Candidate, meet DRAGON (HATCHING!!!)

[ShadowReine]

Births have a habit of happening at the most inconvenient times.

Evening meal had been served, and the main course completed. Right as the drudges started to set out dessert...

...a vibration began to thrum through the entire Weyr. It started softly, then slowly built in volume, a sound as much felt as heard. As it did so, the soprano notes of firelizards began to join in, settling into a pleasing harmony above the dragons.

Thrum. Thrum. HUM. Those riders sitting near Candidates started to hustle the young people out of the dining hall and to retrieve their robes.

On the Sands, one of the weyrbrats had delivered Yselka's meal to her. Lyeth had not wanted to leave her side, and thus, the weyrwoman saw it a moment before the thrum started.

Shake. An egg was shaking.

And as the hum reached full volume, every dragon, every firelizard, every human save the dragondeaf would hear the tones only an aroused queen could produce, a mental strength that not even a bronze could match.

My children! They awaken! ALL COME!

OOC: Preliminary Hatching post. No babies until tomorrow, but please feel free to post your Candidates *onto* the Sands. Assume the guard riders stationed at the entrance are checking them in. And yes, you *all get to skip dessert*. Muahahahaha!

[phlysolo]

S'koin had just been finishing the fourths of his meal, a bit sad that the last bit of roast wherry had been taken away. Drat. He'd still wanted more than that; frowning unhappily at his plate, he shoveled tubers into his mouth, glancing up only briefly as the drudges laid out desserts on the table. Delight replaced his morose expression and his hand dived for the nearest platter when...My children! They awaken! ALL COME!

Mine! The Eggs are Hatching. Erusth's rider says you are needed for the Weyrlings! He says to come now! Kirith's bugle, along with the roar of H'zu's bronze merely threw the kitchen into a greater state of upheavel. He spotted several Candidates turning in rapid circles, or sitting, then standing then sitting then standing, not sure if they should finish their meal or go, go, go!

S'koin, finishing off the last of his meal, rushed to a couple, recognizing one of them. "Lenia, get to the barracks and changed. No time to finish that dessert you're eyeing, girl, a dragon might need you."

He didn't pause to see the vicious glare she spared him, but rushed off to the Hatching Grounds. The girl he had left glared after him for a moment longer then bolted to her room. She hadn't needed that lout to tell her that she needed her robes on. Faranth, Lyeth's and Erusth's cries had been loud and commanding enough. Managing to swipe one bubbly pie from the table and shove it into her mouth, feeling it scald her tongue, she reached her quarters in record time to search for her robes.

They weren't hard to find. Every other day for about two sevendays now, drudges had been replacing the white robes hanging on a corner coat post, ensuring that they were well pressed and stain free for the Hatching. Hers, like every other Candidates, was spotless and ironed so well that she thought they would shatter if she touched them. They did not, she noticed as she tugged them on then threw on her sandals. Exiting her room, she wondered if she should wait for Nebrona, thinking that "as friends" she should stick around but just as she approached the door to her room, a dragonrider came seemingly from out of nowhere to usher her along with, to her disgust, Kaiton.

"Hey, Lenia..." He said weakly, his face looking quite green. Ah, was the little lad nervous? Yes he was. Kaiton, who had practically inhaled his dinner, now felt it weighing heavily on his stomach. He wondered how much longer he could last with out it coming up and hoped desperately that he wouldn't mess on the Hatching Grounds.

He didn't understand why he had become so sharding nervous like this. He'd never once felt physically sick when his nerves got the best of him, but he assumed it was because of the gravity of the situation. He hoped his lucky star would see him through and that a dragon would find him suitable to be its partner. Glancing sideways at Lenia as he walked, he also hoped, though it was a very small part of himself, that she Impressed, too. It would be awful to see her left Standing, no matter how much he disliked her. Perhaps he was pitying her too much. However much she liked females, she was certainly strong minded enough to ride a gold!

She noticed him looking at her and shot him a gaze of pure dislike which he acknowledged by childishly sticking his tongue out at her. Her eyes rolled and she looked away, missing the slight, almost hopeful smile on Kaiton's face.

They were led to a group of Candidates who had assembled in front a dragonrider that neither of them were familiar with. Lenia, judging by the knots of his shoulder, guessed that he was the rider of brown Kirith, the temporary Weyrling Master...or something like that. He was short, maybe shorter than Kaiton, but he stood with the air of such commanding dignity that not even Lenia could find some jeering comment to send his way. He sized the forming Candidates up, just as a journeyman harper scurried into the Hatching Grounds, satchel and writing utensils in hand.

S'koin watched him go before turning back to the gathering lot of Candidates.

"Some of you today will undoubtedly leave here with someone other than yourself in tow. You all must surely know by now that your life could change forever once you step out onto those Sands. You, by now, should be aware of the dangers ahead of you in your Weyrling Training and beyond. Right now I stand before you to offer you your last chance to say 'no, thanks.' By stepping into this Cavern behind me, you forfeit your life for the life of your dragonet, you risk death by Thread, death by accidents /between/, during Flight," S'koin paused, his face set hard as he surveyed the young men and women in his presence.

