungry,
Madalyn. You need to help her over to the corner so we can get some meat
for her."
Grego rocks from foot to foot, his free hand lifting in a brief gesture
of pleasure at Madalyn's Impression. "Good for you," he whispers.
"Madalyn, lass!" Kila's delighted whoop it totally unlike the normally
placid woman, as she watches her firend Impress.
Sliding her hands down her white robe to relieve herself of some of the
sweat, Chibi smiles to Madalyn, then the green as her friend is captured
in the gaze of the hatchling. A merry smile tugs at her mouth and she
claps, just once, before her attention is pulled to the next to hatch..
Kaci yays, calling out congratulations to Madalyn... and to Vyth.
Alexandra quickly looks toward Madalyn and the green hatchling and bites
her lower lip. "Oh..." she grins a little and then adds, "Way to go." to
Madalyn. She brushes a little of her hair from her face as she turns back
to the eggs. She shifts a little and again seems to grow aware of the hot
sands below her feet.
Melancholy Midnight Egg has arrived.
Madalyn, still astonished, casts a beaming smile towards Dorn, then to
Chibi. "Vyth..let's get you some food.." Escorting the gangly dragonet,
she moves towards the corner.
Tothun's smile fades just the tiniest bit as he watches the impression
between the green and Madalyn. He turns back then to the eggs, and blinks
as he sees the bronze, biting his lip once more, as he continues to rock
on his feet.
Madalyn walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Polly smiles happily clapping her hands and moving over to join Kiashi,
"Congrats Maddie."
A soft tapping noise sounds loud as the Hatching Grounds go quiet in one
of the brief silences every gathering has. A tiny splintering sound soon
follows and the tip of a green snout pokes from the Byzantine Opulence
Egg near the middle of the clutch. The rest of the dragonet's body
crumbles the shell as she flops out with an indignant creeling and
flapping of damp wings. Against all the weyrlingmasters' warnings,
Kale--son and heir to the Holder of Small Cove Hold--moves from the
circle of candidates to help her to her feet. The hatchling's whirling
red eyes gaze up into the candidate's hazy blue ones, and the young K'al
calls out "Her name is Bavolth!" at the top of his lungs.
Kiashi moves beside Polly, as well.
Mertinel glances over toward Madalyn, and smiles brightly, breathing out
a heartfelt congratulations quickly before turning her head, feet
twisting in the sand as she once more faces the eggs.
Vyth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Iridial Peacock Ore Bronze Hatchling pauses as he's spilled out onto the
sands, totally disoriented. He gazes around, trying to get eyes that are
unused to the light focused on something. A tiny snort issues from his
nostrils as the heat starts to register on his shock-numbed senses., and
he scrambles to his feet in a shower of sand.
Melancholy Midnight Egg rocks to and fro, as though trying to decide
which direction to roll in, or whether to hatch or not. Wobble wobble
wobble, on it goes, rolling far enough to bump into other eggs, as though
playing a game.
A large hole opens in the Rope Burn Egg, leaving a neat fissure for a
nose and two foreclaws to peek out. The blue dragonet inside, struggling
a moment to widen the little opening, gives up and literally snakes
through it onto the Sands.
M'hryn eyes K'al darkly. "Could have gotten himself killed," he mutters
as he moves to help the lad and dragonet over to the corner.
Vitreous Aquamarine Blue Hatchling
Swathed in a pale and vitreous blue, the clear coloration of this vibrant
dragonet opposes his otherwise hesitant demeanor on the Hatching Sands.
Despite an awkward gait and the curious tilt of his head, the
almost-translucent sheen of his hide makes up for what this hatchling
seems to lack in sophistication and aplomb. The perfect curve of his
spine, colored an oceanic blue admixed with misty green, travels from tip
to tail like a solemn wave on Ista's sea. Neck long and lithe, trunk
smooth and slender, he tenderly conveys the beauty of a glittering
aqueous crystal embraced by a delicate silver setting.
Elle suddenly realizes that her favorite egg is rocking. Eagerly, she
urges the dragonet to break through the shell, looking right at the dark
egg.
Kiashi takes a half-step forward now. Just a tiny half-step. Nothing big.
She then stops herself with a jerky movement.
Kila flushes at her exuberance, and quickly checks that the rough
semicircle of white robes is still in order.
Solarith rumbles to his newest bronze offspring, lowering his head to
have a closer look.
Merellia's features crinkle in a quick grimace as she notices K'al's
impression, her eyes sliding momentarily to take in the Weyrleader's
expression--she'll let him apprise K'al's father of the news. Excitement
for all the Impressions, however, aren't able to extend her momentary
dismay, and she takes note of others approvingly.
Polly smiles softly at Kia and holds out her hand to the younger girl,
both to give and receive support during this exciting and stressfull
event, "How ya holding up?"
Alexandra smiles to K'al and says, "Congradulations." she looks about and
moves over towards the other candidates, trying to close up the gaps that
have been brought about by impressions. She gives a quick look to the
others as she takes re-assurance from their matched nervousness and
enjoyment of this occasion. She looks back at the hatchlings and looks to
do her mental count again.
Kaci oohs, "Check out those little guys."
Tothun's eyes move to the blue as it hatches, continuing to rock on his
feet. He watches it for a moment, then the bronze, then back to the blue.
Elle nods back to Alexandra, giving her an encouraging look.
Kayala lets out an excited oooh as the aqua blue falls to the dark sands.
She squeezes Yazric's hand first this time. "Look, look!" is her excited
rejoinder.
Dorn squeezes Gina's hand furiously, watching both the blue and the
bronze with an open mouth. "Oh shards" he mutters again, eyeing the pair.
Grego's gaze darts rather spastically between hatchlings, hovering
briefly on the newest-hatched. He does not, though, stop the
footshuffling. For an odd moment, his gaze sweeps the sands near his
fellows' feet.
Kiashi squeezes Polly's hand. "I'm fine," she says, the pitch of her
voice high enough to give voice to the lie.
Gina is used to Ista's heat, but now sweat is running down her cheeks.
She stares at the emerging bronze and blue, with bright eyes sparkling.
"Look at the brillance of those hides!"
L'tan's already somber and stern expression turns down right frightening
as he sees K'al's impression. He mummurs to Merellia, "Think we can send
E'ryn on that particular errand?"
Yellow Brick Egg has arrived.
Vitreous Aquamarine Blue Hatchling sits among the shards of his egg, a
little dazed at this sudden change of scenery. The redness in his eyes is
tinged with a myriad of colors as different emotions sweep through him.
He wobbles a little unsteadily as he tries to stand and his gaze is
caught by the shards lying around him. He studies them with a great
amount of curiousity.
Melancholy Midnight Egg BUMPS into another one, causing a large crack in
its side, as though the hatchling within has figured this IS a game! It
rolls and wobbles several times, rocking and shuddering, the cracks in
the egg appearing and widening expertly..then it rolls to a stop. A
complete, total stop.
Yazric grins to Kayala, his gaze dragged away from the bronze, "Oooh."
Kiashi squeezes Polly's hand. "I'm fine," she says, the pitch of her
words high enough to give voice to the lie.
Merien glances toward L'tan, attention straying from the hatchlings for
an instant.
Chibi grasps onto Dorn's arm in awe as yet another hatchling emerges
from his shell. She leans over towards his ear to whisper, "It's going so
fast!" She shakes her head in amazement as she sighs resignedly..
Elle watches the midnight hued egg roll and bump, then stop. She seems
amazed by it.
Iridial Peacock Ore Bronze Hatchling turns his head to look at the
remains of his egg, and sees something *much* bigger than he is staring
down at him. He gives a completely undignified creel and, amazingly, gets
all four legs coordinated enough to flee, the movement taking him towards
the circle of white-robed objects shifting about the clutch.
Kaci grins at the little blue, totally sympathetic. "Just don't ever let
'em call you nosy," she murmurs.
Tothun continues to rock on his feet as he watches both blue and bronze
dragon. He once again wipes his hands, before risking a glance to some of
the other candidates.
Kiashi whispers too loudly to Polly, "I hope nothing's wrong with that
one." She jerks her head towards the stopped-in-progress egg.
Several eggs crack within moments of each other, releasing three greens.
The trio seems to take their time, plopping themselves on the sand as
they overlook the cluster of white-robed candidates. Finally, all three
sets of draconic eyes meet a like number of human ones, and almost
simultaneously, three more weyrling pairs Impress and stumble to join the
others.
Kayala giggles as the little aqua blue inspects his shattered home.
"S'gotta be a surprise, doesn't it little one?"
Merellia shakes her head ruefully at L'tan's question, a hand lifting to
brush hair back from her face. "No; you and I will both have to go."
Tentatively, she adds, "He /was/ somewhat reconciled to Kale's being
Searched, but...That was before K'al Impressed." She glances
speculatively after the pair, then looks towards the new hatchlings,
nudging L'tan's attention towards one. "He looks rather like Habrith, I
think, that little bronze."
