A Hurricane of a Hatching

[Spirithawk]

OOc: I had been planning to have this hatching during a hurricane anyway. I got the idea from a Hatching I was in a few years back in another Weyr. This was not because my community just got hit by Gustav just in case you were wondering. I considered having you guys rp the hurricane preparations but I figured it would be like pulling teeth so I just summed it up.

IC:

The winds were howling outside the walls of the Weyrs. The skybroom trees were bent double in the wind and the lake had overflowed its banks and was rising. A small creek that ran on the outside of the Weyr had become a raging river and the roadway into the Weyr, the only way to get there on foot, was now a white river, flooded to the point where no one could get in and out of the Weyr save by dragonback. The Lower Cavern was inaccessible by the Weyr Bowl. The riders and Weyrfolk were stuck using the back tunnels to get around the Weyr and the dragons were Weyrbound until the wind stopped. Any dragon trying to fly in this storm was asking to have his or her wings ripped or be flung into the stone walls of the Weyr.

The dragons were on standby, waiting for the storm to finish so that they could help the surrounding countryside. They wanted to make sure that the holds that tithed to Dark Moon were safe and help to aid in the rebuilding of the coastal holds as quickly as possible.

There was little conversation in the Weyr. A storm of this ferocity had not hit this part of the Southern Continent in Turns and certainly not in Christae's lifetime. There had been giant squalls and one that might have been a minor hurricane but this time the shipfish had been terrified. They had kept telling the people to leave. "Flee. Flee. Big storm. Bad. Bad!" They had kept screaming, almost to the point of hysteria. Their voices were shrill and the kept rolling their eyes until one of the dragons finally realized what they were saying and sounded the alarm. All of the shipfish had rang the harbor bells in the coastal holds and warned everyone for miles but those who did not have bells needed the warning from the dragonriders. As soon as the dragons had gone to warn people, the dolphins headed out to safer waters, their obligation to the people taken care of.

The dragonriders had gotten word out to the people in the nearby holds just in time for them to batten down their hatches and flee if they needed too. Many dragons had become ferries of a sort, taking the old and young away from the holds that were in the most danger of being flooded or too close to the coast to be safe. The ships were all out of port, offshore or in sheltered coves where the wind could not batter them into their home ports.

Few people realized what the noise was when the walls of the Weyr began reverberating with a steady sound. Most of the people attributed the noise to the howling winds that were sending rain pounding into the walls of their home and to the crash of thunder and skybroom trees falling to the ground under the force of the wind. The Weyrwoman realized what was happening just seconds before her dragon's mental voice called out smugly.

They hatch.

The sound was the sound of a hundred or more dragons humming, one by one catching the signs that their riders had missed that the eggs were beginning to stir, a few were rocking, and a few even had minute cracks in their shells.

"Oh what a day for them to decide to be born!" She cried as she looked up from the table in the Lower Caverns that was laid out with maps. The Wingleaders and the Weyrleaders were meeting in the Dining Cavern. Supplies were on some of the tables and maps were on the High Table. They were assigning holds and tasks for the wings to take care of as soon as the storm finished. The supplies had already been separated by the drudges and the Headwoman and all that was left was for the riders to come pick them up and attach them to their riding straps.

"The eggs hatch!" She cried and bolted from the room, running through the tunnels and nearly knocking down several dragonriders and Candidates.

"Rhia! Akki! Get the Candidates ready!" The Candidates had been moved into the Weyr since the Barracks were so far from the Weyr and succectible to flooding. Their robes were still in the Barracks but some drudge manged to find some dusty white robes, more grey than white from repeated washing and use but they were Candidate's robes. The Candidates would just have to wear whatever shoes they had on. There was no time!

"How are we going to get the guests here?" Christae asked, calling the question out to no one in particular as she ran into the Hatching Cavern. Luckily there was an entrance that led into the Cavern that didn't enter from the Weyr Bowl. Bags of sand had been put across the entrance to any cavern that might flood, especially the Hatching Cavern. The hot sands and flooding would make for a boiling mess that would certainly harm the eggs that were so close to hatching.

Christae ran to her dragon. "Why now? Why couldn't they wait a few more hours?"

They choose now. I cannot stop them. Neither can you. She continued to hum but occasionally she let out a happy chirp. Soon her babies would have their bondeds and they would be safe and loved.

"The eye." She said suddenly. "Someone tell the Weyrleader. When the eye hits the dragons will go out and fetch our guests." A druge had followed Christae into the Cavern. He ran out again when the Weyrwoman finished her sentence, searching for the Weyrleader.

One of the eggs began to rock violently. It looked like it was going to hatch before the Candidates had a chance to get there.

[kestrel]

J'red had arrived at the Weyr before the storm started to get bad. He'd been gone for a few sevendays, now, and had only returned at Hikanth's urging him-Kaith's clutch was hatching. He had to admit, missing the hatching just wasn't something he wanted to do. He knew most of the Candidates by name as well as face, and sincerely wanted to see which impressed and to what. So, the bronzerider found himself sitting in the stands, with Hikanth humming as loudly as any.

It was easy for the bronze to get over his loss-he just assuredly said that he would win next time, assuringl his rider that the other bronze's win had been purely accidental. It was true. J'red had been seeing through Hikanth's eyes when Kaith careened into another bronze. What bothered him was that she'd immediately leapt into that N'kal character's arms, without even looking his way. He knew that flights got lusty, so much so that you almost weren't in control. However, he also knew that you could choose someone else if you wanted to bad enough. Had his feelings been one way? Well, right now, he was here to think about the hatching, and the Candidates. He was not here to pay any attention to Christae's new 'Weyrmate', or to harbor those jealous feelings. Not today, anyhow. He just hoped he wouldn't undergo any notice from 'their new Weyrleader'. He thought he had prepared himself fully for the potential loss. He'd thought wrong. He focused on the rocking eggs, finding it not too hard to place his concentration there. Especially when the Candidates started filing in.

~~~~~~

K'tan was one of the first into the stands, Vyralth bugling and humming, as full of pride for the golden queen and her clutch as if he'd caught her himself. The dark blue dragon loved hatchings, though K'tan could never figure out why his enthusiasm was so much so that he got so carried away. No matter-the bluerider loved hatchings almost as much. He remembered his own impression on the day he stood on the sands and impressed his beloved Vyralth. He felt the excitement of that day, pressing as ever, and really felt for the Candidates on the sands. He looked around for Rhia and that greenrider he'd been working with to catch the felines that day, and cracked his knuckles as he remembered leaving his 'little troublemaker' in a safe, enclosed area. He hoped that the hurricane wasn't scaring the little thing...however, he was so intent on the hatching eggs it was really, really hard to focus on anything else-especially with a proud blue dragon humming away noisily!