"If you feel that you cannot accept these responsibilities, you are free to take your leave. No harm, no foul, no judgments. However, if you walk onto those Sands and Impress...if you are not prepared and find yourself a partner anyways...Don't expect an easy, happy life here on out."

With his speech finished to the Candidates before him, S'koin nodded and stepped aside, preparing to allow them entrance.

"You should all know the drill. Bow to the queen and wait for the games to begin. If you are so lucky to Impress, by the time that you do, meat for your dragonet will be sitting just out here," He nodded and gestured to tables already being set up for that particular fact.

"Feed them, but do not allow them to do so too quickly. You wouldn't want to have your bonded dragonet suffocate to death on such a wonderful moment of meeting, would you?"

Without further ado, Lenia and Kaiton made their way inside, each apparently prepared for the life ahead of them. The girl cocked her head up in surprise to see an excited green something whoosh over her head, humming manically; Midna.

Up in the stands and watching the Candidate's bow before golden Lyeth, Henerik sighed. For a moment or two, he wished he was down there in the middle of it, doing his best to try and vie for the affections of a hatching dragon. The best he could do was tread down to the lowest stand, so he could almost taste, but not touch what was going on on the Sands below.

[yamamoto]

Andol was sitting down and eating. Of course Topaz and Emerald where aslo eating alittle somthing to. When Andol heard the voice in his head. He almost fell backward out of his chair. He looked around. He became very very nevours. The idea of having to step out there in fornt of all of those people. It made him shiver abit. He though felt the comfornting wieght of his two flits and there heads rubbing aginst his cheeks. He sighed and went to his quaters and slipped on his robes. He also grabbed his stuffed dog and held it close to his chest as he walked to the direction of the sands. He lisitined carefully to the instructions. Only becoming more neverous as the moment went on. When he walked out onto the sands. Andol felt very neverous. In his mind all he could think of was the fact that there were to many people. He did not feel to good and he crouched down so that he would not be standing. If the sands had not been to hot then he problery would have sat down. He could feel the heat of the sands even more becuase of his crouched position. He was near the back of the group. He just wanted it to end. So he just closed his eye's and held his stuffed anaimal close. Topaz and Emerald chirped to him trying to get there pet to stand up and open his eye's. Though to no avial. So they just rubbed there heads aginst his cheeks to comfornt him.

[tariala]

Though she'd probably regret it later, dessert held no appeal for Nebrona after the alert had been given. She hurried along with the other candidates, making her room and changing into her robes- and before she knew it, she was before S'koin with the rest, listening to what was undoubtedly a very important speech.

And parts of it Nebrona listened to, about what to do going onto the sands, and where to go if she did Impress. As for all the dire warnings, well, she had no problems with her decision as it stood. This was about duty to Pern, and the promise of a partner in whatever came with it. She was no coward, and she didn't hesitate in striding firmly after Lenia, Kaiton and the rest.

Once inside, Nebrona bowed to Lyeth, then turned to survey the shaking and quaking eggs. Where was the best vantage point to see it all?

She ended up staking out a spot roughly across from the entrance, watching for the first sign of hatchling hide with an almost frightening intensity. Sure, there would be other clutches now, if she didn't Impress now, but Nebrona had never been fond of failure- especially public failure.

[bookworm]

Wynec had eaten heartily as usual, and he was craning his neck to see what the drudges were bringing for dessert when the Queen's booming voice sounded in his head. He was anything but dragondeaf, and he dropped his fork in shock, letting it clatter onto the floor. Writh had bespoken him a few times before, but she was quiet and polite, while Lyeth's voice was urgent and strong. He wasted no time, jumping up from the table and running to the barracks to put his robes on.

Tarana also heard the Gold's announcement. For a moment, she was irrationally rueful about the dessert. They had prepared a nice fruit torte that everyone would have enjoyed. Then again...the sweets she was planning for the Hatching Feast would more than make up for one missed dessert. The drudges flooded back into the kitchen, leaving the uneaten desserts on the counter as they obediently went about their duties to prepare for the Hatching Feast. Tarana almost wished she could stay in the kitchen and supervise them, but there was no way she was going to miss one moment of this Hatching, with her son on the sands and a Queen Impression. After checking everything over a final time, she bustled out of the kitchen, hastily making her way to the sands.

As soon as R'nul heard the announcement, he ran up to his room and pulled on his riding jacket before jumping onto Writh's back. He sent the green a vivid image of the Hold, and she blinked between. Bugling to announce her arrival, the green landed nimbly in the courtyard, and R'nul quickly gathered the passengers he had been assigned to transport to the Weyr for the Hatching, including his older brother Tesin. ((Other people are welcome to say R'nul transported their spectators.))

Seabreeze was perched on Tesin's shoulder, eyes whirling with excitement as the dolphineer ran up to his brother. He was grinning broadly, his own eyes sparkling with anticipation. R'nul helped everyone onto Writh's back, and then they made the hasty trip back to the Weyr.