Yellow Brick Egg slowly but surely begins to roll about, making slow
circles first this way then that, almost as if surveying the area. The
looping comes to a halt, with the top part of the egg facing to the side.
Grego's gaze is caught by the fleeing bronze, and he stifles a laugh.
"Can't say as I blame him."
Dorn nods at Gina and then looks over at Chibi, blinking several times.
"Tis going fast" he says, looking back at the hatchlings.
Gina winces in her turn at the pressure of Dorn's hand, distracted from
the burning of her feet. She prepares to step away from the wobbly
hatchlings if needed, but she seeks out to see if her favorite egg has
cracked.
"Glad ye came?" Kila murmurs to Grego, managing to get the words out
between calls of reassurance and encouragement to everyone else, humans
and hatchlings alike.
Polly smiles reassuringly at Kia, "I'm sure it will be fine." She
whistles softly at the triple impression, "Most of these little ones sure
know what they're looking for."
Elle remains steadfast with the other candidates, watching the new dragon
hatchlings find their way across the sands. Sweat breaks out on her
forehead as the heat starts to take a hold of her.
Alexandra takes a step back and looks at the hot sands. An almost audible
gritting of her teeth occurs as she puts her hands to her head. She looks
as though she might be trying to contain or get a handle on something.
She takes a deep and quick breath. She looks up and settles her hands
down to her sides. She bites her lower lip as she looks around again. She
steps back forward and then looks up at the adult dragons. Clearing her
throat she tries to stand tall again as she once again lowers her gaze to
the myriad of broken shells and dragon hides that now litter the sands.
Melancholy Midnight Egg is still dead-still. It almost looks like the egg
isn't going to hatch. Nothing. More nothing. Then....it heaves and rolls,
little shards of egg starting to come, peeling and chipping like paint.
Wiggle wobble wiggle..whatever is in that egg is either taking periodic
rests or is VERY indecisive.
Grego nods quickly to Kila, with a sudden, wide smile. "Wouldn't have
missed it."
Kiashi breathes a sigh of relief. "Its okay," she tells Polly,
unnecessarily.
Yellow Brick Egg thuds down into the sand, it's side resting completely
in the hot sand. With a short shudder, it rights itself quickly, standing
up straight and tall. With a jolt, it falls over onto it's other side and
rests in a spray of sand.
The Melancholy Midnight Egg, its shudders subsiding into a perfect
stillness, begins to swell outward in a concentrated and slow effort.
Lattice-like, a multitude of cracks appear on the shell, and with a
delicate shatter, a brown hatchling bursts free.
Iridial Peacock Ore Bronze Hatchling's bolt away from his sire takes him
clear across the sands and near a group of candidates before his
coordination just gives out. Snout gets buried in black sand as his dash
turns into a head first slide towards a knot of three candidates.
L'tan reaches up and rubs at the back of his neck, "Well, let's hope that
he doesn't set the entire guard on me."
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling
This hatchling seems to be nothing more than a living shadow, due to the
fact his hide appears a pale, resinous black. However, close observation
reveals there is no aberration. Murky browns, chaotically mottled by a
russet maelstrom, combine to suggest translucent obsidian. His belly
flares with the inner warmth of hardened blood-amber, sending a blush of
fine burgundy up along his throat, jowls, cheekbones, and headknobs,
interrupting the turmoil that ripples across his flanks in ominous and
purposeful lines. But the dragonet's wings--thin, fragile-seeming
membranes--appear the most brilliant portion of him yet. They gleam the
color of reddish-brown rust, streaked below by hints of uncorrupted iron.
Tothun's eyes once again move between hatchlings. Fidgetting once again,
he glances up to the Melancholy Midnight Egg, and smiles a little wider
as he sees the brown appear out of it.
Kiashi grins at the brown's sucess in getting free of the pesky egg.
Vitreous Aquamarine Blue Hatchling shifts one of his wings, noticing that
a shard is moved with it. His head swings back and forth, looking at all
these shards. But his gaze finally trails up and he notices there is
something...many somethings...that are much more interesting than what's
lying around him. Those white things...they're moving! A few happy
sounding bugles accompany his first few awkward steps toward the
white-robed figures.
Dorn turns his gaze to the eggs now, watching with slight amusements at
their antics. "Look at em go" he muses quietly to Gina, squeezing her
hand yet again, his palm sweaty. Quickly he looks back to the bronze, and
then the brown that's just broken shell.
Elle breaks into a smile. "A brown! I thought that you might be a brown."
She doesn't move toward the hatchling, but remains with the other
candidates, waiting for the hatchling to make his choice.
Kaci breathes out a soft whistle upon sight of the brown. "Pretty.
Handsome, I mean."
Yazric laughs, just laughs as his attention is distracted here and there,
his eyes feeding on the sight of so many hatchlings.
Tothun quickly turns his attention back to the blue, and he grins.
Kiashi grins. "He's a baby," she says, admiring him. "Babies can be
pretty no matter what their gender."
Iriane shifts on her feet, getting hypnotized by the intense heat and
shifting dragonhide colors.
Kayala giggles again at the aqua blue. "Silly thing. Yes, we're over
here. Just a little further, sweetling and you'll find a lifemate to help
you."
Grego winces as he catches sight of the bronze's slide, but his gaze
darts away, attracted by the coloring of the brown. "Pretty. Handsome.
Looks good, whatever the word is."
Gina chants, unconscious that she's even speaking, "Come on. We're here.
Come on." She's still ready to dodge the poor unsteady babies. She's
forgotten all about the earthshakes, too.
Alexandra blinks as she watches the actions of the eggs and the
hatchlings. She shivers, but seems to be in control. "It is all happening
so fast." she says aloud, though to who is a good question. Shifting her
look from side to side she seems to take in the remaining candidates
within a moment's time. She smiles and says, "They are all beautiful."
Elle chuckles and nods to Kiashi. "They are all so beautiful."
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling shakes himself out delicately--he acts
as odd as he looks. Blinking his jeweled little eyes almost seductively,
he sniffs, sliding forward gracefully, to peer at the pinkthings and
fellow hatchlings around them. His tail thumps on the onyx sands.
Mertinel can't help but glance over at the two Weyrleaders with something
akin to awe. A nervous giggle bubbles up on her lips as she shifts her
feet again, allieviating the heat on her soles. She nearly bumps into the
candidate she's standing next to when she does and with another soft
giggle she whispers "I'm so sorry."
Yellow Brick Egg flips upwards almost too quickly, the jolt causing
several cracks to form on the top portion of the egg. Quickly the cracks
lengthen and a small talon presses out.
Blazing Defiance Egg has arrived.
Iridial Peacock Ore Bronze Hatchling squeals his pain at the unexpected
belly flop, and raises his head to gaze dazedly up at the tall,
red-haired lad who's feet he's landed at. Maybe Dorn can soothe his
hurts.
Blazing Defiance Egg rocks on its mound of sand in a fury of eagerness,
tapping noises speckling vigorously from within the shell as the
hatchling within batters its way free: lemmego lemmego lemmego!
Kiashi grins at the curious brown again, then glances at Dorn. A hopeful
smile appears on her features, then, for him.
A flurry of shards flip in every direction as the Alchemical Fire Egg
bursts open on the far side of the clutch to reveal a diminutive green
who announces her presence with a loud bugling, amazing for one so small.
She peers around with curiosity before taking a step towards a small knot
of candidates all clutching each others' hands. More steps follow, and
she plows directly into a young Trader girl, knocking the lass down and
tearing her grip from her fellows. Instead of pain-filled screams, a
shout of triumph rings through the air. "No, you didn't hurt me,
Ophelath!"
"Well, she's a lovely green," the Weyrwoman replies to L'tan, mouth
quirking up at the corners in a faint reflection of sudden humor, though
she doesn't explain its cause, instead tugging at the leaf-shaded hem of
her lightweight brown tunic to straighten it. Her green-gray eyes
crinkling at their corners, she smiles upon noting another Impression.
Gina lets go of Dorn's hand, openly crying now. She tries to say several
things, but the only thing that comes out is a laugh. Gina steps back
toward Chibi, still laughing.
Nathel watches Dorn and the bronze and a corner of his mouth grins at the
other boy's Impression.
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling is moving about in an impressive,
smooth strut--at least for a hatchling. His tail thumping all the way, he
announces his presence further with a hearty trumpet, then blinks.
Trumpeting is more fun than posing! He toddles around trumpeting now,
losing some of his more feminine manner.
D'on stares blandly down into the depths of the swirling eyes standing in
front of him. "Kalameth? Me?" he asks softly, hesitantly. With a sob of
relief and anguish rolled into one he sinks to his knees and wraps his
arms around the bronze. "I don care what me da thinks" he whispers, tears
strolling down his masculan cheaks. "Let's go get ye fed" he mutters
softly.
Kaci chuckles softly. "That one's gonna be a handful for whoever gets
him." She nods, indicating the brown. Then her eyes widen, and
inadvertantly she lets out a cheer. "Way to go, Dorn!"
