Welcome!

[cheddarness8]

Idana pursed her mouth in irritation as Airith's tail swished incessantly just out of her direct line of sight, flicking into her peripherals every few seconds. Since the flight, the gold had become nearly unbearable. All she did was lay about and eat, and she had grown truly enormous. Her stomach bulged, lumpy with its live cargo, and was one of the largest bellies Idana had personally seen on a clutching dragon. Idana wouldn't have been surprised if she was really giving live birth like a person, and would spill out hatchlings one of these days instead of eggs. The gold had become proddy, too, as proddy as she was right before she flew. It was difficult for her to move at this point. Idana had begun to feel bad for Airith though, since she was having such a hard time and felt like she was losing her appearances somehow. She couldn't fly much, just take short, ungainly wobbles and glides to get herself fed, the only thing she did anymore besides sleep and lounge with Math. It was a new experience for both dragon and rider, and Idana found herself having to reassure her gold frequently that it would be alright, even though she watched worriedly as Airith's belly grew and grew rapidly, but the rest of her slimmed down under the great strain her body was under.

Idana, would you come sit with me? I'm lonely.

The Weyrwoman put her quill down and stood, obliging this time. They were both in their late afternoon routines, Airith sunning herself and Idana working in her records, but a break wouldn't hurt the girl. Wiping her ink-stained hands off on the old skirt she had donned for the afternoon, she sat herself half in one of Airith's large front paws, stroking one of the digits slightly and playing with the claw.

I wish you wouldn't lay like this... You look like you've rolled over to die.

Airith had indeed put herself in a very awkward position, the most comfortable way she could find to lay with a belly full of eggs. She didn't want to squish them, and had to resort to lying half on her side, the legs of the skyward facing side resting awkwardly on her swollen belly. With a snort and a funny noise like a hundred buckets sloshing, the dragon tried to roll over, but couldn't get herself to change positions. Defeated, she nudged Idana gently off her paw and began the long process of standing.

My... My belly hurts today.

Stepping back quickly, the goldrider watched nervously as her dragon struggled to her feet. They had had a scare before this one, and rushed to the Sands for Airith to realize it was indigestion. Airith was a strong dragon, but it was harder for her to walk to the the hatching grounds than the feeding pens, since the former was further away. The one night they had to do it already had taken a lot out of the dragon because of the massive weight she bore. Idana had a nightmare the other night about waking up to a weyrfull of eggs and a morning Airith and her clutch, dead because its mother could not make it to the Sands on time. Even now in the light of day Idana was worried that as her dragon struggled to the safety of the sands, she would leave a trail of unfortunate eggs behind, too soft to move safely but doomed without the heat we needed. Idana's stomach churned, and she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prick up at the through.

Oh, Airith, I knew we should have stayed in the hatching grounds...

The egg-heavy gold lumbered her way down the stairs to Idana's weyr carefully, her belly swaying precariously and nearly throwing her off balance. She weathered it easily, though, her body not lost all its queenly strength yet. Airith wouldn't wilt, not now when she had so much to look forward to.

Have some faith in me. Go on, you can hitch a ride on my tail if you like. I don't mind.

Airith began her determined trek to the promising heat of the stands, trudging slowly along the sandy shore.

----

Airith sat beside Idana on the scorching hot Sands, panting with exhaustion but still incredibly pleased. The gold had made it to the place she was meant to lay her eggs without a hitch, surprising Idana with her determination to not fail her brood. Airith was maturing through this process, a good thing in Idana's opinion. She actually relished in the responsibility of digging neat little trenches each egg and depositing them carefully where they would stay and harden for the next few sevendays. The gold had spun a dizzying pattern of eggs on the sands, one that only a mother might care to understand. At the dead center of the clutch, on a slight mound Airith had built up with her nose, the queen had lovingly placed the largest egg, which bore the distinctly sheen that marked a gold egg. After weaving about for what seemed like ages, Airith had spent the last of her brood and gone to join her rider once more.

Sitting down because she was too shocked to stand, Idana silently counted what lay on the sands for the umpteenth time, her mouth silently forming the numbers. It didn't matter how many times she had done it, she checked and re-checked, in awe.

What are you doing?

I... Airith, you laid fifty eggs.

