Wed, October 3, 2001: 9pm Central

 

 

Hatching Sands

Waves of heat hit you like a flash fire as you step onto the sands. After your eyes adjust to the dimmer light, you see what can only be described as a sea of sparkling white sand filling the huge cavern. Along the stone walls that keep the sand in place are a series of drawings showing the history of the cavern. Many talented stone carvers and painters have given life to past hatchings and many other scenes from daily life of the dragon pair. Looking up you see the countless ledges where the dragons greet the newest members to their Weyr with bugles and the galleries where residents, crafters and  holders can watch the magical scene of a hatching...

Perched on the rim of the gallery, you see Amaris.

You see Egg Mound here.

K'sh, Rupa, Fiana, Toria, R'sha, Blissot, Ceri, Jessak, S'rien, Euran,

 Dominic, Kaytie, Aldrea, Hotaru, Kelyan, Artemis, Eliana, and Re'a are here.

The following dragons are here: Ceayrth and Diamath

From here you can go:

Entrance                                                                       

 

S'rien scratches his head, looking mildly confused for a moment, then just flashes a rather large smile in Fiana's direction and pushes away from Diamath's side.  The bronze shifts out of the way of watchers and slides in along a wall, humming deeply within his slender throat but keeping a safe distance from Ceayrth -- who knows how her mood toward him is going to be!

 

K'sh nods at Rupa. "I've got a few bets riding on these eggs." he notes to her. "Care to make any last-minute ones?" His grin, however, is more teasing than serious, as he looks back at the sands once more, measuring out the arrivals. "Good luck." he mouths.

 

Fey Femme Fatale Egg decides it's time. Everyone is watching now.

 

Hotaru has connected.

 

Kelyan steps out onto the sands with the rest, blinking about before he remembers his manners. Oh, right. He turns to Cearyth and Diamath, ducking a bow to them before turning his nervous gaze to the eggs. Then, almost resolutely, the now-colorless peacock steps forward.

 

Artemis stops upon the entrance and blinks. Oh Shards. Hand shaking uncontrollably, she bows her head in respect for the sire and dam and bows then low to the waist. Nervous? I think so!! Rising slowly, she makes her way over to Ceri and smiles meekly. "Hold my hand??" But then, the heat hits her.  "Shards," she mumbles and shifts her weight to each foot separately.

 

Aldrea moves along with Skylar, her hand tightening in his as the sand's heat and the crowded galleries meet her.  Giving a slight shiver, she bows with her sands partner before giving his hand a light squeeze.  Seems now her nerves have finally set in as her eyes slowly move over the eggs and the  dragons upon the sands... "Wow..." Yes, she's very good with words.

 

Eliana steps carefully onto the sands; being a skinny wretch helps now, she doesn't sink in the sand. Eyes widen considerably as she peers about; so many people, all watching her and the other candidates. Disconcerting at best.  Yet, she remembers the instructions and curtsies prettily toward the dragons before turning it on Fiana and S'rien. That done she minces over to Ceri and Artemis again.

 

A flurry of motion overtakes the sands and all the eggs sputter at the same instant.  It's happening, it really is.

 

Ceri grabs Arte's hand with her free on.. Good, Jessak on one side, Arte on the other, anchored in all this heat.. grateful for thick soles and almost no  cloth. "Hold on tight.. I need it." Is offered to Arte-candidate.

 

Rupa chuckles softly, offering a small shake of her head. "Ah, I've never really participated in any bets during hatchings. Just watch 'em..." Which is what she is doing right then, or more like being focused on the candidates there. "Quite the view that we have here." She adds softly, nodding slowly as she turns her glance away and towards the eggs.

 

Fiana catches S'rien's movement out of the corner of her eye, trying to wave him over and nod graciously to all the bowing Candidates.  Ceayrth?  She's got bigger fish to fry than S'rien, keeping her eyes on all the Candidates at once... that's a big job.

 

Dominic pauses in his hopping from one foot to another briefly to watch the eggs dance, then starts hopping left, right, left, right....shards these  sands are HOT!

 

Hotaru slips out from a tiny crevice in the wall, looking much like the furtive girl she was.  Seeing Fiana, her sister-comrade, and Toria, she bounds over to them with a bright wave before turning to the candidates.  At least Cearyth is more amenable than Rosalth.

 

Blissot whispers something quietly to herself, some sort of senseless mantra.  "It's all happening," she murmurs, eyeing her quickly baking sandals with a frown. "Oh, Kay.. the eggs are moving all over the place."

 

As the roiling tumultuous fire and smoke blaze across the landscape of   Fleeing the Inferno Egg, seeking to devour the racing hooved prey, yet another presence endeavors to escape from the burning confines of the  elliptic prison. The characteristic crackling and popping of the wildfire sends jagged sparks spraying onto the sands as the egg's occupant finally  divests himself of the hardened bonds that have kept him at bay so long.   Steadfast Sovereign Brown Hatchling stands amongst the fallen embers of his home, dazed, yet only briefly as he lifts his noble head to peruse, at  length, the chaotic scene before him.

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Hatchling

Fingerprinted fawn dapples down the liquid curves of headknobs and neck, spiraling into the enriched burnt sienna that delineates elusive wisps of  color along arching neckridges.  Smudges fade along the contour of his ribs where overlong damask sheathes the husky barrel of his chest, interminable wings granting duplicitously shadowed length to the very broadness of his  frame.  Sovereign grace lingers in the attenuated ebony curl of perilously honed talons, that same royal elegance echoed in the consistent arch of a tail vigilantly tensed.

 

Galleries: Caitlin grins at the healer's enthusiasm and shakes her head "Tis alright to cheer for those you care about" she says softly, eyes raking the sands to look for familiar figures, Tarlin is waved at and then she glances at eggs again.  "Ooh a brown, how lovely."  She smiles "Not as good a sa green but well..."

 

Kaytie spares a glance - and nothing more - for the stands, knowing that M'doc is watching.  Then the eggs are focused on, and the tutor just... stares.   "Bliss.  The eggs.  They're moving."  Alright, so the younger girl just said that.  Then the first hatches, and the Igenite jumps.  "Brown!"  Duh.

 

Artemis beams as Ceri takes her hand and offers her other to Eliana. "Must stick together," she gets out before a serious case of the nerves overtakes her, forcing her to shiver even though she's so very hot. "It's really happening," she says in mild awe as her eyes transfix on the brown. "A brown," she says softly, voice not rising above a whisper.

 

Jessak does his own version of the Candidate Shuffle.  Lift one foot and stand cranelike until the standing foot is slow-roasted to unbearable heat.  Ease the 'up' foot down and sweep the 'down' foot up.  Roast your toes and freeze your nose, it's a winter hatching!  "Y'gonna be fine," he tells Ceri.  "I'm watching out for -- oh, first hatchling!"  Sentence shifts in the middle.   "Brown!"

 

Galleries: Cardixa peers closely at the candidates, face half-submerged by the gray blanket, hiding the small smile that lurks there. The "oh!" is instinctive, as the brown erupts from the egg, and she nearly squeaks, "Brown!"

 

Dominic gasps as the first hatchling makes it's appearance, he moves back a step or two just in case it decides to trample him underfoot as it makes for  whomever it chooses...doesn't hurt to be careful you know!

 

Ceri stares.. just stares.. it's, it's a dragon! really and truly.. So she wasn't dreaming.. "Arte, look. Jessak, theya re real!"

 

Euran shifts stinging feet from one to the other, sharing the pain as he watches. Fingers which are clasped tightly together, seem to still have the frozen red tint on them. Then he remembers that important thing... breeeath!  A gasp as he looks over toward the brown, carefully and quietly. A brown.  "Brown..." He mumbles to himself as he watches the movements with his blue eyes.

 

Galleries: Invidya cracks a slight smile, and then all-out grins, her energy jumping to a high and her eyes concrete upon the newest hatchling...adding in her own, "Brown!" with the rest.

 

"What's taking so long?" Kelyan complains loudly, his feet already beginning to shift in the precursor to the Hatching-Sands Dance. "It's so hot out here, you think they'd at least hatch more qui--ewwww." His complaint is stopped short as he spots the first to hatch. "Brown. Might as well go home, the whole clutch is hexed now."

 

K'sh nods solemnly at the hatching of the egg. "Brown first." he says consideringly. "Looks like we've got a good clutch ahead of us." He looks at Rupa, chuckling. "Oh come on. It's a lot of fun. You should try it sometime."

 

Skylar grins faintly as he glances back to Aldrea. At the pressure upon his hand, he lifts their hands briefly, giving her a reassuring squeeze. He speaks to her in utter silence, mouthing, "Its fine," before he glances away at all the exclamations from the other candidates. "Ohhh, missed the first one." He sounds a touch annoyed at having missed the initial hatching, as eyes lock upon the brown. "Nice..."

 

Galleries: May giggles and bouncies with Perdita, "Yes it is!" she points and then waves as she spots her friend, "Look! There’s Hotaru too. Hey Hottie!!" she calls, unsure if the goldrider can see or hear her. But then that first egg pops open and she cheers, "A brown! Its a brown!" she beams, "That’s a good omen."

 

S'rien nods at the passing candidates even as he strides quickly over to Fiana's side and leans down, grinning broadly at her.  "If I glow anymore, I'll turn into a proddy green," he comments, his gaze not necessarily upon the eggs that are getting ready to pop.  They seem to fall somewhere about Fiana's middle, but just as quickly they move again, shifting to the first hatchling to break shell.  In the background, Diamath's humming increases to a welcoming bugle as his gaze falls upon his firstborn 'son'.

 

Galleries: Tarlin trots into the galleries, still decked out in her dirty kitchen garb as though she'd just been relieved from duty.  She shoots a quick look at the sands to be sure that she hasn't missed anything and just manages to catch the first egg's hatching.  Bouncing with delight, she picks out familiar faces in the galleries and, for once in the recent days, is actually nice to Caitlin.  She waves to the greenrider and squeezes herself into a seat beside her.  "Hi."

 

Galleries: Kasan allows his fingers to tighten, so very slightly, on the railing. The only signs that he is affected by this sight. Which he is - but with a harper's control, the reaction is hidden, deep within.

 

Galleries: Siobhan grins at everyone's show of enthusiasm, loosening the jacket on her shoulders just as the brown is shelled.  "Look, look!" she calls excitedly, eyes flicking over the fawn hide of the tiny dragonet.  And Sayurith was that small once!

 

Evening's embrace tightens upon the surface of Fey Femme Fatale Egg, feral landscape loosening to misty fog.  A sigh of seduction is followed by a tremor of desire, the shell giving way to the escape of the life within.  In its end is the beginning: trapped no more is Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling!

 

Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling

Dark green brocade invests an austerely elegant form with tenuous regal stature, from headknobs' lambent corona down to tail's languorous extension.  There's an aristocratic tilt to her muzzle, lending imperious grace to the dramatic sweep of wings and cultivated delicacy of torso, the latter embroidered with verd antique filigree; similarly, the manicured curve of virescent gold talons accentuates dainty forepaws.  Nevertheless, wild whimsy lurks in opalescent orbs, mute rebellion against an otherwise vivid,  viridescent study in regal poesy.

 

Aldrea gasps as the first hatchling comes from his shell, her feet dancing despite the sandels that are there.  "Oooh, Skylar, look.  It's a brown."  She points the new hatchling out as she studies the small dragon carefully.  "Isn't he perfect..." she trails off finally and glances towards the stands carefully then back again.  Skylar's mouthed words are given a bright smile as her weight is once more shifted.  "And a green!"  Point, point.  "She's darling."

 

Another Lurid Sorgenkind Egg just sits there, waiting. Hoping.

 

Galleries: Hunter raises an eyebrow.  He's never been to a hatching before and well, never wanted to.  Eyes lay upon the newly hatched brown and green and he smirks, shaking his head, "More beasts..."

 

"He's pretty," Blissot observes blithely, bouncing at Kaytie's side eagerly. "Are you supposed to call the boys pretty? Oh, but she is, isn't she?" The candidate isn't addressing anyone in particular, rather just having an intimate conversation with herself. And Kaytie's shoulder.

 

Galleries: Invidya looks back to watch the crowd with a genuine happy grin, observing what reactions the rest of the gallery seems to have.  Her head swerves back to see the second hatchling.  Green!  Perty!

 

Galleries: Nest claps her hands together "oh Peyth Tis a brown, tis a lovely

 colour" she calls loudly, in her excitement, her usual quiet voice raises. 

 And then she grins at Siobhan "Tis funny to think how much they grow.”

 

Dominic notes with interest that the next hatchling to appear is a green...wonder who the little lady will choose...Dominic glances at the other candidates trying to determine who the green might pick out of those on the sands.

 

Eliana gratefully clasps Arte's hands, blue eyes transfixed as the eggs all ripple as one. But, look! The first egg has hatched! "A brown!" she squeaks softly, to no-one in particular. Probably not even Artemis would hear it over the noise the crowd are making. But if her expression is wonderous it's nothing to when the Fey Femme Fatale eggs cracks. "A green! I /knew/ it!" nods the girl. Her favourite egg!

 

Ceri says, "Ohhhh.. " heart stops as green emerges.. "Look at that little beauty!" Jessak's hand will be numb for a week after she gets done with it. Poor Arte as well. "Oh my.." heta rising makes her eyes water.. really. "Look.."