Alexandra gasps aloud as she watches a Bronze hatchling and DORN! come
together. "Oh by Faranth." she nearly yells. "Dorn, you didn't.
Congradulations." she says, calmly. She turns quickly to watch the Trader
girl impress. "Congradulations to you." she adds. She looks about, a
smile on her face.
Rocking perilously to and fro, all at once the Yellow Brick Egg loses its
balance and, cracking into three or four pieces, opens wide and dumps a
crumpled blue hatchling onto the Sands.
Polly nods towards the Curious Tantalite Brown hatchling and glances over
at Kia, "Now that one will take some watching as he gets older and
bigger." She gasps slightly and points over towards Dorn, "Oh! Dorn!" the
mist in her eyes lets free a tear to trickle down her cheek.
Tothun looks to the bronze again, and then he also smiles wide, looking
between it and Dorn. He looks over to the new green for a moment, then
back to Dorn to see. He lets out a cheer as the Impression happens, and
turns his head back to the other hatchlings.
Blazing Defiance Egg flakes off shards in all directions as the hatchling
within continues its determined struggle to free itself from the thick
enclosure binding it ever-so-uncomfortably. Out. Out. Outoutoutoutout!
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling
Dawn's light washes over sky blue in mottled patches which dance
gleefully over this hatchling's hide, like whispery clouds crossing
before a nonexistant sun. The sunlight shade plays down his flanks,
predominantly cerulean in hue, darkening and brightening in the
shadow-fall of light. His almost overly-wide expanse of wings
flare--mirrored pools of water, dimly reflecting the heavens and
capturing the morning star's cobalt twinkling in their net. Cool, diffuse
fog obscures the roundness of his belly, giving it a cloudy cast, while
here and there letting slips of sky-bright azure through. This misted hue
rolls across his stomach until the fog's chill colors are burnt away by
the clear daylight blues suffusing wings and delicate neck-ridges.
Kiashi grins. "Go Dorn!" She smiles, then turns back to the curious
brown, giggling. "That one's a little performer, isn't he?"
M'hryn laughs quietly as he approaches the new bronzerider. "Kalameth,"
he grins. "Nice name. You can get him over to the corner okay?"
Elle grins at the little brown, "Keep going, boy."
Vitreous Aquamarine Blue Hatchling reaches those 'somethings' and is so
happy as he studies the group in front of him. He's looking for just one
of course. And, as he doesn't find that one right away, his small bugles
take on a note of sadness. He hopstumbles to another small group...and
that sad note suddenly becomes a lot happier. He stops short, wings
outstretched for balance as his head turns.
Kayala swings her green eyes from the little aqua blue as Dorn calls out
a name. "A bronze! A bronze, Dorn!"
Elle grins at Dorn. "Congrats, Dorn!"
Kiashi squeezes Polly's hand tightly.
Gina wipes back tears. She turns back to the sands, not wanting to miss
anything, hoping now more than she dared the entire time since she was
searched.
D'on walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Outside the Hatching caverns, the sky grows ominously dark. Deep shadow
is cast across the Sand, punctuated by the many glows throughout the
cavern. Through the entrances some cinders are blown in, powdery ash that
lightly sifts down on the galleries and ledges. Very little, however,
falls towards the Sand itself.
Having lost all trace of nervousness, in delight for her friends, Kila
waves congratulations to the new Greenrider; then is stunned into
momentary silence as the bronze Impresses.
Yazric smiles towards Dorn, watching he and the bronze head off before
returning his attention to the sands.
Kaci giggles at the brown's antics. "Don't worry... we know you're here."
Kalameth rests his head on his lifemate's shoulder for a moment, still a
bit dazed from the fall, then starts scrambling to his feet.
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling is trumpeting and thumping, and almost
bounding, clumsy in his infancy, kicking up sand in the faces of each
candidate he looks at, peers at, thumps at, then passes over. One would
think he's too busy having FUN to Impress!
Merien walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Tothun's eyes move to the blue, hearing the sad notes. He almost takes a
step forward before remembering himself, and again returns to his place,
full attention on it.
Gina ducks back from the little brown as he passes.
Elle glances up nervously as the ash and cinders fall, her face takes on
a resolute expression as she returns her attention back to the sands and
the task at hand!
Grego flashes a delighted grin after Dorn--D'on--and Kalameth. "Wait'll
his father hears," he murmurs. Then he spots some flying sand, and
squints towards the brown.
Iriane giggles at the Curious brown hatchling, wishing she could be as
impervious to the heat as he seems to be.
Mertinel frankly stares at the newest hatchlings as they break their
shells. Her hands clench in her robes again, tightening with anxieity as
her face shows an expression of hope.
Kayala moves a hand in front of her face to defend against the flying
black flecks from the little brown's tail. "Whoa there, sweetling,..."
Kaci doesn't even notice the ash and cinders... her fascinated attention
is focused solely on the hatchlings.
Kiashi wipes sand out of her face as the brown puts sand in it, giggling.
"Are you going to make a decision, or what?" she asks him.
Polly raises an eyebrow at the antics of the little brown, "Yes! That one
will need to carefully watched indeed!"
Alexandra watches out for the playful brown hatchling, trying to keep ash
from her, and now sand. She shakes her head as she watches the antics and
goings on. Smiling she takes a relaxing breath.
Elemental Mists Egg has arrived.
Elle blocks the flinging sand with her hands, "Hey you, having too much
fun are we?"
M'hryn glances upward as he returns from escorting D'on and Kalameth. He
grimaces, shaking his head, but then looks back at the hatchlings and
their potential lifemates. He crosses his arms in front of him.
Merien walks over from the far end of the Hatching Cavern.
Kalameth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling startles as the egg cracks. Not exactly
what he had in mind, but interesting none the less. As the last
supporting side of the egg collapses, he does as well, sending a large
spray of sand up into the air! He flops onto the sand, letting out a loud
Whuff!, his muzzle buried in granules of that odd feeling stuff. This is
an egg? Don't think so.
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling kicks up sand, whirling around and
creating clouds of ash. He is having MUCH fun--until he starts to breathe
in teh stuff he kicks up. Practically choking on it, he falls forward
with a little hack, spilling over the sands, rolling unctrollably. As he
rolls, he lands in front of a few girls who are watching him.
Vitreous Aquamarine Blue Hatchling's wings droop to the sands as he stops
in front of one of those white-robed 'somethings'. That happy note in his
bugle becomes triumphant at he stares up at a girl with red hair and
contrasting green eyes.
Gina grins at the blue hatchling. "He's cute, too..oh!" she gasps as the
blue Impresses.
Madelynda carefully looks up from the fray as the sky darkens outside and
ash filters into the cavern, looking warily up at Phediath as she brushes
away dark specks flittering into her face. "'Sall right, love," she
breathes, and the queen croons quietly in response, her whirling eyes not
taking in the sky at all but only the Impressions before her.
Merellia looks towards the entrance to the hatching caverns, features
turning decidedly unhappy. Striding towards the entrance, she takes a
glance at the sky outside, then returns to mumur to L'tan, voice pitched
low as she speaks with the Weyrleader. She mutters to L'tan, "Looks...
of..."
Alexandra actually kicks a little sand back at the Curious Tantalite
Brown Hatchling. And seems to smirk a response to his playfullness. She
looks around as if trying to look innocent of her actions.
Kiashi gasps. "Don't inhale the stuff, guy." Another half-step forward.
Restrains herself again.
Tothun turns his attention back to the brown as it starts having trouble.
This time he does take a couple of steps before remembering. Biting his
lip, he just stands where he ended up, watching.
Elemental Mists Egg stats to tremble and shift within the depression of
dark sand. Droplets of sand cascading down the small hillock.
Gina grabs Kiashi. "Don't..remember what they told us."
Elle nods at Gina. "Yeah, he is." Then she notices the blue as he seems
to come to a decision. She turns to see who it could be.
Kaci laughs softly. "They're all cute. Or handsome. Or pretty. Just all
around /beautiful/."
Kayala can't decide which hatchling to watch and her gaze swings from one
to the other and she takes another steadying breath.
Merien coughs and reaches up to cover her mouth and nose. She squints to
try to keep the hatchlings in focus.
Kiashi nods and takes a half-step back, chewing her lower lip.
Elle says "Careful, Kiashi!"
The Sands' shards now competing in number with the still-intact eggs, the
Blithe Felicity Egg and the Shabby Velveteen Egg both shudder for a
moment, then split into myriad tiny pieces, releasing twin greens to
stumble from their shells. One of the hatchlings heads for a boy from the
Healer Hall, and the other moves off towards a girl from Greystones Hold.
Both new pairs are helped to the corner of the Sands.
Polly looks up, eyes full of surprise and joy, "His name is Ylorth!" She
looks back down at the most beautiful blue, "Of course, I'll feed you
silly."
Grego attempts to tuck his thumbs in his belt, and blinks as, instead,
his hands slide down his waist. His gaze dips, as if to assure himself
that, no, he didn't miss, that the belt isn't actually there. Then,
shaking his head, he lifts his gaze to grin towards Polly.
