For We Have Sin {Alizadehth's Hatching}

[Admin]

So what became of rebels,
Who sang for you and me?
Grapplin' with their demons,
In the search for liberty.

There was a faint clicking noise on the hatching sands. It was noticeable in the oppressive quiet that had often filled the hatching cavern as of those recent sevendays. Then a soft thumping and squishing sound that joined the click as something pressed down and rustled sand. Silence followed all of that for a few moments, but the clicking soon resumed again, and the sounds repeated themselves at intervals. One of the seven eggs on the sands, laid by the orange renegade, was rocking. It wasn't constant, but each of the motions that it made picked up enthusiasm each time they came. Its mottled shell wasn't going to let it out, not until it thought to keep it up, but it quickly made the fact it was ready to come out known to the world. One of its brethren gave a slight twitch and thump every so often to aid it, though it didn't seem so ready.

Abeneth was the first to see it and was the one to start the humming call to announce the hatching. Alizadehth was there, but she and Varya were getting the sleep they much needed. His quiet but strong voice was quickly joined by the guards on duty for the afternoon shift at the entrances of the cavern. Once the noise was starting to reverberate through the tunnels and stone of the Weyr, his contribution to it grew quieter as he focused on waking up his rider. It didn't take much to get D'ror on his feet. Years of living with dragons, many years, meant that being up and moving at the sound of a hatching hum was ground into his mind and bones. He rolled over and hauled himself to his feet, shaking and blinking sleep away as he looked around. His eyes fell on the egg. A big grin split across his face. He grabbed and shouldered his small pack.

Tossiteth, fetch our candidates; Abeneth reminded the rebel black as his rider slipped onto his back and he took off.

It was a cloudy, cold summer dusk. The brown burst past purple Kerath and into the open sky. He disappeared between with his rider on his back, and appeared again three coughs later above Western Hold. He was still humming faintly as he settled on the craggy heights of the hold's buildings. D'ror, still smiling like a maniac, vaulted from him and raced off into the halls. He wasn't exactly caring about being seen. If he had wanted to be stealthy, he wouldn't have flown in on Abeneth. He wouldn't have kissed T'el in front of a crowd months earlier. It was all about time. He had to get back to the hatching. Guards and folk let him pass, scattering at the face of the renegade. They knew the rumors, which lent him surprise, and that he was to be left alone at their hold. It made it easy for him to get to Duilios, who he already knew where to find.

"Put this on;" he ordered. He shoved a white robe, with the odd addition of a large hood to it, at the Lord Holder. Then he pulled and pushed the young man along, making sure the holder kept his pace moving. Above the murmurs of the holdfolk, Abeneth's humming could be heard, a soft, piercing noise. He was thinking that Duilios would be smart enough to catch on to what was going on, but was ready to dangle the fact that this was for the holder's one chance at a dragonet if he tarried. Dignity had to be left in the wake of industry and necessity. Leaping and hauling himself up onto Abeneth once he was back on the ramparts, he reached down and yanked Duilios up after him. As he shoved straps at the Lord Holder, the brown lunged into the sky, gained a few wing sweeps of altitude, and then jumped between.

Much of the Weyr, and most of the renegades, had assembled in the hatching cavern by the time they returned. D'ror checked to make sure Raelle and Tossiteth were following them. His expression turned more serious, before lightening again, when they were several moments later than him. They had no time to waste! Abeneth landed right on the sands, only buoyed by his riders firm wants and the close presence of Alizadehth and his eggs to be under the gaze of so many, and D'ror pushed a hooded Duilios out onto the sands, to join the assembling candidates from Dalibor. What are you doing? The voice of Kalith made the brown pair look up to where the Queen and the Kings of the Weyr watched on the highest tiers. He could see Fajra glaring at him from even that distance. He gave a shrug, and let his dragon catch his cue to not reply. There was no time for questions!

Leaving the copper and her rider with linger worries about what they were planning and no time to stop what was happening, Abeneth settled himself on one of the middle tiers were the renegades were graciously allowed space, away from the spectators they might maul. Not very many had high opinions of the majority of the rebels. It didn't really matter to him. All that matter to him was the sight of the eggs. That was all that matter to most everyone. Three of them had shown life. Two of them were just rocking gently, and out of any sort of rhythm, constantly going back to being still, though they seemed to be growing in fervor as if they sensed the growing anxiety outside. The third had been the first to move amongst the eggs, and it had hit its peak. It vibrated and swung about. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, it cracked. And cracked . . .

Blagards to the bone,
So don't wreck yourself,
Take an honest grip,
For there's more tales beyond the shore.

[kia]

Nat had no idea about the Clutch that was on the Sands. Nor did he know that things were about to change again. He was still stuck in Western Hold, but it was not entirely his fault. He had found some wine and gotten drunk last night, putting off the start of his mission a day later. His master would not notice. His head would. It was still throbbing slightly with last night`s fun. The only thing that may have been better was finding some pretty little thing, male or female, to share a bed for the night. But, he had not been lucky there last night.

Oh well, other chances to find someone to share a bed with another day. Besides, his search would take him around the continent. He might run into some lone human and convince them, coerce them might be the better word, into some fun. He smirked to himself, but his head throbbing made his smirk disappear quickly. Damn wine. Damn sunlight. Damn … things! And why did people have to stare so hard at his hair.

He ran a hand through his messy hair, eyes squinting as he walked through the town. People were beginning to recognize him. Not good. The other day, some fisher had called out to him, calling him Firehead and saying he had a good catch of the day that he would be interested in. He growled quietly at the thought. He had to get out of here. But how? How?

[jack]

T'el, shockingly enough, had been being a very good boy. He'd practically glued himself to Sjueth, it becoming a very rare sight indeed to spot the manic blackette anywhere aside from his dragon's broad back. Today was no different, as the sound of humming filled the air. Bright eyes opened lazily, the crazed depths swirling with absent confusion before a smugger look spread slowly onto his face and he stretched, stroking the shining hide beneath him.
"Already, huh?"
Yes. Sjueth replied softly, his eyes whirling with mild amusement as his low voice filled the air, his claws digging into the post he'd been given.
"Mm." Mad eyes slid to the side lazily as the man swung one leg absently, his gaze landing on the returning form of D'ror and Abeneth. He paid no heed to the dragon as he settled near Sju, his gaze following the rider. He licked his lips unconsciously as he did, that familiar lust--which had been lurking like a jealous lover in his mind since the Flight--rising in his gut before he quelled it with a yawn, sliding from Sju's hide to the place he perched. The rider moved no further, however, sliding to sit against the dragon's curled form. "I'll be glad when this is over."

--

Wake up, B'rakMine. You sleep too much.
B'rak grunted, creaking open an eye, and frowned, "What is it, Shoth? It was a hard day for the both of us--you should be ready to sleep as well."
Shoth snorted and shook his shining hide, flicking his tail impatiently. There isn't time, Mine. He forcibly stilled his throat, the familiar hum ebbing up between his words.
"The Hatching?"

B'rak felt a twitch in his gut and he sat up immediately, sighing as he ran a hand through his hair. "Lovely."

--

What was that sound? It was...so loud. Loud and vibrating...but comforting. Wide eyes lifted from the glow that the boy had been checking, the pupils shrunk in displeasure. He didn't recognize the sound, but Vraellin found that while it filled in with unfamiliar glee, it made his heart clench in a manner he didn't exactly like.

The young man bit his lip uncomfortably and carefully crept his way back to his room, rubbing at the scar on his cheek in habitual worry as he did. What if it was a bad sound? The brunette bit his lip a bit harder, careful not to make it bleed, and slunk to his bed, plopping down and clutching a pillow. Until he knew exactly what was making that noise, he wasn't budging an inch.

[Nia]

This wasn't the usual clutch. This wasn't anywhere NEAR the usual clutch that Dalibor was supposed to have. The Renegades weren't supposed to come here! They weren't supposed to clutch here! If they were here... that meant... Caelin pulled the furs over his head, huddling into his cot and trying to ignore his own thoughts. He didn't care, he'd gotten over it! How long ago had it been that he'd been rescued and became a Candidate here...? Not... very long at all, and the memories were still fresh. No, no! It was a long time ago and that was over now.

The dragon's hum made Caelin jolt and his heart start that erratic pounding again. Shards, shards, shards, shells! Why was he here, why was he doing this?! They were the Renegades! His enemy! He strongly disagreed with the Sr. Weyrwoman's decision to let them clutch here. He'd stayed holed up in his room for a lot of the time, actually, the Renegades having brough back extremely painful and still fresh memories. Really, he needed to get over it already. It hadn't been that... bad.....

Okay, better thoughts. The dragonets weren't going to become Renegades, since they were going to have to stay at Dalibor until they could fly. That meant that if he Impressed, he'd probably just become a Rider at Dalibor. No, not probably, definitely. Sure, the reactions from the rest of the Weyr would be... most likely negative, but that didn't matter, as long as he Impressed, right? There would be six others along with him... a-assuming he Impressed, that is. There were only seven eggs, and while there really weren't a lot of Candidates there were far more than seven. So there was a chance that he wouldn't even Impress and be allowed back to his comfortable Candidate life.

His mind still stuck on depressing and freaking-out thoughts, Caelin dressed himself in a daze and didn't even bother to make sure he had the robe on right. But what he did notice was Vraellin also clinging to a pillow on his bed. "H-hey, come on, don't you want to Impress? You'll be late for the Hatching if you don't get changed soon," he said gently, and tentative reached out a hand to touch the other boy on the shoulder before chickening out and retracting it. "We gotta get down to the Sands," he added, not sure if his silent friend knew what to do. With one last glance back at his roommate the blond was out the door.

He didn't run to the Sands, as he wasn't really all that excited for this. He entered hesitantly, focusing only o the eggs and not who-or-what was in the Sands. Not that the giant Iron was easy to miss. Resisting the urge to drop to his knees, scream and have a panic attack, Caelin made his way shakily over to the small boy's semi-circle and stopped, staring blankly at the eggs. He was forgotten about, so it didn't matter anymore. The eggs mattered, right? It didn't matter if they were Renegade-born... they were still dragons. It wouldn't matter in the long run.

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[4horseshowgirl4]

It was odd, being back at a Weyr. Raelle and Tossiteth had expected life almost out in the open, but within a few sevendays of their arrival, Alizadehth, their leader, had Clutched at Dalibor, and what could they do but follow? They'd been given their orders; they knew what their job was once the Hatching began. The Blackpair had stood vigil on ledges far away from both the brooding parents and the Dalibor guards; they wanted no part of the wrath of either. Or, rather, Tossiteth stood guard while Raelle spent her times in the forests, foraging with Xela.

