When the Lights go Out, We come Out

[Khell]

Greens, browns, bronzes. Dragon after dragon emerged from their containers, tumbling out of them before scurrying over to either the females or the males. It was all very exciting.

Khell rubbed his nose, sniffling slightly. It always ran early in the morning and today it was an annoyance. He wanted to watch the dragons, he didn’t want to sniffle through the entire thing. He watched as another brown popped up and lumbered over to the boys, studying them all before walking back to Jarev. No wait, make that J’rev – the rainbow Impression in the dragon’s eyes gave it away. Khell clapped loudly for the boy, sending him a quick grin. The first Impression!

He watched as the green hatched and laughed slightly at her antics. She looked silly but at the same time almost regal. An odd combination. The bronze came out next, his egg embedding itself in Pasine’s arm. Oh, oh Faranth. Khell didn’t like blood, blood ruined outfits and everything. He looked away, grimacing slightly before noticing the bronze heading their way. He didn’t look too happy either and for a moment there Khell thought Ayver was about to get mauled. Too much blood for Khell. He liked clean, fresh clothes! Not dirty, bloody and sand covered.

“Eep.”

[elfie]

Ayver
Gaze was fixed upon the brown, who seemed to still be taking his time as yet another of the earth toned hide coloration broke his shell. This one seemed to know exactly who he wanted, though, for moments later the brown had Impressed to Jarev--J'rev now. Good for him! The adolescent clapped and cheered, before turning his attention back to the hatching. Another egg was rocking, and then....tumbling around with legs sticking out? Oh the poor creature, that was an embarrassing sight, if amusing.

The mottled shell finally split after crashing into another, and a dragonet emerged, seeming to be from the size a green. Ayver's spirits lifted slightly, wondering if she might move toward the girl's side instead of the boy's. He hadn't had much hope for a brown, he didn't think he was manly enough. But a green...?

Suddenly he heard another egg crack open, and a great muscular bronze stepped forth. He was commanding, and the moving toward the boys...and right for Ayver. Kriss chirped softly, digging his talons into his owner's robe as the young man was confronted with a very angry--and huge--dragonet. "Ummm...hi..." Words were soft and cautious, hazel eyes huge. He didn't like the look in it's eyes, or the way it was opening its maw. Those teeth looked terribly sharp, and he'd just glimpsed what the egg shards had done to a girl. Ayver gulped, trying to decide if he was fast enough to avoid a hatchling's snapping jaws. Maybe... At least, he was sharding going to try! Sandaled feet slid backward, not even noticing as another green broke shell, this one far more graceful than the first.

It was with a very audible sigh of relief that the Candidate saw the bronze's attention turn away, hopefully to find a very strong lad capable of dealing with the mighty creature. Ayver knew there was no chance in Fall it'd be him. As his heartrate finally seemed to slow from it's frantic pace, a voice sounded in his head. A dragon? Gaze darted about quickly, abruptly forgetting his ordeal with the bronze and how close he'd come to being mauled.

There was the green, trying to squeeze back into her shell. A'ver darted forward between the eggs to drop to his knees beside her with a smile lighting his entire face. "Imith? You poor thing. Come on love, I'll get you feed and cleaned up. We'll see who'll be laughing at such a beautiful creature then." Promise was made as he helped the sand covered green to her feet, her eyes whirling in every shade of color, and A'ver could of sworn he was seeing rainbows then himself.

If you promise, Mine... Thoughts revealed how hungry she was, and much happier now that she wasn't being laughed at quite as much. A'ver helped his newly found clumsy lifemate away from the hot sands, toward the meat tables. He never even noticed Pasine as he passed her, so absorbed was he in consoling Imith when they reached the tables and took a seat a few feet from J'rev and his brown. Kriss watched Imith closely, the blue flit wondering if now he'd get some of her food, he was hungry. The creature hummed deeply and happily, reflecting the ecstatic mood of his owner.

Imner
So much was happening at once, and it was rather hard to see. It seemed that a green had hatched, the silly thing revealing herself to be a horrible klutz. Then a great bronze beast had hatched, a girl hurt by the shards, though Imner had no idea the probability of such a thing happening. It seemed so unlikely. And then, the little king was making his way toward the boys. The young man was on the far side of the circle, but even so he tried to move forward. Maybe he could help, could push Ayver out of the way of the mad creature, or at least distract it. The lanky adolescent looked like he might snap in two if the bronze got his jaws around his middle.

