Reky
Alphahandler 
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Nov 13, 2011 11:13:51 GMT -5
Five sevendays had ticked by in some fashion of monotony since Naireth had clutched. Spring had transitioned into the early days of summer. The tan beast's periodic feedings were watched as though by hawks, an influx of candidates showing each time the eggs weren't hidden by her body. There had been a very brief, traditional egg touching, during which Naireth obeyed her rider's orders to behave, but breathed heavily down the necks of the candidates nonetheless. For most of those sevendays, though, Naireth was silent and alone, the hatching sands devoid of any other life but Samael's.
The tan and her eggs, after the initial surprise of proving the tans a clutching colour, displayed almost exceedingly regular behaviours and progressions. The eggs hardened in the same slow way as any other mother's eggs. Naireth remained devoutly in the hatching sands at all times possible. Though she did not speak of the eggs at all, and showed no soft affections for them, she was predictably protective. She shifted them about stoically, so that they could harden properly, but not because she enjoyed their existence. They were simply there, and Naireth was the one to tend to them. That was all.
"Alright, Naireth," Samael breathed quietly on the end of the fifth sevenday. She approached her dragon with lethargy in her feet. "I'm gonna head off. I'm so tired." The woman held out her arms like a blind person and felt for the tan's muzzle. Finding it, she leaned against her lifemate and sighed. "You just get to sit around all day, you lucky wherry. I have to actually, y'know, do stuff."
Naireth snuffled slightly, Samael's hair fluttering in the artificual wind.
"Wish me goodnight," said Sam.
Goodnight, SamaelMine, said Naireth.
"Why, thank you, you thoughtful creature, you," Samael mumbled. There was little meaning in the words Naireth uttered - she was just repeating her human - but coupled with the everpresent, cushy wall of loyalty that was built in their mindlink, it was curiously comforting and warmed Samael like a good cup of klah. She smiled into Naireth's spice-scented snout.
"Night night, Naireth," Samael piped up with forced energy, channeling the rest of it into a brisk walk through the cool night air to her weyr. She managed not to fall over from exhaustion, keeping her eyes open by watching dragons and riders fly to their beds, and wher handlers and their charges yawning out into the moonlight. The diurnal majority of the weyr would be sleeping or close by now. As soon as Samael found her bedfurs, she joined them in the widespread slumber.
Naireth, however, did not sleep. Her eyes may have closed briefly, but she had only taken a break from the motionless scenery of eggs and stone wall in favour of greenish darkness. Faint light came through the copper-based blood in her eyelids and she found it an acceptable change from her six yellow children. A yawn overtook her and her eyes lazily opened just in time to see a peripheral twitch of the third smallest egg.
She felt compelled to get to her feet and did so. Her gaze snapped to the fellis-yellow egg in question and stayed there. It twitched again. It then began to shudder and Naireth let loose the awkward humming that seemed to want to get our of her throat. Soon enough her hum was being echoed throughout the weyr and people were flocking to the bleachers to gape at the eggs between her four sturdy appendages.
Naireth! Naireth, are they eggs hatching? Samael demanded. Even her mindvoice sounded out-of-breath and suddenly woken. It had not even been a candlemark since she had left the sands, and now she was returning.
One of the eggs is moving, Naireth said.
Well, tell the candidates! You know, to come! Get ready and Stand! Samael rushed across to stand near her tan who was soon to be the mother of live, free dragonets. Candidates, come, [/i] said the dragon, and proceeded to hum, watch the single egg, and stand largely in the way. A small hole had appeared in the shell, through which a gangly claw poked. The flash of hide was brief and yellowish, through it was too dark and too far away to truly tell. Just as one might have been close to settling on a colour in their mind, the egg promptly fell on its front and planted the hole in the sand. Awkwardly, the hatching had begun.[/size][/blockquote] |
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Nov 13, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
This would be Saia's third hatching, her second at Dalibor, and as the sevendays passed, she grew more and more excited. Her friendship with Q'sis and Unath - mostly Q'sis, admittedly - meant that she was exceptionally thrilled to have the honour of standing for the clutch of Pern's first tan. Not only that, they actually got to have a touching, brief as it was; that hadn't been allowed by Couineth, or at Fort!
Tans were definitely one of the best colors.
In the evening, she crawled into bed after a long day of chores, but found she couldn't quite close her eyes. Hatchings ran on some strange schedule of their own; the mere fact that dragons were day-creatures meant little. Would tonight be the night, or would she eventually drift off to sleep and awake in the morning still bereft of the dragons' hum?
No, it was tonight. Naireth spoke, and as Saia vaulted out of bed, dragons around the Weyr began to take up the hum - Agnith, Devath, stoic Ambrith. "Aylina," she called to her roommate. "Aylina, it's time for the hatching!" As if the pale-haired girl hadn't heard the exact same thing!
By now she knew exactly what to do, and she threw on her white robe and sandals, bound her hair back with a leather band to keep it out of her eyes on the sands. Then she went dashing off to the special entrance to the sands, taking a moment to be glad it was summer; it had been a little miserable to shuffle through the snow last time, and it meant the heat of the sands wasn't quite such a blast when she stepped onto them.
Taking up a position, she waited, bowing deep to Naireth. "Thank you for giving me the honour of standing for your babies," she chirped, beaming and trying not to giggle - friendly giggles - at the egg that seemed to have fallen over.
----
Spectators filed in, dragons landing on ledges; Ambrith, too young still to fly, huffed and turned over in his string bed. You go. There will not be room for me. I am too large for the stands, and yet not large enough for the ledges, I think. Besides, I am tired. I will watch through your eyes.[/i]
Away at Crescent Hold, Samara woke at the knock of a messenger and dressed quickly; it was not mandatory for her to attend every hatching at the Weyr, of course, but this one was special, and she wouldn't miss it for the world. Pern's first tan, becoming a dam; hopefully all would go smoothly and all six eggs would hatch, but there was really no telling. She would be there to watch.
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Post by larkwing on Nov 13, 2011 13:12:08 GMT -5
Unlike most of the Weyr seemed to be that night, Laelia couldn't get to sleep. Her mind kept straying fitfully to the clutch waiting on the sands, the idea that she would most likely be looked over again. The thought was one she had every turn, frequently really. It was the reason her mother had brought her here, the reason why she had been given Belle's egg to keep her mind occupied. For a while it had been pushed back by lessons and new friends and sights. Little by little though, the familiar feeling of anxiety was returning.
Tossing onto her side, the candidate gave a heavy sigh, her shoulders drawing in as her knees curled up to her body. She was a little ball under the lighter weight covers used for Summer. Beside her head, Belle was fast asleep, the chubby green snoring lightly. It brought the slightest hint of a smile to Laelia's lips, but even that faltered. What would she do if she didn't impress this time? Could she continue to stand despite knowing that she would be rejected again and again?
Most told her that surely her life-mate was there somewhere. The candidate knew they were just being nice though. She had even taken to drawing back from the few friends she had made, refusing to get too attached only to loose them when they advanced to weyrlinghood without her. Friendships seemed to be brief for Laelia, or they had at least been so in the past. Enveloped in her own thoughts, she missed the distant sound of humming at first.
It wasn't until Belle's head shot up from the pillow that Laelia took notice. "What....oh Faranth!" Darting up from the bed, Laelia worked at the covers which had entangled her legs. "Come on...come on." Despite her previous worries, she was excited, the smallest glimmer of hope sparking inside her. Maybe they were right...maybe...maybe. "Belle stay." The green crooned, stopping mid-step as she tried to get airborne. Oh, so Hers was going to carry her again?
The candidate shook her head, putting a hand out to the flit but not in an invitation. "Sorry love. Wait here, I'll be back later." She hoped. Pulling on the candidate's robe, Laelia paused to take it all in and breathe a few calming breaths. She needed to stay calm. She needed to stay calm...she needed..."I need to get down there." Heading out, Laelia bumped into a small girl as she raced past. "S..sorry."
Saka whirled around, her auburn hair sticking up at odd intervals around her head. Smiling at the older girl who she had run into, she laughed. "I should be sorry. Mum always did tell me to slow down." The 14 turn old laughed again, heading away from the other candidate. Sands, hatching sands. She had been there before, mostly to watch the unmoving mother. However, she had been there the last hatching. Obviously she hadn't impressed yet though, but Sakalas was certain it would happen this time!
Racing past the candidates blinking sleepy eyes and struggling to get the candidate's clothes on, Saka didn't notice that she was being followed by Laelia. She was though, and it continued all the way out into the night air then the hatching sands. Seeing that she was among the first to arrive, Sakalas gave a satisfactory smirk and slowed down, skipping toward the eggs and the groups of candidates that were forming.
As her shadow stopped to bow to the Tan though, Saka blushed and stopped as well. "Thank you." It was short, simple and then the candidate was heading for the other girls. Her feet hopped back and forth on the sands, not out of discomfort as much as nerves though. Pulling on a curly strand of hair and twisting it around to pick the feather that she had woven in, Saka bit her lip and looked at the egg as it tumbled onto its side. A small burst of giggles came then, quieted when a nearby person gave her a stern glare.