 

Rupa shakes her head slowly once again, watching the brown and then the green.

 "Oh, they are both lovely.." Quiet pause, perhaps too long, before she responds to K'sh. "I don't believe that I would ever try it, but it might be something that I'd consider one time... Not now, though."

 

Euran looks at the green with an eye, "Oh green." That'd be a match for Eu... green. Then a twist of view transfers to the brown. Candidate's eyebrows raised in interest at the dragonet. Looking about the eggs as he notices that his favorite egg is missing... or already hatched.

 

Jessak grins back to Ceri, blue eyes elation-lit and glowing and maybe a little amused.  "They're real!" he agrees.  "Real brown /and/ real green!"  Up foot down, down foot up.  He doesn't wince at Ceri's squeezing -- quite -- but he rocks up onto the tips of his toes to get a better glimpse through the thronging candidates, though to do that he must put both feet down on the hot sands.  Ow.

 

Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling picks herself up off the sand and begins to carefully shake off a few grains that had marred her appearance.  Most undignified.  With a flip of her tail she takes an uneasy step forwards, head held high to mask her shaky legs as she prepares to begin her hunt.

 

Artemis blinks again, this time missing the egg crack as she watches the brown. "GREEN!" she says excitedly and giggles with sheer delight. "Isn't she sooo pretty?" she asks Ceri and Eliana. Excitement matches Eliana's as she stands there, eyes focused on her. "How majestic, how...elegant!" she says in regard. Artemis is so very happy now, "Just look at them!" she says, as if not believing they are real!

 

K'sh murmers, "And a green." with a nod over toward Rupa. "Understandable. Very understandable." His eyes roam the Candidates again, inspecting, counting, then focusing on the eggs as though wondering for the next to hatch.

 

Galleries: Perdita coughs slightly, quirking an eyebrow back at Hunter.  "No, no.  You see, /beasts/ are what they eat.  Herdbeasts.  /They/ are dragonets," she says slowly, enunciating her words carefully.  She flashes him a slight grin and dramatic roll of eyes and turns back to May.  "Look at that green!  So prim and proper.  And the brown is lovely, too," she nods.

 

Kelyan eyes the second dragon to break shell a bit more approvingly. "Green... that's more like it." He edges around, trying to work a bit further from that brown...thing and closer to the green. Please, Faranth, anything but brown.

 

Kaytie stares from brown, to green, to brown, and to green, where her gaze settles.  "Oh... oh... Bliss, she's gorgeous.  I wonder..."  The oldest candidate's eyes hesitantly wander towards her own favorite egg.  Move?  "Wow, they're gorgeous.  There should be a song about this."  She's back to the two hatchlings, just watching.

 

Skylar grins wryly, tugging upon Aldrea's hand as they creep forward, or at least he would like to be upon the forefront of the candidates. Green gets a eager glance, lips quirking at her appearance. "Ahhh, that she is. And a proud one at that." Gaze flickers to Arte at her exclamation of the obvious and his lips slip into a grin once more.

 

Galleries: Caitlin's ears perk up "Green?"  She smiles to herself "Ahh a green is a good colour, always good to see a green early on" she comments more to herself than anything.

 

Ceri tries to catch Sky's eye.. mouthing.. 'You owe me a rest day.' Yup, that was the green she bet on, she remembers..

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Dragonet slowly raises his head and gently, regally shakes off the egg goo with a gentle tremor.  Tilting his head to the side, he assesses the situation with the acute eye of one born to discern the details.

 

Tarlin has arrived.

 

Dominic watches both hatchlings with something akin to amazement, both seeming so perfect and like nothing else he's seen to this time. Shaking his head he starts to hopping again, as the heat of the sands penetrate his sandals full force....wincing with each step down he attempts to keep his contact with the sands at a minimal!

 

Galleries: Hunter turns his head to Perdita.  He tilts his head as he looks at her.  No one has ever been so 'smart' to /him/...  It's usually the other way around, "Well...  Excuse /me/ then.  I guess I must've somehow been mistaken?  Maybe couldn't find the right word, right?"  He rolls his eyes back and smirks.

 

Blissot watches either hatchling with the avid curiosity of a toddler dazed by a spinning mobile. "Kaytie.. They’re watching us," she murmurs in a hush, tugging at a strap of her robe. "I've never seen anything so small and so big all at once. And pretty, too, yes."

 

Euran's blue eyes are transfixed on the whole scene. Not just one dragonet, eyes searching the eggs as he looks toward the brown, and the shards of his favorite egg. He is frozen though, thoughts void in his mind as he just attempts to stand regally, though his feet aren't feeling as regal.

 

Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling pauses, one foreclaw lifted in the air, and scans the row of white in front of her.  Slowly the foreclaw makes contact with the sand again and another tentative step forwards is made as she mentally thins out the herd, narrowing her selection down, choosing her

 target.

 

Galleries: M'doc inhales a sharp breath, leaning forward in the stands and trying to scout where the candidates are watching ... whose attention falls where, and most importantly, where the dragonets are wandering.  "Too many of them, too fast ... I wasn't nearly this fast when it was the two of us, eh?" she mutters under her breath.

 

Galleries: May giggles pointing now to a girl that is squeaking and hiding behind some big burly lad, "Heh, lookit her, she had better watch out or she’s gonna get mauled. Maybe the green will pick her, they both look rather prissy." she giggles and looks about for more shells cracking, while also keeping an eye on the dragons already hatched, "I bet that boy she’s hiding behind gets a bronze too, he’s built for it at least... probably a smith." and isn’t May the little gossip?

 

Dominic starts to move away from the green, intent on not getting in her way as she seems to be hunting her lifemate...little be it for him to impede her progress.

 

Jessak drops down from his raised-up position and returns to storklike switching of feet.  "The green's a beauty," he says, "but look at the way she's looking at us.  So..."  He hunts for a word, chooses: "intent."

 

Ceri shifts on her feet, either the heat is finally penetrating those soles, or she is trying to adjust to really being eyed by dragons.. or both.. "Arte, what a lovely impressive green.. don't you think so" Is squeaked out.

 

Galleries: Oarotu intently watches the hatchlings, eggs, and candidates, keeping an eye on one particular egg.

 

Rupa seems to have been silent, already filled with the sounds of the hatching. Eggs cracking, the hatchlings on the sands and the many candidates waiting. She smiles faintly, fingers playing with the fabric of her jacket as she begins to shift uneasily on her feet, waiting patiently.

 

Skylar blinks as he catch's Ceri's glance and what follows. D'oh. Totally forgot about that. There goes one bet. Free hand comes up to plant on his forehead in blatant dramatics, before he casts her a wink with all the suave style he is known for. "It'll be a pleasure, Ceri," he calls out to her in something close to a stage whisper, no matter that most of the commotion more than likely drown it out. Jessak's words earn a comment from this candidate, "Absolutely... like she is picking out the plumpest one to eat."

 

Eliana doesn't know where to look, it is true; eyes flick from brown to green indiscriminately. She doesn't even notice Tarlin as she steps onto the sands. Light as she may be, the heat is still getting to her; shifting a little eases the discomfort.. for now. Squeezing at Arte's hand she just beams, following the green's and brown's movements seemingly without sparing time to blink.

 

Kaytie eyes the brown, murmuring to no one in particular, "He looks like a nice sort."  Unlike certain other browns she's met.  Ahem.  "Is it me, or does that green look like she's going to eat her chosen, rather than Impress her," the woman asks Bliss in an undertone.

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Dragonet steps forward and commands the attention of the sands.  He is to be admired.  With the grace of a king, he makes his first step only to fall down  as one overly long wing gets caught under his leg.  Ahem!  Hastily, he corrects his largess and begins to  waddle away from the shards of his home.  Glowing brightly, his eyes sweep the sands with a single-mindedness of one who knows that his One is out there.

 

Aldrea nods mutely, at the time, for Skylar's words as she follows him towards the front of the line of candidates.  He /is/ holding her hand, you know.  Lips purse lightly as she studies the brown and green before sweeping that same gaze towards her fellow candidates.  "I wonder who..." she says lowly before following the conversations that Skylar has, content to watch and listen for now.

 

Fiana loses herself in watching everything all at once, thus not giving S'rien quite the humorous laugh his joke deserves.  She reaches a hand out to him, the other fiddling with the necklace around her neck.  "It's going well so far," she murmurs, watching eggs shake and twitch, Candidates doing the same.

 

Re'a is taken back to when she was one of those white-clad figures, and chuckles softly at K'sh. "How a 'bout a bet that a green comes from that horrible ugly egg?" She's of course talking about the Vegas Egg.

 

Galleries: "Yes," Perdita drawls, looking over her shoulder and under her lashes at Hunter, the hint of a smile quirking at her lips, "That must be it."  Her expression is amused, her wink good-natured.  "Ya think so?"  She asks May, thoughtfully rubbing her chin.  "I could believe it.  It'd be interesting if she got mauled by the green."

 

K'sh smiles with pride at the Candidates his green chose, focusing up toward the ledges for a moment and looking back down on the sands once more. Smile gets even wider at Fiana and S'rien before he acknowledges to Re'a, "You're on."

 

Kelyan's shifting quickly grows in magnitude, and he starts in on the candidate-dance, jumping from one foot to another. "Ow. Ow. Ow. Whoever designed this whole thing should be left out for Thread. Ow." He refuses to admire the brown, no matter what. "Arrogant. Look how big his ego is." He, of course, is the very image of humbleness.

 

Waterlogged Pre-Raphaelite Ophelia Egg softly ripples again, the shell giving just the slightest of motions as the dragonet within taps a couple more times.

 

Galleries: Late, but not late enough that it affects her bets, Aida sidles in and takes a moment to find Tandal, then work her way down the rows to where the vintner's sitting.  "My money's on the brown, as always," she informs the woman as she sits down.  "Helicyth wouldn't have it any other way.  -- Hey, Hunter," she calls in passing, odd but not ostentatious.

 

Euran watches the brown fall down, and can only manage a 'tch' out. He watches the dragon, "So clumsy" An eye still watches though, he doesn't remember last time the dragonets being this silly.

 

Artemis smiles brightly as her eyes follow the beautiful green, "Just look at her!" she says, as if that will explain it all! "Yes, yes, Ceri," she says and nods furiously in agreement. "She seems so determined," she says in a hushed whisper as she squeezes Eliana and Ceri. "Maybe soon," she cooes and eyes the brown in his own regal grace. "He's quite royal as well," she says with a nod. But the green! Le sigh.

 

Hotaru, being small, is jumping up and down attempting to watch the eggs and hatchlings and candidates before her.  Spying someone, she bounces over to him, squealing, "K'sh!"  Ah-hah!  She flutters her eyes cutely as proddyness is hinding her mind.  "Isn't this grand?"  Flirt.  Flirt.  Re'a gets a bright, 1000watt smile as well.

 

Flaming June Egg shivers despite the heat, shell starting to show the strain of dealing with the insistent life within.

 

S'rien sliiiides to the right and coils an arm around Fiana's waist, securing the weyrwoman to his side for a moment's half-way sort of hug.  "I can only hope -this- 'hatchling' comes so well," he comments as he slips his hand to her waistline and leaves it there, resting comfortably at her side. 

 

"Eat...?" Blissot's squeak of disbelief is soft enough not to be irritating. "No. Dragons don't eat people." And if they do, she's using Kaytie as a human shield. "He looks nicer, overall," she mumbles, gesturing toward the brown. A swift glance peruses the candidates kindly, lip gnawed. Who will it be?

 

Diamath has connected.

 

Ceri says, "more.. there's going to be more of them, look at them move!" A shiver runs through her, even in the heat.. "Sky, they won't!" will they?"

 

Jessak switches attention from green to brown, and he makes a soft admiring noise.  "Now the /brown/, he looks like he knows what he's doing.  Look.  Regal as anything."  Even if he did fall over.   Hey, he's a baby.  "Eat? Dunno.  I'm keeping out of her way, though," he tells Kaytie.

 

Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling makes slow and steady progress, not wishing to scare off the objective of her hunt.  Her motion forwards, becomes motion to the side, a few steps to take her downwind of her target perhaps as she momentarily shelters behind Stylish Writings Egg, hidden out of view.

 

Galleries: Hunter shakes his head at the girl, but then snickers, "You know what you said about the girl getting mauled?  Well, I just got a picture in my head and it seems rather funny."  He's so bad, isn't he?  Attention is taken away by Aida's voice and he sighs, "Oh... Hi there...  Yeah..."  He doesn't seem too overly enthused, for the last time they met, she was setting him straight about him being so lazy.

 

K'sh has been Hotaru-spotted. Gurk? "Uh. Hi Hotaru." His eyes swing to the eggs, then to the Hottie, trying to keep his attention on the Sands, where the Candidates stand. "Uh, grand. Yes. Wonderfully grand." Distracted, of course. He's busy focusing on the eggs.

 

Diamath's overlong wings mantle high above his curving spine as he arches his neck forward as if he would touch the hatchlings who are seeking their 'mates within the sea of white-clad candidates.  Another bugle announces the green's hatching, but not so loudly as the first.