Raelle liked the fact that she had some degree of importance among the Renegades. She wasn't keen to lose that, and both Tossiteth and Xela were eager for her to spend the majority of her time away from the terrible tension at Dalibor, where her nasty temper could quite possibly spark a war. Neither mother nor daughter completely trusted the Dalibor drudges to provide them with unpoisoned food, and they were perfectly happy living off the land for now. Xela herself didn't dare leave Tossiteth's side while she was at the Weyr; people looked at her like she was the enemy, and, frankly, that bewildered her. If she had a solid reason for earning their dislike, well, she could have done something about it, but the fact was that this wasn't her fault nor her mother's, but Alizadehth's. They would just have to follow their leader and do the best they could, galling as that was to the independent duo.

Mine, it's time! Tossiteth said, surprisingly calmly, blinking from between. Raelle nodded, swinging up onto the Black's back with ease. "Xela, get back to the Weyr. Alizadehth's eggs are hatching. Go to the Stands and sit near D'ror. Talk to no one!" Raelle ordered as Tossiteth crouched, preparing to take off. "No!" Xela screamed back. "I'm not going back to that strange Weyr by myself! I'm going with you! Please!" Xela said desperately, cheeks shiny with tears that did not quite reach her eyes. Mine! We don't have time for this! Tossiteth protested. Xela knew this; she jumped on the Black behind her mother before Raelle could protest. Tossiteth took off, blinking between within seconds.

They arrived at Western Hold. Xela slid off Tossiteth with her youthful agility, followed by Raelle. The child knew their orders as well as the Blackpair. They ran inside the Hold, splitting up. Within moments, Raelle returned, dragging along a young lad. {Tell Xela I've found this one!} she barked to Tossiteth, flashing him an image of the boy. Mere seconds later, Xela emerged, shouting at a second boy to follow her. "You two! You've been selected as Candidates for the Renegade Hatching. Put on these robes and hoods, and hurry!" Raelle shouted, throwing the garments at them and herding them hurriedly towards Tossiteth.

Tossiteth's attention, however, was not on the two he was assigned to bring. Instead, it was on another young man. There was something... something about him. Raelle, that one, he said quietly, and the Blackrider knew instantly what it was about. She ran over to him and grabbed his arm, dragging him back to Tossiteth, repeating the same words she had just spat at the other two. Xela, meanwhile, took the opportunity to rather forcefully shove the two boys on Tossiteth and strapping them in, her slight body straining with effort but her small hands quick and practiced. Raelle boosted the last one on Tossiteth without giving him a chance for questions, and strapped him in as well.

With one holdboy in front of Raelle and one behind, with Tossiteth's selection of Nat sitting behind the second, they were a tight squeeze on such a small dragon. There were no riding straps left for Raelle or Xela, so they left as they came, with Xela clutching rather uncertainly to the girth strap behind the other four, not quite balanced on Tossiteth's broad back. It didn't matter: despite the heavy weight, Tossiteth sprang lightly in the air and instantly went between back to Dalibor. There was no time for polite warnings when the eggs might already be spilling out their treasures!

Then, they were on the Sands, Raelle and Xela unstrapping the three new Candidates swiftly, slapping any interfering hands away. "Bow to that big orange dragon and go stand with the others. If your dragon is in the clutch, he or she will find you. Stay out of the way of the others if you value your limbs," Raelle said shortly before pulling Xela back onto the Black and joining the other dragons in the Stands. Raelle tried to pull Xela protectively onto her lap but Xela squirmed out of her grip-- she was no baby, after all! The youngster looked towards D'ror fleetingly-- Raelle might not have brought them back in time without her help!-- but his attention was obviously on the eggs, not her. She stood, peering closely towards them. By some small miracle, they'd managed to get to Western, find three representatives for the renegades, and bring them back, and the first dragon hadn't even entered the world yet.

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[kia]

He heard people screaming, panicking. But Nat did not move from where he stood. He saw the large Black in front of him, but he did not move. Obviously, by the way his Rider acted, they were not Searchriders from Dalibor. Renegade. The thought cause Nat to lick his dry lips. People ran past him, looking up at him, thinking he was a mad man for not running. Why would he run? He had never done anything to make the Renegade Riders mad at him. Then again, that was why they were Renegade. They could be provoked unintentionally, as was apparent by that Brown and IronRider several months back. Yeah, that was still an interesting sight in his mind. The fact that they were not scared to show off their power. He liked that.

He stood still, waiting for the dragon to move so he could past the beast and start his journey. But, suddenly, eyes were on him. The dragon was looking right at him. But he did not flinch. He stared right back at the dragon. He felt like this was a challenge. Well, dragon or no dragon, Nat was not the one to back down. He was Nattalion, a murderer, a fighter, an adament human being. Even though he had managed to calm himself over the years so as not to kill anyone else after his family, he still had those urges to kill those who annoyed him. His eye twitched, staring at the dragon.

Suddenly, a woman was on him, throwing some white outfit at him, forcing him to put it on. He blinked in surprised as he was pulled onto the back of the dragon. A Hatching? Renegade? He had been right in his thinking. He smirked to himself, but looked at the other two Candidates. He could have snorted. They were Candidates as well? He crossed his arms as the dragon lifted and went between to Dalibor. Dalibor? Dalibor! He thought they were Renegades. But they must be using the Sands here for the Hatching. He snorted. He would be stuck here, should he Impress, and be around others he did not know or probably would never feel comfortable with.

But he did not have time to think his escape plans any further. The dragon landed and the woman who had "attacked" him earlier was pushing him off her dragon`s back, telling him to bow to the Orange Queen. He landed on the Sands on his knees, looking up at the woman who was ordering him around He growled lightly. He did not like inferiors bossing him around. But, she did have a point. Standing up and trying to dust off sand on his now dirtied robe, he looked at Alizadehth, though he did not know her name, and bowed to her. He would play this game for the time being. Once it was over, he would find someone to take him back. After all, like a Renegade, he was a bit of a loner himself.

[kyrillion]

Green eyes were narrowed in concentration as precise, calculated movements spread ink across the page. It had been a long time since Teslana had had the inspiration, and the free time, to indulge in art. This evening, however, had been a quiet one, and while it was too late for the Candidate to break out paints and brushes and canvases, she was taking the opportunity to sketch, relishing in the patterns and shapes that blossomed on the page. And though it was too early to tell what any of these figures would eventually morph into, she could already see the tree and the ocean and the birds in her mind’s eye, and she was quite looking forward to a quite evening in the barracks.

But then the humming started. Weyrbrat that she was, she knew instantly what it meant. That renegade orange's clutch was Hatching! Tossing down her quill with one last, longing look, she promptly tracked down that crisp white robe reserved for such occasions and wasted no time changing. She didn't appear to be in much of a rush, however; after all, the eggs weren't going anywhere. And they numbered just seven! She had long ago calculated the probability of Impressing under such circumstances - the number of eggs versus the number of Candidates, with a few added on for good measure. After all, those Weyrless riders would likely bring some representatives of their own, regardless of the impropriety of such an action.

Unlike many others in the Weyr, she had not reacted with hostility towards these new arrivals. Though she acknowledged that they presented a possible threat, she had been curious as opposed to wary. What was life like for a renegade? Under what circumstances had they betrayed their mother Weyr and pursued a life of vagabonding? Would they fight thread, if thread fell? Where would they get firestone? And so on and so forth. So many things to ponder during the weeks since the clutching. Frankly, she had quite enjoyed having them around; though she had not interacted with any of them, they had presented a constant enigma for her to mull over. While she certainly preferred Dalibor and Weyr life, thank you very much, this Alizadehth and her followers had brought some excitement to every day life. For a little while.

Running a hand distractedly through her sandy hair, she decided all was in order and headed out into the hall and towards the bowl. It wouldn't do to be late. One, two three, four... She knew how many steps it would take to reach the Sands, but she counted them anyway. She couldn't help herself, and the monotonous action prevented her mind from running wild. The hustle and bustle of the weyr, dragons arriving and leaving and coming back again and people running around, begged her attention but she studiously ignored it all. This wouldn't be her first Hatching, and likely wouldn't be her last, but it would certainly be different. She would go, cheerfully, and Stand for this renegade's clutch, and she would do so with a smile for, whether she Impressed or not, it would present a new experience. And those were always welcome.

When she arrived at long last, she paused to bow - both to Alizadehth with her clutch, and Kalith watching from above. Relishing the warmth of the sand beneath her feet, she clasped her hands behind her back to keep from fidgeting, and took her place with the rest of the Candidates. Her green eyes shone with curiosity, and a small secret smile played on her lips. Great, new things were afoot! Nothing like this had ever happened at Dalibor before.

[Birdy]

This defiantly wasn't right Kalay decided, staring down at the candidate robe in his hands. Did they have to be white? He really didn't like white, he was more of a black or purple kind of guy. Yes, purple would have been good but the dreaded thing remained white.
It didn't really matter though, Kalay decided. If a dragon was going to pick him it wouldn't be on looks now would it? No, from what he'd heard they chose on a much deeper level than that.
Sighing, Kalay slipped on the robes. They were too big but he didn't think he had time to get another set. Besides the Hatching wasn't going to wait for him. With one last glance in the mirror headed out of the room, following the crowd of people heading towards the Sands.
Stepping onto the Sands he bowed quickly to the Orange, trying to be polite but not really wanting to expose the back of his neck to the intimidating dragon or her mate. Spying the rest of the candidates he quickly took his place among them. There were seven eggs on the Sands, that was something he'd been told by the Search Rider and he wasn't sure how many candidates were standing. Even if there weren't enough they could still... Kalay pushed the thoughts out of his head, he didn't want to see any dragonets or candidates get injured.

[Admin]

You can stay afraid,
Alone in the dark,
But at least I’m out here,
In the light.

The pioneering egg hatched with a splat. It slipped on its side on the sands and broke apart into several jigsaw-like pieces. It took several moments for the large dragonet within to wiggle his way free. He was no brown, and a King would have been odd to hope for with his clutchmother and father, but he was a big blue. His limbs and tail were stocky for his young body, and gave him plenty of the usual hatchling awkwardness. It took him several attempts to drag himself onto his feet, where he wobbled, after he slithered on the hot ground away from his prison. It wasn't from a lack of effort and passion. He wanted to get moving. He was hungry! His faceted eyes swirled red, mixed with distant tinges of yellow and green. He wanted food! Being the first to hatch was just the right type of work to give him an appetite. Food, food, food, food for him!