Luckily, it seemed that something else had occurred, and the unbonded's attention had been shifted to something else. The furrows of concern remained upon Imner's visage though, even as the previously scared Ayver moved forward to Impress the klutzy green. Another green seemed to have hatched in the meantime, and the first brown to hatch still had not Impressed. Imner made his way back to his first position, folding his arms before him and waiting for what might happen next. Hopefully not a real mauling. It would make for a terrible time, though a Hatching well remembered. He knew from experience, though he'd put himself right in the line of danger. Stormy gray eyes regarded the scene, patience written across features as he stood, silent and still as a statue, his hope hidden inside.

[Luna]

Ingasamine, I hunger, I itch, and others are staring at me. Feed me and clean me up, I really mustn't be seen like this. Please hurry, your Yinideth hungers greatly.



As most were watching the Savanna and urging it to Impress the Ocean egg hatched. She was a cute green who'd grow up to be rather small. She'd be the smallest green in the Weyr, probably in all of Pern. Her agility, gracefulness and demeanor weren't exceptional. The ocean's one claim to fame would be her color.

The ocean egg's occupant nuzzled her clutch-brother (Savanna egg) encouragingly before heading towards the females. Not unlike the Marsh green, she knew who she wanted and she had no doubts. The Ocean green would have no problem forming opinions about any matter, and she would never have problems making sure others knew and try to make sure everyone did the right think. She was like her bonded in the fact that she like to help (correct) others, and she doesn't lack the backbone to make sure it happened if anyone stood up to her. She'd relentlessly harry anyone who needed a push in the right direction and that would come to include her bonded as well. And so Elenth choose.

Vittoriamine? Vittoria, you must feed me now, I hunger. And please clean me up I itch something fierce.



Immediately following the two happy Impressions was bad news.

After a long perusal of Surion's Candidates the brown dragonet still hadn't chosen. He'd looked through them a first time, just cursory glances and knowing they weren't for him. With longer looks, sniffs, and deliberation the brown went again, but still without success. As he reached Khell a low whine had started in the back of his throat. It seemed his bonded wasn't here. He'd waited all this time and done all the work for nothing! With a bellow the brown charge Khell one claw catching the boy's calf before he was knocked aside by the infuriated brown. With a last stricken bellow the brown jumped and went between. The dragon's keened their lost. Such a sad sound to hear in any Weyr, the only help being that it wasn't from the throats of hundreds of dragons and the sound beyond deafening. Though if it had been deafening at least the human's wouldn't have had to hear such heart rending sounds.

[Wangri]

Piene
For his first Hatching, things weren't going so well.

First there were the two maulings. The Candidate wouldn't have really minded, except it only served as a reminder that he was in the danger zone too, especially with the boy's mauling being so close to him in the semi-circle.

Then the first-born brown hopped between, after injuring the boy of course. Piene wasn't white up to date on his wives' tales, but he was pretty sharding sure that wasn't a good sign. Plus, all the dragon's keenings were deafening out all the other pleasant sounds of the Hatching. It wasn't everyday that you got to experience this kind of thing, after all, and Piene was peeved that he was missing out on any part of it. Though there was still the violent bronze circling his pray, so to distract himself the boy decided to focus on him. Whether it was a precaution to not get injured or if he was actually hoping on Impressing the brute wasn't exactly sure even to him.

Pasine[/u]
What a lose-lose situation! Pasine wasn't sure if she could walk, since the cut on her leg was throbbing, aggravated by the sand that was kicked up into it by all the commotion, and her leg was a bit wobbly from the blood loss. On the other hand, her overall situation seemed to be stabilizing with the bandages on her arm. That was were most of the bleeding was, after all, and now that the tide had stemmed, so had the danger of fainting on the Sands.

But what was she suppose to answer? If she said no to the Healer's question, then they'd keel-haul her off the Sands in an instant. If she said yes, then they'd expect her to walk off of the Sands, and that was something she wasn't sure she was able to do right now. So, she came to the last resort; silence. The kreening of the dragons for the brown's loss helped her, too, though she wasn't currently paying enough attention to the Hatching to realize what had happened. It was fine, though. Her only goal was to stay put, and a dragonet would come to her if it wanted her.
[/font]

[Risa]

~Aenoth~

Things weren't exactly going well, but they weren't very bad either. It seemed like half the eggs had hatched, and most had impressed. It was terrible the brown had gone between, but there was nothing they could do now. yes, they could be sad, but there would be time for that later. Now though, he just wanted to avoid the embarressment of being left standing. Not that he didn't care about those injured, far from it, but it just wasn't foremost in his mind at the moment. One thing at a time... One thing at a time...

~Sandra~

Her attention was diverted from the hatchlings to her fellow canidates for a instant. Pasine seemed hurt, and she wanted to help. Sandra could see that she was intent of staying, but she didn't look so great, almost like she was going to faint... almost. Still, if she tried to help and it wasn't wanted, Sandra didn't want to deal with the anger that might lash at her. So, she settled on inaction, and felt terrible about it.