The green flew into the Hatching Grounds, gracefully avoiding collision with the multitude of other dragons also making their way into the cavern. She landed in the stands, the hum already beginning in her throat. I am so happy for the babies![/color] she cried, nudging her rider to emphasize the point and almost knocking him down in the process. Laughing, R'nul grabbed hold of his brother to keep his balance. "Come on, let's go join Mother. She has the privilege of one of the best seats in the house," the greenrider said, leading his brother down to the bottom tier, closest to the sands.

Tarana was already there, standing near the Harper. Her hands were around the railing and her knuckles were white. Tesin chuckled. "Loosen up, mum. This is a happy occasion."

Hearing her son's voice, Tarana let out a rather undignified squeal of excitement and wrapped him in a big hug. Seabreeze chittered, losing his footing on Tesin's shoulder and resorting to hovering in the air. When Tarana released Tesin, the metallic blue alighted on his shoulder once more. "So this is the odd little flitt?" Tarana asked, petting Seabreeze to appease him. The sapphire flitt crooned, rubbing his head against her hand.

"Yup, that's Seabreeze. I wonder if there will be any like him in this clutch?" Tesin asked, looking out at the rocking eggs.

"No, I'm sure they're just a fire lizard aberration..." Tarana said. "Look, there's Wynec!"

The candidate was filing onto the sands with his fellows, keeping S'koin's words in good stead as he stepped up to the clutch. Inside, his heart was pounding and his stomach was filled with butterflies, but outwardly he appeared calm. He bowed deeply to Lyeth, then took his place with the other candidates.

As he looked over the other candidates, he noticed Nebrona, the girl he had met at dinner one night. He grinned and gave her a thumbs up. He hoped she Impressed. The boy he had met that night, not so much. But really, even with the important Gold egg on the sands, Wynec's primary concerns were about his own prospects. Did one of those eggs hold his dragon?

***

As soon as the Gold's call went out, Salye leaped into action, hurrying to the barracks to change into her robe and then speeding along to the sands. There, she listened politely to S'koin's lecture although she was bursting with impatience. In truth, she found the brownrider's warnings a bit too dour for the occasion. She highly doubted anyone was going to turn back at this point, anyway.

But no matter! Presently they were ushered onto their sands, and Salye held her breath as she approached the rocking eggs. This was the night that could change her life. She bowed to Lyeth, then took up a place on the sands. Her gaze passed over the eggs, one by one, ending with the gold egg. She stood, calm and patient, waiting for her moment to arrive...or not arrive.

[tariala]

Nebrona returned Wynec's grin, hoping her expression and nod of acknowledgement in his direction conveyed her wishes of good luck for him here today. Such a nice boy, smart too- it would be a shame if he were left standing. Of course, it would be more of a shame if *she* were left standing, so she resumed her scan for the first-hatched egg.

[dotta]

Crabby's eyes whirled fiercely, but they had seemed dazed in their expression. And it was his voice which Kathal had heard first. The boy had been agitated at the off key hum, and was about to voice his disagreement until the humming grew. Any one who had a firelizard had begun to sing just as his had and...and the dragons were also? Even Kathal with his slow wit knew such hums only came with a hatching. To confirm his beliefs, the Queen herself voiced this occasion.

With a loud clattered that probably wasn't heard from the noise of hurried feet, Kathal dropped his utensils. With a grunt, he used his large hands to hoist himself from his seat. Taking quick strides, Kathal followed after the excited crowd. But soon his eyes fell upon a frail looking boy still seated. He had vaguely remembered the boy- a candidate from that one class he wish he hadn't been to. This poor excuse for a male was eying the dessert quite longingly. Did he think he'd be able to have a treat and get a dragon? There was no way in Pern Kathal was going to let this kid eat and not him!

Reaching out, Kathal grabbed hold of the boy's vest and violently yanked him out of his seat. Quickly letting go, he gave they boy a moment's glare before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Frown set firmly on her face, Talo adjusted her vest and also disappeared into this crowd.
Talo stood in the corner's shadows with her back turned to everyone as she clothed herself. She did this as quickly as her hands could manage, not wanting any parts to be revealed for too long. One complete, she followed after the robed candidates who had finished around the time she had.

They all made their way to the waiting dragonriders to be delivered to the cave. Talo had hitched a ride upon a blue dragon and had found her feet upon the sands only moments later. Everyone ceased their movements in front of a man and gave their full attention to them.

A few feet away from Talo, she could have sworn she heard a chuckle and then the whispered words,

"Old man, huh?"

But nevermind that. He was giving everyone a speech, a turn back while you still can speech. And Talo was almost willing enough to indulge that. All she had to do was creep off to one of the waiting dragonriders. AH, but the people she would have squeezed through would have noticed her. Would they talk of her afterward? The only candidate who chickened out. Besides, Talo had began thinking of this as her little mission to keep her little secret...well secret.