 

Dominic watches the green with interest as the brown is momentarily forgotten.  Dominic wonders who of the candidates will be first to impress...

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Dragonet can feel his One out there and even knows where he is.  Sort of.  Undaunted, he moves with determination, leaving a wake of sand behind him.  Each step is precise and almost delicate; his royalness is not in the mood to soil his egg-goo-shiny talons.  A sea of white-robed figures swim in his vision, but he senses his prize out there.  Somewhere...

 

Galleries: Kasan has, apparently, had enough. He stands up, cloak swirling around him, and abruptly turns around, striding around and through the crowd as if he was a kidlet a third of his age. The number of people here do not even slow him down.

 

Galleries: Kasan carefully makes his way down the stairs.

 

Galleries: Nest is taken in by watching the brown, watching to see who he will

 choose as his partner.  She smiles as her dragon links with her and watches

 the brown stalk around.  "There is one for everyone" she mutters to herself.

 

Pure Chivalrous Oath Egg shifts to the right, trying to find a more comfortable position, and wobbles right out of its little hollow to tip over. Meant to do that!

 

Kelyan cranes his neck, trying to follow the progress of the green. "Where did she go? I could have sworn she was just there a minute ago." He turns to the nearest candidate. "You. Where's the green one at?"

 

Artemis looses momentary sight of the green in her observing of the brown. "Did she impress?" Arte asks, squeaking. She didn't want to miss it. "Ceri?" she asks impatiently. She wants to know! Brown is given a bright grin as she focuses on finding out about the green. He's just so, regal and such. But where o where is the green??

 

Kaytie hops blithely from foot to foot, starting to resemble an Irish-Igenite dancer more than anything else.  "Oh, well, fine, maybe not eat.  But she's kinda scary looking."  So says the experiences Kay, mostly busy watching the unhatched eggs.

 

Skylar bites his lips to hold back a loud laugh. He nearly chokes with the effort to keep quiet, before glancing askance to Ceri, "Ohhhh, no. You might get a lick, but there will be no candidate-eating today, Ceri-dear." Hand remains quite tight upon that of Aldrea's, giving as good as he is getting from her tight grip. Head shifts and he leans into the Herder, "I'd like to take my hand home with me when all is over with." Followed by yet one more wink. But he glances up, peeping from green to brown with active interest.

 

Hotaru bounces on the balls of her feet beside K'sh, her own attention focused upon candidates and hatchlings.  Lucky for K'sh too, because otherwise the petite weyrwoman might be more diligent in gaining his, ah, attention.

 

Euran watches the brown with a new light though as he recognizes its sense of royalty. Just by looking at it. Eyes have left the green long ago, he's less a female person than a male dragon person. He seems more than interested in who the steadfast brown might choose to become his lifemate. He wants to watch that magic again.

 

Ceri stares as 'her' egg moves.. it moved! "Did you see that?" to anyone and everyone.. "It moved too!" Now, that elegant green moves wo lightly and with such grace..

 

Flaming June Egg is finally consumed by shudders that lick along its fragile surface, sending indolent embers cascading to the ground, revealing behind them a heart as dark and cool as the shell was bright and warm: Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling.

 

Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling

Ruthless indigo consumes his rugged body, harsh and weather-beaten, in an overcoat of shadows that at once balances and clashes with the clouded-sky hues whispering over smooth underbelly and lanky limbs.  Sinister charcoal threads twine around protuberant headknobs, overshadowing the jeweled eyes set high in his pinched, intensely concentrated features.  Ultramarine nightsky slides down his twiggy neck, fusing with the colors that flood his capacious wingspan and trickle down to merge seamlessly with spindle-shanked, cobalt-laden hindquarters and slender, pale blue limbs in aerodynamic equilibrium.

 

Galleries: Cardixa continues to observe the progress of the green and brown, watching, waiting -- and now, a blue! She is nothing but winsome smiles, albeit they are hidden by the blanket, and she silently cheers on the candidates. Yay!

 

Eliana attempts to stand on tip-toe to get another look at the hiding green. Bad idea. "Ow!" squeals the girl as the hot sand invades her sandals. Dancing on the spot to shake it out she contents herself with following the escapades of the brown hatchling. a soft sigh escapes her lips as she finally stops shifting about, though Arte's hand is jiggled up and down as the blue escapes his shell. "Oooh, look!" she croons, "Isn't he just.." Very expressive, Eli.

 

Galleries: A'ea was here all along, uh huh.

 

Rupa draws her lips down in a frown, her head tilting to one side as she watches. "Did it take so long before when we were out there in the white robes? I can almost remember that the hatching was over about now..." But not even half the eggs have hatching, unfortunately, and so the greenrider stands quietly, rocking on the hot sands.

 

Dominic just manages to stop himself from clapping as the blue hatchling makes it's appearance into the world, looking right and left Dominic makes sure that no dragonet is about to flatten him then returns his attention to the blue, brown and....ok where is that green???

 

Tarlin trots out onto the sands, a large skin slung crosswise across her shoulder.  She considers eggs and hatchlings with awed trepidation, but refuses to allow herself to be distracted from her task.  Slipping behind the riders gathered to one side, she makes her way towards Fiana and S'rien and stands there, quietly awaiting acknowledgement.  Of course, it doesn't help that she /likes/ being up close and personal during the hatching.

 

Galleries: Siobhan finds herself sipping at her mug of wine, a new grin creasing her features as each egg hatches out a new darling for all to admire.  "They're just so, well, /tiny/," she murmurs at Nest, shaking her head. 

 

Blissot nods in silent agreement with Jessak, twinging as beads of sweat glide betwixt her shoulderblades. "Oh, lookit that blue," she sighs, bewildered by the colors she finds herself studying. "Oh, don't worry, Kaytie.. I won't let anything eat you." Unless it comes for her first.

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Dragonet has never been silly and contrary to his green clutch sib, he makes his way sedately across the sands, neither hiding nor rushing.  All in due time.  Afterall, he senses that is One is very close.  Careful of his wings -- he wouldn't want another disgrace -- the brown turns attention to making his way to the One.   His demeanor is one of no-nonsense nor frills.  He is closer.. closer still..

 

Jessak bounces, too.  Bounce, bounce, bounce.  "She does look scary," he agrees with Kaytie... and then eyes take in the new-hatched blue.  "But, oh..." Brows furrow up.  "He's kind of... dark and lean-looking."  Not exactly a dragon you can say oh-how-lovely about, either.  Now he's keeping an eye on two, the green and blue; the brown, who doesn't look likely to go on a rampage, is for the moment ignored.  He's not afraid, but he's... watchful.

 

Galleries: Nest grins at Siobhan and nods "Peyth be so big now, I can not remember him being so small."  She smiles, watching the brown choose carefully his choice "He be sure don't he be."  She says to Siobhan, assuming that she too would be watching the brown.

 

Aldrea arches a brow at Skylar as he leans into her.  "I thought maybe I could keep it as a memento or something," she says, trying something at humour-- and failing almost miserably.  But she does loosen her hold on the poor boy before a  sigh of of appreciation is given for the blue that she spots.  The green was lost sight of, along with the brown by a flux of candidate matter.

 

Another Lurid Sorgenkind Egg pulses with a gentle urgency, not strong enough for imminent hatching, but enough to imply the possibility.

 

K'sh looks to Hotaru, then to Rupa, nodding in an age-old way at her. "Turns." he agrees. "Turns and turns. Makes me feel old, now." He flashes brief grin, then focuses in as the hatchlings start to approach. "Looks like our turn will come soon enough."

 

Galleries: M'doc fidgets and twitches, rubbing at the back of her neck.  "Shaffit, Impress," she murmurs, directing the order at every hatching and nobody in particular.  Hands card through her hair, the brownrider displaying possibly more nerves than when she was standing at Igen ... and she doesn't even know what she's hoping for.

 

"A, uh... blue." For one with Kelyan's array of colors, you think he'd be quicker to identify them. He watches the newest to hatch, distracted for the moment from the green.

 

Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling sits as still as can be, surrounded by egg goo and shell shards.  Luminous orbs blink, all three lids closing slowly, then opening again.  No, not a dream, but reality then.  What is to be done about this?  He stands shakily, wings still stuck to his back part with a *sluuuuurpop* and he snorts.

 

Euran watches the brown with urgency. Who will he pick? He is on his toes slightly because of impatience. Wasn't shorter last time he was left on the sands, burning? Just regal, yet impatient eyes follow the brown.

 

Kaytie is starting to glaze over.  Or, at least, her eyes are.  The former harper that writes songs of fantasy and love is now overwhelmed by the very really existence of the hatchlings in front of her.  "Bliss, is it almost over?  Heeeeeey... a blue."  Observant, isn't she?

 

Artemis still can't find that green, and she starts to tap her foot lightly wondering where she could have gotten off to. As Tarlin comes onto the sands, she gives her a bright smile. "Blue," she says in acknowledgement as she looks around. Green? Princess? Arte's eyes survey the sands as she now shifts her weight. "Hot Sands!" she says as eyes blinks widely. Ouch?

 

Re'a nervously bounces from foot to foot, glancing back at her staff. "Soon enough we'll all be kept busy.." Nevermind that she's been busy enough for the months the clutch had been on the sands. "Did anyone see where the green go?" The lovely little thing had caught her eye, but she lost it in the crowd.

 

Ceri says, "Look, the brown is determined, isn't he? And what a blue as well.. Almost old already.. " And wise? That remains to be seen. "Such elegance in the three, really." Babbling, but her feet /hurt/ and her mind is racing and words help her focus.. maybe? "Oh shards, we really /are/ here.."

 

*CRACK!*  A stony egg breaks the cloud of silence hovering over its area of the clutch, its large shell cleaved neatly open just before the pieces fall away like scraps of paper.  Amidst the falling shards rests a tiny blue that looks far too small to have occupied such a large home for so long, his wings like tissue-paper and body the rolling blue-green of a tropical sea.  Upon the sands of his 'beach', he rests for a moment, then struggles to his miniscule feet to move oh-so-tiredly in the direction of the candidates.  After minutes of slogging through the sands that seem to slow him down, he draws the notice of a young boy from Ista Weyr, a bond instantly formed across a few feets' distance: "Narshakth!" rings the Istan's cry of joy.

 

Jessak is hot! Hot!  Hot!  At least his feet are.  "These sandals aren't doing anything," he says, and kicks to dislodge the sand that has taken up residence between his toes, slithering in over the sandals.  He's lost track of blue and green due to intervening clumps of candidates, so attention switches to regal brown.

 

Rupa blinks towards the hatchlings and candidates, sweeping the area quickly before shrugging back a shoulder. "I'd say that the eggs just popped all open and the hatchlings Impressed in moments.. That's how I remember my hatching." She heaves a sigh, sending a glance over towards Re'a. "The green?" If she can remember the sight of the green.

 

Galleries: Echo sits anti-social with her wineskin. The thing is getting somewhat empty. No doubt she's just here to pick up chicks. Studs. A few of each for the waiting list. The first Impression doesn't faze her, except to cause a few smirks. "The name was Narshakth," she says to the air in front of her. "I'll write it down and remind you in two Turns."

 

Volitient Stuart Green Hatchling scents the air, eyes a-whirl with the enjoyment of the hunt.  That special one is here, well she knows.  An intricate web of shadow and eyes of icy blue-grey offer intrigue, demand attention.  Crouching low, she watches her prey from afar as a good huntress would, before she pounces insatiably with an invitation that cannot be declined, making her choice known with an airy, aristocratic trill of her voice!

 

Skylar blinks after that rather deliberate, if not rather haughty brown. A moment to clear his throat before glancing to his hand-holding mate, "Only if the rest goes with it." Sheesh, even on the sands the boy is flirting and being rather shameless about it. Another egg cracks, spilling forth a rather wet blue into the world, and drawing his attention for the moment.

 

Galleries: May wrinkles her brows and peers this way and that, "Did that brown impress? I lost sight of the green... man those candidates are all over the place... oh, but miss priss and her protector are still there... and oh! look! What did I tell you? There’s a little bronze headed straight for him!"

 

K'sh steps forward a step. "Allow me." he says to Re'a and Rupa, gesturing to Narshakth and new rider. "Over this way. There's food and oil. Lovely brown." He leaves the other Candidates for a moment, and the other Weyrlingmasters, as he brings the boy over.

 

Euran takes a quick look around, spying the newly impression of the Istan boy. The speed of the impressions thats what he remembers.

 

Galleries: Siobhan can't help but sigh as the first Impression occurs.  "Yes, Sayuri, love," she whispers throatily, practical eyes sparkling in remembrance of that moment, so many Turns ago now, when the geisha gold selected the stoic tannergirl and made her maiko now and forever.

 

Blissot sways from side to side, trying to get some cooler air to flow around her. "I don't think so, Kaytie. Look at the unhatched eggs," she suggests, waving a hand in front of the girl's glassy eyes. "Yep. He's real dark-looking, isn't he?" The nanny-candi releases a slow breath as she claps for the newly Impressed boy, boosting onto her tiptoes as the green seems to make a rather decided move.

 

Galleries: Nest shakes her head and concentrates, watching to see what will happen, who will impress who and she smiles softly "You and I be very different now, so many turns." she comments to Siobhan, her own change from drudge to knight's lady has been many a turn in the making and still she is changing.