It was even worse to see the brown jump between. Hanging her head a moment in sadness, Sandra hoped this was the last incident like this during this hatching.

[Ayla]

The dragons' hum permeated the Barracks before the Weyrwoman did. Vittoria was still bleary, barely aware of her surroundings, when a frenzied shout came from the door. "Wake up! The Hatching is about to begin. Don't forget your sandals or robes. Get dressed and get going!" the woman said. Vittoria was just about to decide that she wasn't going to care, that she was too tired, when the words finally organized themselves and made sense. Her roommate was already up and pawing through her chest, searching for her robes. Vittoria jumped out of bed, much more energetic than she ever had been in the middle of the night and followed the example. She quickly had her nightgown off and the robes tossed over her head, thankfully right side out and frontwards.

Vittoria ran her fingers through her hair, making it lay in some semblance of flat. She hurried out the door and through the halls to the Sands, her impatience rising. She wanted to get there, and much faster than the wave of bodies was allowing her to move. Thankfully, the journey was short and she was soon on the hot sands. Vittoria joined the other girls in the semicircle, her eyes wandering over the eggs she had touched just days before.

A brown hatched, looking dirty. Surely he didn't actually have dirt on him? He had just come out of the shell. In any case, he wandered toward the boys at a leisurely pace. Vittoria watched him for a moment while the remainder of the eggs lay still, but soon her attention was captured by another brown breaking forth. He, too, went to the boys, although his walk was faster and had a bit more purpose. He Impressed to Jarev, who quickly proclaimed the dragon's name: Aoryth. Jarev and Aoryth, Jarev and Aoryth... Vittoria repeated to herself, trying to avoid any awkwardness later on.

Another egg wobbled and cracked, containing a green. Vittoria stood up a little straighter; perhaps this was hers? Before the green could Impress, a bronze and then another green hatched. Vittoria watched the bronze out of the corner of her eye, but of course her attention was focused more on the two greens. Bronzes did not Impress girls. One green went to the boys and Impressed Ayver, the other to Ingasa. Vittoria was slightly disappointed; two chances, come and gone.

The Ocean egg hatched a small green, very light in color. She was like nothing Vittoria had seen before; minty in some places, nearly white in others. The dragon nudged the dirty-looking brown from the Savannah egg, then walked confidently toward the girls. Without noticing, Vittoria drew a breath and held it. The green seemed to be heading for someone in her vicinity. As she got closer, Vittoria wondered if she should move or not; if she got in the way and the green wanted someone behind her, it wouldn't go well. But if she did and -

Vittoriamine? Vittoria, you must feed me now, I hunger. And please clean me up I itch something fierce.

Vittoria's eyes widened as she dropped to her knees and hugged little green Elenth. After a moment, she realized that she, too was hungry. Of course, love. Let's go. The pair was silent as they walked toward the meat, before Vittoria remembered something. "Her name is Elenth!" she called out, which was followed by a loud whoop from a voice that sounded very much like her father, then cheers from the rest of the family.

Suddenly, a sound Vittoria had never heard before stabbed her ears. It was coming from the dragons. She whirled around to find the cause, and saw nothing. What's... wrong? she asked Elenth, confused.

My clutchmate has just gone between. There was a distinct note of sadness in Elenth's voice.

Vittoria noticed that the brown was no longer there. The death of a dragon was sad, a terrible thing to happen the first clutch. Was it just that His had not been there? Or His didn't want him? Vittoria didn't know; maybe she would ask someone later, since Eleneth didn't seem to know either. Her hunger had returned stronger than ever, and so Vittoria pushed the death aside and fed Hers.

[Luna]

This bronze would never like being woken up or hungry and would be in the grumpiest of moods any time it happened. And here he was on the hot Sands hungry and just woken up. He started to move through the guy's circle and then just gave up. Why to go his chosen if he could just make the guy come here?

Immermine, I need you! These noisy people are bothering your Crirth.

There was still a small trickle of ichor coming from his leg wound, but it didn't look too bad.



---------

The desert dragonet hatched and the audience could be seen clapping harder, two bronzes in one clutch? Especially a clutch that had been fathered by a brown or less? Then a murmuring swept through, was that really a bronze? It definitely wasn't a brown, it was too metallic.

The desert dragonet stood for a moment outside the egg as if to give the others a chance to gaze upon him/her. It was never a hard problem of figuring out genders because the colors were always the same gender, even that .... faded green hatchling had at least been green, but this was entirely new.

After a few moments the dragonet perused the male Candidates, occasionally sniffing one before moving on. Finding no partner there, the dragonet made their way towards the girls. He/she did the same thing and started to move back towards the guys.



