Straddle the Line [CalKal Double Hatching!]

[Kila]

Harri was holding her hand, and well... Sol thought that was
okay. They were both upset by what was happening before them on the
Sands, and that link between them made them a little stronger and the
scene a little more sufferable. Hand got out of control for a while, but
Sol hardly minded: even Harri's wild antics in the stands were nothing
compared to those of the hatchlings. It was plain as day how much the
formerly holdless children standing below meant to him and she could
only imagine how he felt seeing them put in such danger. The ghostly,
hollow look he gave her sent goose prickles down her spine, but when one
of the Candidates was actually killed and had to be carried off of the
sands Sol made a soft sound of dismay and hung onto him a little tighter

"It's okay," she said to his repeated apologies. "It's
okay." The little bit of positivity that the Yellow had brought into
the hatching cheered him a little, and he was able to smile at her. They
watched with trepidation as several oddly-colored dragonets hatched and
skulked mysteriously around the sands. "They look like Browns,"
she said when he asked what they were. "But they're too small, and
it's extremely uncommon for there to be so many kings in a hatching,
even one as big as this." They were dark, but not the right color to
be Blacks, and every now and then Sol caught a glint of red, which
served only to baffle her further.

Callistath's announcement of a new color brought Harri to his feet in
excitement. Sol's hand slipped from his, but that was okay too; she and
Eccolath were elated and the worst of the bloodshed seemed to be done. Seemed.
Burgundy, Eccolath crooned. Having been
among the first of the new mutations she had a big soft spot for every
new color that developed. Sol felt the same. "Harri sit down!"
she laughed, standing to get a better look herself and causing Lulz to
scramble into the seat to avoid being thrown forward. "We can't get
closer now, but you may be able to see one after the hatching finishes.
Lots of Weyrlings bring their new lifemates to the feast." And he
can see his children too, she thought to herself. That should
please him.

Tag: Sal (Harri)


D'lios was incredibly displeased with the way the hatching was going.
The large benevolent smile (and hint of smugness) that had graced his
face as he had took his seat was replaced with a long frown. Were
hatchings supposed to be like this? He didn't think so. Not at all. The
Candidates were being systematically and purposefully savaged by
hatchlings of both clutches. One had even been killed. There will be
backlash from that, he thought. There would be the angry family of
course, but also angry weyrfolk eager to place the blame. D'lios was
already seeing the cause and effect accusations in his mind. The
antidote. What was more, word of a death might deter people from
wanting or volunteering to stand. The issues continued to stack.

The Weyrleader had had quite enough by the time that Callistath made her
announcement. "Burgundy?" he said incredulously. That was
something that he had not, no, could not have foreseen. Perbiath had
somehow fathered a new mutation. He looked to his lifemate only to find
the Brown bursting with pride. They are brown like me but
shine like her, he said, his voice overflowing. When Callistath
glanced his way he washed her with affection. D'lios picked up his tune
quickly. Yes, a good thing. A very good thing. Dalibor loved
their crazy colors, after all. Thank Farmath this farce of a thing is almost done.


Each thing that Aydan saw he saw clearly, but there were so many babies
and so much blood that it all became a blur. Nothing seemed to exist to
the little boy anymore outside of the hatching. Nadya and his two
pillies could have been lightyears away for all that he was aware of
them. The blood. The blood was everywhere. And instead of heroes and
villians there were now sheriffs and outlaws. The dynamic fascinated
him. The hatchlings that hid behind the eggs and in the shadows were
intriguing, but he was far too interested by the action that he could
see to waste him time trying to catch a glimpse. The little Gray and the
giant Iron held his attention for a while, but the rampaging Green wher
that impressed to some older man was even better than them. He pursed
his lips in an unconscious pout when she charged off of the sands and
her path of destruction dwindled. The Green remaining, egged on by her Iron brother, quickly filled her place.

The Burgendies proved to be entertaining too. Callistath's words inside
his head meant nothing to him, nor Nadya's "By the first egg."
Dragons were dragons- it didn't matter what color- but these ones were
fierce and tricksy and never just sat around like some of their boring
siblings. Aydan was so engrossed (now on the twisted games of the Iron) that he did not even notice the pale
GreenRider behind him faint at one of the particularly gory maulings and
collapse into the bleachers. Nadya glanced back at Sh'len's boneless
form briefly, but went back about her way without moving to help.

[Rii]

Oh, shards. The iron wheret was headed for the stands, and that meant nothing good. Once again Sora was torn between looking behind her and looking ahead; like so many times before, she chose to look back. There was a sea of faces behind her, and she wished for a moment that she could take the time to track down the familiar one of the Master Tanner. Alas, her attention had to be for the wheret, who promptly drew blood from one of the candidatemasters and a rider she didn’t know before being hauled off by Kalesk.

Wow. It took that long for the clutchmother to be involved? Someone needed to change, and it wasn’t the candidates. Tamping down the feeling of annoyance, she shuffled into the neatened lines that the gold wher demanded. Neatened up for… what, five more of their unnecessarily undisciplined offspring? They’re just babies, Sora, they don’t know any better, she reminded herself. Except she was certain that some of them did know better, and just didn’t care. Because for whatever reason, it made them feel better to cause pain. Just like people.

Why? She didn’t much care. The iron stamped the sandcastle that the other hatchlings were making flat, then returned to the corner where the new weyrlings and healers waited to cause more bloodshed. Sora rubbed a hand over her mouth. Great, just what this place needed. More blood. She could stand the sight of it, she could stand the heat, she could even bear the ache of having been knocked down once so far, but the reek of rotting blood was really getting rather too much. Soon, though, it’ll be over soon.

Now a boy was chasing the iron across the sands. She recognized him; it was Seph, the boy Lili had confessed being… fond of. She hadn’t had the chance or inclination to talk to him herself, but she supposed he was probably a decent person. Probably. She likes me, after all, and there’s not that much to like there. She smirked wryly at the thought. Well, aside from that I just won’t tell another person’s secrets…

Okay, ow. “Ow,” she exclaimed, glaring down at the wheret and withdrawing her hand as soon as she could. “Useless bit of wherry-bait, aren’t you,” she grumbled at its retreating back. I hope Kalesk eats you. Having tossed that sour thought at the crackdusted iron, Sora examined her hand. Nothing broken, luckily, but she was bleeding through the quick bandage she’d wrapped around the earlier claw mark. She sighed, feeling really just… finished with this all-too-eventful hatching. She was ready for a few quiet candlemarks alone somewhere. Or a few sevendays. “Least it’s the same hand,” she muttered, and closed her free hand over it to put pressure on the bite wound.

[Lan]

Do you know what I am? Matthaus grimaced, but tried his best not to move too much out of line. The color of the dragon was red, or perhaps a dark pink? Yet... the voice sounded male. Maybe they were really small browns? Somehow, their color didn't matter right now, as the male dragon opened its jaws in front of his face. I am... your worst nightmare. Yep, this was the end... the end of Matthaus. He would be murdered just like that candidate on the sands, just like that green wher, just like...

Boop.

There was something on his nose. It was... the dragon's nose? He opened his eyes and gazed into the rainbow ones of the new dragon. Or perhaps not. Was that creepy enough, M'ausOwn? Hehehe. You and your Seishiroth can work on it. As Seishiroth curled around him like a thin feline M'aus, as he had so been named, smiled kindly. It was a perfect moment in a storm of chaos.

Then, of course, he realized he was hungry... or, Seishiroth was hungry? This was all so confusing. Should they... should they go get food, then? Yes! Seishiroth agreed, getting to his feet. He prowled ahead, all spooky-like. We should go and see if we can sneak up on some people, then. M'aus followed behind as his dragon moved his own way to the food section.


Yentil made no face at the announcement of the Burgundies, but kept on working to make sure the new Weyrlings and Wherlings had food. Well, it wasn't exactly a surprise for Dalibor to have new colors, no matter what others might say. Dalibor was supposed to be a place of progress. Sometimes that progress actually meant something new, GASP. That girl that was on the sands, though... the one that was yelling about "traditional" before she was roughly escorted off the sands... Yeah. That girl needed to die. Yentil was almost sad when she didn't get eviscerated by one of the intense hatchlings. Oh, well. Maybe she'd make a good friend for her idiotic mother.


Ablath had not been worried about HerA'bar. He had told her he would be safe and that was enough for her. She had thought that the iron wher that had been causing chaos among the dragonriders had Impressed when he settled near Seph.

Then her whole world came crashing down.

A'bar had barely a moment's glimpse of the iron wher before he was upon him, ripping into his stomach not covered in the protective leathers they usually were during training. The pain seared through him, making the rest of the Hatching go dark. A high-pitched cry escaped him, then his grit his teeth together as he hit the ground. His breaths were shallow, labored. He didn't even realize that the iron was no longer atop him.

Ablath screamed, her physical and mental voice reaching everyone in the cavern, as she was unable to pinpoint the minds that she needed. NOOOOOOOOOO! MY A'BARMINE, NOOOOOOOOOOO! SOMEBODY HELP HIM! LET ME SEE HIM! She stood and made to glide down to him, but Halventh reached her first. He was larger than her and kept her from moving, but that didn't keep the green from struggling against him with all her might. She needed to be with her rider! Didn't he see that? A'BARMINE! PLEASE! YOU HAVE TO BE OKAY, A'BARMINE! CAN'T YOU SEE? CAN'T ANYONE SEE HIM? WON'T ANYONE HELP HIM? OH, A'BARMINE... her voice trailed off as she cried out, her sadness a terrible howl that echoed in the relatively loudness of the cavern. A'barMine... please... you have to stay awake... You have to stay awake, A'barMine... please... please... someone help him... A pitiful whine escaped her and she settled herself into the blue hide of Halventh, her bright orange eyes transfixed on HerA'bar. His mind was there with her, his consciousness wrapped up in hers, but she could feel his pain and could feel that something was wrong... oh, something was so very, very wrong...

---

|| tag : Halventh, Healers, Everyone

[Cathaline]

There were dragons screaming.

First Agnith - Newt whipped his head around to stare up at the ledges, but it was dark, too dark. Even with the brightness of the hides involved, he couldn't hear who had yelled, and he couldn't see back into the healing area where the iron wheret had closed its jaws around Delilah's arm. Things were a little more normal after that, for a little while; he squeezed Letorin's hand in solidarity as both of their chances at Impression began to dwindle away. Newt didn't mind so much for himself. He hadn't come here, this time, with expectations; what few shreds of hope he'd carried had blown away before the force of his depression and anxiety in the face of Isk's solemn gaze.

Then a more familiar cry echoed, and he turned again, almost completely. Was that Halventh? All dragons sounded basically the same, to be fair, but Newt thought maybe - he swallowed hard when he saw L'xon, distantly, clutching at his face. So that's where the iron had gone. Hopefully the bluerider wouldn't carry scars from this, the way Newt did, the way Newt would.

Hopefully it would all be okay -

Ablath screamed.

Newt had reached the point by now where he could more or less tolerate mental speech without painful flashbacks, but that was normal speech, not what sounded like a dying screech. What little remained of his glasses fell from nerveless fingers, and he let go of Letorin's hand and clamped his palms down over his ears as if he could shut it out. What was happening here, what was happening, why was this happening...

"Stop," he whispered to himself, "stop, stop, stop," and at last her voice trailed off, and he shook his head like that would clear it, dizziness swimming behind his eyes.

The iron was right behind them, with someone saying sorry, sorry, like it had Impressed. Good, that meant three to go and then they could walk-run-fly away. He wasn't hurt bad, Letorin was miraculously not hurt at all, so if he just moved fast enough to escape the nightmare, he could tend to his own wounds this time and nurse the leaking scars on his heart in private.

Jazz frowned at the cut on L'xon's hand. She did not immediately understand what it meant, Newt belonged more to Yuri and Audren than to her, but she was done. There were so few babies out there, it was so close to being over, and she said, "Thanks for the bandage," and tightened it around her arm before she vaulted over the barricade. It wasn't like she could interrupt the hatching just to pull a couple of kids off the sands, but she could get closer, in case something did happen.

Did Dalibor even have enough healers for this?

