All-Stars {Kalith & Nikianeth's Hatching}

[hatori3070]

Seeing the Weyrwoman's reaction to the late arrivals, Jasra found herself heaving an inward sigh of relief. At least she'd been on time, even if her flitts were on Kalith's bad side. She had never met the Copper, but hoped that she wouldn't hold it against her. From the look of disapproval that she gave all of the candidates, she somehow doubted it. Her attention went back to the sands as another dragonet hatched that was, was that Pink? It was such a delicate shade that it appeared more of a light Purple than a Pink.

Jasra couldn't get over how gorgeous and perfect all the hatchlings looked. Even the little Black who was still exploring was healthy, if a bit on the thin side. She smiled at the few moments of play between him and his sister. After missing her completely in what appeared to be an attempt at a tackle, her attention went to the Brown. He was so methodical, going over each and every candidate, trying to be absolutely sure of his choice. That alone instilled a confidence in him. She hoped to be able to meet him after the Hatching was over.

The Black began making his way toward the candidates. His sister seemed to waver between the males and the females for a moment before making her decision, one of the males. Two Pinks gone, and one more burst forth from her egg. She was such a bright, vibrant Pink! The color of her hide was so different from the others, and her behavior was just as unique. She appeared to be...dancing? It was so adorable! Stomping her feet and swaying from side to side.

Six down, 13 to go, not including Nikianeth's three. Still plenty of chances for her to Impress, but they were slowly dwindling away. How much longer would it be? What other colors would there be? Would Hers be out there today? These questions and more swirled through her mind as her anxiety grew. Even the comfort of her three flitts couldn't keep it at bay now. Every derogatory remark, every word of doubt, everything negative that was said to her before she left came to mind now. What if they were right? What if she wasn't meant to be here? What if there had been some sort of mistake? She was very careful to not let any of these thoughts, or the feelings they inspired, show on her face. Only the faintest trembling of her hands showed any apprehension.

[arratra]

Margras was sitting on A'tra's shoulder as per usual, but he wasn't playing with a glow; he was too fixated on the hatching to worry about the glow he had brought along, which was now rolling towards the gap in the roof of the cavern.
Margras never noticed when it rolled completely off the edge and fell down.
Matren, however, couldn't help but notice.

"Ow!" the Smithcrafter exclaimed as the glow bounced off his head, looking up angrily, only to loose his bluster when he realised that it had been Margras' errant glow.

Matren looked back down, and looked at Kalith, then at the candidates. He wished he was among them, but he hadn't been Searched. Instead, he made his way to the stands, but stopped, frowning. Again, he tried to mount the first step, but couldn't.
I have to stay down here, he realised, turning to look at Avartiath, who seemed to be paying half a mind to him even in the midst of the hatching, I haven't been formally searched, and Avartiath is still only a weyrling... but I think he may be a search dragon.

[lesa]

He ran a hand down Basker’s tail as Remsey began talking. This was going to be good. "First, my dear Cadfael, none of us knew there was a Hatching, and I don't think that he was going to move anyway. I was not mad at you, or irritated - I was merely curious." Cadfael snorted. ”Right, and Gwynell hates her brownrider,” he quipped, ignoring the first part of Remsey’s comment, ”when I’m dragged into the Infirmary by a Master Dragonhealer, I can’t precisely say no.”

"What I have him... Good call, it was fellis, but it was also… Fellis and Aconite." The Healer blinked. He couldn’t have said aconite… no, no, no… he did. Ah, sharditall. It was impossible for him to wipe the incredulous expression from his face, "Yes, yes, Aconite is not supposed to be digested,” He snorted lightly at Remsey’s airy tone, letting his friend continue, “but I put a little Comfrey in the mix and that should aid the digestion... I wasn't gone very long, I was coming back..."

Cadfael shook his head, ”Weak excuse, Remmy, weak excuse, but at least now I can probably do something about it, or go see A’mor after the Hatching.” Cadfael loosened the thong on around Basker’s neck, knowing full well that Remsey was likely going to grab at the firelizard, and he didn’t want to be strangled when the move was made. He could have the drugged ‘lizard for now. It was his own fault, after all. Cadfael’s gaze turned to the Brown as it stepped in front of Remsey. Had his friend Impressed?

No… the Brown was walking on, standing in front of him.
He felt the warm-hide-slip of Basker off his neck. Remsey had taken him, good. The Brown now took up all his attention… what a gaze on him, measuring, and and C'faelMine, your Ansyth has found you. He is quite sure. Ansyth? Really? His? Cadfael knew he was likely gaping. But at the moment, he couldn’t care less. Be calm. The Healer smiled, feeling like he was in the center of the sun, warm and comforted and safe and loved. ”I am calm, dearest, just a bit upset, is all. But not anymore,” he finished, turning to Remsey at the… shocked… tone that spilled from the Harper’s mouth. "...Cad?" His eyes danced as he made the introductions.

”Remsey, meet Ansyth. Ansyth, this is Remsey, my best friend.” The dragonet viewed Remsey again, with his rider’s eyes. Mine’s friend, it is good to meet you, again. The mind of His’ friend was very interesting, now that he has His to stabilize him.

Remsey seemed... worried about him. Novel situation, really. "I'm fine, Rem, really, better than fine." He was the best he would ever be, actually.

[purnip]

It seemed like every dragon that impressed was replaced by another group of hatchlings, this time in small number. Lyam was relieved by the removal of madness. With three or four scampering on the Sands, it was hard to keep up. His breathing was slow as he watched another Pink hatch. A Pink...he had a feeling a Pink wasn't in his future, but he still gave it attention just in case. He couldn't rule a single one out, especially in his sorry state. Though he stood with false pride and arrogance, his core could not be changed. There was still fear that kept his soul burning and scratching for a fix.

As for Rhysia, the new Pink caught her eye as something precious. Her hide was such a soft Pink that it reminded her of soft things like pillows and clouds. No clouds were really...pink. Oh! But when Rukbat hits them just right they can be. Sometimes orange, or even a stately purple. Regardless, she was beautiful. Her attention shifted between the Pink and Black as she wondered if either one was going to fancy her in the female bunch. She still had higher hopes for the Black. His curiosity and spirit were both so cool. So inspirational. The Pink leaned on the reserved end. An end of the spectrum she was too bored to lean in on.

The Black wanted to play with his sister. Rhysia grinned. So cute! The Pink didn't seem to mind his antics much, but the wee Black was getting into it. Lyam didn't think much of the display. His impatience was growing and he only wanted the two to make their decisions already. He tried to pass the time by analyzing them as he had done with the others, but what good would it do? He couldn't speak or reason with them. He would know what he needed to know and it would get him nowhere in the end. They would impress to others and leave him Standing for the next batch. And so on. And so on. But no. He was going to Impress. He had to.

He simply did.

The Brown finally Impressed. Lyam found himself able to break himself away from the clutch for a split second to clap for the boy. He did not know this one. His clapping was nonetheless half-hearted. His attention lingered once more on the Hatching in case he'd miss another shattering shell. He had done that once with the Black and he would not do it again. Rhysia clapped just as enthusiastically as Lyam, only because she too didn't know the guy. She was still captivated by the two playing on the sands, but it looked like the Black was getting bored of his sister. About time. It didn't look like his sister wanted to play. Sort of boring, really. That Pink was certainly not for her, unless the Pink was meant to slow her down.

Another egg hatched, revealing a more brilliant Pink. That's more like it, Rhysia thought to herself, but only in terms of color. She didn't know how this lovely young one would be like, but she sure seemed a bit jumpy. So far her favorite was still the adorable little Black. She wondered what his next adventure would be? Perhaps picking on the boys and girls that admired him? She hoped so. That'd be quite a show!

Lyam witnessed the hatching of the brilliant Pink and tried to smile, and it wasn't all that hard. Her dance was a reminder of the hot sand under his feet, which he completely ignored until now. He was so caught up in the action that the surrounding area was blotted out to him. His feet would probably have some brutal blisters after this. He was wearing adequate footwear, but nothing could quite prepare one for this sort of heat. It was all worth it, if he could just sharding Impress already.

The soft Pink that was abandoned by the Black Impressed, once more to a person that neither Lyam nor Rhysia knew very well. Still, Rhysia gave her same level of applause and Lyam gave his half-hearted golf clap. Both were distracted by their goals and wondering when or if they would be achieved.

[mangonumnum]

There was so much going on now. Lasd wasn't sure where to look. He found himself focusing, though, on the carefully analyzing brown. He stared gently at the brown as it analyzed him. He couldn't deny he felt a hope rising up in his chest. Could this be it? Lasd could feel his brain straining to hear a mental voice. The seconds seemed to stretch on forever, but the brown eventually moved on.

Though he was disheartened, the brown's departure was in no way harsh or judging. It was as if it was telling him to keep his chin up. After all, there were plenty of eggs left. One could still be for him. He nodded mentally, straightening up his posture again. There was no need to get upset. After all, he didn't want a dragon that wasn't perfectly suited to him. That would defeat the purpose of Impression. Since the Brown was gone, Lasd turned his attention again to the courageous little black.

Lasd felt confident enough in his masculinity to admit that the thing was adorable. Especially as it desperately tried to play with his newly hatched, but much larger pink sister. Despite its falls, nothing seemed to phase it. Lasd smiled as the black eventually began to march towards the Candidates. Soon, he hoped, it would find its Mine. The cloudy pink that it had been playing with was soon joined by yet another pink- it seemed to be a popular color.

