Livin' it Up [Callistath & Kalith's Hatching!]

Rules [especially unwritten ones] were meant to be broken.

Loto, as a general rule, was knocked a little left of center. Those less graceful and less forgiving might call her incompetent; a role she would break with the startling and casual ease that she broke most conventions.

It wasn't with the fluid ease that she and Medusa handled the chore of cleaning up the dining hall that was so bizarre; that was just good practice for them both. Unusual but free conversation would pass between them easily, the art of real smiles and laughter blending into the drudge-like work that the two girls had with cleaning up the tables. A spectacularly well-used towel was being run over to dry the sudsy solution that had been used to clean the table moments before; but it came to a stop, time seemed to come to a stop in those few seconds.

It wasn't even something that Ipa had to guide her to. It was as natural as the way that she and her room mate would meet eyes in those precious few seconds. No words were needed as the crooning of flits and dragons alike announced the song of the hatching that was to begin; decisively, Loto let the towel drop and let her smile broaden over the stunningly blank canvas that had been her face a few scarce moments before.

It was the kind of quietly loud epiphany they could share at once, even as Ipa's pale black wings raised in a clinical but nevertheless great urgency towards His bonded and the room mate he had come to know, scampering over the damp and lifeless towel as Loto would offer her tanned hand out to Medusa with an unusually calm confidence that seemed to become her.

"Hey, hey! Medusa?" Her voice, ever-the-same in it's chipper lilt couldn't help but beam along with the rest of her. "Let's go be heroes."

+++

They were heroes well-dressed for the occasion.

It hadn't taken them long; urgency and grace had somehow led them to move with an intention that they may have lacked apart from one another. Together, somehow, it seemed the motley pair of Candidates were what they were supposed to be. They'd move ino the assembly of candidates in a timely and orderly fashion, and that was what branded the moment as being so unusual.

The clean white robe that was expected of her clothed Loto, the edges reaching just past her knees and the sandals designed for the hatching sands giving no dry click as she stepped into the arena she'd gawked at not too many sevendays before. She was a big girl, but she was not awkward among the more fair of the group; she was powerfully humble in her confidence and in her silence. Her hands had been tucked between the long sleeved of her robes which she allowed to cross her chest.

She leaned forward in a bow, her legs bending in a curtsy to compliment even that. It wasn't silly but earnest as she kept her eyes on the clutchmother. A dragon who might remember her stupidly gawking on the sands with great reverence, allowing her attentions and respect to shift only slightly to Avalle. Her mouth should have been dry, she should have stuttered. She should have given thats silly little ta she always gave.

She didn't.

"Thank you for this honor..." She raised her hands under her sleeves, giving another slight bow to both of the clutchmothers; Callistath and Kalith. Unworthy, beneath them, and she knew it. Her eye contact did not waver, remaining on the pair with a solemn and very real intent. "This privilege and grace would be nothing without you and yours."

She may have deserved a dragonet less than the other candidates, known it from her recklessness. She did not eye the eggs with greedy hope or envy as she stepped back, maintaining a very careful eye-contact until she had been assimilated into the crowd of candidates. Her place wasn't all that far away from Myra, although her place there seemed almost instinctual.

Only then would her hands start to shake under the long sleeves, and would her warm brown eyes give way to a joyous smile that went bittersweet with the nearly worried furrow of her brows. It was laughter without laughter, as the sensation of the people she knew came to her. She turned her head to regard the zombie she'd met on her first day, the familiar figure of A'tra up on the stands, the bubbly girl Myra who was much closer by, her room mate and friend Medusa...

All brought together for the same purpose. Her attention would return to the Gold and Avalle for a moment, that same bittersweet and terribly warm smile passed to them both. It might very well have been an apology. Adrenaline began to stirr in her, quietly at first, but she fought her hammering pulse with the nails she dug into her palms.

Onipa'a. They would be steadfast. They would be a heroes.

Some part of her wished desperately that S'fa-papa was there to watch her.

Tensions were rising in the Weyr even if no one spoke of it. Everyone knew what was causing the tension. That was the only unspoken spoken thing that everyone was mentally thinking of. Callistath and Kalith`s Clutches. When would they Hatch? Both Queens had Clutched so closely together that there had been some worry and fear that the two Queens might fight with one another over space on the Sands. But the Queens surprised everyone. While there might be tension, both Queens acted accordingly with one another and had shared the Sands together like two ladies sharing tea on an afternoon. Now that there were two Clutches on the Sands, everyone was starting to get excited and count down the days to when they would Hatch. It was getting closer. It would be any day now. Tensions were rising and only when the first egg Hatched would some tensions start to fade.