Everyone began moving again and that was when Talo knew her small window of escape had closed. Oh, why did she had to ponder matters so intensely? Talo let out a soft sigh and took a spot in the middle of the crowd and waited for the games to begin.

[ShadowReine]

Lyeth moved back, from where she had been carefully protecting both the gold egg and that second very large egg. Giving her hatchlings space.

Shake, rattle, roll, and then one of the larger eggs exploded...into the best omen for Ista Weyr and for all of Pern.

Green and bronze were revealed, a bronze with 'tarnish' markings across his wingshoulders and back. A bronze who's appearance elicited a bugle from some of the waiting dragons and a murmur from the crowd. He stepped forward with the utmost dignity...and promptly stepped over a piece of his own shell. He glared at it, obviously, it had placed itself in his way.

Now, there was something he had to do. Oh, yes. He started to move. He studied Kaiton...and for a moment, it might seem he was his choice, then something seemed to click.

Abruptly, he was on the move, bowling over one of the girls, who squeaked, but seemed unhurt except for a tear in her robe...that revealed things she would not want revealed. She clutched her chest as she got up, trying not to show her attributes.

He kept moving, and then skidded to a halt, sliding pretty much into the legs of a boy, looking up at him.

You will do, K'al. You will most definitely do. I am Nebmaeth The arrogance in the bronze's tone matched that his rider had always shown. Ista might well be in trouble.

Then, the hum in the grounds rose, especially from the bronzes. It rose and it grew and...

And a gold nose poked from the queen egg. Bronze first, gold second, an omen of hope that none could deny. Gold nose, then head...a smaller, darker queen, but every inch a queen.

Which was when the Impression of K'al to Nebmaeth was darkly overshadowed.

Ivria and Lorisette both rushed forward, each determined to be the closest to the gold when she Hatched.

"You can't have her, wherry!" came from the girl from High Reaches.

"No, you can't, female canine!"

The strident tones of their voices were loud enough to be heard in the Stands...and then, the two girls all but collided.

"Get off me!" Ivria yelped as she fell onto her butt.

Bright in the evening light, for the sun had not yet, quite, set, came the flash of a knife. How Lorisette had smuggled a weapon onto the Sands would have to be worked out later. "Nobody but me will have her!"

And Wiska of Igen saw it, and performed the first truly brave act of her life. As Ivria tried to squirm away, the other girl ran forward, with speed she did not know she had... And as the gold struggled from her egg, Lorisette tried to bring the knife down into her rival...

...and WIska grabbed her from behind, pulling her off, but she was the smaller girl, the weaker. Lorisette twisted in her grasp...and there was a scream, and red staining Wiska's candidate robe.

Lyeth drew herself up to her full height and bugled, GET THAT GIRL OFF OF MY SANDS!

Wiska collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Ivria had managed to get to her feet, she stood there, horrified. "I did not mean..."

Unnoticed in all the commotion, a greyish looking blue...not sick, but of naturally subdued color, had shaken off his egg. The ordinary looking blue padded over to a knot of boys, gently nudged one of them aside and curled up at the feet of a quiet Harper boy, and Sorush became S'rush of blue Afandith.

Bronze Nebmaeth
Rider: K'al (Kathal)
Dragon name: Nebmaeth
Dragon color: Bronze
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Summer
Color code: 99AA33

Dragon appearance:

Nebmaeth is a medium-sized bronze, with a stronger than usual greenish tint to his hide. This tarnishing is particularly strong across his wingshoulders and upper back. In proportions, he is nothing unusual and, at first glance, might appear quite the typical bronze.

In flight, he has all of the stamina of a bronze...and all of the lack of maneuverability. In fact, he is a particularly efficient flyer, easily sustaining the entire fall and able to keep up with most of the golds. The downside is...guess who's likely to be assigned the longest sweep patterns. He is unduly proud of his unusual stamina. Noticeable up close are his slightly longer than usual talons. Unfortunately, he is rather more prone to breaking a talon or even losing one than most dragons...it's a good job they grow back.

Dragon personality:

Nebmaeth is bronze to the bone, and let none forget it. Blues and greens are lesser beings, browns are to be tolerated and queens courted. The hierarchy of the Weyr invades all of his thoughts. Because of this, oddities and unusual colors bother him a little. He doesn't know quite where to place the mutants, and tends to, eventually, kind of class them by size. He expects his rider to treat their riders in much the same manner.

He is, of course, ambitious, and will, thus, push to be the best he can possibly be. Despite his apparent dislike of the so-called 'lessers' he pushes them too, he would make a good, if not likeable, wingleader's dragon. Of course, he will chase any queen that rises, possibly trying before he is really ready, both for the clutch and the status.

Should he catch her, a different side of his personality will come out. He will turn into a dutiful father, guarding the eggs fiercely and insisting on meeting all of 'his' weyrlings...and, if possible, pushing them to be the best pairs, too. Push, push, push. That's what Nebmaeth does.

Despite that, he shows a tenderness and affection to his rider...as long as nobody's looking. When he's genuinely nice to somebody he asks them not to tell. It would, after all, ruin his tough reputation.