Laelia paused as she reached the sands, having followed the young girl that had bumped into her. Bowing low to the Tan and her rider, the candidate gave them the respect they deserved. "Thank you for allowing us to be here for your eggs today." With that, she wrung her hands behind her back as she walked over to the girls. Her eyes were cast downward nervously, but they flickered up as the eggs twitched nearby. Again that blasted spark of hope flared up, and Laelia beat it down. What was the use of hoping when she knew it wasn't going to happen? Perhaps....but no, it was better to be realistic.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Nov 13, 2011 14:31:46 GMT -5
"Huh?" was Lexony's response to the midnight calling. And the word was addressed to his pillow, almost bitten into it, before the blond Candidate blinked open his eyes and lifted his head. As far as calls to order went, Naireth's had been too standard and quiet to snap him to action. He had only just gotten to sleep, and no part of him had been ready to wake again. He tugged back the light Summer sleeping coverlet and swung his leaden legs out, the taste of the cold stone floor rousing him enough to crawl up and stagger toward the room's exit. His toes were asleep still and he fell when his shin ran into a footstool.
It was while lying on the ground that he sensed the imminent Hatching. Dragon humming trembled straight off the hard floor into his gut, and scraped skin forgotten he scrabbled onto his feet. "Come on!" he shouted to the other two Candidates sharing the room, knocking open a couple glowbaskets for them. Lexony did not elaborate on the instruction, opening the small chest at the foot of his bed and pulling out the honorary robes and sandals to change into. He tugged his bangs out of his eyes till they stuck out in other harried directions and then darted out of the room.
The Summer night was much more conducive to sauntering to the Sands than the hour of Couineth's Hatching, but of course Lex still marched along in proper form and at a suitably unrushed speed. He had tempered his expectations since last time, and monitored the attachment he had taken to the eggs from being allowed to pet their pebbled shells. He bowed to Naireth, even if he had debated whether it would mean anything to her. He understood that her present obfuscation of her clutch was not in the same vein as Couineth's- it was incidental.
A crackle of eggshells rang out to him loud as a trumpet across the Sands. He was one of the earliest to arrive at an event where the Candidates again far outnumbered their would-be charges. He was not quick enough to spot the egg that had tumbled over, but he thought he saw another giving its first furtive quiver.
---
Q'sis looked out to the gaping dragon den beyond his bedroom. The growing hum had distorted a line he was inking on the Western Continent map he had bought at the Gather. Many such lines and symbols already dotted the hide. He could not roll it up and put it away with the fresh ink on it, so he moved his glowbasket to the top to pin it on his desk and rose to his feet.
Unath had been sleeping, but she came down from her castle on the Rim instantly as he willed it. She was not humming. When she landed inside the Hatching grounds, talons gnawing into the weathered stone lip, Q'sis left her and headed down the rows of benches. Unath looked around a bit, then curled up and went back to sleep. Rather than skulking far to the back with his dragon, Q'sis planted himself in the very lowest, frontmost row. He had visited just once while the eggs incubated, and had not been terribly interested in them considering Naireth's feat in producing any at all. But now that they were rocking, now that they were visibly viable: the Tanrider crossed his arms over a stone barrier between him and the Hatching, one of his increasingly rare smiles crossing his lips as he looked over Naireth. And Samael. And sometimes the eggs too. As usual, the Candidates in all their snow-white splendor were ignored.
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kireon
Candidatemaster 
kirct[M:-191]
Posts: 739
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Post by kireon on Nov 13, 2011 17:14:27 GMT -5
Her second Hatching; Aylina threw the traditional tunic over her head and dashed out barefoot, her excitement completely overruling any common sense to protect her admittedly still calloused feet from the hot sands. Saia'd caught her spacing out, caught in a dream where she was back at home with her brothers fishin' like in the old days when that humming had begun, and the announcement made. "Yup! I'll be meetin' ya there!" She called out in response, raking her hands through her hair to try and tame the fluffed up mess. Even if I don' Impress again at this 'un, I don' think it'll ever stop bein' excitin'. If she did Impress, Aylina had a feeling she'd miss the sudden burst of adrenaline and heart-pounding excitment that came along with the mad dash to get to the Sands.
Arriving breathless, and with decidedly disheveled white-blonde hair, she looked towards Naireth and bowed to the tan out of a sense of respect. "Thank you," she said to the dragon, hoping the mother of the now hatching dragonets could hear her. "y'done a good job, be proud of y'self an' your rider." Despite not being her dragon, there was always a sense of pride she felt whenever anyone did the whole birthing or laying of eggs thing. That was some wicked hard work, carryin' an' birthin' the babes; only seemed right that she offer some sort of show of gratitude before the main event began.
And she'd definitely figure out somethin' at least a little nice to get for Naireth and her rider once this Hatching was over. I'm gonna start a new tradition an' get each dragon mama an' their rider a gift of some sort. I dunno what yet, but it's gonna happen. ...she'd just have to figure out how to ask around a bit, maybe find someone who knew Naireth and her rider and just, well, hope they knew the pair well enough to help her find a little something.
The summer heat lingered in the night air, that combined with the stands made her think of the summers back home, something that filled her heart, once again, with a sense of nostalgia and a longing for her own family to be united once again. Her greeting and show of respect done, Aylina backed away carefully and settled into a spot of her own, smiling at and waving to her roommate. Wouldn't it be grand if the two of 'em both Impressed an' ended up roommates again?
**
Two Turns and the Standings he'd been left at had turned Hatchings into something almost routine for the ashen haired boy. He'd been playing a game with Nana and Shadow when the humming had begun, and the Weyr had exploded into a flurry of activity. Shadow cheeped grumpily, acknowledging that, once again, his human would have to leave to stand on the very nice warm place where he wasn't allowed to go. He wasn't happy about it, even if the little human was doing a remarkable impression of his own language in response to Seta's quiet confirmation that, yes, he was going to be Standing for Tan Naireth's Hatching.
Still very young and inexperienced, Shadow appointed himself Nana's 'protector' at Seta's silent request, curling much the same way he did with the older boy over Nana's shoulders as she dashed out to go get a spot on the Stands so she could watch and see if her cousin became one of the lucky ones. A Candidate, like her cousin, bumped into her on her way out and she watched Shadow hiss at her before an apology game. Soothing the agitated flit, Nanako gave a wave to the girl in a hurry. "It's okay, good luck on the sands, big sis!" She called after her and headed for the place she was supposed to go.
"Hey Shadow, do you think big bro will get a new friend today?" She asked the coal hided fire lizard as she managed to reach the Stands and found a place she could look for him at. Being little was awful most of the time, but she could see some good things about it too, especially for stuff like this. Shadow, hissing and grumbling to himself about the massive amount of danger surrounding all of them, flattened his wings and placed his cheek against hers, watching the sands too. He didn't care a bit about the biggers, he just wanted to know his human was safe.
**
Seta, with his long legs and sturdy frame helping him through the bustle and back into the Barracks, had enough time to change quickly into the awkward feeling tunic and sandals specifically meant for the occasion before he had to dash out again.
Each Hatching had always been, if nothing else, interesting. Considering the first Tan of Pern was the special event this time, he had a feeling this one might be a bit more exciting than some of the others. Hope it doesn't end sadly like Couineth's. He thought with a slight frown as he made his way to the sands. Heat from the summer day that hadn't quite faded completely combined with the constant heat eminating from the sands made Seta eye the sky warily. He'd heard... tales, but surely they wouldn't have anything to be concerned about, not during a Hatching... right? As the other Candidates had done, he too paid his respects with a bow to the Tan and a show of respect toward her rider as well. "...thank you." He said in his usual deep, but quiet way of speaking and added two words to his list of things he'd said that day.
One egg was already on its side, would it be the first one to hatch? He cocked his head to the side a little, watching to see if it moved any further... and turned to see who else he knew was there. Lexony was there, as was Saia and her roommate. He gave a brief nod and the faintest of smiles to the two he recognized and turned his attention to the Stands, gray eyes searching for the form of his little cousin and the overprotective, vastly paranoid little flit he'd received from his mother before he'd come to Dalibor. There. A sense of relief swept through him; she'd managed to get herself in a place she wouldn't be crushed and was waving at him. He nodded and waved to her in return, getting a flash of images and impatience from Shadow as a result.
He sent the image of the flit's favorite treat in return, something that made the swirling red eyes suddenly change to a very interested blue-green as he seemed to resettle himself and began teasing Nana to make her laugh by nibbling at her hair ribbons. Good boy, Seta thought at him and returned his attention to the eggs in front of him. That was that, he thought to himself, and now it was his turn to be patient and wait to see if this was the Hatching he would Impress, or if he would have to wait just a little while longer.
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RhiaBlack
Wingrider 
rhiact[M:45]
Resident Warcraft Addict
Posts: 328
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Post by RhiaBlack on Nov 13, 2011 18:16:59 GMT -5
Yva groaned, rolling over as the Weyr filled with humming.
Humming.
Followed by the call from Naireth.
SHELLS! SHARDS! BY FARANTH, YVA GET UP!
She rolled completely out of bed, landing hard on the floor with a burst of air from her lungs from the impact. Shard it. Shard it, Shard it, Shard it!
Scrambling, she wrapped the small purple egg that Sevonn had sent her with her scarf to keep it warm, tucking it between the sheets and pillow of her bed. She couldn't take it with her, not right now. She simply prayed it didn't hatch while she was Standing. Pulling on her robes, she snatched her sandals from the ledge close to the bunk, and exploded from her room in a flash of white linen and blonde-and-brown-streaked auburn.