And if this new ball of energy inspired it, the gray-pink moved forward to Impress. Lasd watched as both the Brown and Pink Impressed to boys. He applauded for them. He was truly glad that they were finding Theirs. But the confidence the Brown left him with was trickling away slowly. There were more dragons Hatching but none had shown him too much interest. The Brown...but he had shown everyone interest. Lasd had not noticed any difference in his own treatment. And it did not much matter since the Brown had indeed Impressed.

He looked up into the Stands again and found his family. He knew they would be proud of him-were proud of him-no matter what. He had been Searched. That means something, right? Like, perhaps you could be worthy for a dragon somewhere. Maybe it's here. He shook his head gently, focusing back onto the eggs. He had to be confident. He didn't want his dragon to see him down or doubting.

[fidelli]

He ignored his friend's snort, turning to study his nails - a sure sign that he was getting bored with the conversation. 'Right, and Gwynell hates her Brownrider.' Rem didn't think he liked it when Cadfael knew him as well as he did - it irritated him that the boy knew it bothered him. But they were like twins, separated at birth - he need Cadfael around. 'When I’m dragged into the Infirmary by a Master Dragonhealer, I can’t precisely say no.' But he could stab back. "Get over her already."

But as he went into saying the not-digestive suppressed that he mentioned feeding to the Black - it had only been a tiny amount! - he had to be amused at the look of shock and incredlity on the other boy's face. 'Weak excuse, Remmy, weak excuse, but at least now I can probably do something about it, or go see A’mor after the Hatching.' Rem made a face at his hand, back to studying the short trimmed nails. "It was not. It's a damn good excuse."

Remsey, looking up from the black, narrowed his eyes on the Brown and hoped that this was not what he thought it was. But Cadfael was gaping, and Remmy had the most awful feeling. 'I am calm, dearest, just a bit upset, is all. But not anymore.' And that was that. Damn it. Remsey did not have a lot of friends - you could begin to see why - and with this... He couldn't compare to this. Rem wasn't sure where he stood on the whole Impressing thing, but he suddenly felt worried, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. That worried him more, because usually he didn't worry over things like that.

'Remsey, meet Ansyth. Ansyth, this is Remsey, my best friend.' The Brown looked at him, and then his voice echoed in his mind, giving Remsey an odd taste of Ansyth. Mine’s friend, it is good to meet you, again. He nodded, distracted. "Yes, good to meet you as well." But he was pushing it away, going over the Brown in the careful way he did to everything else, looking over him and comparing him to Cadfael, and not finding anything wanting. 'I'm fine, Rem, really, better than fine.' Well, there was one thing to do. He would never drive a wedge in this - so he would put on the best face and hope that he Impressed. The world suddenly seemed very bleak without Cadfael in it, not that he would ever admit it.

"Capital show! Congrats, I mean it." He nodded, smiling, but cast an uneasy glace at the Hatching. How many eggs left, with so many Candidate's standing there? "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ansyth."

[4horseshowgirl4]

Dekistee wasn't behaving as a Candidate should at a Hatching. However, she hadn't behaved like a Candidate should have before the Hatching, either. Her eyes were on the crowd in the Stands far more than they were on the dragonets and the eggs. She vaguely spotted D'lios, the Brownweyrling and Lord Holder. She remembered the days she had spent in his Hold, before Kalith had been near Flight and she'd come here. Those had been the days. No chores, no pointless lessons, no annoying roommates with even annoyinger firelizards! However, it would all be over after today, wouldn't it? She'd have to suffer a few more months in sparsely furnished barracks (but at least she'd get her own room-- Queenriders didn't have to share!) before moving into the luxurious rooms she deserved.

Nevertheless, Dekistee was growing more and more doubtful that there even was a Queen egg in this lot. The eggs were nice enough, but none of them seemed to have that supreme sense of regality that Queen eggs were supposed to have. She just wasn't feeling the golden vibe from any of them. She suppressed a frustrated sigh. If her Queen wasn't here today, she'd definitely go back to Fort for a few seasons before returning for the next clutch. She wasn't going to remain a Candidate here a candlemark later than she had to! She still had quite a few marks with her, quite enough to pay one of the Dalibor Dragonriders to take her home. Her family would be disappointed, sure, but it was hardly her fault that there was no Queen. She might settle for a sub-Queen, though, and surely there'd be at least one of those in a clutch as big as this one? Maybe it was that biggest one in the center. Or the other big one, the one next to the one that had hatched the Brown? Well, neither seemed to be wriggling, so she stopped paying attention.

Dekistee hung in the back of the girls, almost invisible due to her lack of height. She didn't care that she couldn't see any of the dragonets. There were a bunch of Pinks, Greens, a Cyan, a Blue... and Dekistee just didn't care about those colors. She politely applauded when she heard everyone else do so (signalling an Impression), but that was mostly to avoid looking like a sullen, rude teenager than because she was actually happy for anyone. Sure, a part of her was happy that none of these lowly dragonets was daring to Impress her, but they wouldn't. She was too good for them. Dekistee toyed absentmindedly with the sash of her robe, which she had embellished with fine golden thread. Plain old white was too boring. She had tailored the robe so that it hung like a well-made dress, showing off her slender waist, rather than the one-size-fits-all garment that it was.

She suppressed another sigh. This was taking forever. Her feet were burning up! Another Impression was made, and Dekistee paid just enough attention to see that it was the Brown. Well, that was good. Browns were not badly-ranking dragons. One could become Weyrleader, yes? She didn't recognize the Candidate the Brown had chosen, though. Hmm. She would have to get to know him later, when this was over. Of course, it would be the Kingriders that earned most of her attention. As good as a Brown was, it just wasn't a Bronze or an Iron. Speaking of which, why weren't any of them hatching, either? They were almost as important as her Queen! Even if said Queen was not in this clutch, those Kings might still be her Queen's suitors one day! Dekistee frowned. The royal dragonets were being so inconsiderate, how slow they were! Couldn't they tell that Dekistee was getting bored, and that the soles of her feet were scalding?

---

Unlike one fussy, high-maintenance Candidate, most people were actually enjoying the Hatching. This included one of the Weyr's Bluepairs, B'nyur and Oveth. They had made good time getting to the Hatching, abandoning their paperwork as soon as Oveth had picked up the first notes of the hum. They were perched on a relatively low ledge, as close to the Sands as they thought the clutchparents would let them, as if someone got hurt, they'd need to be as close to the scene as possible. B'nyur was sitting on the edge of the cliff, legs dangling off of it, leaning against Oveth's foreleg. Healing supplies were hanging neatly off of Oveth's riding straps. Hopefully, they wouldn't be necessary, but there had been a mauling at Kalith's last Hatching, and with two clutches on the Sands at once, it would be idiotic not to be prepared.

So far, the Hatching was going smoothly, though. There was a moment where the skinny little Black (despite his thin frame, he seemed healthy enough, and he should put on weight easily enough) decided that going over to Nikianeth's eggs would be a grand idea, but he returned unscathed. Mine, look! It's that person! He Impressed!

[/color] Oveth said excitedly, and although he couldn't have been more vague if he'd tried, he could only be referencing one person. B'nyur looked back from the Black to the boys, and, sure enough, Cadfael, their newest Healer, had Impressed a Brown. B'nyur clapped heartily for them. Browns were good dragons to have around in the infirmary. They could generally be trusted to be calm and collected in a crisis. However, B'nyur's attention quickly wandered away from his job. He was just enjoying the spectacle of the Hatching.

----

And, speaking of spectacles, there was one person who was not going to miss the event she'd helped initiate, though she hadn't known anything was going to happen. Pratyba slipped into her seat next to Sol with unnatural and uncharacteristic quietness just moments before Osro sang his song. "Sol! Isn't this...?!" Pratyba began, but Osro interrupted her. Her jaw opened as she slowly broke into a huge smile as he sang. She buried her head into Sol's sleeve to avoid bursting into laughter as soon as he realized what he was doing. When he finished, she simply couldn't contain herself anymore. Her laughter, loud and ringing, burst through the Sands. It took her several long moments to compose herself. She felt a surge of affection for the toddler. He was brilliant. They had taught him well!

"Isn't his timing amazing?" she whispered conspiratorially to Sol, body wracked with silent giggles. "I can't believe he remembered!" She was now paying absolutely no attention to the Hatching. Osro's song had completely topped the excitement of baby dragonets, hands down. Of course, Hatchings were still amazing and interesting, and Pratyba found herself drowning in its emotions soon enough. Oorth settled next to her bigger Cyan sister outside, content to watch the Hatching through Pratyba's eyes. Maybe they would have to go catch herdbeasts for the babies again! That had been fun! But they weren't Weyrlings anymore, so they didn't have to do chores like that... maybe Oorth would go chase them around after this anyway!

---

Another pair settled on a ledge in the Sands. It was the Weyr's youngest Bronzepair, L'ven and Valleth. However, that certain title of theirs could change today. It was likely that Kalith had clutched at least one King. Look, Mine, there are the two Candidates you met last winter,[/color] Valleth said, peering down at Lyam and Tylar. Many dragonets into the Hatching, neither had Impressed. {You mean the two Candidates that you coerced me into talking to? I swear my toes are still numb!} L'ven taunted good-naturedly. Valleth was sitting regally on one of the higher ledges, with L'ven leaning against him. The Bronze was massive now, rivaling the biggest int he Weyr, though he was no match for the bigger Irons or the Queens. He had filled out well, losing his adolescent skinniness and putting on quite a bit of muscle. He looked every inch the mature King, even though L'ven himself hardly matched that image, as unimpressive physically as he was. Still, the young Dragonrider wore his Wingsecond knots more than enough pride to make up for that.

