From the Shadows - Hatching

[Wolf]

OOC| Congratulations SpiritHawk! *Chants.*

BIC| Wolf watched as the mightiest Bronze hatchling of all broke from it's shell. Even from where she stood she just missed a piece of egg shell hitting her as it laid a few feet away. "Congratulations P'rin," she said as the boy began to lead the mighty beast off. "He's amazing, isn't he?" she said, having forgotten Hasima wasn't with her any longer. She began to admire the Bronze for a few moments longer before she turned to look at the place the girl had once stood, shrinking down some as she remembered Hasima had already impressed the yellow dragonet. Both sadness and happiness filled Wolf as she proceeded to watch the hatching... P'rin had been the last of the people she knew and now he had impressed too...

[Spirithawk]

Anassa heard Wolf and turned to her. She edged closer. They were the only Candidates left on the sands right now. "He is amazing. I don't think we ever really met. I am Anassa." She smiled. The Harper was still excited even though the Hatching was almost over. "Congratulations Hasima and P'rin!" She called out. "The green is still here and there is one more egg and the dark blue egg's dragonet has not come out yet! We should Impress! Oh I am so excited."

The little green circled the two girls and then left. She had not found her chosen here but she could feel him. He was here but he wasn't on the sands where he was supposed to be.

L'von why on Pern aren't you down here waiting for your Zalith? Get down here now and feed me! Never mind, hold on and I will come to you! The dragonet began to climb into the stands. Dragonriders rushed to stop her and to find who she wanted and bring him or her down.

"Oh, Wolf, that green Impressed to someone in the stands. Oh well, there are still two eggs!" Anassa smiled bravely.

[Akki]

Hasima slowly fed the meat to Rimith who chewed it as quickly as she could before opening her mouth, asking for more with a creel as her eyes whirled a red colour which clashed against her yellow hide. "Hold on, I can only get the meat so fast." Hasima said slowly as she hurried to get some more out of the bowl. Take your time, I can wait Rimith said, partially lying because she couldn't wait, hunger was clawing at her belly but she was kind and didn't want to rush her chosen.

She continued to feed the tiny dragonet but stopped for a second to watched the green head towards the stands, trying to climb into them. A look of confusion was on her face but Rimith cleared it up for her with a, Her chosen wasn't on the sands, her chosen is silly and is in the stands instead. The girl nodded, understanding and waited to see who Impressed the green. Her fingers were crossed, two eggs were left. Wolf and another girl were left. They had to Impress. She turned back to feeding Rimith, still in a dream-like state. She never imagined she would Impress, especially something as pretty as the yellow.

[Wolf]

As the Green circled them she watched, standing as stiff as a board. When the Green left she felt like her hopes had been dragged out of her body with it as it ran to the stands. Anassa's voice made her turn to her right. Another girl here, just as nervous as she no doubt? Wolf smiled warmly. "I'm Wolf Storm, it's nice to meet you Anassa." She admired the girl's bravery. "Yes... two eggs left..." Wolf said more quietly. Again she could hear her heart in her chest, feeling as if her ear drums would explode, but still she smiled because she wasn't alone after all. 'All eye's must be on us,' Wolf realized. She became so panicked around a lot of people, she was glad that they were above her so she didn't have to look at them at all.

Wolf watched Kaith, not turning away as if entranced. Then she looked to Christae. 'Thank-you both, at least I'm able to stand here today because of both of you.' (True, this thought has been stated many a time but the importance of it is grave to Wolf).

[Spirithawk]

With the emergence of the bronze, the depths of the universe egg's occupant decided to make its appearance. The dragon that emerged was a dark, burnished silver. The dragon's hide was streaked with black, dark blue, and white, making the dragon look like a silver sky with shooting starts streaking across it.

The crowd fell silent in awe as the slender dragonet emerged from her egg. This dragon had NEVER been seen in Dark Moon. She was a moonstreak, and the only one of her kind born to a Dark Moon Queen.

