Hatching, 10.19.2007

The black gold queen watched quietly over the clutch at her side stood the young Weyrwoman. The heating problem of the sands had been fixed and Cyhiraeth's clutch was nearly ready if not overdue to hatch, but Vaeryth's still had a few weeks left. It was a problem that had worried Azer who only hoped for the best.

The last week had been hectic with more attacks on holds and Benden unable to defend, in addition to there being less than ideal candidate numbers for the clutch. What a mess. Her hair would be gray before the end of the week. It was evening now, in the dead of winter with the wind howling about outside and snow drifts piling about the weyr. Azer sighed and leaned on her queen how much more of this could she take?

Her eyes fell upon the dead queen's clutch, some shuddering in place while others not a shiver. At least there were some signs of life, what would emerge from those shells she wondered as her mind drifted more into sleep. A loud and rather obnoxious squeal from overhead started the poor Azer awake and she glanced up to see Antares, the candidate master's onyx flitter. How she disliked them but enjoyed irritating the Star/Mist Rider when Antares answered to her better - it was all in the secret snacks she gave the little terror to gain his loyalty all to see Moiraine roll her eyes and laugh. Antares glided down and settled on her shoulders, staring intently upon the clutch and then she heard it. Deep in his chest he hummed low, on the verge of hearing.

That awoke the snoozing clutch mother whose eyes swirled with distress.

They are not ready mine! But they will hatch if the other clutch begins! Mine! Send it away! The clutch is not ready!

I cannot! The firelizards and dragons will sing if any clutch hatches we must only hope for the best love!

The senior queen bugled and the Weyrwoman shoved the onyx firelizard off her shoulder. "You know what to do Antares, get Moiraine to get the candidates here!"

---

Hatching Stats:

Total: /45

Hatched:30/45
1)Bronze
2)Green
3)Copper/Onyx(f)
4)Stardrift (f)
5)Blue/Mist (m)
6)Red
7)White(/Ice Two Tone) (f)
8)Green
9)Green
10)Copper
11)Stardrift/Red (m)
12)Bronze
13)Black
14)Onyx
15)Blue
16)Onyx/Ice (m)
17)Stardrift (m)
18)Brown
19)Mist(f)
20)Red
21)Brown
22)Bronze
23)Black/Red(f)
24)Blue/Stardrift (m)
25)Bronze
26)Blue
27)Copper
28)Red/Gold --queen--
29)Onyx/Gold --queen--
30)White (m)

Impressed: 25/45
1)Copper/Onyx Two Tone Sythuinsth -Aeirie
2)White(/Ice Two Tone) Rainicth - Raevn
3)Green Jedaith - Evaliana
4)Green Syraeonith - Lilliana
5)Stardrift/Red Two Tone -- - Z'ruan
6)Green Fysiath - Onalette
7)Stardrift Verscyth - V'lshok
8)Stardrift/Silver Two Tone Xirioyth - Lina
9)Black/Ice Two Tone Perstath - K'sar
10)Red Kyzarath - Onalette
11)Blue Safieth - M'lo
12)Black Myrdraath - A'zard
13)Mist Erisyth - Rhys
14)Brown Atisheth - N'har
15)Red Oriath - Malaer
16)Brown Cyarith - S'ke
17)Blue/Mist Gaoluth - D'roth
18)Blue/Stardrift Umbrith - D'taire
19)Blue Ystwyth - M'ke
20)Black/Red Lunaith - Khali
21)Copper Antaresith - Sazori
22)Bronze Zyairth - F'lan
23)Bronze Taazrith - K'zo
24)Onyx/Gold - Nayza
25)Red/Gold - Kaedryn
26)White - H'nuk

Betweened: 4/45
Bronze
Copper
Onyx
Bronze

Aeirie was holding an old leather saddle, preparing to fix it, when suddenly on her shoulder Varso began to hum deep in his throught. The girl immediatly dropped all of her work, and stood up so suddenly she knocked over her chair.

"Shards, shards, shards, shards shards!" she muttered as she ran full speed back to the candidate barracks. She had only been in the weyr for a few weeks when this happened. She was totally unprepared, but her body took over as her mind went haywire. She was on total autopilot as she ran into her room, pulled off her clothes and on her white robe. She quickly pulled on the sandals that had been sitting beside the robe since she arrived. Finally, her mind caught up with her body and she stopped for a second. Calming herself she called Cisa, and Siria to her. "You guys are going to have to stay off the sands until the hatching is over, all right?" she asked them. The trio gave chirps of agreement and blinked out as Aeir once again began to run, but now she was headed to the hatching sands.