Hurried steps carried her towards the Sands. She couldn't be late! She COULDN'T BE LATE! She'd seen what had happened to one of the other Candidates when she was late to the Gold's hatching, and she wasn't about to let that happen to her. There were hopefully more Candidates than there were eggs - Yva hadn't heard how many eggs there officially were, but she hoped that no Dragonets would between, even if it meant her being left Standing a second time. She just wanted them all to be bonded.
Slightly out of breath still from her collision with the floor, she scrambled into the cavern and out onto the Sands, giving a bow of greeting and respect to Naireth and Samael.
"Tan Naireth, it is a pleasure and an honor to stand for your Clutch, and I am grateful for the opportunity. Rider Samael, your Tan is a beautiful mother, and I am grateful to you as well for the chance to Stand today."
****************************
Zeke looked up from tending to his braids as Baihujinth began to hum.
"What's goin' on, Bai?"
Tan Naireth's clutch is hatching, Mine.
"Reckon we should head over there, huh?"
Yes, Mine. It is proper. We must see the next batch of soldiers against our war on Thread.
Z'dyn chuckled, Bai still already in his straps from a patrol the pair had undertaken. It was weird to the Ironrider, being a graduate now. A full-fledged Rider. Something he still couldn't believe.
Climbing onto Bai, the pair launched from the ledge and sailed down towards the Sands. Hatchings always made the former Drudge excited. It reminded him of his first Standing, and when he'd Impressed Bai.
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Chek
Weyrlingmaster
chekct[M:-15]
I'm so magical I vomit rainbows
Posts: 1,091
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Post by Chek on Nov 13, 2011 19:44:40 GMT -5
Rennin wasn't asleep when the call came – she was sitting in the healer's quarters, with a journeyman dragonhealer, discussing her options for... controlling her potentially dangerous flitter during the hatching that could come at any time. Oracle lay curled in her lap, sleeping off the affects of a very careful measure of sedatives that had been laced into her food as a test run of the process.
The quiet, measured voice of Naireth, putting out the call to the Candidates, caught Rennin off guard, hr head jerking up to look at the helpful dragonhealer with wide eyes and stuttering out an apologetic excuse, before quickly rising to her feet and fleeing towards the Candidate barracks with all due speed.
Thankfully, Oracle lay quiet, draped over her arm as they reached the room Rennin had to herself out of sheer necessity. The flitter rolled easily out of her grip and on to the bed, shifting to make herself more comfortable but otherwise unbothered by the fuss as Rennin pulled a brush through her short hair and quickly pulled on her white robe and the thin sandals.
She came out into the hall, flinching towards the walls as she was buffeted by the sounds of the other female Candidates preparing, moving between bodies easily and making her way out through the darkness towards the light of the hatching cavern.
This was her second hatching – but the hatching was more remarkable for the fact that it was proof of the viability of tans as clutchers – Dalibor making history again. She made her way uncomfortable across the sands to bow and express her gratitude to the clutchmother and her rider, and then retreated across the Sands to the wall, as she had done before.
She caught sight of the few people she knew by more than sight – Lexony, most notably, on the Sands before her, and raised a hand to him, but mostly clung to the protective shadows cast by the wall.
* * *
Mith's low hum, coming in little starts as if the big tan wasn't sure she was doing what she was supposed to, woke Valha from a light doze. She'd not settled into her bedfurs for the night, still in her riding gear and craving a bath, but she'd drooped into a nap as soon as she settled onto her bed to kick off her boots.
So it wasn't much effort to rise again, yawning and making her way towards Mith's couch. She slid a knot of tangled, sleeping firelizards from the sand that still, months later, covered Mith's bed, warmed by her body. A silent command had her dragon carefully rising as Valha tucked little Meili into her tunic, not trusting him not to walk off the edge of the weyr and forget to fly, before the tanrider swung up on Mith's neck, forgoing straps for suck a short, simple flight.
They settled next to a dozing Unath on the ledges, Mith shuffling over ad draping herself over her sister, but not sleeping – her eyes were focused on the eggs. Valha just looked over the stands, spotting her target and moving to join him in the front row.
“This is the moment of truth, Q'sis. How do you feel?” She asked, sitting beside him and pulling a still sleeping Meili into her lap to pet, her eyes glued to the action on the Sands. “This will be us, eventually, now that we know. Viable eggs.”
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Post by matsi on Nov 13, 2011 20:48:40 GMT -5
Fenrir crooned softly as Xaratenos pet him, and Xarat grinned happily and calmly as he looked at the blue beast. He had found just that right spot on Fenrir’s back, and thus, was not getting bit! It was a good start…or continuation… to a good day indeed! The quiet candidate was practically oblivious to all else going on around him. Even the hum of the tan that reached his mind was put off as a daydream, and the movements of Lexony, one of his roommates, went unnoticed until there was the thudding sound and a surge of light from glows. He blinked his blue-green eyes a few times and stopped rubbing the smooth back of the blue flitter that lay on his chest, which in turn earned him a nice bite to the thumb.
Just as Lexony got off the floor… now why was he on the floor after all?… Xarat sat up in his bed, mindlessly wrapping his bleeding thumb in one of his covers, and looked at the blonde. What was going on? And what was that sound? It was a pretty sound. Xarat’s eyes went to Fenrir who stood up from his spot, ruffled his wings, then proceeded to growl and chatter at the retreating figure of Lexony.
Only then did it hit him.
”Oh!” He said with a yelpish sound as he tossed his covers aside, covering Fenrir up, and leapt out of his bed and quickly found his robes. Wasn’t this a bit late for babies to hatch? It was in his opinion, but that was alright! The dragonets had the right to choose the time they wanted to enter the world. Besides, if it was a bit darker, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt their new eyes? He wasn’t too sure, but he sure liked to wonder about it.
Happily now, Xaratenos threw his robe on over his bare chest and his horrible looking pants, and started out the door when Fenrir burst in front of him, yelling unhappily.
”No. Fenrir…” He said softly, but giving the blue a determined, strong glare. Fenrir did not approve! Where was his going at this time of night?! If he was going to that humming that meant hatching….to replace HIM! No!
”Fenrir…” Xarat hissed slightly, getting annoyed and a rising feeling of desperation. How would he get around the angry flit without being followed, which would probably result in the blue getting killed….
Xarat let the images of the mother, the tan, wanting to eat the flit pour from his mind into the little creatures, but Fenrir only hissed more and Velcro-ed himself to Xarat’s robe.
Oh for Shell’s sake! Xarat cursed mentally as he pried the flit’s claws off of himself and wandered to the bed and placed the flit down. Fenrir, immediately thinking that his had given up, began to get comfortable again as Xarat acted like he was getting back in bed. The moment the flit wasn’t fully paying attention, Xarat bolted out the door, only to hear the angry Fenrir yelling from the room. He knew the flit would probably follow him to the sands, but hopefully he was smart enough to stay off the sands.
Xarat reached the sands and quickly approached the Tan and bowed to her, panting and looking over his shoulder to see the mad blue flit for a moment, then watched him fly off again. Thank all that hatches! Xaratenos smiled again, feeling cunning and in power for once, then bowed to the tan again before heading to the others. He was excited to see the little ones!
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Nov 13, 2011 22:15:13 GMT -5
Whatever mumbles of gratitude made it through the roar of humming fell on deaf ears. Naireth was busy with watching her shaking, egg-shaped child and had little attention left to spare on candidates. She didn't even care if they were bowing or not. Well, she approved of the respect, at least, and felt that it was due to her for taking care of these eggs that they all seemed to want so much. If one missed the routine, awkward dip of the top half of their gangly human bodies, Naireth wouldn't care. Even if one of them had been late, she wouldn't have minded particularly. Even if she had, she knew somewhere in the back of her small mind that Samael wouldn't let her do anything to enact punishment anyway.
Sam, speaking of, was a little more attentive than the great tan beast beside her. She heard her name coupled with 'thanks' here and there and beamed out at the crowd. There was an apologetic, ecstatic grin as she motioned at her ears. The humming was so loud and deep and the buzz of excited conversation so rampant that she had trouble hearing what the poor, white-robed candidates were saying. She was sure it was nice, though, so she waved and hoped it would suffice. She saw familiar faces throughout the crowd - Of course you do, Sam, she said, They all live at Dalibor. You see them all around, she told herself - and sought out Q'sis in particular. She caught that sneaky smile of his and gave him an extra-big wave, rising up onto the tips of her toes like it made a difference. It was all terribly exciting to her. She had been tired, yes, but eventually the adrenaline had seeped into her system and each heartbeat shook her with enough force to keep her very, very awake. Naireth was about to be a mother of babies, instead of plain old eggs! Samael could barely contain it.
Here, Naireth, move off to the side so everyone can see the eggs, she said, and the dragon obliged. Naireth could tell that Samael wished for her to sit and be calm, but she felt the need to be large and impressive, and so she remained standing. She also flared her wings for good measure. The look she ran over the candidates, however, was far from imposing. It was blank and disinterested. The dragon was more intrigued by the eggs' twitching. The movements had caught like an infection, and now the whole lot of six lurched here and there. The fellis-yellow egg, however, was really overdoing it.
It was trying very hard. There were impressions in the sand where it had sat before and then rolled away in its frenzy, and the dark hole in its side had shown a few times in the process. The spheroid had separated itself quite well from its five siblings, and only when it had shimmied a good four or five feet away did it split. Out of the chasm emerged a bright little green, triumphant.