Valleth's attention kept drifting to Callistath, and L'ven had to constantly yank his attention back to the Hatching-- he needed the Bronze's superior vision to know what was going on. From this high up, he could just see the eggs and the dragonets, much less discern individual Candidates. Valleth wanted to give Callistath a greeting, but he was unnaturally wary of even her lately. L'ven wasn't used to his dragon being timid around females, but he had been, avoiding talking to them or looking at them (but, hey, he was a Bronze, how was he not supposed to look at Callistath?) like the plague ever since his last interaction with Gneith and the shouting L'ven had given him after. That Brown finally chose a Candidate I do not recognize, who is now speaking to another Candidate, unImpressed, who I also do not recognize, and the singing Pink chose one of the quiet boys,[/color] Valleth reported, eyes giving a happy little whirl for his siblings. They forgot about their girl trouble for a few minutes, and just enjoyed watching the grand event below them.[/right][/font]

[Admin]

She spins and she sways,
To whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world,
And I'm sitting here wearing.

The two brown, blue, and green eggs at the middle of the front row were rocking. They both had slightly different styles. The one to the right went back and forth steadily, never pausing and showing no exhaustion. The one to the left gave little shivers, not seeming to properly shake and always pausing after a little bit of effort. Still, they rocked together. Of course, the one on the right managed to break first, because the firm way it rocked caused cracks to form quickly. The dragonet inside entered the world first, before the twin-like copy of his egg even began to crack. Kicking out chunks, he threw his shoulder into the opening that he started and then he was free. He righted himself, stepping forward properly and pulling his entire body from the wreckage he had created. After his firm but awkward escape, a calmness and a steadiness settled over him.

The dragonet was a purple. His color was deep, but it was still vibrant. It was a rich and natural shade, for a purple. While it was a little darker than many shades, his hide could have been described as classical purple in its color. In size, he was big for a purple, smaller than the brown that had just Impressed but larger than all of his other siblings. He was stocky in build for a purple too, though still slender in much of his design. As he stepped forward, his wings sat awkwardly upon his back, but he didn't seem to much mind that. Instead, he turned to look at the egg that was next to him in a patient manner. He seemed to know what was inside and wanted to wait. It was impossible to say how he would know, but stranger things had happened with dragons and hatchings. Either way, he tucked his feet under him and proceeded to wait it out.

The purple didn't have to wait all that long. Apparently, the dragonet within the wiggling egg didn't want to be left out of the party. A moment after the purple brought free of his egg, the shivering egg cracked. It took a little while for the dragonet within to manage to properly break the egg from there, but then he was free. It was another purple who hopped out with a flick of his tail. However, he bore no great resemblance to his same colored brother who stood there, waiting for him. The egg he had hatched from looked almost too big for him. He was small for a purple, and, while bigger than any blue by a good margin, he looked more like the size of a very large yellow. Where his brother had stockiness to him, he was extremely skinny and lanky. He didn't look strong. He looked more pretty and cute than any sort of youthful handsome.

At first look, in fact, it might have been hard to tell that he was a purple. He looked like a pink. He was too big, but it would be hard for some to tell, and his hide wasn't very purple like that of his brother's. A very light, flowery shade of violet, there was definitely something purple to his shade, but it was very, very pink. Thankfully, it did darken in some place across his body, down on his legs and across his wings and tail, to a point were it was a more proper, deeper violet that was more purple. Still, in truth, he was more a purple-like magenta than purple. As if he cared! He thought himself perfectly attractive, and was more preoccupied with bouncing across to his waiting brother. The other purple regarded him with calm happiness, greeting his hatching with great friendliness. Side by side, they stood and faced the new world.

Nearby, the pink still on the sands continued with her dancing. It was like a twitch she couldn't turn off. She couldn't stop moving. She had to keep going, and she wanted it to make sense, so she did it to a time no one but she could hear. Thump, thump, thump, thump. The candidates couldn't capture her interest. She moved with an intensity, an inexhaustible energy at her disposal and in her heart and soul. Thump, thump, thump, thump. The dance of life continued on through her, and it came out as just that in her, a dance, while it might have taken other forms in other people. There was a peace she found in never stopping. She loved the movement, and the twitch came naturally to her. Her dance slowed, as she began to grow hungrier, but it didn't stop. Her feet hit the ground again and again, sending sand out in puffs away from her.

The violet purple had his own limited interest in standing still. Apparently the leader in the pair of purples, he stepped forward, with a sway to his walk, and hurried on forward. He looked about himself, searching for things. After a few steps, though, he seemed to be dissuaded. He peered down at the ground in front of him and gave it a dainty sniff. Something about it, a glob of egg innards, displeased him. He made a face, baring teeth in a dainty fashion, and then he hurriedly shuffled back, only to trip over one of his long limbs and fall over. He let out a dramatic sound of injury as he landed on his rump. The darker purple had been following him cheerfully, and looked to be quite tolerant of his antics. He reached forward and nudged the pinkish purple insistently until he stopped his momentary, foolish sulking from falling and got back to his feet.

At that point, the violet purple seemed to properly notice the other purple. He stepped back, looking at the other dragonet and tilting his head. Slowly, he began to circle the other purple, his agitation at falling entirely forgotten. Blinking his outer lids, the deep purple stayed perfectly still as he was inspected. Once he was all the way around, the light purple stopped and took another step back. Then, with an imperious high pitched chirp, he poked his brother sharply in the side until he stood up straighter. Rather surprised, but willing to comply, the bigger purple hurriedly straightened up. After moving back again to inspect his brother's new posture, the squeaky, little purple continued to poke the other purple until he stood with his shoulders and feet square. Then he swept a bit of sand from the other dragon's hide and finally seemed pleased with the effect.

Over closer to the candidates, the black had gotten a bit distracted from his journey right to the boys and girls that stood in their little semicircles. He'd gotten bored, and, if there was anything he didn't like, he didn't like boredom. So, around he went, turned away from them to complete a little task of his own invention. He pushed sand about with one foot, and then pranced over in a different direction. He cleared his imaginary obstacles, and then he fought an imaginary dark forbidding figure. His ideas lacked definition, but the fun lay in the doing. Courage beating in his chest, he wanted to do something big and real, but he saw a lack of options for that, so he turned inside of his head. Anyway, all the little things around him were distracting. He went to inspect that little thing on the ground and then that dip of sand. He explored every tiny thing around him.

The pink started to really move. Her strides lengthened and her stomping change. Away she went, bounding and dancing across the sands. People! To the people she went! Not much thought was put into the decision to move. She could always move away if she decided otherwise, but moving came so easily to her. Off she went, moving so quickly, passing right by the black in a flurry of motion and feet and a brilliant pink tail. Despite some awkwardness in her body, she was graceful when she moved. She had too much energy to be awkward. The opinions of the worlds meant nothing to her. She simply wanted to keep on moving until the day that, one day, in the distant future, which she couldn't understand or see, she would die. It was all simple to her, laid out before her even when she didn't look at it. She would be happy, as long as she moved.

Around the candidates, she danced. Her motions didn't cease simply because she was looking at them, turning a swirling eye from one to the next as quickly as she could to match her thumping feet. She held the rhythm that she had always kept, in her head, as she pounded the ground in her leaps and steps. She even darted between two of the candidates at one point, so that she was outside of them. The moment where she hung in the air from that caused a rest. She didn't stay beyond the candidates, where she didn't belong, though she didn't care about that, for that long. She dipped forward, and then back between two more of the candidates so she stood in front of them again. Not that she stayed there for long. On she went, moving onto new candidates, moving across the sands, following the curve that they all formed.

Then, all of a sudden, she stopped. Her body gave a tremble and she shuddered. Something lanced through her, a good feeling, but the stopping still felt wrong. She turned her head, and her eyes meant those of her rider. The rhythm beat on in her mind, and the lack of motion didn't feel quite so bad. KjaraMine, your Bailarth likes the rhythm; she said with an energy, her voice going along at a quick clip that was just understandable. Her tail gave a twitch. Can you feel it too? Can you hear it? She sounded so energetic. Even as she began to realize there was the pain of hunger in her middle, she didn't care about anything but what she said and the pounding all around her. She was wrapped up in herself and her rider. Her tail gave another twitched. Then she stomped the ground with her front feet, just twice. Thump, thump.



The black had paused in his tasks to watch the pink go by him. He watched her Impress. He stood taller. He wanted to do that too! He wanted to be able to go beyond the people that surrounded him, that were too tall for him to look over. The unknown beyond, such a scary thing! He could see so many things that could be beyond it. Terrifying beasts lurked in his mind, existing just behind the white clad figures before him. However, none of the delusional ideas that he had scared him. Turning around, he marched forward, his head held high. He stared at the candidates in front of them. He had to pick one. Finally, he had to pick one. Which one? The long-haired ones over there? The short-haired ones over that way? He didn't know what he was looking for. He didn't know why. He just had to pick. Then he could finally go on a proper adventure.