She wasn't a big dragonet, She would only be slightly bigger than a blue, but she was gorgeous. Her wings blended in with her hide and her body was very slim. She emerged from her egg with a grace that made even the most graceful Holder Lady envious.

She walked around Anassa and Wolf, studying them. She wasn't satisfied and so she walked away, studying the people in the Stands. Everyone began to fear that this dragon too would find her lifemate in the Stands and one of the girls would remain standing.

The last egg began to rock and the moonstreak turned to watch it.

[Spirithawk]

The egg that had begun to hatch was the blue speckles egg.

The egg splintered into several large shards, revealing another green. This one was a dark, forest green. Her hide was criss-crossed with darker green, almost black lines that made her look like she belonged in the forest as part of a tree. She was a little bit bigger than a medium-sized green, about midway between medium and large.

She blinked at the sudden light and then began to look around. Her clutch-sister lost interest and continued looking for her bonded. The woodsy green turned and went to search for her chosen as well.

She knew that she was here. She had to be here. The green walked sedately up to where the girls stood in eager anticipation. Yes, her chosen was one of these.

[Wolf]

Wolf looked at the moonstreak in awe, never in her life did she imagine that such a thing could have hatched from the egg. It was beautiful, so beautiful. Was beautiful even a good word to describe it. "My word-" she broke off in mid sentence. "Shards, what color is it?" she asked aloud to no one in particular.

Wolf could hear nothing but silence, even in her ears, as the moonstreak went to them. Then as the dragon passed, unimpressed, Wolf wasn't surprised. She crossed her arms, wondering if it'd be rude for her to just sit on the ground considering her legs now felt numb beneath her weight. She looked to Anassa, hoping the girl was okay considering if the moonstreak impressed another person in the sand's then that would mean they wouldn't impressed. The look that the girl had given Wolf made tears well up in her eyes again just at the mere thought. She would never forget this day, that was for sure, she hardly ever cried. She took several steps back from Anassa, holding her head in her hands for an instant. 'Anassa has to impress, she has to. I'd rather her impress then me... I'm probably just not cut out to be a dragonrider.' Wolf looked at Anassa, giving a curt nod as if saying the girl would impress.

As a green hatched from the egg and approached the pair of girl's Wolf did nothing. She still was close to Anassa, just not as close as she had been. She watched the Green, praying so severely that it'd impress to Anassa. 'Please... I haven't asked for much but I'm asking for this...'

[Kandarra]

Lanvon watched the Hatching intently now that C'adyn had fallen silent. He watched several Impressions, including a small, yellowish dragon. Another new color? He shook his head, almost as if to clear it. This weyr was different from the ones he had heard about as a boy.

There were only three eggs left, and the one he had been watching, which was the color of the ocean on a bright day, cracked, and out came the most beautiful thing Lanvon had ever seen. She was a pale, almost pastel green, with streaks of color on her hide. She was big and strong, and hovered around on the Sands. Lanvon watched her, as she was the only dragonet on the Sands.

Suddenly, someone behind him said, L'von why on Pern aren't you down here waiting for your Zalith? Get down here now and feed me! Never mind, hold on and I will come to you!

Lanvon's jaw dropped when he comprehended what the voice had said. He whipped around, making sure that no one behind him had said that, and realized that there was no one behind him within earshot. He looked down to the Sands, and the dragonet was attempting to come up the stairs. He jumped up, still not daring to believe, and shakily jogged down to where the dragonriders held her at bay.

Z..Zalith? Are you really mine? he asked in disbelief, still not sure what to think.

Of course I am yours, I am yours forever, the hatchling said matter-of factly. Now if you don't mind, let's go get some food. I am oh so hungry.

A single tear broke from L'von's welling eyes and he bent down to hug the sturdy green. Yes, let's go eat, he finally said, and they headed carefully across the Sands to where the food was.