 

Ceri says, "Ohhh, the blue Impressed!" Not the candidate, the dragon.. shows where her mind is. Eyes to the green, it's glance causing her whole being to pause as she pulls her eyes to the rest of the sands. Feet begin to ache with the pain of the burning sand.. "How wonderful.."

 

Jessak yells congratulations to blue Narshakth's lifemate, and then returns to his contortions, trying to determine what, exactly, is going on.  He can't seeee.  There's a tall guy in front of him.

 

Dominic bounces from one foot to the other, heat making him almost forget why they're all here.. almost but not quite as he examines the blue and then claps as another blue instantly impresses.

 

Steadfast Sovereign Brown Hatchling, unlike his more capricious clutchsibs, wastes very little time in the choosing, knowing distinctively and immediately as he is drawn to an inferno that mimics the one he only recently left behind.  It's the blaze of gold and fire, tumbled with curls, that gains a snort as he fastens his dark gaze to the cyan counterpart whom he deems worthy to meld with.

 

The Kaytie you are trying to reached has been disconnected.  If you feel you have reached this message in error...  "Wha...?  Yeah, dark."  So much for harper calm.  So much for *any* kind of calm, except, perhaps, the comatose kind.  There's enough sense left in that nervous mind to clap with the rest and to hop on the Sands rhythmically.

 

Artemis spies the first impression and can't clap because both of her hands are occupied currently. So, a bright smile follows instead! Good mood today, aren't we? Eyes follow the new blue, but she still hasn't spied the green. "Where in Pern," she says with a smirk as she turns to Ceri, waiting to see what her answer will be. "Well, do you see her?"

 

Aldrea smirks faintly at Skylar, weight shifting again.  "I don't think my Master's'd like that all too well... coming home with a male in tow.  And besides, if you have a dragon attached, I very well can't drag both of you."  Beam.  Then it's back to the hatchlings... and a wave of congrats given the newly Impressed.  "Where'd the others go to?" she asks Skylar, head tilted as she searches through the bodies that press around.

 

Kelyan watches the first of his fellow candidates get paired off, his eyes briefly following the path of the new bluerider before he returns to his dancing. He scowls at the brown, "Hurry up, will you?" Never mind that the green is taking just as long. From the brown, it's a capital offense.

 

Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling dislikes his conditions already.  Slimey, hot, in the dark to what all this is about.  He glances up and around, past the sea of white that somehow tugs at him for some reason.  Blinking eyes rest on Ceayrth and Diamath a moment--mother... father?  He creels to them expectantly, but instantly knows the answer.  Gaze returns to the white mass before him, and he takes a hesitant step forward.

 

El'ana is pounced! Eek. The candidate stumbles, losing the grip on Arte's hand. The usually utterly self-confident girl is overcome; she stares unbelievingly down at the green. "Saoirth," she murmurs wondrously, before "Saoirth! She says her name is Saoirth!" is announced to the sands at large. Joyous tears spring to her eyes as she crouches to touch her lifemate, caressing her headknobs experimentally.

 

Galleries: May licks her lips, now drying from the heat that emanates from the sands, "Did that green impress to that girl down there? And the brown looks like he's made his choice too. Common candidates! Speak up!" she stands a little an yells, "Whats the name?!" May? Bashful? Never! Though many /other/ words have been used to describe her.

 

Euran touches the brown with his fingertips as his burning flames of eyes are enlightened for a moment and then they cool down as an invisible tear forms within his eyelids. A mumble of something to himself, as he nods. "Yes, Pirsath!" The name rolls off his tongue so beautifully, he sings the name once again. "Pirsath!"

 

Dominic smiles as another impression is made, Saoirth, interesting name...."Congrats El'ana!"

 

Re'a oohs, and watches as the green suddenly appears, and pounces on poor Eliana. Stepping forward, she waits for a moment before calling out to the girl. "El'ana, why don't you and Saoirth come this way? She'll be hungry..."

 

Ceri says, "Oh!! "is about all she can speak as the youngest candie becomes the newest youngest rider.."He's lovely! Congratulations.." Another pair made.. another match.. "Euran!"

 

Galleries: Siobhan can't help but clap her hands together in delight as the green Impresses, then the brown.  "Well done!" she calls, though she knows neither of the candidates chosen.  "Saoirth and Pirsath, eh?"

 

Galleries: Nest smiles as she takes a deep breath ready to hear the brown's choice and name and then she laughs "May." she says and then pauses before saying anything else "Pirsath?"  She smiles "A strong name and she misses the other impression, so much concentration on the brown.

 

Dominic shakes his head as he missed the brown's choice..."Way to go Euran!"

 

Blissot lifts Kaytie a quirky grin. "Zone in, Kaytie. You'll miss it!" Her eyes wax pensive as her attention drifts from the blue to see the moves of the green and brown. It's good to be aware, and not get flattened. "Oh, Eliana!" she chirrups, "Euran!" She applauds the new lifemates, now just bumbling around next to Kaytie, rather than while attached to her.

 

Waterlogged Pre-Raphaelite Ophelia Egg finally stops. It's as though everything has just made it decide not to bother. If it can't get out easily, than someone else can break it.

 

Aldrea finally gets to see... after she hears the call, who Impressed.  Gasping, she yanks at Skylar's hand and points.  "Look, look!  Eliana and Euran!"  She waves happily at the two, beaming as she catches the names of the dragonets.  "Congrats!"  Happy Ald'.  Scary thing.

 

Kaytie comes out of her little trance to stare at the youngest candidate for a long moment, the Impression sinking in a moment later.  And another.  "Oh, my... Eliana!  Euran!  CONGRATS!"  At least she's still capable of yelling at the top of her lungs.  The two are beamed at before the Sands' heat gets her. "Ow, shardit!"  Back to dancing.

 

Jessak is startled as the green goes for Eliana, not far from him, and then a brown to Euran.  "Congratulations, Eliana!  Euran!  Uh -- what do we call you now?"  An eye is still spared for the blue roving about.

 

Galleries: Hunter turns back to the sands and watches intently at the Impressions...  That Euran boy, well, he met him the other day.  He makes sure he pays close attention, 'cause he's been wanting to find out why those people down there will go through such hard work and such all for a dragon...

 

Fiana clasps her hands together and smiles, "Congratulations Eliana--Euran!"  She doesn't know their new names yet, so the former will have to suffice.  Her brilliant grin and Ceayrth's croon will hopefully make up for the slip.

 

Rupa glances towards R'sh who takes the one pair and then towards Re'a, smiling towards the two new weyrlings as she bobs her head slowly. "Euran Impressed as well?" She grins lightly, stepping forward and waving hand. "Lovely.. Pirsath, is it? There is food and oil over here. If you don't mind stepping to the side, I'm sure that he is hungry now.."

 

*pop* *crack* And one egg slivers off bits of white, crumbling away from a soft and sheepish blue. Uncertain, he creeps over toward the Candidates, trying to hide behind a group as they scatter. All but a young lad from Crom. "Oh Crentreth." sobs the boy. "We'll never be apart. Never."

 

Galleries: May grins back at Sabb as she catches the Igen gold riders voice, "Pretty names huh?' she looks to the sands and catches cheers from the other candidates, picking out the names and then calling, "Congratulations Eliana and Euran!!" she has no idea who they are, but, again, she’s never bashful.

 

Artemis blinks as her hand gets jerked away, "Hey!" she shouts before realizing what happened. "El'ana! Euran!" she shrieks and blows her friends a kiss before looking out at the blue. "What lovely names!" she calls after them as she stares at the Ophelia Egg. "C'mon, you can do it!" she encourages, smiling brightly at the egg. Sheesh. "Ceri!" she says and holds onto her hand tighter.

 

Galleries: Oarotu says, "Interesting eggs."

 

Skylar blinks as suddenly one impression is given after another. His eyes open as wide as marks the the vision this presents. "Euran... Eliana?" And it would just figure that Eruan would be getting that brown, very fitting. A smile broadens upon his face as he looks to the different pairing, "Ohhhh, there you go!" The names that are spoken afterwards are repeated in memory, before he glances back to his hand-holding mate. "True. But it doesn't hurt to try now, does it." *wink*

 

Galleries: A'ea is clueless too, but she overhears May and echoes her, "Congratulations! Eriana and...no, that wasn't it. Eulena? What?"

                                          

Ceri nods to Arte and grins at Jessak, "not a green, but at least not a bronze.." But thrilled at all the pairs made so far. Now, about this heat thing..

 

E'ur nods toward Rupa as he looks toward Pirsath, glowing eyes seem entranced with the creature. A'course both manage to keep a regal look to them. They /both/ knew it was gonna happen the whole time, riiight. And that tear thing, that didn't happen. Food and oil is all that is on thought at the moment.

 

Kaytie's gaze - now that she can concentrate again - is drawn to Drifting Roseate Lily egg.  "Figures.  My favorite egg, and it's... not doing much," she comments morosely to Blissot, frowning slightly.  Never mind that a smile curves her mouth as soon as she glances back at her former fellow candidates and their lifemates.

 

Galleries: Caitlin grins and claps her hands "Good the green made a good choice."  Not that she knows the new weyrling but well a green always makes a good choice.  She smiles and nudges the healer "You're healer impressed yet?" she asks.

 

El'ana just beams at all and sundry, though it's her new lifemate that's she seems to splurging the attention on. "Yes, yes," soothes the girl, looking into the green's whirling eyes. "Let's go together, then." She looks up as Re'a addresses her and flashes her a bemused smile, trying to hurry along her one and only Saoirth. However, she's not out of it enough to notice that Euran--E'ur--has also Impressed, and she flashes him a grin. But for now, food is top priority as the pair make their way over to Re'a.

 

Jessak grins back to Ceri and winks at the private joke, and then glances over as another blue hatches and Impresses.  "It's beginning," he says, bouncing on the balls of his feet.  "It really is.  It really really is."  Breathe.  Breathe!  And scan the sands, watchful.  "Mine isn't, either," he tells Kaytie, and pushes a chunk of hair back from his face, tucking it into his ponytail.

 

Blissot leans against Kaytie for a moment, grinning wildly. "It only took seconds, didn't it? Minutes?" Her attention is harnessed by that blue again, following him for a few heartbeats. "It will, Kaytie. You'll see."

 

Kelyan yells congratulations to El'ana, and mumbles something unintelligible to E'ur. Even the poeple next to him can't make it out, but he can always say he made the attempt, no matter how grudging. Impressing a brown--of all the nerve!

 

Eggshell goes flying as a rather enthusiastic green fairly flays open her egg, energetically bounding through the candidates like a puppy. Finally, however, she stops before a solemn young girl, staring up at her brilliantly. "Hystath, you're going to hurt yourself if you keep jumping around." she whispers to the green softly. And another bond forms, forever.

 

Aldrea snorts softly as she tugs at her robe, feet shifting almost continuously beneath her.  "Shards... too bad we aren't allowed boots on the sands," she grumbles softly before shaking her head at Skylar, grin wide and eyes twinkling.  "Oh no, I'm almost positive what'll happen if I do that." Then her attention goes, for the most part, back to the sands as her grip tightens upon Skylar's once more.

 

*ccrraaaack* Every so slowly does another egg crack, the darkness within concealing the hatchling for a moment before shells rain down around it, leaving the near black-brown dragon to stand slowly. Slow movements clear it's eyes of egg goo before head swivels around to peer at the candidates. Careful steps take him through the crowd, to stop with suddenness before a girl with red hair. When eyes meet whirling eyes, it's an instant bond. "Steinth!" is called out as the girl, Frankie, crouches down to give him a hug.

 

Waterlogged Pre-Raphaelite Ophelia's surface ripples, the nearby explosion of another egg leaving it alone in it's bed of sand. Concise circles flow across the surface from top to bottom, leaving behind the tiniest of imperfections to dissolve into miniscule fragments, unidentifiable from the sand around. Like the drop of a veil, Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling suddenly appears where once the egg stood.

 

Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling

Glitz-dusted absinthe pours over voluptuous form, adding breathy depth to the already broad shoulders and ample hindquarters of this sensuous dragon.  Traces of midnight sable curl about her neckridges, shadowing verdant hues from graceful head to elegant tail while a daten of purest heliotrope adorns her sculpted brow.  Pale abalone stains her voluminous wings, which unfurled yield a billowing veil of garish, gossamer hues, venous yet vivid chartreuse and pomegranate foremost.  Alternating anklets of damson and lily band elegantly elongated forelimbs, conjuring a dancer's grace.

 

Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling lowers his head to sniff at the sand, sneezes immediately and reels backwards and to the side a moment.  Well-placed paw keeps him upright, wings splayed at the last second. He flaps them, stirring dust-devils, then once more turns his attention to the rows and rows of alabaster nervousness.  He scents it, moves forward again, disdainfully regarding one after the other.

 

Dominic watches as dragon after dragon hatches and pairs up with another candidate on the sands, Dominic yells congratulations to each new rider as impression is made, voice scratchy with the effort of the yells...

 

Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling gives her dripping wings a delicate downward flick to send the last of the shards dropping into the sands, removing droplets of goo while she's at it. Eyes lift brilliantly, focusing beyond. At all those white-clothed forms out and beyond. So many of them. So little time. But which is Right? Which is The One?