Of course, he could turn picking into an adventure as well. He chose a random direction towards them and struck out on it. It didn't take him long to get right up close to them, and then he went bumbled down along them. He didn't make any noise, but, in his head, there started to be some sounds. Grand noises. They seemed a bit silly to him, but he didn't mind the idea of fanfares so much. As long as he didn't have to speak too much. Anyway, it wasn't as if anyone but him could hear them, not that such a thought as that occurred much to him. At some point, he spent a moment mimicking the pink that had just Impressed. He twirled about, spinning around on two of his feet. He barely managed to keep on his feet, and, after a prance, he quickly gave it up. One day, though, he was going to do something like that with someone!

Eventually, the boys beside him turned to girls, and he still forged onward. Finally, though, he felt a tug, and he stopped. He turned. It was simple. He knew who he wanted. Off they would go, to have great fun, for ever and ever! They would see the world, and would have great adventures! Thoughts swirling in his mind, he looked into her eyes. She was small too, just like him. They would show the world! AmaraMine, will you go with your Veejarth? That was all he said. His voice was perfectly clear, loud, and strong, and he spoke with gentleman-like manners. He didn't see any reason in speaking unless he could go about sounding like that. It was fun and grand! He beamed a dragon's smile up at her, his swirling eyes bright with a blue and a vibrant green mixed with a thousand other colors he would one day see elsewhere in the world with his rider.



Oh, I will dance with Cinderella.
I don't want to miss even one song,
Cause all too soon,
The clock will strike midnight.

[kyrillion]

Kalith, Remiel noted, looked less than pleased with this batch of Candidates. Too many late arrivals; and some, even, had forgotten to bow to her. He winced, slightly, in sympathy - that couldn't reflect well on his brother, as they were his responsibility. A touch of anger rose, directed at those late-comers and forgetful Candidates. Didn't they know how important this event was? Still, he could just spy S'rial in the corner with Armania, and he looked solemn but still proud. He saw what was happening just as his brother, did, but he wasn't in the least bit upset about it. Sometimes, Remiel honestly didn't understand his older sibling - he'd have been fuming, were he the Candidatemaster.

Shaking his head to clear it of these thoughts, he returned his attention to the matter at hand: dragons. He watched with mild interest as another pink hatched, though she didn't hold his interest for long. That black, thank Faranth, had finally lost his interest in Nikianeth's eggs, and was apparently rather intrigued by his sister. He approached and began to play, while she remained looking rather nonplussed, although she did appear a bit concerned when he went sailing past her and stumbled onto the sand. It was a rather amusing scene, though one that was interrupted by the brown - Remiel was, at last, next in line. And though he appeared to give him a great deal of that, enough that for a moment Remiel thought he might actually be chosen, he soon moved on to the next boy, and then continued along the line. Masking his disappointment with the ease of experience, Remiel nevertheless watched him until he settled, at last, on one of the boys near the end of the line.

And then another pink emerged from one of the eggs - they were a popular bunch, weren't they? This one seemed altogether different from her mellow sister, however; she seemed to be dancing. Remiel watched, bemused, as she shook of her hatchling-clumsiness and began to stomp out a little rhythm. The other pink, however, seemed to take this as her cue - she was soon matched up with one of the boys, leaving only the black and the second pink.

Just then, two rather similar-looking eggs began rocking. The one relinquished a good-sized, stocky-looking purple - and then, shortly thereafter, a rather scrawny dragonet joined him. Remiel thought it was a pink, for a moment, until he realized that he was far too large. He was, indeed, another purple; albeit a rather feminine-looking one. They made an odd pair, the one laid back and level-headed, and the other a bit more boisterous. And while the pair of them proceeded across the Sands, with a few stumbles and distractions along the way, the pink found Hers among the girls. And then, at long last, the black followed suit. Only the purples were left undecided, now, but there were still many eggs unhatched. It was the eggs, much more than the purples, that drew his attention. What would they reveal next?

[fidelli]

Tonii was in the middle of having a mental breakdown. Right there, on the sands. It was partially because of Shine, who had dove on His's neck and then back between, showering fear of Copper jaws coming down on his tail. With a solid hiss, he was off to find a sunny corner and protect his tail, leaving Tonii alone.

The second part of her worry was that, indeed, she had disappointed everything. She was late - which means that Kalith was mad at her. It meant that she had disappointed the kind Candidatemaster who had taken care of them. She was terrified that Kalith was going to kick her off of the sands, making both the Copper and N'yrl both be angry, and she hated when people were angry. So, she was on the Sands, wrapped up in her own mind and terrified.

Hazel eyes scanned the Hatching, waiting for someone to come and escort her out, to tell her that she would not be allowed to stand there because she had arrived late - Her dragon, the dragon that she had been waiting for for a long time, was not there. Her dragon had Impressed, tired of waiting.

Of course, if Tonii had taken time to think, Kalith was not disapointed in her. She was a moody Copper mother who was angry at her, but not actually going to make her leave. Fajra could care less about her as an indivdual, and the Brownrider was busy with his own clutch - he wasn't paying attention to the them. N'yrl was probably just pleased she had gone, after all the trouble he had taken Searching her... And that was her thinking, because it had been Gryth who said they should take her, and they had just happened to meet.

Back to the story.

In the middle of all of the angst, Streak came to the rescue. The Purple popped from between, tail tucked under his body - because all of the flits had suddenly decided that this was the punishment that they would receive if coming onto the Sands. But he braved her anyway, landing on her shoulder awkwardly and curling himself around her neck, trying to sooth the almost hyperventilating candidate. His nose up at her cheek, he licked her softly, sending waves of happiness and soothing onto her. The girl wrapped her arms around herself, and tried to focus on the dragonets, one hand up to the Purple in an effort to calm down and the other creating bruises in her skin through her robe.

But she watched the hatching, letting the hum of the Purple sooth her, and focusing on the new young ones. The eggs in the front row, the two that looked exactly alike, were rocking, in two different ways, and she watched as the deep purple dragon emerged from his shell. Oh, he was beautiful. But he made no move to go anywhere yet - he focused on the egg that looked almost exactly like the egg that he came from and watched, as a... Really big Pink stepped out? But no - he was a Purple, if the markings meant anything... Just silly markings. She tried to smile at their antics, giggling, but also keeping an eye on the already hatched dragonets.

The Pink was doing an odd shuffle that Tonii had decided was dancing, raising small puffs of sand in the air and moving in her own beat, as though she was listening to drums that only she could hear. And even as she watched between the three dragonets, Streak chirped softly, and the girl's copper hair flew out as she turned her head to see the Black coming closer and closer. But the Pink was moving to the girls as well, and she begin to watch the two, ignoring the Purple's for this.

The Pink Impressed first, to a girl she did not know... Oh, what was she kidding, she did not know anyone except Remiel and Hatoter, and that was because Soft retrieved Remiel's pebble and Hatoter had dragged her to a lesson. The Black was next, racing around like a small cat, and then... He Impressed as well. To another girl, but he Impressed, and Tonii nodded, and waited. She would not Impress - she was sure of this, as the number of eggs dwindled. Her mother was right, J'jax was right - she was not meant for the wonderful creatures.

But she had promised N'yrl she would stand, so she did. She stood, watching the dragonets, and knowing in a secret place in her heart that this world was not meant for her.

[kaya]

The shard? Ryka thought, scrunching up her face. She had not been long on the Sands and yet, one after the other dragons of the most unsightly colors rolled onto the Sands. Was it so wrong of her to think so? Ryka had a strong dislike for pink. It had been her mother's favorite color, and to her represented all housewife-like mannerisms and activities. Faranth fate her between, but she could simply not stand pink. And purple wasn't far off. It wasn't a...bad color, but for Faranth's sake, why were there so many odd colors of dragon now-a-days? It wasn't so widespread in whers. There was a Queen other than Kalith on the Sands whose hide was a color she had never seen in whers. So what was it then? Some fancy, mineral name like 'Copper' or was she merely called 'Orange'? Wasn't that a bit of a boring name? Though then, by that token, color names like Blue and Green ought to have been just as dull.

A wave of heat hit Ryka in the face and she shifted her weight onto the other foot for the umpteenth time. Why did they have to wear sandals? More strange Weyr tradition that she still did not understand. Her hours spent up late and seeing Ridan on and off had not left her with a new found understanding of Weyr culture, as much as she had resolved at first to pursue such knowledge. Reclusive and ignorant to the names of everyone around her Ryka folded her arms and set a harsh glare on her face. Nothing going on was putting her in a better mood. She was sleep deprived, in need of a good bath, some relaxation, some breakfast and some suitable, wherrish company. Yet here she was amongst dragons. What was going on?

Taking a deep breath Ryka let her arms relax to her sides. It took a lot of effort to remove a faction of the tension in her shoulders. This was her duty. The dragon had proclaimed it to her and she had accepted. No matter the color, no matter the name, if a dragonet chose her it would be her duty to love and raise it. ...yes, love. As foreign of a word as it was to her it would be something she would need to learn, and quickly. Dragonets were to some extent like young whers, who when loved and cherished, doted upon and caressed grew up much more comfortably and confidently. And a confident dragon was something Ryka wanted to see, regardless of rank. She didn't want a lot of attention, a fancy title or special privileges. If a dragon was to be hers then that was all she wanted. Everything else was unimportant.

Throb.