[Tigersilk]

Annuziata was right: that Iron wheret was trouble, the way it was encouraging the Green dragonet to attack the remaining Candidates. Thankfully the mayhem didn't come close to where she and Jasjitta were standing a bit away from the others, trying to be 'invisible' to the troublemakers, subconciously thinking that what sometimes worked around humans might work for not-human babies. However, a nudge from Kalask to close up ranks with the other remaining Candidates put the lie to the notion that they were truly 'invisible' to the adults, at least.

Herded back into a proper line again, the girls could only hope that they didn't suddenly become major targets again.

[maruset]

Iola nodded, giving a wry smile. “I’m happy I only had one sister, though I admit, given how long D’nari’s hair is, braids would probably help.”

When D’nari joined them, Iola rolled her eyes at him. “Hello, D’nari of cyan Enciath.”

It was nice to have some of the others around, though then things went bad again, and Iola only caught a glimpse before Ablath started to scream.

Jainath started to her feet, already wary after Halventh had taken off. The copper was now far more agitated, since she was extremely fond of the green. Only Iola kept her down, to keep the chaos down to a minimum.

***

On the sands, the cries of the dragon got a wince from Letorin. He had been trying hard to focus just on the hatching, because worrying about what was going on off the sands was just going to distract all of them.

Then there was an upset dragon, and Letorin turned, trying to see the source, hand reached out to rest on Newt’s arm. The other was covering his ears, and while Letorin couldn’t do anything to make the dragon be quiet, he could give his friend something physical to ground himself.

Wary, Letorin scanned behind them, unsure of where the wheret who was causing the issues now had vanished to. With the candidates lined up again, it made it harder to see between them to track the dangerous iron.

(tag: G'lin, D'nari, Newt)

[lee]

The dragonet hissed at her.

Braele looked slightly taken aback, wondering what on Pern she could have possibly done in the short time the creature had been out of its egg to offend him. She quickly stopped that train of thought, though, deciding with bland finality that the hatchling was just odd--because of course it was. This was Dalibor. She wondered momentarily if the other Weyrs had these sorts of things happen, and her eyes flicked towards where Brown Perbiath watched and decided no, probably not.

At least not to this degree.

The hatchling didn’t seem inclined to do anything more than hiss, so Braele let it be.

She had decided, not long after returning to her place as Yusk took Orkia off the sands, that she was not going to die during this hatching, thank you, and rules about fighting the newborns be sharded, she was not going to let some half-pint hatchling take a limb off, thank you very much.

The smash of eggshells caught her alarmed attention, and she gasped as the little green went bowling with her brothers and sisters...eyes closing briefly in relief when the hatchlings spilled out, unharmed to all appearances. They were troublesome little monsters but...they were Pern’s, and Braele wished no harm on them. But here came one of them, one of the new colors, straight as an arrow right in front of her, and Braele--quite having forgotten she was a candidate, rather than a spectator with an exceptional seat, with so many Impressions passed by at this point--frowned at him warily, bracing herself.

Sure, enough, the Hatchling lreared back, and his front feet went to her shoulders, and she might have withstood him, but the strain on her injured legs made her fall with a gasp, but she tucked, bringing her knees between her vulnerable belly and the hatchling on top of her, not willing to be eviserated today by one of these strange, moody new colors, and she prepared to roll and push her legs, shoving the hatchling off when…

Oh.

Satisfactory, he was saying, plain as day, with a rush of emotion that she felt detached from, BraeleMine is strong, but Kundalith is stronger still.

Oooooh.. Braele’s eyes widened, and she forgot about pushing him off, lost for a moment. Surprise was swept away by love--and it felt uncomfortable in its intensity, but Braele couldn’t, didn’t want to, resist it--and was followed by wonder and pride. Shards but he was strong! Look at him! A big strapping boy, a wonderful boy. Braele blew air through her lips with a dismissive Pfft. at the gentle mocking of her strength. She’d show him. Just he wait. She felt him hear the silent thought, felt him respond without words but with a casually dismissive snort of his own, and wondered at it, a bit unnerved. But unnerved or not, she was reminded of throwing rocks into a pond as she once had as a child. Sometimes a second rock thrown would cause ripples that canceled out the first. But rarely, occasionally, they would amplify them, caught in the same resonance and doubling it.

Rocks seemed apt for the pair of them, for all that Braele wasn’t big on metaphors. But it would be...interesting to see if they echoed, amplified, or simply destroyed eachother. One of he rhands rose the distance between them, brushing the hatchling’s deep red hide. What a strong heart he had. Strong mind. She marveled at it.

Kundalith, she knew, followed all of her thoughts on this, but they didn’t interest him enough to respond. He had rolled off of her. Keep up, or I'll leave you behind.

Braele raised an eyebrow and rolled ot her feet, hissing in pain as she inadvertently got sand in her wounds. But rise she did, and in a long stride, caught up to the burgundy she was bonded with now and until it was taken from either or both of them. She didn’t respond to the comment out loud--she merely snorted, letting him know her opinion of that insinuation, resting a hand lightly on his back as they made their way to the buckets of food.

Oh, I’ll keep up with you handsome boy.

Kundalith’s expression didn’t waver, for all that he was pleased.

He just grunted.

--

The iron licked her.

Licked her.

Eithne threw her hands up in the air in complete exasperation, whirled on her heel, stomped back to the Healer’s area to snatch an empty bucket up, and promptly proceeded to puke the entire contents of her stomach--and then some--up.

It wasn’t a statement on the affections of the iron, more the smell of blood and torn flesh that she at last couldn't beat, but, she thought rather miserably as more bile splashed to the bottom of the bucket, it came pretty damn close.

tag: Healers sort of

NOTE--EITHNE HAS MOVED she is now by the Healers.

[Ondine]

Garund wasn't stupid. He may be confused and afraid, filled with anxiety and unsure of himself, but he had never been dumb. The iron wheret was charging around the sands causing chaos, and that was bad news. Maybe he caused it, maybe he didn't, but there would be no peace at all until it was safely impressed. But he was wrong, horribly wrong, because the brutal creature tore through a dragonrider in the stands. His dragon was screaming into the minds of everyone nearby, and Garund recoiled, even as the iron ripped into the candidates again, heading straight for him. His eyes went wide, and a jagged bolt of panic blew through him, oh no I knew I shouldn't have been here it knows I'm not good enough it's going to tear me apart oh Faranth help me before it seized him by the shin.

There was a moment where he might have done something to protect himself, even if it was a wheret and he was only a candidate, but that moment passed as he stood frozen. The first whiplash of pain ran through him as the iron shook the leg that hadn't been bitten, the leg that was still whole and good, and moved it in ways that weren't good for the human body. He staggered, and the angle was all wrong at just the right time with a vicious twist. One moment he was still standing, in the next a white hot blow of pain shot from his right leg to his head, and his mind slowed. Garund tried to catch his balance...on his broken leg, and everything went red. He wasn't quite sure what had happened, but he was lying on the sands, right leg a mass of agony.

When he glanced down, though, his leg was bent at an angle that was impossible just above the knee. Bile rose up, but he'd seen worse, and he managed to keep it down. At least he wasn't bleeding, at least bone was poking out. He stared blindly at the wheret that had done this as Seph came up, and then blinked up at the man. Shards, he hurt. Slowly, he worked through the consequences. A broken leg like that meant that it was nearly impossible anyone would let him stand for a dragon ever again. Even Audren might not want him for the wher program, holdless that he had been. But it felt wrong, it felt bad, like he'd destroyed his chances somehow.

But it was pointless to stay on the sands now. They could find him at the healer's area, if there was a dragon here for him. But he didn't think so, he honestly believed there wasn't ever going to be a second half of his soul that waited for him here, and he gritted his teeth through the pain as he managed to get to a sitting position and get his merely-bleeding leg under him. “It's okay Seph,” he managed, leaning heavily on the man to stand up and keep any weight off his broken and trailing right leg. “Not your fault. Can't stand.” The hilarity of that sentence hit a moment later with a hiccup of broken laughter, tears springing to his eyes as pain washed over him again. How would he stay here now, a broken ex-holdless who couldn't stand? No, no, he needed out and off. “Healers. No, wait, they gotta help...” Words failed him as he tried to think of the dragonrider in the stands, and he gestured up there, nearly overbalancing.

Thankfully, one of the others who had just impressed came up as well. For a moment, his name escaped the candidate, and then it clicked. Seidon. Or...no, his brain wasn't able to catch up with the impression that had changed Seidon's name. He was, however, grateful for the extra help, and with both arms over their shoulders, started to hop on his 'good' leg, trying to ignore how it still bled. “Thanks.” Pain had shortened what he could say, and his voice was taut. He just needed to get off the sands, and then, then, he could rest, right?

-------

Ondine had been in the healer's corner when Ablath screamed into the minds of everyone in the cavern. The operative word being 'had'. In that moment, she bolted for the stands. She had already heard the Weyrlingmaster screaming in pain, and the dragon just confirmed it. A dragonrider had just been mauled, horribly mauled, by a wheret. Her mind was clear and cold, but that was only to keep the shared pain at bay. Dilath stared in shock at the iron, unable to comprehend the violence, but she knew the pain. Why would it do that? Why were all of these hatchlings hurting people? Ablath it's okay, Ondine is coming. She'll help him, she'll save him. It's what she does. The pink was brimming with optimism, because Ondine always tried her hardest, and if she couldn't save him, nobody could, right?

The healer knew better.

She took the stairs two at a time and Ruem had already blinked over the mauled body to give her a visual of the damage. This was going to be bad. She finally skidded to a halt beside the man and gave him a once over even as her hands moved. There was blood everywhere, if he lived there would be horrible scars. But she could do this. Perhaps not alone, but she could save his life. Dilath, have another Journeyman or Master come up here. I need their expertise and I need speed. "A'bar, can you speak to me?" The gauze came out, but so did the stitches, and what she needed to do right now was to seal up the wounds that were bleeding the most. There might be internal damage as well, some of those wounds looked deep, so she couldn't seal those up just yet. Live A'bar, live.

[Maggie]

((Tags for Boo (Hulair and S'idon), Raven (Davalla, possibly Seph), Raining (Saosk and Saowyn) Chimera (Lisk and Lirmox), Sal (Dusk), DW (Mira) and Maruset (Iola). Long post is long and full of tags))

Tamarine grinned at Hulair seeing use the same trick on his charging green that she had used on her obnoxious patrolling cyan. "It'll be harder when we can't pick them up, won't it," she laughed, grinning at him. Tamarisk sleepily eyed her large-boned sister, a little glimmer in her eye.

HULSK ATTEN-SHUN! she snapped happily. HUSLK TAMARISK ALLY?

"No." Tamarine glared down at the little cyan, who glared mulishly back. "I don't know what you're planning, but no recruiting."

***

Copath gave Refugiath a long look, but slowed her eating. Her eyes suddenly whirled a very delighted green, matching her hide. It was so much better to slow down, to savour... Her draconic taste buts weren't very advanced, but still, the textures, the new flavours... She savoured the experience slowly, making small, delighted noises now and then.

"I know you would have," Idra told her sister gently. That was one thing in life that she had never doubted; her sister's loyalty. "But I do prefer that we are in the same class." They would be together again. A team, though of four now, not two. And Refugiath would be a delight to work with, as beautiful and regal as she was. Refugiath was queenly in her bearing. Copath was less so, but Idra already loved the hedonist green. She watched her simple delight at experiencing life for the first time, her heart bursting with pride. She gave a significant look at where the tall, messy-haired new yellow Weyrling was being covered in flitts and attention from his dragon. "All of us." They would keep an eye on him.

Oh this food is simply delightful, IdraMine! Have you tried it, Refugiath? Have you savoured it? What do you think of its texture. I think that there must be many delicious foods to try and I want to try them all! It would be so boring to always have the same meal every day, don't you think? Can I try different food, IdraMine?

"Not now, love," Idra murmured. "We will go raid the kitchens later."

Copath looked up, turning quizically as someone else joined them. Fortath, I'm so happy you found your invitation! He is a very handsome invitation. Isn't this the most wonderful party? It's so fun to be with all these new people and new foods... Try the fish, it's delicious. She scooted Al'dr's bucket closer to him with her nose.

Idra raised an eyebrow at the happy green. "Of course you may," she answered Al'dr quietly.