 

Ceri sways, overwhelmed by the presence of this green.. "Jess? Arte?" please hold on, she is so totaslly overwhelmed at this point.. "Another one.." Yup, good with words today, isn't she?

 

Artemis eyes the remaining blue as the green hatches. "I knew you could do it!" she calls and smiles brightly at the green before noticing pretty she is. "You're beautiful," she says with a wink as she eyes the green. Wher-hide sandals are adjusted as she stares, transfixed. "Yes?"

 

A white-streaked nose of green abruptly breaks free of an egg, irritated cries echoing from within as the hatchling struggles to shed the rest of the shell. With another squeal and much scrabbling and struggling from within, the egg's surface tension is finally broken as cracks radiate from the first puncture and suddenly spill the large green into the sand, nose first.  Flopping onto her side, she rolls down a small hillock of sand, tumbling into the legs of three girls closely gathered.  "Get away from my Odesyth!!!" the middle girl cries at the other two, then possessively elbows them away as she curls herself against the green.

 

Rupa ushers a few of the weyrlings to the side, attempting to pay attention to most of the hatching that is going on in the meantime as well. She calls out to Frankie and Steinth, grinning at the pair as she makes sure that they are well before standing back in place. A few glances are sent towards Re'a and K'sh, curiosity perhaps striking in her eyes.

 

Galleries: Bendigo grins at the greenrider and shakes his head "Not yet but she will."  He pauses "Perhaps that green or blue."  He smiles "Though I will miss her in lessons" he rumbles thoughtfully but no healer apprentice of his will be left on the sands.

 

Galleries: M'doc cheers for the Impressees as they pass, running a hand across her brow.  "Never knew it could be so warm in Telgar ..." she mutters, eyes fluttering closed as for a moment, she can't watch.  And, also temporarily, the brownrider is silent.

 

Skylar winces appreciatively as Aldrea takes control of his hand once more, "Ohhhhhh, remind me to hold hands with you more often." Tongue clucks before he glances away from the newly impressed and back to the sands. After all, /his/ lifemate is out there... somewhere.... right? Yet another clearing of his throat before that train of thought begins, "Ahhh, another green." Imagine that. "Just breathe, Aldrea. Breathe..."

 

"Oh, /she's/ a colorful one," Jessak comments, attention briefly drawn by the Dancer.  But he still keeps a weather-eye on the disdainful blue.

 

Galleries: Siobhan sucks in air as the newest green escapes her shell.  "What a lovely little darling," she exclaims, then grimaces as Sayurith rumbles softly from above.  "Now now, dear, it's a /baby/ - all babies are darlings."  She rolls her seagreen eyes at Nest and adds in a low tone:  "She's ever so particular."

 

Galleries: Oarotu leans forward a bit as he watches the hatching,

 

Kaytie studies the blue, and then the green, artistic wonder lighting her pale eyes.  Somehow, she's managed to collect her poise, once more the 'elderly' candidate, careless in her wishes for the outcome.  "Hey... gorgeous.  A dancer in the mind's paradise..."  Someone gag the lyricist.

 

A crack limns the shuddering Stylish Writings Egg suddenly from crown to base, as if the egg has been struck and broken by something even mightier than a sword.  As shards shatter and fall, Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling rises out of the wreckage.

 

Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling

Layers of fire and shadow, smoke and light shroud long, lean body with obfuscated depths.  Heavy eyeridges brood over banked-fire eyes, casting shadows of introspection gentled by charismatic lines of gold-tinged muzzle.  Labyrinthine mottlings of deep fawn snake across neck and back, hinting softend subtlety onto firebrand bronze hide.  Darkened topaz burns in the commanding scope of wing-fans.  Faint striations of ashy silver pale the darker bronze along his spine, a cooling influence to sanguine heat.  Agile limbs impart grace that masks the wicked sharpness of clawed feet, and a long tail weaves enigmas.

 

Re'a motions towards the newly matched pairs, her steps taking her back and forth from the crowd of white robed candidates, to the grouping of hungry dragonets on the sidelines.

 

Blissot fluffs her robe's plethora of ruffles, feet cavorting in their own ploy to remain somewhat unburned. "Kaytie, look at the new green," she says, a little shocked by such beauty in a dragon. "Delicious," the girl finally announces, wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead as her eyes search for the dark blue again, unsure. "Bronze, too.. he's so.. shiny." Good job.

 

Galleries: Oarotu ohs. "A bronze, very handsome."

 

It's all coming just a bit too fast and furious now for Kelyan. He looks form one to the other of the dragons as they crack shell, even his complaints over the heat lost. So many to watch, and only the one brown that he's seen so far. Does he keep his eyes on the blue, or the green, or that bronze that just hatched?

 

Galleries: A'ea hrrmphs. "It means there'll be /another/ bronzerider on Pern. /Just/ what we all need."

 

Galleries: Echo gives an audible snort at the appearance of the bronze, and then is quiet. Wouldn't want to grace him with too much attention, afterall

 

Dominic watches with rapt attention as the first bronze of the clutch makes his appearance on the sands, he wonders which of his fellow candidates will be chosen by this fellow, maybe Skylar...or someone else?

 

Galleries: Hunter glances over at Oarotu and nods, "Yeah, now /that's/ a man's dragon..."  He smirks and looks back.  Uh, did he just comment on the creature?  He thought he wasn't too fond of them...

 

Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling finally slips from where she stands among the mess of shards, ignoring the pieces that crunch beneath her feet. An attempt to swing her hips sends her staggering, then falling, tumbling amongst the sands with a sharp squeak of outrage. She lays for only a moment before nearly snapping off the hand of a female Candidate foolish enough to offer to help, hauling herself to her feet and dignifiedly strutting away to inspect white robes at the _other_ side of the line.

 

Eyes shift from bronze to each male candidate. Who is he for? The healer/candidate sighs.. Where did the green get to his time? "Beautiful bronze, Eh Jess?" Ceri grins as she does the candiacy sands shuffle.

 

Galleries: May continues her commentary, pointing out hatchings and impressions,

 "Ooo, that blue is on a course, I think he knows who it is he wants, and there’s another green. Hey! I guess Big Protector Guy did impress... oh yea, there he is! Over there with a bronze. Have to find out what the bronzes name is, I'd put marks on them to finish top of their class." she looks about, "Ahh, there is Miss Squeely, she found another person to hide behind, Wont do you any good!" called, though she knows hte girl wont hear, "Look! Another bronzer!"

 

All the world's a stage - and where is /his/ actor?  Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling's first steps away from his egg's shards are sanguine in anticipation, yet calculated in stride.  He considers the knot of candidates closest to him, but they're too soft, too self-conscious, and he moves away, his long tail crimping the sand behind him with inflected cunning.

 

Aldrea sticks her tongue out at Skylar for his comment, giving an extra squeeze to his hand before watching as more dragonets burst from their shells.  "So fast... all that wait and it's flying past!"  Very observant are we?  "Isn't she beautiful... and look at that bronze!"  She casts a teasing glare at Skylar.  "I am breathing."  Dance.  Must do the sand-dance.

 

Jessak watches: blue.  Green.  Bronze.  As well as all the others crackling and popping and bursting out of their shells all over.  It's a bit much to take in, so he focuses on what's right in front of him -- what's likely to step on him, in short.  Which isn't hard, since there's that tall guy right in front blocking his view.  "Very," he agrees with Ceri, straining for a better glimpse.

 

Artemis continues her avid gaze on the green as she switches from foot to foot, making a slight rythmm in her footsteps. "Hot," she says blatantly and rather loudly. Ahh well, it is!! "She's so different," she says, finally finding an adjective to describe her. "So, eye catching.."

 

Skylar's gaze sweeps from blue to green and on to the newly hatched bronze. Eyes narrow slightly as regards each and every one with an almost critical intent. Could? Maybe? Noooo, he would know right away if one of them were to be with him. "I'm thinking that green over there is a little bit... spunky?" And even that would be putting it lightly.

 

Kaytie eyes the bronze, commenting wryly, "He looks like he'd help someone take over somewhere, and then turn around and backstab them."  Um... yeah.  Her gaze does a neat arc to the green, and Blissot gets a faint smile.  "She is gorgeous.  And graceful."  More or less.

 

Toria slips quietly over toward the weyrlings, eyeing the new occupants of the sands with a calculating eye.  "Hmmm... very nice, very nice indeed."

 

Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling continues in that wide arc of robed individuals, moving quickly as none of them prove acceptable just yet.  He backtracks, pokes his head between two Candidates to one hiding behind, and snorts at all three squealing beings.  He hasn't done anything /yet/.  Fed up with the slow process of elimination, and the choices presented to him, he stalks across the center of the sands, whirling gaze sweeping everywhere and back.

 

Galleries: Oarotu cocks his head as he watches the hatchlings intently, to see what they do, and who they choose.

 

Aldrea makes a small humming noise, her unoccupied hand lifting to run along the side of her face as she eyes the dragonets still upon the sands.  "Now, there's nothing wrong with that.  Yes... I think she'd be the one for you."  Hehehehe.  A wave of the hand is given before she returns to eyeing the blue carefully.

 

"It's all so much," Bliss marvels, wrapping her arms around her torso. She watches her peers searchingly, giggling softly toward Kaytie, a cast glance tracking the impatient blue. "He seems upset." Her attention wavers very little, though the Sands' heat blazes her eyes and stings her feet, a felling that's prickling up her legs at a rash pace.

 

Artemis eyes the blue with a raised eyebrow, want some attention? But the green, ahh the green. Arte's eyes light up as she watches her progress, but she does feel a bit as stubborn as that blue. No one is paying him much mind, there's that green and the bronze. He doesn't want her pity, but he gains a smile and an encouraging nod.

 

An unclaimed boy lurches into his path, long enough for Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling to study him with tantalizing consideration, but the hatchling isn't satisfied so easily and he ranges further, undaunted by his uneven proportions.  He trains his deviously whirling gaze on one candidate and then another, surveying his choices with deliberate logic.

 

Dominic hop, pause, step, hop, pause, step....with a dance like this all he's likely to attract are insects....or if he's lucky a passing wherry. If these sands weren't so sharding hot he'd have more time to study the hatchlings...

 

Jessak studies the bronze with new insight at Kaytie's comment.  "Backstab, you think?" he muses.  "Might could be.  He does look pretty determined."  Blue gets another look as well, and he grimaces; he might have been one of those squealers.  Well, maybe not /quite/ that bad, but....

 

POP! Another two eggs crack open simultaneously, with two blue hatchlings wandering the sand to and fro. Two Candidates are selected, one of them nearly bowled over, and another nearly trampled with the enthusiasm of the warm Impressions. Calls go out, with congratulations echoing as well.

 

Kelyan watches the green now with apparent interest, admiring her inwardly. Not that he's too obvious about it, after all. A peacock in his colorless state can't be too obvious about envying the colors of others.

 

Galleries: May hoots as a blue spooks Miss Squeely, pointing out to the sands as the young gilr keels over in a faint with no one behind her to catch, "Oh look!" she laughs sommore and then motions to the two other girls that simply stair at the fainted Miss Squeely, "Pick her up or something!" she yells once more, kinda like yellin at the TV, they cant hear you, but you still do it. "Oh! Oh! Hurry hurry! There’s a green headed your way!"

 

Pausing in his skulk across the sands, Nihilistic Renegade Blue Hatchling screels a fierce, open-mouthed hiss of frustration.  Is there no one acceptable here?  But almost as soon as his mouth snaps shut, he sees the one whose presence he can stand.  He slides with dark purpose toward a sallow-and-ginger candidate, fanning his wings slightly to enshroud her.

 

Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling grows tired of all this wandering, and all these noisy people, and all the laughing and crying and arguing. She starts a long, slow, sweeping walk up the line, watching each and every face. Ugly. Hideous. Too fat. Too thin. Useless. Pointless. He has to be there. Her One has to be in there. Stalk, stalk, stalk. CLoser... closer... closer.....

 

Lii swells with the inescapable, chest heaving as she is completely assimilated. Discombobulated, her arms do well to swing around the blue before her for permanence, for the tangibility that has assailed on her mind. No time to fall to her knees now. "I.. I.." What else is there? "Yes, Asuenoth!"

 

Not to be left behind, another egg twitches and rolls down a hill, bumping into another egg with enough force to put cracks in both. With a loud *POP* both eggs shatter, leaving behind a green and a brown. Snapping at the brown, the green goes one way, the brown left to stumble the other. Circling around, the meet in the middle to stand before the twins from Lemos. With happy cries, the two girls circle the hatchling's necks. "Claudeth!" and "Richarth!" comes the cries as they both call out their names.

 

Dominic shouts congratulations to the new riders, "Way to go Lii!!!!"

 

Ceri says, "Lii!! Congrats!" The candie bounces.. both with joy and the heat.. "Oh how wonderful.."

 

Kaytie shrugs nonchalantly, freeing one hand briefly to try and lift her damp hair off her equally damp neck.  "I am having wine after this.  Lots and lot of... oh."  However, it seems Blissot won't be having it with her.  "Bliss!  Congratulations!"  She'll just be moving now, yes.

 

E'ur looks up to see Blissot and the blue. He smirks, twitches more or less toward the new pair. "Lii" Name placed in his head for future reference.