[Spirithawk]

The green dragonet saw her sister begin to walk in her direction again and began to fear that the moonstreak would take her chosen. She studied the girls quickly and then picked the one that would be her beloved bondmate for the rest of her life.

She moved forward to press her nose agaisnt Anassa's leg. Anassa! You have waited for your Priath for too long. I am sorry to have kept you waiting.

Anassa sank to her knees certain that this was the greatest moment in her life. The dragonets eyes flared rainbow and she looked at her bondmate with more love than she would ever have imagined possible.

Tears welled in the young Harper's eyes. Anassa love, I have made you cry. Forgive me!

"There is nothing to forgive dear Priath! I am crying because I am so happy that you are mine and I am yours until the end of time. I will never leave you alone."

And I will never leave you alone! Please feed me. "Anything you want dear heart!" She looked up to Wolf. "Good luck Wolf Storm. I hope to see you with your bondmate at the Hatching Feast. Now I have to go get this beauty fed."

[Wolf]

Wolf smirked at Anassa, her old spirit back at seeing the girl impress. As the Green hatchling and her rider went off Wolf made the mistake of looking up at the stands. There were people... so many... She felt a woozy feeling in her stomach and she sat down right away. Why was this happening to her, why had everyone else impressed and this last dragonet could care or less about her? 'On second thought Roxis, I'm glad your not here. That way you can't see what a failure I've become...' She sat cross-legged, picking up piles of sand, letting it sift through her finger's. She looked to the sky above her, remembering the day's when she had sworn she'd be up there on her own dragon.

The feel of the sand reminded of her old home, the one that was so faint to her now. She dared to look back into the stands, people were all around, staring down at the one girl that was left and unworthy of impression. "I can't believe I couldn't do it," she said. "I thought I could do it... what was I thinking?" She questioned everything she had ever believed in just then with those very words and someone who was watching her wouldn't allow that...
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R'xis looked over at Wolf, who was still sitting all alone in the middle of the hatching sands. She was 'his' little sister. He yelled across for her, loud enough to hear, he knew this was the time now. He could just feel it. "To think after all these years of looking for you I find you giving up on yourself! I won't allow it!"
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Wolf turned at the sudden voice, startled. Roxis was staring right at her and his face clicked in her mind for the first-time. "Roxis..." she said to herself. She felt like her tongue was heavy. Just then she spotted the moonstreak heading over, wondering if it was going to attack her or something. She remained sitting, not looking away from it despite the fact that her brother was so close... Finally, he was here!

[Spirithawk]

The moonstreak saw her sister hurry to the Harper girl. She snorted lightly. She didn't want the girl anyway so her clutch-sister shouldn't have worried. The girl was nice, but not what she was looking for. The other girl wasn't for her either.

The moonstreak walked towards her clutch mother and walked around her. Kaith turned her head in confusion, trying to see what her daughter was looking at. The only people behind her were the drudges holding the thief. Surely her daughter did not want someone who had stolen her clutch-sister's egg!

But it seemed that Sorcha was just what the moonstreak wanted. She walked up to her and tossed her pretty little head. Christae brought a hand to her mouth in horror. "No little one. You don't want her. She is an egg theif. Go to Wolf please." She said softly but the dragonet paid her no heed.

Sorcha, why are those men holding you away from your Lirlith? Come to me please so we can get something to eat. You should have been on the sands with the others. I was almost afraid that I couldn't find you.

Christae looked to Wolf. She should have Impressed not that, that THIEF! The Weyrwoman's eyes were horrified. She started to go to the girl as if to comfort her but then the Queen pushed her rider away.

Beloved I have something to show you. Please don't be mad at me. I couldn't have anyone harming my child. Christae looked confused. "Kaith, what on Pern?" The golden dragon did not answer. Christae wanted to comfort the girl that was now sitting on the sands after the Moonstreak had passed her.

[Spirithawk]

Kaith swept her tail over her mound, clearing off several feet of loose sand. She dug into the sand and carefully removed a gleaming egg.