~~~~~~

Xyrion put on his robes and looked at himself to make sure they were straight in the provided mirror. He felt stupid in the robes, but they were required and his excitement at the prospects of impressing far over-rode anything else. Though the boy with the black hair and bright blue-grey eyes kept it well hidden enough, he had been awaiting the hatching with a sort of eagerness he'd never felt about anything before. He felt like he'd been waiting for this moment his entire life. He crossed the sands, looking at the rocking draconian eggs with longing, not caring for a moment what they all held, so long as what one held was a draconian life partner for him. A dragonrider was Xy's dream, and though the training had been tedious, and dealing with others had been difficult, he felt it all was worth it to be standing here today. He didn't even notice the hot sands beneath his feet at the moment. It was just the golden queen, her eggs, and him. A nervous feeling knotted its way into his stomach. He wasn't even sure if this clutch did hold a dragon for him. Was longing for one this way foolish, in case it didn't? After all, not everyone could impress...

~~~~~~

Rhiyo got into his robes hurriedly, nearly tripping over the hem of his them as he quickly tried to get across the hot sands. He was so nervous that he almost felt nauseated, for there were dragons humming, people on the sands, and eggs rocking. He'd been taught the same as the rest, about impressing, and the hatching-so why was he the only one looking horribly nervous about it all? He tried to go over everything R'xis had told him in his head, right down to 'avoiding an onrushing dragon that looked like it wasn't looking at you'. He felt sick to his stomach, and didn't know if it was half from excitement or just pure nervousness. He fiddled lightly with the white sleeve of his robe, watching the eggs with butterflies in his stomach. All he knew about himself, really, was that he had been meant to stand on these sands. That meant he had a right to be here as much as the rest. Meant that maybe, somewhere in those eggs, was a dragon for him. That was good, right? He liked the dragons he'd met, and the riders. He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling, trying not to fidget, and trying to be calm...

~~~~~~

Raska had to tell Kero to stay put after she donned her white robes she'd gotten from the drudges and was ready to go out onto the sands. Didn't seem like the feline wanted to, but he did comply, as always. He was pretty darn smart that way, and Raska reached down and stroked his black head, while saying with a quirky half-smile, "so wish me luck, huh Kero? Even if I do impress one of them, just remember doesn't change a a thing between you'n'me, kay?" With that said, she made a disgusted face and looked down at her white robes. "Shards, could they pick a stupider outfit for this or what?" Muttering, she walked out onto the sands, taking up a spot near the middle. Middle was good...or maybe closer? She edged up a bit, curiously eyeballing the eggs. She'd touched them, she'd looked at them, but didn't mean a sharding thing so far as impressing went, in her opinion. She hoped she'd be lucky enough to impress. Being left standing would totally stink. What if everyone else got a dragon, and she didn't? That'd just be peachy keen. She sighed, feeling stupid in her baggy white robes, feeling like maybe this would be totally embarrassing, and silently, somewhere in the back of her mind, hoping that she wouldn't be left standing here on the sands, dragonless...

~~~~~~

Kaiya was so excited, she'd never been so excited in her life. She hadn't made many close friends in the Weyr yet, concentrating hard on her Candidate Lessons. The one friend she had made was Wolf, the rider of Golden Serinth. Riler had transferred out to another Weyr. She had to admit, that had been really sad, and Wolf, she knew, was really upset. She could only hope that the Goldrider would have her pain eased by maybe meeting someone else. Or, with her new duties as a Jr. Weyrwoman and the training that might entail, if there was any.

After hurriedly getting the older set of robes from the drudges down in the caverns, she had to stop herself from literally running out onto the hot sands, hopping a little un-dignified across the sands. She stood right near the front, and only Raska stood as close. She wanted the dragons to know that she was there, that she would be happy to impress, and didn't want the chance of a potential dragonet for her missing her and going between. That scared her a lot. The fact that a dragonet would go into between without its partner there. But Candidates were filing in, one by one, and they were all inside the Weyr. She was so excited! The thought that she might not impress, she'd pushed aside. If she thought she might not, maybe she wouldn't. That would totally not be good. However, if she didn't? Well, better not to think she wouldn't, right? She had just as much a chance as anyone here. She'd been searched too. Not impressing...would be horrid. Horrider than horrid. But she could handle it...right? Right. She could stand next time. She had plenty of time to find a lifemate. Right now? She'd enjoy this experience totally, no matter what!

~~~~~~

Kestrel walked on to the sands, looking about, feeling slightly nervous but anxious to do this. She, too, had gotten her set of robes and was now ready to stand in hopes of impressing. She scanned the stands for Hasima, wanting her friend to be there-for reassurance? Maybe it was that. She just didn't feel like having no one she knew there. She scanned the sands for Khris, and Jil-where were they? She bit her lower lip, silently praying that her friends would come soon, and then remembered that everyone would be ready for the hatching and that they would be here soon. She worried for Kaith, and her dragonets, and for her friends, and the fact that maybe their dragons were in that clutch and might between before they got here. She wondered where the other riders were-would all of them come to watch the hatching? She was sure Hasima would definately be here. Maybe along with Akki? Akki would never miss this! She looked briefly for Rhia. She'd come to respect the Candidate Master a lot during their lessons. She seemed harsh sometimes, but she was really fair and made sure they'd been prepared for this. Looking at Kaith, she wondered if the dragon was worried, too. The Candidates didn't even have time to go up and make their proper respects. The eggs were already hatching, and she'd been told to just go find a spot on the sands quickly. She made a mental note to show respects later. For now, she was feeling so many mixed feelings at once. She was excited, and nervous. Anxious and yet happy to be allowed to be here. She stood there, lightly shifting from foot to foot on the hot sands, watching, and waiting to see if her future would change today or no...

~~~~~~

Tikal had been inside the infirmary when the hatching started, organizing jars of numbweed and fellis, along with other herbs. Someone had mentioned that the dragons were hatching, right in the middle of the hurricane! Tikal had his robes with him, ironically enough, and hurriedly went into the side room to put them on. He was not really nervous, not sure what he was feeling. Content, perhaps? That must have been it. He was sure other people were nervous, but for some reason, he didn't feel that way. Just a sense of happiness that this day was finally here, and a sense of hopefulness, that he'd be so lucky to impress. Didn't matter which-he wasn't gunning for bronze like some young men did. No-he wanted whatever wanted to spend its life with him. Any dragon, no matter what it was, would be with him for life. That alone made him feel elated inside, that he might be just lucky enough to have that.

He hurried to the sands, not wanting to miss a single shell breaking. Even if it wasn't his, seeing that from the perspective of the sands would be the most amazing thing. He went somewhere close to the front. Not as close as some, but he really wanted to see it all, and a bit to the side and front gave him a miraculous view of the eggs. They rocked and he figured that any moment now, they would begin to break free. He noted that some were smaller than expected, while some were larger-but all looked just as wonderful as the next at the moment.

[Torva Anian]

Well, you going?

Sorcha glanced over at the Moonstreak who perched at the edge of her weyr looking down. "Where would I go in this horrible weather? We were told to stay put as much as possible once we've prepared."

A soft snort that was the dragon's way of laughing followed her comment. Yes, but you must attend the Hatching. After all, you're a member of the Weyr now and the nicities must be observed. And with that, the Moonstreak took a controlled dive into the Weyr Bowl and carefully manurved into the Hatching Sands to take her perch with the others. A walking dragon looked a little odd, but it was safer than actually flying over.

"Wait, what do you mean hatching? There's a hurricane out there! They couldn't possible hatch. Lirlith? Lirlith!" With a frustrated huff at her Bonded's lack of responce she grabbed a jacket and left towards the Hatching Sands. Because of the tunnel like system she didn't have to get nearly as wet as her dragon. She glanced around, wondering who knew but figured the Weyr woman had it under control. Who was she to tell someone what to do anyway?