 

Skylar grins wryly as he glances to Aldrea, going so far as to nudge her, "I could be so lucky." His voice is absolutely dripping with teasing intent as he spoke to her. At the creel of outrage from the blue, the ex-stablehand flickers his gaze to the dragonet which elicited such a cry, watching with wide eye as impression happens. "Blissot?" It would just fit that a blue like that would pair with her. A grin breaks out across his face, "Congratulations." And in the same breath, gaze flickers to that stalking green and eyed warily.

 

Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling continues to work his way across the sands, vigilant yet smokily aloof amid the craze of the moment.  Girls are passed over quickly with prejudice pretense, while the boys receive scrupulous investigation, the hatchling's mottlings deepening with anticipation - or perhaps it's just a trick of the light.

 

Jessak whoops outrageously as the blue is taken care of -- er, as Blissot Impresses!  "Congratulations!  Blissot!"

 

Artemis uses her free hand to clap enthusiastically for Blissot, now Lii. "Go Lii!" she shouts happily as she claps her hands excitedly. Now that green is there, and the bronze. Bronze is scratched off the list. Hmmm, green? Maybe..

 

Galleries: Nest nudges Siobhan excitedly "Look he impressed" she smiles and nods "So many new partnerships."  She grins and hugs her legs, remembering her own partnership with pride.

 

Galleries: Siobhan rises to her feet with the force of her applause.  "OOooooo, well done, Blissot!" she cries, cheering on the former Igen nanny, now blueriding Lii of Telgar Weyr. 

 

Fiana grins wistfully over her shoulder to S'rien, hugging herself to him before calling out various congratulations.  She murmurs an aside to the bronzerider, "That blue is beautiful," then, louder and towards the Impressees, "Congratulations!"

 

A storm begins to build, feathers stirring in a whipping wind as the shell of Another Lurid Sorgenkind Egg roils with activity from within.  Cross-hatching cracks, revealing a glimmer of light beneath, life overcoming the stifling confines of impending birth.  A bloody hint curls to the sands, the inevitability in the fight for survival, while long limbs burst forth, followed in the shattering of the brittle shell by a pale bronzen head. Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling as arrived.

 

Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling

Salty shores slope into depthless seas of tarnished copper upon the dragon's wiry length, a false horizon delineating light and dark.  Sun-woven bronze cloaks a broad snout and hoods deepset orbs hidden beneath slimly pronounced eyeridges and headknobs, draping tapered neck to seaworthy wingsails in cloisonne brilliancy.  Russet waves lap over graceful exility, concealing the shifting sands and shadows of his taut underbody where verdigris-tainted treasure may be discovered in lucific glimpses.  Gunpowdered talons fuse to slight claws, out of place on achromatized limbs that are in turn mismatched with an elongated, rapier-thin tail; but all is unified in careful camouflage of unseen vulnerability -- subterfuge ever the gambit in play.

 

Ceri Two bronzes.. so she can rest easy there.. but hope for her fellow male candidates. Now, that green.. but she senses that she is not for her, either.. suspicions growing to that one's lifemate...

 

Galleries: Nest grins at Siobhan's excitement and claps for Blissot as well "What

 a great job."  SHe smiles and watches for other browns.

 

Kelyan ignores the prowling bronzes, watching the green with growing admiration. "She know what she wants. Look how--Ow!" Woe betide the candidate that stands too long upon the sands. The accumulation of heat has caught up to him at last, and he hops furiously from foot to foot.

 

Aldrea nods wisely at Skylar, the green given another long stare before she jumps up and down as Blissot Impresses.  "Way to go, Bliss'!" she calls out, giving Skylar's hand an extra squeeze just because.  "Oooh, Sky', look.  Another bronze."  Blink.  A tug is given her partner's hand as she tries to move more towards a clearer area in which the sands and eggs can be observed without hindrance.

 

S'rien embraces Fiana anew as he gives her a light squeeze, still glowing as if he were a green, though Diamath, of course, would have none of that.  Speaking of the paternally proud bronze, he's beginning to get dizzy with all the hatchlings that are breaking free -- each one deserving his attention, at least for a moment.

 

Enigmatic yet expectant, Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling finally narrows his search to a particular area of the sands where two conversing candidates stand together; two for the price of one?  Circumspection still dominates, but immature impatience is beginning to show in the whiplash of his tail -- mind, soul and zen awaits, but whose?

 

Alluring Dancer Green Hatchling pauses, her body humming with the music that only she can hear. A flash of ebon against white catches her attention, the clash of dark and light lost among the moving candidates. That One is here - she can feel it! With an ease that belies her newly hatched status, she is off, dodging a stumbling blue in her quest to find the one with darkness to match her own sable 'ridges. Candidates part way, leaving The One to be approached slowly in that dance of old when soul melds to soul, bonding forever.

 

Re'a steps forward, all too ready to escort Lii and Asuenoth to the sidelines, "Congrats, weyrling. Come this way."

 

Jessak rocks on his feet, all elegant crane-maneuvers gone.  Now it's just lift and place, lift and place, lift and place.  And watch.  "Two bronzes," he notes, and adds, "Ceayrth did herself proud, don't you think?"  He may sound calm, but he's watching the hatchlings with fervent excitement.

 

Lii stumblingly follows Asuenoth, who seems to hold more sense in a wingtip than she in all her body. "Yes," she murmurs toward Re'a, a bewildered, ecstatic look crossing her eyes as she moves to the sides, guiding by her lifemate.  Asuenoth is considerably less affected by the chaos, nudging her to where she's supposed to be.

 

Scheming Advisor Bronze Hatchling takes his time, studying one boy and then another.  No, and no -- not quite what he is looking for, and he is indeed selective.  One can't be too careful when beginning an endeavor.  And then he turns his head, and pauses, and sees one... one who is right, one who could truly appreciate his wisdom.  Decision made, he moves unerringly toward one golden candidate, the subtle tip of his tail winding around a chosen ankle.

 

Galleries: May cheers, "The green impressed, too... Lii? Sounds like... or Blissot." she then giggles and points to Miss Squeely, "And that green picked her! What a thing to wake up to!" she giggles and cheers, "OOo, that bronzie looks like he found his... and the green too!"

 

Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling shakes the remains of his temporary abode from his slim form, bronzen flesh gleaming wetly.  He flips the seaworthy sails of his large wings to his back and eyes the congregation of brigands and rogues in white.  So, from this he must make his crew?  Faranth help him.

 

Skylar's head is turned to Aldrea as the next dragon comes from the shell, utterly missing it. "What?" *blinkblink* He glances up, only to have his sight eclipsed as a taller, not to mention older, candidate strides past, loosing sight of any pointing. With all the chaos occurring out on the sands, it isn't surprising that he should miss such a thing with all that is occurring. But that green garners another wary glance, 'til he is sure she is after another.

 

Kaytie is merely standing there, watching calmly as the number of eggs slowly dwindles.  If that calm seems a bit more forced with each moment, let it be.  "Incredible amount of males hatching here.  I mean, really, there's been... what?  Two greens?  Three?"  And no sign of anything from her favorite egg yet.  Mrr.

 

Artemis is starting to get impatient. Alright, she's waited awhile...foot taps briskly off the sands her face still plastered with a smile. "Now that the bronze and green have chosen, maybe more will hatch?" she asks and bites her nail in worry. Shards...this is nerve-wracking.

 

K'yen startles, blinking furiously, then drops down to look rather dazedly at the green. "Meracath?" Then, more loudly, "Meracath!" As shock wears off, smugness sets in, and he adds, "Of course, I knew it all along. We were meant for each other." Obviously.

 

K'sh steps forward to gesture another couple weyrlings in, then gives a sudden blink as he realizes just who else happens to be among the crowd. "Well! Kelyan! Or... K'yan, I suppose? Come over this way! There's meat and oil over here. Hmmm. Looks like Alabeth's record isn't spotless any more."

 

Pure Chivalrous Oath Egg can't be outdone by its clutchmates! Its shaking grows frenetic, desperate as the life inside tries to get out. This is taking much too long.

 

J'ak begins to back away from the bronze, to get out of its way if that's what it wants -- and then when a tailtip wrapping his ankle signifies that it most manifestly doesn't, he gasps.  A big, ragged gasp.  Remember how 'breathe' was his sands mantra?  The intake of breath is released, incredibly, as a peal of joyful laughter.  "Yes, of course!" he says in response to some silent communication between himself and the bronze hatchling, and then, shouted to the sky, "His name is Lumanevolth!"

 

Ceri laughs, she ahd been right, his was the green! "Congratulations! How perfect a match." She grins as her egg moves.. Now? E'ur uh-ohs as he looks over to K'yen, who recieves a kind grin. This is gonna be a long weyrlinghood. But with Pirsath, it'll be a conquering one.

 

Dominic continues with his dance of the candidates as Kelyan impresses with a bronze..."Congratulations Kelyan...erm K'yan! And J'ak!!"

 

A tiny egg brushed with strands of silvery white and darker shadows of black finally shatters deep in the heart of what was once a large gathering of orbs.  From this comes yet another green, her hide artistically splattered with dapples and yellowed toward the belly which she inadvertently shows when she trips and rolls away from her broken shell.  Once back upon her unsteady feet, the little one scoots deep into the heart of the thinning crowd of candidates -- another step bringing her nose to rest against a kneeling boy's kneecap.  "Setsunath... oh, sweet little one; we'll drive the boys mad with lust!"

 

El'ana bounces up and down from the sidelines, just grinning from ear to ear. She beams as Blissot, now Lii, Impresses; "Go Bliss!" yells the girl, her voice now returned. No more squeaking for her! She freezes as the voice of her lifemate, her Saoirth, interrupts her cheering. Meeking she desists, tilting her head slightly--it's obvious her darling is talking to her. "Yes, dear, soon," she soothes, before glancing up to see that the peacock himself has Impressed. Yikes. But a good humoured "Congrats, Kelyan!" is issued.

 

Artemis smiles brightly as some more of her friends impress. "Go guys!!" Whoo!! "K'yan and J'ak!" Whee! Happy, Happy, joy joy!! C'mon other eggs!! Hatch? Please?

 

Rupa waves a hand over to J'ak and Lumanevolth as she calls them both over to the side and off the sands. "Food over here to feed that hungry little bronze of yours." She smiles lightly, motioning the new weyrlings over.

 

Kaytie lets loose with a long whistle, beaming at her former fellows.  "Congrats, both of you!"  Never mind that she tried to put Kelyan through... the nearest hard surface at one point.  All is forgiven.  Cough.

 

Lii bounces uncontrollably aside the calmness that seems to be Asuenoth, eyes tuned as she hoots for her fellows. "Kel! Jessak!" And even more important, she can still recall names! She waves a hand toward El'ana, beaming radiantly as strokes down her lifemate's snout, entranced again.

 

Galleries: Siobhan applauds as the green and bronze find their respective lifemates.  "Don't trip, there," she calls, not remembering that the weyrlings below can't hear her.

 

Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling turns and bows with courtly elegance to his queen mother, then steps out with a certain gait to examine his prospects.  First position to be filled: that of his first mate, the most trusted of his crew.  With a sigh, he displays his doubt in the skeptical lift of his chin.

 

Pure Chivalrous Oath Egg's eagle mark pulses and takes flight as white silk falls from its unseen hand, silvered ring tumbling to the sands, glinting as it spins and leaving Conniving Empress Green Hatchling to answer the call to arms.  Let battle commence!

 

Conniving Empress Green Hatchling

Jade splendor glitters in the perfectly petite form of a dragon bejeweled with courtly majesty, the smooth taper of scepter tail adding grace to every movement.  Faceted angles delineate a narrow head, delicately sharpening a narrow muzzle and arching eyeridges above bright-whirling eyes.  A diadem of brighter patina gleams across the brow, spilling between headknobs to meld into the velvet robe of deep green neckridges and the sweeping train of crystalucent peridot wings.  Small, diamond-dusted limbs end in articulate feet, tipped with claws of smooth obsidian while a vine of darker color tendrils along her underbelly, contrasting with the smooth emerald of the rest of her hide.

 

Aldrea points again, for Skylar's benefit-- but her hand swiftly sways towards Kelyan.  "Look, green!  Kelyan got a green!  And Jessak!  Congrats, you guys!" she calls out, giving an excited wiggle as she watches the other Impresses.  "It's moving so fast now!"  She says to Skylar before giving another squeal.  The hot's gotten to her.  "Another green!  Oooh... no, Skylar, look at that one!"

 

Artemis has disconnected.

Artemis has connected.

 

Galleries: May wrinkle sup her nose as more names are shouted, "Lumanevolth? Wow, thats a mouthfull!" she giggles and looks towards Hotaru, "Almost as bad as Isaramaath!" beaming she hoots for those impressed, loosing track of all of them as things pick up for that grande finale.

 

Ceri says, "Oh my word..." And her breath is stolen.. How did such a green come from her egg? Whispered to no one in particular.."Beauty is her name.."

 

J'ak heads for the side, even with Lumanevolth's flank.  Not ahead or behind.  "He's hungry," he says, though everyone knows that.  But it has to be said, because Lumanevolth is so plaintive, so /hungry/...  "Where's the food?"  And the new rider is glowing.  Glowing and even more golden than before.  "...And he says my name is J'ak."  Oh, wonder of wonders, here.