Against the back splash of his orange mother and the tan sands, he was a dark figure. His hide was a deep blue. It was dark shade, reminiscent of blue pigments made from iron. It was a military and navy and bull-like color that made him look all the stockier in design. He steadied himself, and eyed the squishy looking figures that circled around him across the sands as he could focus on them. He took a snorting, loud sniff, scenting the air. They would have his food! He was sure of it. He just knew it, and he didn't care how he knew. It didn't matter him if it was instinct, or logic, or hope. No matter what, they were going to have food for him! At a sort of waddle, his legs ill-designed for walking even for a dragon and only a couple of moments of experience with them, he headed towards the candidates, a unique bit of eagerness about him.

As the blue left his six kin behind, another of the eggs began to fragment apart. It splintered, cracking tendrils ever growing across its surface as whatever was inside forced its way out. It would not be left in the dark. The creature within turned out to be a black, as it sent bits of its eggs flying and fell into the world in the remnants egg innards and bits. He was the basic shade that most of his kind were, lustrously monochromatic. He was a tiny, shrimpy creature, likeliest to be the littlest of the group. His wings hung about his body, damp and useless in his fledgeling state, and he seemed quite happy to hold them out about him as if he were twice as big as he was while he circled the spot he had hatched at, as though he were looking for an item or examining everything. The candidates seemed to hold far less interest to him than they did to his brother.

Hunkering down, using his uncomfortably extended wings to shield the space around him from being easily view, he began to scamper about and pick up all the egg shards he could find from his and his blue sibling's eggs. He ducked low and tried to make it seem as if the pile he was making of them was by pure accident. He didn't want anyone else to take them! They were his! All his! He had a pick of trouble trying to drag the large, jagged pieces from his brother's shell. He squawked quietly to himself as he almost caught one of his wings under one, releasing it from the grip with his teeth he'd been using to pull it. He hurriedly tried to fold the delicate appendage that had gotten in the way, but found some trouble with it. He ended up with both wings closed oddly against his back. It didn't matter to him. He went back to collecting his preciouses.

The blue had found himself some interesting food once he'd passed by a couple of the candidates. He had decided to sit back on his haunches, stretch out his head, and gnaw on the top of one of their heads. It was done very lovingly, for a depraved creature bent on getting something in his belly. It did little more than get a lot of dragon saliva, mixed with egg guts, all over the poor candidate's hair and head. His teeth were still young, and his mouth was small. He couldn't really fit it over the entirety of what he was trying to chew on, so he had to suffice to constantly trying chomping on different angles. He did it gently and softly, and was nice enough to avoid doing it at all on the human's face. That didn't keep his tongue from getting a few licks over the cheeks and nose of the head he was enjoying, and plenty of spit from dripping down.

N'talMine, your Gulath is so very, very hungry; the blue told his new rider pitifully, the imagine of pathetic in his youthful mental voice. Your head is quite tasty . . . he mentioned casually, still gnawing on it. This actions were not so pitiful. But I suppose you need it . . . he sheepishly added. He stopped his chewing, releasing the newly Impressed soul, and took a step back, looking a bit abashed. Perhaps a leg? He looked down towards the limbs he understood were less important than heads. The question was no joke. He was very, very hungry, and entirely sure that his chewy would be willing to give up a bit of himself to feed his starving dragon. He wasn't sure that his chewy's leg would be enough to fill up the gaping hole in him, as he was fairly certain he would be eating a great deal, but he would settle for what he could get. He just wanted food!



So there’s not a problem,
With the way I was raised,
There’s not a problem,
You shouldn’t be afraid.

[jack]

As reluctant as he was the leave his sanctuary-pillow, Vraellin found himself shocked to attention at the scurrying rush of his roommate. The scarred boy watched with wary eyes, following the other's movements like a spooked runner searching for some sort of calming voice. He received just the prompting he needed, a gentle touch on his shoulder forcing him to blink out of his blank daze, rising to his feet instants after the other had dashed out. He was quick to dress and, biting his lips, followed rapidly after the other boy.

A much faster walker than Caelin, he caught up quickly, taking what he believed to be his place at the boy's shoulder. From where he was, it was easy for him to notice the sudden, subtle hitch in the young man's pace and he gave a soft hum in his throat, looming in the corner of the boy's sight to give him an encouraging smile. The smile he gave seemed to boost his own courage and he followed carefully once more, taking his position--like a patient guard--behind Caelin's left shoulder.

The first egg hatched, and Vrae's eyes widened, watching as the dragonet stumbled out, and immediately set towards the boys. It was a gorgeous creature...such a beautiful dark blue...but the teenager hunched back, refusing to leave Caelin's side but more interested in running away than watching as the dragonet set to chewing on a poor boy's head. Vraellin averted his gaze immediately--too adjusted to related horrors to be entirely freaked out--and stared instead on the Black, finding much more solace in the creature's gathering of shells.

[Nia]

This Hatching was not going to be normal. Caelin repeated that mantra over and over in his mind, trying to prepare himself for anything strange that might happen. This was a Renegade Hatching on Dalibor soil, they weren't even Dalibor eggs! But that wouldn't make them any different because dragons were dragons and he was lucky that he'd been "Searched" in the first place. Caelin had noticed Vraellin next to him right away, though it seemed natural for the other boy to be at his shoulder. He felt like a kind of protector, which essentially he was, with the way Vrae was refusing to leave him even for a moment. Not that Caelin minded. He was just glad that the other boy had decided to come to the Hatching or Caelin probably would have hightailed it out of there the moment he saw the light colored Iron sitting in the Stands....

With those new, positive thoughts in his mind, Caelin watched as what he assumed were Renegade "Searchriders" bring in some more Candidates. No one he recognized, so they must not have gone to Crescent. Maybe... he hadn't really known a lot of people there, being the "oh, you" kind of person that most people just looked over. Funny, he lived two good years at that Hold and he still managed to fade into the background. The blond just hoped he wasn't going to fade into the background now, because that would be terrible and he wouldn't Impress and then he'd be too old and then he'd just live as a pathetic loser for the-- no, he glanced at Vraellin with a slightly nervous smile, as he couldn't be completely bold at a scary Hatching like this, but enough to hopefully give the even-more-scarred boy a bit of encouragement maybe?

Er, anyway, the eggs were beginning to hatch, so he figured he should try and blank his mind and watch. Shake... shake... shake.... All Caelin focused on were the eggs shaking out of rhythm with one another, and idly Caelin wondered that if noticing that meant he was developing some sort of OCD. The first egg finally began to crack in rather oddly-shaped pieces as the dragonet inside wormed it's way out. It was easy to tell what color he was when he emerged... the dragon was Blue. He looked rather large for a Blue, though, and Caelin figured that must be the highest rank they could probably hope from this Clutch... not that he cared about rank or anything. And was it just him, or were that Blue's eyes swirling more fiercely than usual?

The next egg began to break off in fragmenty pieces, in tendrils that looked like someone had taken a hammer and lightly tapped it until it cracked open. ... which was essentially what was happening on the inside of the egg, really. Caelin watched, (though he kept track of where the Blue was off too, just in case...) curious about the dragonet inside. A... Black? Maybe? He sure was a tiny thing. He was also dragging pieces of his brother's egg towards himself, as if claiming it. Caelin stared blankly, blinking a few times in confusion. Uh... were dragons... supposed to do this? Maybe it was some sort of weird mental quirk... there seemed to be a lot of that around lately.

But Caelin was rather rudely interupted in his analysis of the Black's mental state because the Blue had just tried to eat a Candidate. Not wanting to believe what his peripheral vision had seen, Caelin turned his head ever so slightly to the side, glancing down the small line of boys to see a boy he had never seen before being chewed on by the Blue. That... probably wasn't how Hatchings were supposed to go, Renegade or not. But it had Impressed... maybe... uh... Caelin was starting to get rather unsure about this whole thing. Sure, he'd known Hatchings weren't the most safe things around but this was just... too much. Judging by Vrae's reactions, he could tell the quiet boy was feeling the same way, and took a page out of the other boy's book and watched the Black gather shells instead.

[/size]

[kyrillion]

The Candidates didn't have to wait long; it was a small clutch, and things were happening quickly. Tesla watched, mildly curious, as a large and stocky blue tumbled out of that first egg. He was a bit of a clumsy creature, though clearly eager to find his bond. She watched, admiring the unusually dark color, as he stumbled towards the line of boys and proceeded to... well, chew on one of them. Eyebrows raised, eyes wide, she watched as the hatchling gnawed at N'tal's head, and was even more surprised to see that, for all appearances, he'd Impressed him.

And already there was another hatchling on the sands. A little black, as oddly petite as the blue had been burly, was the next to break out of his shell, though he didn't seem at all as motivated to find his bond as his brother had been. She watched, fascinated and bemused, as he proceeded to collect all of the shell fragments he could find. He was building a little pile out of them - whatever could he want them for? All of this strange behavior only enhanced her curiosity, though she was also a bit leery. She'd been expecting an atypical Hatching, sure - but not one this weird. Had something gone wrong, perhaps? Affected the behavior of the clutch? Or was it just that the eggs belonged to the renegades? For all she knew, this sort of draconic behavior could be typical of that bunch.

Rocking back on her heels, she turned her attention to the remaining eggs. Two down and five to go. She could hardly wait to see what would come next.

[Kila]

Alizadehth hummed in tune with Abeneth. Hers and been dozing against her, but she, the ever vigilant mother, was never fully asleep. Always she had been watching her eggs. Always she had been waiting. And now they were ready.

So intent as she was on watching them hatch, Alizadehth at first paid no attention to the scramble of the renegades and the ushering in of their chosen candidates. The Queen hummed lovingly to her clutch. Come out, my darlings. When Dalibor dragons began to move outside and their people began to enter the Hatching Cavern she did pay attention. Snapping her head up towards the oncoming crowd, she snarled and curled herself tighter around her eggs.

Alizadehth, you must let them come, Varya said severely from her side. The Orange had quite forgotten her rider in her narrow-minded obsession and was reluctant to accept the statement. Alizadehth! Varya repeated sharply. There must be candidates for your children. If there is no one here for them to impress they will go between. The shocking image of her precious hatchlings disappearing between was enough to subdue Alizadehth's snarl. Varya was right- they did need candidates for her babies. Very well, she growled, uncurling herself slightly so that those now assembled could see and approach her treasure. But if they harm my hatchlings, I will kill them. Varya did not doubt it.