The queen yawned and nearly shrugged, stretching out as though it was no shock to her. All in a day's work for a clutching queen, and a nice day's work that it was. Every egg seemed healthy, all creamy and gleaming and evenly hued. There were no lumpy or misshapen eggs, which tended to pop up in green clutches, but not gold. Though Idana did not share the thought with her dragon, it hurt her inside to know that they would maybe see half of the beautiful brood hatch if they were lucky, and lucky again if half of the ones that hatched lived.

Did... Did you call Math and Sta'tis?

Damn, Idana was even stuttering in her mind. It was insanity, even though the queens were known to have massive clutches before a Pass.

My Math will be here soon enough.

[Watchdragon]

Can we hurry? I want to be with Airith. She gets bored, now that she's so eggheavy.

Sta'tis rubbed his forehead. "Easy for you to say. All you have to do is sit there and look impressive." The bronze snorted, the puff of dust visible even from the distance of his current perch.

The bronzerider turned his mind back to the problem at hand. The two men with a disagreement (one a harper, one a holder) had determined that they could not rely on mediation through its traditional source because the decision would be biased, coming as it would through either the Hold's resident harper or through the Lord Holder. The Holder, exasperated at the two's incapability of talking it out, had informed them he would send for Caislean's Weyrleader. He had thought it would be a long time and force a solution while they waited.

He hadn't known that Airith had Risen at last. And now Sta'tis was stuck listening to this endless debate.

"Let me get this straight," he said, cutting through the accusations. "You," he pointed to the holder, "think that this harper stole all three bags of the grain intended for your runner. You," his gesture moved to the harper, "feel that he hid it so that he had a reason to break your engagement to his daughter." Both men nodded, still glaring at each other.

Stats ran a hand through his curly hair. "Right. Here's what you do. Lord Holder, search through places where the grain could be hidden in both men's quarters." The holder man's face fell the tiniest bit, confirming the private opinion that the Weyrleader had made. "Whoever is in possession of the grain may serve the punishment of three week's labor in the Hold fields, as is customary." The Lord Holder nodded; he would also conduct the search immediately, before either man had a chance to alter anything about his quarters.

"As for the marriage contract, Lysa is nineteen Turns old. She may choose for herself." The harper's face lit, and he bowed in thanks.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that," the Lord Holder murmured as he walked Sta'tis back to the courtyard after an extended conference. The man had many questions about the Weyr's needs, though his dislike of the 'scare tactics' of the riders who believed Thread would return was obvious. "If I had known, I would have found a way to convince them it was a fair decision. But well determined."

"I'll have to deal with such things soon enough in the Weyr anyway," the bronzerider remarked, shielding his eyes from the dust Math kicked up. The bronze seemed even more eager to get back to his mate. Airith is in the Hatching Cavern! he called, bugle ringing off the Hold's rock face.

"The queen lays her eggs, excuse me," Sta'tis stuttered, leaping up to Math's leg. The bronze was in the air before the Lord Holder's broad grin could yield congratulations and winking between far closer than was standard.

----

Airith! I come! Math called as he swept through the upper entrance. The sight of the eggs caught him by surprise, and he hovered for a moment. They were very late, thanks to that dratted "chat," and the gold was just moving away from her last arrangings. Sta'tis blinked vacantly, stunned by the sheer amount of shells scattered over the sand. And in the middle... Math crooned pleasedly as he landed. A queen egg in his first brood!

"Didn't know you had it in you, bud," the bronzerider said, finally getting something past his amazement. Math snorted, 'accidentally' knocking his rider over as he stretched his wings.

Well done, Airith, he rumbled, cautiously moving over to the queen to twine necks with her. One could never be too careful; it was yet to be seen whether Airith would be excessively broody or not. She was looking much thinner than he liked, though, and he could not remain distant. The bloating from her eggs had hidden exactly how much they had taken from her.

"Wow..." Sta'tis said quietly as he approached Idana. "I'd heard that the clutches were getting bigger, but this is ridiculous. They look fine though."

[cheddarness8]

Airith! I come!

The gold queen's head snapped up as her mate dove into the cavern, and she trumpeted to him gleefully, raising up onto her haunches in her excitement to see him. While he approached cautiously, she spread her wings in welcome and rushed to him. Airith twined necks with him tightly and licked any bit of his hide she could reach, her eyes bubbling with green and purple.

Well done, Airith.

Airith rumbled happily, whuffing her breath against his skin. She didn't like that Math had to leave her, and was glad that it seemed that he would hang around. It was nice to have a mate, especially such a good one like hers.