***

K'ian had been watching the Sands worriedly, pointedly ignoring his cousins. He was still a little worried about their existance and now they would be in the same class as him, which was not so excellent, but he had more important things on his mind. Specifically, he was watching his former roommate, trying to think all the happy, positive things about him possible as he fed Kamikith so that Seidon would Impress. They had to be in the same class. Seidon was his best friend, even if he knew he was a bit of a confusing annoyance more than anything else to the other young man. Seidon needed to Impress and heroic Seph needed to Impress and then everything would be perfect. Except for the two creepy stalker holdless girls, but he could hide behind Seph and Seidon, if they were also classmates.

He let out a whoop of joy that immediately startled him into an almost defensive posture when he saw the pretty little pink choose S'idon. Kamikith nuzzled him, making him straighten with a sheepish smile on his face. Seidon had done it! He had impressed a beautiful little pink who was kind of like a big version of K'ian's own beloved Pretty and Precious, everything, just everything was right with the world.

And then it wasn't. It most definitely, terribly wasn't.

He knew he was supposed to avoid extreme emotions around his dragonet, but he just couldn't help the chill that froze him to the bone as the Rainracer's Werling Master was eviscerated in front of them by an awful monster who claimed Seph. Noble, heroic Seph could not be bound to that creature! They had to stop him! It made a weird, twisted kind of sense that Seph would be the only one strong enough, true enough to stop the beast, but K'ian let out a strangled sob all the same. Kamikith pressed against him, nuzzling him with his scale and blood-stained muzzle. Pretty and Precious started their usual crooning to calm him. He had to stay calm. He had to not give in to this. Kamikith needed him. We need each other, my K'ian, we're a team, remember? the yellow reminded him, still sounding like he was smiling in his rider's head. We don't choose wrongly. And your friend is going to be in our class! He reached out to his little pink sister. Hello, Silvianth! Is there something we can do to help yours?

***

Genner's eyes narrowed and he drew even closer to Mouse, ready to snatch her up and let the whers defend her if it was needed. This was a very, very bad hatching. "Mouse, we should go," he told the little girl firmly. "It isn't safe. You can meet the babies tomorrow, when everything is happy."

Gennesk's eyes were whirling a distinct, worried yellow. He was not liking this at all. Besides, as good assistance as Lisk and Saosk were, he didn't really want their little baby selves to get hurt, even if they were screamy and sometimes stupid. Saosk and Lisk is be for Mini-Mouse distract and protect. Gennesk is be for guard. He tried to minimise his own role so that they wouldn't quite realise that he was protecting them as well as he placed his much larger body between them and the sands. He didn't even bother to glare at the flitt. He did hate flits, but this one was being very logical. Maybe this was because it was brown. Brown was, after all, the best, smartest colour. It would help guard.

Little-things is be stay on Mini-Mouse. Is be for last guard! he ordered both flitts, crouching protectively in front of his chosen girl. Genner could scoop her up quickly, if necessary. Gennesk would deal with stupid babies. He knew how to deal with stupid babies. He had sired a few himself. Kalesk wouldn't want them crunched or stomped, but he could push them back and their teeth would do far less damage to him than to Mouse.

***

G'lin shook his head at D'nari. "I'm going to need hours to comb that. You should come over after the hatching, we can have some wine, I'll braid your hair properly and Ana can show Enciath his latest additions to his collection." The little blue had spent another few hours the day prior rearranging the display of interesting objects he kept in their Weyr. They would be needing the wine and relaxing time after this, he suspected. "You're both also invited," he told the girls, "although A'bar would feed me to Kalesk if I offered you wine, I suspect."

Speaking of the girls' WeyrlingMaster... He paled suddenly, his eyes going wide. "Or maybe not," he murmured faintly. Never had he wanted more to be in trouble with the greenrider, if only because that would mean that he was whole and able to yell at him, punish him... anything.

***

Dawn had chosen not to go to the hatching. She knew it was happening, as did anyone with a set of ears and half a brain in the Weyr, and she had let Nesdeth go, but she just couldn't bring herself to. She knew it was stupid. She knew that it was a time for celebration, to welcome the new dragonets into the world... Still, she couldn't do it. She still remembered D'ren and she still had nightmares about Nessie's unfortunate little cyan sister. She couldn't bring herself to see more of that and with a wher clutch hatching alongside the dragons, she knew that it would be bloody. So instead, she had gone out to play with Rooey and Calpurnia, teaching the canine a few new tricks and letting her pillie swim around in the water happily.

She hadn't been expecting to hear Ablath's familiar voice screaming through Nesdeth's mind and her own dragon's numb shock at the sight of their Weyrlingmaster. Nessie liked blood and violence, to a certain extent, but this cut far too close to home. I'm ok, Nessie. I'm coming, Dawn promised. "Rooey home!" she ordered, knowing the fluffy white canine would obey as she took off towards the hatching sands. Too many of her classmates were there. She sensed them periferally through Nesdeth: Iola, Mira, K'ius... She needed to be with them. And as usual when she was worried, she felt the overwhelming need to find her brother, just to make sure. She knew that idea was a stupid one, since her second reflex when worried was to pick a fight with her brother just so that she could have something else to think about, but she would deal with that later.

She found her way into the Stands, not caring that her hair was a mess, her clothes were covered in dirt from Rooey jumping on her and her face was probably pale as death from worry. She spotted a familiar red rat's nest and made her way towards her brother and her two fellow classmates. "Mira, Iola, G'lin," she greeted in a rush, giving her brother just a little smirk at the state of his hair. "What's happened? Nessie said A'bar... He can't! He's supposed to see us graduate!"

[Dragonwher]

(Randi tags **geez that sounds wrong** Waiting on tags on page 12 from: Dardranel/Dardrask, Tamarine/Tamarisk, Imperiuth, Makkoi Answered tag: Naras)

Randiel winced as his flits seemed to have startled someone, then looked over at who had cursed; wincing again when he realized who it was. Coughing a little he spoke up to Naras "sorry if my flits startled you Master Harper Sir, they're normally better behaved but my pink must have been concerned with my well-being". Then he swallowed a bit trying to get rid of his nervousness at trying to talk to the Master Harper now as an equal since he was a Wherling too "The girl's Aela and the blue's Farkas, they won't hurt you".

As he spoke to Naras he kept feeding a whirl eyed Rask till finally he heard Rask done, want destroy bucket when wake. Which made Randiel roll his eyes as he handed the now empty thing off, only realizing someone emptied their stomach in it when he heard the sound of vomiting. That wasn't what made him flinch as his half formed apology for the smell on him causing it died on his lips. As he'd finally noted another Wher took Rask's previous rampage up a number of levels. Culminating in his ripping into a rider if the screech of a panicked dragon was any indication.

Right yet he was unaware the one who was thoroughly ripped up was the same Rider who was his sister's Weyrlingmaster. Mostly due to not really hearing Ablath in his head before now. Though her panicked mental yell got muted by his new bonded waking and making it feel like Randiel's head was full of a low growling 'static' before Rask lost his fight to stay conscious. So he was oblivious to his iron brother attempting to trump him before seeming to hide in the safety of a bond as well as Rask resumed sleep. Randiel, thanks to being just far enough back he couldn't see what happened; just heard enough to give an idea something potentially horrific happened. But he tried to focus on calming his flits and keeping his mind calm to avoid waking Rask again as he sat and waited to see what info he'd get on the situation. Though he did miss seeing the iron hurt other candidates and Kalesk pull it from the stands, he did see more weyrlings wander into the area.