Kaith had hidden a Queen egg! It was a smaller Queen egg than normal, but it was a golden egg nonetheless.



The egg was shaking and rocking violently and after a few moments, the shell burst open, sending shards out on the sand in all directions. Kaith stepped aside to let her daughter move out onto the sands.

This gold was smaller than Reinath was. She would be the smallest gold of the weyr. She was still a good-sized gold, but her mother and her sister were larger. The two older Queens were on the far end of the large scale. Only Ramoth of Benden had been larger than Kaith and Reinath was still a large gold.

This gold was in the middle of the range for gold size. The crowd was stunned as was Christae. She stared at the young Queen with astonishment. Not only had her Queen laid a spectacular clutch, and not only had the hatchlings all come out healthy and absolutely stunning, but her dragon ahd hid a Queen egg from EVERYONE, including her beloved rider.

Kaith was immensely proud of herself as the little Queen strutted forward. Heard the crowd as they began clapping and cringed a bit. She was more nervous than she would admit, this little Queen.

She was the palest, of pale golds. She shone bright gold. Her wings blazed silver when she spread them out to dry. Even as pale as her hide was, there was no doubt that she was a gold. The edges of her wings were a darker gold than her pale hide. She was a bright spot of light in the middle of the cavern. She looked around, slightly confused.

Then the little gold let out a squeal. She was HUNGRY! Kaith sent soothing thoughts to her daughter, encouraging her to find the human that would love her and feed her. The little Queen looked around, obeying the call of an older, stronger gold.

She spotted Wolf and made a beeline for her. She gained momentum as she raced across the sand and by the time she got to Wolf, she couldn't stop. She dug her tail and haunches into the sand but she was going too fast. She ran into Wolf, sending them both tumbling.

Luckily, neither the hatchling, nor the girl were hurt. The gold looked at the girl and finally peered into her eyes. The gold's whirling red orbs turned rainbow and she sent loving thoughts to her beloved rider.

You are the only one for me! Thank Faranth you waited or I would be so sad. I am your Serinth. Please, won't you feed me Wolf?

[Wolf]

Wolf watched as the moonstreak headed to Sorcha, it had obviously impressed to the girl who was known as a thief. Wolf remained there up on her hands and knee's; she knew it. She wasn't worth it; Roxis had been here to see her fail after all. "Why?" she whispered to herself, feeling as if this was a time when the weather was supposed to be miserable. She half expected it to rain any second.

A memory, like all her other's, rushed to her...
"I'm going to be a dragonrider mom, one of the best. You do believe me, don't you?" The little girl who was assuredly Wolf looked up at her mother, watching as the woman kneeled down to her eye-level. "I have no doubt about that, you’re my only daughter so whatever you wish I'll see that it comes true."
The wind that blew around the girl's long blondish-brown colored hair carried the memory away with it. 'Mom...' Wolf said in her head, drawing little images in the sand. If only her mother hadn't of died, she could race back home to her. That same little girl still lived within this young woman and Wolf couldn't help feeling she was 6 turns old again. No, this pain was greater then any little scrapes or bruises. This pain was larger then life itself.
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"Wolf look-"
"Roxis, not right now please!" she cut him off.
"Wolf!" he yelled.
"Would you stop yelling my name," she scoffed. "I'm happy that after all this time you feel like you need to say it a thousand times but don't you think I deserve to sit in silence?" she questioned him. Her eyes were narrowed, but soon softened as she turned to look at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oomph!" was the only sound that came out of her as something came tumbling into her at high speeds. She blinked a few times, looking up at a-a-a-dragonet? She closed her eyes, thinking she was dreaming, re-opening them to see it still there. "Now I'm going crazy-" She was cut-off this time, by the sound of a voice in her head. A voice that was... linked to her mind. She didn't move, didn't reply, and merely stared. Slowly but surely a grin formed up on the girl's face as she flung her arms around the dragon's neck. "I can't believe it! Are you mine? You must be," she laughed. She scratched the dragonet's eye ridges, bawling her eyes out as she hugged the Queen dragon once again. Tears streamed down her cheeks and for the first time in her entire life she didn't feel ashamed to openly express her emotions.
Don't cry, please... It's the last thing I want. Serinth is hungry Mine! Wipe your tears and get me some food, will you? There was nothing but affection in this tinier Gold's voice as it came into the girl's head. Wolf stared at it's gorgeous Golden shimmering hide as she got-up. She looked at Christae and then at Kaith, bowing.
Serinth, Serinth, Serinth! Right away, we'll feed you. Wolf jumped up and down until she realized how stupid she made herself look doing this. She stopped as Serinth's voice came into her head again.
I said my name was Serinth, are you hard of hearing? the Gold chuckled. Wolf shook her head back and forth and said aloud, "no. Just having the best day of my life!"