Thank you, Math... They're yours, too, you know.

"Wow... I'd heard that the clutches were getting bigger, but this is ridiculous. They look fine though."

Idana smiled at Sta'tis, blushing brightly as Airith crooned her affection for Math. It was always kind of hard to talk to Sta'tis normally because when he was around, Math usually was too, and Airith would be undoubtedly making all over him. It was cute, though, and Idana knew it was good for her dragon to have a mate.

"Oh, yeah, it is kind of ridiculous... They say dragons who are good matches produce bigger clutches, and queen eggs, too."

She motioned gently to the queen egg, wondering if Sta'tis had seen it.



**CLOSED FOR THE NEXT HOUR**

[cheddarness8]

Airith sighed and rolled onto her back, putting her paws up into the air to stare at them. At this time of the morning Idana was off doing things Airith didn’t care about, something about Weyrwoman’s duties. Whatever. It’s not like her rider had to sit around on her tail all day long on the hot sands with nothing to do and no other choice but to keep doing nothing! The only breaks Airith ever got were to chase after the occasional curious onlooker (she had found actually chasing them out into the Weyrbowl had the most entertaining effect), and when Math came to sit with her on the Sands. She liked that very much, especially when he brought her something to eat. He was a good eggfather, and she didn’t mind it when he walked around to look at the eggs. They were nice eggs, really. There were some large ones peppered around the clutch that Airith favored, but her favorite by far was her gleaming, golden egg. She would coo to it and fawn over it, proud of what she and her mate had produced. Airith thought herself a good queen, and she was sure no person in Caislean would doubt it after her most precious daughter broke shell.

Growling, the queen batted at the thin air, trapping an imaginary herdbeast in her claws and ending its misery. She missed hunting for herself, she missed swimming in the lake, and she missed flying around the Weyrbowl! The eggs were beginning to be a burden. They were ready to hatch, hard to snout, so what were they waiting on?! Airith didn’t understand what was taking so long. She would croon to the shells occasionally, but never was met with any reply. They were all still asleep, lazy things. With a grunt of irritation and a flurry of warm-gold legs, the queen righted herself again, tired of her game. In fact, she was tired of all of this. She would get her life and her weyr back today if it meant hatching every one of the little buggers herself.

Hey! Hey! Can you hear me in there?! I’m tired of waiting on you little deadglows! It’s time to WAKE UP!

The gold leaned down to the closest egg- a medium-sized orb, and gave it a firm nudge with her snout. She was met with a slight sloshing noise as the egg resettled in its comfortable depression, though askew now. Airith sighed and watched, disappointed as lay still. Of course they wouldn’t hatch today. Rude little things! She threw herself back down onto her usual spot with a frustrated hiss, snapping at the hot sands in her anger. Would this madness never end? Surely she hadn’t been this lazy as a hatchling! She had made her entrance into the world promptly and hadn’t given her mother any grief. That’s what a respectful weyrling should do. Airith glanced hopefully towards her precious golden egg, sure that she wouldn’t disappoint her dear mother, but even it lay still. The queen growled and tucked her head under her wing, emotional and flustered.

When a muffled chirp and a slight scratching noise reached Airith, she just growled. First the eggs were going to disappoint her, and now they were going to mock her too? Ungrateful little monsters, she out to just- The queen blinked and sat up, considering what had just happened. The eggs wouldn’t mock her, as currently asleep they were incapable of judging her, unless…. They were hatching! On her feet once more in a flash, Airith turned to face her entire brood in-egg one last time. A few of the eggs were twitching gently now, and the motion began to spread throughout the clutch as what would soon be hatchlings awake en masse from their incubation slumber. Airith was stunned for a moment, amazed to see her long waiting and all her efforts paid off in the first signs of life from her first children. Her eyes billowing in an excited green, the queen filled her throat with a hum to encourage her babies as they began to war with their hard prisons.

Idana! Math! Everyone! The eggs are hatching! They’re hatching now!