She was a green, at least, despite the yellowish lime hide that shone like Rukbat. She stretched her goopy wings, wincing as the chilly night air dried her out, and wobbled out from the remnants of her egg on newborn legs. She squawked with excitement and reeled from it, catching herself just before her rump met the sand. Oh, she didn't want to fall over! She had tried so, so hard to get out of the egg and she just wanted to be the best she could be. See, because they wouldn't think she was smart if she fell over. Not at all. She wanted to be like... well, she didn't know anyone or anything yet, but she felt it strong in her heart that she just wanted to try so hard to be good. The wide-eyed look she fed to the audience was not quite so becoming. In fact, it almost mirrored that of her mother's, but with a much healthier dose of enthusiasm. She just wanted to be good! She wanted to be so smart! So strong! She stood stiff in the middle of the sands for quite some time, legs splayed for better balance. The five remaining eggs shook and jerked and tapped. Then, she had an idea.
It had been a little tricky for her, that idea, but it was definitely a milestone. She offered herself a pat-on-the-back chirp. Way to go, Me! she seemed to say. She knew exactly how to be so very good and best, yes she did. She needed one of those pretty white thingies out there. The ones that were so, so tall and two-legged and all. As her dinnerplate eyes blinked out at them, she analyzed each one. Why, they weren't all the same at all! That was confusing. It made her job harder. Tentatively, she stepped forward - she had better get a better look.
Suddenly, though, the green's attention - along with Naireth's - was snatched away by a sharp crack and an ungainly flopping of something blue. He had bashed his egg with too much forced and startled himself with the strength at which he was thrust from his shell prison. He cried out in frustration. That was no way to make an entrance! Why didn't his legs work properly?! Why did his head feel so heavy? He waved the large skull about and forced himself to his feet. He whined again.
The green turned around to face him and cheeped from across the sands. She wanted to know if he was alright! She got the response she wanted, but she didn't really know how to tell him that she didn't know how to fix his problem. How was he supposed to have a good entrance if he already made a bad one? She told him she was sorry - which she truly, deeply was - and that she hoped he'd feel better. She'd like it if he felt better. And if he wanted to tell her more about it, that would be okay, too. She'd listen. She liked to listen. She didn't really have to think of what to say, because she wasn't saying anything.
The blue, however, seemed to have taken her wishes to heart. He'd just have to feel better. He was pretty great, after all. He had never seen the colour blue before - or seen at all, for that matter - but his shade of blue was quite easy on the eyes. It was nice and soft, like a thick summer sky, fading to a darker hue along his belly. It was speckled with the sky-blue like a galaxy, and though he was ill-proportioned as a baby like any newborn creature, it was evident that he would fill out big and strong. For a brief moment, he surveyed himself and approved of his fantastic genetics. Then, he tested out his feet some more, because he definitely needed to be able to walk.
The green was glad that her brother was doing better and went back to her very best, very good idea: getting one of the white leggy things for herself. It was funny, because the closer she got the more she knew which one she wanted. She didn't know why she wanted that one, but she just did, and that was good enough for her. Well... not really. It would have been really great to be able to explain it, but she couldn't, so she simple hopped along towards the girls. She was getting the hang of the mobility thing, and didn't even crash into the girl she wanted most. Awesome!
Oh, ummmm, hi! she chirped, coming to a clean little halt in front of Laelia. My Laelia! Yes! My Laelia! Oh, um, I'm Anibrith. Do you know why I picked you? [/i] She cocked her head to the side. I don't really know. But it feels good! Doesn't it? Anibrith's eyes whirled in every colour of the rainbow and she let out a contented croon. Oh, she'd listen to anything her Laelia told her, and she'd be so very good - the best she could be.  Green Anibrith {e1ffb5} -- Anibrith tries REALLY hard to be intelligent. She's very eager to learn, but almost everything is over her head and she's doomed to be daft. Still, she's a brilliant listener. It doesn't mean she understands everything that's being said, but it does mean she cares. Need a shoulder to cry on? Anibrith's the best. And as applause erupted from the bleachers and ledges and from Samael, the smallest of the six eggs quietly made a hole big enough for the creature inside to get out. The pink seemed happy to be free, her freckled salmon face lit with quiet glee, but she didn't make any sort of scene. In fact, she was happy to very slowly make her way out of the slick innards of the egg and nudge each bit of shell off her body. She had all the time in the world, so she definitely wasn't going to rush and get stressed. It was totally fine to take her time.[/size][/blockquote] |
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Nov 13, 2011 22:29:07 GMT -5
Saia waited with bated breath as the eggs twitched, but naturally her gaze was drawn by the fellis-yellow egg that seemed to be going mad. She couldn't recall ever seeing an egg shimmy like that, and her eyes sparkled as she watched. Whoever was in there, she liked them already.
Once the green freed herself, Saia cooed a bit under her breath; she was beautiful, like a spring day, and the blue that arrived reminded her of summer. They made quite a pair, didn't they?
Soon enough the green made her way over to the girls, and though Saia braced herself in case the clumsy dragonet cannoned into anyone or clipped them with a wing, her Impression was bloodless. The redhead clapped for Laelia, a smile spreading across her features. How wonderful! And there was a pink out there, too, now! This hatching might be small, but so far, it was fantastic.
---
Delilah applauded politely, a faint smile on her face as she watched the girl she'd met not so long ago Impress. Agnith was far more excited; the pink, humming happily on a ledge, turned to the nearest dragon to exclaim, I met her and she is my friend! She was, uh, standing in the rain![/i] There was no rain tonight, of course.
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Post by larkwing on Nov 13, 2011 22:34:30 GMT -5
My Laelia, didnt you hear me? I said your Anibrith chose you. Oh! Oh, please say that I didn't do this wrong! I don't think I did....
The green dragonet shuffled her feet awkwardly as she looked up at the chosen girl. She HAD to have done this right. Anibrith just KNEW Laelia was Hers! Well....are you going to say something Mine? Laelia stared down at the green, her green, and just felt her jaw drop. Shehad been so focused on the hatchings eggs that she hadn't actually paid much attention to the dragonets themselves. She certainly didn't expect...this! Yet, here was the dragon-child waiting forger to say something.
The candidate-no-weyrling knew that Anibrith was waiting for her to realize the inevitable. The dragonet might not have been the brightest shard on the egg, but she knew as much as this. Yep! Almost there Laelia. My Laelia, almost...just...um, yeah say the words...well at least there's a little sound coming. Hmmmr, well maybe you can think it then? I want this to be right My Laelia love. Pleeeeeeaaaassse!!!! Anibrith rustled her wings, looking at Hers.
Finally, Laelia shook herself and took a deep breath. Okay, this was perfectly normal. She was just shocked, surely no one was staring at them or anything. Glimpsing quickly to her left and right the weyrling made sure of this only to spot a few people in the stands looking ether strangely. Oh, come one she couldn't do anything right could she?!? No, no, that was Anibrith thinking not her. "Thats going to take some getting used to sweetheart." She reached out tentatively to pet the green hide, stopping half way there.
Her whole life she had waited and searched for something she could do right. She had yearned for a place where she belonged, she had left her home to look for that, and had been certain that she was without that place. Here she was though, here she was with her dragonet. They were going to see now! Laelia was not going anywhere, and she finally belonged somewhere. Anibrith crooned happily with Hers thoughts. Yes, how could Her's ever think that she wasn't wonderful and worth it.
Come with me My Laelia and you can tell me everything. The. We can figure out what to do next. That's the right thing to do yes? Or...maybe food is what's next? Anibrith keened softly as she again felt lost. Oh, she couldn't even decide what was to be done next, how could she ever be her best now?!? Laelia smiled at her dragonet, nudging her toward where the food was waiting for the new weyrlings. "How about we do both? One step at a time though, okay? I have a feeling baby steps are best."
Yes, that makes perfect sense My Laelia! Baby steps for a baby dragon. Oh I know I chose you for a reason, you're so smart Mine! I want to be just like you when I grow up.
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Post by matsi on Nov 13, 2011 22:38:13 GMT -5
Xaratenos was patient, but curious. His mind, as always, was throwing questions and wonders around like leaves in the wind. Why were the eggs colored the way they were? What made them that color? Why were the sands warm, and not the soil? Wouldn’t soil be better than sand?
So many thoughts, but they were light and easily interrupted. So, the moment the egg started to show signs of really exposing its contents, his questioning faded out and his eyes focused on the egg. He blinked a few times, almost as if surprised at the brightness of the green’s hide as she finally escaped her shell. His head cocked to the side as he observed her. She was colored like the flesh of a type of melon. Or, like the shoots of some sea grass. Yet, her belly was almost like the soft color of the juice of said melon or grass. Quite a color, and a hard color to match by hand. Of course, dragons were the mysterious creature of the world and seemed to be able to mimic any color that they wanted to. It was just one of their qualities that Xaratenos had come to learn about and love.
