Any Day Now

[Tenma]

The hatching was drawing near. Even the worry of the stolen egg could not suppress the excitement for the spectacular event to come. One especially excited candidate came charging at the calm Lake Tyuru. He paused before the expanse of water, to thrilled to speak. He quickly took off his boots and shirt. He pushed them under a tree to make sure that they would stay dry.

The male candidate walked over to the shallow part of the lake, allowing the cool water to wash over the top of his feet. He then ran in and dived underneath, allowing his body to relax. He let himself drift for a few moments before he swam to the top and took a deep breath. He rubbed the water out of his eyes and looked toward the direction he came. He saw a shadowy figure heading this way.

********************

Hali was worried about everything. First of all she had been chosen to stand at a hatching. That event, months ago was still at the front of her mind. She missed her father so dearly. She wanted him to visit her, but she knew that couldn't be done. It was to dangerous. And what was he doing now? How had the others reacted to her disappearing. Her father said he would handle it, but what did he tell them? Did they hurt her father? Or worse...

Second, was the stolen egg. Who would do such a thing. Didn't everyone know that an egg only hatched for one person, and if that person wasn't there then the hatchling would go between? She was sure all knew that. Why would a person even want to steal an egg. Wasn't it an honor to impress at a hatching and live in a Weyr? Maybe the person didn't get selected. Either way, how could someone pull it off. Even at that point, the great dragon egg was large and heavy. Where would they go, and how could they make it. Could the egg survive that long away from the heated sands.

Finally was the upcoming hatching. She was excited, but worried. What if she didn't impress? Would the renegades allow her back in the group. Would her father be ashamed? Would she have to work at the Weyr and never see her father again? Even impressing had it's drawbacks. She wanted her father to come to the hatching feast, but knew it couldn't be done.

All of these worries were pushing her worries of being discovered to the far corners of her mind. The 'boy' decided to go to the lake. She went there often just to think. One time she had run into a large brown-rider, but he had been nice. As she drew closer to the lake splashing entered her ears. She saw a boy playing in the water and she recognized him. "Hello Jakel." She greeted with a short wave of her hand.

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As the shadow grew closer Jakel recognized it to be Kalor. "Hey Kalor." He replied to the greeting. "Wanna swim? The water is great!" Jakel invited.

*****************

Hali shook her head. "No thank you." She sat underneath the shade of a tree to watch him.

********************

Jakel shrugged. He never had seen Kalor swim, but he didn't really care. The candidate dived back underwater.

[Torva Anian]

Kinest made his way slowly down to the lake. He hadn't really ever gotten used to the hustle of the weyr. Although he had gotten rather good at disappearing. He passed his hand over his mouth as he yawned, it had been a rather drull afternoon and he had spent it napping away. He picked up his pace as he heard splashing further ahead. If he was ever going to be a dragonrider, he needed to interact with people a little better he supposed. After watching the weyr for as long as he had he supposed that these people might be nice to stay with. They hadn't seemed to genuinely want to harm him or anyone...well the dragon queen had been mad at the thief. He shook his head, well that was her own fault. You just didn't steal children. He huffed slightly and leaned against the tree quietly watching the other two.

[Akki]

Behind Kinest by a small bit was Hasima, her feet dragging against the ground as she slowly made her way down to the lake. Even though Hasima took alonger time to understand things than other people, she knew what had happened with the egg right away, she understood why it caused a mass amount of chaos. She blocked out the sounds of swimming for her head and tried to think of why someone would steal an egg. To start a new life, to be given a second chance. That was the only thing she could think of, and she was actually rather proud of being able to think of that at all.

A small, unsure, lopsided grin formed on her face and she continued on her way down to the lake. She squinted and saw Jakel and two people she didn't recognize. She crossed her arms at her wrists and her hands cradled her elbows as she shuffled forward.