She skidded to a halt outside the sands and quickly composed herself. She then walked calmly, but for the faint tremor of exitement about her, onto the sands. She bowed deeply to the queen, Vaeryth, and took her place, standing before the rocking eggs.

The air felt different; it changed suddenly from its cold barren like state to something filled with life and movement. At least that’s how it felt to Raevn. She had been sitting in the Candidates Barracks on her bed with Veirsoa lying in her lap with her loud thunderous purr echoing deep inside both her and the human. Then there was the door banging open and another girl came rushing in and she changed quickly, then she started talking to her firelizards about a hatching, and ran out again.
Hearing this, Raevn pushed the young feline off of her lap and slid off of her bed; she grabbed her own neatly folded robes on the foot of her bed and pulled them over her silver white hair after she’d stripped out of the other robes she usually wore. She slipped her small feet into the white slippers that Candidates had to wear on the sands and shivered lightly in the cool air seeing as the fabric of both was cold against her skin.
“Okay Soa, can you behave yourself at the hatching if I let you come along?” The woman asked her feline friend, reaching out and brushing the felines ears lovingly.
Veirsoa mewed loudly and stepped off of the bed to circle around her humans legs a couple of times and moved to the door.
“Alright then.” Raevn said happily, following the feline through the halls and into the life-filled sands of the weyr. This was where the change had come from; movement echoed every where in Raevns’ mind as she stopped Veirsoa at the edge of the sands and continued forward, turning to the queen dragon watching over both clutches and bowing lightly. Now was when it would be decided if that dragon and rider that brought her here had been right.

Liana was reading a good story to pass the time. Her Silver flit Aurua was buried underneath a bunch of the girl's furs and snoring. The light gray flitter stood, pushing away her cozy cage. A hum rumbled deep within her small chest and quickly caught her master's attention. "Shards!" The girl leaped from her bed and darted out. Evaliana glanced about her wildly, momentarily forgetting where the Hatching Grounds were. She followed the fleeting figures of two girls, her eyes wild with excitement. She would be allowed to try and Impress a beautiful dragonet. This was a time and chance Eva had dreamed of forever. She had never thought this could happen but it was. Aurua hummed overhead, leading her Own to the place where the eggs were. It was a special day today and Evaliana woul never forget it. She hoped to Impress a beautiful dragon that would take her to the skies eventually. Liana dreamed of riding a Leading Silver, Dreaming Stardrift, or a lusty Green.

Aurua's deep hum became even louder as her Master entered the Hatching Grounds. The Silver flit landed gracefully on Evaliana's shoulder, her sharp eyes whirling Blue and Green. Eva's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the eggs. Her dragon could be among those hatching or in the next clutch to Hatch. She felt awed at being allowed in this okace and to witness an extrodinary event. The girl stepped forward and bowed to the black gold Queen before moving towards the eggs. Her only chance to be a rider probably rest within on of these beautiful eggs.

Through the door emerging with the rest of the small crowd was the onyx rider and a younger girl at his side. They were a contrast, the rider in black and the girl in rather stylish tan wherryhide, her golden hair was braided elaborately as the two took their seats near the front. Following behind was a large wolf with his head lowered as he too took a place next to his bonded.
"This is a hatching Lily, a priveledge to see whle you are here. It's what I went through when I impressed Vidarioth"
The girl's eyes scanned the sands as candidates began arriving, pausing on the shuddering eggs. "This is amazing brother, I can't wait to see the little dragons!" she exclaimed at a whisper.

---

The black-gold queen dipped her head to the two girls. Azer had gone and disappeared, probably to avoid having to nod her head all night.
Sure mine, let ME get the headache
I am sorry love. I had to look different so I wouldn't get said headache
Wearing white the young weyrwoman reappeared with clean drudges robes and looked really no different than the drudges, her hair was down and she appeared much younger than she usually did. The queen snorted in mock disgust and hummed softly, as her rider sat in the front row.