The audience, Luna especially, seemed to hold their breath, was this new color going to just Between like the brown had? At that moment, when Luna was looking at everything and feeling desperate to try to fix it, knowing she couldn't; she noticed something. A dragonet was missing .... there! There were it's shell shards, but the actually dragonet was missing! Where was the Taiga dragon?

[Khell]

As soon as he heard that low whine that rumbled in the dragons throat, Khell knew something up. Okay, he wasn’t a particularly intelligent person but this was pretty obvious. He looked away from the other dragons to stare at the brown; he wasn’t entirely sure how to react to the creature.

However, it seemed the dragon knew how to react. With a loud bellow the dragon charged at him. A claw caught his leg, his skin easily being cut open as he fell to the ground. He hit the sand with a “Ack” falling on his bottom. He was going to shoot the brown a scolding look that would read ‘Why’d you do that?’ but there was no brown there anymore. Nothing was there except for the kreening of dragons that began – the brown didn’t find his bonded. Khell no longer held a grudge against the creature, he’d be rather ticked off too.

He looked down at his leg and made an odd noise; one of horror and disgust. Not only was he bleeding, but there was sand in his cut! He was filthy, sand in his hair and now everything would be stained with blood. And he had wanted to look good for the hatching too. He sighed deeply, pushed himself up and brushed the sand off of him as best as he could before looking back to the clutch. He let his eyes settle on the…wait, what was that exactly? A bronze? A brown?

“Something with identity issues.” He mumbled.

[yankeegeek]

J'rev, Aoryth
They'd settled at the edge of the Sands to watch the rest of the
eggs as they hatched and Impressed. Aoryth put his head on
J'rev's legs, lassitude and faint drowsiness coming over him.
J'rev grinned over at A'ver and Imith as they were next to join the new weyrlings. "Congratulations," he called. "What's her name?"

Yimian, R'van
Pasine's silence worried the Healer. The girl's desire to remain notwithstanding, Yimian wasn't about to risk her passing out.
"I'm sorry, but you need to get that shoulder tended to. If you can't walk, I'll have R'van carry you." She indicated the exit.
Her expression was regretful, but there was no yielding in the look she gave the Candidate.
R'van hadn't moved, but he nodded silently in agreement, supporting the Weyrhealer's decision. He threw a darting glance toward the eggs. More than half had hatched already, including several greens, all of which seemed to be finding partners quickly. The odds that there was a dragon for the young woman in this clutch seemed to be slim to none now, to him.

Danathi
She and Silth had been watching, delighted, as the first and second Impression occurred. No blues so far, hmm; too bad, but there was yet time.
Then she winced, eyes stinging, as the first little brown went /between\ alone. It wasn't the first time they'd seen this, either, but still! She stroked Silth's neck, hurting, as the dragons voiced their keen.

[Luna]

The prairie egg rattled for a long candle mark before a hind leg shot out. While trying to pull his leg back in he scratched it and cried out piteously. It wasn't bleeding, but the hide was ruffled up and it definitely hurt. Maybe in a fit of rage, or just with renewed fight, little prairie fought his way free of the egg.

Sitting there in the shards of his egg he was quite a sight to see. Most dragons had one tone, or even highlights of another. Something odd had happened to him. The blue swirled around on his hide with occasional splotches of darker or lighter blue thrown in. Nothing was even or neat about his appearance, it was just ... creative.

Eyes whirling a fast red, he set his jewel faceted eyes on the Candidates.

[Lucius]

Humming, thrumming.

"Zzzngh..."

Was that really humming she heard, or was it really only the dream where she marched out on the sands for the first time, only to watch each and every dragon walk past her and choose someone else? Ingasa wasn't sure. But the sun was warm and the wind was good and there was a skinny bronze in the sky over-head, flying towards the hatching grounds and humming.

Wait. Ingasa sat up, causing the feline that belonged to one of the older women in the Lower Caverns to bolt away from her. Humming. The Hatching! She was late!

She took off at a dash for the barracks, hardly having time to throw off her clothing and pull on her white robe. Cinching the belt, she laughed at the irony that this robe was the cleanest thing she owned. And it wouldn't matter; it wouldn't get ruined, so she could wear it again. It wasn't like she would Impress.

No, don't think that way, she scolded herself. Don't be so stupid. Don't ever be so stupid.

With a deep breath, Ingasa gathered her nerves. Then she darted over to the Hatching grounds, bounding on and kicking up tufts of sand as she scrambled to a halt and bowed to the queen. "Great Raineth, forgive my tardiness!" she said, then hustled to join the girls' line. It would seem that a few had already Impressed. Perfect. Well, it would seem that this would be yet another time Standing.