Yet, his attentions couldn’t stay on the green for long, for another egg drew his attentions away. The explosion was enough to make him clench his jaw in surprise, but the tension was soon relaxed and he smiled softly at the blue. His head cocked to the other side, now, as his blue-green eyes observed the creature. Like the sky reflecting on the ocean. That was what he thought of the moment he set eyes on the creature. Handsome, he looked strong, and probably calm. Of course, Xarat’s mind immediately darted back to Fenrir and his eyes shot around the sands hoping the blue flit wasn’t around. He couldn’t see the creature, and let out a heavy, happy sigh in response before letting his observing eyes dart back to the eggs and dragonets just in time to see the green melon-grass colored dragonet heading to the girls. He watched the melon-grass dragon baby for a moment longer, then clapped when the impression was made, but only quietly. He didn’t want to be too loud. What if the sound hurt the babies ears? Once again, he didn’t know if it would, but he wanted to be safe, not sorry.
Blue-green eyes started to look over the remaining eggs in time to see the pink slowly making her way out of her shell. She was so tiny! And cute! She was quite a cute little thing, and her color… Oh, how she made him think of the insides of shells that he would find on the beach. Maybe she was just as perfect as the shells. He may never know, but it was fun, and nice, to think that she would.
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Alec
Wingrider
alecct[M:-360]
Cuteness abound!
Posts: 544
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Post by Alec on Nov 13, 2011 23:57:30 GMT -5
Arms aching from all the lifting he had to do during chores, Tak was happy to find his way into his room. He climbed up to his bunk and layed there, his flitt coming down to rest on his chest. A few minutes went by and yet he still didn't feel tired.
Cloud had already began to doze off, rising and falling with Tak's breathing. Grabbing Cloud gently, he placed his flitt next to him so he could work himself into a comfortable position.
His eyes had finally began to get heavy, when the tan announced the Hatching. Sighing, he got down and changed into his robes. Cloud, now wide awake from His's excitement brewing in their minds, chirped and tried to follow Tak as the boy strode quickly from the room.
"No, Cloud. You can't be with me on the Sands this time." That made the black angry. He will just have to see Other then. "No, not Teri either. He's gonna be there too." A sad cheep escaped the little thing.
"Well, you can still watch! You just can't be with me until I say so!" Still striding, he made a compromise. "Tell you what. If you're good, I'll enter you into those firelizard Olympics I've heard are coming up." Raincloud agreed on that and told His that he wouldn't forget.
The closer they got, the more excited Tak became, and Cloud began humming with the dragons.
Finally making his way onto the Sands, he gave a deep bow to both rider and dragon, "Thank you both for letting me Stand on this lovely evening." He then took his place amongst the other boys. Quickly locating Cloud, who had just settled himself with the other lizards, he turned his attention back to the eggs. Certainly a small Hatching, but suspenseful nonetheless. Tak could only hope that his aching arms wouldn't fall off before the first dragon hatched.
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Post by simile on Nov 14, 2011 0:19:38 GMT -5
What?! The hatching had already started?! She was late! That couldn't be! It just couldn't! No, NO, NO!!! Xiora stood, tying back her frizzy hair and pulling the robes on over the clothing she was already wearing. Then came the boots, which she almost fell over trying to pull them on. Dang things! No! She was going to be even later! Of course!
She started running, her anger building in her head. No no no! No more. She sprinted to the sands, tripping once, though she soon continued. If her dragon was there, she would not miss it. She would not miss her chance! She had to Impress sooner or later, right?! And she only had a little while left to be a Candidate. Benden had been futile! Dalibor was supposed to be her hope. After all. That was the whole reason that she had come here. To have a hope at what she wanted. She was a Weyrbrat born and she wasn't going to die weyrfolk! Oh no! If it wasn't a dragon... then a Wher. She'd do her best to try for either one. she would not be unbounded. she couldn't stand it.
Love was fleeting and hard to find. It was ingenuine and painful. Only the love of a bonded was real. That was what she had learned in her life. That was what mattered. That was why she wanted this so bad. Friends?! Ha! They left you in the dust. Especially as soon as they had their own to look after! She and her dragon or her Wher would be a unit unlike any other!
Her eyes flashed as she pulled to a stop outside the sands, re-pulling her hair back, and taking a breath before walking onto the sands. "Please forgive me, Naireth," she said with a calm she did not feel. No... She felt a hot fiery determination that threatened to tear her apart from the inside out. It threatened her sanity at the moment, but she was doing her best to remain clam. She hardly noticed her own distress which translated itself into an empty ache at the pit of her stomach. One that was defined as loneliness. Like she had determined so many times before. There was only one real love in this world. The love of a bonded and their rider or handler.
Time and time again she had been left alone and abandoned by those she loved or those who claimed to love her. She had no home because she had no permanent love or affinity for anyone or any particular home. Oh... She knew what this feeling was. It was so fleeting... But the love of a bonded.... that was something that transcended time itself.
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princesal
Wingrider
salct[M:-100]
Poliwogging it up!
Posts: 429
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Post by princesal on Nov 14, 2011 0:51:53 GMT -5
Teriss had been on edge for the entire time the Tan eggs had been on the sand, not that he outwardly appeared it, but that probably his roommate, Tak, noticed. He was sure that he was losing his, so far, favorite roommate, once the eggs hatched. Tak was such a good person, and Raincloud was wonderful, and they were friends. He wondered if he'd be losing his friend actually, or if they'd be moving on together... or... or if Tak would stay standing. He wouldn't wish that on his worst enemies (and he hoped he didn't have any enemies), not impressing. He knew that Tak deserved to impress, so when those eggs hatched, he was sure that his friend would, and would leave.
Did Teri want to impress himself? Of course he did, he couldn't even imagine how amazing it would feel to have a bond that was stronger than anything. There would be no secrets, he would always have someone he could be honest with, and relaxed. He wouldn't have to be nervous about how lackwit he was, they would each accept themselves entirely. But... but it hadn't happened for his parents, so it was possible that it wouldn't happen for him either. He had to keep looking forwards though, so when the announcement came, he was quick to wake. The most subtle noises woke him at times, he was trained for it, something his parents had instilled.
That didn't always mean that he was quick to rise though after being woken up. In fact, he was still resting on the bottom bunk, waking up when he heard Tak talking to Raincloud. It was only when they were gone, that Teri was getting out of bed. Not wanting to be late, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and quickly pulled on his candidate robes, and the sandles that would protect his feet from the hot sands. He recalled the last impression, and how warm it had been, standing there.
Hurrying up, or trying to, he had done up one sandal wrong, and it started to come off as he ran down the hallways. It finally fell off, and he had to move to the side to tie it back on. Looking worried, he was afraid that he'd be late, seeing other candidates rushing past him. Finally the sandal was tied up properly, and he felt like he was leading the end of the pack. Breaking into a run, he had heard horror stories of late candidates, and more importantly, had seen the scars from those who were late. He was afraid of that happening to him, how could he not be?
He finally was out on the sands, and couldn't tell if he was late or note, but hopefully... hopefully he wasn't. Bowing low to Naireth, as low as possible before it looked like he was grovelling. "Thank you, Naireth, thank you Samael for letting me stand. Thank you so much." It was quite a lot for Teriss to say in one breath, and he paused for a moment, hoping that there would be no repercussions, already he could see one egg was wobbling furiously. Moving back quickly, to join the other boys, he found a place next to Tak, seeking him out. When the first egg hatched to reveal a beautiful green, he unconsciously reached out and grabbed Tak's hand.
She was gorgeous! The little green looked so excited, and while he wanted to keep watching, he couldn't. With a sudden flurry there was a blue boy, and the green was running off towards the girls, he was happy for the girl that impressed, so happy actually, even if he hadn't spent any time with her. Anyone who impressed was so lucky. Looking back at the blue, he saw a little egg starting to move, and a hole was made in the littlest egg... a pink! A cute little pink!!! Look at her! This hatching was so exciting! Squeezing Tak's hand, he was glad that this time he knew someone on the sands with him, he didn't feel as nervous as last.
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kireon
Candidatemaster
kirct[M:-191]
Posts: 739
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Post by kireon on Nov 14, 2011 3:40:21 GMT -5
Beautiful, how anyone could call the Tans unremarkable or anything unflattering was beyond Aylina's ability to comprehend. She watched the standing dragon's wings open and flare with interest, her breath caught in her throat as she watched the disinterested gaze in the swirling eyes pass over all of them, herself included, and return to the eggs.
The eggs.
Her eyes dropped from Naireth and back down to the sands; the little egg continued trying to force itself open and out of the shell that held it captive. Separated from its siblings, Aylina watched as the hole became a split; opening to reveal a bright little Green shaded the color of the spring grasses back home. Without realizing it, the brown eyed Candidate smiled widely. What a pretty little thing she was, gawky and awkward as she imagined the little dragonet must have been feeling. Her little proud expression was wonderful; she'd tried hard and she'd succeeded. Good for you, Aylina thought at her with a smile. you show 'em what you got.
Another crack caused everyone's attention to sweep to the next egg, where a lovely little clumsy pile of blue dragonet fell from is egg. Didn't know your own strength, didja buddy? She thought with a grin of good natured amusement that quickly faded at the frustrated sounding cry from the little newborn. Concern immediately flared in her expression and eyes, and she had to ignore her instincts to go to it and help it out. Come on now, you can do it. Get on up and try again.
"...summer." Aylina heard one of the Candidates mutter under his breath, turning to see a boy with ashen hair watching with a solemn, almost stoic expression on his face. Her eyes turned to the little blue again and she considered what he'd said. The color of summer eh? Pretty fancy term for the blue's coloring, but it was a good description she supposed.