---

One of the larger eggs in Cyhiraeth's clutch had been rocking for a while, suddenly it became more intense and the egg split in half. The light touched the hatchling and his hide instantly reflected a bright metallic bronze. He looked toward the rather empty sands, only girls? He looked into the crowd, there was no one suitable.

Another one of Cyhiraeth's eggs also broke open, it was small and a petite form emerged, still covered with dark egg goo. The dragonet stumbled forward looking at the girls present and shook. Her hide shone a beautiful dark green.



((there's some dragons go get! ))

Two points of warmth filtered through the cool air that surrounded Raevn. She very nearly stepped forward towards the newly hatched dragons unsure of what they were exactly; but the woman kept her place despite any instinct she held. There was also the familiar feeling of Vidarioth, which in some odd way comforted her; although she hadn’t seen much of that particular pair since she’d come to the weyr. Probably because she hadn’t much left the candidates barracks a whole lot, but that wasn’t the point!
Raevn heard her feline yowling loudly at her for encouragement from where she had left the creature, and smiled with her shoulders shaking briefly as she laughed softly. There was nothing that could be the same or replace that little feline.
Now, back to the clutch. The two dragonets –that’s what she assumed they were now- hadn’t moved much since they left the shelter of their eggs, and she waited patently as she didn’t much expect to impress right then and there.

Aeirie looked sideways at the blind girl. She didn't seem anxious at all, but Aeirie felt a sort of obligation to help her a bit.

"The hatchlings are a bronze and a very beautiful dark green. In case you wanted to know" she said, the words calm, but with an exited undercurrent.

Aeir was tense, a slight vibration all that showed of the exitement and fright that she was barely holding in check.

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Meakes long legs were an advantage in this sort of race. For once he though sourly. He was not accustumed to his new height, and it was more common for him to trip over his own than be able to race with them.

He pulled on his robes and his sandals with hasty carelessness then reached out to Varianis, Lady and Courtly with his mind. They were tightly impressed with the command to keep off the hatching sands until he told them it was fine.

He ran to the sands to, and just as he was entering he fell uncerimoniously on the sands of the Hatching Grounds as soon as he entered. As he managed to begin sitting up, he saw the first egg shatter. A bronze! Meake put more strength in his struggles with the sand and sat up, spitting the sand out. He looked at the little king with hope in his eyes, for he just wanted to impress and get out. The tension of waiting through the hatching of the other thirty three eggs would make him crazy if he had to wait until the end of the hatching.

Both the dragonets looked lost, the bronze most of all. He turned toward Vaeryth for guidance but she only pointed him in the direction of the few candidates. No, there was no one here for him, should he wait or was this truly all the weyr had to offer him. The green, wandered gingerly across the sand to the three females looking at each in turn. One was blind and wearing some odd thing over her face - no that wasn't acceptable at all; hiding ones beauty. The green turned to the next two having clearly rejected Raevn would either of these proove suitable.

The bronze paused, every inch of his body shaking as if in a seizure. He glanced around, lingering for a moment on the boy before disappearing from the sands without so much as a sound. He had betweened.

Azer lowered her head at the disappearance, so much for good luck. Damn it where were all the blasted candidates?! She felt responsible for the lost bronze and it weighed heavily. Finally she stood in frustration. Vaeryth call each candidate personally here, I knew those half witted firelizards weren't any good

the dragon grumbled but complied, her rider was not in a mood to be trifled with.

CandidatesYou are summoned to the sands, you will face my wrath if another goes between and there are still candidates not here! Her call resounded in the minds of the candidates, they had already cost one life tonight.

Back on the sands, one of Vaeryth's eggs cracked. Slowly and with great difficulty a leg emerged followed by a tail and then a body. This dragonet turned nimbly and with a thrash of her tail sent the empty shell flying. With power and precision not usually seen in dragonets this young she turned her head toward the slim choosings. As she stepped from the shadows her hide was truly unique. A deep rich copper with metallic black interwoven over the top. A copper/onyx Two Toned turned her regal little head toward the candidates - she knew her place, now did they?