The weariness the Queen and her rider had endured from tirelessly guarding the clutch instantly vanished when the first egg began to hatch. Varya's breath caught in excitement and Alizadehth craned her neck forward to watch the cracks form eagerly. The shell fell away like puzzle pieces and a stocky Blue fell out onto the sands. His mother crowed proudly. How smart he was to go and find His so quickly. Gulath was highly motivated, despite his lack of grace, and had no trouble locating what he wanted. Another dark dragonett hatched from his dark egg and spilled onto the Sands. This one was quick to be up and around as well, but his interests lay in the fragmented shells of his and his brother's egg.

O'sho watched the events unfold from high in the tiers next to Fajra. His arms were crossed in front of him but his face wore a neutral, thoughtful expression. No one in the Weyr, especially its management, were pleased to have the renegades holed up in the Hatching Cavern, but they could not have been turned away. It was logical. No matter who were the parents of these hatchlings, they had needed Dalibor's sands to ensure the eggs' survival. Who was he or Fajra to bereft a small dragon of its life?

Daidoroth, on the other hand, had endured this all with a contained fury. However calm and reasonable His was in dealing with this, he did not approve of it. He and Kalith were King and Queen here. Just because they were not for them did not mean they were against them, but it was a tempting connection to make. The renegades paid homage to no one and had not yet shown themselves to be friends of the Weyr. On the contrary, they had been causing the Weyr a lot of trouble. Not the least of all of these problems was the rage it had thrown his weyrmate into. Kalith was furious, and it strained him. O'sho refused to let him see it all from an emotional, illogical point of view, but nothing would make the great brooding King who watched from outside more happy than to have them leave.

[4horseshowgirl4]

The first few notes of a hum began to penetrate the Weyr, snaking out and invading every small corner. It grew in strength as more and more dragons realized what was happening, climbing to a note that let no one ignore it. Of course, few people would be in the mind to do any such thing; the natural inclination was to rush to the Sands the moment the Hatching hum was recognized. Hatchings were almost certainly the most exciting events in a Weyr during an Interval, and they were almost always a cause for cheer and celebration, happiness and hope. They were supposed to be cherished. They weren't made to be ignored!

Yet, that was what the Weyr's Dragonhealer was doing his best to do. B'nyur sat at his desk, trying to lose himself in the papers and records. The Bluerider was exerting serious effort to pretend that he couldn't hear the humming, gritting his teeth and groaning when his own dragon, sitting happily in the corner, too picked up the note. When B'nyur didn't stir, Oveth began to hum pointedly more loudly. Almost comically, Oveth began to sneak closer and closer to Oveth, until his nose was right at B'nyur's ear.

"All right, already!" B'nyur said, throwing down his papers and standing up. Oveth jumped back, quite bewildered by His's strange behavior. Hurry, hurry, Mine!

[/color] Oveth said, making his way hastily across the infirmary. "No, Oveth! We're not going! This Hatching is hardly a Hatching! It's... it's a political statement!" He was clearly furious about the absurdity of the whole situation. Dragons were meant to live in Weyrs! Why didn't that renegade group found their own, for Faranth's sake?

But... but Mine! You're the Healer! You have to be there! What if a dragonet is hurt... or someone gets mauled?[/color] Oveth protested, quite distressed at the prospect that someone could be injured without them there to take care of it! "It's not our problem! Those renegades should have had the sense to get their own dragonhealer if they were going to have a clutch, and their Candidates will obviously only Impress to be one of them and cause more trouble." B'nyur shook his head resolutely. "No, Oveth, we will not attend this folly. Our loyalties must lie to our Weyr."

He strode out of the infirmary, shoulders hunched angrily, but he headed towards the kitchens instead of the Sands. Oveth skidded out of the infirmary and cut off B'nyur, claws scrabbling for purchase on the rough stone. But, B'nyurMine! The Dalibor Candidates are Standing![/color] B'nyur's eyes widened in visible shock. "Wha... what?" he choked. He thought of the few he'd met through infirmary chores, that Vraellin lad especially, and he felt his stubbornness dissolving instantly. He dashed into the infirmary, grabbing his straps and his first aid supplies, and throwing it all on Oveth rather haphazardly. He leaped on the Blue, who didn't hesitate before gliding off towards the Sands.

They tried to enter as discreetly as they could, but it was hard to avoid a dragon flying into the cavern. B'nyur kept Oveth high and against the wall, as far from the eggs and the renegade dragons as possible. They settled on a tier below Kalith and Daidoroth, B'nyur fiddling with the riding straps and straightening his sloppy harnessing job to avoid watching the event. The magic of it was hard to resist, but B'nyur was determined that this controversial Hatching would not ruin the joy the others would hold for him in the future. We're sorry for being late, Queenie! Oveth said humbly, but his voice holding that tone of awe it always did in Kalith's great presence. Mine did not know that Dalibor Candidates would be Standing.[/color]

Mine, you might want to look. These renegade dragonets are weird! Oveth quipped to B'nyur, clearly fascinated. Despite himself, B'nyur looked, just to cock an eyebrow in surprise. Was that Blue... chewing on a Candidate? Why, he was! B'nyur suppressed a laugh. Just when he thought he'd seen everything! It was not uncommon for dragonets to dig their claws or teeth into a Candidate because he or she was in the way or simply annoying, but for one to gnaw on one-- especially the one he Impressed!-- was unheard of. Look at the other one, too![/color] Oveth urged, and B'nyur did, with little hesitation. A Black was lovingly collecting a shiny pile of egg shards.

{These are strange times, Oveth.} B'nyur said simply, able to offer no better explanation to the Blue, and leaning against the Blue's solid shoulder, prepared to enjoy the show.
[/right][/font]

[Admin]

Is on the bus-ride that meanders up,
These valleys of green and grey,
I get to think about what might have been,
And what may yet come true.

A third egg exploded quite unexpectedly. Pieces of it went flying everywhere as the flaying dragonet within shrieked in anger at the very concept of another moment's confinement, despite no sign of any effort on her part to get out before. She was a green. Like her first brother to hatch, the blue, she was large creature, though still small in her youth and incapable of matching him in size due to the constraints of her color. She did not quite have his bulk, but she also seemed to have a much greater control of her tense motions, which made up for her in danger. Despite that, it was doubtful she would have been pleased to see one of her siblings being bigger than she. As it was, there was only the black, who had hit the deck by his shard collection when his sister had hatched, so it was of a limited concern. Her teeth were just barred in a snarl at the world.

The black had gathered up his courage and risen from where he'd flattened himself against the sands. Ever so carefully and quietly, he went and fetched the farthest pieces of his sister's egg. As she gazed about in all her aggression, he worked his way closer and closer to her to pick up all the pieces. Hers were the prettiest! They were the prettiest to him despite the fact they looked much the same as their brother's and his. He was careful to make sure to always stay behind her, out of the way of her intense vision. It wasn't because he knew to fear the temper that seemed to permeate from her. It was because he didn't want her to see and try to take away his precious egg shards. He careful made sure his growing stack was safe, and not going to fall, and then skittered to fetch the pieces in her shadow. She heard him then.

Eyes a nasty shade of red that had nothing to do with hunger, her head snapped around and she stared at him, with a piece of her egg in his mouth. He froze, staring back at her with orange-yellow eyes slowly picking up speed and intensity. There was one second that hung between them like all of eternity. Then the green made a lunge for him. He let out a scream of terror and scrambled out of a range. He tore across the sands, leading her in an awkward chase amongst the remaining eggs. Eventually, she managed to pin him for a moment, claws gripping into his legs. However, before she could do more damage than a couple of scratches that didn't even bleed, he was free of her hold. He had speed on her, and a strong need for self preservation. The green wheeled around and charged after him. He tried to run a little faster. She crouched to lunge . . .

The angry dragonet missed her mark. She collided with another of the eggs. It fell over, and cracked right in two. She took a step back to see her brother within tumble out, apathetic to the fact he'd been born even though he seemed entirely healthy. He was another blue. Where his brother of the same color had been bulky and big, he was small and wiry, about as big as his sister who had unintentionally born him into the world. He might have been grateful to her. He didn't seem like he was, lying pitifully on the ground without doing anything. He was lightly colored, a very pale blue that looked a bit gray and purple. It was a pretty periwinkle shade, for the most part, though it swirled on his body, like a cloud of whispering blue. He regarded his sister with eyes of a faint green-blue that matched his body that just barely swirled with life.

The green was not pleased by her brother's lack of anything. She let out a squeaky shriek (her inability to produce the sound properly only irritated her more) and swiped her claws at him. With more agility and speed than even his well-coordinated sister, amazing agility and speed for a dragonet, he was on his feet. Her attack missed up a good foot. He had the good sense to keep on running, and enough instinct to survive to motivate himself to do it. He fled, with her chasing him in his wake, towards the candidates. He collided with one with a great deal of force, and sprawled across the top of the boy he had knocked down. Seeing the blue partially twined around the fallen form of the human, the green stopped, eying them carefully. There was something manner as she turned away that suggested that she was only leaving him for later.

V'linMine. Feed Socordiath. The boy had been the first candidate he had seen, the one he'd ended up sitting on by pure accident. However, for him, that was entirely perfect. Tinging the edges of the few words he spoke, there was some intelligence that flickered in the back of his mind. He had some greater knowledge or understanding of everything that was going on, hidden deep within him, that was odd for one just out of the shell and went unacknowledged by him. He simply didn't care about anything, except possibly his new rider. He was impassive and indifferent to the world. He was an amazing little creature, from all that was somewhere deep inside of him and his flawless abilities with his body, but all he wanted to do was snuggle up on the boy he had just Impressed. He fully expected that the weyrling might carry him.

As soon as the green had found something to new to be enraged at, the black had slithered away and put Socordiath between himself and her. He was fine if his brother took a few wounds, as long as he was left alone. Once he felt he was safe again, he began to turn away . . . only to see the poor squashed and wrecked remains of his hoard of glittery egg shells. His eyes turned brilliantly yellow. All of his preciouses! All of his things were destroyed! What was he going to do? He was lost! He was drifting! He might as well have . . . Hey, his blue brother hadn't been killed by his green sister and had found one of those tan, standing people over there. He wanted one. He wanted them all. With those thoughts clear in his mind, and his grief forgotten, he slipped towards the candidates. He carefully avoided going near the green.