~~~~~~

Miserable little creatures. The shardin' reches just had to hatch today, eh? Satnee wished she could move further into the kitchens, but she had to stand here, in the cold to hand out any robes to Candidates who couldn't find any and had just run to the Sands. Considering word just now hit her, she supposed she had a while to wait. She glanced sourly at the Sands before huffing and wishing she would have paused just long enough to grab some klah. Might have kept her a little warmer. Then again, she could just move into the sands and be warm but she didn't like being any nearer to the eggs than she had to. Didn't want any of them getting ideas. So far, no dragon had seen fit to find her, which was just fine by her. She had a fine life as it were. She rolled her eyes and waited for any hopeful, deluded Candidate to make their way over.

(( I'll post my others later, little pressed for time. ))

[Kino]

Between candidate training and adjusting to life in a weyr, Jilstherakiran's life had been pretty calm after the event with Xyrion. Actually he hadn't been able to speak much to the other boy, though whether that was due to their being mutually busy or the other boy genuinely avoiding him Kiran had no idea. At any rate, the hurricane was a sudden and unexpected barrage of events. The night of the storm found Kiran in the Weyr where the other candidates were being kept. He'd been sitting quickly off to the side of one room and leaning against the wall when everything seemed to vibrate, though like many others he didn't pay it much mind. It wasn't until chaos broke lose and people began running about that he realized what was going on. The hatching! And on such a night, too.

He'd gone with the others to grab a robe provided, following the group of candidates out when they were told that their shoes would have to do. Jilstherakiran ended up not being quite first on the sands, but somewhere close to ahead of the mob. He scanned the area to look at the few others that stood there, catching sight of Kestrel's nervous shifting just before he caught sight of Xyrion. He only allowed his mind a moment of pause, however, before thrusting himself back in the situation at hand. This was a hatching - the eggs were already beginning to rock! Kiran continued forward to make room for the candidates that were sure to come, standing towards the front and off to the side.

- - -

Khris had settled himself in a section of the room where the candidates were being held, resting by the back wall and trying to listen past the chatter in the room to see if he could hear the storm. Honestly, a window would've been ideal, but he understood why putting them in a room with a window during a hurricane might not be the best idea. That was about the time that he started to hear the humming. Maybe it was because he was listening - hard - that he heard it so quickly. His head was leaning back against the wall and his eyes had been closed.

About the same time that the humming started, Twil went spastic. Granted the firelizard hadn't been incredibly calm to begin with, what with the storm and everything, but when the humming started the little blue jumped out of the boy's lap and launched himself at Khris' shoulder, wrapping his tail around his arm and flapping wildly while sending out a flit-sized thrum. Khris felt it vibrate into his arm at the same rate as the wall was, and in an instant he was to his feet. That humming was no hurricane; the thought was confirmed in a few moments when the area the candidates were in turned into a swirl of chaos and robes.

As soon as the call was given to head to the sands Khris tried to duck through the bodies of other candidates for the door. He managed to grab a robe as he went, and was tugging it on one arm as he booked it down the hall; of course, before he could get the other sleeve on he had to pull Twil off his shoulder. "Twil," he said, "Up!" and with a short toss of encouragement from the boy, the firelizard took to the air and popped betwen, probably on his way to the sands as well. A bit more sprinting and the boy had made it to the sands, not that he slowed his pace any when he reached the entrance.

He didn't slow down when he stepped inside. Considering the eggs were already starting to rock, he eagerly obeyed the command to just run into place. Unforunately, perhaps a bit too quickly. The sudden change from rock to sand underfoot wasn't as expected as it should have been, and a few steps away from the entrance to the hatching sands Khris loss his footing. He tried to catch his balance, which only succeeded in him falling backwards with a yelp as his foot slid out from underneath him, sending him onto his back with a brief cloud of sand erupting from where he'd stood.

It took less than a minute for Khris to get back to his feet. The sands were hot, after all! And besides that, there was a hatching going on. Somewhere in that group of eggs was his possible bonded. He didn't want to sit there nursing his wounds while the dragons hatched! So he briefly brushed the sand off his cloths and continued quickly towards the candidates, spotting a familiar face quite quickly, and he shifted his direction towards Kestrel. Of course the fall was a bit embarrassing, but him falling over his own feet was nothing new, and his mind was quite sharply focused on the eggs that were now in front of him. "Hey Kess," he offered to his friend, though now his eyes were locked on the large gem-like figures on the sands close by. "Good luck, right?"

- - -

Tanwen had been far less inclined to flutter around and talk it up with the other candidates while they were stuck in the room for the hurricane. She hadn't been at the Weyr for long, and so far had only met with two boys, both of which she'd realized would be hard to get rid of in time to come. When the hubbub about the hatching started up Tanwen finally perked up. Of course she was excited about this, it'd been why she'd agreed to go to the Weyr in the first place, but her actions were far less excited and sporradic than the others.

Once she'd been given the partly-white robe she turned into the hall and made her way towards the sands, tugging the garment over her head as he did. Her stride held a sort of felenic quality in the sense that if it weren't for the robe she wore, she might have just been going for an aimless stroll down the hall. The pace continued into the hatching sands, and she stepped up into the center of where everyone was beginning to gather. Staring at the eggs ahead of her, Tanwen came to stand near a younger girl who'd also stopped in the middle (Raska).

[Spirithawk]

The first egg to split open was a bright, white speckled pink egg.




Most of the people who had looked at the eggs had figured that the pink egg would yield a female dragon, but to everyone's surprise, a bronze dragon emerged from the shell. He had reddish tipped wings but the rest of his body was pure, bright bronze without any of the green color that most bronzes tended to sport. His hide, save for the red at the edges of the wings, was almost a solid color that seemed to shimmer with an inner light. The shimmering was caused by an almost imperceptable variation of shading in his hide that caught the light as he moved and threw it back in different degrees. He would be on the larger size of the medium range of bronze dragons, a good size for a bronze but not the largest. His eyes gleamed red with hunger and fear as the storm crashed outside. He was almost frenzied in his search for his bonded. He needed his bonded. He needed to protect his bonded. As a bronze, he would never admit that he needed his bonded for his own comfort. For now he searched the Candidates that were rushing in, and he searched the people who were filling the stands. He knew his bonded was there, he just didn't see him yet.