[nike]

Malenie floated on her back, in the lake. Everything was oh so very peaceful. No one else was there, and no one was out in the Bowl. Or well, if they were, she didn't know. Eyes were closed, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her arms were streached out beside her. It felt like Boll. The warmth of the hot sun on your face, the strong, never ending winds, and the salty air. As soon as she Impressed and could fly, Malenie was going to her old home. She would fly up on her bright, lush, forest green dragoness, and everyone would be in awe. Plus she had to get there before Nike.

Yes, she and her foster sister became great friends, but that didn't stop them from competing against each other in stupid childish things. Nike even said herself, that doing those things helps her keep feeling younger. After all, she was twenty Turns, and from Pern's standards, a true adult. It was a splash that brought the Candidate to the present. Eyes flashed open, and her body turned to see another Candidate dive out of the water. A grin replaced her small smile, as she spotted another Candidate by a tree. Malenie dove under the water, and swam towards Jakel.
When she went back up for air, the girl spotted two more Candidates by the lake. Well, it looked like it was going to be Candidate day at the lake.

[kestral]

((Back...Sorry I haven't been on a tonne lately. Or at all, come to think of it.))

Further down the lake, Tavril sat staring musingly into the water, and occasionally glancing towards the slowly growing group of youth. After the theft of the egg, which he had not heard about until rather later than most of the candidates, he had stayed out of the way of as many people as he could. Of course, it was inavoidable at times, and Khaliall still trailed after him whenever he couldn't get lost in the throngs of other people he was trying to avoid...
Tavril was just beginning to realize how inconvenient being a recluse and eccentric could be. Though he wouldn't admit it, he envied the candidates their youthful chatter and optimism: he wasn't so confident as they all seemed.

While Khaliall had informed him that they had all been lonely and nervous (and might still be) when they arrived, he had denied quite firmly that he felt as such. However, as he sat in his heavy woolen clothes, watching the group play in the water, he experienced an uncharacteristic twinge of jealousy. The water looked inviting and cool...what was stopping him from going in? He wouldn't have to join them.
Slowly, at this realization, Tavril stood up and tugged off his tunic and the sturdy boots which he always wore. There wasn't anything stopping him except his sense of dignity, and shard it all, he was going to ignore it for once!

A rare smile twisted his features as he strode to the lake, and with a moment's hesitation, waded in until he was up to his knees, and then executed a shallow dive. When he emerged, his dark hair was plastered to his head, but the solemn Candidate was grinning. He didn't care if the other Candidates had no idea he was even one of their peers: the dratted theft of the egg had stressed everyone, including Tavril who had not even heard of the event until later, and had avoided society as much as possible after.
The Hatching was approaching...and who knew? Things might work out for the better. Treading water easily, he raked back his hair with his fingers and dove again, revelling in the cool wash of the water over his frame. It was turning into a better day than he had thought that morning.

[Tenma]

Jakel laughed and Melanie floated up in his face. He never did know that she used to mean. He floated to the top of air, but couldn't get it because he was laughing so hard. Finally he forced himself to stop as he realized that he would soon feint if he didn't take a breath. Luckily he made it and the candidate looked around as he treaded water.

He noticed that along with Melanie, Kinest, Hasima, and Tavril joined Kalor and himself. "Well, looks like we have a party!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and raised one hand in the air.

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Hali greeted Kinest and Hasima with a smile and a small wave. She heard something and her head turned back to the water. Jakel was laughing and Hasima had risen. She was amazed that she hadn't seen the other candidate before. Jakel must have drowned her. She watched as Jakel shouted and a sheepish grin crawled across her face.

[Akki]

Hasima lifted a hand slowly and jerked it in a small, crude impression of a wave to Hali before dropping it back to the position it was in the before. She walked down to the waters edge and sat down, pulling her knees up to her chin and hiding her large hands underneath her knees. She didn't really know anyone here, actually, she could only remember ever seeing Jakel.

She pulled her knees closer and tighter to her, silently hoping that Akki would come even though she knew the blue rider wouldn't be coming. She had spent quite a bit of time with Akki, mostly because the rider would drag her along and Hasima would oblige. Maybe she would try and meet some new people today, and attempt swimming despite her failure at it.