The little green one had begun to move, hopping until she reached Laelia. Her eyes lit up and she applauded quietly when the rainbow swirl of color in the eyes of the baby confirmed the Impression. One candidate down, so many more with hopes, dreams and wishes of their own left standing for the other five eggs.
Herself included; she needed to be patient.
The smallest of the eggs cracked open, revealing a tiny pink with a freckled face. Freckles! On a dragon! That's one of the silliest, cutest things I ever did see. Aylina thought to herself with a delighted grin spreading wide across her face. This was even better than the whole canine litter she'd seen as a child- minus the whole 'unable to run up and just touch 'em and pet the cute little things that she'd been allowed to do with said canines.
**
Spring green and Summer blue, Seta noted to himself, murmuring the color of the speckled blue in all of his glory as he tumbled out of his egg. Though gangly, he was still a pretty solidly built dragonet, one he truly expected to grow into one of the bigger sized Blues. The little pink that followed soon after was patient, she wasn't terribly worried or in a rush for her Impression; something he made careful note of.
One candidate, Laelia, was chosen by the perky little green, and he quietly applauded her new status as a weyrling and future rider. There was still time; he could still be one of the ones who would Impress later on, and there were others who had been there longer, had stood for more than he had, and were reaching the end of the 'years' that a dragon typically chose.
It was only a little startling to realize he had a small but definitely noticable smile on his face. His hand had reached up, gently touching the curved corners of his mouth experimentally and rubbed his chin to try and cover the movement. Still no sign of facial hair either, he thought with a disappointed sigh. His uncle wasn't very good at growing it either, and he suspected his father's very clean shaven appearance wasn't the result of careful and meticulous grooming each and every day.
Looking at the other three eggs, he wondered what could possibly come out of them. Another Tan, perhaps? Maybe a Viridian or a couple more Blues? Possibly one of the Purples that were so rare? He thought about it and found himself shrugging. Whatever they might be, they would be an asset to the Weyr; and that's what was important over all. His eyes went to the sky, darkening a little at the solemn reminder that Thread was more than possible at any time; they'd had one Threadfall thus far, and rumor had it that summer was one of the nastier seasons for it to fall. From the sky to the little girl in a pink jumper looking positively delighted at the sight of the dragonets with a grumpy looking Shadow around her shoulders.
Yes, he thought to himself and let his attention return to where it was supposed to be; the eggs and the un-Impressed dragonets, that was just one of many good reasons to become a dragon rider. How many, he wondered, of the others wanted to become a dragonrider for the sole purpose of protecting those important to him? Regardless of how sickened he'd felt at seeing those affected and damaged- or killed- by Thread, he'd forced himself to stay and see the danger faced by all who became Candidates.
That was the danger he would be going into as a rider, or rather, one of the bigger dangers he would be going into. It's worth it. Seta nodded, confirming the resolution once again in his chest. He would prepare himself, do whatever it took to become a proper rider and would carry out his duties with everything he had in him.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Nov 14, 2011 9:24:45 GMT -5
All too easily had Lex forgotten the special qualities of the Hatching Sands. The way his throat and nose dried out for reasons unrelated to fear, and he thought he could feel smoke pushing out of his lungs instead of air. Heat, he thought, was the essence of dragonkind. It was why they were so necessary, so walking through a great pit of it to earn one was predictable. There had to be a ballad about it, though not many Weyr ballads were sung in the bowels of Fort Hold. He tried shifting his sandals, clearing the burning earth from under his feet for a second or two at a time, but he ended up putting down in little dunes, and the fiery grains seeped in between sandal and sole.
He looked down as the heated specks rolled aimlessly under his feet, pricking the underside of his heel and his toes. Lexony noticed his scraped knees already slicked under trails of sweat, and the salty additional pain brushed into his senses as he took in view of it. The ex-guard lifted his head again, but he had already missed Impression. A moment's carelessness, no matter what the details, had denied him the honor of witnessing another dragonpair's birth. Lexony sighed, uncertain why such petty preoccupations had come over him in the first place. There were still hatchlings on the Sands!
And a Green would have been sharp and strong, fast as the wind. Had he been focusing on her, she might have- but Saia said dragons would only choose one person. That it was not a contest. This went against the much-espoused advice to send one's love and happiness toward the newborns, though Lexony supposed that could only be to indicate one's willingness for the union, and mental stability. But he remained uncertain on the matter of just flinging his emotions- however one managed to do that -at strange dragons. He did not know them. He would only ever know one of them, if any.
These were too many thoughts and too little time, yet they were all wedging into his head anyway as his eyebrows wrinkled up and he stared blankly across to the Blue and the Pink. But he was reminded of something- someone: Rennin. He looked to the girls, making sure she had not holed herself up against the far wall again. That would ensure that her dragonet missed her. And she was there! She waved to him, and Lexony smiled wryly along with his return wave.
Then he motioned at her, but a beckoning wave might only make her think he wanted her to cross the Sands to the boy's section. Lexony abandoned the gesture, glancing back at the eggs and the dragonets. He might be preoccupied, but came to the quick justification that it was not a race. Over-reverant attendance of mere babies could be just as bad as paying them no attention at all.
He tried to catch the eye of Yvonnaei, who would not have been his first choice but...there she was, loud and present. When he thought he had gotten her attention, he pointed to the painter partially ensconced by the wall. Surely even Yva could see the inherent wrongness of such self-segregation. Before dragons they needed to at least stand together as equals, even if a hatchling was all too happy to discern their mental inequalities.
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Q'sis grinned as the clutchmother's rider finally addressed him, waving back with great crossing sweeps of both arms before he hunkered closer to the barrier to watch the initial Green. He tracked the yellowy creature across the Sands, eyes wide and attentive even when the hatchling began rooting among the girls. For once it seemed to matter only that the dragon made a choice, and did not Between. When that happened, when she settled on her girl, the Tanrider looked sharply to the next pair of as-yet unattached dragon infants and began tracing their meanderings with similar obsession.
"Uh-huh," he grunted at Valha. "Be quiet, woman."
Unath for once demonstrated similar sensibilities to her rider when she was suddenly visited with an announcement from Agnith. The Tan's eyes rolled open and blinked dull blue at the Pink. Then Unath twisted on her sleeping spot and muscled her head in under Agnith's belly with a soft growl. It might have been a slightly bumpy sensation: the young Tan's neckridges had certainly gotten to almost their adult size, though luckily they did not point or turn sharp. For extra protection against discovery, she stuffed her tail-tips under Mith, who was seated at her other side. She was now perfectly hidden, save for the great winged middle of her. Now Agnith could not find her to chatter at her, and she could sleep. So she slept.
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Reky
Alphahandler
rekyct[M:-999]
SO PRO
Posts: 1,554
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Post by Reky on Nov 14, 2011 11:18:44 GMT -5
Luckily for the latecomers, Naireth lacked any of the other clutchers' bloodlust. She glanced briefly at her small Samael, noting contently that the woman was entirely safe and protected, if a little hot from the Sands. As long as none of the late candidates came to hurt her Samael, Naireth would not have to do anything to them. She snaked her tail between Sam and the rest of the world anyway - a ridged, forked tan line that was not to be crossed. Pleased with her handiwork, she let herself look back at her eggs.
The pink had finished preening and went about testing out her wings and fresh legs. The three eggs near her were all rocking quite fervently, and she could hear the babies inside scrabbling at the shells. Being caught in the way of any stray egg shards or crashing dragonets, however, wasn't really in her best interest and she padded calmly away. She could see her blue brother further out and quietly moved towards him.
The blue was now walking like an expert. Of course he was - there wasn't anything he couldn't do, and he knew that. He held his large head high, the lighter dusting of the top of it quite visible in the glowlight. He would choose one of the candidates for himself and nothing would get in the way of that. It was his number one priority, since for all his inflated ego, there was still an emptiness at the center of that balloon that he wanted desperately to fill. He wanted to feel complete to compliment his confidence. He huffed and flared his wings; it was sure to catch the boys' attention.
The pink, trailing far behind him, was the first to notice something was up. She turned her head over her shoulder to see the large golden egg shatter in the front enough to let out eager purple claws. The dragonet shoved at the spiderlined edges of his fantastic hole until enough of the egg had broken away that he could actually get out. He topped the blue's entrance easily, emerging with a whistle of victory and a bound of freedom. His legs were big enough, being a subking, that he needn't worry about their weakness, and by Faranth, he would take advantage of it! Leaping was fun!
His sister and brother looked like they could use some fun, too, and so the purple skittered off to join them. He passed the pink by for now and made a beeline for the blue. He promptly went about sniffing at his smaller brother. He smelled like eggs! Oh, but the air was pretty hot in his lungs. He chattered at the blue. 'Hello, fine brother, how are you today? Hey, have you picked out a Yours yet? Which one is it? Oh, I'm so interested to know, you know.'
The blue, needless to say, was upset by the purple's incessant questions and sniffing. The purple kept crossing his path which was severely impacting the speed at which he was approaching the boys. At one point he even had to scrabble over top the purple - quite the unsightly, ungainly feat - before he could continue to walk. In a second, though, the purple was right back there, holding him out of the way.
The pink had caught up to her squabbling brothers and had tried, in vain, to go around them, and found whichever side she tried to go past, they wrestled into the way. The purple had noticed her dilemma and, shocked, shoved the blue off to the side. A damsel in distress! Why, he would clear the way for this fine lady, like a proper gentleman! The blue growled, the purple didn't notice, and the pink seemed mildly amused by their antics and finally shuffled on forward. She didn't bother with them anymore - their fight didn't involve her at all, so why should she interfere? She chuckled to herself and kept going.