Ingasamine, I hunger, I itch, and others are staring at me. Feed me and clean me up, I really mustn't be seen like this. Please hurry, your Yinideth hungers greatly.

The voice in her head was one similar to that of her father's dragon, a wonderful sound. She turned, half-way expecting to see M'lir standing near-by. But when the Fort rider wasn't there, Ingasa was confused.

Ingasa!

Ingasa whirled around as a nose touched her calf. Yinideth's eyes had faded from the rainbow of Impression to a usual Green. A cry of shock came from the girl, and she stepped back. "W-what--"

Ingasa, where-- It would seem that Ingasa was too busy crying tears of joy to even care about the betweening of the Hatchling or even to bother with Yinideth's needs. The green shook her head, then head-butted the girl and sent her flat on her back. Ingasamine, you're supposed to feed me.

"Wha--?" Shock filled the girl's voice, then she laughed. "Sorry, Yinideth, I've never Impressed before. I don't know what to do right now! I never expected to be here! Ahahhaa!" Then she threw her arms around the dragonet, ignoring the egg goo wiping off on her robe. Then she stood up. "Come now, Yini." Oh, she was even using a nickname now! Exciting! "We'll get you food and then cleaned up."

[Luna]

It seemed as if the dragons were ready to wrap it up. All of a sudden the not bronze desert dragon bumped against Shmee.

Shmee, your Celth hungers. Please, can we go to that table? My clutchmates are already enjoying themselves.

The female copper looked at Shmee beseechingly.

The swirly little blue made his way over to the girls after rejecting each and every guy silently. It was odd he didn't want a male Candidate, but after all that had happened today. Him wanting a girl was the least of their worries. The blue sat directly in the middle of the girl's circle.

After a candlemark of him looking he bellowed angrily and charged Yimian. His usually docile nature and not sure of what was going on was the only thing that kept him from touching the woman. Mine! You're hurt. Your Sphinith is here to protect you. I won't let her hurt you anymore.

He took up a protective stance infront of the Candidate turned Weyrling and growled low in his throat at Yimian. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but NO ONE was touching his. Once he was sure that the woman wouldn't move he turned his rainbowy/red gaze to Pasine. Pasinemine, we need to talk. I'm very hungry and itchy. Now that you're mine I expect you to fix these things starting now. In return I'll love you unconditionally and protect you from anything. At the word 'anything' he turned his red gaze back to the woman.

The tundra egg cracked open to reveal another brown dragonet. Like all his clutchmates he was a very healthy looking guy. Some bone structures seem to scream masculine. Tundra's did. He would never be mistaken for a girl (not that brown's were). His easy charm and sensible way of dealing with everything would create an aura of safety and warmth. His hide was the color of a dusty late night. Warm, gentle, and completely carefree. Mnesilth would be completely dependable and a cool head in any bad situation.

True to his nature the brown slowly made his way down to the boys. If he wasn't a dragonet and prone to stumbling he'd look very suave doing it. As it was, he practically made stumbling cool again.

Aenoth, your Mnesilth has chosen you.



One last egg cracked open, the mountain egg. It was a very light blue. He swung his wedge shaped head as he peered from within his egg's confines. Being this late and seeing most people shifting their bodies rather than paying attention to him wasn't making him happy. He liked a fair bit of fan fair with his entrances. He wasn't a huge crowd seeker, but he did like to be noticed. A low tenor croon slid across the Hatching Sands, pulling their attention back to him.

Finally satisfied the blue made his way out of the rest of the egg.



He would always be one to softly, but commandingly, call attention to himself, if only for a moment. He stalked towards the boys, not with aggression, but with purpose. It would be a short perusal as he went through the boys. His wings spread and he appeared ready to lift off when a boy in the Stands caught his attention.

R'dyn, what are you doing there? I almost made a horrible mistake. Come feed your Zayth now.

Raedyn, not R'dyn frowned, was this really happening? At the insisting cramping pain of hunger in his stomach he couldn't deny it. He stood to walk down and was stopped by his father's hand and his mother's hiss, "Sit down before you dishonor us both!" He shook his head glancing down at Zayth, "Father, Mother, I'm a dragonrider now. I'll come visit though, promise."

They were so surprised that they let him go and he ran down to his beautiful little blue and hugged him before eagerly leading him off to his food. When he chanced a look back from Zayth's adoring eyes he had to stop himself from letting tears form. A proud smile was on his father's face and his mother looked to be already writing a note for her green flitt to take to the other women. Her waiting to gossip about it meant that she was proud too.

Luna glanced at the last egg. It hadn't moved at all so she had to assume it was a dud, usually Golds moved those off to the side, but maybe Raineth was too young to know? With a last lingering glance at the Taiga's shards she sighed.