Across the Weyrbowl, Idana blinked and dropped the quill in her hands, splattering ink over what she just wrote. The girl jumped up instantly, grabbing her chair to steady it as it threatened to topple. Past tithe records would have to wait; now the whole Weyr would be on its way to the Hatching Sands, and she would need to be too. Damnit all, why hadn't she stayed with Airith this morning? Idana grumbled to herself as she rushed from the Records Room, not-so-gently pushing a passing records keeper out of her way as she sped out the door, leaving it wide open and a trail of disheveled skins behind her. Any other day would be filled with hurried apologies before she rushed out and a fast reordering of the skins, but today was different. There were more important things to worry about. Fast as her long legs would carry her, she broke out into the sunlight, blinking hard to adjust but not letting it take any wind out of her stride. She had taken the path to the Hatching Grounds plenty of times before, but never at this speed. The humming had already started, and here she was, stumbling on the shale and trying to hold up her long skirt to keep her unusually hefty boots from catching the fabric. She would never make it there this way, and it's not like Airith could come and pick her up. If only she had- Oh, of course.

The Weyrwoman shoved her forefinger and thumb into her mouth, puffing up her chest with a big breath and letting it out in a piercing whistle that bounced off the sloping Weyrbowl walls. Idana only hoped it would carry to Gramps over the humming. She didn't stop to wait on him, not wanting to waste time, but her faith in the dreybeast was reinforced when he soon rushed to her from nice spot in the 'Bowl he had found to graze in, the surefootedness that marked his kind keeping him safe even on the rocky ground. Already snorting in his effort to reach her, Gramps didn't stop, and Idana didn't either. The animal slowed down to a trot as he reached her, and the Weyrwoman braced herself when he was almost to her, then hopped up and reached out, grabbing his bristle mane in both hands and swinging a leg over his low back easily. It was harder when she was younger and shorter, but she was no less agile at nineteen than she was at ten, just longer, and the mount was a breezy one.

Both hands clinging to the thick and strong hair of the donkey's mane as she righted herself, Idana used her knees to grip Gramps's barrel and hold herself up off his bare back as he flew beneath her, speeding up to a lope once the girl was in place to get her where she needed to go. Even as she held herself up, Idana ducked her head to keep the ride easy on her old friend, balancing carefully as Caislean whizzed past them. Even though he had no tack on, Idana directed the dreybeast discreetly with pressure from her knees, pushing him forward and on to the hatching cavern. There was no need to cluck or call to the animal in order to make him hurry himself. Gramps loved to go, and he could read his owner well, since he had been there with her since she was just a baby.

As soon as they neared the mouth of the cavern, Gramps returned to a trot, and Idana was able to hop off as easily as she hopped on, letting the dreybeast go off to cool himself down from the sudden and mad rush. Airith would not tolerate him near her clutch. It was a little while since the Weyrwoman and her cherished pet had had such a wild run, but she didn't have time to enjoy the moment or to even straighten her shaky legs. Idana stumbled slightly as she strode in, blinking in amazement at the sight of the shaking eggs. Candidates would soon be there, though it was a shame they didn't all have dreybeasts to ride and get there as fast as she did. Incredibly pleased, the Weyrwoman took her place at Airith's side, silent pride bubbling up between them.

[Hibster]

There was only so many times Kelin could be bothered, even by his own fire lizard, before he snapped. His fire lizard, who was alternating between flying circles about his head and running up and down the long table that held his breakfest, was slowly grinding on his nerves. It had never mattered to Reimi whether he was a morning person or not. Nor had it mattered to the energetic little green that he needed at least one cup of klah before he became a functioning human being.

No, the green darted up and down the table, trilling excitement and rattling plates and glasses in her wake. He didn’t have the energy to spare those other people sitting at the table an apologetic glance. He sipped at his klah, eyes sliding shut in pleasure as the rich flavor washed over his tongue. Reimi, if you would please just sit still… A chirp was his answer as she bound back up to him and sat in front of his plate, stump tail wagging like an excited canine and luminescent eyes fixed on his food.

He cracked an eye open and considered her.

“If I let you have a meatroll will you be quiet and sit still?” The candidate couldn’t help but smile at the little creature. She was so perfect, with her little wings mostly folded and her soft green hide gleaming in the light. Every curve of her body was in proportion, perfectly shaped head and neck weaving back and forth as she twitched ever closer to his meatroll. He relented and pushed it towards her. “Brat. Take it.”

Practically glowing in her victory, Reimi took the roll from him and devoured it hungrily and messily. He watched her, drinking his klah and admiring her tiny, perfect body. What would it be like to be bonded to a creature just like her, but many times larger? A true smile lit his face, gray eyes dancing with possibilities. He imagined Reimi eighteen feet longer and in flight, with an unmarred tail and flames flickering between her teeth. What would it be like?