Blue Afandith
Rider: S'rush (Sorush, male adoptable NPC)
Dragon name: Afandith
Dragon color: Blue
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Summer
Dragon description:
A faintly greyish sheen covers his wings and legs. Other than that he is a rather ordinary, medium blue. A little on the stocky side, he has a powerful leap and is a definite danger to innocent herdbeasts.
Dragon personality:
Afandith is unusual in that he prefers the company of humans to that of dragons..outside mating flights, that is. He tries to persuade his rider to sit out on the ledge with guests, unless it's raining, so he can join in the conversation. He is, perhaps, the dragon most inclined to speak to other humans, and is a fine Search dragon.
Rider paragraph:
S'rush is not a man who would have been predicted to Impress blue...more of a brown type, in some ways. He's solid, reliable and quiet, while not outgoing, he is definitely not shy. His dragon is the more forceful of the pair, however. S'rush used to be a Harper and still enjoys music. He is definitely homosexual.

[phlysolo]

Henerik was scribbling notes and sketches out so fast he could barely see his hand moving. Bronze first! Bronze first!...GOLD! He couldn't remember, even from Records, when a gold had broke her shell so early in the Hatching. He was about to throw down his writing utensils to get a better look when-

Two girls, fighting, screaming, struggling on the Sands. He pitched his voice up, trying to call for riders, but they were already rushing onto the Sands. Brownrider S'koin was nearly to them as they fought. A girl obscured his vision...

Lenia had moved into prime position to intercept the blue as he shattered from his Egg, desperate to Impress to him. He was determined to find His, though and moved past her with surprising speed. She hadn't taken much notice to the bronze who had Impressed to a surly male who, according to scuttle butt, was just as arrogant and high strung as Lenia herself. Whoohoo, good for him. She had seen the ranker give Kaiton a good looking over...

And Kaiton had nearly reached out his hand to the dragonet, his eyes burning with affection, with hope, with surprise and shock and awe and wonder. But...the binding of their minds never happened, he did not feel the bronze penetrate his very soul...Indeed, the dragonet huffed in his face and moved roughly passed him, Impressing a young man next to him...

Anguished, he hung his head, fighting back startling tears of disappointment. He couldn't be downcast for long, more Eggs were viciously rocking now, threatening to burst open. From his peripheral vision, a flash of gold! The bronze long forgotten, he jerked his head so sharply that he was thankful he didn't feel it snap in his eagerness to see the gold break her shell.

His face lit up once more, seeing the female line (all save Lenia perhaps who was regarding the gold with a mixture of contempt and wariness) surge forward to greet her. Things were getting rapidly out of hand, a transfer girl yanked another one out of the way, pulling her away from the dragonet. They were screaming, they were jostling, another transfer stepped forward, probably trying to mediate the situation, Kaiton couldn't see from this angel...

But Lenia could, Lenia could clearly see the blade come up, from where it was hidden in her under garmets. She could hear the girls screaming obscenities at each other. She wasn't going to join in any knife fight! Shard that! Instead, she ducked backwards, away, nearly tumbling into a rushing dragonrider. He pushed her out of the way, nearly sending her tumbling onto the hot Sands.

"ENOUGH!" S'koin roared, his cries muted by the roar of Lyeth. He had only just seen the blade come down, one girl falling to the ground. Already he could see bright red blossoming up on her robes. Shard it! Why at this Hatching?!

Roughly, rage boiling in his veins, Kirith's and Erusth's roars pitching higher, feeling their riders' outrage, S'koin grabbed the offender, twisting her arms back behind her. He could feel the bones straining under his vice-like grip and hoped he was hurting her as much as he could without actually breaking her arms.

"By Faranth, what's wrong with you?" He snarled, half dragging half hauling her off the Sands like a sack of tubers.

H'zu, watching the events play out as well, had snatched up a couple of healers before bolting to the Sands. The dispersed around the injured girl and the Weyrleader was relieved to see that the knife was still embedded in the girl. At least as it was right now she didn't run the risk of bleeding to death.

"Can we move her?" He asked briskly, knowing that dragonets would be just as likely to run over them as to avoid them. A healer nodded hastily at him and H'zu, wasting no time nor formalities, hoisted the girl up into his arms and rushed her out of the Hatching Cavern, healer's at his toes.

"No, no, you fool, we can't just pick her up like a babe. She's...she's..." The master healer waved his hand over the gaping wound on the girl and the Weyrleader's jaw clenched. Dragonets were just as apt to run over them as they were to avoid them...This situation could become even worse.

H'zu glanced over to where S'koin had the stabber, but he was flanked by several other brown and bronze riders, each apparently, trying to worm questions out of the undoubtedly hysterical girl. He had half the mind to tell them to back off, but...

Erusth, tell Kirith's rider to take the girl inside and to have one of those riders keep an eye on her until the Hatching finishes. Tell him to make sure she's got no more weapons on her person. He told his dragon who easily conveyed the message. From where he stood, he say S'koin gesture to a big, burly brown rider to take the perpetrator away into the Weyr.