Curious Tantalite Brown Hatchling sputters he he gets sand kicked at him,
and TRUMPETS at the girl who did it, clearly indignant. Just as he is
about to extend a claw to bat at the girl...his head turns, as though
something caught his eye. With the utmost grace and obvious curiosity, he
cocks his head politely and sweetly at Elle.
Chibi takes a few steps back, perhaps to get a better view. She wipes at
the tickling sweat trickling down the sides of her face, and flips her
long blonde runner tail to the front. She pulls at the white robe,
tenting it out to let cooler gusts of air caress her heated body. She
sighs and shakes her head, eyes centered on the tumolt of activity..
Kila watches, a little concerned, as the playful brown's antics lead him
into trouble.
Kiashi smiles. "Hey, congrats, Polly." She moves back the rest of the
way.
L'tan doesn't have the same sense of decorum as the Weyrwoman. He speaks
in his normal tone of voice, loud and somewhat sullen, "Well, if the
whole island blows up we at least won't have to train this lot."
Elle grins. "Congrats, Polly!"
Blazing Defiance Egg mmmmmph. Mmmmmmph. Pock pock pock pock pock. More
and more flakes of the shell drop to the sands with each minute that
passes as the egg's insistent occupant batters its way towards freedom. A
tip of the dragonet's muzzle finds its way through, though so damp and
slimed with egg fluids that its color is unidentifiable.
Alexandra starts coughing as the ash get a little thicker. She blinks
back a little and runs her hands over her outfit, trying to clean herself
off a little. She looks up again just in time to see Polly impress.
"Congradulation." she says loudly.
Gina beams at Elle. "Someone's watching you! Elle, look!"
Iriane ooos and grins at Elle, watching her congratulate another while
she's her own dragon in front of her feet.
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling manages somehow to get those long things
tucked under him, managing to raise himself up. His heas spins about,
much like he tried to do inside that egg.. curious as always. What's all
this white about and why won't anyone let him in on the big secret? Maybe
if he looks a little closer, he can find out what they are. Don't look
like him. Nope.
Kiashi giggles at Shaded Blue, shifting from foot to foot.
Tothun grins as he looks between Elle and the brown, then looks towards
the Shaded Celestine Blue, watching it now as he continues to rock on his
feet. He doesn't move back into his position, staying where he is.
Yazric calls out his congratulations to new Impressions, giving Kayala a
flushed grin as he watches the blue.
Merien smiles to Polly and says, "Congratulations, Polly. You need to
help him to the corner now so he can eat." She begins to lead in the
appropriate direction.
M'hryn smiles at Polly. "Talibenth actually made a good choice," he
grins. "I was afraid you wouldn't Impress because he Searched you.
Congratulations."
Elle freezes as the playful brown looks into her eyes. Her knees buckle,
but she remains standing. "Oh Trinoth. Don't fret. Of course, I'll find
you food." Her face is a wide grin and she seems lost to the world.
Skin tightening at the corners of her eyes, Merellia responds firmly,
"It's not going to happen. Please Faranth," the Weyrwoman mutters
underneat her breath, then gives L'tan an edged smile. "I think you'd do
an /excellent/ job of teaching this class protocol again. I really do."
Her words might have more impact if her features hadn't assumed their
greenish cast from earlier in the evening.
Alexandra actually sticks her tongue out at the little brown and then
changes her expression. "Congradulations Elle and to your brown." she
smiles. Looking around again she seems to take a mental count. She
continues her look, raising her head up into the sky, watching as the ash
seems to become somehow thicker. "This is gettin bad." she utters.
Mertinel breathes out a soft sigh and smiles over at her candidate
friends and nods her head as she notices the Impressions. Her face
becomes a little tense then as she glances back out amongst the
hatchlings and eggs, realizing there are so few left.
Kaci grins, congratulating Polly and and Elle both before her eyes return
to the other hatchlings and the rocking eggs.
The Large Plain White and Raven-Black eggs clack against each other,
fractures spreading across both surfaces and allowing chips of shell to
flake away like the whiteness of the worst High Reaches snowstorm. Soon a
brown and a green stand where the eggs were, flipping shards from their
hides and looking about. The brown hatchling practically rushes towards
an older boy from the Healer Hall, while the green takes her time in
choosing her lifemate. Finally she stop in front of a quiet young man,
the clumsy and fire-haired Ardel, and nudges him softly. "Aye, I will,
Calisath," he says, nodding as A'del starts to help her to where the
other weyrlings wait.
Polly's still dazed and full of joy, heads over to the corner with her
wonderful lifemate to feed his tummy.
Elemental Mists Egg trembles stop, taking carefully consideration of this
situation. With a vilent twisting, shards around the egg go flying. None
from the egg trying to hatch however.
Polly walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Kiashi grins softly. "Congradulations Elle." She ignores the ash, casting
a longing look back out at the hatchlings.
Ylorth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Kila stifles a cough, glancing towards the entrances with mild concern,
distracted from the Impressions for a moment. Then she turns out, and
calls out her own congratulations with those of the remaining Candidates
on the Sands.
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling blinks his great eyes at the one who just
giggled. Who'll tell him about that one? and what sound was that she
made? didn't sound like anything he'd heard before.
Trinoth nuzzles against Elle gently, then trumpets at her. He can't seem
to make up his mind about attitude...
Gina makes her way closer to Kiashia. Four Impressions right on top of
her. Maybe?
L'tan notices Merellia's greenish tinge, perhaps for the first time. He
says, "You're sick. One of the sharding candidates gave you a cold. Or
one of the Lord Holders here for the hatching. Some of those people are
downright dirty."
The Blazing Defiance Egg's rotations, accompanied with several random
shakes, sling sand from the base of its dramatic curve. Gradually,
gyrations slow, and a mysterious webworking films itself upon the
delicate shell. Seemingly in slow motion, the orb splits in half and a
bronze dragonet slides forward.
Kiashi giggles at the blue again. "Hi," she says, realizing she's being
watched.
Merien walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
M'hryn looks over at L'tan and shakes his head, his face tightening. He
returns his attention back to the Candidates.
Loose-limbed Sandstone Bronze Hatchling
A golden-brown shade imbues this hatchling from headknobs to forked tail,
enwrapping awkward pinions with the sunwarmed pale ochres and
metallic-tinted tans of windswept rock heated by Rukbat's light. As if
brushed by the fronds of flora stubbornly clinging to the stone of this
dragonet's hide, touches of bronzey green feather his neckridges and
splash down bulky shoulders which bear the promise of strength and
endurance to come. His age and the growth ahead of him lend this
hatchling nearly an attenuated look now, however, with a neck seemingly
too overlong, a whippy tail stretching out forever, and long, tangling
wings like sun-bronzed damp sails of resilient wind-smoothed stone caught
in the fury of the hatchling's uncertainty; clumsiness notwithstanding,
however, he carries himself with a charismatic, expectant air.
Kayala grins at the girls, looking excited for everyone of them. Her hand
pulses in Yazric's with every "OOO ooo ooo," she makes.
Elle reaches over to her new lifemate and says, "C'mon, you. I know where
the food is. And watch that sand kicking!" She is all smiles, though. She
wouldn't mind it if he kicked over a thousand pounds of sand!
Gina pauses and backs off as Kiashi speaks to the blue. Maybe that's
five. She looks out toward the sands and tries to tighten up the
semicircle.
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling blinks again at those giggles. Somehow,
he kinda likes that sound. Better get closer to hear it again. You got
another?
Tothun moves his attention once more to the bronze hatchling. He bites
his lip as he starts to watch it, rocking still from foot to foot.
Trinoth slides along, his rump skidding, making a track on the sands, as
he gazes lovingly at his new lifemate.
Kiashi just laughs, now, happily. One of them is paying attention to her!
Her laugh is rich, bubbling out of her. Maybe. Just maybe...
Grego gives Elle and her lifemate a broad grin, then turns to murmur to
Tothun, "Don't forget to breathe, kiddo. I don't think you can Impress if
you pass out on the sands." He winks, then turns to squint at the newest
arrivals.
Elle laughs. "Okay, Okay. This way." She heads toward the side of the
cavern.
A popping noise heralds the arrival of a blue hatchling from his
Scholarly Pride Egg near the center of the clutch. After giving a loud
snuffling to the air, he weaves his way around his fellows and their
eggs, very controlled in his movements. Tollot, a large-eyed lad Searched
from the Smithcraft, appears to be his goal, and the boy is showered with
black sand as the dragonet suddenly loses his control and flops to the
ground just in front of the lad, creeling painfully as a wingtip is
crumpled in the process. "It's okay, Turlenth. Here, let me help you,"
T'lot murmurs, totally oblivious to anything but the blue at his feet.
Trinoth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Elle heads out towards the entrance.
Loose-limbed Sandstone Bronze Hatchling is /free/. Free. And my, these
things sure are interesting, these sticky grain things plastering all
over...Mmmph. They don't do much for the hunger, though--and the little
bronze wobbles his way to a more upright position, gazing about
expectantly.