The people of the Weyr let out a cheer that was muffled by the boom of thunder from outside the Weyr. The water was rising but a bronze had been the first to hatch. That was a good sign for a strong clutch. Kaith crooned to her first-hatched son, encouraging him to find his chosen.

[kestrel]

Kaiya was astonished to see that the first egg to split the shell was a bronze-she'd been sure that that particular egg held a female dragon, even if it would have had to be a fairly large green. Bronzes only impressed to males, however. She watched him half attentively, but was sure to keep her eyes on the other eggs-ones that might hold something for a female candidate!

~~~~~~

Kestrel wasn't about to think that coloration of an egg meant anything about what the egg held. Based on size, she'd guessed that it was either a bronze or large brown. So, she simply smiled slightly at the surprised looks on people's faces at seeing an egg with pink hatch out a lovely looking Bronze. She watched as he searched the sands, then searched the sands. Was his bonded not amongst the candidates already present? She looked behind hre to see more filing on in, and secretly hoped that whomever the bronze was looking for, would show up in time!

~~~~~~

Raska chuckled lightly when a bronze dragon emerged from the egg with pink in it. Somehow, it seemed to her that a girly color like pink? Totally shouldn't hold a bronze! What on Pern was the world coming to when pink eggs spit out bronzes? Well, maybe that wasn't entirely fair. Blue eggs could have female dragons. She looked at the newly hatched dragonet and immediately felt sort of bad for thinking he had hatched out of a girly shell. So, she secretly hoped he find his bonded-since she sharding well couldn't get him, more the pity!-and though she kept a wary eye on him to make sure he did't trample her in his rush to get to whomever he was searching, she kept the rest of her attention on the other eggs. They were the ones that might hold something more for a girl!

~~~~~~

Xyrion hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. He remembered to breathe in and out, but when a bronze cracked the shell, he did it again. He actually bit his tongue to keep from saying anything to the dragon-because you weren't supposed to do that. However, he hadn't been going to say anything to get its attentions on him. He had noticed it had scanned the stands, and scanned the sands, and wasn't moving. He was actually becoming concerned the dragonet might go between. The thought was rather horrid, and it would have been a shame indeed to lose a bronze, or any dragon, just because its bonded didn't show, or wasn't there. However, it was still patiently looking. So, he simply remembered to breathe, and watched it in rapt fascination. Not for the first time did he wonder if he'd even impress today. Dragons were awesome creatures, but who knew what on Pern made them pick someone? He wasn't exactly the prize choice. All those optimistic and cheery folk standing today, with their high goals and dreams. He'd never been much compared to them, though recently he'd actually been trying a tad harder, as the hatching neared. He actually wanted a dragon to find him worthy, and that made him uncomfortable...

~~~~~~

Rhiyo's nervousness didn't disappear any when the first egg hatched. The butterflies didn't go away. In fact, he almost wanted to sit down as the nausea washed over him once more. However, he breathed in and out, deep breaths, and tried to remember that he was here to try and impress one of these. He should try not to be scared or else maybe the dragon wouldn't want to pick him. No one else looked scared...why was this event making him sok nervous? Was it because they'd grown up their whole lives wishing it would happen, whereas he'd woken with no memory and being told that this was what he was? A candidate to stand on hot sands and try to impress one of these creatures? 'You like dragons'...his mind was telling him, and 'you should be happy about being here'...but no matter what his mind whispered, the nervousness only abated a little. So he focused on watching the bronze.

It was a beautiful but gangly sight, the newly hatched dragon. It wasn't exactly that lovely looking, beyond a nice looking hide and all that. It was kind of cute, but in a weird sort of way, and it was looking around like it was lost. He felt sort of bad for it-was it scared and nervous, too? He wasn't sure. Maybe it was just looking for its person. Where was its person? R'xis said they only impressed to boys, right? Well, there were at least five boys on the sands, including him. Did it want someone else? His curiosity began to grow as he watched the little dragonet with eyes wider than some, but with interest nonetheless.

~~~~~~

Tikal was delighted when the first egg cracked. A bronze! Who would the lucky boy be to impress him? It seemed to have overlooked the current candiadates, so maybe none of them? Well, that was okay, so long as its bonded got there in time. A small smile was on his face as he watched the bronze dragonet. For him or not, whoever got it would definately be honored. Bronzes, after all, could chase golds, and those who impressed them could become Weyrleaders, Wingleaders, Wingseconds...it was definately an honor. However, Tikal wondered not for the first time what he'd want to impress. He supposed he'd be happy with anything, he was so laid back. But he thought himself more of a blue or smaller dragon kind of guy, maybe a brown. They were down to earth, reasonable, nice dragons. Yeah-browns were awesome. He watched the bronze with an amused sort of glimmer in his eyes. But unlike many who made such a fuss over it being a bronze, to him? It was a dragon. A dragon was a dragon. The nonsense about rank and all made some really want a bronze, but not Tikal! He would consider himself lucky, be it bronze or blue!

~~~~~~

*Kaith must be proud. It is a fine clutch.*

J'red glanced over at his own bronze bonded, and said with a nod, "yes, it is, isn't it? A bronze for the first breaking of the shell, too." He couldn't really be upset at a hatching. He noticed the little dragonet, so like Hikanth had been on that day, though Hikanth had torn straight for J'red no sooner had the shell broken, and J'red had been terrified of being trampled.