Randi would have resumed trying to talk to Naras but he was rather stunned from the events still going on with new chaos mixed in. Minor bright side though, he was more throughly able to hold himself to the spot he sat in as he waited out the events of the hatching. So Makkoi wouldn't need to go hunting him down at the least. Though with a pink and a blue flit now on his shoulders he would be even easier to spot by the time Makkoi got back to him. Even if their paws digging into the claw marks on his shoulders made him hiss and wince.

~~~

(D'nari, G'lin, Dawn, Iola and all corresponding dragons)

Mira nodded at D'nari's words, making little noises of agreement as they moved and her flits quieted. She knew inside her heart he was right; but her mind wouldn't process it fully until she had seen her brother. Malinoth, as he followed Enciath; felt the same way but sent a wave of love and comfort to his rider knowing she appreciated it. Just as Mira settled beside G'lin and managed a small chuckle at D'nari introducing her as well as Mali settling next to Ana the girl thought things would settle finally.

But she was wrong as another hatchling wher went on a rampage and managed to get high enough into the stands to...attack her Weyrlingmaster. Unlike Dawn, Mira was far too stunned to react more than mouth the air almost comically. If the situation she was staring at wasn's so deadly serious as Ablath's voice rang in her head as well as reverberating inside Malinoth's mind. Moments before as she'd sat down her trio of flits had been set to start cheeping hellos at Dawnova G'lin and Iola.

Now however, they were still as stones on her head and shoulders, almost as shaken as their person. After a moment spent swallowing hard; throat dry as the Igen desert, she finally responded to G'lin's invite. With a half arsed attempt at a grin "we should ok that idea with A'bar G'lin, no sense in making him upset because he wasn't asked beforehand". Dawn wasn't the only one who remembered D'ren and the deaths of the hatching produced by Gold Couineth and orange Minanth. But she tried to get her mind to quit envisioning Ablath Betweening as he rider died. Mira wouldn't even consider that as a possibility try as her mind might to make her see it. Though she managed a hoarse whisper "is there anything we can do....? just to try and help?".

His rider's forlorn persona made Malinoth hurt in his own heart as he tried his best to comfort her with words and feelings. Through a gentle sensation like an all over hug, Mali conveyed his love and calm as best he was able before speaking Miramine I see someone working on him now maybe they called for help with him?. Either way A'bar is strong, I'm sure he'll pull through!. Sure life might make Malinoth out as a fibber but for this moment Malinoth sorely hoped he was not lying to His in favor of seeing her smile sooner than she might otherwise if her weyrling master did die here today.

[Raining]

[TAG: CHIM--Lisk/Lirmox, MAGGIE-- Genner/Gennesk, ZEPZEP--Mousey]

She has never heard a dragon scream, whether that be with her mind, or physically. It was the worst sound she's heard in a while... maybe it was because she's never heard it, and there was someone very, very hurt. She knew about the bonds, she knew that if your partner died there was a potential for them to go crazy and wild. For dragons... it was the end of the world wasn't it?

She hoped this A'bar was okay.

Saowyn tried looking to Lirmox and Genner for answers. Genner provided one, and that was to get Mousey out of here. But that would mean... SAOSK STAY WITH--

"No. You stay with Mouse! No don't even try arguing, she is your charge right now. Help Genner and Gennesk get her out of here safely." She had bent down close to her wher staring him directly into his defiant eyes. He wanted to be here with her... SHARDIT YOU STUPID, FINE!.

Saowyn looked to Genner, "if you need help just get Saosk or Gennesk to call me..." and then she looked to Mouse smiling softly, "I will catch up you soon! I just need to check on something here, if you need me you know what to do." she brushed the girl's check with a finger.

DIMGLOW WHERRYBRAIN,
"I know.. I just need to make sure Jafari will be okay..."

Saosk brushed her mind affectionately before pulling away and focusing on Mouse. He continued to brush her mind calmingly, TALK TO SAOSK, HE LISTEN TO TINYMOUSE! and then the black wher did something out of his ordinary. If there was space, he'd nuzzle his head into her stomach, SAOSK HUG MAKE ALL BETTER.

If and when they start moving, Saosk would move into his appointed position, shooting Lisk a look. As much as he hated her, she cared for Mouse a lot it seemed. Good enough for him, for now.

Saowyn's eyes flickered to Lirmox, "are you going with Lisk?" she asked the green wherling. She'd understand if he needed to leave, because Lisk was still young -- she tried to keep her expression even.

[Chimera]

((Tags: Randiel/Rask, Healers;;Norilana, Ranthian, any healers treating them;;Saowyn/Saosk, Genner/Gennesk, Mouse;;Iola, Mira, D'nari, G'lin, A'bar, Ablath, any other dragons/riders in the Stands related))

Fine. Fire burn ice, by way, be warned. Dardrask turned away to look at his bright blue brother Pyrusk before turning back to Narask and sticking out his tongue one last time.

"Sorry, Dardrask's...probably just sleepy. Anyways, I'll see you later!" Dardranel awkwardly shuffled away from her new fellow wherling, and went back to Randiel. She let out a grim chuckle at his statement. �I hope he'll only be a prankster. If a vicious one.�

She did not let out a grim chuckle when Randiel called his injuries �a few flesh wounds�.

�Holy shards, man! Those're some flesh wounds you have there, then. Thanks for the offer, buuut...you should get that treated too. Basically, your whole chest looks like it's a...zombie, Threadbitten, rotten chest. It's not pretty.� Dardranel sat down on the chair Randiel had offered her.

Suddenly, an iron dragonet was...ordering everyone around? Dardrask growled but otherwise seemed to ignore it. He was admiring Rask, who was scary and strong and one of the few favorites out of his siblings. Jossk was a floppy baby chicken wheret. He did not like Jossk. She was laughable. Dardrask tried to go back to sleep on Dardranel's shoulder, but the hatching was too noisy for him to go and try to mess with his annoying green sister's mind in the dream world. Not that he even had enough mental control to try and do something like that...yet.

A little while had passed � a healer had taken care of Dardranel's ankle and now she was just...sitting. Neldar had left, and she was pretty bored. Dardrask was full and sleeping � she didn't want to bother her new wheret.

Until an iron wheret hatched (irons � what was it with the ones this hatching?), and he revealed that he was very crackdusted as he went and mauled people, surprisingly hugged a fat blue dragon hatchling, and then � mauled more people. In the Stands. Dardranel watched it with silent shock, as even riders were shown to not be safe from the evil thing. The green dragon's shrieking in her mind chilled Dardranel to the bone, and Dardrask woke with a start. What was his iron brother � Sephsk, apparently � doing?
***
�'m fine.� L'nor responded. His hip was slashed, but it could wait � it was wrapped in a bandage for now. Norilana was torn up, and Ran had fallen, and that was the highest priority.

�Anythin' I can help further?� He looked at his �sleeping� dragonet, who opened his multifaceted eyes and groggily stared back at him. "Don' give up now."

Life was cruel, and this hatching was a mere sample of life on a world where death rained from the skies systematically, but L'nor was a protector, and by shards he'd still protect and do what he could.

L'nor nearly leaped into the air when the dragon started screaming, and holy shells what was with the iron wheret? Damn misbehaver. The poor rider was torn up like Nori. L'nor hoped there would be no further deaths. Riders were...he still didn't like most of them, but he wanted no more blood this hatching � despite it being almost over, it didn't seem likely.
***
�Shards...� Lirmox pressed a few clammy fingers to his face as the string of injury and pain went on...and on...

�I think the hatching's definitely too dangerous.� The wherling nervously nodded at Genner's statement.

And then when the dragon started screaming... Lirmox cringed, placed his hands over his ears out of habit, but the terrifying sound was inside their minds. For people in the Stands to be mauled...sure, hatchlings would go near the spectators and sometimes Impress them at hatchings � that was fine, but to potentially fatally wound a rider? It made him sick. Lisk was feeling very upset about this, as her orange, nearly-red eyes showed.

BAD BAD babies. No for Mouse. We leave. With evilstupid, Strongme, bigbrown.

�Everytime I think a hatching's horrible, the next one's even more violent.� Lirmox muttered.

�I'm staying with Lisk and Mouse. Lisk means well, but...she needs supervision, of course.� Lirmox replied to Saowyn.

As soon and if they started moving, Lisk would flank Mouse on the other side and defend her.

MouseTiny. Talk to Lisk, have better advice. Saosk evilstupid, too many word. The green wheret attempted to mimick her bonded partner and wink at Mouse as she mentally "Whispered" to her, but she ended up blinking. Stupid human facial expressions.
***
Everything was hopeless. Nora had come here with her pink to be moral support for the hatchlings, but that was a silly thought. Everything was chaos. Ablath was screaming, A'bar was possibly dying, and Nora felt sick. How did she not think of buckets at Jarith's hatching? She pitied the poor candidate who was emptying her lunch at the very moment. But that was at the back of her mind.

Aypoth was terrified. She practically crashed into the group of dragons that included Nesdeth, Jainath, and some others, nestling between two of them in a panic and covering herself with her wings. That ledge was definitely cramped now.

Aypoth...Ayp, love, it'll be fine, please... Nora was on the verge of tears herself as she reached out mentally to her dragon. She dashed over to where her other fellow Weyrlings and two Sparkles were sitting, sitting next to them and covering her face.

�I can't. What went w-wrong?� It was terrible, and a candidate died, and...
***
Akklyn, R'lan, and Ainoth had left. The greenweyrling flew away on his shocked dragon, and the Weyrbrat ran away, heading to the creche. She'd see her dad later.

LOCATION UPDATE: Aypoth moves to Nesdeth and friends. Nora moves to Dawnova and others. Lirmox and Lisk follow Genner, Gennesk and Mouse wherever they go. L'nor and Dardranel are in the beebs/healers area. R'lan and Ainoth have left. Akklyn has left.

[Nia]

Avalle and Callistath watched the Iron slash A'bar with a powerful force, anger rising in both of them. He was hitting spectators now. Those who hadn't volunteered to the danger of the Sands, and didn't deserve it. Not that the Candidates deserved it... but they knew what they were getting into. The smart ones had the opportunity for armor. But not those in the Stands.... Ablath's screaming made Callistath swish her tail anxiously. Kalesk.... Callistath spoke to the Gold wher, her voice full of sorrow and pity. It was likely that Kalesk was going to have to kill her Iron child if he continued like this. But, then he... seemed to Impress. Callistath flicked her tail again, in an almost irritated fashion. Too bad this Iron did not have a Red sibling....

In the Stands, Valdis trembled and clutched the Purple flitter in her lap, holding him and petting him as she nervously watched the Iron. He was in the Stands! "He can't...." she whispered under her breath, almost hoping that Cambyses and Samara didn't hear her. She was scared and nervous, and now she wanted to leave more than anything. Emiya, a bit further down, was still outraged by Pyrus' condition. She had to go to him, to see if he was alright, if his hand... she felt sick thinking of it, and not even Noctulith's soothing could calm her down.

The Green watched the Blue and Iron hug with a look of distain. She wasn't nearly as bored of the Iron as he was of her, not even close, and she made an attempt to follow him as he crawled into the Sands. A warning growl from Callistath stopped her momentarily, but the Green continued towards the healers. Callistath shifted her movement, as though she were going to grab her daughter herself, and finally the Green stopped, just on the edge of the Sands, looking forlornly up at the Iron.

Vyna let out a strangled cry as Garund was struck, and she immediately grabbed N'yn's hand, running over to where Garund had been hurt, careful to avoid the Iron wher and Seph as she gently took one of Garund's sides from S'idon. "Don't worry, we've got him. Go take care of your dragon," she said quietly to S'idon, hoping that N'yn would grab Garund's other side so that the two of them could help him off the Sands. They'd called for a Healer and Garund was more than willing to leave the Sands. It was dangerous for him to stay standing with such a break anyway, and it wasn't like they'd be going too far for his dragon to find him, if the Green or Blue was his. "We need you to stay awake," she said gently to Garund, "We'll help your leg. Just stay awake and lean on us."

In an attempt to cause more of her own "chaos", which was just as predictable as the Iron thought she was, the Green moved to the already injured Candidates being treated, growling menacingly at Vyna, N'yn and Garund as they came by, but she didn't move to attack them. Instead she moved through the injured Candidates, growling at healers and sniffing at the blood on the Sand, then seeming to scoff at it. Weak, fleshy humans. She so longed to be with the Iron again, to follow him and worship him and cause CHAOS with him!

But, she needed a human. He'd needed a human to live, that Iron, and the Green naturally assumed she needed the same. Her's was over here, luckily enough. She slunk through the injured Candidates, seeming to smirk menacingly as she came across Garna. Perfect. This girl's mind... it was perfect. Even more perfect were everyone else's thoughts of her. They hated her! The Green commisserated.

GarnaMine,

[/i] the Green said in her's mind, sounding like a petulant child as she spoke to Her's, Everyone is stupid and awful, except your Lucith. It's not fair. I hate them all, every last one of them. Even their blood smells bad,[/i] she continued to rant, still sounding whiney. She paused to sniff at Garna, and appeared to wrinkle her snout in disgust. Even you're dumb, stupid GarnaMine. Who cares what ugly color a dragon is? They're all annoying and terrible.[/i] She paused again, You smell bad, too.[/i]

[/blockquote]

SPOILER: Click to show

Green Lucith - 112910
Personality:
Lucith is an angry little dragon. She constantly picks fights because she knows she'll win, and she especially likes to pick on those she sees as "weaker". Her temper is easily set off and she's very quick to jump to violence, prompting Garna to have a bit of a stronger hold on her than on a less aggressive dragon. She's very abrasive and tends to push her teasing a bit too far, even with her friends. She doesn't quite know how to control her words, and she'll just blurt out exactly what she's thinking, even to those she considers close friends. She'll often insult her Rider as well, just to satisfy her desire to hurt someone.