She hummed to herself and he drifted off, mind alive with his daydreams. Unbidden, Z’ate sprang to his mind and his smile was wiped clean off his face. His brother already knew what it was like. He woke up every morning next to a larger version of Kelin’s fire lizard, her voice in his head and her presence in his life forever. He shook his head to clear it. That wasn’t his fault. The candidate had been meaning to find some way to apologize to his brother, but there just weren’t words for what he’d done to his twin.

It was unlikely that Z’ate could forgive him.

At least Raine had. The thought of what he’d put her through made him shudder. She hadn’t been the most self-confidant girl from the beginning, but he’d taken what confidence she had and destroyed it. It was a wonder she found the kindness to somehow forgive him for being such an unbelievable asshole. He’d fully deserved to be cast out and friendless for his actions. But she’d welcomed him back with open arms. It was amazing how quickly people could change. He certainly had. And in the span of a few short months.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Reimi’s sweet, happy hum became something more intense. He stared at her, surprised and puzzled for a moment. But only a moment. The hum rapidly swelled to something far beyond his tiny fire lizard’s vocal capabilities. A bone-rattling hum that could only mean one thing.

The hatching!

He cast a longing glance at the door that would lead to the hatching grounds and then bolted towards the hallway that lead to the barracks. He still had some time before eggs started hatching and he’d be damned if he was going to get disqualified for not wearing his hatching robes. Reimi squealed and hurtled after him, her sweet voice scolding him as she caught up and flew alongside her running bonded.

All around him, candidates were scrambling into their robes and out into the hallway. The Weyr had come alive in a matter of seconds and he along with it. He flew into his room and tore the chest open, stripping and tugging the robe over his head. It was slightly too small, just reaching his knees, but modesty was the farthest thing from his mind. All that mattered was that each step he took carried him closer and closer to his future. Whether that future was a life partner at his side or a short trip back to his familiar room in the barracks, he didn’t know.

But he knew that everyone would be watching. His parents would be there. Raine would be there. Z’ate would be there. He wouldn’t…no he couldn’t let them all down again. He’d walk off these sands with a dragon at his side or he’d die trying. The roof of the cavern soared high overhead as he charged onto the sands and then stopped, eyes wide in awe. It had been one thing to see the eggs before the hatching, and quite another to see them on the day of. There were hundreds of dragons lining the cavern and three times that many people in the stands.

All around him, more than three dozen candidates began to spread out around the eggs, shuffling closer and closer before the sight of the furious golden beast hovering above them got the better of them and they stopped. Waiting. The sands burned his feet but he no longer cared. His future was in these eggs. Though he’d have turns more of standing he’d be eligible for, somehow this felt like his last hatching. Kelin took deep breaths and turned to search the stands.

Katelin waved enthusiastically to him and he smiled at her. Z’lex simply stared and he waved. Then his eyes fell on Z’ate and he paused, face tumbling through a number of expressions. It finally settled on a small smile and a wink before he turned back to the eggs and stood up straight. His entire family was watching. He wouldn’t fail today.

[amrini]

[From Isidarth]

Sta’tis studied the situation for a few moments more, then nodded in satisfaction. “Check,” he said, as he moved the fortress piece. Rinna had played neatly into his trap; one more move with his Lady Holder, and it would be checkmate. He smiled. The altercation involving Rayner was nearly four months past, and time had taken the sting from the harsh words on both sides. This visit with his foster sister was going much better.

In that space of his mind occupied by Math, the bronzerider suddenly felt a transition from sunbathing drowse to alert. “What’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed. The dragon simply crooned warmly, the end of the sound stretching out in a sustained hum. Airith welcomes our Hatchlings, Math warbled. The welcome grew louder as more dragons joined, increasing the vibration enough to rattle the pieces on the chessboard. “The Hatching is starting, Rinna,” Stats said with a broad grin. “Come on, we’ll give you a lift!”

Math crouched outside the Lower Caverns, his sides throbbing with his deep hum. The bronze’s eyes sparkled with bright blues and greens as Sta’tis helped the wher candidate up to his neck, and there was an exuberant spring in his launch. The skies were not yet crowded, though more dragons took wing every moment as Math soared through an upper entrance.