“Thank you.” Raevn muttered to the girl who had told her the colors of the dragonets; it stayed the woman’s conscience a little, but not by much. She shuffled her feet slightly as she felt the green go by her and then discard her as something not worthy, that’s what it felt like anyway.
Then suddenly pain shot through her mind and her body physically convulsed, almost causing the woman to double over and fall to the ground. She gripped at the sand tightly, the fine grains running through her fingers before the muscles relaxed and she was able to stumble up and hold her middle with her arms. Tears leaked from the black blind-fold she wore almost constantly and her shoulders shook violently. Why didn’t someone come for him!?
The woman felt another egg hatch and the strength of this hatchling farther stilled her trembling; nothing however would get rid of that dull throb in the back of her head.

Shroo, shroo, shroo. The steady rhythm of the brush had finally lulled the Candidate into that peace that she found around Jasper, but no small smile tugged subconciously at her lips this time. The soft crunching of his oats covered the sound of her tears plopping on the fresh clean coat she had just spent a meticulous hour bathing, all without even getting her garments soiled. At the sound of a drudge going by, she hastily checked herself and wiped away the stubborn tears. Why was she even crying? She was at Ardien Ciele, for Faranth's sake! A Weyr that would give her a new beginning! But where is Kievan? He should be here with you, sharing this. Leaning her head against the soft hide of the gelding, Onalette sighed deeply, the recognized weight suddenly becoming heavier. "Ki'van, now..." A sudden set of nail-on-chalkboard screeches burst into her quiet revery, but Jasper hardly even flinched. He was completely used to the sudden appearences of the Gold and Green flitters. Lettie, on the other hand was having a momentary coronary at the images that were being drilled into her head. "Shard it all!" Thank Faranth that the runnerbeast was so well trained- Lettie completely forgot to shut his door. Ah well, a drudge would get it. She had more important things to worry about.

"Nahar! Let's go!" Onalette's screeching brought the Candidate out of the beginnings of a nightmare, and he silently thanked her for it. Sharp attention snapped his mind into focus and the violet eyes widened as he saw that she was clean and wearing her robes; her hair was combed back into two french braids, something that was hardly ever seen, and there was not a sign to show that she had spent time with Jasper. "Shards! Already?" Nola and Sunshine were going crazy- flying here, there and everywhere as he snatched the proffered garments and shoved them on over his sleeping garments. Shoving his feet into his boots, sudden elation overwhelmed him. "Lettie- we're going to a sharding Hatching!" Literally laughing at the prospect, Nahar ushered the dumbfounded girl out the door (please, Faranth, let no one find out that she ran into the boy's barracks..) and into the freezing weather. "Let's go, it'll be a lot warmer where we're supposed to be!"

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Zadeir had already arrived when the other two skidded to a halt beside him, a smug grin on his face at being the first to arrive. Finally, he beat them at something. "About time- I hear we missed a Bronze. Foul luck, that. I know the next one will Impress to me." He was completely sure of it too, from the way he stood to the scant glance that he gave to the Green and two-tone onyx/copper. It was female- what did he need with a female dragon? Onalette rolled her eyes- thank Faranth she had a high tolerance for various sorts of people. Otherwise, she would have kicked Zadeir's derierre all the way to the Red Planet and back by now. "Alright, alright. Happy thoughts, people!" And was that a queen egg? The hope that every girl felt leaped within her, but she hastily squashed it. So she had taken the time to get ready- there were more girls than she, and they all looked like they had been ready for this for days as well. Beside her, (for Onalette was in the middle of both boys for some reason), Nahar was nearly shaking with anticipation. He was on the sharding Sands! What would Nivara think about this? What if Nivara was already Impressed, come to think of it? He had sent her to a Weyr after all..No, she would have told him. Faranth, she was definately going to find out about this!

Evaliana nearly weeped as she watched the young Bronze disappear. He had /betweened/ because his Chosen had not appeared. One boy would be left dragonless because he had not arrived soon enough. Despite the loss of the Bronze, Eva's attention was caught by the beutiful form of the Green. She was entrancing and made it clear she did not want Raevn. The girl did not bother to glance at the rejected candidate as she focused on the Green. How she wanted a dragonet of her own. One to care for and confide with.

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Minallo had been so busy he did not hear the whispers that the Hatching was starting. He was busy working on some pots and pans in the Kitchens when suddenly...

Candidates You are summoned to the sands, you will face my wrath if another goes between and there are still candidates not here!