She led Serinth over to where Rhia stood, inclining her head to where Serinth was making her way next to the girl. Serinth stopped, looking to Rhia. Her eyes whirred a blue, content to have found Her's. "I don't know whether she's more excited to be free of her shell or more excited to eat," Wolf told Rhia.

Wolf turned away from Serinth for an instant, spotting R'xis just finishing up feeding his Brown Ersith. "Roxis!" she yelled, running towards him. She hugged the boy tightly. He was still taller then her, go figure.
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R'xis picked her up, squishing her to death. "I missed you so much Wolf, I'll never let you out of my sight again, I swear. I'm sorry I hadn't told you I was here sooner, I'm so sorry. Forgive me please and I'll never up set my little Queen rider sister again." He smirked, putting her down as he ruffled her hair.

Wolf hadn't let go of him; she wasn't ready to. "I knew you'd come! I had my doubt's but you always come through!" She grabbed his hand, dragging him over to where her new Golden Queen partner stood. R'xis' Ersith followed, not liking the idea of being left behind.

OOC| I'll love you forever Hawk! <3333333 xD

[Spirithawk]

Rhia beamed. "Shells and shards Kaith you keep setting us all up by our ears!" She let out a shout of exultation when the little gold Impressed to Wolf and the girl accepted her. The WLM ran to grab a bowl of meat. Golds were imperious.

"Wolf you need to feed her. The poor dear is probably hungry." Rhia bent to look at the gold. "Aren't you a beauty?" She laughed delightedly. Mneith joined the other dragons in a deafening bugle of welcome, a bugle of triumph and joy that reverberated in the stone walls of the Weyr. A new Queen was born!

"They are always excited about both. They are usually mindless until they get their first meal." The WLM's voice was amused.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Christae cheered when the little gold Impressed Wolf. She would enjoy working with the girl. Wolf was sweet from what she could see. She turned to the drudges. "Let her go. She can't go anywhere now. She has a dragon. That is more than she deserves."

She walked over to where Wolf was with R'xis and Rhia. "Congratulations Wolf, R'xis. Congratulations all of you!" She cried. The lines of stress that had been on the WW's face for so long had eased and she appeared happy. She would bask in this happy, glorious moment before she had to face the reveberations of what had happened on this day.

[maira]

After the first few eggs hatched and impressed, the rest of the hatching moved along smoothly if with a few surprises in colors. As it was, he was rather wrapped up in the goings on when he noticed one of the greens heading toward the stands. When she started to climb them he looked around anxiously for who she wanted. When Lanvon got up and practically ran to her, C'adyn sat in open-mouthed awe until the pair were out of his sight.

What on Pern just happened Hith? C'adyn asked his blue, his mind-voice full of surprise. The blue just preened up on the ledge and answered smuggly, Why do you think I liked him so much? This made poor C'adyn gawk even more as he turned to look up at Hith where he perched on the ledge. After the moment it took for Hith's words to sink in, C'adyn began to smile and answered softly aloud and mentally, "Ohhh." Hith had Searched a few other candidates before so C'adyn knew it was within the dragon's capabilities to have 'known' but the fact that he hadn't said anything to his rider or anybody else was baffling to C'adyn. He'd have to ask later just what had prompted the blue to keep that secret.