"Alright, Congratulations to all the new Weyrlings!" She waited for the roar of happy parents, friends, and Holders died down. "We'll give the new Weyrlings a chance to feed their dragons and have the feast in an hour." It'd also give her a chance to make sure everyone had made it. She didn't want too many people thinking too much on all the bad things that had happened. It was a happy occasion. Once all the visitors had left, she'd mourn properly.

[Wangri]

Pasine
Pasine deflated at the piercing, unrelenting gaze of the Healer. So that was that then. She was going to get escorted off the Sands whether she liked it or not. At least she had tried her best, even if that wasn't good enough. She might as well give in now; the Hatching was basically over...

Mine! You're hurt. Your Sphinith is here to protect you. I won't let her hurt you anymore.[/i]

Pasine whipped around faster than a tunnelsnake striking, causing a sharp pain in her leg. Finally, with the additional lurch of sharp stomach pains, it gave out, and she fell lopsidedly to the scorching grains. Had she just--? No, no the beautiful, swirly blue that was making a rapid beeline for her just in the nick of time stepped past her, wedging himself inbetween the Healer and her. She sobbed softly, from both the pain and the vast feeling of overall rejection.

The noise seemed to be just enough to get the dragonet's attention. He turned his head to her and met her watery blue gaze with a plethora of colors. Something caught in her throat; all the turns of weaving ever color, every pattern imaginable, and none of them even though of comparing to those eyes at that moment. And then there it was again. Pasinemine, we need to talk. I'm very hungry and itchy. Now that you're mine I expect you to fix these things starting now. In return I'll love you unconditionally and protect you from anything.[/i]

Then the blue dragonet--no, Sphinith--returned to his protective stance against the Healer. Carefully the new Weyrling extended her mind through the fresh link, speaking in a whisper as if anything louder might break the connection, handling it like it was a fragile child that needed explicit explanations. I am fine now that you are here to protect me, thank you Sphinith. Please, let the Healer help me to fix these problems right away. I could not bare for you to be so uncomfortable for any longer than you need to, and she will help speed up the process. Pasine grabbed his neck, pulling him back into an embrace and away from the woman that she'd probably be needing the assistance of to get to where the food was.

"No, I can't walk," she finally replied, looking up at Yimian with tear-filled eyes, "But I don't need to anymore. I will fly now." She stuck her chin up in the air and sniffed back the flow of mucus caused by crying.

"His name is Sphinith."




Piene[/u]
That was it then, huh? The Hatching was over, even though one egg remained unhatched and one mysteriously disappeared, unless he had counted wrongly. Kicking at a small pile of sand, the Candidate grunted unhappily and attempted to stick his hands in his pants. He forgot that he wasn't wearing pants, however, and ended up making an awkward hip-rubbing movement. Flustered slightly, but attributing his blush to the prolonged exposure to the heat, he ended up crossing his arms on his chest and awaited the Sands to clear out so he could go sulk safely.
[/font]

[Khell]

Within the last few minutes, dragonets ran everywhere in order to quickly Impress. None ran to Khell or some of the others- they would remain candidates. The first thing that popped into his mind was the fact that he got cut up for no reason really before shrugging it off. Oh well, at least the creature hadn’t gone for his face. That, at the very least, was slightly reassuring. He stood there for a few moments, nose scrunched up, as he debated whether or not he should be all mopey about the hatchings outcome. However, his train of thought was soon disturbed.

”Boooo! You suck Khell! Man up!”

Did someone really just yell that at him?

“Excuuuuuse me?” Khell frowned and looked up at the stands just in time to see his mother slug his brother in the arm. He laughed loudly at the sight, his older brother being scolded fiercely. Well that definitely cheered him up, which may or may not have had been his brother’s original intent (Khell doubted it). He stretched his arms over his head and closed his eyes, wincing slightly as his shoulder popped.

He let his arms drop to his side and swing there for a moment before walking over to Piene with a small smile on his face, “We’ll just rock the sands next time then, eh?”

[elfie]

A'ver
A'ver glanced once over his shoulder to see a few more greens spill onto the sands, as he collected a bowl of meat to set in his lap. Imith stood before him, trying not to topple over as she creeled softly out of hunger. "Shh, love, I'll get you fed. Just don't inhale it all. You'll get a stomach ache." A'ver warned with a wide smile, sliding bits of meat down her wide open maw. If he hadn't been so used to it from having to feed Kriss, the raw meat would have disgusted him. Lucky him then, throwing up while trying to feed his lovely green would have been way to embarrassing.

But we'd be even, Mine. More please? And why is the blue one looking at the meat? He should be admiring me. Thoughts were still colored with hunger, but appetite was quickly being appeased. She was happy to be out of the area where she'd been laughed at, but she certainly didn't mind the attention. It was nice.