She's very prone to sulking when she doesn't get her way, or even when she pushes a close friend away because of her anger issues. However, if she thinks something that her rider thinks is stupid, she'll say it and pick fights about it. Bigotry is dumb, and she hates everyone equally. She doesn't understand Garna's conservative mind and it makes her angry. Why does it matter what color a dragon is? They're all ugly and awful. She's hating them for all the wrong reasons. Lucith is very firm in her ways. She hates Greens and Blues just as much as she hates Cyans and Burgundies.

In a good mood, Lucith can be rather flirty. When she's in the right mindset, she's quite good at the art of teasing fliration. Lucith is definitely a little tease, although it's very easy to snap her back into anger with a few misplaced words. If she feels bad enough about her temper tantrums, she can be downright sweet, although it takes a good amount of coaxing (and possibly whining) from Garna to get her to apologize at all. It's very unlikely, however. Lucith is stubborn as an ox and does not like to admit when she's wrong.

Appearance:
Lucith is a very, very darkly colored Green. Her hide is a deep forest green, edging a bit on the more dull side of the spectrum rather than the brighter, more saturated greens. She has several darker black stripes along her as well, accented by bright specks of a very light green, almost white. The bright specks on her hide really draw the attention in, since the contrast to the dark green of her base color is so severe.

Even for a Green, Lucith is a very small dragon. She's thin and daintily built, though her feet are somewhat large and her claws are very sharp. Her tail is long, thin, and is usually curled up at the end. Her face is very femininely shaped and pretty, with headknobs that curl upwards. Being a small Green, Lucith will only hit 23 feet.

The Blue was quite happy as the Iron hugged him back, sharing a long embrace with the wher before he was off, but the Blue didn't mind. His Green sister was a jerk, but in his mind all she really needed was a hug. That's all the world needed, right? Just one big hug. That Iron was a jerk, but the Blue was glad he'd hugged him. Perhaps, just perhaps, his rampage would have been far worse, had he not been shown affection and love. Perhaps if everyone wasn't so afraid of him, and instead showed him how much they loved him, it would not be nearly so bad. Hatred and fear were what caused all the problems in the world, and the power of love could do anything!

He seemed to Impress, and the Blue took a few steps forward. Perhaps that boy had showed him some affection? The Blue wasn't sure. He remained patiently near his mother as Kalesk sorted through the Candidates, not wanting to bother her any more than she already was. If he was bold enough, which while he was bold enough to hug a dog-sized Iron, he wasn't quite bold enough to try and offer the giant wher a hug. So instead he just watched her, swishing his tail back and forth as though he were a dog. A very patient dog.

The chaos continued and the Blue waited, watching the Candidates and the Iron, waiting for the perfect moment to go over to His. Like the Green, he'd known who needed him the most from far away, but it was just about waiting for the right time to go over. He wasn't bent on destruction and he wasn't planning hurting anyone. Far from that, in fact. He shifted forward a bit through the new line of Candidates, brushing past Jafari and curling around him momentarily before moving on. The boy was, unfortunately, not His. He wished the boy was His, but he was not.

Continuing on, he gave a comforting headbut to Maal, Valasco got a small hug around his legs from the Blue. But neither of them were His, so the Blue continued.

He walked all the way through the now-empty part of the Sands, making his slow, steady way towards the injured Candidates, as his sister had. He wasn't looking to sniff their blood or Impress the worst of the worst, however. He was just seeking out who needed him the most, and there was definitely someone here who did. He made his way over to Ranthian, staring at the boy for a moment before taking a few steps towards him. In any other case, he would have bounded over to the boy and tackled him to the ground in a gesture of pure love, but this was not the right time for that. He might be a little slow, but the Blue could see sadness and pain.

R'hiaMine,

[/i] he tenatively pushed into the boy's mind, careful with his Impression, as though he were trying not to break something in the boy's already upset mind, Sekaith loves you, and it will be okay, okay? Everything will be okay. Don't be sad.[/i] he took another step forward, wanting desperately to hug his rider and make it better, and he sent a tentaive thought toward his new Rider. Can I hug you now, R'hiaMine? Make it better?[/i] In any other case, he wouldn't have asked. But this was too sad, and he didn't want to make his Rider feel worse. He just wanted to make it better.

[/blockquote]

SPOILER: Click to show

Blue Sekaith - 0B0A79
Personality:
Sekaith is a jolly, happy Blue. He loves everyone and everything, he doesn't discriminate. Even if someone is mean to him, he doesn't care. He loves them anyway! He should, afterall. He sees everyone as a sort of misguided soul he needs to direct and save with his love. He does have a touch of a hero complex, but all it does is make him want to love the world even more. Mean riders, Red dragons? All they need is a little bit of love and friendship, and that will save them! A little bit on the dim side, Sekaith doesn't quite understand that it's possible for someone to have a different temperament than him.

"The power of friendship" is strong in this Blue, as he honestly believes that the way to solve all problems is through friendship. He will try to befriend even the meanest of Whers, and will simply laugh if he gets scratched or beat up as a result. That's just how they show their love! He's a very gentle soul and has difficulty hurting anything. Every creature is there for him to love, even the tunnelsnakes or wild felines.

Even for a dragon, Sekaith's memory is not exactly the best. Or perhaps, as R'hia will find out, he only pretends to have such a short memory in order to easily forgive those who have insulted him. The only thing that would upset Sekaith would be if anyone were to insult or attack R'hia rather than him. He is a bit of a martyr and would much prefer to have the attacks directed towards him, to protect R'hia. He can be rather tough when he's angry, but his anger usually fades quite quickly. He's a protector at heart, and he wants nothing more than to keep R'hia safe.

Appearance:
Sekaith is a rather bright version of navy, his hue is not dull at all. It's a vibrant shade of navy, putting him on the darker side of the spectrum. However, his hide is covered in large blobs of a lighter, paler blue color. They look like little clouds, or perhaps more better phrased as continents, across his hide. If one were to map out his spots perhaps they would discover an entire map of the continent.

Sekaith is a very large Blue. He is also a bit on the heavy-set side, giving him a very round look. He does have muscle under all that pudge, however, and he is by no means a weak dragon. His tail is long and powerful, and his wings are proportioned larger than average for his height, to support his bulk. His muzzle is also a bit larger than average, giving his face a pudgy, cute look. Being as big as he is, Sekaith with grow to be 34 feet.

As the last of her children Impressed, Callistath shifted again. If this were just their Hatching, this was about the time where Avalle would hop on top of her and the two of them would escape the Sands for some alone time. But this was not just her Hatching, and Kalesk's still had to Impress fully. The Iron hadn't made the blood bond, and something about his Impression to that boy made Callistath uneasy. She was unwilling to leave until all of her children, and Kalesk's by extention, were safe. There was also the matter of Silivianith's eggshell that she was still holding on to, and Callistath was not just about to abandon it.

It is almost over,

[/i] she said gently to the Candidates still remaining, the battered and broken group that had sat through the Hatching and hadn't even Impressed, The Healers will help you all shortly.[/i] If anything, it was to give them all a sliver of reassurance, that they weren't about to die where they stood. The Gold's eyes moved to Ablath and then to A'bar and Ondine. It hadn't just been Candidates that had been harmed. It was no one's fault, not her's or Kalesks, as she was sure others would try to blame. It was no fault but the Hatchlings, and wher Hatchings were known to be dangerous and violent. They'd known what they were getting into, but no one had predicted it would turn out this badly.[/blockquote][/size]

[princesal]

Andakora had actually arrived at the hatching, but had chosen to not sit with any of her class, nor even next to anyone. The way she looked out at the hatching, stone faced and unflinching, eyes darting along as blood spilled. Lemminkath was too busy with trying to balance on one hind leg, clawing at the air above him.

Are you looking? Are you looking? Is anyone looking?
No.
Well, I'm just practicing right now. Wait until the feast after! All the ladies are going to be swooning all over me!
...
I found a really rolly rock, and I'm going to balance on that.

Anda still didn't respond, just watching, watching the massacre. Her own shoulder ached, remembering the sensation of teeth digging into softer flesh. She made no move to touch it, she didn't move much at all. But she was constantly watching. Not just the Sands, but the stands as well. Her eyes bounced over groups, reactions, listening to comments or strange songs from stranger men, or watching a little girl in the stands. Her eyes moved away again though, watching the dizzying patterns of the dragons and whers.

Whers are pretty cool looking. Do you think those ladies will be easily impressed by me?
No.
I think they will.
They will bite your tail off.
Whhhaaat? No, not MY tail. Your silly, Silly! They don't want to eat tails!

Lemminkath decided that he was going to Impress a wher lady, he just had to figure out which one. Ooo, she looked pretty, what was her name? Didn't it start with a Y? He couldn't remember, and his Andakora wasn't helping either and giving him the name that he was SURE that she knew.

Anda was busy watching the Iron wher hatchling climb into the stands, it seemed incredibly nasty and was lucky that Anda wasn't on the Sands, because she wouldn't care about the rules, she would have kicked the thing in its head and away from the other candidates.

You're not suppose to hurt babies!
and their mothers are suppose to intervene in these situations and control their children. Maybe Kalesk supports the damage and injuries done by her children.
We could ask her, do you want to ask her? I could ask. Kalesk! Kalesk! Mine wants to know why you're alright with your children killing and hurting while you don't do anything.
Did you really j-

Whether or not Lemminkath ACTUALLY did that was to remain unquestioned (he didn't) as the familiar mental voice of - Anda saw it. She watched it play out, as the Iron Wherling more or less eviscerated her classes WeyrlingMaster. The glint of steel in Anda's brown eyes was cold. Andakora didn't feel nothing, but with her lack of reaction it'd be easy to assume she didn't care. Would becoming emotional and letting fear of the future override your senses be helpful?

Go help! Anda, you can at least stop people who wouldn't be able to help from crowding.
No.
Why not?! A'bar might be dying.
We are of weryling status, our place is not there. If I were to get involved, and cause a problem or commotion, it will show poorly upon A'bar.
B-
We watch, and if we are requested we will act, Lemminkath.

She kept her eyes on the situation, only Lemminkath were privy to her private thoughts, her worry about A'bar's future. Wondering if he'd make it through the night. She didn't... she didn't hold high hopes for him. Stomach wounds had a problem where there were so many vital organs there... that it was so easy to puncture them through the soft flesh. She wasn't a Healer though, and never would be, so perhaps it was worse looking than it actually was. Anda didn't care what happened on the Sands past this point now. Lemminkath stayed quiet as his special lady believed she was watching the final moments of her WeyrlingMaster.

---

"Sorry, I just... I'm glad I came to this hatching! Thank you so much, Sol." He did sit down, and his enthusiasm had Harri wrapping his arms around her shoulders giving her a hug of his thanks. When he pulled away, his hand sought out hers again, lacing their fingers together. He didn't want to let go of her, almost afraid that if he did that someone would get angry at him for being at the hatching.

He was going to ask if he was actually allowed to go to the feast when it happened. The Iron Wher that had looked like it had Impressed had... "Oh... oh my... [Still alive, if that green one is his dragon, she's freaking out.]" The amount of blood... The screaming of the rider's dragon... it was a shock to the system. Please please please don't have him die. Please.

When he opened his eyes, it was with pain. Everything felt too loud and harsh. Looking at the ceiling of his home was painful, the little details swam before his eyes.

Thirst. He was so thirsty, absolutely parched.

When he tried to move, little hairs on his arm, on his head, were tugged sharply, until several of them were pulled out, and he rolled over, immediately wishing he hadn't as he felt the congealed red puddle he was soaked in run down his back.

An hour later he couldn't remember if he was tearlessly crying because of the pain made by what he had tried to do made his body feel like it had been trampled, or because he hadn't been successful, and had failed.[/i]

The only thing similar in the situations was the blood. "Is there anything to do? There are so many injuries. I could - [No, you can't.] But... [Yeah, that's going to not look suspicious. Hey there, my name is Harri, and while you don't know me because I actually live on the Islands, you know the one. Right right, I'm one of the people you thought-] Hand... [Anyway, I know some basic first aid. Just something I picked up after a while. If you need extra hands, ha ha, get it hands?] That wasn't funny, this isn't funny. [Knowing you you'd say something like 'need someone to cart away the bodies hur hur hur'] Stop it. [Tell him it's a stupid idea, Sol.]"

Harri didn't look like he thought Hand was funny, if anything he just looked worried about what he was seeing, and gripped Sol's hand tighter. "I-is he going to be alright?"

[lee]

TAG: Nori, R'hia, L'nor and their bonded(s?)