In the mean time he turned his attention back to the last of the Hatching just in time to see Kaith reveal the last and final surprise. She had buried a gold egg! Dark Moon would have another queen! The Weyr would recover even faster once that little beauty was fully mature. The dark mood that had been over the Weyr since the dissappearance of one of the eggs would now be replaced with hope which was exactly as it should be after every hatching.

Once the gold had hatched and Impressed, C'adyn bolted out of the stands, across the stands and to where the new weyrlings were being taught how to feed their dragonets. Not caring who saw, or just how poor Lanvon would take it, C'adyn walked up behind the other man and gave him a tight friendly hug. "Congratulations!" said proudly and excitedly. Then he asked a little more seriously, "So what am I to call you now? And what is this lovely lady's name?" With that he looked down at the green and smiled warmly at her before turning his attention back to her rider.

((ooc: sorry for being absent the last bit of the hatching, I should have known it would move like lightning once it started hehe. Congrats to everybody!))

[Spirithawk]

((lightning it is like...especially for me...*echoes her sentiments* Congrats everyone!!))

[Akki]

Hasima had stopped feeding Rimith, who was not satisfied because her hunger was no gone, replaced with a bloated feeling and was watching at the moonstreak Impressed as did the green. But neither went to Wolf. Tears welled up in the girls eyes and the tiny yellow crooned, trying to comfort the girl, Do not cry, you could do nothing to stop what was going to happen. Please Hasima, do not cry. Hasima knelt on the ground, tears falling down her cheeks as Rimith continued to console the girl. Her promise meant nothing that meant, she knew Rimith was right, nothing could be done but it still hurt.

She turned away, sick and not wanting to see Wolf's face, not wanting to see the tears falling from her friends face. But her attention was drawn back to the sands as she heard people gasp and Rimith cry, Look! Look, my love! Hasima did look, seeing a gold egg hatch, revealing a small and lovely queen that headed towards Wolf. Wolf Impressed! The girl hugged Rimith in joy, as the yellow crooned in glee, feelings pouring from one and another. She watched as Wolf came to the tables to feed the small gold and scrambled off of the ground as Rimith headed towards curious to see the new Queen, as well as meet this friend of Hasima's. Rimith paused, now near Serinth and crooned happily, Hello clutch-sister. as Hasima waited, understanding that she shouldn't disturb Wolf and R'xis.

Akki had headed straight to the tables of food where Hasima, J'kel, and the others were as soon as the new gold Impressed and was taken off of the sands. She wrapped Hasima around in her arms, and said "I knew you would Impress! I knew it! Show me your dragon then, I want to meet her. As does Ebbeth so you better introduce them when you next see the blue.". Hasima looked at Akki, blinking for a moment and then said quietly, "That's Rimith over there.". Akki looked at the yellow and said, "She's a beauty Hasima. Truly.". The yellow, sensing they were talking about her turned and looked at the blue rider with a curious look and spoke to her chosen Who's that? A friend? She looks nice, tell her I send my greetings to her. Hasima relayed the message to her friend who grinned and sent her greetings back at the yellow, and she also sent Ebbeth's greeting of curiousity

Akki saw Wolf and R'xis and knew the boy had told her, finally. She wanted to hug R'xis, congratulate him, and the same went with Wolf. But she knew better and would not disturb the moment they were hacing. Instead she went to find J'kel and said," Congratulations J'kel. You and I are both blue riders now! it should be interesting, Ebbeth is dying to meet your dragon. What's his name then?".

[Kandarra]

L'von fed Zalith carefully, chunk by chunk, waiting for her to chew before he gave her the next piece. He had been watching Rhia correct others and he didn't want to be corrected himself, or appear dim. Besides, the green would choke herself if she was able to eat as fast as she wanted. When she was finished and feeling quite full, she sat at L'von's feet and rested her head on his knee. He looked down at her and stroked her soft hide, trying not to cry.