*I would not have trampled you. I was just eager to get to you,* the bronze said with feigned hurt feelings in his tone. J'red smiled, and then reached over to scratch Hikanth's eyeridge, watching the bronze on the sands, watching the eggs, and waiting to see who'd impress first.

~~~~~~

*A bronze has hatched! Look, K'tan! He is looking for his life mate amongst the stands, too!* [/i]

K'tan couldn't help but laugh. Vyrlath's enthusiasm was more than anyone he'd ever seen not standing down there on the sands. With a pat on the neck, K'tan assured him, "yes, Vyralth. He is. Perhaps his bonded is amongst the Candidates filing in and he doesn't see him yet. Be patient-he'll find him soon. See the way he's calmly looking about?" K'tan pointed out, and Vyrlath piped in,
*yes, K'tanmine. He knows his bonded is near.* K'tan merely nodded in agreement, wondering who the lucky boy would be. [/font]

[Dragon]

"Well, the weather certainly isn't preferable", Kira spoke to the drudge that shoved the robes in her hands. Oh why now of all times? Couldn't the eggs wait until it was a nicer day? None of her family would get to see this day if this kept up. She'd so been anticipating seeing her brother. It had been some time since they saw one another, for Kira it felt like an eternity. She couldn't help but huff a bit as she begrudgingly put on the robes. Her shoes? Well she had on some sandals anyway. They were going to be ideal to wear today, but apparently the weather and events changed that up.

She trudged onward to the hatching grounds. When she first took her step onto the sands, it was rather warm, warmer than she expected. Infact she'd probably consider it to be quite hot. But regardless she went to stand with the rest of the female candidates. She kept to herself for the time being, of course. Her thoughts couldn't be bothered to be interrupted, they were too focused on her brother at the moment.

She may have been bothered, however, to look across at a few of the eggs. They'd started hatching so soon? Cracks already? Surely it'd still be a bit before any shells broke free to show what dragonet lay inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bothersome weather. Gerenanth was grumbling to his rider. He'd hated that he was grounded. Chill out Gerenanth. You're not the only dragon grounded and you're certainly not the only one having a problem with this. Until this settles down, just stay where you are. G'han responded to his dragon with a much calmer state than Gerenanth was showing. The bronze was being impatient and he was irritable, not to mention nervous, about the weather. But he'd never let on his nerves. Ridermine, the eggs. They hatch. Gerenanth's tone was cool, calm, and quiet. It was vastly different from the tone he'd just held. G'han nodded his head, which may have looked strange out in public and away from his dragon. Ask Christae's Kaith if she needs any help.

At those words, Azure, his blue flitt, appeared on his shoulder with a nervous chirp. The weather was upsetting him and the safest place would be with G'han, or so the flitt felt. "Good, Azure. You can help me out", G'han said a bit cheerily as he scratched his flitt on the head, trying his best to calm him down with his own calm, passive nature. Though to be honest, even G'han was a little on edge about this. But outwardly? He was hiding it as best he could. My dear queen. If you'd be so kind as to relay a message to your rider from mine? He wishes to know if he can be of any immediate assistance? Gerenanth had learned how to speak to a queen, in some fashion. His tone was polite, as if to hint her whim was his desire. Gerenanth probably wasn't the most clever or experienced bronze, but he knew enough to get him by. For the time being. Gerenanth could only hope, however, that this would mean he could fly sometime soon. He needed to stretch his wings, not stay cooped up in the weyr shared by him and his.

[Spirithawk]

A large warm-looking egg split into several large shards as the dragonet that was inside slowly emerged, looking quite happy with himself for getting out on his own. He was a larger brown, and would probably grow somewhere between the medium to large size. His hide was mostly made up of a rich, warm looking brown. It was almost like a mahogany color. Swirls of a deep red could be found on his body, blending in wonderfully with the brown. His color scheme seemed quite agreeable with him, and he looked rather princely as he stood there. His tail grazed the sands surface, creating ridges in it as he waited to find his mine.

[Spirithawk]

The third egg to hatch actually yielded a dragonet that looked like the egg that it came from, or at least was of a similar color. A rather fat, rounded sea foam green egg cracked open and fell to the grounds, allowing the dragonet that was resting inside to escape if it wanted too. Oh and it did want too, the dragonet quickly squirmed out of the eggs shell so it could rest on the warm sands, creeling hungrily. The medium sized green stared at the candidates, obviously wanting food as quickly as she could get it. She was an attractive minty green, with webs of forest green winding itself around her tail. The same dark green could be found on her snout before it disappeared into the mint green. She looked over all the eggs from where she sat, looking quite motherly for a minute before turning her attention to the candidates. Which one was hers? She wanted to be fed.

OOC: Special thanks go out to Akki and Wolf who sent me some of these dragonet descriptions.

[Wolf]

The hatching, it was starting, and she wasn’t there! Wolf was in a panic, shouting to Serinth about how the crap weather wasn’t making her panic any better. Serinth listened, attempting to calm Hers with soothing words, knowing that Wolf being Wolf she’d manage to get to the hatching in record time.
Really Mine, is there such a need to fret? We’ll get there, Kaith is so focused on her clutch anyhow, I doubt she’ll notice us slipping in just as they’re hatching. She appreciates us being there, I’m sure, yet she has her own troubles to deal with at present. Wolf nodded her head absentmindedly, wearing her riding gear. It wasn’t long before she had arrived at the sands and was now finding a place among the stands to sit. She attempted to look for a friendly face, grinning at the sight of her dopey brother. “Hey, not a bad turn-out, huh?” she joked. She could see the reflected humour in his blue eyes. “Well, anyhow, Serinth and I feel kind-of bad for being a bit late.”
We are not late, must I remind you? Wolf snickered, winking one eye closed while whispering to her brother: “She’s in denial.” R’xis hadn’t the faintest clue as to what she was talking about, too absorbed in the hatching. When Wolf turned to observe the area down below she too found herself not feeling as if she wished to talk through this magnificence. She didn’t want the other riders and holders to think her rude also, this was a special time for the Candidates-she ought to show some respect. She knew that at the last hatching, the one where she’d impressed her beloved Serinth, she would’ve been made all the more nervous at spotting people laughing in the stands. Likely she would’ve thought they were laughing at her, how insecure she had been, what a long way she had come. She was far more outgoing now in the sense that she could actually strike up a conversation with someone whom she was unacquainted with. Also, while still keeping humbleness about her, she had more faith in her skills as a rider then she ever did before during her Weyrling hood.

~ ~ ~
R’xis nodded a greeting to Wolf, interested in what she had to say although the hatching was far more intriguing-no offence to her. When she’d gone silent and no longer attempted to make jokes with him he knew that she had become enticed also by what was taking place down below. His heart was beating so rapidly in his chest; he could barely stay in his seat. He felt on edge, nervous, just like he had the day that he’d impressed himself. He could just imagine himself being the one standing down there, wondering what would happen, knowing that this day could-and had in his case-determine what his future was to be. Being a dragonrider was definitely a dream he’d fed his mind in his youth, and he knew it was likely the same for his sister. Every sensible person on Pern wished to lead the life of a dragonrider.
But not all are blessed with one such as me, Ersith reminded him.
No, you’re quite right, though I’m not sure the word blessed is the one that I’d choose. The two were, surprisingly, expressing their cherished bond by speaking to one another in such a way. Both were quite the oddballs, and neither one seemed to let the other forget it.
I can guarantee you that you won’t see another female brown being partnered off here today, she bragged haughtily.
~ ~ ~

Tieler dressed in her white robes, not much caring as to how ridiculous she looked in them. What choice were they giving her? She knew that Rhia would likely tan her hide if she was ever to complain about how free dress should be permitted on the hatching sands. She’d only have to wear these ridiculous garments once so she might as well just wear them with as much dignity as she could muster. Many would disagree that she was ever dignified, and after she beat the pulp out of whom ever said so she’d likely agree to the statement herself. Tieler hadn’t so much grown as a person when she arrived at Dark Moon. If anything she had become worse, feeling challenged by the discipline and chastising that she received from the Candidate Master and other Weyrfolk. She didn’t give two marks as to what anyone else thought, she’d just go on dilly dallying all she wanted and wasting all the time in the world-for she felt that all she really had was time...
The approach of the hatching just went to show how quickly time was slipping through her fingers without her realizing it. She’d always suspected that nothing could ever change her way of life, but today-now? Everything could change in an instant if she was to impress. She had to admit, things had already changed some with her impression of Alias. She loved the little flitt, though the words would never leave her lips. She had ordered the flitt to go and relax at the lake during the hatching, not wanting her to have to feel the jealousy that Tieler knew she would. Alias was quite the surprising little creature, the total opposite of her Tieler felt, but somehow they managed to get along just fine because they were different.
Tieler stood among the girls, blending in with the crowd, or not so much because of the scowl on her face and the brightness of her short red hair. She stared forward; just like she’d done at the flitt hatching, thought goodness knows this was far more intense than any flitt hatching could ever be. Just as she was getting tired of waiting for something to happen one of the eggs began to rock, and then cracked! Her eyes widened at the sight of the handsome Bronze, and suddenly a fair amount of longing pricked at her gut. She tried to ignore it but the dragonet had a hold on her. This isn’t even my dragon and I already feel as if I want to care for this newly hatched one? What’s wrong with me?
~ ~ ~
Leander, of course, showed up just as the gasps of the people around him could be heard. He wondered what all the fuss was about; did he really look that stunning entering in his white Candidate robe? He thought so, and he stood up taller as to show off. He flexed one of his arms, saying aloud once he was standing in the group of others: “Apparently I look dashing in my robe, not that it comes as such a surprise to me but even then... Who’s willing to fling there body in front of mine to save me from being ripped apart by savage claws?” he asked, referring to the soon-to-hatch beasts. When he realized that some weren’t even responding to him he rolled his eyes, “Jealousy, so unbecoming.” But then, he saw in the center of the hatching sands, a sight that even put little ‘ole Leander to silence. “Holy meatrolls topped with meatrolls,” he muttered, staring at the Bronze with infatuated eyes. “Now he’d do me well, not that I can’t stand out on my own but even then... It couldn’t hurt to have a brute like that by my side, no?” He realized that something was distressing the Bronze, and he hadn’t even considered that it might be the storm. He wasn’t afraid of storms himself, not afraid of much of anything.
“Can we claim dragonets of our own?” he asked stupidly, already knowing full well that wasn’t how things worked. “Because if the answer is a yes someone gets me a leash and I’ll go and fetch that one.” He was pointing to the Bronze, being quite an airhead about the whole ordeal. He was oblivious to his stupidity although, figuring that how he was acting was perfectly natural. “I can only imagine what other marvellous colors will have come out of Kaith’s butt for us to see today.”

[kestrel]

J'red watched the next two dragonets emerge, a rather large brown and a lovely looking green. He watched carefully, though even if he could see others he recognized filing on into the stands, he chose to ignore them. Hikanth would be impossible to miss, however...he could only hope that the hatching was far more interesting than one bronze dragon.

*Nothing is more interesting than me.*

J'red rolled his eyes mockingly, and snorted derisively at the dragon's haughty words, knowing it was meant in good natured fun-but maybe then again not, for to J'red, nothing was more important.