"Nori, Nori, what's he saying? Faranth he wants a joke. Tell 'im th' fish one." Joshu hadn't understood it at the time, but he'd been quietly learning his letters from one of the other kitchen workers, and he got it now, wanted to share it with the wonderful girl and her wonderful dragon. Her dragon. "Shards. The first burgundy on Pern. An he Impressed ye Nori." He wasn't sure, not entirely, if Noirath had been first, but he'd been one of, certainly, and it didn't matter. Nori'd Impressed him. "And he won't fly" He muttered in a moment of blissful clarity, and opened is mouth to say more but...

L'nor.

L'nor

Joshu couldn't help it. Buoyed by relief, by pride, the tall man dissolved into helpless giggling for the space of a minute, leaning over with tears in his eyes. "Lookitchu. L'nor. L'nor. A rider!" He chuckled at his older brother's calm acceptance of his new state in life, clapping him heartily on the shoulder.

And then Ranthian went down. Joshu's laughter instantly cut off, and he lunged to catch his brother, cradle the fall, though he didn't quite succeed as he was trying to avoid disturbing the sleeping wher on his foot, so he knelt instead in immediate concern. "Ran! Shards! C'mon, keep yer eyes open, boy. Both of ye. C'mon," He looked pleadingly to Nori, to Ondine, and then scowled. He'd been a patient enough to know how to clean wounds at least, hadn't he? A healer appeared almost immediately to assist, and Joshu batted them away, grabbing bandages and numbweed and following instructions. "C'mon. Nori needs ye. Shards and Lan—L'nor'n'I do too, c'mon. C'mon open up." He barely noticed the pudgy, adorable blue approaching until its nose was nearly even with Joshu's, looking down and...and filling with rainbows.

Joshu felt his heart stop.

Oh, it was a terrible moment, and he'd regret it the rest of his life, but for a moment, for one full moment, he wished the dragon between. He'd been afraid, when the Searchrider had landed, that they Weyr would take his family away, and yet, until that moment, he'd put it to the back of his mind, figured he'd find time, make time, that they all would. But...his eyes slowly lowered to the small, sleeping green form gnawing on his shoe in her sleep. They were separated by the sun, now. Daylight and nighttime, their schedules...he shook his head, trying not to think of it, but at best, they could have stolen hours. Perhaps he could have his breakfast while they finished dinner. He'd prepared himself for that, with Nori and Ran. But Lano—L'nor too? All of them. All he had left. Together. For lessons, for meals, for duty, the pride of Pern, soaring through the skies, between. Together. And he'd...well, he'd be alone, he supposed.

A quiet, sad voice entered his thoughts. Have Jossk. Joshu, alarmed, looked down, and wide, swirling eyes glowed back at him in the dim light, solemn and unhappy, and something hard banged against his throat and he found it hard to swallow as guilt flooded and shamed him. He leaned down to pick the skinny wher up and held her tight with arms that shook, lowering his head for a moment to hide it against damp, cool hide and blink back tears. Have Jossk. They'd find a way. This was the family that had fought thread with nothing but metal and fire, survived the stranglehold of the wilderness, heck, Impressed —every one of them—at their first Hatching.

They'd figure it out.

Joshu's eyes raised to the blue, begging forgiveness in case he'd felt the wayward thought, and he welcomed him. Welcomed the burgundy peering over Norilana, the brown sleeping lightly at L'nor's feet, the green wher who, having had quite enough of his mushy attentions had buried baby fangs in his hand, eliciting a yelp and then climbed onto his head—tail whalloping his eye and at least one talon going up his nose in the process before slinking down his shoulders and digging her talons in to stay balanced there, draped around his shoulders like a precarious boa-Want see better. This good height. She bobbed her head at L'nor, pleased he called her pretty too. AND SMART. Not forget that. she informed him. She stuck her tiny tongue out at Noirath and decided he was a brick brain to be ignored before swinging her long neck to look down at Ranthian, eyes swirling. Bleeding bad. was her professional assessment provided to Joshu after a moment of serious observation, with the air of someone making a complex prognosis. Joshu didn't sigh, though it took great effort. Yes, noted, thank you dear.

"Well, c'mon then." Joshu's voice didn't crack, but it was thick with pride. "Tell us yer new name."

[Cathaline]

For a short while, the brown wheret was totally absorbed in the rebuilding project. But the hunger pangs began to distract him soon enough, much as he wanted his sandcastle to exist. It could be a beautiful memorial to his dead sister, or a reminder that there were things growing here, wonderful bonds, even in the midst of screams and death. Silvianith was right, though- there was more to life than art.

In fact, humans were a work of art, though unlike the iron, so delighted by the psychic storm raging amidst the ragged lines of remaining candidates, the brown only wished to help them as much as he could. Just as Sephsk was dragging Seph along on his latest rampage, the brown finally left the nest. He slipped along near the outskirts. Kazynn received a comforting nudge, a reminder that things were not so bad, whers were not so bad - if he just stuck it out, his partner was sure to come along. Quellyn was distraught, having been intimidated by the brown’s brother, and the brown slithered under his body to encourage him to get on his feet. Come on, now, little buddy! Cheer up!

Slipping along the back, he came across Garund and S’idon and Seph and everybody. He bumped noses with his friend Silvianith, promising that soon he would come by and paint her something wonderful to keep in her new home, wherever that might be; he gave Garund a gentle touch of his mind. So much pain and so much doubt. The brown wished Garund was his, but he was not.

There was pain up in the stands too. The brown met Jazz hurrying across the sands and hugged her around the ankle; the yellowrider briefly patted him on the head, but she was focused on the catastrophe in front of her. The brown scrambled up into them and headbutted L’xon in the hip, friendly-like, but this mind was taken. The ones that were not taken flickered and weaved, incomplete.

And one of them was calling.

If only he could meet everybody! But he couldn’t, he’d spent too much time at the sandcastle. So he simply scrambled up until he found the one he wanted. The ones he wanted.

Hello, Harri![/i] he bugled. Hello, Hand! Harrisk here![/i] The alliteration - not that he knew the word alliteration - made him laugh happily. It was like poetry, like a song. Everybody be all right. We be all right. Right? Come eat![/i]

Brown HARRISK, Impressed to HARRIN

SPOILER: Click to show

Harrisk is a pleasant, loving creation, sociable and happy to go out and make friends. He loves to brighten people’s days (or, well, nights), to encourage them to try things again, to assist them with whatever they are trying to do. A bit of an artist, he likes making sandcastles, painting on cave walls, singing, dancing...you name it, he’s tried it. Mostly he wants to entertain people, because an entertained person is a nice person, and nice people are wonderful! He is extremely patient with others, in part because he is simply oblivious to insults, and unlike most whers, he truly would rather sit around and sing kumbayah than fight. This does not mean that he is incapable of doing so when necessary, however: he will defend the things he loves with all the force of an explosion once his long fuse finally runs down. In some ways he is worse than his brother Rask, because when his legendary patience comes to an end, he does not merely wish to hurt or punish or stop a threat - he wants to annihilate in such a way that he never has to think about the enemy again and can return to his natural programming. He is better suited to a position away from the front lines, however, since his generally-amiable nature allows him to assist with the personal development of others.

A friendly cinnamon shade, Harrisk is speckled with lighter dots. His natural build is average and solid, able to be molded with future development. (7B3F00)

Impression was coming, soon. He could feel it, an impending glow at the back of his mind - a glittering chain and shackle, one he would accept willingly, for he could feel the soul at the other end of the tether. These were his last moments of true freedom, of belonging to himself and only to himself. Soon, he would be surrounded or smothered by someone else, and the pinpoint clarity with which he delved into these minds would vanish forever, a flickering flame kept tight under glass. Oh, he would always be more strongly empathetic than most - perhaps even stronger than his brother Isk. But it would be more along the lines of his golden mother’s ability to sense suspicious characters. Never like this again.

It was coming for him, soon, soon.

Soon.

Not yet.

He was not ready yet.

Cold, pained, distraught, mind closing and closing. It was as beautiful as it was pitiful, and the iron wher severed the connection neatly, like a claw drawn through an artery.

No bond. No today. No for you. Goodbye, Seph.[/i] He watched to see the reaction this would have, the blood draining from the boy’s face, and he laughed, a whisper-cackle in Seph’s head before he turned away.

Sucker.[/i]

He was right behind the tortured void he’d been circling like a shark this whole time, and he slammed into the back of Newt’s legs. Newt’s knees buckled, and he put his hands out to the burning sand to catch himself. He gasped, and then he was face to face with the dark iron - for a second he thought it was another black -

The iron stared into his eyes, deep, and then dropped a single word into his mind.

Newsk.[/i]

The sense memory was powerful, and Newt screamed, clapping his hand over the stinging phantom pain in his eye - his eye ruined, wrecked, bleeding, not bleeding, oozing ichor. The iron shoved him over, headbutting him in the shoulder, and pounced on his chest, driving the breath out of him. Newt wheezed, his eyes leaking, his vision blurred - sand was digging into the marks on his arm, left behind from Rask, it seemed like turns ago but it couldn’t have been because losing Newsk was seconds ago -

The paw settled over his heart, and a single claw pressed into his skin, punctured and drove deep.

Amazing,[/i] the iron said. Drawled, perhaps. Little man like be marked. Where me mark you?[/i]

Newt half-choked, barely able to breathe, and the iron laughed.

Where it hurts.[/i]

Then he was gone, and Newt dragged in a breath and then coughed it out again, his body shuddering on the burning sand. The iron whisked up Letorin’s body and coiled around his neck like a murderous scarf, nipped his earlobe and whispered, into his brain, This one like to fly. This one want wings?[/i]

There were no dragons left for Letorin today, but the iron gave him wings of his own, reaching down his back to claw obscenely deep, cruel slashes down his back, spreading out and down from each shoulderblade, like bloodied wings clutched in tight. They’d scar like this, turning him into a gory, ragged angel. Wings that couldn’t spread or carry him, wings he would have to carry like he’d carry his loneliness off these sands. Featherless, leatherless, and crude.

“No,” Newt choked. “No, please,” but the iron didn’t even seem to hear him, or just didn’t care. When his work was finished he jumped to the sand, and found himself face to face with his mother.

He hadn’t actually killed anyone. This was the only thing that saved his life. Kalesk said, in a voice that tingled with queenly harmonics, a voice even the anti-authoritarian iron could not ignore, Choose.[/i]

He chose.

He did not have far to go, only a few candidates to pass on his way to Jafari. He looked up at the kid, and this Impression was real, not just cold and calculated words dropped into a tumultuous head. Real and powerful and full; the iron settled his mind into Jafari’s, as much as he could without the blood that would bind them together as long as they both lived.

For the first time there was warmth in his tone when he spoke. Jafari will do. Yes. Jafask is for...beginning.[/i]

And with that, it was finished.

Iron JAFASK, Impressed to JAFARI

SPOILER: Click to show

Jafask thrives on unpredictability, both in his own behavior and in the world around him, though he has a strong preference for the darker side of life. Happiness, in his view, equals boredom; when people are panicking, running in all directions, terrified, this is when Jafask feels the most powerful. Fascinated by confusion and uncertainty, he will act in whatever way he can see is the most distressing to his target, whether this means being unexpectedly sweet or downright malicious. He is powerfully empathetic, an expert at seeing people’s weak spots and exploiting them; though his grammar is as spotty as any wher’s, he is one of the most eloquent of his species, which he uses in service of his manipulation. Despite being an iron, he is rather disturbed by authority and hierarchy, feeling that rules keep people down; he would much rather encourage everyone to take risks, to step outside their comfort zones, to use their particular and special gifts in his service. He has stubborn tendencies, and will sometimes refuse an order just because it is an order. He requires a light hand on the reins to steer him onto the right course of action. Jafask is unfazed by anything, never frightened, and he never loses his temper, though he may appear to do so every once in awhile. It’s all part of his calculated games. In an emergency, he is the stoic center of the storm, the ideal wher to turn to; in fact, emergencies are nearly the only time he is any use at all, because only when he is surrounded by chaos is he content enough to take action. Jafask has a particular soft spot for his handler, feeling genuine affection for Jafari, and won’t ever push the kid too hard - though he does push, because coping with chaos is what makes people strong.

A dark-colored iron, Jafask is truly metallic, his hide gleaming with a steely sheen. A cape of color a few shades lighter settles over his shoulders and along his back, which ripples with powerful muscles. (2C3539)

Kalesk lurked just long enough to ensure that this time, Jafask was not faking it, and that up in the stands, Harrisk had chosen too. Then she lowered herself enough to speak to all the remaining Candidates, injured or not. Finished. Thanks.[/i] She had never thanked them before, but she felt she must in this situation. Few of them had run away, and none had run without being seriously injured or made ill. All the babies had Impressed because the Candidates were good, even when the eggs were bad.

All the babies but one.

With this clear dismissal, she turned away, lifted the limp green body in her jaws, and vanished into the dark to mourn her dead.

Kalenna knew her bonded would like to be alone for some time, so she finally emerged from her own place in the shadows. She murmured a quick congratulations to Jafari and went to Newt and Letorin - not because of any preference for them over her other Candidates, but because Yhimere was her wherling and if he started panicking in the stands like last time… “Come on, boys,” she murmured, offering Newt one hand and Letorin the other shoulder to lean on. “Let’s get you to the healers.”