For the first time, H'zu could honestly say that he loved and loathed Hatchings.

[dotta]

The sound of gasps and excited murmurs had alerted Kathal to the commotion of the eggs. He could barely hear it, the dragon within forcing its way through its prison. A silence a showered the group then. Kathal had only a glimpse of the bronze creature before someone's head hindered his vision. He had almost let out a growl. It wouldn't take much to force his way to the front. After all, it was obvious that the first egg was his. Even as he said this a small doubt crept into his mind. What is Kathal had impressed a green like that boy had said? No, only the best was fit for Kathal.

A few chuckles were heard from the Bronze's demonstration of being the description of his kind. Moments later, the crowd began to thin around Kathal and he was able to see the Bronze approaching another boy. He glared at the back of the candidates head. There was no way that Bronze would Impress to him...He was small! And he was probably weak too, since he lacked the awesome muscular frame Kathal wielded.

He saw the Bronze gaze at him-or was it pass him? Th creature immediately set off, ploawing through anyone in his path. Unfortunately...Ha! There was never misfortunes for Kathal! That woman shouldn't have been the Bronze's way.

He soon stopped though and before Kathal himself.

You will do, K'al. You will most definitely do. I am Nebmaeth.

K'al smirked then and placed both hands on his hips.

"Of course, I'll do. I'm the best in this lot."

Greetings completed, the two set off for Nebmaeth's feast. From the side lines, they saw the egg produce a Queen and the commotion caused by her. They both found their heads shaking. K'al saw the action displayed by the women typical and Nebmaeth was slightly flustered that his spotlight had been quickly stolen.

[ShadowReine]

And the rest of the eggshell fell off of the gold. Yes, she was a little small, but well formed and absolutely gorgeous. She shook herself. Whilst Nebmaeth's attempt at dignity had been ruined, hers was perfect...she stepped forward.

Faceted eyes regarded the commotion at the entrance. Her head tilted to one side. Then she folded her wings as neatly as you please and stepped over to...

...to the High Reaches girl, who was sitting there in absolute shock and horror at what she had just seen. Gently, the queen nudged her. Softly, Ivria of High Reaches managed, weakly, "Her name is Tuyeth." What should have been joy mingled, bittersweet, with deep sorrow.

It was..her fault. Yet her dragon assured her it was not...not her fault.

Lyeth lowered her head.

So, our queen daughter leaves

I don't know. Lyeth's gaze went for a moment to the other huge egg.

Just a bronze, you big wherry

The gold fell silent as her rider regarded the girl Tuyeth had chosen. Would she be strong enough? She was, if she so chose, Weyrwoman of High Reaches. She had to be. There was, in truth, no other choice for her.

And then, a green broke shell, as abruptly as most of the other hatchings had been. Light and soft, the perfect color of grass in the spring. A green that nobody would have looked twice at, but she was as purposeful as the gold had been.

Across the grounds, her pace quickening with desperate urgency, to force her way through the knot of people around the fallen Wiska.

"No...no..." Wiska murmured. "Don't choose me. You can't..."

You are mine, my brave W'ska, and I your Hideyeth.

"No...Hideyeth...no." she whispered, her life's blood pouring out onto the Sands...and then she fell back...for the knife had pierced her heart...and died right there at the edge of the Hatching Sands.

And Hideyeth gave a terrible screaming keen and leapt upwards as best as hatchling wings could carry her...and was gone, never to return.

Seeing that sight, Yselka trembled with anger. "I'll...I'll..stake her out for Thread!" And Lyeth lowered her great head to her rider once more.

Later. Our babies. Our babies still need us.

Gold Tuyeth
Rider: Ivria (non-adoptable NPC)
Dragon name: Tuyeth
Dragon color: Gold
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Summer
Dragon description:

Tuyeth is not the largest gold ever hatched, nor the smallest. She is dark, dark, dark, almost as dark as some bronzes. With broad wings and a slightly short tail, she is the kind of dragon who can ride thermals all day and her flights are likely to be epic in length. Her talons and headknobs are noticeably lighter in shade, but no other markings mar the smoothness of her coat.

Dragon personality:

Tuyeth is not an arrogant queen, rather she is absolutely calm and confident. A dragon of few words, she makes decisions slowly, and sticks to them. A true leader, her one weakness is, perhaps, that she tends to defer a little to her bronzes and have to be reminded of who is really in charge by her quiet, strong-willed rider.

Rider: W'ska (Wiska)
Dragon name: Hideyeth
Dragon color: Green
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Spring

Dragon appearance:

Smaller than average, a light, soft green, as of grass in the spring. Her hide is smooth, with no markings on it whatsoever, and her proportions completely average in all ways. No, nobody would look twice at this green...yet she will still be missed.

Dragon personality:

Brave and loving, utterly loyal to her rider and the support of all of her hopes and dreams. Hideyeth would have brought the hidden courage in W'ska to the fore...had the girl not found it to her cost. No more is known, for this one was lost on the grounds themselves.