The boy instantly dropped what he was doing as the Queen's voice echoed in his unprepared mind. He stood stunned for several seconds before rushing to the Htching Grounds. He arrived to see the arrival of a regal copper/onyx. Minallo whistled as he watched her. She was amazing and awe-inspiring. Now, Minallo waited to see which dragon would choose him. At the back of his mind, he wondered if it had been his Bonded that /betweened/.

((sorry guys, school hit me straight across the face >< I'm going to hatch a few more dragonets and you guys can have your charries interact with them, touch, poke, prod whatever. maybe you'll impress maybe not I'm going to try to look at the adoptables and play them as NPCs as well))

A few more eggs began to tremble and split open. A small black emerged blinking in the new light. Silver spots on the dragonet defined a newborn Stardrift. Also from Cyhiraeth's clutch a small egg opened and sent a very pale blue dragonet, swirls of pale silver blended easily with the icy tones, a blue/mist. He turned toward the candidates, observing from afar. A medium egg from the back bursted open without so much as a warning, a blood red dragonet stood amongst the remains of her shell. One of Vaeryth's eggs, so small that many believed it wouldn't hatch slowly slowly broke open revealing a delicate white form, a tiny white emerged, silently taking in the new world.

The copper onyx reached the females pausing before them to see if her mine would step forward to her.

The green lingered on Evaliana, maybe she was the one?

Meake closed his eyes in grief as the bronze betweened, and unsteadily rose to his feet, dusting off the sand on him. The two tones hatching eased the pain a bit, but the boy still wished desperatly that the little king hadn't had to vanish.

As he looked over the eggs, several more broke. The stardrift was nice enough, but the blue/mist two tone was handsomely colored. The red just looked dangerous, with her blood red hide. The white that silently hatched was amazing, silent and ghostly almost. But none of these small dragonets caught his attention much, just a prick of curiosity in who they would choose.

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Aeirie frowned, and tears misted her vision until she beat them back at the death of the bronze. She hesitantly placed a hand on Raevens shoulder, and said softly, "A copper/onyx two tone. Proud lady, that one is." She didn't want to leave the girl without an idea of the hatchlings wandering the sands.

She gasped in delight as several more hatchlings broke shell. "A stardrift, a blue/mist, a red, and a silent white now." She told the blind woman beside her, keeping to her self assigned duty.

She removed her hand from Raevens shoulder, and stepped forward to meet the copper/onyx, wondering if the powerful, graceful hatchling had chosen her rider yet.

Raevn’s lips curved in a small and well welcomed smile as several more eggs hatched with the quickly following commentary of the other woman beside her. Each egg held it’s own beautiful light she noticed, and the woman immediately put herself to studying these mental colors and feelings as the hatching continued; this was how she’d recognize each and she was determined to find a way so that she didn’t have to rely on another human to tell her the colors of each dragon she came in contact with. Not that the other woman’s help wasn’t welcomed, it was really helpful, but there wasn’t always going to be a kind human right next to her…

**-=_=-**

Zeyruan ran into the hatching sands after the mass of eggs hatched, letting their trapped hatchlings free to see the world outside their earlier walls. She was still straightening her robes and her feet were still bare from the fields she’d been when H’dare and his brown had searched her that same day. Her breeches and her somewhat loose shirt were visible through the nicely fitting robes, but that didn’t exactly occur to the young woman as her bright emerald eyes saw the dragonets and the clutch mother. Remembering what the Brown Rider had said before leaving the hold about the queen, Zeyruan bowed respectfully before going to stand in line with the other women. Her heart pounded at the sight of a green examining one of the other females, and the copper/onyx not to far away. Her eyes glittered as they swept over the rest of her eggs and she silently thanked Faranth that the Brown Rider had decided to come to her hold that day; she was finally somewhere exciting. Besides, now she might be able to find her brother!

Aeirie-mine, I am Sythuinsth. I am hungry, will you give me food?

The dragonet announced into the mind of her rider. Although not a queen she would certainly be a strong influence once she matured. Her swirling eyes never lowered as she faced her bonded.

The white suddenly turned at the impression of her sister and began to make her way toward the new copper-onyx pairing. She tripped and fell many times but her determination won over each fall and she rose each time. During her sharp stumble a subtle hint of blue could be seen in her hide. She stood square on her four legs showing an inner strength a determination of steel that none could or would ever break. The white scanned the crowd for her mine - she was just here the white could sense it.