~~~~~~

*A brown, oh look K'tan! And see, a fine green! She will grow up to be lovely, indeed,* he commented, a rumble of interest in his voice at the appearance of the lovely dragonet.

K'tan grinned lopsidedly, thinking of the only other greenrider he'd met at the Weyr-Anassa and Priath, was it? Well, the more greens the merrier, he supposed. They made good thread fighting dragons, speedy and agile, and though their stamina wasn't so great as a gold, they more than made up for it by being the female dragons who chewed firestone and flamed. So far, so good! Even with the raging hurricane outside, the hatching went well.

~~~~~~

Rhiyo's attention was drawn immediately to the next dragonet to hatch-it was a brown, like R'xis'! He twisted his head to see if his friend and his friend's sister were in the stands. He thought he spotted them and smiled brightly, for a moment forgetting he'd been nervous as his eyes were drawn back to the brown dragonet. Was this how people felt when they wanted to impress a particular dragonet? The bronze was stunning, and Rhiyo certainly would have liked to impress him, too. He simply had a fondness for browns because Ersith, the dragon of his best friend in the Weyr, was brown. This brown, however, should have been a boy. R'xis had said all browns save Ersith had been boys. The bronze was a boy, too-the greens were female? Yes, he thought that was right. He looked from the bronze to the brown then back again, the nervousness returning. What were they doing, just standing there? Weren't they supposed to pick people from the Candidates? He grew worried at this, and hoped they weren't going to do that 'go away into darkness' thing R'xis had called 'going between'. He didn't want to see any of the dragonets do that! He felt a feeling akin to panic, and reminded himself that he had to stay where he was. Walking to a dragon could make it get all confused and he didn't want those sharp claws scoring him. He bit his lip nervously and tried to make sure he kept an eye on the two males-those were the ones that would go to boys. They were the ones he mostly should be watching, then...

~~~~~~

Raska was a little bored because nothing was really happening. Well, there were dragons hatching, but the two that popped out? Were males. Just her luck. Two so far, and not meant for females. She spotted Tieler and gave the girl a hearty wave, then looked back just in time to see the green hatch on out. 'Finally!' she thought, and then, for a brief moment, toyed with the idea of whistling to the draognet like a dog. Well, that'd be pointless, for two reasons. One: it wouldn't do anything worthwhile. Two: Rhia, and the Weyrwoman? Would totally freak on her. So, she simply tugged on a strand of her black hair and waited like everyone else. More dragons would pop out, and maybe they'd do something more interesting. Like impressing to her-or even Tieler or that Leander guy. The guy looked like a moron, as usual. But the white robes didn't look totally stupid on him, at least. She smirked wryly, and looked back at the dragon eggs.

~~~~~~

Kestrel watched all the dragonets hatch, her excitement growing a bit now that a green, something that would impress to one of the girls, was out of its shell. She watched intently, ever-ready to step out of the way swiftly if a dragonet who wasn't going to go to her or someone beside her came her way. She was light on her feet, and intended to avoid mauling-which happened rarely, but still it had occured-while trying to be impressed. She saw a couple more people entering the sands, and looked to see if either of the dragons had moved. However, they had not, and she kept a watchful eye on them and the rest of the clutch. The hatching was really starting to get interesting!