She liked the girls a little more - they seemed to be smaller, usually, and prettier - so she padded her way over to them. There were so many that she was worried about having to go through all of them. Just picking the first one she liked would be much easier. The pink looked them over, but her attention was held by one such girl with long, curly brown hair. The girl seemed a little... distressed. That was ridiculous. What was she upset about? Out of breath? Had she run to the Hatching? Why on Pern would she do that? She should have just taken her time.
Relax, XioraMine, the pink said, her maw open in a dragon's smile and her eyes swirling the rainbow of Impression. I'm here now. Landorith is here. I won't go anywhere, either, so we can just get some food when we feel like it. [/i] She cooed and nuzzled her girl's pretty legs.  Pink Landorith {ff8988} -- Landorith is kind and easy-going. If something doesn't concern her, she won't stick her nose in it. She's always looking for the path of least resistance, but that doesn't mean she's opposed to a little bit of fun. She just prefers it to be calm fun. The purple had let the blue go as soon as Landorith had passed. He had also watched every little detail of her Impression with a nosy obsession, and then turned to his brother and started chirping the rundown to him. The blue didn't care. He marched on forward, still focused on his number one priority: finding His. His determined steps finally led him to the feet of Taklavon, who he examined briefly, snorted, and then moved on to the next boy in line. The purple blinked. Had the blue just rejected that boy? But... why? It was obviously the best boy there ever was. The purple whistled loudly and charged at Taklavon, zipping around him in a tight circle at the last second. His eyes twinkled with excitement as he stared up at his boy. You know, T'von, I don't think that blue knows what he's doing, said the young subking. He even told me that he had no idea which boy he wanted! How curious! Oh, yes, and my name is Moruluth. It is the biggest pleasure to meet you! Haha! Purple Moruluth {be84d3} -- Moruluth is full of energy and devilish fun. He's always up to play, wrestle, take a dare or make some noise. Above all else, though, he loves to sleuth around for juicy gossip. He's incredibly nosy. Don't ever trust Moruluth to keep a secret. You can, however, trust him to be a gentleman - a knight in shining purple armour, if you will. The ladies do deserve respect! That left the blue to peruse the boys in much-appreciated solitude. He went past each one systematically, and then doubled back again, and again. He had to make the proper choice. He had to have the best of them. All of his attention was for the boys, and the slight twitching of his two last siblings' eggs went without notice. Even when the largest egg stopped moving, the blue was focused on inspecting the white robes his candidates wore.[/size][/blockquote] |
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Cathaline
Lady Holder
cathct[M:50]
Posts: 3,279
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Post by Cathaline on Nov 14, 2011 13:10:54 GMT -5
The eggs continued to rock, and Saia watched with a smile as the blue puffed himself up and strutted about, learning how to use his newborn limbs. He was cute, and so was the pink slowly making her way toward him. But despite her interest, her eyes went immediately to the large golden-colored egg when it cracked, and a purple made his way out of the hole. How wonderful, and what a pretty shade he was! Of course, she knew a purple would pay no attention at all to the girls, but she still admired him, and glanced over at the group of male Candidates. Maybe he was for Lex, or Seta...
The wrestling made her nervous - mauling was never fun, and what if one of them killed the other? - but it ended soon enough, and the pink came over to the girls. She showed no interest in Saia, though, and chose one of them who'd been at Dalibor a long time. Saia beamed and clapped politely for Xiora and her newfound lifemate.
The energetic purple proceeded to Impress Taklavon, and the blue showed interest only in the boys. He might yet change his mind, but he seemed certain, his faceted eyes never even drifting to them. So though Saia kept an eye on him, mostly to see who he picked in the end, she focused mainly on the remaining two eggs. One small, fighter-sized, the other big, probably another subking or a subqueen.
But...it wasn't moving anymore. It had been, she knew it had been, so it wasn't a dud with an undeveloped baby inside. Maybe the baby was having trouble getting out?
----
Day'ar had found himself a seat by himself, curled up near the back of the stands, and watched attentively, if only so that Ambrith wouldn't become irate over missing something. The first girl, he didn't know, but the two who Impressed next, he did.
I met her long ago, when I was a Candidate,[/i] he told Ambrith. Xiora, she was very kind, more or less. I'm glad she's finally Impressed. Oh, Taklavon has a purple! That's...lovely.[/i]
Day'ar's reservation was not in the least because of Taklavon himself, but more that all the charging and zipping and wrestling was a bit unnerving, especially from someone he knew and would likely interact with, given they now had dragons of the same rank. Ambrith huffed and said feelingly, A most unpleasant specimen.[/i] Too much leaping. Not sedate enough. That pink chose one of the tardy ones.[/i] Being late in and of itself was not a bad thing to Ambrith, who was never in a rush himself, and he had liked the pink's slow-moving gait right up until she decided on Xiora. Not just late, but out of breath. Hmph.
Be nice,[/i] Day'ar scolded mildly. He liked Xiora, and he liked her pink.
Speaking of pinks, Agnith, after fondly watching Laelia's Impression, turned her attention to her like-colored sister down there. Well, not really sister in any real respect, but, you know. She could say sister if she wanted! Her real clutchsister, however, was beside her, and as usual, tan Unath did not seem to appreciate or understand Agnith's commentary. The pink chuckled as Unath burrowed underneath her, and spread a wing along the tan's back comfortingly. She'd catch Unath up on what happened next later.
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Post by simile on Nov 14, 2011 13:55:27 GMT -5
She stared at the pink. She was headed straight towards her. She bit her lip. Could she take it if this was her bonded? Or was she really going to be upset? It was a choice. One that had to be made. But... could she really deny that she wanted the love of a bonded? The love that this pink had for her now... at birth? Something so permanent. She felt them then. The tears. Was this pink going to choose her? Had she even seen her yet? She wanted to deny her. sHe wanted a sub-queen or a queen! She was meant for one! Wasn't she? Suddenly a flood of self doubt deflated her entirely and she looked down at the ground. This was just ridiculous... but here was this little pink... She smiled slowly at her. She almost hoped... that this was the dragon who would pick her. She was calm... slow going. It was relaxing. At least she was female, unlike the two irritating males who were wrestling about on the sands. She bit her lip again. The pink WAS going to choose her.
Of course, while the pink was still looking and deciding, Xiora had let her thoughts become very very self-centered... but in this case, she was very right about the pink choosing her.
Relax, XioraMine, the pink said to her, maw open in a dragon's smile and her eyes swirling rainbow. I'm here now. Landorith is here. I won't go anywhere, either, so we can just get some food when we feel like it.
The pink cooed and nuzzled her... and Xiora blinked, her arms slowly wrapping around her dragon. She was no queen. No sub-queen. She was Landorith. She was HER Landorith and she... would never leave her. Xiora smiled softly, eyes shining as she wrapped her arms around the pink's neck. "Landorith..." she whispered the pink's name. This was her dragon. And no matter what she had wanted in the past. No matter what others said, she was better than any other dragon. Suddenly, all her goals to Impress a ranking dragon... didn't matter. She had someone to love who would love her. They could and would go far. Together.
She pulled away slowly and looked into the swirling eyes of her bonded. "Let's get some food. I don't want you to starve!" She grinned and wiped her eyes. No one could be allowed to see her cry. She turned towards the feeding stations to join those who had also Impressed at this hatching. This could have easily been the last chance she had to stand... and... She had finally been found by her Landorith.
Do not worry XioraMine. I love you. I'm not going to leave you. Her words were gentle and sweet and Xiora couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up in her. "I know sweetheart, I know. I love you too. I was just really scared you wouldn't find me." Landorith snorted. That's silly!
Of course it was silly, but Xiora had to admit... she had becoming more and more fearful as time wore on that she would not find her dragoness and that she would live without ever bonding... She would have tried to bond a wher in that case... but it was a dragon she had always dreamed of riding.
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Post by matsi on Nov 14, 2011 14:14:23 GMT -5
Xaratenos was so amused. He couldn’t deny it. The variation in each dragonet was like…well…a variation in fish! Yes. That was a good comparison! The green was like a minnow, brightly colored and fast. The pink, and angel fish, nice too look at but slow. And so on. He didn’t really want to distract himself by comparing each to a fish that he really couldn’t remember at this moment in time. No, instead, he went back to comparing them to things that he could easily remember and think about.
Like for example, the seashell Pink one. Her description was easy for him to think about… Oh and look! He smiled ever so softly as the seashell pink made her way past her brothers, eventually, and towards the girls. The girl she picked was a lucky one indeed. Then again, anyone who got a dragon was lucky, no matter the color, personality or abilities of the dragon. Maybe that was just his theory, but it was what he thought.
Xarat drew his eyes away from the shell-Pink dragonet and onto the two males and two eggs left on the sands. He watched, face emotionless, even though his heart was racing, as the blue began to inspect each male. He seemed so picky! Funny. That pink was so…easy…while this blue… It didn’t fully make sense in Xarat’s mind, but he tried not to dwell on it.
His eyes darted to the purple as he too approached, and almost with ease, impressed a boy not far from him. He clapped quietly, grinning his typical mellow smile, but then looked back at the blue for a moment. He was curious to see who…or what, (you never knew!)…what the blue would pick or do next. Surely there was someone in this bunch of candidates that he would like! There was certainly someone who would die to have him, Xaratenos was sure of that.