Alexandra looks along the line of candidates and then to the eggs and
hatchlings. She smiles as she watches the hatchlings pairing off with
candidates, she dances a little as the heat of the sand gets to her once
more, or is it the heated ash. She takes a deep breath, after putting a
hand up to try and keep from inhaling too much ash. She looks around and
says, "I hope the hatchlings are not affected by the ash."
Tothun looks back to Grego, and grins a bit. He swallows, and looks back
to the bronze.
Curling her hands into little fists full of robe, Chibi peers out over
the shard filled sand with increasing concern. Her attention is divided
many times over as her eyes try to see everything at once. Reaching her
hands to her head and rubbing her temple, she lets out a small sigh, eyes
still lit upon the scene..
Kaci holds her breath, watching the blue. "C'mon, go for it..."
Grego's jaw drops. "Tollot?" he blurts, stunned. "Oh, dear Faranth, the
poor weyrlingmasters!"
Kila stifles a laugh, and she points out the blue to Grego and Tothun.
"Like rider, like dragon."
Elemental Mists Egg's vilent movements cause the egg to roll down from
the depression, sliding down the mound to lay still and silent again.
Elle walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Yazric gapes as Tollot Impresses to a blue, "Well I'll be.. something.
Wow."
Shaded Celestite Blue Hatchling lets out a whuff and blows warm air on
that one! Ooooo! That was a little different, but who cares! Waddling
over to get closer, he gazes deeply into her eyes, seeing what he's never
seen before. His heart beats more quickly. Do it again? He's happy! Is
she?
Merellia shakes her head sharply in response to L'tan's comment. "I've
not caught anything. From the candidates," she amends after a moment,
straightening herself determinedly as she takes note of the candidates as
Impression whittles away their numbers. "Just look," she adds, trying to
redirect the Weyrleader's attention back towards the hatchlings.
Kiashi stares up into his eyes, as well, letting out another laugh as
she's whuffed! "Hi," she says again, very, very softly.
Kayala oooos, watching the hatchlings shuffling inelegantly through the
sand and she grins, shaking her head. "Wow, Yazric..."
A light tremor ripples through the rock beneath the galleries and ledges,
barely perceptible at first. A mound of sand on the Hatching ground
shifts abruptly, collapsing, and the remaining eggs rock even harder. The
tremor strengthens, vibrating strongly beneath the feet of spectators,
the hatching sands flowing as if alive. The walls of the cavern
themselves begin to rumble, the sound of tortured stone echoing
throughout the cavern as the ground beneath oscillates violently. After a
few, terrifying heartbeats, the rumbling abates, fading away as the
earthquake weakens and ends.
Kaci eeps, then frowns down at the ground. "Your timing's bad."
Tothun looks to the Elemental Mists egg as it tumbles. He risks a quick
glance to Grego, then back as he watches it, then the bronze. He once
more wipes his hands. His eyes widen at the tremors, and he freezes
mid-movement.
The cracking of more eggs is lost in the general noise of creeling
dragonets, shouts of congratulations, and the usual hubbub of a hatching,
keeping the arrival of a pair of green hatchlings from being heard by any
but the ones nearest them. The two dragonets go off in arcs to either
side, moving towards the candidates completely intent on their goals. One
stops before she's gone a dozen paces, picking a lad from Bitra, but the
second completes almost a full circle before coming to rest with her head
in the arms of a girl from Keroon.
Loose-limbed Sandstone Bronze Hatchling takes a step. Hmm. Wasn't so
hard, especially since no-one seems especially obliging enough to head
his way. And another. Definitely not difficult at all. One more and one
more and one and one and one and one and one and--well in time with the
earth's quaking, the bronze's limbs tangle with tail and wings and he
plunges into the sands once more, letting out an unhappy, miserable
squall.
L'tan isn't all that interested in candidates or their dragons, "I'm
going to get you a Healer when this is over. You're sick."
Iriane yelps and nearly loses her balance with the sudden rumble. "My
goodness... that wasn't a -dragon- was it?" she whispers.
The creature confined within the Elemental Mists Egg struggles to break
free: the egg itself shifts to the right, sways to the left, then quivers
violently. After a pregnant pause, the smooth contours of the egg
crackle, gleefully presenting a green dragonet atop the shards.
Gina falls to her knees, face as white as her robe as the shake hits.
"Great Faranth!" she gasps, knees burning in the heat of the sands. Are
they warmer than they were?
Delectable Dioptase Green
She appears as if drawn delicately from the chaotic sub-Pernian depths
into the dim light of the Istan Sands. Sleek, delicate, and wholly female
in her trappings, she gracefully emerges in all her draconic grandeur.
Her slender frame dazzles with innumerable flecks of effulgent silver,
dappling her lithe neck and cradling her torso with brilliant caresses.
Her hide, a rich and abstruse green, appears otherwise perfect in its
uniformity from the slim barrel of her chest to the spicular tips of her
forestay. Her carriage is light and spare, lean muscles undulating with
keen ministrations, reflecting the cavern's light and allowing it free
reign upon lush hide--the hue of which seems to call challenge to the
peerlessness of the emerald.
Grego's breath catches at the rumble. "Not -now-," he hisses. His voice
drops to a whisper, a droning litany to Pern, requesting her to hold off
on another shake, just for a -little- longer.
Alexandra looks at Kiashi and says, "Congradulations." as a wide grin
crosses her face. She turns from the new couple and looks at the ground.
She stumbles and leans forward, putting her hands out a little as if
preparing to fall over. She looks around, as if looking for re-assurance.
She tries to steady herself even though the very ground they stand upon
is not as such. She takes a breath and tries to steady. Looking to Gina
she calls. "Are you okay?"
Yazric catches himself as the earth moves, caught unawares by the earth
tremour while he watches the hatchlings running here and there, his gaze
caught again by the bronze.
Kiashi does loose her balance, and plops right into the sand on her
bottom, right in front of the blue. She gazes into his eyes as soon as
she's steady again, though, letting out another giggle. "Oops."
Kila takes a few quick steps away from Grego, grabbing at the hand of a
blond girl who seems about to take flight in panic, as the rumblings
shake the ground. Arm about her, she leads her back into line beside
Grego and Tothun. Her expression, as she seeks out her friends, reflects
her concern.
Tothun loses his interest in the tremors as soon as the green hatches. He
again wows softly as he watches it, but he manages to keep both feet on
the sand for a bit longer than before.
Kaci shakes her head to Iriane, and glances around at the others, moving
a few steps closer to those who seem more shaken up than the others.
Chibi peers around in surprise, her eyes going wide as she turns in a
circle, frantically trying to remain standing. She gasps as it's over as
quick as it began and sifts her attention back to what's at hand. She
grasps at her robe again, peering at the shardfilled sands solemnly..
L'tan amends, "I'll find you a healer if the island's still here when
this is over."
Nathel flails about, sharp contrast to his sister who seemed to be using
him for balance. Amazing the two of them are still up.
Leuth lowers his great head to peer at Kiashi, eyes rolling, heart
throbbing.
Mertinel looks a little startled as the earthquake shakes through her
entire body and then subsides. She reaches over to a fellow candidate
through the ordeal, each supporting the other. She slowly straightens
when it is over, and looks worriedly at the remaining eggs and then over
at the Weyrleaders.
Kiashi grins broadly. "Leuth," she says, reverently. "Hungry? Well lets
go! Lets get you something to eat!" She scrambles to her feet. "You're
beautiful."
Gina is still on her knees, her ocean-sicknes activated by the quake. She
shakes her head to the other candidates calling to her, but manages to
regain her balance and stand.
Alexandra nods to Gina and says, "Good."
M'hryn looks towards the Weyrleaders as the ground settles down, then he
hears the call of a dragon's name. He turns and moves quickly over to
Kiashi. "You can get over to the corner, right?" he asks quietly.
Solarith throws up his head at the tremor and hisses angrily. It takes
him a long moment to settle down again, despite the reassuring hand of
T'saren on his flank.
Delectable Dioptase Green picks herself slowly from the shards. Delicatly
extending her wings to either side, she shakes the remaining shards off
her body. Lifting her head, eyes whirling with brilant reds, she peers
around the sands.
Leuth scoops up some of the sand and whuffs it playfully as he raises his
head high. My Kiashi!
Madelynda steadies herself by reaching out a hand to Phediath, who snorts
irritably as Pern disrupts her Hatching. Head bucking, tail swishing up
black sand to join the ash hanging in the air, the queen gets distracted
by the elements for a moment until the Grounds settle beneath them; but
eyes whirl quickly back to the Impressions once more.
Kiashi says, "To the corner? I can get anywhere. Me and Leuth can, together."