The sight of the many eggs delighted and awed the bronzepair as much as they had when they were first laid. The creamy orbs spilled out across the sand and were all the more beautiful as they jumped and rocked with life. Math swooped down to a tier (alarming a well-attired lady with the wind of his approach) to let Rinna off, then took his place on the ledge above the gold. Well done, my radiant queen, he crooned.

[Araceli]

Raine’s fingers twitched ever so slightly as green eyes scanned the room. She didn’t have a roommate, which usually never bothered the candidate, but she couldn’t help but wish there was someone to talk to. Someone to tell all her fears and feelings to, she only knew two candidates. One was too much of a stranger to ever consider telling her deepest darkest secrets to and the other one was well…Kelin. She shook herself a little to pull her mind out of such thoughts as she stooped to pick up some shirts. A soft sigh passed through her lips, she hadn’t really taken care of her room much since the greens’ clutch had hatched and Airith had laid hers. I’m surprised I haven’t been buried alive in a sea of clothes. She was certain that any moment she’d lift up a shirt and some creepy crawling thing would come out from under it.

Another shirt was picked up and she let out a small yelp of surprise. She frowned as she realized just exactly was lying under the tunic and flicked the creature with her tunic. “Zeba! I told you not to lay under shirts and clothes when I’m cleaning, there is a nice little bed over there for you to use! So use it!…I could’ve stepped on you.” She said, her tone becoming softer with each word until she finally set the pile of clothes she had been gathering down and scooped up her green. “Don’t scare me like that next time, alright?” She whispered to the green, holding her close and stroking her eyeridges. The green thrummed her pleasure in response seeming to take no notice to her bonded’s attitude before. She wasn’t as happy to find the girl setting her down on the cot and going back to cleaning though.

Raine hummed to herself absently as she worked. She was starting to make a dent in the mess that had accumulated over the time she had just been nothing more then a ghost of herself. She rubbed at her eyes a little and sighed, she shouldn’t have let things get so out of hand in her life and even in her friend’s. “No point crying over spilt klah, right Zeba?” She asked, getting a cheerful warble from the green. She went back to humming, but after a few moments she stopped. There definitely was something humming that wasn’t her. She shuddered, as the hum seemed to continue to grow in volume until the noise seemed to pass through her and settle in her mind. “Well there really is no reason for such a noise unless…AH! The hatching! Oh my! It’s here! It’s happening! Ack!” The last word came out as she managed to trip over the pile of clothes she had set on the ground and went down hard like a rock. “Ow…” She groaned softly, rubbing her head. She just laid there for a few moments, dazed. She had managed to hit her head against the ground when she fell and she was quite sure she’d probably bruised something, but that didn’t matter. She had to get up! She had to get ready!

Pushing herself to her feet, she weaved and jumped over clothes that were thrown on the ground and dug through her trunk to find the one thing that was needed now, her candidate robe. She finally pulled out a wrinkled version of what had originally been her candidate robe and frowned. She shook it out a little and tried to smooth out the robe, but soon gave up on this task and pulled off the shirt she had been wearing before pulling the robe on. She didn’t bother to change out of the shorts that she wore under it; there was no time for such things. She called Zeba to her as she jumped over a pile of clothes that separated her from the door and yanked open the door kicking a pair of boots out of the way as she did so. A soothing presence soon landed on her shoulder as she ran full out towards the sands, refusing to be the late to the hatching.

Her feet hit the sand and the only thing that stopped the girl from running the rest of the way to the candidates was the heat, and also the weird looks people were given the messy haired panting candidate. She reached up to try and smooth out her hair a little and walked the rest of the way to the candidates. Her heart hammered in her chest as she glanced at the eggs, she wanted to be one of those lucky girls that stumbled off the sands with a dragon of her own, but at the same time…she was terrified of the possibility of loosing her mind in the process. She held her breath for a second before letting it out. If she lost her mind and her dragon then she’d have to be thankful for those happy memories she had in her life, and if she didn’t impress…well then there always were more clutches in the future. She moved slowly along as her thoughts continued to drift and sway like grass in the wind. “I can only hope for the best.” She whispered to herself, reaching up to touch the green that sat on her shoulder. “I’ll always have you and my friends.” She told herself and the green who crooned at those words.