Kela was starting to have a hard time controlling some of the children that she watched. On days that she watched them, there was a constant increase in chant to go play adventure with kids running off toward the Sands to get a good look at some of the eggs. Kela would not dare bring them close at all, not even to the stands to give them a small talk about the dragons, Clutches, and Hatchings. After the incident with the Candidates on the day that the Gold Queens had Clutched, Kela was even more concerned about bringing the children by. Children tend to be noisy little things when they get very excited. That and she was almost positive that one of them would end up trying to sneak off for a closer look at the eggs. No, she was not going to allow such a chance to have a foothold in this Weyr. So she would have to find alternatives for the children to play adventure without getting anywhere near the sleeping Queens and their eggs.

Kela was in the middle of a game of tag with the children out in some open area of the weyr when Callistath`s eggs began to Hatch. They had found a small area down in the Lower Caverns to play in that was far enough away from the Sands. But they were not far enough away before the sound of humming dragons reached Kela`s ears. She paused in her steps and lifted her head in the direction of the Sands. It was happening today. It was happening now. “Tag!” one of the little girls scream, poking Kela in the side and running off. But Kela did not seem to notice. She was concentrating on the sound of that humming. Did the Headwoman know what was going on? “Tag! Miss Kela, you are it!” the little girl called out to her, returning back to the young woman`s side to look up at her. Kela finally snapped out of it and looked down. “Sorry, I was distracted. Could you tag someone else instead of me? I think I am going to sit this round out for the moment.”

The little girl shrugged and ran off to chase one of the smaller boys into a corner so she could tag him. Kela moved over to a rock wall and stood there, listening to the distant sound of dragons humming. She remembered those sounds back in her previous Weyr. Whenever she heard those sounds, she could count on her brother coming down to find her and bring her to the Sands. But he was not here. Only the Headwoman could come to her rescue if she were to have a chance at Hatching. She kept her ears on the sounds while her eyes and body remained on the children. She may be a Candidate first, but she could not just abandon her duties without someone coming to her rescue or something. She wanted to remain responsible even when she knew mentally knew that she was being rushed to get to the Sands as soon as possible.

“Kela!” She heard her name called out. She turned and saw an older woman heading her way, her face slightly stern but there was understanding behind the woman`s eyes. The kids stopped their screaming and laughter, gathering in a group as they huddle for each other`s support. Whenever they saw the Headwoman it meant either she was watching them or one of them was in trouble and she was coming to punish them. The children feared the latter. They were always getting into trouble, be it minor or major, and they feared the woman with deep respect. The woman made her way closer, her eyes not on the children but on Kela. Kela could feel some of her anxiety washing away as Headwoman approached. “Kela, I am sure you are hearing the same thing I am hearing. You are lucky I found you this quickly. Well, do not just stand there and dawdle! You have a Hatching to attend! I wish you luck, but if you do not Impress you know I will see you tomorrow to help out in the Runner pens.”

Kela nodded and bowed deeply, showing her thanks and respect to the older woman. “Thank you, Headwoman,” she spoke, coming back and up and grabbing the sides of her dress as she quickly sprinted across the stone ground and back up the alley ways toward the Candidate`s Barrack. She knew she would not be the first on the Sands, but she refused to be the last there. The Queens were already annoyed enough with the Candidates for their utter display of disrespect the day that the eggs were Clutched. Callistath and Kalith did not need another Candidate arriving late and being disrespectful to them. She had to hurry if she was going to make it. The sounds of the humming seemed to be getting louder. Was this because she was getting closer to the Sands, there were more dragons arriving, or was it her mind making it seem louder to rush he further up the stairs to the Candidate Barracks.

She arrived and almost bumped into a few Candidates that were leaving the Barracks and heading toward the Sands. She apologized quickly and made it to her room where she grabbed the Candidate robe that she kept nearby for such cases. She fingered the robe and felt the material slightly pressed from the past times that she had worn it. It was also slightly dirty at the bottom from where she walked on the Sands, kicking sand up and getting it on her toes, feet, and legs. Such things could not be avoided when on the Sands. She sighed, asked Faranth that if her lifemate was there today that she would be found when she was ready, and put the robe on. It fit her still after all this time. So many Turns of trying to Impress and to think that there was a possible chance that her dragon was out there today. She hoped, but the dragons would know. They would look at her and they would know.