Shards, that hurts, Ryka silently moaned, bringing a hand up to her head. Did the Weyr have anything for headaches? Though honestly, what she really needed was sleep. Ryka was tempted to keep swearing but even the thought of words made her head hurt more. Ryka closed her eyes and felt the heat of the Hatching Sands floating around her, pulsing up and over her skin. She disliked it, it made her head hurt so badly...but thinking of that made it worse. She cracked open an eye to see what she believed was the Black Impressing. Good for him. But how many more eggs were there?

[arratra]

Matren stood there, watching it all. He smiled and clapped appropriately, but he was distracted, his mind not truly on the Candidates or Kalith.
It might have been his overactive imagination (not necessarily a bad thing in a Smithcrafter), but he could have sworn that he heard a voice in his head, saying his name but with the dragonrider honorific shortening.
Shaking himself, he saw the two purples, and blinked.
Those two... they seem strange... different from the others... even Av. At this thought, Matren looked up through the opening to where Avartiath was visible, watching the hatching closely. But he was still paying attention to Matren himself, which was a constant, but welcome touch on his conciousness.

[purnip]

Eight down. After the remaining two on the Sands impressed, earlier having been pre-replaced by the not so twinly Purples, Lyam's heart was starting to sink again. Only eleven left, not counting Nikianeth's clutch. It was hard the count those three when they weren't the ones rocking and cracking. Watching the Purples hatch, he couldn't quite decipher the color of the paler and more pinkish one. Was he too supposed to be Purple? Didn't make a difference. He'd accept anything at the moment, no matter what the color, as he was always receptive to any dragon. Purples normally Impressed to boys, and seeing as more girls had Impressed lately, he might just be on close roster. That would just be lovely.

Rhysia was captivated with the Purples, as she had been with every other dragon that had hatched so far. Though their shells were the same, they looked so different from one another despite their shared color. Purple was so mysterious and wonderful. She remembered the first Purple she met fondly that time at the lake, when she was drawing. She also knew of their attraction to boys, but never neglected the idea that they could Impress a female if they saw fit. No denying, she remained eagerly patient.

The last two dragons had just then Impressed, leaving Lyam with his uneasy countdown and half-hearted clapping, though he knew that Amara was Tylar's sister and so he knew of her a little more than the other girls he hadn't talked to much, by default. He might have clapped a little louder for her, but it was hard to tell over all. Rhysia's clapping was just about the same, only it was lighter when Amara Impressed the Black. She sure liked the little fellow, but she was certain an even more fitting lifemate was still out there, jealous of her very mild jealousy. But my heart already belongs to you, she thought to herself, hoping the thought would reach her lifemate. Only you.

Rhysia was beginning to note the thinning numbers, but that didn't really effect her charisma. Hers was possibly waiting for that right time to shine. Waiting for that moment to not be afraid and burst forth, almost recklessly, and claim Rhysia with doubtless passion. She was willing to wait forever for a great friend like that.

As for the boy, he was in the same deterierating state. Though he looked like he could conquer anything, his heart was in a dark place. With only eleven left, there may be nothing for him here. He shuddered to think of it, but only mentally. He refused to let himself collapse into madness.

[basile]

Cilnah to be posted here~

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Like most at the weyr, N'ryl was currently in attendance of the Hatching. Any that might be acquainted with the Bluerider wouldn't be surprised about this, because after all, he was bonded to Gryth. And there was no way that Gryth was going to be absent from a Hatching. It was rude. And especially not to the hatching of not only a Queen, but the Senior Weyrwoman herself. However, what one might not know is that for the first time the Blue had not had to goad His into attendance. In truth, the boy was feeling a bit of excitement for the event, the first time since he had stood for his own bonding that this was true. And it was because of one certain person on the Sands at the moment.

Both dragon and 'rider had become quite fond of the girl they had brought from Benden not too terribly long ago. Though N'ryl wouldn't have admitted that under any circumstances. It was just his nature. But he was fond of Tonii none-the-less. Even if she was late. He had been staring fixedly at the cavern entrance, watching as flashes of white passed through, waiting for the one that had the bright orange tinted hair to pair with it. He'd been worrying his lip when a flash of surprise echoed in him from Gryth, accompanied by excitement, and a bit of smug contentment. It's about time, was all he said, directing His' attention to one of the sets of new weyrlings to make their way from the heat of the sand.

A hiss of breath escaped between clenched teeth as the familiarity of the tall form with long black hair nearly danced her way towards where the meat bowls were placed, followed excitedly by a little Cyan, of all colors. Leave it to his sister to help establish the new color of Pern. He knew the little dragonette had made a good choice. His sister was a good person, and do well for the name of the color. "Congratulations, mine kin," N'ryl said in barely more than a whisper, Gryth rumbling his agreement loud enough to cover the sound, even though there was really no chance of the girl overhearing from where they sat.

There was little time to brood, however, as just then a flash of copper caught his attention, and he turned to see Tonii hurrying onto the sands and taking her place among the others. He had to suppress a small chuckle as her little Black, Shine he remembered, suddenly appeared around her neck, because the Copper cutchmother had no qualms about voicing her opinions of lizards at her hatching.

Gryth, on the other hand, was a little more perceptive, watching quietly as the girl shifted back and forth, noting the panic that entered her form in the time that Shine had gone and Streak had not yet appeared. And even with the Purple there licking her cheek, the girl still seemed overly distressed. After a moment of debate, he reached out to the girl, carefully letting his presence be felt before he allowed his voice to be heard by her. It will be alright, Miss Toniiandra. I still believe you are a good choice. And Mine is here as well. We are both proud of you, whether or not one of these dragonettes chooses you to bond with.

[/i][/size][/blockquote]

[seddo]

"So... uhh..." E'li floundered. It was difficult to sound smart for the dragon. She took him off guard, proud and proper, commanding an authority that he simply didn't know how to respect. "Mirath..." The name rolled off his tongue well, but he felt uneasy. He stared into her passionate swirling eyes and he felt sub par, inadequate, useless.

You doubt yourself, E'limine. You doubt yourself far too much. I will not have this. I am a your dragon and I will not have this doubt in you. I shall eat it... Eat it and some meat. [/i]

"Okay, well, we'll go get you some grub and then we can talk in my room after wards. I've got just about as many questions as you."

I doubt it, E'liMine. I have many questions.[/i]
"Well, whatever." E'li straightened himself upright as best he could and marched in a straight line off the sands. Mirath paused before following. Her head slowly arched around and she gazed back at the other candidates one more time. Most of them were watching her. She snorted and turned back to follow E'li.

"So, this is where the food's at." E'li said. The room smelled of blood. "I guess I'll grab you a bucket. Don't uh... Don't bite my fingers or anything."

Mirath growled, No, E'liMine, I will not bite your hand... Boys... So distrusting.[/i]

E'li tucked his hand into the bucket of cold red meat and pulled out something resembling a kidney. He'd gutted a few fish before, but never anything this big.

"Enjoy." Mirath's mouth opened unimaginably wide and sucked close to three pounds of meat into her mouth.

"Wow. You eat like I do when I'm hungry." E'li said with a chuckle. Mirath purred. This we have in common.[/i][/size]

[Reky]

There was nothing but pure excitement and anticipation radiating from Memnorooth now. Lin hefted the bucket closer to the wiggling green, nothing unfamiliar about the raw herdbeast. Sure, she hadn't personally butchered most of the animals back at the farm. In fact, she rarely had, but father had shown her once or twice. She wasn't squeamish about it. She was still absolutely beaming, seeing that adorable, brightly coloured green. Her dragon. She set the bucket down and held out the first hunk of meat. Mem immediately snapped it up.

Oh, yes, LinMine! Food is very good! Yes! Now I can be not-hungry, she chirped, but then she paused. That sounds funny. 'Not-hungry.' Is there a better word for it? Is there? Not-hungry doesn't sound right, LinMine...

Full? Lin supplied.

Yes! Yes! That's it! Full![/i] Chittering, she went right for it and shoved her snout into the bucket, practically inhaling it all.

Slow down, Mem, you'll make yerself sick, Lin cautioned. But she was still smiling. Faranth, he cheeks were starting to ache from it. She hadn't felt this amazing in a long time. She was on top of the world right now. The whole, entire world.

What?[/i] Memnorooth looked up, blood on her lime muzzle. She cocked her head to the side, looking rather blank and lost, but then she shot off, prancing over to the dusty pink a little ways away. Cheerily, she chittered away, mouth open in a fanged, draconic grin. Oh, wait, but what if her sister didn't like her? Oh, no, that was a silly idea. It had to be hard to dislike Memnorooth, because she liked everyone! Of course, she liked Hers the most. Hers was the best.

Still brimming with energy, she spoke to Mirath. Hello, hello! You have a Mine too, now, don't you? Aren't they great! My Mine is the best, though, she's the best. ... Hello, hello! I... There's something I should say... Oh, no, hold on, it's coming. It's coming![/i] She sat back on her haunches, thinking... thinking... Aha! My name is Memnorooth, pleased to meet you! That's it. That's what it was.[/i]

Lin laughed. Briefly, she wondered how she was going to survive this dragon. It was going to be quite a challenge to deal with Memnorooth's short attention span and forgetfulness... Oh well. She'd get used to it. She was stuck with Mem, after all... Not that she minded. It was great. While the green was off making a new friend, she gave a lopsided smile to E'li.[/size]

[4horseshowgirl4]

Two more dragons Impressed, a Black and a Pink, and two more hatched, a Pink and a Purple. Or was the Pink a Purple, too? Whatever, it didn't really matter that much to her. It wasn't like she was going to Impress either of them. She was human enough to note how cute they were, but cute only counted for so much. Cute was something that served only as an attention-getter. It was definitely something that signified childhood, youth. After today, they wouldn't be kids anymore! They'd be Dragonriders! So, cute should be ignored, and Dekistee was all too happy to just disregard the two Purples, or the Purple and Pink, or whatever color those two dragons were.