Not that he needed to worry, for his sister had found a new thing to take her anger out after leaving the blue in peace. She paced along the semicircles of candidates. For the most part, none of them drew her attention to them. They were mostly unobtrusive and pathetic. That was a good thing. She'd worked out most of her anger about pathetic beings at that time. She still had plenty of other sorts of beings she could still be angry at, and she was certainly in no good mood yet by that point. It was the poor renegade candidates that drew her rage. They stood out. The one who her first blue brother had Impressed was lucky to be gone. The first one, who she sensed was older than the rest from how he looked and stood, was lucky to be left alone. It was one of the poor boys that black renegade had brought in that she mauled.



And tomorrow brings another train,
Another young brave steals away,
But you're the one I remember,
From these valleys of green and the grey.

[jack]

B'rak and Shoth arrived on the scene a bit later than most, the diminutive Bronze's wings flashing with an unusually cheerful flick as he landed next to Oveth, bobbing his head in birdish glee. Significantly less amused than his dragon, B'rak slid off hesitantly, warily walking to B'nyur's side as though seeking solace in the wisdom of the older rider. That...and he maybe just wanted to be a shade bit closer.

"It seems we've..missed a lot." He mumbled absently, staring aghast at the deep blue dragonet gnawing on a Candidate, "Although...shards." He ran a hand through his unruly hair, brows knitting together warily, "I almost wish I'd stayed in my weyr. These dragonets clearly don't fall far from their parents..."

Shoth snickered at His's words but, for once, was silent, his eyes roaming from the dragonets and eggs--alighting on the Black, and then the hatching Green with minor interest--before they wandered to where the Renegade's stood, and the Iron that rested amongst them. His voice--strangely--didn't fill the air, his thoughts not even passing to Sjueth as he stared, noting with mild amusement as the dragon's lone-eye rolled to look at him with bland interest. Sjueth turned away after a moment, as though he were unwilling to continue the stare-off-conversation, and Shoth gave a rumble of laughter. B'rak didn't look. He knew what the dragon was so pleased about...and he wasn't quite ready to face it, even with those wild blue eyes on him.

--

"Lookit, Sju~" The blackette grinned, lovingly stroking his dragon's hide, and licked his own lips, feeling his toes curl, "Its our little lost toy." He giggled, eyes ravaging the lovely blond's form, but Sjueth barely spared the child a glance, his tail curling subtly as he continued to watch the Hatchlings instead. T'el stared for a few moments later, noting with mild interest the boy that loomed behind Caelin as well as the attractiveness of a few other male candidates, but he too found his interest waning. He had been nearly ready to get rid of the blond anyways. Maybe this way, he'd grow up and become an even better toy.

The man licked his lips with anticipation and glanced away, barely acknowledging the first Blue and ignoring the Black entirely as he took stock of his fellow Renegades, sparing D'ror a longer look before he was distracted by Raelle. He still wasn't entirely sure he believed the wild-woman, but he couldn't deny he was certainly up for a round two even if there hadn't been a round one. But oddly enough, as intrigued as he was of the woman, he was much more interested in the child. And no, not that way, you perverts.

He was just endlessly enticed by the fact that the girl...was his. Supposedly, anyways. The timeline did match up--she was about ten, and he had been sleeping around ten years previous--and Sjueth confirmed that at some point, they had encountered the duo...so in his mind, even if he hadn't slept with Raelle, he was certain the kid was his. And thus the dilemma.

Raelle, stingy creature, was angry with him. And honestly, he was okay wit that. He liked to fight, when it got down to it. Make-up sex was probably the second best sex in the world--right after rape/bondage/kinky/and/or/FUCKYES sex--and even if sex wasn't involved, no one could deny a good rumble. But he didn't care to fight with her...or even associate with her. She was mean. And harsh. And not fun at all to play with. What he wanted, was to get at "his" kid.
...get your head out of the gutter.

Frankly, T'el did have a bit of a parental instinct. Wasn't much of one, but it was there. And he was curious! He wanted to get to know this kid of his. If it was his daughter, surely it would get him a bit better than angry-momma. And he wouldn't mind having a little mini-him to tag-a-long with him...to teach his dastardly ways to. And to just stare at and try to see if there was physical similarities. But noooo. Angry-Momma was Angry.

T'el cut the thought off with a huff, crossing his arms and legs childishly as he leaned against Sjueth, the Iron giving him a bemused look. It wouldn't take long for His to get over his fuss.

And, just as the Green broke her shell, T'el was distracted again. But this time his eyes followed the newest arrival to the grounds, locked on to the teensy Bronze and its large rider. He didn't hide the manic grin that slid onto his face as he watched the unmistakably-white-haired man step away from the unmistakably-tiny dragon, moving to a blond fellow he himself wouldn't mind a toss in the furs with. The blackette shook his head in mild disbelief, familiarity and fondness glinting in his gaze. "Now there's a familiar crop of hair."
Sjueth didn't look, glancing reluctantly over only when he felt Shoth's gaze. T'el, however, just kept staring. How often was it you rediscovered a long lost friend anyways? Not often at all. He would...certainly have a talk with this fellow before he left. and maybe his blond partner too. Ooh! Threesome!

Sjueth closed his mind to T'el's rambling thoughts, turning his attention fully on the candidates and the dragonets. It was safer in things such as this.

--

Unaware of the arrival of a good friend--or the good look over he was receiving--Vraellin was still glued to the Hatching, deciding rather promptly from the reactions around him that no, it wasn't just him...this was a very frightening ordeal. He felt himself move closer to Caelin, more at his side than behind him, and unconsciously leaned towards him, letting just their shoulder's touch in a calming bump before straightening up as soon as he'd done it and realized. Not blushing but a bit taken aback by his own action he let his eyes fall down to the sand, only looking up again when he heard the sound of another egg hatching.

This one, he disliked rather immediately. It was a mean green biting machine, with fiercely angry eyes and a stomping attitude. Significantly smaller than the others, Vraellin still had no doubt that it could chew through his arm in an instant, and was forced with withhold the instinctual urge to duck-and-run. He didn't bother to hide--or rather, didn't realize he'd done it til it was done--a large swallow, his pupils shrinking in terror as the Green charged at her own sibling, attempting whole-heartedly to dismember the sippery black.

He gave a sigh of relief when an egg blocked her path, although felt his heart in his throat at the sight of the down-right lethargic creature that slid out of the mess. The pale Blue just...stared at her. Why didn't he get up and move? She was clearly angry! Vraellin bit his lip, brows knitting, and found himself holding back the urge...not to flee, but to assert himself in her way. He wasn't an honorable person. Had learned a long time ago to take only the hits that were given him. But seeing something seemingly so...defenseless against something so unrightfully angry...it made his guts clench in a way he really didn't like.

The dragonet lunged and Vraellin winced, looking way before hesitantly looking back; expecting to see blood splattered everywhere. Instead his eyes were filled with the sight of the agile Blue as he danced effortlessly out of her reach, and then bolted right towards him.

The breath was knocked fully out of his breath as the dragonet slammed in to him; the attempt he'd made to move not nearly as quick as the pale creature's movements. He tumbled to the ground in a terrified heap, unable to tell his own limb from the dragons as he looked with a wide-eyed stare at the Green looming above him. Remarkably, however, she turned away...and Vraellin's head was filled with an absent, soothingly relaxed voice.

He stared into blank space for a moment, unable to figure out what had spoken, before he unconsciously looked at the small head on his chest, staring into the patiently--molassasy--stare of the dragonet. Or...we could move later. Yours is hungry...but this is fine.
V'lin stared at the creature for a few moments longer, unable to put two-and-two together in his mind-blown heap, and Socordiath was okay with that, content to be sprawled between His's legs, with his tail curled around one knee and one paw beneath the other's back, his neck comfortably twined around an arm and his chin on His's chest. But after that few moments, the brunette lifted a hand, very gently--as a toddler would inspect a doll that had scared it--touched the dragonet's nose.

The Blue leant into the touch with a soft sigh of a hum, his eyes whirling subtly faster...but not much. "S...Socordiath...is..you?"
The dragonet smiled almost unnoticeably with his eyes, but Vraellin caught it, very used to the faint signs that could foretell of a beating or a meal. "...hah...ha....." A subtle smile of his own spread onto the boy's lips as he rubbed the creature's eyeridges as though faced with something he believed intangible...but was right there as clear as day.
"Socordiath.."

[4horseshowgirl4]

Despite his unspoken vow to take no interest in the Hatching, B'nyur was being drawn by its utter strangeness. He'd witnessed twenty Turns' worth of Hatchings in his day, but nothing compared to this. Queens being born, even the arrival of the Cyans couldn't even begin to be as enigmatic as the behavior of the renegade dragonets. Now, there was usually a weirdo in every clutch, but every dragonet in this group seemed to have some major issue! Oveth growled softly in worry, echoing his Rider's anxieties. It was good that they had come; it was only a matter of time until someone got hurt. Concern for the poor Candidates gathered there plucked at B'nyur's heart, even the hooded ones that the renegades had brought.

A rustle of wings and a glimpse of Bronze hide next to him drew B'nyur's attention away from the Hatching, and he was quite pleased to see a familiar runty dragon and his white-haired rider. B'nyur sidled closer to B'rak, giving the man a warm smile. "Yeah, this is a crazy bunch, all right. I wasn't going to come, either, but I need to be here in case anything happens to any of the Dalibor kids... or any of the others, I suppose," he said quietly, not letting his words carry past their little ledge. It was deathly silent other than the Green's squeals of fury and the Black's shrieks of terror as she chased him around, clearly bent on causing some harm to her brother. Dragons weren't supposed to fight dragons, as Kalith had reminded them on that fateful afternoon sevendays ago, but apparently no one had taught the Green dragonet that. "Faranth forbid that one goes back with the Renegades," B'nyur muttered, leaning back on Oveth heavily.

The Green crashed into another egg, revealing a lightly-colored Blue, who did absolutely nothing. B'nyur's eyes bore into the Blue; from this far away, he could almost pass for dead. However, the Green was not fooled. She moved in to attack, and the Blue decided it was a good time to show signs of life, and, quicker than B'nyur thought possible for a dragonet, got out of her way. That one looks normal,

[/color] Oveth said, voicing B'nyur's thoughts. B'nyur simply nodded, crossing his fingers so that the youngster would evade his crazed sister. The Blue crashed into Vraellin and B'nyur leaned forward anxiously, hoping that no harm would come to either of them. Fortunately, the Green turned away... and Vraellin Impressed the Blue! B'nyur clapped heartily for both of them. Oveth, too, crooned happily. He had liked the shy boy, but, then again, Oveth liked pretty much everyone.