Kiashi walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Chips of shell peel away from the Magnificent Host Egg like the rind of a
redfruit, revealing a large cobalt blue hatchling who gives forth a tiny
trumpet as his body is unveiled for all to see. He preens for a moment,
totally intent on making himself respectable before stepping daintily
from the splinters of his egg. As he passes each candidate, he stares up
into their eyes, trying to find the one who calls to the fine figure he
presents. 'Ahh, this one looks right' his whole body seems to say as he
blinks three sets of eyelids up at Churrun, a very young lad from the
Weyr's lower caverns, who seems shocked. "Are you sure, Ianith?" Ch'run
queries hesitantly, then bursts into tears as the blue places his
delicate head against the hem of his robe with a snort.
Grego's head lifts quickly as Kila leaves, his manner that of a startled
runner--or a startled Candidate. As she returns to her spot in line, he
relaxes, and looks to see how the others fared during the shake.
Leuth walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Merellia's head snaps up towards the ceiling of the cavern as the quake
rumbles its way through the Weyr, greenish cast more apparent again as
she pales. "Sharding volcano. Now of all times--," she swears under her
breath, her usual composure on the ebb. Glance flicking to the galleries
and the ledges, she calls out loudly enough--with a little luck--to be
heard by at least some of the folks close enough by. "It's been happening
for the past few sevendays, and not very near to the Weyr...Don't let it
alarm you unduly." With a quick smile, she adds, "Just the island
heralding the hatchings, shall we say," before her attention returns to
the candidates and L'tan once more, a shake of her head rejecting L'tan's
remark about a healer.
Alexandra looks at the hatchlings and as if it were normal asks, "Are you
all okay?" She smiles and then giggles as she realizes she just asked a
bunch of dragons if they were well. She grins sheepishly and shakes her
head, ash falling from her hair.
Tothun smiles as he continues to watch the green. He doesn't say anything
this time, but his eyes focus on it as it rises.
Kayala blows loose ash from her face, scrubbing at a cheek with her free
hand.
Kaci grins over at Alexandra. "Took the words right out of my mouth." She
gives the girl an encouraging wink.
A weyrlingmaster gently takes Ch'run by the arm, urging him and Ianith
into the corner.
Alexandra looks back to Kaci and giggles. "It only seemed natural." she
smiles and turns back to the hatchlings.
Gina's joy has been effectively dampened by the volcano's antics. Her
expression shows she's still feeling a bit ill, but she's come this far
and she'll stay the course.
Kila looks over the Sands with serious eyes, watching for others unnerved
by the quake, or hurt in a stumble. She relaxes a fraction as she sees
none that have obviously come to harm.
A loud shriek of indignation echoes across the Hatching Grounds as a
green dragonet clambers out of her shattered Prunes and Prisms Egg. She
turns around and hisses at the shards before turning her red-eyed gaze to
the candidates and making a dash for them. The bolt ends as she trips
over a bit of scuffed sand, and she tumbles into an ungainly heap actually
past the first ranks of candidates. She gets slowly to her feet, looking
dazedly up at two boys who have turned around. The first lad looks at the
other, nods, and steps back, allowing the first to go help her to her
feet while muttering, "Calm down, Beoth."
Loose-limbed Sandstone Bronze Hatchling sets up a high-pitched, demanding
creel. He hatches, and gets thrown to the ground. The earth shakes, and
he gets thrown to the ground. And on top of everything else, he's
/hungry/. Determined in the face of this new world's inhospitability, the
bronze picks himself up from the tangle of legs and wings and tail, eyes
whirling red as he half charges the nearest group of Candidates. Find
someone /now/ and let /him/ take care of everything else.
Nathel takes a look over the sands, realizing it's getting awfully empty
out here. He absently wipes a palm gingerly against one side of his robe,
hoping it doesn't fall apart out here and well, ah...
Kayala brushes away another shower of ash, feeling sorry for the poor
hatchlings and their unfortunate welcome to the world.
M'hryn looks over at the creeling, charging bronze and moves towards the
group of Candidates it moves to, watching the white-robed people
carefully to make sure they don't get in the bronze's way.
Wiping at her warm brow, and smearing her face with blackish ash, Chibi
inchs a bit forward. As she catches sight of the hissing green, her
inches are reduced, then taken back as she notices a particularly unhappy
green, warning her of still others to come. She stands, or, well, dances,
a bit further away then she was before..
Kaci's eyebrows arch as she eyes the little bronze. "/He's/ in a hurry,"
she murmurs.
Grego's nerves, worn to a thread, are not at all helped by the
near-charging bronzeling. He inhales sharply, and balances on the balls
of his feet, looking ready to duck out of the way should the bronze head
towards him.
Delectable Dioptase Green lifts one foot, then the other. Steping away
from her shards with lady like dignity. Turning her head to look back at
her trailing wings, she stops to study them, to study herself. At that
instiant, you see this little green admiring herself for the first time,
oh isn't she so pretty. Pleased with her beauty, she croons.
Yazric tugs Kayala's hand a bit, pulling her back a bit from the bronze
of doom.
One of the few eggs on the Grounds without fissures, the Frightful Mouth
Egg, suddenly cracks directly down the center, appearing to gape between
the two scarlet lines on it surface. From this opening steps a green
hatchling, all her dignity gathered about her like a cape. She
practically flows across the sands, staring with a hypnotic gaze at each
candidate before crossing to a blonde lass from Nerat and making her
choice. The newest dragon pair is escorted to the quiet corner where the
other new weyrlings wait.
Kayala shuffles out of the way with Yaz, her face furrowed with concern.
"'Sokay, it's okay," Kila murmurs, struggling not to betray nervousness
herself, trying to keep those around her calm.
Kaci giggles at the little green, though her eyes flick back to the
charging bronze occasionally. "Somebody get that green a mirror."
Loose-limbed Sandstone Bronze Hatchling never claimed yet to have learned
more than simple charging and falling down--stopping is another matter.
Having spotted his target, however, he lets the boy do that for him as he
barrels, sandy limbs and all, right into the candidate of his choice. Ha!
Found 'im.
Kayala chuckles at Kaci's irreverent comment. "She'll like the water for
all its reflections, that one will."
Tothun uickly jumps back with the others, movbing back into the group
again as he watches the bronze. He then glances up the the Delectable
green again, with a grin.
A sudden scattering of dust announces the arrival of a slim green
hatchling from the Sandy Scarred Egg, marked with lighter, almost yellow,
shades on her head and neck. She tumbles from her shell in an almost
graceful fall, then gathers her dignity and steps from the circle of
eggs, making her way to a young man who cries out, "Oh yes, Tadanth! You
are perfect!"
Alexandra quickly shakes out her hair, and wipes at her obviously sweaty
forhead, the heat from the sands and the heat in the air finally getting
to her. She coughs a little and picks at her robe, trying to pull the wet
cloth off of her for even a moment. She gives a disgusted look as she
realizes that nothing will stop the feeling of the sweaty outfit sticking
to herself. She shakes her head and look around again, to the sands and
to the hatchlings. She smiles and seems to resign herself to her sticky
situation.
G'har comes very close to losing his footing as the bronzeling tumbles
into him. "Falsanath," he gasps.
Gina is sand-speckled, her white robe greyed with ash, sweat, and black
sand. She shifts her weight over and over, casting a glance back toward
the weyrlings, then out to sands..and the new bronze pairing.
Kayala stumbles slightly on an uneven furrow of sand and she steadys
herself against YAz just in time to see the bronze impress.
Mertinel shifts from side to side, a solemn sands dance to keep her feet
cool. She looks back and forth from people to eggs to hatchlings. She
bursts into a grin, giggling softly as another dragon Impresses.
Delectable Dioptase Green lifts her head up to croon again, can she stand
here on these nice warm sands and admire herself forever? With slow
steps, she moves farther from her shards, it seems she has decided not,
her croon lowering into a more plantive tone.
Madelynda watches with a slight, amused smile; eyes drifting to the sand
under her feet, she spies a shard nearby and bends quickly to pick it up,
turning it over like a jem in her hands. After a moment, feeling its
surface, the weyrwoman's brow furrows as she says quietly, "That's
strange..."
A crackling sound echoes across the Hatching Grounds from the Shimmery
Silver Egg, pieces of its shell appearing to darken before flaking off. A
dark blue hatchling flops from its confines, wallowing briefly in the
sands before getting to his feet and creeling his hunger. He continues to
vocalize as he ambles towards the candidates, sniffing each one before
settling eyes on Yulis, a lad from a tiny cothold outside Ruatha. The two
blink at each other for a few moments, as if in silent negotiation,
before Yulis finally reaches out to smooth the blue's eyeridge as he
grins, "I hear you, Aetoth." Y'lis' tone growing sheepish, he adds, "And
I love you too."
Falsanath seems even more insistent now than before, butting egg-damp
head against G'har--liberally smearing sand dampened and sticky by egg
fluids--onto the boy and setting to that high-pitched creel once more
with a will.
M'hryn shakes his head and smiles at G'har. "It's a good name, Grego," he
says. "Now, can you two make it over to the corner where you can tend to
him?"
Kila gasps as the bronze rushes right between her and Tothun, bowling her
friend over. "Grego!" she shrieks, before realising that he's safe after
all. "Ach... Grego lad! Well done! Falasanth's beautiful!"