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Azhdarchid
Jr. Weyrwoman
azhct[M:-1490]
Totes.
Posts: 1,627
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Post by Azhdarchid on Nov 14, 2011 14:21:31 GMT -5
Lexony did not have long to try and signal Yvonnaei, as the Pink wandered in among the girls, and the Blue moved to him. Well, to the boys at large. And after some tangling with his larger brother, the Blue was now free to nose about at the young men in a state of leisure. He seemed to be taking advantage of the free moments by being very thorough. Twice he paused before Lex before moving on again, but he was circulating very quickly back and forth. This was why Lex could not be sure he believed Saia's hypothesis. If there was only ever one man for this Blue, why did it take so long for the infant to find him?
Babies were nothing if not balls of instinct. Lex thought the Search for one's own rider was, in turn, all about instinct. Certainly it could not be their scent or appearance that turned the Blue away or drew him near, unless there was something in those traits indicating illness. But Candidates were selected for their health, their strength of mind. For example, some people, such as Xaratenos, might be exceedingly odd or quarrelsome, yet they were still worthy of this chance. The question of health had been solved well before the Blue cracked his shell. And as for their current conditions: they were all hot, sweating, breathing hard of the burning, sandy air. Most paid enough mind to look down at their little attendant. Lexony certainly did, smiling at the dose of lighter blue painted across the hatchling's wedge-shaped head.
He also gave some consideration to the other eggs, the ones Naireth had kindly revealed. He knew it meant nothing for him to try and "will" them out, but there was a part of him that made the mental attempt anyway. The small one first, and then the large-- but the largest egg had stopped moving. Lexony's imagination dashed across several blunt and dismal probabilities, but he thought it more likely that the inhabitant had simply grown tired, and was resting. That was still problematic: it might mean the hatchling was weak. But the weak became strong in a Weyr. They just needed to make that first crucial step on their own, and duck out from the wings of their shells.
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Post by larkwing on Nov 14, 2011 15:37:14 GMT -5
Saka had watched as one by one each egg started to crack, and then finally snap apart completely to reveal their hidden treasures. She was pleased to see the first, a brightly hued green, impress to the girl she had run into on her way here. Then things picked up and more eggs hatched, more dragonets impressed. With the arrival of each the candidate grew more and more hopeful. Surely this one? No, well this one! No.
She hopped from one foot to the next eagerly, doing her best to stay still but not being able to at the same time. Sakalas was too happy to simply watch the dragonets play on the sands. There was no anger, no sadness. There was only slight confusion and happiness! This was her sort of hatching, even more so than the last she had been at. Taking a quick peak at the remaining candidates, then back at the eggs, she nodded her head. Three had impressed, one had not, two were still to hatch. Only time could tell what was still to come.
Oh, oh, oh! Look there My Laelia! They're hatching, my siblings are hatching. They've even found Theirs too...or at least some have...ummm...what was I doing again?
Anibrith crooned happily before trailing off and shuffling her feet. Laelia giggled, actually giggled, at this and scratched her eye-ridges lovingly. "We were getting you some food, but yes your brothers and sisters are finding their riders." Laelia looked up to see a pink impress to another girl, and she waved her congratulations before taking a bucket of meat and lowering it to her dragonet. The green sniffed the object tentatively, looking up at Hers. It smelled....interesting. What is that?!?! It looks..all red and stuff...and smells...weird.
The green stuck her forked tongue out at the bucket, crinkling her nose slightly while tilting her head. Laelia stared at her shocked that a dragonet didn't know what food looked like. "It's meat...you eat it." Anibrith made a little "Oh." like sound in Laelia's mind, sniffing it again and sticking her head slowly into the bucket. What was she supposed to do with it? Was she supposed to sniff it? Maybe put it on her head. Grabbing a chunk of meat up, Anibrith flipped it so that it landed on her snout. Somehow I don't think I'm doing this right...
Laelia shook her head, trying her hardest not to laugh at the silly dragonet. "Try putting it in your mouth and chewing." It was as if a glowlight had suddenly been placed behind Anibrith's eyes, she tossed her snout back and opened her jaws, snapping them shut and chewing them slowly before looking at Hers expectantly. "Now you swallow." The green did as she was told and opened her mouth for another. Mechanically, Laelia reached in and handed it to her, and Anibrith flipped it once more onto her snout before flipping it into the air and snapping her jaws around it.
A pop and chitter from behind Laelia announced that the third member of the trio was now here. "Belle, I doubt somehow that you're supposed to be here." The chubby little green flit snorted and curled up on Hers' shoulder, looking down at the larger dragonet. Well, this was interesting! Anibrith stared up at the firelizard, dumbfounded and mid-chew. Dropping her lower jaw, she stood still for a moment before flaring her wings and jumping a good foot and running in a circle. Rainbow shells and dancing dragons! How did she get so small!!!! I feel sooooooo bad for you...I'm sorry, I didn't know that we could get so...so...troubled.
Laelia fell over, holding her side as Belle clung to her shoulders with wide, swirling eyes. Laughter rolled out of her, her head shaking back and forth as tears started to spring at the edges of her eyes. THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER MY LAELIA!!! THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH HER! Belle chirped confused at the young dragonet, not understanding, but Laelia did. "Ani...she's a firelizard...she's not some poor deformed dragon."
....oh....I toooootaalllly knew that. I was just testing you!
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Post by rust on Nov 14, 2011 20:15:32 GMT -5
It had been confusing at first, to hear the humming, and Nivarak woke up slowly. Even when he heard the call, he had a very hard time moving as fast as he knew he should. He shrugged on the traditional clothes and trudged after the others to the sands. He paused, looking at the scene. Most of the candidates were there, and one dragon was hatching. He walked around the other candidates and took a spot on the other side just as the little green hatched. It really woke him up.
Sure, he didn't have much hope that he would Impress, and sure he hated being forced out of bed in the middle of the night, but all in all it seemed worth it. The sand were a bit uncomfortable though. Maybe in the winter he'd be glad to be standing on the blisteringly hot sands, but it was summer. Still, despite the uncomfortable heat, watching baby dragons hatch didn't lose any wonder, even for someone as cynical as Nivarak. He watched the baby dragons with amusement, detached from everyone and everything else.
Three of them impressed! The part of him that was jealous and the part of him that was caught up in being happy for everyone and in awe of the whole spectacle fought each other.
He made the decision that he'd try to sneak in and spend some time with the new weyrlings after the hatching, even if it wouldn't be the same.
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kireon
Candidatemaster
kirct[M:-191]
Posts: 739
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Post by kireon on Nov 14, 2011 21:58:23 GMT -5
Watching the dragonets figure out how to walk was about as much fun, and just as amusing, as watching runnerbeast babies try and walk for the first time. All tangld limbs goin' places they weren't supposed to and plenty of attempts that ended in frustrated disaster. Aylina smiled as the pink and her blue brother seemed to get their acts together, the former of the two heading right for him to check up on him. The blue stretched his wings out, giving Aylina the idea that he probably wanted a little attention.
She chuckled softly to herself, he was a pretty one, that was for sure. Whoever his chosen ended up bein' was gonna be quite the lucky one, that was for sure. The blue and, with an eyebrow raised at the purple who'd sprung forth out of his egg with more gusto than she ever remembered seeing out of a baby of any species, seemed to have a complete disagreement that turned into quite the competitive tussle.
Boys'll be boys, hopin' no one'll end up hurt 'cause of it. And if someone did, she'd be up for volunteerin' to scold the boys for bein' naughty. She'd been taught well by both her folks back in the day, and had often irritated the unholy shards out of her younger sibling as a result of it.
The pink seemed to be just as amused as she was, and had made her decision in the form of one of the female candidates; a girl named Xiora that she hadn't gotten to know other than just a name and a face. She applauded for her as well, noting the gray eyed boy with a solem expression also did so- just in time for the Purple dragonet to charge straight for one of the male candidates.
She hadn't caught his name either, but she applauded for him as well before turning her attention to the blue dragonet again, wondering who the little highness was going to choose.
**
Green, Blue, Pink and now a Purple, he thought to himself with interest, scanning the other two eggs left over. He snapped back to attention when the applause started for the little pink's choice- Xiora. He'd heard some rumors about her that hadn't exactly been flattering from some of the others in the lower caverns, but had chosen to ignore it. Clearly she wasn't anything they'd said if the little dragonet had chosen her.
That will put rumors to rest. He thought, nodding in confirmation to himself. Rumors weren't anything he felt were appropriate to the well being of a Weyr. Or to anyone other than a Harper to investigate. Startled, he realized that one of the Candidate boys- Tak, the one with the black flit Raincloud- had Impressed while he was caught up in his thoughts. A little more effort than normal went into the polite applause, and a genuine, noticeable smile was on the tall boy's face as a result. The Purple to Tak, that would make for an interesting pair off, he thought to himself.
He'd liked what he'd met and seen of the other Candidate thus far, and that a dragonet had seen his potential and recognized him as worthy to be his rider was more than enough for Seta to be happy about. Maybe not quite a friend, but definitely someone he was happy to see get chosen. His attention returned to the blue, wondering just who the little dragonet was going to choose- as well as who remained left in the eggs that had yet to hatch and who they would be going to as well.
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