However, the moment of joy was not long-lived. The Green, shard her!, turned on another one of the Candidates. B'nyur grimaced, wracked with indecision. On one hand, that Candidate was one of the renegades', and he had only come to ensure the health of the Dalibor Candidates. On the other, it seemed terribly harsh to leave the poor lad bleeding there because of the group to which his Searchdragon belonged. However, no order from Kalith pushed Oveth down to the Sands, so they stayed where they were, for now. B'nyur shot a questioning glance up to Fajra and O'sho, and Oveth very gently and unobtrusively prodded Kalith's mind, silently asking what she and Hers wanted them to do. Oveth longed to go help the poor Candidate and shoo away the Green (although Oveth was hardly scary or fierce for a dragon, his sheer, adult bulk could prevent the Green from killing any of the Candidates), but he shot a wary glance at the Orange and Brown that were the clutchparents; it would be foolhardy to dash down there, near their eggs, and anger them.

---

Xela was distracted from the Hatching by T'el's arrival. As interested as he was in her, she was even more curious about him. She didn't know much about him, except what her mother had continuously ranted about when topics for conversation were thin (or even if there was plenty of other gossip; it just didn't take much for Raelle to get angry about that). All she'd known was that the man had fled Southern Weyr shortly after Xela had been conceived, leaving Raelle alone, though, from the holes in her mother's story, Xela had not entirely been convinced that Raelle had bothered to tell T'el that she was having his child, and T'el's shocked expression to even learn that Raelle had a child, even before Raelle had said that it was his, had confirmed that theory. Unlike T'el, Xela had no doubt that Raelle was telling the truth about her paternity. Her mother was a terrible liar, and, anyways, you couldn't fake that kind of anger or bitterness.

She had to admit, it was downright weird to actually have a father outside of her mother's stories. Never would she have imagined that she would actually meet him, outside of searching half of Pern when she had her own dragon. Fate was a funny thing. She was simply dying to learn everything about him and get to know him; to form a real father-daughter bond. Yes, she would make this happen, even if she had to find a way to elude Raelle to do it (she was fairly certain her mother would not approve of her spending time with her father). Her mom wasn't the boss of her! She turned her focus from T'el back to the Hatching, but her mind lingered on him, already plotting on how to escape from her mother and tag along with her father. [/right][/font]

[Birdy]

He was so nervous. Did the other candidates feel the same way? Had Ardan- no it was A'dan now wasn't it. He'd have to remember that...Kalay stared at the hatching eggs, distracting himself by finding patterns in the cracks. He nearly jumped when te egg he'd been staring at burst open revealing a rather large blue. He made a beeline for the candidates. Maybe he would... No, the dragonet had chosen someone else. Well maybe it had, Kalay wasn't sure. The blue seemed content to gnaw on the poor boy's head.

The sound of another egg hatching caught his attention and he turned just in time to see a tiny little black hatch from the egg. He was rather cute, Kalay thought, collecting egg shells and getting it’s pretty little wings stuck under them. It had a rather odd way of doing things; acting as thought the others were going to steal his shards which Kalay thought odd. He shrugged it off, watching the third dragonet on the Sand. She was angry at the world it seemed, especially at the black who was attempting to steal the pieces of her egg shells. Kalay winced, knowing what was coming, but he had to look and make sure the little black was alright. To his immense surprise she missed, crashing into one of the remaining eggs and spilling another blue onto the Sands.

Kalay stared at the seemingly lifeless creature. Could they be born dead? he wondered but upon closer inspection he found that it’s eyes were whirling. That was a good sign, unless his sister decided to… Kalay was surprised at the quickness the blue had reacted to his sister’s attack he was heading towards the candidates. It seemed he’d chosen someone else… With a sigh Kalay looked back to the Sands, there were still two dragonets and three eggs on the Sands weren’t there? At least all hope wasn’t lost. His eyes darted back to the Black, and he was alarmed to see it wandering helplessly around his destroyed pile or egg pieces. He quite sure that they couldn’t /between/ from depression but this one seemed to be on the edge. Suddenly the black looked at the candidates; it seemed he was noticing them for the first time.

Remembering the green, Kalay looked around. Where was she now? The last thing he wanted was for her to sneak up on him. Oh there she was, Kalay said with a sigh though it was cut short. Was she doing what he thought she was…? He looked away, that was not something he wanted to see today or any other day for that matter. Instead he focused his attention on the black, who was finally looking through the candidates.

[Admin]

Suffers who suffer all,
Can swim upon the desert,
Where avarice have ravaged all,
In spite of good intentions.

The sound of cracking from the fourth egg, which had been right near the middle of the half hatched group, was so quiet it was nigh impossible to hear over the humming. The dragonet within silently broke her shell, and then made her entrance. Chipping away bits of the egg, she slipped free, and loftily strode forward so that the entire world could behold her. She was a lovely, elegant little green. Like the first blue had been very big and the second had been much smaller, she was tiny compared to her aggressive sister, though still well larger than her black brother. She was finely built, all of her features well proportioned even in her youth and her design elegant and long. She was distinctly feminine, and could definitely be called pretty, or cute, given her age, in a draconic fashion. Her hide was a calm, unobtrusive, hunter or forest green.

As she began to survey all that lay before her, it only took a moment for all her attention to fix on the black dragonet. He was so handsome, just walking as he was! Bored with showing herself and being pretty to the world, she sidled towards him, though he didn't seem to notice her at all. She moved in his wake, several dragonet lengths behind him. She appeared to be much enamored, her eyes a happy pink-violet touched with red. None of the rest of the world matters, and all she did was make sure he didn't fall from his sights. She walked in a dainty, adorable fashion, tailing flicking about behind her. Perhaps he would look at her, though he didn't have appeared to even noticed she'd come into the world. His entire obliviousness did not seem to stop her single-minded determination to stalk him as he stealthily moved to the candidates.

Meanwhile, the larger green dragonet had been put in a worse mood by the arrival of her frivolous sister. She had decided that mauling one of the candidates with the robes that didn't quite match wasn't enough. The first boy had only been left with a couple rakes of her claws, broken but fixable. She chose the boy's friend with a snarl, slashing out just once at him with vengeful accuracy. She was kind. Both of them were alive. Perhaps, in her youth, she still had some innocence, but, once she was grown, it was doubtful that she wouldn't be a killer on some level. She stalked several steps away, leaving her young victims to nurse their wounds, and eyed the world around her. For that moment, her anger seemed tempered. She leaned her neck down, and licked blood off her claws, staining her teeth with the red liquid. She was hungry. Where was Hers?

Mostly oblivious to his two sisters as it did not suit him to pay them any mind, the black shuffled about the candidates. He moved laterally, trying to size them up as he went one way and then the other, indecisive about which he wanted. He wanted them all, but try as he might, staring fixedly at them all, he couldn't! He had to pick one. Only one of them was right for him. Only one of them was best for him. Only one of them would satisfy him enough. He became dimly aware that there was someone behind him, though he did not stop to realize that it was just his second green sister watching him for some weird reason he wouldn't understand, and he began to hurry himself. He wanted one of the boys! Because boys were better than girls! But which one? The blues had already taken two! Those should have been his! No, he got the best . . .

Avartiath claims you, A'traMine. No one else will have you; he informed the pale boy. He was rather obvious about his Impression. His body twined possessively around his new rider, claws hooking into the cloth of his robe. Of course, he was careful to make sure that he didn't hurt any flesh within. He couldn't have his rider in anything but mint condition! His head turned all around, as if he were just waiting for someone to try to snatch the boy away. He wouldn't let them. His was going to be his most important precious! Could you possibly feed me soon, too? Before Socordiath and Gulath take it all. It should be mine; he added, grumbling and sounding hateful towards his two brothers. It wasn't that he didn't like them. He didn't have any feelings towards them. He just didn't like people take things that should have been his.



Meanwhile, the larger green was making her own way through the candidates. She had made some various leering motions towards the males that her brother had favored, but her preference lay amongst the females. That didn't keep her from snapping and snarling at them, and making other threatening motions to make sure they stayed in line. She was harmless, as long as none of them crossed her. She obviously had a nasty temper, but she could be a patient creature when she wished to be. She took her time about making her way amongst them. In the end, she'd already known which one she had wanted, even if she hadn't quite realized it before in her white hot fury. In the end, it wasn't hard for her to just pick the one that she wanted. There was no other that could garner her respect and not give her the kill urge at the same time.

For one moment, she sized up the girl before her. They well complimented each other in being entirely opposite. That was her decision about the gangly, golden girl in front of her. That was best for her. TeslanaMine, feed your Irath; she growled crisply. She obviously didn't expect to be argued with, the way she carried her large, though youthful, body being generally somewhat threatening during every single second of her barely beginning existence. She stood before her young rider, every muscle tense, and regarded her with loving defiance. Her head, stretched out on her neck, was level with the girl's face, so her eyes, briefly tinged with green and blue over their seemingly continuous red, were locked with the candidate's green eyes. She was happy, in her mean-spirited, vicious sort of way. At least she hadn't eaten any of the candidates.

The little green had tried to follow the black as he had Impressed, but, deep down, she knew she had to let him go. She made several steps to follow him, but then paused. She could see the other forms, of the blues, who were also handsome, and she knew she could not follow them. It made her sad, and then she snapped, and she was just a little bit mean herself. She pulled back, away from the candidates who could not hold her interests as she failed to hold the interests of the handsome ones. She looked frustrated and bitter, twining, with her head held low, back amongst the only two remaining eggs. Both of them were rocking or twitching, so she was careful not to get to close. She moved like a little ballerina, gliding and prancing slightly even in her ruined mood. She had none to love, and she felt lost! She felt she was missing something.



Anger kills the human soul,
With butter tales of lust,
While pavlov's dogs keep chewin',
On the legs they never trust.

[Nia]

The Hatching was going at a moderate pace for one so small, dragonets hatching from their eggs as usual. The only strange thing was the mother, the dragonet's personalities, the random holder Candidates, the... oh, forget it, there was a lot of strange things going on in this Hatching. Still, Caelin watched the eggs patiently. This was his first Hatching as a Candidate, wasn't it? The realization dawned on him and he grimaced a little. Just his lucky that the first Hatching he'd go to as a Candidate would just so happen to be a Renegade Hatching. Jeez, it was like his purpose in life was to be a part of the Renegades or something.