G'har nods quickly, his expression still quite stunned. "Food," he
manages. Then he bobs his head to M'hryn. "Yes, sir. Yes, yes, yessir.
Right now. He's -hungry-!"
G'har walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Tothun looks over, and grins wide, as he sees G'har impress. He cheers a
litle again, not uite the exuberance of the other times, before looking
back to the green.
Kaci cheers for Grego. "Bet you're glad you came now!" she grins.
Yazric beams, "Good." is his emphatic comment.
Little cracklings come from one corner of the clutch, and a tiny green
hatchling steps from the shell of the Silent Wind Egg. She hesitates for
a long moment, then flounders through the sands to a small group of
candidates standing together. One lad seems to be singled out by the
green's questing snout, and he bends to put his arms around her neck,
giving her a hug that needs no words to express his newly-found
affection.
M'hryn nods. "I can imagine," he says, grinning after G'har, then turns
and looks back to see what and who is left.
A smile alights her solemn face, then turns into a giggle as Chibi's
bouyant personality rears its head. She watches the preeing green with a
quiet amusement, her eyes flicking from her to the other hatchlings and
eggs.
Alexandra smiles and congradulates Grego with a meer nod and a smile. She
turns and looks again at the remaining eggs and hatchlings. She covers
her mouth and takes another deep inhalation. She blinks and wipes grey
ash and sweat from her face.
Gina looks at the greens now, longing in her eyes. As one finds her
match, she sighs but smiles weakly. It's about all she can manage right
now.
Falsanath bleats in sudden surprise as G'har heads away. Galvanized, the
bronze manages limbs into action once more and charges after.
Falsanath walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Delectable Dioptase Green seems to relise that admiring herself isn't the
best thing to do for the pain in her tummy. Seeing the row of white, she
moves towards them, her movments slow, she must not charge, that would
not be lady like. She approaches no one but stops suddenly to look at
something.
Kayala's gaze follows G'har and his new companion from the sands. Her
young face is a smeared mess of sand and emotions as she looks back to
the remaining hatchlings and eggs.
Mertinel breathes out another breathy little sigh and clutches her hands
together in front of her nervously. She maintains her smile though as her
eyes shift and fixate on the green.
Kaci chuckles softly, watching the green. "Isn't she just a darling?"
Alexandra watches as the green hatchling approaches. She smiles and
shakes her head. Her expression is one of mock amazement.
Kayala lets out a soft snort at the delectable green's actions. "My, what
a vain little thing. But she -is- beautiful."
Iriane awkwardly tucks a strand of hair back, skimming the sands, over
the shards and gooey stuffs.
Tothun's eyes stay focused on the Delectable green. In fact, he turns a
bit towards it while watching it, still rocking a bit, a hopeful look on
his face.
Still a little stunned, Kila manages to grin at Tothun, closing the gap,
waving those on the other side to close in as well on the decreasing
cluster of eggs left on the sands.
Phediath, looking for all of Pern like the proudest of queens, lets out a
quiet croon toward Solarith as she surveys the Grounds a-littered with
bits of shells, eyes resting on the small number of hatchlings still
stumbling about. Lowering her head, she pushes at one with her muzzle,
giving it a sound sniffing.
Delectable Dioptase Green looks up at the young boy, her creel changing
into that of a soft croon as her eyes take in the the appearance of one
of the younger candidates. Slowly, she takes the remaining steps to him
and croons again.
In the relative quiet of the Sands, a flicker of movement becomes a
rolling shudder across the shell of the Cursed Landscape Egg. With a clap
like thunder, the egg shatters into thousands of tiny shards, giving
birth to a green dragonet who stares around before walking directly to a
black-haired woman from Plains Hold. The two gaze into each other's eyes,
then the woman gasps and falls to her knees. "Oh, Yvalith! I never
thought..." The rest of her words are lost in the shouts of "Congrats,
Tiala!" coming from her fellow candidates.
Giving her sweaty scalp a scratch, Chibi's eyes flicker with emotion as
she peers across the emptying sands. Her face falls slightly as the young
green finds her lifemate, but her eyes quickly return to the sands,
searching.
T'thun's eyes widen, and he falls to his knees to reach out and wrap his
arms around her neck. "Her name's Aradith!" he calls out, in a voice
filled with joy.
Kila blinks, as she seek that Tothun is unlikely to look her way after
all. "Oh my!" is her whispered comment.
Kaci applauds, grinning at Tothun and his new lifemate. "Alright!"
Kayala grins to the newest to impress. "Congratulations T'thun!"
Yazric smiles, "Congrats Tothun."
Mertinel's face lights up as she stares at T'thun, smiling at him warmly
and calling out "Good for you T'thun." But then her face falls just a
little as her eyes find the nearly vacant sands once more.
M'hryn murmers quietly to Tiala and Yvalith as he escorts them to the
corner, then returns to hear T'thun's cry. He hurries over to the lad and
smiles. "A pretty name for a pretty green. She's probably starved. G'fen
and Merien can help you feed over in the corner."
Alexandra smiles and says, "Congradulations Tothun." she looks at the
happy couple and giggles a little. She looks at the remaining candidates,
and smiles encouragingly.
Solarith croons back to Phediath, looking over the last few hatchlings.
At his side, T'saren suddenly perks up and stares out at one of the
candidates. He shakes his head as something dawns on his, then sighs. "I
should have known, since she never was happy back home. Congrats, Tiala!"
Her lips lifting in a smile, Chibi peers over at little Tothun, "Way to
go T'thun!" Her eyes don't seem to want to stay in one place, however,
and her gaze flicks back to the shard strewn sands.
T'thun looks up to M'hryn, nodding quickly and wipes the new tears off
his face as he stands, starting to lead the green quickly, "Come
on..food's over here."
A silence hangs palpably above the Hatching Grounds as the last green
dragonet finds her lifemate. And yet, small cluster of women hanging
about the golden egg remain hopeful. Still standing bright and intact
upon the obsidian sand, it is the only one left. Not a crack mars its
shell, not a motion rocks the golden orb.
T'thun walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Nathel kicks at the sand and blinks at the sudden silence. Wow.
Aradith walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Kaci frowns slightly, noting the still golden egg. "Oh no..."
Gina looks back toward the weyrlings. Then to the silent gold egg. She
bites her lip.
Kila blinks at the sole remaining egg, and reaches out, offering her
hands to those beside her.
Kayala looks curiously at Kaci. "Oh no?" A question rather than Kaci's
exclamation.
Her brow furrowing, Chibi grasps tightly at her ash riddled robe. Her
eyes rest upon the unmoving egg, flicking worriedly towards the golden
mother..
Merellia's attention flickers from the hatchlings still scattered across
the sand, to Madelynda and her gold lifemate. Skirts swirling
purposefully about her ankles, the Weyrwoman picks her way through the
shards towards the pair, brows drawing together.
Alexandra looks about and shakes her head. She looks a little confused as
she takes in the egg that has caught everyone's attention. She smiles a
little and takes a couple of quick breathes.
Kaci nods slowly, glancing toward Phediath sympathetically.
Iriane offers a smile, perhaps showing a bigger grin than what she's
feeling, and reaches out a free hand to Kila.
Yazric smiles to Kila, turning his attention to the weyrleaders.
Kayala looks to Yazric.
T'saren notices where the others are looking and peers at the gold egg
which Phediath has so lovingly taken care of these past sevendays.
"Shells," he mutters, tearing his gaze away to look over at Maddy with a
deepening frown. "Doesn't look like it's going to hatch, does it?"
L'tan notices the lack of activing from the gold egg. A bereft expression
crosses his face quickly and he turns away from the scene.
Gina sees the weyrleaders' expressions and lets out a long, slow breath.
Kayala slowly releases Yazric's hand, moving to join the other girls.
Merellia gestures to L'tan as she passes the Weyrleader, voice too low to
be overheard as she murmurs a few words to him, and gestures towards the
still egg. Her expression otherwise controlled, one eyebrow arches
slightly, and she tilts her head towards it.
M'hryn purses his lips as he looks at the last egg. He shakes his head
and starts escorting the last of the dragonets and their new lifemates
towards the far corner of the hatching grounds.
Kila squeezes Iriane's hand, closes the other over Reesa's, and lets out
a slow breath.
M'hryn walks down to the far end of the Cavern.
Kayala moves up between Danela and Cupenda, trying her best to brush off
the robe before taking their hands.
Gina looks torn between staying where she is and moving into the
semicircle.
Alexandra looks at the few remaining candidates and then she brushes
herself off. Taking a breath she smiles to the others. "Good luck." she
says to them all.
Habrith lumbers onto the sands from the passageway leading to the
southwest.
Chibi stands stock still, either not feeling or not caring about the
heat. Her eyes wander aimlessly about the shard-strewn cavern, returning
again and again to the unmoving queen egg.