~~~~~~

Kaiya was probably more revved up than anyone. The usually down to earth and level headed girl's eyes shined brightly as the dragons hatched out. However, it was when the green hatched that her breath caught in her throat-a female dragon! The green was absolutely lovely, to boot. A minty green with forest green markings that reminded her of nothing short of vines, creeping around the little creature who stood there looking about her. She loved the color, and wondered at who the lucky girl would be that got to impress the lovely little dragonet. There were lots of other girls here today save herself. She had a feeling that some wouldn't impress-not nearly enough dragonets to go around. However, she didn't really feel worried that she wouldn't-even if she knew that might be unwise. She wanted to impress, as badly as anyone. Sh wondered if there was a gold in the clutch, but wasn't sure if there was or no. It could really go either way with that. She knew some of the girls here were rooting for gold, but she didn't know why, looking at the beautiful green dragonet. All dragons were just as wonderful and lovely. She hoped hers was even half as lovely as the green and the others on the sands!

~~~~~~

Xyrion looked at the three dragons on the sand with a growing feeling of detatchment and yet wonder. He wanted to impress, he really did. But for some reason, he was starting to have doubts even more than before. So many candidates and only a certain number of dragons. There were at least twice as many candidates as there were dragons. That meant at least half the people here would be left standing. He hoped he wasn't one of them. The people who were here, no matter who, worked hard to get here. Had he really worked hard enough? Everything he did, he only did as much as he had to, maybe trying a bit more when he was in a good mood. He felt a knot in his stomach. What if his lack of enthusiasm in training reflected here? What made the dragon choose the person? Sometimes cowerdly, shy and insolent people impressed. But what about people like him? He wasn't sure. He looked at the bronze, brows furrowed and lips pursed. What did it take to impress a bronze? Was bronze what he wanted? He didn't even know the answer to that. He'd always fantasized bronze growing up. Bronzeriders, the men who took the lead and were renowned over all of Pern. Was that what he wanted? Would it force him to get his act in gear, any more than any other dragon? Rhia had said all dragons were equal responsibilities. She said it didn't matter what you got. Did it matter to him? He would have to wait and see what she'd meant...

~~~~~

Tikal was delighted to see three, healthy dragonets on the sands. He watched them patiently as they looked around, knowing that not all dragons just raced towards their bondeds in some slow motion moment where time seemed to stand still. He smiled at this thought, admiring each dragon in turn. Some men impressed greens, but it wasn't usually straight ones like himself. Still, he wouldn't have minded her otherwise. All the dragons were completely lovely specimens, healthy looking, bright eyes and colorful, unique hides. He especially liked the markings on the brown one. The reddish hues gave it quite the nice coloration, indeed! He was only half thinking about whether or no he'd be chosen. He'd made a resolve to not want one dragon that hatched over the next. It was folly, and almost arrogant, to him. The rank that came with bronze was honored, but he would not pay more attention to that one than to another. That way, it could not be said he'd been eyeing up another rather than the one for him! He liked this way better, though he saw many boys eyeing the bronze up like it was the only male dragon on the sands. He chuckled, and watched all three.

[Spirithawk]

The eggs seemed to rock with urgency. The dragonets within seemed to sense the rising storm and were frantic in their need to emerge from their shells. Outside, the storm suddenly halted. The eye wall was passing over the Weyr. Christae turned to the riders in the stands. "Quickly! Your dragons can enter the Cavern now but I need some of you to go get the Candidates parents and our special guests. You all have your assignments from last sevenday. Those are still the same. Get there and get back before the eye passes completely over the Weyr."

While the WW was speaking, Kaith was relaying orders to the dragons in her domain. Another egg had begun cracking and by the time Christae had finished speaking. The dragonet seemed to be having a bit of trouble and could only manage to crack a small hole in the reddish orange speckled egg that encased it. The only part of the dragonet that could be seen was the tip of its nose. It was hard to tell what color the dragonet would turn out to be because of the fact that the dragonet's nose was almost the same speckled color as the eggshell surrounding it.



The dragonet let out a snort that blew some of the sand around it into the air but then settled down. It seemed content to have made the little progress it had done thus far.

In the mean time, yet another egg had cracked open. This egg split neatly in half, leaving it's occupant sitting with two half circle shells arching over its head. The egg was sky blue, but the occupant was on the other end of that color spectrum.



This dragonet was so blue he was nearly black, at least the base color of his hide was. The edges of his wings and the lines of the bones that held the wing membranes together were pale, icy blue. His neck ridges were the same icy blue, as was the tip of his tail. The two colors made a startling contrast on his shining hide. His wings were still wet and he unfurled them, flapping them with annoyance to try to dry them before he began to creel. This little lad would be a picky dragon. He wouldn't be quite as vain as a green but he would be almost obsessive when it came to having everything in its place and every speck of hide oiled and gleaming. Every item in his weyr would have to be placed just so or he would complain and Faranth help his rider if he got a speck of firestone dust on his gleaming hide. His bonded had better show up quicky or he would have a thing or two to say to his Chosen. He would be about an average sized blue, not too big but not too small. He would be just the right size to have all the attributes of a blue. The only thing different from a normal blue was his personality. It was high time he got fed! He had been in that egg so long his stomach felt like it was shruken from not eating.

[Headwoman]

Calnia felt so ashamed of herself for not being prepared for the clutch to hatch on such a day! Or was it evening? She didn't know exactly. But she didn't care! She had to get to the Hatching Grounds! The eggs were hatching. She quickly got into some dry clothes and pulled on the only pair of boots she had. She stood up and followed the other Candidates. She kept her mouth shut and her eyes open. She didn't dare look around. She felt her right foot slip underneath her and she fell on her backside. "Oww!" That hurt! She could feel the pain throbbing on her tailbone. She quickly stood and caught up to the Candidates again. She managed to grab onto one of the tall boys for help and he put his arm around her to keep her steady. She looked up at him. "Thanks." The first word she had spoken to anyone the whole day. She put her arm around his waist for added support.

[Wolf]

Tieler watched as more and more dragonet’s hatched, it was all happening so quickly. She hardly at time to react, not that she was the type to anyhow, before more and more just kept on popping out. It appeared as if one was having some trouble, the coloring of its muzzle quite peculiar to her while she studied it from a distance. She gave a tilt of her head, unintentionally ignoring the other dragonet’s while she tried to figure out what this oddball of a dragonet was. I wonder if its unique, like Alias, she thought to herself privately. She secretly prided in her little Moonstreak flitt. She hadn’t expected to impress it. She wasn’t sure if it bettered her chances for impressing a dragonet but she sure... didn’t care. Nope, not one bit. If she impressed it’d just mess up her life, would it not? She didn’t really have any proof to back up that thought but she was betting that just about everyone would tell her she was dead wrong for ever thinking it. Being connected to Alias somehow felt good, being connected to a dragon was so much stronger she was sure. The bond is only breakable if one dies, she reminded herself. So she might have learned a thing or two in class, no shame in that, right? It’s not like anybody had to know she’d been half-listening.
She looked to the Green, it being the only female that she could see on the sands that had hatched thus far. It was quite pretty, but she didn’t fancy getting a Green. For some reason she wanted a male dragon, not a female one, that way she didn’t have to go through the distress of mating flights and other feminine shenanigans. She did not ever want to experience anything at all sexually related when it came to her mind and her dragon’s, if and when she impressed that is. She was too absorbed in the goings on, missing Raska’s non-verbal greeting.