 

Skylar blinks, glancing to the side as now Jessak and Kelyan are the next to be impressed. It just keeping coming and coming, these impressions. Lips twist as he drags the fingers of his free hand through his hair, pushing back his bangs away from his face and once more leaving his vision clear. "Greens... they'll get one of us yet." Another wry, yet nervous grin that is quickly set aside as he is steadfast once more.

 

K'yen nods to K'sh, smug grin still firmly in place as he heads over to the meat and the oil with Meracath following close behind. "I know you're hungry, just a little ways to walk." And then they're there, and she can start eating.

 

K'sh inspects the crowd that's forming, checking over the people and their dragons. "Not too much. Small pieces for the greens." he insists. "Just small pieces. Oh, and make sure they chew. Don't let them choke."

 

Kaytie, all-around good luck charm for the Impression of everyone around her, simply stands and watches as more hatchlings emerge.  "Lovely..."  It's hard to know exactly which dragonet she's referring to, but this being Kay, probably one of the females.

 

Galleries: M'doc plants elbows on her knees, eyes boring across the sands, and focusing on one candidate in particular.  No, not that one.  Not that one, either:  rather, the former harper turned tutor, gone from enemy of the state of Vraelleth to Telgar bait.

 

Conniving Empress Green Hatchling uncurls hastily, shaking off the last bits of egg with impatience.  She doesn't even give a look to her former home, unhappy that so much has already gone on without her before she finally made it out.  It's not /fair/, she's not some big bronze who can crack shell by flexing!  She lurches to her feet, stretching limbs grateful to be free from their confinement.

 

Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling weaves his way through the line of candidates, pausing to pay his whuffling respects to each female and inspect each gent with thorough scrutiny, even passing up a few, though he could be saving them for later.  With a ruffle of wings, and a clip of his heels, he reaches the end of the line and peers backwards along it, his gaze pausing on a few lads, including one of the younger among them.

 

Artemis continues to participate in the candidate two-step. Yes, that age honored tradition of stepping from one foot to the other in a rather active dance that leaves one wondering just whose bright idea it was to come out here in sandals, let alone bare feet. But the dancing does well with the fluttering in her tummy.

 

Re'a chuckles as she gives J'ak a once over, her gaze traveling to the bronze's form. "Well, well... congrats J'ak. This way for oil and meat!"

 

Dominic watches the others mimic the dance of the burning feet and smiles to himself, well at least he's not the only one who looks ridiculous! Watching the hatchlings with an intense interest he keeps away from most of the others, so he can see what might inadvertently step on him.

 

Ceri is moving.. side to side,, but her eyes rivet to the petite green.. Nice and small, not so overwhelming as some.. And such a lovely color.. Now, where did the bronze go to? "Arte, she's.. perfect! Isn't she just?" No need to point out who, of course.

 

o/~ Hello mother, hello father... o/`  *SMASH*  A third bronze suddenly bolts from the shattered remains of a once-gorgeous egg, only what comes out isn't so glorious as the package it came from.  Though at first he appears to be a miniature-version of Diamath with a darkly mottled hide, the slithery motions of this bronze prove him to be otherwise.  He moves at first along his belly, then lifts onto shortened legs to move quickly into the crowds, pouncing an unsuspecting candidate down to the sand -- only to move on to another.  AH-HAH!  "Not so fast m'boyo!  Slissth you say?" comes the voice of a T'rec, a boy almost too old to stand -- grinning like a banshee all the while.

 

Aldrea pokes at Skylar with her free hand, giving his hand a jangle.  "Oh, I'm sure of it.  They couldn't pass someone like you up."  Grinning widely, she turns back and tries to sort out where the hatchlings are and what eggs had yet to hatch.  "Maybe they can't se you well enough?"  And so she moves yet /again/, though towards the front where they couldn't be missed by any passing dragonet.  "There now.  Isn't that better?"  Beaming at her partner, she resumes her sand-dance.

 

Kaytie hops, a two-step it appears, trying to keep the bottoms of her feet from turning into undeniable bits of goo.  Mincing over the others she knows, the woman grins faintly as another old candidate Impresses.  Maybe not hope yet, for a certain egg isn't moving, but something like it.

 

Fiana once again lets loose a full-bodied call of congrats, then leans back against S'rien, grin exuberant on her weary face.  Ceayrth croons, trying to encourage all of her children all at once--those Impressed, those still looking, and the very few left unhatched still.

 

Shards and shells are scattered everywhere, eggs shattering every which way. Another green and a brown stare at one another for long moments, then finally pass by to head for the Candidates, scoping them out just for a moment. "GASTH!" calls out a young girl at the brown. "LINLITH!" a boy screeches at the green.

 

El'ana's Saoirth is all for gobbling, though, despite her regal poise, and it takes all El's will to get her to take little pieces. "Come on, Saoirth," she says, voice tender and persuading, "Just small pieces for now." Little green still tears hungrily away at the meat offered up by her lady-in-waiting, El'ana.

 

Skylar chuckles faintly at all the ohhs and ahhs of appreciation coming from the feminine compliment of the remaing candidates. And it is naturally directed to the green present. A fetching lass, but she doesn't quite have the panache he is looking for. The boy hitches at his side as he is poked and then yanked on. Is there no end to the abuse out here? "I wouldn't mind taking a femme home with me, but...." And then he is yanked along by her this time, "Yeah. Better. In a tag-along sort of way." In this moment of movement, the gallant bronze is just a blur in the corner of his eye. Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling wishes to have you as its lifemate.  Do you accept?

 

Artemis offers a bit of a grin to Ceri. "What? That green?" Gaze flicks over the green and you can tell by the look in her eyes that she likes what she sees, "She is, at that." Feet patter from one side to the other, not nearly as pronounced in her heated dance as before.

 

Conniving Empress Green Hatchling takes her first look around, head snapping first left, then right, then left again.  The white things left all seem to be far away, or maybe it's just that she's so small and the Sands so big, but at any rate... she's going to have to walk.  All by herself.  Still looking, since she doesn't need to wander aimlessly, she gathers her muscles for another big effort and takes a hesitant step forward.

 

Gallant Privateer Bronze Hatchling is distracted by the passage of a lovely specimen of femininity in green.  He pauses in his relentless search to croon a few sweet nothings at her.  Rudely spurned, however, he allows the insistent grumbling of his stomach to take priority once more and returns to inspect a few of those he'd passed up.  One lad twitches beneath the scrutiny and is discarded as too squeamish.  Another pleads for Impression with teary eyes.  So, too, is he passed over.  A third is overlooked for his bullish disdain.  Feeling a sudden urgency, either that of instinct or his mother's insistence, he hurries on to his final objective, nearly tripping over his wings in his haste.  He stops before an adolescent of mahogany hair and sepia eyes, and just the right amount of confidence tempered with humor.

 

***Whirling gaze meets sepia eyes, searing into your marrow and sweeping you off your feet.  The world darkens, moss-strung shadows closing in.  You feel an uplifting of heart, a buoyancy, as though floating in water. The briny scent of saltwater lies buried beneath a cacophony of other smells: spices and perfumes from a far away land.  And then it speaks, this jocular voice, one that hints at good times to come.  << That green over there is beautiful, no?  >>  You don't know which green he speaks of, but that doesn't seem to matter. << Perhaps we shall... get a bite to eat, and then go say hello, my fine young friend?>>  He laughs, and the sound is instantly comforting in its confidence-you know you have found a friend for life.  << Ah, but you are wondering who I am?  I am Kahlendroth and you are Sk'lar. >> ***

 

J'ak instructs Lumanevolth to "Chew.  Chew.  That's it.  I know you're hungry, but chew."  The bronze lifts his head long enough to give him a look, and J'ak laughs, delighted.  "What do you mean?  Well, you still get to listen to me on this.  Don't swallow it whole.  Chew, please."  The bronze obeys, eyes whirling with pleasure.

 

Sk'lar frowns slightly as his hand leaves Aldrea's grip. Head turns to the side to see that he is suddenly approached by a bronze dragon that he hadn't payed that much attention to before -granted, he never layed eyes on the dragon 'til just this very moment. A gasp is wrenched from his lungs and the candidate, now lifemated weyrling, stares with rapt silence at the bronze. It takes a moment, and then the boy is chuckling, "Kahlendroth.... that sounds fine."

 

Tarlin reveals her patient place behind S'rien and Fiana with a sudden squeal of delight!  "Oh, Skylar!  You did it!  You 'pressed bronze!"  Beaming and applauding, the girl bounces, the skin draped across her back bounding with her exuberance.

 

Ceri clenchs the now empty hand, J'ak having deserted her for another/better companion. Eyes refuse to leave the small green, even as yet another fellow candidate Impresses the mighty bronze.  A whole-hearted congratulations wings it's away across the sands to Sky.. "I knew it! Congrats!"

 

Toria's dark eyes troll the sands to see what is happening, and alas, her lips quirk as she realizes the eggs are now mostly shells, broken and strewn across the landscape.

 

Dominic grins as Skylar impresses the bronze! "All right Sk'lar and Kahlendroth!"

 

Galleries: Siobhan blinks as the gallant bronze finds his lifemate.  "Good work, there," she notes to Nest, then holds up the skin.  "There's more - you want another cuppa?

 

Aldrea shakes her head at Skylar as she gives one person the evil eye for trying to move in front of them.  "Hey, you need guidance now and then, you know."  Big Sister Aldrea?  Squeezing Skylar's hand yet again, she goes about dusting off her robe-- until she notices that Skylar's moved away from her.  Looking up, she blinks before giving a delighted gasp.  "Oh Skylar... he's beautiful." In a... male sort of way.  "And didn't I tell you they needed to see you?"  Arms fold across her chest as she takes a few steps away from the two, beaming proudly.

 

K'sh looks over the last of the Candidates, nodding as he inspects the oiling and feeding they're going. "Good. Good." he acknowledges as he starts back toward the sands, to be ready to gesture some more of the Candidates back off. He, too, is noticing the lack of eggs, and measures up the other Candidates with a frown. "....."

 

Re'a ferries weyrling pairs to the sidelines, buckets of small meat passed to dazed 'lings to feed their ever-hungry lifemates. "Small pieces, and chew slowly."  Turning back to the sands, she hears the announcement from Skylar, and heads his way. "Congratulations! And, such a nice name... Kahlendroth..." She says as she tries out the name.

 

Galleries: Nest smiles at Siobhan "Would love one thank you Siobhan" she nods and then smiles across the sands "Poor things, disappointments and all, tis hard to watch others impress but harder to deal with impressing."  She smiles "But worth it, definitely needs a toast:"

 

Fiana glances about just as Toria does, trying to catch her eye and give her a smile.  But the congratulatory calls go up, and she turns her head to see the newest pair, "Oh!  Congratulations Skylar!"  She asides once more to S'rien, "Y'know, we should start telling them to call out /their/ new names, too.  I never know what name a dragon will choose for someone.... unpredictable beasts."  Ceayrth turns her attention to her lifemate briefly, a muttering rumble in her chest.

 

J'ak drags his attention away from the chewing bronze (well, that /is/ fascinating when he's your chewing bronze, even if all it is is masticating meat) to whoop triumphantly to Skylar.  "Hey! Congratulations, Kahlendroth and... Skylar!"  Since he doesn't know the new name yet.

 

Kaytie offers Sk'lar a grin that's only a little forced.  After all, she's never been expecting to Impress, right?  "Congrats, you!  And... and your bronze!"  Forget trying to pronounce these things.  She'll just stick to her brooding and her Sands' dance.

 

Sk'lar is still drinking on the sight of Kahlendroth, as Re'as voice finally makes its way into his head. An exaggerated blinks as he glances to her. "Ohhh, sure... " A sort of sappy smile remains in place though as he blink from dragon to sidelines. "We... uh... we... yeah." Both boy and dragon slowly make their way to the side, somewhat in a daze, but catching the words of congratulation from one and all. "Shells...."

 

Conniving Empress Green Hatchling was starting to head towards those boys, but the bronze's attempt at courtship repels her, and she veers off in a new direction, placing one foot in front of the other in a laborous tread across the Sands.  On top of this, she needs to keep looking, too -- and they're all so far away.  She wobbles closer, picking up speed.  What's that?

 

Ceri wishes she could help that baby green.. so small, yet impervious.. "You can do it.." is whispered, whether anyone hears, that remains to be seen.. The little lady sure has pluck.

 

Aldrea watches her partner leave the sands before gaze is torn from the bronze and boy to eye the remaining candidates and the green dragon.  "I wonder who she's going to pick," she whispered, now to herself as she shifts her weight without thought.

 

El'ana continues her erratic bouncing and cheering, doubling it as Skylar Impresses. "Go it, Sky!" she burbles happily, admiring the bronze from a distance. Fine dragon, that. Saoirth makes it known /she/ is also fine, and that she is *still* hungry. El'ana concedes with a tender "You musn't gorge, dear, or you'll pop your hide!" A pause and a giggle, "And that would be such a shame," she adds as an afterthought.

 

Kaytie silently watches the green make her way towards the candidates, too worn to move out of the way unless necessary.  Mauled Kay is a Bad Thing, doncha know.  "I wonder where she's headed?" the tutor muses softly, amused by the green's aversion to the bronze.  She knows the feeling.