What's wrong, mine? she asked, concerned about the wetness coming from her rider's eyes. Everything is okay now. I found you.

He was trying to find the words to answer her when he felt himself being pulled into a tight hug. His first instinct was to tense up, but looking over his shoulder, he saw it was C'adyn, and didn't.

"Thanks. I'm L'von now, she says. Her name is Zalith." He smiled almost sadly at the bluerider, gesturing for him to sit.

Who is this? Why did he grab you like that?

"This is my friend C'adyn," he said aloud. "That was a hug, it means he's glad to see me. At least, I think it does," he added, looking at C'adyn and grinning for the first time since he'd met the man.

[maira]

Seeing L'von's eyes go distant as Zalith spoke to him gave C'adyn a strange surge of pride. He hadn't even known it possible that the other man would Impress but there he was with a dragon of his own. He waited patiently until the focus returned to L'von's eyes then C'adyn smiled both at what the other rider said and at his smile. To reassure L'von, C'adyn smiled, nodded and answered, "Of course we're friends. And now I have a perfectly good excuse to see you whenever I want. Gotta keep tabs on your weyrling training and how young Zalith is progressing. If I didn't, what kind of friend would I be?" Here, C'adyn's smile turned to a playful smirk.

C'adyn hadn't actually seen L'von smile before and they had known each other a few seven-days already. Needless to say, he was quite pleased to be called a friend by the new greenrider, and honored that he had finally earned L'von's trust enough to be shown a smile. He knew a few bits and pieces of what L'von's past had been like before coming to the Weyr and he hoped that now, with a dragon by his side and forever a part of his life, that L'von would finally start to open up.

Up on the ledge, Hith listened and watched (through his rider) the happenings between C'adyn and L'von. When he thought it appropriate he spoke to the young green that was now L'von's soulmate, Welcome to the Weyr beautiful young Zalith. My name is Hith and I hope that like our riders we might become friends.

*****

Once young Aylith had had her fill, and not soon enough according to the rosy copper, and she sat nuzzling at her brown brother, Jessalyn turned to V'koran and smiled. It wasn't a big toothy grin but the dreamy smile of somebody who was perfectly content. "So now what?" she asked playfully but perfectly seriously as well when V'koran finally looked at her.

Jessa knew that there were rules against weyrlings having any sort of relationships until their dragons were old enough to handle the emotions and physical effects. What she didn't know was just how she and her best friend turned something else entirely were going to deal with that rule. Luckily they had both been too busy to let things get 'out of hand' what with the runners and their candidate training and all. She just hoped he wouldn't give up on them just because they had to wait...

[Kandarra]

"I don't know," L'von teased, even surprising himself, "a not-so-pesky one?" He grinned again at the bluerider, showing a line of perfect white teeth, then shyly looked away.

Zalith looked around for where the voice had come from, then finally traced it back to its source. Hello, she said curiously. Your rider is the man here? If I end up liking you as much as Mine likes Yours, then we will be very good friends. Mine likes Yours very much. But he is too shy to say it.

Clueless to his dragon's comments, L'von continued to scratch her eyeridges and stroke her soft, multicolored hide.

----

I am full, Verith announced, and V'koran almost sighed in relief, because the bowl was almost empty. If the brown dragonet had kept going, he would have to get more.

I'm glad, V'koran said, and watched as Verith curled up next to his copper clutch-sister, who nuzzled him, and he nuzzled right back. The new rider was surprised but pleased that the two dragonets already seemed to be getting along well. He hoped it signaled a continuation of his and Jessa's relationship... but what would happen there?

Seeming to read his mind, Jessa spoke up about just that. "I don't know," he replied, as unsure as she, and he looked into her dark blue eyes. "I don't know. Do you want anything to change?"

They have a special bond, kind of like us, Verith commented to Aylith, out of V'koran's hearing.