"He's hungry too. He's always hungry. His name's Kriss, by the way, love." A'ver introduced the two, and a piece of meat offered to the flit sealed the deal for the creature who though perhaps he might suffer a lack of food now that this large cousin had appeared. He chirped happily now that this wasn't the case, settling once more on his owner's shoulder before turning to cast a curious gaze on J'rev nearby. He had food too, and his brown was full... Kriss uncurled his tail from about A'ver's neck, darting into the air and alighting next to the other weyrling on the table, chirping beseechingly for food. As if his chubby frame never got the sustenance it required.

"Her name's Imith, and I'm A'ver. Not sure if we've met yet...don't think we have." Words weren't sheepish as someone else's might have been, for he wasn't shy. "Oh, and Kriss just wants food. The traitor. You can ignore him if you want, or feed him. You'll have an admirer for life if you do, though." A'ver admitted, shrugging helplessly as he absently caressed the now sleepy Imith's eye ridges just where she wanted. "What's his name?" Inquiry was directed toward the brown, and it looked as if the young man might have said more when a keening sounded out from the Hatching Grounds. Sad gaze turned toward the opening, wondering what hatchling might have gone between, his spirits dampened slightly as the sound echoed from his own green's throat and a higher pitched sound from his fire lizards. "That's sad...."

Imner
Three green dragonets had hatched, and each seemed to have found it's chosen. That was good news. However, the very first brown had yet to pick a Candidate to bond, and things were not looking well for it. The temperamental bronze was still wandering around as well. It was then that Imner's attention was dragged back to the brown, who creeled pathetically and gashed another boy's leg before jumping and disappearing. The sturdy lad winced, feeling sorry for the poor thing. His had not been in this group, and he was lost forever. It was one of the worst things that could happen in a Hatching, and Imner dearly hoped that things couldn't get any worse.

It was then that things turned around, with a commanding voice ringing through his mind. People were bothering him...? Ah yes, and he was hungry as well. Eyes locked upon another pair suddenly whirling speedily in shades of rainbow. I'ner moved forward, obeying the command to fetch more or less. He didn't mind at this moment, he was more or less overwhelmed, filled with joy even at this commanding little king. He didn't notice, but his lips actually quirked upward in most would consider an actual smile. Something not often seen on this solemn guy.

I'ner dropped to a knee, ignoring the sands and the other hatching eggs as he peered at the injured foreleg he could oddly feel. It was still bleeding, but not badly. Crirth would be fine. He rose back to his feet, one hand coming to rest upon the bronze's neck, running over the smooth hide in wonder. He'd Impressed. To a bronze. Other hand rose to ghost over the ragged scar on his arm, knowing he was done with standing at Hatchings. And he hadn't been mauled this time. Though perhaps with the way Crirth had been behaving, others would think him a bully even more often.

Are you paying attention to me? I want to be fed. Thoughts were demanding as Crirth rose to his feet, though he could hide how happy he was to have his eye ridges scratched like that. His just sighed lightly, a slight grin playing about his lips as he silently led his newly lifebonded away from the sands. Gray eyes cast curious glances as he finally took note of the odd colored metallic that had Impressed female, and the swirling blue, along with the extremely light colored green. An interesting Weyrlinghood they were all going to have.

The pair settled a little ways away from the others feeding their new dragons, I'ner steadily feeding Crirth meat and declining to answer his imperious commands to be fed faster. "Relax, Crirth." He murmured as he offered the newest hunk to be devoured by the ravenous hatchling.

[Wangri]

Piene[/u]
Piene was broken from his sulking trance as another failed male Candidate slid over to him and began conversing. Unintentionally, the boy first gave Khell a heated glare, angry with himself that he had lost so miserably. But, then recognizing that the other boy, besides having nothing to show of the Hatching, also had a slight injury, Piene brightened up a little. He still wasn't happy, but at least now he wasn't angsty either.

"Looks more like the Sands rocked you," he replied with a weary smirk and another glance at the other's slight wound, "Might want to get that cleaned now so you can go to the Feast. I don't care what rules we have, I'm getting so drunk I'll be less coordinated than a wherrie with a broken wing tonight! And forget all dignity if there's Benden White. Want to join me?" Drink away his problems, very mature, yes. But Piene didn't really care. Right now, be barely cared about anything. It was the post-Hatching blues setting in, after all.

He flashed his teeth in a momentary, ambitious smile. Had he known Khell was bisexual, he probably wouldn't have been so forward. He wasn't exactly homophobic, but he didn't want his actions to be misinterpreted as flirting, either.
[/font]

[Khell]

Khell was slightly caught off guard when the boy turned and gave him a rather nasty look. Oh dear, was a boy about to maul him too? He was getting ready to yell for help just in case Peine lunged at him when the face brightened slightly – which made Khell relax a bit.