[yamamoto]

Andol was still crouched there behind all the other candidate's. Topaz and Leaf where still trying to get him to stand up and pay attention. He opened one of his eye's at the noise and commontion. It was then that he saw to people fighting. The knife and everything else. It sorta stratled him making him fall back onto the sand. He cuaght himself with his hands though burned them alittle in the process. He quickly sat back up. Into his crouch position again. His neverousness had reached that point like it somtimes did for him to cover his head in fear and again close his eye's. The two firelizard on his shoulders just made soft crooning sound. The two were no longer trying to get him to stand up, but just trying to make sure he felt better. Though the death kreen of the green was to much for Andol. Tear's slowly fell down his cheeks. He began to quitly cry. He could not stand to hear the death of any dragonkin. His two flit just countied there comfornting of him. Andol was not even thinking about impressing now. He just wanted to go and hide in his room just like he always did.

[phlysolo]

And then...She choose. All eyes were on her, Kaiton's, Lenia's, H'zu's, S'koin had even turned his head to watch. The gold pranced with such regal grace towards the female line, towards one...single...girl...Lenia gasped. It wasn't Nebrona! It wasn't! It was that...that whore, that vicious feline! She had not been so bad as, say, Lorisette but she was bad. Lenia hadn't liked her from the moment she had come to Nebrona's aid against them and here she was...Impressing gold.

But she couldn't pause to think too long, Kaiton had moved into her line of sight...again. She didn't see the green Impress...but everyone felt her leave /between/. A moment of silence rocked the Hatching Grounds and even Henerik laid down his quill, staring in shock and horror and grief as one of the newest dragons on Pern killed itself as the child whom she Impressed to left this earth.

Kaiton shook his head, trying to clear the sound of those horrible keens from the dragons hovering around the Cavern, around the Weyr. Even H'zu's firelizard Bonooru had moaned his remorse at the loss of life. H'zu had been looking down, right into the girl's eyes as she sobbed her dragon's name. How, precisely, she got it out was a mystery to him, blood was rapidly filling her mouth and..had she not died, she would have surely drowned in it.

The healers had stopped working just as the green found W'ska, knowing their energy would be wasted on the dying girl. As her dragon launched herself between, they looked up at the Weyrleader, seeing his eyes buring red with unspent tears of rage and loss. Yselka didn't need this...Lyeth didn't deserve this...Their first Hatching together had become so jaded.

"We leave the body. She leaves with the rest of her class."

[dotta]

During the distraction of the egg's birth, Talo had made her way to the front. Well, as close as she was comfortable with. She didn't want to be caught in another knife fight if that was the cause. Where all Hatchings like this? Talo doubted it; everyone had been outraged at what the woman did. However, the victim had survived and, Talo's eyes slow a glance at her, was being rewarded. She smiled at the scene. The young Queen had obviously saw something in the woman and was making her graceful tread toward her.

But then another egg had shattered revealing a spirited green. The young Queen was left without a potential rider as the green rushed to the stabbed candidate. A moment of silence was initiated as, Talo supposed, they were warming up to one another. The warm feelings were short lived though. The victim had fell limp to the hot sands and her dragon disappeared with a paind cry.

Talo could only stare in awe. Of course, the scene was a horrible one. A dragonet without a rider was a sad one indeed. But Talo had never seen a dragon go Inbetween. She had heard over her short time hear and it was her first Hatching. The awe had quickly passed though and Talo hung her head in quiet respect.

[ShadowReine]

Perhaps now the rest of the Hatching could go normally. Ordinarily...as if anything was ordinary about the Hatching that held the hope of Pern.

Still, the next egg to crack was a return to the ordinary. Slowly, piece by piece, it fell apart to reveal a darker blue...a very ordinary looking dragon until he moved and one saw his feet. The dragon had pure white talons...a not unheard of feature, but a rare one that might have caused some exclaimations...had so many people not been plotting an unpleasant demise for Lorisette of Benden.

It did seem that most of these hatchlings knew exactly where they were going. This one hesitated, his head sweeping the...ah, yes, there. He quickened his pace to the closest he could manage to a trot, right over to a boy who sat weeping on the Sands.

Why are you so sad, my And'l? There's no need to be sad, not when your Gopeth is here now. The blue sending as much comfort as he could to his new rider. After all, he clearly needed cheering up!

It might have caused some sighs of relief to see such a normal Impression...and after all, the new weyrling could be excused for being upset. Maybe now...

...and then the other really large egg rolled through an entire circle and cracked. As sometimes happened, its occupant ended up on the Sands in an upside down heap...an upside down heap of pure, clear white, overlaid with a brilliant metallic sheen. Not a white, no, not like Ruth of legend, this dragon was *bigger* than Tuyeth, as large as Lyeth had been when she hatched, and it gleamed, it shimmered. And picked itself up with entirely the air of a feline who 'meant to do that'.

Then, it just sat there, spreading its wings, turning its head as if to make sure that it had not somehow lost a piece of itself in its ill-dignified entry to the world.