On the way to the Sands, she was suddenly being “attacked” by something in the air. Kela had to stop momentarily until she heard fussing chirps in her left ear as something clamped down onto her shoulder tightly. Kela looked over and saw Rune, her recently Impressed Bronze Fire Lizard, staring at her with whirling orange eyes. He was wondering where his Mine was going and why she was not with those horrible offspring of humans. Also the sound of the humming had alarmed him and he was not too enthused about his Mine running closer to those sounds. She reached up to get him off her shoulder which was escorted with a loud sound and ruckus of Rune fighting her not to let go. “No, Rune, you cannot come with me. Callistath and Kalith are already annoyed enough. If they see you, my chances will more go down from a slim chance to nothing. Just wait for me on a ledge somewhere or go back to the room.” Rune hissed at the words, but relented, chirping angrily that seemed to say that she owed him big time when this Hatching was over.

She arrived at the Sands, not early but not late. There were many Candidates already here and Kela was starting to feel nervous. Her stomach was doing multiple flips that seem to threaten to make her sick. She took a deep breath and let it out as quietly as she could. She took a step. The Sands were very warm under her feet to the point that it might burn her if she was not careful. She took another step. The eggs were moving, the movements were spoken words of the coming babies. A third step. The Queens were large and impressive. She did not want to anger them one bit. They seemed to not notice her just yet. She took more steps. There was a Queen egg on the Sands. Why had she not come out to see it sooner? She had heard about it, but her fear of angering the mothers had prevented her from coming to even just look from as far as the stands. But she could see the egg now.

She finally was in the view of the Queens. She took one bow first to Kalith. Kalith was the Sr. Queen and deserved the respect first. Then Kela turned and bowed deeply to Callistath. In her mind she mentally thanked the Queens for allowing her and other Candidates a chance to stand on the Sands to Impress their children. She also wished the health of both Queens AND the future Queen that they would remain strong and prosperous so that they may continue to rule Dalibor with the pride that they were. She could have said such words, and she probably muttered a few of them, but she knew dragons could read the minds of others when such things were broadcasted so clearly. Kela moved back slowly, keeping her eyes on the Queens and the eggs but trying to do nothing that appeared threatening. She found her spot among the other female Candidates. She took another sigh of relief. All that was left now was to stand there and wait, hoping that one of the eggs would contain her future life partner.

I hopelessly, helplessly, wonder why,
Everything gotta change around me,
I'd tell it to your face,
But you lost your face along the way.

Fajra cracked one eye open. Kalith stirred, eying Callistath's eggs and humming. They were hatching. With distant refinement, the Weyrwoman was on her feet, positioning herself next to the brooding presence of her Queen. Though her golden daughter's eggs were beginning to move, hers remained quiet and she hid them from view, away from the prying eyes of pesky candidates, covered with one great copper wing. People were flooding the cavern and she did not like so many being near them. Still, she hummed away, her voice vibrating deep in her throat, welcoming the coming life into the world. She was mother, first and foremost, warrior and mother and little else. She would defend with her life and do her part. While her eggs remain jealously under her care, she would defend her daughter's eggs just as quickly. Grands kids.

The Weyrwoman stood like ice. The copper Queen bared her teeth at the assembling candidates. They had no mercy in their behavior. If Callistath was merely angry, they were ready, eying the candidates who dared to flood their sands with a mix of passion and coldness in their eyes. While respect would satiate them, they were waiting. Just waiting. They expected mistakes. They knew that they were coming. They were the experienced pair, though Kalith was only seven turns and Fajra was only twenty turns older than her. Fajra leaned back slightly, settling against Kalith's flank. The copper Queen eyed the candidates who had come onto the sands with brightly swirling eyes of yellowish green, her teeth still exposed. She was a menacing sight, even with the bulkier, longer Callistath near. The Queens were the largest dragons of the Weyr.

In the candidates' barrack, Callistath's voice ricocheted around inside Sonia's head. She had been folding clothes, the motions so practiced, so easy. However, she quickly abandoned her work, standing in one practiced motion. There was no time to waste. Her flitters were in a cheerful panic, darting all over the place, circling and humming, tugging at her clothes. She pushed them away, forcing them to settle. She did not have the time or the patience to let them play. It was the hatching. Pulling out her white robe, she changed quickly, slipping sandals onto her feet. Stay. She offered her fair a smile with that order, just a small one. They crowed back to her, giving her a cacophony of encouragement and love. With that, she exited the room, leaving them to wait. Not that they did. They fled to the roof of the hatching sands within seconds.