She finally found a familiar face among the crowd of candidates that were shuffling about, murmuring to each other. She settled herself next to Kelin, briefly glancing up towards him before looking down at her feet. He seemed to be in a good mood, but what would happen if she impressed and he didn’t? Would he hate her like he had hated his brother? She shifted and was thankful that she could pass the fidgeting off as nervousness. “G-good luck Kelin.” She grinned up at him, but she still looked nervous and even afraid. She was so afraid of what she would see today, and the possibility of being one the candidates that lost their mind and their dragon. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before holding it, she let it out and reached up to cover one of her eyes as the eyelid seemed to twitch and shudder. It would drive her nuts if her eye continued to do that throughout the hatching but it was just nerves that were getting the best of her.

Finally her eye stopped freaking out and she could look at the eggs and Kelin. She eyed him a little before turning red and looking away again. She let her mind wander off to the last time she had been on the sands during the touching. Her eyes watched the wobbling eggs, but her mind didn’t seem to take them in at the moment. She let out a soft sigh; at least she and Kelin were on good terms for now. It was the most she could ask for without feeling selfish. She finally stopped thinking about everything and just focused on the eggs hoping it would be good.

[Hibster]

Daart hummed quietly to himself as he scaled the long, winding steps to the familiar weyrledge. The sun was already out in full strength, warming the Weyr enough for many dragons to be sun bathing on their ledges. He admired them from a distance as he climbed higher and higher. There was a massive bronze, stretched out to his full extension on his ledge until the tip of his nose dangled over the edge. The creature had a dark stripe down his back and the candidate smiled, entranced by the site.

Continuing to make up his own tune as he went along, he crested the last step and looked forward eagerly, fully expecting to see a pale green dragon on the ledge. Only to take a step back as the dragon that greeted him was much larger and brown. That wasn’t right. Had D’ius changed Weyrs? The brown lifted his head and rumbled, the sound rattling through his bones as he took another step back. The massive dragon’s eyes were easily bigger than his head and whirling in annoyed shades of yellow and orange. A clear warning sign.

But he’d never been too good at heeding warnings.

“Uh….hi. Is…um….is Darry here?” The dragon simply stared at him and the boy mentally berated himself for asking. Of course the dragon wasn’t going to answer him. Most dragons disliked talking to anyone but their riders. Or the riders of their weyrmates. Sometimes not even that. And this dragon looked to be no exception. He snorted and put his head back down on his forepaws, clearly bored with the boy. Go away, his attitude said. You don’t amuse me.

“Can I…leave a message? Would you give his dragon a message for me?” Again, no response and Daart contemplated just leaving. All he’d wanted to do was ask Darry for a dragon ride. But if the man wasn’t around and all he had to deal with was this irate brown, he’d be better off just trying again later. “You know what? Never mind.” As he turned to walk away, the brown snorted at him, amused. Three steps down, the air began to vibrate. Four steps down that vibration turned into a clear hum and Daart stopped, his face twisting in horror.

“No…” No, this wasn’t right! There was no way he could get to the hatching grounds in time! It was at least half a candlemark’s walk and even if he ran, by the time he got there, half the eggs would be gone! Despairing, he turned back to the dragon and ran up to him, face twisted in panic. “Please! Please…oh I don’t know your name…please can you take me? Please? I can’t miss it! I can’t!”

The brown stared at him blankly and he choked, trying his best not to cry tears of pure desperation. “Please! What if there’s a baby in there waiting for me?! It’ll die! Or impress someone else! Please! Please!” He leaned against the dragon’s snout and closed his eyes, swallowing hard against his grief. He couldn’t miss this hatching…he just couldn’t. “Please? I promise I’ll never bother you again…”

Moments later, the light was abruptly cut off and he jumped, startled and terrified to find massive jaws closing around him. His scream was silenced by a loud, Shut up and calm down, runt, and he found himself safely nestled on a wet tongue in a prison of teeth. Then the body beneath him was moving and he felt the ground drop out from underneath them as the dragon took off and his heart soared. He was going to make it!

“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou—“

I said shut up.

“Yessir.” Daart grinned exultantly and tried to ignore the movement of the tongue beneath him, or how cramped the space was. He was going to make it! His dragon would not kept waiting; not on his watch. A sharp, jarring movement shook him and then the brown jaws were opening and he was being spat out onto burning sands. The boy flailed about for a moment, scrambling to his feet and then turned to stare at the retreating figure of the dragon. “Thank you!!!”