Lyeth stopped keening to hum, thrum, hum encouragement to the clearly mutated dragonet.

It took one look at its mother, then seemed to realize what it was supposed to be doing. It padded straight towards those girls who had been gathering around the queen egg...now somewhat scattered. Helka? No. Talo was ignored as thoroughly as any boy. Nocia? A head tilt her direction. Lenia? She got an almost apologetic look, if a dragonet could be apologetic. Salye of Monaco and Keeran were both dismissed.

The platinum-hued dragonet had to consider her decision, so, so carefully, and then, she just padded forward and neatly curled herself up at Nebrona's feet. Nebrona. You are the one who is worthy of me, of Allirth. We will rule the skies together. Yes, definitely her, although only her voice would, for now, reveal that.

Yselka stood there staring. "What in Faranth's name *is* that?"

Lyeth lifted her head That is my *second* queen-daughter. Her tone was smug. I knew there was *something* about that egg.

The dragon had been mutated so the golden color had not formed, Yselka realized, and thus, had not 'leaked' into the shell of the egg, leaving it... "Second...my Lyeth? You are full of surprises."

Platinum Allirth
Rider: Nebrona
Dragon name: Allirth
Dragon color: Platinum
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Summer
Color code: FFFFEE
Dragon description:

Nothing like her has ever Hatched before, and the question of whether such will ever grace Pern again remains open. Easily as large as her dam in size, if not edging bigger in length, Allirth is pure white, with no hint of any other color. Her hide is sheened over with the brilliance of metal.

She is lithe, rather than bulky, giving her a smaller turning circle than other queens of the same size, although the smaller dragons could easily outmaneuver her. Absolutely no darkening can be seen on her. Her face is refined, exquisitely feminine. Her wings are slender and slightly pointed at their tips. Otherwise, she is perfectly proportioned in every way, the most elegant of dragons despite...or because of...her odd coloration.

Dragon personality:

One might think that the white queen, as she is likely to be rapidly known, would be defensive and wary about her position. Instead, she is best described as understated. She enforces her authority so casually, taking it utterly for granted, that nobody below the senior would consider challenging her. Given that she is, after all, a queen, she has a queen's intelligence and memory, and something of a tendency to recall slights longer than almost any other dragon.

Her relationship with her rider is lighter than that most will experience. It is not that the bond is weak, far from it. It is that Allirth shows to Nebrona, and Nebrona alone, the light side of her personality. To be more precise? Allirth teases her rider rotten...and anything and everything is fair game. She is never happier than when Nebrona responds to her in kind.

When it comes to flights, Allirth expects every one of the larger males to chase, or have a good reason why. In fact, if a male does not chase her, she will refuse to acknowledge him for, oh, days afterwards. Fortunately, even a queen's memory is limited, as long as her rider does not bring up the matter. The rest of the time, she is not inclined to flirt, and any compliment given to a male is warning that a rising is imminent.

Allirth is also an incredibly neat dragon, and perhaps somewhat vain about her appearance. She is likely to demand bathing more often than most...although she doesn't mind who her rider gets to help her. Well, okay, she prefers candidates, it lets her get a good look at them. And her straps had better be clean. When she feeds, she gets very upset if she stampedes the herd or makes a mess, and her early hunting lessons are likely to be trying for her rider.

Blue Gopeth
Rider: And'l
Dragon name: Gopeth
Dragon color: Blue
Dragon age: Hatchling
Hatching season: Summer
Color code: 6666AA

Dragon description:

A larger blue, and darker in color, Gopeth somewhat resembles stonewashed denim in hue, lighter blue mottled over dark and dull. He has long wings and tail, and is a true sprinter. In a straight line, over short distances, he may well be one of the fastest dragons on Pern. His agility, however, is a little lower than most blues.

His most startling feature is that his talons are white, pure, true white, standing out against his dark hide. He has a slightly large head and short headknobs that give him a faintly 'cute' appearance.

Dragon personality:

Gopeth is absolutely secure and certain of what he is and who he is, and nothing will budge him from that. He is blue, and thus should be blue, in all ways and at all levels. He should not try to be anything he is not, and neither should his rider. Thus, he will tend to temper any ambition in And'l, but at the same time, he is a rock of absolute security, for he also will not be or allow his rider to be any less than what he is.

Unfortunately, he has little patience with people who do try to step outside their own bounds, such as, for example, tone deaf individuals who insist on singing. Such will get an irritated rumble and a glare from the blue. He may even try to set his rider on him.

Oh yes, and his rider is not allowed to be shy. Shyness is stupid. He will try and matchmake, he will insist And'l makes friends, he would go as far as to 'kidnapping' And'l to a Gather. Fighting dragonriders have nothing to be shy about. He'd even try to conspire with a green who's rider And'l liked 'You'll tell me when your flight is, right?'

Gopeth's outgoing nature makes him well inclined towards Search...although not as sensitive as some blues, he makes up for it with sheer enthusiasm for the task.