Unlike most of the Candidates on the Sands, Dekistee wasn't feeling even the faintest flutter of nervousness. She was so self-assured in her future that there was simply no reason to be nervous. One of two things would happen at this Hatching. Either there was a Queen, and Dekistee would Impress it, or there wouldn't be, and she wouldn't. If it were the former, then happiness and celebration would ensue, and if it were the latter, then it wasn't even her fault for not Impressing. Dekistee was so simple-minded that it had never occurred to her to do the extensive research many of her fellow Candidates or done, or even thought about cracking open any bloodline records to see that, no, being blue-blooded did not guarantee a metallic dragon. Ignorance was bliss.

So while the other Candidates' minds were racing with excited, hopeful thoughts, perhaps envying those that had Impressed so far and beginning to panic that the dragonets were starting to run out, Dekistee's was rather blank. She looked up every now and then to see what was going on, but, other than that, she mostly stared off into space, appearing to pay far more attention than she actually was and trying not to wince about her hot feet. It was all about appearances, and she was going to look every inch the regal, unruffled ruler. While it should be clear from her decorated robe that she was clearly the future Weyrwoman, looking like she was in pain while the others were oblivious to the heat in their excitement wouldn't do anything to help her reputation.

She noticed that Amara, the silly girl she'd met while out collecting needlethorn that one day, had Impressed a Black. That rude Engrye brat and that half-insane Jasra both were unImpressed so far, Dekistee thought with a malicious smirk. Well, obviously neither of them were Dragonrider material, though it might be good for them if they could take out their terrible tempers on Thread instead of other people! She looked over to the boys. Handsome Remiel and charming Belor hadn't Impressed, either, though that actually made sense, since no Kings had hatched yet! She didn't quite know them well enough to be as sure of their futures as she was her own, but she was fairly confident that they'd Impress well. That little analysis was as much as Dekistee could do on the matter, and she turned her attention back to absolutely nothing, waiting with increasing impatience for royal to Hatch.

[/font]

[theknightwhosaysni]

Two Purples on the Sands - or maybe that was a Pink? Tylar didn't care to investigate, really - and the Brown was gone. It was getting distinctly more and more likely that he wasn't going to Impress.

So many Candidates, so few eggs.

Tylar was starting to get even more nervous than he had been before, and even his firelizards were picking up on it, shifting anxiously from foot to foot on his shoulder, even self-centered Akal seemed to be anxious.

His eyes were wider than before, a very slightly paler shade belied his nerves, if anyone had bothered to look, and a small sheen of sweat, that could've been chalked off to the summer's heat on the Sands, glittered on his forehead as Tylar's stomach began to tie itself in knots.

He was nervous indeed. What if he wasn't meant for a dragon? What if he was only meant for a Wher, or something of the like, with niether the intelligence, nor the ranking of the lowliest green dragon?

The fate scared him far more than lack of Impression ever would, Tylar found Whers distinctly distasteful, and as much as he liked Akal and Meggo, he didn't want to be doomed to spend with them and only them.

Akal let out an annoyed chitter, offended by Tylar's last thought. He hadn't even poured itching powder on Meggo recently or anything! Well, that was a good idea. Akal made a sound similar to a cackle, his attention drifting away rapidly from his annoyance with His to his plans to go after Meggo again. Stupid bronze needed to be taught a lesson, anyways.

Meggo didn't seem to notice His' thoughts at all, simply flaring his wings cheerfully, and seeming to say 'All will be well' After all, even if His did not Impress a dragon, he would always have Meggo, wouldn't he? And Meggo was good enough for anyone, after all. He was the best, well, ever.

Tylar shifted his weight from foot to foot, absently aplauding for the girl who'd Impressed the dancing Pink, and applauding a little louder, if only out of duty, when his little sister Impressed a black.

---

The list of questions half forgotten in her mind, Amara watched with increasing amusement as the little black ran about, leaping through the air and capering around, off on an adventure of his own, before he at last headed for the Candidates.

He started out with the boys, but he didn't seem to have Impressed yet, and the black continued on down towards the girls.

She'd brought her hands together, ready to applaud for whoever Impressed the adorable little thing when he stopped in front of her.

Her? Wait, that couldn't be right...

She waited for the black to move on, but then his voice was resounding in her mind, so mannerly...

AmaraMine, will you go with your Veejarth?

His voice sounded so right in her mind, it was so perfect to have him looking at her. So this was what Impression was like - it was incomparable to anything she'd ever experienced. It wasn't like flying, but it wasn't like she was on the ground either.

It was almost as if she were floating just above the ground, able to go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted, with just a thought. It was having power without needing to use it, it was simply perfection.

Veejarth? She was trying out his name in her mouth, even if it wasn't quite her mouth, and then she went on, an instant later, grinning as wildly as if she'd won the lottery, Of course I will! But where do you want to go?

Veejarth blinked warmly at her, I want to go get food. That will be our first adventure together!

"It will also be our greatest." Amara replied out loud, beginning to lead Veejarth away, towards the food.

It will be our greatest. He agreed, heading after her, unable to resist a leap into the air, But do you not see it AmaraMine?

See what? She'd returned easily to her mental voice, enjoying speaking without speaking.

Everything! It's going to be so easy to have an adventure out here!

[hatori3070]

The next hatchling was was a beautiful shade of Purple. Only his Brown brother was bigger so far, and his shade was absolutely gorgeous. Jasra was surprised by the lack of descriptive language she could find to describe the dragonets, but they all did seem truly perfect. The big Purple seemed to be waiting for something, looking back at the egg that was nearly so similar to his own. She had just noticed it sporadically rocking back and forth when what first appeared to be a Pink burst forth. Only upon closer inspection did she realize that he must be a Purple as well. It made sense, him being by far bigger than the other Pinks that had already hatched so far. They were adorable together, but the true Pink dancing towards the girls was more important right now. Purples Impressed to males, after all, and Pinks could go either way. The Pink quickly Impressed to a girl she didn't know, but she applauded all the same. Then it was the Blacks turn apparently. He started off over at the males, but he lost interest in them and continued right to the end of the line of girls. Right in front of Amara! When he Impressed to her, she nearly let out a little squeal of delight. She was so happy for the other girl! Amara was soon off the sands with her new partner, leaving only the Purples actually out of their shells.

So many were going. The only kind of comforting thought was that Dekistee also hadn't Impressed yet. She hoped they wouldn't have to be weyrlings together, or worse, be forced to share a room again. If that did become the case, she would just have to spend as much time away from her room as possible. She felt the tiny warm ball of anger spark to life in her chest again as she looked over at the other girl. She wasn't even paying attention! Those in the stands wouldn't be able to tell, but there was a slightly glassy look to her eyes that began to grate on Jasra's nerves. Well, even if she did Impress, anything less than a Queen would devastate her. She dearly hoped so, at least.

[lesa]

"Get over her already." Cadfael answered this with a very descriptive roll of his eyes, and one short word, that would tell all he needed to say, ”Irale,” and that was likely that. Sure, it might be a bit… rude to bring her up, but with Rem bringing up Gwynell, it wasn’t particularly surprising. You fight fire with fire.

"It was not. It's a damn good excuse." The Healer-now-Brownrider didn’t dignify that with a response – it wouldn’t be worth arguing that out, not when there was a solution available. Instead, he rubbed at Ansyth’s eyeridge, commenting softly, ”You know, I’m not going to just off and leave you just because I’m Impressed. Never have, never will.” The phrase brought forth the times he had needed to drag Remsey home because of a broken leg, or the time Remsey stormed into his room even when Cadfael had been quarantined from firehead.
Even the distraction of Ansyth couldn’t hide Remsey’s own distraction from Cadfael’s keen eyes – normally his friend – closer than a brother – would be examining the Brown with about as much tact and personal space as he ever gave Cadfael’s belongings. Considering Remsey’s habit of borrowing his clothing, this reticence was unusual. Even if he had Basker to look over, it was unusual.

"Yes, good to meet you as well." The Brown nodded regally, and Cadfael knew something had to be wrong – yes, Rem could be polite, but still, all he was doing was looking between Ansyth and Cadfael. "Capital show! Congrats, I mean it." Now this just wouldn’t do. Sure, there had been a smile, and the words and all, but somehow… he had a feeling Remsey’s heart wasn’t in it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ansyth."

Thank you, Remsey,[/i] the brown said, turning his gaze back to His C’fael, I am sure one of my clutchsiblings will find themselves in you, Ansyth said sagely. He was hungry, but not too much – he could wait for now, and see if His’ Remsey would be joining them with one of Ansyth's clutchsibs.[/font][/size]

[Admin]

I'm the new cancer, never looked better, you can't stand it.
Because you say so under your breath.
You're reading lips, when did he get all confident?
Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer?
Never looked better, and you can't stand it.