~ ~ ~
Leander didn’t even catch Raska looking over at him, but if he had he would’ve surely went and stood by her. He was quite the multi-tasker. He could flirt and do just about anything else at the same time. Unless of course there were males present, but even then he’d talk to them about the subject of girls. He rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, watching as more and more broke-out of their shells and entered in to the world. The Brown was nice, not anything fabulous in his eyes but that was only because of his massive ego. The Blue he spotted dragged out a chuckle from him that went on longer then he had expected. He slapped a hand over his mouth, taking it away to reveal an apologetic grin to all those around him. He hadn’t meant to laugh at the Blue but it was quite... well, he wouldn’t even go there. He turned his eyes away from the Brown and the Blue to focus once again up on the Bronze, catching a glimpse of the Green. Getting a female dragon, now that’d be interesting, he thought to himself. Then he realized that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy other aspects of human-to-human endeavours if that was to happen and immediately killed the thought permanently. He wondered whom the Bronze would choose, whoever was chosen would likely end-up playing an important role in the Weyr. He didn’t see many Bronzerider’s around Dark Moon Weyr, and it was important to have as many Bronze’s as possible to keep the Weyr going strong. Wasn’t there a younger Gold yet to have her mating flight? Oh, yes, Gold Serinth. That would be quite an amusing event to participate in...

[Spirithawk]

Yet another egg decided that it was time to hatch out while the storm was calm. Dragons began dropping off guests and the clouds on the horizon were beginning to boil and darken. This little fellow wanted to get out of his shell and find his chosen before he had to deal with the storm rising up again and threatening him and his siblings.

The egg that seemed to crumple away from a dragonet that simply looked too large to fit in there was purple. The dragonet was definitely not purple but he definitely looked unique. The edges of his wings were not a different color from the rest of his body like some of his siblings. His wings were a warm brown as was the rest of his body. What was unique about him was the inner membrane of his wings. As he flared out his large wings and they began to dry, the spectators and Candidates could see that his wings gradually changed colors from brown to orange, starting with brown at the top and finishing with orange at the bottom. The color shimmered with a golden undertone and that golden sheen ran along his neck ridges and in a stripe along the very middle of his back, almost like a dorsal stripe on a runnerbeast. It ran from the base of his wedge-shaped head to the tip of his tail.

He headed off out of the pieces of his egg shells, stepping delicately around his green sister. She had rose from where the shards of her egg stood and was walking in his direction when he began his trek to find his lifemate. He was here somewhere, he was sure of it. He saw the other little brown and his bronze brother. His bronze brother was only a little bit bigger than he was. This dragonet would grow to be just a tiny bit smaller than Mneith. He would beat Mneith in his girth. He would not be a fat dragon, just a little bit stockier than the leaner brown. The other brown wouldnt' come close to his size but the orange-brown dragonet was worried that he might try to steal his chosen so he began to walk a little faster.

He approached the boys. He had a feeling his chosen was there. He sniffed at Tikal but this boy was not his. Leander got nothing more than a cursory glace. He started to turn towards the stands but then caught sight of someone farther to the back from where he was standing. There he was! He would get him before that other brown or the bronze decided to try to steal him. Besides, he was hungry and the storm was getting worse.

[Spirithawk]

R'yo, feed your Resith. I am hungry! the dragonet plopped himself down in front of his chosen lifemate and looked up expectantly. His eyes whirled with the rainbows of impression and then changed to the reds of extreme hunger again.

[Headwoman]

Calnia sighed. She was finally at the Hatching Grounds. She smiled timidly at the boy and then moved off to join the other girls watching the eggs hatch. She moved up to the front of the gaggle of Candidates. Most of them were taller than she was. She wanted to see everything that happened. Her eyes moving around the great big cavern, taking in all of the eggs and the newly hatched dragonets. She spotted the attractive minty green, with webs of forest green winding itself around her tail with the same dark green cbe found on her snout before it disappeared into the mint green. At the sight of the green, Calnia gasped in abject wonder. She had seen many beautiful dragons since coming to Dark Moon Weyr. But this darling green was beyond beautiful. To Calnia, the green was stunning.

[Spirithawk]

The bronze dragonet was roaming around looking for his bonded. The unimpressed brown was turning around in a circle so he could see all around him. The little green was heading towards the girls. The dragons were still humming their welcome croon and the tunder was beginning to rumble outside the Weyr.

Through this all, that saucy little blue sat on his egg shards with his nose in the air. Oh he was a peice of work this little dragonet. If he were a human he would just snap his fingers with a toss of his head and say "Oh no you didn't!" He couldn't believe that his brother had beaten him to the punch in finding his chosen.

[Headwoman]

Calnia gasped as the green moved towards them, the girls. She could feel her heart beating faster. Who would the lovely green choose? Calnia couldn't help but think as she stood watching. She wanted to rush to the green but she knew better. It was one of the many things that she and the other Candidate had been told NOT to do. Among a few other things like stepping out of a rushing dragonet's way. There would be cuts and scratched and deep gouges. Calnia did NOT want to be on the receiving end of a dragonet's talons, newly hatched or not! She kept her eyes on the approaching green. She wanted to know if she would have to move out of the green's way or not. She hoped she wouldn't have to move. But that was all she could do at the moment. She desperately tried to keep welcoming thoughts in her mind as the eggs hatched.

[Spirithawk]

One of the larger eggs cracked open, revealing yet another bronze dragonet. This bronze was quite obviously larger than his smaller sibling, who looked over at him almost as if he were worried the other would take the one he was looking for. This bronze's wings unfurled to display a brilliant sea-green undertone underneath, the same sea-green that marked a stripe down from the base of his neck to the tip of his tail. He was a complete contrast to the other bronze, a dark shiny bronze that was not unlike a shiny new penny, but areas of his muscles seemed to be shaded with the darker sea-green hue, giving him a very unique look. His knobs on his head and neck all the way down to the tail-tip were the green coloration, as well as the tail tip itself. He stood there looking regally about and for once, one of the dragonets seemed to know whom he wanted right away, creeling loudly and heading straight for one of the boys near the middle. At the same time, the smaller bronze gave a dismayed cry and tore off after the larger one, thinking he was headed for the boy he'd finally spotted near the one the other bronze was headed for!

Both dragonets tore kicked up sand as they raced each other for the boys that were standing in a cluster about midway between the eggs and the edge of the hatching sand. The larger bronze glanced frantically about him to make sure his brother wasn't gaining on him. He would not beat him to his chosen!

Do not let him steal you! You are mine! Tell him he cannot have you. You are my J'kiran and I am your Kaenith! Kaenith knocked his bonded over, standing on him and glaring at the other bronze, daring him to try to claim his Chosen.

At the exact same moment, the smaller bronze was also crying out for his chosen lifemate. No! X'ion! Your Azaranth will not let him take you! The bronze skidded to a halt in front of his Chosen lifemate. Both dragonets Impressed their chosens, brothers in the same clutch, Impressing to brothers.

OOC: 666600 for J'kiran's bronze
996600 for X'ion's bronze