Madelynda, eyes resting on the final weyrling pair to depart, is
distracted as focus is drawn to the queen egg, seemingly fogotten in all
the fuss and noise. Looking up worriedly at Phediath, who hovers over her
with a markedly unconcerned air, the young weyrwoman walks carefully
walks toward the gold oval and stretches out both hands to tentatively
touch it. After a moment, looking up to Merellia, she says softly.
"Nothing." Her aqua eyes move to Phediath as she seems to bespeak the
queen; eventually, she adds slowly, "Phediath says 'It is quiet.'"
Habrith crosses the sands slowly, somberly, coming to stop near the gold
egg and his rider. L'tan stares down at the sands. He mummurs, "Oh,
bloody ..."
Kaci glances toward Habrith, and takes a few hasty steps back. Don't want
to get in his way, nope.
Kila turns her head to look at the huge golden queen. "Sorry, lass," she
says, quietly.
Iriane shifts on the sands, watching the solemn announcement from
Madelynda.
Mertinel stands, transfixed, pale. She watches the gold egg's unmoving
form with a stricken face.
Alexandra shakes her head slowly and takes another breath. She looks up
at the gathered people and lowers her eyes to the sands. She shrugs
softly to herself and then lets a few tears fall from her eyes.
As if waiting to hear Phediath's pronouncement, and soon as Madelynda
reports to the Weyrwoman, Solarith stretches his neck to the skies and
lets loose with a keen that could rattle teeth and probably break glass.
Kayala drops the hands in hers and looks to the sand below the golden
egg.
Gina backs up. She gives the fullgrown dragons plenty of room, but takes
in the words of the weyrwoman. Then she takes a deep breath and curtseys
to the grieving parents.
Yazric nods at Madalynda's words, as if some question in his mind has
been answered.
T'saren closes his eyes and shakes his head sadly at Maddy's words, then
steps to her side. "I can dispose of it," he offers quietly, his throat
tightening around the words.
If his attention had been distracted before, Nathel gives a soft yelp at
the sudden keening and blinks at the sudden atmosphere that has befallen
the Grounds.
Kayala's miserable gaze swings to T'saren. Dispose is such a bad word.
Kaci looks toward Solarith sorrowfully, that keen bringing tears to her
eyes.
L'tan takes a step forward, "Ista takes care of it's own. And Habrith and
I will give the little queen the peace she requires. If you'll excuse
me?" His eyes rest of Merellia, perhaps for permission.
Merellia's features tighten, tanned skin almost gray with its pallor of
dismay. "It happens sometimes," she says shortly, glance flickering to
the broad head of Neith, the queen peering out of the tunnel nearby
leading to her own weyr. "And Neith agrees. It happened probably some
time ago, I'm afraid. L'tan--" she looks up from the egg and Madelynda,
glance seeking out the Weyrleader. "You and Habrith will have to take
care of this," with an inclination of her head towards the keening
Solarith. "Madelynda..." With a wordless shake of her head, she squeezes
the hand of the younger weyrwoman, then turns back to the candidates left
standing amongst the shards. Lifting her voice, "If you'd all come here a
moment."
Phediath sways her head to watch the fuss about the gold egg, her tail
flicking idly in the sand, muscles relaxed and shadowy-golden hide
smooth. After a moment of watching, her blue-green gaze moves to
Solarith, and she lets out a solemn and respectful croon to the
bronze--seemingly intended more to comfort him and signify the loss, not
plead for comfort.
Alexandra stands dumbfounded.
Gina looks up at Solarith and Phediath, then obeys the Weyrwoman's
summons.
L'tan jumps up and grabs a strap before agilely climbing up onto
Habrith's neck.
Kayala forces one foot obediantly in front of the other on a path toward
Merellia.
Iriane dutifully follows the other candidates, trudging over the sand.
Rubbing her hands along her dirty, wet robe, Chibi peers down at the
sands solemnly. She raises it and walks slowly towards the Weyrwoman.
Yazric nods, moving over to Merri.
Kaci bows deeply to Phediath, then to Solarith, before slowly moving
toward Merellia.
Alexandra snaps out of it, and then responds to the Weyrwoman's summon.
Nathel gets tugged along with Iriane, walking with the others to
Merellia.
Kila tugs gently at Reesa's hand, leading her over to Merellia.
Mertinel's face is wet with unashamed tears. AT the Weyrwoman's
prompting, she advances, face twisting as her urge to cry overwhelms. She
bows her head and looks down at her hands.
Habrith rises to his haunches and then lifts the gold egg with his
forelimbs. He balances for a moment and then jumps into the air, going
between only a downsweep off the sands.
Habrith leaps into the air above the hatching sands, and wings out
through the aerial entrance.
Gina mutters to herself, "... lives. Don't dwell... the deaths.... was...
today,..."
You mutter to yourself, "D'on. Remember the lives. Don't dwell on the
deaths. There was birth today, shardit."
Kaci nods, catching some of Gina's words. "That's exactly right."
T'saren nods his head to Merellia's words, deciding maybe it would be
better if L'tan handled it. He glances over his shoulder to the ledges,
then sighs and puts an arm around Maddy's waist. "I'm sorry for all
this," he says as he gestures shortly to the dead egg. "I know it doesn't
mean much right now, but I don't know what else to say."
Madelynda nods quickly to the Weyrwoman, swallowing drily as she watches
after Habrith. Eyes move immediately, next, to the queen; a lopsided
smile appears on the goldrider's face as she takes in Phediath's calm
demeanor. Suddenly, the weyrwoman breaks into a smile, rough laughter
coming out as she answers audibly, "Aye, love. The hatchlings are
perfectly lovely." Shaking her head in quiet disbelief, she carefully
steps over to the queen and embraces her shadow-swirled neck.
Merellia says much more quietly now that the candidates are nearby, "I
regret you had to see that," spine almost militantly straight as she
talks to them. "Sometimes eggs just don't hatch, and we don't always know
why. Now," more briskly, perhaps in reaction to identifying the laughter
behind her, "you're welcome to join the rest of the Weyr and visitors in
the living cavern now for the fesast; or if you'd like to go somewhere to
sort yourselves out, feel welcome--just," she cautions, "be wary of the
lower cavern tunnels. I'm not sure if the quake might have impacted them
in some way." She pauses, not quite finished, but letting her words be
absorbed.
Kaci nods slowly, glancing involuntarily in the direction of the lower
caverns.
Gina nods and curtseys. "It was an honor to stand, Weyrwoman. Thank you."
Mertinel's words echo Gina's. "An honor Weyrwoman." Her face is still
damp and self-conciously, she lifts one arm to wipe at her face, drying
it.
Kayala forces her good manners to the front. "An honor..." She also turns
to nod in the direction of Phediath.
Iriane smiles bravely and nods, echoing Gina's words, "It was an honor to
just be here."
Alexandra nods as she listens to Merellia.
Yazric nods as he listens, reaching for Kayala's hand again.
Kila offers Merellia a smile. "Aye. Indeed." She bows to Phediath and
Solarith, straightening her shoulders and waiting to leave with the
others still on the Sands.
Nathel nods quietly, gingerly rearranging his robe.
Kayala seems to be a bit in shock as she allows YAzric to lead her away.
You say "Weyrwoman, may we...see the others? To congratulate them?"
Alexandra takes a deep breath and then looks up into the stands. She
shrugs and looks at Merellia. "When can we return home?" her voice rings
with a bit of disappointment, but also one of longing.
Kaci kneels, knees almost touching the hot Sands, and begins to gather
tiny pieces of egg shards, pieces no larger than her hand.
Yazric glances to Merri, "May we leave now?"
Merellia's brows pull together in sympathy. "I /am/ sorry you didn't find
your lifemates today. Again, you're all welcome to stay at Ista; and
welcome to stand again if you like--you have, each one of you, been a
valued member of Ista while here. And," with a quirk of her mouth, "it's
an opportunity to see the Weyr when you're not expected to be the one
scrubbing it. But, if such doesn't attract," with a nod to Alexandra,
"we'll be happy to provide rides for you in the morning and after." At
Gina's question, her mouth curves upwards slightly. "It'll probably be a
few days before you see them around in the living cavern again. The first
couple of sevendays or so, they stick pretty close to their lifemates,
who don't have the skill to make it far from the their couches. Now...if
you'd like to head on over towards the living cavern? We need to get the
new hatchlings out before they fall asleep where they stand."
Alexandra nods to Merellia and heads off of the sands.
Kaci glances up toward Merellia. "Can one be a dragonhealer without a
dragon? And would Phediath mind if I gathered together a few shell
pieces?" She blushes. "Working on a project for the folks who Impressed."
Yazric nods, "If you see D'zel Merri, could you mention that I'll be in
the infirmary tomorrow?" he glances to Kayala and starts to move with her
off the sands.
Iriane nods briefly and almost eagerly picks her way off the Sands,
Nathel in tow.
Gina follows Alexandra, with a smile of thanks. The ground seems to have
settled, and the nervousness over she can start to think about
congratulating her friends.
HOME FIRES MISTS LIFEBLOOD SPOKES