Newt had his palm pressed over his bleeding heart, and he stared up at Letorin’s ruined back. “That was meant for me,” he whispered, dazed, and the guilt and horror settled on him like the cape of color on Jafask’s back.

[RavenSong]

Seph nodded to Seidon as his brother moved to support Garund, frowning a bit.

"Broseidon, go feed your Pink. I've got this," he said quietly. "Sephsk and I are going to have a very long chat once a healer gets here... thanks for yelling, I don't think this little dungheap would've obeyed. Garund, you... you can't hop like that, you're going to injure yourself further and you won't be able to Stand. Seidon had an injury like that, and... well, he's lucky. Just wait. Let a healer get over here and stabilize your leg, and then..."

He tilted his head as Peranzath suggested he guide the wheret's mouth, just as Vyna and N'yn came up to assist Garund. Well, they had the poor victim of the Iron... guiding the dungheap's mouth could only help, he supposed...

"Broseidon, go feed your dragon like they said, I'm going to deal with Sephsk. They've got Garund."

Then the connection severed, coldly and cruelly.

No bond. No today. No for you. Goodbye, Seph. Sucker.[/i]

Seph's face went white as something deep in his core knotted up. No coherent thought was in the boiling cauldron of emotion within his mind, just a cold, empty loneliness.

He had been abandoned.

He forgot Garund as he sank to his knees in the Sands, an anguished cry bursting from his lips without thought guiding it.

Everyone had seen him fall for it. He'd been played for a fool and he hadn't even seen it coming. Filled with shame, self-recrimination, and despair, the boy curled up into a ball there on the Sands and sobbed. The fact that his goal had been accomplished, that his brother had Impressed, was forgotten. He had been toyed with and abandoned. Even the evil wheret didn't want him. Benal was right, and in that moment, Seph knew it. It had taken a wheret to show him that everyone else was wrong.

---

N'yn ran with Vyna, moving in tandem with his twin. S'idon's injury during Couineth's last Hatching had given them an opportunity to learn about compound fractures and their initial treatment, so the twins knew what to do to help Garund. N'yn gently pushed Seph aside to support the injured Candidate while Vyna took the lead on stabilizing the fracture for transport.

Seph's cry startled him. He looked toward the sobbing Candidate just inches away from him, then at Vyna.

"I'll... I'll have Eidukth get Tessk to bring her stretcher," he said quietly, looking back toward Seph. The Iron trotting away confused him. Hadn't Seph Impressed? Then it clicked. His jaw dropped and he sighed.

"That's... wow," he whispered, keeping his voice low so only Garund and Vyna would hear him.

Eidukth reached out to Tessk and Tesla both. MyN'yn wants you to go help him with his patient, she said, showing the pair where N'yn and Vyna were, even though it was very easy to see the twins and Garund by that point.

[maruset]

Giving the others a bit of a thin smile, Iola tried to keep her own reactions tucked away. On the ledge, Jainath shifted, making sure there was room for the others, and spread her wings out. She gave a low croon, trying to sooth them, head dipping down to nose at some of the other, smaller dragons.

The last of the dragons Impressed, which made Jainath relax some, then the iron revealed his trick. And attacked one of Jainath's people. Yes, all of the weyr was under her protection, because she was a queen, and that was what she was supposed to do. However, Letorin was definitely one of hers, and she gave an angry shriek at the attack. He had flattering words and let Iola borrow his flits so help get all the itchy spots on Jainath.

Iola grimaced, rubbing her temple, and moved to reach over and rest a hand on D'nari's shoulder as best she could, arm draping over G'lin. She was friends with Letorin, but she knew that those two were even closer to the other.

"The hatching is over," she said. "Do you guys want to wait until the group thins out some?" It would take a bit, and they could keep an eye on those who were being looked over by the healers.


***

Letorin hissed as the iron came back around and hit Newt again. Whatever the wheret said, it was obviously the wrong thing for Newt, and the teen jerked at the scream that came from his friend. Before he could say anything, move to help even, the iron had drawn blood, and was moving again. And moved faster than Letorin could move, and he found himself with a solid weight on his back, one that curled around his shoulders. He froze, feeling the teeth on his ear, and a whisper of a voice in his mind.

Then there was pain, and Letorin curled some, hands twitching a moment, torn between reaching up for the thing hurting him and keeping his hands away from the damage. The instinct to protect his hands was stronger, and he sagged down, biting hard on the inside of his mouth as he tried not to yell out. The taste of blood was what he focused on, even as the weight was off his shoulders.

His back throbbed, not as bad as he expected it to, however. Letorin was pretty sure the injuries were deep enough that he was not feeling them all. He knew that sometimes cuts were like that, too deep for the sensation of pain to really hit.

Panting, he sagged to his knees, trying to gather his thoughts. Healers were probably a good idea, though the idea of moving was enough to make him wince. The wince drew out a low sound from him, and the harper apprentice could feel the indignant rise of his fair as they swirled into the air, shrieking.

Was going to have to get up. In a moment, and Letorin glanced at Newt, eyes absolutely huge as he tried to come up with the willpower to get back to his feet. Even the sand burning under his knees was not quite enough motive yet.

Though he did force himself to his feet as Kalenna came over. That was some motivation that he needed, and he swayed, just a bit. "Ow," he said after a moment.

(tag: G'lin, D'nari, and Kalenna)

[RhiaBlack]

Lili's jaw dropped so fast she could have sworn she pulled a muscle.

Peranzath's eyes whirled red just as quickly. Where Lili would have - and to some extent, she WAS - terrified that sudden emotion would cause her Pink to between, for her to lose that bond she had struggled so hard to gain, it wasn't her own steps that saw her pushed towards where Seph had fallen.

Peranzath was nudging her. So hard, that Lili almost fell over.

Not right, LiliLoveMine. Not right, at all. Chaos. So much Chaos, Your Peranzath does not approve, LiliMine. Your Peranzath does not approve, at all, no I do not. We must find harmony, LiliMine. We must always find harmony...

Lili's hand draped across Peranzath's neck, and she pulled her Pink in close to push her forehead lightly against the Dragonet's face. Peranzath almost seemed to soothe, but the Pink's eyes were still a myriad of oranges and yellows.

I'm going, I'm going. Relax.
I am coming with you, LiliMine.
Always.

Lili offered a small nod and bow towards Callistath as she ventured back out; that was her friend, that was her intended Weyrmate, too, if she had anything to say about it. And she wasn't about to leave him alone. Not now, not ever.

She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Peranzath did all the talking for her, and for once, Lili had no idea what to say. Anything at all, that would make it even marginally better, but she couldn't leave him like that. She was probably breaking rules somewhere, but given the heinous things that had been done to Candidates here by some of the Hatchlings pre-Impression, she was willing to take the brunt of the punishment for anything that anyone - no matter the rank - thought was suiting. She wasn't going to let anything break him.

Lili settled in beside him, and Peranzath curled her pink tail around Hers' feet and legs as Lili grabbed hold of Seph. There wasn't anything said, there didn't have to be, and Lili dragged him into a hug so tight Pera had to nudge her about letting the boy breathe.

It took a few minutes, and Peranzath's mental nudging, for something to make it past her lips and into the air around the pair of them. She didn't care who was watching, they had all seen it. She wasn't about to let him be humiliated.

"I know it's not okay. It was cruel, it was so cruel, but you're better than that, Seph. You didn't do anything wrong, I know everyone had to have thought that cruel little crackdusted creature Impressed you, it's not your fault. Seidon Impressed, Seph...your brother Impressed, and if he Impressed, then that means your Dragon is here, too. You can't give up on it. You can't, I won't take anyone else. Peranzath and I, we won't have anyone else, you heard her. She likes that we are two, that means one day, you'll be two, too. She doesn't like odd numbers, so that means your other half is coming, too."

She gripped him like Threadfall was coming, and the world was going to spin him away from her - though one hand remained on her Pink's tail, Peranzath having curled it up around her wrist as her wings settled against Lili's back. She crooned soothingly towards Seph, her head rested on Lili's shoulder.

LiliMine?
Yes, my love?
What sort of fort is an inland fort? Is it made of sand? Pillows?

Lili shook her head. Raaaandom dragon. Random.

[Boo]

Hulair looked up as the young woman spoke to him and he nodded. In all honesty, he was convinced that he would be able to pick Hulsk up for a long while at least until she was fully grown but even then he was sure his weight might just be enough. He’d never been a very… Thoughtful person and everything had always been able to be fixed through physical endeavours. He was far more like his bonded than he perhaps realised.
Hulsk ally?

The green posed the question to her bonded first, eating chunks of meat and looking over at her cyan sister.
If she means friend then, yeah.
HULSK ALLY!
Not that she would remember it the following day, but she agreed with Tamarisk, shouting her agreement back at the cyan. Wasn’t she an intruder though? Did she need to be smashed! Hulsk lowered her head.
Allies aren’t intruders, Hulsk, they’re creatures and people you like.
Hulsk no smash?
No smash.

Out on the sands, S’idon stepped back to allow N’yn to take his place, helping Garund move off the sands. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply before turning to look at Seph.
I am quite hungry…
He could feel fear through the bond and that almost terrified him more causing some additional stress with the whole situation but Kamikith’s words settled the pink dragon and she cheeped lightly back at the yellow.
Oh dear sweet Kamikith, I do not know but I need to get my things and some food. I am ever so hungry. Mine worries for his family though.

S’idon nodded when Seph spoke to him though and he stepped back, hesitating and walked backward still watching Seph. He had Silvianith now, he had to look after her but Seph had always been there for him. As soon as the iron moved off, Silvianith had jumped with delight. She’d known that there was something wrong. ‘Sephsk’ had not bonded to HerBrother but had only contacted him with malice in his heart. The pink skipped over to Callistath and then spoke to the great gold.
Thank you mama for looking after my things. I should like them back now please and then we can go get food.

Quick food and then he could come back. Suddenly, something was wrong. Silvianith was retrieving her birthday gifts but Seph had fallen to the ground.
“Seph!”
He rushed back but Lili got there first and in that moment, he felt a pang of anger. That was his brother… Eyes darkened as Silvianith, wandered over to him, dragging her egg.
Do not feel that way, Broseph will always remember you too.
S’idon looked down at the pink dragonet, a pressure in his throat as the iron moved off to Impress someone else. Was it just him or did her eggshell have more things in it? He shook the thought away as Silvianith nuzzled his leg.
We will visit him later. I will not let you forget your love for him because I love you more. His will be here soon, I know it.

Whilst she spoke, she examined another piece of eggshell that she had gathered and placed it into her egg. Her eggshell hat still on her head, she hooked her claw into her treasure trove and dragged it to the feeding area as S’idon turned his back on Lili and Seph, walking to join the other Weyrlings. Silvianith needed food.... That was why he was walking away, no other reason… He tore up the pieces of fish, as he had been taught and began feeding them to the pink dragonet who took them quite carefully.
Oh! Oh Mine this is the best tasting food ever!
Wait until you’ve had herdbeast.
Well why can’t we have herdbeast?
Because… Some people hurt them.
That is not very nice…
No… It isn’t.

[/blockquote]

[Kiran]

Jafari watched as the brown went into what was left of the candidates. His heart went into his throat. But it bypassed him, picking up Quellyn, who gave the wher a small hug in return. The little boy had been positively terrified, and his robes were wet with sweat to prove it. But he was passed over. With the iron Impressed and the brown heading to the Stands, Jafari was left... With nothing.

His hands trembled as he stared forward at the broken eggs. There were none left. None alive, at least, on the Wher's side. None for him. Once again he was alone. Jafari swallowed hard. He would leave the program. Saowyn was graduating, she had a wher for long enough. He would talk to her and finally tell her that-

A sudden movement off to his side made him flinch. Jafari's eyes widened at the iron wherlet that had come back to rampage. Wasn't he done? Hadn't he Impressed? Jafari was confused, startled, and a bit frightened with what was happening. Had the wherling post control? Or... He didn't have much time to think it over as the iron was finally confronted by his mother. The wher seemed to make a decision. Strolling towards Jafari, something seemed to change ever so slightly.

Jafari will do. Yes. Jafask is for...beginning.[/i]

Jafari stared at it. And then stared some more. No. No. This couldn't be his wher! his was nice and kind and-

Jafask nice. And Jafask Jafasks'.There was a calmness there that belied all the chaos and terror that it had been wreaking almost moments earlier. Breathing deeply, Jafari knew that the Impression had to be gotten over and done with and then he could show his wher to his friends and then hide away forever. He sliced his hand, aware that two others had been broken by his Wher's actions and wanting to get off the sands and to his new room as soon as possible.

Jafask made the blood bond, a rough lick of the tongue that left no doubt in Jafari's mind that it was a done deal, and then without preamble bounded over to the Stands where Jafari's friends were. He couldn't rampage them, no, not now, but Jafask was certainly ready to cause some chaos. And who better with than with his Handler....?

Running after the wher with all his might, Jafari passed by Seph, casting the boy a quick regretful look that he couldn't follow with any words. How could he say anything after what Jafask had done? And worse yet was watching the iron clamber into the Stands. He had Impressed an IRON. That was nothing like what an iron should be! Of all the sharding, Faranth-cursed, Thread-blasted...