With silent feet and quick steps, Sonia moved with speed and stealth across the bowl, abandoning her shuffle but keeping her manner. She did not run. She did not want to first. She simply wanted to avoid being last as well. All of her choices had a purpose to match their consequences. It was a hatching, but she was not joyful, not excited like all the others. Even with thirty-five eggs on the sands, she was not hopeful. Disappointment had hit her too many times for her to allow herself to be vulnerable. She expected nothing from life. It was simpler that way. The ground disappeared under her feet. She watched it, familiar with the steps that it took to reach the hatching grounds. Though the Weyr had not become her home, she knew every inch of it, every step she had taken memorized and remembered. She had more drive than was known.

Despite that, her firm resolve, Sonia felt open and exposed. She paused at the entrance of the hatching cavern, taking a deep breath to center herself. The Weyr had tested her. It was better. She supposed that was true. However, she still didn't feel very comfortable there. Too many people made her nervous. Especially bronzeriders. She did not like bronzeriders. They liked to bother her. Nasty, pestering boys. Again, she took a deep breath. She didn't close herself off, keeping her mind open, the chattering thoughts of her flitters filling it up, but she centered herself, squashing her emotions into a corner. She did not need to Impress. She just needed to survive. With that, she stalked forward, moving quietly to join the others on the sands. They burned under her feet but she ignored the discomfort. She was used to that sort of thing.

Sonia curtsied. While all the others bowed, she curtsied. It was low, her eyes fixed on the ground, but it was no bow. She offered no words. No wise remarks. Did all the others think that those would save them? Keep them? She had nothing to say. Nothing to give. Straightening, she faded into the background, allowing others to move in front of her. She was a shadow in the crowd, a petite, minuscule figure amongst more confident, flashy individuals. From behind the safety of her stray hair, the long mass brushed from the morning but allowed to drift forward, she watched the eggs neatly lined up on the sands. Some were rocking, some were silent. It was the hatching. That was how it went. She felt detached from the situation. That was better. Her eyes glided over the Queen egg, then the next one, and the next. Her hopes remained in check.

But you don't need my pictures on your wall,
You say you need no one,
And you don't need my secret midnight call,
I guess you need no one.

Belphe had been in her room when the Gold's call sounded. She sat up, blinking slowly and looking around. Oh, my. That meant the eggs were hatching, so she'd better get dressed! She was excited. She tied her hair back into their usual fluffy twintails, tying the ribbons tight so they wouldn't fall out. She gave herself a little smile and then went to find her robe. It wasn't all that hard to find, and she pulled it over her head. It was a bit big on the small 14 turn girl, but she figured that hey, she'd grow into it eventually, right? Right! But now it was the Hatching. Sooo... it was kind of too late for that.

She smiled widely at her roommate, tilting her head to the side at the odd squeak. Oh... Samael was nervous! Belphe felt bad, though it wasn't her fault. Oh... she should probably be nervous too, right? But why? Hatchings were fun! Even if she didn't Impress, it was still fun and she liked being there. The dragons got so close! It was amazing! She continued following after Samael, running as fast as her small legs and oversized robe would allow.

She bowed to Callistath and Kalith, awed by the eggs. "They are very pretty," she said quietly, curtsying again. After a moment she gave a small squeak and ran off, standing right by Samael. She smiled at the other girl. "This will be fun," she said happily, swaying a bit with excitement. Oh, that pink egg was about to hatch!

-----

Avalle eyed the Candidates warily as they approached, though she gave a slight smile to some of them. Most of them didn't get any more than that. It was odd, watching a Hatching from behind, she had to admit. The eggs continued to shake, but the pink one in the front made the most racket. The Candidates came in, bowed, and went to their places. Some complimented the eggs, which soothed Callistath a bit, but the important thing was that they all remembered to bow. Even if some of them didn't... quite do it good enough, Callistath let it go. They had a semblence of manners, and that was fine with her. Okay, no it wasn't, but she had to keep them alive for her children's sake.

L'ven's call of congradulations made Avalle smile a bit more and gave a half-hearted wave. She was tired, but she appreciated him being there for them. Too bad their days of using L'ven and O'ris as runners were coming to an end. The trickle of people began to slow and the eggs seemed to realize this, and they shook harder. The Pink egg in the front was really trying hard to escape its prison. The egg shook... and then went silent. Did the dragon inside give up?