He grimaced slightly as he glanced down at his leg, a few drops of blood running down his calf with the sand still stick to the cut. “Ack, so true. But I’ll rock them so bad next time so it’s okay.” He laughed, bending down to wipe away some of the grit. He straightened, a long crooked grin on his face. “I like the way you think.” He replied, already picturing the two hoarding all the Benden White possible. Probably not the smartest idea but they didn’t Impress.

Surely that could be used as an excuse, right?

Poor Piene didn’t know what he was getting into. Khell liked to flirt and had the tendency to be a very boisterous flirt when under the influence. Fun times ahead!

[yankeegeek]

J'rev smiled up at the fire-lizard, but indicated Aoryth, who was
lying across his legs. "I'm a bit pinned down just now," he said,
amused. "Afraid you'll have to nab your own supper." To A'ver, he said, "I don't think so, either. I'm Ja--J'rev," he corrected himself. "This is Aoryth." He scratched the dragonet's headknobs.
Just as he did, the dragons began to keen softly. J'rev flinched.
Aoryth lifted his head, eyes whirling, and then tried to bury his head in J'rev's shirtfront. My clutchsibling...He couldn't find anyone, Aoryth whispered. He's gone/between\
J'rev lowered his head, sorrowfully. "Maybe...they're together now?" he suggested, his voice barely audible.


Yimian had been about to have R'van carry Pasine to the Infirmary, when they were charged by a rather determined blue
hatchling. Realizing the situation, she backed away a couple of paces.
Impression was impossible to mistake. The hatchling interposed himself between Candidate and Healer, thwarting her attempt to catch Pasine as she lost her balance.
"No, I can't walk, but I don't need to anymore. I will fly now." She stuck her chin up in the air and sniffed. \
Little one. Kemath's mindvoice was kind, but stern. Let the Healer tend to yours. She means neither of you any harm.
Yimian waited for the red to leave the dragonet's eyes before she circled around them to approach Pasine from the other side.
One of the weyrfolk brought her a bag filled with some extra
supplies. "I can finish patching that shoulder, and your leg, up here. Not the first time I've had to do this," she said, with a rueful
shake of the head. "And congratulations."

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Late, late, always late! Shmee groaned as she practically threw herself onto the sands. She had to get into her robe, run all the way around the Hatching Ground's audience to find Shei's babysitter, fork the baby over, then run back to the entrance of the sands. As usual, she was beet-red with exhaustion and embarrassment. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, hoping the queen and the dragonets would hear her-- if it was possible. Turns out, the eggs hadn't had so much as some cracks in them by the time she got to the sands. So she wasn't as late as she originally thought! That, at least, brought Shmee some relief. So she could still stand a chance! She watched with almost childlike excitement as each egg slowly revealed its little mystery. A brown first, which wasn't too bad. She knew that people always wanted bronzes out first, but she supposed people couldn't always get what they wanted. Shmee didn't believe in superstitions.

She did, however, watch curiously as more eggs hatched. They seemed to be mostly lower colors, but Shmee didn't care. It wasn't as though she would be paired with anything higher than a blue. So she began to watch curiously at each blue and green dragon the moment they stepped out of their shells. They were all beautiful. She could only ever hope that she would get attached to one of them. Was she truly so deserving of one? The more of them that passed her, the more she began to think that she wasn't so deserving. A silly, ignorant young mother like her couldn't be worthy of a dragon, could she?

Shmee watched with sad eyes as the poor little brown wailed, and vanished between. She probably would even have started crying if she wasn't restraining herself! She gulped down a hard lump in her throat. Watching an innocent baby die like that... What if that had been her Shei?! She could only feel for the poor queen-mother. She wouldn't be able to bear it, if a child of hers had died in such a way, unconnected, unwanted...

Shmee, your Celth hungers. Please, can we go to that table? My clutchmates are already enjoying themselves, a voice suddenly announced in her mind, interrupting Shmee's pitiful thoughts. The head bumped against Shmee and the woman's blue eyes widened in awe. At first, Shmee had dismissed this dragon that had hatched as a bronze, but now that she saw her-- yes, Celth was definitely a she!-- up close, she saw it was not even close. For one thing, Celth was far more beautiful than any bronze she had ever seen!

Shmee firmly tucked away any confusion she had about the color. Celth flicked her slimy tail anxiously. Please? I'm so hungry, and there is a lot of food there,[/color] Celth added plaintively. Shmee broke into a smile. She was feeling just as hungry as Celth! Or was it that Celth was making her feel hungry? She didn't know. She led Celth over to the food table, dizzy with relief and joy.