[mopsy93]

The fact that the Iron didn’t actually Impress Seph was a surprise, just as surprising was the fact that he proclaimed himself the new Newsk before Kalesk effectively said enough was enough and the Iron Impressed Jafari. The Iron wheret’s Green Dragonet accomplice Impressing Garna wasn’t that big of a surprise, Carissa would have to watch out for them, and just how different the two brown wheret brothers wasn’t all that surprising either. That seemed to be the theme of Kalesk’s clutch this time around in terms of personality; the wherets of the same colour (as well as the Grey and the Iron) seemed complete opposites in terms of personality.

With the Hatching more or less over Janvia finally popped out of between above Carissa and Junonth, landing on the former’s shoulder. This was Janvia’s first time experiencing a Dragon (or wher) hatching and the closest she had gotten to a Dragon especially one so young. Both Dragonet and Fire Lizard were pretty curious about the other, though Junonth was pretty sleepy with a full belly while Janvia was completely awake. This of course made Carissa smile despite what had happened during the hatching itself, Dragons and Fire Lizards usually had that effect on people.

[princesal]

Still looking worried at what was going on, Harri's attention was only changed when a brown wher started up into the Stands. He looked really pleasant, and not at all searching for someone's throat to rip out. There was a bubbling pit of excitement in his chest, he felt like a child all over again, giddy at the possibility of being up close to any other wher besides Harthwisk. He was pretty sure Sol knew how excited he was, she could probably hear his heart hammering away at his ribs, trying to escape.

Hello Harri! he bugled. Hello, Hand! Harrisk here! W-what? Everybody be all right. We be all right. Right? Come eat!

"Oh, hello H-" Frozen, he felt frozen entirely. Harrisk, Harrisk... that meant. "" His, Harrisk was his. He was sure that his heart cracked something just then. No longer was he the 30-some turn year old Holdless man, he was a child again, wonder in his eyes. The same wonder that had been there when he had met Hand for the first time. He almost didn't trust himself to reach out and touch. Was this real?

Eat now? No sad. Harrisk closed the gap, pressing himself against Hand. His eyes whirled an excited color with splashed of fear in there, reflecting Harri's emotions. Wait long time?

Harri finally moved, and picked Harrisk up, holding the newly hatched brown wher closer. Almost immediately he dissolved into tears. He didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable, or upset them, but he couldn't hold them back. "-never thought... never thought..." He never thought something like this would ever happen. The want was there, but he never thought Harrisk would ever come. He never thought it would happen, and now he had Harrisk, and he couldn't stop crying. A forever dream before anything else that every really happened in his life. Harrisk seemed happy to snuggle closer, but made sure Harri was well aware of how hungry he was. No sad, Harri. No sad.

Sniffling, and wiping his nose on a sleeve, he looked at Sol, his baby blue eyes reddened, but he was smiling. "Thank you, Sol. Thank you so much." Eat now? Dance Sol be later? Harri gave a watery laugh, and nodded, he knew how hungry babies were. He knew it so well, but he wasn't crying about that, it was pure and utter joy cascading over him. Harri stood up, holding Harrisk close, carefully... so carefully.

See castle? "[Sea Castle?]" Yes, see castle? "[Se-..] Sand castle?" Yes, see sand Harrisk was proud of his sandcastle and wanted to make more. "Yes, you're very talented. Did you get that from my grandmother?" Grand? Grand Mother be Kalesk, Kalesk be great mother! Harri couldn't stop smiling, he hoped his face stuck like this, because he was walking on moonbeams (as opposed to sunshine). "When you get bigger, you'll be able to make great big ones. Bigger than me maybe!" Harri help? Hand help? "Of course. [You bet your brown hide I will!]"

Hand ran the length of Harrisk's still small wherling body, and Harri nearly missed a step because he couldn't stop looking at the baby brown. Only Sol and the newly hatched wher knew how monumental this was for him, how much he really had craved this. He wasn't even sure Sol really knew just how badly the want had always been. A want to belong, to be included, to not be forgotten, to have a companion that wouldn't cast him aside when a better option came along.

In the joy, in the shock, in the surprise, he had forgotten what Impression meant. What change it had made to his life. He'd remember later, after festivities. How that would hit though, that remained to be seen.

Walking in a daze he made it to the edge of the Stands, before stopping and looking around, realizing that he didn't know how to get where he wanted to go. "[Do you need to ask for directions?] Ah..." Hand right Harri. Get directions, meet people, Harrisk like people! "[Here Here. No more being a hermit.] ah..."

Harrisk help Harri. Eat now, Harrisk hungry. With that said, Harrisk wiggled his little form and sprung out of Harri's arms. The expression on Harri's face when he did that looked like he had just dropped a fragile wherry egg, and in an effort to try and catch Harrisk, ended up doing a weird chasing, bent over shuffle movement for about five feet, before realizing that Harrisk was perfectly fine and seemed to be delighting in this weird movement, and tried to copy it. It looked bizarre, but humorous, and when Harri stopped, Harrisk seemed in an even better mood, and lead the way to where everyone else had disappeared to after Impressions.

---- ----

When Dawnova had showed up scruffy... any other situation would have D'nari cracking jokes about her appearance, though he was one to match, wasn't he? If the situation was different though, as it was, he just ignored her smirk, and made room for her. Enciath was snuggled up to Nesdeth, there if she needed support in any way, while dodging around D'nari's warning to not make any comments about the Iron Wher. "Wine sounds about perfect after this, G'lin. You might have to take a few sips before trying to untangle the flitter nest."

He tried to joke to diffuse the situation, but his eyes were back on the Sands, back to Letorin and that other candidate. Enciath would have made a comment about the feeling of jealousy, of possessiveness coming from her not-wher, but then it happened.

Like a tunnelsnake, that Iron Wher raked his claws over Letorin. D'nari saw red. Enciath's eyes turned to that shade, and it was only extreme restraint that kept her from flying onto the Sands and dumping that Iron Wher into the between. She was hissing, lips pulled back to reveal sharp teeth. Tongue snaking out for a moment to lick across those teeth. Impression of the Iron creature cooled her temper enough that her lips covered her teeth again.

D'nari was white as a sheet, but had murder in his eyes, his teeth clenched, and lips pressed together tightly, he resisted baring his own teeth. He wanted to stand up and race onto the Sands, Iola touching his shoulder made him flinch considerably, and he looked at her, as if about to challenge her. "If that wher hadn't impressed we wanted to rip it apart." He sounded deadly serious, it was... well... kinda creepy. The only person privy to the serious anger was Dawnova, and that was because she had been on the receiving end of them before.

I can still do it D'nariMine. That monster touched what is ours.
No, Enciath.
"Yes. I'll wait. If I can't be on the Sands right now..."

He looked back at Letorin, and felt that the anger of what had just happened was making his hands shake.

[Azhdarchid]

"It was strange," Q'sis decided as the new Weyrlings and Wherlings filed out, the failed Candidates trudged away, and the casualties continued to bleed. He stared at the Sands a while longer, then looked to his woman and his son. "Take him back to the creche. Then come to my Weyr." No more of a parting than that was offered to Samael, as he got up, rising out of reach, and made his way up to Unath. The tan had fallen asleep atop her pillow, but stirred as he neared, and leapt away from Shobhaith and her fellow tans with a similar lack of decorum.

***

Ghols waited for Callistath to wing out, then scurried down to Aleksandr. She skipped over the spots of blood around the feeding pit, and attempted to poke Sandr's blue in the back. "K'ius ran out on you. It just was not meant to be," she announced. "But I bet you do not even care." Not just from her own experience did the pinkrider know that the glow of Impression conquered all.

***

Tusk raised her head, then bent her neck back till her eyeridges set against her shoulders, and stared at the movement in the throat of the hatching cavern. Tussbuul followed her gaze. It was over, then. Tusk turned rightside-up and reared up against her man, flopping her weight against him and his cane before returning to all-fours.

Yes, alright, the Master agreed, perhaps weariest of all that his search had gone unrewarded. A strange reaction, wasn't it? He was too tired to think about it. Back to bed.

***

Halventh shivered as the green heaved beneath him, fought till her priorities suffered a terrible adjustment. He did not take his arm off her back, but twined his neck lightly against hers, and curled his tail around the hard ball of her body scrunched up to his flank. Once it was safe to do so, he extended his wing-arm over her, cupping her beneath the leather membrane, now a blanket. He lowered his head, eyes pulsing in twin-like synchrony to the green's, and rumbled softly.

His throat tightened around a sharper rasp of sound when L'xon, still unattended, unspooled the rest of the bandaging from his belt pouch and twisted it around his hand. He tied it somewhat more loosely over his face, just enough to saturate the strap with red. It covered his eye, and he could feel the wet of blood creeping up the fibers, but the wound was no longer spilling indecently everywhere.

He was tying the knot to hold the head bandage in place when he suffered an unbalancing bonk to his leg. One hand fell to the bench, and he stayed on his feet, drawing back from the wher that had accosted him. One leap and the thing would gut him like A'bar-

But it ran off, leaving only a the faintest impression of its presence, like a whiff of cinnamon in his nose. L'xon eyed it anxiously, only to realize all too late where he should have pointed his uncovered eye.

There was a silent period of time, like a dark void between, and then tradition finally lifted her skirts high enough for him to pass.

Only the Betahandler was already taking the remaining Candidates under her wing. L'xon watched her shepherd them to the healers, his open eye glassy. He looked past them, to the crumpled figure of A'bar, but he was already under the auspices of healing hands too.

For what it would gain him. L'xon tried not to think about guts sizzling on the geothermally heated sand. Halventh was still tied into Ablath, rocking with her, but whimpering under the occasional pressure of L'xon's wound too.

I need to be healed. I am going to the infirmary.

There are healers here.

They've other work.

Please do not go far.

It's just the infirmary. You will have to guide Ablath there when they transfer A'bar.

...yes, the dragon agreed faintly, but L'xon had already left.

[Tigersilk]

Kahnasunita had spent most of her time back in the feeding area watching the other new weyrlings to get a feel of what they may be like, admiring her sleeping dragon, and glancing several times towards the Hatching Sands to make sure her two sisters were still alright out there. While several dragonets and wherets passed them by, thankfully none chose to attack them again. Though Sunita had thought that one Green might have liked one of her sisters enough to Impress one, but that wasn't meant to be, as Green went and Impressed another. As the number of hatchlings dwindled to less than five, Sunita was forced to accept that she would be the only one of their trio to leave with a new partner, if the others didn't suddenly get a partner at the last minute.

That thought froze the young teen. They had always been together, relying on each other, Sunita practically raising her sisters after Mother died, and their home Hold all but shunning them over it. But now, she was going to have to spend much of her time from here on out taking care of her Ibith, her sweet innocent little Cyan. And spend less of her time with the girls she'd taken care of for so long. On some levels Sunita knew there'd be resentment for the sudden loss of her attentions, but hopefully their relationship would be strong enough to weather the changes to their lives a new dragon brought. If nothing else, she could find firelizard eggs for them, to give them something that couldn't be taken from them, ever, like no-one could take Ibith from her now. Plus give them a way of communicating if they ever got lost in the woods sometimes, and a defender in case of attack, and......

A dragon screamed in fear; at the same time a telepathic message hit her brain, more pictures than words. A wheret had made its way into the Stands and attacked a rider, almost gutting him, and throwing his dragon into a panic. The commotion had woken her sleeping Ibith. I'm sorry SunitaMine I wasn't awake and didn't block that scream and make you upset hearing Ableth's fears and... Ibith cried into her mind, apologetically hiding her head in Sunita's robes, fearful she had somehow hurt her human by not blocking Ableth's broadcast. "Shhh, baby, it's alright, that just startled me some. Nothing hurt here. I promise." Sunita spent the next few minutes soothing her partner, settling her down from her failure to block a distresed adult dragon's sending.

When a Healer had tended Sunita's wounds earlier, she'd asked what the usual itinerary was for post-Hatchings. Once both Callistath and Kalesk thanked the remaining Candidates for Standing, Sunita had Ibith deliver a message to her sisters, believing that the younger girls would not be allowed back in the feeding area without dragons of their own right now.

*****

When the two Queens thanked the remaing Candidates for Standing, Annuziata and Jasjitta could only sigh in relief. Finally, it was over, and they survived it intact. No partners for them, but their big sis had a dragon partner. Next Hatching, they would surely find their partners-to-be then. The younger girls hadn't quite thought about the consequences of being seperated from their sister like this yet. They weren't quite ready for that idea to set in.

They were starting to leave the Sands when Ibith spoke to them. "Sisters! SunitaMine asks to see you at the Hatching Feast, after you see the Healers for your wounds. She does not think it wise for you to enter the feeding area right now. Too much upset here now." the last delivered in an apologetic tone.

Ziata looked at Jas. "Let's go get cleaned up, then go meet our new family member." and started walking towards the Healers to get Ziata's bite stitched, and to get Jas' pucture wound seen to properly.