... well anyway, another egg had cracked open to reveal a Green. She was a dark shade of green, and once again, something in her eyes didn't quite look right. It wasn't the unsatiable hunger that probably plagued the Blue from earlier, but perhaps... anger? He didn't like how angry she looked and decided instead to watch the Blue slink towards them. The Black hadn't moved, but... wait, a Blue? Oh, the Green had knocked over an egg and he'd spilled out of it and was now coming towards them. Right towards them... though it wasn't looking at him. He blinked a few times in confusion before realizing that the Blue had Impressed to Vraellin.

Caelin clapped enthusiastically, not feeling upset that it hadn't Impressed him, as he wasn't that kind of person. The boy definitely deserved to Impress after all HE'D been through, and coming from Caelin that was saying something. He watched the other boy go and then turned his attention back to the eggs. There were only a few left, but there hadn't been that many to start with. Caelin wasn't too nervous anymore.

Until the angry Green stomped towards the Candidates and lashed out at one of the Candidates the Renegades had dragged in. He stared and then forced himself to look away so he wouldn't throw up all over the Sands. He didn't want to think about being mauled by that awful Green. Instead he focused on the eggs, trying to watch the other dragons, but the only other one to watch was the crazy Black. But that was better than watching someone get mauled... so he just kept his eye on the Black.

But then another egg began to shake and crack, so he watched that. Another Green had emerged, and Caelin wasn't all that surprised. She was... pretty. In a draconic way. Cute, maybe? Well, she was. But she seemed entranced with the Black that Caelin had been watching. Her eyes were also a very odd color, pinkish with just a bit of red. Pink was... not the color of hunger, he knew that much. Was she trying to flirt with the Black? If she was, the Black wasn't paying any attention to her and seemed to go off and Impress. Caelin clapped and began to move his attention between the two Greens.

The larger of the two Greens had stalked through the females to Impress, and Caelin clapped. The other Green was following the Black... still trying to flirt? The other two eggs were twitching and shaking, and even though there were only three dragonets left Caelin didn't feel discouraged. The Green looked a bit lost, though, and he kept his eyes on her. These dragonets were extremely odd, though Caelin was very glad that the angry Green had Impressed and left the Sands already, she was kind of scary.

[/size]

[Kila]

Duilios watched the entire the scene unfold at the closest, safest distance on the sands. It was only minutes ago that D'ror had so rudely burst in on him at his Hold, but it could have been an eternity for all he knew now. The Lord Holder's initial irritation was quelled as soon as he had realized what was happening: the renegade's clutch was hatching! The look on the rebels face, the robe that was thrust into his arms, and the humming of his dragon who waited outside made the fact as obvious as daylight. The clutch was hatching! Impervious to the looks of the scattered holdfolk who remained, he had strode quickly with D'ror and mounted Abeneth. The young Lord carried himself with such surety and confidence that he looked as if the idea itself was his. The way in which he was being ungracefully herded would have been absolutely unacceptable under any other circumstances, but Duilios's thoughts were elsewhere. This was it. Finally he would get the King that he rightfully deserved. And then? Oh, no one even knew the plans he had in store.

Duilios held his breath as the winked between and peered eagerly down at Dalibor as soon as they arrived in the vibrating air. Already the dragons were humming. Abeneth had touched down and deposited them and he had gone quickly over to stand in his rightful place. Duilios bowed deeply to Alizadehth, knowing the decorum expected and having no intention of angering the moody Queen. Still, she did not seem pleased, and glowered at him and all the other candidates that arrived thereafter. The disrespect stung the ambitious young man, but from the clutchmother he would bear it. It was the only wise, life-preserving thing to do.

Duilios kept his back to the stands. He knew that Fajra and her sharding Weyrleader would be there, and he would not tolerate their interference. It was tricky, though, considering that the Sands belonged to them and Theirs. He was sure that regardless Fajra would spot him soon enough. But it was not she that he was concerned about this time. Duilios focused all his attention on the eggs. He had been to and observed countless hatching before, but never had he been this close. Before he had always watched from the Stands and waited for the little Kings that hatched to choose him, but none of them had had good enough sense to do so. He sniffed now disdainfully at the thought of them. He had to admit to himself that this was far from the most impressing collection of eggs he had seen. None stood out as impressively large, and none showed some of the brilliant colors and designs he had before. But Duilios was not a stupid man- he well knew not to judge such books by their covers. Besides, to perpetuate such useless, inferior thoughts would be suicide if Alizadehth sensed them. Without a qualm he banished them.

The dragonetts that hatched proved to be the most fascinating of little creatures. What interesting personalities each had. Duilios, as one who had carefully meticulously studied dragonkind for turns, was intrigued, but unimpressed. A Blue? Black? Greens? Such lowly colors. He frowned and stepped back slightly when the more violent ones came near. Indeed, the vicious little Green almost chose him as her target, but he was enough removed. Where was his King? D'ror had promised it to him, albeit indirectly, and the parents of the clutch were highly-ranked enough that they should be producing higher colors. There were only two eggs left now, and one very put-out little Green on the Sands. It would not do for him to do anything now, but he was becoming tense. Sharding renegades.

~

Sol and Eccolath had been watching the big grand and fancy to do timidly from outside in the Weyrbowl. Both were obsessively intruiged, but with the sourness in the air and all the large unhappy dragons that were keeping post close to the enterance, she didn't dare to go in.

Not knowing exactly what was going on and only being able to guess had put Eccolath into an almost constant state of dreamy wonder since Alizadehth had arrived, and since then all she had spoken was of what could possibly going on. Sol had heard an infinite amount of hypotheses and come up with almost as many on her own. Eccolath had spoken of takeover, rebellion, conspiracies, war, and dragon warriors. She hoped fervently that the renegades had come to be friends, but it was clearly not so. Eccolath had imagine Hers and herself as pacifists- peace makers who would stand strong and end the strange schism between dragons and riders. She had thought of everything she could possibly say to the strange wild dragons. If that hadn't worked, she thought, she could have again stood beside he metallic brothers and protected her Weyr's Queens, even though she was a great deal smaller than them now. Sol had woken up to Eccolath's sad pictures of what it would be like if they had to fly against the other dragons and become soldiers of the Weyr.

But it was all just speculation.

Sol hadn't been able to get ahold of any of her older rider friends to ask them what was going on. If they even knew. Besides, all of them- B'nyur, B'rak, even her Weyrlingmaster F'del- had been busy dealing with the situation. To say the least, things had been tense around the Weyr.

Sol fumped up ecstaticly when she saw an unmistakable shock of white hair on an even more familiar man enter the cavern. B'rak! Oh, yes.. there's Shoth too. Gogogo, Mine- you will be safe if you are with him. Eccolath said as she shook herself from her intense watching and thinking. Oh! Good idea, Ecco! Sol agreed, springing into action and taking off across the Weyrbowl after him. Tell me what is happening! Eccolath demanded desperately as Hers bounded away. I will!

"B'rak!" she said in a slightly winded voice when she caught up with him just inside the cavern. "Can I sit with you? Please? I didn't want to come by myself." She looked over quickly to the Sands and was dismayed to see that the majority of the eggs had already hatched. There are only two left, she informed Eccolath, who hung on to her every word with interest.

[kia]