Way at the end of the back row, the grayish purple and brown egg that lay there began to move slowly. One crack appeared, like a thin cut along one side. Another crack formed, like another cut along the other side. With deadly precision, the egg was compromised and then broken open. With a toss of his head, a blue emerged from the egg. He wasn't a hulking creature, because his design was streamline. However, he was a large blue, built on strong lines. Once he was grown and trained, he looked like he would do some damage in a fight. Not that he particularly looked like he was going to be getting in a fight. He didn't look like he particularly wasn't going to not get in one either. He didn't look a pleasant creature, but he seemed mild enough. His body, poised as he stepped forth, hinted at danger, but he gave no other sign of it.

In color, he was an especially dark shade of blue. It was a deep and official color, a handsome and clean shade. It went uniformly across his body, unchanged except for the effects of the light in the cavern and bits of egg goo that clung to him. As soon as he was out in the world, he strode forward, heading clear across the sands. He had no patience to wait. He saw nothing else to do. Everything was stupid except for the future, and he had much to do if he wanted to go about reaching that. Without a person, he couldn't live. He knew that. He understand that, more than most of his siblings. It wasn't a primal urge in him. It was a simple necessity that he acknowledged. It didn't please him, exactly, but he kept his anger in check. He would choose his enemies wisely, and the way his mind worked wasn't one that he could fight at all in any way.

The violet purple was done with cleaning up the other purple to be presentable. He proceeded to go about primping and preening himself. Daintily unfolded one wing, he sat back on his haunches and proceeded to carefully inspect it. The slightest bit of dust was nudge and nuzzled off of it by his nose. Once he was done with that wing, he carefully set it back against his body. He folded it with an expert ease, as if he had done it a million times before. He had a talent for it. He adjusted it a few times, then finally seemed satisfied with it. He proceeded to do the same with his other wing, cleaning it and then settled it back into the perfect position against his body. Miraculously enough, he actually sort of looked more set and pretty after all his work. Apparently, he did know what he was doing. After his wings, he turned his attention to his toes and claws.

The darker purple slowly plodded forward. He knew exactly what his brother was doing, and, while he didn't stick around to watch, he went with a deliberate slowness. He was willing to put up with a lot and put in a lot of effort to make room for the other, more odd purple. Every few steps, he turned his head a little so he could look back at his preening brother. He didn't seem to entirely approve of the actions of the violet purple. He wasn't ever going to behave in any such fashion. However, the other purple was his brother and his responsibility and he deserved someone to stand by him, just like everyone else. In the end, he was going to reach where he was headed no matter what. Going a little slower to see if the light purple might join up with him, so they could stand side by side as they had when they had just hatched, wasn't going to hurt him.

Once he was done removing all of the sand and dirt from his claws, the violet purple finally looked up. With an indignant chirp, he leaped to his feet and hurried after his brother. So what if he was fashionably late! That was what the point! It was fashionable. The other purple was so out of it. He didn't understand anything. Still, he was willing to tolerate the inadequacies of thoughts to appearance from the other purple, because they were friends and he just didn't understand. Anyway, he was quite excited to go see the candidates! While the darker purple walked solidly, he sort of pranced, bouncing with each step. He made chirps and chatters, in his high voice, to the other purple as they went, sounding very animated. The deep purple, who understood him entirely out of everyone else, didn't seem to find it to be of any consequence.

Once they actually got closer to the candidates, the lighter purple hurried forward, leaving the other to follow along patiently after him like a baby sitter. He went on down the line of boys. He inspected each of them, but he did it much more quickly and a little differently than the brown had. He made disapproving squeaks at the way some of them wore their robes or the sandals that they were. He judged hair styles. What else did he have to go on? He wanted to see them well presented! He went right up to the girls, and proceeded to even look at a couple of them, until he got fed up. Most of them were worse than the boys! It was awful! It burned! He wanted to go die in a hole! His brother tried to offer him some solace, though he didn't get it. However, imperiously, he made his way back amongst the boys.

With a great pride, he settled in front of one of the boys. The best of the boys. It was quite easy to see that he was best, at least for the purple. T'larMine, you have so much potential compared to all of the others. My, they're just hopeless! I mean, sure, it isn't like it's all about appearances. That would be silly. But this is important! They could think to put in some work. And show up on time! He seemed to have picked up on the late arrivals. He sounded disgusted, though more in an melodramatic way. His voice was very effeminate, masculine enough to distinguish him from being a girl but not enough to make him sound at all tough. As if he cared! On he gossiped, talking away. Your Feeroneth will take care of you, don't you worry! However, I am a bit hungry. Food sounds lovely! He bounced at the idea of eating.



The blue had stopped in his striding, his mind carefully working. Plots began to form in his mind, quickly and efficiently. Hungriness gnawed in his belly, but it didn't make him particularly grumpy. He was simply a little grumpy and uptight from nature. He didn't see why he should be happy. His thoughts were sharp and biting, not cheerful and flowery. He had no tolerance for that. He could pretend. He was good at pretending. That was why, as he sat there, he didn't look particularly dangerous. It was hard to pull of pretending to be happy when one was a darkly colored, hungry dragonet, but he behaved well enough. He needed a rider, and then he needed food. Then he had to get to work. He had teaching to do. Learning to do too, he would suppose. He needed a goal. He wanted a goal. Ambition flared brightly in his mind and in his heart.

Finally relieved from the duty of keeping an eye his brother, the darker purple turned around and eyed the candidates nearest to him mildly. Then he promptly set about on his own search. It didn't actually take him that long. He had always known where he had wanted to go. He had simply been taking care of his brother. He didn't hurry too much, either, to his destination. He made sure not to bump into a single of the other boys. He cheerfully gaze at them as he ambled on by, a content and affable creature for all appearances. He knew none of them were his, not because he saw any fault in them, but simply because he knew that none of them were. He fitted them neatly into his life, though, and he still saw them. He expected to see them again. They could be friends. He wanted to be friends. He could help them too. He would help them.

However, first, he had to Impress, and he did just that. He stepped forward, breaking the neat path he had been following, and tilted his head back to look at one particular boy. Your Oomieth apologies if he took a little while, R'mielMine; he greeted his rider. His voice came out steady and even. It wasn't deep, but it was rich and calm. Feeroneth is quite a lot of work, but it is so nice and rewarding. I believe he is going to get food with his choice. Can we get food as well? He made the request with the politeness one used with an equal. They were equals, loving equals, him and his rider. That was what he wanted. He also wanted to continue to try to keep an eye on the other purple. It wouldn't do to abandon his brother simply because he had Impressed. They would always be close, in their own odd way.



Quite aware that he was the only dragonet on the sands, even with the rocking eggs behind him, the blue began forward again. That didn't stop the plans inside of his head. He didn't know the names of the positions, however, at some point, he was quite sure he needed to one up a bronze. He supposed he might start with a brown, perhaps. One upping a gold would be stupid. Sucking up was a distinctly better strategy for that. What of a copper, like his mother? They were smarter, with an objective point of view for what he was thinking of in plots at that point in his train of thought. He would need to garner some experience. There would be training. It was a wonderful system that he could manipulate. He was going to go far, though there was going to be some waiting. He made an irked face, grumbling quietly over it.

Considering his plans, he began his hunt amongst the candidates. He didn't want of the girls. He simply didn't. He perfectly respected them, probably more than the males as a whole. Females ruled the Weyr, when the end of it all came. A bronze might one day command him, but he was more likely to listen to a gold. He wasn't going to be a complacent fellow. He could fake it. He was going to be very good at faking it. He faked that he didn't strongly hate the very smell of several of the candidates he walked by. He pretended that, beyond his thoughts, which were unclouded by much of his emotions, he wasn't in a grumpy mood that was likely to last for large sections of his life. Liking people wasn't a part of his plans. He planned on pretending most things. He was confident in his own abilities to pull it off. He had to be confident to hold the ambitions he was forming.

Only one situation caught his attention. He paused, considering it. Petty squabbles. He liked that. You have much to learn, R'seyMine; he said slickly. He held an air of suave intelligence about him. He didn't sound pleased. A sharpness in his voice suggested all of his grumpiness. While your Desayunath must admit that he he has learning to do too. It sounded as if it vaguely pained him to say such a thing. He could have faked it, faked that he liked admitting little twists and turns, but he didn't see the point in doing it with his own rider. Trust. The two of them would have trust even if he didn't trust anyone else. You underestimate the importance of some things in life; he concluded. He didn't make it sound as if the matter was up for debate, and he did sound like he was capable enough to manage well in such a debate.

With the blue Impressed, the sands were left empty. Eight eggs remained, and then rocked or twitched away, but none of them had cracked with the Impression. The hulking egg in the back row and the large, dark egg in the center of middle row both rocked with notably force. The small mottled brown egg in the front row gave especially strong twitches. However, there were no cracks and there were no dragonets. Fajra looked on with more concern towards the bothersome candidates than for the eggs. Kalith was concerned with the eggs, but that was merely because she was brooding mother. A pause in a hatching wasn't unheard of, and that was mainly what counted in the Weyrwoman's mind. If it wasn't unheard of, with clear reports to the fact, it couldn't be an issue unless one presented itself. The eggs were still rocking.



And I know, and I know,
It just doesn't feel like a night out with no one sizing you up.
I've never been so surreptitious,
So, of course, you'll be distracted,
When I spike the punch.

[theknightwhosaysni]

The Purple was . . . preening? Tylar blinked, amusement glittering in his eyes, a small snort escaping him.