It didn’t matter that he wasn’t wearing his candidate robes. It didn’t matter that he’d just made the craziest entrance onto the sands that many people had ever seen. All that mattered were the rocking eggs in front of him and the future they held inside them. Daart shifted from foot to foot and grinned. Today was his day!

[Araceli]

Silence, that was all he heard. His dark green eyes stared at the shadows on his ceiling. He propped himself up on his elbows and started down at his leg; it was covered by a cast. He had managed to break his leg once again doing something stupid. He didn’t remember what happened at all, he remembered doing a back flip off the cliff but then something nailed him in the back of the head and the rest was just a blur. He remembered things starting to come back together and make sense when he was in the infirmary. He laughed softly to himself, one of the healers had asked him if he had been drunk or on anything when he did his little stunt. He rubbed at his head, supposedly he had hit it hard enough that he had gotten a concussion or something like that and then he broke his leg. “And yet I still don’t know why.” He mumbled, supposedly he had pissed off Z’ate with his questions or maybe he didn’t.

He carefully moved to have his legs hang over the edge. It wasn’t fun having a broken leg; he had to use crutches to get around until his leg healed enough to take the stupid thing off. He knew that if he was patient and didn’t do anything stupid then he’d have a chance of getting it off on time when the healer had said they could take it off but if he did one of his usual stunts…well then that would prolong the wait. The healers said he didn’t have much longer to wear it, but his leg was itching a lot with the cast on and most of the time he had to resist every urge he had to scratch it. He took in a deep breath and held it before letting it out. Some people helped him do his chores, others told him he didn’t have to do them until he could at least move around better. He still refused to just lay down and wait for the day when the cast came off. Only a few more sevendays…that’s what they told me…I can wear this stupid thing and use crutches until then. Just a little while longer.

Everything was either harder or more interesting when he was wearing the thing. It was harder to get around, harder to do the things he enjoyed and a lot harder to bathe without getting it wet. “Lucky I haven’t drowned myself yet.” He mumbled as he looked for a long tunic to wear. He didn’t get far in his search when he heard a hum and then shouts of excitement. He leaned on one of his crutches and tilted his head. What was all the noise about? He didn’t know but it finally clicked together. “Hm…a hatching.” He mumbled, his enthusiasm had been used up when it came to dealing with trying to get around. He set his crutch against the bed and hoped over on his one good leg over to a small pile of clothes that sat beside his trunk. Using the trunk as support, he leaned over and pushed through the pile until he found the hatching robe that he would have to wear. He sat down on the trunk and pulled the robe on over his head. He shook his hair out of his face and pushed himself back up nearly falling over as he hoped on one foot over to his crutches.

For some reason he stopped, a small sense of humility washed over the boy. He hadn’t really been out much in public unless it was to get his leg checked on, do some chores, or see his friends. He almost didn’t want to go out where people could see his own stupidity. He took in a deep breath and shook himself; he forgot that brief moment of uncertainty and picked up his crutches. He didn’t see his roommate but he was sure the boy would be there. He started what seemed like a very long journey towards the hatching sands. Some candidates seemed to stop as they passed him as if thinking of helping him before rushing off in hopes of their own impression. Fio ignored all of them as he continued on. Well at least in the end I’ll have some amazing muscles from this. He thought with a smile.

He finally made it to the sands and the heat hit him hard causing him to shudder. He realized that he was only wearing a sandal to protect his one good foot. “Feck!” He hissed under his breath getting a shocked looking from a lady who had just passed him on her way to the stands. He could only merely give a charming smile to her before making his way along to the sands, he was certain he was going to fall over but he still made it to the rest of the candidates with a sigh of relief. Part of him wanted to sit on the bottom row, but he refused to just be apart of the audience that watched everyone else get their moment of happiness without him even getting to try for it.

Dark green eyes scanned the area and he saw Z’ate sitting up in the stands. He couldn’t help but smile to the boy. He was quite certain that his little stunt had at least kept Ryth from trying it but of course he didn’t remember much, just the before and then the after when he was sitting in the infirmary. He raised his hand in a sort of greeting before looking back towards the clutch. Some eggs rocked back and forth while others merely sat there as if content to wait till it was their time to be the center of attention. He eyed the great golden beast that hovered over the clutch and was rather content with the place he had chosen. He wasn’t too close to the mother of the clutch and he wasn’t too far away from the clutch, he was just sort of in the middle.