Ridan stood in the shadows, the sun hurting his eyes at the moment. He left Risk in his room, not wanting the Gold to venture out during daylight. Besides, Risk was on her best moods when she had plenty of sleep. But Kalith being disturbed by this Hatching had disturbed Risk. She was a Gold, a Queen of Whers in her own right. And even though he had reassured that between her and Kalith that nothing would happen, the Gold was still bothered by this Hatching. Parents no good, eggs no good, she had said before laying her head back down and trying to sleep. So, Ridan was out here, watching, and seeing what all the fuss was about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nia found a seat in the stands, but crossed her arms. Nikianeth and her had been on patrol for the last few weeks, and Nikianeth was still not happy with the Renegade Queen and King`s presence her in the Weyr and on the Sands. Nikianeth had been in a sour mood because of the presence of the other Orange and Brown. Even the fact she was working with Shoth did not bother her. In fact, she had been polite to Shoth. Maybe she was putting all her anger toward the Renegades that she did not have enough annoyance to target the Bronze. Then again, she may have been trying to get along with the Bronze so, in case some trouble stirred up, they would be able to cooperate with one another to save the Weyr. Nia sighed and looked up at her Orange. when was Nikianeth going to Rise? She was getting close. Jays, it could be anytime now. But she hoped that she would be ready when it did happen. At least Dalibor accepted her.

~~~~~~~~~~

Nattalion watched as the first two dragon Hatched from their eggs. The first one did not seem unusual. In fact, he seemed normal, already heading toward the Candidates and eager to find his. The other, a Black, was hoarding egg shards from his and his brother`s Hatching. But Nattalion did not have much time to watch the Black any more. The Blue was moving toward him. Suddenly, the Blue stopped behind him. Nattalion tried to stay calm, thinking the Blue would move away eventually. Instead, he felt something cover the top of his head. Next came something long and slimy, which made Nattalion winced in agony at the feeling. It was so gross. The dragon was gnawing on his head and the tongue was licking him all over. Finally, the dragon backed off, saying he was hungry and wanted to eat his leg. Nattalion, now N`tal, wiped away the slime from his face and looked down at the little dragon. His expression was hard yet there was something small behind. Maybe a little love because this was his dragon. N`tal sighed and shook his head. "No, Gulath, you may not have my leg. Come on, we will make this Weyr give you some food. If not, I will personally go out to their runners and herdbeasts and get you that leg you want," he said.

Gulath`s eyes went from red to orange. His Mine was perfect for him. All right, Mine. But feed me now! I am hungry! Or else I will eat your leg! the Blue continued to threaten, apparently very, very hungry.

[kyrillion]

Tesla watched impassively as another egg broke, revealing a large olive-green girl. For a moment, she mistook the crimson in her eyes for hunger, but all too soon it became clear that this latest arrival was angry. Not just angry. Absolutely… wrathful. The creature looked downright mean, and certainly intimidating. She watched, shocked and fascinated, as the surprisingly coordinated hatchling chased down that scrawny black, and she thought for a horrible moment that she was going to kill him. He managed to escape a moment later, thank Faranth, but the green wasn't finished yet. In her search for another victim, the green managed to unintentionally free a second blue, and if appearances were anything to go by she seemed even less pleased with him than she'd been with the black. What was wrong with these dragons?!

She rounded on him, but the pale blue surprised all the spectators with a sudden show of agility. Tesla watched, impressed and relieved, as he fled from the line of fire and quickly Impressed. At least there didn't seem to be anything too strange about that one - he'd seemed a bit lethargic, but his behavior paled in comparison to that of his sibling's. What a Hatching! Shaking her head in wonderment, she turned her attention back to the sands, and was surprised to find that the green was no longer in her line of sight. That couldn't be good. She cast about nervously; while she usually quite liked surprises, she thought it best to keep on her toes in this instance. There was no telling what would happen next.

All she could see, at first, was that black. His tower of egg shells seemed to have crumbled, and he looked almost comically despondent. Apparently, that was all the encouragement he needed to find his bond, for he was soon moving towards the Candidates, carefully avoiding that green who, by leaning forward slightly, Tesla could just spy near the boys. She had to look twice, though, before her mind accepted what her eyes were seeing – some poor renegade had fallen victim to the green. He was being mauled. Sick to her stomach, Tesla quickly averted her gaze; she'd witnessed accidental injuries during Hatchings before, sure… but never a deliberate attack.

Feeling distinctly unsettled now, and acutely sorry for that poor boy that'd been injured, she was grateful to note that the attack hadn't been fatal. It looked, form where she was standing, like he would make a full recovery. But that sharding green was moving down the line, looking as nasty and irate as ever. She would lunge, occasionally, towards one of the Candidates, as though she were issuing a threat or challenge. Or perhaps she was simply trying to keep the humans in line. Whatever the case, Tesla couldn't help but notice that the olive green hatchling was headed right towards her, and soon enough she was staring into those crimson eyes. She couldn’t be more than three feet away.

Which was far too close for comfort. Every muscle was screaming at Tesla to move, get out of the angry one's way. The dragon had already mauled one Candidate - she could very well be next! And yet, something froze her in place. That hostility that radiated from the green seemed to somehow exclude her. Tesla could almost feel that she was not in any danger from this violent creature, and a moment later it became startlingly clear why, exactly, that was.

TeslanaMine. Feed your Irath.

Oh. Oh dear. For what seemed like an eternity Tesla simply stared. She was, for once, utterly stupefied. Not only did she seem to have Impressed a monster but… well, Irath was no longer a monster. She was Irath! Reality had shifted in the time it took for those happy blues and greens to bleed into the red of Irath’s eyes. The dragon that had so shocked and horrified her a moment ago was now the most wonderful creature in all Pern. She loved Tesla, and… Tesla loved her. So much. And such a sudden and momentous change had thrown the eccentric young girl for a loop. This was so irrational.
“Irath? But you’re…”
Hungry! You must feed me![/color][/i]

An uninhibited grin slowly spread across the girl’s face, quite at odds with the confused expression that still lingered there. Tentatively, she reached out a hand to pat the top of Irath’s head, though she withdrew it quickly when she noticed the blood – human blood! – that still decorated the green’s jaws. Turning quickly, she led her new lifemate off the sands, where she couldn’t hurt anyone else. Perhaps some food would balance the dragon out. Probably not.[/size]

[Admin]

Hand me down your lost and founds,
Of second hand regret,
You better swallow your pride,
Or you're gonna choke on it.

Thump. Thump. Thump. The prisoner of one of the eggs rolled and collided with the shell over and over again. Slowly, the breakable material gave way, and a flustered pink stumbled free and into the world. She was deeply, richly, and vibrantly colored, a vivid purple-red pink in color. She was not overly distinct in build. About average for a dragonet of her color, possibly a little on the bigger side so she could lean towards being just a bit smaller than her green sister who was still on the sands, she was lightly built, as was typical, but not in a particularly fine manner. She surveyed the world, shaking the goo from her egg off her head. She seemed dissatisfied with what she saw. There was something sullen that came over her, as if she were dissatisfied simply in general, but it seemed a bit vague like parts of the rest of her. She acted lacking.

The final of the eggs was hatching. The dragonet within made his grand entrance. He burst open the top of his egg and leaped free of what remained, landing with an awkward thud to face the world. He held himself with his head at a noble angle and his tail positioned to accent it. His hide was the color of a tree trunk, in the best possible way. It had a flow to it, like the ghostly cloudiness of his littler blue brother's had, and was richly done. There was milky quality to the shade. He obviously thought himself handsome, the way he posed in his first instances of life so that all before him could see him, once they were over the amazing and dumbfounding experience of his birth. Like his pink sister, who he did not notice, he was average leaning to the bigger side in size, though he was quite well proportioned, aside from his hatchling awkwardness,

The instant he appeared, the remaining green dragonet became quite besotted with the brown. With utter reverence, and a great dealing of swishing, she moved towards him, gaze locked on him with wonderment. She wasn't overly obvious about it, preferring to keep low and just duck away, in a show of maidenly fright, should he seem to actually notice her too much. She had no experience, only the strong idea that the blues, and the black, and especially the brown were very handsome, though she hadn't even exactly a clue what that meant either. All she knew was she didn't care about the new pink, or the angry, old other green. She just cared about them, and she cared the most about the brown. She fawned over him, acting prissily in his shadow and wake, trying to be a coy even when she didn't have a clue what that was or what it meant.

Well her two siblings sucked up all the attention, the pink sulked by herself. She was very deliberate about it. She didn't just sit there and refuse to participate, or even go check our the candidates. She slumped back amongst the eggs shards with a great huff. Her head dipped down. Her shoulders shrugged up and her back arched. Her wings hung out, half limp, on either side of her. Her tail was lain carelessly behind her. Her feet were set firmly into the ground. Maw tightly closed and eyes swirling an annoyed orange, she showed no sign that she would be moved. Why did all the others get all the attention? She hadn't even gotten to be born last! Second to last wasn't anything! Everyone loved the pretty green. Everyone loved the brown. She wanted to be green! She didn't so much want to be brown, but she definitely didn't want to be pink.

Meanwhile, the brown was basking in the adoration of the masses, and accepting the devotion of the green. He was the center of the universe. He was the most handsome brown to have ever existed. He was even more handsome than most bronzes, and certainly all of those odd gray irons! In terms of his hotness, his caloricity would have to be placed as off the charts. He pranced across the sands, making a great show, flashing a wing, or a tail, or his gorgeous head here and then there, of it. He took his time getting to the candidates, and making his way amongst them. The girls held no interest to him, but he spared them brief glances, and brought the lovely, adoring green with him to see if she might like one. Of course, she found him far better. All the way down the boys he went, until he finally found the right one. The one that would do.

D'liosMine, you are the only one who will do for your Perbiath. They really must get better candidates. Feed me now; he ordered imperiously as he stood, with his not very carefree, natural elegance, in front of the Lord Holder. He was a man, not a boy like the others. He did not like the others. None would do for him but his rider. The royal way he spoke with his mental voice, which had a chocolaty richness to it, did not fit with the frivolous way he danced about and showed off. However, he did not seem to be aware of that, as he thought himself quite the charming and dignified persona, and spoke in the most honorable manner that he could. He knew he could use a few pointers (humility is good), ones that he was sure his new bonded could advise him of in time. He also seemed to be oblivious to the uproar that raged after his choice.

Fajra cut some small bit of order in the chaos that erupted from the crowd by not seeming to lose an inch of her composure, badgering orders for B'nyur and Oveth to move to the sands to tend the fallen candidates and keep every else off. She just flashed a bit, all fiery haired with murder in her eyes. She made no effort to constrain Kalith, of course, who was out for blood. The Queen lunged into her air, snapping her wings opening and hissing dangerously. Her kills! She would not take kindly to someone else getting blood or ichor that she did not. She would lead the fight, rousing others who would dare to oust these instigators with her to follow behind the beats of her wings. She was surging force of nature, copper hide shimmering even in the late light. Her roars, splitting the air into nothing, rocked through the Weyr as she arouse into the sky.

In the end, there was no battle. Abeneth, with D'ror, fled the instant that the brown got right near the Lord Holder, trumpeting cries for the other renegades to hurry. He called for Alizadehth to follow him, leave the sands now that all the eggs were hatched and all but two of her children Impressed. He was gone, taking anyone to kill with him as the others (with any sense, and probably even T'el) escaped away. Kalith was left to circle the sky with any of the rest of her warriors, guarding the Weyr from anything that should come. Back in the hatching cavern, Fajra was quietly restoring respectful silence, filled with plenty of murmuring, by seating herself with icy force. She would deal with this outrage later, though her eyes never left Duilios. Or D'lios. There was no way to unImpress a dragon from someone. The brown would take no other rider.



To heck with unity,
Separation's gonna kill us all,
Torn to shreds and disjointed,
Before the final fall.

[Nia]

The angry Green had gone to Teslana, the girl that Caelin had talked to before and considered himself on decent terms with. Maybe even friends? Well, he wasn't sure now. She'd seemed like a nice, calm girl, but she'd Impressed that vicious killer. Caelin was sure that she wasn't faking it or anything, as she'd seemed guinine back by the lake, but he honestly could not be too sure. But he clapped for her Impression anyway, and then turned his attention again back to the eggs. None more had started to hatch, and it was just the lovely little Green on the Sands.

But then they started to break open again, the larger of the two eggs left revealed a Brown. That was good! An Orange/Brown pair didn't usually get much higher than Blue or Green. So a Brown was great! But he seemed... arrogant. Very arrogant. And yup, the pretty Green had decided to go fawn over him as she had the Black. Rather flirty at such a young age, wasn't she? Just imagine when she got older... Caelin almost shuddered at the thought, but didn't. Because that would be rude.

After the Brown had shown himself, Caelin noticed that a Pink had also crawled out of her egg. Had she been there before the Brown? Caelin hadn't really noticed... and suddenly felt kind of guilty. She was a pretty color. But she seemed rather bitter that she wasn't getting much attention. Well, who could blame them? The Brown was of a higher rank and a rare thing to show up in an Orange/Brown pairing. But the Pink was exceptionally bitter for a dragon, going so far as "sulking" against the eggshells. That was actually kind of cute.

The Brown, followed by the Green, had begun to approach the male Candidates, barely even glancing at the girls. Caelin didn't particularly care about the gender of his dragon (even before his ordeal he'd considered himself bi... but he wasn't sure he wanted anything to do with it now), so it didn't bother him. In fact, he kind of wanted to Impress one of them. Okay, he really wanted to. But the Brown swept past him, appearing dissatisfied with the Candidates, and the Green followed. The Brown ended up Impressing someone Caelin had never seen before, but he looked old. Way too old to be a Candidate, right?

Caelin was caught off-guard as the Renegades began to fly off, watching them in confusion. But there were still two dragons left on the Sands! Didn't they care if the dragonets Impressed or not? He felt bad, but figured that was the logical thing to do, especially with Kalith going after them like that. At least they hadn't started a huge fight or something. That would have been way, way worse.