... nope, it only went to re-double its efforts, and finally, a crack started. The egg split in all different ways, crumbling to bits as the pink eggshell fell away to reveal a Green. She was a vibrant, deeply colored Green. She was a bit smaller than most, but it could be said that she really was about average. Her body was well-proportioned. Her coloring, however, was not completely solid green. Her hide was varied, darker in some spots and lighter in others. It wasn't all that noticeable unless one got close to her, but it was there. From far away, it just looked like natural shadows.

The Green picked herself up and started to walk towards the Candidates. She seemed a bit... lonely, maybe? None of the other eggs had hatched yet. Being first was kind of lonely because she really liked other dragons. Especially the males. Speaking of males, she eyed the Candidates warily. That one? No, too tall. That one? No way! Too short. She gave a huff and continued to eye the Candidates from afar. She was being so picky! Where was her Prince Charming? He had to be here somewhere! Unless, maybe her Prince Charming was... Princess Charming? She looked over at the girls, but didn't get very far.

Her attention was captured by the black and blue egg in the middle row. It seemed that was going to be the next egg to hatch, as it split open very neatly and revealed a darkly colored Blue. He neatly stepped out of his egg and shook the eggshells off. He had far too much pride to allow something silly like eggshells to mar his hide. He was a solid color, contrasting the Green even more. The Blue was also a bit big for a Blue, and had a bit of bulk to him. He wasn't thin and delicate like his Green sister.

Speaking of which, the Green spotted the Blue right away and walked towards him, walking in a way that she probably hoped would seem flirty... though with her hatchling status it only served to be awkward. She circled him a bit, attempting to flirt... or get his attention. But the Blue wasn't interested in her. Either way, the Green seemed to be looking him over, as if trying to figure out if he was really worth her flirts. She circled him almost like a shark, looking over every little bit of him. The Blue waited patiently for her to stop so he could go on and Impress. He didn't have time for this, nor did he care what the Green thought of him.

The Green continued circling, searching for something in this Blue that stood out to her. Was he the one she was searching for? ...nope, he wasn't. The Green snubbed him and turned, stomping off towards the females. He wasn't her Prince Charming! No way! Not someone like that. Never someone like that! Well, it didn't matter all that much. She'd just have to go find Hers, and then Hers could help her find her one true love. She had faith in Hers.... now she just had to find her!

The Blue didn't appear to care that the Green found him unworthy. He dismissed the Green and her silly attentions, going the opposite way. No way was he going to Impress a silly girl like that little Green. The males were much better, really. More appreciative of a Blue such as himself. If the Blue was capable of caring deeply about anyone, it would be His. No one else was worth that affection.

As the Blue went towards the males, the Green had already searched through the girls once, looking them all over. She was a very picky thing, and she wanted the absolute best! Lucky for her, she was the first to hatch, so she got the first pick. After a quick look through of all the Candidates, the Green knew the absolute perfect Candidate for her. Satisfied, she sat in front of her girl, looking up at her with lovestruck eyes.

CatoriMine! What do you think of that Blue? He was too big, I think. Wouldn't a much smaller male be better for your Koketeth? Oh... but I'm hungry, can we get some food too? But it has to be the right kind of food, okay? The Green said to Hers, quite happy to chatter away with a giggly little voice. Picky as she was, she was very happy with her choice.



As Koketeth Impressed and the Blue still searched through the boys, another egg began to crack open as well. The tiny black egg in the front split open to reveal... predictably, a Black. His coloring was solid, the typical dark hide of a Black... though it was difficult to tell. He was a tiny thing, and his wings were far too large for his body. But he didn't seem to mind them, and in fact, definitely liked them. He wrapped his wings around himself, shuffling back into the remains of his egg. He poked his head out of his wings to watch, but he didn't move forward. Scary! Scary big things! Scary big things all over! And next to him... even scarier big things! He was very nervous... but he knew he had to go forward. Just not now. Later.

The Blue had noticed the Black's hatching... but ignored it completely, dismissing the other dragon completely. He only cared about finding His. And His was definitley among the males. He just had to figure out which one. He didn't care all that much about the Green and her Impression, either. Perhaps if he'd been nicer (and cared more) he would have gone back to help the Black overcome some of his fears... but he wasn't like that. He wasn't mean, he just didn't care all that much. His came first. Then, maybe, he'd go back for the Black. If it hadn't already gotten over its own nervousness, that is.