 

Conniving Empress Green Hatchling lets out a heavy sigh, tiring of all this running around on hot sands.  It's time to end this silly parade and move on to the banquet. Still maintaining some semblance of grace and dignity as she moves limbs heavy with fatigue in a now-purposeful direction, the little green comes at last to rest at the feet of a certain curly-haired candidate and lifts her wingsails a little as her mouth opens imperially in the

 draconic equivalent of a human child's plea: Up!

 

Artemis calls out congratulations to those who impress next, her smile basically upon the brink of being a full-forced beam. She hops to her toes for only a moment to peek over a candidate before her, before coming back down unless her toes face the wrath of those so very hot sands.

 

Galleries: Betha walks up the stairs to the galleries, an excited look on her face.  Not only because of the birth of her two boys but also a hatching.  In each arm is a bundle of her joy.  She looks around then scoots herself around to find a spot to sit near the stairs should she have to beat feet for some reason.

 

Ceri says, "Ri? Who's that dear?.. What? Of course you are hungry Liuth.. I'll see you fed, I promise.." Suddenly she realizes what just happened and falls to her knees, hugging the petite green to her.. "Her name is Liuth! And she is hungry!"

 

Dominic lifts his left foot up with the intention of removing the sand grains then quickly puts it down as he realizes what would be exposed if he didn't, then he cheers as Ceri impresses the green.

 

Galleries: Bendigo smiles broadly and nudges the greenrider "Told you she would impress didn't I."  He jumps to his feet "Yes Ceri!"  He claps his hand and stamps his feet in hi sjoy "Yey Ceri!"  Being too far to catch her new name and shouting too loudly now.

 

Aldrea cheers as she watches Ceri Impress.  "Way to go, Ceri!" she calls out, migrating across the sands for a better look yet not getting too close.  "Oh, she's so pretty." 

 

Galleries: Caitlin laughs and nods "Indeed you did, and a green as well."  She smiles softly at the proud healer and claps her hands "A good choice."  She laughs as she watches the two "Very beautiful."

 

Standing shell-to-shell in the shadows are two like-coloured eggs, the last two eggs left upon the sands, in fact.  One shell begins to crack, and then there goes the other, two dragons soon spilled upon the glistening sands.  Ending up flank-to-flank, two greens find themselves looking at each, each a near mirror image of the other -- or close to it, anyhow.  Together they saunter away from their abandoned shells, hips bumping against one another as they prowl toward the remaining candidates and eye them intently.  Which should they choose?  As if working in unison, they make their decisions within moments of one another... one shuffling up to a young boy with red hair, the other bonding with a like-colored girl. "Mewth!"  "Purrth!" o/` We are Siamese if you pleaaaase.. o/` 

 

Galleries: Aida considers the journeyman warily.  "Just 'cause she asked all the questions about dragons?  Huh."  Whatever other thoughts she has on the subject of the former healer's impression -- or any of the others -- are shared just with Tandal.  There's a few bets left to worry about.

 

Galleries: Betha jumps up, startling the twins.  The boys start crying while Betha is wooping it up, "Way to go Ceri!"  Hop hop hop, swish swoosh.

 

Re'a smiles, and is in time to escort yet another green with Ceri in tow. "Ohh.. she's lovely!" She motions towards the rest of the weyrling pairs. "This way please."

 

Galleries: Siobhan blinks as Ceri impresses, then looks around on the Sands.  "I don't see anymore dragonets, Nest," she muses, eyes searching every corner.  "Is that it, then?  Can't say I'm disappointed, 'cause Blissot Impressed, though..."  She glances down at the Sands to where Kaytie stands.

 

Eggs dwindle, having hatched and lifemates Impressed in a flurry typical to any Hatching.  Soon, none are left unshelled, pairs made and ushered to the sidelines.  Fiana glances around, doublechecks with Ceayrth, then untwines herself from S'rien to do what her duty calls her to.  She smiles to the galleries, waving and calling out:  "Thank you all for coming!  Families, feel free to find your relatives and congratulate them.  There will be a feast held in the living cavern--everyone is invited to stay and take part in the festivities."  She waves yet again, then steps back.  A tremulous glance is given to S'rien, then she licks her lips and approaches the Candidates left standing.  She gestures, motioning them closer and smiling gently.

 

Ceri nods as she slowly stands and helps the beautiful Luith to her first meal. "Yes of course Beauty, you can eat all you like.. within reason. No need to get sick just now.,"

 

Aldrea goes home.

 

Galleries: Shell-shock, no pun intended, and M'doc is hissing under her breath at the infernal lack of taste now found in Telgarian dragonets ... at the same time her heart is fluttering in unreasoning relief, which she guiltily suppresses as she legs it out of the galleries, the first ripple of reactions nothing more than a blink before she's worrying.  Just worrying.

 

Kaytie is calm.  Kaytie is collected.  Those are not, in fact, tears slowly starting to moisten her cheeks.  With a strange muffled sound not quite like a cry, the tall woman makes her way over at Fiana's gesture.  "With all do respect, Weyrwoman, I'd just like to return to Igen," she requests, voice strained and hoarse.

 

Dominic goes home.

 

K'sh gestures a few of the weyrling couples as well, heading toward the Weyrling barracks along with R'ea. "Good luck, Fiana." he murmurs to the weyrwoman.

 

Galleries: Invidya stands, shuffling quietly out.  That's it? Alright then, she'll be heading home. It seemed so terribly short... But ow, does her rump ache.  Excusing and pardoning herself through those seated, she leaves the gallery in a rather quick fashion. 

 

Re'a ushers Ri and her green to the sidelines, then moves the pairs down another tunnel towards the barracks. "Everyone, this way.. we'll get you settled in, and then afterwards you can meet up with your families in the living caverns. " Once the hatchlings are asleep, that is.

 

J'ak leaves for a dark tunnel.

El'ana leaves for a dark tunnel.

Ceri leaves for a dark tunnel.

 

Artemis frowns as she is left standing upon the sands. Oddly quiet, she turns her gaze onto Fiana before easing closer, head bowed.

 

While he's truly reluctant to release Fiana, S'rien understands that duty calls and so he releases her easily enough but steps forward to stand by her side.  "Just take it slow," he murmurs very softly into her ear, then watches quietly, waiting...

 

Artemis goes home.

 

K'yen leaves for a dark tunnel.

 

Lumanevolth leaves for a dark tunnel.

 

R'sha is ready to get off these hot Sands and get some /food/!  Beaming happily for all the new Impressions, she moves off to see what the poor cooks have managed to scrape together for the feast.  This'll be interesting.]

 

Saoirth leaves for a dark tunnel.

 

R'sha walks toward Hatching Grounds Entrance.

 

Fiana frowns, brows knitting on her forehead.  She reaches out to squeeze Kaytie's shoulder, nodding slowly.  "Though you are more than welcome to stay, I understand..." she falters, then asks, "Will you need transport?"

 

Galleries: Siobhan smiles and sighs, somehow reluctant to make her way out.  "Well, time to return to duty.  Sh'lor'll want a report, no doubt," she notes, her cheeks flushing slightly at the thought of her weyrmate.  "I'd stay for the feast, but I admit I'm so used to Igen's dry heat this weather freezes my bones."  With that, she shudders, joining the crowds exiting the galleries after securing her now-empty skin.

 

Galleries: Kasan turns to Siobhan and approaches her. "Weyrwoman, may I ask - will

 you be returning to Igen, or will you be staying a'for the feast?"

 

Galleries: Nest smiles and nods "I be following you Siobahn."  She grins "Having my own report to make."  She falters when she hears Kasan speak and is quiet, ready to follow her weyrwoman home.

 

The hatching's over?  Tarlin blinks, looking from Fiana to those left on the sands, and blushes.  She hadn't /meant/ to stay out here all that time.  It just.. happened.  She smiles after Skylar's retreating form and that of his new dragon and sighs dreamily.  Two years?  She'll survive.

 

Kaytie shakes her head.  "No.  My weyrmate will transport me on her dragon.  Good day."  With a stiff bow for Fiana, the woman turns and flees.  Flees the Sands, flees her emotions, and flees Telgar.

 

Kaytie goes home.

 

Toria slips quietly out, eyeing the stands, then the galleries before she goes.

 

Galleries: Betha watches Ceri and her green vanish down the all familiar tunnel.  Her boys still making the great noise makers that babies are.  She kisses each on the forehead and starts bouncing them lightly in her arms.  Still on her feet the rider looks around for somebody to talk to perhaps.

 

Galleries: Siobhan turns towards Kasan, her seagreen eyes reluctant.  "Actually, I really must be heading back to Igen Weyr, Harper," she notes, half-smiling.  "The fact is that I've a youngster requiring some attention back home, and I need to get back." 

 

Galleries: Kasan nods, "actually, that is what I was hoping you would say. If it is not entirely presumptuous of myself and my rank - with all but a very few staying for the ... festivities, I have few choices aside from a wagon to return me to my post."

 

Galleries: Fiana murmurs a few more quiet words with the remaining Candidates, then lets them find their families or there condolences elsewhere. She turns to S'rien, immediately slipping arms around him in a hug, "Now, finally, we'll be able to relax," she smiles, though it's still tinged with a sadness from her interaction with the remaining Candidates.  "Come, let us let our lifemates hunt?"

 

Galleries: Kaytie, having changed in something like record time, hurries up the stairs, eyes red and puffy as she scans the tiers, looking for a certain familiar face.  Her shoulder, notably, is still bare, her Igen knot lost among her things.

 

 Galleries: M'doc is trying to jostle her way out with a positively murderous look on her features ... directed, to be specific, at the cluster of gaggling Tillek biddies who don't seem much inclined to move.  And for once, Vraelleth isn't scolding her in the back of her mind.  "Kaytie!" she shouts on spotting a familiar flash that may or may not be ... no, it is, and one of the poor dames is nearly bowls as the brownrider muscles her way to Kaytie.  "Kay ..."

 

Fiana murmurs a few more quiet words with the remaining Candidates, then lets them find their families or there condolences elsewhere. She turns to S'rien, immediately slipping arms around him in a hug, "Now, finally, we'll be able to relax," she smiles, though it's still tinged with a sadness.  "Shall we let our lifemates hunt?"  Ceayrth perks at that last--hunting!  Oh, fresh blood! 

 

S'rien crouches down slightly in the hug and can't help but smile as he reaches out to pat Fiana's belly lightly before standing again and nodding in agreement.  "Just one more hatchling to worry about."  Diamath isn't the only proud one after all -- S'rien can share in that too.  "I hope some of them will stay, they all have something to offer to the Weyr and this isn't the last hatching, though I understand desire and impatience."

 

Galleries: Siobhan blinks, caught off guard for a moment at the request.  "Certainly, Harper," she replies, beckoning to a nearby Igen bluerider trying to sneak off under her nose.  "S'not, you and Noseth will take Harper Kasan wherever he needs to go."  The weyrwoman nods to Kasan, smiling pleasantly as the bluerider stops and bows to the harper, gesturing for the man to precede him up the steps to the dragon ledges.

 

Galleries: Aida considers the Igen cluster for a moment, then nudges Tandal.  "I did okay on the bets -- you?  Want to grab a drink, see if we can extort some more marks out of unwitting holders?" she suggests slyly.

 

Galleries: Noa finally has a good view of the sands! Now that the crowds have begun to depart, Igen's WeyrFarmer can watch eggshells and emptiness from the best seat in the house.

 

Galleries: Tandal quirks a mouth to Aida and considers.  "I did pretty well, though that Istan disappointed me.  I was sure he'd not Impress, and he was almost first."  Eyes roll, and then she grins.  "I'm all for extorting -- and I'm supposed to be keeping an eye out to make sure we've got the wine flowing free.  Let's go."

 

Galleries: Kasan gives first a bow to Siobhan, then a slighly less deep one to the bluerider. "Thank you weyrwoman, and wingrider. Your assistance is appreciated that I may rejoin the Weyr with all speed." With that, the harper flips up his hood, hiding a face grown perhaps slightly... moist? Now, his features are completely hidden, his grey-tinged cloak rustling around him as he follows the bluerider back to his lifemate.

 

 Galleries: Kaytie turns abruptly, centering in on the source of the voice.  "Marre!"  Don't ask about the people she nearly takes out shouldering her way to the brownrider.  They'll all recover eventually.  "M-m-marre..."  She barely manages to repeat her weyrmate's name, burying her face in the brownrider's shoulder while she cries herself out.  Murmured, very softly, are the words, "Please... take me home..."

 

Galleries: Aida wrangles her way around a sobbing couple -- their only child was left on the sands -- then hops up to the higher row which has cleared and makes her way over to the exit from there.  At least one can breathe easy now, and hints of the frosty winter air beyond this chamber are already beginning to infiltrate the emptying galleries.

 

Galleries: M'doc has absolutely no intentions of letting go, and she's not paying the healer's charges, either.  Want to argue?  She bites and she carries knives.  Her hold on Kaytie is fiercely protective, in any case.  "Home," she agrees softly, planting a gentle, almost ginger kiss on the other's brow.  "I'm so sorry, Kaytie ..."  And for all the possibilities, for all that could have happened, she is.