However, before long, the two purples were heading towards the candidates, apparently the lighter purple was finished preening both himself and his brother.

The blue that had just hatched did not claim his attention for long, however, as the lighter purple, the one that was almost pink, had settled in front of him.

Okay, something was clearly wrong. Tylar was not going to Impress a purple, was he? Especially not one that was preening?

T'larMine, you have so much potential compared to all of the others. My, they're just hopeless! I mean, sure, it isn't like it's all about appearances. That would be silly. But this is important! They could think to put in some work. And show up on time! Your Feeroneth will take care of you, don't you worry! However, I am a bit hungry. Food sounds lovely!

Tylar – T’lar now, blinked, ”Wait, repeat that again?”

Feeroneth looked distinctly annoyed, Mine, you have potential. You must act on it, though. The young purple leaned forward, and taking His’ robe in his mouth, Feeroneth adjusted the robe slightly, sending the firelizards on both shoulders skyrocketing into the air.

Akal’s eyes whirled crimson, and he swept towards the purple, claws extended, brought to a stop only by T’lar’s sharp command. ”Stop!” his voice was a sharp crack, bringing Akal sweeping unhappily back to T’lar’s shoulder, a promise of revenge in the black’s eyes.

Meggo was unperturbed, sweeping back onto T’lar’s shoulder as soon as he was moved, examining Feeroneth with a critical glance. He was suitable for His, not quite as good as Meggo himself, but good enough.

Feeroneth blinked, And that is how you exercise your potential., and he inclined his head gracefully, Mine, I am hungry. You should feed me now, and keep a tighter control over that vengeful firelizard of yours.

T’lar shrugged. It didn’t appear that there was much he could do at this point – might as well feed Feeroneth. ”All right, let’s go.”

And with that, they began to walk away, Feeroneth moving at a stately pace just behind His, both of them headed towards the food, T’lar spurred on by hungry thoughts coming from Feeroneth.

[purnip]

The Blue hatched, once again putting three dragonets in the running.

Lyam eye balled it, noting his arrogance immediately. This Blue, as patient as he displayed himself, was a powerful figure in his own mind. But the Blue was focused on the group of boys, which lifted his spirit some.

Meanwhile Rhysia watched the three dragons carefully, finding none of their personalities as interesting as the first group of hatchlings. She still didn't count them out, but none of that really mattered anymore.

Because one by one, the three Impressed as if placed on a conveyor belt. Rhysia clapped for all three that had Impressed, knowing absolutely none of the boys. She was happy for the complete strangers, but now that the Sands were empty, the final eight eggs looking all the more few and lonesome. There were Niki's eggs; no need to fear. The girl was still as confident as ever. It'd be just like hers to be fashionably late! That would be stellar. Imagine the drama. Rhysia, the thieving mutt of an underdog, impressing the final dragon like the most prized hidden treasure! In fact, she was beginning to expect she'd impress the final one. All these rocking eggs had nothing on her. Out there, comfortably nestled within a shell, her impatient lifemate will open up her eager eyes and spring to life {as 99 balloons go by, lol}. She still stood proud as ever, as if waiting for a long awaited member of the family to come back from war. Hers was out there and she didn't care how long it took to see that dragon, as long as it was meant to be.

But passion struck a more dismal note in Lyam's heart when Tylar, or T'lar, managed to Impress. Before him. A dragon found something in that guy...that none found in him. He didn't clap out of shock, not disrespect. Three boys, because he noted the successions of the two other dragons picking off more of the Candidates. Three boys and they didn't even spare him a passing glance. He was invisible to them. Invisible to all. Such a dreaded feeling. Lyam glared at the clutch and for the first time at the Hatching, his emotions had shown upon his face. He felt betrayed. Belittled. Lost with only one path left for redemption. He'd show them, his true colors. The hatred and remorse for letting fate play with him like a puppet, dancing dragons before his eyes. They were teasing him as they strut past, ignoring him and offering nothing in the way of constructive criticism. What he was learning, right now, was that if he wished to be seen, he had to make it happen.

Just the look of an empty, dragonless space before him felt like an impending omen. It was as if fate was beginning to indicate his future failure.

"I won't fail," he growled under his breath. Once again another first. He cared not if the boys beside him heard.

Rhysia took this opportunity, with the eggs still rocking and cracks without a trace, to look around and see if anyone she knew was still waiting. Immediately she spotted Lyam and her contentment faded. A frown began to form on her face. She hadn't seen that in a long time. He was...angry. Back at Fort he never got angry. He was really good at keeping his cool. Who could have sparked such a rage within him? She mouthed his named, attempting to make eye contact. Yes, sometimes she hated him, and sometimes she didn't want to see him again for as long as she lived. That didn't mean she wished ill on him either. If he got too mad, there was no telling what he'd do. This was an exclusive sort of event.

The catalyst was obviously T'lar's Impression, but that and several other influences incensed him. Lyam's rationality was all but gone however. At the sound of his own growl he realized what he was becoming. Suddenly his shoulders slouched and he had been put out like a fire. He couldn't let this get the better of him. What was he thinking? What use is a spiteful man to anyone? Forget T'lar. That dragon was undeserving of Lyam. His dragon would have to be formidable and unstoppable. Just like himself, he would not go down and he would not let petty emotions like anger cloud his desires. Lyam's frame adjusted and his expression returned with a smirk of confidence. A real one. The worries were gone. Little to his knowledge his mind was still being clouded, for he would not be able to shunt aside reality the way he was doing so now. His was out there too, and that dragon would not fold to fate. The dragon will find him, even if Lyam has to find him first.

{DON'T KILL YOURSELF LY!}

[hatori3070]

Both of the Purples Impressed to boys, one after a quick glance at the girls, followed by a Blue. Now the sands were empty, with eight eggs still unhatched. Not counting the Orange's three. Was a pause in a hatching normal, though? The others were moving, but did that necessarily mean that they were alright? She hoped it did. But now there was nothing to hold her attention. Was this supposed to be torture? Whether it was supposed to be or not, her mind instantly sprang up with a dozen reasons why it had happened. Too many of the candidates were late. There weren't any good ones left. None of the rest of the eggs would produce a healthy dragon, so they had simply given up altogether.

It was hard to stop the whirl of depressing thoughts crowding her mind, but she had to. At this rate she'd burst into tears in front of everyone. She glanced at the other candidates, and the sight of Dekistee's semi-blank expression snapped her out of it. The ball of warmth in her chest grew, filling her chest as an angry flush mounted her cheeks. Unknowingly, her face began to contort into an angry scowl, brow furrowed, the corners of her mouth pulled down, and a fierce light entered her eyes. How dare she treat these dragonets like they were nothing! Like they were beneath her! Her hands fisted at her sides, nails digging into her palms. When she looked at them later, there would be perfect crescent-shaped cuts in the palms of her hands that would serve as a reminder that anger didn't just hurt the person you were angry with.

[Nia]

Dragons were Impressing left and right, but none of them could spare even a glance at Engrye. That didn't really bother her, though. Only about half of the clutch had Impressed, and there were still plenty of eggs left. There was a very good chance she was still Impressing, and even though she still felt like she was going to throw up, it didn't bother her as much as it used to. Perhaps she'd gotten used to standing already, either that or the dragons provided a very welcome distraction. Two Purples were currently out on the Sands, but they were the only ones there. Purples didn't exactly go to girls, did they? Though, she could be wrong... afterall, that girl had Impressed a Brown during one of Kalith's clutches. She supposed it could be possible that one of those... interesting Purples were for her.

A Blue was the next to hatch, and he did it with quite a bit of precision. He was rather dark colored, though he looked strong. Engrye thought to Paralee, she'd Impressed a Blue, hadn't she? So it wasn't unlikely to assume that he might come towards the girls. But he was an odd one. He had a very strange look in his eyes that wasn't just the red of hunger. He moved with a lot of calculation and thought... very unlike the twin Purples from earlier. Oh, speaking of which, they'd gone over to the boys, hadn't they? The red-haired girl watched as the Purples Impressed, one to the boy she'd met skipping rocks, and oen to... Tylar?! That wherrybrain?! He hadn't even been smart enough to outwith her! ... he had succeeded in making her temper flare up, though, and the very thought made Engrye's blood start to boil with rage.

But her face still betrayed none of that, though her eyes were more narrowed than usual as she watched the Blue Impress to a boy she had never seen before. No matter... there were still plenty of dragonets. But there weren't any on the sands. As patient as Engrye was, T'lar's Impression had bothered her to the point where her patience was beginning to break. Why weren't they hatching? Didn't the dragons want food? The 8 eggs left couldn't possibly all be duds, especially not with the vigor that the large two eggs in the back had. It was probably just a simple lull in the Hatching. Nothing abnormal about that.

The only abnormal thing here was the girl standing next to her... that dreadful Dekistee. The one girl that every Weyr was full of... the stuck up, arrogant girls that only cared about Queens. And she wasn't even paying attention, was she?! Still keeping her expression as carefully emotionless as she could, and without even turning her head fully to look at the spaced-out girl, she said, "Are you even going to pay attention? It'll be such a shame if your dragon betweens because you were too distracted to make eye-contact with it. What, did you see something shiney?" Her voice was airy and uncaring, as usual, and only her words could betray the rage she felt at Dekistee for not even bothering to watch the Hatching as a whole. The nerve of that girl!

[/size]